ISWI Chapter 477-479

Chapter 477: Breakthrough, Mid-Deity Transformation!

The Heavenly Emperor's infamy made his heir a focal point, and Ye Chen's confirmed status sent ripples through the cultivation world. His name became synonymous with this generation's prodigies. Yet, the fabled heir was secluded in Heavenly Evolution Holy Land.

Ye Chen sat in his cave's meditation chamber, projecting his small world's Moon Laurel Immortal Tree and Fusang Divine Tree. Though lacking their full might, they channeled Great Yin and Great Yang Holy Power, allowing seamless cultivation without entering the small world.

Suddenly, his aura surged, his brow radiating brilliant light. In his sea of spirit sense, his primordial spirit's purple aura thickened, and his Heaven and Earth Manifestation, though faceless, revealed clear muscles, hair, and chaotic runes on its divine axe, exuding a terrifying aura capable of annihilating all if unleashed.

Now mid-Deity Transformation, Ye Chen didn't rise immediately but assessed his changes. His primordial spirit strengthened, spirit sense surged, and his body improved slightly—expected for a minor breakthrough.

The greatest gain was in Heaven and Earth Manifestation. The vast Great Yang and Great Yin Holy Power from the trees, refined by Ye Chen, poured into it. Such volume could perfect most Heaven and Earth Manifestation techniques, reaching a thousand-meter height. His, though only a hundred meters, held unimaginable power—one axe could cleave the world.

If Heavenly Intention Holy Son ambushed now, a single strike wouldn't just wound his hand but split him entirely. The chaotic axe's nature ensured near-impossible recovery without supreme techniques, guaranteeing death.

Satisfied, Ye Chen paused cultivation, contemplating his Phoenix tail feathers. He stripped dozens of their down, fusing it with Heavenly Silkworm Silk to craft a Dao Weapon-grade glove for Senior An. Nearing Deity Transformation from late Nascent Soul, she'd soon use it. With Phoenix down as the core, it promised immense power, stunning aesthetics, and perfect feel—ideal for gifting. Its value should trigger an Extreme Dao Weapon feedback.

Acting swiftly, Ye Chen entered the crafting room.

Half a month later, he emerged, content. Curiosity about where Lin Qingtan etched his name resurfaced. After a month and a half of seclusion post her devotion, ignoring her seemed cold. He decided to visit.

He arrived at Lin Qingtan's cave on Ascension Peak's mountainside. Unlike her past isolation behind arrays, her cave now stood open. She lounged in the courtyard, sunbathing in a flowing purple dress, radiant under the light, exuding charm.

Lin Qingtan's face and legs gleamed, rune-free, except for a demonic flower on her right hand. Noticing Ye Chen, she smiled. "Holy Son, here to guess the name placements?"

He nodded, and they entered her cave, sealing the restrictions. Instead of revealing, she had him name each spot. As he listed all five correctly, she dispelled the divine light for verification. Ye Chen enjoyed it at first but soon suspected she adjusted the runes to match his guesses. This enchantress was too adept at captivating him.

They stumbled on a new game: Lin Qingtan hid most of a rune pattern with divine light, showing only a fragment for him to guess the full design. Correct or not, rewards followed. Her mastery of the runes' allure ensnared Ye Chen, turning a brief visit into five days of indulgence.

He didn't waste the time, gifting her daily—her one-day cooldown and 3,000-fold feedback too good to miss, even without criticals.

After five days, he declined further games. He needed to check on Senior An and resume seclusion. With the Moon Laurel and Fusang Trees, he could cultivate non-stop, hitting late Deity Transformation in a year or two and preparing for Unity. His Heavenly Emperor heir title, now confirmed, might draw trouble, so he had to bolster his strength. Runes, however fun, had to wait.

Lin Qingtan didn't insist. She conjured a navel-baring dress, revealing a seven-colored fishtail rune below her belly button, hinting at a hidden fish head.

Ye Chen's mind raced—where was it? As he imagined, she giggled. "I'll keep the runes active. Want to know more? Come find me."

Helpless, Ye Chen marveled. The once-cold Lin Qingtan, post-recovery, was a seductive master of her charms. As Holy Son, resisting temptation to focus on cultivation was grueling. Waving off distractions, he left with a firm Dao heart.

Outside, he spotted Li Feihuang, her red hair subdued, waiting. Her phoenix eyes narrowed as he emerged. Unsurprised—his spirit sense had detected her two days ago—he smiled lightly and flew toward Senior An's cave.

