ISWI Chapter 222-225 Critical Hit Triggered!

Chapter 222: The Auction Begins!

After seeing off An Miaoli and her niece, Ye Chen felt a bit baffled. What was that all about? But when he checked the system's reward, his confusion melted away, replaced by a delighted grin.

"Lanke Jade: When worn by a cultivator, it protects the soul, ensuring immunity to heart demons before the Immortal Ascension Tribulation, nullifying all illusions, and continuously nurturing spiritual sense, raising its upper limit…"

No critical hit, but the reward was exactly what he needed. Heart demons were the greatest foe on a cultivator's path. Some cultivators boasted unparalleled physical strength but faltered in willpower, easily succumbing to heart demons and failing at critical moments.

Ye Chen had read of a prodigy with Deity Transformation potential, nurtured meticulously by their sect. On the verge of breaking through to Soul Transformation, they dreamed of failing the breakthrough, their body possessed by a heavenly demon, slaughtering their sect, killing their partner, and refining their family into pills. That dream shattered their confidence, filling them with dread. He delayed his seclusion for the breakthrough, unable to muster the courage, and ultimately died with regrets.

That was the work of a heart demon—omnipresent, insidious, and relentless. With the Lanke Jade, Ye Chen would be immune to heart demons until his Immortal Ascension Tribulation. Its value was immense. Beyond that, it nurtured spiritual sense and raised its ceiling. He'd been disappointed when gifting An Yuyi the Soul-Nourishing Stone didn't trigger a critical hit, but this reward from An Miaoli more than made up for it.

An Miaoli truly was a remarkable woman!

The next day, Li Feihuang arrived.

She informed Ye Chen that she was about to enter seclusion to break through to the Golden Core stage. Her urgency stemmed not only from the mounting pressure from the Great Chu Dynasty but also from her defeat in the Divine Will Cave Heaven. As a royal daughter of Great Chu, Li Feihuang had always been supremely confident, rarely meeting her match among peers. Yet Ye Chen had bested her twice.

The first loss she could brush off, but the second? With all her trump cards revealed, she couldn't even withstand a single strike. The reality was hard to swallow.

Thus, she was determined to enter seclusion, form a ninth-grade Golden Core, and elevate her Fire Phoenix Spirit Body to the Moon Phoenix Body. If she could master even a fraction of the True Phoenix Treasure Technique during the process, it would be perfect. Then, Ye Chen would stand no chance against her.

"After I break through to Golden Core, my physique will advance as well, and I might even acquire the True Phoenix Treasure Technique," she said earnestly before leaving. "When the time comes, if Fellow Daoist Ye has also reached Golden Core, I'd trouble you to test my strength."

She called it a test, but her intentions were clear. As a royal daughter, how could she remain weaker than her vassal? In the cultivation world's dynasties, unlike mortal empires, the emperor had to be the strongest under the ancestor to command respect.

Ye Chen understood her meaning perfectly and nodded calmly, agreeing to her request. Inwardly, he marveled at her unshakable confidence. Couldn't beat me at Foundation Establishment, and now you think you'll win at Golden Core? Just don't cry when you lose again.

He escorted her to the door, watching as she departed with a confident nod, her figure drifting away gracefully.

...

After Li Feihuang entered seclusion, the days passed steadily.

An Yuyi visited frequently, and each time, An Miaoli accompanied her. Ye Chen couldn't help but wonder—did An Miaoli, a grand elder of the Divine Will Sect, have nothing better to do than tag along?

Her demeanor was colder than before, laced with an even stronger sense of detachment, as if she were here against her will. If she was so unwilling, why come at all? Ye Chen was genuinely baffled.

Still, it was a boon for him. A weekly two-hundredfold feedback from a high-value cultivator like An Miaoli was perfect. In his good mood, he even warmed up to An Yuyi. His change in attitude thrilled her. My plan is working, she thought, doubling down on her resolve to keep bringing her aunt.

An Miaoli, however, grew increasingly irritated watching this unfold. Ye Chen's cunning was infuriating—playing with her niece's emotions just to get close to her. The more he schemed, the more she disdained him. Once An Yuyi saw through his manipulations and came to her senses, An Miaoli vowed to cut off all contact with him. Let his schemes end in nothing.

