ISWI Chapter 91-95 (Patreon)

Chapter 91: You Want My Child?

"Gift successfully given!"

"The gift is the Five Elements Cave token."

"Processing feedback…"

"Thirty times feedback…"

"Detected that the gift given by the host is extremely important to the recipient and exceeded their expectations, causing a significant emotional reaction. Critical reward triggered!"

"Reward: Improved version of the Five Elements Pill recipe."

"The improved version of the Five Elements Pill recipe, using current-world herbs, can produce a pill with the same effects as the original, without any side effects…"

The system's feedback made Ye Chen smile uncontrollably.

Originally, Ye Chen had been wondering if the system would provide him with a personal Five Elements Cave or perhaps dozens of premium Five Elements Pills. But to his surprise, it directly gave him a new recipe. The value of this was beyond measure.

After all, the Five Elements Cave gathered and transformed spirit Qi for an entire year, and its effects were said to be roughly equivalent to two low-grade Five Elements Pills. It was effective, but not by much.

Ye Chen had read in ancient texts that during the ancient times, cultivators had to use hundreds of Five Elements Pills to fully expand their dantian. In comparison, the sect's Five Elements Cave could only provide fifty years' worth of spirit Qi for one person to use.

Now, Ye Chen had directly obtained the recipe. He could spend a few days making dozens of batches of pills, equivalent to fifty years of the sect's Five Elements Cave accumulation. With ease, he could fully open his dantian.

Most importantly, Five Elements Pills were an essential item for any cultivator. If Ye Chen ever decided to establish his own sect, he could train a batch of alchemists to produce Five Elements Pills daily, which would support the entire sect. The profits would be astronomical.

In short, Ye Chen's gaze toward Yao Xi became even more intense. With thirty times the feedback and a critical hit, the reward was absolutely ridiculous. Yao Xi truly was a massive treasure.

Yao Xi felt Ye Chen's intense gaze and, in that moment, the awkwardness and discomfort she had felt earlier completely disappeared. Instead, she chuckled softly and said, "Junior Brother, if by the time I turn thirty I haven't broken through to Foundation Establishment, then I will agree to become your Dao partner. I'm already twenty-five, just five years left. If I do break through to Foundation Establishment, the difference in our lifespans will be too great, and we will no longer be suitable as Dao partners. By then, I will naturally protect you and your descendants for life."

Yao Xi's words carried a clear tone of finality.

The reason Green Cloud Sect had rules requiring disciples to leave or become elders if they hadn't broken through to Foundation Establishment by thirty wasn't because it was impossible after thirty, but rather that the probability of success drastically decreased.

Before thirty, the chance of breaking through to Foundation Establishment was one in a thousand. After thirty, the chance dropped to one in ten thousand. Moreover, the resources required to break through after thirty were exponentially greater, and many cultivators found their combat abilities significantly weakened, even if they succeeded.

For a sect like Green Cloud Sect, where resources were valuable, a disciple who hadn't reached Foundation Establishment by thirty was seen as a wasted resource. This was why there was a saying in the cultivation world: "No Foundation Establishment by thirty means basically no chance."

...

Upon hearing Yao Xi's words, Ye Chen's face broke into a smile. Out of everyone in the sect, aside from his master, Yao Xi had the highest potential. Now she had given him such a huge surprise. His master seemed to have no desires or needs, so whether or not he could "serve" her after breaking through to Foundation Establishment was still uncertain.

But Yao Xi was definitely going to reach Foundation Establishment. Otherwise, once he reached Foundation Establishment and Yao Xi remained in Qi Refining, the gifts he could offer her—gifts meant for Foundation Establishment—would be useless to her. The system would never recognize them. That would severely delay his cultivation progress.

Therefore, even if it meant going all out, he had to help Yao Xi break through to Foundation Establishment. Moreover, his ultimate goal was the vast and boundless stars and seas, a path of endless growth. A thirty-fold reward wasn't enough to make her his Dao partner. It would only slow his progress. Yao Xi had some lofty ideas if she thought things could be that simple.

Without hesitation, Ye Chen spoke, "I will do everything I can to help Senior Sister break through to Foundation Establishment."

Hearing this, Yao Xi immediately smiled. If it were any other man, after hearing her words, they would probably want to take back the Five Elements token to completely prevent her from reaching Foundation Establishment and potentially becoming his Dao partner.

But Ye Chen? He was unhesitatingly pushing her toward Foundation Establishment.

Yao Xi knew that Ye Chen's actions weren't because he didn't love her or didn't want to become her Dao partner. He loved her too much. The reason he said that was because he wanted her to go further, to be free to soar, not confined in a cage.

True love is about letting someone fly freely, not holding them back.

"I love you, and it has nothing to do with you."

These words were the truest reflection of his feelings. However, Yao Xi didn't really expect Ye Chen to be able to help her break through to Foundation Establishment.

