ISWI Chapter 839-840 (Patreon)

Chapter 839: The Dao-Entrust Treasure!

The moment Ye Chen flew out of Heavenly Intention Holy Land and caught sight of the Demon-Exterminating Great Saint, the corner of his mouth couldn't help but twitch violently.

Before him stood a headless body. In its right hand dangled a head by the hair—the head of the Demon-Exterminating Great Saint himself.

The old man had really come carrying his own head. He truly understood the meaning of keeping one's word.

"Young Lord, I have failed you. I have no face left to meet you. If not for the need to report back, I would have ended myself immediately and shattered my soul…"

The head in the Great Saint's hand spoke with a face full of guilt and shame.

Ye Chen curled his lip.

"Hm. Then finish your report and go kill yourself."

The Demon-Exterminating Great Saint's mouth twitched. He hurriedly begged for mercy: "Young Lord… is there still a chance for me?"

Ye Chen raised a hand lazily.

"Speak. What happened? You couldn't beat him?"

The Alkaid Holy Son was only a Fifth-Heaven Saint. If he could cross two full major realms and defeat a Seventh-Heaven Great Saint, his combat power would be downright absurd.

The Demon-Exterminating Great Saint shook his head repeatedly.

"No, it wasn't like that. When I returned, I contacted Alkaid and told him I had something to deliver. The moment I saw him, I attacked at once. But Alkaid had already set up an absolute killing array in advance. Though it couldn't harm me, it still trapped me for several breaths. By the time I broke free, Alkaid had already fled. Later, he entered the Immortal Path and vanished without a trace."

"Alkaid is currently in the fifth realm of the Immortal Path, but his Acquired Chaos Body is already flawless. Within the entire Devouring lineage, no one at the same realm is his match! As long as he refuses to come out, there is nothing I can do…"

At the end, the Demon-Exterminating Great Saint seethed with indignation. He had thought it would be an easy task. Yet Alkaid had been so cautious. Truly an ungrateful white-eyed wolf. After so many years of careful nurturing, after feeding him countless great medicines, the man still harbored such deep wariness toward him.

Ye Chen, however, was not particularly surprised. It seemed Alkaid did not have the strength to confront a Great Saint head-on. But his ability to hide and survive was truly exceptional. Even when meeting an elder from his own lineage, he still laid down an absolute array.

"Young Lord, give me one more chance. I will guard the entrance to the Immortal Path. The moment Alkaid emerges, I will kill him in a single strike!"

The Demon-Exterminating Great Saint spoke through gritted teeth.

Ye Chen glanced at him indifferently and waved a hand.

"First, put your head back on before you speak. If you failed once, it will only be harder next time. Have people gather information on his exact location inside the Immortal Path. I'll find time to go there myself and suppress him. For now, the most important task is to search for information regardingthe the Dao-Entrust Treasures."

Alkaid's escape only deepened Ye Chen's killing intent. But cultivation still came first. Having just broken through to the peak of Half-Saint, the next step was naturally to become a Saint. There were generally two paths to Sainthood.

The first was the Dao-Severing method: severing one's past to purify the self and solidify one's Dao. This made the Dao heart firmer and battle power more terrifying. But emotions would grow colder.

It was somewhat similar to the Supreme Emotionless Scripture cultivated by Dantai Xuan, the Holy Maiden of Heavenly Evolution Holy Land. Yet it didn't turn one into a completely different person—just more detached. Those who became Saints this way were indifferent to nearly everything in the world.

That was why, despite Ye Chen slaughtering so many prodigies, few of their elders came seeking revenge. Part of it was fear of his background. But another part was that most Saints and those above them were emotionally detached and simply couldn't be bothered. They would shrug and say, "Life and death are fated."

The second path was the True-Self Sainthood method: retaining everything about oneself. But in this case, both battle power and Dao heart potential would be noticeably weaker.

