ISWI Chapter 736-737

Chapter 736: Who Doesn't Have a Tail?

Ye Chen's brief emergence from seclusion sparked rumors that spread like wildfire through the Myriad Races Immortal City. He had taken a fancy to a female prodigy from the Heavenly Fox Clan and showered her with lavish gifts.

The myriad races' male cultivators all wore darkened expressions. Though they might not fancy women themselves, it still grated on them deep down. So what if he'd claimed the Heavenly Emperor's treasury? Weren't the human female cultivators enough for him to ruin? Did he have to come poaching from the myriad races too?

Besides, who knew how much of that Heavenly Emperor's hoard had been looted straight from their own clans? In an instant, the men brimmed with resentful mutterings against Ye Chen. They even dredged up the Heavenly Emperor's old atrocities, fanning the flames of hatred right onto him.

The female cultivators' attitudes, however, grew far more ambiguous. Before, most had viewed Ye Chen with outright disdain. But now? Things had shifted entirely.

The Heavenly Emperor's heir parted with spirit plants worth a million top-grade spirit stones at a whim. That was nothing short of astonishing. If they caught his eye too, wouldn't such fortune fall to them as well?

Most crucially, the Heavenly Emperor's heir proved picky beyond measure. The women at his side were all acknowledged as the pinnacle. So, being chosen by him? That in itself symbolized a mark of excellence. Many female cultivators had already hatched plans. The next time Ye Chen ventured out, they'd do the same. Perhaps they'd "accidentally" cross paths. Who knew? She might just be the next lucky one.

...

In the days that followed, Ye Chen cultivated diligently each day. Once the system's cooldown lifted, he'd head out for a stroll, seeking those fated encounters.

Luo Bingling, for reasons unknown, remained in seclusion without end. Even if gifting grew a touch more cumbersome, Ye Chen savored every bit, thoroughly enjoying himself.

For one thing, the streets now teemed with far more myriad race female cultivators. Every race under the sun appeared, each with her own exotic charm—even female giants made an appearance. For another, their multipliers all clocked in respectably. And they vied for attention in dazzling arrays: some lingered chatting at the roadside, others leaned from second-floor windows with half their bodies on display.

A few even flung open casements, propping frames as if by mishap, only to "accidentally" drop them toward their own heads. As if deliberately lying in wait for him.

Ye Chen chuckled at the sight, grasping the gist of it. Civilizations among the myriad races and humans diverged in subtle ways, after all. Back in human immortal cities, plenty of female cultivators had yearned to become his fated ones too—but always with demure restraint.

Here in myriad race lands, though, they proved bolder, their feelings worn openly on their sleeves. And which style did Ye Chen prefer? Why, both, of course!

"I feel such an instant kinship with you, Miss. This back-and-forth discourse, delving deep yet touching light, has left my heart utterly refreshed..."

"Truly, I never imagined I'd find a soul like yours amid the Myriad Races Immortal City."

"Please, Miss, don't refuse—do accept this token!"

On the second floor of a quaint spirit tea house steeped in ethnic charm, Ye Chen had just finished reading the palm and tail lines of the female cultivator before him, who seemed to sport a little raccoon tail. After expounding on how tail fur coloration influenced one's Immortal Path, he rose with evident satisfaction, presented his gift, and bid farewell.

The myriad race woman across from him—embodying that slight plumpness many Earth men from his past life favored—watched him prepare to leave with a pang of reluctance, a sense of loss washing over her. The Heavenly Emperor's heir had chosen her, out of all those female cultivators, granting her immense face.

Moreover, the man himself cut a striking figure—handsome of face, brimming with vigor. Merely from his touch on her hand, she had sensed the formidable strength of his physique. When he had gripped her tail firmly, it sent shivers racing through her entire body. She even harbored fleeting thoughts of taking things further with Ye Chen!

Yet he had touched and departed, crisp and clean. A melancholy settled in the woman's heart. But as she felt the envious stares from those around her, joy bubbled up anew. Only then did she find the moment to examine the gift Ye Chen had left behind.

"Dragon Blood Spirit Wood—this outvalues every spirit plant the Heavenly Emperor's heir gifted before..."

Those nearby, upon discerning the item, erupted in a collective uproar. Dragon Blood Spirit Wood had nearly vanished from the world, its worth staggering. For it demanded immersion in dragon blood to thrive, harboring profound draconic essence that could thicken a cultivator's dragon lineage. To any with dragon blood heritage, it ranked as a supreme treasure. Once matured, it could serve as prime material for forging Extreme Dao Weapons. It even enabled brewing the near-lost Dragon Blood Pill, which offered massive boons when consumed by those cultivating draconic divine abilities. In short, this item brimmed with inestimable rarity, beyond comprehension. It surfaced only at the grandest auctions.

Many male cultivators, sensing the adoring, envious gazes from the women around them, bristled with cold fury, itching to ambush Ye Chen outright. Others wore faces of utter dejection, wishing they had been born daughters instead.

The myriad race female cultivators, meanwhile, burned with reluctance and jealousy—yet their eyes gleamed brighter than ever. The Heavenly Emperor's heir proved staggeringly generous. To part with even Dragon Blood Spirit Wood? It stoked their anticipation to a fever pitch.

