ISWI Chapter 883-886 (Patreon)

Chapter 883: Celestial Prince, What Are You Even Good For?

"Who is this? Does he not know this is the sixth realm? To charge in so recklessly, unleashing his aura without the slightest restraint!"

The Celestial Prince had been watching Yan Ruyu with genuine interest. His vast experience allowed him to see that she was pursuing some kind of bloodline breakthrough—and had already taken the first step.

Being interrupted by the distant surge of power left him displeased. An aura of silent authority radiated from him. The intruder was still too far away to be seen clearly. Only the unrestrained aura could be felt.

Several Saint Kings at the Celestial Prince's side immediately rose and sped toward the source to intercept the newcomer—and to apologize on their master's behalf.

The Celestial Prince, however, paid it little mind. He turned back to Yan Ruyu, a courteous and humble smile on his face.

"Come and serve as my maidservant. This is your only chance to escape this world!"

But in the next instant, his eyes narrowed slightly.

Before him, Yan Ruyu's figure was slowly turning illusory. Shrouded in seven-colored divine light, she gazed at the Celestial Prince with cool detachment. She showed no anger at his words, merely speaking softly.

"I broke through three days ago. This realm is already expelling me. If the Celestial Prince wishes to fight, come find me in the seventh realm. At that time, I will seal my cultivation down to Saint King."

The Celestial Prince's expression instantly tightened. He narrowed his eyes, then let out a laugh born of sheer anger. Were the female cultivators of this era all so arrogant?

In ancient times, the position of his maidservant had been highly coveted. Not only prodigies of the myriad races, but even holy maidens from great human sects had vied for it.

Yet Yao Yuezhi had refused and secretly consorted with the Heavenly Emperor's heir. And now this Yan Ruyu actually wanted to fight him—and even offered to seal her cultivation.

In all his long years, the Celestial Prince had never been humiliated like this.

"Yan Ruyu, you have successfully piqued my interest…"

Yan Ruyu said nothing more. She simply looked at him calmly. Then her figure completely faded and vanished from the spot. It was not an escape by movement technique—she had been directly removed from the realm.

The Celestial Prince made no attempt to stop her. He could sense that this was the will of the realm itself, just as a True Immortal could not be prevented from leaving the cultivation world.

"A mere Great Saint. If I don't mind damaging the Heavenly Heart Immortal Crystal, I can still suppress her with a single hand. Come. Follow me to the seventh—"

The smile remained on the Celestial Prince's face, but fury burned in his heart. He turned to issue orders to his subordinates.

The words died halfway. He realized his men had not yet returned. And then he sensed something was wrong. His subordinates… might never be coming back.

He immediately looked into the distance. The aura that should have been intercepted had come to a sudden, explosive halt.

…

On Ye Chen's side, he had activated his maximum speed. Upon entering the sixth realm, he followed the lingering traces left by the Celestial Prince and his group, racing forward with overwhelming momentum. His Heavy Pupils remained active, scanning constantly.

Finally, he locked onto their location. Through his Heavy Pupils' distant gaze, several figures appeared in his vision. The one with the five-colored divine wheel hovering above his head and silver-white hair was unmistakably the Celestial Prince. And facing him stood a woman enveloped in seven-colored divine light, her form dreamlike and ethereal.

Though nothing was clearly visible, an instinctive feeling rose unbidden in Ye Chen's mind.

Beauty. He wanted to see more clearly.

At that moment, a system prompt sounded in his mind.

"Target meeting gifting criteria detected…"

"Yan Ruyu: 7,500 times!"

Ye Chen's eyes lit up instantly.

Yan Ruyu's multiplier was this high? Higher than even the Chaos Body. Apart from that, an 8,000-times Holy Spirit still slumbering and gestating in his cave heaven, every other woman by his side had started with a far lower initial multiplier than the Chaos Body. Lan Nuo, Yao Yuezhi—all of them had been raised to their current levels by him later on.

Could Yan Ruyu truly surpass the Chaos Body in talent? Ye Chen found that unlikely. Even with her ancestral blood and innate Seven-Colored Divine Feathers rivaling her progenitor, she should at best be on par with the Chaos Body.

So either she had advanced even further in aptitude, or her beauty had reached such an extreme peak that it pushed her multiplier beyond the Chaos Body's. The second possibility made Ye Chen's anticipation burn hotter. If her appearance alone could surpass the Chaos Body in multiplier, just how breathtaking must Yan Ruyu truly be?

