Chương 364: Chapter 363: Eldest Senior Brother, I'm Moved to Tears!

A prodigy having a few quirks or indulging in some carefree behavior was understandable. The elders reasoned: Your master's away, you're feeling lonely, and you want to spark something with our female disciples? Fine, we won't interfere. If you leave behind a child, the Sword Sect would happily raise it. But Ye Chen's extravagant gifting was another matter. If he swept away their disciples with his generosity, what would become of the Sword Sect?

To protect their future pillars, they had to act fast and send their top talents on missions, ensuring the sect wouldn't be left barren after Ye Chen's departure. … Ye Chen, of course, noticed the watchful eyes but paid them no mind, focusing on his cultivation. The Indestructible Scripture's rank was so lofty he wasn't worried about anyone discerning its origins. He found Sword Valley immensely rewarding.

The sword intent didn't just accelerate his progress with the Indestructible Scripture; each time it struck and dissipated, it left behind a strand of pure spiritual energy that he could refine, boosting his cultivation speed dramatically. At this rate, he estimated he'd break through to mid-Nascent Soul in just over half a year—a double blessing. The sensation of his body and cultivation surging together was exhilarating. … Another week passed, and Ye Chen emerged from Sword Valley to gift.

He no longer needed to seek recipients. Word of the Fourth Holy Son's lavish generosity had spread, and his predictable weekly appearances drew crowds of female disciples to the valley's edge, dressed vibrantly and brimming with anticipation, like contestants in a beauty pageant. Ye Chen appreciated their enthusiasm but was less pleased with their quality. Scanning the crowd, most hovered around 200x multipliers, with barely any above 300x. What was going on? He'd encountered two 500x disciples before.

Then his eyes lit up. Spotting a mature, striking female Nascent Soul elder, he flew toward her. Her allure was ripe, her figure like a perfectly ripened fruit, exuding fullness. He'd assumed she was married, but the system triggered, revealing a 500x multiplier—on par with Lin Qian's junior sister. If the disciples' quality was lacking, an elder would do. Ye Chen promptly gifted her a bottle of top-grade pills exclusive to Heavenly Evolution Holy Land, suited for Nascent Soul cultivation.

High on Sword Peak, a Supreme Elder sipped tea with Elder Mo, keeping an eye on Sword Valley. He'd been concerned Ye Chen might be displeased by the absence of their top female disciples. But he hadn't expected the Fourth Holy Son to pivot and target an elder instead. This was outrageous. The Supreme Elder began regretting allowing Ye Chen to stay. Disciples couldn't be poached, and elders certainly couldn't! If Ye Chen carted them off to his "harem peak," how would the Sword Sect survive?

"The Fourth Holy Son truly has an extraordinary presence," the Sword Sect's Supreme Elder muttered, lips twitching. Elder Mo chuckled, steering away from the topic. The Supreme Elder shifted his gaze from Ye Chen, sighing with deep emotion.

"Heavenly Evolution Holy Son and Heavenly Intention Holy Son have clashed seven times already. One battle reached the depths of the starry sky, leaving every cultivator who witnessed it utterly shocked. If they weren't both at the peak of Deity Transformation, yet to break through, people would suspect they're at the peak of the Unity Realm. The spectacle was immense. Prodigies like them, vying for the immortal path and seizing immortal qi, can drive their peers to despair."

Elder Mo's eyes flickered with nostalgia. Once, he too had been such a prodigy, only to fall to his current state. A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. The Supreme Elder continued, "The Fourth Holy Son is undoubtedly a top prodigy, but his cultivation is too low. It's uncertain if he can catch up before this era's immortal path opens." Mo shared this concern.

To ascend to immortality, cultivators needed not just mastery of laws but a wisp of immortal qi—the final step to shed mortality. Since the Jianmu tree's destruction severed the cultivation world's link to the immortal realm, immortal qi grew scarcer, and fewer achieved ascension. Only at the immortal path's end could one claim a wisp of immortal qi, sparking fierce competition among cultivators. The immortal path's opening was erratic, with intervals growing longer—now five thousand years apart.

