ISWI Chapter 893-894 (Patreon)

Chapter 893: Blooming Twice!

One week later.

Ye Chen slowly emerged from his cave heaven, exhaling a long, contented breath with a pleased expression. Luo Bingling had proven utterly defenseless. Lu Jing, by contrast, was gentle as water yet possessed remarkable endurance.

At one point, Luo Bingling had even called Lu Jing "sister," which had made the whole affair especially amusing. The agreed-upon week had passed. It was time to formally present the gift. And the gift in question needed no further explanation.

Striding out of the meditation chamber with confidence, he found Yan Qingcheng and the golden-robed elder already waiting. Seeing that Ye Chen's aura was steady and fully restored, both of them let out relieved sighs.

"I've recovered completely. Moreover, that battle withthe Celestial Prince brought me enormous gains—my Heavenly Emperor Fist has advanced by leaps and bounds… So please, Qingcheng, Senior—don't look so concerned anymore. I don't want either of you to feel any pressure because of me."

Ye Chen spoke gently, comforting them both. His words touched them deeply.

The golden-robed elder no longer hesitated. Having resolved to invest in Ye Chen and secure an Immortal Realm spot for his daughter, he would not drag his feet for even a moment.

"Ye Chen, since you've already recovered fully, come with us to the Origin Pool. For a Saint, it offers truly unparalleled cultivation speed. The cosmic origin there has already been purified and can be absorbed and refined with ease, rapidly boosting your cultivation. Our Heavenly Emperor Hall possesses many such resources. Come with Qingcheng and me now to take a look!"

The elder extended the invitation directly, while subtly emphasizing the depth of the Heavenly Emperor Hall's foundations. That way, when the time came to formally propose making Ye Chen the true Heir, their sincerity would carry even greater weight.

Ye Chen nodded with genuine anticipation. Although he already possessed the Star God Origin-Gathering Cauldron, which allowed him to cultivate at extreme speed in the Saint realm, who would ever complain about going even faster? He agreed without the slightest reservation.

Under the golden-robed elder's guidance, he and Yan Qingcheng headed deeper into the Heavenly Emperor Hall. The palace was vast beyond measure, containing numerous cave heavens and blessed lands within.

Before long, the elder led them to a teleportation array and activated the portal. The three stepped inside and vanished from the spot in an instant.

The next moment, they appeared inside another cave heaven. Before their eyes stretched a vast silver divine pool. The pool was enormous—hundreds of li in both length and width.

What flowed within it was none other than the origin energy of this universe. This was the accumulation of many years by the Heavenly Emperor Hall, precisely enough to allow one top-tier prodigy to break through to the peak of the Saint realm.

Standing in midair, Ye Chen merely gazed upon it and already felt refreshed and invigorated. Deep within his body, something trembled with eagerness, yearning to devour every last drop of origin energy in the pool below. This was truly the kind of heritage only a great power could possess. For an ordinary cultivator, acquiring so much cosmic origin energy would take an entire lifetime.

Yet after a single glance, Ye Chen already understood. This much origin energy might be sufficient for Yan Qingcheng to reach the peak of a Saint. For him, however, it fell far short. His overwhelming strength stemmed fundamentally from his physique, his immortal spiritual root, and his heaven-defying Divine Ability.

He could contain far more power than an ordinary cultivator, which naturally meant he required vastly more cosmic origin to break through. This amount would probably only carry him to mid-stage Saint at best. Reaching the late stage would be difficult, let alone the peak.

Even so, Ye Chen felt not the slightest anxiety. After all, with such a massive volume of origin energy right in front of him, even if he simply handed it all to Yan Qingcheng, the 7,000x feedback—without even needing a critical hit—would surely be more than enough, likely far exceeding what he needed for his own breakthrough. With that, he could advance to Saint King at an even more astonishing pace.

Noticing the flash of delight in Ye Chen's eyes, the golden-robed elder smiled and spoke.

"This Origin Pool has been accumulating for a very long time. It was originally prepared for Qingcheng, perfectly sufficient for her to reach the peak of Saint. If the two of you split it equally, you might each only reach the late stage, or approach it at best. But you have already formed a deadly enmity with the Celestial Prince. He could emerge at any moment. You must raise your cultivation as quickly as possible.