Ye Chen said nothing more. He simply accelerated again. He wanted to see her with his own eyes. And while he was at it, suppress the Celestial Prince. Win Yan Ruyu's favor—and see if there was any chance to receive a gift from her.

But in the very next moment, three powerful auras came rushing straight toward him. All three exuded an overwhelming presence: two mid-stage Saint Kings and one late-stage Saint King. Phoenix flames burned fiercely around each of them, radiating terrifying might.

"Who are you, daring to approach the Celestial Prince—"

The late-stage Saint King in the center bellowed in fury even as he raised his hand, condensing a blazing fire phoenix that hurtled toward Ye Chen, intent on refining him on the spot. But the moment he clearly saw who was coming, the rest of his words caught in his throat. Terror flooded his face.

It was the Heavenly Emperor's heir! The Heavenly Emperor's heir had actually come here! How dare he? Did he not know the Celestial Prince was present?

Shock and panic filled the trio's hearts, disbelief etched across their features. Though Ye Chen's displayed cultivation was only early Saint—far below their Saint King realms—They remained utterly convinced that in front of the Celestial Prince, Ye Chen amounted to nothing.

Yet they also knew full well: That was the Celestial Prince. Not them. No record had ever spread of Ye Chen slaying a Saint King. But if they clashed with him now, they might very well become the first.

Without hesitation, the three slammed to a halt mid-flight. They spun around at once, preparing to flee back the way they had come while calling out to summon the Celestial Prince.

Too late.

Facing the oncoming fire phoenix, Ye Chen didn't even bother to blink. He charged straight into it. The terrifying divine flames couldn't singe a single hair on his head. The fire phoenix exploded apart in a violent burst.

Ye Chen's gaze then shifted to the three who had already begun fleeing in the opposite direction. A flicker of chaotic qi passed through his eyes. The three still in mid-escape simply vanished—as though the Great Dao itself had erased them.

No sound, no explosion, not even a ripple. They dissolved into nothingness without a trace. Ye Chen's expression remained utterly calm. Back when he was at the peak of Half-Saint, though he hadn't killed any Saint Kings, doing so probably wouldn't have been difficult.

Now, having severed the Dao with the Chaos Golden Radiance Technique and achieved sainthood through the Chaos Destiny Stone, his combat power had risen to an unimaginable degree. For Saint Kings to be unable to withstand a single glance from his Heavy Pupils was perfectly normal.

After annihilating the three, Ye Chen's speed didn't falter in the slightest. As he passed through the spot where they had perished, he even reached out casually, seized their origins in one grasp, and refined them in an instant.

But just as he drew closer and closer to the Celestial Prince and Yan Ruyu, Ye Chen's eyes suddenly narrowed.

Yan Ruyu was disappearing. Not dying—leaving…

No way. He had rushed all this way with such effort, and before he could even say a word, she was gone? Celestial Prince, what the hell are you good for? You couldn't even stop her?

Chapter 884: Never Be Defeated by the Same Move Twice!

Ye Chen was a little angry, not at Yan Ruyu. After all, she carried a staggering 7,500-times multiplier—she was already outstanding enough. What fault could she possibly have?

The blame rested entirely on the Celestial Prince. All that boasting, yet he couldn't even keep one woman from slipping away right in front of him. Was he useless?

Ye Chen had already rehearsed in his mind how he would use Yan Wenwen as an entry point to get close to Yan Ruyu.

If she already knew about his connection with Yan Wenwen, he could put on an act: pretend he had only reluctantly accepted the older woman's advances for Yan Ruyu's sake, enduring the "old cow eating tender grass" humiliation just to win her favor.

But now the person had appeared—and left again. Not a single word exchanged. All his anticipation had been for nothing. He hadn't even caught a glimpse of Yan Ruyu's true appearance. The classic but effective "hero saves the beauty" routine had nowhere to be performed.

This entire trip had been completely pointless. A total waste of time.

Ye Chen glared furiously at the Celestial Prince.

At that moment, the Celestial Prince turned as well, frowning as their eyes met. He had seen plenty of Ye Chen's "short films" and recognized him instantly.

A flicker of surprise passed through his gaze. He was shocked that Ye Chen had dared show up here—so bold. He was also shocked that Ye Chen possessed the strength to silently erase three of his subordinates.

The boy had some real ability. Yet beyond the surprise, he felt a trace of confusion. Why did Ye Chen look at him with such raw anger?

True, he planned to suppress Ye Chen eventually. But as a supreme prodigy, Ye Chen shouldn't be this enraged over something so minor, right?

