ISWI Chapter 290-291

Chapter 290: The Shakyamuni Heart Refining Art

Unlike the Holy Maiden Dantai Xuan, whose aloof and emotionless demeanor resembled an untouchable iceberg, An Miaoli radiated an ethereal, immortal charm. Her gaze wasn't cold or indifferent but serene and tranquil, far more approachable than Dantai Xuan's icy presence.

Ye Chen particularly adored the sight of An Miaoli, her face composed and serene, as she diligently helped him purge the Nether Poison. The sensation was uniquely captivating.

The poison had accumulated heavily, surging in relentless waves. It took a full half-day to complete the detoxification.

"My apologies, Senior, for imposing on you again…" Ye Chen said, his tone brimming with sincerity as they stood before her cave abode.

An Miaoli's expression remained unruffled, her eyes calm and clear. "No matter. It's all for Yuyi's sake. You're afflicted by the poison, so there's no need to dwell on it. A clear conscience is enough."

Ye Chen nodded eagerly. "Yes, yes, a clear conscience!"

After a brief exchange, he drifted away, returning to his own cave abode.

Seated cross-legged on the cool, jade-like stone bed, Ye Chen's mood was buoyant. The top-grade spiritual artifact he'd gifted An Miaoli seemed to evoke different sensations depending on its color. And perhaps because of their time apart, this reunion felt like a honeymoon—An Miaoli had been more open, allowing him access to new "territories."

But Ye Chen didn't linger on these thoughts. Detoxification was merely a pleasant diversion in his cultivation journey. Strength and cultivation were the true foundation.

He knew his current comfortable life stemmed from his power. If he were still that anxious little cultivator in Silver Moon Market, trembling at the mention of a Foundation Establishment beast, even getting someone like Lin Ke'er to serve him would've been a struggle, let alone catching the eye of a Nascent Soul sect's grand elder. He wouldn't even have the qualifications to meet such a figure.

In the cultivation world, strength was everything.

With that in mind, Ye Chen activated his system. The notification that had chimed earlier now resurfaced.

"Congratulations, Host, for successfully gifting an item…"

"Processing feedback…"

"Two-hundredfold feedback in progress…"

"Detected significant emotional fluctuations in the recipient… Critical reward triggered…"

"Reward: Shakyamuni Heart Refining Art!"

"Shakyamuni Heart Refining Art: Created by Shakyamuni during his Golden Core stage, this heart-refining technique was later perfected after he ascended to immortality, becoming a supreme Buddhist heart-refining art of Immortal grade. Only a handful of the most exceptional Buddhist prodigies in each generation are permitted to cultivate it. This technique vastly enhances the upper limit of spiritual sense, greatly increases its sensitivity, and significantly boosts the quality of the Nascent Soul formed. Upon reaching the pinnacle of the Immortal Path, it can manifest extraordinary phenomena…"

Ye Chen's eyes gleamed as he read the system prompt.

Buddhist sects were rare and declining in the Great Yan Continent, but it was common knowledge that Buddhist cultivators possessed the most formidable spiritual sense. And now, the system had granted him the Shakyamuni Heart Refining Art, a technique reserved for the direct disciples of Shakyamuni himself?

It was almost too incredible to believe.

Every cultivator's spiritual sense had an inherent limit. Ordinary heart-refining techniques—Yellow or Black grade—could only push a cultivator's spiritual sense to that natural ceiling.

Earth-grade techniques, however, could break through that limit, elevating spiritual sense beyond its innate boundaries. Heaven-grade techniques, like the Sword Peng Heart Refining Technique, went further, not only raising the ceiling higher but also infusing spiritual sense with greater sensitivity, leading to a higher-grade Nascent Soul.

But none of these compared to the Shakyamuni Heart Refining Art. It promised to dramatically increase the limit, enhance sensitivity, and elevate the quality of the Nascent Soul formed. Most intriguingly, it could even produce extraordinary phenomena upon reaching the pinnacle of the Immortal Path.

The description didn't specify what those phenomena were, but based on Ye Chen's experience, anything extra was bound to be valuable. He could figure out the details later.

Without hesitation, Ye Chen extended his spiritual sense into the jade slip. Instantly, a vast and intricate scripture flooded his mind. After fully comprehending and digesting it, he frowned slightly.

