ISWI Chapter 205-206

Chapter 205: New System Function

Three full days passed.

Manjusaka waited. She occasionally glanced into the hall, only to tremble with rage every time at the sight within. How could a woman be so forward? In the end, she couldn't take it anymore and jolted the hall with a surge of force.

Only then, after another half hour, did the two finally emerge. Su Yuxuan's pretty face was full of satisfaction. She had finally fulfilled the desire she had been harboring for so long. During the process, she had even tried to "drain" Ye Chen to give him a little scare. But to her shock, despite having reached the Golden Core stage, she simply couldn't.

Ye Chen's body was absurdly strong, completely immovable. As for Ye Chen, his face bore a hint of surprise. Because after fully claiming the little witch Su Yuxuan. His Simp System suddenly unlocked a brand-new function.

"Congratulations, Host. You have obtained your first female cultivator with over 100x multiplier."

"Gift Feedback System new function activated!"

"Female cultivators with over 100x multiplier who have been claimed by the Host will still trigger gift feedback, with a Dao Companion Bonus—feedback multiplier doubled. However, Dao Companions cannot trigger critical hits."

The system prompt made Ye Chen's eyes light up instantly. So, after taking a female cultivator with a 100x multiplier as his Dao Companion, he could still get feedback. And with a Dao Companion Bonus, the multiplier would directly double! In other words, if he gave gifts to little witch Su Yuxuan in the future, the feedback that should have been 100x would become 200x! Even though Dao Companions couldn't trigger critical hits. Overall, the benefits still far outweighed the drawbacks.

At least now, Ye Chen no longer had to worry about losing the ability to receive feedback and delaying that final step.

With this realization, Ye Chen made up his mind. Next, he would definitely raise Eldest Senior Sister Yao Xi's multiplier to 100x. And then... truly savor the beauty of the full moon experience.

"Let's go..."

Manjusaka spoke curtly as she looked at Su Yuxuan, her tone full of annoyance. But the thoroughly satisfied Su Yuxuan raised an eyebrow, her expression tinged with doubt.

"Senior, how can you prove you're truly capable of solving my problems? After all, I don't have many years left to live. If it's all in vain, I'd rather spend my remaining time by Senior Brother's side."

Seeing Su Yuxuan acting so spinelessly enraged Manjusaka.

"How exactly do you want me to prove it?"

Su Yuxuan replied sweetly, eyes crinkling with a smile.

"Senior, Senior Brother is still in the late Foundation Establishment stage and hasn't obtained a core-forming spiritual item. With his peerless talent, he obviously needs the best. I wonder, does Senior have anything suitable on hand?"

Ye Chen, standing off to the side, blinked in surprise at her words. Then, he broke into a smile.

Of course, the little demoness Su Yuxuan wasn't some love-struck fool. Knowing her as well as he did, Ye Chen figured that the moment Manjusaka appeared and began speaking, Su Yuxuan had probably already been tempted.

But how could she possibly trust so easily? Everything she'd done since then—the apparent infatuation, the clinging affection—had all been calculated. She was probing Manjusaka, testing whether the old woman truly had the power to help her. Otherwise, what would be the point of getting freeloaded?

As for Ye Chen, he still felt a bit of a loss from not being able to secure this five-hundred-times portable granny. Now, if he could leech a bit of value back, that would be ideal. So he reached out and patted Su Yuxuan's head gently.

"Senior failed to protect her sect, failed to protect her own body.. Since Senior couldn't protect anything at all, there's no need to make things difficult for her..."

You want to turn men into flower fertilizer? You called me a wild cultivator?

Ye Chen didn't hold back in the slightest—he went straight for the jugular.

Manjusaka had been hesitating at first. Why should she benefit a male cultivator?

But now, hearing that, she was trembling with rage. Her soul body rippled so hard it looked ready to form tsunamis. She even felt a sudden urge to cry. Because Ye Chen was right. She really hadn't protected anything at all.

She looked coldly at Ye Chen, her voice laced with disdain.

"Core-forming spiritual items? I've never considered such things worth my attention. When I broke through to the Core Formation stage, I didn't need any spiritual item—I directly formed a Nine-Turn Golden Core. I once gravely wounded a Phoenix in the Divine Will Mountains with a single strike. A piece of its flesh fell, which I sealed within a Cave Heaven.

