ISWI Chapter 933-934 (Patreon)

Chapter 933: The Perfect Yan Ruyu!

Under the vast sky.

As Ye Chen shook his hand, the Alkaid Holy Son nailed to the spear tip exploded into a mist of blood and flesh. Terrifying shockwaves spread outward once more. The Quasi-Immortal array, already on the verge of collapse, could no longer hold and shattered with a boom. Endless chaotic qi and turbulent energy currents swept in all directions, turning the area into a scene of utter ruin.

Countless spectators stood frozen, mouths agape, like statues of clay. It was a shocking sight.

The Devouring's inheritor—Alkaid Holy Son—who possessed the Innate Chaos Body, the Nine Apertures Exquisite Heart, and a Quasi-Immortal array, and whose cultivation had already reached the peak of Great Saint, had been slain by the Heavenly Emperor's heir, who was merely at the Saint King realm.

Moreover, he had died so easily.

Everyone was petrified. Many years from now, those present would probably still never forget this scene. No one knew how much time passed before someone finally spoke.

"What exactly is the Heavenly Emperor's heir's physique? Why is he so strong that it defies understanding?"

"If Alkaid Holy Son had been placed in the Immortal Path of any previous era, he would have steadily secured the Immortal Qi. His talent was terrifying, yet he was slain across realms."

"The Heavenly Emperor's heir might truly possess an immortal body."

"Perhaps he also has the Sacred Spiritual Root. The Nirvana Sacred Liquid from back then might not have been just one portion!"

"Can the Heavenly Emperor's heir already fight the Exiled Immortal?"

"Once the Heavenly Emperor's heir becomes a Quasi-Immortal, I'm afraid he might even be able to fight the Eight-Crowned King!"

The crowd cried out in astonishment, their eyes filled with excitement over Ye Chen's combat strength. The Heavenly Emperor's heir was simply too heaven-defying. Once such an existence became a Quasi-Immortal, wouldn't he be unrivaled in the world? Perhaps even capable of defying and slaying True Immortals?

The Exiled Immortal, the Celestial Prince, the Eight-Crowned King, and now the Heavenly Emperor's heir. The Immortal Path in this era would truly be unprecedentedly brilliant. Several never-before-seen great battles were bound to erupt.

Inside the shattered blessed land below.

Yan Wenwen watched Ye Chen slaughter Alkaid inside the Quasi-Immortal array with overwhelming dominance. She could no longer hold back and trembled lightly. Her eyes were filled with worship. They were almost dripping with adoration. Even the peerlessly beautiful Yan Ruyu showed surprise in her eyes. But she quickly regained her usual calm. No matter how strong someone else's combat strength was, it was not hers. She had her own path to walk.

…

Once the chaotic qi had settled, Ye Chen stood in the void with an indifferent expression. The golden spear formed by the Battle Secret slowly dissipated in his hand.

Alkaid's soul had not been destroyed—Ye Chen had deliberately left it behind. It now stood there illusory, eyes full of confusion. He looked at Ye Chen with a bitter smile. He had believed he had done his absolute best against Ye Chen. He had not been reckless. After confirming that Ye Chen knew he had faked his death, the earlier he acted, the better.

Yet in the end, he had still been too late. Perhaps the only correct choice would have been to kill Ye Chen at all costs the very first time they met.

Alkaid had long noticed that Yi Qingwu had also cultivated the Indestructible Heavenly Art. He had even secretly gone to check on her. But he had found no opportunity to strike and planned to harvest her later, so he had not acted. Now, it seemed he was about to become Yi Qingwu's resource instead.

"The heavens have their cycles. I treated the various geniuses as great medicine, and in the end, I too have become…"

However, Ye Chen did not give Alkaid the chance to speak or lament. With a wave of his hand, he sucked Alkaid's soul into the cave heaven and tossed it into the Yellow Springs water for cleansing. His Human Emperor Banner had long been waiting there.

Immediately after, Ye Chen waved his hand again and collected Alkaid's origin. Feeling the sheer volume of the origin, Ye Chen's eyes brightened. It was too rich…

Perhaps because he had advanced to the Innate Chaos Body, not only was it abundant, but it was also exceptionally pure. Sending this portion of origin over would definitely push his fiancée to the level of the Innate Chaos Body. She would then have the same multiplier as Yan Qingcheng.

