ISWI Chapter 405-408

Chapter 405: The Fiancée Arrives!

"The Moon Laurel Tree, one of the rare immortal roots of the cultivation world. Its osmanthus flowers enhance the primordial spirit and possess numerous wondrous effects…"

"Cultivating beneath a Moon Laurel Tree while breaking through to the Deity Transformation stage elevates the Nascent Soul into a higher-grade primordial spirit. The resulting Heaven and Earth Manifestation, imbued with its dao charm, becomes far more powerful…"

"Most immortal roots benefit cultivators directly, enhancing physique or extending lifespan…"

"Only the Moon Laurel Tree and the Enlightenment Tea Tree aid in comprehending the Dao, smoothing the path to immortality. Regrettably, when the Heavenly Emperor destroyed the Moon Palace, the Moon Laurel Tree was shattered, leaving only a few fragments."

"This fragment was unearthed from a ruin in Central Continent. The other two have already been claimed by Central Continent prodigies. This is the last one. Though a million years have passed, this fragment remains vibrant, still flowing with lunar essence…"

"Moreover, generations of Moon Palace divine maidens cultivated beneath it, and many prodigies borrowed its power, leaving behind abundant dao charm, making it exceptionally divine."

"This small fragment holds boundless potential. It might even be used to cultivate a new Moon Laurel Tree. Bidding starts at 500,000 top-grade spirit stones."

The auctioneer's words caused a stir among the crowd, many raising their eyebrows.

"What a pity—the Enlightenment Tea Tree is gone, the Moon Laurel Tree is gone, even the Jianmu Tree is gone. Otherwise, today's cultivation world would be far more vibrant."

"They say the Heavenly Emperor achieved unparalleled feats for humanity, but his destruction was immense. After his rise, the ancient immortal era neared its end, and the cultivation world began its decline, with immortality growing ever harder."

"The Moon Laurel Tree fragment has some uses, but regrowing a tree? That's just boasting. If it were that easy, Central Continent powers wouldn't sell it!"

"It's still remarkable, though. After a million years, it looks freshly cut, shrouded in lunar essence."

The crowd buzzed with discussion, some reflecting on the Heavenly Emperor's legacy. Though he'd left for the immortal realm a million years ago, his impact lingered. Some even rumored that his birth exhausted the cultivation world's destiny, fueling his invincible path but dooming the world to decline.

Post-Emperor, not only did immortal Qi vanish, but the spiritual Qi density also dwindled compared to the ancient immortal era. It was said to worsen in the future, making cultivation increasingly difficult.

With spiritual qi scarce, spirit stones became essential. This was why White Emperor City's auction was so grand, offering rare treasures. It wasn't just this year—Central Continent's Holy Lands, ancient immortal families, and undying dynasties planned to auction off unused treasures to amass spirit stones for the future.

Ordinary cultivators were unaware of this broader context. Most focused on the Moon Laurel Tree fragment itself. A mere fingernail-sized piece, picked over by Central Continent powers. Whether it truly retained dao charm or aided cultivation was uncertain. At 500,000 top-grade spirit stones, many felt it wasn't worth it.

…

"The bidding officially begins…"

As the auctioneer announced the start, voices immediately rang out in the hall.

"500,000 top-grade spirit stones!"

"510,000 top-grade spirit stones!"

"550,000 top-grade spirit stones!"

Though many deemed it overpriced, bidders were relentless. It was, after all, a fragment of an immortal root, likely possessing unique effects. Even if it couldn't be revived, it would benefit cultivators practicing star or moonlight techniques. Its potential to enhance spiritual sense was even more enticing.

If it could boost a clan member's or disciple's spiritual sense, aiding their breakthrough to the Deity Transformation stage, it would be invaluable. It could serve as a legacy treasure. Thus, many major forces bid fiercely.

Under the astonished gazes of countless cultivators, the price soared rapidly, reaching one million top-grade spirit stones in the blink of an eye.

At this point, most forces backed off. With the rising value of spirit stones, one million was no small sum for factions below the Holy Lands—it could cripple their finances.

Then, a woman's voice rang out, melodious as a celestial tune, magnetic and gentle, captivating to the core. "One million fifty thousand top-grade spirit stones."

