Chapter 1129: Nalan Qingxuan!
Nangong Wan left Transcendence Peak with lingering reluctance. Without further hesitation, she departed from Jade Pool Immortal Sect and flew swiftly toward her destination. She wanted to finish her business quickly and return as soon as possible. She was genuinely afraid that Fourth Ancestor might forget her if she stayed away too long.
Still, the imprint he had left in her brow gave her a comforting feeling, as if he were right by her side.
…
Seven days later, Nangong Wan slowly descended outside the gates of Wutan City.
Her peerless beauty, graceful body proportion, and the powerful Celestial Immortal aura she radiated immediately caused a stir at the city entrance. Many people recognized her and widened their eyes in shock.
News of Nangong Wan recovering her talent and awakening the Great Yin Sacred Root had already spread throughout Wutan City. Most had dismissed it as false. After all, possessing the Great Yin Immortal Body was already incredible—how could she possibly have gained the Great Yin Sacred Root as well?
But now, sensing her aura firsthand, all their doubts vanished. Nangong Wan had truly resolved her talent issue. The Nangong family of Wutan City was about to rise completely.
Wutan City was a small city that had previously been dominated by three major families, each led by a Celestial Immortal. With the rise of the younger generation—Nangong Wan and Nalan Qingxuan—the balance of power was shifting dramatically. Although Nalan Qingxuan had reached the peak of Celestial Immortal, everyone knew that even without the Great Yin Sacred Root, Nangong Wan's talent had far surpassed his. Her future potential would undoubtedly be much higher than his.
Considering the recent targeting of the Nangong family, many sensed that a major upheaval was coming to Wutan City.
Nangong Wan did not linger outside. Soon, members of the Nangong clan who had received the news came to escort her back to the family estate.
Inside the family hall, Nangong Wan's parents and relatives looked at her with overwhelming joy. Their family's heaven-sent prodigy had endured countless hardships and finally seen the light of day. The Nangong family would rise along with her. This was the true meaning of pouring everything into nurturing a family genius. Although most families failed, the rewards of success were immense.
"Father, what exactly is the current situation with the family? Let me go speak with the three major families," Nangong Wan said.
She briefly shared her recent successes without dwelling on the dark period she had endured, then turned to the main issue at hand.
In her view, this matter was not difficult to resolve. In fact, she could have handled it without returning in person. The main reason for her visit was simply that she had been away from home for too long.
With her current status as a personal disciple of a Saint Immortal, her Celestial Immortal cultivation, and the full set of medium-grade immortal artifacts gifted by Fourth Ancestor, Nangong Wan was confident she could single-handedly suppress the Celestial Immortals of the three major families. In terms of status, those families would also have to show her respect. Under these conditions, resolving the conflict would simply require a single meeting to redistribute the interests of Wutan City.
In the strength-worshipping Immortal Realm, dividing power was often this straightforward. There was no need for prolonged battles. Everything depended on the status and strength of the strongest party.
The family members nodded in agreement. Now that Nangong Wan had returned and confirmed she had not only recovered her talent but also broken through to the Celestial Immortal realm, the problems facing the family would be easily resolved.
Chapter 1129: Nalan Qingxuan!
The two other major families had already received the news. Their Celestial Immortal experts immediately conceded. Both were at the mid-stage of Celestial Immortal, technically a minor realm above Nangong Wan.
However, the difference in combat power between experts from major powers and small forces was vast. Moreover, Nangong Wan possessed both an immortal body and a Sacred Spirit Root, and she undoubtedly cultivated the Immortal King Scripture. The two families surrendered without hesitation.
They promptly sent gifts and offered to cede a portion of their interests, especially their seats in Wutan City's marketplace. They felt little resentment. After all, the entire campaign against the Nangong family had been led and encouraged by the Nalan family, who claimed Nangong Wan's recovery was nothing but a rumor.
In the Nalan family residence, Nalan Jie, the early-stage Celestial Immortal ancestor of the Nalan clan, could not help but shake his head. "You were too impatient and lacked patience. Nangong Wan possesses the Great Yin Immortal Body. As long as she endured, her future would have been limitless.
"Your patience was ultimately insufficient. If you had waited until the end and married her as your Dao companion, the benefits of mutual support would have been far greater. Especially now that she has awakened the Great Yin Sacred Root. While becoming an Immortal King may be too distant, reaching the Immortal Monarch realm is genuinely possible."
Nalan Jie sighed deeply.
Nalan Qingxuan, who had returned at some point, listened with a gloomy expression. How could he have known that the moment he broke off the engagement, Nangong Wan would recover? He even suspected she might have been testing him.
But it was pointless to dwell on it now.
His inherently dark and gloomy eyes grew resolute. "It doesn't matter. She will belong to me in the end!"
Nalan Qingxuan had no intention of killing anyone. He wanted to possess Nangong Wan and leave his mark on her so she would belong to him for life. In addition to his accumulated resources, he had used his status as a personal disciple to borrow more and purchase an immortal talisman.
Nalan Jie hesitated for a moment but eventually nodded. Although Nalan Qingxuan's plan was risky, its success would bring enormous benefits to the Nalan family.
The next day, an invitation letter arrived at the Nangong family residence, inviting Nangong Wan to the Ascending Immortal Pavilion in Wutan City to discuss the specific division of interests.
Nangong Wan held the invitation with a calm expression.
Her parents sighed. "The other two families have not only returned the interests they seized during this period but have also offered additional compensation. Now only the Nalan family remains. It seems they want to reach an agreement as well.
"Still, it's fortunate you went through that low period, Wan'er. Otherwise, we might not have seen Nalan Qingxuan's true character. A man who only cares about climbing higher is not a good match."
They tried to comfort her, afraid she might still feel hurt by the broken engagement.
Nangong Wan remained composed. She had long forgotten about Nalan Qingxuan. Only one figure occupied her mind.
"Father, Mother, I will go now. Once the matter is settled, I will stay with the family for a few more days before returning to the sect."
Nangong Wan spoke softly. She felt no particular resentment toward negotiating with the Nalan family.
Her father, the only True Immortal in the Nangong family, expressed concern. "Why don't I go with you?"
Nangong Wan shook her head. "It's just a few words. There's no need for Father to trouble himself."
