ISWI Chapter 923-924 (Patreon)

Chapter 923: Ye Chen Really Wanted to Give It Away!

However, Yan Qingcheng quickly shook her head. "That is Ye Chen's freedom. As for me, I am not his Dao companion. I am simply grateful to him!"

While the two were talking, the latest news arrived.

The golden-robed elder stared at the battle record of Ye Chen smashing through the Quasi-Immortal array and was utterly shocked. He kept praising, "My worthy son-in-law is truly invincible. Forget the Chaos Body—even a genuine Immortal Body could not achieve this. My worthy son-in-law is destined to become an immortal in this life!"

The Chaos Body Yan Qingcheng: "…"

Soon after, the golden-robed elder's eyes widened as he read further. Surprise and gratification bloomed across his face.

Curiosity flashed through Yan Qingcheng's eyes.

The golden-robed elder spoke at once, "Ye Chen and the group from the Heavenly Evolution Holy Land are flying toward the Heavenly Emperor Hall!"

Yan Qingcheng's expression grew complicated. Why was Ye Chen coming to the Heavenly Emperor Hall at this time? Combined with the fact that he had just obtained the Heavenly Position Spirit Herb, his purpose for this visit was obvious.

The golden-robed elder's old face bloomed like a chrysanthemum in full bloom. He immediately said, "I'll go to Purple Dawn Star to fetch some spiritual spring water and brew tea for him when he arrives!"

The golden-robed elder was overjoyed.

Yan Qingcheng, however, felt somewhat tormented. She actually wanted to run away and avoid meeting him, leaving only the Heavenly Position Spirit Herb behind. Yet deep in her heart, she also missed Ye Chen and could not bear to leave.

After hesitating for a long time, Yan Qingcheng finally decided to wait calmly for Ye Chen's arrival. She would first try to persuade him to keep the Heavenly Position Spirit Herb for himself. If she failed to convince him, she would then repay him with her heart of gratitude.

Time flew by.

In the blink of an eye, a week had passed. Ye Chen finally arrived at the Heavenly Emperor Hall.

The golden-robed elder and Yan Qingcheng waited together at the palace gates. When Ye Chen saw the two of them—especially Yan Qingcheng, who had also reached the Saint King realm like himself—he immediately broke into a smile.

"Greetings, Senior. Greetings, Fairy Yan!"

The golden-robed elder now found Ye Chen more pleasing to the eye the more he looked at him. He was about to invite Ye Chen for tea.

Before he could speak, however, Ye Chen smiled lightly and took out a spiritual plant, presenting it directly to Yan Qingcheng. Staring at the spirit herb whose leaves flowed with fluorescent light and caused the Heavenly Heart Imprint to tremble, both the golden-robed elder and Yan Qingcheng showed complicated expressions. They had guessed that Ye Chen had come to give it away. But they had never expected him to do so with such straightforward simplicity…

Looking at the Heavenly Position Spirit Herb, Yan Qingcheng's expression grew extremely complicated. The gratitude in her eyes nearly overflowed uncontrollably. Ye Chen had obtained the Heavenly Position Spirit Herb and thought of her first. The moment they met, before he could even say much, he wanted to give it to her. He really loved her so much!

Most importantly, he loved her more than his other women.

Although Yan Qingcheng considered herself broad-minded and not the type to compare herself with others, nor did she mind the other romantic interests around Ye Chen, being favored like this still made the gratitude in her heart surge uncontrollably. She knew Ye Chen's personality and understood that refusing would be useless. She gently extended her slender hand, accepted the Heavenly Position Spirit Herb, and stored it between her brows.

Yet she did not rush to refine it. Her beautiful eyes shimmered as she looked at Ye Chen and spoke softly, "Thank you for the gift, Fellow Daoist Ye… I have also prepared a gift in return. Please follow me into the Heavenly Emperor Hall so I may repay you."

Seeing Yan Qingcheng accept the gift so cleanly and decisively, Ye Chen could not help but smile. And when he heard that she wanted to thank him, he smiled again. He liked women like Yan Qingcheng—vast and broad-minded like the sea, straightforward and efficient. Gifting her was much simpler. Most importantly, although it was simple, her reciprocation was never discounted.

"Congratulations, Host, on the successful gift…"

"Gift given: Heavenly Position Spirit Herb!"

