ISWI Chapter 825-832 (Patreon)

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Chapter 825: Who Is So Bold?

With the Heavenly Emperor gone, and the Devouring Female Immortal and the others departed as well, the remaining imprints lacked even a trace of will. This meant their original owners had either perished long ago or possessed relatively low cultivation in life.

Figures like the Undying Celestial Emperor—who had once served merely as a stepping stone crushed beneath the Heavenly Emperor's feet—fell into the latter category. Such opponents in the imprint tribulation left Ye Chen thoroughly bored. At his current level, quantity could no longer compensate for the lack of quality in enemies. With a casual palm strike, he scattered yet another imprint of an ancient supreme prodigy.

While doing so, Ye Chen reflected on the figures he had just seen and the words he had overheard. First and foremost, of course, was the Heavenly Emperor. The man truly seemed perpetually busy—dropping by for a quick stroll through someone else's tribulation, only to get mocked in passing. A textbook case of the Mocked Divine Body. And his life appeared rather miserable. Everyone around him had died—friends, loved ones, beauties, all gone.

Then there was this "foreign domain" they mentioned. Ye Chen could understand an invasion of the immortal realm, but what did "devouring" mean? Was this some new dungeon?

It seemed the cultivation world was in a precarious state, and even the immortal realm above was far from peaceful. Yet hearing the name "Seven Extreme Heavenly Maiden" made Ye Chen's eyes brighten. That name was connected to Senior An. The Heavenly Emperor had once clashed with the Seven Extremes Heavenly Maiden—perhaps he knew more about her.

Ye Chen had originally hoped to ask the Heavenly Emperor a few questions: After gathering all twelve immortal roots, could Senior An truly be protected from the Seven Extreme Heavenly Maiden's influence? Would she avoid being assimilated in the future?

Unfortunately, there had been no time. No matter. When he reached the Sixth Heaven of Mahayana and crossed another tribulation, he would surely meet the Heavenly Emperor again. He could only hope the man would be less busy next time—and stay put long enough for Ye Chen to farm the achievement of defeating him at the same realm.

Aside from the Heavenly Emperor, the one who captured Ye Chen's attention most was naturally the Devouring Female Immortal. Before ascending, she had created the Devouring Heaven Demon Art. After becoming an immortal, she devised the Indestructible Heavenly Art. She was the first being in history to carve out a glorious era with nothing more than a mortal body. In the annals of the human race, her status was no less than the Heavenly Emperor's. Her combat power was unfathomable.

The glimpse Ye Chen caught showed her clad in a crimson gown. Legend held that it had once been a plain white hemp dress—dyed and refined through the blood of countless true immortals until it turned that deep, bloody hue. Her appearance was even more astonishing. Even with Ye Chen's Heavy Pupils, her features remained indistinct.

Yet through the haze, he sensed beauty so overwhelming that even the stars would pale in comparison. Historical records about the Devouring Divine Maiden were sparse, mostly passing mentions.

One line, however, stood out: The Devouring Female Immortal almost always wore a ghostly mask. Once, a Quasi-Immortal of the demon race had glimpsed her true face and instantly suffered a shattered dao heart.

Such was the caliber of her countenance. The only pity was that no system notification had triggered. But Ye Chen felt that with the Devouring Female Immortal's peerless talent, how could any other man possibly catch her eye?

The lack of reaction was most likely because this was merely an imprint. If he ever met her true self, her multiplier would surely exceed all imagination.

Still, Ye Chen had expected at least a few words from her. After all, he cultivated the Indestructible Heavenly Art, and he had even obtained both the Devouring Heaven Demon Jar and the Ghost Face Mask. Yet she had merely glanced at him once. Truly, she was cold to an extreme.

…

What should have been a grueling imprint tribulation—a true test of strength and combat prowess—suddenly lost all flavor.

Ye Chen swept through the ancient prodigies with devastating ease, crushing them like dry weeds. From afar, the hidden onlookers could not hear the exchanges, yet watching one imprint after another dissolve on its own left them stunned.

Feng Baiyu stared at the Heavenly Emperor's imprint fading away of its own accord, his earlier suspicion solidifying. Ye Chen had to be the Heavenly Emperor's son. Otherwise, why would the Heavenly Emperor's imprint retreat without a fight?

Though Feng Baiyu also believed the Heavenly Emperor at the same realm might not necessarily defeat Ye Chen, he knew the man's temperament—he was not one to shy from battle. Meanwhile, the Great Saint of the Devouring lineage watched the Devouring Female Immortal's imprint vanish voluntarily, utterly baffled.

Legend held that once cultivation reached the absolute peak, one could connect across past and present. Merely calling their name could summon a thread of consciousness, no matter the distance. This imprint had very likely carried a sliver of the Devouring Female Immortal's divine sense. So why had she not acted? Was it disdain? Or deference to the Heavenly Emperor?

The Great Saint could not comprehend it. But seeing the Heavenly Emperor's heir ruthlessly slaughter one supreme ancient prodigy after another within the battlefield, he pushed the thought aside. The tribulation was nearing its end. It was time for them to make their move.

The Heavenly Emperor's heir's imprint tribulation had been unprecedented. To require an entire group of supreme ancient prodigies just to temper him—the sheer monstrosity of his talent was beyond imagination. Thus, the killing intent in every heart burned hotter than ever.

…

Within the imprint battlefield, every figure was a legendary giant of history, each possessing extraordinary strength and countless methods. Yet in the end, they were mere imprints.

Ye Chen did not even need to employ any special techniques. With overwhelming power and momentum alone, he suppressed them one by one. In the brief time that remained, the last of the imprints dissolved completely.

Ye Chen waved a hand, collecting the lingering marks they left behind. But he did not pay them much attention. At his current level, with the Nine Secrets and the Ten Vicious Treasure Techniques already at his disposal, even the insights of these ancient prodigies held little value for him. They were, at best, better than nothing.

Ye Chen swept his gaze around and saw the three women watching him with faces full of worship and awe. Especially Fan Qinghe's grandmaster—despite being the eldest, her expression at this moment was that of a lovestruck maiden. There was not the slightest trace of pretense.

But the truth was, none of the three was acting. They were genuinely shaken. Ye Chen's breakthrough had been unprecedented. So many ancient prodigies at the same realm, yet all had been crushed with a casual lift of his hand. He was nothing short of a god of war. With such power, forget the Sixth Heaven—ascension to immortality was practically guaranteed. Did that mean… they too might have a chance to follow him into the immortal realm?

Ever since the destruction of the Jianmu Tree and the steadily rising difficulty of cultivation, the Heavenly Desire Sect—which had already been struggling to produce immortals—had been completely cut off from that path. In this final era of the immortal path, if the three of them could become Quasi-Immortals and enter the immortal realm…

The mere thought made them tremble, just like the shivering they had shown earlier. But immortal realm slots were limited. For all three to secure one would not be easy. Ye Chen's quota would surely go to his women.

Thus, if the master and grandmaster wanted a chance, they would have to rely entirely on Fan Qinghe. The grandmaster sent a covert voice transmission. "Qinghe, your master and I will depend on you entirely if we are to enter the immortal realm in the future…"

Fan Qinghe's lovely face—already flushed from the excitement of watching Ye Chen's battle—froze in astonishment at the words. How could that be possible?

The slots were so few. Ye Chen's master would take one. That unchaste Heavenly Intention Holy Maiden would surely get one. Given Lan Nuo's favored position, she would almost certainly have one too. And Ye Chen placed special importance on Senior An—she would likely have a slot as well. Even Fan Qinghe herself would have to fight for hers.

As for her master and grandmaster? That was nothing more than a pipe dream.

The grandmaster flashed a confident smile. "Others have only one person. But you hold the advantage—you have both your master and your grandmaster. The three of us together will surely give the Heavenly Emperor's heir an experience unlike any other. No matter how favored other female cultivators may be, they come alone. How could they possibly compare to three generations of the Heavenly Desire Sect united? The Heavenly Emperor's heir is different from ordinary cultivators—he has a deep fascination with this kind of thing. As long as we seize this opportunity, there truly is a chance for all three of us to enter the immortal realm together…"

Fan Qinghe's heart stirred at the words. Ye Chen had never fully claimed her, leaving her with lingering unease. She feared that one day he might change his mind. But she had her master and grandmaster—two allies who could fight alongside her. That was her true edge. If used well, it would surely draw Ye Chen back to the Heavenly Desire Sect time and again.

The women around Ye Chen were formidable. There was the Sacred Spiritual Root, the Heavenly Demon Body, the Broad Cold Immortal Body. Even his master was said to possess the Undefeated Sword Body, having inherited the legacy of Dugu Bubai.

Fan Qinghe was no fighter. Entering the immortal realm alone, she might be bullied or suppressed. Having her master and grandmaster by her side would make all the difference. Most importantly, her master had raised her since childhood. The thought of ascending to the immortal realm and leaving her behind felt unbearable.

"Alright… I'll try."

Fan Qinghe spoke without much confidence. Yet the grandmaster burned with determination. An opportunity to ascend—something she had never dared dream of—was now within reach. Fifteen hundred years of emptiness had taught her how rare such chances were. When one appeared, she had to give everything. Even failure would cost her nothing she had not already lost. But success meant immortality—eternal life.

"The three of us—master, disciple, and grand-disciple—will unite our hearts and strength. Together, we will break through any obstacle! We'll delay our seclusion for now. Qinghe, go invite the Heavenly Emperor's heir back to the cave abode to rest. Your master and I will prepare some ritual garments and tools.

"Last time we rushed too fiercely, distracted, and our performance fell short. This time, I will bring out every skill I possess. I'll make the Heavenly Emperor's heir so enthralled he'll never want to leave—he'll wish he could live in the Heavenly Desire Sect forever."

Fan Qinghe nodded. The longer Ye Chen stayed, the better. She too wanted to spend more time with him. But the moment Fan Qinghe rose and flew toward Ye Chen, the sky, only just cleared after the tribulation clouds dispersed, darkened once more in an instant.

At the same time, the void trembled. Across the entire Heavenly Desire Sect and for ten thousand li around, endless black light erupted, forming an impenetrable barrier. It was as though the sect had been forcibly torn from the greater world and sealed in isolation.

