ISWI Chapter 246-247

Chapter 246: Auntie's Pretty Strong!

Perhaps because a battle was imminent and loose hair would be inconvenient, or maybe because Ye Chen was staring too intently at her ears, An Miaoli retrieved a jade hairpin from her storage ring. With graceful movements, she pinned her long hair up high, revealing the soft curve of her jawline and her luminous, jade-like complexion.

Her expression calm, An Miaoli pointed to three Netherwater Pools. "These three pools are each a kilometer apart, connected beneath the surface. Of course, there are likely more exits than these three. But if you use the array discs I gave you to seal these openings the moment the Wind-Thunder Jiao emerges, I'm confident I can slay it before it escapes to a farther exit."

Ye Chen nodded, pulling out the three array discs An Miaoli had given him earlier, signaling he understood.

"Then conceal your aura and approach stealthily," she instructed. "Be careful. If you're spotted early, retreat immediately."

An Miaoli's tone was serious. The Wind-Thunder Jiao, with its trace of dragon blood, was exceptionally formidable, far beyond the average cultivator of its realm. Though Ye Chen was a genius, he was only in the early Golden Core stage.

Ye Chen nodded again. In the next moment, he activated a top-tier aura-concealing technique he'd obtained from the system, erasing all traces of his presence.

An Miaoli said no more. Her slender, graceful figure, draped in a white spirit robe, floated toward the Netherwater Pools. Positioning herself at the center of the three pools, she gently raised her hand.

With that simple gesture, all three pool entrances erupted, sending hundreds of meters of water shooting upward like volcanic geysers. A deafening roar echoed as the ground itself seemed to tremble.

Ye Chen's eyebrows shot up. An Miaoli's strength was impressive, worthy of the Divine Will Sect's grand elder. But with her this powerful, his daydream of playing the hero, turning the tide, and presenting her with a grand gift was clearly out of the question.

As An Miaoli made her move, Ye Chen didn't dawdle. Concealing his presence, he silently glided toward the pool entrances.

…

Meanwhile, a thunderous roar echoed, shaking the earth.

The waters of one Netherwater Pool, just settled from its earlier eruption, exploded again. A massive black creature surged from the depths.

It was an enormous beast, at least a hundred meters long, its serpentine body five meters thick. Though snake-like, it bore sharp claws and a pair of massive wings. Covered in black scales and radiating a ferocious aura, its presence was overwhelming.

This was unmistakably the Wind-Thunder Jiao. Its speed was staggering. With a single flap of its wings, a gale roared to life. In an instant, it lunged at An Miaoli, jaws snapping.

An Miaoli remained composed, gracefully retreating to dodge the attack. She struck out with a palm, and a giant hand of spiritual energy materialized, hurtling toward the beast's massive head.

The Wind-Thunder Jiao's eyes glinted as it spat a bolt of black divine lightning, shattering the spiritual hand. Its enormous tail, unnoticed until now, whipped silently toward An Miaoli's head from above.

But An Miaoli sensed it, her expression unchanging. She darted back a hundred meters, evading the terrifying strike.

Fueled by bloodlust, the Wind-Thunder Jiao flapped its wings and charged at her again.

As the battle drew them farther away, Ye Chen realized An Miaoli was creating an opportunity for him. She wouldn't unleash her full strength until he sealed the three pool entrances with the array discs.

Without hesitation, Ye Chen glided to the first pool, activated an array disc, and tossed it down. Instantly, a golden barrier enveloped the entrance, covering the pool and a hundred meters of surrounding land. Even a late Golden Core cultivator would struggle to break it quickly.

Satisfied, Ye Chen moved to the next pool.

The disturbance from the array caught Wind-Thunder Jiao's attention. Sensing Ye Chen's intent, its massive eyes flashed with cold malice, and it turned to charge at him.

But An Miaoli sprang into action. With a wave of her hand, countless spiritual hands materialized around the beast, slamming down from all directions.

Scales shattered and scattered. The Wind-Thunder Jiao roared, its tail sweeping to crush a swath of spiritual hands, still intent on reaching Ye Chen.

Yet, invisible chains emerged from the void, coiling around the beast's tail. The Wind-Thunder Jiao thrashed violently, the taut chains on the verge of snapping. They wouldn't hold it for long.

But that brief moment was enough. Ye Chen calmly activated and deployed the remaining two array discs, sealing the other pool entrances before drifting away.

Seeing Ye Chen retreat, An Miaoli nodded, her expression serene. She finally unleashed her full power. Her hands, clad in white silk gloves, danced gracefully, weaving a torrent of majestic spells that flowed effortlessly.

The Wind-Thunder Jiao, realizing escape was no longer an option, fought back with murderous intent. A demon beast's body was several times stronger than a human cultivator's. Most spells it simply ignored, smashing them with a flick of its tail. Dark clouds gathered unnoticed in the sky, locking onto An Miaoli. Black divine lightning, like chains, shot toward her, while countless wind blades and tornadoes formed around her, sealing off any escape.

