ISWI Chapter 1044-1045 (Patreon)

Chapter 1044: Front Secret!

Wang Xuanji remained puzzled. Her delicate pink lips were pressed tightly together as if she had encountered an unsolvable problem. No matter how much she looked down on him, the task before her remained unchanged. Ye Chen was a simp, even a fool who could be toyed with easily.

Yet… why would he not fawn over her? Where exactly did she fall short?

Whether it was Yi Qingwu or Yan Ruyu, they could only be considered close to her level at best. She was the most outstanding one.

As she thought about how Ye Chen had taken Yan Wenwen away for several days without returning, a layer of gloom settled over Wang Xuanji's heart.

Ye Chen stayed with Yan Wenwen for another full month. After the little Peacock King had paced back and forth at the city gates countless times, he finally bid her a satisfied farewell on a shaded path.

He did not concern himself with where Yan Ruyu had gone. He had given her a Heart-Link Jade Pendant. With the critical strike feedback she had provided several times, he would naturally rush to her rescue if anything went wrong.

…

Next, Ye Chen headed to the Heavenly Emperor Hall. Along the way, Wang Xuanji clearly tried to get closer. However, Ye Chen calmly prevented her from doing so. He simply continued stroking the Alkaid Holy Maiden's hair, occasionally teaching her and helping her improve.

The Alkaid Holy Maiden was extremely eager to progress. She not only cooperated but took the initiative herself.

When the sullen Wang Xuanji saw Yan Qingcheng, her mood worsened further. Yan Qingcheng's appearance and figure were equally outstanding. Most importantly, she possessed an innate Chaos Body and already showed signs of advancement. Amidst the hazy chaos surrounding her, there were faint traces of an immortal aura.

Wang Xuanji had once been a True Immortal and came from an Immortal King clan. She knew the potential of a Chaos Body well. An innate Chaos Body was already comparable to ordinary immortal bodies. If it could advance into a Chaos Immortal Body, it would become even more extraordinary—one of the top physiques in the immortal realm that every major power would fight over.

A Chaos Immortal Body was naturally close to chaos and had the potential to comprehend the Chaos Dao among the three thousand great daos. Once fully comprehended, one could receive the blessings of the heavens and break through to the Immortal King realm.

Moreover, the Chaos Dao ranked highly among the three thousand great daos and was exceptionally powerful. There had once been a Chaos Immortal King in the immortal realm who was unrivaled. Even her own ancestor had not been his match when alive. Of course, advancing to a Chaos Immortal Body was extremely difficult. Even Immortal King clans rarely succeeded, let alone a lower-realm female cultivator. It was almost impossible.

Even so, Wang Xuanji felt irritated. She could not understand why there were so many outstanding female cultivators in this mere lower world. Thinking of the powerhouses this world had produced, she sensed that this realm was not simple. That only made it more crucial for her to ascend in this era and obtain the world's fortune.

Wang Xuanji frowned as she looked at Yan Qingcheng. Yan Qingcheng stood within the chaos with an equally domineering expression, looking down at her.

Wang Xuanji felt dissatisfied, but seeing Ye Chen's smiling face, she tightly closed her lips. If conflict arose, that dog-like Ye Chen would definitely side with the woman. She did not want to humiliate herself again or strain her relationship with him further.

Ye Chen, on the other hand, was in a rather pleasant mood. In the time they had been apart, Yan Qingcheng's multiplier had risen from seven thousand times to nine thousand times. It was truly astonishing.

Yan Qingcheng was equally delighted to see him. She did not hide anything and softly explained the reason for her recent progress. Back then, she had watched the Alkaid Holy Son deduce the path for advancing an acquired Chaos Body together with Ye Chen, which had given her much inspiration.

Later, Ye Chen had also given her a copy of the Immortal King scripture and the Myriad Transformations Holy Art created by the Devouring Female Immortal. All of this had benefited her greatly. Although she walked a different path, it had still provided her with valuable insights and greatly helped her future development with the Chaos Body.

Yan Qingcheng smiled lightly. "There is no Immortal Qi in this world, so it is very difficult to advance one's physique. Advancing to the Chaos Immortal Body feels like it will take an especially long time… But I am not anxious. Once I achieve the Chaos Immortal Body, I may even have a chance to reach the Immortal King realm.”

Her words were filled with confidence. Ye Chen particularly liked this side of Yan Qingcheng. She looked beautiful when confident. Confident people always shone brightly.

Yan Qingcheng walked the path of self-evolution to eventually attain the Chaos Immortal Body, while his fiancée devoured the origins of various geniuses, obtained an immortal body, and then transformed back into a mortal form. Both paths were extremely difficult. However, with his help, his fiancée's difficult path had become much easier. He wondered whose future limit would be higher.

