ISWI Chapter 252-253

Chapter 252: The Battle for the Throne

An Miaoli entered seclusion.

After leaving her cave abode, Ye Chen ran into An Yuyi and casually gifted her ten pills. A year had passed, and he sensed a change in her. Besides, her aunt had done so much for him, so he figured he'd give An Yuyi a chance.

To his surprise, it triggered a critical hit. Ten Golden Jade Pills resulted in a thousand top-grade Divine Jade Pills, suitable for mid-Golden Core cultivators. Ye Chen was quite pleased.

Still, he didn't place much importance on An Yuyi. Even if she could trigger critical hits now, the times had changed. Hundred-fold reward cultivators were now a dime a dozen around him. She'd missed her window.

Auntie was still the best!

…

Back at his cave abode, Ye Chen activated the Kunpeng Wings he'd received. The system's reward came pre-refined, manifesting as a divine ability already integrated into his back. With a thought, a terrifying aura flooded his cave abode. Massive black wings, ten meters long, unfurled behind him.

In that instant, Ye Chen felt his understanding of space deepen profoundly. A bold sense of freedom surged within him, as if he could traverse the heavens and earth at will.

The cave was too small to test the wings properly. Ye Chen retracted them and left the Divine Will Sect, heading to a secluded spot in the Divine Will Mountain Range.

The Kunpeng Wings spread once more. His figure vanished, reappearing a kilometer away in the blink of an eye. The speed shocked even him. He was already faster than most late Golden Core cultivators, and he hadn't yet encountered a Nascent Soul cultivator to compare. But with the Kunpeng Wings, his speed had multiplied several times over. He was certain no Nascent Soul expert could match him now.

Next, he tested the wings' offensive capabilities. Their feathers were tougher than the finest top-grade spiritual artifacts, capable of slicing through nearly anything. The wings also carried various divine abilities: bursts of even greater speed, or the power to pierce arrays using spatial force.

The more he explored, the more astonished he became. The Kunpeng Wings were far more powerful than he'd expected, truly befitting one of the Vicious Ten. They were among the world's most supreme treasures. If paired with the Kunpeng Treasure Technique, their power would be even more terrifying. He resolved to find a way to trigger that reward in the future.

…

In the days that followed, Ye Chen focused on cultivation. With an abundance of pills and the massive spiritual energy boost from the Netherwater Pool, he broke through to the mid-Golden Core stage after three months.

During this time, An Miaoli remained in seclusion, so Ye Chen gifted items to An Yuyi or Li Feihuang. An Yuyi, noticing his warmer attitude, grew increasingly delighted. Li Feihuang, however, didn't trigger a single critical hit, so Ye Chen visited her less and less.

…

"Senior Ye, you've come out of seclusion?"

"Senior Ye, these are pills I refined. Could you take a look when you have time?"

"Senior Ye, thank you so much for the pills you gave me."

"Fellow Daoist Ye, I found some materials while out training, but I don't recognize them. Since you're an artifact refiner, I'll give them to you."

At Quiet Wonder Peak, Ye Chen was immensely popular. Female cultivators, from disciples to elders, greeted him warmly as he passed. Initially, they'd looked down on him as a male cultivator from a small sect, but now? He was the top choice for a partner among Quiet Wonder Peak's women.

All this, of course, stemmed from his lavish generosity. In the cultivation world, many prodigies and wealthy scions had resources, but only Ye Chen gave them away so freely.

As he strolled aimlessly, missing An Miaoli in her third month of seclusion, a deacon hurried over. "Elder Ye, a letter for you from the Green Cloud Sect!"

Ye Chen raised an eyebrow. Had something happened at the Green Cloud Sect, or was the old sect master on his last legs? He thanked the deacon and returned to his cave abode to open the letter.

Seeing the sender's name, he relaxed—it was from Su Yuxuan. It must have been sent to the Green Cloud Sect, which then forwarded it to him. He chuckled at the string of curses against anyone who dared open it, followed by a familiar footprint at the bottom.

The letter detailed how Su Yuxuan, guided by Manjusaka, had partially resolved the foundation instability caused by her rapid cultivation technique, also alleviating her lifespan loss. Her cultivation had advanced, breaking through to mid-Golden Core.

Next, she planned to head to the Great Chu Empire, as her Blood Spirit Root had drawbacks that made reaching the Nascent Soul stage difficult. She needed a treasure from Great Chu to upgrade her root.

Ye Chen raised an eyebrow. That old granny Manjusaka was indeed a treasure encyclopedia! If only she didn't hate men. With her by his side, paired with his feedback system, he'd soar to new heights.

It was quite a coincidence that Su Yuxuan was heading to Great Chu. If Li Feihuang weren't still a fugitive, she could've helped. If Su Yuxuan successfully upgraded her spirit root, her reward multiplier might increase significantly.