Yet An Miaoli remained unflustered. Every movement seemed to sway the heavens themselves. With unhurried precision, she unleashed spell after spell, calmly countering every attack.

…

From dozens of miles away, Ye Chen watched the battle unfold.

Soon, he pursed his lips. Compared to An Miaoli's calm and effortless grace, the Wind-Thunder Jiao was clearly struggling. It was repeatedly struck by terrifying spells, its scales shattering and scattering. Blood sprayed like a fountain, splattering the ground below.

Ye Chen could tell that while the Wind-Thunder Jiao wasn't gravely injured yet, it wouldn't last much longer under this onslaught. At this rate, it would be done for in half an hour. It seemed his role in this trip was indeed just to play support.

…

The Wind-Thunder Jiao evidently sensed something was wrong. It fought with desperate ferocity, the sky rumbling with the clash of spells and surging energy.

In a frenzied bid, it unleashed dozens of divine lightning bolts, each as thick as a barrel, their energy raging downward. Even An Miaoli, unwilling to take such an attack head-on, cast several spells and gracefully retreated to avoid the barrage.

But as the lightning descended, it suddenly veered sharply midair.

An Miaoli realized something was amiss and swiftly summoned several giant spiritual hands to block the lightning. It was too late. The dozens of bolts slammed into one of the Netherwater Pool entrances. The golden seal flared brightly, resisting the onslaught, but under the relentless barrage, the light dimmed and the array shattered with a deafening explosion.

The Wind-Thunder Jiao flapped its wings, its massive body transforming into a black blur. Moving with blinding speed, like a bolt of lightning, it half-submerged into the Netherwater Pool in an instant.

An Miaoli's eyes narrowed. A golden hand, as large as a small mountain, materialized and seized the beast's tail, attempting to drag it back out.

But the Wind-Thunder Jiao thrashed wildly, heedless of the damage. Its tail exploded with blood and scales, exposing bone. The giant hand wavered, and the beast fully vanished into the pool.

The dark waters, now tinged with blood, fell silent.

An Miaoli gazed at the deep pool and sighed. This attempt had failed. Using the same strategy again would be far more difficult. It seemed the opportunity was lost…

…

From afar, Ye Chen's eyes lit up. He surged toward the Netherwater Pool. The opportunity—hadn't it just arrived?

Chapter 247: An Miaoli's Regret

The Netherwater Pool was no place for cultivators. Even someone as powerful as An Miaoli would be corroded by its Nether Toxin if she entered. The risk far outweighed the reward. Fighting the Wind-Thunder Jiao underwater was tantamount to seeking suffering—it was the beast's domain. Even a cultivator a full realm higher would likely meet defeat.

So, An Miaoli merely sighed, her expression calm, and prepared to call Ye Chen to leave.

As she saw Ye Chen approaching, her luminous eyes flickered, and she opened her mouth to speak. But then she noticed him heading straight for the pool entrance the Wind-Thunder Jiao had blasted open.

Thinking he was checking for another opportunity, An Miaoli quickly called out, "Don't get close to the pool! The beast is cunning and might still be lurking near the entrance. The Netherwater Pool blocks aura and spiritual sense, making it impossible to guard against. If it drags you in, even a Nascent Soul cultivator couldn't save you!"

But Ye Chen, mid-flight, shook his head. "The Wind-Thunder Jiao is already heavily injured. Letting it escape like this is too much of a waste. If I can act as bait to lure it out, that's a win!"

Hearing this bold plan, An Miaoli rushed toward him. "It's too dangerous! Stay back!"

She knew Ye Chen cared deeply for her interests, and the Wind-Thunder Jiao's wings were indeed valuable to her. But no matter how important they were, they weren't worth Ye Chen taking such a risk.

By now, Ye Chen was hovering just ten meters above the pool entrance, lingering briefly. The Netherwater Pool had returned to stillness, with no sign of movement.

An Miaoli, catching up, let out a sigh of relief. It seemed the Wind-Thunder Jiao was too wary to strike, likely suspecting a trap even with Ye Chen so close.

Deeply touched by Ye Chen's willingness to act as bait, An Miaoli's serene face softened with a faint smile. "Let's go. In this world, what we gain is fortune, and what we lose is fate. Since we failed this time, the Wind-Thunder Jiao has likely fled elsewhere. There's no need to linger."

She spoke with grace and detachment.

But Ye Chen's face showed reluctance. "The immortal path is about fighting for every chance. One step behind, and you're behind forever. Senior An clearly needs this, and I'm not ready to give up."

His words warmed An Miaoli's gaze. "Fellow Daoist Ye has already done more than enough. The beast was cunning, and there's no need to force it. The mistake was mine for being careless. Your task is still considered complete, so you won't be assigned another by the Divine Will Sect for the next three years."