After all, using the Five Elements Cave to expand the dantian only increased the chances of Foundation Establishment, but it was just a small boost. To her, it would increase her chances by at most 50%. For a higher chance, she would need a Foundation Establishment Pill and other rare spiritual materials.

Reaching Foundation Establishment was incredibly difficult and required a vast amount of preparation. Even though Ye Chen was a direct disciple, many of these resources were still out of his reach.

But Yao Xi didn't voice her concerns. Instead, she smiled brightly, the sunlight shining in her eyes. "Then thank you, Junior Brother! If I break through, I'll help Junior Brother find a suitable Dao partner. Surely, she won't be worse than me! Junior Brother should have many children! If I don't end up with you, I won't marry anyone else, but I'll still need someone to carry on your legacy. I will adopt your child that looks the most like you, just as a memory!"

Yao Xi wasn't joking; she was being sincere. After all, what woman, having experienced Ye Chen's deep affection, could ever feel moved by another man? Living through the long life of Foundation Establishment, nurturing a little Ye Chen would certainly never be lonely.

Ye Chen internally rolled his eyes. First, she asked for a gift, and now she wanted my child? How about I send you a few million of them?

But then, Ye Chen couldn't help but think, if he actually gave Yao Xi a son, would the system consider it a gift? And if it did, what kind of reward would he get? Thirty sons?

The thought made Ye Chen shudder.

Maybe it's best if I handle the "child-making" myself and spare the system the trouble.

After talking with Yao Xi for a while longer, Ye Chen bade her farewell and left.

Yao Xi stood there, watching his figure disappear from her sight before she finally smiled and turned to leave. Now, she held in her hand the Five Elements token that she had long desired. But for some reason, she no longer felt as desperate about reaching Foundation Establishment as she once had.

However, after walking just a few steps, Yao Xi frowned slightly. Someone had blocked her path. It was Sun Ruoxin.

Sun Ruoxin's eyes were red and swollen, and with her delicate face, she looked utterly pitiable.

Yao Xi couldn't help but feel a twinge of disgust when she thought about how Sun Ruoxin had treated Ye Chen Though most cultivators were selfish, Yao Xi never considered herself a saint. But someone like Sun Ruoxin… was a rare sight.

Yao Xi didn't want to say anything to her, so she tried to walk around Sun Ruoxin and leave. But as they passed each other, Sun Ruoxin reached out and grabbed Yao Xi's sleeve. "Senior Sister, can you give Ye Chen back to me, please…"

Yao Xi stopped and forcefully pulled her sleeve back, her voice growing colder. "I've never taken Ye Chen from you. You're the one who lost him."

With that, Yao Xi didn't wait for Sun Ruoxin's response and left, her expression cold.

Sun Ruoxin stood frozen in place. The tears she had just managed to hold back welled up again, blurring her vision.

That's right... Ye Chen had once loved her so deeply, giving her everything. Who could take Ye Chen from her?

It was all her fault. It was because of her constant disappointments that she had lost him.

Chapter 92: The Clever Ye Tian!

The difficulty of refining the Five Elements Pill wasn't high, after all, it was just a Qi Refining-level pill. Ye Chen, with his perfected first-grade alchemist skills, found it easy to refine.

After bidding farewell to Yao Xi, Ye Chen immediately went to buy the necessary ingredients. These days, Ye Chen no longer had to disguise himself like he did in the Silver Moon Market.

However, when buying the ingredients in the Green Cloud Market, he still included a dozen or so unnecessary herbs in his purchase. Though it meant spending more spirit stones, the improved Five Elements Pill recipe was incredibly precious, and it was worth every coin.

Ye Chen's name was now well known throughout the sect. His title of "simp direct disciple" was recognized by everyone, and now, with his phrase "I love you, and it has nothing to do with you," it had become even more of a topic of discussion.

Ye Chen's reputation had already started to spread all the way to Green Cloud City. When he went to buy ingredients, no one found it unusual.

After all, Ye Chen had been running to alchemy classes every three days just to pursue Senior Sister Yao Xi. It was no surprise that he could refine pills.

While waiting for the deacon to prepare his materials, Ye Chen suddenly heard an excited voice from behind, "Seventh Brother, we finally meet!"

Ye Chen turned around and raised an eyebrow. The one calling out to him was none other than Ye Tian.

Ye Tian, the most talented member of the Ye family in this generation. But just seeing this guy made Ye Chen feel irritated.

On the very first day he joined the sect, Ye Tian had started spreading nonsense.

Ye Chen had gone out to buy a dual cultivation technique, and somehow, even the shopkeeper knew that a "simp" had entered the sect.

Half of Ye Chen's "simp" reputation had been spread by this guy. It was bad enough that Ye Tian didn't run away when he saw him, but now he was even coming over to try and get close.

Ye Tian didn't notice Ye Chen's cold demeanor and ran up excitedly, "Seventh Brother, I've missed you so much! The family isn't upset with you anymore. They've said to visit more often. But Seventh Brother, Green Cloud Sect is great and all, but the resources here are too expensive. Look at you, a direct disciple already. How about lending me some spirit stones to tide me over? I'll definitely return them to you soon!"