...

The Heavenly Evolution Pavilion auction finally arrived. With treasures like the Eternal Cosmos Sutra fragment on offer, it drew powerhouses from sects and clans within the Divine Will Sect's domain, as well as rogue cultivators and even experts from beyond the sect's territory. Divine Will City buzzed with activity.

The Ye Boutique branch thrived in the excitement, with goods flying off the shelves. Ye Chen's wealth swelled, making him even more confident about securing the scripture fragment.

When the day arrived, Ye Chen headed to Heavenly Evolution Pavilion early. As a high-spending regular, he didn't need to verify his funds and was ushered straight to a private booth to await the auction's start.

At the Divine Will Sect, An Miaoli's expression was tinged with hesitation. After paying a premium to secure the Star Thunder Stone from Heavenly Evolution Pavilion, her spirit stone reserves were nearly depleted. But the Thunderbane Bamboo Core was non-negotiable.

An Yuyi's dual spiritual roots needed to be balanced to ensure the Star Thunder Stone could serve as the core material for a ninth-grade Golden Core. Without balance, her spiritual energy flow would be imperfect, capping her core at seventh grade, maybe eighth at best.

To prepare, An Miaoli had liquidated many assets, amassing thirty thousand high-grade spirit stones. She'd nearly emptied her coffers, but she didn't mind. These were mere possessions. If her niece could form a ninth-grade Golden Core, it would all be worth it.

Thirty thousand spirit stones roughly matched the Thunderbane Bamboo Core's value, but as a rare aptitude-enhancing treasure, it was bound to fetch a higher price. The Eternal Cosmos Sutra fragment had drawn powerhouses from major factions, and those who missed out on the scripture would likely bid aggressively on the Thunderbane Bamboo Core to boost their juniors' potential.

After a moment's hesitation, An Miaoli glided to the sect's Internal Affairs Hall. Using her authority as grand elder, she borrowed another thirty thousand high-grade spirit stones, bringing her total to sixty thousand, an amount far exceeding the Thunderbane Bamboo Core's base value. With this, she was confident she could secure it.

Once An Yuyi broke through, An Miaoli could focus on rebuilding her spirit stone reserves, repaying the sect, and preparing for her own Nascent Soul breakthrough. But the thought of her debts and the immense resources needed for Nascent Soul made her sigh. The path to immortality was arduous. Even as a late-stage Golden Core cultivator and grand elder of the Divine Will Sect, she fretted over spirit stones.

For some reason, Ye Chen's image flashed through her mind. The Ye Boutique branch was thriving, raking in profits daily. Ye Chen's wealth likely surpassed that of most Golden Core cultivators by now.

Chapter 223: Truly Not a Single One Left

As a grand elder of the Divine Will Sect, An Miaoli enjoyed the privilege of a private booth at the Heavenly Evolution Pavilion auction without needing to verify her funds. The auction was about to begin.

An Yuyi sat in the booth, brimming with anticipation. Securing the Thunderbane Bamboo Core would balance her dual spiritual roots, paving the way to form a ninth-grade Golden Core with the Star Thunder Stone. Once achieved, she'd soar to new heights and challenge Li Feng again to reclaim her honor. Surely, Ye Chen would see her in a new light then. The thought fueled her excitement.

An Miaoli, by contrast, remained composed.

The auction kicked off swiftly. Given the rarity of the items, it was hosted by the Golden Core-stage manager of Heavenly Evolution Pavilion himself. True to form, the pavilion opened with a bang.

"Thank you, Fellow Daoists, for attending," the manager said, holding up a jade slip. "Let's skip the formalities and dive in. Our first item is a fragment of the Eternal Cosmos Sutra's Golden Core chapter, discovered by an elder of our Heavenly Evolution Holy Land in the ancient Immortal Battlefield ruins. It contains 112 words."

He continued, "The elder has sworn a Heavenly Oath that only ten copies of this fragment will ever be sold. Successful bidders must also swear a Heavenly Oath to study it alone, with no sharing permitted. The value of an immortal scripture needs no explanation. The Holy Lands owe their status to such texts. Even a fragment can spark profound insights, perfecting one's cultivation and boosting combat strength. It can also inspire modifications to other techniques, elevating their grade.

