ISWI Chapter 130-131 (Patreon)

Chapter 130: The Cold-Exterior, Warm-Hearted Master

After thanking Elder Chen for his reminder, Ye Chen suddenly remembered something.

"Elder Chen, do you know how I can obtain a Green Cloud Token?" he asked.

Elder Chen slightly furrowed his brows. He didn't particularly like the idea of bypassing rules or pushing people through the back door. But he still inquired, "Fellow Daoist Ye, what do you need the Green Cloud Token for?"

"I once took the Green Cloud Token from the Ye family. It's time to return it," Ye Chen replied.

Ye Chen harbored no affection for the Ye family. Initially, he had resented the family head for his bias. Later, when he learned that his father might not even be the biological parent of the family head, he let go of his resentment.

Now that he had broken through to Foundation Establishment, it was time to visit the Ye family, ask about his father's situation, and resolve his past karma.

Hearing this, Elder Chen smiled. "It's only right. I will have someone send the Green Cloud Token to you shortly."

Ye Chen's breakthrough to Foundation Establishment had made him much stronger. Now, severing ties with his family was a good thing for Green Cloud Sect.

Ye Chen smiled and nodded in gratitude. After giving some instructions to the maidservants in the courtyard, Ye Chen climbed to the mountaintop to visit his master.

"Master, your disciple has something to discuss!" Ye Chen called out.

The courtyard door opened, and Ye Chen entered his master's domain for the first time. His curious gaze swept around the area. When he saw the spring water bubbling from the ground and the small pond behind it, he raised an eyebrow. He had always wondered where the source of the water came from.

Could it be from his master's domain? No wonder sometimes the water carried a faint fragrance—could it be his master's body scent? Was his master soaking in the bath at that moment?

As Ye Chen thought about this, a sense of excitement washed over him. However, when Gu Yunyun noticed his gaze, she seemed to have guessed what he was thinking. Her phoenix eyes narrowed slightly. She had been pleased with Ye Chen's breakthrough, but now, seeing his distracted look, she coldly spoke, "What is it that you need?"

Ye Chen quickly explained that he had decided to remain a disciple and also shared his plans to visit Divine Will City to experience the outside world.

Upon hearing this, Gu Yunyun nodded noncommittally. Divine Will City was far away, but now that Ye Chen had reached Foundation Establishment, there was little concern.

While Gu Yunyun would protect her disciples, she could not be everywhere at once. If Ye Chen were to go to Divine Will City and never return, she would simply chalk it up to fate.

Despite his master's cold attitude, Ye Chen wasn't bothered. After all, he had long sensed that his master was the epitome of a cold exterior with a warm heart.

After bidding his master farewell, Ye Chen made his way to Green Cloud Sect. He first visited his shop, which was named Ye Boutique. The shop was essentially a general store, with almost everything available for sale. After all, the items Ye Chen didn't need from the system feedback all ended up here. Because the shop offered quality goods, business was thriving.

Ye Chen entered the store, where he saw Sun Ye chatting with a customer.

Upon seeing Ye Chen, Sun Ye's eyes widened in shock, and he froze for a moment before quickly rushing over. "Ye.. Senior Ye, you're here!"

Feeling the pressure emanating from Ye Chen, a pressure only a Foundation Establishment cultivator could emit, Sun Ye's mood became complicated.

The rumors were true. The direct disciple of Green Cloud Sect's Sword Peak had truly broken through to Foundation Establishment.

Just two years ago, Ye Chen had called him "Senior." Now, in the blink of an eye, Ye Chen was the one who had reached that level.

This realization filled Sun Ye with mixed emotions—regret, mostly. He couldn't help but think, if only he had known back then what Ye Chen was truly capable of. If only his daughter had agreed to Ye Chen back then. Even though Ye Chen had reached Foundation Establishment, he would have to address Sun Ye as "Father-in-Law."

Ye Chen smiled and patted Sun Ye's shoulder. "No need for formalities, just call me the shopkeeper!"

Sun Ye, though a bit greedy, was reliable when it came to getting things done. He would be useful in the future.

Upon hearing this, the awkward expression on Sun Ye's face faded significantly. "What brings the shopkeeper here today?"

Ye Chen spoke calmly. "Give me the spiritual stones from the shop. These goods can stay in the store for sale."

