ISWI Chapter 889-890 (Patreon)

Chapter 889: Junior Brother Is the Most Reliable!

Ye Chen had never truly intended to hand the crystal over so easily. Saying he wouldn't return to the Heavenly Emperor Hall was merely polite—a subtle test. If the old man had still acted like his former petty self, ready to discard him the moment his usefulness ended, Ye Chen would have turned around and settled the score without hesitation.

But now?

He was quite satisfied with the elder's change in attitude. Though the old man had screwed him plenty in the past, considering he had a 7,000-times daughter, Ye Chen was willing to be magnanimous. If the real Heavenly Emperor's heir had been a man, well… let's just say the father-son pair would have met a very different fate.

Ye Chen offered another courteous remark.

"Won't it be inappropriate if I stay at the Heavenly Emperor Hall for too long?"

The elder inwardly wanted to slap his past self even harder. His previous attitude had been truly abysmal. No wonder Ye Chen hesitated to come.

"You must come. From now on, the Heavenly Emperor Hall is your home! Take this jade talisman. The palace often changes location, but this will always show you the latest coordinates. Come whenever you wish!"

The golden-robed elder pressed the jade talisman into Ye Chen's hand and pulled him aboard the immortal ship.

Ye Chen looked down at the talisman in his palm and felt an oddly familiar sensation. In his previous life, when accessing certain "special" websites with constantly shifting addresses, they had similar programs that automatically updated the latest link. The Heavenly Emperor Hall was surprisingly ahead of its time.

…

Their interaction did not go unnoticed. The surrounding cultivators wore complicated expressions. Those who had lost Saint Kings in the recent chaos couldn't help but sigh inwardly. The Heavenly Emperor's heir clearly possessed immense fortune—killing him would be no easy task. Better not to provoke him again next time.

As for revenge? Utterly impossible. The Heavenly Emperor Hall alone outclassed most major forces. Not to mention the Heavenly Evolution Holy Land, whose list of allies kept growing.

The Central Continent's Lan Family, for example. Under such circumstances, revenge was laughable. Yet watching Ye Chen's actions just now, they truly found it absurd. It had already been confirmed that Ye Chen was only a false Heavenly Emperor heir. He had come here clearly to fight in place of the real one.

After risking life and limb in a deadly battle, finally slaying the enemy and obtaining such a supreme treasure, only to voluntarily offer it to the true Heir?

This was pure unpaid labor. All sacrifice, zero reward!

The Heavenly Emperor's heir's obsession with women had reached new, incomprehensible heights. Every time, he surpassed their wildest expectations.

On the Heavenly Evolution Holy Land's side, Feng Baiyu had not boarded the ship. He had only asked a few ancestors to accompany Ye Chen. The golden-robed elder had personally transmitted a message, assuring that he would escort Ye Chen back to Great Yan Continent himself.

In that case, Feng Baiyu figured he might as well bring along more allies. Ye Chen's talent for making enemies was growing stronger by the day. This time,e he had nearly wiped out every Saint King the myriad races had stationed in the Immortal Path. Even the human side had lost more than ten Saint Kings.

Grudges had piled up high. With so many enemies already, it was only natural to cultivate as many friends as possible. Otherwise, Feng Baiyu worried that one day Ye Chen might be besieged and killed by a coalition of major powers.

Just as Feng Baiyu and the elders were exchanging pleasantries with nearby cultivators, planning to visit one of their clans, A figure arrived—his head crowned with a divine wheel that shone like a miniature sun.

It was Eldest Senior Brother Hua Yunfei.

"I rushed here as soon as I received the news. Is Junior Brother alright?"

Hua Yunfei asked with visible concern.

Feng Baiyu shook his head, the corners of his mouth curving upward.

"A little trouble, but nothing serious. The Celestial Prince's incarnation has fallen. As for Ye Chen—I'm certain he's faking it! I know his personality too well. If he were truly gravely injured, he would have found a hiding spot to recover immediately. He wouldn't strut around letting a pack of Saint Kings tail and ambush him, then casually chat with some old man afterward. I'm guessing he's just playing the pity card to get closer to that Chaos Body!"

Hua Yunfei let out a relieved breath. A warm smile spread across his handsome, radiant face.

"Junior Brother Ye has always been like this. Even if he reaches Mahayana, he'll probably stay the same. One can only say he has never forgotten his original heart, and thus he will achieve his ultimate goal!"

Feng Baiyu shot him a sidelong glance.

"You certainly know how to phrase things. Lusting after women is lusting after women—don't dress it up as 'never forgetting his original heart.'"

Hua Yunfei laughed heartily, then asked about the matter that concerned him most.

"What about Junior Sister Dantai now? Did Ye Chen mention anything?"

Feng Baiyu shook his head.

"Ye Chen didn't bring it up…"

He and Ye Chen had exchanged voice transmissions earlier. Neither of them had mentioned Dantai Xuan. It wasn't that they couldn't be bothered—it simply hadn't crossed their minds.

