ISWI Chapter 294-295 (Patreon)

Chapter 294: Even a Holy Land Would Go Mad

"Is this… yours, Fellow Daoist Ye?" An Miaoli's spiritual sense brushed against the boundaries of this realm. Her usually serene eyes, unshaken even during detoxification sessions, now brimmed with shock as she stared at Ye Chen.

With a faint smile, Ye Chen gestured grandly at the world around them. "Indeed. This is a spatial fragment I've refined. This entire realm is my small world!"

An Miaoli's stunned gaze filled Ye Chen with a thrill far surpassing the satisfaction of defeating ancestors in Great Chu. It was like meeting a wealthy heiress and casually pointing to the tallest skyscraper in the city, saying, "That's mine." The feeling was exhilarating. No wonder the rich kids from his past life loved to flaunt their wealth.

A spatial fragment?

An Miaoli and An Yuyi's shock deepened at his words. Such a treasure explained why Ye Chen demanded such caution. The entire Divine Will Sect couldn't compare to the value of this small world. It also clarified why Ye Chen's wealth was so staggering. Owning a personal realm made being richer than most cultivators seem only natural.

"If you're curious, you can explore at your leisure later. You can even choose a floating peak to reside on," Ye Chen said, ready to get to business. "For now, let's head to the Star Pool."

An Yuyi's eyes lit up with excitement. "We can really pick a floating peak to live here?" The idea thrilled her. This small world existed within her Senior Brother's body—living here would be like living inside him. The thought alone made her heart race.

An Miaoli gently tapped her niece's head. "Mind your manners!"

As Ye Chen flew toward the central peak of the floating cluster, he chuckled. "No need to worry. Senior and Yuyi can indeed choose a floating peak for yourselves in the future."

He had no plans to found a sect. With so many floating peaks, they were meant for those closest to him. Why else have them? Senior An had been tirelessly helping him with detoxification. She more than deserved a peak.

An Miaoli said nothing, quietly following behind.

The small world wasn't vast—roughly the size of an average country from his past life's Earth. Soon, they reached the central peak. After acquiring the floating peaks, Ye Chen had relocated the Star Pool to its summit, transplanting dozens of spiritual peach trees of various varieties nearby to ensure blossoms would always fall into the pool, no matter the season.

Why peach blossoms? No reason—just personal preference.

Ye Chen channeled the power of the stars through his body, replenishing the Star Pool's spiritual liquid until it brimmed with vibrant energy. Even without touching it, An Miaoli and An Yuyi could sense the dense spiritual qi radiating from the pool, a testament to its extraordinary nature.

When Ye Chen explained its functions, their eyes widened in disbelief. This spiritual liquid could heal injuries, nourish the body, and boost the cultivation of Golden Core cultivators? Most astonishingly, it could be endlessly restored by drawing on starlight?

That alone made its value incalculable. If word got out, it would be coveted as a sect-defining treasure by Deity Transformation or Unity sects. Even Holy Lands might vie for it. A treasure that could rapidly enhance the cultivation of a sect's disciples and prodigies, with an inexhaustible supply, was nothing short of a supreme artifact. It could transform a faction's strength by producing more prodigies in a short time.

"Yuyi, cultivate here from now on and aim to reach the peak of Golden Core as soon as possible," Ye Chen said, smiling as he patted An Yuyi's head.

Though she'd anticipated something special upon seeing the Star Pool, An Yuyi's face lit up with unrestrained joy. She grabbed Ye Chen's arm and, in a burst of excitement, planted a quick kiss on his cheek. "Thank you, Senior Brother!"

She'd been increasingly anxious about the growing gap between her cultivation and Ye Chen's. The Star Pool was her chance to catch up. Plus, seizing the moment to sneak a kiss? Absolute win.

Seeing no trace of displeasure on Ye Chen's face, she breathed a sigh of relief and dove into the pool. Water splashed, soaking her spiritual dress and clinging to her figure, revealing a stunning silhouette.

Ye Chen's gaze lingered briefly. In terms of abundance, An Yuyi had a slight edge over her aunt. Watching her settle into cultivation, absorbing the starlight liquid to refine her cultivation, he nodded in satisfaction.

After a while, assured of her focus, Ye Chen turned to An Miaoli with a smile. "Senior, let Yuyi cultivate here for now. I'll take you to another treasure."

An Miaoli, ethereal and composed, seemed to have missed the earlier kiss. Her eyes sparked with curiosity. This small world, with its floating peaks and Star Pool, was already an unparalleled blessed land. Could there be more?

The small world was secure, isolated from the cultivation world, free of large demonic beasts or rogue cultivators who might threaten Yuyi. Reassured, An Miaoli followed Ye Chen as they flew toward a distant peak.

They arrived at a towering black mountain. An Miaoli studied it, sensing its profound aura but unable to discern its purpose.

