ISWI Chapter 1213-1222 (Patreon)

Chapter 1213: This Is Not Right!

The two immediately halted.

Ye Chen held the so-called Blue Gold Immortal Jade and listened to their words, promptly feeling the matter grow dull. Previously, when Xie Linyuan had subtly indicated that he had grown stronger and that Ye Chen should treat him with caution, he had specifically mentioned that his own compression ratio had reached a hundredfold.

This item merely broke the fiftyfold limit. It could not even match what Xie Linyuan used and thus held little interest. Yet Ye Chen still accepted it. It was not as though it could not be gifted. After all, not everyone possessed Xie Linyuan's conditions. He could take it back later and give it to that female Golden Immortal at his door who had accidentally stood up from the pool the moment she saw him.

Upon accepting the item, the divine pillar above Ye Chen's head rose a little higher still. In the distance, the two both revealed expressions of wariness. They remained in place, not daring to approach, yet unwilling to leave.

Ye Chen's moral bottom line stood high, and the pair's level was truly not high, feeling roughly on the same tier as the former Nalan Qingxuan. After all, a full hundred thousand prodigies had come this time; a greater number of mediocre ones was only natural. Ye Chen held not the slightest intention of fishing. He merely smiled toward the two and continued flying toward the depths of the secret realm.

Only then did the two notice Ye Chen's cultivation and immediately widen their eyes. Middle stage of the Profound Immortal realm? The shock in their hearts surged like towering waves. It was not that Ye Chen's cultivation was too high, but that it was far too low. A Profound Immortal dared to enter? Was he treating himself as a free gift for others?

They stared tongue-tied, yet quickly recalled a certain matter. The male old ancestor of the Jade Pool Immortal Sect, the contemporary successor of the Heavenly Emperor, middle stage of the Profound Immortal realm…

Everything matched.

The two exchanged a glance, exploration appearing in their expressions. Amid the wariness stirred a restless urge. They, of course, knew Ye Chen's record: the destruction of Wang Teng and a draw with Xie Linyuan. That Wang Teng had been touted as possessing the bearing of an Immortal King and had indeed shown several brilliant achievements, yet outsiders all believed this was the Wang Clan manufacturing momentum.

The Wang Clan had first lost their Immortal King old ancestor. The Immortal Spirit Root they had finally obtained had not been properly hidden and had been dug out. The old had died, and the young had been crippled. If they could not produce a successor, the various major powers would likely grow restless. Thus, Wang Teng had most likely been built up through a manufactured reputation. How great his true aptitude was remained hard to say.

Xie Linyuan, on the other hand, was genuinely powerful. Yet at that time, Xie Linyuan had only been at the peak of the Profound Immortal realm and had still managed a draw with Ye Chen. Profound Immortal and Golden Immortal were two entirely different matters.

The combat strength increase brought by immortal power compression rolled upward in multiples. A Celestial Immortal Ye Chen could draw with a Profound Immortal, yet a Profound Immortal would not find it so easy to fight a Golden Immortal. The two of them were both early-stage Golden Immortals. With the two of them together, it might not be impossible.

Their thoughts turned over a hundred times, yet in the end they still did not act. This fellow was, after all, the successor of the Heavenly Emperor and the old ancestor of Jade Pool. Who knew whether he possessed all sorts of messy trump cards? Moreover, outside rumors claimed he possessed an Immortal Spirit Root.

True or false, it inspired wariness. They felt that though they dared not act, others certainly would. In only a single day, the divine pillar above Ye Chen's head had already grown so tall. Afterward, someone would inevitably be unable to restrain themselves. They would wait until someone probed his cards and then play the role of the fisherman.

Thus, the two also smiled amicably toward Ye Chen before turning to leave. Yet they soon concealed themselves within the chaos and followed after him!

Ye Chen seemed to notice nothing at all and continued flying leisurely toward the depths of the Chaos Secret Realm.

Zhao Tianxing and Zhao Tianxiang were brothers from a family that possessed a seventh-heaven Origin Immortal. The family had paid no small price to secure the opportunity for the two of them to participate in this grand ceremony. The brothers possessed self-awareness and harbored no dreams of becoming one of the Ten Outstanding. They merely wished to use this investment to obtain as many opportunities as possible, grow stronger, and ideally break through to the Great Luo realm.

In this manner, the two leisurely concealed themselves and followed behind Ye Chen. Having heard that Ye Chen possessed Heavy Pupils, they kept a great distance, absolutely refusing to give him any chance of discovering them. They looked forward to Ye Chen encountering a ruthless expert and engaging in a great battle.

Yet soon their eyes widened. Ye Chen had not yet met any ruthless expert. Instead, another stream of light flew directly into the hand before him. The two brothers possessed sufficiently sharp eyes, and after obtaining the treasure, Ye Chen happily raised it high and even sent it flying in a circle around himself. Thus, they clearly saw that it was a high-grade immortal artifact.

This luck was far too good, was it not? Recalling the treasure they had pursued with great effort for a long time yet failed to catch, then looking at the high-grade immortal artifact that had flown straight into Ye Chen's embrace, they felt a measure of dejection. Yet amid the dejection, their hearts grew ever more tempted. After all, the more Ye Chen obtained, the greater the benefits when they eventually harvested him. The greed in their eyes thickened further.

Another two hours passed. A peculiar metal flew into Ye Chen's hand. The brothers did not recognize the metal he held, yet merely from the degree to which the divine pillar above his head surged—identical to when he obtained the high-grade immortal artifact—they knew it was absolutely a fine item. At this moment, they grew extremely excited, as though the treasure had flown into their own hands.

Another half day passed. A treasure light streaked by. The divine pillar above Ye Chen's head surged once more. The two had already begun to doubt life itself. Had this fellow somehow mastered a back door to the secret realm and activated automatic treasure collection?

One or two instances could still be explained as good fortune, yet these treasures were drilling into Ye Chen's embrace as though gone mad. It was far too outrageous. Could Ye Chen be the true son of the Immortal King who had died here in those years? Had the Immortal King's will been passed down and was now sheltering him?

In this manner, three days passed in the blink of an eye. The brothers stared at the golden divine pillar above Ye Chen's head that now stood a full thirty meters tall and doubted life itself. They truly suspected that the spirit of this secret realm was the Immortal King who had died back then. If they dared to act against Ye Chen, would they not be slapped to death directly by the secret realm's spirit?

Just as they felt the situation utterly outrageous, shocked, and even somewhat panicked, giving rise to the thought that they no longer dared to continue following, another person arrived. The newcomer was a late-stage Golden Immortal who appeared to possess decent strength. Above his head stood a half-meter-tall faint golden divine pillar, clearly indicating that he had obtained some gains.

Yet the Immortal Realm stretched too vast, and the brothers did not recognize him. Still, expectation rose in their hearts at once. They hoped this person would act against Ye Chen so they could observe the situation. Although a late-stage Golden Immortal was powerful, with the two of them joining forces and striking with intent against one without, they might not lack an opportunity.

Yet soon disappointment appeared on their faces. Upon seeing Ye Chen, the late-stage Golden Immortal cultivator merely smiled and then turned to leave. Quickly, however, the brothers keenly sensed that the late-stage Golden Immortal cultivator had also begun trailing behind Ye Chen. This caused them to grit their teeth and curse the man as a coward in their hearts. A dignified late-stage Golden Immortal actually dared not act against a middle-stage Profound Immortal. This immortal had truly cultivated in vain!

Several more days passed in succession. In this manner, the number of people following behind Ye Chen grew ever greater. They watched with wide eyes as one precious or rare treasure after another that others could only dream of simply flew casually into Ye Chen's hands. The divine pillar above his head broke past a hundred meters and even turned somewhat reddish from its yellow hue. Even from a million miles away, one needed no divine sense to see the light of that divine pillar. Amid their temptation, they also felt extreme fear. This was far too wrong!

Thus, even as the gathered people increased in number, not a single one dared to act. All trailed from afar, hoping that someone else would strike first!

Chapter 1214: The Immortal Radiant Beast

Zhao Tianxing and Zhao Tianxiang discovered that the number of people drawn by the Heavenly Emperor's successor had grown ever greater, already reaching a full hundred. Some had even obtained treasures and could not hide the divine pillars above their heads, yet they still followed.

If Ye Chen merely glanced back, he would absolutely see dozens of pillars. Yet Ye Chen simply did not look back. From time to time, he collected a beam of treasure light, stood still to examine it carefully for a while, played with it for a moment, and only then stored it away into his internal world.

Watching this, Zhao Tianxing and Zhao Tianxiang felt the situation grow ever more eerie. Had Ye Chen failed to notice them? That was certainly impossible. Yet he showed not the slightest reaction and continued flying as though no one else existed. It was difficult for the two not to suspect that Ye Chen was fishing, playing the pig to eat the tiger.

But… no matter how strong Ye Chen might be, he was still only at the middle stage of the Profound Immortal realm! And behind him? They alone had already discovered around a hundred Golden Immortals. Even if Ye Chen possessed numerous trump cards and could fight Golden Immortals across realms, he could not possibly handle so many.

