Chapter 1123: Nangong Wan's Breakthrough!
"Would you like me to escort you, Martial Uncle?"
A half-smile curved on Huo Linglong's lips. The tip of her tongue unconsciously licked her lower lip, its color seemingly more scorching than the red lotus on her forehead.
Ye Chen knew when to stop. He waved his hand and drifted away from the Punishment Main Peak, feeling quite pleased.
His status as an ancestor was proving very useful. A Saint Immortal was a lofty existence in the Immortal Realm, an ancestor-level powerhouse in most major forces. If any other True Immortal of the first layer had made an eighth-layer Saint Immortal grit her teeth like this, their ashes would have already been scattered.
Yet he had even been addressed as "Martial Uncle."
It was a huge profit.
Soaring through the sky, Ye Chen could sense that after this incident, his position within Jade Pool Immortal Sect had completely changed. Previously, the female cultivators would avoid him from afar. They thought he didn't notice, but he had seen everything clearly.
Now? Whenever the female cultivators saw him, they would warmly approach and greet him with respect. Some even looked at him with heartache.
This was exactly the result Ye Chen had wanted. When one did good deeds, they naturally needed to be known by everyone. Otherwise, what was the point?
Although he didn't understand why Hundred Flowers Peak had kept it secret before, now every disciple and elder in Jade Pool Immortal Sect knew that their ancestor was generous and caring toward his disciples. From now on, they would surely draw closer to him.
He had finally taken root in Jade Pool Immortal Sect.
Back on the Punishment Main Peak, Huo Linglong was furious. Her chest heaved violently as she took out a jar of immortal wine she hadn't touched in a long time. She tilted her head back and drank deeply. Most of it spilled from the corners of her lips, flowing into the deep, unfathomable valley between her breasts and disappearing.
She didn't care in the slightest.
Her phoenix eyes remained fixed on the direction Ye Chen had left. "There's something wrong. There must be something wrong… He casually hands out top-grade True Origin Return One Pills and gives away the Immortal King Scripture instead of cultivating it himself. He definitely has deeper motives.
"I will uncover the real reason you insisted on coming to Jade Pool Immortal Sect. But you'd better not harbor any ill intentions toward Master. Otherwise, I will make you beg for death without being able to die…"
Ye Chen returned to Transcendence Peak and officially entered seclusion to cultivate the Western Empress Supreme Scripture. Once the one-month backlash ended, he would begin breaking through to the Celestial Immortal realm.
...
In the Great Void Continent of the Three Thousand Dao Continents in the Immortal Realm, Wang Xuanji slowly opened her eyes.
Feeling the early-stage Celestial Immortal cultivation within her body, she revealed a faint smile. She had only been back for about a year, yet she had already restored her cultivation to the Celestial Immortal realm.
Wang Xuanji was confident that within a hundred years at most, she would return to the peak of the eighth-layer Saint Immortal realm. In two hundred years, she would achieve Immortal Monarch, and within a thousand years, she would become an Immortal King. She would go even further than before. And all of this was undoubtedly thanks to that man.
Thinking of the man in the golden yin-yang fish robe, a trace of regret appeared in Wang Xuanji's eyes. By now, Ye Chen must have realized how wrong his choice back then had been. He clearly possessed unparalleled talent, yet he had chosen to remain in the lower world for the sake of fleeting emotions, unable to advance even a little.
Wang Xuanji sighed softly and murmured to herself.
"Guarding the lower world for a thousand years may temper your heart. It might not be a bad thing for you… When I achieve the Immortal King realm, I will personally bring you out of the lower world. At that time, I hope you will have already severed your worldly attachments and understood the true value of your talent."
Wang Xuanji fell silent. The primordial sword embryo between her brows trembled as she resumed her cultivation.
...
In the Immortal Realm, within Jade Pool Immortal Sect.
Ye Chen had entered seclusion, but the entire sect was buzzing with discussions about him.
Unlike before, when the female disciples had resisted him, their eyes now lit up whenever they mentioned Ye Chen. Through conversations with the disciples from Hundred Flowers Peak, they had learned more of the truth and gained a deeper understanding of this ancestor.
Ancestor Ye was indeed extremely generous—his generosity were shockingly lavish. Yet he was not purely selfless.
Ancestor Ye clearly had feelings for Nangong Wan. He had shown her extraordinary concern, visiting her nearly every week in the past to ensure she didn't run out of pills. He would pretend to be indifferent while secretly gifting her immortal artifacts that he actually cared a great deal about.
When Nangong Wan's body developed problems, he had unhesitatingly passed her the Immortal King Scripture. This level of care far exceeded what an ancestor should show toward a disciple.
Surprisingly, this did not lower the female disciples' opinion of Ye Chen. Instead, they became even more eager to get close to him.
Ever since the Other Domain invaded the Immortal Realm years ago, although they had failed, the Immortal Realm had suffered heavy losses. Natural treasures had become increasingly scarce, and acquiring cultivation resources had grown far more difficult.
Under these circumstances, most Dao companions drew clear boundaries with each other.