The moment the barrier locked the area in place, a massive surge of black radiance burst from within, roaring toward everything. The terrifying aura seemed capable of flattening the world itself. The Heavenly Desire Sect's mountain-protecting grand formation flared to life automatically.

The array was extraordinary, crafted personally by a supreme formation master who had once been a lover of one of the sect's elders. Its defensive power was formidable. Yet it endured only a single strike from the black light.

Cracking sounds rang out. Fissures spiderwebbed across the array's core materials. It was on the verge of collapse. Its defensive capability had nearly vanished.

Everything happened too quickly. The three women's expressions changed drastically. An enemy was attacking. But who was so bold as to strike the Heavenly Desire Sect at this moment, knowing both the Heavenly Emperor's heir and the powerhouses from the Heavenly Evolution Holy Land were present?

Unless… they had come precisely for the Heavenly Emperor's heir.

At that thought, all three women paled. The experts from the Heavenly Evolution Holy Land narrowed their eyes. Through the black light, several figures radiating terrifying auras could faintly be seen!

"Two Great Saints!"

The Great Saint from the Heavenly Evolution Holy Land spoke gravely.

Feng Baiyu merely smiled. It was as though he had anticipated this all along. Meanwhile, Ye Chen—still feeling a touch of emptiness after the tribulation's abrupt end—sensed the horrifying aura roaring toward him from within the black light. A faint smile curved across his lips.

Chapter 826: Ye Chen, Don't Be Afraid—Your Ancestral Master Is Here to Save You!

Chaos erupted across the entire Heavenly Desire Sect. A flock of terrified beauties—each with her own alluring figure, plump or slender—fled from their chambers in panic. Some wore nothing at all.

Yet they paid no mind to their state of undress. The men present were all venerable elders from the Heavenly Evolution Holy Land. If any one of them took a fancy to her, her status would soar overnight. The only young man among them was the Heavenly Emperor's heir. Should he set eyes on her, it would be perfection itself. She would rise to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with their own divine maiden. But when they looked up, every face turned deathly pale.

Above the firmament, an inky-black hand blotted out the sky, descending with apocalyptic force. With a single casual sweep, the fragile grand formation of the Heavenly Desire Sect shattered like glass. The massive hand, wreathed in black thunder, reached straight for the Heavenly Emperor's heir. If it seized him, everything would be obliterated.

"Which rat dares hide his face? Get out here and face me!"

The Great Saint from the Heavenly Evolution Holy Land sneered and threw a punch. The strike carried terrifying Primordial Chaos power, smashing straight through the black hand.

This Great Saint had inherited the legacy of the Primordial Chaos True Immortal ranked among the top hundred of the human race. Two thousand years ago, he too had been a supreme prodigy of his generation.

After shattering the black hand with one blow, the Primordial Chaos Great Saint did not charge forward to pursue. Instead, he turned and flew straight toward Ye Chen, calling out as he went, "The ambushers are many, but fear nothing. I will shield you from all harm!"

In a head-on fight, even he might not be able to take on two opponents of the same realm.

Not everyone possessed Ye Chen's monstrous talent—the ability to treat peers like dogs and those a full major realm above like lambs during the Mahayana stage. But defense was another matter entirely. Even if this domain had been sealed off, preventing any message from escaping, the Heavenly Evolution Holy Land would soon notice and send reinforcements.

Yet the instant the Primordial Chaos Great Saint moved toward Ye Chen, a cold snort echoed through the heavens. "Thunder Domain—bind him!"

In a flash, a silver thunder domain rose, carving out a battlefield and trapping the Primordial Chaos Great Saint within. The Great Saint narrowed his eyes and raised his hand to shatter the domain. Before he could act, however, a figure shrouded in black mist appeared directly before him. Wielding black thunder, it launched a ferocious assault, forcing him to defend and preventing any chance of breaking free to rescue Ye Chen.

The moment the Primordial Chaos Great Saint was drawn into the thunder domain, another terrifying black shadow surged toward Ye Chen. Several more figures descended, all cloaked in darkness, charging straight at Feng Baiyu and the others.

In an instant, no one remained free to aid Ye Chen.Feng Baiyu's expression stayed calm. He merely glanced at Ye Chen twice. Seeing the boy's utterly composed demeanor, he relaxed. Though he could not fathom where Ye Chen's confidence against Great Saints came from, Ye Chen was no fool. If something were truly wrong, he would call out.

Thus, Feng Baiyu did not rush to summon their hidden forces. He waited to see if more enemies lurked—or if someone else intended to fish in troubled waters.

In any case, everyone who had come today would be left behind. Not merely dead. Afterward, he would personally carry their corpses to each sect and clan, demanding compensation.

You dare try to kill our holy land's prodigy? Surely you can offer some explanation?

At the same time, a Saint stepped before Feng Baiyu. Though shrouded in hazy black mist, the killing intent in his eyes was bone-chilling. "Feng Baiyu, when you killed my son all those years ago, did you ever imagine this day would come?"

Feng Baiyu was merely at the King realm. To be cornered by a Saint like this would terrify anyone.

Yet Feng Baiyu lightly bit the golden crow tail-feather fan in his mouth and shook his head with a smile. "I killed too many back then—I genuinely don't remember which one you mean. But since you miss your child so much, allow me to do you one last kindness. I'll send you down to reunite with him. Not just you—if your son still has a mother, or grandparents alive, I'll help send them along too when the time comes. What kind of family scatters across the heavens? They should be together—neat, don't you think?"

The Saint's eyes widened in shock. Then boundless killing intent erupted. Without another word, he charged at Feng Baiyu with sky-shaking fury.

Feng Baiyu's smile widened as he raised his voice. "Heavenly Evolution Immortal Scripture—Extreme Dao Sublimation…"

Feeling the aura surging from Feng Baiyu, the Saint's eyes bulged. Wasn't the Heavenly Evolution Immortal Scripture reserved only for the second and third holy sons? Since when was it this powerful? What kind of sublimation technique could leap straight from the Third Heaven to the Fifth? This damnable brat had been hiding his cultivation all along?

Meanwhile, the Heavenly Desire Sect's sole Saint had emerged. But her face was full of fear. She did not dare intervene. She knew her own strength too well.

Fan Qinghe's expression was anxious. Gritting her teeth, she prepared to fly toward Ye Chen. She knew she was useless in such a battle.

Yet Ye Chen had treated her with genuine kindness. Over countless dazed moments, she had already fallen completely for him. If Ye Chen died, life would hold no meaning for her. Better to die together. That way, he would know she was not the kind of woman who fled when disaster struck. She wanted him to understand—she was worthy of everything he had given her. But the instant she took flight, the grandmaster pulled her back.

Fan Qinghe froze. She watched as the grandmaster crushed a jade slip in her hand.

"You would be useless. If you fell, the Heavenly Desire Sect would lose its future entirely. I have already awakened my master—your ancestral master. She is at the peak of Saint King. She has the power to influence the battle. Once the Heavenly Evolution Holy Land's forces gain some breathing room, they may still save Ye Chen."

The grandmaster spoke calmly. The ancestral master's lifespan was nearly spent. Emerging now meant only three to five years remained. Even if she hid away, she would gain no more than twenty or thirty years. Better to expend her final strength for the sect. The grandmaster believed that seeing her perfect transformation would allow the ancestral master to depart with a smile.

In the next instant, deep in the back mountains of the Heavenly Desire Sect, pink radiance soared into the sky, accompanied by the terrifying aura unique to a Saint King, flooding the entire sect.

Within the pink light curtain, the graceful silhouette of a woman slowly rose. The cultivators locked in battle all frowned and turned to look—then froze in shock.

The woman inside the pink light possessed a figure that defied description. Her curves were exquisite to the point of exaggeration, as though she were the most seductive work of art ever crafted by the heavens. Especially that impossibly slender waist—yet it connected such dramatic proportions above and below that one worried a mere twist might snap it in two.

Her long legs were not thin, but firm and full of supple flesh. Resting them on the shoulders would feel nothing but perfect. Her skin resembled the finest mutton-fat jade, glowing with a warm, moist luster, as though wisps of spiritual qi constantly emanated from within.

With such an outrageous figure, her stunningly mature beauty only amplified the effect. Every glance, every subtle expression stirred the heart. Her eyes seemed capable of devouring souls. Merely meeting her gaze caused two Saints among the attackers to freeze in place. Even one Saint King lost focus for a moment—nearly taking a direct hit to the head. They snapped back to awareness. This woman's charm technique had reached the absolute pinnacle.

The people of the Heavenly Desire Sect were stunned. They had never known a Saint King guarded their sect. Fan Qinghe and the other two were equally shocked. They had assumed the ancestral master, with her lifespan nearly exhausted, would appear aged and frail. Yet she looked breathtakingly beautiful.

Most importantly, there was not the slightest trace of decay about her. The moment she emerged, the woman spoke in a cold, aloof voice. "Those who dare invade the Heavenly Desire Sect today, none of you shall—"

But her immortal voice cut off abruptly. She had finally sensed the true situation on the battlefield. Upon awakening, she had known the sect faced a crisis of annihilation. Since she had faked her death eight hundred years ago, she assumed the invaders would be weak—at most a single Saint King. Who could have imagined Saint Kings were practically piling up?

There was even the awe-inspiring aura of a Great Saint. Though still bearing the word "Saint," a Seventh Heaven Great Saint existed on an entirely different level. Saint Kings could not compare.

What was going on? Had some unworthy descendant of the Heavenly Desire Sect sucked dry a dying powerhouse, causing them to die in ecstasy? Or had they stolen too many men from major holy lands and finally provoked collective wrath? How else could so many terrifying existences descend upon their humble sect?

In any case, the newly emerged ancestral master instantly restrained her aura and calmed herself. But at that moment, a voice transmission reached her ears. It was from her own disciple.

After hearing the full message—urging her to intervene—she furrowed her delicate, arched brows. The Heavenly Emperor's heir was under attack?

