ISWI Chapter 522-523

Chapter 522: The Holy Son Truly Loves Me!

As Fan Qinghe refined and balanced the Yin-Yang Qi within her, she felt a deep, heartfelt joy. Her eyes, now regaining a spark of vitality, gazed at Ye Chen with affection. To have such a protector as Ye Chen was her greatest fortune. She wanted to repay him with everything she had. Unlike the Heavenly Emperor, who took without giving, Ye Chen's character was trustworthy. Slowly, Fan Qinghe rose and approached him gracefully.

Noticing her movement, Ye Chen opened his eyes. Her gaze was now lively, a stark contrast to her earlier weak gesture. He smiled but calculated the timing. Only five days had passed since the last gift feedback, too soon to bestow the Unity method. He waved his hand, signaling her to continue refining and not rush out.

Fan Qinghe, touched by his concern for her cultivation, grew even more moved. Certain of his sincerity and knowing he wouldn't take advantage, she resolved to bind him closer, to offer something more meaningful. She had seen Ye Chen's videos, especially those with the Heavenly Intention Holy Maiden, Yi Qingwu. Others might miss it, but as the Divine Maiden of Desire, Fan Qinghe understood women.

In the videos, Yi Qingwu always cursed Ye Chen fiercely before battles, as if she wanted him dead. Yet, Fan Qinghe sensed an undercurrent of complex emotions in her actions—sometimes even deliberately throwing the fight. The outcomes confirmed her suspicions.

Could Yi Qingwu harbor feelings for Ye Chen, restrained only by her status as a fiancée? This sparked a sense of urgency in Fan Qinghe. She had to secure Ye Chen completely, to make him fall under her charm.

Approaching Ye Chen, she pressed close, wrapping her arms around his. "Holy Son, you gave me such immense Yin-Yang Qi for my cultivation," she said softly. "It'll take you ages to restore it. You, who could become an immortal and rival the greatest prodigies, sacrificed so much for me. I have nothing to offer but myself in gratitude."

Ye Chen raised an eyebrow, ready to refuse. Nice try! To him, Fan Qinghe was now his most vital asset. In the cultivation world, power couldn't simply be gifted. His Yin-Yang Qi, for instance, was absorbable only by Fan Qinghe, bonded to him through the divine seed. Her future cultivation would amplify his own strength, skyrocketing it at every peak.

Let her covet his body? No way. Demoness, don't try to ruin my cultivation!

Ye Chen waved his hand decisively, rejecting Fan Qinghe a second time. "No way!"

Fan Qinghe, gently clinging to his arm, froze. Rejected again? Was she too subtle? How could Ye Chen, who cared so deeply, refuse her? Her big eyes filled with confusion, wondering if he was playing hard to get. Should she be more forward?

Before she could decide, Ye Chen scolded her sternly. "Men are liars! They cherish you until they get you, then discard you! How do you know my kindness wasn't just a ploy? Rebuilding that Yin-Yang Qi takes me five or six years—nothing! Would it be hard to win you over and then abandon you? As a Divine Maiden, where's your caution? To so casually offer yourself—do you even value your cultivation? Are you worthy of your master's trust or my sacrifice? Fan Qinghe, do you even have a cultivator's resolve?"

His words hit like a thunderstorm, leaving Fan Qinghe stunned. She'd only acted out of gratitude and trust in his character, yet faced such harsh rebuke? She felt wronged, but beneath the grievance, her heart warmed. Ye Chen's words were for her own good. He even demeaned himself, calling men fickle, and rejected her to protect her. This was surely the deepest love in the cultivation world.

Lowering her head, her voice softened. "I'm sorry, Holy Son. I was just so touched and fond of you. Please don't be angry. Tell me when I can repay you, and I'll wait. How about during the Unity Stage? If you help me even then, it proves you're genuine, and I can thank you properly."

She set a tentative timeline, but Ye Chen's expression remained firm. "No! You can't know someone's true heart until the final moment. Only when you ascend to immortality will I agree!"

Fan Qinghe's eyes widened. Immortality? How long would that take? Ye Chen might wait, but could she?

Fan Qinghe wanted to negotiate, but Ye Chen's resolute expression showed his unwavering resolve. He loved her, yet wasn't eager to claim her, only wishing to give his all for her sake. Words alone wouldn't sway him. So, she decided to seize future opportunities, using her charm to gradually erode his steadfast will. Immortality was too distant a goal—only one person per generation could ascend. It was far too difficult.

Feeling a bit dejected, Fan Qinghe caught Ye Chen's softening gaze. He couldn't bear to see her like this. After all, she was his Divine Maiden, and with two days until the next gift-giving, he decided to give her a chance to express her gratitude.

"Alright, don't be so glum," Ye Chen said softly. "I'll give you a way to repay me. Back when we left the hall, I overheard an elder muttering that you're hogging everything. So, are you going to keep it all to yourself?"

Fan Qinghe blinked, then understood, her heart warming. The Holy Son's resolve was firm, yet he offered this chance to ease her sadness. He truly loved her. Confident in her abilities, honed by generations of Divine Maidens' teachings and her master's guidance, she saw this as a chance to showcase her prowess and chip away at Ye Chen's insistence on waiting until immortality.

With a gentle smile, she said, "Holy Son, leave it to me."

Soon, Ye Chen understood the true might of a Divine Maiden of the Heavenly Desire Sect. Their legacy was no exaggeration. He almost wanted to summon the fiancée to learn from Fan Qinghe. Before long, the tides turned. Ye Chen's head tilted back, fists clenched, the whites of his eyes growing prominent…

Chapter 523: This Is Called Professional!

