ISWI Chapter 705-706

Chapter 705: The Tea Is Fragrant and Sweet!

"Yes!"

Ye Chen blurted out on reflex.

Yao Yuezhi's little face instantly turned even redder. She twirled a lock of hair by her ear with her finger, head lowered, too shy to meet his eyes. But soon she gathered her courage, lifted her head, and looked straight at him. "Big Brother Ye… do you really want to?"

Ye Chen's eyes widened. He had just been in a good mood and teased her a bit. How did Yao Yuezhi look like she was actually offering herself for free? That wasn't right. A seasoned veteran like her should be the type to eat the bait but never bite the hook. Why was she really offering?! Something was very wrong here.

Noticing Ye Chen's scrutinizing gaze, Yao Yuezhi's cheeks flushed deeper, but sorrow and determination filled her eyes. "Actually… I heard about Big Brother Ye a long time ago. I've watched every shadow stone of your battles. I have never seen a man as strong and unique as you. If I could become a Dao companion with Big Brother Ye, even giving up cultivation would be wonderful. But my clan intends to marry me to the Celestial Prince of the Undying Celestial Phoenix Clan…

"Though he is still in seclusion and it's not officially set, the message has already been sent. If I choose someone else, it might bring his wrath down on you. That Celestial Prince is said to be the direct son of the Undying Celestial Emperor—a true immortal's own child. His talent is probably even more terrifying than the Holy Prince's. Not to mention his cultivation is rumored to have reached an extremely high realm.

"I adore Big Brother Ye from the bottom of my heart, but I cannot put you in danger. So, Big Brother Ye… in this life, we are fated yet not destined. But I will never marry another. In a hundred years, if you see a flower that resembles me, please find the Immortal Exquisite, restore my memories of this life, and let us continue our fate!"

By the end, Yao Yuezhi had lowered her head again, not wanting Ye Chen to see her reddened eyes. Yet a few crystal tears slid down her gentle cheeks.

Ye Chen: …

The bait was salty, the hook was straight! He understood perfectly. If he took things further with Yao Yuezhi, he would provoke that so-called Celestial Prince. In the novels he'd read in his previous life, women like this were walking trouble magnets for the protagonist. Ye Chen had always skipped those types.

But he was different. Five thousand times was already enough to move his heart. Let alone some Undying Celestial Emperor's son—his origin essence would probably be even more ridiculous.

Far from finding it troublesome, Ye Chen was delighted. At the same time, he finally understood why Yao Yuezhi had approached him so eagerly. She simply didn't want to get married.

In the next instant, Ye Chen appeared beside the quietly weeping, heartbroken Yao Yuezhi. He reached out and gently pulled her petite frame into his arms. Then he said softly, "Don't be afraid. I'm here."

Yao Yuezhi's delicate body trembled slightly. A faint tea fragrance wafted from her. It made Ye Chen feel very comfortable. High-grade tea fragrance, with a hint of sweetness. It made Ye Chen quite curious what her real taste would be like. It couldn't actually be tea, could it? That would be too strange.

Yao Yuezhi, held in his embrace, gradually calmed. The trembling stopped. She wasn't tall. She looked up into Ye Chen's eyes. From that faintly smiling face, she saw a trace of unshakable resolve.

Relief washed over her. Blushing, she said, "Big Brother Ye… I want to visit the Heavenly Evolution Holy Land, to see where you live."

Ye Chen raised a brow. She wanted to follow him back to Heavenly Evolution? This girl was being this proactive just to avoid marrying the Celestial Prince? Did that prince have some hidden defect that got exposed or something?

Still, Yao Yuezhi's five-thousand-times multiplier was useful. Right now she was roughly second among the women around him. Ye Chen had no intention of breaking the pot too early.

As for Yao Yuezhi herself, she definitely hadn't planned this before coming. At most she had intended to brew a little tea and cultivate some goodwill. But Ye Chen's displayed talent and strength had truly stunned her. Add his lavish generosity, and the possibility that he possessed the Dao Cauldron. All in all, Ye Chen's value was enormous. Yao Yuezhi decided to go all-in and cling tight.

But the next moment, Ye Chen shook his head.

Yao Yuezhi froze. Wasn't Ye Chen infamous for being a skirt-chaser? Why refuse? She knew Luo Bingling was still pure, but she guessed that deep down Luo Bingling looked down on Ye Chen and was unwilling to truly give herself to a human. That was why she had kept her flawless body. But why… was Ye Chen turning her down?

