ISWI Chapter 296-297

Chapter 296: A Path No One Has Ever Trod!

Wait another year?

An Miaoli smiled lightly, her toes touching the ground as she glided across the sea of clouds to Ye Chen's side. A year was nothing to a cultivator, but she shook her head gently. "No need to wait. I've gained some insights, and now is the optimal moment for my breakthrough. Delaying might not yield better results. The affairs of this world rarely achieve absolute perfection. After I break through to Nascent Soul, I'll seek your help again."

Her words carried a unique sense of freedom and resolve. Ye Chen didn't press further. He'd gifted her plenty of treasures to aid her Nascent Soul breakthrough, and with her exceptional talent and the Sword Peng Heart Refining Art, the quality of her Nascent Soul would surely be impressive. Her carefree attitude only added to her distinct charm.

"In that case, I'll wish you success in forming an Immortal Nascent Soul here and now, Senior," Ye Chen said.

An Miaoli's smile was radiant, her beauty like a painting, her graceful figure swaying lightly. "Thank you, Fellow Daoist."

The small world's incomplete laws could hinder a Nascent Soul breakthrough, so after confirming An Yuyi was still refining in the Star Pool, Ye Chen and An Miaoli left the small world, reappearing in his cave abode.

"Are you going into seclusion now, Senior?" Ye Chen asked, presenting this week's gift—a stick of Calming Incense. It could soothe the mind and potentially boost Nascent Soul formation odds, though its effects were uncertain. In his past life, it would've been akin to an overpriced, dubious health supplement. But Ye Chen didn't care. Anything that might help was worth preparing. Money was no issue—what if it worked?

An Miaoli accepted it with thanks, not refusing.

As the system's notification chimed in his mind, Ye Chen hesitated briefly before pulling a jade slip from his robes. It shimmered with faint golden light, exuding an immortal aura. An Miaoli's calm expression shifted.

Ye Chen smiled and explained, "This is the Nascent Soul chapter of the Eternal Cosmos Sutra. I'm gifting it to you, Senior."

Previously, gifting a fragment of the Eternal Cosmos Sutra had triggered system rewards for the Golden Core, Nascent Soul, and Deity Transformation chapters. Ye Chen had debated whether to continue cultivating the Eternal Cosmos Sutra after reaching Nascent Soul, perhaps even sticking with it through every realm until immortality. A single scripture, seamlessly connecting each stage, could smooth his path forward.

But after much thought, he abandoned the idea. He chose to pursue the path of invincibility in every realm, cultivating the strongest immortal scripture for each stage. While the Eternal Cosmos True Immortal was formidable, he wasn't the mightiest.

Sticking with the Eternal Cosmos Sutra might only make Ye Chen another Eternal Cosmos True Immortal at best—surpassing him would be unlikely. In the cultivation world, immortal scriptures were rare, but in great powers like Holy Lands, prodigies often trained in them from childhood. Yet, none had ever surpassed the scripture's original master.

If Ye Chen cultivated the strongest immortal scripture for each realm, he could forge a unique path by synthesizing his experiences and creating his own technique in higher realms. This would be a true path of invincibility, one never walked before. After all, no one in the cultivation world had the opportunity to acquire so many immortal scriptures. Each scripture was a sect's most guarded legacy—outsiders who even showed interest risked being obliterated. Obtaining one was near impossible.

But for Ye Chen, this path was far from daunting. With his system, as long as he chose the right gifts and targeted female cultivators with high enough multipliers, obtaining the desired immortal scriptures was effortless. He could ensure that in every future realm, he'd cultivate the strongest scripture available.

Take the upcoming Nascent Soul stage, for example. The Nascent Soul chapter of the Taihuang Scripture was renowned as the most powerful. It was said to produce Imperial Dragon Qi, granting unmatched combat strength and endowing the Nascent Soul with profound transformations, making it nearly invincible. Ye Chen was determined to acquire it. After breaking through to Nascent Soul, he'd try gifting techniques to trigger a critical reward for it.

Thus, he chose to gift the Nascent Soul chapter of the Eternal Cosmos Sutra to An Miaoli for her to cultivate post-breakthrough. The jade slip was single-use, making her the ideal recipient. A stronger An Miaoli would gain more opportunities, potentially increasing her multiplier further.