For two full days, Ye Chen deeply understood the saying, "Don't challenge a professional with your hobby."

He felt as if he'd glimpsed the secrets of ascension. Halfway through, he even considered that Fan Qinghe's feedback multiplier could still improve. Becoming dao partners would double the benefits—not bad at all. Why chase perfection? Why not seize the moment and let Fan Qinghe disrupt his cultivation?

Fortunately, his dao heart held firm, and he stayed true to his path. Still, for Fan Qinghe to make him waver for two days spoke volumes about her prowess. She pushed him to his limits, repaying all his efforts with her undeniable skill.

"Phew…" Ye Chen exhaled, unclenching his fists and mentally noting techniques to share with the fiancée, Senior An, and his master next time. If he ascended, he'd bring everyone to his small world in the Immortal Realm. Fan Qinghe could start a training class to pass on her expertise.

Checking the time, Ye Chen decided not to test his weaknesses further. He handed Fan Qinghe a jade slip. She took it, stunned, then immediately returned it. She knew Ye Chen cared for her, but having been won over completely, she didn't want to seem greedy. Except for essentials during nirvana, she wanted nothing.

"Holy Son," she said earnestly, "these two days of indulgence were the greatest gift. I need nothing more. Please take it back."

Ye Chen smiled. "No need for formalities. What's mine is yours. This is a high-grade Dual Charm Unity method, blending the True Self Dao and the Heaven and Earth Dao. It includes annotations from the Chaotic Ancient True Immortal, greatly boosting cultivation and yielding immense gains in the Unity Stage."

He echoed the Holy Master's introduction of the method, but Fan Qinghe frowned. "Chaotic Ancient True Immortal? I heard his insights on Dao and laws were mediocre among true immortals. Many who reach immortality lack the foundation or insight to create their own immortal scriptures. Chaotic Ancient True Immortal, though strong in combat, was weak in this. He didn't plan to leave a scripture, but since those without one rank lower, he cobbled one together, copying parts of the Great Emperor Scripture and Western Emperess Scripture. Their descendants even called him out. His annotations seem… meaningless."

Due to the Heavenly Desire Sect's nature, they had access to many secrets, even about true immortals, all recorded and passed down. Ye Chen was taken aback. The Chaotic Ancient True Immortal's biography he'd read mentioned none of this.

Fan Qinghe, ever perceptive, caught his expression and smiled. "Those biographies were written by his allies, naturally omitting the messy details. Most are exaggerated. People think Chaotic Ancient True Immortal was invincible before ascension, but he lost many battles, suppressed by prodigies, nearly killed a few times. He wasn't weak, but not the strongest either. His ascension shocked his era. After immortality, though, it's a different story."

She shared these secrets, then, fearing Ye Chen might think she was rejecting his gift, added, "Also, our Heavenly Desire Sect has a high-grade Dual Charm Unity method, equal in rank to yours. Our Heavenly Desire Sect's inheritance is naturally more suitable for me when the Unity methods are of the same rank!" Fan Qinghe said, pulling out her sect's jade slip to prove her point.

Ye Chen felt a pang of frustration. His Holy Master was indeed unreliable. Chaotic Ancient True Immortal's annotations, far from being a bonus, were a detriment in the eyes of those in the know. Unbelievable… this Unity method wouldn't be gifted to the Divine Maiden after all.

Disappointed, Ye Chen felt the moment lose its spark. He rummaged through his storage bracelet, searching for something suitable to gift, determined to use today's gifting opportunity. Then, he'd find his master or another female cultivator to gift this Unity method and obtain the Triple Charm Unity method the Heavenly Emperor had ruined.

As he searched, Fan Qinghe lowered her head, a glint in her eyes. She loved watching the Fourth Holy Son struggle and hesitate. Keep this up, and he might lower his standards without waiting for her ascension.

Ye Chen's focus waned. As the ritual neared its end, he considered grabbing anything to gift and conclude it. If this "feast" continued, even his steadfast dao heart might crumble—a massive loss.

But at that moment, the entire Heavenly Desire Sect shook violently. Women's startled cries echoed outside the cave. Fan Qinghe wiped her mouth, her once-fluid gaze turning serious. "That's the sect's mountain protection array under attack!" she declared.

Ye Chen raised an eyebrow. He knew some were upset after he cleared the field earlier. Could they be so humiliated they brought a powerhouse to wreck the place? This wasn't the time for indulgence.

Fan Qinghe deactivated the cave's array, ready to investigate. Just then, a voice brimming with battle intent boomed: "Ye Chen, heir of the Heavenly Emperor, I know you're in there! Since you won't come to Central Continent, I've come for you. Face me now!"

The terrifying voice reverberated through the sect. Fan Qinghe's face filled with worry. A Central Continent powerhouse challenging the Fourth Holy Son? After she'd drained his Yin-Yang Qi, his strength was depleted—he couldn't even summon the Heaven and Earth Manifestation. How could he fight? Avoiding the challenge would tarnish his reputation.

Having felt Ye Chen's sincerity, Fan Qinghe fretted for him, wondering if the sect's sole ancestor should intervene. But Ye Chen showed no concern, only frowning slightly.

So it wasn't an angry guest but a Central Continent prodigy picking a fight? His title as the Heavenly Emperor's heir drew such intense enmity? The Heavenly Emperor Hall, making him take the blame, was utterly deplorable.

He'd record every battle from now on. One day, he'd make the Heavenly Emperor Hall pay back every bit, with interest, showing them just how costly his appearances were!