"Qingcheng was deeply worried for you, so she made the decision. She will give you the entire Origin Pool to help you reach the peak of Saint at the fastest possible speed. And while you cultivate here, our Heavenly Emperor Hall will spare no effort to search for the supreme sealing techniques you require!

"We have already located one, though it is only suitable for the Chaos Body. But rest assured—whatever you need in the future, the Heavenly Emperor Hall will do everything in its power to help you obtain it."

As the elder spoke grandly, he simultaneously built up goodwill on his daughter's behalf. He knew she harbored pride in her heart and was unwilling to share a man with others. But she was still too young. What use was pride when compared to cultivation and eternal life?

Most importantly, Ye Chen was loyal and righteous. No matter how many women he had, he never forgot the old ones for the new. A man like that was genuinely well-suited for his daughter.

Hearing her father's words, Yan Qingcheng's cheeks flushed faintly… Though she did indeed care for Ye Chen and was willing to give him the entire Origin Pool, it was purely out of gratitude. Yet when her father phrased it this way, the meaning shifted entirely.

Ye Chen turned to look at her, his gaze bright with emotion. Originally, he had expected only half. Now he would receive it all. Nothing could be better. So he clasped his hands toward the golden-robed elder and offered Yan Qingcheng a warm, gentle smile.

"In that case… many thanks to Fairy Yan and Senior for your generous favor…"

The elder had originally worried that Ye Chen might refuse or insist on sharing the pool with his daughter and leaving her half. He had prepared a whole speech of persuasion. Yet none of it proved necessary. Ye Chen had accepted so readily?

For a moment, the elder felt a flicker of suspicion—could Ye Chen have come here specifically for the Origin Pool? After all, Ye Chen's talent was already sufficient. What he lacked was only a cultivation base.

Yan Qingcheng was mildly surprised as well, but her naturally magnanimous nature made her especially pleased by Ye Chen's straightforward acceptance. She disliked excessive modesty and back-and-forth refusals—she preferred honesty and directness. Ye Chen had given her so much; if she failed to repay him, the guilt would weigh heavily on her heart.

…

Despite the whirlwind of thoughts and lingering doubts in the golden-robed elder's mind, he had already made his decision—and once an action was taken, he would never go back on his word. To retract now would not only erase any favor owed but would also offend the other party.

With a decisive wave of his hand, the golden-robed elder declared, "Very well. Ye Chen, you remain here and cultivate without moving. Qingcheng and I will depart at once. I'll immediately set out to find a method for you to form the seal."

As soon as the words left his mouth, he turned briskly, ready to leave with Yan Qingcheng in tow.

Yan Qingcheng showed no trace of reluctance toward the Origin Pool. She gave Ye Chen a gentle smile, then turned her graceful, statuesque figure and prepared to depart.

Although she had yielded the Origin Pool to him, she had not abandoned her path of cultivation. Next, she would rely on fragments of immortal artifacts to cultivate, while the immortal cultivation world offered other methods to rapidly absorb and condense cosmic origin energy—none, however, as convenient as the Origin Pool.

Just then, Ye Chen spoke.

"Fairy Yan, please wait a moment."

Yan Qingcheng paused, her long, elegant legs halting mid-step. She slowly turned back, a soft smile on her lips as she looked at him, curious what else he had to say.

Ye Chen returned a faint smile and said quietly, "I also have something I wish to give to Fairy Yan."

Yan Qingcheng's expression immediately became complicated. The treasures she had already received from Ye Chen were far too many. Even with her grateful nature, she already felt she could never repay him. How could she possibly accept more?

Moreover, remembering how he had previously turned around and gifted her the immortal artifact fragment right after she received it, she opened her mouth to refuse. But she was too late.

Ye Chen spoke directly and calmly: "Fairy, since you gifted me the Origin Pool, it now belongs to me. I understand very well how difficult it is to gather cosmic origin energy, and I am unwilling to let you waste your time in vain. More importantly, I can see that you still harbor the ambition to contend for the path to immortality. How could I allow you to linger in the Saint realm for decades or even a century? Therefore, I wish to gift the Origin Pool back to you."

His voice remained even and measured, yet both listeners heard every word clearly.

The golden-robed elder's face flushed red. Recalling his earlier suspicions and wild guesses, he wished he could slap himself. Ye Chen's attitude toward his daughter had been nothing but considerate. He accepted the gift only to return it—solely to preserve her dignity.

