ISWI Chapter 277-278

Chapter 277: Star Pool!

With the Nether King's Gall in hand, Su Yuxuan and Manjusaka went into seclusion to refine it. As for the Soul-Swaying Mountain, while impressive, it held little direct value for Ye Chen.

Its primary use was to gradually enhance the spiritual roots of the female cultivators around him. After testing a few Soul-Swaying Divine Stones and confirming they had no effect on his own Heavenly Spiritual Root, Ye Chen set them aside and focused on his cultivation.

Compared to his past self, Ye Chen was marginally stronger now, but in the vast world of immortals teeming with powerhouses, he was still far from the top. There was no room for complacency.

A week later, Su Yuxuan emerged from seclusion, an air of profound mystery clinging to her. Dressed in her flowing white skirt, she leapt barefoot into Ye Chen's arms.

"Senior Brother, I didn't just upgrade to a Nether Spirit Root—I awakened the Nether Spirit Body!" she exclaimed, her voice brimming with excitement. "Even Master didn't expect me to awaken it. I feel so powerful now… like I could punch the Champion King to death!"

Ye Chen glanced at the system prompt, nodding with a wry smile. Su Yuxuan was indeed formidable—her system multiplier had surged. But one-punching the Champion King? That was a bit of an exaggeration.

"Dao Companion Su Yuxuan: 500x Multiplier!"

Her multiplier had skyrocketed to five hundred, and with the Dao Companion bonus, it effectively reached a thousandfold. Even without a critical hit, this was a staggering boost, far surpassing Li Feihuang's non-critical multiplier. The Nether King Root alone wouldn't account for such a leap; the Nether Spirit Body was likely the key.

"Good job," Ye Chen said, chuckling as he patted Su Yuxuan's fluffy head. She tilted her face upward, squinting in delight as she savored the moment.

Then she spoke again, her voice soft. "Awakening the Nether Spirit Body is all thanks to you, Senior Brother. While refining the Nether King's Gall, a surge of power flowed from my heart, and my Golden Core radiated a tri-colored divine light, illuminating the Gall and triggering a miraculous transformation…"

Ye Chen nodded thoughtfully. The human body was an interconnected whole. Su Yuxuan's heart and Golden Core—both gifts from him—were exceptionally potent, influencing and elevating her entire being. With the Tri-Color Golden Core and the Exquisite Heart as catalysts, her awakening of the Nether Spirit Body made sense.

He recalled reading about the Nether Spirit Body. It leaned toward summoning, allowing the user to call forth creatures from the Nether Realm. At higher realms, it could even drag enemies into the Nether Realm for banishment.

Lost in thought, Ye Chen felt Su Yuxuan nuzzle his arm, her warm breath tickling his ear. "Everything I am now is because of you, Senior Brother. I need to thank you properly."

She paused, then added mischievously, "Master said that if my Nether Spirit Body reaches the late Golden Core stage, I can connect to the Nether Realm and summon its creatures to serve me. I've heard the Nether Realm has charm demons—perfect figures, and their feet… flawless as jade. Too bad I just broke through to mid-Golden Core, and with the robust Golden Core you gave me, reaching the late stage will take a while. If I could break through now, I'd summon a charm demon to pamper you, Senior Brother!"

Ye Chen chuckled at Su Yuxuan’s suggestion. “Forget about the charm demon, I’m not interested in such things.”

Su Yuxuan pouted, her thoughts sharp.

If you’d let go of my foot, I might actually believe you.

She was plotting how to convince her senior brother to secure her an opportunity for imperial aura infusion. Her unexpected awakening of the Nether Spirit Body had thrilled her master, drastically boosting her strength and forcing her to adjust her plans. If she could swiftly break through to the late Golden Core stage, she could vie for the Nether Immortal inheritance. The Great Chu Dynasty’s imperial aura infusion was the fastest way for a Golden Core cultivator to advance.

“Senior Brother, you haven’t seen a Charm Demon. They’re the most seductive creatures in the world—guaranteed not to disappoint,” Su Yuxuan teased, trying to sway him.

Ye Chen smiled softly. “In my heart, you’re the most captivating woman in the world.”

Su Yuxuan froze, her cheeks flushing. His sudden sweet words threw her carefully planned arguments into disarray. Seeing her blush, Ye Chen grinned, patting her head. “Alright, I’m done teasing you.” Turning serious, he addressed her ring. “Senior, the imperial aura infusion allows only one participant. After entering the palace, please look after Yuxuan. I’m giving you the token for the infusion.”

