ISWI Chapter 869-870 (Patreon)

Chapter 869: You Guys Are Really Not Giving Me Any Face!

Yan Qingcheng forcefully suppressed the urge to intercept the Heavenly Will Dao-Entrust Jade. She watched helplessly as the treasure flew straight toward the crowd of onlookers.

She understood perfectly. Ye Chen's true goal was to make her accept it. As long as she held firm and refused to act, Ye Chen would have no choice but to retrieve it and use it himself. So she clenched her teeth, neither speaking nor moving.

Her gaze remained fixed on the Heavenly Will Dao-Entrust Jade, deep and unblinking. The moment Ye Chen gave in, she would immediately retrieve it for him. And if anyone was foolish enough to try running off with it… She would never allow it.

Yet what shocked Yan Qingcheng next was completely beyond her expectations. As the Heavenly Will Dao-Entrust Jade drew closer and closer to the crowd, the watching half-saints' first reaction to this supreme treasure was not greed—it was terror.

They scrambled backward in a frenzy, retreating desperately, as though afraid even the slightest contact would doom them. One half-saint from the myriad races recoiled a full ten thousand li in an instant. The Heavenly Will Dao-Entrust Jade simply hovered there in midair, lonely and untouched.

No one reached for it. A few newly advanced half-saints—barely at the early stage—couldn't hide the greed in their eyes. Seeing neither the Heavenly Emperor's heir nor the woman beside him make any move, they guessed the two must have quarreled, and he had thrown the treasure away in anger.

In the cultivation world, such things happened between Dao companions—tossing valuables during fights. And given how both were clearly peerless prodigies, they probably wouldn't bother coming back for it. If someone seized this chance, wouldn't it be an instant ascension to the heavens?

So those few began to stir, fingers twitching toward the prize. But the moment they moved, their companions beside them urgently transmitted sound: "Are you insane? Do you want to die? You dare touch something the Heavenly Emperor's heir threw out?"

The young half-saint was baffled. Afraid someone else might snatch it first, he quickly retorted: "Didn't you hear? There's a conflict between the Heavenly Emperor's heir and that woman. He couldn't give the gift, so he threw it away in frustration. He even said his Dao-severing method is special and doesn't need a Dao-Entrust Treasure. A figure of his stature wouldn't lie about something like that, and he'd be too embarrassed to take it back. This is a pie falling from the sky!"

At those words, everyone around him shook their heads at the naive fool. His companion hurriedly explained, "You actually believed what the Heavenly Emperor's heir said? Who becomes a saint without wanting a Dao-Entrust Treasure? He only said that to trick the woman into accepting the gift."

The young half-saint froze. He was about to ask—who throws a gift and then expects to take it back? How shameless would that be?

Guessing his thoughts, his fellow quickly added, "The Heavenly Emperor's heir is cunning and ruthless to the core. Embarrassment? He doesn't know the meaning of the word. The last time the Nirvana Sacred Liquid was thrown exactly the same way. A prodigy from the myriad races grabbed it—you know, the one who used a secret technique to flee just now. He was nearly slapped to death by the Heavenly Emperor's heir. Only because there were so many witnesses and the successor cared about face did he hold back from killing. Now do you understand why no one can touch it?"

The young half-saint shuddered violently, his heart still pounding with lingering fear. He transmitted back in a trembling voice: "The Heavenly Emperor's heir is actually this vicious? So he's using us as tools and still wants our lives?"

His companion nodded solemnly.

"Exactly. That's how ruthless he is. So no one moves. Stay far away. Let the Heavenly Will Dao-Entrust Jade float there and see how embarrassed the Heavenly Emperor's heir gets!"

Most of the onlookers here were from the previous batch of witnesses. They remembered that incident vividly. The few hot-headed newcomers were quickly restrained.

As a result, no one dared to compete for it. Instead, they retreated even farther, then turned as one to stare at Ye Chen.

Ye Chen felt the weight of countless gazes. He looked at the Heavenly Will Dao-Entrust Jade hovering alone in the air: "???"

Had the cultivators of the cultivation world suddenly grown a conscience? A supreme treasure right in front of them, and no one dared to snatch it? This was a little awkward, wasn't it?

Even Yan Qingcheng was stunned. But she quickly understood. The onlookers must have misunderstood Ye Chen because of her father's rumors. They thought he was cruel and merciless, so they didn't dare approach. They simply didn't understand. Ye Chen was not a ruthless person at all. Look at Ling Yu and Dantai Xuan—both were still alive, weren't they?

At worst, Ye Chen would only take the treasure back. Watching Ye Chen's slightly embarrassed yet stubbornly composed expression, Yan Qingcheng couldn't help but let a faint smile curve her lips…

…

Ye Chen realized the plan had gone off track. The distance must have still been too close. These half-saints probably lacked the confidence to snatch it and escape. So he flicked his finger once more.

The Heavenly Will Dao-Entrust Jade flew toward the crowd again. This time, it traveled a full thousand li from him. Yet the onlookers still retreated in unison, refusing to come anywhere near it…

Ye Chen narrowed his eyes and blew out a soft breath. The treasure shot even farther—ten thousand li away now. That was genuinely a safe distance.