Chapter 478: Senior An at 2,000-Fold!

Lin Qingtan emerged, bidding Ye Chen farewell with her husky voice. After he left, she turned to Li Feihuang, whose phoenix eyes held disbelief. Though the ship's elders knew of their bond, Unity elders were too lofty for gossip, so the news hadn't spread in the Holy Land.

Li Feihuang, fresh from seclusion, sought her master joyfully, only to find her cave active yet inaccessible. Waiting two days, she saw Ye Chen emerge and her master's flushed face—obvious what happened.

Lin Qingtan raised an eyebrow. "Why that look? Think I stole your man?"

Li Feihuang's head drooped, voice bitter. "I wouldn't dare!"

Lin Qingtan smiled, noting the "dare" over denial. Stretching in the courtyard, she leaned back on a chair. "I didn't steal him. Holy Son belongs to no one. His talent, generosity, and sincerity are lethal to any female cultivator. I wasn't taken by him—I belong to him. If you're unwilling, go to him yourself."

Li Feihuang's heart ached. She knew Holy Son's greatness—her throne, meeting her ancestor, joining the Holy Land—all his doing.

"I'm sorry, Master," she said, seeing Lin Qingtan's rune-free skin, save a fishtail at her navel. Her resolved constitution was surely Ye Chen's work. Her gratitude was natural, their bond inevitable.

Yet Li Feihuang regretted her past mistakes, pained by Ye Chen's indifferent gaze, as if their history meant nothing. Tears fell.

Lin Qingtan sighed. "Stop crying. Come here, let Master hug you." As Li Feihuang nestled into her embrace, she teased, "Next time Holy Son visits, I'll tip you off and leave the cave open. You 'accidentally' barge in, I 'trap' you to silence you, forcing your devotion. Holy Son will see through it but play along if you know his tastes."

Li Feihuang, squatting in her master's arms, froze, phoenix eyes wide. Was this her aloof, reserved master? Since when was she so playful? The idea stirred her, yet deepened her regret for past errors.

Unaware of their talk, Ye Chen reached Senior An's cave. Still no response—normal for a Nascent Soul cultivator's multi-year seclusion, but her rapid progress and sealed array felt off. Her awakened past-life memories made him wonder: was she influenced by her past, or had it fully resurfaced?

Ye Chen decided to investigate. With his strength, he could enter without disturbing Senior An. If she was in critical seclusion, he'd confirm and leave. If something was wrong, he'd address it immediately.

Suppressing his aura, a faint Kun Peng shadow flickered behind him. The cave's defensive array, meant to bar outsiders, parted like a water curtain, letting him pass silently. The Kun Peng Treasure Technique rendered arrays powerless.

Familiar with An Miaoli's cave from countless detox sessions, Ye Chen quickly spotted her in a white dress, radiating seven-colored divine light. Her brow's red mole glowed, her beauty ethereal, as if ready to ascend. Shockingly, her cultivation wasn't late Nascent Soul but early Deity Transformation. When had she broken through? This speed was absurd.

Something was amiss.

Then, the system chimed: "Detected change in An Miaoli's multiplier, adjusting… An Miaoli: 2,000-fold!"

Ye Chen's eyes widened. Her talent was average in the Holy Land, her Heavenly Spirit Root from the Soul-Swaying Stone yielding only a 500-fold multiplier, with no special constitution.

A jump to 2,000—matching the near-emotionless Holy Maiden, only 500 below his fiancée? What gain from her ruin expedition could cause this? Perhaps the Seven Extremes Immortal Scripture, enabling the Seven Extremes Immortal Body, tied to her seven-colored aura and sudden breakthrough. Her resistance to her past life made voluntary cultivation of such a scripture unlikely. An accident—perhaps her past-life remnant soul awakening?

Ye Chen steadied his breath, planning to trap her silently with his Heavy Pupils thunder in a pure land.

As he approached, An Miaoli's eyes snapped open, no longer ethereal but brimming with chilling killing intent, locked on him. Array runes flared, seven-colored light surging from all directions, forming a strange domain with lethal trapping force, aiming to obliterate him.

"Ye Chen, I've waited long," a cold, unfamiliar voice echoed, unlike An Miaoli's usual tone. "A mere native dares defile my avatar's soul? A crime worthy of death…"

Chapter 479: You Dare Enter My Sea of Spirit Sense?

Seven-colored divine light surged from all directions, carrying terrifying obliterating force. Even without contact, its radiance stung Ye Chen's flesh. He narrowed his eyes. Senior An's past life was formidable—despite being a minor realm below him, it posed a threat.