She raised the bid by 50,000 in one go.

The auction hall fell briefly silent. The bidder made no effort to conceal her voice, its distinctiveness unmistakable. It was clearly Yi Qingwu, the Heavenly Intention Holy Maiden. This caused the few remaining bidders to hesitate and withdraw.

With her Broad Cold Immortal Physique, Yi Qingwu would have been a Moon Palace divine maiden in the ancient immortal era. She was the perfect match for the Moon Laurel Tree fragment and clearly determined to claim it. Having arrived half a month early, her preparation was evident. Since they likely couldn't outbid her, most chose to step back, preserving goodwill.

More importantly, they didn't want to offend her. The Holy Maiden was formidable, and her fiancé, the Heavenly Intention Holy Son, was equally so. Both were destined to stand at the pinnacle of the immortal realm.

The auction hall quieted, with no further bids. In her booth, Yi Qingwu sat serenely, her oval face whiter than jade, her deep eyes glimmering with a faint smile. The Moon Laurel Tree fragment seemed all but hers.

With it, her Broad Cold Immortal Physique could unlock greater potential. More crucially, she might glean secrets of the ancient Moon Palace, aiding her search in Central Continent for items beneficial to her physique.

As she awaited the auction's conclusion, a sudden bid broke the silence.

Yi Qingwu's delicate brows furrowed slightly. Even in her frown, she was breathtakingly beautiful, like a moonlit fairy, aloof yet enchanting. She wasn't angry, merely parting her red lips to calmly raise her bid…

…

In another booth, Fan Qinghe withdrew her slender finger from Ye Chen's mouth, pouting playfully. "My hand isn't a spiritual fruit…"

Ye Chen's lips curved. "But the divine maiden's hand is far more tempting than any fruit."

The earlier auction items hadn't caught his interest, so the two had been flirting in the booth, basking in the moment. Only when the Moon Laurel Tree fragment came up did Ye Chen shift his focus to the auction. He didn't bid immediately, waiting quietly. When that enchanting, bone-melting voice rang out, he raised an eyebrow. A system prompt sounded in his mind.

The fiancée had made her move. And when he saw the feedback multiplier displayed in the prompt, his eyes widened in shock. Yi Qingwu's system feedback multiplier exceeded his expectations!

Chapter 406: You're Not Bidding? Then I Will!

"Yi Qingwu: 2,500 times!"

2,500 times?

Yi Qingwu's multiplier surpassed even his master, who had ascended to a Heavenly Spiritual Root with a 2,000-times multiplier, and their Holy Maiden, Dantai Xuan, who cultivated the Supreme Scripture and also had 2,000 times.

It was a staggering 500 times higher. She was the female cultivator with the highest multiplier Ye Chen had ever encountered. Her Broad Cold Immortal Physique was truly extraordinary. No wonder she could suppress the previous generation's Yao Family Holy Maiden.

This multiplier ignited Ye Chen's already keen interest. Such a high multiplier—how could he not give a gift? The Moon Laurel Tree fragment was now a must-have.

Without hesitation, Ye Chen joined the bidding: "One million one hundred thousand top-grade spirit stones."

His sudden bid caught Fan Qinghe, who was peeling a spiritual fruit to continue their playful game, off guard. Her enchanting face showed a flicker of surprise.

"Is the Holy Son interested in the Moon Laurel Tree too?"

Ye Chen nodded with a smile. "I'm interested in any treasure that aids breaking through to the Deity Transformation stage."

Fan Qinghe understood, her peach-blossom eyes gleaming. Her Nirvana Scripture's first transformation involved soul communion with her protector, absorbing their spiritual sense to trigger her own metamorphosis. The stronger Ye Chen's spiritual sense, the greater her gains. If he obtained the Moon Laurel Tree fragment and enhanced his spiritual sense, she'd benefit even more.

Of course, given the Holy Son's generosity, he might gift it to her after winning it. But for her, the best outcome was Ye Chen using it himself. She could simply absorb from him afterward. To her, the Holy Son himself was the true treasure, not these external items. So, she refrained from interrupting, quietly feeding him spiritual fruits.

With Ye Chen's entry, the bidding for the Moon Laurel Tree fragment skyrocketed. In moments, it reached one million five hundred thousand top-grade spirit stones—an astronomical sum. Yet Ye Chen's bids were calm, almost indifferent, as if the spirit stones were insignificant.