Still, no one moved. They simply watched in silence.

Ye Chen's fists clenched. He prepared to blow again. If these people refused to liven up the atmosphere even now, they were truly refusing to give him any face. He was about to lose his temper…

But at that moment, Yan Qingcheng spoke up to stop him. Though she forced her expression to remain stern, the upward curve at the corners of her mouth betrayed her amusement.

"Stop throwing it farther. If you keep going, you'll toss it right out of the Immortal Path. Fellow Daoist Ye, do you truly insist on giving this treasure to me?"

Ye Chen unclenched his fists and nodded firmly.

Yan Qingcheng's gaze turned solemn. Though the earlier scene—Ye Chen throwing the treasure and the onlookers fleeing in panic—had been somewhat comical, she had also sensed the unwavering determination behind his actions.

Their time should not be wasted on such games. So she spoke with complete seriousness: "I understand your intentions, Fellow Daoist Ye. I do not dislike you—in fact, I feel a measure of closeness toward you. But I must tell you in advance: I currently have no intention of seeking a dao companion.

"And even if I ever do, I will not share one with other women. Even if I accept this Jade, there is absolutely no possibility of us becoming dao companions. In the future, we can only be the closest of friends at best. And I may one day become someone else's dao companion. This gift of yours is destined to be given in vain. Under such circumstances… do you still wish to give it to me?"

Ye Chen's lips curved into a faint smile at her words. What bad intentions could he possibly have? He simply wanted to present a gift.

So the moment Yan Qingcheng softened her stance, he answered without the slightest hesitation: "Whether I give Fairy a gift is my business. Whom Fairy likes, what Fairy chooses to do, whom Fairy may one day take as a dao companion—that is Fairy's business. The two are unrelated and do not conflict in the slightest… So please accept it openly now!"

As his words fell, Ye Chen raised his hand lightly. The Heavenly Will Dao-Entrust Jade streaked back like a falling meteor, returning in a brilliant arc of light.

Under the crowd's knowing "as expected" expressions, Ye Chen placed it gently before Yan Qingcheng. She gazed at the treasure hovering before her—its surface flowing with faint, ethereal radiance.

Recalling Ye Chen's earlier words, a tumult of emotions surged through her heart. She finally understood his true intent. Ye Chen admired her and therefore wished only to give to her. But he would never use that giving as a chain to demand anything in return. This sincerity was far too pure.

In the exact moment when Yan Qingcheng reached out with her slender hand and gently closed her fingers around the Heavenly Will Dao-Entrust Jade, A system prompt rang clearly in Ye Chen's mind.

Chapter 870: Controlling Destiny?

In the distance, the onlookers all wore expressions of "as expected."

See? The Heavenly Emperor's heir took it back and gave it to the woman again.

What a scoundrel. Always dragging us passersby into his drama.

You two are playing with emotions, but you're gambling with our lives. Are our lives not worth anything?

Yet amid the grumbling, everyone was filled with the same mix of awe, admiration, envy, and astonishment. That was a Dao-Entrust Treasure, after all.

From the first generation of the Immortal Path until now, only a handful had ever appeared—five at most. Even the Heavenly Emperor's treasury probably didn't have another one. And the Heavenly Emperor's heir had really just… given it away?

This level of generosity was almost absurd. Did he truly not need it? Had the Heavenly Emperor's heir already grown so powerful that even the enhancement from a Dao-Entrust Treasure meant nothing to him?

Amid the crowd's swirling curiosity, shock, envy, and jealousy, Ye Chen was quietly reviewing the system prompt. To be honest, he was extremely curious about what the feedback would be.

From their earlier conversation, Yan Qingcheng had said the Heavenly Will Dao-Entrust Jade was essentially the pinnacle of Dao-Entrust Treasures. Even in the Immortal Realm, treasures better than it were exceedingly rare. So… what exactly would the system give him in return?

If the feedback was merely slightly superior to the Heavenly Will Dao-Entrust Jade, then the quantity should be considerable. Enough to equip his master, his fiancée, and the others—each with one.

Severing dao carried risks. Throughout the history of the cultivation world, countless top-tier prodigies had fallen at this step. With a Dao-Entrust Treasure, the success rate would be significantly higher, making the process far safer.

"Congratulations to the host for successfully presenting the gift…"

"The gift presented: Heavenly Will Dao-Entrust Jade!"

"Seven-thousandfold feedback in progress…"

"Detected that the gift presented holds extreme importance to the recipient, triggering intense emotional fluctuations…"

"Triggered maximum critical hit feedback!"

"Feedback: Chaos Destiny Stone!"

"Feedback: Heavenly Will Dao-Entrust Jade × 100!"

Still, Ye Chen's attention quickly shifted to the Chaos Destiny Stone. The name alone—Chaos and Destiny combined—sounded extraordinarily impressive. He immediately focused on the details.

