ISWI Chapter 881-882 (Patreon)

Chapter 881: He Truly Loves My Daughter…

The golden-robed elder noticed the dark look that had settled over Ye Chen's face. He immediately understood: Ye Chen clearly found this Celestial Prince troublesome. In terms of talent, the elder believed Ye Chen was in no way inferior to the Celestial Prince. His only real drawback was his cultivation level—it was simply too low. He had only just broken through to the Saint realm.

Meanwhile, the Celestial Prince, who had slumbered for a million years, remained overwhelmingly powerful. Even if only a wisp of divine sense had descended, it far surpassed ordinary Saint Kings and rivaled Great Saints.

Under such circumstances, it was perfectly normal for Ye Chen to feel pressure. Yet the elder's heart ached for his daughter, and in the end, he could only send Ye Chen to face the threat.

The golden-robed elder spoke gravely: "Young Friend Ye, the Celestial Prince used a Heavenly Heart Immortal Crystal to anchor his divine sense, creating an incarnation of terrifying strength… Against such a formidable enemy, you and Qingcheng should ideally have fought side by side.

"But Qingcheng has not yet emerged from seclusion. If I forcibly awaken her now, it could very well ruin all her previous progress. Therefore, I can only trouble Young Fellow Daoist Ye to face him alone. Still, I know this is unfair to you. Whatever you need—anything at all—speak freely. The Heavenly Emperor Hall will spare no effort to satisfy your request…"

In truth, Yan Qingcheng was merely stabilizing her cultivation. But the golden-robed elder had no intention of letting her know what was happening, so of course, he would not tell the whole truth.

Hearing those words, the corners of Ye Chen's mouth curved upward. A moment ago, he treated me like some insignificant pest; now suddenly I'm "Young Friend." This old man changes faces faster than anyone.

Ye Chen naturally understood the elder's true intentions. Yan Qingcheng was actually very strong, but against the Celestial Prince's incarnation, she would still face grave danger. So the old man wanted Ye Chen to handle it alone—and his attitude had instantly become far more respectful.

In reality, even if the elder had not asked, Ye Chen would still have acted. Yan Qingcheng's future was boundless, and her heart overflowed with gratitude. She was truly a priceless treasure. How could Ye Chen possibly allow her to throw her life away?

And then there was Yan Ruyu—the foremost female cultivator of the myriad races, unmatched in both strength and beauty. She made Ye Chen's anticipation burn even hotter. Under these circumstances, there was no way Ye Chen would let the Celestial Prince harm either of them.

Moreover, to think the Celestial Prince had actually used a Heavenly Heart Immortal Crystal as the vessel for his incarnation?

Heavenly Heart Immortal Crystals were exceedingly rare. They could assist Saints in condensing the Heavenly Heart Imprint and comprehending Heavenly Position Laws—the supreme treasure for breaking through from Saint to Saint King. Their value was in no way inferior to the Heavenly Will Dao-Entrust Jade; some even considered them slightly superior.

Ye Chen had previously wondered whether the Heavenly Emperor Hall possessed one. If they did, would Yan Qingcheng offer it to him? Then he could turn around and gift it back to her, delivering an ultimate emotional critical hit. Instead, the Celestial Prince had come delivering the treasure straight to him.

At present, Ye Chen was only in the early Saint stage. To reach perfection in the Saint realm, the amount of cosmic origin energy he required was more than a hundred times what an ordinary Saint needed—and then some.

Fortunately, he possessed the immortal artifact Star God Origin-Gathering Cauldron. Reaching the peak of the Saint realm would take him only a year or two at most. And now, if he could seize this Heavenly Heart Immortal Crystal along the way, he would directly break through to Saint King and step into the sixth level of the Mahayana realm.

Thinking of this, Ye Chen felt a trace of helplessness. For other cultivators, progress grew slower and slower the higher they climbed. Yet for him, the further he went, the faster he advanced.

Sigh. He truly envied those ordinary immortal cultivators—the quiet joy they felt from advancing bit by bit through painstaking effort. Unfortunately, that kind of happiness was something he would never experience.