Ye Chen then handed over the feedback items he had no use for during this time. However, he didn't give Sun Ye any of the equipment he had previously acquired, mainly because the consumption power in Green Cloud City was too low. Many valuable items wouldn't sell for much. It would be better to take them to Divine Will City.

Once everything was settled, Ye Chen left the store, floating away gracefully.

Sun Ye stood at the door, bowing deeply. "Take care, shopkeeper!"

In the past, Sun Ye had worked hard to ensure his daughter would have a better position in Ye Chen's world. Now, however, he genuinely wished to align himself with Ye Chen.

A Foundation Establishment cultivator was enough to found a family. Not to mention that Ye Chen was the direct disciple of Green Cloud Sect's Sword Peak and the future sect master's disciple.

If his daughter could bear him a son or daughter, Sun Ye's descendants would no longer be wandering cultivators but part of a powerful family.

The future was bright.

...

At the Ye family, Ye Chen was greeted with the highest honors as soon as he arrived. The Foundation Establishment family head, Ye Hong, personally came to meet him. As for the uncles who had previously been somewhat arrogant in front of Ye Chen, they now wore expressions of deep respect.

"Little Chen, your breakthrough is truly a blessing for the Ye family!"

"To have two Foundation Establishment cultivators in one family—this is rare even within Green Cloud Sect. I've always believed in you, Ye Chen. I knew you'd amount to something."

"The spiritual root doesn't dictate everything. The Ye family is going to rise! Like father, like son!"

The others were full of praise, their faces blooming with smiles.

Ye Chen now truly understood the words of a famous celebrity from his past life: "After you become famous, everyone around you will be your friend."

When he returned from Silver Moon Market last time, few people in the family had treated him seriously.

Now? Everywhere he looked, he saw smiling faces.

Indeed, no matter what world you were in, strength was the key to everything.

Ye Hong, the family head, motioned for Ye Chen to sit beside him with a warm smile. "Little Chen, now that you've reached Foundation Establishment, I'm sure you'll need a lot of resources. The family has already started preparing them for you."

Hearing this, Ye Chen smiled and shook his head. "Thank you, Fellow Daoist Ye, for your kindness, but I'm not lacking in resources."

The mention of "Fellow Daoist Ye" made the previously lively hall suddenly fall silent.

Ye Hong narrowed his eyes.

I've treated you like my grandson, and you address me as Fellow Daoist?

However, Ye Chen, with his Foundation Establishment cultivation, now carried more weight than anyone in the room.

At only over twenty years old, with plenty of time to live, Ye Chen was highly likely to break through to the mid or late stages of Foundation Establishment in the future. His potential was limitless.

Ye Hong realized that Ye Chen's future was beyond what he himself could ever reach. The Ye family needed Ye Chen.

"Little Chen, are you still upset about what happened before? The truth is, I only intended to discipline you a little. We're family after all, and there's no need to hold grudges," Ye Hong said gently.

Ye Chen smiled. If his master hadn't intervened back then, Ye Chen might have ended up spending his life in the Ye family, a mere automatic pill-refining machine.

But Ye Chen was not here to reopen old wounds. He placed two Green Cloud Tokens on the table. "These are the Green Cloud Tokens from before. They're now being returned to their rightful owner."

Elder Chen from the Internal Affairs Hall had given him two orders to ensure Ye Chen's severance from the Ye family went smoothly.

Ye Hong's expression changed. Was Ye Chen completely cutting ties with the Ye family? But how could this be?

Ye Chen's master was the next sect master. The Ye family could certainly rise with Green Cloud Sect and even integrate into it. The value of this was far beyond a few Green Cloud Tokens.

Ye Hong opened his mouth to say something but Ye Chen continued, "I came not only to return the Green Cloud Tokens but also to ask about my father. My father is likely not Fellow Daoist Ye's biological son! Could Fellow Daoist Ye reveal the true origins of my father?"

Ye Hong's face immediately darkened. Ye Chen knew this… How? Who told him?

He turned to glare at his eldest and second sons. Only these two knew about the matter. Both men trembled and quickly shook their heads.

Ye Chen smiled and explained, "Don't be angry, Fellow Daoist Ye. It was Ye Tian who, in exchange for some spiritual stones, told me the truth. It seems like he was tricked in the sect."

Upon hearing this, Ye Hong's fist clenched!

Chapter 131: The Twenty-Fivefold Guide

Watching Ye Chen leave, Ye Hong sighed deeply. He then turned to his second son and said, "Go to the Green Cloud Sect's gate and bring Ye Tian back. Tell him his grandfather misses him."

