ISWI Chapter 867-868 (Patreon)

Chapter 867: The Heavenly Will Dao-Entrust Jade Appears!

Yan Qingcheng could sense that Ye Chen harbored a trace of special fondness toward her. Though she had no such inclinations herself, she did not find it distasteful. Because Ye Chen was not promiscuous—he was simply affectionate. Promiscuity meant loving lightly, forgetting one person the moment another appeared, discarding even those once cherished like worn-out shoes. Affection, however, meant cherishing every single one deeply. Being liked by someone so genuinely affectionate did not repulse her.

Without another word, Yan Qingcheng accepted the jade slip from Ye Chen and immersed herself in studying it. The follow-up method Alkaid Holy Son had created for the Indestructible Heavenly Art actually held real substance.

"I originally thought that attempting to extend an immortal scripture at his level would be nothing more than a clumsy continuation—like slapping a dog's tail on a leopard. I never expected him to possess genuine insight. One can clearly see how astonishing his talent truly was. The method he devised is quite interesting. As long as one continues cultivating and replenishing origins, it really can bring one infinitely close to an Innate Chaos Body."

"But the Chaos Body he deduced differs in many ways from a true Chaos Body. This part should be revised. Moreover, the origins devoured must be utterly pure and natural. Otherwise, no matter what, one will never achieve a true Innate Chaos Body—after all, it is also known as the Flawless Chaos Body…"

"…"

As someone who possessed a genuine Innate Chaos Body, Yan Qingcheng naturally had her own authoritative perspective. She quickly identified numerous flaws and offered a great many suggestions and improvements. The two of them discussed and refined it together in this way.

Ye Chen was naturally overjoyed. The more perfect the technique became, the higher the grade of feedback he would receive when he eventually gifted it to his fiancée. Right now, the method could only approach an Innate Chaos Body indefinitely. But perhaps after the feedback came through… It might lead straight to the Chaos Immortal Body.

The gap between an Acquired Chaos Body and a Chaos Immortal Body was enormous. After all, a fully matured Innate Chaos Body was already no weaker than most immortal physiques. A Chaos Immortal Body, on the other hand…

It could likely crush the vast majority of immortal physiques outright. If his fiancée obtained it, her multiplier would skyrocket instantly. So Ye Chen made no effort to hide his beaming smile.

Yet when Yan Qingcheng saw how genuinely delighted he was, a complicated feeling stirred in her heart. Ye Chen truly cared deeply for Yi Qingwu.

Still, even as she pondered these things, Yan Qingcheng held nothing back. She felt no fear that perfecting the method might allow Yi Qingwu to attain an Innate Chaos Body and surpass her.

Yan Qingcheng was supremely confident. Physique mattered greatly, but it was not everything. Even among identical physiques, there were still differences in strength.

…

Several days passed in this manner.

Through the joint discussion between Yan Qingcheng and Ye Chen, the technique was further refined.

If one could continue supplementing it with vast quantities of origins along the way, there was genuine hope of achieving a complete Innate Chaos Body.

"However, transforming from acquired to innate will require several times more origins than it took to go from nothing to acquired in the first place. Fellow Daoist Ye would be best served by allowing only Yi Qingwu to cultivate this scripture. Otherwise, even all the prodigies in the entire cultivation world might not be enough to supply the demand."

Yan Qingcheng sighed with genuine feeling. If too many people cultivated this method, the cultivation world's pool of prodigies really would run dry. Given how seriously Ye Chen took his women's cultivation… She worried he might slaughter his way through entire generations of the cultivation world just to elevate their aptitudes.

That path would lead straight into demonic ways. It would do far more harm than good for his future ascension to immortality. So she offered the reminder ahead of time.

Ye Chen nodded with a smile.

"Thank you for the warning, Fairy Yan!"

