"Gift successfully delivered!"

"Gift: Phoenix Blood."

"Processing feedback…"

"Three-hundredfold feedback in progress…"

"Detected: The gift given by the host is of extreme importance to the recipient, exceeding their expectations and causing a significant emotional impact. Critical reward triggered!"

"Reward: Ancestral Dragon Blood."

"Ancestral Dragon Blood: Derived from the Ancestral Dragon, one of the three primordial divine beasts and the progenitor of all dragon clans."

"Processed for use as a supreme Golden Core refinement material, allowing direct assimilation without backlash!"

"Upon forming a Golden Core, the True Dragon Treasure Technique can be awakened…"

"Upon forming a Golden Core, the user may…"

"…"

Ancestral Dragon Blood?

Ye Chen's pupils constricted as he read the dense system description. He'd anticipated that a three-hundredfold feedback with a critical hit would yield a top-tier treasure, but this surpassed all expectations.

The Ancestral Dragon—the progenitor of all dragons, one of the three primordial divine beasts—stood leagues above the Vicious Ten. Even the True Dragon, one of the Vicious Ten, was merely a descendant of the Ancestral Dragon. Refining a Golden Core with such a divine beast's blood essence? Ye Chen could hardly imagine the kind of core he'd form.

Thankfully, the blood had been processed into a usable spiritual material. Otherwise, a single drop of raw Ancestral Dragon Blood would likely annihilate him with a glance, given the creature's unfathomable realm.

The benefits of forming a core with this blood were countless, but what thrilled Ye Chen most was the chance to awaken the True Dragon Treasure Technique—a supreme Divine Ability and the dragon clan's ultimate inheritance. Even pure-blooded dragons rarely unlocked its full power, often gaining only fragments, like a claw or a horn. Only the most prodigious among them could hope to master it.

The True Dragon Treasure Technique's rarity spoke for itself. If Ye Chen could fully awaken it, his strength would skyrocket.

After reviewing the system's rewards, Ye Chen's mood soared. The Golden Core material he'd waited so long for was finally his—and it was far beyond his wildest dreams. With the Ancestral Dragon's might, he doubted anyone in the myriad realms had ever formed a core with such a treasure.

Everything was set. He was destined to forge the ultimate Golden Core. This reward made all his scheming for the Phoenix Blood and his thrashing of Li Feihuang worth it.

...

"Fellow Daoist Li, no need for formalities between us," Ye Chen said with a smile. "Now that the Phoenix Blood is in your hands, it's time for me to leave. Staying longer might cause trouble if the Divine Will Sect finds out."

With the Ancestral Dragon Blood secured, Ye Chen had no reason to linger in the Divine Will Cave Heaven. In thirty days, all disciples would be automatically teleported to the sect's entrance. As an outsider, showing up there would be asking for trouble.

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Su Yuxuan's old-lady-in-a-ring had given him a technique to enter and exit the realm. True, it had a flaw that caused the realm to open early, letting a flood of Divine Will Sect direct disciples pour in, but overall, it worked fine. If he left now, he could slip away unnoticed. The Divine Will Sect would never know he was here.

Only two people knew he'd entered: Li Feihuang, who wouldn't betray him, and An Yuyi, the wildcard. She'd already threatened him once over the Divine Will Pool quota. Now, furious that he'd given the Phoenix Blood to Li Feihuang, she might snitch in a fit of spite.

Still, Ye Chen had no intention of silencing her. His trump cards were numerous—his status as the Holy Son of Heavenly Evolution Holy Land alone was enough to shield him. Killing An Yuyi would gain him nothing and might antagonize An Miaoli. Better to let it be.

...

Li Feihuang smiled at his words. After today, there was indeed no need for pretense between them. She'd once thought Ye Chen supported her because he was awed by her strength. Now she knew he wasn't weaker than her, perhaps even stronger.

Yet, despite his power, he'd chosen to back her without hesitation, even giving her the direct disciple slot. That wasn't submission to her strength; it was genuine loyalty. A vassal like that was rarer than rare.

In her heart, Li Feihuang made a vow. When she donned the imperial robe and ascended as empress, she'd name Ye Chen her Equal Golden Dragon King.

"Then, Fellow Daoist Ye, go ahead and leave," she said. "I'll come find you after the trial ends. As for the Divine Will Sect, I'll never mention you were here." Her gaze shifted to An Yuyi, a sharp glint of killing intent in her eyes. "But she might not be so reliable. Perhaps…"

As a royal daughter, Li Feihuang was decisive and ruthless.

An Yuyi shot her a cold glance. "I won't betray Ye Chen," she said firmly. She wasn't worried about him wanting to kill her either. Turning to Ye Chen, her mind raced with questions. Why had he told her to ask her aunt? Had her aunt offended him? Was there some conflict between them? Or did her aunt think Ye Chen wasn't good enough for her and warned him off?

An Yuyi didn't know. But right now, all she wanted was to rush back and confront her aunt to uncover the truth.

...

Seeing that Ye Chen had no intention of attacking, Li Feihuang let the matter drop.

Ye Chen gave An Yuyi one last glance, unconcerned whether her words were true or false. With a flick of his fingers, he activated the technique. His figure faded, dissolving like mist, vanishing from the hall and the Divine Will Cave Heaven entirely.

His exit was smooth, without any hiccups. Reappearing at the realm's entry point, Ye Chen scanned his surroundings to ensure no one was around before drifting away.

Back at the Ye Boutique branch, Sun Ruoxin, who'd been moping over his supposed departure, lit up with joy and eagerly attended to him. But Ye Chen didn't plan to form his Golden Core in Divine Will City. It was common knowledge that the stronger the Golden Core, the longer the process took. With a treasure like Ancestral Dragon Blood, who knew if it would take one year or two?

In just over a month, the Heavenly Evolution Pavilion auction would feature a fragment of the Eternal Cosmos Sutra's Golden Core chapter—an immortal text touted as the ultimate for Golden Core cultivation. It was a must-have. There was also Thunderbane Bamboo Core, a treasure to enhance one's aptitude. Missing these, especially the scripture fragment, could mean waiting years for another chance.

Divine Will City, with its chaotic mix of cultivators, wasn't ideal for secluded cultivation either. Too many risks of disturbance. Green Cloud Sect was the better choice—his master was there, offering greater peace of mind. His master had already surprised him before her seclusion. By now, she might have broken through to the Golden Core stage herself. Her emergence could bring even greater surprises.

So, returning was the obvious choice.

In the days that followed, Ye Chen focused on preparing for his Golden Core formation while enjoying the advanced techniques Sun Ruoxin had picked up in Divine Will City. His days were relaxed, almost leisurely.

...

Meanwhile, at the Divine Will Sect, the one-month trial period was up. Elders gathered at the entrance of the Divine Will Cave Heaven, eagerly awaiting the teleportation of the direct disciples. They were all curious: which prodigy had claimed the Phoenix Blood?

Qiao Ciguang and Shi Wanli were the favorites, with most elders betting on one of them. But with Grand Elder An Miaoli present, no one spoke, waiting patiently instead.

Soon, the entrance glowed, and the direct disciples began to emerge.

An Miaoli's misty eyes quickly found An Yuyi. But one look at her niece's expression made her heart sink. It seemed An Yuyi's trial in the Cave Heaven hadn't gone well at all.

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