Ye Chen thought to himself, "This guy talks like the gamblers from my past life."

Ye Chen, maintaining his composure, began to whistle nonchalantly, acting as if he hadn't heard a thing. This made Ye Tian grit his teeth in frustration.

Deep down, Ye Tian had always looked down on Ye Chen. With his poor aptitude, low cultivation level, and his reputation as a simp, Ye Tian couldn't understand how such a person could get so lucky. Despite being sent to the Silver Moon Market, Ye Chen had managed to obtain a peak master's token.

Ye Tian was actually strapped for cash. His family had supported him with plenty of spirit stones, but a recent trip to the market area had initially seemed promising when he found an item worth ten low-grade spirit stones for the price of one. Buoyed by this stroke of luck, he started to believe he might just make it to Foundation Establishment through bargain-hunting.

Fired up, he frequented the market even more, only to make a series of poor judgments that led to significant losses. Now, not only was he out of medicinal pills, but he also owed the senior brother who had introduced him to the market area over twenty low-grade spirit stones.

Hence, Ye Tian, suppressing his displeasure, whispered, "Seventh Brother, I know a secret! This secret involves you and your dad. You lend me just one medium-grade, no, one high-grade spirit stone, and I'll tell you!"

Ye Chen raised an eyebrow. Honestly, he had long since detached himself from the Ye family in his heart and couldn't care less about its affairs. But a secret involving him and his biological father? That piqued his curiosity.

"Speak, and if this secret proves useful, I'll give you fifty low-grade spirit stones," Ye Chen responded indifferently.

Ye Tian was stunned. He'd asked for one high-grade spirit stone, and here was Ye Chen offering fifty low-grade ones. Who taught him to negotiate like this?

Ye Tian thought bitterly about how generously Ye Chen had tried to give away the Five Elements Cave token, even when it was refused. Wasn't he being a bit stingy with his own family?

Before Ye Tian could attempt to haggle further, Ye Chen, without even a glance, signaled him to continue.

Ye Tian, having no choice, spoke softly, "Your dad isn't Grandfather's biological son. My dad said when he was six years old, your dad was suddenly brought home one night by the then family head, our great-grandfather. He claimed that your dad was Grandfather's illegitimate child, but our grandmother, who was known to be quite jealous, didn't utter a single word about it! That means your dad definitely isn't Grandfather's biological child. You're not a true member of the Ye family."

Upon hearing this, Ye Chen narrowed his eyes. "So, my father's death... is related to your Ye family?"

Ye Tian jumped back in shock, quickly waving his hands. "No, no! Absolutely not... It really was an accident. Your father was ambushed by rogue cultivators. These rogues even destroyed the body. It wasn't until Grandpa reached Foundation Establishment that he personally went to investigate and found the location of the ambush."

Ye Chen leaned against the counter, gently tapping his fingers on the crystal surface, his expression thoughtful.

So, my father wasn't his biological child. That meant I'm not really part of the Ye family. Now, it made sense why the family head didn't want to give me anything valuable. They just wanted me to contribute to the family. After all, there's a clear distinction between insiders and outsiders.

At this point, Ye Chen started to wonder—what if my father isn't really dead? From what he'd read in novels in his past life, when an outsider is raised in a family, there's often a big background behind it. Could it be that my father was taken in by some powerful family?

But Ye Chen dismissed the thought quickly. If his father had truly been taken away by a powerful family, why wouldn't they have taken him along? There couldn't be that many coincidences.

It seemed more reliable to wait until his cultivation improved, use Green Cloud Sect's connections, and personally track down those rogue cultivators to avenge his father's death.

Ye Chen casually took out fifty low-grade spirit stones and tossed them to Ye Tian.

Ye Tian quickly caught them, grinning widely. "When it comes down to it, it's still about relying on your own brothers, huh? Seventh Brother, you see, you don't really need that Five Elements Cave spot. Can you give it to me three years from now?"

Ye Chen smiled back. "If you were really my brother, I'd give it to you, because as you said, I don't really need it. But the problem is, I'm not actually a Ye family member!"

Ye Tian's smile froze on his face…

Damn…

Ye Chen couldn't help but laugh to himself. Since joining Green Cloud Sect, the family head had been sending him letters every few days, saying that the past was in the past and that he should come back to visit more. He even sent him resources generously.

Ye Chen understood. After all, he was the peak master's direct disciple. Being associated with the peak master was definitely a win for the Ye family. But then Ye Tian went and ruined it all for fifty low-grade spirit stones.

Ye Chen planned to wait until he reached Foundation Establishment, then go back and inquire about his father's origins. He'd also make sure to tell the family head how he found out about it. He was sure Ye Tian would be the recipient of the family's special care after that.