He was about to say more. But in that instant, both of their gazes sharpened at once. They looked toward the bottom of the canyon. Right now, the entire valley resembled an erupting volcano. Pillars of tangible divine light shot skyward without cease.

An invisible, terrifying aura swept outward in all directions. This pressure was not mere energy—it carried a soul-level deterrence.

Far away, cultivators had lingered at a distance, curious what treasure the Heavenly Emperor's heir had been waiting for.

Now, as the aura washed over them, every face changed color. It felt as though the heavens themselves were coldly watching them. As though the Great Dao was passing judgment.

Every single thought, every hidden intention, seemed laid bare and seen through completely. Their heads throbbed with splitting pain, as though millions of steel needles had simultaneously pierced into their minds. They all endured the splitting pain, forcing their gazes toward the direction of the Heavenly Emperor's heir.

There, a stone roughly the size of an infant's fist rose slowly into the air. Its shape was an irregular oval. The stone possessed a warm, jade-like luster yet carried the texture of metal. Across its surface drifted faint, elusive rays of light. Upon closer inspection, one could see intricate, interlocking patterns etched into it.

These patterns were not static; they moved like living things, winding and shifting ceaselessly. And though the movements seemed random, they somehow resonated with the natural order of the heavens—each subtle change granting faint insights to those who watched.

Nearly everyone present was at the half-saint realm. Many of them realized at once what they were seeing. This was none other than a rare Dao-Entrust Treasure. It carried within it a lingering breath of the Heavenly Dao.

In an instant, every eye turned bloodshot with greed. Using a Dao-Entrust Treasure to achieve sainthood brought enormous benefits—nearly twice the strength of ordinary ascension. It also vastly expanded one's future potential, opening the immortal path far wider.

To any half-saint, this was an unparalleled supreme treasure. Seeing it now, they felt an overwhelming impulse: to hear the Dao in the morning and die content in the evening. They wanted to charge forward without regard for anything.

But the moment they felt the Heavenly Emperor's heir's smiling gaze sweep over them, that impulse vanished—like cold water poured over a flame. Especially when they recalled the widespread rumor that Ye Chen loved to "fish" for prey.

Not only did they dare not take another step forward—they all retreated instinctively. They were perfectly clear-headed.

Alkaid Holy Son had self-severed from the saint realm and arrived carrying a fragment of a quasi-immortal array, yet he had still been casually suppressed by the Heavenly Emperor's heir. That proved one undeniable fact. In the fourth realm, no one could snatch anything from the hands of the Heavenly Emperor's heir.

…

Ye Chen glanced at the distant cultivators who remained so calm and rational, and shook his head with faint disappointment. According to the perfected method he and Yan Qingcheng had refined, his fiancée would still need vast amounts of origins in the future. He had already collected the portion from Alkaid Holy Son's clone. But it was far from enough—he needed to keep harvesting more. Yet so few people dared to provoke him now.

None of the half-saints would try. It would have to be saints or saint kings. Still, when he turned back to gaze at the Heavenly Will Dao-Entrust Jade, a smile spread across Ye Chen's face. The timing of its appearance could not have been more perfect. He already possessed the Chaos Golden Radiance Dao-Severing Technique!

Now the Dao-Entrust Treasure had arrived as well—he could present it as a gift. Sainthood was practically guaranteed. The further he progressed in cultivation, the faster his breakthroughs came. It had been less than two years since he broke through to the fourth heaven. And now he was on the verge of becoming a saint…

Ridiculous. Truly ridiculous.

…

Sensing the extraordinary aura emanating from the Heavenly Will Dao-Entrust Jade, Ye Chen could no longer hold back his eagerness to see what kind of feedback he would receive after gifting it. With that thought, he extended his hand toward the treasure.

The Heavenly Will Dao-Entrust Jade possessed spirituality. It trembled violently, releasing a strange and terrifying force. Even an ordinary half-saint's primordial spirit might have shattered under such pressure.