The corners of Ye Chen's mouth could not help but curve upward. Although he had let Alkaid hide for so long, the returns were indeed satisfactory. It could even be considered a nurturing game. Alkaid had always treated others as great medicine. Now that he had become the medicine himself, he could only blame himself.

Ye Chen tossed Alkaid's origin into the Heaven Devouring Demon Jar to refine and purify it several more times. After all, Alkaid was full of schemes. Ye Chen worried he might have left behind some hidden moves.

However, besides the soul and the origin, something else appeared before Ye Chen… It even surprised him slightly. In the void before him floated a heart that looked like the most perfect jade in the world.

Nine apertures arranged like nine stars in a line pulsed with divine radiance, swallowing and spitting out the essence of the sun and moon. It continued to expand and contract, still beating. The thump-thump sounds echoed endlessly. It seemed as if it could exist forever even without its owner. Just looking at it, one could feel its extraordinariness.

The spectators stared with burning eyes.

Someone muttered, "I only heard before that the Nine Apertures Exquisite Heart has already transcended mortal flesh and can exist even without its owner. I didn't expect it to be true. If someone could refine it into an Extreme Dao weapon, even if they couldn't obtain all its abilities, their strength would still soar.

"No wonder Alkaid kept hiding and spent his days devouring others. He must have always feared being devoured himself! Now it seems he has still become someone else's wedding dress. The Heavenly Emperor's heir probably won't want it, so he should give it to Yan Ruyu.

"So enviable. Only after the Heavenly Emperor's heir appeared did I realize how important appearance is! It is rumored that this is the treasure the Holy Spirit Race desires most. The Holy Spirit Race has no heart. With this, they would be unstoppable! That's just a rumor. What would a Holy Spirit need a heart for?"

The crowd discussed animatedly, marveling at the miraculous nature of the Nine Apertures Exquisite Heart, their envy palpable. Yet despite the greed in their eyes, no one made the slightest move.

Because the current Heavenly Emperor's heir could almost be called invincible. Unless one of the few existences like the Exiled Immortal took action, not even other peak Great Emperors could necessarily take him down. Under such circumstances, they naturally would not court death.

Ye Chen was also quite surprised. He had not expected an unexpected bonus. With a sweep of his heavy pupils, he let out a cold laugh. Deep within the Nine Apertures Exquisite Heart, a faint, extremely shallow soul imprint was hidden, along with a drop of golden blood.

Clearly, these were Alkaid's hidden contingencies. He had probably planned to revive after death and possess someone else.

Ye Chen was not surprised. Alkaid had managed to survive until today by considering every possibility. It was very much his style.

But with Heavy Pupils, nothing could hide from Ye Chen. He reached out and grasped the Nine Apertures Exquisite Heart in his hand.

With a gentle shake, the soul imprint and blood inside were completely annihilated, leaving not a single trace. Only then did Ye Chen cast a sealing technique, sealing the heart and storing it inside a precious box.

The Nine Apertures Exquisite Heart was comparable to the Supreme Heart. They were essentially on the same level. If he gifted the Nine Apertures Exquisite Heart away, his own Supreme Heart might be able to advance further.

Although his Supreme Heart was already quite powerful and said to have enormous potential—even useful up to the Immortal King realm—and the Heavenly Emperor had supposedly controlled a strange power after becoming an immortal that could age enemies from youth to old age in a single battle, nearly causing them to die of old age on the spot (rumored to be related to the Supreme Heart), Ye Chen still hoped it could become even stronger. The stronger, the better.

As for who to give it to? The Yan Ruyu below seemed like an excellent choice. With a 7,500-times multiplier, if it triggered a critical hit, the feedback should be quite good.

Moreover, he had rushed thousands of miles to rescue her and put on a massive show of dominance. That should trigger a critical hit, right?

After handling everything, Ye Chen smiled in satisfaction. Next, he would deal with the Alkaid Holy Land. Today's display should be enough for the outside world to understand the price of touching his women. This strong-handed move was precisely to establish his might.

As for why he no longer bothered with fishing? Ordinary cultivators simply provided too little origin. From now on, only a handful of people were still worth harvesting. He calmly looked down at the surrounding crowd.

Whether they were top geniuses of a certain generation or peak existences from holy lands and Ancient Immortal Clans, the moment Ye Chen's gaze swept over them, they all involuntarily lowered their heads, not daring to meet his eyes.

Ye Chen drifted down and arrived at the entrance of the shattered blessed land. With a wave of his hand, the seal at the entrance melted away. His gaze fell upon the two women.