After sending Ye Tian away, who looked like he had just realized he made a mistake, Ye Chen found that the spiritual herbs he needed were ready. He immediately made his way back to the Sword Peak, preparing to refine the Five Elements Pills. Two of these pills could rival the accumulation of an entire year's worth of the Five Elements Cave's spirit Qi.

Ye Chen decided to consume one of them to see how much he could expand his dantian. Opening the dantian further would allow a cultivator's spiritual power to become more robust, and it would enable longer-lasting combat abilities.

Moreover, the foundation of a Foundation Establishment cultivator was also built through the dantian transformation. Naturally, the bigger the dantian, the better.

With his third-grade spiritual roots, Ye Chen's difficulty in breaking through to Foundation Establishment was comparable to that of most cultivators who attempted the breakthrough after thirty. The effect of the Five Elements Pill on Ye Chen could be imagined.

So, upon returning to Sword Peak, Ye Chen rejected Lin Ke'er, who was eager to progress, and focused solely on the task at hand—refining the Five Elements Pills.

...

Meanwhile, beneath the Sword Peak, Sun Ruoxin stood outside the formation, her eyes glistening with tears as she waited. She had so many things she wanted to say to Ye Chen!

Chapter 93: Gu Yunyun's Fist Tightens!

When Ye Chen fled the Silver Moon Market, he took his alchemy furnace with him. The goal was simple: plenty of space and complete freedom to do as he pleased. When the first batch of Five Elements Pills was completed, the furnace lid was lifted. The fragrance of the pills immediately filled the room.

At Ye Chen's current level, even when refining a new pill he had never made before, it was nearly impossible to fail. Seven pills flew out of the furnace.

Ye Chen took a glance at them in his hand. The Five Elements Pills were round and smooth, with five colors mixed together, creating a natural and harmonious feel.

However, this batch of pills had slightly dull colors, not vibrant enough. Moreover, the five colors were not as evenly distributed as they should be.

"Four medium-grade, three low-grade, no high-grade," Ye Chen muttered, shaking his head as he carefully stored the pills away.

He was already preparing to continue refining. Two medium-grade pills were enough to compare to a full year's worth of spirit Qi from the sect's Five Elements Cave. But for Ye Chen, medium-grade pills were beneath him. If he was going to use them, they had to be top-tier.

Top-tier pills not only increased the maximum expansion of his dantian but also improved the tolerance of his meridians, which, in turn, would slightly enhance his cultivation speed.

While the increase in meridian tolerance wasn't immediately noticeable, even a small improvement was invaluable to Ye Chen. So, he was determined to continue refining. He wouldn't stop until he created top-tier Five Elements Pills.

By evening, Ye Chen had finally refined a high-grade Five Elements Pill. He could feel that it wouldn't be long before he perfected the top-grade version, possibly in just a few more days.

Ye Chen was in a good mood, and his enthusiasm for cultivation was high that evening as well. In fact, the Five Elements Pills he didn't need could be given to Lu Jing and Lin Ke'er, helping to increase their chances of breaking through to Foundation Establishment in the future. The stronger their abilities became, the better the effects of their shared cultivation would be.

However, to be honest, Ye Chen wasn't very trusting of the two women. And as for the value of the Five Elements Pill, those who understood knew just how precious it was. If the word got out, even his master might not be able to protect him.

So, Ye Chen decided against it for now. He would wait to see in the future if any trustworthy contracts or treasures surfaced. In that case, he might be able to give some of the things he couldn't use, but didn't want to simply discard, to the maids. Later, he planned to go to Green Cloud Market to inquire about any potential options.

...

While Ye Chen was diligently cultivating, atop Sword Peak, Gu Yunyun's delicate face was clouded with frost. For a peak master, having a direct disciple also came with its own costs. The performance of a direct disciple directly impacted the treatment the peak master received.

Having had an easy, smooth life, and crushing her peers for so long, Gu Yunyun didn't usually care much about such things. But if her direct disciple was utterly humiliated in the upcoming sect tournament, it would be a huge embarrassment.

That's why Gu Yunyun had specifically urged Ye Chen to secure the Five Elements Cave spot. Even a small increase in strength would make a difference. At least that way, during the sect competition, she wouldn't be as embarrassed. But what did she find out? Ye Chen had immediately given the spot away to someone else.

Gu Yunyun, who typically didn't concern herself with the trivial matters of the sect, only learned of this now. Not only was her direct disciple weak, with poor talent, but he was also a simp. He even gave away the Five Elements Cave spot. This revelation made Gu Yunyun, usually calm and composed, quite angry.

She, Gu Yunyun, with a life of prestige, was the most likely in her generation to break through to the Golden Core stage. And yet, she had taken on this embarrassing disciple. A poor talent who willingly gave away resources and played the simp.

Ye Chen's deep feelings were clear, but the embarrassment was all hers. What made it worse was the fact that the Peak Master of the Magic Peak had always had a poor relationship with her. She had beaten him several times in the past. He had never been able to defeat her, and now, with an opportunity in hand, he would undoubtedly have his disciples humiliate Ye Chen in the arena. And Gu Yunyun would have no choice but to sit and watch, helpless.

