Chương 280: Chapter 279: Heavenly Evolution Holy Land Is My Home!

The news of the Heavenly Evolution Holy Land's Holy Son and Holy Maiden possibly attending the ceremony prompted Ye Chen to stay. He wanted to see if the Holy Land's reputation was as formidable as the rumors suggested. During that week, numerous factions within the Great Chu Dynasty reached out to Ye Chen, extending invitations. His strength was undeniable—killing the Champion King while only at mid-Golden Core spoke volumes about his potential. Many were eager to build ties with him.

But Ye Chen had no intention of remaining in Great Chu, so he had little patience for their posturing and declined every offer outright. A week later, he received an invitation. Li Feihuang would officially ascend the throne today. The coronation ceremony was to be held within the Great Chu Palace. As Ye Chen entered the palace, he found it teeming with powerful figures—city lords, officials, clan leaders from across the dynasty, and even experts from other factions.

His assigned seat was strikingly prominent, right in the front row. This row was reserved for the heads of the four major families, like the Wang family, as well as major city lords and Li clan elders. For Ye Chen, who held no official power or status in the capital, to be seated here drew sidelong glances from the crowd. It was clear to all that the Princess held him in high regard. Once she ascended the throne, Ye Chen's status would surely soar.

Yet the memory of Ye Chen digging out the Champion King's Golden Core and refining his soul into the Human Emperor Banner lingered in their minds. His strength alone earned him the right to sit here. So, despite their private thoughts, everyone offered Ye Chen polite smiles. Ye Chen merely glanced at them, unbothered. He sat down, casually eating spiritual fruit, and waited leisurely for the arrival of the Holy Son and Holy Maiden.

As the coronation ceremony was about to begin, a magnificent skyship descended slowly from the void, its hull shimmering with boundless divine light, like a radiant sun, captivating every onlooker. A massive yin-yang fish flag fluttered atop the skyship, proclaiming its origin.... Heavenly Evolution Holy Land. In the cultivation world, Holy Lands stood as the most transcendent forces.

Each had once produced an immortal-level existence, their foundations, legacies, and number of powerhouses far surpassing anything the outside world could imagine. Even though the skyship hovered directly above the imperial palace—a gesture that could be seen as disrespectful to the Great Chu Dynasty—no one present minded in the slightest. Soon, two figures gracefully descended from the skyship. The capital's protective array parted automatically to accommodate them.

Elders of the royal clan hurried forward, ushering the pair to the seats of honor. Even the most revered elders of Great Chu had no right to sit beside them. Instead, they stood respectfully, explaining something to the newcomers with utmost deference. Ye Chen observed from a distance. The two arrivals were strikingly young. That the mere presence of the Holy Son and Holy Maiden—not even a sect leader or supreme elder—commanded such reverence from Great Chu spoke volumes about the Holy Land's authority.

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Ye Chen raised an eyebrow as he studied them. First, the man. He was extraordinarily handsome, with long hair cascading down his back, exuding an air of refined elegance. He carried no arrogance, his face adorned with a warm, approachable smile. Yet no one dared to underestimate him. Every casual gesture carried a profound, mysterious charm that drew every eye.

Above his head hovered a golden halo, radiating divine light, making him appear even more extraordinary, like a divine emperor. Simply sitting there, scanning the surroundings, he exuded an aura akin to the Emperor Star touring the heavens, a god-king on inspection. His presence was overwhelming, leaving even Ye Chen in awe. Was this the Holy Son of Heavenly Evolution Holy Land? Unlike the Champion King's forced air of invincibility, this man radiated effortless supremacy.

Ye Chen hesitated to use his Heavy Pupil to probe him, wary of being detected. He couldn't help but marvel inwardly: Our Heavenly Evolution Holy Land is truly formidable. Beside the Holy Son sat a stunning woman in a purple palace dress, her demeanor serene. Her figure was flawless, her poise impeccable, as if she were a living painting. Her beauty was breathtaking. More strikingly, spiritual energy swirled around her, nearly condensing into mist.

She seemed like a sprite born of the heavens and earth—ethereal and pure. Her expression betrayed no emotion, as if she were a detached, desireless immortal, lofty and untouchable. The moment Ye Chen's gaze fell on the woman, a system notification rang in his mind: "Dantai Xuan: 2, 000x feedback multiplier!" His eyes lit up instantly. A base multiplier of 2, 000? That was 1, 500 times higher than even the highest multipliers he'd encountered, like those of the Little Demoness or Li Feihuang.

Even at its base level, this feedback rivaled the critical rewards of most female cultivators. And if she triggered a critical hit? Ye Chen couldn't even fathom what a 2, 000x multiplier critical hit would yield. For a Holy Maiden to casually have such a high multiplier—what about the others? What about the Ancestor? The Supreme Elders? Could there be even higher multipliers? In that moment, Ye Chen had only one thought.

Whether it was the Green Cloud Sect, the Divine Will Sect, or the Great Chu Dynasty, they were merely stops on his journey. Heavenly Evolution Holy Land was his true destination. He had to break through to the Nascent Soul stage as soon as possible and join the Holy Land. He already possessed the Holy Son token, which might grant him entry. But he'd learned that Heavenly Evolution Holy Land required its Holy Sons and Holy Maidens to be at the Nascent Soul stage.

If he entered now, still at Golden Core, even with the token, complications could arise. The last thing he needed was some clichéd drama where his Holy Son status got stripped away. Better to wait until he reached Nascent Soul before heading to Heavenly Evolution Holy Land. Just then, exclamations erupted around him.

"Born with a golden halo, peerless talent, possessing a Heavenly Spirit Root and the Divine King Body—Hua Yunfei, the top Holy Son of Heavenly Evolution Holy Land, has actually deigned to attend?"

"They say Hua Yunfei's cultivation has already reached the late Deity Transformation stage, just a step away from the Unity realm."

"He's rumored to have single-handedly suppressed the Northern Sea Demon Clan."

"There's even talk he inherited the legacy of an ancient immortal." The crowd buzzed with discussion, recognizing the man's identity. That golden halo above his head was too distinctive. The Holy Maiden's identity was soon revealed as well.

"That's Dantai Xuan, the top Holy Maiden of Heavenly Evolution Holy Land!"

"Her cultivation is at mid-Deity Transformation, but her combat strength is unbelievably formidable."

"Incredible, truly incredible. To think the top Holy Son and Holy Maiden would come."

"It shows the weight Great Chu carries…" The people of Great Chu beamed with pride as the discussions continued. After all, within Heavenly Evolution Holy Land's sphere of influence, whenever a major power underwent a change in leadership, they would invite the Holy Land to observe. Most of the time, only an elder would attend. Having a Holy Son or Holy Maiden show up was already worth bragging about. But for both to arrive—and the most illustrious ones at that?

It demonstrated just how much importance Heavenly Evolution Holy Land placed on Great Chu. This was true prestige!