He produced the token for the imperial aura infusion quota, but the ring remained silent. Manjusaka’s soul form didn’t appear or respond. Ye Chen felt like a middleman ignored in a transaction. After waiting a moment, he shook his head, abandoning hopes of triggering a critical reward from old granny. Su Yuxuan’s 500x multiplier, boosted to 1000x as his dao companion, was already substantial without a critical hit.

He handed the token to Su Yuxuan, who accepted it with a delicate hand, playfully brushing his palm. Tilting her head, she smiled mischievously. “Senior Brother, you’re too greedy. You already have me, yet you’re still thinking about Master? She’s just a soul now. Didn’t expect you to be that kind of Senior Brother. But it’s not impossible—her soul can condense into a tangible form, like jelly, quite pleasant to touch. Still, you’re too impatient. You should wait until Master’s physical body is restored. She showed me her past appearance—so beautiful, with an astonishing figure, especially her jade feet…”

“Ah! Master, I’ll stop, I’ll stop!” Su Yuxuan’s enthusiastic chatter cut off as she shivered, pleading for mercy.

Manjusaka's soul form materialized, casting a cold glance at Ye Chen. “Since you’ve secured the quota, let’s go. Time waits for no one on the path of cultivation—a single step behind could mean a lifetime of lag. Your talent is mediocre; reaching this point is already a fluke.” Without another word to Ye Chen, her soul vanished.

Su Yuxuan stuck out her tongue helplessly. “Well, Senior Brother, I’m off. But don’t forget—when I return, I’ll thank you properly.” With that, she floated toward the palace.

Her words were sincere. After the imperial aura infusion, she would set out to pursue further opportunities, strengthen herself, and help restore her master’s body. This parting could last years, so she wanted a proper farewell with her Senior Brother. The infusion quota had clearly been reserved for her—Ye Chen could have used it to boost his own cultivation when she was refining the Nether King Gall, but he waited. He might not be a saint, with his peculiar tastes, but to her, he was truly exceptional.

As Ye Chen watched Su Yuxuan leave with a playful smile, he immersed himself in his mind to check the system prompt.

"Gift successfully delivered!"

"Gifted Item: Imperial Aura Infusion Token!"

"Feedback in progress…"

"Gift recipient is Host's Dao Companion. Double bonus applied, thousandfold feedback in progress…"

"Feedback: Star Pool!"

"Star Pool: Converts the power of the stars into a special spiritual liquid, greatly accelerating cultivation for Golden Core stage cultivators. Soaking in it can heal physical and soul injuries, nourish the body, and strengthen meridians. The Star Pool automatically absorbs stellar energy to replenish its spiritual liquid."

Ye Chen grinned at the notification. A thousandfold multiplier, even without a critical hit, was far from disappointing. The little demoness had come through spectacularly.

Entering his small world with a thought, Ye Chen surveyed the landscape and selected a picturesque spot to place the Star Pool. The pool wasn't large—twenty meters long and wide—but its potential was immense. With it, his cultivation would soar to the late Golden Core stage in no time. Even when the pool's water was depleted, it could automatically convert stellar energy to refill itself. Beyond accelerating cultivation, it could heal hidden injuries and fortify the body.

Ye Chen imagined leisurely soaking in the pool with his Dao Companion, cleansing their wounds and relaxing. But as he looked around, he felt something was missing.

Later, I should transplant a spiritual peach tree by the poolside and hang some wind chimes, he thought. His master's former residence had a small pond with a peach tree nearby, its blossoms scattering petals across the water during bloom. Surely, his master would be delighted to see such a scene.

The Star Pool was currently full, its waters faintly cyan and shimmering with endless starlight. The spiritual energy within was dense and misty. Without hesitation, Ye Chen entered his small world. Though the world existed within him, his physical body could still enter it. Once inside, the small world shrank to the size of a dust mote, undetectable even by the spiritual sense of a great power.

Stepping into the pool, Ye Chen sat cross-legged and activated the Eternal Cosmos Sutra. He quickly slipped into a deep meditative state. Countless droplets of stellar spiritual liquid seeped into his pores, coursing through his limbs and bones, transforming into spiritual energy at an astonishing rate. His aura surged, climbing rapidly toward the late Golden Core stage.

...

"The token in Ye Chen's possession… ended up with her?"

Within the Great Chu Palace, Li Feihuang gazed at the image of Su Yuxuan reflected in the water mirror technique, her expression betraying little surprise. She was well aware of Su Yuxuan.