After all, she was proud and lofty; accepting a gift without giving something in return placed immense pressure on her heart. It had been the same last time, and now again. Ye Chen truly had her best interests at heart. And yet he himself had doubted him. How shameful.

Meanwhile, Yan Qingcheng fell silent. Her beautiful eyes gazed at Ye Chen with complex emotion before she shook her head firmly.

"I won't accept it."

Ye Chen's smile remained gentle.

"Why must Fairy Yan refuse? Please, take it. I could never stand by and watch you squander time in the Saint realm when I possess an opportunity to reach the peak of that realm directly. Nor could I allow my own cultivation to cost you your chance to vie for the immortal path. If I did such a thing, my Dao heart would never find peace. Therefore, Fairy, you must accept the Origin Pool."

At that moment, overwhelming gratitude surged within Yan Qingcheng's chest. Ye Chen was far stronger than she was, yet he had never once looked down on her. Instead, he had continually encouraged her. He had seen through her unyielding spirit, her refusal to give up on the immortal path, her determination to one day compete for immortal qi—and he had never mocked her. He had supported her wholeheartedly.

Now, faced with the one and only opportunity to swiftly advance to the peak of the Saint realm—an opportunity that lay within his easy grasp—he chose without hesitation to give it up for her sake. The weight of such support was almost too much to bear.

For a moment, Yan Qingcheng's heart was in turmoil, and her previously resolute attitude began to waver.

"Ye Chen… let's share it half and half," she said, taking a step back in compromise. She hoped to spend more time together with him. If they each took half, once the Origin Pool was exhausted, they could seek new opportunities side by side and advance together.

But Ye Chen shook his head without the slightest hesitation. "Both of us lingering in the Saint realm serves no purpose. Reaching the peak allows one to naturally break through to the sixth realm, becoming a Saint King and striving for even greater heights. That is the best path."

At those words, Yan Qingcheng's gaze turned completely lost. Finally, she could no longer hold back the question that had long burned in her heart—the one she had never dared to ask.

"Fellow Daoist Ye… Why… why are you doing so much for me?"

Chapter 894: Merely a Heart Full of Gratitude!

"Why are you doing so much for me?"

Yan Qingcheng's voice carried a tangle of emotions as she gazed earnestly at Ye Chen. Her eyes, veiled in faint chaos qi, shimmered with both mist and clarity.

Ye Chen understood at once that he had to give her an answer—one that would not arouse suspicion.

Just as with the Chaos Golden Radiance Severing Dao Technique earlier, he could have simply handed it over to her the moment he obtained it and let her cultivate it as well. But how would he explain that?

He clearly possessed far superior methods. If he was willing to give, why hadn't he offered the better one right away? Why settle for something inferior?

Sometimes, Ye Chen's restraint wasn't stinginess—it was necessity. An ill-timed gift would only raise questions and breed doubt. And Yan Qingcheng's gratitude ran so deep that she had finally voiced the question burning inside her.

He needed to provide a reasonable explanation. Otherwise, he risked not only failing to deepen her feelings but possibly straining the good rapport they had built. Under these circumstances, what could he say?

Looking into her breathtakingly beautiful face, Ye Chen spoke softly: "I know my reputation in the cultivation world is poor… I also know there are already many female cultivators by my side. Everyone assumes I fall for every woman I meet—that I'm lustful, fickle, insincere. If I don't act this way, how would you ever know the depth of affection I hold for you?"

The moment those words left his lips, Yan Qingcheng involuntarily stepped back several paces. His final sentence echoed relentlessly in her mind, reverberating again and again. If I don't act this way, how would you ever know the depth of affection I hold for you?

Her eyes quickly reddened. So that was it—Ye Chen had always minded his tarnished reputation. He feared she would look down on him. But all of that… it stemmed from her father. As for Ye Chen's true character, outsiders might not understand, but how could she not?

Yet deep down, he must have carried a sense of inferiority all along, never daring to speak plainly. Instead, he poured out priceless gifts and selfless acts, bit by bit conveying the love he harbored. He was undoubtedly the most supreme prodigy of this cultivation realm. And yet the love he bore her was so humble, so self-deprecating…

Her heart ached—truly ached—for him. In that instant, the gratitude within Yan Qingcheng could no longer be contained. It erupted like a flood. She stepped forward until she stood right before him, then reached out with her slender, flawless arms and wrapped them around him of her own accord.