Neither Nangong Wan nor her family expected any complications.
Thus, at sunset, Nangong Wan arrived at the Ascending Immortal Pavilion, the largest immortal dining establishment in Wutan City. The entire pavilion had been reserved for the day and was not accepting outsiders.
She went straight up to the top-floor private room.
The moment she entered, Nangong Wan's delicate brows furrowed, and her gaze turned cold.
Inside the room, besides Nalan Jie, the ancestor of the Nalan family, stood another figure—Nalan Qingxuan, her former fiancé whom she had broken up with not long ago.
Nangong Wan only glanced at him briefly before looking away indifferently. This person no longer mattered to her.
She gave Nalan Jie a slight bow. "Greetings, Senior Nalan Jie…"
Although they were in the same major realm, he was much older and had treated her kindly in the past because of the engagement. Nangong Wan maintained proper courtesy.
Nalan Jie smiled warmly and invited her to take a seat.
Nalan Qingxuan, sensing Nangong Wan's indifferent gaze, felt the darkness in his eyes deepen even further…
Chapter 1130: Nangong Wan's Confidence!
"Senior, I returned this time for my family's affairs," Nangong Wan said.
She had no desire to waste time or look at Nalan Qingxuan any longer. She only wanted to resolve the matter quickly.
Nalan Jie smiled as he looked at her, growing more satisfied the longer he watched. This girl was sensible, well-mannered, and possessed astonishing talent. If she and that Immortal Monarch's daughter could support Nalan Qingxuan together, his future would be limitless.
He poured tea for Nangong Wan. "Little Wan, there's no need to be anxious. Family matters are trivial. We are all one family. Giving up some benefits is nothing."
"The most important thing is the matter between you and Qingxuan. Although Qingxuan was a bit immature, he truly struggled during that time. He only has the Cold Moon Immortal Body, so his talent is far inferior to yours. When you ran into problems, he desperately wanted to help you. That was why he resorted to such a desperate measure—he was willing to suffer in silence just to lend you a hand."
"Even when he was forced to break off the engagement, he still managed to obtain a True Origin Return One Pill for you. Qingxuan's feelings for you cannot be contained by a mere piece of paper. You must understand him. His heart has suffered greatly, all for your sake!"
Nalan Qingxuan cooperated by gazing at Nangong Wan with deep affection.
Nangong Wan did not touch the teacup in front of her. She sneered inwardly. These words treated her like a fool. She did not hate Nalan Qingxuan—back when she had become useless, it was only natural for him to break off the engagement. But that was all. She felt neither hatred nor affection toward him now.
However, she sensed something was wrong. The Nalan family had targeted her family, and Nalan Qingxuan was conveniently present. This was clearly a trap.
Nangong Wan spoke coldly, "Let the past remain in the past. People should look forward. I have no further connection with Fellow Daoist Nalan Qingxuan. Senior Nalan Jie, please speak about the marketplace matter. Out of consideration for past ties, I do not wish to use force. But if my family's difficulties cannot be resolved, I will return to the sect and seek my master."
Nalan Jie sighed and fell silent.
Nalan Qingxuan clenched his fists under the table. "Wan'er, must you be so heartless? Do you not care about our many years of affection? Do you not care about how I stood by you through thick and thin?"
Nangong Wan's brows furrowed tightly. His words disgusted her. Besides, the top-grade True Origin Return One Pill Ancestor had given her was valuable enough to repay everything.
She stood up. "It seems the two of you are not here to discuss business. In that case, I will take my leave. As for Fellow Daoist Nalan Qingxuan, I no longer owe you anything!"
With that, she turned to leave.
Nalan Qingxuan's eyes turned completely dark.
In the next instant, immortal light flashed across the top-floor private room of the Ascending Immortal Pavilion. The surroundings blurred as if the space itself had shifted, transporting them to another world…
Nangong Wan immediately became alert. Her immortal power surged as she scanned her surroundings. She realized she had been moved outside Wutan City and was now trapped inside a formation.
Nalan Jie and Nalan Qingxuan stood in the distance, looking down at her coldly.
Nalan Jie shook his head with a sigh. "Wouldn't it be better to obediently become my family's daughter-in-law and help Qingxuan on his immortal path? Why force things to this point?"
Nalan Qingxuan's expression was filled with certainty. He spoke coldly, "Nangong Wan, you cannot escape my grasp. When you were in trouble, I helped you so much. Don't think you can kick me aside now that you've recovered…You owe me a debt of gratitude that you can never repay in this lifetime."
Nangong Wan's face darkened. She narrowed her beautiful eyes.
Although she was only at the early stage of Celestial Immortal while Nalan Qingxuan was at the early stage and Nalan Jie at the peak, she felt no fear. Her Great Yin Immortal Body, Great Yin Sacred Root, and full set of medium-grade immortal artifacts gave her immense confidence.
In the later stages of cultivation, the gap between realms grew larger. At the True Immortal level, each minor realm represented dozens of times the difference in strength. Yet medium-grade immortal artifacts provided terrifying power and unimaginable enhancement. Therefore, she was not only unafraid but confident she could suppress both of them.
Nangong Wan swept a cold gaze over the two men. A medium-grade immortal sword slowly emerged, radiating powerful pressure as it floated above her head. Her immortal robes shifted and wrapped around her body, followed by immortal shoes and an immortal crown. She was fully enveloped in immortal light, looking like a celestial maiden descending from the heavens.
Nalan Jie's expression changed drastically.
Nalan Qingxuan narrowed his eyes. "A full set of medium-grade immortal artifacts? It seems Jade Pool Immortal Sect truly values you."
Nangong Wan stared at the two men with cold indifference. She did not bother replying to his comment and instead spoke calmly, "Originally, after breaking off the engagement, we could have gone our separate ways without any further entanglement. You have your Immortal Monarch's daughter, and I have my Fourth Ancestor. Both of us could have had bright futures ahead. Why must you act in such a disgusting manner?"
Fourth Ancestor?
Upon hearing those words, killing intent surged in Nalan Qingxuan's eyes. He remembered Ye Chen. It was because of Ye Chen's interference that his plan for the broken engagement had been completely ruined. Now, hearing Nangong Wan speak like this, it was clear she had already developed feelings for that man and even saw herself as his.
