ISWI Chapter 1196-1197 (Patreon)

Chapter 1196: Huo Linglong Was Envious!

Huo Linglong’s eyes widened.

Nangong Wan, meanwhile, felt an indescribable craving surge toward that great moon from a body that should have already felt completely full. Her constitution and spiritual roots trembled violently.

“This is the Nine Heavens Clear Radiance Realm Moon, a supreme treasure of the same rank as the Great Sun Origin Core. For cultivators who primarily cultivate the Great Yin Dao, it is an even greater peerless treasure, more precious than the Great Sun Origin Core itself. You actually possess something like this as well?”

Huo Linglong was truly shocked.

The waist chain and curved blade collided, carving fissures through the void before her long legs.

Nangong Wan said nothing. She was seeing this object for the first time, yet from her body’s reaction alone she could sense that Huo Linglong’s words were true. Still, she suppressed the feeling and showed nothing on her face.

Ye Chen smiled faintly at the words and cast an appreciative glance at Huo Linglong. He quite liked having someone as knowledgeable as her standing nearby to explain. If he had to introduce it himself, the effect would have been somewhat lacking.

Ye Chen nodded. “This is indeed the Nine Heavens Clear Radiance Realm Moon. I obtained it from Xie Linyuan.”

Huo Linglong understood at once. She immediately grasped why Xie Linyuan had been looking at Ye Chen with those eyes full of anger, frustration, and grievance over a stolen treasure. Ye Chen truly had not cared in the slightest about Xie Linyuan’s background.

Yet Huo Linglong gazed at the Nine Heavens Clear Radiance Realm Moon with a touch of regret and could not help speaking. “Your physical body is overflowing with pure yang energy. You should have kept the Great Sun Origin Core for yourself. Giving this item to Wanwan, matched with her Great Yin Immortal Body and Great Yin Sacred Root, would have been the most suitable choice and would have brought her many benefits in the future. But the Great Sun Origin Core has already been stained with Wanwan’s aura. It is too late to exchange them now.”

Huo Linglong genuinely felt it was a great pity. This treasure was clearly more suitable for Wanwan, while Ye Chen himself was far better suited to the Great Sun Origin Core.

Nangong Wan quickly shook her head. “The Great Sun Origin Core is excellent as well. I already feel completely satisfied.”

She believed Ye Chen had his own reasons for giving her the Great Sun Origin Core while keeping the Nine Heavens Clear Radiance Realm Moon. She supported whatever he decided.

Ye Chen smiled at her words and looked toward Nangong Wan. “This item is indeed more suitable for Wanwan. As for what is more suitable for me, there is no need to mention it further, because this treasure was always meant to be given to Wanwan as well. With it, yin and yang will combine, and Wanwan’s potential will become even more astonishing.”

The moment the words fell, Huo Linglong’s eyes widened to the extreme. He had planned to give it to Nangong Wan from the beginning? This… Was Ye Chen not planning to advance his cosmos any longer? Even if he loved Nangong Wan deeply, he should not go this far.

Nangong Wan’s first reaction was to wave her hands. “To be honest with the Fourth Ancestor, I already possess the Great Yin Immortal Body and Great Yin Sacred Root. Obtaining this Nine Heavens Clear Radiance Realm Moon would only be icing on the cake. Its significance is limited. Please keep it for yourself, Fourth Ancestor!”

Huo Linglong looked at Nangong Wan’s insincere refusal with a hint of helplessness. An opportunity of this level was truly too important for Nangong Wan. Yet she could refuse it without the slightest hesitation. The feelings between the two of them were genuine indeed.

Ye Chen also smiled. “This item was prepared for you. I will never use it. I will soon prepare to advance to the Profound Immortal realm and sublimate my inner cosmos. I already have more suitable treasures. If you do not need it, then leave it for someone fated. Or have my Martial Niece find a fated person instead.”

With that, Ye Chen pushed the Nine Heavens Clear Radiance Realm Moon straight into Huo Linglong’s hands.