If that really was the case, then though the youth's talent was impressive, his temperament fell far short of the Heavenly Emperor's back in the day. He would never go very far.

Watching Ye Chen charge toward him with earth-shaking momentum, the Celestial Prince's lips curved into a calm smile. He raised his hand leisurely. The five-colored divine wheel behind his head flew forward, transforming into a transparent barrier that hung before him like a curtain of the heavens.

The Celestial Prince was utterly confident he could block the attack. With unruffled composure, he spoke.

"Heavenly Emperor's heir, you actually dared come straight to me. I must admit, I'm somewhat impressed. But your temperament is too poor. You will never ascend to immortality. Women can be enjoyed, of course—but treating them as the center of your life? That will only slow your cultivation."

"Still, I've suddenly come to appreciate this pure-hearted devotion of yours toward female cultivators. I'll give you a chance. Become my servant. In the future, you may pick any of my maidservants you like—even the ones I haven't touched yet!"

"Yan Ruyu, Yao Yuezhi, and the rest—I can grant them to you without a second thought. As long as you prove useful, in time, I might even bestow upon you a slot to enter the Immortal Realm…"

The Celestial Prince spoke with leisurely arrogance. Even as Ye Chen closed the final distance, his expression remained perfectly calm. His five-colored divine wheel was a supreme Divine Ability from the Undying Immortal Scripture. It could effortlessly neutralize any offensive technique on its own—a pinnacle defensive ability.

But the next instant, his words cut off abruptly. Because Ye Chen, now right before him, threw a single punch. The light curtain formed by the five-colored divine wheel shattered instantly.

Ye Chen's fist met almost no resistance. It tore straight through and slammed into the Celestial Prince's chest. The incarnation was sent flying backward. He crashed heavily into the center of the tribulation-scarred ruins where Yan Ruyu had once crossed her heavenly tribulation, kicking up endless dust and debris.

Deep in the newly formed crater, the Celestial Prince stared down at the gaping hole blasted through his chest. Disbelief filled his eyes. He—the Celestial Prince—had actually been sent flying by a single punch from Ye Chen?

This…

He had never imagined that his first battle after awakening would begin with him being blasted away. Even accounting for his own underestimation, the humiliation burned. Fortunately, all his subordinates were already dead. Otherwise, how could he ever show his face again?

Yet before the Celestial Prince could fully give in to rage, Ye Chen's furious shout rang in his ears.

"Celestial Prince, you slept for a million years—and you can't even stop an enemy from leaving right in front of you? You just stood there and watched her go! Are you useless? If I let a pig cultivate the immortal scripture for a million years, it would have become an immortal by now!"

For a split second, bewilderment flashed through the Celestial Prince's eyes. Then fury surged even hotter. He burst out of the dust cloud. The shattered five-colored divine wheel reformed behind his head as he glared at Ye Chen.

"Yan Ruyu broke through to Great Saint. Once her transitional period ended, the realm itself expelled her—that was the will of heaven and earth! Even a quasi-immortal couldn't have stopped it! Are you out of your mind?"

The Celestial Prince suddenly understood why Ye Chen had been so furious just moments ago. But the realization only made his frustration burn hotter. He—the great Celestial Prince—had actually been blasted away by a cultivator whose mind was clearly unhinged?

Ye Chen, hearing the rebuke, merely raised an eyebrow. It did seem to be the case. If even the realm's will was expelling her, then of course the Celestial Prince couldn't stop it. That was perfectly normal. He had misunderstood.

The thought brought a twinge of regret. If he had known earlier, he would have spent a few fewer sessions grinding with Luo Bingling and stopped deliberately keeping the old man on tenterhooks.

Then he could have at least exchanged a few words, caught a proper glimpse of her true appearance. And while he was at it, he could have verified whether her sky-high multiplier came from truly transcendent beauty or from some genuine further advancement in aptitude.

Seeing the sudden look of realization dawn on Ye Chen's face, the Celestial Prince grew even more enraged. He ground his teeth and snarled, "Ye Chen, you have truly infuriated me. Today I will kill you. In the future, everyone connected to you—I will send them to accompany you in death!"

He raised his hand.

Endless torrents of fire rained down like meteors, crashing toward Ye Chen. Each streak of flame measured ten thousand meters in both length and width, blotting out the sky, carrying an unbreakable lock-on intent. They were meant to annihilate him utterly.