Yet the less they understood, the less they dared to act. They only hoped someone else would strike first and probe. Scanning the surroundings, however, they found that the concealed auras all displayed exceptional patience, as though sharing the same idea and waiting for others to make the first move.

This filled the Zhao brothers with secret resentment. What had become of the prodigies of the Immortal Realm? Facing a mere Profound Immortal, they dared not act. With such trash heart natures, what was the point of cultivating immortality?

Thus, many cultivators within the Chaos Secret Realm witnessed a bizarre scene. A middle-stage Profound Immortal cultivator, bearing a golden divine pillar that had turned reddish, flew westward as though no one else existed, completely unconcerned that anyone might waylay him for his treasures.

Not far behind him, at a glance, it seemed there was nothing at all. Yet with only a slight application of intent, one could sense the auras of Golden Immortal after Golden Immortal, and further see slender, short divine pillars flying about in disorder.

This…

Those immortals who had felt tempted upon first seeing Ye Chen now sensed something was wrong. So many people followed, yet none acted. This fellow was certainly extraordinary. Yet since everyone dared to follow, there might still be a chance to fish in troubled waters.

Thus, the number of people trailing behind Ye Chen grew ever larger. Some even stopped concealing their auras and flew openly, waiting for Ye Chen's reaction. Yet Ye Chen continued forward as though utterly unable to sense them. Only the divine pillar above his head continued to climb and turn redder.

"Brother, are we just going to keep following like this? More and more people are gathering. Fishing in troubled waters is fine, but now there are more people than fish! Why not let me secretly unleash a single spell to test this person and also throw the situation into chaos?"

Zhao Tianxiang was growing restless. Zhao Tianxing remained patient and immediately soothed him. "Those we have detected, together with those we have not yet discovered, I feel may already number a thousand when combined. Among them, there are certainly many stronger than us. Setting aside everything else, I have already found several peak Golden Immortals! Yet they all obediently remain hidden. What does that indicate? There is definitely a problem! Under these circumstances, do you want to be the bird that sticks its head out and die? Do not be hasty. Wait for them to act first."

The other cultivators trailing behind all shared the same thought. With so many people present yet all waiting obediently, what did it indicate? This fellow certainly had a problem. Moreover, within the Chaos Secret Realm, the treasures had received special enhancement and flew extremely fast. Many treasures discovered in the chaos could not be caught, no matter how they pursued. Yet they simply flew casually into Ye Chen's embrace.

Who knew whether the Heavenly Secrets Hall was up to something and had left a back door? This Ye Chen might also share some connection with the Heavenly Secrets Hall. After all, in those years, the relationship between the Heavenly Emperor and this old good man, the Heavenly Secrets Immortal King, had not been particularly poor.

In short, everyone remained exceptionally cautious. The long lifespans of immortals also granted them greater patience. All waited for others to act first. Yet that patience vanished completely the moment a massive golden radiance shot straight toward Ye Chen's face.

When Ye Chen reached out, the golden light dispersed and revealed the treasure within. It was an enormous golden bone fully half a man's height. It more closely resembled the leg bone of some immortal beast and emitted an extremely special fluctuation. The golden bone was pure from top to bottom, as though forged from the most refined pure gold.

The instant Ye Chen grasped the item, the divine pillar above his head surged upward by a full fifty meters. Nearly half of its color transformed into red.

Truthfully, Ye Chen did not recognize the object. Yet, from the amplification of the divine pillar above his head, he knew it was a fine item. He therefore held it in his hand, examined it carefully, and even actively sent it flying several circles around himself.

Most of the onlookers behind him also failed to recognize it. A minority, however, instantly widened their eyes. In particular, several demon-race cultivators mixed among them all contracted their pupils.

"This is a remnant leg bone of the Immortal Radiant Beast."

"This item can assist Golden Immortal cultivators in compressing the immortal power within their bodies. A leg bone of this size can nearly help a Golden Immortal compress to a thousandfold and break through the limit!"

"Was this beast not extinct for a million years? Why would remains appear here?"

"With this item, I will advance further."

At this moment, many cultivators truly could no longer restrain themselves. Their auras grew restless, and some even spoke aloud. There was no other reason. This golden leg bone was simply too precious.

In the Immortal Realm, there had once existed a type of demon beast known as the Immortal Radiant Beast. Immortals had discovered with amazement that its remains, after special refining methods, could assist Golden Immortals in compressing their internal immortal power.

After compression, the power became even more golden in hue, and its might even more terrifying. When cultivators who had used this item acted, their immortal power would surge forth like a golden torrent that annihilated everything.

Moreover, the higher the compression ratio a cultivator achieved while at the Golden Immortal realm, the greater the benefits for subsequent realms. Under these circumstances, the preciousness of the item could be imagined. It could almost raise one's upper limit by another full step.

Because the efficacy of this beast's bones was far too heaven-defying, when it was discovered more than two million years ago, it immediately faced a crisis of racial extinction. The major powers nearly hunted them to the last.

Not only the human race, but the demon race itself slaughtered even more fiercely. Yet because the killing proved too intense, the clan's numbers plummeted at a frightening speed. By the time everyone finally reacted, fewer than a hundred bloodlines remained. The major powers began attempting to rear and breed them, pouring in vast resources.

The clan, however, understood their own fate. If they continued to reproduce, they would merely have their bones extracted generation after generation to nourish the top prodigies of every race. The future held not the slightest light. Thus, some of the clan took their own lives. Those who failed to end themselves also resolutely refused to reproduce or cultivate. In this manner, the clan formally went extinct. The Immortal Radiant Beast became a final swan song.

No one had imagined that after so many tens of thousands of years, a single bone would emerge within the Chaos Secret Realm. At this moment, no one could remain calm!

Endless killing intent boiled forth and pointed toward Ye Chen. Boundless fluctuations of immortal power also began to brew.

Chapter 1215: The Immortal Spirit Root Is Too Terrifying!

"This fellow has something strange about him, yet if everyone acts together now, no matter how strange he may be, he will still die with regret."

"The bone of the Immortal Radiant Beast is extremely special. Only Saint Immortals and above can destroy it. Everyone need not worry…"

"Blast open this fellow's internal cosmos. The treasures within will surely be countless…"

"This fellow is the Heavenly Emperor's successor. His internal cosmos must still hide the Heavenly Emperor's secret treasury. Even if divided equally, it will be enough for all of us to ascend to the heavens in a single step…"

Someone immediately roared. Having endured for far too long, under the temptation of the Immortal Radiant Beast's leg bone, they finally erupted completely. The other cultivators, upon hearing these words, could no longer restrain themselves either. They indeed harbored wariness toward Ye Chen.

After all, his behavioral patterns were far too strange. Yet with so many Golden Immortals acting together at this moment, even a Great Luo present would suffer heavy injuries. Ye Chen's death was certain. The treasures he had obtained, along with the possible Heavenly Emperor's secret treasury, would all belong to them.

In an instant, endless immortal light boiled forth. The chaotic qi of this place retreated. Countless immortal techniques, or pale-golden and bright-golden immortal power, crashed toward Ye Chen from every direction. The quantity was so great it seemed capable of destroying heaven and earth. Within the space where Ye Chen stood, the chaos was directly evaporated.

Zhao Tianxing and Zhao Tianxiang came from a minor family. Hearing of the Immortal Radiant Beast's leg bone left them somewhat stunned; they completely failed to understand what it was.

"Brother, what is that?"

"I do not know, but it is certainly a fine item!"

"Shall we act?"

"Act…"

Zhao Tianxing thought that since everyone else was acting, they, of course, ought to act as well. His family possessed a spell called Substitute Attack. If driven into the battlefield, it might allow them to seize the treasure first.

Yet just as he opened his mouth and prepared to call his younger brother to act together, his voice cut off abruptly. His eyes widened to their fullest. His pupils contracted, filled with fear and incredulity…

At the very center of the attacks that washed over the area like a ground-cleansing flood, Ye Chen himself finally turned his head. Facing the overwhelming assault that was as brilliant as fireworks, not the slightest fear appeared in his expression. There was only a trace of a smile.

At this moment, Ye Chen's gaze seemed to meet everyone's eyes. His lips parted lightly, and every person heard the voice in their ears.

"I have waited so long. You finally dare to act…"

This peculiar method caused everyone's expressions to change. Many felt something was amiss and sensed that matters were wrong, yet they simply could not discover the problem. After all, no matter how terrifying Ye Chen might be, he was still only a Profound Immortal. Even if he truly possessed an Immortal Spirit Root, he was still only a Profound Immortal. On what basis was Ye Chen so confident? Clearly, he was the prey, yet that gaze made him resemble a hunter.

Everyone remained puzzled, yet in the next moment, they all understood. Ye Chen merely pointed lightly with a single finger. At the tip of that finger, a chaotic divine light flickered. In the next instant, the endless chaotic qi around Ye Chen surged forth madly.

A peculiar pure land rose instantly and enveloped a range of a hundred thousand miles around him. Not only were all the attacks enveloped within it, but the cultivators surrounding and attacking Ye Chen likewise found themselves inside.

The instant the pure land rose, the overwhelming attacks that seemed capable of destroying everything, blotting out the sky and covering the sun, halted in place. They could advance not a single step further, as though a pause button had been pressed.