As Gu Yunyun thought about the humiliation she would soon face, her fists clenched tightly. At this moment, she truly felt the urge to clean house. Gu Yunyun's garden had a pool, with spring water flowing continuously from a natural spring, crystal clear and pure. She sat directly in the pool, and only then did she feel her composure returning.

Lying in the water, the rippling waves danced, and the light bent in such a way that it almost seemed like she could see the reflection of snow-capped mountains. Starlight radiated from the heavens, making the pool sparkle with a brilliant glow.

Gu Yunyun naturally and instinctively let her spirit sense expand, reaching toward Ye Chen's small courtyard, beginning her daily cultivation routine. But soon, she began to feel something was wrong. During previous sessions, although her heart's state would fluctuate, it never felt as intense as this.

But this time, for some unknown reason, her emotions were in turmoil, and her mind began to wander. What was going on? Had Ye Chen's behavior as a "simp" really gotten under her skin, causing her heart's state to destabilize? Sensing that something was off, Gu Yunyun decided to stop her cultivation for the day.

However, as she started retracting her spirit sense, she couldn't help but extend it once more. Her jade-like hand, once resting beside the pool, had unknowingly slipped into the water. The tranquil surface rippled, and in the midst of the water's sound, there were faint, almost imperceptible, soft hums.

Meanwhile, Ye Chen was unaware that his actions as a "simp" had caused his beautiful master's heart to be thrown into turmoil, even affecting her cultivation. Had he known... he would undoubtedly have been ecstatic. The following days were filled with daily cultivation and continuous furnace work for refining pills.

Finally, on the sixth day, Ye Chen successfully refined his first top-tier Five Elements Pill. This brought a great sense of satisfaction. Without hesitation, he consumed and refined it. The top-tier Five Elements Pill melted instantly upon contact with his mouth.

In a very short time, it transformed into the purest Five Elements spirit Qi, flowing through his five organs according to their attributes before finally entering his dantian. His dantian gently trembled, expanding at a barely perceptible rate. The sensation was incredibly strange. But at the same time, Ye Chen's face shifted again. The spirit Qi in his dantian stirred, and Ye Chen suddenly felt on the verge of a breakthrough...

"Boom…"

After an unknown amount of time, Ye Chen opened his eyes, a satisfied smile on his face. The effects of the top-tier Five Elements Pill were astonishing. One pill was enough to expand Ye Chen's dantian by almost one-tenth. With continued use, increasing his dantian by one or two times would be an absolute certainty. This was an effect that the Five Elements Cave could never achieve.

Aside from that, Ye Chen had officially broken through to the seventh level of Qi Refining today. Given the current rate of his breakthroughs, reaching the eighth level before the sect tournament at the end of the year was practically guaranteed.

Ye Chen was determined to participate in this year's sect competition. While the Foundation Establishment Pill, unlike the Five Elements Pill, hadn't completely disappeared, its main ingredient was monopolized by the top-tier forces, making its annual supply fixed and thus still highly precious.

In Green Cloud Sect, only direct disciples who reached the ninth level of Qi Refining were awarded a Foundation Establishment Pill. Beyond that, the only way to obtain one was through the sect competition. The first-place prize in the sect tournament would be a low-grade Foundation Establishment Pill.

Although Ye Chen wouldn't be able to break through to Foundation Establishment this year, it was only a matter of one or two years. With his third-grade spiritual roots, the difficulty of the breakthrough would be monumental. The Foundation Establishment Pill, besides increasing the chance of success, played the crucial role of protecting a cultivator's meridians and foundation.

Without a Foundation Establishment Pill, a cultivator who failed their breakthrough might not die, but their vitality would be severely damaged, and they would never have another chance to break through. However, if a cultivator used a Foundation Establishment Pill, even if they failed their breakthrough, they could rest and try again.

One Foundation Establishment Pill essentially represented one chance at a successful breakthrough. For any Qi Refining cultivator, it was considered a miracle drug. And for Ye Chen, its importance was beyond measure.

Ye Chen's demand for Foundation Establishment Pills was simple: the more, the better. It would be best if he could gather several hundred or even a thousand. With that many chances, one of them would surely succeed. But the system couldn't endlessly duplicate rewards, so any gifts he gave away wouldn't return with a feedback.

Therefore, Ye Chen needed to obtain several Foundation Establishment Pills on his own. Ye Chen wasn't just aiming for victory in this year's sect tournament; next year's as well. As long as he hadn't broken through yet, no disciple in Green Cloud Sect could take the first place!

Chapter 94: The Unattainable Always Stirs!

Another week passed.

After refining three top-tier Five Elements Pills, Ye Chen was in a good mood as he descended the mountain. Tomorrow, the Five Elements Cave would open.

However, the spirit Qi in the Five Elements Cave was depleted within a day or two by the disciples. Even if the cave was packed to capacity, it would be over in three or four days at most.