Ye Chen, however, had already let it go. Missed opportunity? So be it. At least he had seen her once and learned her multiplier. They would meet again eventually.

For now, priorities mattered. Yan Ruyu had already broken through to Great Saint; she no longer needed the Heavenly Heart Immortal Crystal. That meant the crystal would definitely go to Yan Qingcheng.

So it was better to focus on her side for the time being. As for the Celestial Prince, death was inevitable. The man clearly had some screws loose, casually offering up his maidservants for Ye Chen to "play with."

But his combat power was decent enough. He had something, just not much. First suppress him, seize the Heavenly Heart Immortal Crystal, and be done with it.

Ye Chen lifted his gaze to the blazing sky filled with falling fire rain. With a casual sweep of his hand from afar, he erased it all. The heavens returned to serene clarity. Without the slightest hesitation, he closed in. He unleashed the Heavenly Emperor Fist straight toward the Celestial Prince.

The Celestial Prince's brow shot up. Shock deepened at Ye Chen's sheer combat strength. He had already held Ye Chen in high regard before—high enough to personally dispatch a wisp of divine sense.

Yet Ye Chen proved far more terrifying than anticipated. With a single lift of his hand, he had dispelled the assault without the slightest flourish or wasted energy. And now this Heavenly Emperor Fist made the Celestial Prince's brows knit tightly, his pupils contracting.

Memories flooded back—of the Heavenly Emperor in the past. Back then, he had been blasted apart by that very same fist, which the Heavenly Emperor had only just comprehended on the spot. That had been his first defeat. But how could he possibly lose to the same technique twice?

Watching Ye Chen surge forward with unstoppable momentum, as though he were unleashing the full cycle of six paths of reincarnation, the Celestial Prince brought both hands together, channeling a supreme secret art.

Overwhelming power erupted. Divine light blazed for ten thousand zhang. Immortal phoenixes soared and danced through the void. This was a technique he had created in his mind after simulating that final battle against the Heavenly Emperor countless times during his long slumber. It was specifically designed to perfectly counter the Heavenly Emperor Fist…

Chapter 885: Outdated Version

Ye Chen felt a twinge of embarrassment for having misunderstood the Celestial Prince. But the other man was his enemy—an apology would be out of place. So Ye Chen decided to simply obliterate him.

The Heavenly Emperor Fist that Ye Chen unleashed now was far more terrifying than before. It felt as though the Heavenly Emperor himself had descended, his imperial might flooding the heavens.

Within the shadowy outline of the fist, six ancient cosmic phantoms faintly emerged. It had almost reached the level of manifesting the full cycle of the six paths of reincarnation. Even the Celestial Prince in front of him felt a trace of suppression—as though the sheer momentum was weighing down on him, slightly dulling his combat power.

Yet the Celestial Prince remained calm. He raised his hand and executed his secret art. Endless divine flames surged alongside mysterious five-colored divine light, coalescing into a towering pillar of radiance.

Countless immortal phoenixes poured forth from within, each one linked to the others, carrying the might of an emperor as they flew straight to meet the fist shadow head-on. The Celestial Prince allowed himself a proud smile.

Back then, the Heavenly Emperor had created the Heavenly Emperor Fist by fusing his own Dao and laws into a single supreme technique. That was exactly where he had lost. Now, he had perfected it beyond even the Heavenly Emperor's original. But in the very next instant, the Celestial Prince's expression changed again.

In the blink of an eye, countless immortal phoenixes exploded apart. The light pillar was struck squarely by Ye Chen's fist. Six illusory universes sealed it in place, and in an instant, the entire construct was refined to nothing.

Then Ye Chen arrived like a storm, killing intent blazing. Another fist roared forth. The Celestial Prince hastily retreated, but his speed was nowhere near Ye Chen's. He was blasted apart.

Yet he did not fall. His fragments turned into immortal fire and withdrew tens of thousands of li before swiftly reforming. He stared at Ye Chen in utter shock.

That last punch had not been terrifying merely in raw power. It had conjured the grand scene of the heavens first opening and all things being born. It delivered a double assault—mental and physical.

If not for his multitude of life-preserving divine arts and the fact that this was only an incarnation without a flesh-and-blood body, he might have been directly suppressed and annihilated by that single strike.

This version was far more horrifying than the Heavenly Emperor Fist he had faced back then.

How could this be possible? Did Ye Chen possess such monstrous talent that he could innovate beyond the original?

It was simply absurd.

The Celestial Prince could not help but blurt out in disbelief, "Why is your Heavenly Emperor Fist even more terrifying than the one the Heavenly Emperor used back then?"