Nalan Qingxuan could not accept it. "You cheap woman! We only just broke off our engagement, and you've already fallen for someone else? Were you already betraying me before the engagement ended? Do you even deserve my past efforts? You fickle woman!"
Seeing how furious he had become, Nangong Wan did not get angry. Instead, she smiled sweetly and nodded. "That's right. The things you gave me were worthless. Everything you offered combined wasn't even worth a single pill from Fourth Ancestor. With one move from him, I completely transformed.
"Your so-called efforts don't even compare to the scraps that slip through Fourth Ancestor's fingers. Is there any problem with me choosing Fourth Ancestor? In what way are you worthy of being compared to him?"
When the engagement had first been broken, she had not been completely unaffected. But now that things had come to this, Nangong Wan showed no mercy with her mockery.
Nalan Qingxuan trembled with rage. He was truly infuriated, his killing intent boiling over.
Nalan Jie frowned. "Our small family indeed cannot compare to such a figure. Qingxuan, protect your mind and don't let her affect you. If Nangong Wan escapes, there will be endless trouble later… She is deliberately provoking you to create a chance to flee. I'll make the first move!"
Although Nalan Jie's strength was not exceptional, he was an experienced old fox. After warning Nalan Qingxuan, he attacked fiercely, intending to help his junior capture Nangong Wan quickly.
Nalan Jie charged forward like a ferocious beast. His large hand pressed down toward Nangong Wan with overwhelming momentum, his aura approaching the mid-stage of Celestial Immortal.
However, Nangong Wan did not even glance at him. She swung her sword.
In an instant, the sky seemed to brighten as the grand formation trembled violently. Half of Nalan Jie's body nearly got severed. He was blasted backward, his face filled with shock and horror. They were both at the early stage of Celestial Immortal, yet the gap between them was shockingly vast.
Chapter 1131: The Terror of a Profound Immortal!
Nangong Wan's casual strike carried the power of the Great Yin. Nalan Jie felt a hidden force continuously eroding his wound, preventing it from healing. This filled him with terror.
He had known he was probably no match for Nangong Wan, but he had never expected to be unable to withstand even a single blow from her. He had nearly died on the spot…
Was this the power of a monstrous genius?
Nalan Jie, who had never faced such a being before, fell into deep shock.
…
Nangong Wan did not spare Nalan Jie another glance. Her eyes turned coldly toward Nalan Qingxuan as the immortal sword above her head flowed with brilliant light, locking onto him. Behind her, endless Great Yin power surged like a waterfall, transforming the surrounding world.
"Nalan Qingxuan, you have a vicious heart. I am glad this incident happened so I could see your true face clearly."
"However, I am soft-hearted and still remember our past ties. I will only cripple your and Senior Nalan's cultivation. I will not take your lives."
Nangong Wan showed no mercy. She had already repaid everything she owed Nalan Qingxuan, and any affection between her and the Nalan family had completely vanished. Without hesitation, she attacked.
Her immortal sword slashed forward as if splitting the heavens.
Nalan Qingxuan stood motionless, his eyes cold. "I won't kill you either. I will make everything you have mine."
As soon as he finished speaking, a cold smile appeared on his lips. With a wave of his hand, an immortal tower rose to protect him, blocking the incoming sword. At the same time, an even more overwhelming pressure surged outward, causing the entire formation to tremble.
Nalan Qingxuan looked down at Nangong Wan arrogantly. "Nangong Wan, what do you think now?"
Sensing the aura radiating from Nalan Qingxuan, Nangong Wan's expression changed drastically. This was the aura of a Profound Immortal. Nalan Qingxuan had already broken through to the Profound Immortal realm.
Nalan Jie, still in a miserable state, was also stunned. His shock quickly turned into wild laughter. "Profound Immortal! Our Nalan family finally has a Profound Immortal!"
Nalan Qingxuan enjoyed the praise. He casually waved his hand and sent out a strand of power to help his ancestor dispel the invading Great Yin force. Then he looked at Nangong Wan with a smug smile. "Wan'er, do you think I still have a chance?"
Nangong Wan's face darkened.
At the immortal realm, the gap between minor realms was dozens of times, and the gap between major realms like late-stage Celestial Immortal and early-stage Profound Immortal was over a hundred times. She was only at the early stage of Celestial Immortal. Even with her Great Yin Immortal Body and Great Yin Sacred Root, it would be difficult to defeat him steadily, especially since her Immortal King Scripture was not a perfect match for this situation. Moreover, he also possessed medium-grade immortal artifacts.
Nangong Wan fell silent.
Nalan Qingxuan's smile widened. "Furthermore, before I returned, I became a personal disciple of an Immortal Monarch and received one of the three great Immortal King Scriptures of the Supreme Hall—the World Destruction Scripture. I have already reached the entry stage and mastered one of its divine abilities.
"Wan'er, give up! Let me leave my imprint on you. You will still be mine in the future. I will forgive everything and accept you completely!"
Nangong Wan narrowed her eyes. If she truly fell into such a situation, she would rather die.
Without any further hesitation, her immortal sword trembled as countless great moons descended like meteors toward Nalan Qingxuan. At the same time, Great Yin power surged wildly from her body as she unleashed one divine ability after another.
"Great Yin Return to Ruins…"
"Eternal Night Overture…"
"Moon Goddess Descent…"
Her Great Yin Immortal Body was powerful, and her Great Yin Sacred Root was even more invincible. Nangong Wan poured out everything she had.
For a moment, the interior of the formation turned freezing cold, as if everything was being sent into oblivion.
Nalan Qingxuan dropped his arrogant posture and became serious. Nangong Wan's talent was too terrifying. Even though he held a full major realm advantage, he could still lose if he did not fight with full strength. He absolutely could not allow that to happen.
He activated his Cold Moon Immortal Body's divine ability. Although it was inferior to Nangong Wan's, his higher cultivation allowed him to barely resist and protect himself. At the same time, the immortal tower shook and fired destructive moonlight beams.
For a time, the two fought evenly matched.
This scene left Nalan Jie both terrified and deeply regretful. Nangong Wan's talent was truly monstrous. If not for the broken engagement, Nalan Qingxuan would have had the perfect opportunity to rely on her.