In the next moment, endless chaotic power rolled forth. Every immortal technique, immortal art, and divine ability was completely extinguished, as though they had never existed!

Everyone trembled. What kind of method was this? They knew Ye Chen possessed Heavy Pupils. Yet Heavy Pupils counted for little in the Immortal Realm. The chaotic pure land created by Heavy Pupils absolutely did not possess such mighty power and profundity.

Moreover, Ye Chen was merely a Profound Immortal. On what basis could a divine ability casually erase the attacks of so many Golden Immortals?

At this moment, some sensed something amiss and wished to retreat. Yet it was already too late. Standing at the center of the pure land, Ye Chen resembled a deity, or even the Heavenly Emperor himself. He chuckled lightly and slowly extended an open palm. In the next instant, he clenched it tightly…

Endless chaos rolled and obscured heaven and earth. Instantly, boundless explosive sounds rang out from every direction within the pure land. Zhao Tianxing and Zhao Tianxiang stared in terror at a spot not far beside them.

A late-stage Golden Immortal existence, eyes filled with disbelief and fear, opened his mouth wide, yet had no time to speak before his fleshly body exploded and was extinguished. All vitality dissipated in an instant.

Directly ahead of the two brothers, a peak Golden Immortal suffered an identical fate and fell in that very moment. The brothers listened in extreme terror to the ceaseless explosive sounds, trembling violently and feeling as though the end of days had arrived. What exactly was happening? These were all Golden Immortals. Why had Ye Chen merely raised a hand lightly and caused everyone to fall one after another like ants? Would the next one be themselves?

At this moment, the fear in their hearts reached its extreme. They felt they might explode in the next instant. Even their violently pounding hearts seemed ready to burst. The explosive sounds lasted only an instant, yet to the two of them it felt like an entire lifetime. When they sensed the surroundings grow quiet and were astonished to discover themselves completely unharmed, their eyes widened. The two looked at each other, filled with incredulity. Even late-stage Golden Immortals had died. On what basis had the two of them survived?

Looking into the distance, one could see that more than a hundred people in the void could no longer conceal their forms. Amid their terror was confusion, mixed with the relief of surviving a catastrophe, as they stared blankly at the surroundings. They too did not know why they still lived. Yet the gazes they directed at Ye Chen already resembled those looking upon a deity—a deity who could casually control their life and death. For they could not even see through Ye Chen's methods.

Ye Chen regarded them and smiled faintly, as though solving their confusion. "You did not act against me just now, so there remains room for reform. Yet while the death penalty may be spared, the living penalty is hard to escape. From now on, collect treasures for me with peace of mind."

Ye Chen was not a person who slaughtered indiscriminately. Since these people had not acted against him, he would not kill them. After finding Little Xie later, he would have Little Xie lead them in searching for treasures on his behalf. He himself could then cultivate in peace at the exit. It could be called making the best use of everything.

Upon hearing his words, everyone was somewhat dumbfounded, and amid the confusion felt guilty. The Zhao Tianxing brothers, for instance, felt especially guilty. It was not that they had not wished to act, but that they had not known what the Immortal Radiant Beast was and had delayed for a moment. They had never expected that delay to produce a chance at life. The others roughly shared the same thought and merely felt fortunate.

Yet amid the fortune, their hearts grew ever more alarmed. With so many people and so many chaotic currents, under these circumstances, Ye Chen had still been able to clearly distinguish who had not acted. This showed that Ye Chen's divine abilities were not only terrifying; even his primordial spirit had reached an inconceivable degree of strength. Was this the terror of an Immortal Spirit Root? It was far too outrageous!

No wonder Wang Xuanji of the Wang Clan had her Immortal Spirit Root dug out. Something this terrifying, once it grew up, would be unstoppable. If it were them, they would dig it out as well!

Chapter 1216: The Scripture of Myriad Laws!

In that moment, the crowd's understanding was completely overturned. Their impression of an immortal spirit root had become something extraordinary. Not only could it slay enemies across ranks, but a casual strike could annihilate countless foes of higher rank. The sheer terror of it left them shaken.

Zhao Tianxing and his brother finally confirmed that Ye Chen had truly been fishing earlier, not merely bluffing while waiting for reinforcements.

Ye Chen raised a hand and withdrew his domain, casting a regretful glance over the survivors that made them tremble. He gathered the harvested origins and divine souls, tossed them into his inner world for automatic processing, then looked calmly at the remaining hundred-plus people.

"Does anyone object to what I said just now?"

Silence fell at once. Who would dare object? Simply by trailing after the crowd, they had already revealed their ill intentions. In such circumstances, Ye Chen had only killed those who struck first—an act of genuine mercy by immortal-realm standards. Being alive at all was already fortunate; none of them would risk a word of protest.

Seeing no one speak, Ye Chen continued, "Since there are no objections, why have you few still not handed over your treasures?"

The handful of cultivators whose heads still bore divine pillars shuddered, yet offered up their prizes without the slightest hesitation. Ye Chen accepted them, nodded in satisfaction, and spoke in a leisurely tone.

"Just as before, follow behind me. Once I find an administrator for you, you can begin working. Serve diligently. When I become one of the Ten Elites and later an Immortal King, I will remember the contribution you made today."

With that, he turned, in high spirits, and continued his unhurried journey westward. Zhao Tianxing and the others exchanged helpless looks, then trailed after him with dejected faces. Escape never crossed their minds. Against a being who could erase hundreds of Golden Immortals with a single blow, they dared not harbor even the faintest rebellious thought.

Ye Chen pressed deeper. Treasures that flew to him of their own accord grew fewer, yet their value rose sharply. The divine pillar above his head climbed steadily until it neared five hundred meters and turned a pure, blazing red. Wherever he walked, he radiated a deep crimson glow, like a walking sun.

Though he now held many treasures, he felt no urgency to bestow them. The female cultivators within his inner cosmos—Luo Bingling, Lu Jing, even Senior An—still possessed rather low multipliers. Gifting them now would be a loss. Better to wait for the feedback to appear and share the gains directly. He preferred to present gifts only after reuniting with his aunt. Her current multiplier of one hundred and fifty thousand was not especially high, yet it was sufficient.

His plan was simple: locate his aunt first, then head together to the exit and block the gate, cultivating through daily gifts. One year outside equaled three years within the secret realm. The chaotic immortal force saturating the area further accelerated cultivation. The boost meant little to Ye Chen himself, yet he believed that three years, used wisely, would be enough to reach the peak of Profound Immortal or even break through to Golden Immortal.

He activated the Supreme Art born from the fusion of the Nine Secrets and layered it with the power of reincarnation. Recalling his aunt's aura in his mind, he soon fixed upon a rough direction—westward, the same path that led toward the core. The thought of seeing her again filled him with open excitement and lifted his spirits high.

Zhao Tianxing and the others behind Ye Chen continued to follow in concealment as ordered. Along the way, they encountered quite a few Golden Immortals. The moment those Golden Immortals saw the divine pillar above Ye Chen's head and sensed his cultivation, their entire worldview wavered.

Noticing the large number of people trailing stealthily behind him, their minds raced. This youth was suspicious, yet already under heavy scrutiny. They might as well join the pursuit. The treasures he had obtained were surely immense; if they could fish in troubled waters, they might soar to the heavens in a single leap.

With that thought, they slipped into the ranks and followed in secret. The veterans already in Zhao Tianxing's group watched the newcomers with complicated expressions. Since Ye Chen had given no order, they made no move.

More than that, they suspected this was exactly what Ye Chen wanted—especially after catching the brilliant smile on his face. Their certainty only deepened. Looking at the late arrivals, Zhao Tianxing and the others even felt a touch of pity. These people would either die or be driven by Ye Chen for the rest of the secret realm. In short, their trip here had been wasted.

Zhao Tianxing and his companions studied Ye Chen's back with equally complex feelings. He did not kill those who never attacked, which seemed merciful—an exceedingly rare quality in the immortal realm. Yet he kept fishing, constantly baiting others into striking first, which felt far less kind. After long contemplation, Zhao Tianxing reached his conclusion: this successor of the Heavenly Emperor was truly kind. His style carried the very bearing of the Heavenly Emperor of old.

Ye Chen flew on at a leisurely pace, watching the numbers behind him swell once more until they returned to two hundred. His mood was excellent. He even considered taking out the leg bone of the Immortal Radiant Beast again to toy with it and see if it might lure them into action. After a brief hesitation, he decided to wait a little longer, until the crowd grew larger still.

He soon sensed another presence ahead. In the distance, a golden divine pillar a hundred meters tall came into view. Promising. The owner's foundation was clearly deep, and his strength was unlikely to be weak. He might even take the lead in attacking later. Ye Chen paid it little mind and continued flying.

As the distance closed, however, he suddenly raised an eyebrow. In the next instant, a massive seal, overflowing with profound yellow qi and carrying the weight of heaven and earth, came crashing down toward him. Space locked. Laws dissolved. A peculiar force within the seal sought to seal both his flesh and his immortal power.

It had no effect on Ye Chen whatsoever, yet he still arched a brow and smiled. At last, someone dared to strike him directly. A true top-tier prodigy. This was the real harvest. The gulf between prodigies was vast; the origin of one top-tier prodigy equaled that of hundreds of ordinary ones.

