ISWI Chapter 852-853 (Patreon)

Chapter 852: The Heir of the Heavenly Emperor Arrives!

No one paid much attention to the Feather Transformation King. What truly piqued their curiosity was why the heir of the Heavenly Emperor had suddenly come to the Immortal Path. The cultivation conditions here were excellent, yet the heir never lingered long. Each visit usually meant either a great opportunity had emerged… or some woman was in trouble.

Curiosity aside, almost no one dared to probe too closely. The heir's combat power was simply too terrifying. On the Immortal Path—where great powers couldn't interfere and battles were fought at equal realms—the heir was practically synonymous with invincibility.

The few existences who might rival him at the same level were either deep within the Path or had yet to appear in the world. Now, at peak Half-Saint in the Fourth Heaven, few people in even the Fifth Realm section of the Path could suppress him.

…

Amid the crowd's quiet speculation, Ye Chen had already stepped onto the teleportation array and headed straight for the fourth realm of the Immortal Path. Light flared around the array. In an instant, he arrived.

The cultivators near the array turned to look. When they recognized him, every head bowed in awe and respect. Even back when the heir was only a King, he had already reverse-slayed a saint in the fourth realm and dominated the entire place.

Now that he had reached peak Half-Saint, no male cultivator in the fourth realm dared meet his gaze directly. The female cultivators, however, immediately straightened, lifting their chins and subtly displaying their figures. Even some who were well past their prime hastily cast divine techniques, bathing themselves in radiant divine light in hopes of catching his eye.

After all, it was common knowledge: the heir of the Heavenly Emperor had no taboos. Women of any race, those who had borne children, those whose husbands were still alive—he accepted them all without hesitation. And once a woman became his, she ascended to the heavens in a single step. So which woman wouldn't dream of receiving even a few extra glances from him?

As was his habit upon arriving in the fourth realm, Ye Chen swept his gaze around. He already had plenty of high-quality companions by his side now, but old habits died hard. What he saw this time was a group of middle-aged women sending him coy, flirtatious looks…

The corner of his mouth twitched violently.

What the hell was going on?

He didn't want to dwell on it. He had no intention of lingering even a second longer. Locking onto his direction, he shot forward like a cannonball. None of the cultivators dared try to snatch any opportunities from him—that would have been asking for trouble. Only a handful of the most curious ones, eager to watch the drama unfold, followed from a great distance.

…

Deep in a canyon.

Silence reigned.

Golden light flowed across Ling Yu's body. His vital energy manifested as divine runes that swirled and coiled around him, forming all kinds of extraordinary phenomena. The sight made the surrounding domain resemble the domain of a true deity.

Confidence filled Ling Yu's eyes. He was now only one final step away from becoming a saint. He was a direct disciple of the Martial Ancestor—the most supreme figure in the entire history of the Extreme Martial Realm. It was said that even in the Immortal Realm, the Martial Ancestor remained an invincible existence.

The Martial Ancestor had once left behind a supreme technique: Reverse Severing of the Great Dao. Becoming a saint essentially meant merging oneself further with heaven and earth, transcending the mortal to enter the sacred. Self-severing required cutting away the past, experiences, loved ones, and attachments—aligning oneself completely with the Great Dao in pursuit of a breakthrough.

True-self ascension preserved the self and forced integration with the Dao, but the degree of fusion with heaven and earth would always fall short. As for Dao-Entrust path methods, they merely solved the issues of forgetting the past and emotional detachment; they offered little improvement in the depth of fusion with the heavens.

Reverse Severing of the Great Dao, however, belonged to an entirely different level. By borrowing a Dao-Entrust Treasure to condense a Dao-self, one positioned oneself above the heavens and earth, severing the binding Great Dao itself to achieve sainthood.

One method was submitted and sought approval from the Dao to become a saint. The other smashed down the door and forced entry. The difference in combat power after becoming a saint, as well as future potential and ceiling, was simply incomparable.

"I, Ling Yu, will never let down the expectations placed upon me. I must become an immortal and bring my parents and ancestors into the Immortal Realm…"

As he pondered his resolve, a powerful aura came roaring in from the distance.

At that moment, even Dantai Xuan and Yan Qingcheng opened their eyes. With their level of cultivation, they could roughly gauge an incoming opponent's strength from aura alone. The group that had attacked three months ago had been led by someone only on the level of the Violet Radiance Holy Son at best. Utterly beneath notice.

Dantai Xuan hadn't even bothered opening her eyes back then. But the person arriving now was different. An instinctive sense of danger rose from deep within both women. Even Ling Yu felt his hairs stand on end. His blood surged wildly, climbing higher as though in instinctive response to a mortal threat.

His pupils contracted. He rose to his feet and looked into the distance. Awe filled his heart. Was this the true depth of the cultivation world?

He had thought these two women already represented the absolute peak of prodigies in this realm. Yet there were still more terrifying existences?

No wonder the Extreme Martial Realm could never compare to the cultivation world. Throughout history, only the prodigies of the cultivation world had ever been able to claim immortal qi on the Immortal Path.

