ISWI Chapter 1050-1059 (Patreon)

Chapter 1050: Not Even Interested in Getting It for Free!

Fan Qinghe felt truly bitter.

At the very beginning of her relationship with Ye Chen, she had been afraid he would turn against her, so she had refused to give herself. But later, the situation had completely reversed. Especially after her master, ancestors, and the others joined in. Everyone else had tasted it. They would even gather to discuss the pleasure, the intensity, the depth of foundation, and so on.

Only she was left listening and imagining. Everyone else ate the meat while she drank the soup. And it was her own protector! Yet she was the only one who had never gotten to eat.

Unlike Elder An, who usually maintained a calm state of mind, Fan Qinghe lived in this environment where her master and ancestors constantly talked about when the next session would begin, while she alone was left out. The bitterness in her heart was real.

Now that the final transformation was complete and she still had not gotten her turn, she felt even more miserable. But finally, she saw hope. Once she achieved a perfect transformation, she could finally repay Ye Chen. This was wonderful.

Filled with excitement, Fan Qinghe hugged Ye Chen tightly. She looked up at him with her small face, her eyes full of anticipation.

Ye Chen sensed the anxiety, loss, and emptiness in her disappear and smiled. He had roughly seen through Fan Qinghe's personality. Perhaps because she was an orphan who had grown up in an all-female sect, she lacked a sense of security and had low self-worth, making her easily swayed.

It was not just Fan Qinghe. The others were the same. They all liked being ordered around. Besides their orphan backgrounds, it was largely because they had never had a man.

In the cultivation world, male cultivators were generally more decisive and responsible when facing difficulties. Many female cultivators, even strong ones, tended to fall into despair more easily in desperate situations. That was why, despite having Holy Maidens, the various holy lands still relied primarily on their Holy Sons. It had only been after Ye Chen killed the Holy Sons that the Holy Maidens' importance had risen.

…

Ye Chen glanced at everyone, then stood up leisurely. "Cultivate well. I'm heading to the Immortal Path.”

Hearing this, the five women's expressions changed drastically. He had just expended so much origin energy, and now he was going straight to challenge the Eight-Crowned King? It was too rushed. He should stay and recover first.

Ye Chen smiled faintly. "The time is right. The Immortal Qi is about to emerge.”

He had already keenly sensed the changes in the world's environment. This gift session had lasted two and a half months because of how deep his foundation was. By his calculations, the timing was perfect.

The women's faces shifted from joy to worry. They feared that because they had taken too much, Ye Chen would lose the battle and miss his chance at ascension. If that happened, they would regret it for the rest of their lives. He did not blame them now, but what about the future?

For a moment, all five women felt complicated emotions.

Ye Chen saw through their thoughts and smiled gently. "There is no need to worry. The Eight-Crowned King has never been my opponent. In this world, I am already unrivaled. Cultivate well and wait for my return.”

With those words, Ye Chen strode out of the cave mansion.

The five women were still too weak and limp to walk properly. They watched his departing figure, deeply moved by his domineering words.

A long while later, the master and the loli Ancestor looked at Fan Qinghe with envy and said, "Your protector is truly amazing.”

Fan Qinghe's expression was complicated. Right now, she felt pride, frustration, and a strange sense of stimulation all at once.

The Alkaid Holy Maiden was not picky. She waited obediently for Ye Chen at the guest peak and even brought along several accompanying elders to study techniques, hoping to better please him.

She was not without ambition, but she knew her limits. Someone like her had no chance of entering the immortal realm. In that case, the best choice was to serve the Heavenly Emperor's heir well. With his personality, he would never abandon her in the lower world. He would surely leave her plenty of treasures and resources for self-protection. That would be enough.

And if she could bear him a child, that would be even better. With the Heavenly Emperor's heir's heaven-defying talent, his offspring would undoubtedly be extraordinary. If she had a child, perhaps when he reached an unimaginable realm in the future, he would specially descend to the lower world to bring her up. She could ride on her son's success.

While she was lost in these pleasant thoughts, the Alkaid Holy Maiden saw Ye Chen emerge and immediately flew toward him with joy. She was already planning how to use everything she had learned once they were back in the immortal carriage.

Wang Xuanji, on the other hand, disdained entering the Heavenly Desire Sect. She remained seated in the void outside. Deep unease filled her heart. When she had first descended to this world, she had been full of ambition. Yet in the blink of an eye, she might not even be able to return.

Ye Chen was completely unmoved no matter what she tried. What was she supposed to do?

As she was thinking, Wang Xuanji raised an eyebrow and looked toward the Heavenly Desire Sect's mountain gate. Ye Chen had already come out.

She sighed helplessly, wondering which woman he would visit next. Then she heard him say to the Alkaid Holy Maiden, "We will head to the Central Continent Immortal City next. I have delayed long enough. It is time to fight the Eight-Crowned King.”

Ye Chen spoke with complete calm, as if the battle meant nothing to him. With his current strength, no matter how heaven-defying the Eight-Crowned King was or how many trump cards he held, he was still nothing in front of him. There might not even be a real fight. The outcome could be decided in an instant. This was merely a formality.

However, Wang Xuanji's face changed drastically when she heard this. Despair deepened in her eyes.

Ye Chen was going to fight for the Immortal Qi. Yet she had made zero progress. There was no hope of obtaining the World Tree, and her chances of securing an ascension slot were nearly nonexistent. She could not understand why Ye Chen had so little interest in her. But she knew she had to make one final attempt. Otherwise, she really would never be able to return.

…

On the way back, Wang Xuanji made her last desperate effort to get closer to Ye Chen. She would build their relationship first, then discuss terms. She refused to believe she held no attraction for him. After all, his tastes were all over the place—he had even coveted an immortal corpse. How could she possibly be lacking?

Besides, she no longer had any choice. Even if she ended up being taken for free, she would accept it. If she did not try one last time, she would regret it for the rest of her life.

Yet by the time they crossed the Endless Sea and reached the edge of the Central Continent, Wang Xuanji had fallen into complete despair.

Ye Chen gave her no chance to get close at all. He spent the entire journey playing with the Alkaid Holy Maiden's hair. Even when she openly confessed her feelings and said she was willing to offer herself with no conditions, he remained completely unmoved.

It seemed he was not even interested in taking her for free.

Chapter 1051: The Final Battle

Wang Xuanji's heart sank to rock bottom. All her former pride, contempt, and sense of superiority had been shattered.

During this period of careful observation, she had noticed that whenever a female cultivator became Ye Chen's Dao companion, his attitude toward her improved dramatically. For example, although he had shown only mild interest in the Alkaid Holy Maiden at first, after she stayed with him for a week, his treatment of her became much warmer.

That was why Wang Xuanji had decided to stop worrying about the cost and offer herself first. Once she became his companion, their relationship would change, and she might still have a chance later.

But Ye Chen refused. He showed no interest in her at all. Her spirit and confidence were completely crushed.

At this moment, if Ye Chen were willing to speak even a single word, Wang Xuanji would have taken the initiative without hesitation.

Ye Chen noticed everything and nodded in satisfaction.

Unlike Luo Bingling, who maintained a submissive, dog-like mentality toward the human race even after being suppressed and ignored, Wang Xuanji lacked that kind of ingrained tradition. Her mindset was slightly different.

Because of this, Ye Chen believed she had the potential to deliver critical strikes in the future. An 80,000x multiplier combined with critical hits and a perfect strike—Ye Chen didn't even dare imagine what kind of result it would produce.

...

Central Continent Immortal City.

Countless cultivators had gathered here, eagerly anticipating the upcoming battle between Ye Chen and the Eight-Crowned King.

Yet Ye Chen had come, and then left again. He had only arrived to find his own female cultivators.

This left everyone feeling helpless.

The Heavenly Emperor's heir always carried a unique sense of ease. Even matters concerning immortality failed to rush him. Only when his Dao companions faced danger did he show any urgency.

As a result, the cultivators endlessly debated whether the Heavenly Emperor's heir was too confident—or not confident enough. If he lacked confidence, he should have stayed at the Heavenly Evolution Holy Land to cultivate properly. Instead, he wandered the world, searching for female cultivators everywhere. Yet if he truly was confident, why hadn't he fought the Eight-Crowned King along the way?

In short, the Heavenly Emperor's heir's actions left everyone puzzled. Still, when they recalled how the Eight-Crowned King had casually suppressed the immortal realm's top female prodigies—without anyone even seeing how he attacked—their feelings grew complicated.

At least based on current appearances, the Eight-Crowned King, who had sat alone for a million years, seemed more formidable. The Heavenly Emperor's heir might not fear him, but he clearly had no guarantee of victory. That was likely why he was in no hurry to arrive.