Though she did not know who the enemies were, a battle on the scale of major holy lands was far beyond what the Heavenly Desire Sect should involve itself in. No matter who won or lost, the slightest backlash would be enough to shatter the sect.

She immediately prepared to advise her disciple against meddling. Yet her disciple's next transmission followed swiftly.

In the next moment, the ancestral master's eyes—deep as autumn waters, brimming with endless desire—suddenly lit up. She looked toward her disciple and grand-disciple.

To the Heavenly Desire Sect, other disciples existed only to gather resources and forge connections. The true core had always been this single lineage. Seeing all three of them standing at the peak of the Third Heaven, especially her own disciple, who had lost her Protector yet had clearly just completed a perfect transformation and would soon enter seclusion to break through to Half-Saint—she was genuinely stunned. Her small mouth fell open in shock. But astonishment lasted only a moment.

After confirming everything was real, the ancestral master's expression hardened with resolve. Without the slightest hesitation, she soared toward the sky above. Even with a Great Saint waiting there, she showed no fear. Her voice rang out across the battlefield. "Heavenly Emperor's heir, do not be afraid! I am Fan Qinghe's ancestral master—Fan Qiluo. I will give everything to save you…"

Chapter 827: Young Master, This Old Servant Arrived Late!

High above the firmament, Ye Chen raised an eyebrow at the incoming Great Saint, a faint smile playing on his lips. He felt no fear. Yet he had no intention of engaging personally. A Great Saint was already at the Seventh Heaven. Three full major realms above his Fourth Heaven cultivation. With his current foundation, he could certainly give it a try—but there was no need.

Thus, Ye Chen ignored the crushing pressure entirely. In the Great Saint's line of sight, he leisurely opened the entrance to his cave heaven and prepared to step inside. The one currently attacking him was none other than the Great Saint from the Devouring lineage.

Seeing Ye Chen's actions, he narrowed his eyes. He—a Great Saint—had unleashed his aura, enough to make even Saint Kings tremble. For Saints or Half-Saints, merely standing under such pressure would render their Qi nearly impossible to circulate. Yet Ye Chen remained utterly unaffected. Truly worthy of being a supreme prodigy. But fleeing into a cave heaven—what good would that do?

He knew Ye Chen's cave heaven must be protected by peerless killing formations. Even if it housed an emperor-grade array, how long could a mere Half-Saint like Ye Chen possibly sustain it against him? Death was inevitable! Thus, he paid it no mind.

Just as Ye Chen stepped toward the cave heaven entrance, a voice of extreme allure drifted through the air—seductive enough to melt bones at the mere sound.

"Heavenly Emperor's heir, I have come to save you…"

Ye Chen immediately turned to look. His eyes widened. Not because of her figure, which unmistakably belonged to the Heavenly Desire Divine Maiden lineage. But because of her cultivation.

Saint King. The Heavenly Desire Sect actually had such a hidden powerhouse?

Ye Chen was intimately familiar with the Heart-Seed Demon Nirvana Scripture. He sensed the familiar aura emanating from her. Clearly, an elder of the Heavenly Desire Sect. And one at the peak of Saint King, no less. This was an unexpected delight for Ye Chen.

After all, even with Fan Qinghe, her master, and grandmaster combined, they had only absorbed about a third of his reserves. Honestly, their endurance was rather disappointing. By the time he reached the Sixth Heaven, they might only need a tenth before all three flashed victory signs together…

Now, another had arrived. And judging from her aura, she had been empty for who-knew-how-many years. Such a being would truly understand the rarity of drawing from him. She would surely be like that grandmaster—refusing to retreat until she passed out completely.

Ye Chen silently resolved: When this was over, he would have to give Fan Qinghe a little scolding. The Heavenly Desire Sect had a Saint King elder, yet she had never introduced him? Truly too much.

Through his Heavy Pupils, Ye Chen saw clearly. Whether her appearance, figure, or skin condition, everything about this elder was flawless. But it was clearly the effect of her cultivation technique. Her lifespan was nearly exhausted. His Heavy Pupils could sense the faint, flickering thread of her vitality. She likely would not survive until the next nirvana.

But to Ye Chen, this was no issue. A single fruit casually picked from his cave heaven would extend her life until he reached the peak of the Sixth Heaven. Everything was a minor problem.

Ye Chen's already good mood soared even higher with the arrival of the Heavenly Desire ancestral master. Even his steps toward the cave heaven entrance became noticeably lighter.

Above the firmament, the Great Saint had already arrived in a thunderous rush. Hearing the words of the ancestral master, he sneered disdainfully.

A mere second-rate sect—even if it hid a Saint King, what of it? Did someone like her have any right to interfere in a battle of this level? Once this was over, he would bring people to wipe the Heavenly Desire Sect from existence.

The Great Saint could not be bothered with her. His body transformed into divine light and plunged straight through the entrance of Ye Chen's cave heaven.

As a Great Saint, entering the cave heaven of a mere Half-Saint required no caution whatsoever. He was utterly confident. Once inside, he would make Ye Chen wish for death—or even burst the cave heaven apart from the inside.

…

Boom…

The two figures flashed forward one after another, vanishing from their original spots within mere heartbeats. All that remained at the scene was a single glowing portal leading into Ye Chen's cave heaven.

Heavenly Desire Ancestor, who had charged forward with teeth clenched, now stood frozen in bewilderment. Yet she desperately needed to advance. Ye Chen could not be allowed to meet with any accident. If he did, the Age of Dharma's End would arrive far too soon. And her Heavenly Desire Sect would be finished—utterly severed.

Without the slightest hesitation, she moved to rush straight into Ye Chen's cave heaven portal. But right at that moment, Feng Baiyu's calm voice drifted over: "Fellow Daoist, there is no need to enter Ye Chen's cave heaven… Just lend us a hand from here. Your direct participation would disrupt the balance of the battle. Once we've suppressed this group of enemies, we can immediately go support Ye Chen."

Feng Baiyu had also noticed the Heavenly Desire Ancestor. Though he didn't understand why this long-hidden Saint King, upon finally emerging from seclusion, placed such extraordinary importance on Ye Chen—almost excessively grateful—he still recognized her as an ally. Who knew what kinds of bizarre trump cards Ye Chen might be hiding inside his cave heaven? If this Saint King rushed in and saw them, Ye Chen would probably find it very difficult to silence her afterward. That would only create more problems.

Hearing this, Heavenly Desire Ancestor swept a glance toward Feng Baiyu. She remembered this young man. Before she had feigned death and entered deep slumber, Feng Baiyu had already been making waves across the Great Yan Continent—causing chaos, leaving complaints in his wake, and earning himself quite the infamous reputation.

Now, somehow, he had reached such a terrifying height. After a brief hesitation, she recalled the rumors about Feng Baiyu back then, and more importantly, just how crucial Ye Chen was to the future of the Heavenly Desire Sect. In the end, she chose to follow his suggestion. Since she was already doing him a favor, there was no need to be overly cautious.

With graceful steps, Heavenly Desire Ancestor drifted forward. She did not directly join the fray. Instead, she extended her hand, releasing strands of incomparably profound and mystical power. Around her, dazzling pink radiance bloomed—like countless drifting petals of flower pollen—filling and subtly permeating the entire battlefield.

The Heavenly Desire Sect had never been known for direct combat prowess. But when it came to enchantment and bewitchment, no one could compare.

Among the ambushers who were currently locked in fierce combat, everyone except the Great Saint inside the thunder domain suddenly found their minds affected. They couldn't help but steal glances toward the Heavenly Desire Ancestor from time to time—each stolen look costing them a split second of focus.

In a battle among peak powerhouses, even an instant of distraction could be fatal. Two Saints were caught staring blankly for a heartbeat too long. The next moment, half their bodies were blasted apart.

The sudden change sent a wave of shock through the surrounding experts. Everyone knew the Heavenly Desire Sect was weak in head-on fights. In single combat, their cultivators almost never won against peers of the same realm. Yet in a chaotic, multi-sided battle…

The sect's bewitching arts displayed horrifying effectiveness. They could reverse the tide of battle in the blink of an eye.

Feng Baiyu moved swiftly across the battlefield, constantly scanning the surroundings, only to shake his head with faint disappointment each time. That seemed to be all of them. No more reinforcements were coming.

Honestly, the lineup they were facing was already terrifying. A Great Saint taking personal action against any other prodigy, that would have meant certain death.

But who was Ye Chen? The biological son of the Heavenly Emperor. Though his cultivation stood at Half-Saint, no one could truly treat him as an ordinary Half-Saint. Some wouldn't even dare classify him as a mere Saint.

Of course, the enemy had already shown sufficient caution—deploying a Great Saint for the assassination was already top-tier treatment. Yet even so… it still wouldn't be that easy.

Feng Baiyu silently counted down in his heart. If no more reinforcements appeared, then there was no need to wait any longer. The outer grand formation had already been set.

Today, not a single one of these attackers—not even the Great Saint—would escape. In the cultivation world, it had been countless ages since a Great Saint-level existence had fallen…

No matter which faction they belonged to, the loss would cause devastating damage. And most importantly, he would personally lead people straight to their doorstep to demand compensation.

Just thinking about the scene made Feng Baiyu feel a rare surge of delight from head to toe. When the countdown finished and he confirmed there would be no further reinforcements, the corners of Feng Baiyu's lips lifted slightly. In a calm, almost gentle voice, he spoke: "Nine Heavens Sealing Annihilation Formation… Activate!"

In an instant, a terrifying sealing power erupted from the outskirts of the Heavenly Desire Sect. The grand formation the attackers had painstakingly set up exploded apart with a deafening roar.

At the same time, several figures clad in Yin-Yang fish Daoist robes, each radiating an overwhelming aura, slowly stepped into the shattered array.

The sudden change caused the faces of every attacker to pale. Why had reinforcements from the Heavenly Evolution Holy Land arrived so quickly? This made no sense.

Retreat immediately rose in their hearts, but they had already been teetering on the edge of withdrawal—only waiting for the Heavenly Emperor's heir to fall before they fled.

Now, with Heavenly Evolution's reinforcements arriving and the Heavenly Desire Ancestor controlling the field, escape had become far more difficult.