"This is the Golden Core chapter of the Eternal Cosmos Sutra, hailed as the ultimate for Golden Core cultivation. Comprehending even a trace of its Divine Ability could propel you to dominate your peers. Starting bid: fifty thousand high-grade spirit stones, with increments of at least five hundred. Let the bidding begin!"

As the manager's voice fell, bids erupted. Many powerhouses from beyond the Divine Will Sect had come specifically for the scripture fragment. The price skyrocketed, soon hitting one hundred thousand high-grade spirit stones.

An Miaoli's eyes gleamed as she gazed at the jade slip. No cultivator could resist the allure of an immortal scripture, especially the Eternal Cosmos Sutra. As a late-stage Golden Core cultivator, comprehending it could refine her cultivation and bring her closer to perfection.

But she was realistic. There was no way she could afford it. And indeed, the bidding for the Eternal Cosmos Sutra fragment soared. It was finally claimed by a cultivator for a staggering three hundred thousand high-grade spirit stones, drawing gasps from the crowd.

The thousand-plus cultivators in attendance whispered among themselves, speculating which powerhouse faction could afford such extravagance. Three hundred thousand high-grade spirit stones could, with luck, buy a Heaven-grade Golden Core technique. Yet this bidder spent it on a fragment that couldn't be cultivated and offered no guaranteed insights. It was sheer opulence.

...

"The spirit stones have been counted," said the steward, who had come to Ye Chen's booth to finalize the transaction, a hint of surprise in his eyes. "Please, Fellow Daoist Ye, make the Heavenly Oath."

Ye Chen nodded and swore the simple oath, ensuring the fragment would be studied by one alone. With the Eternal Cosmos Sutra fragment in hand, his mood was buoyant. But he didn't study it immediately, instead tucking it into his storage ring.

What was the point of comprehending a mere fragment? He aimed to master the complete scripture. Since Li Feihuang was in seclusion, he'd gift it to An Miaoli. With her two-hundredfold multiplier and a potential critical hit, he was confident the system would reward him with the full scripture.

After securing the fragment, Ye Chen turned to the steward. "Please arrange a new booth for me. I'll continue bidding."

The steward's eyes widened slightly. Three hundred thousand high-grade spirit stones were a fortune most Nascent Soul cultivators couldn't muster. For a Foundation Establishment cultivator like Ye Chen to not only afford it but also keep bidding? What kind of wealth was this? Even the Golden Core direct disciples of the Heavenly Evolution Holy Land rarely had such resources.

Surprised but professional, the steward promptly escorted Ye Chen to a new booth. Heavenly Evolution Pavilion's service ensured discretion—Ye Chen's high-profile purchase of the scripture made him a target for attention, and a new booth would help him bid discreetly.

Ye Chen wasn't worried about being targeted as a rich mark. Heavenly Evolution Pavilion had a solid reputation, and his Heavenly Evolution Holy Land Holy Son token guaranteed his safety. He was completely at ease.

The next two auction items stirred the crowd. The first was an Earth-grade, high-tier Foundation Establishment technique with no teaching restrictions, sparking a frenzy among the clans as they threw spirit stones at it. The second was the Thunderbane Bamboo Core, Ye Chen's target.

This treasure could enhance a cultivator's aptitude, improving anyone below an Earth Spiritual Root, though it couldn't elevate one to that level. For clans and sects, it was a prize to nurture promising juniors, ensuring they walked further on the immortal path. Even cultivators with lesser roots coveted it, making the bidding fiercer than ever.

"Thirty thousand high-grade spirit stones…"

"Thirty-one thousand high-grade spirit stones…"

"Sixty thousand high-grade spirit stones!"

A clear, cold female voice cut through the heated competition, silencing the buzzing auction hall. All eyes widened in shock. While others were inching up from thirty thousand, she'd jumped straight to sixty thousand? Was she insane?

The steep price deterred many smaller clans and individual cultivators. Larger clans and sects could afford it, but sixty thousand was exorbitant—there were likely better options at that cost. Competing against such resolve seemed futile; the bidder might push even higher. Yet if they backed off suddenly, anyone stuck with the high bid would regret it. It was a dilemma.

The hall fell quiet.

In their booth, An Yuyi clenched her fists, nearly jumping with excitement. "Aunt, no one's bidding against us!"