Ye Chen's smile only brightened. He made no move, calmly waiting for the Profound Yellow Seal to fall. The onlookers behind him stared wide-eyed.

"That is the Profound Yellow Suppressing Realm Seal! It belongs to Yu Xinghan of the Myriad Laws Immortal Sect!"

"The Profound Yellow Suppressing Realm Seal is the first divine ability within the Scripture of Myriad Laws. Cultivated to perfection, a single strike can suppress every living being of an entire realm. Its terror is absolute!"

"Even the residual force brushing against me has sealed most of my immortal power and divine abilities. My strength is not even one-tenth of what it was."

"Yu Xinghan is only at the peak of Golden Immortal, yet he can absolutely contend with a Great Luo…"

In an instant, the entire trailing crowd recognized the attacker's identity and was struck with utter dread. Most abandoned any thought of fishing in troubled waters and prepared to withdraw; certain Ye Chen was doomed.

Zhao Tianxing and the others had also heard of Yu Xinghan's fearsome reputation, yet after witnessing Ye Chen cut down hundreds like grass only moments earlier, they did not believe Yu Xinghan could claim an easy victory.

Chapter 1217: I Suspect You Are the Heavenly Emperor's Own Child!

Because of Yu Xinghan's attack, the people following behind no longer bothered to conceal themselves. They retreated one after another, afraid of being caught in the aftermath. Many felt a touch of regret. Had they known earlier, they would have struck first. Now that even someone of Yu Xinghan's caliber had intervened, there was no chance left for them to claim any share of Ye Chen's spoils.

Zhao Tianxing and the other elders felt mixed emotions. They were somewhat afraid that Yu Xinghan might not be able to defeat Ye Chen. Although Yu Xinghan ranked among the absolute peak of Golden Immortals and was virtually invincible within the same realm, the claim that he could slap an entire group of Golden Immortals to death with a single palm still seemed exaggerated. Yet Ye Chen had done exactly that. Therefore, they suspected that Yu Xinghan alone might not be enough.

Ye Chen himself watched the Profound Yellow Seal crashing down with a calm expression. He had intended to raise his hand at once, shatter the seal, seize Yu Xinghan, and refine him on the spot. Then he sensed something. Softness entered his eyes, and a smile touched his lips. He did not act.

In the next instant, a nine-colored immortal light roared in from the distance. It carried an extremely peculiar Zen nature, as if it could wash away all things. The moment it struck, the Profound Yellow Boundary-Suppressing Seal condensed by Yu Xinghan exploded with a thunderous boom. Amid the endless flow of yin and yang qi, a faintly puzzled voice rang out.

Before Ye Chen, the nine-colored light carved a passage through the boundless chaos. A graceful figure in black monastic robes shot out of the passage like a swimming fish and landed directly in front of him.

Her beauty was peerless, her bearing unmatched. Concern and joy filled her eyes, as though she had a thousand words to speak. Yet the long separation left a trace of unfamiliarity, or perhaps the rumors about Ye Chen made her wonder whether he still cared for her or had already changed.

In the end, she only said softly, "Fellow Daoist Ye, it has been a long time."

The woman was Yan Ruyu.

Ye Chen smiled. He did not overthink as his aunt had. He simply pulled her into a tight embrace. "Aunt, it truly has been a long time. I missed you greatly."

Feeling the firmness of his arms and the warmth of his heart, Yan Ruyu relaxed completely. She returned the embrace and whispered, "I missed you too."

Sensing her body heat, Ye Chen could not help glancing at the hat on her head. He wondered if she had taken monastic vows and shaved her hair. Yet with her temperament and beauty, even a bare head would scarcely diminish her. True beauty lay in the bones, not the skin. For a woman of such absolute loveliness, black hair was merely an ornament.

Yan Ruyu noticed his gaze and smiled lightly. With one hand, she removed the monastic hat. Instantly, a cascade of black hair fell like a waterfall, reaching all the way to her slender waist that could be spanned by a single hand. She explained softly, "The Compassionate Ferry Quiet Nunnery I belong to does not require the head to be shaved."

Ye Chen stroked the smooth strands and nodded. Neither of them spoke again. They simply held each other in silence, sharing the longing accumulated over years of separation.

The sudden scene astonished everyone. Zhao Tianxing and the other onlookers stared in surprise. They had heard rumors that Ye Chen was obsessed with women and kept many beauties, yet they had doubted them.

After all, once a man possessed an immortal spiritual root, why would he still care about romantic affairs? Now even a Buddhist nun had thrown herself into his arms, leaving their expressions complicated. The rumors, it seemed, were true.

Those immortals who had not known Ye Chen's true strength and had only arrived later regretted their hesitation all the more. They decided he must have been bluffing earlier and had simply been waiting for reinforcements. Had they realized it sooner, they would have struck long ago.

Above the heavens, a white-robed figure parted the endless chaos and strode forth. The man was strikingly handsome, his posture tall and straight, his vast aura looking down upon the two embracing figures. Between his brows lay a vertical pupil. It opened now, revealing a green eye within. Anyone swept by that gaze felt completely laid bare.

His appearance filled everyone present with awe. This was none other than Yu Xinghan of the Myriad Laws Immortal Sect, a true peak prodigy with the qualifications of the Ten Outstanding.

Yu Xinghan frowned slightly as he regarded Yan Ruyu. The vertical pupil between his brows radiated a compelling light. "I have heard that the hidden Buddhist sect Compassionate Ferry Quiet Nunnery produced a new successor. It seems that it is you. That nine-colored immortal light is indeed profound. Yet, although you stand at the peak of the Golden Immortal realm, your advancement was too rapid, and your foundation remains unstable. Your compression is far from sufficient, reaching barely two hundredfold. With your talent, a late-stage Golden Immortal should have achieved at least five hundredfold, even a thousandfold. You are no match for me."

With a single statement, he had exposed Yan Ruyu's true condition. The surrounding crowd was startled once more and gazed with greater reverence at the vertical pupil between his brows.

This was the Immortal Dao Heavenly Eye, a supreme divine ability. It could see through an opponent's cultivation, strengths and weaknesses, foundation, even the quality of their immortal power and the pathways of its circulation.

It was said that once this eye observed an enemy's techniques, it could unravel all their mysteries. Afterward, with only a little focused comprehension, the user could imitate them almost perfectly. This Heavenly Eye granted Yu Xinghan endless advantages whether in battle or in studying arts, earning him a fearsome reputation in the Immortal Realm and securing his place among the peak prodigies.

Yan Ruyu felt no unease at being seen through. It was true. Her rapid rise in cultivation had come at a cost. An unstable foundation made compressing her immortal power far more difficult, leaving her well below other prodigies of the same level. Yet what of it?

She did not answer. Sensing that Ye Chen had no intention of releasing her, she continued to hold him, resting her noble chin upon his shoulder and quietly savoring the warmth.

As for Ye Chen himself, he paid Yu Xinghan no mind at all. Embracing his aunt and feeling the gentle rise and fall of her breath mattered far more. A mere Yu Xinghan was nothing more than a glance's work and not worth the effort.

The two continued to embrace as if no one else existed, paying him no attention.

Yu Xinghan narrowed his eyes. As a peak prodigy, even ordinary Great Luo Immortals regarded him with caution. Never before had anyone ignored him so completely. Killing intent surged in his heart. Endless power rolled within the vertical pupil.

A cold smile touched his lips. "It seems both of you come from the lower realms. Counting the days, the timing matches. Since you insist on playing the tragic pair of lovers, I shall send you on your way together."

In the next instant, his aura exploded. Seven differently colored streams of immortal power boiled around him as the Myriad Laws Scripture he cultivated surged into motion, about to unleash the Seven Laws and suppress the pair.

Yet at that moment another presence descended.

"From afar, I saw a divine pillar and wondered who it might be. I never expected the Heavenly Emperor's successor. A mere Profound Immortal, yet in only a few days you have obtained so many treasures. Your fortune is truly astonishing. The Heavenly Emperor of old was said to possess equally astonishing fortune. You differ from the successive heirs of the Heavenly Emperor. I strongly suspect you may be the Heavenly Emperor's own child."

A cold laugh accompanied the words as the pressure of a peak top-tier Golden Immortal crashed down.

Chapter 1218: The Tianzhang Monk!

The onlookers were all stunned upon hearing those words. Truth be told, successors to the Heavenly Emperor had never been scarce throughout history. Yet none of them had ever truly shone.

Ye Chen was different. His fortune was astonishing as well. It was entirely possible that he really was a successor of the Heavenly Emperor.

In that instant, the gazes the crowd cast toward Ye Chen all changed.

High in the firmament, a burly figure also appeared.

"It's Xiang Shan!"

"Xiang Shan is a top prodigy of the Nine Heavens Immortal Sect. He possesses the Black Tortoise Immortal Body and a Sacred Spirit Root, and has cultivated the Nine Transformations of the Firmament to perfection…"

"Back then, the Nine Heavens Immortal Sect hunted the Heavenly Emperor with frenzied zeal, only to suffer devastating retribution later. Nearly an entire generation was wiped out."

"He has surely come for the Heavenly Emperor's successor as well."