Feng Baiyu turned his head and looked at the Saint who had earlier spoken such vicious threats, now clearly panicked. A faint, mocking smile curved his lips.

"I said I would send your whole family to reunite. I always keep my word. With your strength, it's obvious your faction is nothing special—just mediocre at best. Even if it is a holy land, it's clearly a declining one. When I'm done, I'll bring your corpse straight to their doorstep and watch as your entire lineage is wiped clean…"

For the first time, genuine fear flickered in the Saint's eyes beneath the black mist.

…

When Ye Chen stepped into his cave heaven, he simply stood still. Calmly, he gazed back toward the entrance. The next moment, a figure shrouded entirely in black mist charged inside with explosive momentum.

The corners of Ye Chen's mouth lifted. His heavy pupils lit up, curious to see the intruder's reaction. Truthfully, his cave heaven had grown far too powerful lately. Using it merely as a field for splashing and a cultivation ground felt like wearing royal robes at night—no one appreciated the true splendor. So the moment an enemy entered his cave heaven and witnessed its majesty, their shock and terror had become Ye Chen's favorite entertainment. He remained motionless, simply watching.

The Great Saint who had stormed in with murderous intent froze the instant he crossed the threshold. His gaze snapped upward toward the sky. Ye Chen clearly sensed the intruder's body stiffen for a brief moment. Then the Great Saint's eyes dropped to the peak of the main floating mountain. His entire frame shuddered violently. He had surely seen the vast forest of Immortal Spiritual Roots.

Still, Ye Chen made no move. He merely watched with an amused smile, waiting to see what the man would do next.

Flee in panic? Or charge straight at the cave heaven's master in a desperate attempt to kill him?

The Great Saint proved surprisingly decisive. After only a single trembling heartbeat, he regained control of himself and acted. The black mist enveloping his body dissipated in an instant. Revealed beneath was a muscular, rugged old man, his entire presence savage and ferocious—like a humanoid ancient ferocious beast.

Seeing the choice the intruder made, Ye Chen's smile widened. He wasn't even bothering to hide his face anymore. Clearly, he had come prepared to kill without leaving any witnesses.

Bold.

But just as a silent branch of the Fusang Divine Tree tore through the void and appeared right in front of Ye Chen—Ready to lash down without the slightest ripple of killing intent—The beast-like Great Saint suddenly dropped to his knees. He kowtowed deeply toward Ye Chen, striking the ground three times in sincere prostration.

Then, eyes red-rimmed and voice trembling with emotion, he spoke: "The true heir of this generation's Heavenly Emperor… truly the Devouring lineage's heir! This old servant has not waited in vain!

"Greetings, Young Lord! This old servant is the Demon-Exterminating Great Saint of the Devouring lineage… and the guardian who was meant to protect you on your path! After years of bitter waiting… this old servant has finally met his Young Lord…"

At that final moment, the Demon-Exterminating Great Saint wept tears of overwhelming joy.

Chapter 828: The True Devouring Lineage Is in Heavenly Evolution?

Ye Chen had anticipated many possible reactions from the intruder. He had already prepared to have the Fusang Divine Tree send the man on his way. A Great Saint was undeniably powerful. But the Fusang Divine Tree possessed Quasi-Immortal strength. Though it lacked agility, the gap of two full major realms made crushing a Great Saint effortless.

Yet no matter how he imagined the encounter, Ye Chen never expected the man to drop straight to his knees and call him Young Lord—with tears brimming in his eyes, as though he had truly searched for him across countless years.

Ye Chen almost wanted to give the man a thumbs-up. A Great Saint, so decisive in the face of danger—when things looked bad, he knelt without hesitation.

Impressive. Still… I believe you? Not a chance.

Ye Chen had no interest in wasting more words. He was ready to order the Fusang Divine Tree to finish the man off and then step out of the cave heaven to check on the situation outside. His main concern was that the Saint King-level Ancestor—the one from who-knows-how-many generations of Heavenly Desire Sect divine maidens—might have been killed in the chaos. If that happened, he really would mourn.

But the Demon-Exterminating Great Saint seemed to sense the rising killing intent. He hurriedly spoke again: "Young Lord, ever since the era of the Heavenly Emperor, the contemporary Devouring heir took the Heaven-Devouring Demon Jar and the Ghost-Face Mask, set out to assassinate the Heavenly Emperor, and never returned.

"Both the jar and the mask vanished along with him. For ages, our Devouring lineage has longed to recover them. And you, Young Lord, clearly cultivate the Indestructible Heavenly Art. Moreover, you possess both the Heaven-Devouring Demon Jar and the Ghost Face Mask.

"There is no doubt—you are the orthodox successor of the Devouring lineage! You are the true contemporary heir of Devouring! This is not some desperate lie to save my life. The very first moment I laid eyes on you, I faintly sensed the aura of the Indestructible Heavenly Art upon your body. I joined this assault mainly to confirm it for myself. After seeing you up close, I became completely certain. Chasing you into your cave heaven was never about killing intent. I simply wanted to find a place where no one could interfere—so I could formally recognize you!

"Young Lord, the Devouring lineage has waited for you far too long!"

After listening to the Great Saint's speech, Ye Chen's mouth twitched uncontrollably. This Great Saint had brains. In a single breath, he had already pieced together a perfectly coherent story. So the true Devouring orthodox lineage was actually here—with him? He, the fake Heavenly Emperor's heir, turned out to be the real Devouring successor?

Absolutely ridiculous. Yet Ye Chen's resolve never wavered. Kill him. If he believed a few sentences and the title "Young Lord" and just let the man go, then he would be the one with the problem.

Sensing the thickening killing intent rising from Ye Chen, the Demon-Exterminating Great Saint hurriedly continued: "Our Devouring lineage can provide immense assistance on your path of cultivation. We have members planted almost everywhere—inside every major holy land, every ancient immortal clan, even among the myriad races.

"After all, even in holy lands and great families, countless cultivators possess mediocre talent yet refuse to accept mediocrity. Very few can resist the temptation of the Devouring Heaven Demon Art. We offer them a fragmented version of the technique, helping them grow stronger until they occupy high positions. And every one of them has already paid the price—they have killed their own sectmates, friends, and kin. Since they crave the subsequent levels of the art, their loyalty is absolute.

"That is why our Devouring lineage is not only exceptionally well-informed, but we also control countless secret opportunities known only to the greatest powers. More than that, we can subtly influence the stance of every major holy land. For example, this very assault—I feared making a mistake, so I had our planted members in various holy lands stir things up, quietly assembling this powerful raiding force.

"Even the grand formation was provided free of charge by the Northern Nether Holy Land. And aside from me, every single person who acted is an outsider. Once your true identity is confirmed, Young Lord… all of them will become nourishment for your growth."

Hearing this, Ye Chen couldn't help but genuinely marvel at the terrifying reach of the Devouring lineage. No wonder they had been hunted and reviled for so many years, yet still survived. The Devouring Heaven Demon Art, capable of directly improving physique and talent, was simply too heaven-defying. No cultivator could resist it.

If Ye Chen had still possessed only third-grade spiritual roots back then, without the system, he too would have succumbed to the temptation—willingly offering his "token of allegiance" in exchange for the technique. And the influence of the Devouring lineage was indeed frightening. With just a little stirring from their planted members, they had assembled such a formidable force—and even gotten the grand formation for free. Truly outrageous.

To be honest, Ye Chen was starting to waver, just a little. The Devouring lineage had infiltrated every major top-tier family and holy land. Their influence and access to information were beyond imagination. And that wasn't even mentioning their knowledge of exclusive secret opportunities controlled by those powers. All of it held considerable appeal for Ye Chen.

Seeing the slightest softening in Ye Chen's expression, the Demon-Exterminating Great Saint hurriedly pressed on: "At the same time, though our Devouring lineage suffered heavy losses among our high-end forces during several encirclement campaigns over the past million years—mainly due to the loss of our immortal artifact—we still have an Emperor-realm existence overseeing everything.

"As for Great Saints, we have three of them. And the rest of the manpower you could command, Young Lord… is simply countless. Once I return, I will inform them of the truth and make it clear that you, Young Lord, are the genuine successor of the Devouring lineage."

At the end, the Demon-Exterminating Great Saint looked up with open reverence: "Our Devouring lineage has always been at odds with the Heavenly Emperor lineage. Whenever heirs from both sides appear in the same generation, a great war almost inevitably erupts."

"But you, Young Lord, are farsighted and profound. As the heir of our Devouring lineage, you actually gained recognition from the Heavenly Emperor Hall, infiltrated the enemy ranks, and became the Heavenly Emperor's heir. You have perfectly fused the advantages of both the Devouring Immortal Maiden and the Heavenly Emperor—truly reaching the pinnacle…"

Ye Chen's mouth twitched at the last part.

You've got the whole thing completely reversed. Infiltrated the enemy? What a pity you're not running a pyramid scheme.

Still, after hearing the full rundown on the Devouring lineage, Ye Chen really felt tempted. This was a massive force. If he could take control of it, many things would become far more convenient.

But a curious smile appeared on Ye Chen's face as he asked: "If I become the true Devouring heir… then what about Alkaid?"

The Demon-Exterminating Great Saint answered without the slightest hesitation: "Alkaid was prepared as your great medicine."

Ye Chen almost laughed out loud. If Alkaid ever heard those words, he'd probably break down crying. After harvesting so many others as "great medicines," he was now being stabbed in the back by his own people and reduced to one himself.

Thinking of that extremely cautious schemer, Ye Chen couldn't resist asking a couple more questions: "Why didn't Alkaid come along? Logically, an assassination attempt on me—something he's wanted for so long—he wouldn't miss it."

The Demon-Exterminating Great Saint shook his head.

"Alkaid is extraordinarily cautious. During many major battles—such as when you fought in the Myriad Races Immortal City—he has watched from afar on several occasions… But in the end, he always chose not to act and simply left."

Ye Chen raised an eyebrow. He couldn't help but sigh inwardly at how truly cowardly Alkaid was. The man showed up every single time, yet he could still hold himself back from making a move.