An Miaoli nodded. Auctions could get overheated, with cultivators losing their heads. By throwing out a bid far above the Thunderbane Bamboo Core's value, she'd forced everyone to cool down and hesitate. The strategy had worked perfectly.

"Once you get the Thunderbane Bamboo Core, go into seclusion to refine it," An Miaoli instructed. "Then use the Star Thunder Stone to break through to Golden Core."

An Yuyi nodded eagerly, her eyes sparkling.

An Miaoli's flawless gaze fixed on the auction stage, awaiting the manager's final call.

But at that moment, a voice rang out: "Seventy thousand high-grade spirit stones!"

An Yuyi's excitement froze. An Miaoli's lips tightened, her eyes flashing with disbelief. Someone was still bidding—and adding ten thousand high-grade spirit stones at that? The price had far surpassed the Thunderbane Bamboo Core's intrinsic value.

Logically, it wasn't worth fighting for. But for her niece, the Thunderbane Bamboo Core was critical. Without it, An Yuyi would likely form a seventh-grade Golden Core at best, with no hope for ninth grade. Advancing to Nascent Soul would become nearly impossible.

An Miaoli couldn't give up. But… with only sixty thousand high-grade spirit stones, she was completely tapped out. Not a single stone remained.

Chapter 224: Ye Chen's Visit?

"Aunt, what should we do?" An Yuyi's voice trembled with urgency.

The path of cultivation was mercilessly brutal. Only a rare few could claw their way to the top, step by grueling step. If she couldn't resolve the issue with her spiritual root, her journey as an immortal cultivator would come to a dead end, its limits painfully clear.

Worse still, Li Feihuang had obtained the Phoenix Blood. If An Yuyi couldn't form a ninth-grade Golden Core, how could she ever hope to rival her? And then there was Ye Chen—his talent was astonishing, his combat prowess absurdly formidable. His future was boundless, a soaring path to greatness. If she failed to achieve a ninth-grade Golden Core, she'd never keep pace with him.

An Yuyi's heart raced. She was desperate—truly desperate.

An Miaoli's expression grew solemn, a flicker of hesitation in her eyes. After a moment, she bit her lip and carefully retrieved a jade box from her storage pouch. She opened it, revealing a small, crystalline herb shimmering with vibrant spiritual energy.

Spirit Infant Grass. This rare treasure could increase the odds of breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage and enhance the spirituality of the Nascent Soul, potentially elevating its grade. In the vast cultivation world, Nascent Soul cultivators were considered true powerhouses. Any treasure capable of aiding a breakthrough to that realm was priceless.

This Spirit Infant Grass had cost An Miaoli dearly—ten years ago, she'd risked life and limb to obtain it. Its value was at least 150,000 high-grade spirit stones, and even then, it was a treasure you couldn't buy even if you had the money. She had planned to use it for her own Nascent Soul breakthrough. But after glancing at her niece, An Miaoli let out a soft sigh.

Cultivation was a race—a relentless struggle for supremacy. Fall one step behind, and you'd be left in the dust forever. Who knew when they'd next encounter a spiritual treasure capable of improving one's aptitude? They had to seize this chance, no matter the cost. As for her own Nascent Soul aspirations… those could wait.

Her mind made up, An Miaoli spoke calmly, "Eighty thousand high-grade spirit stones!"

Heavenly Evolution Pavilion allowed cultivators to trade treasures in lieu of spirit stones, though such items were valued at a twenty percent discount from their market price. It was a fair practice, if not overly generous.

The crowd erupted in murmurs of disbelief. Eighty thousand high-grade spirit stones for a single Thunderbane Bamboo Core? Were they insane? That was nearly double its actual value!

But the shock didn't end there. From another private booth, a voice rang out without hesitation, "Ninety thousand high-grade spirit stones!"

The bids were climbing by ten thousand at a time?

An Miaoli's expression remained steady as she called out, "One hundred ten thousand!"

From the opposing booth, a voice shot back, "One hundred twenty thousand!"

"One hundred thirty thousand!"

"One hundred forty thousand!"

"One hundred fifty thousand…"

The entire auction hall fell silent.

