ISWI Chapter 524-526

Chapter 524: The Holy Son Is a Fierce Man!

The voluptuous and mature Heavenly Desire Sect Leader hurried over with a group of elders. Seeing that Fan Qinghe's primordial yin remained intact, she sighed in relief. But noticing Fan Qinghe's cultivation, her eyes widened. "You've already completed the second transformation ritual?"

Fan Qinghe nodded.

The Sect Leader frowned. Using the protector's Yin-Yang Qi to boost cultivation instead of transformation was the least efficient choice. But what was done was done. With the Fourth Holy Son's Yin-Yang Qi surely drained, and a Central Continent prodigy challenging him at the gate, how could he fight? Ye Chen was vital to Fan Qinghe's path.

The Sect Leader spoke earnestly, "Holy Son, you've just completed the ritual and must be depleted. Why not notify the Holy Land to send someone to retrieve you? Our sect's ancestor can ensure no enemy dares enter. This isn't avoidance—just biding your time. I believe when you step into Central Continent, no prodigy will be your match!"

Her words were considerate, preserving Ye Chen's dignity.

But Ye Chen was already frustrated from failing to gift the Unity method due to his Holy Master's unreliability. Now, being challenged because of the Heavenly Emperor Hall's blame, and hearing he might be "depleted," his temper flared. This Central Continent prodigy came at the perfect time to vent his anger.

He waved dismissively. "No need. The Divine Maiden didn't drain me. Suppressing this foe will be effortless."

With that, Ye Chen rose gracefully and flew toward the sect's mountain gate array.

The Sect Leader and elders froze, staring at Fan Qinghe with disappointment. "You didn't drain him completely?"

How disappointing! Past Divine Maidens would squeeze their protectors dry, down to the marrow. Yet Fan Qinghe left so much behind. Was she truly smitten with Ye Chen?

"You're the worst Divine Maiden our sect has ever had! What happened?" the Sect Leader fumed.

Fan Qinghe felt wronged. She had forcibly cut off the channel because she couldn't handle more. Explaining the process and showing the still-unrefined Yin-Yang Qi, she left the Sect Leader's mouth agape, mirroring her own earlier shock.

Staring at Ye Chen's departing figure, the Sect Leader was incredulous, swallowing hard. "To think such a formidable man exists! His Yin-Yang Qi pushed you from mid-Deity Transformation to its peak, and even after such immense consumption, you couldn't drain him? He's an absolute beast! Even the Heavenly Emperor, that freeloader, wasn't this fierce!"

Hearing her master praise her protector, Fan Qinghe beamed. But the Sect Leader continued, "Since you can't handle it all, next time, bring me along. He's not my protector, and my Nirvana Scripture practice would waste more, but I could still retain a tenth. You're my disciple. Keep the benefits in the family. Hogging it all leads nowhere."

Fan Qinghe froze. Oh no, her master wanted to steal her protector! No way! She'd keep hogging it all!

Ignoring her master, Fan Qinghe flew up resolutely, following Ye Chen. "Though I didn't drain the Holy Son, his Yin-Yang Qi must be nearly depleted. Our paths are linked—if he falls, my path is ruined, unable to transform or advance. I must aid him in this battle!"

Her resolve was unshakable.

The Sect Leader's smile faded. Her disciple had grown protective of her "food." She'd only been joking earlier, still haunted by her own protector's memory. After draining him, he'd returned to rebuild, only to be betrayed and killed by a rival. Otherwise, she might have reached the Mahayana stage long ago instead of stagnating in Unity. The fate of a Heavenly Desire Divine Maiden was pitiful, tied to a man's loyalty, survival, talent, and ability. Few in the sect's history had reached Mahayana, let alone immortality.

She didn't want Fan Qinghe to follow her broken path. But the challenger was the Star River King Body, a near-top-ten prodigy of Central Continent, defeated only by a narrow margin. This physique, which had produced two true immortals, wielded unparalleled star power and was among the strongest. Worse, the challenger was mid-Unity stage, far above Ye Chen's realm, with his Yin-Yang Qi still low. How could he fight?

The Sect Leader decided to summon the ancestor to intervene and save Ye Chen.

Meanwhile, Ye Chen calmly stepped out of the sect's mountain gate array. Above, a man in a starry robe stood proudly. Spectators gathered in the distance, drawn by the commotion. Ye Chen glanced at them briefly before frowning at the man. "Who are you?"

The man's face darkened. "I am Chen Lingxiao, the Star River Clan's King Body, a top-ten prodigy-level existence in Central Continent!"