The eldest son of the Ye family quietly shrank back into the corner. If his son had to take a beating, so be it. As long as the old man didn't hold him accountable, he was content. After all, it was his own fault for getting drunk and spilling the secret to Ye Tian.

But the next moment, Ye Hong looked at his eldest son with a steely gaze. "Come with me."

The rest of the family watched silently, offering no sympathy. It was deserved. Ye Chen's breakthrough to Foundation Establishment should have been the Ye family's greatest gain. In the future, they could even become one of Green Cloud Sect's top families. Despite the past conflicts, as long as they were a family, everything could be resolved.

But now, all of it was ruined because of that fool, Ye Tian.

...

On the flying boat, Ye Chen shook his head. After making things clear, Ye Hong no longer tried to hide anything. But what he knew was limited.

When Ye Hong's father brought Ye Tianhe back, he only said that Ye Tianhe was the child of a friend who had met with an unfortunate fate and left behind a fortune for Ye Hong to care for.

Ye Hong was asked to raise Ye Tianhe as his own son. As for the details, Ye Hong didn't know much. He only knew that the inheritance was considerable, and during that time, the Ye family's allocation of medicinal pills increased significantly.

But Ye Hong's father had passed away long ago, and Ye Chen's father, Ye Tianhe, was nowhere to be found as well. There were no leads to follow. However, since he couldn't figure it out now, Ye Chen decided not to worry about it. One day, when he became powerful enough to uncover everything, the truth would naturally come to light.

Ye Chen sat quietly in a meditative posture, reflecting on the changes and gains after his breakthrough to Foundation Establishment. It wasn't that he didn't want to cultivate.

The problem was that he didn't have a Foundation Establishment cultivation method. There was nothing to practice.

Divine Will City was indeed quite far. Even though Ye Chen was now at the Foundation Establishment stage, it would still take him a full week to reach there.

...

Boom!

A second-tier demonic beast, the Blaze Bird, extended its claws from the clouds and lunged at Ye Chen with a thunderous strike.

However, the flying boat's defensive array activated automatically and blocked the attack. The flying boat rocked slightly, and Ye Chen opened his eyes.

"Today is the seventh day, we should be close now!"

He looked up and saw the Blaze Bird circling again, letting out another shrill cry as it flew back toward him.

Ye Chen's eyes glowed with a red light.

Sensing something was wrong, the Blaze Bird immediately tried to retreat. But two beams of divine light shot out, moving faster than could be imagined. Another loud boom echoed, and the second-tier demonic Blaze Bird exploded into a brilliant firework.

Ye Chen steered the flying boat forward, floating past the debris. By noon, the outline of a massive city appeared before Ye Chen. The scale of the city was at least ten times that of Green Cloud City.

The city walls were tall, standing over fifty to sixty meters high. On the walls, intricate patterns of arrays could be faintly seen. The city exuded an air of authority.

However, even in Divine Will City, Foundation Establishment cultivators weren't a dime a dozen. Upon Ye Chen's arrival, he was immediately directed to the Foundation Establishment passage.

There was no entrance fee. After registering his identity and receiving a token, he could directly enter Divine Will City.

Stepping inside, the city was teeming with cultivators. The streets were lined with shops, and the bustle was overwhelming. In fact, as soon as Ye Chen glanced around, he spotted a Foundation Establishment cultivator walking among the crowd.

In Green Cloud City, encountering a Foundation Establishment cultivator was far from easy.

"Senior, would you like a guide? I've lived in Divine Will City all my life and know everything here like the back of my hand. I'm very affordable, just one low-grade spiritual stone a day."

"Senior, it seems like this is your first time here in Divine Will City. If you're looking to buy something, I can give you some recommendations!"

Upon entering, a group of local cultivators immediately approached Ye Chen, offering their services.

Ye Chen had initially planned to casually pick one to learn more about Divine Will City.

But as his gaze swept over the crowd, something caught his eye.

"System has detected a suitable target."

"Yun Qianyue: Twenty-Fivefold!"

Divine Will City was so impressive? A twenty-fivefold multiplier, and this cultivator had come to offer her services?

Immediately, Ye Chen pointed to a woman with a stunning appearance, a graceful figure, and a beauty mark at the corner of her eye. She resembled a more beautiful version of a famous actress from his past life, with a better figure as well. She was a Qi Refining 7th Layer cultivator.

