ISWI Chapter 654-656

Chapter 654: Head Out, Instant Kill!

Seeing the Heavenly Emperor's heir, Ye Chen, spare a male enemy for the first time, the crowd twitched with mixed feelings.

"As long as it involves women, Ye Chen's attitude is lenient!"

"Exactly! A female cultivator from a rival sect tried to kill him, and he not only spared her but sent her opportunities and killed her master!"

"Yi Qingwu set kill arrays against him, and he held no grudge."

"If a male cultivator did that, they'd be dead ten times over."

"Poor Feather Transformation Daoist. His mother was the top female cultivator of her era. If Ye Chen knew, he might've spared him!"

"I curse my parents for not giving me a pretty sister—I'd be Ye Chen's brother-in-law!"

The crowd whispered, less afraid of Ye Chen. They noticed: avoid women and don't try to kill him, and he's reasonable. Someone once called him "Ye the Fourth" to his face. He didn't get mad—sent the guy to Heavenly Evolution Holy Land with a heaven-ascending opportunity.

…

On the Heavenly Emperor's chariot, Ye Chen stored the Extreme Dao Weapons, face darkening. Who spread these rumors? His reputation was nearly unsalvageable. Not his fault—the damn system and this world were to blame. He'd start fresh in the Immortal Realm, cultivating a proper reputation, free of misunderstandings.

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Ye! If you visit the Myriad Races Immortal City, I'll host you grandly…"

Yao Yuekong didn't buy Ye Chen's claim. He figured Ye Chen was playing the long game, planning to press him later for his sister and aunt's details. But sparing him publicly, saving his face, earned some gratitude. He wouldn't be too humiliated returning home.

Before leaving, Yao Yuekong sent a voice transmission: "My sister's in the fourth realm, no telling how long. When she returns to the Myriad Races Immortal City, I'll inform you to meet."

With that, he shot toward the second realm's center, where the next realm's entrance and exit lay, leading outside.

Ye Chen raised a brow. Yao Yuekong was decent, handling things after surviving. A Myriad Races member, but reliable. He glanced around, disappointed. He'd hoped Alkaid Holy Son would show. Clearly, he avoided the fray.

Of all the Central Continent, Ye Chen most wanted to kill Alkaid. No matter. He couldn't hide forever. Show his face, and Ye Chen would kill him instantly!

More spectators arrived, sensing the commotion—hundreds more. Not all Second Heaven; some were First Heaven, even the Unity stage. The Immortal Path only barred high-realm cultivators from backtracking. Low-realm ones could charge forward, even the Unity stage, if they dared.

Ye Chen eyed the newcomers, picking out two familiar faces and pointing. One had besieged his master. The other chased his senior brother.

They reacted instantly, faces paling, trying to flee. One was instantly killed, obliterated cleanly.

The other, trembling, knowing escape was futile, roared at Ye Chen: "Heavenly Emperor's heir, a prodigy like you bullying us weaklings—what kind of hero is that? Your nemesis, Fairy Lan Nuo, has declared you must honor your agreement and face her at the Lan Clan in the Central Continent! You've dodged her twice. Will you flee again? Crushing the weak with heavy fists, but cowering and making excuses against the strong?"

After shouting, he was smashed into pulp, dead beyond dead.

Ye Chen's eyes lit up. Lan Nuo? Not bad. Luo Bingling was unreliable, no critical hit. Lan Nuo, though showy, had real critical hits. If Luo Bingling failed, he'd seek Lan Nuo.

Turning to Luo Bingling, still in his arm, he said, "Fellow Daoist Luo, the riffraff are cleared. Let's enter the secret realm! After, I'll face the era's Heavy Pupil prodigy."

Luo Bingling, initially awed by Ye Chen's prowess, felt a flicker of admiration. The War God Clan revered combat strength. But seeing him spare an enemy for women, despite her presence, infuriated her. He didn't take her seriously. A perfect Heavenly Demon Body or Peacock King—how could they compare? If not for her clan's Mahayana cultivation flaw, she'd have matched or surpassed them. Despite her disdain, she nodded. "Good, let's go!"

Other matters could wait. Securing the Space Divine Stone came first. The battle hadn't gone as planned—she hadn't helped. She'd need to shine, offering the stone proactively. She'd realized Ye Chen, though a simp for women, had a temper. Not the pushover rumors suggested. With more women around him, she had to seize every chance. Otherwise, competition would make getting the Dao Cauldron harder.

Under countless eyes, they drove the chariot to the now-empty divine peak's summit. At its center, a sword stood, etched with countless sword runes.

Luo Bingling explained, "This is a broken Extreme Dao Weapon. Engraved with runes, it requires top-tier sword intent to shatter, opening the Sword Tomb secret realm! My clan elders confirmed it's the tomb of Sword Saint Kong Ke, a Saint King whose spatial sword intent dominated all. His swordsmanship was divine, but his talent was lacking. Despite being nearly unmatched in his realm, he never reached Great Saint. He never left the Immortal Path's sixth realm, dying there. So, the tomb likely holds his Space Divine Stone!"