Even so, everyone was certain that Ye Chen would eventually come. He would appear the moment the Immortal Qi was about to emerge. The Heavenly Emperor's heir could not avoid this battle. This was also why these cultivators had waited nearly two and a half years without leaving.

Today was another day of waiting. The cultivators continued discussing the upcoming battle and speculating about what kind of power the Eight-Crowned King had accumulated over a million years.

"He must have collected all Nine Secrets. The only question is whether he has fused them into one!"

"The World Tree can mobilize unimaginable world power, influence heaven and earth, open universes, and elevate the essence of life. With that tree in hand, the Eight-Crowned King's combat strength is beyond imagination."

"His Divine King Physique reached great completion long ago! In one lifetime, a single shake of the divine wheel behind him reportedly killed a quasi-immortal."

"Not only that—rumors from the Dao One Holy Land say the Eight-Crowned King possesses a Sacred Spirit Root…"

Gasps spread through the crowd.

The more they learned about the Eight-Crowned King, the more shocked they became. A being with unmatched natural talent who had lived for a million years was simply too terrifying. Could the Heavenly Emperor's heir truly stand against such an opponent?

For a time, many cultivators felt pity for Ye Chen. They believed he possessed heavenly talent, yet he had the misfortune of being born in the same era as the Eight-Crowned King.

Just then, a piece of news arrived. The long-silent crowd instantly widened their eyes. The Heavenly Emperor's heir had re-entered the Central Continent. He was heading straight for Immortal City.

What this meant was obvious to everyone. The ultimate battle between the Heavenly Emperor's heir and the Eight-Crowned King was finally about to begin.

At once, a massive wave of cultivators surged into the Ninth Realm. They had long prepared dedicated viewing zones there, setting up various quasi-immortal arrays in advance—not to block the two combatants' direct attacks, but to withstand the shockwaves from their clashes.

After all, regardless of who won, both were monstrous geniuses beyond imagination. Though their cultivation remained at the quasi-immortal realm, their combat power had already far surpassed it. A casual breath from either of them might prove fatal to an ordinary quasi-immortal. To avoid being killed by mere aftershocks, thorough preparation was essential.

Moreover, cultivators below the Great Emperor realm were strongly advised not to watch the battle in person. It was safer to view the recordings from the recording stone afterward, lest they be shaken to death by the residual energy.

After the news spread, top experts from the major powers—such as the Heavenly Emperor Hall, the Nether God Holy Land, and the Dao One Holy Land—also arrived. This battle concerned far more than just ascension to immortality; it would shape the future structure of the entire world. Even though an immortal could only remain in this realm for three days, a true immortal could accomplish an enormous amount in that time.

Under the anxious gaze of countless onlookers, the Western Empress Holy Carriage streaked across the sky in a brilliant arc of rainbow light and descended directly at the center of Immortal City.

Countless eyes fell upon Ye Chen, along with the immortal realm's female prodigies who flew beside him. They now looked even more dejected than when they had first descended.

Ye Chen swept his gaze across the surroundings and soon let out a helpless chuckle. He had spotted Lan Nuo in the crowd. He had specifically instructed his Dao companions not to come, yet…

Sensing that Ye Chen had noticed her, Lan Nuo immediately tried to hide. Before she could, Ye Chen reached out, pulled her over, and wrapped her in his arms.

Surrounded by people, Lan Nuo maintained her usual cold and aloof appearance on the surface. Privately, however, she sent a timid voice transmission to explain: "This is your peak battle, Husband. The entire cultivation world is watching. How could I miss it?"

Even if she wasn't the one being admired, Lan Nuo couldn't bear to miss such a moment of glory. She was currently at the mid-stage of the Great Emperor realm, still far from quasi-immortal. Even so, her combat strength had already reached the level of an ordinary quasi-immortal.

Seeing how eager she was to witness the event, Ye Chen couldn't bring himself to refuse. He gently held her slender waist and said, "In that case, you can join me in fighting the Eight-Crowned King."

Lan Nuo's eyes widened. Though she said nothing, her meaning was clear. She loved showing off, but she also knew her limits. Even with her Sacred Spirit Root, she had no qualification to participate in the upcoming battle. If she joined, she would not only fail to help Ye Chen—she would distract him and become a burden.

She was about to refuse when Ye Chen smiled softly. "Come with me. It won't take long."

Feeling his unshakable confidence, Lan Nuo fell silent. She trusted Ye Chen completely and believed he would win. Moreover, the thought of participating in his final battle filled her with unimaginable satisfaction.

On the surface, she continued pretending to be cold and aloof. But once they were alone, she would surely express her joy to him without restraint.

Watching from the side, Wang Xuanji's face darkened. Why does he show such indulgence and affection to others?

Chapter 1052: Young Man, You Don't Respect Me Enough!

Seeing Ye Chen holding Lan Nuo with one arm and smiling at her with such doting affection, Wang Xuanji, who had barely maintained her composure until now, felt her eyes turn red.

Her immortal root had been dug out, her cultivation had been stripped away, and her family teetered on the brink of collapse. She had been casually suppressed by the Eight-Crowned King, and Ye Chen treated her with icy indifference. She could no longer even return home.

The bitterness in her heart finally overflowed. In what way was she inferior to those female cultivators? Why did Ye Chen treat her like this? She had even been willing to offer herself. Ye Chen was truly bullying her too much!

At that painful thought, a single tear finally slipped from the corner of her eye.

...

Ye Chen paid no attention to her. With one arm still wrapped around Lan Nuo, he stepped directly onto the teleportation array.

The quasi-immortal from the Nether God Holy Land whom Ye Chen had rescued was also present. Grateful to Ye Chen, he couldn't help but speak up in warning. "Heavenly Emperor's heir, the Eight-Crowned King is terrifying. Bringing someone else might affect the outcome. It would be better if you went alone!"

He feared Lan Nuo would become a hindrance and distract Ye Chen during the battle. Although Lan Nuo was not weak, to top-tier experts she would only be a burden who required protection.

Most of the crowd shared the same view. They felt Ye Chen was being far too arrogant. Even in this decisive battle that concerned immortality, he still had his mind on a woman. It would be easy for him to stumble.

Lan Nuo, despite her strong faith in Ye Chen, also felt that since the matter involved ascension, he should be more cautious. She gently twisted her waist, preparing to leave.

However, Ye Chen tightened his arm and pulled her even closer. The teleportation array lit up with divine light, and their figures began to turn illusory.

Only then did Ye Chen's voice ring out calmly: "Even with Lan Nuo in one arm, I, Ye Chen, can still be unrivaled in this world."

As his words fell, the two of them vanished from the array.

The crowd erupted in uproar.

The Heavenly Emperor's heir was far too confident! The Eight-Crowned King's strength was no longer a secret, yet Ye Chen still displayed such absolute confidence. Just what kind of trump cards did he possess?

For a moment, everyone grew even more curious.

The quasi-immortals who had not yet entered the Ninth Realm immediately flew toward the teleportation arrays. They all had a strong premonition that this battle would be the most supreme clash below the true immortal realm in the entire history of the cultivation world.

Wang Xuanji quietly evaporated the tear at the corner of her eye and strode forward. Even if there was no hope left, she still wanted to witness it!

...

When the teleportation array's divine light shone once more, Ye Chen and Lan Nuo had already arrived in the Ninth Realm.

Lan Nuo's body had gone completely soft. Ye Chen's final domineering words had struck deep into the core of her heart like a flower's pistil.

"Master… you've been holding back so much from me…" Lan Nuo lifted her delicate face, her breath fragrant and her cheeks flushed crimson. Her voice trembled as if she had been drugged.

Ye Chen smiled gently. "It's fine. Once we enter the immortal realm, I'll teach you everything you want to learn."

Lan Nuo nodded softly.

At that moment, Ye Chen raised his head and looked toward the sky.

High above in the dome of heaven, an aged figure who had been seated at the very peak slowly stood up and began to descend on his own.

The quasi-immortal from the Dao One Holy Land guarding nearby immediately widened his eyes. "Old Ancestor, you're going to meet him personally? The Heavenly Emperor's heir should be the one coming to challenge you!"

The quasi-immortal found it hard to accept. After all, his old ancestor had sat firmly at the peak of the Ninth Realm for countless years. Even if the sky collapsed, he had never taken the initiative to move. Yet now he was personally descending. He felt the old ancestor was showing the Heavenly Emperor's heir far too much respect.

However, the Eight-Crowned King did not even glance at him. He simply spoke calmly, "Move farther away when we start fighting. Although you are a quasi-immortal, you only broke through when you were nearing death. Your combat strength is too far behind. You probably won't even withstand the aftershocks."

