ISWI Chapter 903-904 (Patreon)

Chapter 903: Land of Fallen Immortals!

Inside the cave heaven.

Ye Chen instructed Lu Jing to carry the dazed Luo Bingling back to rest. He then gave Lu Jing a few extra glances. "From now on, focus on breaking through to the Mahayana stage…"

With those words, Ye Chen drifted out of the cave heaven. He stood in the starry void and withdrew the grand formation. Turning toward the several protecting elders stationed nearby, he bowed respectfully.

"Many thanks to all the elders for safeguarding this disciple… For the next step, I must trouble you to accompany me to the Heavenly Emperor Hall once more! Once that is concluded, we will return to the Great Yan Continent."

The elders of the Heavenly Evolution Holy Land were stunned when they saw Ye Chen emerge from the formation. In merely two and a half years, he had advanced directly from early Saint to peak Saint. The aura radiating from him was terrifying. Their fourth holy son was truly heaven-defying—not only in fortune, but in raw talent as well. A figure like this deserved their full investment.

Though Ye Chen would surely ascend to immortality in the future and leave no place for them in that realm, before he departed, he could sweep clean the cultivation world and establish the Heavenly Evolution Holy Land as the sole hegemon. That alone would bring them enormous benefits.

Although Ye Chen had joined halfway using Elder Shangguan's token, his character was beyond reproach—he would never turn ungrateful. Since entering the holy land, the advantages he had brought to both the sect and its elders far outweighed what the sect had given him.

For instance, the Holy Son Peak's elders and disciples had long since stopped bothering to collect their monthly stipends. And whenever these supreme elders accompanied Ye Chen on a trip, any battle that arose guaranteed at least one Ginseng Fruit. Even without combat, he would offer generous heavenly materials and earthly treasures as thanks.

With boundless prospects ahead and an open-handed nature—possessing even divine items like Ginseng Fruits—how could they not fulfill their duty to protect him with utmost devotion?

Thus, no one voiced the slightest objection. They immediately summoned their flying ship and set course for the Heavenly Emperor Hall.

…

Deep within the Heavenly Emperor Hall.

The gold-robed elder returned dusty and weary, his complexion deathly pale. Clearly, he had suffered considerable injuries. Yet a smile graced his face.

"This journey to the Land of Fallen Immortals was not without heavy wounds. But obtaining a flawless Heavenly Heart Immortal Crystal makes it all worthwhile."

He gazed at the radiant, unblemished Heavenly Heart Immortal Crystal in his palm and murmured to himself with deep satisfaction. Although his daughter also possessed one, hers bore cracks. An intact Heavenly Heart Immortal Crystal was worth tenfold—or even a hundredfold—more than a damaged one.

At that moment, movement came from the entrance to the cave heaven containing the Origin Sea.

The gold-robed elder's lips curved upward. "It seems my daughter has already reached peak Saint and is emerging from seclusion. Everything is proceeding smoothly. I wonder how Nephew Ye is faring these days?"

As he pondered, Yan Qingcheng's graceful figure floated out and entered his view. But in the next instant, the gold-robed elder frowned slightly. "Qingcheng, why have you emerged at only a late Saint? Could it be…?"

Guessing the reason, his expression darkened.

Yan Qingcheng shook her head with faint regret. "The Chaos Body's demand for cosmic origin power in the Saint realm far exceeds that of other physiques' prodigies… I drained every last drop of origin power from the Origin Pool, yet I still couldn't break through to the peak.

"However, it's not a serious issue. As long as I carry the fragments of the Star God Origin-Gathering Cauldron with me, three to five years will be enough to reach perfection. It won't delay things too much!"

His daughter spoke with calm detachment. But the gold-robed elder found it difficult to accept. The Immortal Path had already opened. Immortal Qi was gathering and could manifest at any moment. In such times, falling even one step behind meant falling behind forever.

Though the chances of his daughter obtaining immortal qi were slim, if she could reach Quasi-Immortal by the time it appeared and assist Ye Chen—thereby increasing her presence—securing a slot to enter the Immortal Realm would become almost certain.

Yan Qingcheng, however, did not dwell on it. What had already happened could not be changed by regret; better to accept it calmly. She noticed the Heavenly Heart Immortal Crystal in her father's hand and revealed a look of surprise. An intact Heavenly Heart Immortal Crystal. Then she saw her father's pale face and weakened state, clearly still recovering from old wounds.