Ye Chen smiled lightly, summoning a strange stone and handing it to her. "This is Soul-Swaying Mountain. It produces a hundred Soul-Swaying Divine Stones each year. These stones can be reused to enhance a cultivator's spiritual root, up to the Heavenly Spirit Root level."

His tone was casual, but An Miaoli's pupils contracted in shock. Reusable stones that could elevate spiritual roots to the Heavenly Spirit Root level? And a hundred each year?

This meant Ye Chen could, if he chose, transform even a third-grade spiritual root cultivator into a prodigy with a Heavenly Spirit Root. It was beyond comprehension.

In an instant, An Miaoli realized the value of Soul-Swaying Mountain far surpassed that of the Star Pool—it wasn't even on the same level. There were many ways to boost cultivation, but treasures that enhanced spiritual roots were exceedingly rare. Items capable of elevating a root to Earth Spirit level were already considered supreme treasures.

Heavenly Spirit Roots? They were the stuff of legends, tied to divine or immortal artifacts. Yet Ye Chen's Soul-Swaying Mountain could mass-produce Heavenly Spirit Root cultivators. Even if it took a century per batch, the implications were staggering—a treasure that would drive Holy Lands to mobilize their full forces.

At that moment, An Miaoli's gaze toward Ye Chen softened further. A treasure like this, if exposed, would shake the entire cultivation world, drawing even Unity-stage powerhouses out of seclusion to vie for it.

In her view, using a slavery talisman wouldn't have been excessive to guard such a secret. Yet Ye Chen had only asked her to use a Heart Command Talisman before revealing it without reservation. The weight of his trust was overwhelming, warming her heart.

"Senior, these Soul-Swaying Divine Stones are useless to me now," Ye Chen said. "Why don't you refine them after breaking through to Nascent Soul and see if you can achieve a Heavenly Spirit Root?"

An Miaoli brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, her expression serene but cool. "There's no rush for that. Has your Nether Poison flared up again?"

Ye Chen blinked, caught off guard, then broke into a smile. Nodding earnestly, he said, "It's been a bit uncomfortable. I'll have to trouble you again, Senior. If I overstep, please forgive me."

An Miaoli tied up her hair, retrieving the top-grade magical tool Ye Chen had gifted her as she prepared for the detoxification. She spoke calmly, "No matter. You were poisoned because of me, and you've shared the precious Star Pool with Yuyi. As your senior, it's my duty to help. Don't overthink it—a clear conscience is enough."

Chapter 295: Just Two or Three More?

"A clear conscience is enough!"

After the detoxification, Ye Chen and An Miaoli went through their familiar routine of question and answer.

"Senior An, if you can elevate to a Heavenly Spirit Root before your breakthrough, the quality of your Nascent Soul will surely be higher," Ye Chen said.

An Miaoli's robes were pristine, her serene eyes fixed on him as she replied earnestly, "Then I must thank you, Fellow Daoist Ye."

She didn't refuse. Ye Chen had revealed a treasure as monumental as Soul-Swaying Mountain—how could she reject such sincerity? There was no need for formalities with him. All she had to do was repay him with her utmost effort when he needed it.

Ye Chen smiled lightly, waving his hand. The Soul-Swaying Divine Stones from the entire mountain gathered into his grasp and floated before An Miaoli. "Refining the stones here on Soul-Swaying Mountain yields the best results. Stay here until you've finished."

The small world's rules were incomplete, lacking even moons or stars, rendering many lunar and stellar techniques unusable, not to mention higher laws. It wasn't ideal for long-term stays by high-level cultivators and still needed refinement. But for refining the Soul-Swaying Divine Stones, it was more than sufficient.

An Miaoli nodded, her gaze drifting to a floating peak to the right of the main peak. It exuded a strong water-based aura, shrouded in mist and brimming with spiritual vapor. "May Yuyi and I reside on that peak for the time being?" she asked.

Ye Chen glanced at it and nodded. "If you like it, Senior, that peak is yours."

An Miaoli, ethereal in her white robes, didn't refuse. "Does it have a name?"

Ye Chen shook his head. "Name it as you wish, Senior."

After a moment's thought, she said, "Then let's call it Clear Conscience Peak."

Ye Chen had no objections. After a brief chat, An Miaoli settled cross-legged atop Soul-Swaying Mountain and began refining the divine stones. Ye Chen watched for a moment before his figure vanished, returning to An Miaoli's cave abode.

He strolled leisurely toward his own cave, anticipation bubbling within him. An Miaoli was on the cusp of breaking through to Nascent Soul. If she could achieve a Heavenly Spirit Root before then, her reward multiplier would likely soar. Once they were both at the Nascent Soul stage, gifting would be even more fruitful. An Yuyi, meanwhile, could serve as a substitute when An Miaoli was in seclusion, making her worth nurturing.