The Dao One Holy Land quasi-immortal's old face immediately reddened with embarrassment and resentment. But when he thought of how his old ancestor was finally about to suppress Ye Chen and officially claim the Immortal Qi, his mood lifted again. Without another word, he obediently flew away.

The Ninth Realm had already gathered a vast number of quasi-immortals and Great Emperors standing guard. Essentially, all the top existences of the cultivation world were present.

When they saw Ye Chen arrive, everyone let out a long breath of relief. He had finally come; their wait had not been in vain.

Yet upon seeing him arrive with one arm still wrapped around a beautiful woman, many felt he was being far too flashy.

Before they could fully process their thoughts, a terrifying aura descended.

Everyone instinctively looked up, their eyes widening instantly.

An old man with a stooped figure, dressed in a simple Daoist robe, slowly descended from the dome of the sky.

The aura radiating from him was overwhelming. The moment he appeared, the surrounding void began to compress and collapse, forming countless black holes. It seemed as though the world itself could no longer bear his existence.

The Eight-Crowned King had actually come down on his own.

The entire scene erupted in commotion.

Someone couldn't help exclaiming, "When the immortal realm's female prodigy came to challenge him, the Eight-Crowned King didn't even move. Yet now that the Heavenly Emperor's heir has arrived, he's personally descending…"

"This alone shows how insignificant that immortal realm female prodigy was in comparison."

"The Heavenly Emperor's heir is truly formidable. He's barely over a hundred years old, yet he's earned the full attention of the Eight-Crowned King, who has lived for a million years!"

The crowd buzzed with discussion.

Wang Xuanji, who had just flown out of the teleportation array, heard their words and her face darkened. In the immortal realm, she had been the most dazzling existence. Yet here in the lower cultivation world, she had become nothing more than a foil. It was an utter humiliation. If her immortal spirit root hadn't been dug out, what were these two worth?

Filled with resentment, Wang Xuanji stood silently in the distance. The crowd's uproar lasted only a moment before they quickly fell quiet again, their eyes fixed on the two figures. They wondered whether the pair would begin fighting immediately or exchange a few words first.

No matter what, everyone was patient. After all, these two could be considered the most terrifying existences in the history of the cultivation world. Even if they simply chatted, the spectators would listen with great interest.

...

The Eight-Crowned King slowly landed roughly ten thousand meters away from Ye Chen. Looking at the young man who stood with a beauty in his arm, radiating vigor and heroic bearing, a faint smile appeared on the old man's aged face.

"Young man, you don't respect me enough," he said.

His voice surprised everyone. It was not the domineering tone they had imagined. Instead, it sounded gentle and kind, more like that of an ordinary elderly mortal.

Still, everyone assumed the Eight-Crowned King must be angry. For two supreme existences to meet in battle, yet one side brought along a woman—it was simply too arrogant.

Ye Chen smiled faintly in response. "There is no disrespect, only confidence."

Since the Eight-Crowned King's attitude was amicable, Ye Chen replied politely as well. As for disrespect, it truly did not exist. To him, this battle was nothing more than a formality. When the gap in strength was too vast, the question of respect no longer applied.

The quasi-immortal from the Dao One Holy Land narrowed his eyes, furious at the audacity.

The onlookers also burst into an uproar. The Heavenly Emperor's heir was truly boundless in his confidence. On what grounds?

Yet the Eight-Crowned King showed no anger. Instead, he burst into hearty laughter. "When I was young, I was just as arrogant as you. There's nothing wrong with a bit of arrogance—only the boring lack it. As for the rumors that you crave women and have formed bonds with many peerless female cultivators, it reminds me of myself in my younger days. To be honest, you're quite similar to how I was when I was young…"

Ye Chen: ???

Is this guy trying to take advantage of me? And is he forcing a backstory introduction again?

Chapter 1053: The Magnanimous Eight-Crowned King!

Ye Chen felt the urge to skip this part entirely. In games, he hated long-winded, irrelevant side stories that had little connection to the main plot.

However, Lan Nuo listened with rapt attention, her eyes sparkling. The surrounding crowd was equally intrigued.

After all, the Eight-Crowned King was a true legend. He had fought his way through blood and fire to obtain the World Tree. He could have ascended to immortality long ago, yet he had sat alone for a million years. Most importantly, during that time, he had the power to ensure every generation's Immortal Qi went to the Dao One Holy Land, yet he had never intervened.

Aside from claiming the Immortal Qi for himself across eight lifetimes, he had done nothing else. If it had been anyone else, the cultivation world would likely have been unified long ago, with the major holy lands wiped out.

Having such power yet showing no greed and exercising perfect self-restraint earned the Eight-Crowned King the respect of many experts. They were eager to learn about his past.

His era had come right after the Heavenly Emperor's age ended. The Heavenly Emperor had slain many powerhouses, and the myriad races had retreated to the Northern Domain. With the connection to the immortal realm severed, the cultivation world had undergone a massive reshuffling—an absolute age of chaos. Many events from that time had never been recorded.

The Eight-Crowned King looked at Ye Chen, who still held Lan Nuo in his arms, and a trace of reminiscence appeared in his aged eyes. He spoke slowly.

"In my youth, I possessed the Divine King Physique and was already among the best. With a Sacred Spirit Root as well, I was virtually unmatched in the same realm. Everyone believed I would become an immortal, and I thought so too.

"I met the Jade Pool Holy Maiden, and we fell in love. Unfortunately, the Jade Pool Holy Land had strict rules—their Holy Maidens never married outsiders. She was unwilling to abandon her sect and leave with me.

"Proud as I was back then, I told her to do as she pleased and continued my conquest of the immortal path. I even entangled myself with Holy Maidens from other major holy lands. It's hard to say there wasn't some element of revenge in my actions…

"I was simply too young and hot-blooded. Looking back, becoming a son-in-law of the Jade Pool Holy Land wouldn't have been unacceptable.

"Later, I was ambushed by some quasi-immortal old monsters from the Heavenly Emperor era who had failed to ascend. I fled into the Immortal Ruins. My origin was nearly destroyed, and I was on the verge of death. A group of quasi-immortals guarded the outside, waiting to finish me off.

"The entire cultivation world thought I was beyond saving. Those female cultivators forgot me one after another. Even the Dao One Holy Land abandoned me and refused to offer any help."

Hearing this, the crowd erupted in shock. They had never known the Eight-Crowned King had once been nearly killed.

The expressions of the Dao One Holy Land's quasi-immortal and the others changed drastically. They finally understood why the Eight-Crowned King, despite his supremacy, had always remained indifferent and emotionless toward the Dao One Holy Land.

They had assumed it was because he stood too high above the world, or because everyone from his era had died, leaving his emotions dulled. They had never imagined such a past existed.

Suddenly enlightened, the crowd grew even more curious about what happened next.

Ye Chen listened quietly as well.

The Eight-Crowned King raised his head with a touch of melancholy, gazing at something unseen. After a long pause, he continued.

"Everyone believed I would surely die and refused to save me. Only the Jade Pool Holy Maiden of that generation stole the sect's immortal root undying medicine…

"She cultivated a secret art that traded lifespan for speed. At the mere peak of the Great Saint realm, she broke through the blockade of multiple quasi-immortals and rushed into the Immortal Ruins.

"But the Immortal Ruins were vast. She searched for me for a long time. By the time she found me, she was already old and frail, on the brink of death…

"After feeding me the longevity medicine, she could no longer stand. She lay beside me and said she regretted not abandoning the Jade Pool Holy Land. She wished she had stayed by my side from the beginning—perhaps the outcome would have been different.

"By the time I recovered, she had already passed away.

"I had never cried in my life, not even when I was on the verge of death. But that day, I held her and cried without stopping.

"Because I regretted it too. If I hadn't been so concerned with my pride and had simply gone to the Jade Pool as a son-in-law, we wouldn't have been separated for so long.

"What followed was the usual story. Having survived death, I broke through to the quasi-immortal realm, then went out and slaughtered them all.

"I originally planned to kill more—wipe out the Jade Pool Holy Land for not letting her be with me, and destroy the Dao One Holy Land as well. After all, they had gained so many benefits from me, yet they abandoned me without hesitation…

"But suddenly, none of it mattered anymore. So I stopped."

The Eight-Crowned King spoke calmly, his voice flat and tranquil, as if recounting someone else's story.

The expressions of everyone from the Dao One Holy Land and the Jade Pool Holy Land changed drastically. They had never imagined their orthodoxies had nearly been wiped out by the Eight-Crowned King on a mere whim.

