ISWI Chapter 214-215

Chapter 214: Eyes Turn Green with Envy!

Outside the grand hall, the disciples were already abuzz. They were all speculating about the identity of the mysterious direct disciple inside.

"Could it be Senior Sister An Yuyi? After all, she is the Grand Elder's niece and has dual spiritual roots. The techniques she has mastered are said to perfectly align with her spiritual roots!"

"It's possible, but have you noticed Han Li isn't here either? Junior Brother Han's talent seems average, but he's always so secretive; I'm sure he's hiding something."

"Senior Brother Wang Lin, who once injured Brother Shi in the direct disciple competition, isn't here either. Ever since his family was massacred by rogue cultivators, his cultivation has skyrocketed…"

"It might also be Junior Brother Xiao…"

Everyone was guessing.

However, the most accepted speculation was still An Yuyi. It was widely believed that she had gradually amassed power and was truly showcasing her strength at this moment.

And since Senior Sister An Yuyi wasn't fond of Li Feng, as everyone knew, if the mysterious direct disciple inside was indeed her, then allowing Li Feng inside might very well be a strategy to suppress him.

Qiao Ciguang and Shi Wanli also felt this was the most likely scenario. However, just then, several figures approached the main peak. Not only did they include the direct disciples that everyone was discussing, but leading them was An Yuyi herself.

This truly baffled everyone. An Yuyi was outside as well? Then who was the mysterious direct disciple inside the hall? Was there really a hidden monster among their Divine Will Sect's direct disciples? And nobody knew about it?

This was utterly preposterous! An Yuyi slightly frowned as she saw the crowd that had already gathered atop the main peak. On her way here, a distress signal was sent out by a disciple being chased by a late-stage Foundation Establishment demonic beast, possibly facing death, and she had gone to the rescue, killing the beast but wasting time. Otherwise, she wouldn't have arrived so late.

However, when An Yuyi saw Qiao Ciguang and Shi Wanli sitting outside the hall, still somewhat pale, she was slightly surprised. These two were her main competitors for the phoenix blood. Why hadn't they gone in?

"Why haven't the two senior brothers entered?" An Yuyi asked.

Qiao Ciguang and Shi Wanli, though surprised that the person inside wasn't An Yuyi, sighed and responded, "We can't get in!"

Neither of them wanted to admit they’d been blasted out of the hall so many times they hadn’t even caught a glimpse of the mysterious figure inside. Still, An Yuyi pieced together what was happening from the other core disciples’ whispers. A secretive core disciple was holding court in the grand hall. Even Qiao Ciguang and Shi Wanli, working together, couldn’t break through and had been sent flying multiple times. Yet, Li Feng had made it inside.

Li Feng!

The name made An Yuyi’s eyes narrow. She’d never liked Li Feng. Part of it was the threat Li Feng posed to her status, but more than that, it was because Ye Chen seemed to have a soft spot for her. He’d even given Li Feng a core disciple slot. When Ye Chen returned to Shenyicheng, he treated An Yuyi and Li Feng differently, which was clearly his mistake. If he liked her, he should’ve kept his distance from other women. But Li Feng? She was just insufferable.

Glancing at the hall, An Yuyi started walking toward it. Qiao Ciguang quickly spoke up, “Junior Sister An, the mysterious disciple in there is incredibly strong. You might want to wait.”

Shi Wanli nodded in agreement.

But An Yuyi didn’t slow down. If Li Feng can get in, so can I, she thought. Otherwise, wouldn’t that mean I’m inferior to her? That was something she couldn’t accept.

Seeing her ignore their advice, Qiao Ciguang and Shi Wanli shook their heads.

She’ll understand when she gets blasted out.

As An Yuyi disappeared into the hall, the two silently counted down, expecting her to be sent flying any moment. But dozens of breaths passed, and nothing happened. No commotion, no sign of An Yuyi being ejected.

The crowd outside fell silent, their gazes shifting to the two senior disciples. Qiao Ciguang and Shi Wanli, who’d been wary of the mysterious figure, now looked stunned.

What’s going on? Has a full-on battle broken out inside? Is the mysterious disciple too busy to deal with outsiders?

Exchanging a glance, they shot toward the hall once more, determined to see who was playing the pig to eat the tiger, pulling off such a shocking move at the last moment.

But the next instant, they were sent flying again, crashing into the ground and leaving even deeper craters. This time, they didn’t even bother climbing out. Sprawled in their pits, they stared at the sky, questioning their entire existence.

What is going on?

Li Feng got in. An Yuyi got in. But the two of them couldn’t? They were ready to lose their minds. If there was a direct disciple they couldn’t beat, fine—they could accept that. The cultivation world was vast, with countless years of history; someone could’ve stumbled onto a rare opportunity. But for others to waltz in while they were kept out? That felt like a personal insult.

The atmosphere outside the grand hall was tense, and the expressions of the direct disciples were somewhat strange. Phoenix blood could solidify a nine-grade Golden Core, and with such a treasure available only once every century, all top direct disciples were expected to reveal their true power without holding back. The notion that the two previously considered the strongest could actually be the weakest was unsettling to everyone.