With his current talent, bolstered by his Primordial Supreme Heart, Immortal Scripture, and Heavenly Spirit Root, mastering the technique was well within his grasp. But cultivating the Shakyamuni Heart Refining Art required a decade of relentless refinement to strengthen his spiritual sense. For him, with his exceptional gifts, it might take only six or seven years.

To most cultivators, a decade was a trivial price to pay for a top-grade Nascent Soul—especially for prodigies who deliberately delayed breakthroughs to perfect their foundations.

But Ye Chen was different. His entire cultivation journey, from start to now, had barely spanned a decade. His sense of time still lingered closer to that of a mortal. The thought of spending six or seven years grinding his spiritual sense felt agonizingly slow.

Then, a spark of inspiration hit him. If he could pair the Shakyamuni Heart Refining Art with a Buddhist holy fruit—the Shakyamuni Fruit—the results would be far more potent. Not only would it amplify the technique's effects and raise the spiritual sense ceiling even higher, but it could also slash the cultivation time to a mere fraction, perhaps just a tenth of the original duration.

The catch? Shakyamuni Trees only grew in Buddhist Holy Lands. Legend had it that when Shakyamuni ascended to immortality, his blood, shed during his heavenly tribulation, transformed a grove of bodhi trees into Shakyamuni Trees. These trees bore a single Shakyamuni Fruit every millennium, a treasure capable of vastly enhancing spiritual sense and Buddhist affinity.

Its rarity was unimaginable. Even the prodigies within Buddhist Holy Lands competed fiercely for it, and it was utterly unattainable to outsiders, no matter how many spirit stones one offered.

For an ordinary cultivator, the solution was simple: spend the decade cultivating diligently. But Ye Chen wasn't ordinary. He had the system.

His system was remarkably intelligent, often tailoring its rewards to his needs. However, it required the right kind of gift to trigger the desired feedback. Sending a technique jade slip or a spiritual artifact wouldn't prompt the system to reward him with a Shakyamuni Fruit. No, he needed to gift a spiritual fruit—something that could enhance spiritual sense.

Such fruits were rare and precious, but for Ye Chen, that was no obstacle. If it could be bought with spirit stones, it wasn't a problem. He immediately activated a transmission talisman, contacting Sun Ye to gather information on any spiritual fruits that could boost spiritual sense. Meanwhile, he settled in to focus on his cultivation.

A week passed in the blink of an eye.

During that time, visitors flocked to Ye Chen's cave abode: the Divine Will Sect Master, various elders, An Yuyi, and more. It was a lively parade.

The sect master, naturally, was eager to recruit Ye Chen as a formal elder, offering generous terms. But Ye Chen declined. The Divine Will Sect was too small, a mere temporary stopover. His true destination was the Heavenly Evolution Holy Land.

After Ye Chen firmly declined the sect master's offer, his cave abode finally quieted down.

The only constant was An Yuyi, who visited daily to make her presence known. In their conversations, she'd casually mention her aunt An Miaoli's preferences, the techniques she cultivated, the spells she practiced, and more. She even remarked that while An Miaoli appeared aloof, her heart was rich with emotion—a clear attempt to nudge Ye Chen toward her aunt.

Ye Chen found it almost comical. Had An Yuyi given up on him and decided to push her aunt into the spotlight instead? It was absurd.

But there was no need for matchmaking. An Miaoli already knew the full extent of his "strengths."

When the day for gifting arrived, Ye Chen headed straight to An Miaoli's cave abode.

An Miaoli had clearly begun cultivating the Sword Peng Heart Refining Technique. Her eyes, when they met his, seemed even deeper, her entire presence more ethereal, as if she were a wisp of mist drifting above the mortal world.

The two sat together, gazing out at the boundless sea of clouds, their hearts light and unburdened.

"Yuyi has changed from how she used to be," An Miaoli said, a fond smile gracing her lips. "She was spoiled by me before, but since meeting you, she's grown so much. She's learned the meaning of gratitude."

Ye Chen nodded. That much was true. With his system, he could sense the sincerity of others' gratitude. An Yuyi had even triggered critical rewards, a clear sign she'd developed a genuine sense of appreciation.

The only downside? Her base reward multiplier was still too low.

Seeing Ye Chen's agreement, An Miaoli's serene eyes lingered on him. "Yuyi made mistakes before, but she's recognized her faults. Even if only for my sake, could you show her a bit more care in the future?"