The crowd's reactions varied, and many now looked at the Dao One Holy Land with strange expressions. With such a history, would the Eight-Crowned King still bring anyone from the Dao One Holy Land with him if he won?

Ye Chen frowned and asked, "Why wait until now? If you had ascended in any of your previous nine lives, you might already be on the path to becoming an Immortal King by now."

With the Eight-Crowned King's exceptional talent and the World Tree as his Dao foundation, ascending to immortality earlier could very well have led him to the Immortal King realm by now.

The Eight-Crowned King smiled faintly. "What would becoming an Immortal King matter? The dead would still be dead.

"I have heard that there are realms beyond the Immortal King. In the end, one can transcend everything, reverse the river of time, and pull the deceased back from its depths.

"That is why I do not merely wish to become an Immortal King. I have waited patiently. I must take the Heart of the Jianmu Tree and carry the destiny of this world so that I can go even further.

"Only then will I have any chance of reuniting with her in the future."

The crowd erupted once more. In their eyes, an Immortal King was already an unimaginable existence. Yet the Eight-Crowned King wanted to go even further and resurrect someone who had died long ago. No wonder he had remained in this world for so long without ever interfering in its affairs.

Even Ye Chen felt a surge of respect as he looked at the old man. The Eight-Crowned King could have ascended long ago and might have reached a much higher realm by now, yet he had willingly endured a million years of solitude for the sake of reviving his deceased lover. It was truly extraordinary.

Ye Chen asked himself honestly and doubted he could do the same. He could only admire such resolve.

To be honest, seeing the Eight-Crowned King like this made Ye Chen feel a little embarrassed about competing with him for the Immortal Qi.

The Eight-Crowned King's aged, vicissitudes-filled eyes turned toward Ye Chen. "I should not have stayed in this era. You possess extraordinary talent and deserve to be this generation's immortal. But I must ascend in this life. Therefore, if you lose, I will give you all eight slots to enter the immortal realm. You may bring whoever you wish."

His words drew sharp gasps from the crowd. The Eight-Crowned King was truly generous to an astonishing degree.

The faces of the Dao One Holy Land members turned ashen. They had already packed their belongings, only to learn that their ancestor might actually be their enemy and had never intended to bring them along. It was a devastating blow.

Ye Chen, seeing how straightforward the old man was, shook his head with a sigh.

After a brief hesitation, Ye Chen spoke calmly, "If I win, I want the World Tree and the Front Secret. But I will also allow you to enter the immortal realm. Furthermore, if I transcend in the future, I will help you search the river of time and bring back that generation's Jade Pool Holy Maiden…"

Chapter 1054: Block One Strike from Me, and I'll Let You Ascend!

Although the Eight-Crowned King possessed great magnanimity and a tragic past, and his personal charm was undeniable, none of that was enough to make Ye Chen surrender the upcoming Immortal Qi or opportunities like the Heart of the Jianmu Tree.

His own strength remained the most important factor. Moreover, if true transcendence was possible, Ye Chen believed he had a higher chance of achieving it. If the Eight-Crowned King truly only wanted to resurrect his beloved, then securing Ye Chen's promise would already be a gain for him.

Hearing Ye Chen's words, the Eight-Crowned King smiled. His stooped figure slowly straightened.

His silver hair gradually turned black, and the wrinkles on his face began to disappear. In this moment, the Eight-Crowned King returned to his youth.

With flowing black hair, a middle-aged appearance, and dressed in white robes, he exuded an otherworldly grace and an innate nobility and majesty. Only his eyes remained filled with profound vicissitudes, as if they had seen through all the affairs of the world.

A terrifying aura erupted into the sky. A divine wheel materialized behind him, illuminating the nine heavens. It shone far brighter and more terrifying than Hua Yunfei's.

The void around the Eight-Crowned King collapsed like an avalanche, forming a vacuum zone in his vicinity.

"Agreed," he said. "If I lose, the World Tree and the Front Secret will naturally go to you. But young man, you are too confident. You have no idea what kind of existence you are facing. Even if a true immortal descended, I could still kill them.

“From ancient times to now, not only in this cultivation world but across all realms, no one has ever been stronger than I am at this moment. No quasi-immortal can surpass my current power."

At this moment, the Eight-Crowned King fully revealed his domineering side, completely different from the gentle old man he had been earlier. He now appeared as a peerless Divine King in his prime—heroic, vigorous, and capable of controlling life and death with a single thought.

The distant spectators all turned pale. Most of them were quasi-immortals who had prepared quasi-immortal arrays two and a half years in advance just to watch the battle. Yet now they realized with horror that they had still underestimated the Eight-Crowned King's terror.

Merely by releasing his aura, he forced the arrays to strain at full power. The spectators themselves felt overwhelming pressure. Weaker quasi-immortals began coughing blood, while Great Emperors were already heavily injured, their bodies constantly eroding.

Their eyes were filled with fear as they looked at the Eight-Crowned King. If anyone else had spoken those words, they would have dismissed them as empty boasting. But coming from the Eight-Crowned King, they sounded completely natural.

Even Wang Xuanji felt convinced in her heart. Indeed, no other quasi-immortal could compare to the Eight-Crowned King's strength. Even she at her peak, before her immortal spirit root was dug out, would not have been his match.

The Eight-Crowned King had already surpassed the limits of what a quasi-immortal could achieve.

She couldn't help but glance at Ye Chen. No matter how exceptional his talent was, he likely stood no chance. Yet Ye Chen was extremely lucky to have encountered a lone cultivator without ties. If he lost, all eight immortal slots would still belong to him. Once in the immortal realm, he could still ascend.

But now that Ye Chen had claimed one slot for himself, fewer remained. Her own chances had grown even slimmer.

At this thought, Wang Xuanji fell into complete despair.

Many others in the crowd shared the same sentiment, sighing over Ye Chen's fortune and misfortune. His misfortune was that he possessed the qualifications to ascend, yet the Eight-Crowned King had chosen this very lifetime to do the same. The benefits of ascending in the final era were immense, and Ye Chen would miss them. His fortune, of course, was that he still had a chance to ascend.

Lan Nuo gazed at the Eight-Crowned King, whose presence made the void around him continuously collapse as if he no longer belonged in this world. A trace of worry appeared in her eyes. Though her expression remained cold, she began sending voice transmissions to Ye Chen, intending to leave the battlefield so she wouldn't burden him.

Ye Chen merely smiled and shook his head at her. He then looked at the Eight-Crowned King and spoke softly, "No quasi-immortal can be stronger than you? Then today, you will witness one."

The Eight-Crowned King raised an eyebrow, then smiled. "Young man, you strike first."

He quite liked the young man before him and greatly appreciated his confidence. Throughout the ages, every prodigy who faced him on the Immortal Path had shown wariness, fear, or anxiety. Even after ascending, none dared contend with him.

Only this young man stood before him full of confidence, reminding him of his own past. In his youth, he too had been so spirited and arrogant, believing he could slay even the true immortals.

Dressed in his white robes, the Eight-Crowned King placed his hands behind his back and calmly watched Ye Chen, waiting for him to make the first move.

The spectators wore complicated expressions. They had not expected the final battle to lack even a trace of hostility. It almost felt like a friendly exchange.

Yet no one relaxed. Both sides were fighting for immortality, and neither would yield. What followed would undoubtedly be a world-shaking clash.

With one arm still wrapped around Lan Nuo, Ye Chen's lips curved into a faint smile.

In this moment, he held nothing back. His foundation, amplified eight hundred times, surged upward with explosive force. Endless qi and blood roared toward the depths of the Ninth Realm's starry sky. His Primordial Chaos Supreme Body, now elevated to two percent, caused his bloodline to surge like a tsunami.

Dressed in his golden silk yin-yang fish robe, Ye Chen's entire aura transformed. Though his face remained handsome, his eyes turned cold and majestic, radiating the lofty presence of a Heavenly Emperor. Even the quasi-immortals present felt an instinctive urge to kneel and worship.

Sensing this aura, the Eight-Crowned King narrowed his eyes as the divine wheel behind him shone with dazzling light.

Ye Chen simply extended one hand forward and made a casual grasping motion toward the Eight-Crowned King from afar.

In an instant, the entire Ninth Realm trembled.

Countless people looked up in horror as an immense golden hand, seemingly boundless, slowly descended from the depths of the universe.

The hand appeared forged from immortal gold. Each fingertip resembled a divine mountain, capable of suppressing everything in the world. Wherever it passed, the immortal sky shattered, great stars exploded, and endless voids collapsed into black holes. It was a scene of total annihilation.