As for the gazes secretly observing him, Ye Chen genuinely hadn't noticed. Not because he lacked perception, but because too many people had been sneaking peeks at him over the years—he'd long since stopped paying attention.

"What realm has Alkaid reached now?"

Ye Chen asked.

Again, the Demon-Exterminating Great Saint answered without hesitation, as though he had truly abandoned the other side: "Alkaid has already reached the late stage of the Fifth Heaven…"

Fifth Heaven—that was the Saint realm. Honestly, Alkaid's cultivation speed was frighteningly fast. Back when they were at the same level, people like Yao Yuekong were still stuck lingering around the Second or Third Heaven.

Noticing Ye Chen's surprise, the Great Saint quickly explained: "The Devouring Origin does provide a certain boost to cultivation. On top of that, our lineage possesses a great deal of information about opportunities on the Immortal Path, which allowed Alkaid to obtain many fortuitous encounters.

"Even so, his progress has been faster than we anticipated. He may have some hidden opportunities of his own. But it doesn't matter. No matter what secrets Alkaid holds, in the end, they will only serve as wedding clothes for you, Young Lord."

Hearing that, the corners of Ye Chen's mouth curved upward. Suddenly, he really wanted to see the expression on that cautious schemer's face when he learned that the true position of the Devouring heir had been snatched away by Ye Chen.

In short, right now, the Demon-Exterminating Great Saint had genuinely presented Ye Chen with a difficult choice. He studied the old man who remained kneeling, showing absolutely no sign of preparing a sneak attack. The Great Saint's eyes shone with pure loyalty and excitement, as though he had finally found the lord he was destined to serve.

For the first time, Ye Chen felt a flicker of hesitation in his heart…

Outside.

The sudden arrival of reinforcements from the Heavenly Evolution Holy Land instantly shifted the balance of the battlefield. The black shadow that had been pinning down the Heavenly Evolution Great Saint noticed another Great Saint among the newcomers. Its expression darkened. Then it glanced upward toward the sky. Over a hundred breaths had passed since that figure entered Ye Chen's cave heaven—yet he still hadn't come out. What was he doing in there?

A Great Saint killing a Half-Saint—even if the target was an unparalleled prodigy, even if the cave heaven contained top-tier killing arrays—shouldn't take this long. Could he be… looting the treasures inside Ye Chen's cave heaven?

Given the staggering wealth Ye Chen had displayed, not to mention the priceless artifacts he'd once won at auction, even a Great Saint would be tempted. The thought made the black shadow restless. It had come all this way, endured all this effort, for exactly those spoils.

If it didn't act now, everything would be too late. Even with Heavenly Evolution's reinforcements on the field, the shadow was confident it could still escape. But it absolutely refused to leave without claiming its share. That was the Heavenly Emperor's treasury. There might even be an opportunity inside for it to become an Emperor.

The next instant, the black shadow clenched its teeth. All the thunder filling the thunder domain suddenly contracted violently, forcibly tearing open a pitch-black passage in the void—deep and unfathomable, as though it connected to another world entirely.

"This is…"

The Heavenly Evolution Great Saint's face changed drastically. He seemed to recognize the technique's origin and even guessed the shadow's true identity. But there was no time to react. The passage swallowed him whole. His figure vanished from the spot, as though exiled to another realm.

The black shadow knew its own art couldn't trap the other Great Saint for long—at most a hundred more breaths before the man broke free and returned. Still, that was enough time. Enough to slip into Ye Chen's cave heaven, grab what it could, and flee.

Like a bolt of furious black lightning, the shadow streaked forward and plunged straight into the entrance of Ye Chen's cave heaven. The abrupt change stunned everyone present. The Heavenly Evolution Great Saint who had come to reinforce them also paled. Without hesitation, he rushed toward the cave heaven entrance.

They all had faith in Ye Chen. But with two Great Saints now inside his domain, even Ye Chen would likely be overwhelmed. They had to provide support… Yet just as he reached the entrance, Feng Baiyu's voice cut through the air, stopping him.

"Elder, wait—don't go in yet. Send a voice transmission and ask first…"

Two Great Saints inside could easily turn Ye Chen's cave heaven upside down. But Feng Baiyu still believed Ye Chen might have a way to handle it. Ye Chen's cave heaven held secrets. As allies, if they rushed in and saw things they weren't meant to see, it could turn a good situation into a disaster—leaving everyone in an awkward position. Better to ask first.

The reinforcing Great Saint was momentarily dumbfounded. Wasn't that obvious? Still, he halted and sent a voice transmission toward the glowing portal: "Ye Chen, do you need me to come in and assist?"

The very next moment, Ye Chen's calm voice drifted out from within: "Thank you, Elder, but there's no problem here! Please take care of the situation outside first—especially protect the people from the Heavenly Desire Sect…"

For a heartbeat, the entire battlefield fell deathly silent. Two Great Saints had gone in. And the Heavenly Emperor's heir… was saying everything was fine? The Heavenly Emperor's heir… was just that monstrous?

Chapter 829: The Way to Please Ye Chen!

Ye Chen still hadn't given a clear answer. A trace of hesitation lingered in his heart. After all, no male cultivator had ever entered his cave heaven and walked out alive. Yet if he could truly take control of the Devouring lineage… it didn't seem like a bad thing at all.

After a moment of internal debate, Ye Chen finally made up his mind. Forget it. This man had already seen far too much he wasn't supposed to. Even with methods to control him, the risk remained. The safest option was death.

But just as resolve hardened in Ye Chen's eyes once more, the kneeling Demon-Exterminating Great Saint spoke again: "I know the Young Lord has an appreciation for beautiful things. Many of our Devouring lineage's members currently hold high positions across various holy lands. If there is any female cultivator you saw in the Central Continent who caught your interest, simply tell me.

"Many of them—we can arrange with a single word to have them come to you willingly. For those who are harder to move, we can set up a situation, lure them out of their sect, abduct them directly, or even create an opportunity for the Young Lord to play the hero and save the beauty…"

This time, the firmness in Ye Chen's gaze wavered again. Female cultivators or not didn't matter much. What truly mattered was the Devouring lineage's ability to infiltrate every major holy land and stay perfectly informed. When he needed certain intelligence in the future, they could prove extremely useful. Though he still hadn't fully decided,

The way Ye Chen looked at the Demon-Exterminating Great Saint had noticeably softened. He spoke first: "Stand up and talk."

The Demon-Exterminating Great Saint let out a long breath of relief, knowing his last few sentences had hit the mark. But the danger wasn't over yet. He needed to keep pushing.

Recalling how Ye Chen had acted without restraint back in the Myriad Races Immortal City—openly pursuing the Little Peacock King's mother and the Divine Silkworm Clan Leader's wife—And how, just moments ago, he had noticed the flushed, radiant faces of the Heavenly Desire Divine Maiden's master and grandmaster, both exuding the unmistakable aura of someone recently "nourished."

Yet the Divine Maiden herself still carried the pure aura of untouched primordial yin. Clearly, Ye Chen had approached the Divine Maiden solely for the sake of her master and grandmaster… His preferences were obvious.

So the Demon-Exterminating Great Saint frantically racked his brain for famous, mature, taken female cultivators. From his own era of rising to prominence, there had been several beauties renowned across the heavens. He would look into them later—see how well they had aged. If any were still stunning, he could capture them and present them to the Young Lord.

The Dao Companion of the Alkaid Holy Master—he remembered meeting her once; she had been quite beautiful. Then there was the grandmother of the Great Yang Body, the one Ye Chen had killed—she was a Saint King herself, and back in the day, she had been hailed as the Central Continent's number one female cultivator. The Young Lord held grudges deeply, yet he also favored mature women. The elders of his enemies might stir his interest even more.

With that thought, the Demon-Exterminating Great Saint prepared to start listing them out, ready to ask which one Ye Chen wanted. If the Young Lord wanted all of them… that was fine too. It might be troublesome, and a few hidden agents might be sacrificed, but with enough effort, it could be done. The most important thing was keeping the new Young Lord satisfied.

He was just about to speak—When another terrifying figure crashed into the cave heaven with earth-shaking force. A wave of oppressive saintly might swept through the space, shaking heaven and earth. Both men's attention snapped toward the newcomer.

Ye Chen frowned, hoping it wasn't one of his own people. That would complicate things. But when he saw the figure shrouded entirely in black qi, face concealed, he immediately relaxed.

An enemy—perfect.

Ye Chen watched the newcomer with an amused smile.

The Demon-Exterminating Great Saint, meanwhile, narrowed his eyes.

The newly arrived Great Saint didn't have time to survey the surroundings. After a quick glance at the two men and a brief flash of surprise upon seeing the Demon-Exterminating Great Saint's true face—he didn't recognize the man or his faction—he dismissed it.

He assumed this fellow daoist must already have the situation firmly in hand, unafraid of being identified. Still, he couldn't help frowning: "Why haven't you subdued this boy yet?"

Without waiting for an answer, he raised his hand and sent a palm strike wreathed in crackling thunder straight toward Ye Chen. Before Ye Chen could react, the Demon-Exterminating Great Saint exploded upward. Endless saintly power surged forth as he intercepted the attack.

The newcomer's expression twisted in shock: "Have you lost your mind? Did the Heavenly Emperor's heir actually convince you? Kill him now, and everything will belong to both of us! Besides, nothing a Heavenly Emperor's heir says to a man can be trusted. Heavenly Evolution's reinforcements have already arrived outside. If we don't finish this quickly, even the two of us working together might not escape!"

Hearing those words, the Demon-Exterminating Great Saint's expression turned icy cold. Endless black petals bloomed into existence, surging toward the second Great Saint with murderous intent. A terrifying wave of killing aura shot straight into the sky.

The newcomer's face changed again as he recognized the distinctive divine art. While frantically summoning endless wind and thunder to defend himself, he cried out in shock: "One Thought, Flowers Bloom! The supreme technique from the Devouring Heaven Demon Art—you're from the Devouring lineage?"

