ISWI Chapter 812-813

Chapter 812: Might As Well Be Heaven-Ordained!

This prodigy was extraordinarily powerful. Unfortunately, in this generation's Immortal Path, heavenly prodigies sprouted like weeds—far too numerous. His brilliance, though striking, had not echoed loudly enough.

He soared forward. First, he bowed respectfully to Ye Chen, the Heavenly Emperor's heir. "Greetings, Fellow Daoist Ye."

Only then did he address Lan Nuo politely. "I have long heard of Fairy Lan's astonishing Heavy Pupils. Now, with the addition of a Sacred Spiritual Root, I humbly request Fairy Lan's guidance and instruction…"

His challenge carried the intent of the great sect behind him—to test Lan Nuo's Sacred Spiritual Root. He himself harbored some confidence. Even against Heavy Pupils and a Sacred Spiritual Root, he believed he might still hold his own.

The moment he spoke, every gaze locked intently.

Lan Nuo offered no words, merely regarding him calmly. The instant her eyes swept over him, terrifying pressure crashed down.

His face drained of color in a flash. His figure, suspended in the void, plummeted several meters. Clearly peers in the realm, yet it felt as though a saint gazed upon him. His physique erupted in that moment, desperately resisting the pressure.

Yet Lan Nuo merely lifted her chin slightly. The power of heaven and earth converged around them, bearing down upon him.

"Pfft…"

Before the shocked eyes of the crowd, he spewed a mouthful of blood, staring at Lan Nuo in disbelief. No spell or divine ability employed. Merely a glance, mobilizing the forces of heaven and earth, enough to force a top prodigy of the same realm to cough blood?

Was a Sacred Spiritual Root truly this horrifying? Did Lan Nuo's strength now rival the Heavenly Emperor's heir? Could she, too, suppress peak quasi-saints across major realms?

In the next moment, an early-stage quasi-saint stepped forward. He remained courteous, clearly distinguishing priority. He first bowed respectfully to Ye Chen before requesting Lan Nuo's guidance.

She still uttered no word. Merely raising her hand faintly, sacred power surged—Dao manifesting naturally. Her fair hand patted lightly. Even though her opponent had prepared defensive divine arts in advance, he was still sent flying instantly. The dao artifact-grade immortal robe on his body exploded, his face ashen without a trace of blood.

The crowd erupted in uproar once more. Soon after: mid-stage quasi-saint, late-stage, peak quasi-saint…

Only against a peak quasi-saint did Lan Nuo employ her Heavy Pupils, trapping him within the Heavy Pupil Pure Land. She drifted gracefully into it.

Moments later, the Pure Land dispersed. The peak quasi-saint, face deathly pale as though his Dao heart had suffered a blow, bowed to Lan Nuo and departed immediately.

Throughout, Lan Nuo retained her ethereal, immortal bearing.

In that moment, words became unnecessary. All understood the might of a Sacred Spiritual Root. Spanning an entire great realm, she suppressed opponents with ease. A Sacred Spiritual Root truly inspired such terror. And with Heavy Pupils besides, she appeared even more fearsome.

On this day, the cultivation world gained yet another heaven-defying existence. The onlookers seethed with envy and resentment. The Lan family, however, overflowed with ecstasy.

Lan Nuo often spoke at home of restoring the clan's glory—"It is our generation's duty; I will surpass the ancestors." Now, she truly had.

Countless powers currently watched Immortal City.

A million miles away in a distant void, a man in golden robes stood—chaos qi flowing around him, his form rounded and natural, like a deity incarnate. His gaze remained calm. Beside him stood several terrifyingly powerful beings.

One could not contain his killing intent and spoke. "Whether Lan Nuo or the Heavenly Emperor's heir, both possess astonishing talent—the true great medicines. The potential of a Sacred Spiritual Root seems no weaker than an Innate Chaos Body. This era truly teems with monsters. Both will be formidable rivals on your Immortal Path, Holy Son. If you do not act soon, once even your cultivation advantage vanishes, suppressing and slaying them will grow far harder."

At his words, the strikingly handsome man shook his head. "I will act only after shedding this demonic shell and achieving complete perfection!"

The man was none other than the long-absent Alkaid Holy Son. This generation teemed with too many heavenly prodigies. In past eras, only one or two apex geniuses emerged. Now they appeared in heaps. Even he, inheritor of the Devouring lineage, had reaped the benefits of this golden age. Previous devourers rarely perfected their path to Quasi-Immortal, let alone attained an Acquired Chaos Body.

Yet Alkaid had succeeded early. Each devouring of origin also elevated his cultivation. This had propelled him to profound realms long ago. Even so, he remained deeply wary. He had watched Ye Chen closely, seeking opportunities to strike several times—yet always restrained himself, slipping away quietly.

The great powers beside him grew dissatisfied with his caution.