After reaching Nascent Soul, Ye Chen planned to return to Green Cloud Sect, bringing Lu Jing, Senior Sister Yao Xi, and others to his side. Then, they'd head to the Holy Land together. Though his small world was imperfect, with its flaws and incomplete rules, it was more than adequate for Foundation Establishment cultivators like Lu Jing, Lin Ke'er, and Yao Xi. Its spiritual qi density even surpassed that of Green Cloud Sect.

Moments later, Ye Chen set aside these thoughts and sat cross-legged in his cave. With great care, he retrieved the Shakyamuni Fruit from his storage bracelet. As it hovered before him, a radiant Buddhist holy light emanated from it, inspiring an urge to bow in reverence. Shaped like a seated Buddha, the fruit exuded boundless mystique.

Ye Chen couldn't help but wonder—having received so many Buddhist-related treasures, was the system backed by Buddhist sponsors?

Dismissing the stray thought, he calmed his mind, channeled his spiritual power, and activated the Shakyamuni Heart Refining Art. He began refining the Shakyamuni Fruit.

Soon, he entered a profound, mystical state. With the fruit's power, the Shakyamuni Heart Refining Art underwent a dramatic transformation.

Whenever Ye Chen activated the Shakyamuni Heart Refining Art, a majestic Buddha figure materialized above his head, radiating profound divine light. It tirelessly tempered his spiritual sense, repeatedly shattering its limits. His progress in the technique surged at an astonishing pace, leaving him in awe of the Shakyamuni Fruit's miraculous effects.

This deepened his yearning for the Heavenly Evolution Holy Land. The treasures he'd obtained through his system were already on par with those coveted by such top-tier factions. What incredible rewards might he gain by joining the Holy Land, gifting their treasures, and triggering the system's feedback? The thought made him increasingly eager to break through to Nascent Soul and head to Heavenly Evolution.

It wasn't that the Divine Will Sect was lacking—it was simply that Heavenly Evolution Holy Land was far more suited to his ambitions.

A week later, Ye Chen visited his small world. The Star Pool's effects were remarkable. An Yuyi had already broken through to mid-Golden Core. However, she wasn't soaking in the spiritual liquid, instead diligently refining her cultivation. Rapid advancement could destabilize one's foundation, so, under An Miaoli's guidance, she'd paused her immersion to consolidate her progress. In a month, she planned to use the Star Pool to push for late Golden Core.

An Miaoli, meanwhile, was still on Soul-Swaying Mountain, refining the divine stones. The process wasn't difficult—someone in a hurry could refine six or seven stones a day. But An Miaoli took her time, refining three daily before practicing the Sword Peng Heart Refining Art. Ye Chen gifted her a treasure to aid her Nascent Soul breakthrough, requested another detoxification session, and then departed.

In that moment, he deeply appreciated the convenience of his small world. Having giftable female cultivators residing within it meant he could present treasures anytime, utterly practical. He also recalled how dual cultivation with the little demoness had upgraded his system, unlocking a multiplier for Dao partners. Could further upgrades be possible? What if he dual-cultivated with a 500x or 1000x multiplier cultivator? Might the system evolve again, unveiling new functions?

The possibilities intrigued him greatly.

A month later, Ye Chen's already formidable spiritual sense had made astonishing strides. He could faintly sense that in just three more months, his spiritual sense would reach its absolute limit. At that point, he could enter seclusion and break through to the Nascent Soul stage.

It was now the fifth week, and Ye Chen returned to his small world. An Yuyi had finished stabilizing her cultivation and reentered the Star Pool. Her soaked spiritual robe clung to her body, accentuating her generous and curvaceous figure.

Ye Chen inspected the pool's water, confirming it was more than sufficient to propel her to the peak of Golden Core, and nodded in satisfaction before heading to Soul-Swaying Mountain.

Upon arriving, he raised an eyebrow. An Miaoli stood with her dark hair gently swaying and her white dress ethereal. Her eyes radiated spiritual light, and the red mole on her forehead gleamed with divine brilliance. She exuded an aura of flawless perfection, clearly having reached the point of breaking through to Nascent Soul.

However, her reward multiplier remained unchanged, and the system gave no response. It seemed the hundred Soul-Swaying Divine Stones hadn't been enough to elevate her to a Heavenly Spirit Root—a pity.

"How close are you to achieving a Heavenly Spirit Root, Senior?" Ye Chen couldn't help but ask.

An Miaoli replied softly, "I'm at the critical threshold. Perhaps just one or two more stones would trigger a qualitative transformation."

Her innate talent was already exceptional, so the spiritual sense required to reach a Heavenly Spirit Root was less than expected.

Ye Chen's mouth twitched. When he'd first acquired Soul-Swaying Mountain, he'd casually tested a few stones himself—had he known, those could've made the difference. The gap between an Earth Spirit Root and a Heavenly Spirit Root was immense. If An Miaoli achieved it, her multiplier might soar to 500x.

He couldn't resist suggesting, "Why not delay your breakthrough until next year, Senior? In eight months, the next batch of Soul-Swaying Divine Stones will be ready."