ISWI Chapter 237-238

Chapter 237: Everyone's Busy

A week later, Ye Chen rose leisurely. His aura was restrained, smooth, and perfectly controlled. The small bell hovered beside him, swirling with Black Yellow Primordial Essence before merging into his dantian for nurturing.

In just a week, Ye Chen had fully mastered the power surging through him after his Golden Core breakthrough. His Heavy Pupils and Primordial Supreme Heart had also evolved with his new realm, unlocking new divine abilities.

As for the Eternal Cosmos Sutra's Golden Core chapter, Ye Chen had already grasped its basics. In short, stepping into the Golden Core stage had multiplied his strength countless times.

Leaving the seclusion chamber, Ye Chen found Lu Jing waiting outside. Her face lit up with a radiant smile as she saw him emerge.

"Young Master, shall I prepare a meal?"

This time, Ye Chen didn't refuse. He nodded, making Lu Jing's smile widen as she turned to cook a spiritual feast.

A week ago, Ye Chen had noticed Lu Jing had reached the peak of early Foundation Establishment. "Why haven't you gone into seclusion to break through to mid-Foundation Establishment?" he asked.

Once she reached mid-Foundation Establishment, she could use the Glazed Purification Water to advance to the late stage.

Lu Jing shook her head. "Young Master, you've just broken through. I suspect you won't stay long before leaving again. I can go into seclusion after you're gone."

Ye Chen chuckled, reaching out to gently touch her soft, dewy cheek. "Alright, go on then."

She was right—he would leave soon. Green Cloud Sect could no longer support his growth, especially with his master absent. Even gifting treasures felt pointless without the right recipient.

This time, as he headed to Divine Will City, he resolved to find a portable cave mansion or a small world where people could live at all times. After all, he was destined to become the Holy Son of Heavenly Evolution Holy Land. Leaving Lu Jing and the others behind here would be too cruel.

After Lu Jing left, Ye Chen glanced at the letter Su Yuxuan had sent him. It was brief, likely to avoid leaking sensitive information. Su Yuxuan only mentioned that her strength had greatly increased, and Manjusaka had helped her find a way to slow her rapidly dwindling lifespan. She could now live for another twenty years. She was heading somewhere farther away. That cautious approach suited her personality.

Along with the letter was a memory stone. Ye Chen sent his divine sense into it, and an image appeared in his mind—a scene filmed in a cave. Su Yuxuan's delicate, moonlit foot dipped slowly into a clear pool, playfully stirring the water.

The perspective shifted, showcasing her foot's details from every angle. In the pool, a long stalactite stood, and Su Yuxuan's foot lightly pressed against it.

That was it?

Ye Chen had expected something more. He watched it through diligently but found it utterly dull. It'd be better if she wore an anklet with bells, chiming pleasantly with each movement. Next time he saw Su Yuxuan, he'd gift her one.

By now, Lu Jing had prepared the spiritual feast. With a wave of his hand, Ye Chen pulled her into his embrace. Eating and "dining" at the same time, Lu Jing's face flushed, but she didn't resist, her demeanor gentle as water.

Two hours later, a figure quietly slipped in.

"Sister Lu Jing, move over! It's my turn, my turn!"

After a satisfying meal, Ye Chen gently nudged the reluctant Lin Ke'er to step down. He bestowed upon her an Azure Hill Jade Bamboo Core.

Lin Ke'er's face lit up with joy. "Thank you, Master!"

Ye Chen waved dismissively, urging both women to focus on their cultivation. Then, under Lu Jing's reluctant gaze and Lin Ke'er's delighted one, he drifted toward Yao Xi's courtyard.

The courtyard was protected by restrictions, but Ye Chen had long been granted access and entered effortlessly.

Yao Xi emerged gracefully from her alchemy chamber, having just finished refining a batch of pills. Her naturally fragrant presence now carried a faint trace of medicinal aroma.

Seeing Ye Chen, her face brightened with delight. Her junior brother had finally come. Ye Chen smiled softly, needing no words. He stepped forward, wrapping his arms around Yao Xi from behind.

Her cheeks flushed, and her long lashes fluttered like delicate fans, a glimmer of fulfilled longing in her beautiful eyes. But then Ye Chen suddenly let go.

Yao Xi couldn't hold back, grinding her teeth as if ready to bite. Before she could act, Ye Chen chuckled. "I brought something back from Divine Will City—a magical robe. I haven't had the chance to give it to you, Senior Sister. Why don't you try it on now?"

Yao Xi blinked, taking the robe. Her face reddened further as she examined it. A top-grade magical treasure robe? Such a treasure could make any Foundation Establishment cultivator's strength soar, coveted by all. Magical robes were among the priciest equipment.

But this top-grade robe only had a front. The back was merely a few delicate straps. A robe of this caliber designed like this was utterly impractical for normal use. Wasn't it absurdly extravagant?