A Thunderbane Bamboo Core was certainly valuable, but when had its price ever soared to such heights? The powerhouses from various clans and sects exchanged curious glances. Could there be some hidden use for the Thunderbane Bamboo Core they didn't know about?

On the stage, the Golden Core-stage auctioneer, listening to the relentless back-and-forth bidding, couldn't help but steal a few extra glances at the Thunderbane Bamboo Core. What was going on? Had they all lost their minds? This wasn't some miraculous treasure capable of upgrading one's spiritual root to Earth-grade. Was it really worth this frenzy?

Inside the private booth, An Miaoli's delicate hand clenched tightly after calling out a bid of one hundred eighty thousand. The Spirit Infant Grass was worth 150,000 high-grade spirit stones, but with the auction house's twenty percent discount, it equated to 120,000. Adding the 60,000 spirit stones she already had, 180,000 was her absolute limit.

When she'd offered the Spirit Infant Grass, An Yuyi had been brimming with confidence that they'd secure the Thunderbane Bamboo Core. She'd assumed the other bidder would balk at anything over 100,000. After all, even the Holy Sons and Holy Maidens of the Holy Lands, with their vast wealth and resources, wouldn't be foolish enough to pay several times a treasure's value.

But she hadn't anticipated how tenacious her opponent would be, matching her bid for bid without hesitation. Now, at 180,000, if the other side kept going, she'd be out of options.

Sure enough, from the opposing booth, a voice rang out again, "One hundred ninety thousand!"

An Miaoli shook her head, her resolve crumbling. An Yuyi's face turned ashen, drained of color. Improving her spiritual root aptitude—why was it so impossibly hard? Despair washed over her, raw and overwhelming.

Meanwhile, in the other booth, Ye Chen called out his bid with a casual smirk, his expression barely rippling with concern. A flicker of suspicion crossed his mind, though. Was Heavenly Evolution Pavilion deliberately pitting someone against him to drive up the price, knowing he had deep pockets?

Not that it mattered. Ye Chen didn't mind spending a few extra spirit stones. After all, An Miaoli's return on investment was two hundred times the cost. Even without a critical hit, he'd still come out far ahead. If the pavilion was indeed rigging the bids, he'd still claim the prize. With his system backing him, he could afford to be reckless.

After his bid of 190,000, the opposing booth fell silent. The auctioneer called for final bids once, twice, three times. The contest for the Thunderbane Bamboo Core was over.

The treasure was promptly delivered to Ye Chen's booth, and the transaction was finalized.

Ye Chen gazed at the vibrant, life-filled Thunderbane Bamboo Core, nodding with satisfaction. With this treasure and a critical hit, Senior Sister's aptitude would soar to new heights. As long as the return exceeded a hundredfold, they could still become Dao companions, gaining the companion bonus, though without the critical hit. But that was enough. He could finally help Senior Sister resolve her persistent "flood" issue…

...

"Fellow Daoist Ye, someone wishes to trade a Spirit Infant Grass for your Thunderbane Bamboo Core," the attendant said. "If you're unwilling, they'd like to meet with you in person…"

Ye Chen waved his hand dismissively, not even considering it. The Thunderbane Bamboo Core was perfect for An Miaoli, especially since An Yuyi desperately needed it. In such circumstances, a critical hit was highly likely.

Spirit stones? He had no shortage of those. As for the Spirit Infant Grass, a treasure that could enhance one's Nascent Soul breakthrough, it was indeed valuable—far more so than the Thunderbane Bamboo Core. But by the time he needed to break through to Nascent Soul, he'd have access to even better treasures. There was no need to trade.

With another wave, Ye Chen signaled the attendant to escort him out. The remaining auction items didn't interest him. His priority was delivering this gift. Heavenly Evolution Pavilion had a teleportation array that could whisk VIPs to a quiet corner of Divine Will City, ensuring they avoided unwanted attention. Ye Chen stepped into the array and vanished, heading straight for the Divine Will Sect to visit An Miaoli.

...

Back in the booth, An Miaoli sighed upon learning of the refusal. "So be it. If it's not fated, there's no use forcing it." She turned to her niece. "I'll find another way."