The crowd watched the descending figure and murmured among themselves.

Yu Xinghan looked at the arriving Xiang Shan and frowned slightly. "Have you also come to kill Ye Chen?"

Xiang Shan was powerfully built, his features rough and imposing. He opened his mouth wide, revealing massive teeth. "Before I entered, the Immortal King ancestor of my clan personally ordered me to leave this boy inside the secret realm. The Immortal Realm has no need for a Heavenly Emperor successor who possesses an Immortal Spirit Root."

Yu Xinghan nodded calmly. "Agreed. The treasures on this boy will be split evenly between us…"

Xiang Shan glanced at him. Lacking absolute certainty of victory himself, he nodded as well.

Their cold gazes locked onto Ye Chen.

…

Watching Xiang Shan's arrival, the onlookers felt even deeper regret that they had not struck earlier. Now two great prodigies would divide Ye Chen between them. There would be even less left for the rest.

Zhao Tianxing and the others likewise believed that the two working together should be able to suppress Ye Chen. Afterward, they would no longer be driven about like servants.

Yan Ruyu, nestled in Ye Chen's arms, could no longer quietly savor the warmth he gave her. These two were truly formidable. Ye Chen was still only a Profound Immortal, though she firmly believed his combat strength surpassed his realm.

Yet these two were far from ordinary. On top of that, the power boost a Golden Immortal gained by compressing their own immortal force was beyond imagination. A bitter struggle might well follow.

Still, Yan Ruyu felt neither fear nor any desire to retreat. Just as she was about to speak and temporarily leave Ye Chen's side, another aura of a peerless generation descended. The figure that arrived was wreathed in Nine Netherworld flame. The moment he appeared, the temperature around them plummeted.

The fire itself was pitch black.

Every onlooker felt a jolt of alarm and hastily looked away, terrified that prolonged gazing would allow the flames to travel along their line of sight and burn their very souls. Their dread was well founded.

The newcomer was Gai Jiuyou, a contemporary prodigy of the Nine Netherworlds Immortal Palace. Born with the Nine Netherworlds Immortal Body and a Great Sun Sacred Root, the Nine Netherworlds Ghostfire Flame he had refined was said to have reached an unimaginable grade, capable of scorching everything under heaven.

The Nine Netherworlds Immortal Palace had once boasted two Immortal Kings and ten Immortal Monarchs, its might awe-inspiring enough to rank among the foremost forces in the cultivation world.

Because of the Heavenly Emperor, however, it had suffered catastrophic losses. Of the two Immortal Kings, one had fallen, and the other remained severely wounded, lingering on the brink; word had it that even now those injuries had not healed.

The former ten Immortal Monarchs had been wiped out completely by the Heavenly Emperor. Only three hundred thousand years ago had a new Immortal Monarch finally emerged within the palace. Given the history, the purpose of Gai Jiuyou's arrival needed no explanation.

"I want a share as well!"

His voice was hoarse yet left no room for refusal.

Yu Xinghan and Xiang Shan frowned. Dividing spoils among three would be troublesome; a fight afterward seemed almost certain. But that was a matter for later.

First, they would kill Ye Chen, then settle the rest. The three fixed cold eyes on Ye Chen and Yan Ruyu, showing not the slightest mercy for beauty, and struck as one. In that instant, the heavens cracked and the earth split. Before their terrifying power, even chaos seemed forced back to its primal state. The endless void collapsed and turbulent currents boiled.

Three peak Golden Immortals of the highest caliber, unleashing their full strength, affected a boundless expanse. Their might was nearly beyond comprehension, all but heaven-destroying and earth-annihilating. Under the combined assault of the three, even an ordinary Great Luo would have perished in a heartbeat.

Faced with that terrifying power, Yan Ruyu's body tensed on instinct. Nine-colored divine light was about to surge from her form. Her hair flew upward, flickering with nine-colored radiance.

Only then did Ye Chen notice with surprise that his aunt's hair seemed different from before. It had nearly reached the level of a high-grade immortal artifact and contained terrifying power. She was already at the Golden Immortal realm, higher than his own cultivation. It seemed she had truly encountered no small fortune after entering the Immortal Realm.

Ye Chen's curiosity was thoroughly piqued. He decided that later, when they were alone, he would question her thoroughly. He gently patted his aunt's jade-like back, urging her to stay calm. Then he prepared to raise his hand and erase the three in a single stroke.

At that moment, however, someone else arrived.

Ye Chen frowned, growing a little irritated. Why did they have to appear one after another? Could they not come together and save time?

In the next instant, a great sun appeared, positioning itself directly between Ye Chen and the three. The endless essence of the Great Sun shook the void, dispersing the chaos and completely clearing the secret realm for tens of thousands of miles around. The three's attacks were instantly blocked and melted away by the Great Sun. In the blink of an eye, they vanished without a trace.

Ye Chen's expression grew complicated. He lowered the hand he had raised. Still, he felt puzzled. Who was helping him?

Yan Ruyu, however, frowned as though she already knew, a touch of dissatisfaction in her eyes.

…

Yu Xinghan and the other two, their attacks blocked, also frowned, a hint of wariness appearing on their faces.

"The Golden Body of the Great Sun."

"Monk Tianzhang, do you mean to make enemies of the three of us?"

"Back then, the Heavenly Emperor killed no small number of your Buddhist sect as well! Even the Green Lamp Ancient Buddha, whose status was second only to Amitabha, was ground to nothing by him!"

Recognizing the identity of the one who had intervened, the three could not help speaking out.

A rather refined-looking monk strode forward from afar, a smile on his face. "I have no desire to become enemies with any of you… Yet I was entrusted by my master to look after my junior sister. How could I stand by and watch her die at your hands? As for old grudges, those belong to the previous generation. What have they to do with us? Why not set aside your grievances and focus on elevating yourselves further?"

The monk was none other than Monk Tianzhang. Standing before the three, he pressed his palms together in salute. His transcendent, otherworldly bearing made them frown.

Behind Yu Xinghan, the Seven Laws surged. He narrowed his eyes. "How can the hatred of our ancestors go unavenged?"

Gai Jiuyou sneered amid the Nine Netherworlds Ghostfire Flame. "I care nothing for grudges. I only want the treasures left by the Heavenly Emperor."

Xiang Shan squinted and stepped forward. "I have heard that Monk Tianzhang has cultivated the Buddhist Golden Body of the Great Sun. I very much wish to test which is stronger, that or my Black Tortoise Immortal Body…"

In an instant, the three brimmed with killing intent.

Ironically, Ye Chen, the original cause of it all, now drew no attention at all.

Yu Xinghan spoke last. "Tianzhang, take your junior sister and leave. Otherwise, we will not mind leaving you, the current Walker of the Shaolin Temple, behind in this secret realm!"

Monk Tianzhang pressed his palms lightly together, turned his head toward Yan Ruyu, who was still held in Ye Chen's arms, and smiled. "Junior sister will not retreat, so this humble monk cannot retreat either!"

Chapter 1219: I Barely Know Monk Tianzhang!

The moment Monk Tianzhang's words left his mouth, the three men's expressions turned strange.

The onlookers were all left gaping.

What was going on?

The Buddhist sects of the Immortal Realm did not forbid marriage. If Monk Tianzhang harbored feelings for the successor of the Seven Emotions Female Buddha, that would at least be understandable. The problem was that she was currently being held by a male cultivator.

Yet Monk Tianzhang showed neither anger nor resentment. He was even actively stepping forward to shield the two of them.

Was that not a little too outrageous? People always said the Buddhist path was broad-minded, but was Monk Tianzhang not taking that a bit too far?

Ye Chen's expression was also a little odd. It was not that he doubted Yan Ruyu. He simply wondered whether he had run into another lovesick fool. Had Little Xie found himself a loyal brother?

…

In the sky, Xiang Shan had already grown tired of talking. His burly frame shot forward with a roar as he threw a single punch.

In that instant, the Black Tortoise Immortal Body boiled. A towering Black Tortoise manifestation rose into the air and, together with the punch, smashed down toward Monk Tianzhang.

Yu Xinghan swept his large hand. The Seven Great Myriad Arts surged upward.

"Profound Yellow World-Suppressing Seal!"

"Northern Cold Divine Water Staff!"

"…"

The moment the Seven Laws appeared, mountains shifted and seas overturned, as though the very heavens and earth were being split open. It was said that once one reached the Immortal King realm, this art could reduce any world to pure chaos.

Gai Jiuyou also charged forth with a roar. The Nine Netherworlds Ghostfire Flame transformed into an ancient ghost beast that howled as it lunged at Monk Tianzhang. He himself employed the Nine Netherworlds Concealment Art, vanishing without form, ready to deliver a fatal strike at any moment. Under the joint assault of the three, the slender and refined Monk Tianzhang looked especially small.

Yet in the next moment, the monk, palms still pressed together, gently shook his head. "Since you fellow Daoists refuse to see reason, do not blame this humble monk for being rude."

In the next instant, his seemingly delicate and slender body erupted with power. His entire skin turned golden. Endless muscle rapidly expanded.

In the blink of an eye, Monk Tianzhang had transformed into a golden giant Buddha a full hundred meters tall, as though forged from pure gold. He struck out with a single palm.