Fan Qinghe was inwardly astonished. The Fourth Holy Son's composure was terrifying. This resolve alone marked him as a top-tier prodigy. Her heart burned hotter. If she weren't wary of not fully having him under her sway, she'd have planted the divine seed right there in the booth, communing with him and draining him on the spot.

…

Like Yi Qingwu, Ye Chen made no effort to disguise his voice. Everyone knew the bidder competing with the Holy Maiden was the Fourth Holy Son. This sparked endless speculation among the crowd.

Ye Chen continued bidding, raising the price by 100,000 top-grade spirit stones each time. In no time, he pushed the price to 1.9 million top-grade spirit stones.

This figure made most cultivators gasp. It was an exorbitant amount. Even for a treasure as rare as the Moon Laurel Tree fragment, it wasn't worth this price. With such a fortune, the Holy Son could acquire treasures far better suited for breaking through and enhancing his primordial spirit, rather than gambling on a fragment with uncertain effects.

It was clear to all: Ye Chen wasn't after the fragment itself. He was targeting Yi Qingwu, the Heavenly Intention Holy Maiden.

The Heavenly Evolution Holy Land and the Heavenly Intention Holy Land were sworn enemies, their rivalry almost irreconcilable. Each generation's prodigies clashed in life-or-death battles—a longstanding tradition in Great Yan Continent.

Moreover, the Fourth Holy Son had a personal feud with this generation's Heavenly Intention Holy Son.

With Yi Qingwu, the Holy Son's fiancée, determined to secure the Moon Laurel Tree fragment, it made perfect sense for Ye Chen to drive up the price, thwarting her. Nothing felt better than making an enemy suffer.

But many were puzzled. By pushing the price so high, wasn't Ye Chen worried Yi Qingwu might suddenly stop bidding?

Unlike her, whose Broad Cold Immortal Physique made the fragment a necessity, for Ye Chen, spending nearly two million top-grade spirit stones on a mere fragment would be a catastrophic loss. Most believed 1.9 million was his limit. If Yi Qingwu raised the bid once more, he'd likely back off.

…

In her booth, Yi Qingwu, previously calm and composed, furrowed her delicate brows. Her oval face, fairer than jade, framed eyes as deep and radiant as black gems. Even squinting, she was breathtaking, radiant and untouchable, like a Moon Palace fairy.

"Is the one bidding against me the Fourth Holy Son, Ye Chen?" she asked.

The two legacy disciples behind her, spared from the Yin Demon Cave thanks to her, nodded eagerly. "Yes, Holy Maiden, it's Ye Chen! He must know how much you need this and is deliberately driving up the price!"

Their voices burned with indignation, their memory of Ye Chen's voice seared into their minds.

Yi Qingwu wasn't surprised. She easily deduced Ye Chen's intent: to inflate the price.

For most prodigies, the Moon Laurel Tree fragment held little value. Only her unique Broad Cold Immortal Physique made it essential, a fact known to all. For this auction, her Holy Land had provided 500,000 top-grade spirit stones. Her grandmother and clan contributed another 500,000. The Heavenly Intention Holy Son sent an additional 500,000. With her own savings, she'd amassed nearly two million top-grade spirit stones—a sum rivaling the reserves of second-tier factions. She'd thought this would secure the fragment easily.

Yet, Ye Chen's interference was an unexpected snag. Still, she smiled faintly. "When strength falls short, one resorts to such tactics against enemies. Unlike the Holy Son, who'd confront his foes directly, disdaining such petty tricks."

Her expression remained calm, unfazed by Ye Chen.

She bid again, her voice steady: "Two million top-grade spirit stones. This is my final bid!"

Her tone was a warning to Ye Chen. This wasn't a bluff. If he raised the bid again, she'd truly stop. In her view, he wouldn't dare continue. Two million was an astronomical sum.

Spending so much just to spite her? Even Ye Chen wouldn't be so reckless, nor would Unity or Mahayana cultivators. The auction should end here.

Though Ye Chen's interference cost her an extra million spirit stones, securing the fragment made it worthwhile.