An Miaoli understood her niece's fixation all too well. Though she held no guilt in her heart, a faint unease lingered. That was why, on the day of Ye Chen's return, she'd allowed him to "explore" more freely during their detoxification session, hoping he'd reciprocate by investing more in Yuyi.

Yet, a trace of confusion gnawed at her. If Ye Chen and Yuyi truly became Dao partners, where would that leave her? Could she still claim a clear conscience?

Ye Chen was momentarily speechless.

An Yuyi came to him, singing her aunt's praises, urging him to be bolder, claiming An Miaoli's cold exterior hid a warm heart. And now An Miaoli was asking him to care more for Yuyi?

It was almost too much.

After a moment's thought, Ye Chen agreed. He reached into his storage ring and produced an Azure Hill Jade Bamboo Core. "This can elevate the user's aptitude to an Earth Spirit Root. Let Yuyi try it."

An Miaoli's eyes widened. She'd only just asked him to care for Yuyi, and he immediately offered such a priceless treasure? His attentiveness to her words was almost overwhelming.

Her emotions swirled—gratitude mixed with complexity. After a brief hesitation, she didn't reach for it. "Since it's your heartfelt gesture, Fellow Daoist Ye, why not give it to Yuyi yourself? She'd be even happier."

Ye Chen nodded. The Azure Hill Jade Bamboo Core was a system reward, not something he could use for feedback anyway. Giving it directly to An Yuyi was fine. She'd redeemed herself somewhat recently, but her reward multiplier was still a measly hundredfold. Boosting her aptitude might help.

He tucked the Bamboo Core away and produced a jade slip, handing it to An Miaoli. "This is something I acquired in the Great Chu Empire—a single move from the True Phoenix Treasure Technique, called Phoenix Cry. It can unleash a sonic attack to devastate enemies, and it's especially effective against demonic beasts, as many instinctively fear the phoenix. I already have the True Dragon Treasure Technique and can't spare the focus, so I'm giving this to you and Yuyi."

The True Phoenix Treasure Technique had come from the Great Chu Ancestor. Ye Chen had inscribed it into a jade slip with his spiritual sense, leaving no restrictions so anyone could learn it.

An Miaoli's eyes widened again. The True Phoenix Treasure Technique was a coveted technique, even if it was just a single move—something most cultivators could only dream of. And yet, Ye Chen was offering it so casually, not just to her but to Yuyi as well, so they could study it together.

All she'd asked was for him to show Yuyi more care, and he'd responded with both an Azure Hill Jade Bamboo Core and a piece of the True Phoenix Treasure Technique. The weight he placed on her words revealed the depth of his feelings.

Knowing he already possessed the True Dragon Treasure Technique, An Miaoli didn't refuse. Her heart swelled with emotion, almost urging her to offer to detoxify him again right then and there.

At the same moment, a familiar system notification chimed in Ye Chen's mind, as expected…

Chapter 291: Spiritual Soul Fruit

"Ding…"

"Congratulations, Host, for successfully gifting an item!"

"Gift: Phoenix Cry, a single move from the True Phoenix Treasure Technique!"

"Processing feedback…"

"Two-hundredfold feedback in progress…"

"Detected significant emotional fluctuations in the recipient… Critical reward triggered!"

"Reward: True Phoenix Treasure Technique!"

At the sound of the prompt, Ye Chen's eyes lit up.

Though he'd anticipated it, receiving the complete True Phoenix Treasure Technique still filled him with exhilaration. The Ten Vicious Treasure Techniques were among the most supreme techniques in the cultivation world. The power of a complete set compared to a single move was like night and day.

Take the True Phoenix Treasure Technique, for example. In the Great Chu royal family, those with strong bloodlines might awaken a single move through sheer luck. With just that, they could dominate their peers, earning the title of prodigy. But against Ye Chen? Those scattered moves were nothing.

The true Vicious Ten inheritance offered a comprehensive boost to a cultivator's abilities. If the Champion King had possessed the full True Phoenix Treasure Technique, he might have lasted a few more blows before falling. And if the Great Chu Ancestor had it, with his significant realm advantage, Ye Chen might not have subdued him so easily. That was the gap between a single move and the complete art.