What a pity…
But as long as they captured her this time, there was still a chance.
Nalan Qingxuan grew increasingly anxious as he failed to capture Nangong Wan quickly. The longer the fight dragged on, the more trouble it would bring.
His expression turned fierce as he activated a divine ability from the World Destruction Scripture. This Immortal King Scripture was derived from a supreme destruction art and possessed terrifying destructive power. The World Destruction Demonic Patterns could greatly amplify his destructive force when activated, but the backlash was severe and required a powerful physique to withstand.
Although Nalan Qingxuan's body was not strong enough, he no longer cared. Demonic patterns instantly covered his originally fair skin. At this moment, his combat power rose to another level. Every strike he unleashed could destroy anything it touched.
Nangong Wan's expression grew uglier by the second. The realm gap between them was simply too vast. Combined with the fact that her Immortal King Scripture was not a perfect match for the situation, holding on this long had already been extremely difficult. She could not continue like this much longer.
Gritting her teeth, she formed a sword with her hands as if grasping an invisible blade. Endless gusts of wind swirled around it, giving the invisible sword form. An indescribable aura of life extinction emanated from the blade.
Without hesitation, Nangong Wan slashed forward decisively. This was the Life Sword divine ability from the Western Empress Undying Scripture, capable of severing all life veins in an enemy's body.
Nalan Qingxuan sensed the danger and pushed the World Destruction Scripture to its limit without hesitation. Ignoring the future backlash, he summoned a colossal Destruction Demon God over ten thousand meters tall. The oppressive force was overwhelming, as if it could destroy the heavens and earth. The demon's fist smashed down violently.
The Life Sword collided directly with the fist. In an instant, the grand formation shook violently, nearly collapsing. The demon's hand disintegrated inch by inch under the Life Sword, but the sword finally exhausted its power once the demon's forearm had vanished.
Nangong Wan's face turned deathly pale. Activating so many divine abilities in such a short time had drained her severely, and she could not recover quickly.
Nalan Qingxuan was not in much better shape, but he was still a Profound Immortal after all. After dismissing the Destruction Demon God, he formed a destructive hand with a cold smile and grabbed toward Nangong Wan.
All her resistance was casually shattered. In the blink of an eye, she was seized in the destructive palm. Endless destructive power surged forth, sealing her strength completely.
At that moment, Nangong Wan's eyes were filled with determination.
Nalan Qingxuan's lips curved into a satisfied grin. Nangong Wan was far stronger than he had imagined, but this only meant greater value and a stronger desire to conquer her. Nangong Wan truly belonged to him!
…
At the same time, high in the sky far above the Ascending Immortal Pavilion, a female cultivator at the peak of the Profound Immortal realm frowned as she watched the scene below.
She was an elder sent by Huo Linglong to secretly follow Nangong Wan. On one hand, she was to observe her new personal disciple's behavior and loyalty. On the other, she was there to protect her from any accidents.
However, Nangong Wan had been inside the Ascending Immortal Pavilion for far too long with no movement at all. After sweeping the area with her divine sense, she sensed something was wrong and slashed down with her sword…
Chapter 1132: This Incarnation Is Too Pretentious!
Nalan Qingxuan's face showed the joy of imminent victory as he stared at Nangong Wan with unrestrained greed. An immortal talisman appeared in his hand.
"Once this talisman is placed, it will hide deep within your soul. As long as you don't speak of it, no one will ever know. From then on, you will obey my every command. You will belong to me completely, body and soul."
"As for that Ye Chen, since he possesses so many resources, once you and I join forces, we can naturally find an opportunity to eliminate him. At that time, everything will belong to me!"
As he spoke, Nalan Qingxuan flew in front of Nangong Wan, who was trapped in the demonic hand, and pressed the talisman toward her brow.
Nangong Wan's face was pale, but her eyes burned with resolve. She would rather die than submit. She deeply regretted that she had worn such a short skirt that day yet had not managed to see Fourth Ancestor. She had met him too late.
Just as the talisman was about to touch her brow, a sudden change occurred.
Brilliant divine light burst from Nangong Wan's brow, as if a gate to another world had opened. The immortal talisman in Nalan Qingxuan's hand shattered instantly. He sensed a terrifying aura that seemed capable of deciding his life and death. His entire body trembled.
In that moment, he no longer thought about obtaining Nangong Wan. He desperately unleashed waves of destructive power toward her brow, attempting to force back whatever was trying to emerge.
But it was already too late.
Chaos surged from Nangong Wan's brow like mist, effortlessly dissolving all of Nalan Qingxuan's attacks without a sound.
Then, a magnificent holy carriage flew out.
Standing atop the carriage was a tall and imposing figure with flowing black hair and an overwhelmingly domineering aura. He looked like an ancient Heavenly Emperor who had awakened and returned to the Immortal Realm.
Nangong Wan was stunned for a moment before she remembered the imprint Fourth Ancestor had left in her brow. A strong sense of security washed over her, followed quickly by deep worry.
Fourth Ancestor was only at the same realm as her. His talent might be strong, but a mere imprint probably could not change the outcome of the battle.
Nalan Qingxuan was also terrified at first, thinking it might be a Saint Immortal's imprint. He despaired, believing he was doomed. But when he clearly saw the face of the man on the holy carriage, he froze.
The man on the carriage had a powerful build and an unparalleled domineering presence. His appearance was strikingly handsome. There was no mistaking it—this was none other than Ye Chen, the male ancestor of Jade Pool Immortal Sect who had interfered before.
Ye Chen had only been at the mid-stage of True Immortal back then. He had later heard that Ye Chen had reached the Celestial Immortal realm, but only the early stage. If the real Ye Chen stood before him, he could crush him with ease. This was merely an imprint.
The earlier feeling of death had probably just been an illusion.
Once he confirmed it was not a Saint Immortal's imprint, Nalan Qingxuan relaxed. A mocking smile appeared on his face.
"A mere Celestial Immortal dares to leave an imprint to protect someone? Do you think this is the lower world without immortals, where an imprint can be invincible?"
Nalan Qingxuan was in no hurry. As long as he destroyed the imprint, the original would not receive any information. There was no need to worry about the news leaking.