The letter also included a recording stone, capturing Su Yuxuan's graceful dance. Her bare feet moved ethereally, her lithe figure weaving dreamlike patterns. Ye Chen watched slowly, appreciating the performance but thinking the previous recording stone was more… intriguing.

…

Ye Chen stored the letter away, ready to dive back into studying how to inscribe array patterns to make the ultimate spirit silk artifact—both incredibly durable for defense and delicate enough to tear at the right moment. But before he could get started, a visitor arrived at his cave abode.

"Fellow Daoist Ye…"

Ye Chen raised an eyebrow at the voice. Li Feihuang? Since breaking through to the Golden Core stage, she'd grown increasingly arrogant and rarely visited him. What brought her here today?

Pondering, Ye Chen opened the door. Li Feihuang stood there, her red hair vibrant, her demeanor radiant. Beside her was a male cultivator, clad in top-grade spiritual artifacts, exuding wealth and confidence. His sharp eyes carried the air of a prodigy.

Li Feihuang smiled and introduced them. "Ye Chen, meet Wang Lun, the eldest young master of the Wang Clan from the Great Chu Empire, mid-Golden Core stage, and one of this generation's young prodigies! And this is Ye Chen, guest elder of the Divine Will Sect, who's helped me greatly."

Her eyes lit up as she sensed Ye Chen's cultivation. "Oh? Ye Chen, you've already reached mid-Golden Core? That's even better!"

Wang Lun's brow furrowed briefly but quickly smoothed over. He clasped his hands and said, "Thank you, Fellow Daoist Ye, for aiding our empire's princess. The Great Chu Empire will surely repay you in the future."

Ye Chen merely nodded, glancing at Li Feihuang, curious about her purpose. Without waiting for an invitation, she strode into the cave abode and took the main seat in the hall. "Ye Chen, Wang Lun, sit."

Ye Chen didn't bother with her presumptuousness and sat across from her. Wang Lun took a seat to her right.

Li Feihuang got straight to the point. "There's trouble in the Great Chu Empire. Not long after I reached the Golden Core stage, the Wang Clan contacted me. As one of the four great clans, they've provided me with substantial resources to support my bid for the throne. By tradition, the imperial succession is held alongside the empire's grand celebration, which should be five years away. But Champion King, colluding with several ministers and two other great clans, has pushed the court to hold the succession contest in just one year."

She continued, "The contest for the throne hinges not only on the contender's strength but also on their followers'. Each contender can bring two subordinates to the arena. The winning side claims the throne. I was worried you might not have reached mid-Golden Core in time, but seeing you've broken through, I'm relieved."

She looked at Ye Chen with a satisfied smile.

Chapter 253: Gift a Golden Core?

Ye Chen frowned inwardly at Li Feihuang's words. No wonder she'd been so full of herself lately—she'd secured the support of a major clan in the Great Chu Empire.

But Ye Chen had zero interest in rushing off to the Great Chu Empire to fight to the death just to help her claim the throne, especially since she didn't trigger critical hits anymore. Why would he, in his right mind, bother? Did she really think he was her loyal subject?

He'd rather spend his time crafting that spirit silk magic tool for Auntie. Not only would it likely trigger a critical hit, but it'd also come with… silky enjoyment. Besides, he'd been feeling the Nether Toxin acting up again these past few days. Once Auntie emerged from seclusion, he'd ask her to help purge it.

…

A five-hundred-fold multiplier was tempting, but without critical hits, it lost its allure. Li Feihuang could go her own way. Ye Chen planned to stay comfortably at the Divine Will Sect as a guest elder, prepare for his Nascent Soul breakthrough alongside Senior An, and then head to the Heavenly Evolution Holy Land to become a Holy Son. There, he'd gift treasures to every Holy Maiden, climbing to even greater heights. His plan was flawless. Holy Maidens would surely offer higher multipliers.

So, let the five-hundred-fold multiplier walk away. Why would he risk his life in the Great Chu Empire just to become some glorified Golden Dragon King?

He opened his mouth to refuse, but at that moment, Wang Lun spoke up. "Champion King has a wealth of talent under him. One of his prodigies, at mid-Golden Core, single-handedly slew a late Golden Core demon beast. The enemy is formidable. This battle will be incredibly perilous and concerns the Chu throne. So, Your Highness, please choose your subordinates carefully. Fellow Daoist Ye may not be weak, but he's merely a Golden Core cultivator from a small sect. My younger brother, Wang Ming, is an Earth Spirit Root prodigy and will break through to mid-Golden Core within half a year, just in time for the battle…"

Wang Lun clearly didn't want Ye Chen taking a spot. The Wang Clan had bet heavily on Li Feihuang and wanted to maximize their gains without outsiders sharing the spoils. Plus, victory came with significant rewards that could elevate the Wang Clan's strength.