An Miaoli, however, was utterly stunned, staring at Ye Chen in disbelief. The fragment of the Eternal Cosmos Sutra she'd received before had already provided immense insights. A complete chapter was beyond her wildest dreams. Immortal legacies were so closely guarded that only Holy Lands typically had access to them. Any cultivator who obtained one would treat it as a priceless treasure, hiding it from the world to avoid sparking a bloodbath. Its value arguably surpassed even Ye Chen's small world.

Yet Ye Chen was offering it to her so casually? And since the jade slip could only be studied by one person, if she cultivated it, he'd be unable to. She immediately shook her head, refusing. Her figure transformed into a streak of white light, fleeing the scene. This scripture had to be reserved for Ye Chen.

The Soul-Swaying Divine Stones, though precious, were useless to Ye Chen since he already had a Heavenly Spirit Root, so she could accept them with a clear conscience.

Taking Clear Conscience Peak was also reasonable—An Yuyi loved Ye Chen and would likely become his Dao partner, and as they'd relied on each other for years, it made sense for her to stay there occasionally. But an immortal scripture was different. Ye Chen's talent far surpassed hers; cultivating it would propel him to greater heights.

Knowing how persistent Ye Chen was with gifts, she feared a verbal refusal wouldn't suffice—he'd find a way to force it on her. So, she chose to flee and enter seclusion, denying him the chance to hand it over.

Watching An Miaoli turn and run to avoid accepting the scripture, Ye Chen couldn't help but chuckle. How adorable.

But did she really think she could escape him? As her white silhouette darted away, a misty light flickered in Ye Chen's eyes, unleashing a strange force.

An Miaoli's body froze, unable to move. A gentle power then enveloped her, lifting her delicate frame and guiding her back to Ye Chen's cave abode.

Unable to resist, she found herself in his arms, facing him. She wasn't worried, only astonished. She knew Ye Chen was strong, but not this strong.

Chapter 297: Not Refusing Means Consent!

In front of Ye Chen, An Miaoli found herself utterly powerless, without even a shred of resistance. Despite her usual confidence, she began to question herself.

Ye Chen, watching the immobilized An Miaoli, couldn't help but chuckle. With such a scene before him, shouldn't he do something?

Leaning down, he brought his face close to An Miaoli's flawless, ethereal beauty.

She froze momentarily, but her eyes showed no trace of struggle. Instead, she closed them willingly.

Ye Chen savored an unprecedented sweetness.

Unbeknownst to An Miaoli—or perhaps she noticed but chose not to act—the restraining force had already dissipated before he leaned in.

After a long moment, Ye Chen slowly pulled back. He slipped the immortal scripture jade slip into her hand. "No need to be polite, Senior. I have another copy."

To prove it, he waved the Deity Transformation chapter of the Eternal Cosmos Sutra, knowing she wouldn't realize it wasn't the Nascent Soul chapter.

Having been caught, kissed, and now holding the jade slip, An Miaoli no longer resisted. She carefully tucked it away. Her personality was never stubborn—if resistance was futile, she'd embrace it, as long as it aligned with her principles. Seeing Ye Chen had another copy reassured her.

He smiled as she accepted it. "So, Senior, are you heading into seclusion now?"

An Miaoli nodded gently, her expression serene. "This seclusion will take some time. Can your Nether Poison hold out that long? If it's unbearable, I can help detoxify you now."

Ye Chen nodded solemnly. "It's been a bit tough. Thank you, Senior. I'll have to trouble you again."

An Miaoli tied up her hair, retrieving the top-grade spiritual artifact without further comment. During the detoxification, Ye Chen's actions were somewhat bold, but it couldn't be helped—he was afflicted by the Nether Poison. She understood. As for his increasing audacity, she was powerless to stop it. After all, Yuyi loved him, so she chose to be accommodating.

But An Miaoli didn't dwell on it. A clear conscience was enough. The detoxification session lasted an entire day.

The next day, An Miaoli put away her white silk spiritual artifact, her serene eyes fixed on Ye Chen as she spoke solemnly, "Fellow Daoist Ye, I'm heading into seclusion now."