Ye Chen paused for a moment at the question. Then he looked at the Celestial Prince as though he were staring at an idiot.

"When the Heavenly Emperor beat you to death, you were already a quasi-immortal, while he was only at the peak of Great Saint. So you're saying after he beat you, he just stopped improving?"

The Heavenly Emperor Fist was the pinnacle work of his entire life. Everything he had ever learned had been poured into it. With every new realm he reached, the technique had grown stronger.

Legend said that the Heavenly Emperor's most supreme battle in the cultivation world had been against the descending Undying Celestial Emperor. That final punch had gathered all his essence, energy, and spirit—along with every technique and secret art he possessed—and unleashed them in a single devastating strike.

It had not only sent the immortal artifact Undying Heavenly Blade flying and blasted the Undying Celestial Emperor to pieces; rumor held that even the Heavenly Gate itself had been shattered by that fist. That was the true peak of the Heavenly Emperor Fist. The Celestial Prince was working with an outdated, obsolete version.

The Celestial Prince finally understood. His face darkened. But right now, the specifics of the Heavenly Emperor Fist didn't matter. What mattered was Ye Chen's combat power. Ye Chen was only in the early Saint realm. No matter how invincible the Heavenly Emperor Fist might be, he should not possess this level of strength.

The Celestial Prince asked himself honestly. Even if it were his true body—with the Sacred Spirit Root and True Phoenix Immortal Body—self-sealing his cultivation down to the early Saint realm, he might only be able to fight Ye Chen to a draw at best.

That realization made his expression turn completely ashen. The Celestial Prince placed extreme importance on bloodline and talent. Those with low aptitude didn't even qualify to become his maidservants. Those with sufficiently high talent earned his exceptional leniency.

The same applied to enemies. If their talent was lacking, he wouldn't even bother looking. If it was slightly below his own, he felt only disdain and contempt. But if it surpassed his own… Then he would treat them with utmost seriousness—and deep wariness.

The Celestial Prince was, in every sense, a classic talent supremacist. The moment he realized Ye Chen's aptitude might rival that of his true self, killing intent and dread surged to their absolute peak within him.

Ye Chen had to die!

In that instant, the Celestial Prince no longer hesitated. His aura climbed to its utmost limit. More oppressive than ever before.

In this moment, the Celestial Prince's silver hair whipped wildly in the wind. Beneath his feet, a divine sovereign phantom appeared, making him resemble a god awakened from slumber. At the core of his being, a hairline crack had appeared on the Heavenly Heart Immortal Crystal—nearly inaudible—and it was slowly widening.

This wisp of divine sense incarnation had now erupted to its absolute limit. With unshakable confidence, he charged toward Ye Chen once more. He would annihilate Ye Chen here and sever his path to immortality forever.

Ye Chen, however, paid no mind to the Celestial Prince's surge in power. With a cold sneer, he rushed forward in turn. The battlefield erupted into thunderous chaos once again.

But after only half a breath, a faint wisp of divine fire escaped from the fray. The Celestial Prince stared at Ye Chen in utter disbelief. He couldn't win… Even though he had poured every ounce of strength into this divine-sense incarnation, even at the cost of shattering the Heavenly Heart Immortal Crystal, He was still completely outmatched by Ye Chen…

Deep in his heart, a trace of fear actually took root. The way Ye Chen threw his punches was even fiercer than the Heavenly Emperor back then. It cast a dark shadow over him, shaking his confidence in this era's Immortal Path.

How could such a monster exist? Was Ye Chen the Heavenly Emperor's own son? Or had the Heavenly Emperor already perished, and Ye Chen was his reincarnation?

While the Celestial Prince reeled in shock, Ye Chen charged in again. Imperial might towered to the heavens, as though determined to crush every disrespectful being beneath it.

At that moment, Ye Chen sensed the commotion here had drawn the attention of nearby cultivators—likely spectators rushing to watch. He intended to obliterate this incarnation of the Celestial Prince before they arrived.

The Undying Celestial Phoenix Clan carried the word "undying" in their name. They were indeed far harder to kill than ordinary cultivators. And the Celestial Prince was the cream of that crop—slightly harder still. But only slightly. If Ye Chen wanted him dead, it would not be difficult.

Yet in the next instant, a bold idea flashed through Ye Chen's mind. Perhaps he shouldn't kill this incarnation too easily. For one thing, the Celestial Prince truly had some substance—he was one of the absolute peak existences in this world.