As for Ye Chen, he'd pay a heavy price later for these underhanded tactics. The other cultivators in the hall also believed Ye Chen would stop bidding.

But then, his voice echoed through the auction hall: "Fine—oh, Heavenly Intention Holy Maiden, you're not bidding anymore? Then I'll bid two million and one top-grade spirit stone!"

The hall fell silent.

Yi Qingwu, serene and noble as a Moon Palace goddess, froze, her exquisite face stiffening…

Chapter 407: Isn't It Meant for Me?

The entire auction hall fell silent. No one expected the Fourth Holy Son to pull such a move. After the Heavenly Intention Holy Maiden declared she'd stop bidding, he raised the price by just one top-grade spirit stone.

It was a blatant slap in the face. A glaring humiliation. Even Yi Qingwu, normally composed, was shaken. She hadn't anticipated Ye Chen would continue bidding at two million spirit stones. But what she found most intolerable was his addition of a single spirit stone.

Of course, she could afford to match it. But she'd already declared her final bid. If she spoke again, wouldn't she become a laughingstock?

Soon, however, Yi Qingwu regained her calm. If Ye Chen had won the Moon Laurel Tree fragment, so be it—she'd let him hold it for her temporarily. There were other items in the auction she was interested in. She could secure those instead. Ignoring the outside chatter, she focused on cultivating, awaiting the next lots.

…

With Yi Qingwu silent, the auctioneer called for bids several times. The Moon Laurel Tree fragment officially went to Ye Chen. An auction attendant soon delivered it to his booth.

After the transaction, the fragment was in Ye Chen's hands. He picked it up, examining it closely. Though a plant fragment, it was silvery-white, smooth as jade, shrouded in a faint lunar glow. Probing with his spiritual sense, he detected wisps of profound dao charm.

It did enhance the spiritual sense, but the effect was subtle. Treasures worth 100,000 or 200,000 spirit stones could achieve the same. For most, it wasn't worth two million. But Ye Chen hadn't intended it for himself.

Fan Qinghe, watching him handle the fragment, assumed he might gift it to her. For her, its effects were mediocre—not worth owing Ye Chen a favor. Plus, she hoped he'd help her with the Queen Mother of the West visualization diagram later. She began mentally preparing how to tactfully refuse the gift while boosting his goodwill.

Ye Chen turned to her. "This would make a fine gift, don't you think?"

Fan Qinghe's heart stirred—as expected. The Holy Son was indeed generous. She nodded, feigning ignorance. "Such a gift would thrill anyone. After all, it was won with a staggering two million spirit stones."

She planned to later show her uniqueness by refusing it, unlike others who'd be overjoyed.

Ye Chen nodded, satisfied. "With your words, I'm reassured…"

Then, to everyone's shock, he looked outside the booth. The crowd was still reeling from the fragment's sky-high price.

Ye Chen beckoned, and an attendant entered, respectfully asking for his instructions. He calmly placed the Moon Laurel Tree fragment back in its box and said, "Deliver this to the Heavenly Intention Holy Maiden's booth, to Yi Qingwu herself. Tell her that, though I have conflicts with the Heavenly Intention Holy Son, it has nothing to do with others, and I won't implicate her. Our earlier competition was only because I had a need for it. But upon learning my rival was the Holy Maiden, to avoid misunderstanding, I'm gifting it to her. Let her know there's no need to overthink—just consider it making a friend."

Ye Chen tossed out a casual excuse. The reasoning didn't matter. Yi Qingwu's two-million bid showed her desperate need. Losing it and regaining it would surely stir her emotions wildly. In such a state, his words were secondary.

The attendant, initially all smiles, trembled at his words. A treasure won for two million spirit stones, gifted away just like that?

Two million!

She panicked, hesitant to even hold the fragment, terrified of damaging it. If anything went wrong, selling herself wouldn't cover the cost.

The attendant hurriedly spoke, "Holy Son, to prevent leaks, the auction house strictly prohibits such actions. But as you're a distinguished guest, I'll consult our manager immediately!"

With that, she bowed and quickly left the booth.

Ye Chen didn't mind, turning back to see Fan Qinghe, usually a playful enchantress, now frowning deeply. Her alluring face was filled with disbelief as she stared at him.