Though Ye Chen saw through the golden-robed elder's intentions with perfect clarity, he had no intention of taking advantage of the situation. Instead, his expression turned solemn as he spoke.

"Qingcheng is at a critical moment in seclusion. She absolutely cannot be disturbed. She's a wonderful girl. I've received so many favors from her. It was clearly me who took her opportunity, yet she always feels indebted to me and wants to make it up to me…

"When I accepted her Heavenly Will Dao-Entrust Jade, she insisted I promise to come to the Heavenly Emperor Hall before she would accept it in return. Only after I arrived did I learn how many opportunities she wanted to share with me. How could I bear to let such a kind-hearted girl fight the Celestial Prince?

"So,o Senior, please don't worry. I will take action."

The golden-robed elder, who had already braced himself to be extorted, felt his eyelid twitch. He stared at Ye Chen in disbelief.

Ye Chen had just… agreed? Without asking for any conditions at all? And moreover, he hadn't even come to the Heavenly Emperor Hall of his own volition; it was his daughter who had forced him to come?

This…

Thinking back on his daughter's usual style, it actually seemed entirely plausible. No wonder Ye Chen hadn't asked for any immortal artifact fragments.

Looking again at the resolute expression on Ye Chen's face, for the sake of his daughter, even against an enemy as terrifying as the Celestial Prince's incarnation, Ye Chen was willing to act without the slightest hesitation.

This Ye Chen… he really did love Qingcheng deeply. All those deliberate approaches he had made before—could it be they weren't hiding some ulterior motive after all? Could it be that Ye Chen had truly let go of the past and simply admired his daughter with pure sincerity?

For a moment, astonishment filled the golden-robed elder's heart. Deep down, a faint trace of guilt even rose within him. But as a mighty powerhouse, his mind was firm. A few words alone could not shake him. He quickly seized the moment and said, "In that case, I must trouble Young Friend.

"The Celestial Prince is now approaching the Immortal Path. It will still take some time before he reaches the Heavenly Emperor Hall. You may as well enter seclusion here for a few days first. I can open the Origin Pool to you. If you can reach the mid-Saint stage before the Celestial Prince arrives, you might stand a better chance of fighting him to a draw…"

What he hoped for most was that Ye Chen could at least stalemate the Celestial Prince. That way, the Heavenly Emperor Hall would preserve its dignity, and the Celestial Prince would retreat upon realizing the difficulty. Once his own daughter fully matured, she might one day contend with the Celestial Prince's true body.

Yet upon hearing this, Ye Chen shook his head without hesitation.

"I cannot wait here. I must also head to the Immortal Path…"

Of course, he could not stay behind. If Yan Ruyu were captured by the Celestial Prince—or worse, if her qualification for the feedback ritual were ruined—Then he would suffer an enormous loss. To have the chance to act ahead of time and control the situation, yet deliberately wait in place and hand the initiative to the enemy—that was sheer foolishness, and Ye Chen would never do it.

Seeing the elder's confusion, Ye Chen gave a faint smile.

"Qingcheng is in seclusion. If a battle erupts in this star region, what if it disturbs her?"

The golden-robed elder thought Ye Chen was overthinking it. The Heavenly Emperor Hall was protected by top-tier quasi-immortal arrays. Only if the Celestial Prince's true body fought at full power could the palace be damaged and those inside affected. He immediately tried to persuade Ye Chen that it was unnecessary.

But Ye Chen remained exceptionally resolute.

"Severing the Dao is extremely perilous. I refuse to let Qingcheng face even the slightest risk. Not to mention—if I were battling the Celestial Prince and Qingcheng happened to emerge from seclusion at that exact moment, she would surely see the battlefield and choose to join the fight… The Celestial Prince's incarnation is likely the most terrifying enemy I have faced in this life so far. I do not have great confidence of victory, so I absolutely cannot allow Qingcheng to get involved…"

At these words, the golden-robed elder fell completely silent. He had never imagined Ye Chen would consider Qingcheng's safety to such an extent. When facing an enemy one had little certainty of defeating, who wouldn't want an extra ally?

Yet Ye Chen was afraid of dragging Qingcheng into the conflict. He had voluntarily chosen to move the battlefield far away from the Heavenly Emperor Hall and onto the Immortal Path.