Yet against Ye Chen, it had no effect whatsoever. In the next moment, the treasure fell firmly into his grasp.

Chapter 868: The Heavenly Emperor's Heir Is Giving Gifts Again!

Yan Qingcheng gazed at the Heavenly Will Dao-Entrust Jade in Ye Chen's hand. Then she looked toward the distant half-saints who kept being drawn by the commotion yet remained exceptionally calm, watching from afar. A sigh rose in her heart.

Generation after generation on the Immortal Path had seen countless treasures emerge. Almost every time a supreme treasure appeared, it was accompanied by rivers of blood and storms of slaughter. Let alone something as rare as a Dao-Entrust Treasure.

Historical records described several past appearances. Half-saints in the fourth realm had fought until their heads split open; even saints had severed their own cultivation to join the fray—all for the sake of securing it for their sect's prodigies.

One account claimed an entire stretch of the fourth realm had been reduced to ruins, with over a hundred half-saints perishing before ownership was finally decided. Such was the irresistible allure of a Dao-Entrust Treasure.

Yet now, with Ye Chen present, not a single person dared to make a move. His dominance was plain for all to see.

Looking at the oval stone, its surface continuously flowing with faint light, Yan Qingcheng naturally felt a trace of longing.

Severing Dao carried risks; reversing the Great Dao carried even greater ones. The Heavenly Will Dao-Entrust Jade not only dramatically increased the success rate of severing Dao, but it also vastly enhanced a cultivator's combat power after becoming a saint, far surpassing peers at the same realm. Its benefits extended deep into future cultivation as well. Still, longing was one thing.

Yan Qingcheng felt no greed, nor any thought of breaking her word. Ye Chen had given her so much. She would naturally keep her promise and repay him in full. Of course, even if she wanted to go back on her word, it would be impossible. She was simply no match for him.

And given Ye Chen's generous nature, she might have been able to leverage his goodwill and persuade him to yield the treasure willingly. But how could she ever bring herself to do such a thing?

While she was lost in thought, she noticed Ye Chen turn toward her, the Heavenly Will Dao-Entrust Jade still held in his grasp.

Yan Qingcheng immediately made her stance clear, unwilling to let him feel even the slightest pressure: "This treasure rightfully belongs to you, fellow daoist! It is far too precious. Please first circulate your Dao-severing method and fuse it with the treasure. Otherwise, once you leave the Immortal Path, you may be targeted by powerful old monsters."

Though the Heavenly Will Dao-Entrust Jade was not as attractive as a saint-grade spirit root, it could still allow a top-tier prodigy to undergo a complete transformation—elevating both combat power and future prospects to an entirely new level. That alone was enough to make many ancient monsters willing to burn their remaining lifespan just to seize it for their own prodigies.

Ye Chen smiled at her words. With a gentle flick of his finger, the Heavenly Will Dao-Entrust Jade transformed into a streak of flowing light and flew straight toward Yan Qingcheng.

Yan Qingcheng's pupils contracted sharply.

In the distance, the eyes of every onlooker widened. Though some had already guessed what might happen, when the scene actually unfolded, the entire crowd erupted in an uproar.

The Heavenly Emperor's heir… he was doing it again…

The last time Ye Chen had gifted a saint-grade spirit root had also been in the fourth realm. Not even two years had passed since then. Most of the current onlookers were the same ones who had witnessed that event. Now they watched as, following the saint-grade spirit root, the Heavenly Emperor's heir was once again bestowing a Dao-Entrust Treasure upon a female cultivator.

Their emotions were indescribably complex. For the sake of his women, the Heavenly Emperor's heir really was willing to part with anything valuable. Yet somehow, no matter how many supreme treasures he gave away, his own strength only grew more and more despair-inducing.

