ISWI Chapter 679-680

Chapter 679: Holy Prince!

Mahayana Second Heaven required balancing body, soul, and domain into a profound harmony, fostering deeper connections for endless vitality. Once achieved, the breakthrough was complete. This synergy granted a flawless aura, vastly boosting body, soul, and domain power.

At this stage, cultivators could instantly heal organs without healing arts, with surging vitality. Establishing this link was tough—ordinary cultivators took one to two years, even decades.

But Ye Chen, starting his breakthrough, grinned. Maybe his physique was too heaven-defying, or the Yellow Spring Water's abundance. Building the trinity was effortless. He estimated half a month to reach Second Heaven!

…

Ye Chen secluded, but his name echoed. He'd nearly wiped out this generation's human prodigies, plus some from the Myriad Races. Too invincible. His battle with Lan Nuo, outcome unknown, didn't dent his unmatched aura. Many believed he'd claim this era's immortal destiny.

Despite the Immortal Path teeming with ancient demons, past-generation prodigies, and revived antiques sealed in divine sources, Ye Chen was favored. This era, the last Immortal Path, saw many ancient beings emerge. Some Eighth Heaven existences held the eighth realm. Others spotted prodigies from other worlds, arriving at great cost.

Yet, Ye Chen was seen as the likeliest to ascend. Historically, 80% of Immortal Path ascensions were by current-generation prodigies. Past prodigies, however great, were often surpassed, suppressed by destiny's bias against those not of this era. Despite Ye Chen's modest cultivation, many saw his immortal potential. His fame drew both praise and enmity.

In the Immortal Path's third realm, a golden-furred monkey, under five feet but robust, sat atop a divine peak. His casual movements held star-plucking might, his breaths warping the void, his body unimaginably strong. Beside him, a plain black iron staff radiated extreme killing intent.

No one dared approach the peak. Even Third Heaven Kings detoured, wary. This was the Holy Prince of the Victorious Fighting Ape Clan. His father, a quasi-immortal who failed ascension 100,000 years ago, foresaw a distant Immortal Path opening. His son, supremely gifted, surpassing him, had immortal potential. Post-Mahayana, he sealed him in the divine source at great cost. Now revived.

"Holy Prince, Ye Chen left the Immortal Path and Central Continent, taking the Compliant Golden-Hooped Rod…" a clan member reported.

The Holy Prince's eyes opened, golden light blazing, thunderous face exuding pressure. Without rising, the void around him twisted, as if the heavens couldn't contain his body. The Holy Prince spoke calmly: "The Compliant Golden-Hooped Rod has always belonged to our clan. Send someone to the Central Continent. Have the Heavenly Emperor's heir return it, and I'll overlook his defiling our sacred relic. As for the Heavenly Emperor's past grudges with our clan, I don't care. This life, I only seek immortality."

Even his calm words carried terrifying pressure, his gaze piercing. The clan member trembled, nodding. "As you command, Holy Prince. But if Ye Chen refuses or bargains?"

The Holy Prince's expression stayed cold, eyes closing. His icy voice rang: "I want it, he gives it. Not a negotiation—an order. If he refuses, I'll take it myself!"

Killing intent surged, his domineering aura rising like a king atop the clouds. The clan member, awed, bowed and left, confident in their prince. Ye Chen was terrifying—Heavy pupils, Scared body, Supreme heart. But their Holy Prince was worse.

Victorious Fighting Ape Clan, unmatched in close combat, could suppress same-realm holy bodies. Even the strongest holy body, the Heavenly Emperor, was nearly torn apart by their clan's prodigy. Plus, the Holy Prince awakened three divine abilities through atavism, mastered the clan's Nine Revolutions Mysterious Art to the eighth turn, and held a realm advantage. Killing Ye Chen? Easy.

…

In the Myriad Races Immortal City, the Heavenly Demon Clan's palace.

Yao Yuekong sat in a corner, head low, meek—unlike his usual domineering air. Before him stood his powerful parents and a tall, graceful figure with arched willow brows, looking tearful and wronged beside them.

"Father, Mother, Brother sold me to the Heavenly Emperor's heir. I don't blame him. His life matters too! But that heir's reputation is vile, consorting with many female cultivators, even elders' orphans and seniors. I fear he'll ambush and abduct me, so I dare not go to the Immortal Path.

"With a supreme Extreme Dao Weapon, I'd feel safer. But our clan has only one, and Ancestor favors Brother, reserving it for his breakthrough. It's fine. Brother's frail. Without it, he'd be suppressed again…

"I don't resent him using me to escape or taking the clan's only supreme Extreme Dao Weapon, nor being a girl who'll never get recognition despite my efforts. I only pity him…"

Hearing his sister's familiar manipulative tone, Yao Yuekong, already guilty, twitched. Her tricks had stolen much from him since childhood.

Before his parents spoke, he conceded, "My talent's lacking. The Extreme Dao Weapon's useless to me. Give it to Sister."

Chapter 680: Husband and Uncle-in-law

"So be it. Yuekong, stay and cultivate in the clan! And don't mention your aunt again!"

