Ye Chen, hearing her refusal, gave a light smile. He gently pushed the jade slip toward her. "I specifically bought this for you, Senior An, at the auction. If you don't take it, it's of no use to me either. So please, accept it."

Another auction item? An Miaoli's eyes widened.

If her memory served, Ye Chen had come straight to the Divine Will Sect's gates after securing the Thunderbane Bamboo Core, which was the third item up for bid. That meant this gift had to be one of the first two.

In the cultivation world, auctions always placed the most valuable items first. The second item, a Heaven-grade Foundation Establishment technique, was useless to her. That left only one possibility: this jade slip contained the incomplete Eternal Cosmos Sutra.

An Miaoli was stunned. The Eternal Cosmos Sutra fragment, sold for a staggering 300,000 high-grade spirit stones, had also been won by Ye Chen? And it was meant for her?

This was beyond shocking.

The Thunderbane Bamboo Core had cost 190,000 high-grade spirit stones. The Eternal Cosmos Sutra fragment, 300,000. Together, nearly half a million high-grade spirit stones—an unimaginable fortune. And Ye Chen had spent it all on her?

For a moment, An Miaoli was speechless.

The Thunderbane Bamboo Core had already shown her how much Ye Chen valued her. Now, presenting the Eternal Cosmos Sutra fragment, he sent her heart reeling with an even greater impact. Spirit stones couldn't measure emotions, but his willingness to spend such a colossal sum spoke volumes about the depth of his feelings for her.

Even An Miaoli, gazing at the immortal scripture fragment on the table and Ye Chen's gentle, unwavering smile, felt her heart thrown into disarray. The Eternal Cosmos Sutra—the Golden Core chapter, hailed as the supreme cultivation method in the entire cultivation world, bar none. Comprehending it would solidify her foundation, ensuring a higher-quality Nascent Soul upon breakthrough and greater strength thereafter. It promised boundless benefits for her future on the immortal path.

But its value was astronomical, even as a fragment. How could she possibly accept it? And if she did, how could she ever repay him? She'd only been willing to interact with Ye Chen for her niece's sake. Accepting this gift—how would she face herself afterward? How would she face Yuyi?

With these thoughts, An Miaoli let out a deep sigh in her heart. If only… If only the man her niece admired wasn't Ye Chen. Then, perhaps, she could…

But the thought was cut short as soon as it arose. It was too dangerous.

An Miaoli stared at the jade slip, took a deep breath, and spoke. "I'm on the verge of breaking through to Nascent Soul, so this item is of no use to me. But you, Fellow Daoist Ye, are nearing the Golden Core stage. If you study this scripture day and night, it will surely elevate the limits of your immortal path. Please, keep it for yourself. I'm deeply grateful for your kindness, but truly, I've received it."

In the end, An Miaoli refused.

Ye Chen wasn't surprised. An Miaoli always seemed to hold back, wary of owing him anything. Gifting her was always a tug-of-war, but with a two-hundredfold return—and the potential for a critical hit—it was worth the effort.

He adopted a serious tone. "Senior An, you're too kind. My comprehension is lacking; using it would be a waste. It's far more valuable in your hands."

An Miaoli looked at him deeply. A Heavenly Spirit Root cultivator claiming poor comprehension? That was likely a first in the entire cultivation world. Ye Chen was going to such lengths to convince her to accept. But the more he insisted, the more she knew she couldn't take it. Accepting would only complicate things further, making it impossible to resolve.

Her niece hoped to grow closer to Ye Chen through her. If An Miaoli betrayed Yuyi by giving in to her own feelings, how heartbroken would her niece be? It would drive a wedge between them, shattering their close bond, perhaps even leading to a permanent rift. Yuyi was her brother's only bloodline, her sole remaining family. How could she, for her own selfish desires, do something so unforgivable?

So, An Miaoli shook her head firmly. "I've always addressed you as Fellow Daoist Ye because, with your Heavenly Spirit Root, reaching the Golden Core stage is effortless, and even the Nascent Soul stage, which is a struggle for me, will be no challenge for you. So, enough talk of poor comprehension. Don't squander your talent. If you can glean the mysteries of this scripture fragment, you'll surely become a top-tier prodigy in the future."

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She paused, then continued, "I understand your intentions clearly, Fellow Daoist Ye. But my heart is set on the Great Dao, with no interest in finding a Dao companion. So, I ask that you let this go. From now on, it's best if we no longer meet."

She had always known Ye Chen's feelings but had avoided addressing them due to her concerns. But this Eternal Cosmos Sutra fragment, worth 300,000 high-grade spirit stones, had shaken her resolve. She couldn't let this continue. If it did, she feared she might one day waver, moved by Ye Chen's persistence, and end up estranged from her niece, perhaps forever.

So, taking advantage of Yuyi's seclusion, she laid it all bare. With everything said plainly, Ye Chen would likely stop coming to Divine Will City. When An Yuyi emerged from seclusion and found him gone, she might gradually forget him. This, perhaps, was the best outcome for everyone.