Ye Chen's incarnation stood calmly in place. Although it was only a clone, his figure was tall and imposing, and every breath he took influenced the surrounding world.
His eyes swept across the area with indifference. After glancing at Nangong Wan, who was still trapped in the giant hand, he pointed a finger gently…
The destructive hand exploded instantly.
Nangong Wan looked surprised. She gazed deeply at Ye Chen's incarnation. "Thank you for saving me, Fourth Ancestor's incarnation. I will do my best to escape later and will not let your efforts go to waste."
She knew clearly that Fourth Ancestor's incarnation would not be too powerful. She had to seize the opportunity to flee. This was only an incarnation, not his true body. If it were his main body, she would naturally fight side by side with him to the death. But staying to fight alongside a clone would be foolish.
Ye Chen's divine sense incarnation glanced at Nalan Qingxuan and Nalan Jie before turning back. He spoke indifferently, "There is no need to escape."
Nangong Wan was stunned.
Nalan Qingxuan, who had been watching the show, laughed in amusement. This person was truly detestable—even his incarnation was so pretentious.
At that moment, Nalan Jie, who had been helped by Nalan Qingxuan to dispel the Great Yin power and had mostly recovered, charged forward with surging killing intent. He transformed into a ferocious beast and rushed toward Ye Chen's incarnation.
His speed was astonishing. As he moved, he lectured Nalan Qingxuan, "Qingxuan, when doing evil deeds, you must be swift. Never become complacent just because victory seems certain…"
"I once had a friend who loved talking too much before killing his enemies. In the end, his carelessness allowed his target's allies to arrive, and they joined forces to kill him. You must take this as a…"
Before Nalan Jie could finish speaking, he had already reached Ye Chen. The next moment, he intended to tear the incarnation apart.
Ye Chen's divine sense incarnation merely looked at him calmly and indifferently. Then he threw a simple punch.
Boom!
It was just an ordinary punch, yet the grand formation surrounding the area instantly cracked in countless places.
Nalan Jie, who was still speaking, could no longer utter another word. He stared in despair at the terrifying fist brimming with powerful energy. Without any delay, his body exploded and was completely annihilated.
Nangong Wan was stunned.
Nalan Qingxuan was also stunned.
Both of them stared at Ye Chen in utter disbelief. A mere divine sense imprint had killed a Celestial Immortal of the same realm with a single strike?
How was this possible?
It was simply inconceivable.
Nalan Qingxuan did not care much about his ancestor's death. After so many years, Nalan Jie had remained stuck at the Celestial Immortal realm with no hope of further progress. He could no longer provide any help. His death was of little consequence.
But as for Ye Chen…
Nalan Qingxuan suspected that Ye Chen's imprint technique came from an Immortal King Scripture and might possess half, or even seventy percent, of the original's strength. Otherwise, it could not be this terrifying.
Moreover, the stronger such an incarnation was, the deeper its connection to the main body. If it were destroyed, the original would suffer unimaginable damage—some might never recover.
Nalan Qingxuan smiled darkly as he stared at Ye Chen's incarnation. "Today, I will destroy your incarnation first. In the future, I will naturally have the chance to kill your true body! As for Nangong Wan, she belongs to me!"
Hearing these words, the always indifferent eyes of Ye Chen's incarnation finally showed ripples of emotion.
Although the divine sense incarnation was not the main body and lacked many emotions, Nalan Qingxuan's words still stirred something within it.
For the first time, killing intent appeared in the incarnation's eyes.
In the next instant, Ye Chen's figure vanished from where he stood.
Nalan Qingxuan was slightly startled. Even his divine sense could not detect where the incarnation had gone, and fear rose in his heart.
The next moment, the scene blurred, and Ye Chen appeared right in front of him—less than half a meter away.
How was this possible?
Nalan Qingxuan's expression changed drastically as he unleashed endless destructive power.
Ye Chen's incarnation remained calm and unperturbed. He simply threw another punch…
Chapter 1133: Save Me!
Nalan Qingxuan stared at Ye Chen's indifferent face, now mere inches away. His heart clenched violently as an indescribable sense of death surged through him once again.
This left him filled with disbelief. If it had been Ye Chen's true body standing before him, such power would have been understandable. After all, Ye Chen was a young prodigy accepted by Jade Moon Immortal Monarch on behalf of her master—his talent was clearly extraordinary. In the later stages of immortality, the gap between realms grew larger, but so did the differences in talent among cultivators. For top geniuses, defeating opponents above their realm was not just a legend.
But this was only an incarnation of Ye Chen!
Could it be that Ye Chen had cultivated the legendary One Qi Transforming into Three Purities, allowing his incarnation to perfectly display the full strength of his main body?
Countless thoughts flashed through Nalan Qingxuan's mind, but he had no time to speak or act.
Ye Chen threw his punch.
Nalan Qingxuan exploded instantly.
Behind him, Nangong Wan watched with a face full of shock, her eyes filled with utter disbelief…
A mere incarnation of Fourth Ancestor, who was only at the early stage of Celestial Immortal, had killed a Profound Immortal with a single strike?
Recalling how casually Fourth Ancestor had left the imprint in her brow, Nangong Wan had thought it was nothing special. But now, it was clear that the imprint was far from ordinary.
For a moment, her eyes grew misty. She felt that Fourth Ancestor truly valued her deeply.
He really… loved her so much!
…
"Turning death into life…"
After killing Nalan Qingxuan with one punch, Ye Chen's incarnation raised an eyebrow slightly.
Destructive power surged around them, carrying within it the intent of rebirth. Nalan Qingxuan's dead body began to revive.
This was a top divine ability from the World Destruction Scripture—gaining new life through destruction.
A phantom of Nalan Qingxuan appeared in the void. His face was twisted with resentment and jealousy. "You have such talent. What woman couldn't you have? Why did you have to steal mine?
"You heaven-blessed prodigies stand so high above everyone else. You naturally think everything belongs to you and never treat us as human beings. You deserve to die…
"Senior Brother Yu Tuo, save me… Help me kill him!"
At the end of his venomous outburst, Nalan Qingxuan raised his head and roared toward the outside of the formation.
Ye Chen's incarnation raised an eyebrow. He calmly lifted his head. Chaos flowed in his eyes as his gaze easily pierced through the immortal formation, looking beyond it.
