ISWI Chapter 207-209

I'm so sorry. An extra chapter.

Chapter 207: Fragmented Chapter—Immortal Scripture!

Ye Chen didn't take the old sect master's story too seriously. In his previous life working, he had seen plenty of near-retirement veterans who had accomplished nothing noteworthy in their careers. But when they were around newcomers, they just couldn't resist boasting about their so-called glorious pasts. And if their own lives didn't offer much to brag about?

Well, it was only natural to start borrowing someone else's tale and pass it off as their own. Still, it wasn't worth exposing them.

The old sect master was, after all, only a Golden Core early-stage cultivator. He didn't even seem capable of defeating that Old Monster Wang. At best, he probably had twenty-something years left to live. Let the old man enjoy his final days, boast a little, and feel good about himself…

...

Ye Chen didn't head straight for the Divine Will Mountains. Instead, he first made his way to Divine Will City. Partly to prepare the materials he would need for his breakthrough to the Golden Core stage. And partly to see if he could buy any treasures that would enhance his aptitude.

Whether it was cultivation techniques required for forming the Golden Core, spirit artifacts, or rare treasures that could elevate one's talent, they were all extremely expensive.

But to Ye Chen, it was nothing. After the past few years of accumulation, the total value of spirit stones and treasures in Ye Chen's possession had reached at least five hundred thousand upper-grade spirit stones. Forget the Golden Core stage, even Nascent Soul cultivators might not have his level of wealth. So anything he needed, he could afford to buy without hesitation.

This time arriving in Divine Will City, Ye Chen didn't bother with a guide as he had before. He went directly to the Divine Will City branch of the Ye Boutique.

With An Miaoli, the Divine Will Sect's Grand Elder, personally offering him protection. And with An Yuyi and Li Feihuang often visiting as well, no one dared to mess with the place. Plus, although the Ye Boutique sold a wide variety of miscellaneous items, it was known for offering only high-quality goods.

Even better, the prices they paid when buying items were roughly thirty percent higher than elsewhere. It was quite popular among rogue cultivators. Even disciples of the Divine Will Sect would frequently drop by to see if they could pick up any hidden treasures. Business was booming.

When Ye Chen arrived, Sun Ye, who had been leisurely seated at the counter, immediately stood up.

"Greetings, Young Master!"

He quickly led Ye Chen to the back courtyard. There, he activated a defensive formation—one that even a Golden Core stage cultivator would struggle to break through in a short time.

From within, he retrieved a storage pouch and handed it over.

"Young Master, these are the treasures and spirit stones we've acquired recently, along with the account ledger."

Ye Chen gave it a cursory glance and nodded in satisfaction. Sun Ye had managed to collect quite a few interesting items, including several rare and hard-to-find treasures. Some were suitable for triggering critical hits for Ye Chen's own use. Others could be sold at double their value for a hefty profit.

All in all, the haul was impressive. Unfortunately, he didn't spot anything related to enhancing spiritual root aptitude.

Still, Ye Chen wasn't disappointed. Top-tier treasures had always been rare—it all came down to luck. He handed over the various items he'd received as feedback during this period, letting Sun Ye handle the sorting and sales.

Just as Ye Chen was preparing to visit the Heavenly Evolution Pavilion to check for any new inventory or upcoming auctions, Sun Ruoxin came rushing in, breathless with excitement.

Sun Ye tactfully took his leave.

"Young Master, you finally came! I thought you'd forgotten all about me!"

Sun Ruoxin looked a little aggrieved. Though she had been dispatched elsewhere by Ye Chen, her resources remained abundant, far beyond what even Divine Will Sect disciples enjoyed. Still, it was nowhere near as comfortable as being by Ye Chen's side.

Back when she had been near him, she could literally cultivate by lying down and doing nothing. Now, even though managing the Divine Will City branch appeared glamorous, Sun Ruoxin knew the truth: She had been exiled after losing the harem power struggle.

Just thinking about Lu Jing still being at Ye Chen's side, serving him day and night, eating her fill every evening made Sun Ruoxin grit her teeth.