This truly…

The golden-robed elder gazed at Ye Chen with complicated eyes. The faint threads of guilt that had stirred in his heart could no longer be suppressed. Though Ye Chen was unworthy of his daughter in status, the sincerity of Ye Chen's feelings toward her was undeniable. Just as his daughter had said, Ye Chen truly was a person of pure kindness.

Regret began to take root deep within the elder's heart. If he had known things would turn out this way, he never would have chosen Ye Chen as the false Heir. He certainly never should have targeted Ye Chen repeatedly after his arrival at the Heavenly Emperor Hall. He had even begrudged Ye Chen so much as a single leaf from the Enlightenment Tea Tree to brew a cup.

Worse—he had secretly kicked Ye Chen's war chariot once. He had truly gone too far… Yet despite all his pettiness, Ye Chen was still willing—without the slightest hesitation—to stand alone against a formidable enemy for his daughter's sake.

For a moment, the golden-robed elder even wavered, wondering whether he should reveal the truth to Ye Chen and awaken his daughter after all. The Celestial Prince's combat power was terrifying. But if Qingcheng joined forces with Ye Chen, their chances of victory would rise dramatically.

Still, no matter how deep the guilt now ran, the elder ultimately held back from confessing. He could not bear to let his daughter take such an unknown and perilous risk. In the end, he simply said, "Ye Chen, you have given far too much for Qingcheng. As her father, I am truly grateful to you. The Celestial Prince's incarnation has only just reached the vicinity of the Immortal Path. There may still be half a day before he arrives.

"The Heavenly Emperor Hall has a teleportation array that leads directly to a spot a million li outside Immortal City, so there is no need to rush. I will bring out the treasured Enlightenment Tea Tree leaves we have kept sealed away. Let us sit and savor tea together for a while!

"Since you also cultivate the Heavenly Emperor Scripture, if there is anything you do not understand or have yet to master, feel free to ask. I will personally clarify it for you…"

Watching the elder grow increasingly courteous, Ye Chen's lips curved into a faint smile. Drink tea? He only savored fresh tea.

The Enlightenment Tea of the Heavenly Emperor Hall had likely aged a million years—far too stale for his taste. Better to leave it for later.

As for the Heavenly Emperor Scripture? If there was anything the old man failed to comprehend or fully embody, he could always have his daughter come ask Ye Chen herself.

But Ye Chen refrained from striking at the elder's pride. He simply gave a light smile and waved his hand.

"Save the Enlightenment Tea for Qingcheng. Since there is a teleportation array, please lead the way, Senior."

Ye Chen was in a hurry. Mainly because he wanted to seize the chance to catch a glimpse of Yan Ruyu—the foremost beauty of the myriad races. Yan Wenwen's appearance was already stunning, and Yao Yuezhi's beauty was likewise peerless. But only Yan Ruyu's fame echoed across the realms. Ye Chen was genuinely curious just how many times more captivating she truly was.

Seeing Ye Chen insist on leaving even the Enlightenment Tea for Qingcheng, the golden-robed elder felt his heart grow heavier still. He no longer dared meet Ye Chen's gaze. Lowering his head, he rose to his feet.

"In that case, let us go. Before we enter the Immortal Path at Immortal City, the other great powers of the Heavenly Emperor Hall and I will stand guard over your Dao. You may rest assured."

Ye Chen gave a slight nod. "Many thanks, Senior."

Hearing Ye Chen's thanks, the golden-robed elder clenched his teeth, guilt surging even deeper. He was sending Ye Chen alone to face a deadly foe and plunge into mortal danger.

Yet Ye Chen still thanked him. The prejudice he had once held against Ye Chen had truly run far too deep. It was utterly unjustified.

But at that very moment, fresh news arrived. The Celestial Prince had already reached Immortal City. He had stepped onto the teleportation array and was now entering the sixth realm of the Immortal Path—searching for Yan Ruyu!

Upon hearing this, Ye Chen immediately lost any interest in letting the elder wallow in guilt. He said nothing more, simply hastening on his way.

The golden-robed elder, seeing Ye Chen's urgency, instantly guessed his intention. Ye Chen clearly planned to strike the moment the Celestial Prince moved against Yan Ruyu.