"You, come here!" Ye Chen said.

While the twenty-fivefold multiplier was no longer something Ye Chen found impressive, since the opportunity had presented itself, he decided not to waste it. He wasn't sure how long he'd stay in Divine Will City, so this cultivator could definitely be used for a few reward boosts.

Seeing Ye Chen point to her, Yun Qianyue slightly bowed. "Senior, I'm a disciple of the Divine Will Sect and have lived in Divine Will City since I was a child. I have access to some channels that ordinary wandering cultivators can't reach, and I may be able to help you, Senior. But my prices are a bit higher. It's five low-grade spiritual stones a day, thirty low-grade spiritual stones for a week, and one medium-grade spiritual stone for the month."

Ye Chen nodded. "You're the one. One day for now, and if it's good, I'll extend it for a week. I'm looking for a Foundation Establishment cultivation method!"

Upon hearing this, Yun Qianyue felt a surge of excitement. Her identity as a disciple of the Divine Will Sect was real, but even disciples of the Divine Will Sect lacked sufficient cultivation resources.

Though sect missions earned contribution points, the rewards were meager. That's when Yun Qianyue started this business. With her looks and status as a disciple of the Divine Will Sect, she could secure a job within two or three days. This already earned her more than she would from doing sect tasks.

The best part was that Yun Qianyue had partnerships with several merchants. If the customers she brought in made a deal, she would get a commission. These merchants were often unscrupulous, taking advantage of the fact that new visitors didn't know the prices. They would charge absurdly high prices. With her commission, Yun Qianyue made a fortune.

Hearing that a Foundation Establishment cultivator wanted to buy a cultivation method, Yun Qianyue was even more thrilled. Foundation Establishment cultivation methods usually started at one or two high-grade spiritual stones. Even if she only got a small percentage of the commission, she would make a fortune.

So Yun Qianyue raised her alluring face and said, "Senior, I know a few excellent places that sell cultivation methods. One of them is even run by a deacon of our Divine Will Sect. I'm sure you'll be satisfied. May I ask your name, Senior?"

As she led the way, Yun Qianyue continued to ask.

"Ye." Ye Chen replied succinctly.

Although Yun Qianyue was indeed beautiful and very alluring, a twenty-fivefold multiplier just didn't appeal to Ye Chen anymore. He'd seen thirty, fifty, even one hundred-fold multipliers before. How could he care about a twenty-fivefold one now?

Sensing Ye Chen's indifference, Yun Qianyue dared not say much more. But in her heart, she silently gritted her teeth. What does a mere loose cultivator at Foundation Establishment think he's showing off? Just wait, I'll make sure to take advantage of you!

Soon, the two arrived at the first shop. Ye Chen took one glance at its location and immediately frowned. Nevertheless, he stepped inside.

However, after asking only a few questions, Ye Chen turned around and walked out. The best Foundation Establishment method here was only a mid-tier Yellow-grade.

What a trashy shop...

Outside, Yun Qianyue, eagerly awaiting to see Ye Chen fall into a trap so she could collect her commission, soon saw Ye Chen come out with his eyes narrowed.

"If you bring me to another trashy shop like this, you can leave," Ye Chen said flatly.

There was no pity in his words.

The natural pressure of being a Foundation Establishment cultivator made Yun Qianyue's face go pale, and her expression faltered. She quickly nodded in agreement.

Initially, Yun Qianyue had planned to take Ye Chen to two other shops where the commissions were higher. But now, that thought vanished. Instead, she led him to a shop run by a sect deacon. Her mood, however, wasn't the best. The commission at the deacon's shop was the lowest.

Inside the deacon's shop, Ye Chen looked at the offerings and immediately said, "Only a low-tier Black-grade? This is too weak. I at least want Earth-grade techniques, or even higher!"

The deacon's shop had slightly better offerings than the last, but once again, Ye Chen was unsatisfied.

In his past life, Ye Chen was no stranger to such roundabout tactics. It was like asking a taxi driver for restaurant or spa recommendations — more often than not, they'll lead you to places where they get a commission. He hadn't expected to find the same kind of schemes in the cultivation world.

Looking at Yun Qianyue, Ye Chen said in a calm tone, "I'll give you one last chance…"

Sensing the anger hidden beneath his calm exterior, Yun Qianyue quickly nodded. She immediately led Ye Chen toward the heart of the city, heading to a shop that would hopefully meet his standards.