The crowd’s stares only deepened the gloom of the two still lying in their craters. This trip to the Divine Will Cave Heaven was turning out to be nothing like they’d imagined.

...

Inside the grand hall, An Yuyi, somewhat puzzled about her easy entry, was startled to see Ye Chen and immediately asked, "Ye Chen, how are you here?"

Ye Chen, having effortlessly repelled those who attempted to re-enter, repeated his earlier explanation. Understanding the situation, An Yuyi's face lit up with a smile. She had been upset with Ye Chen for his previous cold demeanor towards her.

Now, it seemed, Ye Chen had truly been preoccupied. After all, the Divine Will Cave Heaven had opened shortly after. Ye Chen must have seen that she was ready to advance to the Golden Core stage and thus chose to open the domain early to help her acquire the phoenix blood.

Thinking this, An Yuyi's gaze softened considerably. She had misunderstood Ye Chen again. Still, she thought, Ye Chen should have communicated more clearly. Once they were together, she'd have to make sure he dropped this bad habit of his. Despite her joy, her mood soured upon seeing Li Feng.

"Ye Chen, why is she here? Why not blast her out too?" An Yuyi asked unhappily.

Hearing this, Li Feng scoffed, looking down disdainfully, "Blast me out? Fellow Daoist Ye opened the Divine Will Cave Heaven early so I could acquire the phoenix blood and advance to the Golden Core stage sooner. If you keep talking nonsense, I might just blast you out myself."

Li Feng was confident. Ye Chen had given her the direct disciple spot and the Phoenix Blood Crimson Gold, both of inestimable value and also very useful to Ye Chen himself. Yet, he had unhesitatingly given them to her. Of course, the phoenix blood was meant for her.

An Yuyi, now genuinely amused, retorted, "Ye Chen opened the Divine Will Cave Heaven for you? Can you go look in the mirror? Ye Chen once faced a Golden Core demonic beast head-on to protect me, risking his life without stepping back! And the Divine Will Pool spot, precious to any Foundation Establishment cultivator, was given to me without hesitation by Ye Chen. There are countless other instances of his thoughtfulness. Are you delusional to make such foolish claims?"

Li Feng was taken aback by this revelation. So Ye Chen had these past connections with An Yuyi? It seemed Ye Chen had once been devoted to An Yuyi. But that was all in the past...

After seeing her true face and revealing her Fire Phoenix Spiritual Body, and her explosive declaration of identity, Ye Chen had been completely won over by her. Poor An Yuyi, she thought, still utterly oblivious.

Chapter 215: Incompetent Yet Overconfident

Being mocked to look in the mirror? That's something female cultivators generally cannot tolerate. Yet, Li Feihuang merely laughed it off. Her true visage, one of regal and opulent beauty, was beyond An Yuyi's wildest imagination.

Just a jester, she thought.

Li Feihuang, uninterested in further dialogue with An Yuyi, simply raised her eyes and smiled lightly at Ye Chen.

"Fellow Daoist Ye, what do you say?"

An Yuyi, irritated by Li Feihuang's demeanor, also looked up at Ye Chen, waiting for him to speak and crush Li Feng's hopes.

...

Both women were exceedingly confident, each believing that Ye Chen would undoubtedly bestow the phoenix blood upon her. Their attitudes only reinforced Ye Chen's resolve. He knew the phoenix blood needed to be gifted, but it couldn't be given away so casually. Especially not with Li Feihuang's presumptuous confidence, taking it for granted. If it were given away so easily, it might not achieve the critical hit he was hoping for.

So, faced with the expectant gazes of both women, Ye Chen showed a hint of difficulty. Looking from one to the other, he hesitated for a long time before finally speaking, "The Divine Will Cave Heaven was opened early, and the phoenix blood has not yet fully condensed. There are still five days left. The ownership of the phoenix blood can be discussed then!"

Ye Chen's response was clearly evasive, not willing to commit to a stance. This left both women somewhat disappointed.

Li Feihuang shook her head secretly as she observed Ye Chen. She had thought that Ye Chen would firmly stand behind her, robustly supporting her. That he would become her true and reliable Golden Dragon King in the future. But just the presence of An Yuyi had made Ye Chen waver.

How could someone she regarded as a loyal subject be so indecisive because of romantic entanglements? This was a profound disappointment to her!

An Yuyi could hardly accept the situation. What status did Li Feng have to be compared to her? If Ye Chen truly cared for her, he should have supported her wholeheartedly. Now, he hesitated because of someone like Li Feng? What a joke!

An Yuyi's anger surged. Remembering Ye Chen's pettiness—how he had refused to forgive her despite numerous apologies—she restrained herself from lashing out at him. Instead, she turned her ire towards Li Feng.

"I've disliked you for a while now. Let's settle this!" An Yuyi declared a challenge. She intended to suppress Li Feng, to beat her thoroughly, and vent her frustrations.