Ye Chen, hearing the system's prompt in his mind, grinned. Not only could he enjoy the moment, but he'd also gain a hundredfold feedback. True bliss. He wondered if the system's feedback would include even more novel designs. For now, though, he had more pressing matters and no time to check.

...

Seven days later, Ye Chen emerged from seclusion once more.

Yao Xi, refreshed and radiant, was preparing a sweet tonic beneficial to the body. "When is Junior Brother leaving?" she asked softly.

She knew Ye Chen wouldn't stay long. To rogue cultivators and small clans, Green Cloud Sect was a towering behemoth, a dream destination. But for a genius like Ye Chen, it was far too small.

Ye Chen nodded. "I'll leave shortly."

Having broken through to the Golden Core stage, his cultivation now demanded higher-grade resources. Only in Divine Will City could he progress faster.

His senior sister and maids were gentle and caring, but Ye Chen understood that the path to immortality was his true foundation. He couldn't linger in their warmth forever.

Yao Xi wasn't surprised. "Come back often, Junior Brother."

She had no intention of following him. She was too weak and would only hold him back, forcing him to divert his attention to her care. Better to stay at Green Cloud Sect, cultivating while awaiting his return.

After leaving Yao Xi with some cultivation items beneficial for core formation, Ye Chen drifted away from Pill Peak.

He checked the system. In the Dao Companion section, alongside Su Yuxuan's name, Yao Xi's had appeared.

"Dao Companion: Yao Xi!"

"Feedback Rate: 100x!"

"Gift-giving yields 200x feedback, no critical hits!"

With everything settled, it was time to inform the Old Sect Master and depart.

With a thought, Ye Chen's vastly expanded divine sense, empowered by his Golden Core breakthrough, enveloped the entire Green Cloud Sect. In an instant, he located the Old Sect Master. He was fishing at the pool by the sect's entrance, as usual.

Ye Chen flashed over, appearing beside the Old Sect Master in a blink and sitting down.

"Leaving?"

The Old Sect Master, his white hair fluttering in the cold breeze, exuded an air of immortal grace.

Ye Chen nodded. "The path of immortality is like rowing against the current—not advancing means falling back. I may return less often in the future, but no matter where I go, I'll always be part of Green Cloud Sect."

With that, he offered a jade talisman.

The Old Sect Master accepted it with a sigh. "Young people are all about cultivation. Busy, busy, busy! Being busy is good…"

Noticing the Old Sect Master's hint of melancholy, Ye Chen changed the subject. "Sect Master, caught any fish today?"

The question only deepened the Old Sect Master's sorrow. He sighed heavily. "While you were in seclusion, I nearly hooked a silver dragon fish. I reckon it was at least eight hundred pounds. And now that I think about it, its scales had faint golden threads—possibly the rare Golden Spirit Silver Dragon Fish. Such a pity, truly a pity…"

Chapter 238: Ninth-Grade Golden Cores Have Differences

Ye Chen sat cross-legged on the flying boat, cultivating the Eternal Cosmos Sutra while contemplating his journey to Divine Will City. Inside his storage bracelet lay a sword talisman. His master hadn't left back then, silently watching over him. The thought warmed Ye Chen's heart.

Unfortunately, this time, she had truly gone. With his Heavy Pupils, he could likely track her down if he tried, but after some thought, he decided against it. His master clearly needed space, and hounding her wouldn't help.

After breaking through to the Golden Core stage, Ye Chen's speed was astonishing. A journey that once took a week now required only half a day.

This trip to Divine Will City had several goals. He needed to replace his Foundation Establishment gear, upgrading to equipment suited for his new realm. He also planned to study Golden Core-level spells. While divine abilities and treasure techniques were powerful, the cultivation world wasn't all about fighting. Mastering more spells meant being prepared for a wider range of situations.

Then there were the six arts of cultivation. With third-grade alchemy and artifact refining insights in hand, he needed to find suitable female cultivators to gift them to. He also had to prepare treasures beneficial for Nascent Soul formation in advance. And, of course, he needed to figure out what was going on with his five-colored Golden Core.

Upon arriving in Divine Will City, Sun Ruoxin's eyes sparkled with excitement. She immediately offered to show Ye Chen some new moves she'd learned. But having just added Yao Xi to the system's Dao Companion list—and still reeling from the recent "review"—Ye Chen wasn't in the mood. He tossed her an Azure Hill Jade Bamboo Core and sent her off to refine it in seclusion.

Perhaps because someone was always watching, it wasn't long before a woman with striking red hair approached gracefully. Her breathtaking beauty and lofty aura drew countless glances from male cultivators, who stole looks from the corners of their eyes. But when they sensed the terrifying aura emanating from her, their faces paled. This woman was a Golden Core powerhouse.

"Congratulations to Fellow Daoist Ye on breaking through to the Golden Core stage," Li Feihuang said with a smile as she entered the courtyard.