Most terrifying of all, beneath this giant hand, everyone felt their bodies stiffen and lock in place. They could not flee, could not dodge. The weaker cultivators could not even resist and dropped to their knees.

Their faces were filled with utter disbelief. They knew the giant hand was not targeting them, but the Eight-Crowned King. Merely being caught in its peripheral force left them in despair.

This was no longer a divine ability. It was heavenly might itself. If this strike landed directly, it would not only kill them—it could obliterate even a holy land protected by immortal treasures.

At this moment, their gazes toward Ye Chen were filled with utter disbelief.

At the same time, Ye Chen's voice echoed throughout the entire Ninth Realm.

"Block one strike from me, and I'll let you ascend!"

Chapter 1055: Forbidden Realm!

As Ye Chen's words fell, the spectators stared in wide-eyed shock. Even Wang Xuanji furrowed her brows. His declaration was simply too arrogant.

The Eight-Crowned King had already reached a peak no quasi-immortal had ever attained before—the very summit of the mortal path. Not even the immortal realm could necessarily boast such a terrifying existence at the quasi-immortal level.

Yet Ye Chen, also a quasi-immortal, had claimed he would let the Eight-Crowned King ascend if the latter could block a single strike.

Everyone couldn't help wondering where the Heavenly Emperor's heir got such overwhelming confidence.

...

The now-youthful Eight-Crowned King looked up at the slowly descending golden hand that was closing in on him. He could clearly feel that he and everything around him had been locked down. There was no escape, no evasion—only a direct confrontation.

This was the power of the Heavy Pupils' innate divine ability—Heaven Opening.

The Eight-Crowned King couldn't help but nod in approval. The Heavenly Emperor's heir's talent and comprehension had reached an extreme. He had managed to fuse the Heavy Pupils' innate divine ability into his own Dao and laws without even activating the pupils themselves. This showed that Ye Chen had already tapped his Heavy Pupils to their utmost limit.

Not bad at all.

Of course, he had never intended to dodge anyway.

But after hearing Ye Chen's words, a smile appeared on the Eight-Crowned King's majestic and imposing face. It was not mockery, but the indulgent expression of an elder listening to a younger generation speak boldly without understanding the world.

"Ye Chen, you have never been defeated, so I understand your confidence," the Eight-Crowned King said slowly. "However, the immortal realm has countless prodigies, and above the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths stand even greater existences. You cannot dominate others with talent forever. One day, you will encounter someone with greater talent than yours. Losing to me today would not be a bad thing for you. It could help you walk more steadily in the future."

As he spoke, the divine wheel behind him shone brightly. A pure land manifested around him, filled with flowing spiritual springs and blooming immortal flowers, like a paradise beyond the mortal world. It made the Eight-Crowned King appear even more like a supreme Divine King, heroic and imposing.

The spectators, who were still reeling from Ye Chen's confidence, widened their eyes further.

"That's the Divine King Pure Land! The Eight-Crowned King has activated the bloodline divine ability of his Divine King Physique!"

"No, this is very different from the Divine King Pure Land in the records. It looks more like a true immortal realm!"

"Could it be that over the past million years, the Eight-Crowned King has taken his Divine King Physique even further beyond great completion?"

Everyone erupted in shock and awe. Even Hua Yunfei, who was present, revealed a look of surprise.

Ye Chen himself merely smiled faintly, showing little reaction to the Eight-Crowned King's words. He did not believe he would ever meet someone who could surpass him in talent in the future.

Standing within his pure land, tall and heroic, the Eight-Crowned King continued calmly, "For the past million years, I have been trying to elevate my physique to the next level. I studied countless secret arts and gathered endless treasures, and I finally succeeded in advancing the Divine King Physique into the Divine King Immortal Physique. Young friend, feel free to see for yourself whether my physique is inferior to other immortal physiques!"

The moment his words ended, the Eight-Crowned King's aura surged dramatically. His white robes fluttered as endless divine beams of light shot upward from the pure land around him. Each beam was incredibly thick, like pillars holding up the heavens, causing the entire world to tremble.

The dense forest of divine beams seemed capable of supporting even a collapsing sky.

Yet the moment the endless divine beams touched the golden hand, the hand merely trembled slightly. The countless beams exploded instantly, unleashing chaotic currents across the sky.

The Eight-Crowned King's Divine King Pure Land was also affected. It turned into a wasteland in an instant, shattering inch by inch before exploding completely.

The spectators fell deathly silent. Only countless pairs of widened eyes remained.

The smile on the Eight-Crowned King's face faded slightly as he looked up at the golden hand, which had barely paused and continued descending slowly but inexorably, like the end of the world.

Just the vibration from the hand had destroyed his Divine King Pure Land. This truly exceeded his expectations.

Still, the Eight-Crowned King retained a faint smile, showing no sign of panic. Perhaps because the hand was descending relatively slowly, he did not rush to counter. Instead, he gazed at Ye Chen and spoke with a smile:

"Ye Chen, to break even a Pure Land so easily is something that a true immortal from back then could not achieve. However, I once spent a hundred thousand years gathering all Nine Secrets.

"The Nine Secrets do not fully complement one another. Some cannot even be used together, which has always been a great regret of mine. Especially the Front Secret—it allows one to enter the forbidden realm, breaking through limits and unleashing combat power far beyond one's own realm.

"But once inside the forbidden realm, the Battle Secret and the Multiplier Secret cease to function. After that, I spent another three hundred thousand years comprehending and refining them. I finally achieved some success.

"I named it the Jade Pool Lament. On top of entering the forbidden realm, it provides an additional fivefold amplification in all aspects and can be maintained for one hundred breaths…"

The Eight-Crowned King's words left the spectators in utter amazement. The Nine Secrets were all supreme techniques. Only top prodigies could obtain even one. Yet the Eight-Crowned King had already begun fusing them. A fivefold amplification on top of breaking through one's limits? Just how terrifying would the Eight-Crowned King's power become?

Ye Chen's eyes lit up with genuine interest. He had long wanted to unify the Nine Secrets himself, as legends claimed that their complete fusion could rival Immortal King-level divine abilities and scriptures. It seemed those rumors were true. The Eight-Crowned King had already proven it was possible, and Ye Chen was confident he could do even better.

He watched with anticipation, eager to experience the results of the Eight-Crowned King's efforts.

With a wave of his hand, the Eight-Crowned King's white robes fluttered. A profound and mysterious aura erupted.

In this moment, the Eight-Crowned King entered an extremely esoteric state, as if he had transformed into an immortal. His already terrifying aura surged once more. The sound of the Great Dao even echoed throughout the world—tangible, colorful ripples of unparalleled splendor.

The Eight-Crowned King stood with a faint smile, his entire body bathed in a sacred divine glow, like a Divine King descending upon the mortal realm to overlook all living beings.

The spectators erupted in shock again. At this moment, the Eight-Crowned King truly resembled a true immortal. Even Wang Xuanji was deeply shaken. Such a technique was extremely rare even in the immortal realm, and its effect approached that of an Immortal King divine ability.

Without another word, the Eight-Crowned King threw a Divine King Fist toward the descending golden hand in the sky.

Wherever this punch passed, the void spiraled and collapsed, forming massive spatial tornadoes that roared upward. The tornadoes grew larger and larger, surrounded by endless rules that destroyed everything in their path.

The punch was domineering to the extreme, as if it had reached an entirely different level. Every onlooker felt its unrivaled, supreme dominance.

However, when this Divine King Fist—amplified by the fused Nine Secrets—collided with the golden hand, endless chaotic energy surged beneath the hand, as if evolving into a chaotic realm.

The Divine King Fist plunged into it and vanished without a sound, completely annihilated by the chaos.

Chapter 1056: The World Tree!

Watching his Divine King Fist—powerful enough to shatter a realm—vanish silently into nothingness, the Eight-Crowned King narrowed his eyes.

In an instant, his white robes billowed as if he had become a war god. Countless fist shadows erupted outward, each one as powerful as the first. Yet the golden hand continued its slow, inexorable descent, now less than a hundred meters away. Not a single punch could break through the chaos to touch it.

The spectators fell silent once more. They had never imagined that even the Eight-Crowned King at such terrifying strength would still fail to stop the Heavenly Emperor's heir's single strike.

Realizing he could not break through no matter what he tried, the Eight-Crowned King slowly lowered his hands. The smile he had worn until now completely disappeared, replaced by solemn gravity.

He no longer felt the need to explain every move as he had before. He brought his palms together, and a faint green light rippled across his chest. The next moment, a small green tree slowly emerged from his body, shifting from illusion to solid form.