Huo Linglong: …

The two of you are exchanging gifts so affectionately. What is the meaning of dragging me into this? And you are not even giving it to me!

Yet Ye Chen’s attitude remained firm. The item truly possessed divine efficacy for Nangong Wan. Thus he could not help offering a few more words of persuasion. While Nangong Wan still struggled, Ye Chen once again spoke the usual platitudes about acting for the greater good and that a gift from an elder must not be refused.

In the end, Nangong Wan could only accept it with difficulty. She was truly embarrassed. She threw herself directly into Ye Chen’s arms, her delicate body trembling lightly as she murmured, “Fourth Ancestor, do I truly deserve for you to treat me so well?”

Ye Chen smiled and gently stroked the straight jade of her back, speaking softly, “You deserve every beautiful thing in this world.”

Nangong Wan was moved even more deeply. Had her master not been present, she feared she would already have wanted to repay him on the spot in gratitude to the Fourth Ancestor.

Huo Linglong watched the two of them and felt an especially sour sensation. Yet deep within her heart a strange loneliness stirred. Over so many years she had possessed countless admirers. But never had a man given everything so selflessly. For a moment she even felt a touch of envy.

Huo Linglong no longer wished to remain a moment longer. Still, before leaving, she could not help voicing the confusion in her heart. “Old Fourth Ancestor Ye, why did you not give them together instead of separately?”

Nangong Wan also lifted her head from Ye Chen’s shoulder with some curiosity. This was a question that puzzled her as well.

Ye Chen smiled lightly at the words. “Naturally, because if they were given together, Wanwan would certainly have refused.”

Hearing this, Nangong Wan held him even tighter. She no longer even cared that her master was still present. Fourth Ancestor truly loved her so much.

Listening to words spoken entirely out of consideration for Nangong Wan, the strange emotion in Huo Linglong’s heart boiled ever more fiercely. She glanced at the two embracing figures and simply turned to leave. She was afraid the envy in her eyes would be seen by them.

Advancing a cosmos with both the Great Sun Origin Core and the Nine Heavens Clear Radiance Realm Moon together, allowing yin and yang to combine, brought boundless benefits—several times the effect of using either alone. An opportunity of that magnitude was one that even the most supreme prodigies of the Immortal Realm would never abandon, let alone yield to another. Yet Ye Chen had done exactly that without the slightest hesitation. He had even worried that Nangong Wan might refuse and insisted on giving them separately.

This truly…

For a moment, Huo Linglong’s resolute heart loosened. A trace of confusion appeared in her eyes. In this lifetime, could she ever meet a man who would treat her the way Ye Chen treated Nangong Wan?

If she could, even leaving the Jade Pool Immortal Sect would be something she accepted willingly. Yet fools like that were far too rare. How could she possibly encounter another one!

With such complicated emotions, Huo Linglong flew out of the cave dwelling. She looked closely at the Great Sun Glazed Purification Pool. The disciples waiting on either side within the pool saw her and hurriedly paid their respects. Some even stood up directly from the water. For a moment, the scene was a feast for the eyes.

“Elder, will you use it as well? I shall have the disciples leave first.”

An elder spoke.

Huo Linglong shook her head without the slightest hesitation. “There is no need. Simply clear a small space for me in the exact center. There is no reason to delay the disciples’ cultivation.”

The elder nodded at once. Huo Linglong then summoned her top-grade immortal weapon, the Fire Lotus Divine Platform. Lotus blossoms continuously surged across the platform, blooming with vast immortal qi. It flew into the space cleared for her at the center. Even under the scorching of the Great Sun essence, it showed not the slightest reaction and continued to circulate freely.

Huo Linglong smiled at once, isolated the aura around the space, and then flew into it. While flying over, she confirmed that Ye Chen had not yet emerged. Only then did she store the dress that seemed on the verge of collapse into her cosmos. She slowly sat upon the divine platform and sank into it.

