ISWI Chapter 1038-1039 (Patreon)

Chapter 1038: It Makes Sense If It's the Holy Son!

"Oh, it's all my fault. My cultivation is only at the Semi-Saint realm, so I couldn't withstand the astral winds and accidentally lost my balance… Master, you won't blame me, will you?”

…

Ye Chen looked at the Alkaid Holy Maiden, who had "accidentally” fallen into his lap, and could not help but sigh. A dignified Mahayana stage cultivator unable to withstand astral winds? That was far too fake.

He truly had no interest in another man's fiancée. Why did they all insist on tarnishing his reputation?

Still, the Alkaid Holy Maiden's hair was exceptionally smooth, like the finest heavenly silk. As it cascaded forward, it took on an alluring shape. The feel was undeniably pleasant.

The Alkaid Holy Maiden's cheeks flushed faintly. Although she had come at the behest of her sect master and elders, she had her own expectations. After all, few female cultivators in the cultivation world could resist the temptation of becoming the Heavenly Emperor's heir's dao companion. Even serving as his maid was an enviable position.

News had once spread from the Heavenly Evolution Holy Land that a maid surnamed Lu, favored by the Heavenly Emperor's heir, had received vast resources from him and already reached the Saint King realm. She lived far more comfortably than most holy land geniuses. If that was possible for her, why not for herself?

Thus, the Alkaid Holy Maiden took the initiative. Noticing that Ye Chen seemed to like her hair, she carefully arranged it so that it fell over her front instead of her back. The curves shifted enticingly.

Ye Chen watched helplessly and shook his head. Soon after, the Western Empress Holy Carriage, which had been speeding forward, came to a stop in midair. A divine light rose to shield everything inside.

In the rear, Wang Xuanji, who had been struggling to keep up, stared at the once again swaying carriage with a dumbfounded expression, followed by utter disgust.

This Ye Chen was truly something else. He couldn't even wait while traveling? His grudge against the Alkaid Holy Son had clearly been aimed at the Alkaid Holy Maiden all along. Only lower realm female cultivators lacking self-respect and desperate for resources could tolerate such a dao companion. For her, if she had any choice, she would find even looking at him annoying.

Of course, Wang Xuanji had no intention of letting Ye Chen marry into the Wang Clan. Her earlier words had been nothing but empty promises. She would even need to reconsider whether to bring him into the immortal realm at all.

After all, the final ascender from this world would receive the world's fortune. Though it was a small world, it was still the fortune of an entire realm. Becoming an Immortal King required immense luck, and Ye Chen would inevitably claim a portion of it. She needed to think carefully.

…

Wang Xuanji waited impatiently for a full week. Only then did the Western Empress Holy Carriage start moving again. The Alkaid Holy Maiden now sat beside Ye Chen. It was not that she was being arrogant after gaining favor—she simply had no strength left to stand.

Her gaze toward Ye Chen held both satisfaction and amazement. She had never imagined that something as simple as hair could be used in so many ways by the Heavenly Emperor's heir. Still, she had enjoyed it thoroughly and saw no need to speak of it.

At this moment, the Alkaid Holy Maiden felt completely content. Everything she wanted had come true. As for the Alkaid Holy Son, she had already forgotten him. Unlike Yi Qingwu, who had grown up with the Heavenly Intention Holy Son, she had originally been betrothed to his brother. After his brother's sudden death and the Alkaid Holy Son's meteoric rise, the engagement had simply passed to him. She had never been close to the man. Besides, the Alkaid Holy Son could not compare to the Heavenly Emperor's heir in the slightest.

The Western Empress Holy Carriage resumed its journey and headed straight for the Heavenly Intention Holy Land. Half a day later, they arrived.

The moment they did, nine chimes rang out from within the Heavenly Intention Holy Land. The senior elders immediately filed out to greet them.

Ye Chen deliberately had the Alkaid Holy Maiden show her face so others could see her. Once they learned her identity, the crowd from the Heavenly Intention Holy Land was shocked, but understanding quickly followed. News that he had taken in the Alkaid Holy Maiden would soon spread across the entire cultivation world. The remaining core members of the Alkaid Holy Land would finally be safe.

As for bribing pursuers or distributing benefits? That was unnecessary. In today's cultivation world, very few dared to defy Ye Chen.

Soon, a figure in azure robes arrived. The Heavenly Intention Holy Land elders were startled once more. They naturally recognized Wang Xuanji, the female genius from the immortal realm. Her aura was terrifying, and her appearance was peerless—rivaling even their own Holy Maiden. It was truly astonishing.

More importantly, why had an immortal realm female genius come as well? Had the Heavenly Emperor's heir claimed her in such a short time too?

It seemed… entirely plausible.