"Seven-thousand-times feedback in progress…"

"Detected that the gift is extremely important to the recipient…"

"Maximum critical hit triggered…"

"Feedback: Heavenly Position Immortal Herb × 50!"

"Heavenly Position Immortal Herb: After a Mahayana sixth-layer or Saint King realm cultivator refines it, it can accelerate the refinement of Heavenly Position laws… increasing the speed by ten times the original rate!"

Looking at the feedback, Ye Chen smiled. Between a Heavenly Position Spirit Herb and a Heavenly Position Immortal Herb, there was still a Heavenly Position Sacred Herb in between.

Normally, one Heavenly Position Sacred Herb was worth a hundred times a Heavenly Position Spirit Herb, and a Heavenly Position Immortal Herb was worth another hundred times that.

Using a single Heavenly Position Spirit Herb to receive fifty Heavenly Position Immortal Herbs showed just how fierce Yan Qingcheng's critical hit was. And how profound her gratitude truly ran.

Ye Chen decided that later he would find an excuse to give Yan Qingcheng one Heavenly Position Immortal Herb. But he was not in a hurry to cultivate. He would wait for the Heavenly Position Divine Bamboo Root from Luo Bingling.

The efficacy of the Heavenly Position Divine Bamboo was comparable to a Heavenly Position Sacred Herb. The root itself was even more effective than the bamboo sections. Giving such a treasure to Lan Nuo, who had a higher multiplier and equally deep gratitude, would surely bring returns far beyond his imagination. The treasures fed back might far surpass Heavenly Position Immortal Herbs.

As for Yan Qingcheng's invitation, Ye Chen naturally would not refuse. Gratitude was flowing through her heart. If she could not release it, it would stagnate and affect her state of mind. In such a situation, he naturally had to help her properly. Otherwise, wouldn't he be harming her?

Thus, just as Yan Qingcheng had accepted the gift cleanly and decisively, Ye Chen followed her into the Heavenly Emperor Hall with the same straightforward ease. Only the golden-robed elder and the experts from the Heavenly Evolution Holy Land were left behind with complicated expressions. Ye Chen was truly too generous.

…

Ye Chen did not refuse simple meals and drinks. However, when it came to Yan Qingcheng's further ways of repaying the favor, he chose to decline. He still had to wait three months for Luo Bingling, so there was no rush.

Yan Qingcheng was not in a hurry either. Filled with gratitude, she was also happy to spend more time with him. The two occasionally sat together to discuss the Dao, and the days passed with exceptional comfort.

In the blink of an eye, three months had gone by.

When Ye Chen learned that Luo Bingling had returned and was waiting for him in Immortal City, he stood up cleanly and decisively to bid farewell. Before leaving, however, he took out the Immortal King Scripture created by the Devouring Female Immortal—the Heaven-Immortalizing Divine Art—and gave it to Yan Qingcheng.

"This is a unique scripture created by the Devouring Female Immortal. It can transform a postnatal Chaos Body into an Innate Chaos Body and even advance it toward the Chaos Immortal Body.

"However, this path requires continuously devouring the origins. Once the Innate Chaos Body reaches great completion, it may even require devouring Immortal Body origins to continue advancing.

"This path differs greatly from yours. After all, you are already a pure Innate Chaos Body. If you also devour other divine physiques to advance, it may not be a good thing. So I am only leaving this scripture for your reference!"

Although both were Chaos Bodies, there were still differences between them.

Even though Yan Qingcheng had already experienced countless surprises from Ye Chen, she still felt a jolt of shock at this moment.

An Immortal King scripture?

This was simply too astonishing. In the cultivation world, it was unquestionably the highest-tier scripture—bar none. It was valuable enough to drive Quasi-Immortals mad and spark rivers of blood in battle.

Yet Ye Chen had casually shared it with her. Although she would never walk the path of devouring others, as it conflicted with her own Dao, studying and comprehending this scripture would undoubtedly bring enormous benefits to the future advancement of her Chaos Body.

At that thought, Yan Qingcheng's beautiful eyes shimmered. She could no longer suppress the gratitude surging in her heart…

Ye Chen noticed her intention and immediately moved to refuse. He really should leave now. Although he was with Yan Qingcheng at the moment, his mind was already occupied with the thought of gifting the item to Lan Nuo and seeing the limits of her multiplier.