Yan Qingcheng couldn't help frowning. "Father, did you go to the Land of Fallen Immortals?"

The Land of Fallen Immortals was an exceedingly strange place. It had already been a forbidden zone even before the era of the Heavenly Emperors. Countless True Immortals had perished there.

Legends spoke of countless treasures within; some had glimpsed shadows of many divine artifacts just outside its borders. This drew numerous cultivators whose lifespans were nearing their end to venture inside, hoping for longevity or a breakthrough opportunity.

Most never returned. Dozens of elderly Quasi-Immortals had fallen there. One could imagine the peril.

"Father, you were far too reckless…"

Yan Qingcheng's tone carried a hint of sternness.

Sensing his daughter's concern, the gold-robed elder gave a faint smile and spoke with grand composure. "No matter… I merely wandered the outer regions… This Heavenly Heart Immortal Crystal was discovered by our ancestor of two generations past. Over the years, we have been steadily mapping safe routes. Retrieving it this time was not overly dangerous…

"Still, it wasn't simple. I encountered a female Quasi-Immortal inside. Her condition was extremely odd—she seemed to have been refined into a servant by someone. But as you know, your father's talent is exceptional; even among your generation's top prodigies, I am hardly inferior.

"As a Great Emperor, I withstood three of her strikes before departing with ease. That female Quasi-Immortal was peculiar. She was petite, almost like a little girl, yet her figure was astonishingly alluring. Every movement stirred the heart…

"Somewhat reminiscent of the Heavenly Desire Sect's methods. I wonder if she was an ancestor from some generation of that sect. For a mere third-rate sect to have once produced a Quasi-Immortal is quite surprising…"

Yan Qingcheng listened to her father's account. Seeing his pallid complexion, she judged that it would take at least a year or two for him to recover his vitality. Still, she did not press the matter further, nor did she show much curiosity about the Land of Fallen Immortals.

Soon, the gold-robed elder turned to the main topic. "By the way, Qingcheng, this Heavenly Heart Immortal Crystal I happened to obtain…"

Yan Qingcheng spoke up at once. "Father, I know you want me to take it and replace the cracked one… But Fellow Daoist Ye has never held anything back from me. The moment he obtained a Heavenly Heart Immortal Crystal, he sent it to me first. He even gave me the entire Origin Pool opportunity…

"And all the other thoughtful gestures he's made need no further mention. If I came across something better and kept it for myself, passing only the inferior one to Ye Chen, it would tarnish my Dao Heart. I understand how hard you worked for this, Father, but please don't put me in a difficult position…"

Yan Qingcheng spoke with sincere earnestness.

The gold-robed elder's expression grew complicated. After a moment of hesitation, he said, "Daughter, that's actually what I wanted to discuss with you… My thinking is this: in the future, Ye Chen will take the lead while you support him. The two of you will walk the Immortal Path together and sweep aside all prodigies and demons.

"The principle is to help the strong, not the weak. Ye Chen is the one who will decide the outcome. So you using the damaged one won't make much difference… But if Ye Chen uses the flawless one, his strength will increase dramatically! The strong grow ever stronger—this will make your generation's Immortal Path far more certain of success… You brought it up yourself, so clearly you share the same thought."

Yan Qingcheng was stunned. Wait—he wasn't planning to give it to her at all? Her father had already decided she should play the supporting role for Ye Chen?

This…

Her emotions suddenly became tangled. She was genuinely glad to see her father change his opinion of Ye Chen and treat him warmly. But this level of enthusiasm left her feeling a little awkward. Besides, wasn't he giving up on her a bit too quickly?

And it felt faintly unfair. What did he mean by "using the damaged one won't affect you much," while "Ye Chen using the perfect one will bring enormous improvement"?

Yan Qingcheng wanted to retort, but she didn't know where to begin.

At that moment, a powerful aura approached from the distance.

Yan Qingcheng raised an eyebrow as she sensed it.

The gold-robed elder's eyes lit up instantly. "My good son-in-law is here? Excellent!"

In the next breath, his posture suddenly hunched. His face grew even paler, and his aura weakened dramatically—barely stronger than a Great Saint now, almost on par with a Saint King.

Yan Qingcheng watched her father's transformation and, sharp as ever, immediately understood his intention. She helplessly pressed a palm to her forehead.

Still, a trace of delight appeared in her eyes at Ye Chen's arrival. The two of them opened the gates of the Heavenly Emperor Hall.

Ye Chen had already arrived.