"Fellow Daoist Ye… there is no need for this. You are wonderful. You deserve everything the world has to offer. No female cultivator is worth you lowering yourself like this—not even me. As for the many women around you… It only shows that you are broad-minded and deeply affectionate, not indiscriminate. And as for the words of outsiders—why should they matter? Those who truly care for you will never judge you by your reputation. They care about the person you are."

She held him tightly, her voice gentle as she comforted him. Behind them, the golden-robed elder's expression was complicated—relieved yet faintly frowning. He did approve of Ye Chen. He believed in the sincerity of Ye Chen's feelings toward his daughter.

But seeing Ye Chen adopt such a humble, almost pitiful demeanor… he still found it hard to fully accept. No one understood men better than another man. Watching his proud daughter fall so completely for just a few carefully chosen words—watching her willingly step into Ye Chen's embrace—left him with a stifling sensation in his chest. His own daughter… truly about to be taken in by this "yellow-haired" youth.

Yet at the same time, he was glad. Ye Chen truly was worthy of entrusting her future to. And there was still that slot into the Immortal Realm waiting for her. Caught between heartache and quiet approval, the golden-robed elder no longer wished to watch. He quietly turned and slipped away from the cave heaven.

But the moment he stepped out, confusion flickered across his face once more. Wait... wasn't this Origin Pool originally ours? How had it ended up with Ye Chen using it to play the generous benefactor? And his daughter, moved to tears, and throwing herself into the boy's arms… all because of something that had belonged to her in the first place?

Something wasn't right. Something was seriously off…

While the golden-robed elder wrestled with his bewildered thoughts, Yan Qingcheng noticed her father had slipped away. Emboldened, she leaned in more actively, tilting her peerlessly beautiful face toward Ye Chen.

But halfway there, she paused. A faint sigh of disappointment escaped Ye Chen before he could stop it. He opened his mouth to tell her there was no need to force herself— A single slender finger pressed gently against his lips, silencing him.

Then, in a soft yet resolute voice, she said: "I do not dislike you, Fellow Daoist. Yet I have no desire to become merely one among your many dao companions. My heart remains wholly devoted to the Dao; romantic matters hold no appeal for me. Still… your actions have stirred my gratitude so deeply that I cannot remain unmoved. So whatever happens next is simply my way of expressing thanks. Please, do not read more into it."

The next moment, as if to prove her words, she withdrew her finger and pressed her lips to his. A thread of clear, sweet purity flowed between them.

As he savored it, Ye Chen gazed at her with tender eyes. He knew her gratitude better than anyone—every previous instance had struck him with maximum force, never once letting him down. But he hadn't expected her to use gratitude as the reason to offer her first kiss so willingly… It carried the same unburdened sincerity as Senior An's heart of absolute clarity.

After a long moment, Ye Chen's hand—almost of its own accord—began to wander. Yan Qingcheng's cheeks flushed crimson. Her tightly closed eyes flew open, chaos qi swirling within them alongside fresh shock and shyness. Yet she did not push him away. Instead, she drew back just enough to meet his gaze and whisper:

"If you wish to go further… I won't refuse. My heart is filled with gratitude, and I am willing…"

Ye Chen had always known she was generous by nature. He simply hadn't realized just how generous. She was already prepared to share such intimacy. But he gently refused. His hand rose to stroke her silken hair as he spoke softly:

"Everything I've done for you was only to prove that I love you. It was never meant to pressure you, nor to force you into anything. Every act was entirely of my own will. I don't want Fairy Yan to do this out of gratitude alone. I only hope that one day… You will truly come to love me."

Hearing his gentle refusal, Yan Qingcheng parted her lips as if to speak, yet the words never came.

In the end, she simply said: "From now on… just call me Qingcheng."

Ye Chen broke into a relaxed, easy smile. He drifted back a step, separating from her with graceful poise.

"Very well, Qingcheng. Stay here and cultivate in peace. Focus on raising your cultivation. As for me, you need not worry. Just as you firmly believe you possess the aptitude to become an immortal, I too am confident that great fortune accompanies me. Even without this Origin Pool, another opportunity to rapidly advance will find its way to me. So cultivate diligently, Qingcheng. Who knows? I might even reach Saint King before you do."