However, there was actually a third method—the Dao-Entrust method. First sever the Dao, then entrust it to a Dao-Entrust Treasure. Afterward, refine and reclaim it. This combined the advantages of both paths.

Moreover, depending on the nature of the Dao-Entrust Treasure, it could even grant unique enhancements to the Dao heart. But treasures capable of serving as Dao-Entrust vessels were far too rare and precious. Even the treasury of Heavenly Evolution Holy Land possessed none. Therefore, they had to be sought out.

Of course, if no suitable Dao-Entrust Treasure could be found, Ye Chen would not force the matter. In that case, he would unhesitatingly walk the path of True-Self Sainthood. Though it might cost him some combat power, he was already monstrously strong—he could afford to lose that little bit.

But if his emotions grew indifferent, turning him into something like a robot, that was something Ye Chen could never accept. What made a person human was precisely the seven emotions and six desires.

If one day he lost interest in detoxifying Senior An, lost interest in his fiancée's tsundere mouth and soft tongue, lost interest in his master's domineering ways, his senior sister's full moon, Yao Yuezhi's green tea act, or Lan Nuo's cuteness. Then, even if he truly became a Saint in the future, what would be the meaning of it all?

…

The Demon-Exterminating Great Saint, while reattaching his head to his neck, let out a long breath of relief upon hearing Ye Chen's words. As long as the Young Lord still had orders for him, there was still hope. Otherwise, he truly would have had no chance left.

"Dao-Entrust Treasure? Not long ago, one of our hidden agents inside the Violet Radiance Holy Land sent word. They said that people from Violet Radiance discovered clues related to a Dao-Entrust Treasure in the fourth realm of the Immortal Path. But at that time, Alkaid had already become a Saint, so we didn't pay it much attention.

"I'll organize the information for you shortly, Young Lord. If the treasure hasn't appeared yet, I'll send people to secure it immediately and deliver it straight to your hands! And even if it has already emerged—no matter. Even if Violet Radiance Holy Land has already obtained it, I will still get it for you!

"Even if it means attacking Violet Radiance Holy Land head-on, I will not hesitate. If I fail to accomplish this task this time, I will bring my head again to atone. As for Alkaid, I will also have people investigate his exact location!"

The Demon-Exterminating Great Saint gritted his teeth inwardly. This time, he absolutely had to succeed.

Ye Chen's mouth twitched at the words.

Please stop saying that. And you're quite good at bragging—attacking a holy land? Aren't you afraid their immortal artifact will shake you to death with one tremor?

Still, the news about the Dao-Entrust Treasure made Ye Chen's eyes light up. The Devouring lineage truly had its uses, with agents planted deep in every major holy land and power.

When he had asked his own Holy Master before, even that old fox could only spread his hands helplessly. Yet the moment he mentioned it to the Demon-Exterminating Great Saint, information appeared.

Impressive.

If the treasure had not yet emerged, then he might as well make another trip into the Immortal Path. After obtaining the Dao-Entrust Treasure, he could head straight to the fifth realm, drag Alkaid out, and finish him off.

Though the man didn't pose much real threat, Ye Chen still disliked having an enemy lurking in the shadows. Better to eliminate him early. Ye Chen was about to say more—When the Demon-Exterminating Great Saint opened his small world. A coffin of ice flew out.

"This is the gift I prepared for you, Young Lord…"

Ye Chen was stunned. The lid of the ice coffin slid open. Inside lay a woman who was clearly no longer young, mature, with snow-white skin and an astonishingly voluptuous figure. And she looked… somewhat familiar… Yet she wasn't a corpse. She was in a sealed state of false death.

Ye Chen looked at the Demon-Exterminating Great Saint in confusion.

The old man wore an expression of proud anticipation, as if waiting for praise.

"Young Lord, I know your preferences. So I specially prepared her just for you."

Ye Chen: "…"

Chapter 840: The Fiancée Has Emerged from Seclusion!