During the arena battle, Su Yuxuan had nearly refined Wang Feng to death. Though not as powerful as Li Feihuang herself, she was undeniably a prodigy in her own right.

Moreover, Li Feihuang had learned of the events at the Champion King's residence. Su Yuxuan had self-detonated her Golden Core to escape and seek out Ye Chen, later staying with him at the inn. The thought caused Li Feihuang's brow to furrow slightly, a trace of displeasure stirring within her.

Ye Chen's display of strength had set the empire abuzz, with countless speculations swirling. Most believed he possessed at least an Earth Spiritual Root and a physique even more formidable than the Moon Phoenix Body. Combined with his mastery of a single form of the True Dragon Treasure Technique, these qualities marked him as a top-tier prodigy. This realization had subtly shifted Li Feihuang's perspective on him.

Yet, Ye Chen had chosen to exchange his reward for the Nether King's Gall and then handed the Imperial Aura Infusion token to Su Yuxuan. Such devoted effort on her behalf sparked a flicker of irritation in Li Feihuang's heart. Compounding her frustration was the fact that Ye Chen hadn't once come to pay his respects in over half a month. Her dissatisfaction grew.

But then, a realization dawned on her. A faint smile curved her lips as she began to piece together Ye Chen's intentions, her stern expression softening ever so slightly…

Chapter 278: The Holy Son and Holy Maiden Are Coming?

Li Feihuang paused to think. She quickly realized that Ye Chen was deliberately keeping his distance from her.

In the eyes of outsiders, Ye Chen's public execution of the Champion King seemed to have caused barely a ripple. But within the Great Chu Dynasty, a storm was already brewing.

The royal clan's elders gnashed their teeth in fury at Ye Chen. After all, no matter how fiercely the clan had vied for power in the past, one rule had always held firm: the lives of the Li family were untouchable. It was an unspoken law no one dared to break.

Yet Ye Chen hadn't just killed the Champion King—he'd dug out his Golden Core and refined his soul. Such actions left the Li family both enraged and terrified.

The other prominent families were equally displeased with Ye Chen. His overwhelming strength threatened to carve away at the influence they had long hoarded.

The Wang family, despite their contributions to the dynasty's rise, hungered for even greater power. The other families, having backed the wrong side in past conflicts, now schemed to push Ye Chen out and claim a place closer to Li Feihuang.

As a result, the decree Li Feihuang had issued to name Ye Chen the Golden Dragon Peerless King faced relentless opposition from both the royal clan and the court's ministers.

Their goal was clear: even if the Ancestor's seclusion prevented them from killing Ye Chen outright, they would drive him out of the Great Chu Dynasty.

Ye Chen, of course, was fully aware of this. Despite his unmatched contributions, he chose to distance himself from Li Feihuang, sparing her the burden of their conflict.

But Li Feihuang remained resolute. Her father had once taught her a simple truth: if her vassals agreed with her decisions, she was likely on the right path. But if they opposed her, it was an even stronger sign she was doing the right thing.

These vassals, these clan elders—they had all once stood with the Champion King. Even the Wang family only sided with her because they'd had no better option. They were nothing but opportunists, swaying with the wind.

Ye Chen, however, had been different. From the moment they met, he had stood unwaveringly by her side. He was the only one she could truly trust. And so, no matter what, she would ensure Ye Chen stayed.

The matter of Ye Chen killing the Champion King was no small affair. Once the Ancestor emerged from seclusion, he would undoubtedly hold someone accountable.

But today, Li Feihuang had already devised a solution. She arrived at the place where the Ancestor was in seclusion, deep within the underground palace of the Great Chu Dynasty. Even she, with all her authority, could not enter this sacred chamber.

Standing at the entrance, she took out a jade slip and imprinted her thoughts upon it. She passed the slip into the array, watching it slowly vanish. When the Ancestor emerged, he would see it immediately.

Thinking of the contents of the jade slip, a faint blush crept across Li Feihuang's refined and regal face, despite her usual composure. Thankfully, only the Ancestor would see it.

But just as she turned to leave, an ancient voice echoed in her mind: "Feihuang, you wish to take this man as your consort?"

Li Feihuang froze, startled.

Wasn't the Ancestor supposed to be in the midst of breaking through to the late Nascent Soul stage? How could he respond to her so quickly? And if he wasn't focused on his breakthrough, why had he ignored the Champion King's death until now?

The answer came to her swiftly. The Ancestor cherished her above all else. The Champion King had schemed against her with all manner of plots and tricks, earning the Ancestor's ire. That was why he had stood by and done nothing.