Hua Yunfei showed no disappointment at the answer. His junior brother was exceptionally reliable. There was no way he would toss Dantai Xuan into the furnace and forget about her. Perhaps she had already begun cultivating the secret method, working to eradicate that Supreme Will. He could simply ask Ye Chen the next time they met.

…

In the seventh realm of the Immortal Path, Yan Ruyu, having just entered the Great Saint realm, stood calmly near the teleportation array, shrouded in seven-colored divine light. She stabilized her cultivation while quietly awaiting the Celestial Prince's arrival.

Though she did not know why he had fixated on her, she paid it little mind. She had once heard from the clan's ancestors: The Celestial Prince had slumbered for a million years precisely to elevate his aptitude. Now, his talent had undoubtedly reached a terrifying level.

Yet Yan Ruyu remained unperturbed. She had absolute confidence in herself. As long as she could break through the limitations of her bloodline and gather the nine-colored divine feathers, she could even surpass ordinary Immortal Bodies.

In her heart, she considered the Celestial Prince far inferior to the Eight-Crowned King, Ye Chen, and others. He possessed shocking aptitude but lacked true ambition. Rumor had it that when the Celestial Prince first emerged, the Undying Celestial Emperor had been extremely pleased and offered him two paths.

One was to live in obscurity, rising through his own hard work and struggle. The other was the path of a pampered prince, surrounded by endless treasures and resources with no need for hardship. In the end, the Celestial Prince had refused to endure difficulty and chosen the second.

Yan Ruyu had also heard a deeper secret. After his defeat back then, the Celestial Prince had not been limited to slumber as his only option.

The Undying Celestial Emperor had again presented two choices: One was to be brought to the Immortal Realm, his cultivation stripped away so he could start anew—breaking through destruction to achieve rebirth and soar together. The other was to slumber for a million years and elevate his talent.

Once more, the Celestial Prince had chosen the easier path.

The Heavenly Emperor himself had once remarked that the Celestial Prince feared hardship, that his Dao-seeking heart was unsteady, and that he fell far short of other rivals. That was why Yan Ruyu had felt no fear facing the Celestial Prince's incarnation.

Yet after waiting a full week, the Celestial Prince still had not appeared. Instead, the Great Saints who later entered the seventh realm through the teleportation array reacted strangely when they saw her.

Several female cultivators looked at her with open envy and jealousy. Even a few human Great Saints—who had long harbored resentment toward the myriad races—did not show hostility. Instead, they nodded with genuine goodwill and smiles.

All of it left Yan Ruyu increasingly puzzled. Though her appearance was flawless and jade-like, most cultivators at this level were indifferent to physical beauty. Why did everyone seem so unusually focused on her?

Soon, members of the Peacock Clan arrived in the seventh realm. They informed her of what had transpired outside.

Yan Ruyu's eyes—veiled beneath the seven-colored divine light—widened slightly.

"Ye Chen… came to the Immortal Path for my sake and intercepted the Celestial Prince?"

Chapter 890: Almost Severed Father-Daughter Ties!

Yan Ruyu had heard a little about Ye Chen. Beyond his own widespread reputation, there were also matters involving the Little Peacock King and Yan Wenwen. Little Peacock King—being her nephew—had provoked Ye Chen. While everyone else who crossed him died, only he had been spared and set free.

As for Yan Wenwen, she seemed to have been drawn to Ye Chen as well. Rumors said something had happened between them. Lately, whenever she occasionally contacted Yan Ruyu, she would always speak well of Ye Chen.

But even knowing all this, Yan Ruyu remained indifferent. In her eyes, Ye Chen was simply another man moved by lust. Such people were countless in the cultivation world. Too many Dao companions swore eternal oaths, vowing to lay down their lives for each other.

Yet when a truly priceless treasure appeared, husbands killing wives and wives killing husbands were far from rare. And when danger struck, far more fled to save only themselves. Men simply could not be relied upon. They were not worth her attention.

For her, nothing mattered more than cultivation and strength. Yet she never expected that after learning the Celestial Prince was coming for her, Ye Chen would rush over immediately to stand in his way.

Recalling the powerful figure that had charged toward the sixth realm just as she was leaving, a faint ripple of surprise stirred in Yan Ruyu's otherwise still heart. He had actually been willing to go this far for her?

But the ripple was only momentary—her composure returned almost at once. Since the Celestial Prince's incarnation had already been counter-killed, there was no longer any need to wait.

Yan Ruyu rose calmly and walked deeper into the seventh realm.

…

Inside the Heavenly Emperor Hall, Yan Qingcheng had finished stabilizing her cultivation and had just emerged from seclusion. She discovered that both her father and Ye Chen were gone. When she asked others in the palace, everyone had clearly been instructed in advance not to tell her that Ye Chen had gone to the Immortal Path to confront the Celestial Prince.

The situation immediately filled her with anxiety. Could her father have refused to share the Origin Pool with Ye Chen during her seclusion and driven him away?

That was too much. Ye Chen was so good—how could her father treat him this way?

Just as Yan Qingcheng stormed off in fury, determined to head to the Great Yan Continent and find Ye Chen herself, the palace doors suddenly swung open. Her father and Ye Chen appeared together.