Doing so felt a little unfair to Yan Qingcheng. It also felt a little unfair to the slender-waisted beauty who had traveled thousands of miles to bring him the bamboo root! It made him seem like a scumbag. But Ye Chen truly could not hold back.

Yan Qingcheng, however, showed no embarrassment at being refused. Instead, she spoke with great magnanimity, "Fellow Daoist Ye has treated me far too well. Although I have no intention of forming a Dao companion bond with anyone, the gratitude in my heart cannot be suppressed. If I do not repay it, it will surely affect my future cultivation. Therefore, Fellow Daoist Ye, please do not refuse and allow me to ease this overwhelming gratitude!"

Ye Chen: "…"

Since Yan Qingcheng had put it this way, what else could he do? He could only fully accept her heartfelt gratitude.

After they had once again eaten and cleaned up thoroughly, however, Ye Chen still rose firmly and prepared to leave.

"Fairy Yan, focus on your cultivation…The road to immortality is long. We will need to accompany each other for a very long time, so our cultivation must not fall behind!"

At the gates of the Heavenly Emperor Hall.

Ye Chen did not even drink the tea the golden-robed elder had brewed. He bid a clean and decisive farewell and left.

Hearing his parting words, Yan Qingcheng felt even more moved. He left in such a hurry because he was afraid of delaying my cultivation… He really loves me so much.

…

Inside Immortal City.

Luo Bingling, who had been waiting for Ye Chen, wore a face full of smiles. The main reason was that this trip back had felt incredibly satisfying. In the past, her status within the clan had not been low, but she had never been truly valued. This time, even the ancestor had to speak to her with polite respect.

Luo Bingling felt as if she were the ancestor herself.

Many clansmen had assumed that after she left, she had suffered terribly and endured endless torment. When they saw the supreme Extreme Dao weapons and cosmic origin crystals she casually took out, they were completely stunned… They could not even imagine what kind of heavenly life she was living outside.

But what pained them the most was that she had taken those things out only to put them away again. She had not left a single item for the clan. The complex expressions on their faces—anger they dared not voice—brought Luo Bingling even greater pleasure.

In the end, she had elegantly pulled the bamboo root out of the ancestral land. She had even deliberately chosen her great-grandfather to escort her as she departed gracefully.

Luo Bingling left without the slightest reluctance. She knew she would never return. If her husband eventually became an immortal and took her with him, that would naturally be best. But if he did not, it would not matter. She would simply go to the Heavenly Evolution Holy Land where her husband belonged.

After all, a wife follows her husband. If her husband left, she would naturally shoulder the heavy responsibility of guarding their home.

As for the War God Clan? Sorry, we're not close!

Chapter 924: I'm Really Not a Good Person!

The moment Luo Bingling saw Ye Chen, she happily shared everything with him. Her eyes were filled with infatuation as she gazed at him. After all, she had now reached the Saint realm. With the cosmic origin crystals, she would soon attain the peak of a Saint.

Then, using the Sand of Heavenly Will to break through, becoming a Saint King was only a matter of time. This absurdly fast advancement speed, along with the joy of returning home in glory, had all been given to her by her husband. Her husband was truly amazing.

"Husband, this is the Heavenly Position Divine Bamboo…"

Luo Bingling did not forget the main matter. She carefully took out a jade box from within her body. When the jade box opened, a golden, root-filled bamboo root with long, slender tendrils appeared before Ye Chen. The life aura on it was exceptionally rich. The stir it caused to the Heavenly Heart Imprint far surpassed that of the Heavenly Position Spirit Herb and was only slightly weaker than that of a Heavenly Position Immortal Herb.

Ye Chen looked at the Heavenly Position Bamboo Root, then at the joyful Luo Bingling, and suddenly felt a slight pang of guilt…After all, the bamboo root that Luo Bingling had rushed back with would soon be given by him to Lan Nuo in the Lan Clan's Immortal City. Although he had done this sort of thing many times before, the fact that Luo Bingling cared so much for him as her husband still made him feel a little guilty…

Yet he could not avoid giving it away. After all, he was determined to maximize his benefits. Luo Bingling's Dao companion bonus was only eight thousand times. If he gifted it to her, the feedback would probably only be around fifty Heavenly Position Immortal Herbs.