"The path of cultivation demands fearless advance. With your Acquired Chaos Body now complete, it falls a little short of an innate one. If you wait for absolute certainty before every move, immortality will forever elude you! You were once merely an obscure disciple of the Alkaid Holy Land—born with a mortal physique and a trifling third-grade spiritual root, overlooked by all.

"Our Devouring lineage selected ten thousand mortal bodies. You fought with ruthless decisiveness, emerging victorious amid slaughter—over a thousand perished by your hand. I still remember the unyielding fire in your eyes then, as though it could incinerate heaven and earth!

"Thus, our lineage bestowed upon you the Indestructible Heavenly Art, rare treasures to elevate your root to a supreme heavenly grade, and countless inherited divine abilities for your study. We do not wish to see you—now blessed with talent and strength—lose that burning unwillingness! Without that drive, even an Innate Chaos Body would never ascend!"

Alkaid smiled at their words—strikingly handsome, like a banished immortal. "I will not disappoint the seniors, of course. In this era, I will surely lead you all into the immortal realm. Yet the Heavenly Emperor's heir truly differs. Outsiders see only his obsession with women. I believe he likely possessed a Sacred Spiritual Root long ago. His gifts are precious, yet he always retains something better for himself. Not absolute, but from my observations, largely true…

"With Heavy Pupils, Supreme Heart, Innate Sacred Body Dao Embryo—and if a Sacred Spiritual Root besides—what terror would that breed? In any case, I have observed him in close-quarters battles multiple times. Never once has he fought at full strength! If I strike rashly and suffer crushing defeat, it would ruin the Devouring lineage's painstaking efforts across the years. Thus, once I shed this demonic fetus and achieve true perfection, I will act at once—suppressing him with the superior realm and slaying him outright!"

At this, the gathered powers furrowed their brows. The Heavenly Emperor's heir also possessed a Sacred Spiritual Root?

Truth be told, it strained belief. How could the Heavenly Dao favor one person so extravagantly? Bestowing every supreme aptitude upon a single body? And if true, would his scheming not run too deep?

Yet recalling recent rumors—of his elaborate plots that nearly wiped out an entire generation of myriad race prodigies. And the fresh news of deliberately tossing the Nirvana Sacred Liquid to lure and kill.

They fell silent. This generation's Heavenly Emperor's heir truly might pull such a feat.

Still, doubt lingered in their hearts. Could the world birth a prodigy this monstrous? What difference would there be from one ordained by heaven itself?

Chapter 813: He's Not Worthy of My Daughter!

Alkaid gazed at Ye Chen from afar. A trace of envy flickered in his eyes, mingled with battle intent. He envied Ye Chen's unstoppable momentum and peerless talent. Yet gazing at him evoked a sense of kinship. Ye Chen surely concealed trump cards, just as he did.

Though born with a mere mortal physique, Alkaid actually harbored something extraordinary. So rare that it had deceived every great power in the Devouring lineage. Relying on it, he had carved a bloody path through their secret realm back then, claiming the true devouring inheritance.

And now, he wasn't merely awaiting the chance to shed his demonic fetus. He sought a further step. An Acquired Chaos Body wasn't enough—he craved an innate one.

The Devouring True Immortal's talent stood unmatched across ages. Even reduced to mortal form, she remained invincible. But only the Devouring True Immortal could achieve that. For others, true mortalization would render them utterly ordinary.

Past true immortals and great powers of the Devouring lineage had all attempted to deduce the next step—transforming acquired into innate. None succeeded. They left only fragmented conjectures.

Yet he had gathered every predecessor's attempts, studied the Heavenly Desire Sect's Heart-Seed Demon Nirvana Scripture, the Divine Silkworm Clan's Nine Transformations Immortal Scripture, and every nirvana method in the cultivation world. He had formed new ideas and was experimenting. If he succeeded, he would gain not merely an Innate Chaos Body. In the future—ascending to immortality, founding a lineage—he might reach even greater heights.

…

Alkaid spared Ye Chen no further glance and drifted away. He had his own matters to attend.

The great powers of the Devouring lineage narrowed their eyes, sweeping over Ye Chen. Alkaid's speculation was too startling. They had always hoped the Heavenly Emperor's heir would serve as a whetstone for him. But if he truly possessed a Sacred Spiritual Root as well... they dared wait no longer.

Whetstones abounded—this one was too hard. Better dead.

…

In another realm.

The violet-gold divine dragon lounged lazily atop the golden-robed elder's head, glancing at Ye Chen as it spoke. "Regretting it now? If back then you had invited Ye Chen over and made him the true Heavenly Emperor's heir, that Sacred Spiritual Root would likely belong to your daughter.

"Chaos Body plus Sacred Spiritual Root—she'd ascend sitting down. Daughter with Chaos Body, son-in-law with Innate Sacred Body Dao Embryo plus Heavy Pupils and Supreme Heart—you'd be the cultivation world's foremost father-in-law.