Everyone understood this disparity, and everyone coveted the full Ten Vicious Treasure Techniques. Scattered moves might be found with enough luck and opportunity, but acquiring the complete set? That was a monumental challenge. Even the descendants of the True Phoenix itself rarely awakened the full art—it depended on luck and bloodline purity.

In the cultivation world, even the legendary Heavenly Emperor, widely regarded as the greatest of his era, had only mastered three complete Ten Vicious Treasure Techniques. If someone of his caliber couldn't collect them all, it spoke volumes about their rarity.

Yet, through his system, Ye Chen could exchange a single move for the complete art. Collecting all Ten Vicious Treasure Techniques and surpassing the Heavenly Emperor was no longer a distant dream—it was within reach.

The Heavenly Emperor had believed that combining all Ten Vicious Treasure Techniques would yield a supreme, unrivaled technique capable of sweeping the cosmos. He'd failed to achieve it, but Ye Chen now had the chance.

His smile was impossible to suppress.

The True Phoenix Treasure Technique was formidable in its own right, with its divine flames that could incinerate the heavens. But what excited Ye Chen most was its unparalleled regenerative power. The concept of Nirvana wasn't just a myth. With his Myriad Star Body and Supreme Heart already granting him astonishing recovery, adding the True Phoenix Treasure Technique would make him virtually unkillable.

In the future, at higher realms, he might truly embody the legends—able to regenerate from a single drop of blood or a strand of hair, emerging even stronger. It was almost absurdly powerful.

Eager to begin, Ye Chen prepared to leave and cultivate the True Phoenix Treasure Technique. The Holy Land was where true prodigies gathered. Someone like Senior Brother Hua Yunfei was terrifyingly strong, and in the Holy Land, Ye Chen's future opponents would likely be of that caliber. The urgency to grow stronger burned within him.

"Then, Senior, please study the True Phoenix Treasure Technique thoroughly with Yuyi!"

With that, Ye Chen bid farewell, preparing to leave.

An Miaoli froze at his words, a flicker of surprise crossing her face.

Noticing her expression, Ye Chen paused, puzzled. "Is there something else, Senior?"

An Miaoli steadied her gaze, keeping her tone calm and serene. "The True Phoenix Treasure Technique is profound. Studying it might take me quite some time… What about your Nether Poison? Is it under control?"

Ye Chen blinked, caught off guard, before a deeper smile spread across his face. This was the first time An Miaoli had proactively offered to help with his detoxification.

Cultivating the True Phoenix Treasure Technique was important, but delaying it by half a day wouldn't hurt. How could he refuse such a heartfelt gesture from his senior?

Nodding earnestly, he said, "Thank you for the reminder, Senior. The Nether Poison has been building up for too long—it might harm my body. I'll have to trouble you again…"

Perhaps it was the look in Ye Chen's eyes, but An Miaoli felt a rare flush of embarrassment. Her tranquil, fairy-like gaze held a faint trace of shyness.

Yet, seeing how seriously Ye Chen took her every word—producing treasures like the Azure Hill Jade Bamboo Core and the True Phoenix Treasure Technique without hesitation—she felt obliged to repay him. His generosity deserved reciprocation, especially if it meant he'd treat Yuyi even better. After all, Ye Chen's affliction with the Nether Poison was partly her doing. As his senior, it was only right to show him care.

So… a clear conscience was all that mattered!

With that thought, An Miaoli's shyness vanished. Her expression returned to its usual composed, ethereal calm, as if she were an immortal untouched by mortal concerns.

The next day, Ye Chen lingered on the memory of that perfectly proportioned sensation, like an upturned bell, neither too much nor too little. While An Miaoli wasn't as… abundant as his master, she was far from lacking. Paired with her refined aura, she was nothing short of perfection, especially with her generous disposition.

Adjusting his mindset, Ye Chen dove into cultivating the True Phoenix Treasure Technique with a buoyant mood. With his current aptitude, he quickly entered a focused state. The long-dormant Myriad Star Fire within him began to surge, transforming into countless phoenixes that circled around him.

Ye Chen remained unshaken, immersed in silent cultivation. For the next week, he alternated between practicing the Shakyamuni Heart Refining Art and the True Phoenix Treasure Technique. His already near-peerless strength climbed even higher, with noticeable progress each day.

A month passed in the blink of an eye.