Ye Chen listened to An Miaoli's words, and a sudden realization hit him. Back when he'd asked An Yuyi to speak with her aunt, An Yuyi hadn't been fazed at all. Instead, she'd brought An Miaoli to him. So, all this time, An Miaoli thought he was in love with her?

Seriously? That's absurd!

Gifting didn't mean he liked her! It was just because her returns were high, with a chance for critical hits—did she not get that? If she was like An Yuyi, stingy and never triggering a critical hit, he wouldn't bother with her at all. His plan was to gift the Eternal Cosmos Sutra fragment, receive the full scripture as a reward, and then rush back to Green Cloud Sect to study it with his master, ascending the path to bliss together.

But now, Ye Chen was done with the back-and-forth. His face hardened, a trace of anger in his voice as he spoke. "Who I like is my business, not yours! Whether I give gifts or do anything else, that's my choice—it has nothing to do with you or anyone else! You want to dedicate yourself to the Great Dao, to never seek a Dao companion? That's your business, not mine! So don't mix the two together! I give gifts because I want to. Whether you accept them is up to you. But once I offer something, I never take it back. Do whatever you want with it, Senior An!"

With that, Ye Chen stood, turned, and floated away.

An Miaoli was left standing in place, stunned. His angry words echoed in her mind like thunder. "Who I like is my business! Gifting is my business! You don't like me, you're devoted to the Dao, you don't want a companion—that's your business."

Those brief sentences unleashed a tempest in her heart, which had been calm for decades. Together, they conveyed a single, piercing truth: "I love you, and it has nothing to do with you."

What kind of devotion was this? For Ye Chen—a Heavenly Spirit Root prodigy who could suppress the Divine Will Sect's top disciples, who left Qiao Ciguang and Shi Wanli unable to even step into the grand hall, who defeated Li Feihuang with a single strike—to speak words so humble, so raw.

An Miaoli had never known romantic love, but she understood that to love someone was to hope for their love in return. Yet Ye Chen's feelings ran so deep he didn't even care about reciprocation. If anyone else had said this, she wouldn't have believed it. How could such a person exist in this world?

But Ye Chen's actions over time left An Miaoli no choice but to believe. Yet, his profound devotion only weighed heavier on her heart.

She had hoped Ye Chen might gradually be drawn to her niece, letting go of his feelings for her. Or that her consistent aloofness would make him realize there was no chance and move on.

But now, it was clear that was impossible. How could someone so dedicated to her, so willing to give without expecting anything in return, be discouraged by her cold demeanor? No matter what she did—even if she secluded herself in a deathly retreat, never appearing before him—Ye Chen would likely still keep tabs on her, quietly giving his all.

Reflecting on it, his care for her was meticulous. Knowing how much she cherished her niece, he went out of his way to provide everything Yuyi needed. When faced with formidable enemies, he'd risk his life to protect her niece without hesitation. Even when the bidding for the Thunderbane Bamboo Core drove its price to four times its value—an utterly foolish move—he didn't waver.

His devotion went beyond reckless spending or selfless sacrifice. It was thoughtful, deliberate. Take the Eternal Cosmos Sutra fragment. He'd acquired it last week but only gifted the Thunderbane Bamboo Core then, waiting to present the scripture now. He must have worried that giving both at once would overwhelm her, making her too pressured to accept. So, he split the gifts to ease her into it. His care was almost too perfect.

And if she hadn't confronted him today, he might never have voiced his feelings, content to give silently forever. The more she thought about it, the heavier her heart grew, laced with guilt. Her harsh words must have wounded him deeply. Who wouldn't be hurt by such a cold rejection from the one they loved? Yet, he left the Eternal Cosmos Sutra fragment behind, departing with his sorrow.

In that moment, regret bloomed in An Miaoli's heart. With a swift motion, she grabbed the fragment, worth 300,000 spirit stones, and flew toward the sect gates. She had to find Ye Chen, to sincerely thank him for his devotion and tell him how moved she was. She'd explain clearly why she couldn't accept his feelings—not because he wasn't worthy, or for any trivial reason, but because too many factors made them unsuitable. Then, she'd return the Eternal Cosmos Sutra fragment and wish him well on his immortal path, certain he'd find a better Dao companion.

Her thoughts raced as she flew, reaching the gates in a flash. But when she asked the elder on duty, she learned Ye Chen had already left. She sped up, heading to Divine Will City, bypassing the gates with her grand elder token to break through the city's restrictions and descend directly to the Ye Boutique.

But the words of Ye Chen's maid left her silent. He had already returned to Green Cloud Sect. Her guilt deepened. He must have left so quickly to avoid her returning the Eternal Cosmos Sutra fragment, ensuring she had no chance to give it back.

But more than that, her words had likely wounded him, prompting him to retreat to heal in solitude. Yet, she knew, once his heart mended, he'd return to Divine Will City, ready to continue giving to her quietly.

An Miaoli stood before the store's back courtyard gate, frozen in place for a long time.

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