But only a threat. Confirming An Miaoli was overtaken, Ye Chen acted decisively. His pores erupted with boundless Phoenix Immortal Fire, paired with True Phoenix Treasure Technique, incinerating all. His Heavy Pupils swirled with chaotic energy, forming a terrifying domain to suppress her instantly.

The fire blocked the seven-colored light, burning it away. His Heavy Pupil's gaze enveloped An Miaoli. She squinted, surprised by his mastery of True Phoenix techniques, but sneered, "Even Unity Path falls before me, let alone a native like you."

Her surroundings blurred, as if she slipped into another dimension, evading his Heavy Pupil. Standing calmly, her icy eyes scanned him, her hand weaving, "Seven Extremes World-Ender!"

Boom!

The seven-colored light morphed into a devastating force, seemingly world-destroying, engulfing Ye Chen. Unfazed, he unleashed the Battle Secret, dispersing it with supreme offensive might, then charged her.

An Miaoli, recognizing his techniques, grew murderous. "Indeed, the Heavenly Emperor's heir! You must die!"

Seven-colored light formed armor over her lithe frame, transforming her into a divine goddess. She fearlessly met his charge, clashing physically. Her movements wielded immense momentum, influencing the world. The Seven Extremes light neutralized most attacks, even redirecting them for counterstrikes.

Ye Chen was astonished. Her 2,000-fold multiplier tied to the Seven Extremes Immortal Body, slightly surpassing the Broad Cold Immortal Body. The remnant soul, likely of high realm, amplified her combat prowess.

Their battle shook the cave with muffled booms, yet both restrained collateral damage. The soul, aware of Ye Chen's status via An Miaoli's memories, avoided drawing attention. Ye Chen, protective of An's reputation, did the same. Their control was almost tacit, preserving the cave.

But as the fight dragged on, An Miaoli's killing intent gave way to shock. Her identity and combat expertise surpassed most below True Immortal, yet she couldn't suppress Ye Chen, failing to even scratch him. Her face darkened.

Ye Chen, cautious not to harm An's body, hadn't struck lethally but now aimed to end it. The Battle Secret sealed the void, trapping the soul. His Heavy Pupil flared with chaotic energy, enveloping her in Heaven-Opening might once more.

An Miaoli was finally trapped, standing in the pure land as her seven-colored divine light formed a barrier, resisting the suppressive force unscathed. Ye Chen was mildly surprised. His Heavy Pupil wasn't invincible—Yi Qingwu had broken it, and Heavenly Intention Holy Son had freed her from it—but enduring it unaffected? She was the first.

His curiosity about her past life grew. Her words suggested enmity with the Heavenly Emperor, perhaps even as his foe. But curiosity aside, he moved to subdue her. Charging forward, his body surged to suppress her in the pure land.

Her seven-colored light flowed endlessly, holding him at bay, matching him momentarily. Yet the remnant soul grew anxious—she wasn't his match. If not for Ye Chen holding back to spare her body, she'd have lost already. Unacceptable, her killing intent flared, unleashing potent seven-colored techniques, all effortlessly countered by Ye Chen.

"Dragon-Trapping Hand!" Closing in, Ye Chen used the True Dragon Treasure Technique, seizing her. The Battle Secret wove sealing bands, binding her wrists, ankles, knees, arms, and body, halting her spiritual Qi and resistance, trussing her like a bundle.

Humiliated, An Miaoli's face burned with rage. "Native, do you know who I am? Countless immortal gods trembled before me, begging for mercy. Even the Heavenly Emperor called me Senior! How dare you treat me this way? A king cannot be shamed—release me, or this realm will pay for you!"

Her icy threats didn't faze Ye Chen, but her words felt off. Initially, he thought her past life was an immortal realm power. Now, she sounded like its enemy. He recalled the Heavenly Emperor severing the Jianmu Tree to isolate realms, partly to block myriad race True Immortals, but also to prevent foreign enemies from descending. Was her past life such an enemy?

Curiosity deepened, but her hostility ruled out dialogue. He needed to probe her sea of spirit sense to check if An Miaoli still existed—her survival mattered most. Pointing, he activated her brow's red mole, opening her sea of spirit sense. His primordial spirit, blazing with purple aura, shot from his brow into hers.

An Miaoli was stunned, then elated. Entering her sea of spirit sense? Despite his odd purple aura, wasn't this suicide?