The Demon-Exterminating Great Saint ignored him completely. Only the endless petals continued their relentless assault, each one carrying lethal killing intent. As he pressed the attack, he calmly introduced the intruder to Ye Chen: "This is the Thunderbolt Great Saint, Wen Tailai—early stage Great Saint realm. A mere slight nudge from one of our hidden agents in his holy land was enough. He secretly contacted us and volunteered to join the operation. When you attended the Myriad Races Auction, Young Lord, this man was also present. He is suspected of coveting your treasures!"

Thunderbolt Great Saint Wen Tailai? The one who caused trouble at the auction!

Ye Chen wasn't particularly concerned about the man's identity. What disappointed him was the Demon-Exterminating Great Saint's performance. He had hoped that with a second Great Saint barging in, the old man would finally turn against him. That would have resolved his hesitation once and for all. Yet the Demon-Exterminating Great Saint showed not the slightest sign of betrayal.

Meanwhile, Wen Tailai—his identity exposed—froze in genuine shock. His own disciple had claimed a powerful hidden force was secretly collaborating to assassinate the Heavenly Emperor's heir. Of course, he hadn't wanted to miss the chance and had joined without hesitation.

But during contact, he had carefully concealed his identity. He never expected the other side to name him so directly. Clearly, that disciple was already one of the Devouring lineage's planted agents and had sold him out long ago.

But that wasn't what terrified him most. What truly shook him to the core was the way the other Great Saint addressed the Heavenly Emperor's heir. Young Lord? The person the entire world believed to be the Heavenly Emperor's heir… was actually the Devouring lineage's successor?

Or rather, this generation's Heavenly Emperor heir and the true Devouring heir were one and the same person. One man, bearing the inheritance of two supreme orthodoxies.

The background was simply too horrifying. Unprecedented. Most crucially, this entire assassination attempt on Ye Chen had clearly been organized by the Devouring lineage. Yet Ye Chen was their true heir. Which meant the whole operation, from start to finish, had been a trap. And he had walked right into it.

The realization sent a chill through Wen Tailai's entire body. The man in front of him belonged to Ye Chen. The people outside also belonged to Ye Chen. He could not stay here a moment longer—he had to escape immediately, or he never would. His identity had been exposed; endless trouble would follow.

But no matter. He would spread the news himself: that Ye Chen was the true Devouring heir. Once that information spread, Ye Chen would become the public enemy of the entire cultivation world. Countless major powers who had long disliked him would no longer hold back. No matter how monstrously talented Ye Chen was, he would surely die!

Without hesitation, Wen Tailai unleashed a surge of purifying thunder, annihilating every petal around him. Then his entire body transformed into a streak of lightning. He turned and fled at full speed…

Chapter 830: Thinking Pretty Highly of Yourself!

Seeing Wen Tailai trying to flee, the Demon-Exterminating Great Saint exploded into motion. With the Movement Secret beneath his feet, his speed became utterly inconceivable.

In his hands, the Myriad Transformations Holy Art took shape, instantly blocking Wen Tailai's path.

In an instant, killing intent soared to the heavens inside Ye Chen's cave heaven, divine light flashing in chaotic waves.

Wen Tailai's identity had been exposed. He shed the black mist, no longer bothering to conceal himself. His bold, rugged face was now clouded with grim darkness. "Do you really think I'm not your match? It seems you're underestimating me! Besides, can Ye Chen's cave heaven withstand the aftershocks of a battle between the two of us? Even if you stop me, Ye Chen will end up crippled. I advise you to think carefully!"

The next moment, terrifying thunder surged around Wen Tailai's body, making his hair stand on end like a thunder god descended. He clashed head-on with the Demon-Exterminating Great Saint.

The Demon-Exterminating Great Saint gave not an inch of ground. Wen Tailai's words did nothing to make him hesitate or hold back. Ye Chen's cave heaven contained immortal artifacts and Immortal Spiritual Roots. Its stability far surpassed imagination. There were even many treasures inside that he himself had yet to fully comprehend. There was absolutely no need to worry about collateral damage.

The battle between the two Great Saints unfolded like the end of the world. Yet Ye Chen, the master of the cave heaven, watched casually from the sidelines. He didn't even bother retreating, completely unconcerned about being caught in the crossfire. Whenever any aftershock came close, a golden branch above Ye Chen's head simply swayed gently, dissolving the force into nothingness.

At that moment, voices called from outside the cave heaven.

Without a second thought, Ye Chen directly refused them entry. He had briefly considered reminding them to pay extra attention to the newly arrived Heavenly Desire Ancestor. But after a moment's thought, he decided against it. He needed her. But she needed him even more. He couldn't afford to appear too eager.

An opportunity offered willingly by the other party carried a completely different weight from one he had to beg for. Only when the Heavenly Desire Ancestor actively sought the chance to "absorb" would she truly understand its value during the future ceremony—and absorb even more eagerly.

…

Boom! Boom! Boom…

The two fought fiercely, neither willing to yield. Wen Tailai's expression grew uglier by the moment. He realized escape was truly impossible. Yet even as the cave heaven shattered in places, the spirit plants below remained perfectly unharmed.

The longer this dragged on, the harder it would be for him to leave. He had worked so hard to reach the Great Saint realm. To fall here would be unbearable. Now, only one last chance remained.

In the instant their latest clash forced both sides to recoil, Wen Tailai seized the momentum of his backward surge, burning his essence blood to turn around and charge straight toward Ye Chen with explosive force.

Capture the king first.

Ye Chen was the Heavenly Emperor's heir, the true Devouring successor, and the Holy Evolution Holy Son. He was the hope of immortality for all three powers. If he could seize Ye Chen, even if he couldn't demand more, he would at least have a chance to escape. And Ye Chen—a mere Half-Saint—had dared to stand so close. Utterly foolish.

Wen Tailai pushed his speed to the absolute limit, giving the Demon-Exterminating Great Saint no chance to intercept. Yet when the Demon-Exterminating Great Saint saw what Wen Tailai was doing, he simply stopped where he was. An almost speechless expression appeared on his face as he watched Wen Tailai's retreating back. He had only acted to demonstrate his loyalty. Did this Wen Tailai not even bother to look at what was inside the cave heaven?

From the moment he entered Ye Chen's cave heaven, Wen Tailai had been far too frantic to properly observe his surroundings. Now, as he drew closer and closer to Ye Chen, the man—filled with wild joy—finally caught sight of what lay behind Ye Chen, it was a floating peak.

Atop the central main peak, an immortal aura swirled thickly in the air. The sheer number of Immortal Roots growing there left Wen Tailai utterly stunned. No wonder the cultivation world couldn't find any immortal roots anymore. They were all here—inside Ye Chen's cave heaven. Even the Heavenly Emperor himself probably couldn't have gathered so many.

Most likely, the Devouring lineage had spent countless years secretly collecting them as well. But what truly locked his gaze was the divine tree shining like a constellation of stars. The Fusang Divine Tree—a Quasi-Immortal with Quasi-Immortal battle power.

Though the Fusang Divine Tree had many flaws—it couldn't move, excelled at defense rather than offense, and fell short of a true Quasi-Immortal in several respects—it was still a Quasi-Immortal. To a Quasi-Immortal, a Great Saintwas nothing more than a slightly larger ant. And now he finally understood why Ye Chen had dared stand so close.

Above Ye Chen's head, a golden branch swayed gently.

Wen Tailai's hair stood on end. In that instant, he tried to change direction and shoot upward. He had to escape. He absolutely had to get out. If he could just get away, whether it was Ye Chen's identity as the true Devouring heir or the fact that he possessed eleven Immortal Roots, both would turn Ye Chen into the public enemy of the entire cultivation world.

Quasi-Immortals and Emperors would emerge without hesitation. Even the Fusang Divine Tree wouldn't be able to protect him forever. Yet the moment he looked up at the sky, his pupils shrank to pinpricks…

The Undying Celestial Blade, the Heaven-Devouring Demon Jar, the Ghost-Face Mask, the Dao Cauldron, the Nine Transformations Heavenly Furnace, the Sea-Calming Divine Treasure…

All of these legendary immortal artifacts, famous throughout history, floated serenely above Ye Chen's cave heaven. Each one radiated a boundless ferocious aura. And scattered among them like countless stars were an overwhelming number of Extreme Dao Weapons.

Staring at the scene, Wen Tailai finally understood why Ye Chen had acted like such a reckless spendthrift at the auction—bidding ten times the price and sweeping the entire event clean. The foundation Ye Chen controlled had already surpassed everyone's wildest imagination. This couldn't have been accumulated by the Heavenly Emperor alone.

Most likely, the Devouring lineage's hidden accumulations over countless years had been poured into this place as well. How in the world had Ye Chen managed all of this? He was only at the Half-Saint realm—yet both supreme orthodoxies had handed over even their most treasured immortal artifacts to him?

Wen Tailai felt his breathing stop.

At the same moment, a golden branch appeared silently in front of him, blocking his path. An indescribable power emanated from it. Even the divine-patterned leaves caused Wen Tailai to tremble uncontrollably. Despair filled him completely. He halted in midair.

His face twisted with bitterness as he looked at Ye Chen. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but only managed a few incoherent murmurs after a long pause. Regret flooded his heart. He and Ye Chen had never truly borne any grudge. It was only his own greed that allowed the Devouring lineage to manipulate him onto this path of no return.

He didn't beg for mercy. He knew death was inevitable today. So he simply gazed up at the bronze ancient coffin floating in the sky and spoke: "That bronze ancient coffin… is where you bury your enemies? It occupies a position above even the immortal artifacts. It must have an extraordinary origin—perhaps it once held the remains of someone truly great. To be buried inside such a coffin after death… wouldn't be so bad."

Ye Chen almost laughed. Bury him in the bronze ancient coffin? He really was thinking quite highly of himself!

Without a word, Ye Chen willed it. The Fusang branch descended lightly.

Wen Tailai, the majestic Great Saint who could command wind and rain outside, who even in the Myriad Races Immortal City was treated with utmost respect and caution lest anyone offend him—Today, he simply exploded apart. Silently, without the slightest ripple of killing intent. No chance of revival.