Yet Ancestor Ye had taken a liking to a female disciple. Instead of using his power to pressure her or resorting to schemes, he had won her heart through sincere gifts.
Such behavior was incredibly rare.
Many female disciples secretly regretted that Ye Chen had not chosen them. If he weren't currently in seclusion, quite a few would have already flocked to his side, calling him "Ancestor" in sweet, coquettish voices.
Two months passed in this manner.
Many female disciples on Hundred Flowers Peak broke through to the Celestial Immortal realm, greatly increasing the peak's overall strength. This made Ancestor Ye even more prominent.
Female cultivators from the other peaks—especially those at the True Immortal realm—were practically lining up to pay their respects to him, all hoping he would bestow upon them a True Origin Return One Pill.
On this day, another powerful aura rose from Hundred Flowers Peak.
Another cultivator had broken through to the Celestial Immortal realm.
Under normal circumstances, this would have been unremarkable. However, everyone's expressions changed drastically. The aura was terrifying. Even though it belonged to someone who had just broken through, it exerted immense pressure on most veteran Celestial Immortals.
When they traced the source of the surging aura, their faces changed again.
It came from Nangong Wan's cave residence.
Nangong Wan had broken through to the Celestial Immortal realm.
Did that mean the problem that had plagued her was finally resolved?
Several elders immediately flew over, waiting with curiosity and patience for Nangong Wan to emerge.
Half a day later, Nangong Wan, who had stabilized her aura, stepped out with her long legs. Her entire being appeared even more ethereal, with skin like ice and jade, cold and transcendent like an immortal.
Yet her exquisitely crafted face could not hide her excitement.
"Wan'er, have you recovered? What kind of divine ability did you awaken?"
The elders could all tell that Nangong Wan had become even more extraordinary. Her previous Great Yin Immortal Body had already been remarkable. Now, she had clearly taken another major step forward.
Hearing their questions, Nangong Wan revealed a joyful smile.
Cultivating the Western Empress Undying Chapter had benefited her immensely. Her life force had risen dramatically in quality, which accelerated the unknown transformation within her body. The moment the transformation was completed, she had officially broken through to the Celestial Immortal realm.
Nangong Wan had no intention of hiding her strength. She had wasted too many years and needed the sect's support to accelerate her future cultivation. At the same time, she wanted to grow stronger so she could repay Fourth Ancestor for his kindness.
Under the curious gazes of the elders and disciples, she smiled lightly and said, "This disciple has awakened a variant Sacred Spirit Root—the Great Yin Sacred Root!"
As soon as the words left her mouth, every cultivator present widened their eyes in shock.
Chapter 1124: Fourth Ancestor Truly Loves Me So Much!
As soon as Nangong Wan spoke, everyone present was stunned.
The Great Yin Sacred Root was a variant Sacred Spirit Root, ranked even higher than a regular Sacred Spirit Root. Those who possessed a Sacred Spirit Root had a closer affinity with the Great Dao and held the faint hope of becoming an Immortal King. Although that hope was extremely slim, it still existed.
Variant Sacred Spirit Roots offered an even greater chance of reaching the Immortal King realm, as they focused more intensely on comprehending a specific Dao. In Nangong Wan's case, her Great Yin Sacred Root emphasized the Great Yin Dao.
Most importantly, she already possessed the Great Yin Immortal Body. The two complemented each other perfectly, bringing her endless benefits on her future immortal path.
The elders' expressions toward Nangong Wan changed instantly. If she had previously been considered a top-tier genius with the potential to reach Immortal Monarch under ideal conditions, then now she could be called a monstrous talent.
Having already broken through to the Celestial Immortal realm, she would undoubtedly become a personal disciple of Jade Pool Immortal Sect.
"Wan'er, you've finally overcome your hardships. We're truly happy for you."
"If news of you awakening a variant Sacred Spirit Root spreads, the entire Boundless Continent will know your name."
"That Nalan Qingxuan who broke off the engagement will surely regret it deeply."
"From now on, the sky is high and the sea is vast. Senior Sister, you will truly soar."
The atmosphere within Hundred Flowers Peak was harmonious. All the elders and disciples genuinely rejoiced for her.
Nangong Wan felt immense joy as well. After years of suppression and hardship, she had finally seen the light at the end of the tunnel.
However, she didn't spare a thought for whether Nalan Qingxuan would regret his decision. In her mind, only the tall, upright figure of Fourth Ancestor remained.
If not for Fourth Ancestor, she would likely still be having her cultivation devoured. She might have already been forced to leave Jade Pool Immortal Sect. Even if she had survived the loss of her cultivation, the subsequent draining of her life force would have left her powerless. In short, she would have faced certain death.
In that sense, Fourth Ancestor had saved her life.
"Elders, Senior Sisters, Junior Sisters, I owe today's success largely to Fourth Ancestor's care. I would like to go thank him first…"
Nangong Wan did not explicitly mention the private transmission of the Immortal King Scripture, as it was a serious matter best kept from outsiders.