"Though it's only Unity stage phoenix blood, it is already among the highest-grade core-forming materials. With your talent, you might even comprehend a True Phoenix Divine Ability from it. I'll grant you the method to enter that Cave Heaven—go retrieve it yourself."

Su Yuxuan's eyes lit up immediately at her words. Phoenix blood—an absolute top-tier spiritual item.

But Ye Chen frowned slightly. What this granny described sounded eerily similar to the phoenix blood that Li Feihuang and An Yuyi had been searching for. No—that was exactly the same thing.

"The Divine Will Cave Heaven has already been taken over by the Divine Will Sect. I can't get in. Besides, that phoenix blood won't fully condense for another four years."

Manjusaka responded, "The formation that draws out phoenix blood through its inherent traits was one I personally laid down. You only need to activate it, and the phoenix blood can condense ahead of time. The only downside is that the next cycle will take twenty more years to complete.

"As for the Divine Will Cave Heaven—using the incantation I've transmitted to you, you'll be able to shift into it directly from anywhere within the Divine Will Mountain Range. You won't need to enter through the official gate."

As her words fell, a set of incantations imprinted themselves into Ye Chen's mind.

After speaking, for reasons even she couldn't explain, Manjusaka seemed to be in a much better mood. Her tone lightened as she turned to Su Yuxuan.

"The benefit has already been given to your senior brother. Let's go. I'm still just a soul—it's inconvenient for me to remain outside for long. Wear this ring on your hand. Most of the time, I'll rest within it. I'll take you to strengthen your cultivation first. Before reaching the Nascent Soul stage, you're in no position to begin preparing the materials for my new body. As for the matter of your lifespan, I know of a few places where it might be resolved. We'll see in time."

As she finished speaking, Manjusaka took out an ancient yet exquisitely crafted ring from who knows where, and it floated in front of Su Yuxuan.

Su Yuxuan slipped it onto her finger. Manjusaka's soul drifted into the ring, then guided Su Yuxuan on the direction to go.

Su Yuxuan glanced at Ye Chen, her eyes showing no trace of reluctance.

"Senior Brother, once I've dealt with the matter of my lifespan, I'll come back for you."

Ye Chen nodded with a smile. A little demoness like Su Yuxuan was never one for sentimental attachments. Her goals had always been firm and unwavering.

Manjusaka couldn't be bothered with Ye Chen. She simply gave Su Yuxuan the direction and retreated into the ring to rest.

Su Yuxuan floated off into the distance. It wasn't until she had traveled several kilometers that she finally paused, turned her head, tilted it playfully, and gave Ye Chen a cheeky wink—then blew him a kiss. After that, she turned away decisively and left without a trace of reluctance.

Ye Chen watched her fading figure, a hint of reluctance in his gaze. Not because he missed Su Yuxuan but because he missed the granny. He might've stabbed that granny's pride mercilessly earlier, but the truth was, she was a treasure trove. She clearly held countless opportunities. If Ye Chen could somehow acquire her, then pass her along later, the rewards would be unimaginable.

That granny and his system? A perfect match. Not to mention, she came with a five-hundred-times multiplier.

Ye Chen truly wanted one for himself. But what could he do? She hated men. Nothing he could change there. Still, getting the information about the phoenix blood for free—that was a surprise bonus.

Even so, Ye Chen remained cautious. Though the granny seemed like a bitter old sect hermit, wholly devoted to cultivation and possibly a bit naive. Could anyone from the Boundless Demon Sect really be a good person?

Ye Chen didn't buy it. Based on his own experience, the way her mood had visibly improved after revealing the phoenix blood… there was no doubt she was scheming something. So, that phoenix blood probably wasn't going to be easy to obtain.

But phoenix blood from the Unity stage? That was a top-tier treasure, no question. If he gifted it to Li Feihuang and triggered a critical hit, he would skyrocket. An opportunity like this, laid out right in front of him, was not something Ye Chen would ever let slip by.

...