Yan Qingcheng and the gold-robed elder looked at him, about to speak—then their eyes widened in shock.

"Good son-in-law, you… You've already reached peak Saint?"

How much time had passed? At most two and a half years, right?

Moreover, he knew Ye Chen had gone straight from the Heavenly Emperor Hall to the Nether God Holy Land. The boy seemed to have some connection with the Nether God Holy Land's First Nether Maiden as well. He'd spent time entwined with women, then handed the Origin Pool to his own daughter.

Yet his daughter was stuck at late Saint. While Ye Chen had shot straight to the peak? What kind of fortune had he encountered? Was his luck really this outrageous?

Yan Qingcheng was equally stunned, her eyes filled with disbelief.

Ye Chen smiled warmly at the pair, aware of their shock, and explained calmly.

"Greetings, Fairy Yan and Senior. During this journey, I ventured into the depths of a certain starfield and came across an opportunity left behind by an ancient predecessor. It contained a vast quantity of Cosmic Origin Crystals. My cultivation surged as a result, and I successfully broke through to peak Saint. I was worried Fairy Qingcheng might be concerned, so I came especially to let you know…"

The gold-robed elder was even more astonished. Was this real? He could stumble upon an opportunity like that? Was this boy's fortune simply too absurd?

Ye Chen turned to Yan Qingcheng, curiosity in his gaze. "Fairy Yan, why are you still at late Saint?"

Yan Qingcheng shook her head. "The Chaos Body absorbs cosmic origin power far more voraciously than other physiques. The Origin Pool wasn't quite enough to push me through. But it's no issue. I'm only a little short—two or three years should be sufficient to reach the peak…"

Ye Chen smiled at once. "That's a small matter… I still have plenty of Cosmic Origin Crystals left from what I obtained. Here—take these to help Fairy Yan break through."

With those words, Ye Chen directly produced three crystals. They shone with pure silver light, exuding profound and mysterious auras, completely flawless. Clearly, they were forged from the highest-grade cosmic origin power, refined and compressed to perfection. And each one contained several times more origin power than the entire Origin Pool. They were priceless treasures. Yet Ye Chen had casually taken out three at once?

This time, both Yan Qingcheng and the gold-robed elder were utterly stunned!

Chapter 904: The Gap Between People Is Simply Too Vast!

"This…"

Yan Qingcheng was stunned. The gold-robed elder was equally stunned. Cosmic Origin Crystals were treasures of unimaginable value—items that could allow a Saint to break through without years of hard cultivation. Yet Ye Chen had just handed over three of them.

In an instant, both understood. Ye Chen must have returned this time out of concern that Qingcheng might fail to break through, so he had come specifically to deliver them. He had gained an opportunity and immediately thought of her. The depth of his consideration was truly profound.

Yan Qingcheng quickly waved her hand. "Fellow Daoist Ye, I don't need so many…"

She wasn't refusing outright—she simply meant she couldn't use that many. That was simply her character. She was fully aware of every kindness Ye Chen had shown her. She would repay him in the future, no matter what. If Ye Chen wished for something, even if she felt reluctant, gratitude alone would compel her not to refuse…

Ye Chen smiled, ignoring her gesture, and gently placed the crystals before her. To him, these were merely a tiny fraction—one in hundreds of millions—of the Origin Sea. They truly meant nothing. The faster Yan Qingcheng advanced and caught up to his cultivation level, the greater the benefits she could bring him in return.

So he spoke calmly. "I've already reached peak Saint. These are useless to me now… In that case, if Fairy Yan doesn't accept them, should I just sell them? I've inherited the Heavenly Emperor's fortune and already consider the Heavenly Emperor Hall my own home. If Fairy Yan can't use them all, you can leave the rest for the future descendants of the Heavenly Emperor Hall. In the coming Age of Dharma's End, gathering cosmic origin power will only grow more difficult. With these, the Hall can nurture far more powerhouses in the generations to come and stand more securely…"

At those words, Yan Qingcheng found herself speechless. In the end, she could only nod. "Thank you, Fellow Daoist Ye."

The gold-robed elder listened and felt his appreciation for Ye Chen deepen even further. Earlier, when Ye Chen had given him half a catty of Enlightenment Tea, it had allowed him to hold his head high among his old friends—none of them could boast about their sons-in-law anymore. Now the young man was already thinking of the Heavenly Emperor Hall's future. Truly a youth who knew gratitude and repaid kindness.