Yan Wenwen, exuding the full charm of a married beauty, had a flushed face. The way she looked at him now was filled with adoration, almost dripping with it. Beside her, Ye Chen finally saw the woman he had only caught a glimpse of before—the number one female cultivator of the myriad races, Yan Ruyu…

For a moment, only four words flashed through Ye Chen's mind. She lives up to her reputation!

Long, straight black hair, perfect features, skin as fair as moonlight, and a figure with exquisite curves. She was like the most perfect creation in the world.

But at this realm, appearance differences were no longer that significant. It was more a matter of aesthetics.

What made Yan Ruyu truly astonishing was her temperament. It was far too unique. She possessed the pride of the Peacock Clan, a touch of coldness, a trace of holiness, and a hint of maturity…

In short, no matter what type of woman a man liked, he could probably find traces of it in her. The number one female cultivator of the myriad races. She really did have something special.

"Ye Chen, I was so scared…"

Yan Wenwen had long been unable to hold back after watching Ye Chen's battle. Although Ye Chen had been shockingly fast—killing Alkaid nine times in just over ten breaths—the sense of overwhelming power and savagery had struck straight into her heart. It had already been five or six years since she last saw him.

She was truly excited now. Her curvaceous body swayed as she threw herself into Ye Chen's arms, pressing tightly against him.

Ye Chen withdrew his gaze and revealed a smile. Scared? He really couldn't tell. Still, he wrapped his arms around Yan Wenwen and gently patted her back to comfort her. "Sorry, this matter was indeed caused by me…"

Yan Wenwen nodded. "I'm worried that on the way back from the Immortal Path, I might be captured again. Ye Chen, can you send me back? Only when I'm by your side do I feel at ease."

Yan Wenwen blinked her large eyes, her long lashes fluttering as she looked at Ye Chen with a pitiful expression. She looked more like a young girl than a mature beauty. It formed a stark contrast with her voluptuous figure and charming temperament.

Ye Chen smiled. In Myriad Races Immortal City, there were two types of tea. If Yao Yuezhi was clear tea—fresh and sweetly fragrant—then Yan Wenwen was aged tea—rich with endless aftertaste…

In short, both were full of tea flavor!

Chapter 934: Cherish the People Around You!

Although Yan Wenwen was a bit of a "tea," Ye Chen had no objection to it.

Yan Wenwen was actually quite beautiful. The female cultivators of the Peacock Clan all had outstanding looks, and that unique sense of pride belonging to the Peacock Clan was especially captivating.

Yan Wenwen was the same. If not for Yan Ruyu, Yan Wenwen's fame would definitely have been even greater.

"Alright… Once this matter is settled, I'll send you back!"

Ye Chen agreed cleanly and decisively, his tone rather indulgent.

Yan Wenwen immediately revealed a look of joy. On Yan Ruyu's side, her attitude was very firm, and she had her own thoughts. Although she and Yan Ruyu were sisters and close confidantes, she would not force the other party for her own sake.

But without Yan Ruyu as bait, Yan Wenwen was very worried that Ye Chen would grow cold toward her or even ignore her completely. So before that happened, she first asked Ye Chen to send her back. Even if she was eventually forgotten by Ye Chen, as she feared, at least on the way back to Myriad Races Immortal City, she could still enjoy his gentleness.

…

"Greetings, Fellow Daoist Ye. Thank you for slaying the Devouring's inheritor this time…"

A voice as clear and cold as heavenly music rang out. The speaker was none other than Yan Ruyu.

Ye Chen did not release Yan Wenwen just because he was interested in Yan Ruyu. He kept one arm around Yan Wenwen's waist while smiling lightly and shaking his head. "Fairy Yan is too polite… That Fairy Yan was targeted by Alkaid and suffered this undeserved calamity because of me. This is something I should handle. On the contrary, it is I who should apologize to Fairy Yan… I have caused trouble for Fairy Yan!"

Ye Chen spoke courteously. He was not surprised by Yan Ruyu's politeness. Before he rose to power, high-level female cultivators had barely glanced at him. Even Senior An had initially treated him as a mere passerby.

But things were different now. His status, combat strength, potential, and position were enough to make anyone release goodwill the first time they met him.

Ye Chen had already planned to exchange a few polite words with Yan Ruyu and then gift her the Nine Apertures Exquisite Heart as compensation to see if it would trigger a critical hit. Although Yan Ruyu was cold and gave off a sense of standing aloof from the world, she did not seem like a delicate little fairy. She might give him decent feedback.