Sensing Yao Yuezhi's surprise, Ye Chen gently stroked her silky long hair and said calmly, "No rush. We'll talk after I meet the Celestial Prince and settle this matter."

The moment he spoke, a flash of astonishment passed through the depths of Yao Yuezhi's beautiful eyes.

After dealing with the Celestial Prince?

The clever Yao Yuezhi instantly understood. Ye Chen was thinking of her. He was afraid she would worry. That was why he wanted to resolve the prince first before taking her purity. At this moment, she finally understood why, despite knowing the Heir of the Heavenly Emperor was an infamous womanizer and playboy, all those female cultivators still followed him with absolute devotion.

High-realm female cultivators were rare, and every one was proud. Yet they could accept him without reservation. It was all because the Heir was generous and considerate. Even she, right now, felt deeply moved.

…

"Muah."

A light peck.

A hint of spiritual tea's sweet fragrance passed between their lips. Then Yao Yuezhi slipped out of his embrace, looking relaxed and cheerful as she flew toward the edge of the battlefield. But after a hundred meters, she stopped again and waved back at Ye Chen.

"Brother Ye, I'm going now! I'll be waiting for you at the clan!"

Seeing how adorable she was, Ye Chen laughed.

Luo Bingling's face turned even darker.

Outside, the crowd erupted in uproar. Yao Yuezhi had not hidden anything. In the blink of an eye, the Heir had claimed yet another top myriad-race beauty, and he didn't even care about offending the terrifying Undying Celestial Phoenix Clan. That clan had produced multiple true immortals in the past. They were a genuine apex great clan among the myriad races. Yet the Heir didn't give a damn.

Everyone could only sigh. The Heir of the Heavenly Emperor really was a hopeless womanizer. The myriad-race prodigies all looked dejected. Luo Bingling and Yao Yuezhi were both top-tier.

Luo Bingling's tiny waist, Yao Yuezhi's jade-green eyes and willow-leaf brows—both were famous and had countless admirers among the myriad races. Yet they had both been swept up by a single human. They lost the battle of geniuses, and their women fell for the enemy. It was utterly humiliating for the myriad-race males.

Meanwhile, the human male cultivators felt pride mixed with burning envy as they stared at Ye Chen.

Sour. Really, really sour!

Chapter 706: The Angry Luo Bingling!

Yao Yuezhi had not only obtained what she wanted, she had also secured the person she wanted. Ye Chen's talent far surpassed the rumors. He gave her an overwhelming sense of security. And there was probably the Dao Cauldron too. She was genuinely tempted to stay. But she was on the verge of breaking through to the Fourth Heaven. Her clan had discovered a secret realm on the Immortal Path that aided comprehension of time laws—perfect for the breakthrough. She had to return. She would come back after breaking through.

Standing atop the immortal skiff, Yao Yuezhi gazed at Ye Chen from afar, emotions swirling in her eyes. Her rosy lips parted several times, but in the end she said nothing. A thousand words were contained in that single look. Finally, she turned away, vanishing from Ye Chen's sight.

Ye Chen watched her go. Even her retreating back seemed to contain a hundred charming details. He silently gave her a thumbs-up in his heart.

…

Aboard the skiff, Yao Yuekong watched his sister studying the Stasis Secret stele, expression complicated. He hadn't expected his little sister to be this bold. Even less had he expected her to actually obtain the Stasis Secret. Ye Chen really was generous beyond belief. A man like that—even as a fellow man, one couldn't help but admire, even respect. But then he remembered his sister kissing Ye Chen right in the sky battlefield. And he felt awkward all over again.

"Brother, head right!"

Yao Yuezhi suddenly ordered.

Yao Yuekong didn't understand. Then he heard her faintly say, "When we set out, a few people insulted you. They're on the same skiff. Their elders might know ours, so we'll be quick—no traces."

Yao Yuekong's mouth twitched. His sister really held grudges. She looked pitiful and fragile on the outside, but cut her open and it was pure black. Still, having a sister who protected him this fiercely made him happy. But he couldn't help glancing at the Little Peacock King.

The Little Peacock King had given up all pretense of posturing. Driving an Extreme Dao Weapon was exhausting on both Qi and mind. Plus, after his personal experience, he now understood Yao Yuekong. So he chose to hitch a ride.

Hearing this, he nodded. He was still feeling stifled anyway. Couldn't beat Ye Chen—taking it out on others was fine too. Thus, the trio's skiff changed course, murderous intent blazing as they sped off. Against the three of them, those few were no more than clay chickens and pottery dogs. In moments, souls extinguished, utterly erased from the world.