That woman, Lu Jing, was too cunning. Always soft-spoken and unassuming, never competing for anything. Even when Ruoxin urged her to "come down early," Lu Jing would just give a pitiful nod and move faster. And it worked—she won Ye Chen's sympathy.

But even if she had lost once, Sun Ruoxin wasn't ready to admit defeat. Instead, her fighting spirit surged.

Sun Ruoxin had spent a fortune in secret to hire a female cultivator from the Tower of Desire to personally instruct her.

The Tower of Desire was, after all, a subsidiary of the Heavenly Desire Sect. And the Heavenly Desire Sect was a Deity Transformation sect, stronger than even the Divine Will Sect. Naturally, the female cultivators from there were in a league of their own.

Under one-on-one guidance, Sun Ruoxin learned a great deal. Beyond that, with her mentor's connections, she even had several outfits custom-made. Despite consisting of barely any fabric, the prices were absurdly high. Each piece had peculiar, specialized effects.

All in all, Sun Ruoxin wasn't trying to prove how amazing she was. She only wanted to reclaim everything she had lost.

...

Ye Chen gave a few simple words to settle Sun Ruoxin's ambitious spirit, telling her to wait for his return. Under her disappointed gaze, he left and made his way to Heavenly Evolution Pavilion. Backed by the Holy Land, Heavenly Evolution Pavilion always had the finest goods.

However, unfortunately, Ye Chen still couldn't find any top-tier Golden Core cultivation techniques. But it wasn't a total loss.

In two months' time, Heavenly Evolution Pavilion would be holding a grand auction. One of the featured items was a ten-thousand-year-old Thunderbane Bamboo Core. It could enhance a cultivator's aptitude, potentially even raising it to the level of Dual Variant Spiritual Roots. But another auction item was even more astonishing—the Golden Core chapter of the Immortal Scripture Eternal Cosmos Sutra.

Ye Chen was startled upon first hearing of it.

An Immortal Scripture? Heavenly Evolution Pavilion in Divine Will City had the qualifications to auction something like that? Weren't they afraid the original owner would come knocking?

But after a detailed explanation from the pavilion's steward, Ye Chen finally understood.

This fragment of the Eternal Cosmos Sutra's Golden Core chapter had been discovered by an elder of the Heavenly Evolution Holy Land while exploring ancient ruins. And it wasn't the full chapter. In total, it amounted to just about two hundred words, and even those weren't coherent. It likely didn't even comprise a tenth of the full scripture. A fragment among fragments, essentially useless for cultivation.

Moreover, the Immortal who created the Eternal Cosmos Sutra—and his descendants, the Jiang Clan—had long since vanished into the mists of history. There was no one left to reclaim it.

After attempting to study it for several years with no results, the elder decided to have ten facsimiles made and distributed them to Heavenly Evolution Pavilion branches across the realm for auction. Only ten copies would be sold, ensuring buyers wouldn't have to worry about the market being flooded.

Was that fragmented chapter valuable? Of course—it absolutely held auction value. After all, what cultivator wouldn't want to glimpse an immortal scripture? Even more so when every word of such scriptures carried profound truths. While studying it, one might just gain an unexpected insight.

What's more, the Golden Core chapter of the Eternal Cosmos Sutra was said to be the strongest among all Golden Core chapters in the known immortal scriptures. In the ancient era, a Golden Core genius of the Jiang Clan once fought six Nascent Soul cultivators alone, battling for an entire day and night before slaying them all. Such terrifying battle records added immeasurable prestige.

Now that an opportunity to obtain this scripture had emerged, even a mere fragment would draw the attention of countless sects, forces, and individual experts vying for it.

...

The Thunderbane Bamboo Core was something Ye Chen absolutely needed. But this Eternal Cosmos Sutra fragment? He was just as determined to obtain it. To other cultivators, it was just a fragment. At best, they could hope to comprehend a little something from it.