She spared her father only a glance. But Ye Chen…

Though the blood had been washed from his black hair and his torn Daoist robe replaced with a new one, his aura remained listless, his lips pale. The signs of grave injury were unmistakable.

What exactly had her father done to Ye Chen while she was in seclusion?

Yan Qingcheng felt as though she had been struck by lightning. Disbelief, disappointment, and rage flooded her face.

"Father, how could you treat Ye Chen like this? From beginning to end, Ye Chen has never done anything wrong to our Heavenly Emperor Hall. And you? You targeted him, forced him to become a false Heir, tried to drive him away—and now you've even attacked him!

"You're a Great Emperor! He's only in the early Saint realm! Ye Chen has shown me kindness, yet you treat him this way. Have you ever considered how I feel? I want to sever—"

Though the golden-robed elder had already changed his opinion of Ye Chen, seeing his daughter so furious and wronged still made his heart ache. He hurriedly spoke up to stop her. Otherwise, he feared she might actually say the words that would break their bond.

"It wasn't me who attacked him. It was the Celestial Prince… But this matter…"

As he spoke, his voice grew weaker, lacking conviction. After all, he was the one who had urged Ye Chen to go.

The Celestial Prince?

Yan Qingcheng's pupils contracted sharply. Hadn't the Celestial Prince still not emerged? How had Ye Chen suddenly clashed with him?

The golden-robed elder had no idea how to explain.

Ye Chen gave a faint smile and spoke up readily.

"It wasn't his true body—only an incarnation, nothing too formidable. I heard he used the Heavenly Heart Immortal Crystal as his vessel. That's the supreme treasure for breaking through to Saint King. So I couldn't resist. I went straight to fight him. In the end, I killed the incarnation and took the Heavenly Heart Immortal Crystal!"

The golden-robed elder's gaze toward Ye Chen grew even warmer, filled with closeness.

Yan Qingcheng, however, frowned slightly.

Ye Chen spoke lightly. But the fact that he had returned wounded—his constitution and talent unable to heal quickly—showed just how perilous the battle had been. After all, this was the Celestial Prince. Even a mere wisp of incarnation was no ordinary foe. Still, since he had gone for the opportunity, there was nothing more to say.

Yan Qingcheng offered a congratulatory smile.

"With the Heavenly Heart Immortal Crystal, you can condense a divine-grade Heavenly Heart Imprint. Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Ye! Our Heavenly Emperor Hall has many sacred healing medicines. What do you need?"

Ye Chen shook his head.

"Mutual joy! As for sacred medicines, there's no need. I have the Healing Secret with me—I can recover slowly…"

Mutual joy?

Yan Qingcheng paused, puzzled. Then she saw Ye Chen raise his hand. A crystal appeared in his palm—shimmering with soft fluorescence, radiant and profoundly mysterious, jade-like in texture yet even more translucent.

A thin crack ran through its center. The sight was almost heartbreaking. This was unmistakably the Heavenly Heart Immortal Crystal. But what did Ye Chen mean by this?

As surprise flickered across her face, Ye Chen spoke with a trace of regret.

"This Heavenly Heart Immortal Crystal—I went through all that trouble specifically for you, Fairy Yan. It's a pity there's a crack now. The quality has been affected."

With those words, the crystal floated gently toward Yan Qingcheng. Her breathtakingly beautiful face was illuminated by its glow, making her look even more otherworldly. Yet her eyes were filled with shock.

Ye Chen had risked his life to fight the Celestial Prince and seize the Heavenly Heart Immortal Crystal. That much she could understand. Many cultivators would brave mortal danger for such an opportunity. It was perfectly normal in the cultivation world.

But she had never imagined that after taking such a tremendous risk, he hadn't done it for himself. He had done it for her.

This…

Gazing at Ye Chen's face—so gentle, so smiling— The usually composed and magnanimous Yan Qingcheng fell completely silent for the first time. She didn't know what to say. Her first instinct was to refuse. The treasure was far too precious.

Moreover, Ye Chen was at the same cultivation level as her. He, too, would need the Heavenly Heart Immortal Crystal to break through to Saint King. The more she thought about it, the more priceless his gesture became.

"Fairy Yan, please don't refuse me. You know my temperament—once I give a gift, I never take it back. Besides, I fought the Celestial Prince precisely to obtain this Heavenly Heart Immortal Crystal for you. If you refuse, I'll be heartbroken…"

Ye Chen had seen through her thoughts and spoke first, gently but firmly sealing her protest. The words she wanted to say caught in her throat. Her beautiful eyes grew increasingly complicated with emotion.

Beside them, the golden-robed elder no longer harbored the slightest wariness. Instead, he watched Ye Chen with open admiration. It was the look one might give a son-in-law—more satisfied with every passing second.

In the end, after a long silence, Yan Qingcheng finally nodded.

"Since this is Fellow Daoist Ye's sincere intention, of course, I won't refuse… I truly like your gift… At the same time, I also have a gift I'd like to give you…"