However, Yan Ruyu did not act as Ye Chen had expected and simply exchanged a few polite words. Instead, Yan Ruyu nodded seriously. "This encounter was indeed caused by you, Fellow Daoist Ye… Not only that, the last time the Celestial Prince's incarnation came looking for me, it was probably also to target you. When he emerges in the future, he may still target me… This troubles me greatly!"

Yan Ruyu's straightforwardness left Ye Chen slightly stunned. It seemed he had not been directly pointed out for causing trouble in a very long time. Ever since he became strong, even when he did something wrong, others would find excuses for him. Someone as direct as Yan Ruyu was truly rare.

However, Ye Chen had never been narrow-minded. Just because he was powerful did not mean he could not accept criticism from others. Moreover, what Yan Ruyu said was true.

So Ye Chen nodded earnestly. "Fairy Yan is right. These matters were indeed caused by me…Please rest assured, Fairy Yan. I will handle the Celestial Prince's matter. When he emerges, I will seek him out for battle at the first opportunity and will not let him affect you. As for the mistakes that have already occurred, I deeply regret them. This item shall serve as compensation and be gifted to Fairy Yan…"

The Celestial Prince had to be killed anyway. Yan Ruyu had indeed been implicated. So when the Celestial Prince emerged, Ye Chen would naturally take action and make sure he emerged only to perish. This was something he should do.

In addition, Ye Chen took out the Nine Apertures Exquisite Heart he had just sealed. With a flick of his finger, he sent the heart flying toward Yan Ruyu. The Nine Apertures Exquisite Heart continued to pulse, flowing with divine light and containing incomparably powerful force.

It drew everyone's gaze. While the spectators exclaimed in envy, they also revealed expressions that said "as expected." They had long guessed that the Heavenly Emperor's heir would not keep the Nine Apertures Exquisite Heart for himself.

Moreover, rumor had it that the Heavenly Emperor's heir had been interested in Yan Ruyu for a long time. Sure enough, he was now gifting her the Nine Apertures Exquisite Heart.

For a moment, many people envied Yan Ruyu. After all, how precious was the Nine Apertures Exquisite Heart? Whether refined into a second heart for herself or used as the main material to forge an Extreme Dao weapon, it would bring enormous benefits and a massive boost in strength. Even Quasi-Immortals would be tempted.

Yan Ruyu had obtained such a supreme treasure merely because of her appearance and temperament. Who would not envy her?

But even more male cultivators were jealous of Ye Chen. Many men present had grown up admiring Yan Ruyu. Countless geniuses had knelt at her feet, hoping to win the beauty, yet almost all had returned in defeat. In their idle moments, they had all hoped that Yan Ruyu would never take a Dao companion and would forever remain the white moonlight in their hearts.

But now it seemed their white moonlight was clearly about to be taken by the Heavenly Emperor's heir. After all, the Heavenly Emperor's heir had never lost on the battlefield. And he had never lost in the field of romance either. This left them deeply regretful, as if their youthful, frivolous days had come to an end.

…

Even though the Nine Apertures Exquisite Heart had already flown in front of her, Yan Ruyu remained perfectly calm. Her peerlessly beautiful face showed no emotion as she glanced at the heart. Then she gently pointed a finger.

Seven-colored light flashed at her fingertip and pushed the Nine Apertures Exquisite Heart back toward Ye Chen. She had no interest in it. She had her own opportunities and her own path. The Nine Apertures Exquisite Heart offered her no benefit whatsoever. Not only the Nine Apertures Exquisite Heart—she did not care about the Heavenly Emperor's treasury, any treasures, or even the slots to enter the Immortal Realm.

"Fellow Daoist Ye need not be so polite. I only hope that in the future, I will no longer be disturbed because of you. My path of cultivation is destined to be walked alone. Fellow Daoist Ye, please cherish the people around you!"

With those words, Yan Ruyu did not linger. She glanced at Yan Wenwen. "Wenwen, I will return to the clan in a while. I'll come see you then!"

Then she gave Ye Chen a light nod. A nine-colored rainbow bridge rose beneath her jade feet. Without the slightest reluctance, she gracefully departed.

At that moment, the area fell silent. Everyone was stunned. No one had expected Yan Ruyu to refuse, and even less had they expected her to leave so decisively. She showed not the slightest interest in the Heavenly Emperor's heir, who had already stepped onto the stage of the struggle for immortality and possessed the potential to become an immortal. This was completely beyond everyone's expectations.

