"Aunt, Ye Chen killed the Champion King for Li Feihuang," An Yuyi said, her voice tinged with worry. "He's shown such strength—there's no way a woman like Li Feihuang would let him go. What if he decides not to come back?"
Atop Quiet Wonder Peak, An Yuyi sat at a jade table, her elbows propped on the stone surface, her expression a mix of exhaustion and unease.
Before her, a figure cloaked in ethereal grace stood within a pavilion. Dressed in flowing white robes, her silhouette was soft and dreamlike, her curves veiled in a haze of elegance. Turning her stunning face, she shook her head gently. "He said he'd return, so he will."
An Yuyi fidgeted, unconvinced. "What if he only comes back to say goodbye, grab his things, and leave for good?"
Ye Chen's reputation as a prodigy had spread like wildfire. The Champion King, capable of overpowering Nascent Soul cultivators, was already a marvel. Yet Ye Chen, a full minor realm below him, had crushed him with ease. It was almost absurdly impressive.
The sect master, upon hearing the news, had visited multiple times to check if Ye Chen had returned. She'd even instructed Gu Yunyun that if Ye Chen was willing, he could be made a full elder of the Divine Will Sect—any position he desired was his for the taking. A prodigy like him would be fought over by countless factions.
An Yuyi's anxiety was palpable.
An Miaoli, her flawless face serene, responded calmly, "All banquets must end eventually."
But An Yuyi lacked such composure. Ye Chen had finally forgiven her, even gifting her a sense of home. Her heart brimmed with hope for the future. If he left now, those dreams would shatter. Her lively eyes turned to her aunt.
Everyone could see Ye Chen's feelings for An Miaoli. He'd even given her a fragment of an immortal scripture—a treasure beyond measure. If their relationship deepened, surely he'd stay.
"Aunt," An Yuyi ventured, her lashes fluttering with anticipation, "why don't you form a Dao partnership with Ye Chen?"
An Miaoli's calm wavered. A Dao partnership with Ye Chen? Impossible. He was the man her niece admired. For her, as an aunt, to pair with him—what would that even mean?
As for the moments she'd shared with Ye Chen? Those were for Yuyi's sake, born of necessity. She had no regrets, her conscience clear.
But An Yuyi pressed on, earnest. "I'm serious, Aunt. If you and Ye Chen became Dao partners, he'd definitely stay. I know about… what happened between you two. You don't need to worry about me. Just don't let that awful Li Feihuang steal him away."
An Miaoli had always been aloof with men, never sparing them a second glance or seeking their aid. Yet with Ye Chen, her demeanor softened. She'd even taken him to hunt a Wind-Thunder Jiao together.
An Yuyi had noticed and sensed her aunt's feelings. Far from being upset, she was thrilled. If her aunt and Ye Chen became partners, An Miaoli's affection for her niece would ensure Yuyi could easily join their circle, perhaps with a few whispered words in Ye Chen's ear.
An Miaoli's expression shifted slightly. Yuyi knew about her and Ye Chen? How?
When she'd helped Ye Chen purge his poison, she'd been careful to avoid Yuyi. There was no way she'd been seen. Could it be that some lingering aura or a stray trace—perhaps something in her hair—had betrayed her?
The thought of Yuyi witnessing her detoxifying Ye Chen made An Miaoli, who always held her head high with a clear conscience, feel a rare pang of guilt.
As for Yuyi's suggestion of a Dao partnership, she should have shut it down immediately with a stern rebuke. But in that moment, she found herself at a loss for words.
"Greetings, Elder Ye!"
"Elder Ye, you're back!"
"When you have time, Elder Ye, let's have a gathering. A few other elders would love to get to know you better."
Upon returning to the Divine Will Sect, Ye Chen was met with a wave of enthusiastic greetings from the elders. Their warmth was a stark contrast to the past, when they'd treated him with polite indifference. Back then, he was just a guest elder, hardly worth their attention.
But the cultivation world revered strength, and Ye Chen's exploits in the Great Chu Empire had clearly made their way back. A prodigy like him was someone they all wanted to build ties with.
Brushing off their pleasantries with a few polite words, Ye Chen flew straight toward Quiet Wonder Peak.
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This journey back, even with his hastened pace, had taken a full twenty days. The Nether Poison and his other affliction had flared up simultaneously, demanding urgent treatment. He only hoped Senior An wasn't in seclusion.
As he arrived at Quiet Wonder Peak, he spotted An Miaoli standing at the summit, gazing out at the sea of clouds rolling gently before her. Her long hair danced in the breeze, her beauty flawless and almost otherworldly.
Sensing his presence, An Miaoli looked up. The red mole at the center of her forehead glimmered faintly, and though her eyes remained calm, a subtle spark of joy flickered within them.
"You're back?" she asked.
"Yes, I'm back," Ye Chen replied, stepping to her side.
Only then did An Miaoli notice the change in his aura. Her eyes widened slightly. "You've already reached the late Golden Core stage?"
It hadn't been long since Ye Chen's breakthrough to the mid-stage, yet here he was, not only at the late stage but with his spiritual energy polished to perfection. His talent as a Heavenly Spirit Root cultivator was nothing short of extraordinary, and An Miaoli couldn't help but marvel.