Hearing Yao Yuekong yield the clan's supreme Extreme Dao Weapon, his parents agreed without hesitation. After they left, Yao Yuekong faced his sister helplessly. Her willow brows held gentle charm, but her emerald eyes added an odd allure.

Despite her Heavenly Demon Body, she lacked bulging muscles, her limbs slender, waist as thin as his arm. She seemed frail, delicate. But Yao Yuekong knew her body's absurdity. She'd overpowered him since childhood.

In the womb, their mother consumed treasures to bolster fetal deficiencies—clan heirlooms that pained the Heavenly Demon Clan. He got none; she took all, perfecting her Heavenly Demon Body with extra mysteries. Out of the womb, she dominated. Growing up, he learned to yield, like now.

"Yuezhi, I didn't sell you. I meant to threaten Ye Chen with you and Aunt, but he misunderstood. I didn't expect him to be like that! I'd rather have died on that battlefield."

Seeing her emerald eyes gleam dangerously, he explained hastily.

Yao Yuezhi raised her brows, smiling sweetly. "Elder brother's like a father. Even if you betrothed me to Ye Chen, how could I refuse?"

Sensing trouble, he blurted, "I gave you the weapon's inheritance!"

Her brows curved, eyes crescent. "Brother, you're so kind. I need materials for an array, but I'm short. I was going to borrow from you, but after you gave me the inheritance, how could I ask? I'll visit the Peacock Clan, ask Aunt for a loan…"

Yao Yuekong shuddered, lips twitching. "How much do you need?"

Her eyes curved more. "How much do you have?"

He shivered, regretting not dying to Ye Chen's fist. Later, emptied, he left the hall, saying helplessly, "I promised Ye Chen nothing, so don't worry."

Yao Yuezhi shook her head. "Ancestor doubts my immortal potential, wanting to bet on the Undying Celestial Phoenix Clan, using me for a marriage alliance to secure an immortal realm slot. If the Holy Emperor's heir is that strong, with a treasury to fuel my ascension, being his Dao companion wouldn't hurt. He's interested in Aunt too, right? If he's capable, I could persuade her."

Yuekong shuddered, stepping back, saying earnestly, "It's just a proposal. If you don't want it, I'll beg Ancestor."

Yao Yuezhi gazed afar, lost in thought, silent.

Moments later, news arrived.

Yao Yuekong frowned, puzzled. "The Victorious Fighting Ape Clan's Holy Prince? Sent someone to demand the Compliant Golden-Hooped Rod? Said if Ye Chen doesn't comply, he'll take it himself? Who gave that monkey courage? I could beat him single-handedly!"

This generation's Victorious Fighting Apes were weak, their bloodlines impure. Even Yao Yuekong disdained them.

Yao Yuezhi's eyes lit up. "I heard they swapped the Holy Prince. A quasi-immortal's son, talent surpassing his father. Recently revived, not yet announced. Using the Heavenly Emperor's heir to make a name?"

Yuekong raised a brow, unsurprised. This era had many such figures—prodigies sealed in divine sources, unwilling to accept defeat or waiting for the Immortal Path. Most were high-potential prodigies saved for the End of Dharma. Their clan had some, but none matched Yao Yuezhi. Releasing them now was wasteful, so they stayed sealed.

"Will the Heavenly Emperor's heir back down?" Yao Yuezhi asked.

Recalling Ye Chen's imperial aura with the Heavenly Emperor Fist, Yao Yuekong shook his head. "No. He might even seek them out."

Yao Yuezhi's lips curved. "Really? I'm excited… let's see if the husband and uncle-in-law you picked for me are reliable!"

Yao Yuekong shuddered, nearly kneeling, begging her to stop.

Word spread deliberately. The cultivation world buzzed: the Victorious Fighting Ape Clan had a new Holy Prince. A quasi-immortal's son, talent surpassing his ancestors, even astonishing his father. He'd mastered Nine Revolutions Mysterious Art to the eighth turn. His already absurd physique awakened new divine abilities, granting him peerless strength.

This alone sparked talk. But the real excitement was his demand for the Compliant Golden-Hooped Rod. If Ye Chen didn't return it, he'd take it himself. The Heavenly Emperor's heir, undefeated against male cultivators, only stalemated women. The world anticipated a clash, eager to see the Holy Prince test Ye Chen's true power.

Ye Chen's fights were often instant kills, always effortless, never seeming full-strength. His longer battles, in arrays, were against women, fueling doubts about whether he was truly fighting. The Holy Prince's emergence promised a glimpse of Ye Chen's limits. Hype soared, all eyes on the Great Yan Continent, awaiting Ye Chen's response. Some wondered if he'd charge over himself.

…

In the Great Yan Continent, Heavenly Evolution Holy Land, Holy Son Peak.

A terrifying pressure surged, sweeping the holy land. Startled female cultivators on the peak beamed with joy. Their Holy Son, secluding for Second Heaven Mahayana, had succeeded! But surprise lingered. Only half a month? He was always fast, but this was too fast.