Yan Ruyu's combat strength was no small thing. If the two of them joined forces, they might just be able to hold their own against the Celestial Prince…

Chapter 882: Surpassing the Ancestor!

Yan Ruyu's renown for beauty was matched only by her fearsome combat power. Born with the supreme ancestral peacock bloodline, she possessed the complete Seven-Colored Divine Feathers from the moment of her birth.

Her Seven-Colored Divine Light could brush away anything without exception, its momentum in no way inferior to that of the ancient Peacock Progenitor, Kong Xuan. Some even believed she had the potential to surpass him. In such circumstances, joining forces with Ye Chen gave them a real chance to stand against the Celestial Prince.

The thought deepened the golden-robed elder's sense of Ye Chen's profound affection for his daughter. Ye Chen knew full well how dangerous it was, yet he was willing to ally with others to confront the Celestial Prince—while still refusing to let Qingcheng suffer even the slightest risk.

It was a pity that Ye Chen had so many women by his side. As a man himself, the elder could understand Ye Chen's position. But as a father, he could never accept his daughter taking someone like Ye Chen as her Dao companion... Still, once everything was over, he would share a portion of the Heavenly Emperor Hall's resources with Ye Chen as compensation!

With that resolve, the golden-robed elder joined the many powerful figures who had gathered from across the Heavenly Emperor Hall. Together they escorted Ye Chen onto the teleportation array hidden deep in the starry void, bound for Immortal City…

…

At the same moment, the immortal ship of the Undying Celestial Phoenix Clan had already arrived at Immortal City.

Under countless watchful eyes, the white-haired Celestial Prince slowly stepped out from within the vessel. Amid waves of awe-struck gazes, he entered Immortal City.

The city was crowded—many of the oldest and most venerable human powerhouses had come as well, all staring at the Celestial Prince.

After all, this was an ancient monster from the same era as the Heavenly Emperor. From him, one could still glimpse the radiant splendor of that legendary age.

As the crowd sensed the terrifying aura radiating from the Celestial Prince, gasps of amazement rippled through them. Merely a wisp of divine sense—and yet it carried such overwhelming might. When his true body finally emerged, perhaps only a handful of people in the world would even qualify to stand against him.

The human powerhouses watched with deep wariness in their eyes. Yet no one acted. After all, it was only a strand of divine sense; killing it would accomplish nothing.

The Celestial Prince stood with a divine wheel hovering above his head, his demeanor gentle and refined. Behind him followed a host of powerful figures, their collective presence majestic and imposing.

Pausing before the teleportation array to the Immortal Path, the Celestial Prince shook his head with a sigh.

"The cultivation world used to be so perfect—everyone had the chance to ascend. But the Heavenly Emperor ruined it all, even forcing the world into an early Age of Dharma's End. What a calamity he was!"

He shook his head again, overwhelmed with emotion.

The onlookers who heard him felt a complicated mix of feelings. The Heavenly Emperor had rendered immeasurable service to the rise of humanity and the retreat of the myriad races. Yet he had also destroyed countless immortal roots—even felling the Jianmu Tree itself.

The path of cultivation in this world had grown increasingly difficult because of him. That, too, was an undeniable fact. Even among humans, the Heavenly Emperor's legacy was one of both glory and infamy.

From the center of the crowd, the Celestial Prince spoke once more with a sigh.

"I only hope the Heavenly Emperor is still alive so I can take my revenge with my own hands. Otherwise, the meaning of my million-year slumber would be greatly diminished…"

His words sparked another uproar. The Celestial Prince still intended to seek vengeance against the Heavenly Emperor?

A million years had passed. With the Heavenly Emperor's talent, he must have long since broken through to True Immortal and become an Immortal King. How could the Celestial Prince be so confident? What exactly had he gained during his million years of slumber?

In an instant, the powerhouses of the major human factions watched him with even greater caution. Divine light flickered in their eyes as they tried to discern something—anything—from the incarnation. Yet the five-colored divine wheel behind the Celestial Prince's head veiled all probing attempts. Even if a Great Emperor were present, none could see through it.