The female cultivators were especially puzzled, wishing they could shout, "If you don't want him, I do!"

The male cultivators, while shocked, could not hide the delight on their faces. Their white moonlight had not been taken. This was definitely good news.

Most importantly, the Heavenly Emperor's heir had been rejected. This secretly pleased them greatly. Ever since the Heavenly Emperor's heir appeared, he had used his unreasonable, overbearing gift-giving tactics to win the hearts of one female cultivator after another.

All the female cultivators in the cultivation world had seen the new standard. Their expectations for male cultivators had grown higher and higher. It could be said that Ye Chen had single-handedly driven up the "price" across the entire cultivation world.

This left the male cultivators suffering bitterly, yet they dared not voice their anger. Now, the Heavenly Emperor's heir's unbeatable method had finally failed. How could they not feel refreshed? If Ye Chen were not still present, quite a few male cultivators would probably have burst out laughing.

…

On Yan Wenwen's side, however, there was some worry. She feared Ye Chen would get angry after being rejected. She hurriedly explained on Yan Ruyu's behalf, "Yan Ruyu has been alone since she began cultivating. She has never cared about Dao companions… That's why she refused so decisively. It's not that she has any opinion of you."

Sensing Yan Wenwen's cautiousness, Ye Chen immediately smiled. He gently stroked her long hair and said with a faint smile, "No need to explain. How could I be that overbearing?"

Ye Chen was not lying. Yan Ruyu's attitude of keeping people at arm's length and her crisp refusal had indeed surprised him a little. But a refusal was a refusal. That was Yan Ruyu's freedom.

Besides, when he had first obtained the system, he had been rejected quite a few times. He could not suddenly start massacring people just because he had become strong and been rejected, right? He had never been that kind of person from the beginning.

However, back when he first got the system, even after being rejected, he would still persistently send gifts. But now? That was no longer possible.

Yan Ruyu's 7,500-times multiplier was indeed not bad. But for the current Ye Chen, it was nothing special anymore. After all, Lan Nuo had already reached ten thousand times. Yan Qingcheng was at seven thousand times and still had room to grow. As for his fiancée, the Heavenly Will Saintess, she also had huge room for improvement and would definitely reach ten thousand times or more once she achieved an immortal body in the future.

In short, he no longer lacked people to gift to. Since Yan Ruyu did not want it, so be it.

Ye Chen raised his hand and took back the Nine Apertures Exquisite Heart. Then he said to Yan Wenwen, "With this matter settled, I'll send you back to Myriad Races Immortal City…"

Yan Wenwen nodded at once, her eyes bright and sparkling, with threads of clinginess mixed in. Deep in her heart, however, she felt a little regret. Ye Chen really was wonderful. She felt that Yan Ruyu's firm refusal this time might mean missing out on a lot. But everyone had their own ambitions. Right now, Yan Wenwen was more worried about herself. Without Yan Ruyu as bait, would Ye Chen still be interested in her?

Together with Ye Chen, she walked out of the Immortal Path. Under the gaze of countless people, they boarded the Heavenly Evolution Holy Land's ship and returned to Myriad Races Immortal City.

On the way back, feeling Ye Chen's warmth as always, Yan Wenwen relaxed a great deal. She even half-heartedly went along with Ye Chen's unconventional ways. Along the journey, Yan Wenwen was especially joyful, wishing the road back could be longer. However, no matter how long the road, it still had an end.

Seven days later, they finally arrived.

Standing outside Immortal City, Yan Wenwen worried that after this time, she might never see Ye Chen again. Just as she was about to say something, Ye Chen handed her a storage ring.

Yan Wenwen swept it with her divine sense. Her small mouth instantly opened wide to the limit. There was no other reason… The resources inside were enough for her to cultivate smoothly from Half-Saint all the way to the peak of Saint King.

There were also high-level Extreme Dao weapons. There were even two of the Nine Secrets, complete with Ye Chen's own insights. Their value could be imagined.

Ye Chen spoke dotingly, "Yao Yuezhi is still in seclusion breaking through to Saint King, so I won't go in! Wenwen, focus on your cultivation. I'll come see you next time…"

Ye Chen had not abandoned her just because Yan Ruyu refused him.

Yan Wenwen's eyes reddened. She immediately wanted to board the immortal ship and personally send Ye Chen back to the Great Yan Continent…