Just when Yao Yuekong was touched that his sister cared so much and was even avenging him, he saw her pull a treasure from one of the storage rings they had looted. Her jade-green eyes instantly lit up with delight.

"I knew this treasure had to have been bought by him. As expected! With this, after my breakthrough I'll be even…"

Yao Yuekong's mouth twitched. He shut down completely. His sister really was black-hearted.

…

The great battle was over.

The Heavenly Evolution Holy Land had brought many experts. So even though the Victorious Fighting Apes and Golden Crows were furious, they could only leave with dark faces, not daring to act. The other onlookers also dispersed in twos and threes.

The myriad-race cultivators were in terrible moods. Their geniuses had been slaughtered, and their female prodigies had been claimed by Ye Chen. Hugging waists, kissing in public—utterly humiliating.

Meanwhile, the human cultivators were exhilarated. This battle had been exhilarating. Everyone looked at Ye Chen with pure worship. Since the human golden age began, geniuses had been countless. But one who crushed all opposition like the Heir of the Heavenly Emperor? Extremely rare.

Other than Lan Nuo, whose stories grew stranger the more people thought about them, there was almost no one else. But few dug too deep. If it were true, offending Lan Nuo was suicide. If it was fake, and the Heir was putting in this much effort to build her fame, it showed how much he valued her. Who would be stupid enough to expose it and earn his hatred? So with tacit understanding, no one mentioned it.

As for Ye Chen, he didn't keep Yao Yuezhi longer—mainly because he had nothing left to gift. He had acquired the Immortal-Slaying Gourd, but the blade itself was damaged, and the gourd was shattered. Gifting it now would be wasteful. Now that he had the Array Secret, he could repair it properly later and gift it then. The feedback would be better.

Thus, after leaving the sky battlefield and receiving confirmation from the Holy Lord that everything was fine, Ye Chen flew toward Great Yan Continent. Once he summoned the war chariot and boarded, he looked at Luo Bingling with some curiosity. Normally, she would have hopped on immediately. Now she stood rooted, back turned, refusing to look at him.

Ye Chen instantly smiled—he knew she was sulking. He could understand. The differential treatment had been pretty obvious. So he stepped down from the chariot, bent slightly at the waist, arms open, and scooped Luo Bingling up in a princess carry.

Luo Bingling froze, but her face was still full of displeasure. "Why hug me? Go hug your Yao Yuezhi!"

She was genuinely furious. The old-timers having a higher status than her? Fine, she could accept that. But now even a newcomer could ride over her head? And even mock her? Was her waist touched for nothing? Was she drunk for nothing? Was all that suffering for nothing?

Luo Bingling felt both wronged and livid. In her heart, she had always been lowering herself. She hadn't fully surrendered yet, but grinding levels and upgrading had been pretty fun. Then a new girl arrived and instantly outleveled her. It was a blow to her proud self-esteem.

But Ye Chen, who had long ago figured out the correct way to handle Luo Bingling, was still very patient with her. Instead of explaining, he simply lowered his head and kissed her gently.

At first, Luo Bingling resisted, face full of defiance. But soon she stopped caring and sank into it. After all, this was the first time Ye Chen had ever princess-carried her and taken the initiative like this. A long, long time later, the two were already aboard the chariot. White clouds streaked past as Ye Chen finally spoke softly: "The Heavenly Demon Clan has something I need, so Yao Yuezhi is very important. That's why I treated her differently."

Luo Bingling was still unhappy. "She's completely fake, all mouth and no heart. Back in the Northern Domain, during every myriad-race grand tournament, she always looked soft and weak, but she was vicious—every dirty trick in the book. The way she acted in front of you was just to use you as a shield. She simply doesn't want anything to do with the Undying Celestial Phoenix Clan…"

Seeing Luo Bingling already badmouthing her behind her back, Ye Chen smiled and nodded. "Of course I saw through it. Yao Yuezhi is nowhere near as pure as Fairy Luo. She has many schemes, but some things are beyond my control. As for the Stasis Secret—I've already memorized it completely. I'll try to complete it next. If I succeed, I'll teach you the full version. That stele only amplifies the Stasis Secret; it's far less useful than the complete art. In my heart, Fairy Luo is unique. You think of me wholeheartedly. You're completely different from a woman like Yao Yuezhi who only uses me…"

At those words, Luo Bingling's eyes lit up. Most of the anger in her heart melted away…