The Celestial Prince silently noted every person who dared to investigate him. For now, with his true body yet to emerge, he would merely remember their faces. Once his true form appeared, he would visit each and every one of them personally. He would make them understand the price of disrespecting him.

A faint smile curved the Celestial Prince's lips. Without lingering further, he took a single step forward. Together with several Saint Kings of the Undying Celestial Phoenix Clan, he strode directly into the Immortal Path. Only after his figure vanished did ordinary cultivators finally recover from the suffocating pressure of his aura. Exclamations and heated discussions erupted at once.

"It's hard to believe that was only an incarnation. I'm already at the peak of Saint King, yet when his gaze swept over me, my entire body froze…"

"The Celestial Prince chose to slumber for a million years—he must have gained something enormous. Perhaps when his true body awakens, he really will become the number one figure of our era!"

"Fairy Yan Ruyu is in grave danger!"

"Why don't the major holy lands and great sects band together to attack the Undying Celestial Phoenix Clan? Shatter their divine source ahead of time!"

"It's not that simple. The Celestial Prince is slumbering in the ancestral land of the Undying Celestial Phoenix Clan—deep in the Northern Region, the lair of the myriad races. How many people would it take to breach it?"

"Sigh… Yan Ruyu is probably no match for him. I wonder if the Heavenly Emperor's heir can stop him!"

"If the Heavenly Emperor's heir were already at the peak of the Saint realm, he might not fear this incarnation. But right now he's likely only in the early Saint stage—it's going to be tough…"

"If I were the Heavenly Emperor's heir, I wouldn't even respond. Some million-year-old relic forms an incarnation and immediately challenges the current generation's prodigies? Utterly shameless."

"Exactly. He probably suffered a crushing defeat at the Heavenly Emperor's hands back then and carries that shadow to this day. Seeing the Heavenly Emperor's heir now makes him nervous—he wants to nip the threat in the bud."

"…"

The human cultivators felt a mix of wariness and quiet sighs. Few held much optimism for Ye Chen's chances. Even so, they were far from despairing.

The myriad races had the Celestial Prince, but humanity boasted the Eight-Crowned King, who had seized eight strands of immortal qi, as well as the Exiled Immortal, who was likely human as well. There was even a Sacred Spiritual Root in the mix! The Celestial Prince might not truly be invincible.

Everyone was deeply invested in which race the final immortal of this era would belong to. After ascending, an immortal could remain in the cultivation world for three full days.

With the power of a True Immortal, that brief window was enough to reshape the entire landscape of the Dharma-Ending Age. Amid the heated discussions—speculating whether Yan Ruyu would clash head-on with the Celestial Prince or simply surrender and become his maidservant, and whether the Heavenly Emperor's heir would even respond—A sudden commotion erupted at the city gates of Immortal City.

Curious eyes turned toward the sound, and then widened in shock. Because striding through the gates was none other than Ye Chen, the Heavenly Emperor's heir. He moved with purposeful strides straight toward the teleportation array to the Immortal Path.

The Heavenly Emperor's heir had come here?

That was everyone's first thought. In the next instant, realization struck, and pupils shrank.

He was coming for the Celestial Prince? Instead of waiting for the enemy to arrive, he had charged straight in?

This was boldness on another level. Wasn't the Heavenly Emperor's heir known for his laziness—always letting his enemies come to him? The Celestial Prince and others before had all been forced to seek him out. Unless…

A single name rose in everyone's minds at once.

Yan Ruyu…

The Celestial Prince intended to take Yan Ruyu as his maidservant first. And who didn't know that the Heavenly Emperor's heir was utterly addicted to beautiful women? How could he possibly ignore Yan Ruyu?

Back when he was in the Myriad Races Immortal City, rumors said he had camped daily at the entrance to the Peacock Clan's territory, waiting for her return. When she failed to appear for too long, and impatience got the better of him, he had even chosen a Peacock Clan female cultivator who bore a passing resemblance to Yan Ruyu for dual cultivation—never mind that she was already a widow…

Clearly, in his heart, the Heavenly Emperor's heir had long marked Yan Ruyu as his exclusive possession. There was no way he would tolerate the Celestial Prince claiming her. That explained his frantic rush.