Xiang Shan was forced backward.

Yu Xinghan's Seven Laws were met head-on by Monk Tianzhang's physical body alone. As for the Nine Netherworlds Ghostfire Flame, the monk merely formed a light seal with his fingers. A supremely yang and unyielding Lion's Roar condensed and pounced forward.

The terrifying scene left every onlooker dumbstruck. The Shaolin Temple ranked among the foremost of the Buddhist Realm and stood among the top ten forces of the entire Immortal Realm. Its contemporary walker was inevitably one of the most dazzling figures in the Immortal Realm.

Now, revealing the Golden Body of the Great Sun and holding his own against three opponents at once, Monk Tianzhang's terror was on full display. Top-tier prodigies truly were frightening beyond measure.

…

Yu Xinghan and the other two were not surprised in the least. As the contemporary walker of the Shaolin Temple, it would have been strange if Monk Tianzhang lacked such strength. The reason the three had attacked was not only to kill Ye Chen. They also hoped to join forces and eliminate Monk Tianzhang while they were at it.

After all, competition for the Ten Outstanding was fierce, and none of them could guarantee a secure place. Under such circumstances, it was only natural to remove a few more rivals. Though they exchanged no words, each understood the other's thoughts perfectly.

Yu Xinghan struck first. The Seven Laws fused into one, further empowered by the terrifying might of his own Myriad Laws Immortal Body. The moment he moved, heaven and earth shook with unimaginable force.

Xiang Shan let out a cold snort. His Black Tortoise Immortal Body was fully activated, and his entire form expanded violently once more. Mysterious tortoise seals surfaced across his skin, as though every inch of flesh had become tortoise shell, possessing endless profound uses and astonishing defensive power.

As for Gai Jiuyou, his body transformed in an instant into a domain of fire. Within it, the Nine Netherworlds Ghostfire Flame became endless fierce ghosts, a sea of spirits that could pollute and scorch everything.

The auras of the three erupted once more, leaving every onlooker shaken to the core.

"Yu Xinghan's mastery of the Myriad Laws Dao has actually reached the stage of Seven Laws as One. It is simply inconceivable. With the Immortal Dao Heavenly Eye and the Myriad Laws Immortal Body, his grasp of every path and law advances at terrifying speed."

"Xiang Shan's Black Tortoise Immortal Body has advanced further as well, nearly reaching the point where myriad laws cannot cling to it, and his life force is extraordinarily formidable."

"Gai Jiuyou can already condense a Nine Netherworlds Fire Domain. Once enveloped by it, the Nine Netherworlds Ghostfire Flame becomes like a maggot in the bone, almost impossible to erase. As long as it cannot be erased, escape from the domain is impossible…"

The onlookers were all well-informed. These three immortal gates were famous, after all. Everyone naturally knew their signature techniques. A chorus of astonished sighs rose among them.

…

Monk Tianzhang showed not the slightest fear. His golden body blazed brilliantly as he traded a heavy blow with Xiang Shan. Then he spoke softly. "Ten Suns Flood the Void…"

In the next instant, ten great suns rose around him, pouring down endless essence of the Great Sun. Not only did they make the Golden Body of the Great Sun even more terrifying, but they also formed a peculiar domain that weakened every path and law while burning everything in its reach. For a time, the firmament became an unimaginably dreadful battlefield.

Monk Tianzhang held his own against three opponents without falling behind.

Everyone who watched was deeply shaken.

…

Monk Tianzhang's expression remained calm. He was fighting this great battle for Yan Ruyu, yet he cared nothing that her heart already belonged to another. His sole focus was growing stronger. If he could cultivate alongside his junior sister and become the trial for her heart, it would greatly benefit his own state of mind.

Moreover, the nature of her nine-colored immortal light was extraordinarily remarkable. It would also prove immensely helpful for his future comprehension of the Great Salvation Art.

The lineage Yan Ruyu cultivated was quite peculiar. She had to choose one person as her Dao companion. Through constant tempering of the heart amid the seven emotions, she would elevate herself, ultimately transcending all things.

Yet the requirements for that Dao companion were extremely high. The chosen one could not die halfway. Once dead, Yan Ruyu would essentially be crippled and never advance again. Therefore, she had to choose a powerful cultivator.

Today, before Yan Ruyu's eyes, Monk Tianzhang intended to prove everything with his own combat strength. He was the one most suited to her. Together they could comprehend the Great Dao.

Ye Chen was far too weak and unsuitable. Once he had dealt with the three and proven himself, he would discuss the matter with Yan Ruyu. If it could be settled then and there, he might even allow Ye Chen to remain by her side and do whatever he wished. So long as it did not affect his cultivation with Yan Ruyu or his own growth, nothing else mattered.

Thus, in the midst of the battle, Monk Tianzhang glanced at Yan Ruyu and Ye Chen. Seeing them still embracing, his heart remained undisturbed. He even smiled lightly and called out, "Junior sister, you and Fellow Daoist Ye need not worry… Give me ten more days, and I shall suppress all three of them! The two of you need not even retreat. I will protect you."

In the next moment, he focused once more on the battlefield.

…

For the first time, Ye Chen felt puzzled and suspicious. Did the Immortal Realm produce this many lovesick fools? This was even more ridiculous than buying breakfast for a goddess's boyfriend!

Yan Ruyu cared deeply about Ye Chen's thoughts. She immediately shook her head. "I barely know Monk Tianzhang. This is the first time we have met since entering the secret realm… In my heart, there is only you, Fellow Daoist Ye!"

Her voice was loud.

Far away, Monk Tianzhang, who was fighting for the two of them, heard every word with perfect clarity.

Chapter 1220: This Is a True Simp!

"I barely know him…In my heart there is only you…"

Hearing those words, Monk Tianzhang could not help shaking his head inwardly.

Yan Ruyu had ultimately come from the lower realm and taken the Buddhist path halfway. Her state of mind remained inferior.

Yet he did not mind. After this battle, once he had displayed his strength, he would sit down and talk with both Ye Chen and Yan Ruyu. He had come to elevate himself. Not to destroy this little family. It was clearly a matter beneficial to everyone. Why cling to these romantic feelings?

Still, Monk Tianzhang did not dwell on it. Though he was confident, the three before him were far from weak. Only by giving his all could he suppress them.

…

High in the firmament, the scene resembled an apocalyptic battlefield. The four traded blows back and forth, their might so terrifying that the surrounding space was nearly reduced to a dead zone.

Everyone looked up in astonishment. Battles of this caliber were exceedingly rare. The three were all peak existences of the Golden Immortal realm, having nearly reached its absolute limit. Their compression ratios exceeded five hundredfold, and some had even reached a thousandfold. The moment they struck, their immortal power surged like a golden flood capable of annihilating everything.

Yet Monk Tianzhang was even more terrifying. His physical body was invincible, his aura profound and vast. The divine ability Ten Suns Flood the Void rose around him. It both empowered him and delivered an overwhelming offensive force. He possessed no weaknesses whatsoever.

Moreover, the Buddhist Golden Body of the Great Sun greatly aided the compression of immortal power. His compression ratio surpassed that of the three. Otherwise, Monk Tianzhang would never have been able to face them alone.

…

Everyone's attention was fixed on the battlefield. Only Ye Chen and Yan Ruyu had eyes solely for each other.

Ye Chen simply had no interest in watching weaklings peck at one another; better to look at his aunt.

Yan Ruyu, for her part, saw only Ye Chen and cared nothing for Monk Tianzhang.

"Chen'er, are we just going to watch like this?"

Addressing him that way felt a little awkward to Yan Ruyu.

Being called "aunt" by Ye Chen also made her somewhat shy.

Yet Ye Chen had specifically said he preferred it that way. She could only go along with his wishes.

Ye Chen shook his head at her words. "Of course, we cannot waste time simply waiting. Just now, that fellow claimed your aunt's aura was unstable and unfavorable for compressing immortal power. I happened to obtain a treasure earlier that is perfect for you…"

Yan Ruyu froze at his words and hurriedly moved to refuse. She had never expected that upon meeting again in the Immortal Realm, Ye Chen would immediately offer her a treasure. Warmth filled her heart. It felt just like the days in the lower realm.

Yet she could not accept it. Besides, the treasure was tied to the quota for the Ten Outstanding. She already possessed her own opportunities and had stepped onto her own immortal path. She could not shamelessly continue to hinder Ye Chen. After all, he was still only at the mid-stage of the Profound Immortal realm and needed far more resources.

"Chen'er, we cannot do this…"

Yan Ruyu quickly voiced her refusal.

Ye Chen smiled faintly and took her small hand. "When an elder bestows a gift… no…Has my aunt grown distant from me after arriving in the Immortal Realm?"

Yan Ruyu immediately shook her head. Of course, that was not the case.

Ye Chen smiled. "Since there is no distance between us, then simply accept it, Aunt. Between an aunt and nephew like us, why stand on ceremony?"

As the words fell, Ye Chen waved his large hand. A golden leg bone appeared in his grasp. The brilliant golden luster and peculiar aura of the Immortal Radiant Beast instantly drew every gaze.