But for Ye Chen, things were different. With his system's feedback ability, giving the fragment as a gift could potentially return the complete version. Spending a few spirit stones on a fragment, only to receive the full scripture? That would be a direct ascent to the heavens! Although he hadn't managed to buy anything for himself on this visit…

Ye Chen had found something of great use to Li Feihuang. And it was astonishingly expensive. Priced at a full fifty thousand upper-grade spirit stones. According to the steward, it was only temporarily housed in this branch of the Heavenly Evolution Pavilion. Soon, it was set to be transferred to a larger and more prosperous Immortal City.

Ye Chen didn't hesitate for a second. He paid the full fifty thousand up front and took it.

...

Returning to the general store's back courtyard in excellent spirits, Ye Chen found Sun Ruoxin waiting, eyes practically aching from anticipation. The moment she saw him, her eyes lit up. The room dimmed, lit only by the gentle flicker of a single candle. Under its swaying light, Ye Chen raised a curious brow. Did such robes exist in the cultivation world?

Moments later, Ye Chen experienced something entirely new. To that, Ye Chen had only one thing to say: Female cultivators from the big cities really did know how to play.

Chapter 208: Phoenix Blood Crimson Gold

Early the next morning, Ye Chen got dressed and rose from bed. With the auction just two months away, he decided to make good use of his time and obtain the phoenix blood first.

Today, he would head to the Divine Will Mountains and enter the Cave Heaven. But just as he was about to leave, a message came in—he had a visitor. The guest was none other than Li Feihuang. She was quickly invited inside.

The two sat in the small courtyard, and Li Feihuang removed her ordinary disguise. What emerged was a breathtaking beauty with an air of nobility, and that iconic cascade of red hair. She still preferred her true appearance. But most of the time, she had to keep it hidden. Only in front of Ye Chen did she dare show her real face, finally able to relax. After all, her father had always said—trust the one you use, and don't use the one you doubt.

"Fellow Daoist Ye, you granted me a direct disciple identity back then, and I never got a chance to thank you before you left properly. But we of the Great Chu imperial family are always clear about rewards and punishments. This—" She lifted her chin slightly, voice calm. "—is the reward I prepared for you."

Ye Chen raised an eyebrow.

A reward? Big sister, are you treating me like one of your ministers now? How ridiculously patronizing.

Still, he didn't stand on ceremony. He casually accepted the jade box, opened it, and gave the contents a quick glance, his brow arching again.

"This is the top-grade core-forming treasure Phoenix Stone, imbued with a trace of imperial spirit Qi. As long as your talent isn't trash, you'll form at least a seventh-grade Golden Core. And with your extraordinary potential, you might even achieve eighth-grade."

Li Feihuang introduced the item with composure, as if bestowing a completely mundane gift. But in truth, Li Feihuang's heart was bleeding. The political winds of the Great Chu Dynasty had shifted drastically. She had fled in haste, barely escaping with her life. There had been no time to gather wealth or treasures.

To purchase this Phoenix Stone, Li Feihuang had practically emptied everything she had. Giving it away like this, of course it hurt. But she still did it, without hesitation. Because her father had once said:

"As an emperor, you must be generous, broad-minded! When it's time to reward, never hold back. Only by doing so will your ministers remain loyal and devoted. Once, a minister of mine betrayed me and joined another sect. But instead of chasing him down, I gifted him one hundred thousand upper-grade spirit stones. Do you know why? Because if even those who betray me receive such a reward, then those who remain loyal will only believe they'll receive even more, and thus become even more loyal!"

After successfully acquiring a direct disciple status last time, Li Feihuang now had full faith in her father's teachings. Everything he taught was right. So, when she learned Ye Chen had returned, she didn't hesitate to prepare a lavish gift.

A core-forming spiritual item that guaranteed a seventh-grade core and held the potential for an eighth-grade one. It was absolutely a treasure. Valued at no less than thirty thousand upper-grade spirit stones, and not something that could even be bought easily with money.

Even within the Divine Will Sect, the only item known to guarantee a ninth-grade core was the phoenix blood, and only one drop formed every century. This spoke to how rare and precious the Phoenix Stone truly was.