…
The Jade Pool Immortal Sect elder had sensed that Nangong Wan had been teleported away. Her heart tightened, and she immediately began searching for her. Soon, she detected faint ripples from an immortal formation outside the city and rushed over without hesitation.
But the moment she arrived above the formation and prepared to break it, a sword light slashed toward her. The Jade Pool elder's expression changed. She countered with an immortal technique, but she was still blasted back hundreds of meters.
Immediately after, a figure with a helpless expression flew out from the void.
"Nalan Qingxuan really is an idiot, obsessing over such a trivial matter… Now that things have escalated, I can only kill everyone and return to the Supreme Hall. As for that Nangong Wan, she must die as well. I'll present her as a gift to the Immortal Monarch's daughter so Nalan Qingxuan can show his loyalty and explain this mess…"
It was a man in a green robe with a cold expression. He held an immortal sword in his arms, its sword qi soaring into the sky.
The Jade Pool elder's heart sank as she stared fixedly at him. Although both were at the late stage of Profound Immortal, she could clearly feel that he was far stronger than her—a typical elder who had no hope of reaching Golden Immortal.
"The person inside the formation is the personal disciple of Saint Immortal Linglong. If she dies, can you withstand a Saint Immortal's fury? Don't be stubborn! There is still room to turn back if you stop now!"
The Jade Pool elder felt deep apprehension and tried to threaten him.
The corners of the man's mouth curved upward. "A Saint Immortal? So what? Forget Huo Linglong—even if it were Jade Moon Immortal Monarch, would she dare attack the Supreme Hall?"
His words caused the Jade Pool elder's heart to sink even deeper.
The man stopped wasting words. His sword left its sheath as sword qi erupted into the sky. A sword formation appeared at some point, and endless sword lights rained down from all directions, aiming to annihilate the elder.
The Jade Pool elder struggled to defend herself, but the sword lights were too fierce and destructive, seemingly endless like fine rain. She could neither dodge nor block them all.
Soon, several wounds appeared on her body. The residual sword intent continued to destroy everything without pause.
The Jade Pool elder's face turned ashen. The higher one's cultivation, the more terrifying the difference in talent became. Although they were both at the late stage of Profound Immortal, the gap between them was enormous.
Without help, she would not last much longer before falling.
She felt utter despair. She had never expected to encounter such a situation in this remote little city.
As Nalan Qingxuan gradually revived and his body became solid once more, the corners of his mouth curved upward.
Existences like Immortal Monarchs possessed truly abundant resources. The cultivation resources he needed were nothing more than a drop in the ocean to them. He had received a massive amount from the Immortal Monarch's daughter. However, in exchange, the elders and others around him were all loyal to her.
That was why, very early on, he had secretly supplied resources to Senior Brother Yu Tuo, turning him into his hidden ally. Whenever he needed to handle matters that would be inconvenient for the Immortal Monarch's daughter to know about, he would bring Yu Tuo along.
Now, it was clear that decision had been correct. A late-stage Profound Immortal was more than enough to turn the tide.
"You forced me to do this!" Nalan Qingxuan said coldly. "Originally, I planned to place a mark on Nangong Wan, make her submit to me, and handle everything quietly. No one needed to get hurt.
"But now that things have escalated so much, it will be hard to keep the Immortal Monarch's daughter from finding out. I can only kill Nangong Wan to prove my loyalty.
"Ye Chen, you deserve to die!"
Nalan Qingxuan glared at Ye Chen with surging killing intent. He raised his head, waiting for Senior Brother Yu Tuo to enter the formation and slay Ye Chen.
However, Ye Chen's incarnation remained completely calm. He slowly raised his hand.
Obscure and profound power surged forth. A massive golden hand formed in front of him and shot straight toward the sky.
The immortal formation was sturdy and sealed everything within. Yet it could not stop Ye Chen's golden hand at all.
Under Nalan Qingxuan's shocked gaze, the golden hand passed through the formation as effortlessly as piercing through a layer of water.
…
Outside the formation, the Jade Pool elder was already struggling to hold on under the relentless assault of the sword formation. Countless wounds covered her delicate skin. Immortal blood flowed down her dress, dyeing large portions of it red and making her look utterly miserable.
Yu Tuo watched her with cold eyes and said nothing. He simply continued pouring more sword light into the attack, determined to end the fight as quickly as possible.
Chapter 1134: Is This Your Savior?
Yu Tuo was overwhelmingly powerful. His battle against the Jade Pool elder was nothing short of complete domination.
Just as he prepared to finish her off in one decisive push, Nalan Qingxuan's desperate cry for help rang out from within the formation.
"Senior Brother Yu Tuo, save me!"
A trace of disdain flashed in Yu Tuo's eyes. He actually needed to call for help? What a useless fool. If not for the massive amount of resources Nalan Qingxuan supplied him—saving him the trouble of completing sect missions—Yu Tuo would not have bothered with such a waste.
Still, since Nalan Qingxuan remained useful, he had to save him.
Yu Tuo sent his immortal sword flying into the sword formation, intending to kill the Jade Pool elder immediately and then rush to Nalan Qingxuan's aid.
The Jade Pool elder, her skin covered in wounds so deep that bone was visible in many places, stared at the sky-covering sword lights. The light in her eyes gradually dimmed as complete despair took hold.
She could not block it. She really could not block it.
The disciples of the Supreme Hall were far too powerful—on a completely different level from anything Jade Pool Immortal Sect could produce.
Deep regret filled the elder's heart. If she had known this would happen, she should have left the sect a hundred years ago. Back then, there had been a male cultivator who pursued her, and he had truly caught her interest. Yet in the end, she had not found the resolve to leave. Now it was too late for regrets…
The elder closed her eyes, waiting for death to claim her.
But the moment her eyes shut, she heard Yu Tuo's terrified shout: "Break!"
The elder opened her eyes in shock and saw a massive golden hand, vast enough to cover the sky, emerging from the formation below. The hand carried an aura of absolute destruction as it enveloped Yu Tuo.
The once cold and domineering Yu Tuo now looked utterly terrified beneath that palm. Endless sword lights slammed into the hand—each one far more terrifying than anything the elder could have withstood. Clearly, Yu Tuo was finally using his full strength.