Sun Ye hadn't delivered any good news. Treasures capable of enhancing a Golden Core cultivator's spiritual sense were exceedingly rare and difficult to find, even if Ye Chen wasn't specifically seeking a spiritual fruit. Sun Ye did locate a few items suited for Foundation Establishment cultivators, but when Ye Chen gifted them to several female disciples on Jingmiao Peak, the results were underwhelming.

Though the gifts triggered critical rewards, none produced a Shakyamuni Fruit. Instead, he received common items that could boost Golden Core spiritual sense. The Shakyamuni Fruit was simply too rare, and the disciples' reward multipliers were too low. Combined with the mediocre quality of the gifted items, even critical hits couldn't meet the threshold for a Shakyamuni Fruit.

Ye Chen wasn't discouraged. With his system and vast resources, he was confident that patience would eventually yield the Shakyamuni Fruit.

In the meantime, he wasn't wasting time. Cultivating the True Phoenix Treasure Technique and the Shakyamuni Heart Refining Art steadily bolstered his strength. He casually consumed a system-rewarded item that enhanced Golden Core spiritual sense, but shook his head in disappointment. His spiritual sense was already so formidable that ordinary items had negligible effects—barely better than nothing.

As he pondered, a ripple stirred in his cave abode's array. An Yuyi had arrived.

She used to visit often, but after Ye Chen personally gifted her the Azure Hill Jade Bamboo Core, she'd gone into seclusion. Half a month had passed without her bothering him. Her visit now likely meant she'd made a breakthrough.

Sure enough, An Yuyi's face radiated joy. The system, silent until now, chimed: "An Yuyi: Two-hundredfold multiplier!"

Two hundred times? Clearly, the Azure Hill Jade Bamboo Core had helped her achieve an Earth Spirit Root. Not bad. An Yuyi had truly changed, capable of triggering critical rewards and even willing to share her aunt. Her only flaw had been her low multiplier, but now she'd caught up to An Miaoli. If her aunt went into seclusion, An Yuyi could serve as a fine substitute.

"Thank you, Senior Brother!" An Yuyi's eyes sparkled with gratitude as she hugged Ye Chen's arm.

He smiled gently, patting her soft head like an elder. Her eyes curved into crescents, clearly relishing the gesture. Ye Chen wasn't sure when their dynamic had shifted to this familial warmth—it felt a bit peculiar.

"Senior Brother, are you looking for a spiritual fruit to boost Golden Core spiritual sense?" An Yuyi asked after some small talk, recalling something. "I remember the son of Magic Peak Master mentioning that his father found a Spiritual Soul Fruit this year…"

Ye Chen's eyes lit up. The Spiritual Soul Fruit was incredibly rare, capable of boosting spiritual sense by up to half for an ordinary cultivator. If he gifted it to An Miaoli, it might trigger the Shakyamuni Fruit he sought.

It wasn't surprising that Magic Peak Master's son had shared this with An Yuyi. While she held little status with Ye Chen, she was a prodigy in the Divine Will Sect, with countless admirers. Young men, eager to impress her but lacking personal achievements, often boasted about their fathers instead.

"The Master of Magic Peak? Let's pay him a visit!" Ye Chen stood, eager to act. Today was a feedback day—perfect timing to secure the Spiritual Soul Fruit and test his luck.

An Yuyi shook her head, her expression troubled. "Senior Brother, you don't know much about the Divine Will Sect, so you might not understand the Magic Peak Master's situation. He reached the Golden Core stage at 180 and hit peak Golden Core at 270, but his physical vitality is waning. He's been collecting vitality-enhancing herbs, hoping for one last push to break through to Nascent Soul.

"Most don't think he'll succeed—he's too old—but few cultivators can resist trying, even if it means death. That Spiritual Soul Fruit is his best shot, especially since rumors say it's most effective for a breakthrough if used within a month. No matter how many spirit stones you offer, he won't sell. It's his only chance at forming a Nascent Soul."

An Yuyi looked sheepish, realizing she'd hyped up the lead only to dash it. Worried Ye Chen might be upset, she quickly added, "I'll keep asking around for other treasures like it. I know people in nearby sects—I'm sure I can help!"

Ye Chen just smiled and patted her head again. "No worries. Let's go visit the Magic Peak Master first."

An Yuyi was skeptical, certain it was a lost cause, but seeing Ye Chen's determination, she led him toward the Divine Will Sect's Magic Peak.