The gold-robed elder coughed a couple of times heavily. "Good son-in-law, you truly have a kind heart… It was worth my trip to the Land of Fallen Immortals to obtain this for you. Now that you've reached peak Saint, with this you can take another step forward…

"Actually, while I was in the Land of Fallen Immortals, I also discovered a sealing art that might have been left behind by a great complete sacred physique. It would greatly enhance the physical body… Unfortunately, I was pursued by a Quasi-Immortal at the time. Gravely wounded and near death, I could only flee in disgrace and failed to bring it back for you.

"But don't worry, son-in-law. Once I recover for half a year, I'll make another trip. I will absolutely ensure you condense the most suitable divine-grade Heavenly Heart Imprint…"

With that, he offered up the Heavenly Heart Immortal Crystal and placed it before Ye Chen. Then he coughed several more times heavily. The flawless, perfect Heavenly Heart Immortal Crystal shimmered with captivating brilliance.

Ye Chen looked at it and felt a slight surprise. Though he could tell the old man was exaggerating his weakness a little—he wasn't truly that frail—he could also see the elder had genuinely been injured. As for this intact Heavenly Heart Immortal Crystal, it was an unexpected delight.

Although Ye Chen already possessed Heavenly Will Sand, if bestowing a perfect Heavenly Heart Immortal Crystal could trigger an even better feedback, that would be ideal. But with Yan Qingcheng, he had already given and re-given in the same cycle too many times. The same pattern might not produce a perfect crit again.

So he decided to gift this to his Senior Sister, who was still cultivating inside the Divine Maiden Furnace. She too had received seven-thousandfold feedback and carried a heart full of gratitude. Perhaps she would bring a different surprise.

As for Yan Qingcheng? This woman truly possessed profound gratitude. Her talent was exceptional, her disposition generous and open. Moreover, though the old man had once been rather unworthy, he had now demonstrated real value. Thus, she was worth further investment.

Ye Chen immediately accepted the Heavenly Heart Immortal Crystal and bowed sincerely to the gold-robed elder. "Many thanks, Senior. As for that sealing art, there's no need. I've already obtained one perfectly suited to me."

With those words, Ye Chen calmly stored the crystal away.

Seeing how readily Ye Chen accepted it—without even a flicker of surprise or delight on his face—The gold-robed elder felt his performance had fallen flat; the emotional payoff was lacking. Why hadn't Ye Chen passed it on to his daughter this time?

He had already prepared himself: if Ye Chen tried to give it to Qingcheng, he would insist she refuse no matter what. For him—an old father-in-law—to risk his life obtaining such a treasure, only to give it to his son-in-law and declare his own daughter fit only for the damaged version.

The best must go to the son-in-law. Such blatant favoritism would surely move Ye Chen to tears. How could a future Immortal Realm slot possibly exclude his daughter after that? But why had Ye Chen broken the pattern this time? And why was he so indifferent to a flawless Heavenly Heart Immortal Crystal? What was going on?

The gold-robed elder felt utterly confused. He opened his mouth, then closed it again. He even wanted to emphasize once more: This is a perfect Heavenly Heart Immortal Crystal! And… shouldn't you at least show some concern for my injuries…?

Yan Qingcheng, meanwhile, harbored no particular thoughts. Though her father's words had been rather blunt, Ye Chen's talent was indeed superior—he truly deserved the best. Besides, she was willing to repay the favor this way.

Yet Ye Chen had given her so much already. Even this Heavenly Heart Immortal Crystal could only repay a portion. For the remaining debt of gratitude, she could only let him do as he wished.

Under the gold-robed elder's hesitant gaze, Ye Chen spoke gravely.

"Senior, Fairy Qingcheng—please follow me deeper into the Heavenly Emperor Hall to a place no one can possibly probe. There is something I wish to show you both."

The gold-robed elder felt a flicker of curiosity mixed with faint dismissal. The Heavenly Emperor Hall was a supreme power. What could possibly require such secrecy? Even if others learned of it, who would dare march against the palace because of it?

Yet Yan Qingcheng had already turned to lead the way. The gold-robed elder glanced helplessly at his daughter and could only follow.

Soon, the three entered a sealed chamber.

Yan Qingcheng explained, "This place is protected by arrays that disrupt heavenly secrets and block all perception. Even if a True Immortal still existed in this world, they would be unable to spy on anything said here."

Ye Chen nodded. In the next moment, he retrieved an object from his cave heaven and placed it in the air before them. The instant they saw it, both their pupils contracted sharply.