So, while her heart ached, Li Feihuang maintained a calm expression as she looked at Ye Chen. She waited, expecting him to light up in astonishment, overwhelmed with gratitude, moved to the point of tears. Then, he'd fall to one knee and pledge himself on the spot. And she would help him up, gently, with the practiced grace of an empress.

This is nothing but a trifle. Wait until I become Empress. You will have so much more.

Thus, her first loyal "Golden Dragon King" would be forged in fire and generosity. A future cornerstone of the Great Chu Dynasty.

However, in Li Feihuang's hopeful gaze, Ye Chen merely raised an eyebrow as he glanced at the gift.

Honestly? Not bad. Slightly better than the ancient jade his master had given him before. But that was about it.

This thing? He might just pass it along to his senior sister, or save it for one of the maids when they needed to form their core. So Ye Chen calmly accepted the gift with a nod.

"Many thanks, Fellow Daoist Li."

Li Feihuang: ???

That was it? That was your reaction? This spiritual item… she had used all her connections with various elders just to get her hands on it. She had spent everything she owned to buy this Phoenix Stone. For the next few years, her cultivation resources would be stretched thin, she'd have to survive on the basic allocations given to direct disciples.

As a royal princess of the Great Chu Dynasty, she had never lived like this. She had given so much, and all she got in return was a "many thanks"? Do you even understand the value of the Phoenix Stone!?

...

Noticing Li Feihuang's strange expression, Ye Chen asked curiously, "Fellow Daoist Li, is there something more you wish to say?"

She immediately shook her head.

"No."

Ye Chen nodded, then reached into his storage ring and pulled out a jade box, handing it to her.

"Coincidentally, I also prepared a small gift for you, Fellow Daoist. Please accept it."

Li Feihuang's mood instantly lifted.

Ye Chen actually prepared a gift for her? How thoughtful. That said, she didn't have high expectations for the item itself. She had accepted the direct disciple title because she happened to need it—nothing more.

As a princess of Great Chu, what hadn't she seen? She had no need for gifts from others. But since this was a present from the man she had designated as her future Golden Dragon King, she accepted it with a soft smile. No matter what it was, she would still thank him gracefully and give him some face.

But the moment Li Feihuang opened the box, a burst of red light nearly blinded her on the spot. And the aura that drifted from within made her pupils shrink to pinpoints.

"This is... could it be... Phoenix Blood Crimson Gold?"

She stared in disbelief at the crimson stone radiating divine brilliance within the box. Her voice trembled with shock.

Ye Chen smiled faintly.

"Indeed. I came across it by chance and thought it might be useful to you, so I purchased it for fifty thousand high-grade spirit stones and brought it as a gift."

It was the very item he had bought the day before at Heavenly Evolution Pavilion.

From the Golden Core stage onward, cultivators could begin refining their lifebound spiritual artifact—a weapon or tool that not only grew stronger with them, but could eventually evolve into a Dao Artifact. It also shared a telepathic bond with its master and wielded terrifying power.

However, not just any material could be used to forge such a weapon. It had to possess an innate spirit. And Phoenix Blood Crimson Gold, being the essence of extreme Yang and pure flame, was one of the ultimate materials for fire-attribute refining.

It was said to form only under rare and mystical circumstances, after being bathed in phoenix blood, and bore faint phoenix markings on its surface. Its potential to grow into a top-grade spiritual artifact was immense. And for Li Feihuang, who possessed the Fire Phoenix Spirit Body, it was a perfect match.

At that moment, holding the jade box in her hands, Li Feihuang felt a tidal wave rise in her heart. The phoenix aura radiating from the crimson gold could bring her immense benefit. If she refined it into her lifebound weapon and nurtured it, it might even raise the ceiling of her physical constitution.

The importance of this gift couldn't be overstated. Her father had long promised to find her a piece of Phoenix Blood Crimson Gold. But despite searching for years, he had never succeeded. It had always been a regret. And now Ye Chen had simply, calmly, presented it to her.

