ISWI Chapter 1244-1245 (Patreon)

Chapter 1244: Stop It, Ye Chen!

Xie Linyuan looked at the Tianzhang Monk. The monk finished storing the pills, then turned and offered Xie Linyuan a faint smile, his eyes carrying a hint of tolerance.

Embarrassment? None existed. In the Tianzhang Monk's heart, there was only the pure joy of a massive harvest. With gains this great, his Great Sun Golden Body, Zen Heart, and other foundations would all receive enormous improvements, and his cultivation would advance a thousand miles in a single day.

Most important of all, He Ziling and the others were now dead. If he himself failed to enter the Dao Academy, whom would the academy cultivate? Surely it could not be people like Xie Linyuan or Zhao Tianxing?

Entering the academy was therefore inevitable. With the academy's resource support, the all-out backing of Shaolin Temple, and the resources obtained from Ye Chen, the Tianzhang Monk truly felt that Immortal King was within reach.

The only regret was that after today's events, the chance for low buying and high selling had vanished. It was truly a pity.

Next, Zhao Tianxing also presented his treasures and exchanged them for what he wanted. The surrounding people all stared with widened eyes, wearing expressions much like Xie Linyuan's. After all, whether in ancient times or the future, who did not despise middlemen? Especially middlemen who earned so ruthlessly.

They had originally believed they themselves had made a huge profit. Only now did they realize that compared to the gains of the Tianzhang Monk and the others, they had not even managed a sip of soup. At best, they had drunk the water used to rinse the pot. Had they been strong enough to win, they would certainly have snatched everything back.

In an instant, every cultivator who still held treasures felt their hearts stir. They too wished to exchange. Competing for rankings was merely for the sake of opportunities. If they could obtain even greater harvests directly, why not exchange now?

"Fellow Daoist Ye, I also have several secret realm treasures!"

"Fellow Daoist Ye, I wish to as well…"

"Lord successor of the Heavenly Emperor, look at me, look at me…"

The crowd grew extremely excited. Yet Ye Chen waved a hand and gently pressed downward, quieting everyone. He pointed at the Tianzhang Monk and Zhao Tianxing. Then he hesitated a moment and glanced at Xie Linyuan.

The space above Xie Linyuan's head was completely empty. Clearly, the Tianzhang Monk had taken him for a ride. That look of utter anguish, as though he had suffered the deepest betrayal, was truly pitiful. Although this fellow had once seized his token, Ye Chen simply could not bring himself to hate him. Fine, fine. A bootlicker this pitiful could serve as an act of charity.

Thus, Ye Chen also pointed at Xie Linyuan.

"I will not accept treasures directly. You may first exchange your treasures with these three…"

"As for you three, you may come to me once each month, but the exchange value will be only half of before."

"Go."

The moment Ye Chen's words fell, everyone stared with widened eyes, shock written across their faces. Was this not simply forcing them to be sheared once more? They could clearly trade with the source directly. Why force them to deal with middlemen?

The Tianzhang Monk and Zhao Tianxing both revealed looks of delight. They had worried that once word of Ye Chen's side spread and everyone came to exchange, they would lose their advantage. Unexpectedly, Ye Chen had now designated them. This was an enormous stroke of good fortune.

Xie Linyuan was somewhat dumbfounded as well… yet he was not foolish and understood how great the benefits involved were. At once, the way he looked at Ye Chen changed, and a smile he could not suppress appeared on his face.

Ye Chen was the father of the child in Long Wu's belly. In other words, Ye Chen represented Long Wu. Ye Chen treating him so well meant the goddess was treating him well.

At this thought, warmth filled Xie Linyuan's heart and strength surged through his entire body. Yet in the next moment, he felt Ye Chen was being far too wasteful. Even if Ye Chen possessed the Heavenly Emperor's treasury and the Heavenly Emperor had once plundered countless treasures, judging by the scale of the divine pillars above Ye Chen's head and that of the female cultivator beside him, a place among the Ten Outstanding was already ninety percent certain. There was simply no need to continue collecting. Ye Chen's waste of resources was equivalent to the goddess's waste of resources, and he felt the pain as well.

Thus, he could not help speaking.

"Ye Chen, even if you have the Heavenly Emperor's treasury, this is still far too wasteful. I feel the heartache for you. Senior Long Wu would certainly be unhappy as well. Stop it, Ye…"

Ye Chen felt Xie Linyuan's concern. "…"

This time, he was truly a bit stunned. Could this Xie Linyuan be the incarnation of his senior brother? After all, who else could lick boots to this degree?

"Ye Chen is really a simp. Even after all this, he is still not satisfied, yet he is willing to offer half the price…To think the Immortal Realm still has such a simp. Truly rare!"

The Tianzhang Monk marveled inwardly, yet his body moved honestly as he flew toward the crowd to continue his enterprise.