Ye Chen smiled lightly. "What's wrong, Divine Maiden?"

Fan Qinghe opened her mouth, stunned. Ye Chen's move had completely blindsided her. She'd assumed the Moon Laurel Tree fragment was meant for her and had even planned how to gracefully decline to boost his goodwill.

Yet, he was gifting it to Yi Qingwu—right in front of her? How could she accept this? Ye Chen was her chosen protector. How could he give such a gift to Yi Qingwu?

She knew Ye Chen was a notorious womanizer, with countless confidantes, even his master among them. But she hadn't cared, confident that her charm outshone all others.

Yi Qingwu, however, was different—Great Yan Continent's foremost female cultivator, a formidable rival. This put immense pressure on Fan Qinghe.

Unable to stay calm, she hesitated before speaking. "Why gift the Moon Laurel Tree fragment to Yi Qingwu? She's your enemy. With her Broad Cold Immortal Physique and this fragment, she'll become even stronger, causing you trouble in the future."

Ye Chen smirked confidently. "I don't even take the Heavenly Intention Holy Son seriously, let alone her Broad Cold Immortal Physique. Anyone who opposes me is courting death. I'm just curious about this so-called foremost female cultivator and want to make a friend."

Fan Qinghe's eyes flickered, her composure slipping further. He was openly admitting he wanted to "make friends" with Yi Qingwu?

I'm right here!

She knew he was a playboy, but this was too blatant—did he not care about her feelings at all? Wasn't he worried she'd reject him? Anyone would be furious in her place. She fell silent, puffing her cheeks and turning away, refusing to look at him, clearly signaling her anger.

Come coax me!

But Ye Chen didn't care. This was all deliberate. He'd noticed Fan Qinghe's prolonged tug-of-war. Half a month of stringing him along without soul communion was testing his patience. He'd shown his sincerity—why was she still playing games?

So, he decided to change tactics. He'd already proven his unparalleled talent—few in the Great Yan Continent could rival him. If Fan Qinghe had ambitions of ascending to immortality, he was her only choice. Add his unmatched wealth and generosity, and no one in the Great Yan Continent could compete. She wasn't the one controlling him—he held the reins. Now, he was applying pressure, creating a sense of crisis to make her act. Enough of this back-and-forth.

Though the playful teasing had its charm, Ye Chen wasn't one to drown in feminine wiles. His goal was to become her protector, achieve soul communion, and offer his spiritual sense entirely. Then, by breaking and rebuilding, he'd surge in power, breaking through to Deity Transformation. That was the priority—not endless flirting.

At that moment, the auction manager arrived. Ignoring Fan Qinghe, whose face practically screamed coax me, Ye Chen handed over the Moon Laurel Tree fragment, instructing the manager to deliver it. Then, he leaned back on the booth's sofa, mood buoyant, awaiting the system's feedback prompt…

Chapter 408: Waiting for You to Take It!

Ye Chen sent off the Moon Laurel Tree fragment, ignoring Fan Qinghe, who was huffing and twisting her alluring figure, making odd noises in her frustration. He casually participated in the bidding for the next items while awaiting the system's feedback prompt. But soon, a knock came at the booth's door. The manager's voice followed.

Seeing no system response, Ye Chen frowned slightly.

…

Yi Qingwu had an excellent mindset. Even after losing the Moon Laurel Tree fragment, she quickly regained her composure, ready to bid on the next items. But before she could, a knock sounded at her booth. It was the manager of White Emperor City's auction house. She invited him in, gazing at him calmly.

The next moment, her pupils contracted. Her eyes locked onto the wooden box on the tray in his hands. An aura from the box stirred her deeply, resonating with her core, urging her to claim its contents. In an instant, she knew what was inside.

As expected, when the manager opened the box, there it was—the silvery, jade-like Moon Laurel Tree fragment, shimmering with lunar essence.

Hadn't Ye Chen won it? Why was it here? Even Yi Qingwu's eyes sparkled with anticipation. Could Ye Chen have abandoned his bid?

Though defaulting on an auction bid carried severe consequences, Ye Chen was the Heavenly Evolution Holy Son. The powers behind White Emperor City wouldn't want to clash with him, so they might downplay the issue. Was that why they sent the fragment to her?