Everyone nodded in understanding. "Indeed, Fourth Ancestor took a great risk by secretly passing you the Immortal King Scripture and nearly got expelled from the sect. Now that you've broken through, you should thank him properly."
"Speaking of which, Fourth Ancestor hasn't appeared in a long time. He must still be recovering from his injuries."
"Wan'er, I really envy you!"
"Wan'er, can I come with you to pay respects to Ancestor?"
The crowd chattered excitedly.
Nangong Wan froze. Fourth Ancestor had suffered backlash and nearly been driven out of the sect?
Her heart tightened. She quickly asked what had happened.
The others explained everything that had occurred while she was in seclusion. Once she learned the full story, her eyes turned red.
She had previously assumed that as an ancestor, he naturally had the authority to do such things. But now she realized that in the Immortal Realm, strength reigned supreme. Fourth Ancestor's title was largely in name only—he held very little real power or privilege.
Yet under those circumstances, he had still given her the Immortal King Scripture without hesitation.
How could this possibly be the "selfless act for the sect" he had claimed?
Fourth Ancestor… truly loves me so much. He was thousands of times better than that Nalan Qingxuan.
At this moment, Nangong Wan's heart was filled entirely with Ye Chen's image. She wanted to go see him immediately.
But just then, a red figure descended from the sky. Snowy peaks, deep ravines, swaying waist chain and curved blades—she was breathtakingly beautiful, radiating overwhelming pressure that belonged to a Saint Immortal, a pinnacle existence in the Immortal Realm.
"I greet the Punishment Elder. Elder, it was I who begged Fourth Ancestor Ye to grant me the Immortal King Scripture. The one who broke the sect rules was actually me… I acted out of selfish desire and violated the sect's regulations."
Upon seeing Huo Linglong, Nangong Wan quickly bowed and spoke, taking all the blame upon herself.
After all, as a male cultivator, Fourth Ancestor had already faced resistance within the sect. If he became even more disliked, his position in Jade Pool Immortal Sect would only grow more awkward. Moreover, everything he had done was for her sake. How could she stand aside?
The curved blades at Huo Linglong's sides swayed gently. She glanced at Nangong Wan and shook her head. "You two did break the rules, but the scripture wasn't leaked to outsiders. Besides, you possess top-tier talent… Nangong Wan, are you willing to become my disciple and a personal disciple of the sect?"
The moment Huo Linglong spoke, everyone present was shocked. No one had expected her to come to accept a disciple.
Their gazes toward Nangong Wan filled with even greater envy. Jade Moon Immortal Monarch had not taken any disciples for many years. Personal disciples of the sect were usually taken by Saint Immortals. Among the nine Saint Immortals in Jade Pool Immortal Sect, the strongest and most likely to become an Immortal Monarch was none other than the Punishment Elder, Huo Linglong.
Becoming her personal disciple was an incredible opportunity.
Nangong Wan was also surprised, but having such a master would definitely be a good thing. Most importantly, she had heard that the Punishment Elder held strong objections toward Fourth Ancestor Ye and had even tried to drive him away. If she became her disciple, she could subtly change the elder's attitude toward Fourth Ancestor. As a peak Saint Immortal, her shifted opinion would greatly benefit Fourth Ancestor's standing in the sect.
Therefore, Nangong Wan bowed without hesitation. "Thank you for your favor, Master. This disciple, Nangong Wan, greets Master."
Huo Linglong nodded at the bowing Nangong Wan.
Ye Chen clearly had bigger schemes. He had already used various means to win Nangong Wan's favor. However, with her variant Sacred Spirit Root and top-tier talent, she could not be held back by him. In the future, she would have to guide Nangong Wan carefully, helping her see things clearly and gradually distance herself from Ye Chen.
Looking at Nangong Wan, Huo Linglong spoke calmly, "You possess both the Great Yin Immortal Body and the Great Yin Sacred Root. You should have cultivated the Great Yin Chapter of the Western Empress Supreme Scripture and walked the Great Yin Dao. In the future, you might have fully comprehended the Great Yin Dao and achieved the Immortal King realm… Unfortunately, that chapter has been lost. Otherwise…"
Huo Linglong sounded somewhat regretful.
Nangong Wan, however, took it lightly. After experiencing such a low point, simply being able to cultivate normally now already felt incredibly precious.
While the two were talking, they suddenly sensed another aura rising. It was also the aura of a breakthrough to the Celestial Immortal realm.
With a single thought spanning thousands of miles, Huo Linglong frowned slightly.
Nangong Wan confirmed the direction, and her face lit up with joy. "It's coming from Transcendence Peak. Fourth Ancestor has also broken through to the Celestial Immortal realm."
The others were surprised as well. Unlike Nangong Wan, Ye Chen had joined Jade Pool Immortal Sect as a genuine early-stage True Immortal. Yet in such a short time, he had already broken through to Celestial Immortal!
Still, when they thought of those top-grade True Origin Return One Pills that he handed out as if they were worthless, it suddenly seemed perfectly reasonable.
Seeing how happy Nangong Wan looked, Huo Linglong could not help but shake her head. She would need to have a proper talk with this disciple of hers later…