Yan Qingcheng did not talk much about cultivation. She had missed Ye Chen greatly after such a long time. Soon, however, a look of disappointment appeared on her face. Ye Chen still kept a distance from her and was unwilling to truly open up. He only politely drank with her and watched her practice with her spear.

Feeling her resentful little gaze, Ye Chen could not help smiling. Yan Qingcheng was actually not far off. Once they reached the immortal realm and she had abundant Immortal Qi to nourish her, he might finally be able to give her the chance to become truly one with him.

And so, Ye Chen stayed at the Heavenly Emperor Hall for two full months. He spent his time eating and drinking with Yan Qingcheng, playing chess with the old man, and giving him some enlightenment tea leaves that had nearly been phased out of use.

This left Wang Xuanji, who had no opportunity to get close to him, gnashing her teeth in frustration and burning with anxiety. The Immortal Qi would emerge in just over a year, yet the women around Ye Chen never seemed to run out. Even while traveling, he refused to let her ride in the carriage, preferring to stroke the Alkaid Holy Maiden's hair instead of getting close to her. What exactly was going on?

Moreover, she had noticed clues at the Heavenly Emperor Hall. It felt as though Ye Chen was the true successor, while Yan Qingcheng was the fake one. Rumors outside also claimed that Ye Chen had personally granted her the title of Heavenly Emperor's heir. Combined with Yi Qingwu's status as the true Devouring successor, it seemed most of them had been nurtured by Ye Chen. The techniques were likely taught by him as well.

In other words, Ye Chen had actually inherited the legacies of two supreme existences—the Heavenly Emperor and the Devouring Female Immortal? Considering his talent, Wang Xuanji felt this was most likely the case. No wonder he was so powerful. Merging two great legacies was perfectly natural.

Yet even after guessing all this, her anxiety did not ease. Ye Chen remained unmoved no matter what she did. What was she supposed to do?

…

After a long while, even the sea salt was nearly finished, and Yan Qingcheng's gaze grew increasingly resentful. Ye Chen took the opportunity to bid farewell.

The golden-robed elder was especially reluctant to see his son-in-law leave. He spoke earnestly, "The Eight-Crowned King definitely has completed all Nine Secrets. Front Secret, as the first of the Nine Secrets, is said to have terrifying effects. It can help a cultivator break through the forbidden realm and temporarily raise their combat power to an unimaginable level. Back then, even the Heavenly Emperor only obtained an incomplete version and never passed it down. When you fight the Eight-Crowned King in the future, you must be extremely careful!”

Upon hearing this, the smile on Ye Chen's face grew even brighter.

Chapter 1045: What About Me? What Should I Do?

Ye Chen was not afraid of the Eight-Crowned King possessing the Nine Secrets. He only feared he might not have them. He was only missing the Front Secret to complete the full set himself.

As the foremost of the Nine Secrets, the Front Secret was said to have the most terrifying effects. It could break restrictions and allow one to enter a special forbidden realm. Ordinary cultivators' combat strength always had a limit. Even at the Quasi-Immortal realm, no matter how high one's aptitude, bloodline, or techniques, there was still an upper bound. It was impossible to raise one's power endlessly. Ye Chen was no exception.

However, with Front Secret, that limit could be broken, allowing combat strength to reach an entirely new level. He suspected the Eight-Crowned King's overwhelming dominance and million-year invincibility were closely related to Front Secret. It was also said that combining all Nine Secrets was comparable to an Immortal King scripture. Ye Chen looked forward to it greatly.

Fighting the Eight-Crowned King would bring him both the World Tree and the complete Nine Secrets. It was truly something to anticipate.

Still, Ye Chen was very patient. Wang Xuanji still had not adjusted her attitude. From time to time, she would secretly look at him with eyes that seemed to say "are you blind?" or "what an idiot." He planned to delay a little longer. If she still had not corrected her behavior by the time the Immortal Qi emerged, he would simply give the World Tree to Yan Ruyu or Elder An instead. Both were guaranteed to trigger critical strikes with extremely high multipliers. The feedback would certainly not be poor.

After thinking it through, Ye Chen thanked the golden-robed elder. He gave him another batch of enlightenment tea leaves and prepared to leave.

Seeing that Ye Chen was about to depart, the golden-robed elder could no longer hold back. He glanced at Wang Xuanji and the Alkaid Holy Maiden, feeling a little embarrassed, but still forced himself to ask, "Ye Chen, after you ascend, you will only have eight slots to enter the immortal realm. Have you decided how to allocate them?”

He did not say it directly, but his concern that his daughter might not receive a spot was obvious.

Yan Qingcheng felt somewhat helpless, thinking her father did not need to ask. Ye Chen, however, understood the old man's meaning perfectly. It was only natural for a father to worry about his daughter. He did not mind and was willing to give him peace of mind.

With a light smile, he said, "Uncle, there is no need to worry. In my heart, Qingcheng has always been the most important. She will naturally have a slot. Moreover, Qingcheng is kind-hearted and would not bear to leave you alone in the lower world. Therefore, there will also be a slot for you, Uncle.”