Even as shock coursed through him, blazing battle intent ignited in Ling Yu's chest. He had come here precisely to challenge the strong and carve his way up the Immortal Path. There was no need to fear someone stronger—simply defeat them.

Yan Qingcheng, sensing the familiar aura, recognized the newcomer in an instant.

Ye Chen.

The thought of his arrival stirred complex emotions in her gaze. She felt genuine guilt toward Ye Chen. Because of her father, Ye Chen had been forced to become a false heir of the Heavenly Emperor. He had drawn all the hatred and shouldered the karmic burden of the Heavenly Emperor.

Yet when they first met, far from resenting her, Ye Chen had seemed even more remorseful than she was. He had proactively gifted her countless treasures as compensation.

Yan Qingcheng even suspected that Ye Chen's notorious bad reputation in the cultivation world had been deliberately spread by her father's agents. The plan had likely been to tarnish Ye Chen so thoroughly that, when the true heir appeared, she would shine all the brighter by comparison and win universal acceptance with ease.

A good person like Ye Chen did not deserve such treatment or misunderstanding. She needed the Heavenly Will Dao-Entrust Jade herself. But she also felt that giving it to Ye Chen would be the right thing. It would at least ease some of the guilt weighing on her heart. As partial amends. After all, her father had only forbidden her from personally handing the jade over to Ye Chen. If she simply chose not to compete for it at all, that wouldn't count as giving it to him, would it?

And Dantai Xuan, hailing from the Heavenly Evolution Holy Land, was Ye Chen's senior sister—she would surely stand on his side. If neither she nor Dantai Xuan made a move, then no matter how strong this newcomer from another world appeared—even seeming to surpass the Celestial Prince in talent by a margin—he could never be Ye Chen's match. Simply staying out of it would be enough.

With that decision made, Yan Qingcheng stood up, intending to greet Ye Chen.

Dantai Xuan, meanwhile, narrowed her eyes. She remembered this Fourth Holy Son of theirs; they had crossed paths several times. She had even obtained the Northern Emperor War Chariot from him and used the Vermilion Bird spirit within it to cultivate a powerful technique.

The boy was formidable. With her Supreme Immortal Body not yet perfected, she wasn't confident she could defeat him alone. But he had a good relationship with Hua Yunfei and was notoriously generous toward female cultivators. If she asked, he might agree to step aside and not compete with her. He might even help her suppress the other two. And if he refused… well, she could first join forces with the other two to suppress him.

Chapter 853: Strike First and Gain the Advantage!

The moment Yan Qingcheng saw Ye Chen, all thoughts of competing for the treasure vanished from her mind.

Dantai Xuan still planned to gauge his attitude first before deciding her next move. So both women rose calmly, showing no intention of taking action.

Ling Yu noticed their restraint but paid it no mind. He was quite pleased with the two women and already envisioned them as future dao companions—partners who would support each other on the path to immortality. When he eventually became an immortal and returned to the Extreme Martial Realm for a visit, bringing back two peerless female prodigies from the cultivation world would give him tremendous face among the elders. His own ancestor loved nothing more than boasting to old fellow daoists about such things.

This was the perfect chance to shine in front of them. He had sensed earlier that the two women treated him with a certain indifference—likely because he came from a lesser realm. It was only natural for cultivation-world prodigies to look down on outsiders like him. But he would make them take him seriously with raw strength.

In the next instant, Ling Yu's bloodline ignited. Golden vital energy soared skyward in a terrifying surge. An overwhelming aura rolled outward, causing the surrounding space to collapse and reform again and again.

Standing high above the canyon, Ling Yu resembled a war god descended from ancient times, his battle intent blazing like wildfire. Ye Chen arrived in the blink of an eye. He appeared above the canyon.

Ling Yu fixed his gaze on the newcomer—a handsome man clad in a yin-yang fish robe. Sensing the terrifying power concealed beneath that calm exterior, he spoke loudly: "Ling Yu of the Extreme Martial Realm! Are you also here for the Dao-Entrust Treasure, fellow daoist? If you intend to compete, then come—let us fight!"

Ling Yu had never liked long-winded speeches before a battle. In the Extreme Martial Realm, he had always relied on one overwhelming force to shatter all techniques. Throw the first punch, and everything else would resolve itself. Countless prodigies there had crumbled under his fists, suffering crushing defeats. He had grown all the way without a single loss. Even now, in the cultivation world, he refused to taste defeat!

Ye Chen had barely registered the man in front of him. His eyes lit up the moment they landed on the hazy figure shrouded in Chaos Qi.

Yan Qingcheng was indeed here. The Heavenly Emperor War Chariot had been repaired for so long—finally, he could deliver it to her.

Looking at Yan Qingcheng, Ye Chen couldn't help but smile. Yan Qingcheng caught the unguarded joy in his expression the instant he saw her. She smiled back instinctively. But the guilt in her heart deepened at once.

Ye Chen really was a good person. The immense pressure of bearing the false heir identity, the endless slander her father had spread to tarnish his name—none of it had bred even a trace of resentment toward her. A man like that truly did not deserve such treatment.