With Manjusaka's guidance, Su Yuxuan arrived at the untouched depths of the ruins—an area where no one had ever set foot. As she walked, she asked curiously, "Senior, wasn't the Boundless Demon Sect only a Deity Transformation sect? How did you reach the Unity stage?"

To Su Yuxuan, Manjusaka remained calm. She let out a sigh, her tone somewhat listless.

"Our enemies were too powerful. That's why a genius like me was kept hidden by the sect. No one knew the Boundless Demon Sect had a Unity powerhouse in reserve. Unfortunately, it still ended in failure.

"Enough of that. Deeper within the Boundless Demon Sect lies a spiritual spring that can cleanse impurities from a Golden Core and enhance its grade. Your core is only seventh-grade—it's far too poor. Follow my instructions and enter the formation."

Chapter 206: Departure! Heading to Divine Will City!

Upon returning to the sect, Ye Chen gave a general account of what had transpired. However, he didn't mention anything about Su Yuxuan or Manjusaka. He merely said that the old monster from the Misty Sect had tried to possess someone, and he had struck at a critical moment, annihilating her soul.

The Elder of External Affairs widened his eyes in disbelief.

The old monster of the Misty Sect… was dead? Wouldn't that mean the sect was now without a leader?

The elder immediately reported the matter to the sect master. The sect master arrived at once, his aged face full of incredulity as he stared at Ye Chen.

"That old monster… is truly dead?"

Ye Chen nodded.

"Dead. Soul scattered, no chance of return. As for the elders who were trapped in the Misty Sect, I've brought them back as well."

With that, Ye Chen took out the Human Emperor Banner. After sorting through the situation, the aged sect master was overjoyed.

"That damned old hag is finally dead. Back then, when I had just broken through to the Golden Core stage, that old woman screwed me over hard—nearly beat me into the ground..."

"..."

The sect master, in his excitement, realized he'd said something inappropriate and quickly shut his mouth. Then he turned to the Elder of External Affairs.

"Assemble a force immediately! While the other families and sects are still unaware of her death, we strike first and attack!"

Every sect or family had its own sphere of influence. These territories often contained mines, secret realms, and other valuable resources. Now that the Misty Sect was leaderless, it was the perfect opportunity. Otherwise, once the other factions caught wind, they'd rush in to carve out their share.

The Elder of External Affairs nodded at once.

The sect master looked at Ye Chen with a broad smile and gave his shoulder a firm pat.

"You've rendered a great service this time. Whatever you want, just name it. The treasures in the sect's vault—all yours to choose from!"

Ye Chen nodded in thanks, though not a trace of excitement showed on his face. He had visited the vault once after a previous achievement. Frankly, it wasn't even as interesting as the contents of his own storage ring.

Ye Chen glanced toward Sword Peak—his master had yet to emerge from seclusion.

"Sect Master, why hasn't my master come out yet?"

The old sect master followed his gaze to the summit and sighed.

"The better the Golden Core one forms, the longer the time required for closed-door cultivation. Looks like your master really might be forming a ninth-grade Golden Core."

It was obvious—the old sect master was in excellent spirits. The sect now had successors to carry on its legacy. Gu Yunyun alone was already monstrously talented. Now with Ye Chen, who was even more of a monster. And their age-old enemy, whom they'd been at odds with for over a thousand years, was finally on the verge of destruction.

The old sect master felt that even if he died tomorrow, he could go in peace. If there really was an afterlife, he'd be seated right at the center of the ancestral hall.

"The sect will make its move against the Misty Sect tomorrow. Ye Chen, would you be willing to lead the charge?"

The old man looked at Ye Chen with anticipation. But Ye Chen shook his head.

"I've already reached the peak of Foundation Establishment and am preparing to break through to the Golden Core stage. So next, I'll be heading to Divine Will City to search for a suitable core-forming spiritual item."

His master had yet to come out of seclusion. So Ye Chen decided it was time to focus on his own breakthrough. Although Manjusaka felt somewhat unreliable, that phoenix blood was, without doubt, a top-tier core-forming item. If he could get his hands on it, gift it, and trigger a critical hit, Ye Chen couldn't even imagine what kind of feedback he might receive.

...