If even his incarnation could be casually slaughtered by Ye Chen, who would dare send anything valuable in the future? On his fiancée's side, the upcoming transition from acquired to innate would still require an enormous amount of origin energy.

Moreover, the Heavenly Heart Immortal Crystal was meant to be a gift for Yan Qingcheng. Casually beating the Celestial Prince to death and handing over the crystal would yield one kind of emotional impact. But fighting a bitter, hard-won battle—barely emerging victorious—and then presenting the crystal would deliver an entirely different level of emotional value.

In short, staging a grand, drawn-out clash with the Celestial Prince offered countless benefits.

With that thought, Ye Chen narrowed his eyes toward the Celestial Prince. Chaotic qi seeped from the cracks between his Heavy Pupils, instantly condensing into a pure land. He trapped the Celestial Prince inside. Then Ye Chen tossed down a grand formation, completely shrouding the entire area.

The Celestial Prince froze for a moment, then tried to break free of the pure land. But Ye Chen—already inside with him—blasted him back with a single punch.

Ye Chen moved at terrifying speed. As the Celestial Prince flew backward, Ye Chen closed in instantly. His Heavy Pupils swirled, scanning precisely. Then one hand thrust forward like lightning…

The Armament Secret was activated.

He seized hold and yanked viciously. The Celestial Prince jolted as though struck by lightning. A muffled groan escaped him. His aura plummeted like a landslide.

In utter disbelief, he stared at Ye Chen. Ye Chen had actually entered the depths of his incarnation so effortlessly. And taken the single most important thing!

Chapter 886: A Hard-Fought Battle, Counter-Kill!

In that instant, the Celestial Prince's incarnation felt his connection to the Heavenly Heart Immortal Crystal severed by Ye Chen. Then it was ripped out with brutal force. His power drained away like a broken dam. His face paled, and his entire form grew hazy and indistinct.

"This is the Armament Secret!"

He realized immediately. The situation was hopeless. He glared at Ye Chen with an ugly expression. During the earlier fight, Ye Chen must have been using his Heavy Pupils to probe for his core the entire time. And the fact that Ye Chen could plunder the core of this incarnation so effortlessly proved one thing: Ye Chen's strength completely crushed his own.

The Heavenly Heart Immortal Crystal was useless to him now anyway, so losing it didn't matter. But after sleeping for a million years, his first battle upon awakening had ended in miserable defeat—once again suppressed by the Heavenly Emperor's heir using the Heavenly Emperor Fist. Even though it was only an incarnation, the humiliation seared his soul.

He stared coldly at Ye Chen.

"It's just one incarnation. Losing it means nothing. As for that Heavenly Heart Immortal Crystal, it already has cracks. Even if you take it, you won't be able to condense a perfect Heavenly Heart Imprint. So what if I 'grant' it to you? When my true body emerges, I will kill you first."

With those words, the Celestial Prince prepared to disperse his incarnation. Without the Heavenly Heart Immortal Crystal to anchor his divine sense, he would become nothing more than rootless duckweed. He could still slaughter ordinary Saints with ease.

But against someone like Ye Chen, he stood no chance at all. Rather than suffer further humiliation, he would end it himself. At least that way, he could preserve some dignity.

Ye Chen, meanwhile, examined the several cracks running across the Heavenly Heart Immortal Crystal and gave an almost imperceptible frown. It was indeed damaged—some of its spirituality had been lost. Condensing a perfect Heavenly Heart Imprint would likely face some hindrance.

Still, Ye Chen didn't mind. Having it at all was already good enough. Nothing in the world was ever flawless. Besides, it could still serve as a gift. It wouldn't disappoint him.

As for the Celestial Prince's threats, Ye Chen remained unmoved.

Peak quasi-immortal? So what?

Even if he couldn't win, he could simply hole up in the Immortal Path for a few years. Back then, the Heavenly Emperor—at the peak of Great Saint—had beaten a quasi-immortal Celestial Prince half to death.

True, he had set a trap and borrowed the power of a quasi-immortal array to accomplish the feat. And the Celestial Prince of today was no longer the same as the one from back then.

But Ye Chen was certainly far stronger than the Heavenly Emperor had been at the same stage. Once he reached Great Saint, killing the Celestial Prince's true body would be no harder than slaughtering a chicken. So Ye Chen truly felt nothing.

As for the Celestial Prince stubbornly claiming he had "granted" the crystal when it had clearly been snatched away—Ye Chen couldn't care less. He had already won the fight. Let the man save a little face with his mouth.