After flashing her that warm smile, a system prompt chimed in Ye Chen's mind at just the right moment.

"Detected change in gift target multiplier. Updating…"

"Dantai Xuan: Multiplier increased from 2,000× to 7,000×!"

Seven thousand times?

Ye Chen wasn't overly shocked by the number. He had seen far greater extremes by now. It simply matched the level of Yan Qingcheng's Chaos Body. Still, he couldn't help raising an eyebrow as he glanced toward Dantai Xuan.

How had his senior sister's multiplier surged so dramatically? Could that sinister immortal scripture, the Supreme Emotionless Scripture, really be this outrageous? Merely by cultivating it, her aptitude had leaped forward so massively? Even the Heavenly Emperor Scripture couldn't produce such an effect.

The more Ye Chen thought about it, the more convinced he became: there had to be something seriously wrong with the Supreme Emotionless Scripture. There was definitely a trap hidden behind it!

Still, gazing into Dantai Xuan's indifferent eyes, recalling what his senior brother had said about her having severed all familial ties completely, and remembering his senior brother's sticky, almost bootlicking attitude toward her, Ye Chen felt no real ripple of emotion.

Just then, Ling Yu spoke up, and Ye Chen smoothly shifted his attention away.

From another world?

Ye Chen had long heard that such people occasionally appeared on the Immortal Path, but most of them remained utterly mediocre, not even qualified to stand before him.

This one, however, was different. He carried the aura of a true top-tier prodigy. His physical body seemed exceptionally strong—perhaps half a step above even the Saint Prince. The constitution had hints of a divine body, yet it wasn't quite the same.

Still, his attitude was decent: only battle intent, no killing malice. In the cultivation world, that already counted as polite.

Ye Chen returned a faint smile and nodded. "Heavenly Evolution Holy Land, Ye Chen! The treasure is naturally worth fighting for. But I've just spotted an old acquaintance. Mind if I exchange a few words with her first before we begin?"

Ling Yu noted that Ye Chen was courteous in return—no trace of the arrogance the Violet Radiance Holy Son had shown him earlier, and no disdain for someone from a lesser realm. His impression of Ye Chen improved considerably, and he had no intention of pressing the issue.

It was only natural for prodigies of the same cultivation world to have some prior connections. So he gestured openly. "The Dao-Entrust Treasure won't emerge for another half month. Please, go right ahead, fellow daoist!"

Seeing how reasonable the man was, Ye Chen quietly decided he would go easier on him later. With a nod of acknowledgment to Ling Yu, Ye Chen drifted down gracefully and landed before Yan Qingcheng, offering her a light smile. "Fairy Yan, it's been a while!"

The moment Ye Chen approached, Yan Qingcheng raised a hand and dispersed the Chaos Qi that had shrouded her. Her true appearance and figure were revealed at once. A gentle smile curved her lips. "Greetings, Fellow Daoist Ye!"

Previously, Ye Chen had only seen the ordinary guise she projected. Now, beholding her real face—even after encountering countless peerless beauties—he still felt a flash of genuine amazement.

Yan Qingcheng truly lived up to the name "Qingcheng"—city-toppling. Her features were ethereally refined and exquisite, with perfectly sculpted bone structure. Deep within her radiant eyes swirled what seemed like endless vortices of chaos.

And her figure was perfection itself. Graceful and perfectly proportioned, especially those impossibly long, snow-white legs that seemed to comprise nearly half her height—the golden ratio embodied. Every subtle movement she made caused Chaos Qi to ripple outward, inspiring both awe and an inability to look away.

"Fairy Yan, you are the true heir of the Heavenly Emperor, yet I have received so much of his legacy. In truth, I've taken opportunities that rightfully belong to you. Merely acting as your false heir, walking the cultivation world in your stead, and drawing all the attention and enmity—that alone still doesn't feel like enough to repay the debt.

"This matter has weighed on my conscience for a long time, even affecting my Dao Heart. So some time ago, I finished repairing the Heavenly Emperor War Chariot, restoring it to its original rank as a high-grade Extreme Dao weapon. This chariot once carried the Heavenly Emperor into battle against the myriad races. Its significance is immense. It belongs to you, the true heir!

"Therefore, I must ask you to accept it! If you refuse, my Dao Heart will remain obstructed, my thoughts blocked, and it will hinder my path to sainthood. So, even if only for the sake of my cultivation, please—do not decline!"

With those words, Ye Chen swept his sleeve outward. The fully restored Heavenly Emperor War Chariot appeared directly before them. Ancient yet resplendent, divine radiance flowing across its surface, blazing with sacred flames—the chariot's majestic aura made it clear at a glance that this was no ordinary treasure.

Watching the scene unfold, Yan Qingcheng—who had just been about to tell Ye Chen she had decided not to compete—froze in place. Her clear, profound eyes widened in utter disbelief. She had come here full of guilt, intending to make amends to him. Yet Ye Chen felt even more guilty toward her?

This…