Therefore, Ye Chen decided to give Luo Bingling as much pleasure as possible to compensate her. After bringing Luo Bingling into the cave heaven, he directly gave her a Heavenly Position Immortal Herb to refine after she broke through to Saint King.

Before Luo Bingling could even express her shock, Ye Chen took her straight to the Nirvana Jade.

The moment Luo Bingling returned to the cave heaven and swept her divine sense around, she immediately noticed that Lu Jing's cultivation had not advanced at all during the many days she had been away.

Before she could say anything about punishing Lu Jing by making her cultivate for a full twenty-four hours every day before resting, her eyes rolled back…

Soon, Luo Bingling weakly beckoned to Lu Jing and cried out in panic, "Sister, save me…"

The guilty Lu Jing, seeing that Luo Bingling was done for, eagerly rushed over to help. She rescued Luo Bingling from her predicament!

Several days passed like this.

Once Ye Chen's slight sense of guilt had faded, he asked Lu Jing to take good care of Luo Bingling, then drifted out of the cave heaven. He officially set off for the Lan Clan's Immortal City, ready to present the gift and experience the heart-striking feedback from a ten-thousand-times female cultivator!

...

"Our Lan Nuo has the potential to become a True Immortal!"

The Lan Clan cultivators were all exceptionally proud these days. Because the current Lan Nuo was truly heaven-defying. Ever since she had obtained the Sacred Spiritual Root, her cultivation speed had been frighteningly fast. She had already reached the Saint King realm. Her combat strength was even more terrifying. Even the Great Saints in the clan felt apprehensive when they looked at her. It was clear that Lan Nuo now possessed the ability to kill enemies above her realm while still in the Mahayana stage, just like the Heavenly Emperor's heir.

For the Lan Clan, which had been silent for many years, this was undoubtedly a powerful shot in the arm. It injected new vitality into the entire clan. Although the Heavenly Emperor's heir remained overwhelmingly strong and Lan Nuo probably could not obtain Immortal Qi to become an immortal in the cultivation world, everyone in the Lan Clan believed that the Heavenly Emperor's heir would definitely bring Lan Nuo into the Immortal Realm. After all, Lan Nuo was the only Sacred Spiritual Root in the entire cultivation world.

This filled the Lan Clan with hope.

"Nuonuo…"

While Lan Nuo was resting from her cultivation, she was called out of her secluded chamber.

"Lan Nuo, this is the Heavenly Position Spirit Herb our clan obtained from the Land of Fallen Immortal! With this, your cultivation speed will rise to another level. You may be able to break through to Great Saint within twenty years."

The Lan Clan ancestor handed over a jade box. Inside the jade box lay a Heavenly Position Spirit Herb.

Lan Nuo's face immediately lit up with delight, but she quickly said, "I already have the Sacred Spiritual Root. This item is useless to me! It should be given to Fellow Daoist Ye!"

The ancestor was stunned, then frowned. "Ye Chen already has one. He obtained a stalk on the Immortal Path. Didn't you know?"

Lan Nuo nodded, then added, "Fellow Daoist Ye later went to the Heavenly Emperor Hall. He most likely gave it to the true Heavenly Emperor's heir!"

The ancestor frowned at once. He wanted to retort that no one would be that foolish. But when he thought of Lan Nuo's Sacred Spiritual Root, he found himself unable to speak. Indeed, if Ye Chen was willing to give away even the Sacred Spiritual Root, what was a mere Heavenly Position Spirit Herb?

Moreover, Ye Chen's relationship with the Heavenly Emperor Hall had clearly improved, and the reason was obviously a female cultivator. The ancestor could not help saying, "If you want to give the Heavenly Position Spirit Herb to Ye Chen, your ancestor will not stop you… After all, Ye Chen has indeed shown great kindness to our Lan Clan. Even a Heavenly Position Spirit Herb is not enough to repay him.

"But he has too many women around him. I'm worried that once his interest in you fades, he will forget you. This Heavenly Position Spirit Herb was brought back from the Land of Fallen Immortals by your Seventh Granduncle. He did not manage to walk out and has already fallen…

"But you don't need to overthink it. He didn't have many years left anyway. If you give this Heavenly Position Spirit Herb away, remember to clearly tell Ye Chen how hard it was to obtain, so that he will remember the favor as coming from you. As long as you can enter the Immortal Realm, whether or not you have this Heavenly Position Spirit Herb won't matter."