She had lost the chance at the Wind-Thunder Wings, yet Ye Chen seemed more anxious than she was. His heartfelt dedication was evident, and it drew her closer to him.

But in the next moment, Ye Chen suddenly dove downward at an astonishing speed. Before An Miaoli could react, his body plunged into the Netherwater Pool. His voice reached her only after he vanished: "I'm not satisfied. I have a technique that might briefly resist the Nether Toxin's corrosion…"

An Miaoli's pupils contracted. For the first time, her face, which had remained composed even during the battle with the Wind-Thunder Jiao, showed panic. She dove after him without hesitation, but the pool's surface was calm, with no trace of Ye Chen. Her spiritual sense couldn't penetrate the water. There was nothing to find.

"Come out! The Wind-Thunder Wings aren't worth this…"

An Miaoli's lips paled with dread.

Ye Chen had plunged into the Netherwater Pool. And for what? Just because she needed the Wind-Thunder Wings to cultivate a technique?

The pool was saturated with pervasive Nether Toxin. Lingering too long would corrode even a genius into a husk, even if they survived. Worse, the injured Wind-Thunder Jiao was still inside. If it found a human in its domain, it would undoubtedly unleash its fury in retaliation.

In that moment, panic gripped An Miaoli's heart, her eyes brimming with regret.

She knew Ye Chen admired her, that he valued her needs above all else, sparing no cost to fulfill them. Why hadn't she foreseen that he might dive into the Netherwater Pool? If she had, she could have stopped him.

Her fists clenched so tightly that blood trickled from her porcelain-white palms, unnoticed. She stared at the pool, hoping against hope that Ye Chen's luck would hold—that the Wind-Thunder Jiao had fled, and he could emerge safely.

But the dark waters remained still, without a ripple. After what felt like an eternity, the pool trembled violently. An Miaoli's eyes widened with hope, expecting Ye Chen to surface.

Yet the water soon settled again, silent. Ye Chen's figure never appeared. The black water now seemed tinged with an eerie, bloody hue.

An Miaoli's face turned ashen, white as paper. Her eyes, once filled with regret, now burned with a dark, murderous intent. In this life, even if she had to sit in vigil in the Divine Will Mountains for a lifetime, she would slay that Jiao.

The outcome seemed sealed, yet An Miaoli refused to leave. Her gaze remained fixed on the Netherwater Pool, unwilling to give up. She prayed, she hoped, clinging to the chance that Ye Chen might return unharmed.

If he did, she vowed to cast aside the constraints of their aunt-nephew dynamic and be bolder. Ye Chen liked looking at her ears, didn't he? If he returned, she'd pin up her hair every time they met, letting him look his fill. Even more, if he wished.

Ye Chen, please come back!

As Ye Chen plunged into the Netherwater Pool, a chilling force immediately seeped into his body. His vision was pitch black, and his spiritual sense was completely blocked.

No wonder cultivators avoided this place. Even without the Nether Toxin, the inability to see or sense anything left one utterly vulnerable.

The Nether Toxin surged into Ye Chen from all directions, invading his limbs and body. But in the next moment, his Primordial Supreme Heart pulsed. A torrent of vital blood energy erupted, expelling the toxin, dreaded by cultivators as if it were a bone-gnawing parasite, without a trace left behind.

Simultaneously, his Myriad Star Body activated. Myriad Star Fire enveloped him, vaporizing the surrounding Nether Toxin. The purified toxin transformed into exceptionally pure spiritual energy, which his body absorbed. This spiritual energy was vast and unique, accelerating his cultivation faster than usual.

A smile crept onto Ye Chen's face as he realized this. He hadn't rushed into the pool to become the Wind-Thunder Jiao's meal. His physical body, bolstered by the Primordial Supreme Heart, Ancestral Dragon Blood, and Myriad Star Body, was absurdly resilient—virtually immune to any toxin. Add to that his seventh-grade spiritual flame, Myriad Star Fire. If he couldn't withstand mere Nether Toxin, he'd be far too pathetic.

As expected, not only did the toxin fail to harm him, but its purification brought unexpected benefits. Ye Chen's mood brightened further. He'd been worried about finding a way to gift something to An Miaoli. Now, there was no need to fret. This daring act would surely touch her heart. A critical reward was practically guaranteed!

Using the Wind-Thunder Wings as a gift—what kind of reward might that trigger? Ye Chen's heart swelled with anticipation.

"Well done running, Wind-Thunder Jiao," he murmured. "But where are you hiding?"

Divine patterns flickered in Ye Chen's eyes as his Heavy Pupil activated. Eagerly, he scanned the Netherwater Pool for the beast's trace.

Soon, he spotted it. A thousand meters below, the Wind-Thunder Jiao's massive body coiled, its black, bell-like eyes glaring up at him, brimming with murderous intent and overwhelming pressure.

A grin spread across Ye Chen's face. "Found you."