ISWI Chapter 558-559

Chapter 558: The Cycle of Karma

Seeing Manjusaka's final glare, Ye Chen knew she'd controlled Su Yuxuan's body. Indeed, Su Yuxuan's big eyes blinked, feigning hurt. "Senior Brother, I let it slide when you chased those shady, entangled women. But now, with me here, you touch my master's foot… You don't care about my feelings at all? Does love really fade?"

Ye Chen rolled his eyes, dropping her foot. This girl was totally playing him.

She giggled, sensing his weakened aura, and asked uncertainly, "Senior Brother, why hasn't your origin recovered? Last time you regrew a golden core instantly."

He snorted. "It's a physique's origin, not chives to regrow on the spot. I'll need five years in seclusion to recover."

Su Yuxuan half-believed him, wary from past tricks. Still, she was touched. Most cultivators were selfish, avoiding even harmless acts without gain. Across the cultivation world, only Senior Brother helped her so selflessly. Even if he could recover instantly, his love was undeniable.

She nudged her foot closer. "Senior Brother, I'm so touched. Let me repay you…"

Ye Chen exhaled, impressed. Even after experiencing the Heavenly Desire Divine Maiden's top-tier skills, Su Yuxuan's agility—nimble as hands—stood out. Then, his eyes widened as the temperature shifted.

What technique was this? Something special!

He squinted, savoring the warmth and coolness, contemplating the Dao of temperature, occasionally glancing at her.

Since their parting at the Great Chu Dynasty, years had passed. Su Yuxuan seemed more mature, grown. Normally, humans—and cultivators—stopped growing at a certain age. Was this the Nether God Body's doing, with an enlarging effect? Impressive.

After a while, perhaps tired, Su Yuxuan floated up, her skirt fluttering. Ye Chen glanced, raising an eyebrow—no purple?

Noticing his surprise, she smirked slyly. "I took it off before you came… Senior Brother, is my gratitude enough?"

Ye Chen: …

What could he say? The little demoness had grown, learning to repay kindness. He gave her an approving look as she drew closer.

…

In the Endless Sea, layers of arrays stacked: Heavenly Evolution Holy Land's outermost, Heavenly Intention's next, then Ying Tiansheng's to ambush Su Yuxuan, and Ye Chen's innermost for Manjusaka's cultivation.

Yi Qingwu was in the third layer, activating the Indestructible Heavenly Art. Ying Tiansheng's Devouring Heaven Demon Art was powerless against it, like meeting its nemesis.

Her hand on his head ruthlessly drained his origin. The agony of losing it, with Yi Qingwu showing no mercy, made him wail in torment. Her stunning face, captivating to billions, gazed down coldly. After a long while, Ying Tiansheng collapsed, utterly wasted, eyes filled with despair. Years of effort—gone.

The ultimate blow: the fiancée stole everything. Years ago, his first great medicine was his master—her father. Now, his master's daughter reclaimed it all. Ying Tiansheng glimpsed the cycle of karma, retribution inescapable.

"Qingwu, are you satisfied?" he asked, smiling bitterly. "I've done much wrong, but my feelings for you were true. I only hope you won't linger in pain after I'm gone."

Yi Qingwu shook her head, expressionless. "I thought avenging you would thrill or hurt me. But since meeting Ye Chen, I stopped caring about you. You're just my father's killer. Now, with you dead, I feel only relief. I can fully devote myself to Ye Chen."

She turned, a great moon condensing behind her, ready to end him.

Ying Tiansheng, just finding peace, widened his eyes. Her words stabbed deep. He'd been with her for years—how could he lose to Ye Chen? No longer calm, he roared, "Even if I erred, I gave you everything for years. How am I less than that Ye scoundrel?"

Yi Qingwu glanced back, disdainful. "Years with you don't compare to a week of joy with Ye Chen. You think you can match him?"

Ying Tiansheng felt suffocated, the ultimate humiliation for a man. But then, her great moon vanished. Hope sparked in him.

"Qingwu, are you sparing me for old times' sake?"

She smirked mockingly. "I remembered Ye Chen has a soul-summoning banner. Your Unity realm soul shouldn't go to waste. It'll make a fine gift for him. I was about to obliterate you, so I'll use a lighter strike."

His hopeful expression froze. His body stilled. Yi Qingwu, uninterested, unleashed a moonlit beam. His body shattered. Avoiding direct contact, she sealed his soul remotely. Lifting her hand, she dispelled the vision-blocking divine light.

Eager to talk and connect with Ye Chen, she scanned the area but didn't see him. Her gaze locked onto his array. Above it, Manjusaka's near-solid soul stood, looking displeased. She glanced at Yi Qingwu, said nothing, and looked skyward.

Yi Qingwu ignored her, guessing Ye Chen was inside. With a swan-like grace, she glided toward the array. Manjusaka considered warning her but held back. The area was safe, and Ye Chen hadn't restricted array access. In the next moment, Yi Qingwu's graceful figure vanished into it.

Chapter 559: Asura Field

Entering the array, Yi Qingwu saw Ye Chen lounging like a wealthy landlord in the void. The barefoot woman sat primly.