Ye Chen's frown deepened. "Top-ten level? So, not even in the top ten?"

Unimpressive. Truly unimpressive. Ye Chen disliked fighting without gain. His Heavenly Emperor heir title drew too much attention. If a top-ten prodigy challenged him, he'd fight to showcase his strength and earn peace. But this Chen Lingxiao wasn't even that. Killing him wouldn't earn recognition, making the fight pointless. He'd give him a beating and let him go, since he hadn't spouted nonsense.

Ye Chen's disappointment was palpable, noticed by all. Chen Lingxiao, the mighty Star River King Body, was furious at being so belittled, even by the Heavenly Emperor's heir.

Just then, Fan Qinghe floated to Ye Chen's side, her perfect figure radiating Yin-Yang Qi and battle intent. Ye Chen was slightly surprised.

She smiled charmingly. "I'm the Holy Son's woman. Naturally, I stand with him, in life or death!"

Ye Chen grinned, his gaze softening. True or not, her words warmed him. Despite his apparent disadvantage, Fan Qinghe stood by him without hesitation, clear for all to see.

Chen Lingxiao's eyes gleamed with admiration as he gazed at Fan Qinghe, her honeyed skin radiating a wild, sweet allure. Even in Central Continent, such a captivating woman was rare, especially with her primordial yin intact. No wonder Ye Chen came to the Heavenly Desire Sect. His anger faded, and he smiled. "Fairy, once I crush this man, I'll take you to the Central Continent to see its splendors. I'll even reserve a spot for you in the Immortal Realm!"

Ye Chen, who hadn't taken him seriously, sighed.

The onlookers from the Great Yan Continent perked up. Everyone knew you could insult Holy Son Ye, and his magnanimity might spare you. But coveting his woman? This battle would now be a fight to the death.

Chapter 525: The Mouthpiece of the Cultivation World!

Ye Chen never wasted words on the dead. Fan Qinghe, ever supportive, scoffed at Chen Lingxiao. "Star River King Body? A second-rate constitution. In the Heavenly Emperor's era, the Star River Clan provoked him and lost three divine sons in three years. With that record, you dare covet me? Dare challenge the Holy Son? I'd rather be his servant than let you glance at me. You're unworthy!"

Her words fell, and she ignited a divine light, shielding herself like a dazzling orb, her disdain unmistakable. Ye Chen chuckled, pulled her close for a sweet, lingering kiss, then said, "Step back. This guy's not even a top-ten prodigy, just a bit stronger than the Heavenly Intention Holy Son. No need for us both to fight him."

Fan Qinghe's eyes held worry—she knew how much she'd drained him. But for his sake, she didn't question, retreating obediently. As she did, she shot Chen a disdainful spit, utterly unrefined yet charmingly endearing in her beauty. Ye Chen grinned; he loved her dramatic flair—it made him look good.

Chen Lingxiao's face darkened. This rare beauty, so docile with Ye Chen, would rather be his servant than glance his way. She even brought up his clan's shameful past and spat at him. He, the Star River King Body, was adored by female cultivators in Central Continent, yet humiliated in this backwater Great Yan Continent?

His fury turned to cold laughter, eyes brimming with killing intent. He'd kill Ye Chen, then seize this woman and see how tough her mouth remained.

Without another word, starlight flared behind him. A starry river surged forth, his dao weapon's might echoing, illuminating the heavens. Bathed in starlight, Chen's terrifying aura swept thousands of miles, cracking the void as if a star lord had descended.

The onlookers' pupils shrank, awestruck. Truly a top-ten-level prodigy—his power was terrifying. Save for peers of equal caliber, the Star River King Body was invincible in the Unity stage.

As Chen, wielding his Dao Weapon, coldly eyed Ye Chen, ready to speak, Fan Qinghe interjected with a sneer. "That's the Dao Weapon used by the Star River King in his Unity stage. He sought the Dao his whole life, left no heirs, and died waiting for the immortal path to open. Before passing, he buried himself and his legacy in a hidden tomb. And now it's in your hands? You, a Central Continent prodigy, came to Great Yan to rob graves?"

Her words sparked an uproar. Chen, poised to show off, twitched. He'd gained this through fated fortune, a mark of his supreme luck. Yet her words twisted it into something shameful. If this spread to the Central Continent, what would the divine maidens and holy daughters think? While others debated the Dao in Central Continent, he, the Star River King, was digging tombs in Great Yan? Utterly humiliating!

Facing everyone's stares, Chen Lingxiao awkwardly explained, "What grave-robbing? I stumbled into a pit and found it!"

