ISWI Chapter 469-470

Chapter 469: Fusang Divine Tree Root

Ye Chen shook his head at the Holy Master's suggestion. The Golden Crow Princess had no feedback multiplier—keeping her as a pet was pointless. Better to find a suitable myriad race candidate later, one that could yield returns through feeding. The myriad races were just reemerging; their strength and situation were unclear. Heavenly Evolution Holy Land should observe before making enemies.

Feng Baiyu, convinced, dropped the ambush plan. Tang Valley had been thoroughly scavenged—even reusable palace walls and roofs were taken. With vengeance achieved and rich gains, Heavenly Evolution Holy Land was satisfied, ready to leave.

"Let's go, except Hua Yunfei!" Feng Baiyu waved.

Ye Chen paused. "Senior Brother's not returning?"

Hua Yunfei smiled, his divine wheel gleaming. "The Holy Master gave me a task. But if you need me, Junior Brother, my clone's reviving and will soon reach the Holy Land."

Ye Chen was speechless. Senior Brother's mastery of the Moral Heavenly Venerate's technique was impressive.

Turning to Lin Qingtan, who followed him toward the ship, Ye Chen noted her Yin Nether aura had faded after cultivating the Great Yang Immortal Scripture. It was working. Without hesitation, he produced the golden Fusang root, coveted by the Golden Crows, and pushed it toward her. "Elder Lin, the Great Yang Immortal Scripture alone is too slow. Your constitution has delayed you long enough. Take this. Absorbing its Great Yang Holy Power will speed your mastery and resolve your issue."

His sudden gift stunned everyone—Lin Qingtan, Heavenly Evolution Holy Land elders, and scavengers waiting to pick over the ruins. A single tendril had fetched immense treasures, likely due to the Golden Crows' unique need, but the root's value was undeniable. They assumed Ye Chen would use it himself—its Great Yang Holy Power was a supreme treasure for early Deity Transformation, saving time and solidifying foundations. Yet he gave it to a female cultivator.

Shocking. Absurd.

Lin Qingtan stepped back, her rune-covered face flustered. Her husky voice refused. "Holy Son, no! This is useful to you too. Your talent surpasses mine—how can I take it? Keep it to break through sooner and defeat prodigies on the immortal path!"

Her refusal wasn't coy—she genuinely meant it. The scripture alone overwhelmed her with gratitude. How could she dare want more?

Ye Chen's tone brooked no refusal. "You said my talent's high. Why need such trinkets? This root was taken for you. If you don't want it, toss it."

With that, he flew toward the rising ship, not sparing Lin Qingtan another glance. She stood stunned. Onlookers edged closer, hoping she'd discard it, ready to snatch it up. But she wouldn't. Seeing Ye Chen's resolve, she touched the root with her rune-covered hand, feeling its searing heat. The Yin Nether aura in her retreated under the Great Yang Holy Power. Refining it would resolve her constitution and advance her scripture mastery.

She recalled Ye Chen's sky-high price to secure the root, his battle against three Golden Crows to protect it, and his refusal to yield to the beautiful Princess, extracting a steep price for a mere tendril. Yet he gave the entire root to her without hesitation. Her heart surged, doubts born of insecurity vanishing. The Princess's beauty hadn't swayed him—proof he truly cared for her.

Lin Qingtan's gaze on Ye Chen's back hardened with resolve. Since he insisted, she'd accept. The sooner she fixed her constitution, the sooner she could devote herself to him.

She stored the root and hurried after him onto the ship, disappointing scavengers. Whispers spread, speculating Ye Chen's lavish gifts—scripture and root—were to hasten her recovery for his enjoyment. Other prodigies wouldn't prompt such thoughts, but Fourth Holy Son's reputation for womanizing preceded him. He'd shattered Yi Qingwu's clothes in a death match and, upon learning of an elder's death at Heavenly Intention Holy Son's hands, swiftly took the elder's orphan into his harem peak. Such lust was despicable, they said. Gifting the root for quick gratification? Typical.

On the ship, Ye Chen sensed eyes on him but saw nothing. Then, the system's voice rang out, shifting his focus.

"Congratulations, Host, gift successfully given…"

"Gift: Withered Fusang Divine Tree Root!"

"Thousandfold feedback activated!"

"Detected critical importance to recipient, causing intense emotional impact…"

"Top-notch critical reward triggered…"

"No living Fusang Tree exists, unable to extract…"

"Evolving now, please wait!"

Ye Chen raised an eyebrow. First time the system needed a delay. Was it growing a tree on the spot?