Chapter 1197: He Family

The divine platform was a top-grade immortal artifact. It was unafraid of immersion and melting in the Great Sun Glazed Purification Pool. Lotus flowers of flame continuously rose from the divine platform, protecting Huo Linglong herself. But the lotuses within the divine pool were affected, appearing and disappearing at an extremely fast rate. They were constantly born and constantly destroyed.

Occasionally, small gaps would appear in the process. This made Huo Linglong somewhat embarrassed. After all, Ye Chen's cave abode was right in front. But fortunately, Ye Chen had not come out. She did not know what he was busy with.

Huo Linglong gradually relaxed and immersed herself fully in cultivation. Endless top-grade Great Sun essence penetrated everywhere. Huo Linglong had never experienced such a pleasurable cultivation session. She quickly let go completely and sank into it.

...

"Congratulations, Host, on successfully gifting a present..."

"The gift given by the Host is: Nine Heavens Clear Radiance Realm Moon!"

"Two hundred thousand times feedback in progress..."

"Detected that the gift given by the Host..."

"Triggering maximum critical hit feedback!"

"Triggering heart strike feedback!"

"Triggering double amplification for Dao Companion feedback!"

"Feedback: Primordial Chaos Moonlight Origin Crystal!"

"Primordial Chaos Moonlight Origin Crystal: Refined from the first ray of moonlight at the beginning of Primordial Chaos..."

"Using this item to advance one's inner universe..."

"One can obtain the protection of Primordial Chaos moonlight, activating Primordial Chaos moonlight. According to one's own realm and the enemy's realm, it can ignore or weaken divine soul attacks and rapidly recover physical and soul injuries. Even Immortal King-level origin injuries can still be gradually healed..."

"The user's comprehension speed of the Great Yin Dao is increased by a thousand times. Upon reaching the Immortal Monarch realm and achieving perfection, they will definitely be able to comprehend one Great Dao in the future and master the Great Yin Art!"

"..."

Reading the feedback, Ye Chen smiled. The feedback was roughly as he had expected. But the effects were a pleasant surprise. Protected by Primordial Chaos moonlight, it could ignore or weaken divine soul attacks.

The Wang Family's Primordial Spirit Sword Embryo from the Soul-Quelling Decree did have some substance. The other party would definitely attack him again in the future. Wang Xuanji was most likely also a white-eyed wolf. After recovering with the World Tree, she would very likely stand on the opposite side. Now with the protection of Primordial Chaos moonlight, he basically did not need to pay any attention to the Wang Family.

The sword art the Wang Family was so proud of, the Soul-Quelling Decree, was completely countered by him. And the certainty of comprehending the Great Yin Dao in the future made Ye Chen smile even more. He had now secured two Great Daos. The path to becoming an Immortal King in the future would truly become even simpler.

Ye Chen looked at Nangong Wan with satisfaction. Nangong Wan's two feedbacks had left him extremely pleased. She truly was a good girl with a grateful heart.

Thinking of this, Ye Chen recalled the maidservant under his command. Maidservant Liu Ruyan had not returned to Jade Pool Immortal Sect with him. She had gone back to her family first and would come to Jade Pool Immortal Sect later.

...

Sensing Ye Chen's gaze mixed with love and pity, Nangong Wan only felt her body grow warm. But even she was indeed somewhat tired. "Fourth Ancestor, I am a bit tired and need to rest for a while..."

Ye Chen immediately smiled. "You should rest. Rest well!"

After all, in another week, there would still be the Chaos Star Orbit to gift to Nangong Wan. Ye Chen felt that the feedback from the Chaos Star Orbit would definitely not disappoint him either. Perhaps it could help him pre-book another Great Dao... Under these circumstances, Nangong Wan, this great contributor, naturally deserved a good rest.

...

Dark undercurrents surged through the Immortal Realm.

Originally, the news that a successor of the Heavenly Emperor had appeared, slain a prodigy of the Wang Clan, and even caused the Seven Extremes Heavenly Maiden to become pregnant had spread like wildfire.