"Enough talk, Ye Chen, die! There’s no need to even use my domain to kill you." Enraged, he raised a hand, summoning countless blazing stars that formed a starry curtain, radiating terrifying energy as they crashed toward Ye Chen. An ordinary Unity-stage cultivator would struggle to withstand even one blow, forced to dodge.

Ye Chen, however, marveled at Fan Qinghe's talent—a true mouthpiece of the cultivation world, infuriating foes with ease. Facing Chen Lingxiao's terrifying divine technique, he remained calm. Raising a hand, his amplified Yin-Yang Qi, powered by his Extreme Dao Dantian's immense output, surged forth, silently obliterating the destructive starry curtain. The heavens cleared in an instant, leaving only serene clarity.

Chen Lingxiao froze, shocked at Ye Chen's vast Yin-Yang Qi, far surpassing his own at the Deity Transformation stage. Still, he accepted it—Ye Chen was the Heavenly Emperor's heir, after all. But he'd kill him regardless! A flash at his brow unleashed his domain, not toward Ye Chen but skyward.

Instantly, the millions of miles around darkened as if midnight had fallen at noon, with countless stars shining above, their light converging into beams that empowered Chen's body. His already fearsome aura multiplied, exuding the majesty of a star lord.

Smirking, Chen had perfected his domain with the Star River King's tomb-retrieved legacy, enabling him to fight under a true starry sky anytime, fully unleashing his physique's power and erasing its flaws. His Star River King Body was the strongest in history, flawless, capable of rivaling even the era's Heavy Pupil, Supreme Heart, or Heavenly Demon Body.

As his confidence soared, Fan Qinghe spoke again. "Didn't you say you wouldn't use your domain? What's this?"

Chen's mouth twitched, glaring at the beautiful yet sharp-tongued woman, pretending not to hear. He charged at Ye Chen with boundless starlight, now several times stronger, truly fearsome under the starry sky.

Yet Ye Chen remained unruffled, activating the Battle Secret to channel his Yin-Yang Qi, forming a massive black-and-white yin-yang millstone in the sky. Spanning millions of miles, it eclipsed the starlight, absorbing and grinding it to nothing.

Chen's empowered aura plummeted without the starlight's support. Staring at the colossal millstone, formed entirely of Yin-Yang Qi, he couldn't believe it. How could a Deity Transformation cultivator hold so much energy—greater than his own domain? How wasn't Ye Chen bursting?

Fan Qinghe, outwardly calm but inwardly anxious, gaped at the millstone capable of grinding all existence. She hadn't believed Ye Chen's claim of not being drained, thinking only a few drops remained, said to ease her worry. But now, she was stunned. After seven days of risking overload, she'd thought she'd taken nearly all his energy—yet it was a mere fraction? A drop in the bucket?

A deep sense of inadequacy hit her. She'd only absorbed a tiny portion despite Ye Chen's encouragement, utterly failing his expectations.

Chapter 526: Multiplier Secret

The yin-yang millstone Ye Chen unleashed was terrifying, spanning millions of miles, each rotation threatening to obliterate the world. In an instant, it not only devoured the starlight but also shattered Chen Lingxiao's domain. The vast starry sky vanished in a flash.

Under Chen's incredulous gaze, Ye Chen calmly raised a hand. The yin-yang millstone pressed downward, its terrifying suction locking onto Chen, denying him escape.

Chen's expression shifted as he activated his Star River Dao Weapon, enveloping himself in countless orbiting stars for protection. He also invoked a mysterious Dao and law. Each rotation of the millstone destroyed countless stars, but more instantly formed, endlessly shielding him.

Ye Chen raised an eyebrow, impressed by the dao weapon Chen had looted from a tomb. Fan Qinghe called out, "Holy Son, that's the Star River King's dao weapon, infused with countless divine materials and dozens of great stars over a century, aiming to become an Extreme Dao Weapon. Though it failed, its power, enhanced by the Star River King's blood and dao, far exceeds ordinary Dao Weapons, endlessly generating stars!"

The Heavenly Desire Sect wasn't known for strength, but its female disciples and elders had close ties with many powerful cultivators, often discussing the Dao late into the night. Their intelligence network was unmatched. As the Divine Maiden, Fan Qinghe had access to many secrets.

Ye Chen's eyes lit up. What a treasure! If he gifted it later, it could yield a top-tier Extreme Dao Weapon. This fight wasn't in vain. He waved, dismissing the millstone. With his ten-thousandfold Yin-Yang Qi, he recovered faster than he consumed. But since the Star River artifact was inexhaustible, there was no need to grind it down slowly. A single devastating strike was the way.