Everyone's expressions grew complicated, but no one said anything. They only felt some worry for their own Yi Qingwu. This immortal realm female genius was simply too outstanding.

Yi Qingwu had been happily arranging the scene inside her cave mansion when she heard of Ye Chen's arrival. She had prepared everything according to their usual routine. However, upon learning that an immortal realm female genius had also come—and that her appearance was comparable to her own—she could not help but frown.

Then she heard that Ye Chen had taken the Alkaid Holy Son's fiancée as his servant girl. Yi Qingwu's fists tightened, and the marks in her soul seemed to tremble with fury.

Without the slightest hesitation, she flew out at once.

Ye Chen had been casually dealing with the Heavenly Intention Holy Land ancestors while introducing the Alkaid Holy Maiden and Wang Xuanji, telling them to entertain themselves. He was about to go find his fiancée to carve some marks. Before he could move, however, he raised an eyebrow and looked toward the Holy Maiden Peak.

A graceful figure in white descended like a drifting cloud, standing coldly in midair. Behind her floated a strange, chaotic moon, from which pure moonlight flowed endlessly. She appeared exceptionally aloof and transcendent, like a goddess from the lunar palace who had descended before everyone's eyes.

Ye Chen smiled the moment he saw his fiancée and flew toward her proactively.

…

Wang Xuanji was increasingly speechless upon realizing Ye Chen had come to the Heavenly Intention Holy Land. The Heavenly Emperor's heir had wasted so much time just to visit a female cultivator. He was truly indulging in pleasure and losing his ambition.

She had not taken the so-called number one female immortal of this generation, Yi Qingwu, seriously. But when she finally saw Yi Qingwu's appearance clearly, Wang Xuanji could not help raising an eyebrow. This woman's looks and bearing were indeed extraordinary. Even in the immortal realm, she would not be a nobody. She had something special.

Wang Xuanji was also surprised by Yi Qingwu's aura. Her cultivation was naturally insignificant—merely an early-stage Great Emperor. Yet her aptitude was quite remarkable: a Chaos Body. It did not feel like an innate one, however.

Sensing faint traces of other physiques mixed within the moonlight, Wang Xuanji's pupils shrank. This was an acquired Chaos Body—the inheritance of the Devouring lineage. Could this girl be the true successor of the Devouring Path?

Chapter 1039: Where Exactly Did She Fall Short?

Wasn't the Alkaid Holy Son the Devouring successor of this world? How had this woman obtained an acquired Chaos Body?

Wang Xuanji narrowed her eyes. She glanced at the Alkaid Holy Maiden, who was standing obediently and openly behind Ye Chen, then looked at Yi Qingwu. In an instant, she understood everything.

The true Devouring successor had always been this woman. Ye Chen's reputation as a killer had most likely been built while gathering origins for her. The Alkaid Holy Son was merely a scapegoat.

Ye Chen had taken a fancy to the Alkaid Holy Maiden, so he pinned the blame on the Alkaid Holy Son, killed him, and used his influence to make the entire Alkaid Holy Land a target of universal condemnation. In the end, the sect had no choice but to offer her up.

Wang Xuanji's expression grew complicated. Ye Chen was truly willing to go to any lengths for a woman. Her gaze toward Yi Qingwu no longer held any contempt. Though the woman was currently unremarkable, the achievements of the Devouring Immortal King showed that once she entered the immortal realm, she would soar like a dragon through the gates.

After ascending, the Devouring Immortal King had joined no faction. She later obtained the Chaos Immortal Body, went to the Emperor Pass, and battled geniuses from beyond the heavens. She slaughtered and devoured countless foreign immortal physiques.

It was said that after assimilating the immortal bodies of many realms, she transformed into an ordinary-looking mortal body. In the end, the moment she became an Immortal King, she could already contend with giant-level Immortal Kings from the Other Domain—an unimaginably powerful feat.

No one believed it was truly a mortal body. They thought the Devouring Immortal King's final physique had surpassed the level of immortal bodies entirely. Countless people yearned for such power. The only regret was that she had never established a lineage or taken any disciples.

As the Devouring Immortal King's successor, this woman had boundless prospects if she could reach the immortal realm—especially since the current immortal realm was in chaos, the perfect environment for the Devouring lineage to thrive.

However, Wang Xuanji's face turned ice-cold. The Devouring Immortal King had been close to the Heavenly Emperor and, due to her excessive slaughter, was viewed as a thorn by the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths. His relationship with the Wang Clan was also poor. She would never allow this woman to enter the immortal realm. No matter how talented she was, she could only wait for destruction in this world.

Wang Xuanji looked at Yi Qingwu and sneered inwardly.

Yi Qingwu glanced briefly at the Alkaid Holy Maiden before shifting her gaze to Wang Xuanji. She was somewhat surprised by the latter's appearance and bearing, yet for some reason, a strong sense of dislike rose in her heart—stronger than what she had felt toward Luo Bingling, the War God Clan's princess.