In an instant, boundless green vitality washed over the area around the Eight-Crowned King. A mysterious power enveloped him. To the onlookers, it seemed as though countless worlds were being born and extinguished around him.

Everyone's eyes widened.

This was the World Tree in the Eight-Crowned King's possession.

The tree was small, only a few dozen centimeters tall, with just eight tiny leaves. Yet this seemingly harmless sapling was a supreme treasure coveted by every cultivator in the world.

Once it grew a ninth leaf, it would leave its juvenile stage. Refining it would grant effects surpassing even a Sacred Spirit Root. And if it produced the Heart of the World Tree and reached full maturity, it would be comparable to an Immortal Spirit Root.

Who wouldn't want an Immortal Spirit Root? It offered supreme comprehension, top-tier aptitude, and perfect harmony with the Great Dao. It was said that by choosing any one Dao to cultivate, one could fully master it and ascend to the Immortal King realm as long as their luck wasn't terrible.

But the World Tree's wonders went far beyond that. It could also serve as a weapon, growing stronger without limit and becoming nearly unstoppable. It could enhance its owner's life force as well—the Eight-Crowned King himself was living proof.

In short, the World Tree was so radiant that calling it the most precious treasure in the world would not be an exaggeration.

It was said that in the Eight-Crowned King's second life, after he obtained the Immortal Qi but chose to remain, he had been besieged by the entire world. Everyone wanted to seize the World Tree. Yet no one could touch him, which firmly established his reputation as unrivaled.

Wang Xuanji stared at the World Tree, her entire body trembling. This was the reason she had descended to the lower realm. It was her only hope of reaching the Immortal King realm.

Yet now, there was no hope left. She was not even a match for the Eight-Crowned King in his normal state, let alone now. As for Ye Chen, whether he won or lost had nothing to do with her, because he would never give it to her.

Seeing the World Tree at last, profound sorrow filled Wang Xuanji's bright eyes.

...

Having summoned the World Tree, the Eight-Crowned King looked at Ye Chen with solemn intensity and couldn't help speaking again. Perhaps after so many years without encountering a worthy opponent, he found it hard to suppress his emotions upon meeting Ye Chen.

"Even in my battle against that true immortal back then, I never brought out the World Tree," he said seriously. "You have forced me to reveal all my trump cards. Even if I win, it will only be thanks to the power of the World Tree. The World Tree's might has already surpassed ordinary immortal weapons. It can unleash its full strength without any restrictions. Losing to the World Tree is not a true defeat for you."

Ye Chen paid little attention to the Eight-Crowned King's words. He simply gazed at the World Tree with focused interest, thinking it was quite beautiful. In his mind, he was already considering what kind of rewards he would receive after gifting it away.

The Eight-Crowned King said no more. He looked up at the ever-closer golden hand that carried increasing pressure and gently waved the World Tree in his hand.

The moment the World Tree moved, the entire Ninth Realm shook violently. The earth quaked and the mountains trembled.

An unimaginable surge of world force, vast as endless mountains and seas, roared forward like towering waves crashing toward the giant hand.

The entire Ninth Realm's world force converged into this single strike. The Eight-Crowned King was essentially resisting Ye Chen with the power of an entire world. In his view, such boundless world force could make even a true immortal suffer greatly; if they did not flee, they would be eroded and disintegrated by it.

No matter how much chaotic energy protected Ye Chen's strike, it should have been meaningless before the World Tree's mobilized world force.

Indeed, the nearly endless world force scattered the chaotic energy beneath the golden hand and crashed against the giant palm in wave after wave without end.

For the first time, the golden hand paused.

A faint smile had just begun to form at the corner of the Eight-Crowned King's mouth when his expression changed drastically.

The golden hand had only stopped for a brief moment before it continued pressing downward. The endless world force was being melted away at an alarming speed.

Beneath the giant hand, six illusory worlds now revolved continuously. The power of reincarnation surged like the Six Paths of Samsara, refining and erasing everything in its path.

The Eight-Crowned King's face twisted in shock. He had previously sensed the power of reincarnation within Ye Chen's fist intent, so he had been aware of it. But he had never imagined it could reach such a terrifying level.

The giant hand was now less than fifty meters away. The pressure alone made his body feel unbearable strain. Even with the World Tree's protection, it was useless. Cracks began spreading across his body.

The World Tree's green vitality immediately healed the injuries the moment they appeared, so outsiders could not even tell he had been hurt. But the Eight-Crowned King himself knew the truth clearly.

His power surged wildly as he pushed the World Tree sapling to its limit. His heart was filled with disbelief. He could not accept that he, who had stood unrivaled in the cultivation world for a million years, would lose in a single strike.

In this moment, the Eight-Crowned King unleashed every ounce of power he could muster. Yet everything proved futile. The golden hand continued its relentless descent, unstoppable and unending.

Under the widened eyes of every spectator, the golden hand finally stopped right before the Eight-Crowned King's forehead.

His aura collapsed completely. He could clearly sense that he was truly about to die. He also understood that the fact he had been given the chance to use all his trump cards meant Ye Chen had already shown mercy. With Ye Chen's mastery of Dao and laws, combined with his foundation and strength, killing him would have taken only an instant.

Therefore, the Eight-Crowned King stopped struggling.

His eyes, fixed on Ye Chen, were filled with confusion. To have his million years of invincibility end in such a manner—even someone as open-minded as him, who cared for little beyond reviving the Jade Pool Holy Maiden, found it extremely difficult to accept.

He looked at Ye Chen, opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing.

The golden hand then completely dissipated.

A heavy silence fell over all the cultivators in the Ninth Realm. No one had expected the final battle to end so quietly.

Chapter 1057: I'll Give You a Copy Later!

The entire arena remained silent. There wasn't even a single gasp of surprise.

The battle had been so calm it felt more like a sparring match. The Heavenly Emperor's heir had shown no killing intent at all. Yet it was precisely this strike without killing intent that the Eight-Crowned King, undefeated for a million years, could not resolve.

The gap in strength between them had reached a level none of the spectators could even imagine. They had always known the Heavenly Emperor's heir was terrifying, but they had never expected him to be this terrifying.

Hua Yunfei stood frozen with a look of utter shock on his face, feeling that no matter how long he hid and cultivated, he would never catch up to this junior brother.

The most shaken person present was undoubtedly Wang Xuanji. Coming from the immortal realm, she understood better than anyone just how inconceivable Ye Chen's displayed strength was. She suspected that even He Wushuang—the unparalleled Immortal King regarded as the greatest prodigy in the history of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths—might not have been a match for Ye Chen at the same realm.

As for herself? Even before her immortal spirit root was dug out, she would not have performed much better than the Eight-Crowned King and definitely could not have blocked that single strike.

Wang Xuanji's face filled with bitterness. She had maintained such a superior attitude before, believing her fall was only temporary and secretly looking down on Ye Chen. Only now did she realize that she had been the clown all along.

No wonder Ye Chen had never treated her with any special regard because of her talent. To him, no one's talent could compare to his own, so he saw no need to differentiate. It wasn't that he was unworthy of her—it was that she was unworthy of him.

...

As the golden giant hand dissipated, a bitter smile appeared on the Eight-Crowned King's face.

"This is the first time I truly understand how meaningless effort is in the face of absolute talent," he said. "After the Heavenly Emperor's era ended, I never showed arrogance outwardly, but deep down I had already considered myself unrivaled. I even believed that the Heavenly Emperor, the Devourer, and the Moral one of the same realm would have to bow before me.

Only after meeting you today do I understand what true invincibility is, and how laughable I was in the past."

The Eight-Crowned King had not suffered any real injuries in this battle, yet he felt his Dao heart had been damaged. A million years of effort, and he couldn't even block a single strike from Ye Chen. Such a blow would devastate any prodigy, let alone someone like him who had remained at the quasi-immortal realm for a million years due to various reasons and opportunities.

Ye Chen shook his head gently. "I am not inferior to anyone in terms of effort. You simply haven't seen it. My current achievements come from ninety-nine percent effort and only one percent talent. Fellow Daoist Eight-Crowned King, there is no need to belittle yourself."

The corner of the Eight-Crowned King's mouth twitched. He had been the one to initiate this battle and had waited a long time for Ye Chen to arrive. He had assumed Ye Chen was cultivating in seclusion because he lacked confidence.

Only later did he learn that Ye Chen had been traveling the world, visiting his Dao companions, and had even gone to the myriad races' immortal city instead of coming to fight him. If that counted as effort, then no one in the cultivation world was truly hardworking.

Still, the Eight-Crowned King soon smiled again, this time with genuine relief. With a wave of his hand, a jade slip flew out.