Her clan had investigated thoroughly.

Ye Chen raised a brow, curious. "Why would a sixth-realm tomb appear in the second?"

Chapter 655: One Big Meal vs. Constant Feasts!

Luo Bingling glanced oddly at Ye Chen. Considering it was his first time on the Immortal Path, and with the Dao Cauldron likely making his cultivation faster than here, he might not have paid attention.

She patiently explained, "The Immortal Path's formation involves the Jianmu Tree's roots, fragments, and the Heavenly Dao. Each time it closes, the interior shifts. Many legacies and relics reposition, appearing where they're best suited. Like the Heavenly Demon Body you spared, who sold his sister to survive—his discovered tomb was a Saint's."

Ye Chen nodded, enlightened. The Immortal Path was quite intelligent.

"Fellow Daoist Ye, please let go of my waist, stow the chariot, and infuse your sword intent. Clash with the broken Extreme Dao Weapon's intent, and if you win, the relic's gate will open…"

Luo Bingling was impatient. Ye Chen calmly nodded, releasing her toned waist. He stepped off the Heavenly Emperor's chariot, stowing it. Approaching the decayed, nearly shapeless Extreme Dao Weapon, he pointed. His sword intent poured out.

Spectators watched, surprised he knew swordsmanship, curious if he'd succeed. Before, a few lucky cultivators found this place. A sword cultivator tried, nearly driven mad by the intent, unable to withstand it—proof of Sword Saint Kong Ke's prowess.

But then, everyone was stunned. No clash of intents occurred. As Ye Chen infused his intent, the Extreme Dao Weapon exploded.

Space trembled, a teleportation gate emerging.

Luo Bingling wasn't surprised. She'd seen Ye Chen's swordsmanship. Dugu Sheng was no match for him. Ye Chen's sword mastery was likely peerless. This reinforced her belief in his Dao Cauldron.

Beyond boosting cultivation, it enhanced comprehension like the Enlightenment Tea Tree. Under countless gazes, they exchanged a look and entered the secret realm.

Shocked spectators stirred but hesitated. Ye Chen's ruthless killing and Luo Bingling's ferocity were terrifying. They'd wait. The relic was open. With Ye Chen and Luo Bingling's high standards, they could pick up leftovers.

As the two left, discussions grew louder. They finally dared to freely talk about the shocking, one-sided battle. Ye Chen's one-against-six was legendary; now, one-against-nine surpassed it. Despite missing the Immortal Path's opening, he was more terrifying. His top-tier swordsmanship stunned them.

Too monstrous. If not for this era's unique Immortal Path—a golden age with past prodigies and revived beings—Ye Chen might've secured the immortal slot. Beyond his terrifying talent, his womanizing was discussed even more fervently.

Having a talented, beautiful sister or relative was a talisman against him. If you crossed him, it might save your life. They even debated which prodigies could survive via female kin.

"The Feather Transformation Divine Body was such a pity. If Ye Chen saw his mother, he'd have spared him, maybe even called him brother!"

"No way! The Feather Transformation King of this era is still alive—a Saint King!"

"Tch, Ye Chen dares eye Yan Ruyu, a Saint King herself, let alone a Saint King's wife…"

"Alkaid Holy Maiden, Alkaid Holy Son's fiancée, isn't bad either…"

"Watch your words—you're courting death!"

Ye Chen was unaware of the outside chatter. If he knew, he'd note every detail. Entering the Sword Tomb with Luo Bingling, the space wasn't vast. Formed from Sword Saint Kong Ke's cave heaven, his swordsmanship was peerless, but other aspects were average.

Spanning a few hundred square kilometers, they hovered above, seeing it all. They soon reached the center—a black obsidian peak. The ten-thousand-meter mountain, entirely obsidian, was famously durable, hard for Mahayana cultivators to damage.

Valuable. But Ye Chen barely cared. The peak was covered in sword marks, every inch scarred—Kong Ke's training ground. At its center, on a jade mat where Kong Ke likely meditated, a thumb-sized, pale blue divine stone glowed. Its blue light seemed to pierce space, making the surrounding hundreds of cubic meters feel illusory.

The stone appeared to contain countless flickering worlds. An illusion—space rules materialized. Only pre-cosmic creations or true immortals could condense rules thus.

The stone's value was immense. Fusing it into one's domain allowed a seamless breakthrough to cave heaven, reaching third-tier Mahayana, and becoming a King. It saved vast time comprehending space rules. Powerful enough to drive Second Heaven cultivators mad.

Luo Bingling's eyes lit up. She needed it. Wanted it. But she knew the difference between a single feast and endless feasts. The War God Clan's slow Mahayana cultivation meant the stone would only hasten her Third Heaven breakthrough. The Dao Cauldron, though, would skyrocket her future path. She resolved to gift the stone to Ye Chen for his trust and favor.

Ye Chen's gaze lingered briefly on the stone. His profound swordsmanship sensed the sword marks on the obsidian peak weren't random, holding a wondrous charm. Chaos qi swirled in his eyes as he scanned the marks. His pupils narrowed slightly…

Chapter 656: Minor Space Technique!