Watching the crowd disperse, Ye Chen stretched lazily. After a great battle, he felt somewhat weary. As for why he had designated middlemen, the reason was simple. If he handled the exchanges personally, he would inevitably be extremely busy. With his capital, a single casual gift could recover any losses with interest. Under such circumstances, there was simply no need to waste time. He ought to spend that time on more important matters.

For example, the divine pool within his inner cosmos. It was time to share it with his aunt and let her formally reach the perfection of the Golden Immortal realm inside it.

At that point, he could present her with a Great Luo Dao Fruit. He could also invite Wenwen along. After all, his aunt could not yet become his Dao companion for the time being, and Wenwen's role remained very significant.

…

Before entering his inner cosmos, however, Ye Chen raised his eyes and swept a glance at Wang Xuanji. At this moment, she still wore that ordinary appearance, her expression complex. She neither spoke nor left, simply standing there quietly.

Ye Chen could not be bothered to look further. He gently took his aunt's jade-like hand, raised his other hand to open a tunnel, and invited her to enter his inner cosmos together with him.

Yan Ruyu did not know what Ye Chen intended to do. She even suspected he might be thinking of that. Yet even though her current cultivation made becoming a Dao companion temporarily unsuitable, she did not refuse. After all, how could she bear to reject a Ye Chen who loved her so deeply? If problems arose on the path of cultivation, she could simply seek her master for a solution later.

Wang Xuanji watched the two of them leave with her own eyes. Her brows twitched. Of course, she knew what Ye Chen was about to do. Back in the lower realm, he had done such things far too often, every day either with this one or that one. She had even witnessed it with her own eyes. Moreover, Ye Chen did not know her true identity, which was why he acted this way. Still, her heart felt rather unpleasant.

Besides, Ye Chen had truly stirred up enormous trouble. From the discussions of the onlookers just now, she had learned that the prodigies he killed were not limited to the previous three. There were also those of the Gongsun Clan and the Myriad Laws Immortal Sect.

Ye Chen had provoked far too many forces. Once he left this place, there would be no peaceful resolution. Forget a place among the Ten Outstanding; even preserving his life would be difficult. Yet Ye Chen understood nothing and still had the mood for such matters. It truly disappointed her.

She had already made her decision. Afterward, she would reveal her identity and have a proper talk with him. When that time came, Ye Chen would certainly listen carefully and understand the gravity of the situation…

Chapter 1245: Wang Xuanji's Resentment!

And there was that Great Luo Dao Fruit. It was exactly what she urgently needed. If she did not reveal her true self, given Ye Chen's nature, he would most likely gift it to that nun who appeared dignified yet was certainly no good person. That would be far too wasteful. That woman was nothing more than a vase and would prove useless in the future. Giving it to herself would truly make the best use of it.

In short, Wang Xuanji had decided to expose her identity. Deep in her heart, Ye Chen was completely trustworthy. Ye Chen would never betray her.

…

Within Ye Chen's inner cosmos, Yan Ruyu gazed at the Sacred-grade Great Sun Glazed Pool before her, her eyes filled with disbelief. Exactly how many evil deeds had the Heavenly Emperor committed back then? He had even seized a divine pool personally refined by Amitabha. It was truly inconceivable.

For Yan Ruyu, who had now become a Buddhist cultivator, this item was of enormous benefit. It could allow her Golden Immortal realm to become even more perfect. Inside the divine pool, Yan Ruyu received tremendous improvement. Yan Wenwen was likewise kept very busy. Ye Chen, in the midst of his own many affairs, still had to find time to present gifts. Each occupied with their own matters, they were thoroughly delighted.

In this manner, a full month slipped by in the blink of an eye. Ye Chen calculated the days, instructed Yan Ruyu and Yan Wenwen to continue cultivating, then drifted out of his inner cosmos and slowly appeared.

Xie Linyuan and the other two had long been waiting there. Upon seeing Ye Chen, they all breathed a sigh of relief. Ye Chen's high-priced collection of treasures was no longer a secret. Even though he had designated the three of them as suppliers, the cultivators had still demanded price increases one after another, driving their costs rather high. If Ye Chen stopped accepting items, they would suffer total losses.

The moment they saw Ye Chen arrive, they immediately presented their treasures. Ye Chen began settling accounts at half the original value. Unexpectedly, Xie Linyuan had not handed everything over. A gleaming divine pillar still shone above his head, leaving Ye Chen somewhat puzzled. Yet he could not be bothered to ask further.

At this point, a little more or a little less truly did not matter to him. Once he finished settling the full payment, he flickered and vanished from the spot, returning at once to his inner cosmos.

…

On Wang Xuanji's side, she had believed she did not care in the least about Ye Chen growing close to female cultivators. Yet after Ye Chen and Yan Ruyu disappeared for so long, her state of mind could no longer remain calm. Scenes of Ye Chen together with Yan Ruyu kept surfacing unbidden in her mind, even giving rise to a trace of bitterness in her heart. She could no longer endure it.