So, Yao Xi entering the Five Elements Cave didn't interfere with Ye Chen's weekly gift-giving routine. As Ye Chen descended the mountain, he furrowed his brows slightly.

At the foot of the mountain, a woman with a slender waist, long legs, and a nearly perfect figure stood there. With such long legs, it could only be Sun Ruoxin.

Ye Chen had known she'd been waiting for him at the foot of the mountain, but he hadn't expected her to still be there now.

Sun Ruoxin appeared somewhat haggard, her eyes red and swollen, clearly having cried quite a bit over the past few days. But Ye Chen's mood remained unaffected. There was no sympathy or concern, not even a hint of pity.

In fact, he found it a bit laughable. Before, he had no choice but to flatter Sun Ruoxin. She had taken so much from him, yet remained arrogant, rejecting the gifts he gave her and picking them apart.

How could a woman like that really be regretful? It was nothing more than envy over the precious gifts Yao Xi had received.

Ye Chen sneered, walking past Sun Ruoxin without even sparing her a glance, not even bothering to acknowledge her.

Sun Ruoxin had been waiting at the foot of the mountain for an entire week. When she saw Ye Chen finally descending, her heart raced with excitement, thinking he was finally moved by her. But the cold indifference that radiated from him made her realize she had been deluding herself.

Sun Ruoxin hurriedly grabbed Ye Chen's sleeve. "Junior Brother, I really know I was wrong… Please, I'm begging you, give me a chance to apologize."

Ye Chen, visibly impatient, waved his hand. He had a lot to do next: attending alchemy classes, chatting with Yao Xi, strolling around, giving gifts. He was busy. How could he waste time with someone like you, who doesn't even have enough depth to be worth the effort?

However, Sun Ruoxin held on tightly, and Ye Chen, for a moment, couldn't shake her off. "Fellow Daoist Sun, please have some self-respect!"

Ye Chen's impatient expression, his cold voice, and the sharp "Fellow Daoist Sun" stung Sun Ruoxin deeply. It made her feel like crying.

In the past, whenever Ye Chen saw her, he always smiled so warmly. She didn't want to respond to him—Ye Chen would say ten things, and she'd respond to only one or two, yet he would never get angry. But now, Ye Chen had completely stopped caring about her.

"Junior Brother, I really was wrong. Please forgive me. That dual cultivation technique... while I've been waiting for you these past few days, I've been practicing it. I've already made some progress... I…"

Sun Ruoxin lifted her head, her voice choked with emotion.

Ye Chen's expression remained indifferent. "What you want isn't my forgiveness. You just want me to give you gifts and provide you with cultivation resources, don't you? You probably want the Five Elements Cave spot too, right? Oh, and I'm supposed to talk to the Ye family for you and make sure they stop targeting your father, right?"

...

Sun Ruoxin couldn't hold back any longer and burst into tears.

"No, Junior Brother, I didn't think that way. I really…"

But Ye Chen had already lost interest in listening further. There were too many things he needed to focus on. For instance, he needed a better alchemy furnace. The one he brought from the Silver Moon Market was terrible. A better furnace would increase the chances of refining top-tier pills.

At the same time, he needed to keep an eye out for any potential contracts or useful treasures. With so many things to do, he didn't have the time to entertain someone like Sun Ruoxin.

Ye Chen couldn't be bothered to listen to Sun Ruoxin's self-pitying act. He yanked his sleeve away and drifted off without a second glance. Only Sun Ruoxin was left, sitting there, crying uncontrollably.

Yes, this was how she saw herself in Ye Chen's eyes. She had broken his heart. How could he ever believe her again? But she truly regretted it. She had been jealous of Yao Xi, not because of the gifts Yao Xi received, but because of the love Yao Xi had—the unconditional love.

"I love you, and it has nothing to do with you."

Those words should have been for her. But she had ruined it all. As those thoughts raced through her mind, her crying grew even more desperate, tearing at her heart.

...

"Junior Brother, tomorrow is the day for entering the Five Elements Cave. If I enter, my chance of breaking through to Foundation Establishment will be much higher. Should you take back the Five Elements token? That way, Senior Sister won't be able to break through and will have no choice but to become your Dao partner!"

After the class, Yao Xi, with her eyes curving into crescent shapes, smiled brightly and teased.

Ye Chen admired Yao Xi's graceful figure, her curves like the full moon.

At her words, he smiled.

Become my Dao partner? You sure have a nice imagination. You better focus on breaking through to Foundation Establishment!

"I only hope that Senior Sister's chances of breaking through to Foundation Establishment will be as high as possible."

Ye Chen wasn't lying. If only the Five Elements Pills weren't something he couldn't share, he would have loved to give Yao Xi the top-tier pills he had just refined. At least then, he could have gotten a batch of sixty top-tier Five Elements Pills, saving himself the trouble of refining them.