Ye Chen's Heavy Pupils scanned the dense sword marks on the divine peak. He soared into the sky, overlooking the entire peak.

Luo Bingling, puzzled, watched him, wondering why he wasn't rushing for the Space Divine Stone. What was he doing up there?

Ye Chen, after a moment, condensed a sword intent at his fingertip, striking a specific mark. The intent wasn't forceful, but the peak exploded. Countless obsidian fragments shot across the cave heaven like meteors.

Luo Bingling, startled, swiftly grabbed the jade mat and Space Divine Stone. Her golden armor glowed, unscathed by the terrifying fragments. Curious, she looked up, guessing Ye Chen found Sword Saint Kong Ke's legacy. She wasn't jealous. A Saint King's inheritance was valuable but not extraordinary, likely sword-based, which didn't interest her.

Above, a voice echoed in Ye Chen's mind, making him raise a brow.

"I am Sword Saint Kong Ke, struggling five thousand years in the sealed Immortal Path, perishing as my lifespan ended. I leave my sword intent legacy, Instant Kill Sword Technique, and this Minor Space Technique fragment.

"The Minor Space Technique fragment came from slaying a prodigy from the Black Yellow World on the Immortal Path. It derives from the Major Space Technique in an Immortal Scripture, mastering space's ultimate truths. Though far inferior and only a fragment, the Minor Space Technique surpasses the Space Divine Stone's effects.

"With it, I broke through to Third Realm, earning the title Sword Saint Kong Ke! You, seeing through this mystery, are a swordsmanship genius. Cultivate the Minor Space Technique fragment, perfect my Instant Kill Sword Technique, and reach the Immortal Dao's peak.

"Show the world swordsmanship isn't just the Heavenly Emperor's brute force—it's skillful. Tell others I taught you, let my name echo in posterity! If you've got any conscience, build me statues—lots of them, I love that…"

The weathered voice faded.

Ye Chen's lips twitched. Kong Ke was vain, like himself. His request was easy.

Ye Chen would commission a book, Great Saint Chronicles, free with purchases at Ye Boutique. That'd satisfy Kong Ke. This haul was unexpected. He usually scoffed at relics—nothing beat his system. But this surprised him.

Instant Kill Sword Technique? A Saint King's creation was decent but couldn't rival Immortal Scriptures like Dugu Nine Swords. The Minor Space Technique fragment, though, thrilled him. Kong Ke used it to bypass the Space Divine Stone's need, showing its power.

Just a fragment of a lesser technique. A complete version would be phenomenal. Above it, the Major Space Technique—an Immortal Scripture's technique.

Ye Chen, cultivating the Immortal Scripture, knew their might. Since mastering it, he rarely got injured. Only during heavenly tribulations, under prodigy sieges, did he take minor wounds, healed instantly. If he gained another Immortal Scripture technique, he'd be unstoppable.

Feeling the Minor Space Technique fragment in his mind, Ye Chen brimmed with joy. Far more valuable than the Space Divine Stone. This was a massive win.

Luo Bingling, initially indifferent to Sword Saint Kong Ke's legacy, grew curious seeing Ye Chen's serious expression. Holding the Space Divine Stone, she was impatient to gift it to him, tired of overthinking.

"Fellow Daoist Ye?" she prompted.

Ye Chen nodded, descending calmly. The obsidian divine peak was gone, the cave heaven a mess from scattered fragments. He didn't care about the obsidian.

To Luo Bingling, he said, "My sword intent resonated with Kong Ke's, gaining his Instant Kill Sword Technique! We entered together, so we share. Not a gift—just splitting spoils!"

He reached for her waist, intending to share the technique.

Luo Bingling had heard of it—Kong Ke's mastery of space let his sword intent strike from any void corner, undefendable, instantly killing.

But uninterested in swordsmanship, she dodged his hand, saying seriously, "I'm not into swordsmanship, so keep it, Fellow Daoist Ye! As for this Space Divine Stone, it's yours! My War God Clan has some resources. We have another, half this size, enough for my third-tier breakthrough. Don't refuse. I used to disdain most humans, but your demeanor, talent, and strength amaze me.

"War God Clan women admire the strong, wishing to be their Dao companions. I hope you grow stronger! I'm not empty-handed—this jade mat is a treasure, aiding focused cultivation. Even a slight speed boost makes me happy. Our clan struggles in Mahayana. If only the Dao Cauldron were here…"

Her ambiguous words suggested she was smitten, choosing Ye Chen. Another man might've been flattered.

Ye Chen's heart was unmoved. So many gifts, zero critical hits, and she claims to be smitten? He nearly believed it. She was flipping the script. He should gift the Space Divine Stone. Her actions were odd.

She, Second Heaven, needed the stone for her breakthrough. She found the secret realm. Yet she wanted nothing, giving it to him? Such generosity had motives. Recalling her complaints about slow cultivation, being surpassed, humiliated, and mentioning the Dao Cauldron…

Ye Chen confirmed it. This waist temptress was after the Dao Cauldron!