At this realization, the expressions on every face grew exceptionally complicated. Say what you will—being one of the Heavenly Emperor's heir's women really did come with an extraordinary sense of security. No matter how terrifying the enemy, he would still come charging to their rescue.

The problem was that the Celestial Prince's incarnation was horrifyingly powerful. Did the Heavenly Emperor's heir truly have the confidence to win?

At the same time, excitement began to stir in many hearts. The Heavenly Emperor's heir had appeared in the world for so many years and fought countless battles. Yet the version of him fighting at full power existed only in legends.

No one had ever witnessed him unleash his true strength. Now, facing the Celestial Prince's incarnation, he could no longer hold back. Everyone would finally see the Heavenly Emperor's heir laying all his cards on the table—Instead of casually swatting enemies away like flies, as he always had.

Moreover, within the Immortal Path's sixth realm waited Yan Ruyu, a peak Saint King in her own right. Together, the two of them might not be inferior to the Celestial Prince's incarnation.

With that thought, anticipation surged through the crowd. A world-shaking battle was destined to erupt in the sixth realm of the Immortal Path…

Ye Chen, however, paid no attention to the stares. The moment he learned the Celestial Prince had already arrived, he did not hesitate for even a second. He stepped directly onto the teleportation array. In the instant divine light flared around him, his figure vanished from Immortal City.

Watching how swiftly Ye Chen departed, the onlookers only sighed more deeply at his legendary obsession with women. He was in such a hurry to rescue Yan Ruyu…

"Where is Yan Ruyu?"

After stepping into the sixth realm of the Immortal Path, the Celestial Prince spoke slowly. In truth, his interest was rather low. A graceful figure lingered in his heart. Collecting maidservants was merely a habit—and a convenient way to strike at Ye Chen's Dao heart.

Since Ye Chen was so obsessed with women, taking the woman he desired as a servant might just provoke a heart demon in him. That would be far more efficient.

At once, a Saint King stepped forward to lead the way while explaining, "The last time Fairy Yan Ruyu appeared was near a certain divine mountain… She seemed to be in seclusion… My clan has already located the place of her retreat."

The Celestial Prince gave a slight, smiling nod and rose gracefully into the air. Each realm of the Immortal Path was vaster than the last. The sixth realm alone was comparable in size to the Central Continent. It took a full three days before the Celestial Prince and his group finally reached the site of Yan Ruyu's seclusion.

It was a divine mountain. Now reduced to broken walls and shattered ruins. Half the peak had been cleaved apart. The entire land looked as though it had been scoured by divine thunder. Even now, traces of that unique, apocalyptic, destructive power lingered in the air.

And amid the endless devastation, a graceful silhouette sat cross-legged at the center, shrouded in seven-colored divine light that obscured her features. Yet through the radiant veil, one could faintly discern a figure of flawless, transcendent perfection.

Sensing the overwhelming aura of a Great Saint radiating from her—impossible to suppress—the Celestial Prince faintly furrowed his brows.

"This woman has already passed her heavenly tribulation and broken through to Great Saint."

Their arrival had clearly been noticed. The silhouette slowly rose to her feet. Though the seven-colored divine light still veiled her eyes, everyone present could feel the icy chill in her gaze. Several Saint Kings struggled to withstand it and summoned divine flames just to resist the cold.

The Celestial Prince narrowed his eyes, then let a smile curve his lips.

"Yan Ruyu, your talent is truly remarkable. Having reached the level of your ancestor Kong Xuan, you still seek to go further—to surpass him by elevating his Seven-Colored Divine Feathers into Nine Colors…

"I must admit, I've come to admire you somewhat. Come and serve as my maidservant. The Undying Celestial Phoenix Clan possesses countless supreme Dao arts and endless treasures. In the future, I will even grant you a slot to enter the Immortal Realm, helping you complete the ascension of your nine feathers and truly surpass your ancestor!"

His status was exalted, his vision unmatched. With a single glance, he had seen through many things, and genuine interest finally flickered in his eyes. But before he could finish speaking, he raised a brow and looked backward. A terrifying aura was surging toward them with explosive force!