Floating in midair was a mass of flowing sand. An invisible force held it together, preventing it from scattering. Yet its shape shifted constantly. With every change came a strange, profound rhythm. Its surface shimmered with divine light—cold silver-gray, brilliant gold, deep azure…

Colors intertwined in dazzling splendor. Though neither had seen it before, both could sense the extraordinary power radiating from the sand. This was a sealing treasure far surpassing the Heavenly Heart Immortal Crystal.

Where had Ye Chen obtained such a thing? Another stroke of fortune from this recent opportunity?

The gold-robed elder stared at Ye Chen in utter shock.

Ye Chen nodded calmly. "This too came from an opportunity left by an ancient predecessor. It is called Heavenly Will Sand. Unlike the Heavenly Heart Immortal Crystal, this is said to have been refined by a supreme being who intercepted and captured strands of heavenly will itself. It likely dates back to before the Heavenly Era, passed down from the Immortal Realm. Condensing a Heavenly Heart Imprint with this will yield an Immortal-grade result—countless times superior to divine-grade."

Immortal-grade?

The words struck like thunder. Yan Qingcheng and the gold-robed elder were completely dumbfounded. Divine-grade Heavenly Heart Imprints already represented the absolute limit of the current cultivation world. Yet Ye Chen had produced something capable of producing Immortal-grade? It was simply too astonishing.

He didn't need to explain further; both already understood the item's unimaginable value. Their gazes toward it changed entirely. The gold-robed elder's earlier nonchalance vanished without a trace. A treasure of this caliber was no less precious than Nirvanic Saint Liquid. It truly could provoke joint assaults from various powers against the Heavenly Emperor Hall.

Caution was absolutely necessary. For Ye Chen to obtain such a thing in the cultivation world left both father and daughter marveling at his fortune once again. In just two and a half years, he had broken through to peak Saint, acquired a sealing art perfectly suited to him, and now held a treasure far exceeding the Heavenly Heart Immortal Crystal. His luck was terrifyingly strong.

But after the initial shock, both realized something else. Why had Ye Chen brought out this inconceivably precious Heavenly Will Sand? Could it be…?

Yan Qingcheng's pupils shrank. She watched as Ye Chen gently pushed the sand through the air toward her.

"Fairy Yan will soon reach peak Saint. With this, your future path will surely rise even higher."

Hearing that he truly intended to give it to her, Yan Qingcheng's entire body tensed. Beside her, the gold-robed elder's eyes filled with shame and guilt… He had risked his life to obtain a Heavenly Heart Immortal Crystal for Ye Chen, even exaggerating his injuries to deepen the debt of gratitude.

Yet Ye Chen—upon acquiring such a supreme treasure—had offered it so calmly and quietly. Compared to Ye Chen, he truly paled in comparison. No wonder Ye Chen had shown no surprise at the Heavenly Heart Immortal Crystal. The gold-robed elder wanted to slap himself.

Yan Qingcheng immediately waved her hand. "No, Fellow Daoist Ye's talent is far superior. This item suits you much better… If I were to use it, I might only reach parity with the Celestial Prince, the Eight-Crowned King, and others in the future. But with it, Fellow Daoist Ye could crush them outright. So please, Fellow Daoist Ye, take it back…"

Yet Ye Chen gave a faint smile. "Fairy once kept the damaged Heavenly Heart Immortal Crystal for herself and gave me the perfect one… Why then can I not give you something even better? Since I have brought it out, there is no question of taking it back. Even if Fairy refuses, I will never use this to condense my Heavenly Heart Imprint or break through to Saint King…"

His words were firm and resolute.

Yan Qingcheng found herself at a loss for words. Her deep, beautiful eyes fixed on him, filled with complex emotion. She could see his determination. Given Ye Chen's character, even if she refused, he would truly discard it rather than use it himself. When she thought of how he had come straight to the Heavenly Emperor Hall with such an extraordinary fortune, the gratitude in her heart surged uncontrollably…

After a long silence, she spoke softly. "I will not refuse Fellow Daoist Ye's kindness. But I ask that Fellow Daoist Ye not refuse mine in the days to come… Fellow Daoist Ye possesses unparalleled talent and the Innate Supreme Heart. You are the Heavenly Emperor's true heir. I will make a public announcement, formally bestowing upon you the status of the Heavenly Emperor's true inheritor. From this day forward, you will be the rightful heir of the Heavenly Emperor!"