The ancestor saw things clearly and did not stop Lan Nuo. He simply made the difficulty of obtaining the herb clear. It had been brought back by a clan expert at the cost of his life. When it arrived, it was still stained with blood…He worried that if Lan Nuo gave it away too casually, Ye Chen would not take it to heart. There were simply too many Heaven's Chosen female cultivators around Ye Chen. He had to remind Lan Nuo to fight harder for herself.

Hearing this, Lan Nuo's eyes reddened. Seventh Granduncle had died for this Heavenly Position Spirit Herb?

The joy in her heart instantly turned heavy. She was not foolish. She knew the entire clan was working hard for her now. Seventh Granduncle had died for her as well.

As for reminding Ye Chen of the herb's value when giving it to him so he would remember the favor, Lan Nuo could not bring herself to do such a thing. After all, she clearly remembered that whenever Ye Chen gave her anything, he never said an extra word.

Everything came from love. How could she act that way under such circumstances?

Lan Nuo lowered her head in low spirits, feeling extremely conflicted. She wanted to give it because Ye Chen had been good to her, and she wanted to be good to him in return. But if she did not mix in any benefits, she would feel sorry for her dead clansman. Yet if she did mix in benefits, she would despise herself.

Seeing Lan Nuo struggling, the ancestor helplessly shook his head. With such a pure-hearted Lan Nuo, even with the Sacred Spiritual Root, it would be difficult for her to compete for favor in Ye Chen's harem.

The clan would have to help her. They had to help her break out of her cage. Since Lan Nuo could not say it, this old ancestor would say it for her.

Just as he was thinking, sudden news arrived. The Heavenly Emperor's heir was about to reach the Lan Clan's Immortal City. This news surprised both Lan Nuo and the ancestor. Joy surged back into Lan Nuo's previously downcast heart.

The ancestor felt this was the perfect opportunity. He would have Lan Nuo give the Heavenly Position Spirit Herb to Ye Chen first. Afterward, the clan could quietly mention how difficult it had been to obtain and how Lan Nuo had only one stalk yet had given it away without hesitation.

Ye Chen was now a true top-tier existence in the cultivation world. Even Great Saints felt uneasy when facing him, unsure whether the Heavenly Emperor's heir could kill them.

Even Great Emperors did not dare look down on him. After all, the Heavenly Emperor's heir had smashed through a Quasi-Immortal array. Not to mention that their own heaven's proud daughter had also received the Nirvana Sacred Liquid from Ye Chen. Therefore, upon learning of Ye Chen's arrival, the Lan Clan higher-ups almost all came out in full force…

"Since you want to give it, then just give it directly…I know you're embarrassed to say too much, so there's no need. Just follow your heart!"

The ancestor spoke to Lan Nuo with doting indulgence. However, with so many people around, Lan Nuo maintained an especially aloof and cold expression.

"Ancestor need not say more. I have my own plans…"

The ancestor's fists tightened. His Lan Nuo was perfect in every way. The only flaw was her habit of putting on airs the moment there were more people around, which made his fists harden involuntarily.

Everyone waited for a moment. The Heavenly Evolution Holy Land's immortal ship tore through the void and arrived from afar.

At this point, both sides could already see each other clearly.

The next instant, a streak of light flew out from the immortal ship. Whoever it was had clearly used a secret technique, judging by the speed. It showed just how impatient the arrival was.

In the blink of an eye, the figure appeared right in front of Lan Nuo. The newcomer had black hair, sword-like brows, star-bright eyes, and a tall, straight figure. Combined with the majestic aura unique to the Heavenly Emperor's heir, who else could it be but Ye Chen?

"Fairy Lan, it has been a long time!"

Ye Chen spoke softly upon arrival. The surrounding Lan Clan members immediately broke into fond smiles. The Heavenly Emperor's heir truly loved their Nuonuo. He could not even wait to see her.

Lan Nuo kept her expression aloof and cold, but the slight upward curve at the corners of her mouth betrayed her true feelings.

"Fellow Daoist Ye, it has been a long time for you as well…I have here…"

Lan Nuo was about to speak and present the Heavenly Position Spirit Herb to Ye Chen. The ancestor beside her also smiled warmly, planning to casually mention later how difficult it had been to obtain the herb.