Ye Chen, observing her, was somewhat surprised. She had come in her true form, no longer hiding her identity? It was clear that Li Feihuang had also reached the Golden Core stage. Her red hair flowed even more vibrantly, and her stunning beauty, already breathtaking, had grown even more radiant after her breakthrough. The golden dress embroidered with phoenix patterns accentuated her curves, now rivaling the combined allure of Lu Jing and Yao Xi.

Could phoenix blood actually enhance one's appearance and figure? If so, Ye Chen would need to find a way to acquire more phoenix blood for the female cultivators around him.

What shocked him most, however, was Li Feihuang's feedback rate. The system's prompt rang in his mind: "Li Feihuang: 500x!"

From 300x to 500x? This wasn't due to her Golden Core breakthrough—Ye Chen had already confirmed that mere cultivation advancements didn't increase feedback rates. It had to be her physique, elevated by the phoenix blood.

This reaffirmed the wisdom of his earlier decision. The phoenix blood was meant for Li Feihuang. Not only had it triggered the Ancestral Dragon Blood, but it had also boosted her feedback rate, making her the second 500x female cultivator he'd encountered, after the Old Granny.

Of course, the Old Granny was a soul entity with 500x feedback, far beyond Li Feihuang's level. Still, for Ye Chen right now, Li Feihuang was undoubtedly his most precious treasure.

"Thank you, Fairy Li. It seems you've gained greatly from your breakthrough as well," Ye Chen replied with a smile.

Li Feihuang gave a reserved smile. After just a year apart, Ye Chen's joy at seeing her was so intense it was almost tangible, a clear sign of his infatuation.

"Fellow Daoist Ye also formed a ninth-grade Golden Core?" she asked, noting his aura.

Ye Chen nodded casually.

Li Feihuang wasn't surprised. Ye Chen's talent was exceptional—how else could he have defeated her? A ninth-grade Golden Core was expected.

But unlike before her breakthrough, she no longer felt the urge to spar with him. After her Fire Phoenix Spirit Body evolved into the Moon Phoenix Body, her strength had skyrocketed, several times greater than before. The Moon Phoenix Body's mysteries were extraordinarily formidable.

There was no need for a spar. Even if Ye Chen had formed a ninth-grade Golden Core, marking him as a top-tier genius, there was still a gap between geniuses and between ninth-grade Golden Cores. She had achieved a ninth-grade Golden Core because that was the limit of the Golden Core itself, not her own limit.

Li Feihuang let out a carefree laugh, the lingering resentment from her past defeat completely dissipating.

Unaware of her inner triumph, Ye Chen asked curiously, "Why are you revealing your true appearance in public now?"

Li Feihuang smiled confidently. "Now that I've reached the Golden Core stage, there's no need to hide. Unless that late-stage Golden Core champion king comes himself, none of his subordinates could kill me. Even mid-stage Golden Core cultivators would fall before me.

"As for the Divine Will Sect, I've spoken with the sect master after my breakthrough. Once I ascend to the position of empress, I'll repay them a hundredfold. We've also negotiated some future deals. So, there's no longer any need for me to conceal myself."

Ye Chen's lips twitched as he nodded. No more pretending after breaking through to Golden Core, huh? Showing her true colors at last?

Or perhaps this was simply Li Feihuang's true nature. As a royal daughter, such confidence seemed fitting.

"What brings Fairy Li here today?" Ye Chen asked casually, while mentally considering what gift to offer her.

Li Feihuang felt a twinge of embarrassment. She had rushed to see Ye Chen the moment she heard of his return, and indeed, she had a request.

She was out of resources.

After her Golden Core breakthrough and revealing her identity to the Divine Will Sect master, he hadn't demanded that she return the phoenix blood. But knowing she would eventually leave, he hadn't offered her an elder position or considered her resource needs.

When Li Feihuang had fled in haste, she brought little with her. Most of what she had was spent on the Phoenix Stone as a return gift for Ye Chen. Now, her resources were completely depleted.

Yet, having just reached the Golden Core stage, her need for cultivation materials was immense. So, she had come to borrow spirit stones from Ye Chen. His shop was thriving, and he'd even gifted her Phoenix Blood Crimson Gold before—his wealth must be substantial. But as a royal daughter, asking a subordinate for a loan was a first for her, and it felt awkward.

Feigning composure, she said, "After breaking through to Golden Core, I need to cultivate some spells, but I lack the materials. When I left in a hurry, I hid most of my resources in Great Chu, and it's inconvenient to retrieve them now. So, I'd like to ask Fellow Daoist Ye for help. Once I return to Great Chu, I'll ensure you're well rewarded."

Ye Chen raised an eyebrow. If it weren't for her 500x feedback rate, this would sound like a scam.

Li Feihuang, lacking resources? This was perfect for him. The more she needed, the easier it was to gift her treasures, trigger critical hits, and reap higher rewards. A 500x multiplier with a critical hit?

Ye Chen couldn't even imagine the potential feedback. He almost wished she'd stay broke forever—it'd be his ticket to soaring success.