With a casual wave of his hand, Ye Chen collected Wen Tailai's origin and tossed it into the Heaven-Devouring Demon Jar. Even the man's shattered divine soul wasn't wasted—he threw it into his Human Emperor Banner. Only then did Ye Chen turn toward the Demon-Exterminating Great Saint, whose face was now covered in obvious relief…

Chapter 831: This Is the Gift I Prepared for You

"To be honest, I really thought you were going to run just now."

Ye Chen gazed at the Demon-Exterminating Great Saint with an amused smile. The old man could have pretended to intercept Wen Tailai while actually slipping away. It was a very real possibility. After all, everything he'd said earlier had clearly been nonsense. This entire assassination attempt had been aimed at killing him outright. The only reason it went wrong was that the intruder had entered his cave heaven.

Ye Chen had actually been half-hoping the "leek" would bolt. That would have spared him the headache of deciding whether he—fake Heavenly Emperor heir—should step into the role of true Devouring heir. But the fact that the old man hadn't run left Ye Chen both surprised… and once again hesitant.

Hearing those words and witnessing Wen Tailai's silent, traceless demise, the Demon-Exterminating Great Saint felt overwhelming relief flood his chest. Truthfully, he had considered fleeing. Handing his life and death over to Ye Chen's whim was far from comforting. Freedom would always feel better. Yet in the end, he had suppressed the urge. And now, it was clear he had made the right choice.

The Demon-Exterminating Great Saint hurriedly shook his head. "Young Lord, you misunderstand this old servant. My loyalty to you is absolute—there is no second heart. Just now, this old servant was actually thinking… whether I should bring back the wife of the Divine Silkworm Clan Leader for the Holy Master!

"And there's also the mother of the Alkaid Holy Son—she was the Heavenly Maiden three generations ago, a woman of breathtaking grace and beauty. Not to mention the grandmother of the Great Yang Body you personally slew. She too was exceptionally beautiful. As the Young Lord of our Devouring lineage, of course, you need not choose. You can have them all. Our Devouring lineage has hidden agents planted within all these forces.

"Naturally, these women are all of extraordinary cultivation. So it will require careful planning. Some of our agents may be exposed in the process. But the Devouring lineage exists for no other reason than to serve the Young Lord. What does the sacrifice of a few hidden pieces matter?"

Ye Chen's mouth twitched at the words. He could feel the old man's sincerity. But why were all these suggestions mature beauties from the previous generation—or even the one before that? Just what kind of reputation had he built outside? Was there something seriously wrong with this cultivation world?

Feeling a chill run through him, Ye Chen waved a hand at the Demon-Exterminating Great Saint and spoke plainly: "I still can't fully trust you. If even a whisper of what's inside my cave heaven leaked out, the entire cultivation world would tremble. So give me one good reason I can trust you. Otherwise—you die."

Ye Chen's tone was blunt and direct, without the slightest attempt at softening the words.

The Demon-Exterminating Great Saint had anticipated this. He answered immediately: "It is only natural for the Young Lord to be wary. Your talent is heaven-defying; you possess the essence of both supreme lineages. Neither the Celestial Prince nor any Seven-Crowned King can compare to you!

"Back when the Devouring Immortal Maiden created the Indestructible Heavenly Art, she casually devised another technique alongside it—the Desolate Seal Method! By condensing a Desolate Seal and imprinting it deep within a target's divine sense, you gain complete control over them. If they ever harbor the slightest thought of betrayal, their soul will instantly extinguish, leaving them nothing more than a walking corpse."

As he spoke, the Demon-Exterminating Great Saint respectfully presented a jade slip with both hands.

Ye Chen couldn't help but sigh inwardly at how adaptable—and considerate—this Great Saint truly was. Add in the entire Devouring lineage standing behind him… If he could truly trust and use them without reservation, they would be an incredible asset.

Taking the jade slip, Ye Chen scanned the scripture within. By circulating the method, one could condense a Desolate Seal. Even if the target's cultivation far surpassed his own, they would still fall under its control. Unless they became an Immortal, escape was impossible.

With a single thought from the one who planted the seal, the victim could be reduced to a mindless husk. And should they ever contemplate betrayal, the Desolate Seal would activate automatically. It was indeed a profoundly mysterious and powerful technique.

Yet after glancing at the Demon-Exterminating Great Saint, Ye Chen still felt uneasy. After all, the technique had come directly from the old man. Who could say whether it contained some hidden backdoor?

Cultivators had countless cunning methods. And this one was an ancient Great Saint who had lived through countless eras, a true old fox. The slightest carelessness, and Ye Chen could be the one who ended up overturned. So even though the Great Saint currently appeared utterly respectful and obedient, Ye Chen still could not bring himself to fully believe him.

After a moment of contemplation, the corners of Ye Chen's mouth curved into a faint smile. He spoke lightly: "Just stand right here and don't move. I'll step out for a bit."

Seeing that Ye Chen had no intention of condensing the Desolate Seal, the Demon-Exterminating Great Saint understood immediately—Ye Chen still didn't trust him. Yet he showed not the slightest trace of discontent. He simply nodded quickly in agreement.

The old man had placed no backdoors in the technique. He feared the Heaven-Devouring Demon Jar might contain some lingering remnant method from the lineage. If Ye Chen already knew the Desolate Seal but was deliberately pretending ignorance, then offering him a falsified version would mean certain death. And judging from Ye Chen's past behavior—profoundly cunning, ruthless in his methods—the slightest misstep could cost him everything. So the Demon-Exterminating Great Saint had been extraordinarily careful, leaving nothing to chance.

…

Ye Chen wasn't worried that the old man would wander off or try anything funny while he was gone. He had already communicated with the Fusang Divine Tree. If the Demon-Exterminating Great Saint so much as twitched, a single branch would descend. Problem solved, once and for all.

Ye Chen glanced toward the floating peak. His eyes met Luo Bingling's. With a look that said everything was fine, he turned and left directly.

Luo Bingling had long since awakened from cultivation. She had been startled to see two Great Saints barge in, but one look at the Fusang Divine Tree beside her and she relaxed completely. In fact, she even felt that with the arrangements inside Ye Chen's cave heaven, a Great Saint might not even be his match here. So she hadn't gone closer—just watched the excitement from afar.

When she saw Ye Chen preparing to leave, she gave a casual wave. She cast one more glance at the still-living Demon-Exterminating Great Saint, then lost interest and returned to cultivating beneath the Enlightenment Tea Tree…

…

The moment Ye Chen stepped out of the cave heaven, he realized the situation outside had already been resolved—not just on his side. The Heavenly Desire Sect side had been settled as well.

The Great Saint previously exiled by Wen Tailai had returned. Together with the newly arrived reinforcements, They had effortlessly taken control of the entire battlefield.

Now, aside from the few attackers who had already fallen, every survivor had been sealed in one place and was being interrogated one by one.

The instant everyone saw Ye Chen emerge, they froze in shock. Though they had believed his earlier words and assumed he had some hidden card up his sleeve—something extraordinary inside the cave heaven—To deal with two Great Saints in such a short time…

Wasn't that just a little too terrifying? Just where were the limits of the Heavenly Emperor's heir?

"Thank you, Elders, for your assistance…"

Ye Chen offered his thanks to the elders who had been hurrying back and forth. Everyone responded with exceptional courtesy. After all, everyone in Heavenly Evolution Holy Land knew their Holy Son was always generous. Even if they simply accompanied him as protectors and nothing happened, they would receive a lavish gift upon return. And if a battle did occur… the rewards would be even greater.

They were all very tactful and asked nothing about what had transpired inside the cave heaven. After exchanging a few words with Feng Baiyu, Ye Chen flew directly toward Fan Qinghe and the other women. Aside from the three generations of the Divine Maiden lineage, whose depths he already knew quite well, the newly appeared Heavenly Desire Ancestor was also standing among them.

Looking at the four women standing together, Ye Chen couldn't help but notice that starting from Fan Qinghe, each one was… noticeably more impressive than the last. The Heavenly Desire Sect's cultivation method really did have something special.

But that wasn't what Ye Chen was focused on right now. After flashing the Heavenly Desire Ancestor a warm, grateful smile, He turned to Fan Qinghe: "I noticed among the suppressed cultivators, there is a female Saint King. How about we enslave her and make her your personal servant to protect you? That way, I can feel much more at ease."

Hearing this, Fan Qinghe—who had just thrown herself into Ye Chen's arms—froze for a second. Then her eyes filled with deep emotion. In the aftermath of a life-and-death crisis, the very first thing Ye Chen worried about upon returning was her safety. Of course, she wanted a Saint King servant. But she still shook her head gently:

"The gap in cultivation is too vast. Any enslavement method carries the risk of backlash. The hidden danger would be too great!"

Fan Qinghe knew her own limits very well.

Ye Chen gave a soft smile and took out a jade slip.

"No need to worry. This is the gift I prepared for you…"

Chapter 832: His Taste Is Getting Heavier and Heavier!

"This is a top-tier enslavement technique. Consider it my gift to you. That way, even when I'm not around the Heavenly Desire Sect, I can rest easy."

As Ye Chen spoke, he handed the jade slip he had just received from the Demon-Exterminating Great Saint directly to Fan Qinghe.

Fan Qinghe froze in place, staring fixedly at Ye Chen. Her beautiful eyes shimmered with nothing but pure shock and overwhelming emotion. Ye Chen had just faced two Great Saints charging straight into his domain. Even though he had hidden cards and ultimately suppressed them, the process must have been incredibly perilous. And yet, the very first thing he did after resolving the crisis was to worry about her safety.

The feeling in Fan Qinghe's heart was indescribably moved. The three women standing behind her—master, grandmaster, and ancestor—each one more impressively endowed than the last like a set of nesting dolls—watched with open envy on their faces.

Their own protectors had clearly loved them deeply as well. Otherwise, they never would have willingly risked destroying their own futures to help them cultivate. But compared to Ye Chen… the gap was simply too vast. He was handing over a Saint King with a single gesture.

For the Heavenly Desire Sect, this was an enormous boon. The Ancestor was not skilled in combat. Because she hadn't absorbed enough during her Third Heaven transformation, her evolution had been imperfect. As a result, her battle power was only average among peers of the same realm.