Upon hearing this, Li Feng just laughed. Even with her ordinary appearance, she spoke with a grandeur, "You are hardly worthy to be my opponent, but since you ask for a battle, I shall indulge you. Let you understand the difference between a sparrow and a phoenix. Some things are not yours to claim, no matter how hard you fight!"

An Yuyi's eyes narrowed at these words. This woman truly wanted to compete with her for Ye Chen? But did she even qualify?

In the next moment, An Yuyi, fueled by rage, launched her attack. A stream of starlight shot from her hands towards Li Feng.

Li Feng remained calm, countering with a large fireball, seemingly unconcerned about An Yuyi's abilities. However, her expression changed slightly the moment the two spells met. An Yuyi's starlight not only extinguished her fireball but continued towards her with overwhelming force.

"Black Water power?" Li Feng dodged, a trace of surprise in her expression.

An Yuyi smiled confidently. Her aunt had prepared the mystical Black Water for her well in advance for the contest over the phoenix blood. After refining it, her attacks carried a hint of Black Water's power, which was particularly effective against fire-based techniques. It was proving effective now.

An Yuyi was ready to give Li Feng a harsh lesson. But Li Feng was only slightly taken aback. She smiled confidently again. "So what if you have Black Water?"

Her Fire Phoenix Spiritual Body, accompanied by the Southern Radiant Fire, was not suppressed by Black Water. The next moment, a golden light shimmered in Li Feng's eyes...

…

The grand hall echoed with the sounds of magical spells colliding, creating a relentless din. Ye Chen, sitting at a distance, watched the two women battle with great interest. Indeed, it seemed just a matter of time before two women in the same place would end up fighting.

An Yuyi's magic was intriguing. Her starforce intermingled with divine thunder, making for a formidable display. She also incorporated a trace of Black Water, which naturally suppressed fire-based spells.

However, Li Feng appeared unfazed despite the elemental disadvantage. Her mastery over fire spells was effortless, each one tinged with a bit of Southern Radiant Fire, which easily evaporated the Black Water.

Thus, within mere moments, An Yuyi found herself at a disadvantage. A few breaths later, she was blasted back, crashing heavily against the hall's wall.

Ye Chen shook his head, unable to contain his amusement. He had suspected An Yuyi wouldn't last long, but her quick defeat confirmed she was both incompetent and overconfident.

Li Feng hovered in midair, a flame dancing in her open palm, and spoke disdainfully, "Pathetic!"

Frustrated by Li Feng's demeaning gaze, An Yuyi's pride swelled.

Seeing Ye Chen shaking his head in disappointment was more than she could bear.

"I possess a Stellar Spiritual Root, which is naturally at a disadvantage here in the hall," she protested. "Do you dare to face me outside in a proper battle?"

Li Feng smiled lightly, "Sure, why not? The phoenix blood will take a few more days to condense. I might as well spend the time giving you a proper thrashing."

With that, Li Feng gracefully flew out of the hall.

An Yuyi, grinding her teeth in anger, swallowed a healing pill, quickly tidied her hair and face, and followed swiftly after…

…

The sudden exit of the two women from the grand hall, commencing their battle right outside, left the onlooking direct disciples in stunned silence.

It was deep into the night. The Cave Heaven could channel starlight, and under its glow, An Yuyi seemed to regain some of her lost ground, her confidence visibly bolstered.

Qiao Ciguang and Shi Wanli, having recovered from their injuries, had not left the scene. Apart from wanting to discover the identity of the mysterious direct disciple, there was a part of them that could not accept their failure. They had entered the Divine Will Cave Heaven with high hopes, only to be barred from even the main hall. Wouldn't that turn them into a laughingstock?

Now that the women had left the hall, it indicated that the phoenix blood had likely been taken. They needed to enter the hall at least once to see who it was. Exchanging a glance, they burst forward, charging back into the hall.

But the next moment, both were once again sent flying out, creating another massive crater on impact. This time, they truly did not want to get up.

Shi Wanli lay in the crater, his eyes red with frustration. As a genius, he had always had a smooth sailing cultivation journey and had never suffered such indignity…

You're strong, so be it. But why on earth am I not even allowed to enter the hall? It was just too much!

High above in the sky, after hundreds of breaths, An Yuyi, bathed in starlight like a celestial maiden from the moon, was blasted back once more, crashing onto the peak.

Li Feihuang tilted her chin slightly, a smirk curling her lips. “Recognized your place yet? Back off on your own.”

In Li Feihuang’s eyes, An Yuyi couldn’t even match Ye Chen’s strength—she was nowhere near worthy of being her rival. With that, Li Feihuang glided effortlessly back into the hall.

An Yuyi, having been defeated twice, could no longer deny the gap in their power. But she wasn’t ready to admit defeat. So what if Li Feng is strong? She’s still so plain-looking! To An Yuyi, Ye Chen’s special attention to Li Feng was just a matter of mutual respect between powerhouses, nothing more. It definitely wasn’t love.

Ye Chen likes me, she thought. He’ll make the right choice in the end. The Phoenix Blood is destined to be mine.

Casting a quick cleansing spell on herself, An Yuyi straightened her robes and marched back into the hall with determined strides.