Chapter 470: Heavenly Emperor Hall

"Evolving Fusang Divine Tree sapling…"

"Flushing time rules…"

"Evolution complete!"

"Feedback: Million-year Fusang Divine Tree!"

"Description: At peak maturity after a million years, it radiates maximum Great Yang Holy Power, boasts quasi-immortal combat strength, and covers millions of square kilometers."

"Host, choose a transplant location—once set, it cannot change. Relocating reduces 100,000 years of accumulation and strength."

Ye Chen's eyes widened. The system really spawned a million-year Fusang Divine Tree with quasi-immortal power? True Immortals were unmatched; only quasi-immortals came close. The drawback? It couldn't move. Otherwise, wielding it in battle would be a death sentence for foes.

Still, it was a massive boost. Transplanting it to his small world secured it against invasions. If an enemy chased him inside, the tree would deliver a devastating surprise—locking the door and beating the dog.

A total steal. With a thought, Ye Chen placed it in his small world's main peak, beside the Star Pool, facing the Moon Laurel Immortal Tree. The Fusang Tree shed Great Yang Holy Power, the Moon Laurel Tree moonlight, and the Enlightenment Tea Tree in the center rippled with Dao charm—a harmonious, pleasing scene. Ye Chen was delighted.

Withdrawing his spirit sense, he looked at Lin Qingtan with warmth and approval. Her contributions warranted further nurturing. Feeling his gaze, she yearned to resolve her constitution swiftly, to express her gratitude fully to her Holy Son. His rumored entanglements with her disciple, Li Feihuang? Irrelevant. With his many women, she didn't seek exclusivity—just a moment of his tenderness was her fortune.

Heavenly Evolution Holy Land's experts boarded the ship, departing gracefully. Hua Yunfei left separately. Other factions' cultivators lingered, scavenging the ruins. High in the void, a gold-robed elder stood, unnoticed for ages, a five-clawed purple-gold dragon perched atop his head.

As Ye Chen left, the dragon spoke. "This kid's a gem. Early Deity Transformation, yet he sensed our aura. His talent and potential rival the chosen Heavenly Emperor's heir. Heavy Pupils, Supreme Heart, traces of True Dragon and True Phoenix Treasure Techniques, Battle Secret, and Pangu World-Opening Diagram—yet he hasn't mastered Heaven and Earth Manifestation. He's likely the Emperor's true descendant. Did the Emperor really hook up with that Kuafu Clan rival? Any records in the Hall? I say we approach him—two heirs are better than one. The Emperor's heirs are hated; they'd support each other."

The dragon wriggled, musing.

The gold-robed elder, expression unchanged, plucked the purple-gold dragon from his head and tossed it aside. "Our chosen Heavenly Emperor's heir is more suitable. Two heirs? Impossible. Our resources are limited, and this boy's too wild to submit. Nurturing him risks betrayal. He may have some of the Emperor's legacy, but the Heavenly Emperor Scripture is the Emperor's ultimate art. He's unworthy to meld countless scriptures like the Emperor did. His potential falls short."

The dragon shrugged, climbing back atop the elder's head. "Don't regret it."

The elder smiled faintly. "The Chaos Body is unmatched, destined to dominate and seize the immortal aura, leading us through the Immortal Gate. He's the one who should regret not being chosen. But we can spread word that he's this generation's heir. Our true heir needs time to grow, and someone must draw attention. With the myriad races rising and human factions resentful of the Emperor, his heir will face universal enmity. Let him bear the early hostility. When our true heir emerges, he'll crush all opposition."

The dragon shrank, silent. Its beastly instincts sensed the elder's misstep, though it couldn't pinpoint why. Deciding to forge goodwill with Ye Chen, it aimed to avoid trouble if things went awry.

The elder continued, unaware of the dragon's thoughts. "His legacies include some even our Heavenly Emperor Hall lacks. The Emperor's War Chariot—we scoured the continent, yet he has it. The Pangu World-Opening Diagram too. When he's no longer useful, I'll reclaim them myself."

A chariot of heavenly fire materialized, and the elder sat calmly. The dragon, uneasy, avoided his head, sitting aside to dodge potential bad luck. The chariot burned through the void, departing silently.

On Heavenly Evolution Holy Land's ship, Ye Chen, unaware he'd been branded a decoy heir to draw fire, focused on cultivation. For a week, he sat in the Star Pool between the Moon Laurel Tree's chilling Great Yin Holy Power and the Fusang Tree's blazing Great Yang Holy Power, enhanced by the Enlightenment Tea Tree's Dao charm. His strength soared at an unimaginable pace.