Ye Chen smirked inwardly.

A small sect? Did I eat your family's rice or something?

Before he could respond, Li Feihuang cut in decisively. "Fellow Daoist Ye is exceptionally strong. It's him."

Having awakened her Moon Phoenix Body, Li Feihuang was confident but not blind. She knew Ye Chen was formidable, having once defeated her, which spoke volumes about his combat prowess. She was also aware of the Wang Clan's motives. If she ascended the throne, she couldn't rely solely on them. Ye Chen had supported her wholeheartedly during her lowest moments, his loyalty unquestionable.

Though she hadn't kept close tabs on Ye Chen lately, she knew he'd taken the role of guest elder at the Divine Will Sect—a position no one would take unless they were short on resources. Yet, even in such straits, he still sent her resources regularly. His devotion was undeniable. Even if he hadn't broken through to mid-Golden Core, she'd have found a way to help him advance and secure him a spot to balance the Wang Clan's influence in the future. Her father had taught her the art of imperial balance.

Wang Lun frowned at her resolve but said nothing.

Li Feihuang continued, "The Great Chu Empire has accumulated imperial aura over countless years, which can rapidly boost a cultivator's strength without any drawbacks. If I win, my two subordinates will each gain a chance to be infused with this imperial aura, saving at least ten years of arduous cultivation.

"Additionally, they can choose a treasure from the empire's treasury. With a history spanning twenty thousand years and conquests across the land, our treasury holds countless rare treasures, like the Nether King's Gall, coveted by blood cultivators. It can elevate a Blood Spirit Root to a Nether Spirit Root, nearly comparable to a Heavenly Spirit Root. We have one in our treasury, among many other extraordinary items."

Beaming with pride, she detailed the Great Chu Empire's might and wealth to assure Ye Chen his efforts were worthwhile. Just as ninth-grade Golden Cores varied in quality, the Great Chu Empire's true foundation far surpassed that of the Divine Will Sect, even among Nascent Soul powers.

Ye Chen, about to refuse, swallowed his words.

Not helping for free? And there are such benefits?

Cultivation grew slower the further one progressed, and opportunities to accelerate it were rare. The Nether King's Gall sounded suspiciously like the treasure Su Yuxuan mentioned seeking in the Great Chu Empire.

Eagerly, Ye Chen asked, "Can the imperial aura infusion slot be given to someone else?"

Li Feihuang smiled. "Of course. In my father's generation, a subordinate saved their slot to nurture a junior. But you should use it yourself. If I win the throne, I'll have endless imperial aura and can directly reach the peak of Golden Core!"

Ye Chen smirked inwardly.

Send it to you? Overconfident much?

The slot was obviously for little demoness Su Yuxuan. But since she was already his partner, gifting to her wouldn't trigger a critical hit. A two-hundred-fold multiplier doubled to four hundred was decent but not enough.

Could he gift it to the old granny instead? Just like how gifting to An Yuyi triggered a critical hit from An Miaoli. With the granny's base five-hundred-fold multiplier, a critical hit could send the rewards soaring.

Whether it would trigger depended on how much the granny valued Su Yuxuan. Knowing Su Yuxuan, after nearly three years, she'd likely earned the granny's favor. So, he'd gift the imperial aura slot first, then the Nether King's Gall. This plan had serious potential.

Plus, since he'd run into Su Yuxuan, he could ask if the granny had any sinister techniques for refining others' Golden Cores. If she did, he could gift his own. Five-colored cores were great, but nine colors would be ideal. Gifting a Golden Core to Su Yuxuan would make this trip perfect.

…

"When do we leave? How long will the competition last?" Ye Chen asked briskly, now that benefits were on the table.

Li Feihuang smiled. She knew even without mentioning the rewards, Ye Chen would've agreed without hesitation. He'd previously given her phoenix blood without a second thought. Someone like him would stand by her side regardless of personal gain. The Wang Clan, however, only backed her after she awakened her Moon Phoenix Body. The difference was clear.

"The Great Chu Empire is currently under Champion King's control," she explained. "Returning too early risks falling into his schemes. Besides, I haven't broken through to mid-Golden Core yet. I'll use this time to cultivate diligently. We'll depart one month before the succession contest and arrive three days early. The competition's duration depends—each day has one match, and it ends when a victor emerges."

Li Feihuang shared her plan. She wasn't yet mid-Golden Core but didn't see herself as slow. Geniuses required far more resources—three to five times that of ordinary cultivators. Yet, once they broke through, their strength was proportionally greater. She was confident she'd reach mid-Golden Core within six months. When she did, Champion King would be no match for her.