Though he couldn't give her the Five Elements Pills, the Foundation Establishment Pill from the sect competition this year would definitely be hers. If there were anything else that would help her breakthrough, Ye Chen wouldn't hesitate to give it to her.

Yao Xi, noticing the appreciative glance Ye Chen gave her, smiled lightly. She sensed his admiration, and with a graceful spin, she moved elegantly, making sure he had an even better view.

Today, Yao Xi wore a skirt that resembled a professional one from Ye Chen's past life, only reaching her knees. The hem of the skirt swayed with her steps, like the ripples of water in motion. Then, she suddenly spun around. The skirt flared up, resembling a lotus blooming. And above the lotus, was the rounded, full moon. This scene was utterly breathtaking. Noticing the awe on Ye Chen's face, Yao Xi smiled even brighter.

That's the way women are. When they don't like someone, no matter how good you treat them, they won't care and will find faults. But if they have feelings for someone, even if you seem imperfect, they won't mind at all.

In the past, Yao Xi had been uncomfortable with Ye Chen's gaze. But now, she even turned to show him more.

...

"Junior Brother, we can just walk around and chat," Yao Xi said when she saw that Ye Chen was about to take her to Green Cloud Market. She immediately declined. In the past, she had despised Ye Chen and thought, "Why not take advantage while I can?" But now, she no longer had that mindset.

Ye Chen smiled and shook his head, saying that now that he had reached the late stage of Qi Refining, he needed to buy herbs and change the medicinal pills he was using for cultivation.

Normally, cultivators wouldn't inquire about each other's cultivation level when they met. Upon hearing that Ye Chen had broken through, Yao Xi's eyes lit up. She was genuinely happy for him.

After all, for any cultivator, their cultivation level was their foundation. Moreover, at the late stage of Qi Refining, using Qi Nourishing Pills wasn't very effective anymore. It was best to switch to the Spiritual Essence Pill.

So, Yao Xi immediately followed Ye Chen into Green Cloud Market. After purchasing the necessary herbs for Spiritual Essence Pill, Ye Chen also casually picked out a top-tier magic tool-grade alchemy furnace and gifted it to Yao Xi.

The furnace offered better spiritual feedback, improved control, and minimized the loss of medicinal power during the refining process. It also came with an Earth Fire array, allowing it to be lit using spirit stones for even better results.

Yao Xi truly didn't want to accept any more gifts from Ye Chen. But she couldn't resist his enthusiasm. She reluctantly, yet happily, accepted it. The reluctance came from Ye Chen's persistence. But she was also happy because, in the cultivation world, many male cultivators were initially very attentive when pursuing female cultivators, going above and beyond.

But once they felt the female cultivator was interested or had already been won over, their attitude would often change and lose that fervor. After all, the unattainable always stirs desire.

Once something is obtained, the effort naturally lessens. But Ye Chen's treatment of her had never changed. Despite everything, he still treated her as he had when they first met. There truly were few men like this in the cultivation world.

Seeing Ye Chen's face light up with joy as she accepted the alchemy furnace, Yao Xi couldn't help but be affected and let a small smile curve her lips.

Chapter 95: Defeat You and Then Give It to You!

With Yao Xi as a stable source of thirty times the feedback, Ye Chen's days at Green Cloud Sect were peaceful and fulfilling. Every morning, he would first move Lu Jing and Lin Ke'er off him, then begin his cultivation. In the afternoon, he would refine pills.

The top-tier magic tool-grade alchemy furnace he had gifted Yao Xi didn't result in a critical hit. But he did end up with thirty top-tier alchemy furnaces, which turned out to be quite profitable for Ye Chen. Selling them off would make him a fortune.

However, he needed a stable channel to sell them. Otherwise, he'd have to spend time selling them himself, which would be too troublesome. With the top-tier furnace, Ye Chen's pill refining efficiency had improved drastically. His success rate was off the charts.

Now, with each batch of Five Elements Pills, eighty percent of them were top-tier. One furnace a week was more than enough. This also gave him more time to focus on refining spells and taking pills for his cultivation. In the evenings, he would continue his cultivation, improving alongside it.

During this period, Ye Chen noticed a stream flowing down from the peak of Sword Peak. The water was exceptionally clear, and the spirit Qi was abundant.

So, Ye Chen spent an entire afternoon using his magic to redirect the stream into his courtyard and created a bath pool. This was to give him more options for nighttime cultivation. He could either soak directly in the water or place his jade bed on the surface of the water for an almost perfect experience.

The water in the cultivation world was different, to say the least. With rich spirit Qi, it was probably better than all the expensive skincare products on Earth used by women. Sometimes, Ye Chen even thought the water smelled faintly sweet…

However, he was only about two hundred meters away from the mountaintop, where only his master resided. As an immortal like his master, she surely wouldn't need to use the bathroom. So, he didn't worry about whether the water had been used by anyone else.

After entering the Five Elements Cave, Yao Xi stayed for four days before coming out. She didn't hide anything, openly saying that the spirit Qi in this year's Five Elements Cave was so abundant it was nearly turning into liquid.