"Yet you insisted on this fake successor nonsense. Now you've offended him utterly. When you meet again, he might greet you with a fist first. What was the point?"

The golden-robed elder's expression darkened, lips twitching.

Yet he replied coldly, "Talent is vital, but not everything. My daughter Qingcheng possesses the makings of immortality. Her will rivals the Heavenly Emperor of old. A Sacred Spiritual Root or not—irrelevant. Once she severs the Dao and breaks through to sainthood, she will forge her own path. The future victor remains unknown. Besides, with so many women around him, he's unworthy of my daughter."

The violet-gold divine dragon couldn't be bothered with his stubbornness. Bored, it closed its eyes, anticipating the day Yan Qingcheng shyly led Ye Chen into the Heavenly Emperor Hall. No doubt, the old man's expression then would be priceless.

…

Within the Immortal City.

Thunderbolt Great Saint Wen Tailai narrowed his eyes, greed surging in his heart. He truly coveted everything Ye Chen possessed. He knew he lacked the qualifications for immortality. He only wished to break through to Great Emperor—or even Quasi-Immortal—before the Age of Dharma's End arrived. Thus, though he had missed his chance last time, he never abandoned hope. The moment opportunity struck, he would deliver a thunderous blow and utterly crush Ye Chen.

…

In the ancestral grounds of the Undying Celestial Phoenix Clan. Atop the sacred mountain.

The will of the Celestial Prince, still slumbering within the divine source, received the news. Learning of the fallen peak quasi-saint, his expression remained unruffled. He nodded calmly. "In that case, no need to send anyone. This one is worthy of my personal attention. When I emerge, I will act myself!"

…

In the ninth realm of the Immortal Path.

Within a secret realm brimming with immortal spiritual qi, a divine pool shimmered with ethereal vapors. The pool water was crystal clear, cradling a single azure lotus that swayed gently. The bud appeared on the verge of blooming. Within it, a figure sat cross-legged—divine and sacred, radiating astonishing presence.

Upon receiving the news, only a sigh emerged from the lotus. "When I emerge, I will reclaim the Seven-Colored Nirvana Jade from Ye Chen! This matter began because of me. In the future, I will bring her into the immortal realm and help mend her cracks!"

…

In Immortal City.

The dust settled. From beginning to end, Lan Nuo uttered not a word. After suppressing the peak quasi-saint, she calmly departed alongside Ye Chen and the Lan family great powers.

The Lan elders beamed with pride, their enthusiasm overflowing. The one who had summoned the Extreme Dao vessel greeted familiar peers warmly. "This Extreme Dao vessel of mine bears inscribed top-tier spatial divine arrays—vastly spacious inside…"

"And astonishingly swift. Our clans are merely tens of millions of miles apart—quite close. Shall I ferry you partway?"

"What? You ask why I possess an Extreme Dao vessel? Ahem—the Heavenly Emperor's heir insisted on gifting it. I refused, but he forced it upon me…"

"What? You ask about its grade and materials? Upper-grade, primarily forged from dragon-patterned immortal gold, blended with…"

Onlookers' lips twitched. No one asked.

As Lan Nuo and the Heavenly Emperor's heir departed, the storm over the Sacred Spiritual Root finally subsided. Yet Lan Nuo's battle achievements swiftly spread across the entire cultivation world.

At the same time, the Heavenly Emperor's heir's reputation for womanizing grew ever more convincing. After all, gifting even a Sacred Spiritual Root—if that didn't count, what did?

Beyond that, discussions of Ye Chen's love for fishing proliferated. His reputation in the cultivation world now rivaled the Heavenly Emperor of old.

Equally cunning, equally fond of baiting hooks, equally vindictive. The sole difference: Ye Chen kept a harem; the Heavenly Emperor did not.

…

In the blink of an eye, a month passed.

"Master, you're awful…"

Lan Nuo's pretty face flushed crimson, staring at Ye Chen with deep resentment. Having thwarted her latest attempt at "riding the master," Ye Chen gently tidied her sweat-dampened strands, smiling. "No more enduring. Since you can't hold it back, enter seclusion."

After refining the Sacred Spiritual Root, her cultivation had exploded to the peak. Coupled with the Stasis Secret he had taught her—mastery of time laws now perfected—she could no longer suppress her realm.

Yet Lan Nuo knew that once she secluded herself, Ye Chen would leave. Reluctant to part, she always sought to "handle" her master before retreating. Each time, however, she suffered merciless suppression.

"Cultivate well. I'll visit you again next time!"

Over the month, Ye Chen had gifted her several times, bestowing treasures acquired at auction. He had even triggered a heart-strike once, profoundly experiencing the might of a ten-thousand-times female cultivator. But now he lacked urgent needs. His own cultivation had also reached peak Third Heaven in this month. Thus, he urged Lan Nuo into seclusion. While he prepared to return to Great Yan Continent—first to gift his fiancée, then visit the Heavenly Desire Sect…