The next moment, Ye Chen finally remembered who the woman in the ice coffin was.

When he had slain the contemporary the Firmament Overlord Body along the way, he had also conveniently killed a Feather Transformation Divine Body. After leaving the Immortal Path, the parents of that divine body had come looking for him outside the Immortal City, attempting to block his way. And the mature woman now lying asleep before him was precisely the mother of that Feather Transformation Divine Body.

Back then, she had worn an expression of murderous fury, clearly intent on killing him on the spot. Who could have imagined that, in the blink of an eye, she would end up delivered straight to him. Truly, the world was full of unexpected turns.

Yet Ye Chen looked at the Demon-Exterminating Great Saint with utter incredulity. Sending someone else's wife over as a gift… Wasn't that just a little too much?

A woman without any multiplier—though her aura was noble and refined—simply couldn't compare to the mother of the Little Peacock King, Yan Wenwen. Let alone the four generations of the Heavenly Desire Sect.

Yan Wenwen had only been worth the trouble because of Yan Ruyu. And the Heavenly Desire Sect? They offered nirvana. What possible use was a woman without a multiplier? And this was what you brought to test your Young Lord with?

Sensing Ye Chen's expression, the Demon-Exterminating Great Saint grew a little confused. The wife of the Alkaid Holy Master had been too difficult to approach. The wife of the Divine Silkworm Clan Leader was still inside the Immortal Path, a Saint King with considerable combat strength—also hard to capture. The rest had cultivation levels too high and required careful planning.

This mother of the Feather Transformation Divine Body had been, in his careful consideration, the most suitable candidate for atonement. There was deep enmity between the Feather Transformation Divine Body and Ye Chen. The divine body's parents had even gone to block him outside the Immortal City. A mature woman with such profound hatred—shouldn't she be exactly to the Young Lord's taste?

"Enough, enough. If she didn't see your aura clearly, just release her. And remember—if there's any news about a Dao-Entrust Treasure, come inform me immediately."

Ye Chen waved his hand casually. His ceiling wasn't limited to the cultivation world. Spending all his time on these petty, underhanded schemes would be far too small-minded.

After giving the instructions, he turned and left without the slightest hesitation. He left behind the utterly bewildered Demon-Exterminating Great Saint, standing frozen in place.

Something wasn't right. From all his observations, this should have been exactly to the Young Lord's taste! So why the lack of interest? And earlier, when the Young Lord's gaze swept over the woman's figure, his eyes had clearly lit up!

"Was it because there was only one? Or because she wasn't big enough? This woman definitely can't be released—otherwise the hidden agent will be exposed. Fine, I'll keep her sealed for now. Once I've gathered a few more, I'll send them all together. This one can serve as an extra… First things first—focus on making up for this failure!"

The Demon-Exterminating Great Saint once again laid down a sealing technique, ensuring the woman remained in deep slumber. He resealed the ice coffin. Then he departed silently into the distance.

…

Ye Chen returned to Heavenly Intention Holy Land with an utterly speechless expression. Every time he thought back to the "gift" the Demon-Exterminating Great Saint had brought, he could only shake his head. Sometimes he really couldn't understand—exactly who had ruined his reputation to this extent?

Fortunately, he was already at the peak of Half-Saint. Ascension to immortality and entry into the Immortal Realm were now within sight. When the time came, he could simply start fresh in the Immortal Realm.

While he was lost in thought, the Divine Maiden Peak suddenly trembled. Endless divine light erupted from his fiancée's cave abode, connecting straight to heaven and earth.

A terrifying aura poured forth. All the female cultivators on Divine Maiden Peak trembled as they stared upward in awe. Even the Heavenly Intention Holy Hall was alarmed—several streaks of light shot over. Among them were the figures of the Heavenly Intention Holy Master and others.

Ye Chen watched, and his eyes immediately brightened. It seemed his fiancée's transformation had been completed. Yet he didn't rush over at once. Instead, he drifted far away to a remote mountain peak, sat beside a clear pool, and began fishing.

