Aboard the flying vessel returning to the Green Cloud Sect, Ye Chen, despite having not rested the previous night, still appeared vibrant and full of life. Before leaving, Ye Chen had left behind a pair of exquisite magical boots for Yun Qianyue. He had originally intended to use them as a reward the previous night.

Ye Chen had departed early in the morning, without a trace of guilt. He had long seen through Yun Qianyue's true nature. Her greed for wealth was boundless. And he had already gifted her something akin to an exceptional magic tool. Such a price was astronomical. One could find ten others willing to join in with such a reward.

Ye Chen, therefore, carried no psychological burden. Seated calmly aboard the flying vessel, Ye Chen took out a jade slip from his storage ring and placed it upon his brow.

In an instant, a grand and magnificent scripture began to flow through Ye Chen's mind. Although it contained only a few thousand words, its intricacy was unparalleled, as if the very laws of heaven and earth were contained within.

It was no wonder that this scripture was hailed as the most powerful Foundation Establishment text within the immortal scriptures. Indeed, it was formidable.

With his Exquisite Heart, Ye Chen's comprehension had grown far beyond what it once was. Yet, he could not neglect the teacher's reward—a phantom figure that was always by his side.

As he gazed at the ethereal figure in his mind, a regal and majestic empress, her beauty beyond description, Ye Chen marveled. He couldn't help but wonder if he ever had the fortune to meet the Western Empress one day, what would be her multiplier? Surely, it would multiply by thousands, perhaps tens of thousands?

Thus, Ye Chen continued to absorb the teachings of the scripture. The flying vessel sped onward toward the Green Cloud Sect...

Green Cloud Sect.

The door to the secluded meditation room swung wide open.

Yao Xi stepped out of the room, her beautiful eyes glimmering with joy. The steward who had been guarding the room outside saw her and, sensing the oppressive aura radiating from her—an aura only cultivators in the Foundation Establishment stage could emanate—immediately bowed respectfully.

"Congratulations, Senior, on breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage. Elder Chen from the Internal Affairs Hall will be here shortly."

Yao Xi smiled lightly, showing no hurry, patiently waiting.

Before long, Elder Chen arrived, his face full of joy. This year, Green Cloud Sect had seen two disciples break through to the Foundation Establishment stage.

Fa Zhen had also entered seclusion shortly after the sect's grand competition a few days ago, and his chances of breaking through were high. Three Foundation Establishments in one year—Green Cloud Sect was on the rise!

After chatting for a while with Elder Chen, Yao Xi made a different choice from Ye Chen. Instead of becoming a disciple, she had chosen to serve as an Elder of the Pill Peak. She had also received a mid-grade Black-level Foundation Establishment cultivation method.

However, Yao Xi did not rush into cultivating. Her first priority was to head to Sword Peak to share the news of her breakthrough with Ye Chen. Thanks to the top-grade Foundation Establishment Pill, she had broken through in a single attempt. She could say without hesitation that her success was entirely due to Ye Chen's help. She was eager to fulfill her promise and give Ye Chen the most precious gift she could offer.

However, when she arrived at Sword Peak, she found that Ye Chen was not there. From Sun Ruoxin and the other maidservants, she learned that Ye Chen had gone to Divine Will City. He had said he needed to purchase some items.

Stolen novel; please report.

Without Ye Chen, Yao Xi felt a twinge of disappointment. After all, the person she most wanted to share her joy with after her breakthrough was Ye Chen. Without him there, her happiness seemed somewhat diminished.

But Ye Chen had his reasons, and there was nothing to be done about it. Her new residence would take some time to be ready, so for the time being, Yao Xi stayed in her own courtyard.

Along the way, the disciples who saw her greeted her with admiration and envy. The little junior sister, whom she had once shown kindness to, now watched from the crowd, her face full of regret, her eyes pleading. The divide between the Foundation Establishment stage and the Qi Refining stage was vast.