Yet even those terrifying sword lights could not stop the golden hand in the slightest. Strange and profound power flowed across its surface, effortlessly neutralizing every attack while sealing the surrounding space, leaving Yu Tuo with nowhere to run.
In mere moments, Yu Tuo—the cold and invincible disciple of the Supreme Hall—was gripped in the hand like a helpless ant.
The next instant, the golden hand retracted back into the formation.
The sky returned to calm, as if nothing had ever happened.
The Jade Pool elder stood frozen in place, her eyes filled with disbelief. While accelerating her healing, she flew toward the broken formation, following the hand inside.
She did not know what had occurred, but the owner of that hand was clearly an ally—most likely a powerful expert from the sect, perhaps even a Saint Immortal's imprint.
Yet she felt a trace of confusion. The hand had looked like a man's hand. How strange…
Could it be some powerful expert who admired a female cultivator from Jade Pool Immortal Sect?
That was also possible.
In any case, she was extremely curious about who had extended a helping hand. Saint Immortal Linglong had always hoped Nangong Wan would distance herself from Fourth Ancestor. After experiencing this incident, Nangong Wan might finally come to her senses.
After all, in the Immortal Realm, strength was supreme. When female cultivators chose Dao companions, they naturally sought those stronger and more talented than themselves. With her peerless talent and matching immortal body and Sacred Spirit Root, Nangong Wan should be looking for a top existence renowned throughout the Immortal Realm.
…
Inside the formation, Nalan Qingxuan watched in shock and terror as Ye Chen's golden hand shot out of the formation…
What was Ye Chen trying to do? Could it be…?
But how was that possible? That was Senior Brother Yu Tuo, a late-stage Profound Immortal with astonishing combat strength and a personal disciple of the Supreme Hall. Even if Ye Chen's true body had come, it would not have been enough, let alone a mere incarnation.
Yet despite these thoughts, Nalan Qingxuan's heart remained filled with unease. Even though his body had fully recovered, he did not dare make any sudden movements.
In the next moment, the golden hand returned into the formation.
Nalan Qingxuan stared at the tightly clenched fist, his entire body trembling with terror and disbelief. The golden hand now held a tiny head between its thumb and forefinger—the head of Senior Brother Yu Tuo, the very person he had regarded as his savior.
Yu Tuo's face no longer carried its usual cold arrogance. Instead, his eyes were wide with fear, his facial muscles twitching violently. His body had been crushed and deformed within the giant hand.
"Junior Brother Qingxuan, save me…" Yu Tuo roared in despair.
Nalan Qingxuan trembled even harder than Yu Tuo. His mouth opened, but no words came out.
Ye Chen's incarnation stood calmly in place and looked at Nalan Qingxuan. "Is this the savior you were waiting for?"
As he spoke, the golden hand clenched completely. A final, miserable scream escaped Yu Tuo before everything fell silent. The hand slowly dissipated, leaving no trace of Yu Tuo behind.
A late-stage Profound Immortal had been silently erased from existence.
At that moment, even Nalan Qingxuan's hair began to tremble. He dropped to his knees in mid-air.
…
Behind Ye Chen, Nangong Wan's face was also filled with shock. When Nalan Qingxuan had mentioned he still had a trump card, she had grown anxious. Yet that trump card had been crushed so easily by Fourth Ancestor's incarnation.
Her gaze toward Ye Chen's incarnation changed completely. She had spent the most time with Ye Chen and had long known he was powerful—perhaps not much weaker than herself. But she had never imagined he could be this strong.
A single incarnation from Fourth Ancestor had saved her from certain death.
The overwhelming emotional impact left Nangong Wan weak all over. At that moment, she only wanted to return to the sect and see Fourth Ancestor. She wanted to dispel all his concerns. She wanted to throw herself into his arms and personally feel just how powerful he truly was.
…
The Jade Pool elder who had just arrived witnessed the exact moment Yu Tuo was crushed by the golden hand. When she saw Ye Chen standing there, her pupils shrank sharply.
Was Ancestor Ye this terrifying?
A Celestial Immortal killing a peak Profound Immortal? How was that possible? What level of genius would it take to achieve such a feat? Perhaps only the legendary Immortal Spirit Root could do it.
But the next moment, she noticed something even more shocking. The Ye Chen standing there was not his true body—it was merely an incarnation.
The Jade Pool elder's face lost all color. She nearly fell from the sky. The shock she felt was no less than Nalan Qingxuan's.
In that instant, she suddenly understood. She finally realized why Jade Moon Immortal Monarch had broken Jade Pool Immortal Sect's million-year tradition to accept him as a disciple on behalf of her master.
With such monstrous talent, did gender even matter?
Chapter 1135: Ancestor's Sense of Security!
Ye Chen's incarnation glanced briefly at the Jade Pool elder before turning his attention back. He prepared to finish off the kneeling Nalan Qingxuan.
Sensing the killing intent, Nalan Qingxuan roared in terror, "You can't kill me…I am not only a personal disciple of an Immortal Monarch, but also the Dao companion of the Immortal Monarch's daughter! Killing me means becoming an enemy of an Immortal Monarch!
"The Supreme Hall has seven Immortal Monarchs. None of them are weaker than Jade Moon Immortal Monarch, and the Other Shore Immortal Monarch is publicly recognized as the strongest among them!
"If you kill me, Jade Pool Immortal Sect will never be able to protect you! Let this end here! I will take responsibility for Yu Tuo's death, and I swear I will never covet Nangong Wan again in the future!
"Let me go, and everyone wins."
Nalan Qingxuan desperately tried to beg for his life. He truly did not want to die.
Both Nangong Wan and the Jade Pool elder's expressions changed. Although they hated Nalan Qingxuan, his words were unfortunately true. Jade Pool Immortal Sect's strength was far inferior to the Supreme Hall's. Moreover, the Supreme Hall had the Other Shore Immortal Monarch, the acknowledged strongest Immortal Monarch.
Killing Nalan Qingxuan would bring far too much future trouble.
Although Nangong Wan wished she could tear Nalan Qingxuan into ten thousand pieces, she still hesitated when she considered the potential consequences for Fourth Ancestor and the sect. She spoke softly to Ye Chen's incarnation, "Fourth Ancestor, perhaps we should end it here?"