At that moment, alongside the intense excitement in her chest, there was also a strange awkwardness creeping into her heart. The core-forming treasure she had gifted earlier had cost around thirty thousand upper-grade spirit stones. She had even silently criticized Ye Chen for not showing more enthusiasm. And now… Ye Chen casually handed over something even more precious.

This… was a little awkward. And by her father's logic, didn't this mean she now needed to reward Ye Chen with something even more valuable? But the problem was she really didn't have anything left!

Chapter 209: Critical Hit Triggered!

She had come to give a gift, to win hearts and demonstrate royal grace. And yet, her "subject" had turned around and given her something even more valuable. What was she supposed to do in a situation like this? Her father had never prepared her for this. Still, despite the internal awkwardness.

Li Feihuang found herself even more satisfied with Ye Chen. Being able to present Phoenix Blood Crimson Gold showed that—even when not at her side—Ye Chen had kept her in mind.

His strength was already formidable. Not too far beneath her own. His future prospects were bright. And now, he was even this considerate, shouldering burdens on behalf of his liege. A minister like this... truly rare. Once she reclaimed the imperial throne, she would reward him a hundredfold.

"Fellow Daoist Ye, you are most thoughtful! This item will indeed be of great use to me. I thank you. When I return to Great Chu, I will see you rewarded a hundredfold."

Li Feihuang spoke with magnanimity and poise.

Ye Chen smiled. Not because of her hollow promise. But because, in his mind, the system's notification rang out:

"Gift delivered successfully…"

"Item gifted: Phoenix Blood Crimson Gold!"

"Processing 300x feedback…"

"Detected item has extreme relevance to the recipient. Critical hit triggered!"

"Reward: Black Yellow Primordial Essence!"

"Black Yellow Primordial Essence, also known as the Materia Prima of All Things. Formed from the Mother of Heavy Earth and the Essence of All Creation. A supreme treasure for refining. It holds no fixed attribute, yet encompasses every attribute—capable of evolving into all things, and forging all tangible essence."

Upon reading the feedback, Ye Chen was stunned.

Black Yellow Primordial Essence? Even something like that could be triggered? Absolutely insane. Black Yellow Primordial Essence, capable of replacing any refining material, able to evolve into all things. Even immortals sought after it.

To use it as the primary material for refining one's lifebound spiritual artifact? In the future, it would undoubtedly evolve into an immortal-grade weapon. And even among immortal weapons, it would stand at the peak.

Ye Chen glanced at his storage ring. The Black Yellow Primordial Essence given by the system was floating inside, almost forming a small mountain. The sheer quantity was staggering.

This completely unexpected harvest made Ye Chen's gaze toward Li Feihuang noticeably softer. As expected of a triple-hundredfold multiplier-level female cultivator.

With such a high base feedback, plus a critical hit, the rewards were absolutely insane. If he got his hands on phoenix blood, he wouldn't even hesitate. He'd definitely give it to Li Feihuang.

...

Li Feihuang, sensing Ye Chen's increasingly gentle expression, responded with a mix of nods and helpless sighs.

The nod was because she had once again confirmed her own value, being able to earn the recognition and support of a genius like Ye Chen proved she truly possessed the bearing of a future empress.

The helplessness, however, stemmed from the fact that Ye Chen, after just a few meetings, was already offering her unconditional support, even giving away treasures as rare as Phoenix Blood Crimson Gold. Surely, he had other thoughts about her.

To that, Li Feihuang had no real solution. Her beauty was what it was. For Ye Chen to fall for her was only natural. But once she reclaimed the throne, Ye Chen would understand the vast gulf between them and gradually let go of such ambitions.

After a few more casual exchanges between them, Li Feihuang returned to her ordinary appearance and figure. She was ready to head back and begin meditating on the Phoenix Blood Crimson Gold she had just received.

...

Just as they stepped out of the courtyard, Ye Chen and Li Feihuang both spotted a young female cultivator standing on the street outside. Her features still carried a trace of girlish innocence, but her figure was outrageously bold and curvy. She stood with a frown, staring at the two of them. It was An Yuyi.