Realizing this, Li Feihuang relaxed. She bowed respectfully and replied, "Yes, Ancestor! Ye Chen's talent is extraordinary. He possesses a high-grade spiritual root and likely a powerful physique. At only the mid-Golden Core stage, he wields combat strength comparable to a Nascent Soul cultivator. Beyond that, Ye Chen has a remarkable knack for commerce, amassing immense wealth.

"Taking him as a consort would bring tremendous benefits to the Li family. Our future heirs would inherit his bloodline. Moreover, Ye Chen has the potential to break through to the Nascent Soul realm, adding another mighty cultivator to our family and ensuring the Great Chu Dynasty's continued expansion and eternal prosperity!"

Li Feihuang spoke with conviction. This was the only way she could think of to keep Ye Chen by her side—by making him one of their own. That way, even the Ancestor would have no objections. As for herself…

In the past, Li Feihuang might have arranged for a distant princess of the clan to marry him. But now, Ye Chen's strength had earned her full recognition. He was worthy of being her imperial consort.

Moments later, the Ancestor's voice echoed again: "Are you certain Ye Chen would agree to become a consort?"

In the cultivation world, prodigies were often proud and unyielding. Those willing to marry into a family as a consort were exceedingly rare.

Li Feihuang's refined face broke into a confident smile. "Of course he's willing!"

When she had been at her lowest, Ye Chen had spared no effort to support her. He had traveled thousands of miles to help her claim the throne. Now, with the chance to become her husband, Ye Chen would surely be overjoyed. How could he possibly refuse?

A moment later, the Ancestor's voice returned: "You are weaker than him. If he reaches the Nascent Soul realm and harbors ulterior motives, what then? Could he seize the Great Chu Dynasty's ten-thousand-year legacy?"

Li Feihuang wasn't worried in the slightest. Ye Chen had always been stronger than her, yet he had supported her without complaint. How could he ever betray her?

She replied confidently, "That won't happen! And even if Ye Chen did have such thoughts, by the time he reaches the Nascent Soul realm, Ancestor, you'll surely be at the late Nascent Soul stage, more than capable of suppressing him. With you here, Ancestor, what is there to fear?"

Her words fell, and she waited for the Ancestor's response. But a long silence followed, as if the Ancestor was deep in thought.

After what felt like an eternity, his voice finally came again: "If he agrees to be a consort, he must offer up his True Dragon Treasure Technique and swear a Heavenly Oath. Furthermore, he must leave a wisp of his soul to create a soul lamp, which will be placed in the underground palace. If he refuses, he must leave Great Chu."

With that, the Ancestor's voice faded, leaving no further trace. Li Feihuang frowned slightly. These conditions were harsh. A Heavenly Oath was one thing, but the True Dragon Treasure Technique was priceless beyond words. And to leave a wisp of his soul for a soul lamp? That would place him under another's control.

To Li Feihuang, it was clear the Ancestor didn't trust Ye Chen. But the Ancestor's word was law, and she had no choice but to obey. After a moment's hesitation, she reasoned that, though the demands were strict, Ye Chen would likely agree for her sake.

A soft smile curved her lips. Once her coronation ceremony was over, she would share this good news with Ye Chen. She was certain he would be ecstatic when he heard it.

Within the small world, Ye Chen sat cross-legged in a pool, its once-abundant waters now drained dry. As he opened his eyes, a misty haze shimmered within them. His aura surged dramatically in that moment, climbing to new heights.

When the surge finally subsided, Ye Chen rose, thoroughly satisfied. He had now reached the peak of Golden Core perfection. The next step was preparing to form his Nascent Soul.

But as he glanced at the depleted Star Pool and then up at the sky, he frowned slightly. This small world lacked stars, and thus, no stellar energy existed to replenish the pool's spiritual liquid.

With a thought, Ye Chen left the small world. The inn was quiet. It seemed Su Yuxuan had not yet returned. It was the dead of night. Ye Chen activated his Myriad Star Body, using his physical form to draw stellar energy from the heavens and channel it into the small world.

The dry Star Pool began to refill with water.

After a quick calculation, Ye Chen estimated it would take about a month for the pool to be fully restored. The efficiency was impressive, considering his extraordinary physique required dozens of times more spiritual energy than an ordinary cultivator.

A single pool of stellar liquid had been enough to propel him from mid-Golden Core to its peak—a testament to its potency. For an average cultivator, that same pool might have been enough to advance from early Golden Core straight to perfection.