At the same time, he gazed deeply at the small tree in his hand, his eyes filled with reluctance and regret. But he did not hesitate for long. He gently released it.

The World Tree floated toward Ye Chen together with the jade slip.

A faint smile appeared on Ye Chen's face. After scanning the jade slip with his divine sense, he looked at the Eight-Crowned King with slight surprise.

The Eight-Crowned King gave a carefree laugh. "The jade slip contains all Nine Secrets, as well as my own fused technique—Jade Pool Lament. I'm giving them all to you. Perhaps they will bring you some insight. With your talent, you may be able to truly fuse them into an Immortal King-level divine ability. If we meet again in the immortal realm, send me a copy once you've perfected it."

Ye Chen raised an eyebrow, then smiled. This Eight-Crowned King truly knew how to accept defeat with grace. He had real bearing. Once he received the feedback from gifting the tree, he would share a copy with him. That way, no one could say he was stingy or went back on his word.

Ye Chen nodded to the Eight-Crowned King. "Rest assured, Fellow Daoist. I may have some gains very soon."

The Eight-Crowned King smiled. He had spent several hundred thousand years to achieve only this much. No matter how high Ye Chen's talent was, he didn't believe the young man could gain anything significant in a short time. He simply took it as polite words.

Ye Chen did not mind his attitude. He reached out and let the World Tree hover above his palm. Its leaves swayed gently, continuously releasing green life force and world power. The life force was relatively weak; the power was mainly from the world.

Not only was Ye Chen watching the World Tree—every cultivator present had their eyes fixed on it. Yet their gazes were clear and calm, without the slightest trace of greed.

After all, they couldn't even defeat the Eight-Crowned King. How could they possibly harbor any ill intentions toward the Heavenly Emperor's heir, who had brought the Eight-Crowned King to the brink of despair with a single strike?

No one could seize the World Tree from the Heavenly Emperor's heir unless he chose to give it away himself.

This was the World Tree—unique in the world and comparable to an Immortal Spirit Root once fully mature. No matter how generous Ye Chen might be, he would never gift something so precious to others.

Just as everyone had expected, the Heavenly Emperor's heir did not offer it to Lan Nuo beside him, nor did he mention giving it to any of his other female cultivators. He simply let the small tree hover above his palm, observing it with great interest.

At first, a trace of reluctance lingered in the Eight-Crowned King's eyes, but it soon vanished completely, replaced by calm acceptance.

As fellow quasi-immortals, Ye Chen had proven stronger than him despite his million years of accumulation and experience. What did that mean? It meant Ye Chen's talent had reached an absurd level. If anyone between them had a chance of achieving transcendence, it was clearly Ye Chen.

In that case, the World Tree would be far more useful in Ye Chen's hands. As long as he could resurrect his beloved, the Eight-Crowned King was willing to give up not only the World Tree but even his own life. He only hoped that Ye Chen would keep his word.

...

Under the gaze of the crowd, Ye Chen held the jade slip between his fingers and turned his head to look at Lan Nuo in his arms. The system cooldown had just ended, so he could present a gift now.

He could not give away the World Tree yet. It still needed one more wisp of Immortal Qi to grow its ninth leaf and enter its growth phase. Only then would he fuse the Heart of the World Tree into it to maximize its value before gifting.

However, the Jade Pool Lament that the Eight-Crowned King had fused was the perfect gift. And Lan Nuo was the ideal recipient.

To outsiders, Lan Nuo still appeared cold and aloof, every bit the proud immortal fairy. But Ye Chen knew exactly how hot her body had become and how soft she had turned after watching him defeat the Eight-Crowned King with a single hand.

Lan Nuo loved moments like this, when many people were watching. Gifting her the Jade Pool Lament right now would give her all the face she could desire. Moreover, she had a strong passion for increasing her combat power and loved showing off in public.

Compared to her, Yan Ruyu was mysterious and seemed to have her own path, while Senior An had little interest in fighting and could endure solitude well. Therefore, even though Lan Nuo's multiplier was only ten thousand—lower than Senior An's and Yan Ruyu's—she was still the most suitable choice.

Chapter 1058: The Heavenly Emperor's Heir Is Gifting Again!

Of course, there was still one person present with the highest multiplier—fully eighty thousand times. She seemed to have improved enough to be worth a gamble. However, she was unstable, and Ye Chen could not see through her true character. She might very well be a one-time investment.

After all, she came from an Immortal King family in the immortal realm and had always been proud and arrogant. Her current miserable state was solely because her spirit root had been dug out. Once she obtained the World Tree, she would likely return to her old ways.

Therefore, Ye Chen would not give her any gifts before handing over the World Tree.

...

Ye Chen turned his gaze toward the Eight-Crowned King. Since the latter had just given him the technique and was still present, it was only right to show respect and seek his consent.

"I have a close friend whose talent is astonishing. Her comprehension is nearly unmatched in this world—even I feel inferior. She may be able to help perfect the fusion of the Nine Secrets," Ye Chen said. "May I have your permission, Fellow Daoist Eight-Crowned King, to gift this technique to her so we can study it together?"

Surprise appeared on the faces of those around them. Who possessed such exceptional talent and comprehension that even the Heavenly Emperor's heir, whose own abilities had just been proven supreme, would praise her so highly and admit he was inferior?

Could it be Hua Yunfei? He seemed to be the only male friend the Heavenly Emperor's heir had.

Many instinctively looked toward Hua Yunfei.

Hua Yunfei felt a bit embarrassed. It was a bit much… He knew his comprehension was indeed outstanding, and his junior brother had good judgment, but there was no need to exaggerate like that.

The Eight-Crowned King had already accepted the gap between them and regained his usual calm, carefree demeanor. Upon hearing the request, he smiled confidently. "Since I have given it to you, you may do with it as you wish. Even if you choose to make it public in this world, I have no objections. Besides, I am quite curious which fellow Daoist could earn such high praise from you."

A person like the Eight-Crowned King had no fear of his techniques leaking and allowing others to catch up. If he worried about such things, he would not be the Eight-Crowned King.

At that moment, not only the spectators but even Wang Xuanji and the others were impressed by the Eight-Crowned King's bearing. They all felt that even without the World Tree, he would still be able to carve out his own legend once he entered the immortal realm.

Ye Chen, hearing this response, even felt a bit petty in comparison. He naturally had no fear of his own techniques or divine abilities being leaked either, since the path he walked was unique and impossible for others to replicate. Perhaps he should spread his own scriptures as well?

The only issue was whether the original owners of those scriptures would approve. Aside from the Heavenly Emperor Scripture, most of the techniques he had acquired belonged to the major holy lands. Generously giving away others' possessions would be inappropriate. He decided it would be better to wait until he created his own techniques before spreading the Dao.

...

With the Eight-Crowned King's approval, Ye Chen took out the jade slip once more. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, he turned to Lan Nuo.

Lan Nuo lacked the strength to even fly on her own. Her mind was still replaying the earlier exchange and battle between Ye Chen and the Eight-Crowned King. Although the Eight-Crowned King had lost, he had carried himself with great presence, especially with that final magnanimous act. She wondered if she should share her Lan family's immortal scripture as well. She wasn't sure whether her parents would be angry.

While she was still lost in thought, Ye Chen brought the jade slip before her.

Was this jade slip meant for her? Was she the "close friend with astonishing comprehension who is unmatched in this world" that her master had spoken of?

Lan Nuo froze.

The expressions of the crowd grew complicated, especially those from the Lan family. They knew Lan Nuo's comprehension was decent, but they also knew exactly how strong it truly was. Most spectators shared similar thoughts. Though no one voiced any objection, they all sighed inwardly. This was indeed the Heavenly Emperor's heir they knew—willing to say and do anything to gift something to his woman.

The Eight-Crowned King simply smiled without comment. He truly did not mind. Seeing Ye Chen go to such shameless lengths for his woman reminded him of his own past. If he had been as bold as Ye Chen back then, perhaps things would not have ended so tragically. A deep envy filled his heart—envy for Ye Chen, and for the women by his side.

As for Wang Xuanji, she no longer felt much resentment. Instead, she reflected on herself. She had probably acted too arrogantly when she first descended, with overly obvious intentions and little effort to hide her cold pride, which had offended Ye Chen.

If she had approached him sincerely and with honesty from the beginning, perhaps she would be standing beside him right now. Even if he would not have given her the World Tree, he might at least have brought her into the immortal realm and helped her return to the Wang family.

In the end, Wang Xuanji could only let out a soft sigh.

Lan Nuo thoroughly enjoyed the feeling of being watched by everyone. Moreover, since her master had already spoken such words for her sake, she could not afford to falter and embarrass him.