In the past, disciples would be lucky if their dantian expanded by a tenth of its capacity. Most of the time, they couldn't even reach that. But this year, Yao Xi's dantian had expanded by almost two-tenths. She said this with obvious joy.

Ye Chen, upon hearing this, felt a mix of emotions. In the past few days, his own dantian had expanded by almost half. According to the effects described on the pill's recipe, with continued use, it could expand up to three times its original size.

It was clear that compared to the Five Elements Cave, the Five Elements Pills were much more powerful. But Yao Xi didn't know this and was already very satisfied with her current progress. After leaving the Five Elements Cave, she immediately began preparing for this year's sect competition.

Although with Yao Xi's current level, defeating Li Xiaoyao and the other direct disciples to get the Foundation Establishment Pill was unlikely, she was determined to try.

Ye Chen, of course, fully supported her. Even when Yao Xi repeatedly refused and even locked herself away in her small courtyard, avoiding the alchemy lessons from the elder, Ye Chen would still show up on the appointed days. Any spell, magic tool, or treasure that could help Yao Xi, Ye Chen gave without hesitation.

Once, when Ye Chen needed something from the sect that wasn't available and had to go to Green Cloud City to fetch it, he couldn't wait. He went personally and returned late at night, immediately delivering the item to Yao Xi. This made Yao Xi feel touched, but also a bit confused.

Why did it seem like Ye Chen was more enthusiastic about her breaking through to Foundation Establishment than she was? In Yao Xi's eyes, this must have been because Ye Chen loved her. He was doing everything he could to help her, ensuring she went further.

And with Ye Chen's help, Yao Xi's strength soared. She felt that if she faced Li Xiaoyao again, she might not lose so easily this time. All of this made Yao Xi deeply moved.

Previously, Yao Xi had been concerned about the issue of lifespan after reaching Foundation Establishment. But Ye Chen's selfless efforts had caused a subtle shift in her mindset. Being with a man who loved her as much as Ye Chen did would undoubtedly bring great happiness.

While it was true that after experiencing the companionship of a Dao partner, enduring loneliness would be even more difficult, Ye Chen was simply too wonderful. When compared to that, the thought of enduring a few decades of loneliness didn't seem so frightening.

Moreover, she could have children with Ye Chen, allowing them to keep her company in her later years. With this thought in mind, a brilliant smile appeared on Yao Xi's face.

Meanwhile, Ye Chen, who had been showering her with gifts, was in an exceptionally good mood.

Yao Xi was happy, and so was he. He would use whatever was useful from the rewards he received, while the useless items would be stored away and sold off slowly.

As for giving Yao Xi so many gifts and making her so strong—what would happen if she got the Foundation Establishment Pill?

What a joke. He would be participating in the competition as well. If Yao Xi truly made it to the finals and ended up facing him, he would definitely not hold back.

Yao Xi might have good things, but the things he had were even better. Therefore, there was no way Yao Xi would get the Foundation Establishment Pill. Once it was in his hands, he would give it to her, and she would be overjoyed, triggering a critical reward. This outcome would be perfect.

During this time, Sun Ruoxin had not given up. Every week, she would attend the alchemy class. At first, she had hoped to win Ye Chen's forgiveness. But Ye Chen's attitude was too cold. He ignored her completely. This left Sun Ruoxin with no choice but to silently watch him from afar.

Ye Chen only left Sword Peak once a week, so if Sun Ruoxin wanted to see him, she could only come on that one day. And each time, she would watch helplessly as Ye Chen and Yao Xi laughed and conversed intimately, their bond unbreakable. She would watch Ye Chen giving Yao Xi various gifts.

For Sun Ruoxin, this was nothing short of torture. Her heart felt like it was being torn apart. At the same time, the sorrow only deepened her regret. She realized something.

In the past, Ye Chen had only appeared before her once a week as well. The rest of the time, he was nowhere to be found. She hadn't thought much about it back then, but now, Sun Ruoxin suddenly understood.

Ye Chen hadn't avoided her. He just didn't want to waste the time of the one he loved. As a cultivator, time was precious—there was cultivation, study, and research to focus on.

That's why Ye Chen had been so restrained, only appearing once a week. But it was precisely because he only appeared once a week that he would put so much effort into preparing gifts and surprises for the one he loved.

The more she thought about it, the more Sun Ruoxin realized just how much Ye Chen had loved her. Everything Yao Xi enjoyed now was something Sun Ruoxin had once had. But she had destroyed it all herself.

Over the past few days, Sun Ruoxin had been reflecting on how good Ye Chen had been to her. Whenever she saw something she liked, she would remember how Ye Chen used to give her everything she liked. When she ran out of pills, she would recall how Ye Chen had prepared high-quality pills for her.

Yet, despite how much Ye Chen loved her, she had pushed him to another woman. It hurt… it hurt so much!

Sun Ruoxin felt like she would spend the rest of her life living in regret.