His Multiplier Secret could trigger a tenfold boost, perfect for this foe. It was also a chance to test its activation rate. If it were too unreliable, he'd rely on it less in future battles.

Seeing the millstone vanish, Chen Lingxiao exhaled, thinking Ye Chen had given up. He recognized the gap in their strength—Ye Chen's dominance reminded him of ancestral tales of the terrifying Heavenly Emperor. He didn't want to die or force his clan to replace another divine son. Unless his Seventh Ancestor intervened.

Chen sent a transmission, but the Seventh Ancestor sighed in response. The Heavenly Emperor had crushed their clan's prodigies, replacing three divine sons in three years. Now his heir was overwhelmingly dominant.

"There's no chance," the ancestor replied. "Too many spectators, and the Heavenly Desire Sect has a Mahayana expert. We can't silence them all. Killing Ye Chen is easy, and the remote Heavenly Evolution Holy Land is nothing, but the Heavenly Emperor Hall's retaliation could wipe out our clan."

"Leave," he urged. Since they couldn't win or kill, retreat was the only option. As the Heavenly Emperor's heir, Ye Chen's strength could be praised to save face—Chen's loss wouldn't be shameful.

The Seventh Ancestor appeared, his divine aura overwhelming, exuding Mahayana-stage might. He glanced at Ye Chen, then reached to take Chen Lingxiao away.

The crowd erupted, unsurprised. Protectors often stepped in to save their prodigies before they fell. Spectators marveled at the Fourth Holy Son's dominance. No wonder the Heavenly Intention Holy Son was split in two— even a Central Continent prodigy, a realm above, was no match. Cleaving the Heavenly Intention Holy Son in half made perfect sense.

Seeing the Seventh Ancestor intervene, Ye Chen smirked coldly. A massive hand shot from the void, clashing with the ancestor's, blocking his path. A booming voice followed: "Think you can offend our Fourth Holy Son and just leave?"

Chen Lingxiao's expression shifted. The Seventh Ancestor squinted at the figure, sensing their early Unity-stage aura. "Mo Yixi? Didn't you sublimate and die?"

He knew Mo Yixi, famous in the Central Continent after his battle with Fang Qing, captured in widely sold recording stones. Rumor had it Mo died after his Ultimate Dao Sublimation, delighting many holy lands and clans.

Mo Yixi, face stern, retorted, "Die? How could I? My genius crafted an unparalleled Ultimate Dao Sublimation technique with three chances, each stronger than the last. I've got two left—want to try them?"

The ancestor's eyes held doubt but he hesitated to fight Mo. "Why make a prodigy battle life-or-death? Since neither side can win, let's end it. I'll take my divine son and go."

Mo Yixi grinned. "You don't know our Holy Son. Insult him, fine. Covet his woman? Unacceptable. He's not leaving today."

The ancestor's face darkened. "No room to negotiate?"

Mo's silence spoke volumes. The ancestor's killing intent surged, his body radiating boundless dao charm, rippling the void. A mountain-sized hand lunged at Mo. "Since you refuse respect, I'll crush your remaining sublimations!"

Mo reacted swiftly, forming seals and roaring. His aura spiked to the peak of Immortal Platform's first heaven in a blink, shattering the ancestor's hand and charging forward.

The ancestor, unfazed, reassured the defending Chen Lingxiao, "With the Star River's protection, you're safe. Once I deal with this fool, I'll come for you."

As Mo blocked the ancestor, Ye Chen sprang into action, closing in on Chen Lingxiao with ferocious dao and law attacks. Even Unity-stage cultivators would struggle against them, but the Star River Dao Weapon held firm, its stars endlessly regenerating, perfectly shielding Chen.

Chen remained calm, confident his ancestor would easily defeat the "washed-up" Mo and rescue him. Ye Chen's efforts were futile. "Covet your woman? So what? You think I'll die? Try killing me!" Unable to beat Ye Chen, Chen sought superiority elsewhere.

The ancestor thought the same. But in the next moment, his face paled. Chen, smug under his Star River shield, widened his eyes in terror.

Ye Chen, already exuding an aura beyond a Deity Transformation cultivator, surged tenfold—not a mere fraction, but a full ten times stronger.

"Multiplier…" the ancestor realized, lunging desperately to save Chen.

Too late.

Ye Chen's fist struck. The Star River shattered. The void within ten thousand miles collapsed. The punch seemed to smash the world back into primordial chaos…