Yet most people simply refused to believe it. They all mocked the ones fabricating such rumors, calling them addled in the head. That was an incarnation of the Seven Extremes Heavenly Maiden. Who would dare lay a finger on her?

Claiming she had been made pregnant was even more ridiculous. A mere Heavenly Immortal, what qualification did he have to break through her defenses, let alone impregnate her?

But soon enough the rumor attracted no further attention. News concerning the Other Domain had emerged and seized everyone’s focus. Lately the seal on the Emperor Pass had been trembling without cease. The day of its rupture drew ever closer and was now less than a thousand years away. In recent days, a will from the Other Domain had transmitted into the Emperor Pass, leaving every powerhouse standing guard there utterly shocked.

After learning the content of that will, the Hall of Heavenly Secrets invited the experts of many top-tier forces to gather three years later and discuss countermeasures.

At the same time, every major top-tier force was ordered to bring the young prodigies of their own generation. The ten strongest among them would be selected for special cultivation and given great opportunities. Twenty years later, experts of the Other Domain would act to open a single crack. Ten of their prodigies would descend and battle the prodigies of the Immortal Realm.

This battle was, of course, not merely for the sake of deciding a winner and loser. It concerned destiny, popular support, the favor of the Great Dao, and more. It could be called a struggle over the fate of the realms themselves, intimately tied to the future of the Immortal Realm. Should the Immortal Realm suffer a crushing defeat, its popular support and destiny would shift. The Other Domain might well descend ahead of schedule.

At that time the Immortal Realm would lose all confidence and be crushed as easily as dry weeds. If they won, however, the destiny of the Immortal Realm would rise. In future confrontations with the Other Domain, they might gain even a slim extra chance of victory.

In short, the entire Immortal Realm was shaken. It was said that every top-tier major force, in order to cultivate this batch of geniuses to face the prodigies of the Other Domain, had expended tremendous effort. Many opportunities never before heard of were brought forth. Anyone who became one of the ten seed candidates would receive layer upon layer of enhancement and soar to the heavens in a single step. The only restriction was extremely strict regarding age. Only cultivators under three thousand years of age qualified to be called prodigies and to be selected.

For a time, countless prodigies looked forward to it with great anticipation.

Meanwhile, in the He Clan of the Immortal Realm, the clan head wore a broad smile.

“Excellent. The Nine Heavens and Ten Earths are finally about to descend upon this world once more. Our branch of the He Clan charged too fiercely back then and became stranded in this realm. After nearly seven hundred thousand years of bitter waiting, we have at last obtained the chance to return home. This assembly of the Hall of Heavenly Secrets—our He Clan will also send prodigies to take part!”

At these words, the others all showed expressions of astonishment. They were remnants of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths. How could they participate in an assembly convened by the Hall of Heavenly Secrets precisely to counter the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths? That would be striking at themselves! When the time came, they would certainly be caught between both sides and trusted by neither.

The He Clan head smiled faintly. “All of you are members of my He Clan, and you were born in the Immortal Realm. On what grounds are you not people of the Immortal Realm? If they refuse to let our He Clan participate, we will simply make a great uproar right now and see who can endure it. The various native forces of the Immortal Realm have indeed brought out quite a few fine things, determined to raise the combat strength of the Immortal Realm’s prodigies by several levels so they can oppose the prodigies of our Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.

"Though the notion is laughable and far beyond their station, the items themselves are truly excellent. Certain opportunities among them would move even me. Naturally, you must compete for them, raise your own strength, and when you return to the main clan in the future, you will also raise your own status. As for the arena matches? Simply concede at once. Your defeat will allow the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths to break the pass even earlier. We can destroy this world that much sooner and finally return home.”

Hearing this, the He Clan prodigies under three thousand years of age all revealed looks of excitement. Yet soon the clan head continued, his expression turning solemn.

“The matter of the lower realm has also finally come to light…”