Seeing the Celestial Prince about to detonate his wisp of divine sense, Ye Chen spoke calmly.

"Celestial Prince, there's no need to be in such a hurry. Why not stay a little longer and witness my complete Heavenly Emperor Fist?"

With that, Ye Chen began to demonstrate the technique on his own. The higher his cultivation climbed, the deeper his mastery of the Heavenly Emperor Fist grew—and the greater the power he could unleash. Legend held that in his later years, the Heavenly Emperor could raise his hand and directly manifest six complete universes, simulating the six paths of reincarnation to refine and erase his enemies.

The Celestial Prince was slightly surprised that Ye Chen had won—barely—and yet chose not to humiliate him. The Heavenly Emperor back then had been notoriously sharp-tongued and vicious at heart. When the Celestial Prince had been tricked and defeated, he had only been on the verge of death.

But the Heavenly Emperor had gone for the kill in words as well, mocking him publicly. He had nearly infuriated him to death. Compared to that, Ye Chen seemed far more like a proper person—much more magnanimous. As for the Heavenly Emperor Fist, the Celestial Prince genuinely wanted to study it closely.

Know yourself, know your enemy, and you will never be defeated.

Though he didn't quite understand why Ye Chen would show him this, there was no harm in watching. He fixed his gaze on Ye Chen, whose aura towered like it could pierce the vault of heaven.

The Celestial Prince watched intently, already calculating countermeasures in his mind.

…

Outside the battlefield, many spectators had already rushed to the scene. News of Yan Ruyu's appearance in the seventh realm had spread far and wide. That meant the Heavenly Emperor's heir would have to face the Celestial Prince alone.

Though most cultivators didn't hold high hopes for Ye Chen, they all agreed that with his combat strength, he would never be crushed so easily. They might yet witness a true clash of titans.

When they finally reached the site, what met their eyes was a single grand formation. It clearly belonged to the Heavenly Emperor's heir—one designed to suppress enemies. No one could clearly see what was happening inside.

But the terrifying shockwaves rumbling through the array, along with the overflowing imperial might that leaked out, were enough to convey the sheer terror of the combatants within.

In that moment, everyone understood. The Heavenly Emperor's heir had truly been forced into a grueling battle. Otherwise, given his usual style when fighting male cultivators, he would never resort to using formations. The realization only heightened their excitement. They waited eagerly for the outcome…

As word continued to spread, more and more onlookers arrived. All of them were waiting for the conclusion. Ye Chen possessed the potential to ascend to immortality. Whether he won or lost, the impact would be immense.

Far beyond the Immortal Path, the great powers who heard that Yan Ruyu had broken through to Great Saint—only to be forcibly expelled to the seventh realm—and that the Heavenly Emperor's heir had walked straight into the trap to fight the Celestial Prince alone—showed a range of expressions.

Some worried, some anticipated, some even let out soft, satisfied hums…

As for the golden-robed elder, a trace of deep concern flickered in the depths of his eyes. Ye Chen was only in the early Saint realm. How could he possibly be a match for the Celestial Prince's incarnation?

This battle spelled far more peril than fortune for Ye Chen. Thinking back on all the petty, malicious ways he had treated Ye Chen before, and then remembering Ye Chen's selfless resolve without a hint of resentment, the guilt weighed on him heavier than ever. If only he had known sooner, he should have provided Ye Chen with far more resources, helping him advance his cultivation even faster.

And then there was his daughter… The golden-robed elder had no idea how he would explain this to her. The matter had grown far too big; there was no way to hide it from Qingcheng. When she emerged from seclusion and learned of Ye Chen's death, she would surely feel even greater disappointment toward her own father.

…

Just as the outside world buzzed with discussion, convinced that this dazzling prodigy was about to fall, seven full days passed in the blink of an eye.

The Celestial Prince watched Ye Chen, who had been throwing punches in front of him for seven straight days—his power growing dramatically with every strike. Though he was inwardly shaken by Ye Chen's monstrous talent, he had also gained a much deeper understanding of the Heavenly Emperor Fist.

When Ye Chen finally stopped, a trace of genuine admiration appeared in the Celestial Prince's eyes.

"You are quite remarkable—more upright than the Heavenly Emperor back then. I will grant you one promise. When my true body emerges, I will kill only you. As for the people around you—I will spare them!"

Ye Chen gave the Celestial Prince a strange glance and ignored him completely.