Yan Qingcheng's eyes widened. The golden-robed elder was stunned by the sudden joy. All his life he had schemed for his daughter. When he realized she probably could not compete for immortality on her own, he had desperately tried to curry favor with Ye Chen, his son-in-law, just to secure one spot for her. He had never expected not only his daughter but also himself to receive a slot.

The golden-robed elder's lips trembled. He could not speak, and his eyes turned red. It was not because he could enter the immortal realm, but because he remembered everything he had done in the past. He had made Ye Chen act as the fake successor to attract danger and had given him almost no resources.

Yet Ye Chen had never complained once. He had given all the Heavenly Emperor Hall's resources to his daughter without taking anything for himself. He had poured his heart into her and shown nothing but respect to him, her father, even giving him enlightenment tea by the pound. Compared to that, he truly was not a good person.

The golden-robed elder was moved beyond words.

At this moment, Yan Qingcheng's eyes were also filled with overwhelming emotion and surging love. The slots were extremely precious, yet Ye Chen had not only given her one but had also reserved one for her father.

He really loved her so much.

After Ye Chen left, both father and daughter were filled with emotion.

The golden-robed elder let out a long sigh. "I wonder where that Purple-Gold Divine Dragon has run off to? Its bloodline is extraordinary and would have made a perfect pet for Ye Chen. Otherwise, I truly feel too guilty…”

Yan Qingcheng's mouth twitched. The Purple-Gold Divine Dragon had an extraordinary origin. It had once provoked the Heavenly Emperor in this world. Unable to kill it, the Heavenly Emperor had sealed its bloodline and left it to the Heavenly Emperor Hall as a guardian divine beast. Later, it had become one of their own with a very high status. Yet her father was even willing to give it away. It seemed he was genuinely very satisfied with Ye Chen.

…

Wang Xuanji's mouth twitched violently. If Ye Chen ascended, there were only eight slots in total. He had already given away two more. Could he not see that this father and daughter were playing him? They were clearly working together to deceive him, yet Ye Chen had fallen for it so easily. She was furious at his foolishness.

While Wang Xuanji was still seething, Ye Chen arrived at the Nether God Holy Land. This time, he finally met the little demoness Su Yuxuan and Manjusaka. During this period, Manjusaka had caused quite a stir by personally destroying the orthodoxies of her old enemies. Both women were overjoyed to see him.

The little demoness Su Yuxuan danced with excitement. Manjusaka tied up her golden hair, her divine mountains swaying and wings fluttering. For a moment, the sight was breathtakingly beautiful.

This stay lasted another full month. When it was time to leave, the two women escorted him to the sect gates.

Wang Xuanji narrowed her eyes as she observed Manjusaka. Her appearance was indeed outstanding. In the immortal realm, her looks and bearing would rank among the top tier. No wonder Ye Chen had not even spared an immortal corpse—she truly had something special.

Under Wang Xuanji's gaze, Ye Chen gifted the Void Soul-Calming Crystal to Manjusaka, which only made her feel more uncomfortable.

But this was not what shocked her the most. Before they left, Manjusaka, despite having avenged her great grudge, still felt uneasy and could not help asking about the ascension slots. After all, there were only eight in total, and Ye Chen had so many women. It did not feel safe.

Ye Chen glanced subtly at Wang Xuanji before smiling gently. "Don't worry. Both you and your disciple will have slots. I will bring you both into the immortal realm together.”

Manjusaka immediately beamed with joy.

Wang Xuanji, however, began to feel anxious. She had personally witnessed Ye Chen promise slots to Yi Qingwu, Yan Ruyu, Yan Qingcheng, the golden-robed elder, Su Yuxuan, and Manjusaka—six slots already. Elder An would most likely have one as well. Lu Jing was favored but only a servant girl and did not count. That made seven slots taken.

The last one should be hers. Even if she failed to obtain the World Tree, she could use this slot to return to the immortal realm and find another way.

But soon, Wang Xuanji's expression froze completely.

After arriving at the Lan Clan Immortal City and spending another month with Lan Nuo, she personally heard Ye Chen speak to her tenderly, "Nuonuo, why are you so anxious? Once you reach the immortal realm, you will naturally have more chances to shine. The Eight-Crowned King is indeed formidable, so you should not get involved.

"What? You are the most important person in my heart. Of course, you will have a slot to enter the immortal realm.”

The Alkaid Holy Maiden listened with a complicated expression. Every female cultivator was the most important to the Holy Son. He really was quite the scoundrel.

Wang Xuanji, however, felt as if she had been struck by lightning. For the first time, genuine panic surged through her.

Another slot given away? That meant all eight slots had been promised.

Then what about her? What was she supposed to do? Not only did Ye Chen have no intention of giving her the World Tree, he did not even plan to let her return to the immortal realm!