"Chaos Destiny Stone: Can serve as a Dao-Entrust Treasure, allowing the cultivator to achieve even higher fusion with heaven and earth after transcending the Great Dao, granting stronger combat power and easier…"

"The Chaos Destiny Stone carries a trace of the power of destiny…"

"When fused with oneself, it can give birth to a Destiny Seed within the body. In the future, the cultivator may use this to grasp their own destiny and truly transcend all constraints…"

Reading the detailed description, Ye Chen raised an eyebrow. The Dao-entrust effect of the Chaos Destiny Stone was indeed superior to the Heavenly Will Dao-Entrust Jade. But not by an overwhelming margin. It felt roughly twice as effective, no more. So the true value of this feedback undoubtedly lay in that single trace of Destiny power.

Giving birth to a Destiny Seed? With the potential in the future to use it to master one's own destiny and achieve true transcendence?

Ye Chen frowned slightly, puzzled. What exactly did "mastering one's own destiny" mean? Right now, he went wherever he wanted, obtained whatever he desired, and made every decision freely.

Was that not already controlling his own destiny? And transcendence… transcending what, exactly? Did it mean achieving true immortality—never aging, never dying?

Ye Chen was a little puzzled. But if it didn't seem like a bad thing, then there was no need to worry. Whatever it meant could wait until the future.

After handling the system feedback, Ye Chen turned his head to look at Yan Qingcheng. She really was his treasure. Her aptitude was astonishingly high, yet her temperament remained flawless—without the slightest trace of arrogance. Every time he gifted her something, the feedback she triggered was enormous.

Yan Qingcheng felt Ye Chen's gaze and couldn't help but feel a faint, strange warmth stir in her heart. She had already explained everything so clearly. Even if she accepted the gift, she would never become his dao companion. Yet Ye Chen showed not a hint of resentment.

After she accepted the treasure, his eyes still shone with such eager heat—as though the one about to refine the Heavenly Will Dao-Entrust Jade and gain immense power wasn't her, but him. Ye Chen's heart was truly too pure. For the people he loved, he was willing to give everything.

"With so many people now knowing the Heavenly Will Dao-Entrust Jade is in my hands. I cannot bring it out of the Immortal Path. It would only invite greed and malice. So I must refine it right here and now. It will probably take a full day to achieve initial fusion. I ask Fellow Daoist Ye to stand guard for me. Once I have refined it, please accompany me to the Heavenly Emperor Hall. The palace lies deep within the cosmos, close to the origin of the universe. Severing the Dao and becoming a saint there will yield far superior results!"

Yan Qingcheng spoke calmly.

Ye Chen, of course, had not the slightest intention of refusing. This was the perfect chance to see exactly which old schemer had come up with such a shameless plan—making him the false successor without even asking. He would definitely deal with that bastard later.

Seeing Ye Chen agree without a single question, warmth bloomed even deeper in Yan Qingcheng's heart. Cultivators were always cautious about following outsiders to unfamiliar places. They feared falling into traps. Yet Ye Chen showed zero suspicion. He truly trusted her completely. But she was worthy of that trust. This trip to the Heavenly Emperor Hall would definitely give Ye Chen a pleasant surprise!

Without another word, Yan Qingcheng sat cross-legged in full view of the crowd. Endless Chaos Qi flowed from around her body, enveloping her flawless figure. She then summoned the Heavenly Will Dao-Entrust Jade and began circulating her Dao-severing method, attempting to refine it.

The onlookers watched in awe, though disappointment flickered in their eyes. The treasure had been claimed. They truly had no chance now. Still, the aura radiating from that unfamiliar woman was terrifying—her presence even more imposing than Alkaid Holy Son had been.

Chaos Qi swirled naturally around her body, and as she cultivated, heavenly phenomena spontaneously manifested—pure, harmonious, and perfectly aligned with the natural order. Could she actually be a genuine Chaos Body? Which sect's prodigy was she? Why had no one seen her before?

And the Heavenly Emperor's heir really did have a viciously sharp eye. Every woman he favored was exceptional—peerless in both beauty and talent. Truly enviable.

While the crowd discussed among themselves, news of what had happened here quickly spread outside. It ignited yet another wave of shock and discussion.

The Heavenly Emperor's heir had arrived, and sure enough, a supreme treasure had appeared.

From the fragments that leaked out, everyone was certain: it was the pinnacle Dao-Entrust Treasure—the Heavenly Will Dao-Entrust Jade. The Heavenly Emperor's heir truly carried tremendous fortune.

Many peerless prodigies possessed formidable strength yet always missed out on truly unique treasures. That was the mark of slightly inferior luck. But what shocked people even more was that the Heavenly Emperor's heir had once again—again—given away such an invaluable treasure.

Without the slightest hesitation, he had bestowed it upon a female cultivator. And that woman's physique was extraordinary—suspected to be a genuine Chaos Body. The sight left everyone sighing in amazement.

Meanwhile, the golden-robed elder—who had been clenching his fists in constant worry for his daughter—heard the news and his mouth twitched violently…