Moreover, she was already nearing the end of her lifespan. If the Heavenly Desire Sect could gain a new Saint King, its overall strength would rise dramatically. Still, they couldn't help feeling a little worried. Fan Qinghe was only at the Third Heaven. How could she possibly control a Sixth Heaven Saint King? Just what kind of enslavement technique had Ye Chen given her that could make this possible?

Under everyone's curious gazes, Fan Qinghe sank her divine sense into the jade slip. The next moment, her enchanting, expressive eyes widened dramatically.

The Desolate Seal!

This was the enslavement method created by the Devouring Immortal. As long as the Desolate Seal was planted deep within the target's divine soul, the enslaved person could never break free—unless they became an Immortal. And the moment any thought of betrayal arose, they would instantly turn into a mindless walking corpse.

This was undoubtedly a supreme-grade enslavement art. If word of it ever leaked, countless major powers would fight over it. Ye Chen… had truly treated her too well.

Fan Qinghe's beautiful eyes glistened with moisture. She threw herself into Ye Chen's arms, expressing her deep, overflowing gratitude with every fiber of her being. If Ye Chen had been willing to accept it, she would have given him the sweetest honey right then and there.

At the same moment, a system prompt chimed clearly in Ye Chen's mind:

"Congratulations to the host for successfully gifting an item…"

"Gift: Desolate Seal!"

"Four-thousandfold feedback in progress…"

"Detected that the gift is extremely important to the recipient, triggering intense emotional fluctuations in her state of mind…"

"Top-notch critical hit feedback triggered!"

"Feedback: Immortal Artifact — Conferred God List!"

"The Conferred God List, an immortal artifact from the Immortal Realm: It can seal an enemy's divine soul within the list, imprint them, and achieve complete enslavement…"

"Anyone imprinted must obey the commands of the Conferred God List's master."

"Any act of defiance will immediately result in the tearing of their divine soul, leading to soul annihilation—eternal doom, no chance of reincarnation…"

"Can enslave True Immortals."

"…"

Looking at the feedback, Ye Chen smiled. He hadn't been certain whether the Desolate Seal technique contained any hidden backdoors. But by giving it to Fan Qinghe and letting the system provide feedback, he no longer had anything to worry about. And the result had far exceeded his expectations.

A single technique had actually netted him an immortal artifact in return. The Desolate Seal could only enslave those below True Immortal. But the Conferred God List could even enslave True Immortals. Most importantly, it had none of the messy requirements or restrictions—no need for specific divine sense strength, no limit on numbers. In every sense, this was an absolute blood profit.

"You go ahead and start cultivating the Desolate Seal technique. I'll be right back."

Hearing the voice transmission from Feng Baiyu, his own Holy Master, Ye Chen spoke briefly to Fan Qinghe. Then he flew straight toward Feng Baiyu.

Once Ye Chen left, both her master and grandmaster turned to look at Fan Qinghe with undisguised envy. Just from the look on her face, they could tell the enslavement method was undoubtedly top-tier.

In the future, Qinghe would likely become the strongest combatant in the entire Heavenly Desire Sect. And all of this… simply because she had a protector who truly loved her. So sour… Truly, painfully sour!

Fan Qinghe sat cross-legged with barely contained excitement and began attempting to condense the Desolate Seal.

The Ancestor, who had only recently emerged from seclusion and still looked somewhat pale, no longer inspired pity. Instead, her appearance stirred an even stronger desire to conquer.

Curious, she quietly asked the other two for details. So much had happened earlier that there hadn't been time to explain properly. Her master and grandmaster immediately launched into animated, overlapping explanations, recounting every change that had come to the Heavenly Desire Sect because of Ye Chen.

The Ancestor listened with shining eyes, swallowing hard despite herself.

"The Heavenly Emperor's heir really has such terrifying capital that he could perfectly transform all three of you at once? And afterward… he didn't even need to rest before going straight into seclusion to break through? There actually exists a male cultivator this monstrous in the world? It's simply unbelievable."

Both master and grandmaster nodded deeply in agreement. Even though they had personally experienced that overwhelming satisfaction, even though they had felt Ye Chen's prowess with their own bodies, thinking back on it now still felt utterly unreal.

The Ancestor was genuinely moved. She had been trapped at the Saint King realm for three thousand years already. Her great limit had arrived. If there was any chance at all, she too wanted to test whether Ye Chen's foundation was truly as terrifying as they claimed. But then a trace of dejection shadowed her face.

Earlier, Ye Chen had merely given her a polite nod and a word of thanks. After that, his attention had remained fixed entirely on Fan Qinghe. Clearly, he had no interest in her. She was, after all, a six-thousand-year-old auntie. How could she possibly compare to a young girl like Qinghe, who was barely over a hundred?

Seeing the dimness in the Ancestor's expression, the grandmaster felt a pang of heartache. Memories surfaced—of being raised by the Ancestor when she was little, those warm and gentle days. Quietly, she spoke: "Master, please don't feel sad. The Heavenly Emperor's heir cultivates at an astonishing speed. At most a hundred years, and he'll surely reach the Saint King realm. Qinghe has a soft heart. As long as you ask her properly, and she asks Ye Chen on your behalf… With how much Ye Chen dotes on Qinghe, he will definitely make room for you among his… lost ones."

The Ancestor immediately gave her disciple a light, reproachful slap on the back.

"What nonsense are you saying? I am the Heavenly Desire Ancestor—how could I possibly covet my own grand-disciple's protector? If word got out, I'd become a laughingstock. And more importantly… even if Qinghe is kind-hearted, and even if the Heavenly Emperor's heir doesn't mind this old antique, I no longer have the chance… Upon emerging this time, my life force has begun accelerating its decline. At most three years… and I will completely fall…"

By the end, her voice carried a faint melancholy. After finally glimpsing hope, she wouldn't live long enough to grasp it. Truly, fate played cruel tricks. Perhaps this was simply destiny.

Hearing those words, the faces of the master, grandmaster, and others were also filled with heartache. In the cultivation world, life-extending treasures were the most precious of all. After the era of the Heavenly Emperor, immortal roots had vanished one after another into the river of history. Life-prolonging items grew scarcer by the day. The top great sects might still possess a few, but they guarded them jealously. No outsider could ever obtain one. The matter of the Ancestor's lifespan limit truly seemed unsolvable.

For a moment, the women fell silent.

Fan Qinghe, meanwhile, continued condensing the Desolate Seal while listening to every word. She felt no deep emotional attachment to the Ancestor. But the Ancestor had emerged from seclusion without hesitation, disregarding her own great limit, the moment the sect faced disaster.

Fan Qinghe didn't want to see her fall like this. She thought perhaps Ye Chen had some life-extending treasure. But almost immediately, she shook her head inwardly. How could she be so shameless?

He had already given her so much. She couldn't possibly ask for more. She couldn't rely on Ye Chen's love for her. And then act without restraint toward him. Otherwise, Fan Qinghe worried that even the deepest affection would eventually be worn away to nothing.

Ye Chen arrived above the sky. Six captives remained. Feng Baiyu had summoned him specifically to ask his opinion on how to deal with them.

Ye Chen had no particular preference. He simply said he would defer to the Holy Master's judgment. His gaze, however, lingered on the female Saint King cultivator, a bold idea forming in his mind.

If, a week from now, he presented this Saint King woman to Fan Qinghe as a gift… would the system trigger another critical hit? And if it was a top-notch crit… could it at least feedback something on the Quasi-Immortal level?

Ye Chen knew the odds were slim, but the temptation was hard to resist. Trying it cost nothing anyway. Besides, he had already planned to give her to Fan Qinghe as a guardian for the Heavenly Desire Sect. That lineage truly mattered to him. So he spoke up and claimed the female Saint King for himself.

Feng Baiyu raised an eyebrow at the request, glancing at the still-youthful face of the Saint King. A little surprised, yet not entirely. He had long grown accustomed to Ye Chen's increasingly heavy tastes. From the human race to the myriad races, from the younger generation to the previous one, and now even the one before that. If he wanted to sample an ancestor-level figure next, well… there wasn't much to say as long as he didn't start eyeing men.

So Feng Baiyu only asked calmly: "Do you need an enslavement method? I have one here, though it places high demands on the strength of the primordial spirit."

Ye Chen shook his head. He already had one.

The Saint King, hearing herself being discussed like an object, felt a surge of profound humiliation. A dignified Saint King… about to be enslaved? And by a junior like Ye Chen, no less. In his hands, her reputation in her later years would be utterly ruined. Yet she also understood clearly: refusal meant certain death.

Moreover, she had come here to kill Ye Chen and had naturally done her homework on him. Ye Chen was extraordinarily generous toward his women. He even gave away the Sacred Spiritual Root without hesitation. And he surely controlled the Heavenly Emperor's treasury—resources beyond counting. This… might actually be her opportunity. A chance to break through to even higher realms in the future.

With those thoughts, complex emotions churned inside her—humiliation mixed with faint anticipation. A faint blush even crept across her beautiful face…

…

"As for the rest—kill them all. When the time comes, take their corpses straight to their respective holy lands and have a proper conversation. They broke the rules; compensation is mandatory."

Feng Baiyu showed zero mercy as he made the decision.

Kill them all. Eliminate any future threats.

Ye Chen had no objections. In fact, he volunteered to handle it personally. He opened the entrance to his cave heaven and began tossing the sealed cultivators inside one by one.

The Heaven-Devouring Demon Jar absorbed their origins. The Myriad Souls Banner collected their souls. A smooth, practiced routine. Only their empty husks were spat back out.

The process was swift. Aside from the female cultivator, soon only one captive remained. He was also a Saint King, but his expression had turned exceptionally ugly. He spoke in a dark, threatening tone: "Though this matter started because of us, the Heavenly Emperor's heir is unharmed. You've vented your anger. Let it end here! If anything happens to me, you will regret it for the rest of your lives. The entire Heavenly Evolution Holy Land—including the Heavenly Emperor Hall—will be uprooted and destroyed…"

Ye Chen had been happily harvesting the others. Hearing the threat, he turned with genuine curiosity. He wanted to know which faction this man belonged to—bold enough to speak with such arrogance?