The only drawback was that Ye Chen himself had to personally draw stellar energy to restore the pool—a tedious task. If only he could one day refine an entire star and gift it to a female cultivator, triggering a critical reward of thousands of stars to place in his small world. That would solve everything.

As he pondered this, a knock came at the courtyard gate.

Once permitted to enter, the visitor revealed himself as the Head of the Great Chu Dynasty's Internal Affairs Office. "Fellow Daoist Ye, I come on Her Highness's orders to deliver a property deed!"

"Her Highness has granted you the Champion King's Manor," he continued. "It's the grandest estate outside the imperial palace. Her Highness's favor toward you is truly enviable!"

With that, he presented a jade slip with both hands.

Ye Chen took it, his brow furrowing slightly. The cultivation world had its own real estate economy. Even cultivators had families they couldn't always keep by their side. They needed safe places to settle or establish clans.

Market towns were vulnerable to beast tides or bandit raids, but cities like the Great Chu capital, Divine Will City, were true havens. High-level cultivators often chose to establish homes there, making such properties immensely valuable. They were even a significant source of income for sects and other powers.

The Champion King's Manor, located near the imperial palace, was vast and undoubtedly the most luxurious estate in the capital. But to Ye Chen, it was utterly useless. He had no intention of staying in the Great Chu Dynasty.

Besides, his portable small world was more than sufficient to house those close to him. Taking the jade slip, Ye Chen asked casually, "Can this Champion King's Manor be gifted or sold?"

The Head of Internal Affairs froze, stunned.

Sold? Gifted? This was a gift from Her Highness! And he wasn't going to cherish it?

After a moment's hesitation, the official replied, "The Great Chu Dynasty recognizes property deeds. As long as the owner willingly removes their imprint from the deed and allows another to claim it, the property changes hands. So, it should be possible."

Ye Chen nodded.

Selling it was likely out of the question—no one in Great Chu would dare buy the Champion King's Manor. Even those with enough spirit stones wouldn't have the status to match. So, he decided he'd gift it to Su Yuxuan instead. Perhaps it would trigger some kind of reward. At the very least, it was better than letting it go to waste.

After seeing off the Head of Internal Affairs, Ye Chen waited quietly. He planned to catch up with Su Yuxuan once she emerged from seclusion, then return to the Divine Will Sect.

A week before Li Feihuang's coronation, Su Yuxuan finally returned. Her aura, like Ye Chen's, had reached the peak of Golden Core perfection. When she noticed Ye Chen had also broken through to the same level, she was only momentarily surprised before accepting it with ease. After all, this was just how her senior brother was.

Su Yuxuan had long grown accustomed to his extraordinary feats. Though Manjusaka urged her to leave, Su Yuxuan insisted on staying with Ye Chen for a few days. Before they got down to serious matters, Ye Chen handed her the property deed.

Su Yuxuan pouted, curling her toes in disdain. It couldn't be sold for spirit stones, and she was leaving the Great Chu Dynasty—perhaps even the continent of Great Yan in the future.

What use was this useless manor? Was she supposed to hold onto it waiting for it to appreciate?

Ye Chen chuckled. "Since we're bound as Dao companions, why not keep it as our marital home? When we've seen all the wonders of the world and reunite one day, it'll be a place to settle. And if we ever lose track of each other, we can come here to wait quietly for the other."

A house, if not needed, had to be given value. Just like on his previous world, Blue Star, where homes were tied to marriage, residency, or education.

Ye Chen was testing this logic, giving the manor a sentimental purpose. If the system didn't recognize Su Yuxuan's need for it and didn't reward him with treasures, so be it. He was just trying his luck.

A marital home?

Su Yuxuan thought for a moment, then a smile spread across her face. She nodded, imprinted her mark on the deed, and carefully stored it away.

The next moment, a notification sounded in Ye Chen's mind…

Three days later, Su Yuxuan left with Manjusaka. She waved goodbye with a bright smile, her delicate figure transforming into a graceful shadow that drifted away. Despite their tender moments, when it was time to part, she left without hesitation.

As for Ye Chen, he prepared to return to the Divine Will Sect. But just before departing, he heard news that changed his plans. The Heavenly Evolution Holy Land was sending its Holy Son and Holy Maiden to attend the Great Chu Dynasty's ceremony.

Ye Chen's interest was piqued. He wanted to witness the elegance of the Holy Land's prodigies—especially the Holy Maiden. Mostly, he was curious to see what kind of multiplier her presence might trigger!