Everyone felt their immortal power stir restlessly. Zhao Tianxing and the others were unsurprised, for most of the first group of onlookers had already died after seeing this treasure. Those who had joined the crowd later, however, widened their eyes, surprise mixed with regret in their gazes.

There was actually such a treasure in the secret realm? And Ye Chen had obtained it? Had they known earlier, they truly should have made a move!

High in the firmament, the four combatants also sensed the aura and showed expressions of surprise. Bones of the Immortal Radiant Beast? This was an absolute unexpected delight.

They had essentially all reached the upper limit of what the Golden Immortal realm could achieve. Their compression ratios, in particular, could no longer rise even a fraction. Yet the leg bone of the Immortal Radiant Beast was different. Once refined and fused into their immortal power, it could break through that limit and allow further advancement. Ye Chen actually possessed such a thing?

Yu Xinghan and Xiang Shan both narrowed their eyes. They felt a measure of regret. They should have killed Ye Chen at the first opportunity and detonated the cosmos within his body.

Monk Tianzhang was somewhat astonished as well. The item was truly precious, and its brilliant golden color might even enhance the majesty of his own Golden Body of the Great Sun. Once he had suppressed the three, he would discuss the matter with Ye Chen.

Perhaps he could exchange some Buddhist treasures for it and claim the bone. If Ye Chen were willing, he might even agree to help conceal the private relationship between Ye Chen and Yan Ruyu. That way, the elders of the Shaolin Temple and the Compassion Ferry Nunnery would never learn of it and come to strike Ye Chen down.

…

In short, the moment the leg bone appeared in Ye Chen's hand, every heart present stirred with desire. The intensity of the battle immediately climbed higher. Each side hoped to finish their opponents as quickly as possible so they could enjoy Ye Chen's leg bone.

On Yan Ruyu's side, those noble eyes widened to their utmost. She had always known that whatever Ye Chen produced would be extraordinary. She had never expected that even after reaching the Immortal Realm, he would still be this extraordinary. It was simply too unbelievable. Because the treasure was so precious, she wanted to refuse even more strongly.

Yet Ye Chen's expression remained utterly serious. "Aunt, please do not wound my heart. The moment I laid eyes on this item, I already decided to give it to you…In my heart, this treasure already belongs to you! If you refuse, I will simply toss it into the crowd over there…"

The moment the words left his mouth, before Yan Ruyu could react, an uproar erupted in the distance. The onlookers were shocked and expectant. The shock came from the fact that Ye Chen was actually willing to give away the leg bone of the Immortal Radiant Beast.

The female cultivator was certainly attractive, and her bearing was transcendent and otherworldly. She was in no way inferior to any top female prodigy of the native Immortal Realm forces. But… There were so many female prodigies, and only one such leg bone.

With a bone like this, what female prodigy could he not obtain? If he quietly sought one out, so long as the other party could not kill him, she would surely be willing to spend a spring night with him. She might even agree to be kept for an entire year.

And Ye Chen was simply giving it away? Had he gone mad? Could the rumors circulating outside actually be true? Had Ye Chen really, while at the Jade Pool Immortal Sect, given away every treasure from the Heavenly Emperor's vault to the female disciples?

Everyone now stared at Ye Chen with complete incomprehension. Earlier, they had found Monk Tianzhang strange enough. Yan Ruyu and Ye Chen were embracing, yet he stood in front of them, fighting a great battle.

Compared to that, however, Ye Chen was even more outrageous. After all, Monk Tianzhang was merely fighting one battle. He would lose nothing of real value, only a bit of energy that would recover soon enough.

But the leg bone of the Immortal Radiant Beast? In the entire cultivation world, there might be only this one. How could Ye Chen bear to part with it? This successor of the Heavenly Emperor was the true simp!

Chapter 1221: Concealing His Cultivation?

It was not only the onlookers who thought this way. Even Monk Tianzhang himself felt the same. He disregarded all the messy complications for the sake of cultivation.

What was Ye Chen after? Could he truly be after feminine charms? Could such a fool really exist in the cultivation world? Was this not the ultimate act of simping?

…

Amid the crowd's shock and incomprehension, Yan Ruyu found herself especially conflicted. Ye Chen always put her in such a difficult position. She was trapped in a sweet dilemma. He truly loved her so deeply…

Gazing at the seriousness in Ye Chen's eyes, Yan Ruyu let out a soft sigh. At last, she could not help extending her hand. She planned to accept it first, then later pull Ye Chen to some deserted place and invite him to refine it together.

Yet just as her palm was about to touch the leg bone, in the very instant, a smile appeared on Ye Chen's face, and a Nine Netherworlds Hell descended with a roar and enveloped the two of them.

Endless Nine Netherworlds Ghostfire Flame, like countless malevolent spirits, surged toward them, intent on burning everything to ash.

"Even at death's door, you still cannot stop simping over a female cultivator? Did you truly believe Tianzhang could protect you? The two of you can die together. As for this leg bone, I will gladly accept it."

It was Gai Jiuyou's voice. The Gai Jiuyou who had been fighting high in the firmament had actually transformed into a ball of flame. His true body appeared directly above the pair. With a wave of his large hand, he condensed a mass of Nine Netherworlds Ghostfire Flame and reached down toward them.

The scene left everyone utterly astonished. In the sky, Yu Xinghan and the others narrowed their eyes but made no move to stop him.

They were confident they would not allow Gai Jiuyou to escape. So even if he obtained the treasure first, it did not matter. They would absolutely force him to spit it back out.

Monk Tianzhang, however, narrowed his eyes and immediately brought down a Buddha's palm. He intended to intercept Gai Jiuyou's strike. His junior sister could not die.

Ye Chen cared so deeply for her and was so generous, and his fortune was astonishing as well. If he maintained good relations with them in the future, he might also gain no small benefits and improve his cultivation.

The three of them together: he would provide combat strength, his junior sister would provide heart refinement, and Ye Chen would provide fortune and resources. It would be good for everyone.

Therefore, Ye Chen could not die either.

…

Yan Ruyu's expression changed. She instantly withdrew her hand. Nine-colored divine light erupted from her body. Her long black hair floated upward of its own accord, shielding Ye Chen behind her.

Ye Chen's face, meanwhile, turned gloomy. His aunt had already reached out. He had been waiting for the system's feedback. And this brat had to interrupt?

He had originally planned to finish giving the gift, then deal with the three of them, and along the way assess Monk Tianzhang's quality to decide whether to slap him to death as well. Yet the fellow was so eager to court death?

Ye Chen swept his arm around his aunt, who was already in combat readiness, and pulled her into his embrace. Then, eyes narrowed, he threw a punch without the slightest hesitation…

In that instant, Ye Chen's black hair danced wildly. An overbearing aura radiated in every direction as endless golden light boiled forth.

The distant onlookers felt as though their eyes were about to go blind. Many of the weaker cultivators had blood streaming from their eyes at once.

A golden fist imprint roared outward. The Nine Netherworlds Hell that had enveloped Ye Chen could not withstand such might and exploded with a deafening blast. The fist imprint advanced unstoppably, punching a tunnel straight through the void. That grand and majestic aura made everyone involuntarily want to submit and drop to their knees.

Gai Jiuyou's expression changed drastically. He immediately tried to retract his large hand, transform into flame, and retreat. Monk Tianzhang's golden body also trembled as he sought to withdraw his Buddha's palm in an instant. Yet everything was already too late…

After that single punch, the entire Chaos Secret Realm fell silent. Only a void tunnel of unknown depth remained, struggling slowly to recover. And the Gai Jiuyou who had moments earlier been so imposing was nowhere to be seen. Even the nearly inextinguishable Nine Netherworlds Ghostfire Flame left not a single trace of its existence.

Gai Jiuyou… had simply died? Killed by a single punch from Ye Chen?

Everyone widened their eyes in disbelief. Not only the onlookers, but even Yu Xinghan and Xiang Shan stood frozen in place, forgetting to continue the battle.

Monk Tianzhang was even more stunned. The golden Buddha palm he had extended had simply exploded. One had to understand that this was the Golden Body of the Buddhist path. It ranked among the top ten physical bodies of the Immortal Realm's body cultivators.

Xiang Shan's Black Tortoise Immortal Body had clashed with him for hundreds of thousands of blows without producing even a hairline crack. Yu Xinghan's Seven Laws, empowered by the Myriad Laws Immortal Body, had also failed to shatter his flesh outright and had only caused him minor internal injuries through vibration. Such was the might of the Buddhist Golden Body of the Great Sun. Yet this terrifying constitution had actually failed to withstand a single punch from Ye Chen?

At that moment, the entire scene fell into deathly silence… All contempt, doubt, arrogance, and mockery were shattered by that one punch. The onlookers no longer regretted failing to act earlier. Their hearts held only relief. The three in the sky also ceased fighting.

Yu Xinghan and Xiang Shan trembled, the desire to retreat flickering in their eyes. Monk Tianzhang stared at the palm he was now missing and began to question his entire existence.

…

On Ye Chen's side, he held the stiff form of Yan Ruyu in his arms.

With a touch of apology, he spoke to Monk Tianzhang. "Forgive me. I was in the middle of presenting a gift when we were interrupted. For a moment, I grew somewhat angry and failed to control my strength. I injured the master by accident! Is the master unharmed?"