Ye Chen's incarnation revealed a faint smile. "In my dictionary, there is only 'revenge must be taken.' There is no 'end it here.' If someone does something they shouldn't, they must die. As for the consequences, there is no need to worry. If Jade Pool Immortal Sect is afraid, I will simply leave the sect and bear everything alone."
Although this was only a strand of divine sense, it shared the same thoughts as the main body. Those who deserve to die must die. Background and identity meant nothing.
If Jade Pool Immortal Sect chose to cower and hand him over, then no matter how many female cultivators were in the sect, he would have no reason to stay. A sect that could not even protect its own disciples had no value.
Therefore, the moment Ye Chen's incarnation finished speaking, he threw another punch.
Boundless domineering aura soared into the sky.
Nalan Qingxuan's eyes froze in terror as his entire body exploded.
Nangong Wan and the Jade Pool elder stood frozen in place.
"If Jade Pool Immortal Sect won't protect me, then I will leave Jade Pool Immortal Sect and bear it all myself."
These words carried overwhelming dominance.
Although Nangong Wan felt some worry, seeing Ye Chen's decisive and ruthless actions filled her heart with warmth. Fourth Ancestor had done everything for her sake. Since he loved her so deeply, how could she disappoint him? If the sect truly abandoned Fourth Ancestor, she would never stand by idly. She would choose to face everything together with him. If Fourth Ancestor left, she would leave with him without hesitation.
The Jade Pool elder's expression was equally complicated. In recent years, Jade Pool Immortal Sect's situation had grown increasingly difficult. Many female cultivators in the sect felt lost and uncertain about the future. Quite a few had privately considered leaving the sect to find a Dao companion.
But at this moment, as she looked at Ye Chen and felt that unique, domineering aura, her heart suddenly grew much calmer. It was a sense of security that no female powerhouse could ever provide.
It suddenly seemed that having a male cultivator in the sect was not such a bad thing after all. If Ancestor Ye continued to grow stronger, he might truly be able to dispel the confusion and uncertainty that plagued the female cultivators of Jade Pool.
For a moment, the scene fell completely silent. The two women were lost in their own thoughts.
Ye Chen's incarnation raised his hand and extracted the origin essences from Nalan Qingxuan and Yu Tuo, refining them with the power of reincarnation. He then flew over to Nangong Wan and spoke calmly, "After you return, deliver these two origin essences to me."
Nangong Wan nodded immediately and accepted them with great care. "Thank you for saving me, Fourth Ancestor's incarnation!"
Ye Chen's incarnation glanced at the Jade Pool elder, offered a faint smile, and said nothing more. His figure then drifted away and dispersed.
The imprint could only be activated once. Now that its purpose had been fulfilled, it naturally faded away.
Nangong Wan and the elder exchanged a look. The elder's face showed a trace of apology. "I was supposed to protect you in secret, but I let my attention slip and allowed you to fall into danger…"
Nangong Wan shook her head gently, her face full of smiles. "It was Nalan Qingxuan who was too shameless. Besides, before this journey, Fourth Ancestor had already made every preparation for my safety."
Hearing this, the Jade Pool elder looked at Nangong Wan with a hint of envy in her eyes.
Previously, she had shared Huo Linglong's view—that Nangong Wan had been in despair for too long and had desperately clung to the first lifeline she found, mistaking gratitude for love.
But now, her perspective had changed. She even felt that Nangong Wan was truly fortunate to have caught Ancestor Ye's attention. With his shocking wealth and heaven-defying talent, he seemed to belong to the level of supreme prodigies. To be cherished so deeply by such a man was incredibly lucky.
The elder transmitted everything that had happened here back to Jade Pool Immortal Sect.
Nangong Wan did not rush back immediately. Instead, she flew into the city to find her parents. She needed to tell them what Nalan Qingxuan had done and also inform them about Fourth Ancestor.
Previously, she had felt somewhat hesitant, unsure how to introduce Fourth Ancestor, especially since he already had Dao companions. But now, she was completely resolute.
…
In the Supreme Hall atop the giant turtle's back, the sound of a bell tolled loudly.
The shattering of Nalan Qingxuan's life token caused quite a stir. After all, he was a personal disciple of an Immortal Monarch. Even though the way he had obtained his position disgusted many within the sect, it still concerned the sect's dignity. Moreover, he had an Immortal Monarch as his master—an existence too lofty to be lightly insulted. If he had been assassinated, revenge was necessary.
Not to mention that the Immortal Monarch's daughter had not yet grown tired of him. His sudden death was even harder for her to accept. She pleaded with her father.
Nalan Qingxuan's master could only sigh helplessly and went to the Samsara Peak to meet the Other Shore Immortal Monarch.
"Senior Brother, I must trouble you to perform a deduction and find out who did this. Although that boy's talent was mediocre, he was still my daughter's Dao companion. No matter who is responsible, they must pay the price!"
The Other Shore Immortal Monarch had remained seated in the same spot ever since Feng Baiyu left the mountain. Upon hearing the request, he slowly opened his eyes. Endless scenes of time's passage, the rise and fall of eras, and the shifting of suns and moons flowed within his gaze.
Nalan Qingxuan's master grew even more respectful at the sight. Although they were both Immortal Monarchs, the Other Shore Immortal Monarch had walked much further along the immortal path. He even suspected that the Other Shore Immortal Monarch could break through to the Immortal King realm at any time, yet for some unknown reason, he chose not to.
The Other Shore Immortal Monarch glanced at him calmly, as if he had already seen many things, and spoke indifferently, "That boy was disloyal to your daughter. He tried to enslave another female cultivator and encountered a powerful enemy by her side. In the end, he perished…"
Nalan Qingxuan's master was not surprised. He had long seen through Nalan Qingxuan's character and ambitions. But the boy had only been an ant. As long as his daughter was happy, it was fine. If she ever grew tired of him, he could kill the boy with a casual wave of his hand.
"Please tell me who made the move, Senior Brother," Nalan Qingxuan's master asked again.
The Other Shore Immortal Monarch's eyes quickened with flowing star rivers. Soon, a faint trace of surprise appeared on his face.
"It's him?"
AN: The next update is in two days.