Despite the intense embarrassment she felt inside, her expression remained perfect. Besides, the Jade Pool Lament was an incredibly powerful technique. It provided an all-around boost equivalent to having all Nine Secrets active at once. Possessing it would dramatically increase her combat strength, allowing her to continue showing off even after entering the immortal realm.

"In that case, I thank Fellow Daoist Ye and Fellow Daoist Eight-Crowned King for your trust," Lan Nuo said as she accepted the jade slip. "If I gain any insights, I will naturally share them with both of you."

She remained calm and composed, showing no excessive excitement. Though her voice was not loud, it reached everyone's ears clearly.

Her dignified demeanor left the spectators half-believing and half-doubting. Could Lan Nuo truly be a genius whose comprehension surpassed even the Heavenly Emperor's heir?

...

Ye Chen smiled as he watched Lan Nuo's seemingly unmoved appearance. Of course she was not lacking in gratitude. On the contrary, once they were alone, she would give herself to him completely and pour out all her thanks.

The system prompt sounding in his mind served as clear proof.

"Congratulations, Host. Gift successfully presented…"

"Gift: Jade Pool Lament!"

"One hundred thousand times feedback in progress…"

"Detected that the gifted item holds extreme importance to the recipient…"

"Triggering maximum critical strike feedback…"

"Detected that the Host…"

"Triggering perfect strike!"

"Feedback: Supreme Art!"

Ye Chen raised an eyebrow at the feedback.

Supreme Art? The name sounded quite domineering.

He immediately continued reading.

"Supreme Art: When the Heavenly Emperor broke through to the Immortal King realm, he used his own insights to perfect and fuse the Nine Secrets, creating the Supreme Art. With it, he swept through nine Immortal Kings and fought against supreme existences…"

"The Supreme Art can comprehensively increase a cultivator's Qi, physical body, strength, speed, divine soul, and law power by ten times. There is no time limit, but it places immense strain on the body and soul. The limit is determined by the maximum capacity the user's body and soul can endure…"

"The Supreme Art is effective on both true immortals and Immortal Kings…"

Chapter 1059: Invincible Under Heaven!

Ye Chen raised an eyebrow as he read the feedback. So the Heavenly Emperor had not only gathered all Nine Secrets but had even deduced and perfected them himself. That was truly impressive.

He felt that the Heavenly Emperor was the kind of existence who could not be judged by talent alone—he was constantly growing and evolving.

As for this Supreme Art, it was genuinely remarkable. A tenfold increase might sound ordinary at first, but in practice it was astonishing. For cultivators, even doubling one's strength was enough to crush all previous enemies. Each subsequent increase brought exponential gains, making its value immeasurable.

Ye Chen had examined the Eight-Crowned King's Jade Pool Lament. While it offered a fivefold boost, it was incomplete, full of flaws, and lasted far too short a time. The Supreme Art, however, was different. As long as the body and soul could endure the strain, it could be maintained indefinitely.

Of course, such a massive amplification came with enormous pressure, but for Ye Chen, that was hardly an issue. One day, he might even make the Supreme Art his normal state. At that point, he would truly be unrivaled.

...

Overall, Ye Chen was extremely satisfied with Lan Nuo's gratitude.

At that very moment, the stars in the Ninth Realm's sky began to tremble and rotate, tracing out strange and profound trajectories. A mysterious aura started to ripple across the world.

The cultivators, who had still been reeling from the battle and marveling at the Heavenly Emperor's heir's generosity toward his Dao companion, now widened their eyes. Their expressions were filled with complicated emotions.

This phenomenon signaled that the Immortal Qi was about to emerge.

The battle for immortality in this era had come to an end. The Heavenly Emperor's heir would undoubtedly ascend. And after this final moment of brilliance, the cultivation world would enter the Age of Dharma Decline.

Aside from the few who could leave with the Heavenly Emperor's heir, this realm would become a cage. There would be no more hope of escape. Future generations would grow weaker, until one day they might become ordinary mortals incapable of cultivation altogether.

Even Lan Nuo and the others, who knew they had slots to leave, felt a wave of melancholy at the thought of parting from their families forever.

Only the cultivators from the Dao One Holy Land showed little disappointment. They had already been devastated when the Eight-Crowned King said he would not bring them along. Now that he had lost, they felt strangely relieved.

Thus, the cultivators in the Ninth Realm felt little excitement in this moment.

The Eight-Crowned King also gazed upward at the sky, feeling a touch of emotion. The Immortal Qi he could have claimed in nearly every lifetime would not belong to him in this final one.

Still, he calmly reminded Ye Chen, "The Immortal Qi will emerge in about one week. The Heart of the Jianmu Tree should appear as well.

“Use the World Tree sapling to absorb the Immortal Qi. With enough treasures invested, it can grow its ninth leaf within a day or two and enter its growth phase. At that point, you can refine it. The Immortal Qi within will directly help you ascend.

“As for when it will produce the Heart of the World Tree, that is uncertain. Even without it, the tree is comparable to a Sacred Spirit Root. With both, your cultivation speed and comprehension will improve greatly after ascension. Once the Heart forms, it will be equivalent to possessing an Immortal Spirit Root."

Ye Chen nodded and looked up at the sky as well. The Immortal Qi was finally about to appear. He was about to step into a new world. For a moment, he felt a trace of melancholy.

The fearful young man who had once hidden behind a shop counter after first arriving in this realm already felt like a distant memory, yet it also seemed like it had happened only yesterday.

In the blink of an eye, he was about to leave for a new world. The only difference was that this time, he would not feel the same fear and unease he had felt back then. He was no longer the same person.

Thinking back on his cautious journey and the transcendence the Eight-Crowned King had mentioned, Ye Chen almost wanted to ask the old man whether he could truly reach the other shore.

He sat quietly in the void.

The spectators showed no intention of leaving either. They waited patiently, hoping to witness the emergence of the Immortal Qi.

Cultivators outside the Immortal Path had also noticed the anomaly and knew the Immortal Qi would soon appear. However, since Ye Chen had only entered the Ninth Realm not long ago, they assumed the battle had just begun and might not even be over by the time the energy fully emerged.

No one knew who would ultimately claim victory.

Everyone waited patiently. Only Lan Nuo sat cross-legged like an immortal fairy lost in enlightenment, completely unmoved by the outside world as she focused intently on comprehending the technique.

Ye Chen watched her and couldn't help smiling. He planned to gift the Supreme Art to the Eight-Crowned King in Lan Nuo's name right before the Immortal Qi emerged. That would surely make her even happier.

Wang Xuanji noticed the gentle look in Ye Chen's eyes as he gazed at Lan Nuo. She looked at the changing sky, then back at him, and could only let out a soft sigh.

...

Two days later, the spectators had finally digested their initial shock and began to discuss the battle in low voices. Their eyes toward Ye Chen were now filled with awe and reverence.

After defeating the Eight-Crowned King, Ye Chen had become the undisputed number one expert in the world. All the old monsters, ancient fossils, and seniors were nothing but ants before him.

Looking back on Ye Chen's journey, aside from his deep affection for his female cultivators, he had been ruthless and decisive. He had nearly wiped out the entire younger generation of prodigies from the myriad races, and quite a few from the human race as well. The ones who died were mostly peerless geniuses who, in any other era, would have ascended without question—monsters who might appear only once in ten lifetimes.

If the Heavenly Emperor of the past had walked a path of overcoming the strong with the weak and constantly breaking his own limits, then the Heavenly Emperor's heir of this era had crushed all opposition on his way to the peak.

Neither the Eight-Crowned King, the Exiled Immortal, the Ture Immortal's remnant, nor the Celestial Prince had ever forced him to reveal his true trump cards. Until the moment of ascension, no one knew the full extent of his power. He had never been forced to use his full strength. This was unprecedented, and it would never happen again.

Ye Chen had become invincible under heaven. Calling him the strongest quasi-immortal across the myriad realms and heavens would not be an exaggeration.

As the crowd reflected on all this, time passed quickly. One week went by in the blink of an eye.

The Ninth Realm's sky, which had been filled with shifting stars and countless profound phenomena, finally came to a stop. A small, pure land that seemed isolated from the world, existing as its own separate domain, slowly drifted down and appeared before everyone.

The pure land was transparent, allowing everyone to see inside clearly. Within it floated a single wisp of Immortal Qi—a power far superior to spiritual Qi.

The bloodlines of all the quasi-immortals present stirred violently. With that wisp of Immortal Qi, they could ascend.

Yet they all remained calm and rational. Because this Immortal Qi already had an owner. And its owner could crush the entire world with a single hand if he wished. No one wanted to court death.

AN: The next update will be in three days.