Many once-invincible prodigies, who dominated their era, withered in wait, never seeing the path open. Worse were those who, aged and weakened, saw it open only to fall to younger rivals or lack the courage to even enter. Others, peerless in talent but too young and underpowered, could only watch lesser cultivators claim the qi, knowing they'd never live to see the next opening. Ascension demanded both strength and luck.

The Fourth Holy Son, Ye Chen, was too young, trailing most peers by at least one major realm, if not more. As a prodigy, catching up would be no easy feat. … In a flash, half a year passed. Ye Chen sat cross-legged in Sword Valley's extreme depths, surrounded by sword qi so terrifying that even peak Deity Transformation cultivators couldn't linger long. A single lapse could annihilate their soul. Yet Ye Chen sat serenely, his body radiating a dark golden glow like immortal metal.

Sword qi capable of slaying Deity Transformation cultivators struck him relentlessly, yet he remained unmoved. Each clash rang like immortal metals colliding. Astonishingly, the sword qi couldn't mar his body—instead, it shattered against him, an unimaginable feat. His aura, like a volcano long simmering, finally erupted. In that moment, Ye Chen's spiritual power surged within him. Roars of dragons, cries of phoenixes, and shrieks of Kun Peng echoed, shaking the heavens.

His body erupted with power, golden qi and blood soaring skyward, parting the endless sword qi above and scattering the azure clouds, piercing into the firmament. The immense spectacle startled the Sword Sect. Ye Chen opened his eyes, gazing at his body and sensing his cultivation. A smile spread across his face. Today, he had officially entered the Indestructible Scripture, achieving initial mastery. His cultivation had also broken through to mid-Nascent Soul—a double triumph.

The higher one's realm, the greater the leap even a minor boundary brought, especially for a prodigy like Ye Chen. He could feel his spiritual power's depth and overall strength had surged nearly tenfold. But the most dramatic change was his body. Its defensive power was now unimaginable. If he faced the Heavenly Intention Holy Son's avatar again, even with its formidable offensive Treasure Technique, it couldn't scratch him. He could stand still and let it attack—perhaps it might snap a few hairs at most.

And this was merely the entry stage of the Indestructible Scripture. Its potential was staggering. Flying out of Sword Valley, Ye Chen found Elder Mo waiting, looking at him with astonishment.

"You broke through? And that body-refining technique is complete?" Mo was shocked. Ye Chen had reached Nascent Soul just three years ago, yet he'd already crossed a minor boundary. Astonishing. But what stunned Mo more was Ye Chen's body-refining scripture. Its mere completion sent blood qi rocketing to the heavens, rivaling top-tier physiques. If Ye Chen continued this trajectory, he might truly contend for immortal qi with this generation's elite prodigies.

Ye Chen nodded, then asked, "How's Eldest Senior Brother doing?" Absorbed in his power's growth, Ye Chen hadn't paid much attention to Hua Yunfei's clashes with the Heavenly Intention Holy Son over the past half-year. Mo smiled.

"In one year, they fought sixteen battles, from the earth's depths to the far reaches of space, neither gaining the upper hand. The Heavenly Intention Holy Son, bent on avenging his brother, refused to relent. Hua Yunfei, though quieter, never yielded an inch. Three days ago, they clashed at Ailao Mountain, leveling the entire range. Still no victor, but the Heavenly Intention Holy Son finally withdrew to Heavenly Intention Holy Land, vowing to emerge only after reaching Unity Realm." Ye Chen sighed with emotion.

His senior brother had fought for a year over his matter. Truly… such a brother brought tears to his eyes. Returning to the Holy Land, he'd thank Hua Yunfei properly. He had a few critical-hit spiritual fruits, extinct since the Immortal Ancient era, that greatly enhanced the body—perfect for his senior brother. As Ye Chen mused, he sensed something, raising his brow and glancing toward the sect gate. A figure, escorted respectfully by the gate elder, flew toward him.

The distinctive halo behind the figure's head, like a small sun, sparked surprise in Ye Chen. Moments later, the figure reached him. Hua Yunfei's strikingly handsome face broke into a warm, clear smile.

"Little Junior Brother, I'm here to take you back to the Holy Land!"...