Still, seeing Ye Chen fly straight toward her without hesitation, Yi Qingwu's mood improved. For the first time in public, she proactively took his arm and asked softly, "Are these two your servant girls?”

The Alkaid Holy Maiden's expression remained unchanged. Everyone knew the Heavenly Emperor's heir favored the Heavenly Intention Holy Maiden. She had never thought of challenging that position.

Wang Xuanji, however, narrowed her eyes, her lips pressing into a thin line. Her Quasi-Immortal peak aura surged as she snapped, "Impudent!”

A terrifying pressure erupted and surged toward Yi Qingwu. She was a heavenly genius of the Immortal King Wang Clan, yet this woman had dared call her a servant girl? It was an utter humiliation. She had to teach her a lesson, even if the other party was Ye Chen's dao companion. Besides, she was completely in the right.

The higher-ups of the Heavenly Evolution Holy Land all frowned. The only Quasi-Immortal ancestor present turned pale; he could not possibly withstand such monstrous pressure.

Yi Qingwu's expression did not change in the slightest. She remained coldly aloof as she stared at Wang Xuanji.

Ye Chen frowned slightly. With a single glance, the oppressive aura Wang Xuanji had released vanished instantly.

Wang Xuanji looked displeased. "Fellow Daoist Ye, I did not wish to cause trouble, but this woman deliberately insulted me. That is disrespect toward me!”

Yi Qingwu said nothing. She simply continued gazing at Wang Xuanji with that cold, high-handed look, which only fueled Wang Xuanji's disgust.

Ye Chen waved his hand without hesitation. "Fairy Wang, you are overthinking it. Qingwu is not that kind of person. She was simply curious. Let's end this matter here.”

Ye Chen had blatantly taken his fiancée's side. Anyone with eyes could see that Wang Xuanji possessed an extraordinary presence and outstanding bearing. No one would ever mistake her for a mere servant girl. Yi Qingwu had clearly done it on purpose.

The corners of Yi Qingwu's mouth curved upward. She tightened her hold on Ye Chen's arm.

Wang Xuanji's face turned icy. Fury surged within her like turbulent waves. She was the future pillar of an Immortal King clan. In the immortal realm, who had ever dared humiliate her like this?

In any dispute, the vast majority would have sided with her without hesitation. Yet Ye Chen had unconditionally stood against her.

This unprecedented feeling made her want to burn the entire world with her rage. She had never felt so stifled. But she still needed something from Ye Chen and did not want to fall out with him over this.

She silently withdrew her aura, her expression cold and indifferent.

Yi Qingwu's eyes sparkled with amusement. She held Ye Chen's arm and spoke in her heavenly voice, "Please follow me to my cave mansion.”

Ye Chen smiled. Protecting his fiancée without hesitation was only natural. Wang Xuanji was merely a potential gift recipient, while his fiancée was his dao companion. He knew very well which mattered more.

Under the Alkaid Holy Maiden's envious and yearning gaze and Wang Xuanji's icy stare, Ye Chen and Yi Qingwu flew straight to Holy Maiden Peak and entered the cave mansion together.

Inside the cave mansion, Ye Chen looked at his fiancée's breathtaking face with interest and asked curiously, "Qingwu, why did you deliberately provoke her?”

Yi Qingwu summoned her avatar. Both bodies spoke at once. "Does it pain you?”

Ye Chen chuckled. "Of course not. To me, you are the most important. No matter what, I will always stand by your side. I was just curious.”

Both Yi Qingwu's main body and her demonic body smiled at his words. What made her happy was precisely the favoritism Ye Chen had shown earlier. Who wouldn't like being favored?

As for Wang Xuanji, Yi Qingwu frowned slightly. "I don't like her. The moment I saw her, I felt repulsed—more than I did with Luo Bingling…”

Ye Chen raised an eyebrow. Was this a case of incompatible natures? They disliked each other on sight. But it was a small matter. To him, Wang Xuanji was simply the most suitable person to gift the World Tree. Everything else was secondary. The priority now was to handle proper business.

Ye Chen reached out and stopped his fiancée's main body from sitting down. With a wave of his hand, he presented the Celestial Prince's origin.

Yi Qingwu gazed at the origin with gentle eyes.

…

Back in the Heavenly Intention Holy Land, Wang Xuanji had no desire to wait there. She flew out, feeling restless. She recalled the rumors about Ye Chen, then thought of how he had given her nothing and had unhesitatingly sided against her earlier. Her mind grew increasingly agitated.

None of this matched what she had imagined. What was going on with the Heavenly Emperor's heir? He could fawn over Yan Ruyu and Yi Qingwu, so why not her? Where exactly did she fall short?