With those parting words, Ye Chen turned and left the cave heaven without hesitation.

Yan Qingcheng remained where she stood, silent for a long time. Gazing at the vast, surging Origin Pool, she let out a soft sigh. She did not chase after him.

There was no point. Ye Chen's love for her was too resolute, too unshakable. Even this entire Origin Pool could not contain the depth of his affection. And yet… how much longer could she keep deceiving herself with the excuse of mere gratitude?

Confusion clouded her beautiful eyes.

…

The instant Ye Chen flew out of the small world, the system's voice finally rang in his mind—right under the golden-robed elder's worried gaze.

"Ding! Congratulations to the host for successfully gifting a treasure…"

"Gifted item: Cosmic Origin Energy!"

"Feedback in progress…"

"Applying 7,000× feedback multiplier."

"Detected: The gifted item holds extreme significance to the recipient…"

"Top-notch critical hit feedback triggered!"

"Feedback reward: Origin Sea!"

"Origin Sea: An Immortal King-level powerhouse uses supreme divine abilities to refine the origin energy of an entirely newborn great universe, forming what is known as an Origin Sea…"

"The origin energy of a newborn great universe is purer and more primordial, yielding far superior cultivation results…"

"In the Immortal Realm, only a handful of Immortal King-level factions possess one. It is regarded as a sect-suppressing treasure, capable of nurturing disciples and deepening their foundation…"

"It may also be directly fused into a cave heaven or small world to vastly strengthen its origin foundation. Its uses are myriad—especially for elevating a cave heaven into a true world, dramatically increasing its upper limits…"

"…"

Ye Chen raised an eyebrow.

The Immortal King truly lived up to his reputation. He had actually refined an entire great universe. And Yan Qingcheng's gratitude ran so deep it was almost overwhelming.

How large was a single Origin Pool, after all?

It was barely enough to cultivate one top-tier prodigy to the peak of the Saint realm.

But the Origin Sea, she had given in return?

It contained the primal origin energy of an entire great universe.

What kind of concept was that?

It could easily support millions—or even tens of millions—of Saints in reaching perfection. No matter how much he could absorb or how high his demands were, this would satisfy him effortlessly.

Moreover, compared to the origin energy of a mature universe, this was far purer and more effective. It would even have miraculous effects when he later achieved Great Saint, and his cave heaven advanced into a true world.

With the potency of this Origin Sea, combined with his cultivation inside the cauldron body—where the immortal artifact could assist him in refining the origin energy—his speed of breaking through to Saint King would likely shatter all previous records. And both of these gifts had come from Yan Qingcheng in one devastating burst of generosity.

The more he thought about it, the more precious she became to him. The Star God Origin-Gathering Cauldron could condense the origin energy within the Origin Sea into Origin Crystals, making their effects even stronger.

Ye Chen felt it was time to give her a few. To help her strength advance another step. But when the moment came to present them, explaining their origin would be… awkward. So he quickly made up his mind.

He would go out for a stroll, visit Central Continent, and see the little demoness. Then, upon his return, he could claim he had obtained a fortuitous encounter. He would share part of it with Yan Qingcheng and conveniently enter seclusion to break through to the peak of the Saint realm. It had been a long time since he last saw Su Yuxuan, the little demoness, and Ye Chen genuinely missed her.

While he was at it, he could also check on that senior with extreme hatred for men—Manjusaka—and see how she was doing now. Had she recovered her cultivation? Restored her physical body?

With these thoughts, Ye Chen turned to the gold-robed elder and said, "Senior, Qingcheng has already entered seclusion. It's time for me to leave as well…"

The gold-robed elder felt a pang of reluctance; he had hoped to build a deeper connection. But with Qingcheng absent, it didn't feel right to bring up making Ye Chen the true heir. After all, this was meant to be a favor done for his daughter—without her present, what was the point?

Deep down, the elder also felt a wave of emotion. After all, Ye Chen had given the Origin Sea to his daughter and now clearly needed to go seek his own opportunities. At that realization, the gold-robed elder gave a relieved smile.

Truthfully, whenever he thought of his daughter entering the Immortal Realm alone in the future—without him by her side—worry gnawed at him. He had always feared she would suffer out there. But looking at the young man before him now, an instinctive sense of peace settled over him.

In the days to come, Ye Chen would surely take good care of his daughter… That was enough.