Under the Celestial Prince's stunned gaze, a sudden explosive rumble erupted from within Ye Chen's body. In the next instant, his face turned deathly pale. He violently coughed up a mouthful of blood…

The blood carried an intense aura, divine patterns flowing within it, instantly dyeing almost the entire void of the Heavy Pupils Pure Land crimson. And Ye Chen's aura plummeted sharply. It felt like a roller coaster, dropping to barely a tenth of its previous level.

The Celestial Prince stared at the scene in complete bewilderment. What was wrong with this Heavenly Emperor's heir? He had spent days throwing punches at him—then suddenly self-injured? Could it be that this mental instability was the price of his rapid growth?

Strange as it was, the Celestial Prince could tell the injury was real. The drastic drop in aura was no illusion. A strange glint flashed through his eyes. Though he had lost the Heavenly Heart Immortal Crystal and could no longer sustain prolonged combat, he could still erupt with dozens of peak attacks by burning through this wisp of divine sense entirely.

Moreover, with his newfound deeper insight into the Heavenly Emperor Fist, he might actually be able to suppress Ye Chen right now. Ye Chen's talent and comprehension were both freakish. If he could end this once and for all, that would be the best possible outcome.

With that thought, the Celestial Prince surged forward, transforming directly into an immortal phoenix.

Ye Chen lifted his gaze and glanced at him. With a flicker of his mind, he let the grand formation explode outward. The Heavy Pupils Pure Land shattered…

The sealed battlefield was instantly laid bare to the outside world.

…

Outside the grand formation, countless cultivators had already gathered to watch. Everyone wanted to know the outcome of this battle the instant it concluded. After all, aside from fights against female cultivators, the Heavenly Emperor's heir always ended his battles against others with astonishing speed.

Yet this time, a full week had passed. Inside the formation, earth-shaking power still collided without pause. The intensity of the fight was unmistakable. Clearly, the Heavenly Emperor's heir had been forced into a truly grueling war.

Just as the crowd wondered how much longer this clash could possibly last, the grand formation shuddered violently—then exploded apart. Immediately afterward, the Heavy Pupils Pure Land within it seemed to be forcibly torn open from the inside.

Everyone's eyes widened. They saw the Celestial Prince transformed into an immortal phoenix, radiating boundless killing intent as he charged straight toward the Heavenly Emperor's heir. And the Heavenly Emperor's heir?

He looked more injured than anyone had ever seen him. His face was deathly pale, blood mist swirling around his body. His entire aura had sunk to rock bottom. This unprecedented state alone spoke volumes about the sheer terror of the past seven days' battle. Was the Heavenly Emperor's heir truly about to fall here?

Some cultivators from the myriad races watched with eager anticipation. Others from the human race could only look on with deep reluctance.

Under countless gazes, a sudden flush of blood surged across the Heavenly Emperor's heir's pallid face. His aura began climbing rapidly once more. Every muscle on his body—mountainous and powerful—tensed to the absolute limit. It was as though he had poured every last ounce of strength into this final punch.

In that instant, every expression on the battlefield froze. They watched as the golden fist, carrying the phantoms of six illusory great worlds, slammed directly into the immortal phoenix that the Celestial Prince had become.

The phoenix stiffened in midair. A flash of shock and fury passed through its eyes, but there was no time to speak. It exploded in a violent burst.

When the endless divine flames finally died out, no trace of the Celestial Prince remained—only faint wisps of divine sense lingered. None of it could ever recover.

On Ye Chen's side, the surging aura collapsed again almost immediately. The shockwave from the Celestial Prince's explosion even forced his body backward. Clearly, after that final strike, the Heavenly Emperor's heir had been pushed to the brink of utter exhaustion. Yet in the end, he had won.

With the grand formation shattered and the Heavy Pupils Pure Land torn apart, he had risen to his absolute peak for one climactic counter-kill…

…

The countless onlookers were shaken to their core by this outcome. No one had truly believed the Heavenly Emperor's heir could defeat the Celestial Prince. Even the boldest, those with the highest expectations for Ye Chen, had only dared hope he could fight to a draw and preserve his life.

None had imagined that after such a brutal struggle, Ye Chen would forcibly counter-kill the Celestial Prince's incarnation. The result was nothing short of astonishing. With only early Saint realm cultivation, he had slain an incarnation capable of effortlessly crushing peak Saint Kings. This level of combat power was truly unprecedented!

Everyone gazed at Ye Chen with complicated emotions, their eyes filled with deep awe…