Ye Chen was not speaking falsely. Though he found Monk Tianzhang's simping a little strange, the other party had shown no hostility and had even fought on his behalf. He could not possibly have intended to harm him.

He had simply been a bit angry. That single punch had been thrown without even leaving behind Gai Jiuyou's soul or origin. The Golden Body of the Great Sun was extraordinarily high-grade, yet its maintenance and repair demanded extraordinary effort. To have it blasted apart like this meant it would take three to five years at the very least to recover fully.

Yet Ye Chen had apologized with such sincerity and even addressed him as "master." It was clearly a genuine accident. He could not afford to be narrow-minded. He must not suspect that Ye Chen had discovered his desire to cultivate with Yan Ruyu and deliberately struck him.

Ye Chen did not look like that sort of person. Therefore, Monk Tianzhang pressed his remaining palm together and spoke to Ye Chen with a smiling face. "Fellow Daoist is too kind. This is merely a trivial matter."

Seeing the other party so magnanimous, Ye Chen also felt reassured. Still, he waved his hand. "I will send the master some gifts later as compensation."

Monk Tianzhang once more pressed his single palm together, smiled lightly, and shook his head in refusal. Ye Chen was merely speaking politely. In his heart, he probably wanted to kill him already. If he nodded, that would be far too tactless.

…

Ye Chen said nothing further. Giving a man a little compensation was not worth much effort. He could simply toss something over later. He turned his gaze toward Yu Xinghan and Xiang Shan. He had originally planned to finish presenting the gift and then kill the two of them. Since he had already made a move, he might as well settle everything together!

Under Ye Chen's stare, the two men's hair stood on end. The combat strength Ye Chen had displayed was far too outrageous, far too terrifying. Even if Gai Jiuyou had been slightly weaker than them, he had still been a peak Golden Immortal. Yet he had been blasted to death by a single punch from Ye Chen, who was only at the mid-stage of the Profound Immortal realm.

Had Ye Chen truly not been concealing his cultivation?

Chapter 1222: The Immortal Spirit Root Was Too Terrifying!

Yu Xinghan could not accept that anyone could be so monstrously gifted. He was certain Ye Chen had concealed his true cultivation and was already a being at the Great Luo level. His Immortal Dao Heavenly Eye swept wildly, yet it uncovered not the slightest trace of hidden power. Even when the vertical pupils in his eyes filled with blood vessels, he still found nothing unusual about Ye Chen. The discovery left him utterly horrified. Was an Immortal Spirit Root truly this formidable?

He had once believed an Immortal Spirit Root was nothing special, that in the same realm he might still stand a chance in a fight. He thought the cultivators of the Immortal Realm had exaggerated its power, which was why someone had tried to dig out Wang Xuanji's. Now, however, real doubt took hold. He widened his Immortal Dao Heavenly Eye to its utmost limit, determined to pierce through Ye Chen's constitution and spirit root.

The next instant, Yu Xinghan's vertical pupils exploded. He let out a wretched scream of extreme agony. Shock beyond imagination flooded his heart. So this was an Immortal Spirit Root? He had merely tried to peer into it, and the backlash had been enough to shatter his Immortal Dao Heavenly Eye? The Immortal Spirit Root was far too outrageous. At that moment, only one thought occupied Yu Xinghan's mind: flee.

Xiang Shan did not know what had befallen Yu Xinghan, yet the power of Ye Chen's earlier punch had already filled him with dread. As if sharing a single thought, the two men bolted in opposite directions, one to the left and one to the right, fleeing for their lives.

Ye Chen watched them and merely smiled faintly. He made no visible move. High above in the firmament, however, purple-gold clouds had already gathered. Two enormous purple-gold hands descended with overwhelming force. No matter what techniques the pair employed, it was useless. The hands seized them and clenched into fists. Their auras vanished completely.

In the distance, the one-armed Tianzhang Monk trembled. He felt that if Ye Chen wished to kill him, it would be no more trouble than crushing an ant. Was this truly only a Profound Immortal? With the enhancement of an Immortal Spirit Root, the power was simply too terrifying!

Zhao Tianxing and the other onlookers stood rigid. Having already witnessed Ye Chen's terror once before, they accepted it more readily. The cultivators who had arrived later, however, shook uncontrollably. None of them regretted holding back earlier. Instead, they felt pure relief that they had not acted first. Had they done so, they would already be dead. Their caution and patience had saved them. At that moment, many began quietly retreating, hoping to leave.

Ye Chen turned and swept his calm gaze across the crowd. His eyes settled on the familiar figure of Zhao Tianxing. "You veterans, explain the rules to the newcomers. If anyone tries to run, deal with them."

Zhao Tianxing had been feeling lost about the future, certain he would soon be reduced to a beast of burden. No one left in the secret realm could possibly surpass Ye Chen. He had been deeply discouraged, convinced the entire journey had been a waste and that his family's investment had been a total loss. Hearing Ye Chen's order, however, lifted his spirits. At least he would not be the only one suffering.

Zhao Tianxing and the others immediately repeated Ye Chen's earlier words to those who had joined later and now wished to leave. Their faces changed at once. They had not realized that the group they followed had already been purged once.

Now it was time to pay the price. They were still alive, yet from this point on they would have to labor like cattle. A few twisted their faces and turned on acquaintances they recognized. "You clearly saw me. Why didn't you warn me earlier?"

Their anger burned hot. The cultivators they accused only smiled faintly and offered no explanation. If one had to suffer, it was far better that everyone suffered together.

Ye Chen no longer cared to watch the small fry. He glanced at the Tianzhang Monk, whose face still carried a gentle smile. The man had already returned to his true form. His hand remained intact, so only the golden body itself had been damaged. Recalling the name of the Great Sun Golden Body, Ye Chen figured it must be tied to the essence of the Great Sun. He casually took out a Great Sun Source Core and tossed it over.

"Take this as my compensation."

The Tianzhang Monk was about to wave it away, afraid that accepting anything from Ye Chen would invite later reckoning. Yet the moment he saw the Great Sun Source Core, he froze. Though it was a treasure capable of aiding advancement toward the cosmic level, it also contained dense Great Sun essence. If he could refine it, he would not only restore his Indestructible Golden Body in short order but might even raise it half a step higher. Ye Chen possessed such a treasure and simply gave it away? The generosity was staggering. Just how many fine things did the Heavenly Emperor's Treasury hold?

If he helped Yan Ruyu more often and earned Ye Chen's favor, how many benefits might come his way? The premise, of course, was that he must never again entertain thoughts of dual cultivation with her. Ye Chen's earlier action had clearly been deliberate. When it came to women, this man was extremely petty.

The Tianzhang Monk instantly shifted his stance. He accepted the Great Sun Source Core and pressed his palms together. "This humble monk thanks Fellow Daoist Ye for such generosity. I acted earlier only because Junior Sister and I both belong to the Buddhist path, and because my master instructed me to look after her. This humble monk seeks only longevity through cultivation and has no interest in matters of the heart. I hope Fellow Daoist Ye will not misunderstand."

Ye Chen heard this and smiled with satisfaction. This fellow was far more sensible than Xie Linyuan.

Seeing Ye Chen's smile, the Tianzhang Monk breathed a quiet sigh of relief. It was good that everything had been clarified. Otherwise, he truly feared that the next time Ye Chen fought someone, even if he stood a million miles away, he might still be caught in the crossfire and have his head blown apart by a single punch.

Ye Chen's Heavenly Emperor Fist was simply too outrageous; its power of reincarnation was able to erase everything. His own Great Sun Golden Body genuinely could not withstand it. Only the legendary Indestructible Body refined from the Indestructible Scripture might stand a chance of enduring such force.

The earlier four-way skirmish could have dragged on endlessly. Ye Chen's intervention ended it in an instant. At last, no one remained to disturb them.

Ye Chen smiled as he looked at his aunt and once more offered the gleaming golden leg bone. This time, the onlookers' eyes still held amazement, yet not a trace of greed remained. Those who had failed to restrain themselves were already dead.

Yan Ruyu gazed at Ye Chen in shock. She had long guessed he was still powerful. Yet they had reached the Immortal Realm, where peerless talents gathered in abundance. She had assumed Ye Chen could no longer remain as invincible as he had been in the lower realms, cutting down enemies across realms as easily as chopping vegetables.

After all, no one in the Immortal Realm was weak. Yet, looking at him now, why did his talent seem even more terrifying than before? Absolute talent made every effort and every opportunity feel useless. No wonder Ye Chen had been able to impregnate an Immortal Monarch. It seemed the rumors were true after all.

This time, Yan Ruyu did not refuse. She accepted the leg bone with both hands. Feeling its weight of at least several hundred thousand catties, her heart grew heavy as well. Ye Chen had grown stronger, yet Ye Chen had not changed. He remained the same as in the lower realms. He truly loved her so much!

In that moment, Yan Ruyu also wished to bear a child for Ye Chen. Yet the cultivation method she practiced still made it impossible for now. To express her gratitude, she held Ye Chen tightly and spoke softly. "Chen'er… Aunt cannot manage it at present. But Wenwen is inside my inner universe. Would you like to go in and see her?"

AN: The next update is in three days.