This thought deepened her disdain for Ye Chen. Just a clown who dared to snipe her but lacked the resolve to follow through. Despite his talent, his demeanor and grace paled compared to the Heavenly Intention Holy Son.

But since Ye Chen had driven up the price, she couldn't pay the two million spirit stones if he'd defaulted. At worst, the auction house could re-auction it. It wasn't her face being lost.

As she pondered how to negotiate, the manager opened the box and explained his purpose.

Yi Qingwu, caught off guard, froze.

"This was sent by the Fourth Holy Son?"

Her stunning face showed genuine surprise for the first time.

The manager nodded. "The Fourth Holy Son said the bidding was a misunderstanding. His conflict with the Heavenly Intention Holy Son doesn't involve the Holy Maiden. As an apology, he gifts this to the Holy Maiden. He hopes to make friends with the Holy Maiden."

The two legacy disciples behind her widened their eyes. What was Ye Chen playing at? A "misunderstanding"? That was nonsense—he'd done it deliberately. Even if it were true, who gifts a treasure worth two million spirit stones? What was his game?

Yi Qingwu, after a brief moment of shock, quickly regained her composure. Her beautiful eyes narrowed. In an instant, she saw through everything.

Yi Qingwu saw through it instantly: the Fourth Holy Son was still trying to humiliate the Heavenly Intention Holy Land, to humiliate her. As the fiancée of the Heavenly Intention Holy Son, accepting a gift from his enemy was unthinkable, both morally and logically. It would spark rumors, unsettle the Holy Son's mindset, and potentially disrupt his cultivation, even threatening his invincible aura.

Ye Chen had clearly recognized the Moon Laurel Tree fragment's importance to her and used it brazenly, betting she'd accept it despite the shame for the sake of her cultivation. This method of striking at an enemy was both bold and despicable—a perfect example of an overt scheme.

But Yi Qingwu merely smiled. Ye Chen underestimated her if he thought this would sway her. The Moon Laurel Tree fragment was indeed vital, but would she sacrifice the Holy Son's reputation or the Holy Land's honor for it?

Never.

Besides, the fragment was rightfully hers—why should she need Ye Chen to gift it? She'd take it back herself. Her gaze steadied in moments, suppressing the deep yearning within her.

She spoke calmly to the manager, "Tell the Fourth Holy Son: what belongs to me, I will take back with my own hands. As for him, he has some audacity, spending two million top-grade spirit stones on such underhanded tactics. But he should know, in the cultivation world, strength is everything. These petty tricks are worthless before true power!"

Her voice, gentle as a spring breeze, carried weight even in rebuke, stirring the listener's heart.

The manager's mouth twitched. Her words were too provocative to relay. He quickly produced a sound-recording stone, asking her to repeat herself. Yi Qingwu's elegant lips stiffened briefly, but she reiterated her message.

The manager, holding the jade box, bowed and left, marveling inwardly. This era, possibly the last before the immortal path closed, was a golden age of resurgent prodigies and lost physiques, surpassing previous generations.

Yet, someone spent two million spirit stones on a treasure, only for it to be refused? This was beyond absurd. Even in Central Continent, with its stronger cultivators, no prodigy was this extravagant. If it were him, he'd kneel for two million spirit stones without a second's hesitation—anything less would disrespect the stones.

With these thoughts, the manager returned to Ye Chen's booth.

…

After knocking and entering, he returned the Moon Laurel Tree fragment and played Yi Qingwu's recorded words.

Ye Chen, rubbing the fragment, raised an eyebrow. Honestly, he hadn't expected her to refuse. Her talk of "underhanded tactics" baffled him. Underhanded? He was just gifting the fiancée something!

Women were impossible to understand. Still, her words confirmed her deep desire for the fragment. He briefly considered threatening to destroy it if she didn't accept, but dismissed the idea. Given her hostility, even if he forced her to take it, the critical hit would likely be lackluster.

A mere fragment with a 2,500-times multiplier wouldn't yield a whole Moon Laurel Tree—just more fragments. What use was that? Fertilizer for his Enlightenment Tea Tree?

So, Ye Chen changed his mind and kept the fragment. If she didn't want it, he wouldn't insist.

She said she'd take it herself? Fine, I'll wait for you to come get it!