Li Feihuang glanced at her once, then left without a word, drifting away with elegance. Of course, she recognized An Yuyi. The niece of the Divine Will Sect's Grand Elder, a fellow direct disciple. But she was a royal princess, why would she care?

...

As for Ye Chen, after seeing Li Feihuang off, he turned his gaze toward An Yuyi and raised an eyebrow. Clearly, she had come to find him. But where was her aunt?

An Yuyi pursed her lips at the sight of Li Feihuang leaving, then walked up to Ye Chen and said bluntly: "You should stop hanging around Li Feng from now on. I don't like her."

Ye Chen: "???"

Who even are you? You, someone with a mere 100x feedback, telling me not to associate with someone who gives 300x? Where did your courage come from?

Faced with An Yuyi, who had never triggered a critical hit, Ye Chen's enthusiasm was minimal. His tone was flat.

"Where's Senior An?"

An Yuyi frowned slightly. It had been so long since they last met, and this was how Ye Chen greeted her? So indifferent? Could he still be angry? What kind of man held grudges like this? I already apologized—what more does he want? Besides, it's not like he hadn't been in the wrong too!

Still, despite her growing dissatisfaction, when Ye Chen asked about her aunt, An Yuyi didn't overthink it. Ye Chen had always shown proper respect when facing her aunt.

Obviously, he was just trying to make a good impression on the elders. After all, he was going to become her Dao Companion sooner or later. Gaining the elders' favor was essential.

"Auntie said she needed to cultivate and couldn't come with me. But she asked me to bring a thank-you gift for what you did at the Divine Will Pool..."

At the mention of the Divine Will Pool, much of An Yuyi's resentment faded. That pool was incredibly precious, no cultivator would willingly give it up.

Yet Ye Chen, even while angry, had offered it to her without hesitation. That alone proved his sincerity. So, yes… maybe Ye Chen was a little petty. But for now, she would just bear with it.

Thinking of this, An Yuyi smiled and offered a jade box. She waited, anticipating that once Ye Chen opened it, he would light up with surprise and delight.

But Ye Chen had already used today's gift-feedback opportunity with Li Feihuang. And after hearing that An Miaoli hadn't come along, his interest vanished completely. He accepted the jade box casually.

"Please thank Senior An for me. I still have matters to attend to, so I won't trouble Fellow Daoist An to come in."

An Yuyi's expression immediately darkened. So Li Feng got invited in for a sit-down, but the moment she arrived, Ye Chen had something urgent to do?

Still, remembering how she had once misunderstood and even threatened him, An Yuyi forced down her temper and tried to soften her tone.

"Why don't you at least take a look at the gift?"

Inside the jade box was a core-forming spiritual item, capable of forming an eighth-grade Golden Core. Her aunt had spent a considerable amount of personal resources and sect contribution points to exchange for it from the sect's treasure vault, just for this thank-you gift.

Ye Chen opened it for a glance. Another core-forming spiritual item. That made two in one day. He nodded briefly.

"This item looks extremely valuable. Thank Senior An again on my behalf. Fellow Daoist An, let's leave it at that for now. Until next time."

With that, Ye Chen turned crisply and headed straight into the back courtyard of the store, leaving the gate shut behind him.

An Yuyi stood there, glaring at the tightly closed door. Her chest heaved violently in fury, trembling with indignation. Even her face flushed red.

Ye Chen, you've gone too far!

She gave a sharp flick of her sleeve and stormed off in a huff.

Ye Chen, of course, couldn't care less. A 100x multiplier might've been something he'd yearned for three years ago. But now? It was mediocre at best.

More importantly, An Yuyi never triggered critical hits. She acted like everything others gave her was only natural.

With so many better options, Ye Chen had no intention of wasting time on her. Once he confirmed that all preparations were complete, he promptly left the courtyard and set off for the Divine Will Mountains to retrieve the phoenix blood. That was his true objective.

Phoenix blood was already a top-tier core-forming item. Combined with Li Feihuang's 300x feedback and critical hit potential, what kind of core-forming treasure would he receive? And what kind of Golden Core would he ultimately form?

Ye Chen was very excited.