An Yuyi's heart sank, heavy with disappointment. But she saw how hard her aunt had tried, truly sparing no effort. The fault lay with their absurdly extravagant opponent. A Thunderbane Bamboo Core worth a few tens of thousands of high-grade spirit stones, bought for 190,000? What a reckless spendthrift.

The two had no interest in the rest of the auction and left the pavilion. As they walked, An Yuyi seethed with resentment toward the bidder who'd snatched the Thunderbane Bamboo Core. If she ever met them, she'd be tempted to throw a punch.

An Miaoli, too, felt a pang of regret, her mind racing to think of other treasures with similar effects. Until they found one, her niece couldn't afford to break through. Falling behind was a death sentence in cultivation, but better to wait than settle for less than a ninth-grade Golden Core.

An Yuyi was still young—she could afford the delay. The problem was that treasures like the Thunderbane Bamboo Core were a matter of luck, not easily found.

Even with her refined composure, An Miaoli couldn't help but feel irritated. As she mulled over their options, An Yuyi suddenly gasped, "Aunt, my transmission talisman just activated. Ye Chen is at the sect gate… he's come to visit us!"

Ye Chen, visiting? An Miaoli's mood soured further, her thoughts drifting to how he'd once used her niece to threaten her. Her irritation deepened.

...

Chapter 225: One Sentence Made a Man Spend 190,000 for Me

An Miaoli's heart churned with frustration, but An Yuyi was all smiles, replying to the transmission talisman with a quick message before eagerly tugging her aunt back to the sect. Her plan had worked perfectly—Ye Chen was coming to her of his own accord. That Li Feng didn't stand a chance against her now.

Still, the thought of Li Feng brought a twinge of regret. Without the Thunderbane Bamboo Core, An Yuyi would have to delay forming her Golden Core by a few years. Defeating Li Feihuang was going to be a steep challenge.

An Miaoli, meanwhile, was less than thrilled. Seeing her niece's excitement, though, she couldn't bring herself to say anything. With a quiet sigh, she let An Yuyi pull her along, hurrying back to the sect's gates.

"Ye Chen, is this your first time at the Divine Will Sect?" An Yuyi's voice was bright as she greeted him. "This is my aunt's Quiet Wonder Peak. It soars 70,000 meters high, and at dusk, the sea of clouds turns golden—it's breathtaking. The most magical part? There's a school of cloud fish living in the clouds, swimming through them like they're water. It's unique to our Divine Will Sect. Aunt loves fishing for them, but she's never actually caught one."

After meeting Ye Chen, An Yuyi eagerly pointed out the wonders of the Divine Will Sect. Ye Chen took it all in, noting how the sect far surpassed his own Green Cloud Sect. The Divine Will Sect teemed with exotic birds and beasts, almost like a paradise on earth. The spiritual energy here was several times denser than at the Green Cloud Sect. Truly, this was the mark of a great sect.

Once they settled at Quiet Wonder Peak, An Miaoli spoke, her tone calm but measured. "We were at the auction earlier. When Yuyi received your message, she insisted on rushing back. Apologies for the slight delay and any inconvenience."

Though she disapproved of Ye Chen's manipulative tactics—look at what he's done to my niece—he had helped them significantly in the past. So, An Miaoli kept her demeanor polite.

Ye Chen raised an eyebrow at her words. "Senior An, you were at Heavenly Evolution Pavilion's auction as well?"

Realization dawned on him. So, the one fiercely bidding against him had been the very person he intended to gift the item to? No matter. Even if he'd known, he would've still fought to win it. Besides, this little competition might not be such a bad thing after all.

...

"Also?" An Miaoli raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued.

Before she could say more, An Yuyi huffed, her voice brimming with frustration. "Yeah, Aunt and I were trying to bid on the Thunderbane Bamboo Core. It's only worth about 50,000 high-grade spirit stones, but someone kept competing with us! We pushed the bid all the way to 180,000—more than triple its value—and they still wouldn't back down. I'm starting to think they were deliberately driving up the price. When they hit 190,000, we gave up. If they were just inflating the bid, let it rot in their hands! Good luck finding another buyer willing to pay 180,000!"

Ye Chen's lips twitched. With a subtle movement, he reached into his storage pouch and pulled out a jade box. He opened it, revealing the vibrant, emerald-green Thunderbane Bamboo Core, pulsing with lively spiritual energy, now sitting before the two women.