But before she could finish opening her mouth or reach into her cave heaven, Ye Chen smiled and spoke first, "I heard that Fairy Lan has advanced to Saint King. I happen to have something that can assist Fairy Lan's cultivation. Please do not refuse…"

As he spoke, Ye Chen flicked his hand and sent a jade box flying toward her.

Lan Nuo raised an eyebrow. The ancestor also raised an eyebrow. The same thought flashed through both their minds. Could it be that Ye Chen had not given the Heavenly Position Spirit Herb to that Yan Qingcheng after all? Had he actually kept it for her all along and come specially to deliver it?

At that thought, a trace of secret delight rose in Lan Nuo's heart. Although she did not particularly mind that Ye Chen had other women and felt no jealousy toward him giving the Heavenly Position Spirit Herb to Yan Qingcheng, the fact that he had thought of her first still made her a little happy.

Lan Nuo had no intention of refusing the Heavenly Position Spirit Herb from Ye Chen. He would give it to her, and she would give hers to him. That way, both of them would have one.

The ancestor, however, felt a pang of regret at the thought… Since both would have a Heavenly Position Spirit Herb, Nuonuo had still been one step slower. If she had taken the initiative to give hers first, Ye Chen would definitely have been even more moved and would have liked her even more.

What a pity…

…

For a moment, countless thoughts swirled in everyone's minds.

Lan Nuo maintained her aloof expression while barely suppressing the upward tug at her lips. She accepted the jade box and prepared to take out the gift she had prepared for Ye Chen. But the moment the jade box opened on its own, a golden light filled her vision. Her Heavenly Heart Imprint shook violently inside her body.

Lan Nuo's eyes widened. Wasn't this supposed to be a Heavenly Position Spirit Herb? What was this? Why did the sensation it gave her Heavenly Heart Imprint feel so much stronger than a Heavenly Position Spirit Herb?

The Lan Clan ancestor beside her, who had been thinking on her behalf, also saw it. He had seen much in his long life and experienced even more. Although this was his first time seeing it, he instantly guessed what it was and cried out in shock, "This is… This is the War God Clan's Heavenly Position Divine Bamboo? No… this is the Heavenly Position Bamboo Root? I heard that even the divine bamboo itself has effects comparable to a Heavenly Position Sacred Herb. This root… I'm afraid it's…"

The ancestor's mind fell into complete chaos. A bamboo root that could produce one section of Heavenly Position Divine Bamboo every hundred thousand years could be considered a clan-suppressing treasure for any holy land. Used directly, its effect approached the legendary Heavenly Position Sacred Herb.

Ye Chen and the War God Clan were like fire and water. He had just slain their Divine Son. Under such circumstances, for Ye Chen to obtain this treasure, he must have gone through endless dangers and painstaking effort.

The period after Ye Chen left the immortal path had clearly not been spent at the Heavenly Emperor Hall. He had gone to the War God Clan instead. A round trip took exactly three months, after which he had rushed straight to the Lan Clan's Immortal City without stopping. All just to deliver such a supreme treasure to their Nuonuo. What depth of affection this showed.

And what about himself? He had only wanted to give away a mere Heavenly Position Spirit Herb, yet he had constantly been thinking about how to make Ye Chen remember the favor. The gap was truly too great.

At this moment, under the shining light of Ye Chen's noble character, the Lan Clan ancestor really wanted to slap himself. He was really not a good person at all.

…

Lan Nuo had no idea that her ancestor had already fallen into self-loathing. She was moved beyond words… At the same time, she suddenly felt that her own Heavenly Position Spirit Herb was no longer presentable.

However, her usual aloofness in front of others kept her expression tightly controlled. Having spent so much time with Ye Chen, she knew that once he had taken something out, she could not refuse it.

So she could only speak with magnanimity, "In that case, thank you, Fellow Daoist Ye!"

Ye Chen paid no mind to Lan Nuo's slightly tense and not entirely candid attitude. After all, he liked things tight. Besides, true gratitude never came from words. It showed up on the system panel as a critical hit. And at that very moment, the system's notification finally sounded in Ye Chen's mind:

"Congratulations, Host, on the successful gift…"

"Gift given: Heavenly Position Divine Bamboo Root!"