Ye Chen's gaze was clear, radiating a sage-like aura. "I wish you success in forming an Immortal Nascent Soul and a boundless immortal path, Senior!"

An Miaoli smiled gently. "While I'm in seclusion, please look after Yuyi."

Ye Chen nodded. "Of course."

Their relationship needed no excessive formalities. An Miaoli said no more, drifting away gracefully. After informing the sect master and elders, she returned to her cave abode, activated the defensive array, and entered seclusion.

Meanwhile, Ye Chen savored the lingering sensation, its subtle sweetness like refined sugar—flavorless yet intoxicatingly pure. With that thought, he settled into cultivating the Shakyamuni Heart Refining Art.

Over the next month, he visited his small world weekly to "feed" An Yuyi, gifting her treasures to trigger rewards. His spiritual sense surged dramatically during this time.

Concurrently, An Yuyi emerged from seclusion, leaving the small world. She had reached the peak of Golden Core, but the Star Pool's potent effects had caused her rapid advancement to leave her foundation slightly unstable. She'd need one or two years to stabilize before preparing for her Nascent Soul breakthrough.

After some reluctance, Ye Chen gifted her an ancient transmission talisman, a recent system reward capable of communication and location tracking across a hundred thousand miles.

Unlike Earth, with its base stations and signals, the cultivation world relied on short-range transmission talismans. Even the little demoness had to resort to letters to contact him, highlighting the challenge of long-distance communication.

Ye Chen had deliberately gifted talismans to trigger this ancient version, planning to equip all the female cultivators close to him with one. This way, if trouble arose, he could know instantly and rush to their aid.

Additionally, he contacted Sun Ye and sent word to the Great Chu Ancestor, instructing them to search for high-grade Nascent Soul techniques. His goal was to trigger a critical reward for the Great Emperor Scripture, the strongest immortal scripture for the Nascent Soul stage, once he broke through.

After leaving Ye Chen's small world, An Yuyi was in high spirits. Breaking through to late Golden Core had saved her decades of arduous cultivation. Receiving the ancient transmission talisman, a clear sign of Ye Chen's care, filled her with joy. Most importantly, with her aunt in seclusion, she had Ye Chen all to herself for the time being. The thought made her practically giddy.

In the days that followed, she visited Ye Chen's cave abode every few days, either clinging to him playfully or sneaking a quick kiss on his cheek when he wasn't expecting it. Each successful "attack" left her beaming, her eyes curving into crescents like a fox who'd snatched a chicken.

She grew more convinced that Ye Chen was gradually accepting her. He gifted her treasures weekly, and with his formidable strength, how could he fail to guard against her "ambushes"? Her successful kiss was proof that he was allowing it. Allowing meant consent. From another angle, it meant Ye Chen was willing to let her kiss him—and by extension, willing to be her Dao partner.

The realization made her grin even wider. She began to wonder if she should seize this opportunity to take things further. But constantly receiving gifts without giving back didn't sit right with her. She needed to offer a return gift. A thoughtful present would surely delight Ye Chen, and in that moment of joy, she could push him down, turning raw rice into cooked rice. That would be her ticket to soaring success—and it would spare her aunt the burden of always stepping in for her.

The more An Yuyi thought about it, the more perfect her plan seemed. The only question was: what to gift? Ye Chen's wealth was unimaginable—what could she offer that would make him happy?

Recalling the spiritual peach trees encircling the Star Pool in his small world, and the way Ye Chen occasionally gazed at them with a distant look, it clicked. Clearly, he loved peach trees and their blossoms. In that case, she'd gift him one.

She remembered a rare five-colored spiritual peach tree she and her aunt had stumbled upon deep in Divine Will Mountain. Its fruits could purify the spiritual power of Foundation Establishment cultivators, making it quite valuable. However, the tree was still young, requiring decades to mature, and neither she nor her aunt was skilled in spiritual planting, so they'd only marked its location and left. Now, it would make the perfect gift. Ye Chen would surely be thrilled to receive it.

An Yuyi was decisive. With a plan in mind, she immediately rushed to Spiritual Plant Peak, enlisting a mid-Golden Core elder to accompany her to the depths of Divine Will Mountain to retrieve the tree.