Yao Xi shook her head, closed the courtyard door, and prepared to meditate on her newly acquired cultivation method for the Foundation Establishment stage. However, not long after, there came a knock on the door.

Hearing the familiar rhythm of the knock, Yao Xi's eyes brightened instantly. She opened the door, and standing there was none other than Ye Chen.

Yao Xi's gaze was gentle, her smile warm as she welcomed Ye Chen into the courtyard. "Just returned from Divine Will City?"

Ye Chen nodded. "Mm, just got back. As soon as I heard you'd broken through to Foundation Establishment, I rushed over."

Yao Xi's heart swelled with joy at Ye Chen's eagerness.

Thinking of what she had planned next, Yao Xi, who had been particularly proactive before and had even entertained the thought of imprisoning Ye Chen, now found herself feeling a bit shy.

"I'm glad you're back. Would you like some sweet soup?"

She spoke casually, trying to ease the shyness building within her.

Ye Chen nodded and handed her a jade slip. "You haven't been practicing the sect's cultivation method, have you? The mid-grade Black-level one won't do. Use this instead."

Once a cultivation method was practiced, it couldn't be changed. That was why Ye Chen had hurried over.

Yao Xi froze for a moment, her gaze locked on the jade slip in Ye Chen's hand, her pupils contracting. Had Ye Chen gone to Divine Will City just to get a cultivation method?

"This is a upper-grade Earth-level technique—the Purple Mist Heavenly Gate Method..."

Yao Xi's eyes widened in astonishment. She knew full well how precious an Earth-level top-grade method was. So, Ye Chen had gone to Divine Will City to buy her a better cultivation method?

This...

Even though she had already felt Ye Chen's deep affection countless times, at this moment, Yao Xi was still moved to the point of tears. In the entire cultivation world, there was only this man who would pay attention to everything about her and provide for her needs without hesitation. Such care was truly rare.

"And you?" she asked anxiously.

Ye Chen smiled. "I have an even better one."

Yao Xi couldn't believe it. How could an upper-grade Earth-level Foundation Establishment technique be so easily obtainable?

To acquire such a method, Ye Chen must have spent an astronomical amount of spirit stones. It was likely that it would have cost at least one or two hundred top-grade spirit stones.

Though she had heard Ye Chen had opened a shop and that business was good, how could he possibly afford such an expensive technique? If that were true, Earth-level techniques would be flooding the streets by now.

Seeing that Yao Xi still wanted to say something, Ye Chen silenced her with a smile. "Don't say anything. You know my personality. Once I give something, I never expect it back. And I've bought other things for you too. But first, meditate on the cultivation method. The rest can wait until later. No distractions!"

Faced with such a considerate man, what could Yao Xi possibly say? She understood Ye Chen's temperament well—if she didn't want something, he would never ask for it back. The shyness she had felt earlier vanished in an instant.

At that moment, all she wanted was to give Ye Chen the most precious return gift she could. She accepted the jade slip.

Yao Xi gazed seriously into Ye Chen's eyes. "Come into my room."

With that, she took the lead and walked toward the room.

Ye Chen, admiring Yao Xi's graceful figure and the distinctive curve of her silhouette, smiled gently and followed her in leisurely.

Two hours later, Ye Chen emerged from the room, looking up at the rising full moon with a smile. Though the full moon was beautiful, it could never compare to Yao Xi's radiant figure.

Meanwhile, Yao Xi emerged, her face flushed crimson, her eyes as deep as water, gazing at Ye Chen with a lingering, unspoken look of reproach. The resentment in her eyes seemed almost tangible, like it could stretch into threads.

How could Ye Chen be so unfair? It was simply too much! Yet, when she thought of how Ye Chen had traveled all the way to Divine Will City to purchase an Earth-grade cultivation method for her, Yao Xi could only sigh. How could she truly be angry with a man who loved her so? Even though she felt deeply resentful of Ye Chen's quirks, she chose to be forgiving...

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