An Yuyi's words cut off abruptly. Her youthful face froze, her pupils contracting sharply. Even An Miaoli, who had been keeping her distance from Ye Chen, parted her lips in quiet shock.

This… Ye Chen was the one bidding against them?

The room fell silent, the atmosphere tinged with awkwardness.

An Yuyi pressed her lips together tightly. She hadn't expected Ye Chen to be their opponent. Had she just caused him to spend an extra 100,000 high-grade spirit stones?

That was an astronomical sum—enough to make even a Nascent Soul ancestor wince. She'd worked so hard to mend things between Ye Chen and her aunt, and now this? Would he hold a grudge over the massive expense?

An Miaoli, still reeling from the revelation, furrowed her brow. Ye Chen's wealth didn't surprise her—he'd always had resources beyond his years. But why would someone with a Heavenly Spirit Root need a Thunderbane Bamboo Core? It was utterly useless to him.

Unless…

Her heart skipped a beat as a possibility dawned on her. Was Ye Chen bidding on the Thunderbane Bamboo Core for the same reason she had—for Yuyi? It made sense. He knew about Yuyi's imbalanced dual spirit roots, which caused her mana to flow unevenly. He'd even ventured to retrieve the Blood Sea Lotus Seed for the same purpose, though he'd returned empty-handed. So, when he learned Heavenly Evolution Pavilion was auctioning a Thunderbane Bamboo Core, had he rushed to bid on it? And now, presenting it like this… was he planning to give it to Yuyi?

An Miaoli fell silent, her thoughts racing.

The next moment, Ye Chen spoke up, his tone light but tinged with amusement. "I never would've guessed my bidding rival was Senior An and Fellow Daoist An. This Thunderbane Bamboo Core? I bought it to gift to you, Senior. Turns out, we've made quite the blunder, letting Heavenly Evolution Pavilion and the seller walk away with a fortune!"

He chuckled, waving it off. "But it's no matter. Spirit stones are just worldly possessions—cultivation is what truly counts. As long as this Thunderbane Bamboo Core serves its purpose, a few extra spirit stones are nothing."

With a gentle flick of his hand, the jade box holding the Thunderbane Bamboo Core floated into An Miaoli's hands.

An Miaoli stared at the treasure, her emotions swirling in a tangled storm. It was really for her. All this time, she'd kept her distance, her attitude cold, barely sparing Ye Chen a word. Yet he didn't seem to care. The moment he saw her, his face lit up with genuine joy. And the way he treated her niece? It was as if Yuyi were his own kin.

The Thunderbane Bamboo Core was worth, at most, 50,000 high-grade spirit stones. When the bidding crossed 60,000, even she, Yuyi's own aunt, had hesitated, weighing whether to keep going. But Ye Chen? He hadn't flinched, calling out 70,000, 90,000, 110,000, all the way to an astronomical 190,000—nearly four times its value. And for what? The Thunderbane Bamboo Core was useless to him.

Why would he go to such lengths? For Yuyi? No, Ye Chen had no romantic feelings for her niece. That left only one possibility.

It was for her. Because she cared so deeply for Yuyi, Ye Chen mirrored that devotion, attending to her niece's needs with the same meticulous care. Realizing this, An Miaoli fell silent. Her misty eyes locked onto Ye Chen, brimming with emotions too complex to name.

Ye Chen met her gaze with a warm smile. Despite the fortune he'd spent—driven higher by her own bids—there wasn't a trace of regret on his face. Only the quiet joy of being able to help her.

At that moment, the jade box in An Miaoli's hands felt heavier than a mountain.

Beside them, An Yuyi's eyes sparkled with newfound light as she learned Ye Chen had bid on the Thunderbane Bamboo Core for her sake. Deep down, she knew his devotion stemmed from his feelings for her aunt, affection by association. But what did that matter? She cared only about the outcome.

Ye Chen had spent 190,000 high-grade spirit stones for her—a fact as undeniable as stone. He loved her aunt, her aunt cherished her, and she, in turn, admired Ye Chen. If he was willing to drop such a fortune for her because of her aunt, then perhaps one day, through that same connection, he might grant her deepest wishes.

With that thought, An Yuyi's heart brimmed with anticipation.