"Fellow Daoist Ye, you've gifted me so much before, and I've had no way to repay you," she said, her voice soft but deliberate. "This is something I found recently in an ancient ruin—a technique to refine one's spiritual sense. With your cultivation now at its peak, strengthening your spiritual sense will greatly aid you in forming an Immortal Nascent Soul in the future."
With a thought, she sent an object floating toward him.
Ye Chen caught it and raised an eyebrow. It was a disposable jade slip containing a low-grade Earth-tier technique: Nine Revolutions Heart Refining Art. Such slips could only be used once, and their user was bound by a Heavenly Oath to prevent the technique from being shared. Many cultivators used these to safely distribute techniques without risking their widespread dissemination.
The technique was valuable, even to someone like An Miaoli, who was also at the late Golden Core stage. Yet she'd given it to him without hesitation.
Though Ye Chen didn't particularly need it, he accepted it with a smile. In return, he produced a jade slip of his own. "I brought something for you as well, Senior," he said.
An Miaoli felt a twinge of awkwardness. Both of them were now at the late Golden Core stage, so calling her "Senior" was no longer fitting. But recalling how Ye Chen's voice carried a hint of excitement when he used the title during their detoxification sessions, she chose not to correct him.
Truth be told, hearing him call her "Senior" stirred an odd, pleasant feeling in her heart.
Lost in thought, she accepted the jade slip. When she sensed the technique sealed within, her eyes widened in shock. "A low-grade Heaven-tier technique—Sword Peng Heart Refining Technique?"
The news of Li Feihuang's coronation, held a month after the arena battles, had yet to reach the Divine Will Sect.
An Miaoli had no idea that the Heavenly Evolution Holy Son had publicly gifted Ye Chen the Sword Peng Heart Refining Technique. Like her own gift, this technique was sealed in a single-use jade slip, bound by a Heavenly Oath to prevent its spread.
Heart-refining techniques that strengthened spiritual sense were rare and precious. For most ordinary Golden Core cultivators, stumbling upon a Black-tier heart-refining technique was already a stroke of immense luck. A low-grade Heaven-tier technique like this? To most cultivators, it was the stuff of legends, its value almost unimaginable.
The stronger the heart-refining technique, the faster and greater the improvement to one's spiritual sense. This, in turn, could elevate the quality of the Nascent Soul formed in the future. And yet, Ye Chen had casually gifted such a treasure to her.
An Miaoli immediately tried to return it. "This is too precious, Fellow Daoist Ye. You should keep it for yourself."
Ye Chen didn't reach for it. Instead, he smiled lightly. "I didn't refuse your gift, Senior, so you shouldn't refuse mine either."
A helpless smile flickered across An Miaoli's flawless face. How could she have guessed that Ye Chen already possessed a low-grade Heaven-tier heart-refining technique? A pang of guilt stirred within her. Had he only given her this superior technique because she'd gifted him one first?
"Give me back the Nine Revolutions Heart Refining Art and take this one instead," she said earnestly.
But Ye Chen gently took her hand, his touch warm and smooth like jade. An Miaoli froze, glancing around nervously as if afraid someone might see.
"Senior, you're being too formal with me," Ye Chen said, his voice soft but teasing. "I've been gone for nearly three months, tormented by the Nether Poison clinging to me like a maggot. The first thing I did upon returning was to seek your help. But if you're going to be so distant, perhaps I should just let the poison run its course and waste away."
An Miaoli's eyes widened in shock. The Nether Poison? They both knew exactly what that was about. How could he speak as if she'd let him die if she didn't help? And the way he said it—did he think she was begging to detoxify him? Refusing his gift meant losing the right to help him?
An Miaoli, who had always remained composed even when Ye Chen had mussed her hair, was utterly bewildered.
But she understood. His absurd words were just a ploy to make her accept the Sword Peng Heart Refining Technique, to help her form a higher-grade Nascent Soul. She recalled the enraptured look on his face during their detoxification sessions. For him to use this as leverage to ensure she kept the technique, his intentions were clear and heartfelt.
Originally, An Miaoli had been hesitant after learning that Yuyi knew about the detoxification. Perhaps it was time to stop. After all, her niece had found out.
But now, biting her lip lightly, she made up her mind. So what if Yuyi knew? Everything she did was for Yuyi's sake. Besides, Ye Chen's prodigious talent was undeniable, and more factions—and female cultivators—would soon vie for his attention. In the cultivation world, most women dreamed of partnering with a prodigy like him, securing a future of prestige, endless resources, and a worry-free path of cultivation.
For Yuyi's sake, she had to keep Ye Chen close. Otherwise, her niece would be heartbroken. As for herself? Her conscience was clear.
With a slight nod, An Miaoli said, "Very well, I'll accept the heart-refining technique. Follow me to my cave abode."
As she took the jade slip, a system notification chimed in Ye Chen's mind, making his lips curve into a satisfied smile. But then he paused, puzzled.
Her cave abode? For what?
Seeing his confused expression, An Miaoli's face remained serene. "Didn't you say you needed detoxification? The Nether Poison is no small matter."
Ye Chen looked at her, the picture of a composed immortal fairy, and his smile widened into something brighter, more delighted than ever.