Yi Qingwu's eyes narrowed, a chill radiating from her. Ye Chen, deeply engrossed, only now noticed her, startled. Trouble. After years of navigating the system's demands, was this the fabled Asura Field? What now? Say, "You came at the right time"?

But Yi Qingwu, his proud fiancée—no, widow-to-be—never looked at others kindly. She wouldn't say, "Seems I came at a bad time." And the two women clearly disliked each other—one called the other shady and entangled, the other deemed her barefoot and improper.

Ye Chen pondered briefly, then closed his eyes, pretending not to see. He couldn't exactly pull Su Yuxuan away now, so ignorance was best.

Su Yuxuan, sensing the intrusion, maintained her poised stance but glanced at Yi Qingwu, smirking. She upped her effort, her gaze signaling: We're busy, go away, talk later.

Yi Qingwu stood, taking it all in. She softened her icy gaze, smiling gently, warming the array like spring. Then, with her perfect legs, she approached Ye Chen. He raised an eyebrow, eyes still closed. This wasn't her usual script. He'd expected her to leave, wait outside, or toss a haughty jab. Why was she coming closer? What was she up to?

Su Yuxuan thought she'd scared Yi Qingwu off, but her rhythm faltered as Yi Qingwu advanced. Still, being the little demoness, she didn't stop, staring at Yi Qingwu, trying to embarrass her. Her eyes conveyed: It's mine. Why are you here?

But Yi Qingwu, head high, met her gaze with a scornful smile. Su Yuxuan's heart jolted. Was this woman really going to pull her off? At the Unity realm, Yi Qingwu might outmatch her.

Yet, Yi Qingwu didn't touch her. Instead, she adjusted her skirt and sat in a suitable spot, facing Su Yuxuan. The two sat opposite each other. Su Yuxuan squinted, feeling a true rival for the first time. Yi Qingwu's lips curved slightly. With your petty tricks, you think you can compete with me?

Ye Chen, utterly bewildered, remained so. He saw nothing, nor did he care to. The situation had veered far from his expectations. He could only sigh—both the Little Demoness and the fiancée were extraordinary women. Content to focus on his own matters, he savored the sweet osmanthus spiritual honey.

In a place he couldn't see, undercurrents stirred. The two women sat facing each other, sizing each other up. Yi Qingwu's smile grew wider. Even the Little Demoness, Su Yuxuan, had to admit—up close, this "improper" woman was flawless.

From top to bottom, no imperfections—perfectly proportioned, a divine creation. No wonder Ye Chen was willing to lurk nearby. Su Yuxuan had figured it out. Ye Chen's swift arrival wasn't some telepathic bond—she'd glimpsed the outside while feigning unconsciousness. He was already nearby, likely for Yi Qingwu.

Despite some disparities, Su Yuxuan wasn't insecure or flustered. Sure, Ye Chen was a notorious flirt, but he didn't love one and forget another. Her injuries genuinely pained him; he gave techniques and origins without hesitation. No matter how perfect Yi Qingwu was, he wouldn't abandon her. Plus, her feet were unmatched.

Ye Chen had just promised to craft her a white spiritual silk artifact back at the Holy Land. So, despite Yi Qingwu's perfection, Su Yuxuan had her edge. Her expression stayed proud, undaunted despite her slightly weaker cultivation and presence.

Yi Qingwu noticed Su Yuxuan's feet—stunning, yes, but she smirked dismissively. Pretty feet? Who cared? Her melodious voice rang out, "I heard that soul wanted to save Ying Tiansheng's origin for you, but Ye Chen gave it to me instead… Sorry about that."

Her words dripped with insincere apology.

Su Yuxuan's lips curved. "No way around it. Senior Brother said Ying Tiansheng's origin was too impure, bad for my cultivation. So he let me absorb his own instead. See how drained he looks? All because of me."

Yi Qingwu's eyes widened. She'd assumed Ye Chen used the five dead Supreme Elders' origins from her holy land for Su Yuxuan's recovery. But his own origin? She'd lost this round.

Annoyed, she pressed downward, punishing Ye Chen. Then, smirking, she countered, "The Devouring Heaven Demon Art purifies impurities. Ye Chen was just coaxing you. For me, he… um… sacrificed so much…"

Adjusting her breath, she pressed on, reclaiming the upper hand.

Su Yuxuan laughed lightly. "Oh, Senior Brother's a great guy. Back then, at Foundation Establishment, he faced a Golden Core powerhouse for me, spitting blood but never retreating, guarding me fiercely."

"He spent millions of top-grade spirit stones to buy Moon Laurel Tree fragments for my cultivation."

"When I wanted a pupil technique, he didn't hesitate to pluck out his eyes for me."

Yi Qingwu trembled, her lips curling into a mocking sneer. Pluck his eyes? Those were Heavy Pupils—Ye Chen would be mad to give them up. Why not claim he gave you his heart or Golden Core next? Ridiculous.

Done with Su Yuxuan's exaggerations, Yi Qingwu saw no point in arguing. They weren't on the same level. Su Yuxuan's presence here was merely Ye Chen's sentimental indecision. Seeing him relax, Yi Qingwu said sharply, "Move. It's my turn now…"