…

Many people hovered in the skies above Divine Maiden Peak, waiting in quiet anticipation. After a long while, a figure of peerless beauty emerged slowly from the cave abode—clad in flowing white, her aura cold and transcendent. Who else could it be but their own Holy Maiden, Yi Qingwu?

The moment everyone laid eyes on her, astonishment rippled through the crowd. Especially the Holy Master and the elders—their gazes carried open shock. Previously, their Holy Maiden had already stunned them by rapidly reaching the peak of the Second Heaven of Mahayana—a speed that, in any previous era, would have marked her as a supreme prodigy. Even in this golden age overflowing with geniuses, it was still outstanding.

But now… in the blink of an eye? Her cultivation had broken through again. Straight to the late stage of the Third Heaven King realm. She stood only one step away from the peak. And Yi Qingwu's already breathtaking beauty had undergone a subtle yet profound change in temperament.

She now carried an additional air of ethereal detachment, as though she had transcended the mundane world entirely. Standing there, she truly resembled a celestial maiden descended from the heavens. No one dared harbor even the slightest profane thought.

Her aura had grown even more terrifying. Because the breakthrough was so recent and she had yet to perfectly control it, even the Fourth-Heaven Half-Saints of Heavenly Intention Holy Land felt palpable pressure when facing her now.

The Holy Master and elders exchanged glances. Shock flickered in their eyes, yet none of them probed deeper. There was no need to ask. Their Holy Son had returned. The Holy Maiden had immediately gone into seclusion. Clearly, the Holy Son had brought her something extraordinary.

That realization put everyone at ease. They had worried a little before—after hearing about Ye Chen giving Sacred Spiritual Root to Lan Nuo, about his indulgence in the three-generation gatherings of Heavenly Desire Sect.

They had feared Yi Qingwu might not hold a favored place in his heart. But now, seeing such a massive leap in her cultivation, it was obvious the treasure Ye Chen had given her was priceless beyond measure. Her position in his heart was absolutely unshakable.

The Heavenly Intention Holy Master spoke up. He had something to discuss with Yi Qingwu anyway.

…

Yi Qingwu stepped out of the cave abode with an expressionless face and swept her gaze across the surroundings. She didn't see that certain someone. Her moon-like eyes narrowed slightly. An even colder aura emanated from her, causing the female cultivators who had been about to offer congratulations to instinctively retreat.

At that moment, the Heavenly Intention Holy Master spoke: "Qingwu, come up here for a moment."

Yi Qingwu regained her usual aloof demeanor. She floated gracefully into the sky and gave a light nod to the elders. No one minded her cold attitude.

The Heavenly Intention Holy Master transmitted quietly: "Qingwu, have you given any more thought to becoming Dao companions with Ye Chen? Ye Chen already sent over the betrothal gift when he arrived. If you're still unwilling for now, I'll return it to him. But if you are willing… then we really need to have a proper talk about this gift…"

The Holy Master's words caused Yi Qingwu's delicate brows to lift slightly beneath her otherwise impassive expression.

Ye Chen had already sent the betrothal gift?

The Holy Master, seeing her reaction, spoke with some confusion: "You didn't know?"

A faint ripple stirred in Yi Qingwu's heart. She gave a small nod.

The Holy Master sighed inwardly at Ye Chen's staggering wealth, then continued: "When Ye Chen arrived, I brought up the matter of becoming Dao companions. He agreed at once and said he would persuade you. After meeting with you, he came straight here and presented the betrothal gift. That's what I wanted to discuss.

"We in Heavenly Intention Holy Land are not selling our Holy Maiden. What does he mean by giving such an extravagant gift? So take the gift back for now and discuss it properly with Ye Chen. Of course, I'm not saying we can't afford to return something of equal value. I just hope the two of you won't place too much importance on material things… True affection is what matters most. Gifts are just a gesture…"