Upon hearing Ye Chen's words, the old sect master nodded without pressing further. He simply sighed with emotion. With Ye Chen and Gu Yunyun as master and disciple, the Green Cloud Sect was truly on the rise. As long as the two of them didn't fall out with each other, the Green Cloud Sect might very well ascend to become a Nascent Soul-level sect—and even replace the Divine Will Sect.

So, the old sect master stood beside Ye Chen and spoke with heartfelt sincerity, "Gu Yunyun... I watched her grow up. She's the type who's cold on the outside but warm inside. She's just not good at expressing herself. Her master was also a traditionalist, so Yunyun might not easily accept anything too unconventional. But she truly cares about you as her disciple. So even if she rejects you, don't give up. But don't push too hard either—Yunyun is a bit thin-skinned. When I was a young man, just starting out in the sect, I was also directly accepted as a disciple by my master. She was very beautiful..."

Ye Chen started to feel that something was off the more he listened.

What exactly was the old sect master talking about? Was this... a lesson on how to become a rebellious disciple who flirts with his own master? And the story didn't quite match up either.

Last time, while chatting by the pool, his master had mentioned the sect master's tragic love story, that he had devoted himself to cultivation and missed his beautiful senior sister, who had died waiting for him to return from his journey. So where did this beautiful master and forbidden romance come from now?

Ye Chen couldn't help but interrupt.

"Sect Master, didn't you have a senior sister?"

The old sect master was getting into his story with great enthusiasm. Hearing Ye Chen's question, he paused for a moment, then quickly recovered.

"Yes, yes, the senior sister… she was also... You see, someone like me—exceptionally talented—naturally attracts a lot of attention... Anyway, let me continue telling you about my master. My master couldn't accept that we had developed such feelings, but I stayed by her side for years, day in and day out. And at a critical moment, I stepped in to protect her—my Golden Core nearly shattered. That injury is the reason I never broke past the early Golden Core. And at the time, my master clutched me and cried her heart out..."

"..."

After listening to the sect master's tragic and heroic tale of forbidden love, Ye Chen offered a few polite words of admiration while suppressing the twitch at the corner of his mouth. Then, taking his leave, he returned to Sword Peak.

After confirming that there were still no signs of his master exiting seclusion, Ye Chen made his way to Pill Peak, where Yao Xi resided.

Yao Xi wasn't especially gifted—her strength ranked near the bottom among the elders. But because of her relationship with Ye Chen, no one dared to underestimate her. Even her cave dwelling occupied one of the best locations.

Upon hearing that Ye Chen was heading to Divine Will City in search of a core-forming spiritual item, Yao Xi's beautiful face lit up with joy. But Ye Chen, ever observant, could also sense a faint trace of disappointment in her.

Watching him climb higher and higher, feeling the growing gap between them, how could she not feel a little down?

Yet that wasn't the only reason. Part of her sadness stemmed from the fact that Ye Chen hadn't fully accepted her yet. With their relationship already where it was, everything should have fallen into place naturally by now.

Understanding what was on her mind, Ye Chen gently wrapped an arm around her slender waist and whispered softly, "Senior Sister, don't be anxious…"

This trip to Divine Will City, beyond acquiring the phoenix blood, Ye Chen also intended to find a spiritual item to help raise her innate talent.

Now that the system had upgraded, as long as her aptitude reached a hundredfold, even after claiming her, she would still qualify for feedback, with the bonus multiplier from being a Dao Companion.

Ye Chen spent the night at Yao Xi's residence, doing his utmost to soothe and comfort his senior sister.

The next morning, as he prepared to leave, Yao Xi straightened his collar, her eyes filled with reluctance.

"Junior Brother, travel safely."

Ye Chen smiled gently and was about to take his leave. But a sudden thought struck him, and he turned back to ask, "Senior Sister, do you know who the sect master's master was?"

Yao Xi nodded immediately.

"I just happened to read about it in the sect records. The sect master's master was the previous sect leader, Green Mountain Daoist, the only one among several generations of Green Cloud Sect leaders to reach the late Golden Core stage."

Ye Chen raised an eyebrow.

"Male or female?"

Yao Xi frowned and thought for a moment.

"Should be male, I think? The Green Cloud Sect hasn't had a female sect master in ages."

At that, Ye Chen's mouth twitched again.