Once Ye Chen appeared, she would tell him her identity, order him never again to bring that woman into his inner cosmos, and instead remain right here by her side. She would carefully plan for him how to fight for a slim chance of survival after the secret realm ended.

Now she finally saw Ye Chen fly out and begin trading with those three. Watching him, she even felt a bit of heartache. There was truly no need to expend so much for that woman. It was not worth it at all. In a moment, she would tell Ye Chen to stop collecting.

Yet just as Ye Chen finished the transactions and Wang Xuanji prepared to transmit her voice and reveal her identity, she watched him suddenly vanish from the spot and return to his inner cosmos. Left behind was Wang Xuanji, full of words she wished to say to him, standing frozen in place!

Ye Chen, was that not far too quick?

Xie Linyuan and the others had already divided the districts under their responsibility. After receiving all manner of treasures from Ye Chen, the Tianzhang Monk only felt that the overall environment had worsened. Resources were no longer as easy to earn as before. Yet he had no intention of stopping. After all, it was still pure profit.

Looking at the Tianzhang Monk's bare head, Xie Linyuan could not help speaking.

"Tianzhang, are you not keeping any resources to compete for ranking? The Dao Academy has gathered the essence of the Immortal Realm and offers limitless benefits. You may well be putting the cart before the horse…"

Xie Linyuan was a man of dignity. After discovering he had been taken advantage of by the Tianzhang Monk, he shut himself away for a long time and eventually accepted it. Yet he never again addressed the monk as "Master."

The Tianzhang Monk did not mind. Looking at Xie Linyuan, whose divine pillar still shone with quite a few remaining treasures, he hesitated slightly before speaking.

"Tell me, He Ziling, Li Ren, and the others are all dead… If the Dao Academy does not cultivate me, whom else can it cultivate?"

Xie Linyuan froze at the words… It seemed there was truth in that. The purpose of establishing the Dao Academy was to strengthen the prodigies so they could one day contend against those of the Other Domain and defeat their opponents on the arena. If the strongest failed to enter the Ten Outstanding, then the Ten Outstanding themselves would lose all meaning.

The Tianzhang Monk continued.

"You come from both the Heaven Immortal Sect and the Supreme Hall. Both sides have surely expended a great deal. Yet can the Immortal Realm truly defeat the Other Domain? Clearly, it is rather doubtful.

"Under such circumstances, if you fail to enter, will the Heaven Immortal Sect and the Supreme Hall still willingly support the establishment of the Dao Academy?"

Having spoken, the Tianzhang Monk pressed his palms together, offered a light smile, and drifted away. When the overall environment was poor, one had to work even harder.

Xie Linyuan fully understood at last. That was right… With so many dead, given his own talent and background, as long as he walked out alive, he would certainly enter the Dao Academy. Under such conditions, why keep any treasures? Better to exchange everything for resources that could raise his strength.

…

Soon, the next month arrived. The moment Ye Chen left his inner cosmos, Wang Xuanji transmitted her voice at once.

"Fellow Daoist Ye, I have something to tell you later, regarding Wang Xuanji…"

Having spoken, she waited with some expectation for Ye Chen's expression. Yet Ye Chen calmly raised his eyes, glanced at her, then withdrew his gaze. Without the slightest ripple of emotion, he began the exchanges.

Wang Xuanji was slightly taken aback, yet she quickly marveled at Ye Chen's caution and could not help smiling. She greatly looked forward to seeing his reaction upon learning her identity. Thus, she patiently waited for him to finish exchanging treasures with the three. Only after the three turned and left did she prepare to speak, only to watch Ye Chen vanish from the spot once more.

This time, Wang Xuanji froze. Ye Chen was being far too cautious. In order to protect her, even upon hearing news related to herself, he could still act completely indifferent, unaffected in the slightest. He truly cared so much about her safety… The more he behaved this way, the more trustworthy he became. She decided that the next time Ye Chen emerged, she would not wait. She would go straight to the point.

…

In this manner, another week passed in the blink of an eye. Only three weeks remained until the secret realm ended.

Within the Sacred-grade Great Sun Glazed Purification Pool, Yan Ruyu drifted to her feet. Her peerless beauty and extreme temperament made her appear like a divine maiden walking the mortal world.

At this moment, Yan Ruyu was perfect and flawless. Because of the many treasures that had elevated and compressed the quality of her immortal power, even her hair strands carried a golden radiance.

"Chen'er, my compression ratio has now reached three thousand times, completely reaching my personal limit. I have attained the perfection of the Golden Immortal realm!"

"Thank you, Chen'er…"

Yan Ruyu offered soft thanks. Ye Chen smiled faintly and gently patted Wenwen. Only after making space did he wave a hand with a smile. He knew better than anyone how abundant his aunt's gratitude was. There was simply no need for extra words.