…

Yan Qingcheng's pupils tightened. Shock flashed through her eyes, but she quickly regained her composure. Ignoring the treasure floating before her, she frowned and spoke gravely: "What is the meaning of this, fellow daoist? Did we not already agree that this treasure belongs to you? Do you think I am the sort of person who says one thing and means another—who goes back on her word? The treasure is precious, yes, but my Dao heart is equally firm. Even without a Dao-Entrust Treasure, it will have no impact on my ability to sever Dao. Please take it back!"

Seeing how serious she looked, Ye Chen laughed softly. Then he answered earnestly: "Fairy Yan, you worry too much… Of course, I have no intention of accusing you of going back on your word. This Heavenly Will Dao-Entrust Jade already belongs to me. But the Dao-severing method I cultivate is somewhat special. It has no need for a Dao-Entrust Treasure. You can tell just by looking at how golden my hair is becoming. A Dao-Entrust Treasure is useless to me. So now that I have obtained one, the most reasonable thing to do—for the sake of putting it to its best use—is to gift it to Fairy Yan. It is perfectly logical and fitting…"

Yan Qingcheng raised an elegant brow. She didn't believe a single word. Though Ye Chen's hair really had turned noticeably golden, she refused to accept that any Dao-severing method could possibly function without a Dao-Entrust Treasure. He was clearly just trying to give the treasure to her.

The realization left her emotions in utter turmoil. She gazed deeply at Ye Chen and shook her head with solemn resolve.

"Fellow Daoist Ye, I understand your intentions! But I have no need for you to make such sacrifices. Even without a Dao-Entrust Treasure, I have my own path to walk. Therefore, I will absolutely not accept this treasure. Still… I have received your sincerity, and I will remember it deeply and forever. Later, once you have fused with the Dao-Entrust Treasure, if you have the time, please accompany me to the Heavenly Emperor Hall. There are some things I would like to show you."

Her attitude was unyielding: I am grateful. I am moved. But I refuse. You must keep it for yourself.

Ye Chen felt a touch of helplessness. But this Dao-Entrust Treasure absolutely had to be given away. Yan Qingcheng stood on the verge of severing her dao—she was the perfect recipient. She would trigger a top-notch critical hit based on her genuine need and emotional fluctuations. If he didn't give it to her, he would waste far too much time. So his expression grew equally firm.

"This treasure is useless to me. Forcing it would even diminish the effectiveness of my Dao-severing. I came to the fourth realm of the Immortal Path for two reasons only: to fulfill the task my senior brother entrusted to me. And to meet Fairy once more, so I could return the restored Heavenly Emperor War Chariot to you. I harbor not the slightest greed for this Dao-Entrust Treasure. It rightfully belongs to you. After all, if I had not come, with your strength you would surely have defeated Dantai Xuan and Ling Yu in battle and claimed it for yourself!"

Yan Qingcheng didn't believe a word of it. Before Ye Chen arrived, he couldn't possibly have known she was here. She had never announced her presence. So everything he said was pure fabrication—just to make her accept the gift.

Without a word, she turned her head away. She was deeply grateful for his kindness. But precisely because of that, she could not accept it. She refused to take advantage of his good nature and continually snatch away opportunities that rightfully belonged to him.

"I won't take it…"

Her words were brief and resolute.

Ye Chen matched her firmness.

"This treasure is useless to me. If Fairy Yan refuses to accept it, then I'll simply give it to someone else."

Yan Qingcheng's beautiful eyes blinked once. How could she not see through him? He was only saying that to pressure her into taking the Heavenly Will Dao-Entrust Jade. But she was determined: she would not accept it. He had to keep it for himself. She believed that if she remained steadfast, Ye Chen would eventually have no choice but to retain it for his own use.

Yet in the very next moment, Ye Chen flicked his finger lightly. The Heavenly Will Dao-Entrust Jade transformed into a streak of light and shot straight toward the crowd of distant onlookers…

Yan Qingcheng's pupils shrank sharply. She almost reached out instinctively to intercept it. Then she stared at Ye Chen in disbelief. He… was actually serious?