This time, that long-tailed vixen had schemed her way in—perching deliberately by the window, mooning half her rear outside, tail swishing to brush Ye Chen's head and draw his notice. What a scheming bitch.

But the Heavenly Emperor's heir fancied tails, it seemed. That diverged sharply from most human tastes. They were Myriad Races, after all—who didn't have a tail? They simply concealed them in humanoid form! Next time, they'd let theirs out plain, to lure him in. Even those tail-less paid it no mind. Just tuck one in—same effect, just as fetching.

One could say, the myriad races' culture of one-upmanship rivaled the humans' own. Especially when it came to the Heavenly Emperor's heir's favor—not just prestige, but tangible gains. Enough to send countless myriad race women flocking in pursuit.

...

Ye Chen gazed at the system feedback in his mind, his mood buoyant.

"Congratulations, host—gift delivery successful..."

"Three-thousand-five-hundred-fold feedback in progress..."

"..."

"Max critical hit reward triggered..."

"Feedback: One hundred stalks of Dragon Blood Heavenly Gold Trees!"

The sight of the reward lifted Ye Chen's spirits even higher. Dragon Blood Heavenly Gold Trees, legend had it, formed when dragons cultivated fleshly body techniques—shedding and regrowing their scales. Some chose sacred mountains for the grind; others, unyielding divine trees. The dragon would coil around it, scraping relentlessly, day after day. The tree bathed daily in dragon blood, feeding on shed scales as nourishment.

Most withered and splintered under the strain. But those that endured evolved into Dragon Blood Heavenly Gold Trees, each towering ten thousand meters tall. Their uses bordered on the infinite. For one, they served as supreme materials for Extreme Dao Weapons. Planted in a cave heaven, they bolstered its foundation while infusing it with dense true dragon essence—accumulating over time to empower the host. It amplified one's draconic Treasure Techniques and divine abilities to greater ferocity. For myriad race cultivators bearing even a trace of dragon blood, it could awaken that lineage fully.

Dragons had a notorious penchant for meddling, mating with anything that moved; countless myriad races carried their heritage. This treasure held irresistible allure for the vast majority of myriad race cultivators. Its value defied reckoning.

Ye Chen's heart soared. By his count, Yao Yuezhi should have nearly finished refining the Qiankun Cauldron into her cave heaven's core. Likely next week, he could begin bestowing cave heaven essence upon her. The prospect thrilled him.

For any cultivator, expanding one's cave heaven imposed no burden—only boundless benefits. The larger the domain, the higher the conversion efficiency; cultivation speed surged accordingly. That alone would draw Ye Chen in. The myriad other advantages? Scarcely worth mentioning.

In all, Ye Chen had longed for Yao Yuezhi's emergence from seclusion far too long! At last, the moment drew near!

Chapter 737: We Misunderstood Ye Chen!

Another week slipped by just like that.

News spread that the tail-wagging female prodigy had awakened her latent dragon bloodline—and unlocked a draconic divine ability—thanks to Ye Chen's gifted Dragon Blood Spirit Wood. The revelation stunned countless souls.

In an instant, the myriad races' female cultivators burned with even fiercer longing. Tails sprouted everywhere across the Myriad Races Immortal City. Even some male cultivators paraded about with tails attached. Harboring all sorts of peculiar hopes in their hearts.

Within the Peacock Clan's outpost, the Little Peacock King's mother caught wind of the outside rumors, her gaze tinged with quiet resentment. Ye Chen had gifted myriad race women three times now, and each occasion saw him pass right by their Peacock Clan grounds.

What did that signify? He clearly yearned to seek her out but felt too bashful. Terrified of drawing notice, he settled for doling out presents to random young nobodies on the streets instead. Others might not grasp it. But could she truly remain oblivious? Ye Chen favored the mature sort.

"So many women around him already, yet he's still so thin-skinned... After all, he saved my son's life. This time, I'll take the initiative! It's not for anything else—just pure repayment."

Mulling it over, the Little Peacock King's mother kept her divine sense locked on the gates, awaiting Ye Chen's passage. After all, he emerged roughly once a week.

The moment he strolled by, she'd send him a transmission. But this time, whether the Peacock King's mother herself, or those female cultivators—tails genuine or affixed—they waited until dusk fell, and still no sign of Ye Chen.

Disappointment etched deep lines across their faces. Had the Heavenly Emperor's heir decided against venturing out? Or had he slipped away unnoticed?

...

And as whispers swirled about Ye Chen among the crowds, back at the Heavenly Demon Clan's outpost. Under the watchful, caring eyes of Ye Chen, Yao Yuekong, and her parents, Yao Yuezhi emerged from seclusion.

Her aura, though not fully restored to its former glory, no longer carried that inescapable veil of defeat. Plainly, this retreat had succeeded: she had refined the Qiankun Cauldron, supplanting her original cave heaven core. The domain itself remained unrestored. But that alone sparked joy in every heart.

"Sister..."

"Daughter..."

"Darling..."

Her parents and brother called out with deep affection, arms outstretched for an embrace, a word of encouragement. Yet the instant Yao Yuezhi spotted Ye Chen upon exiting, her eyes lit up. She ignored the trio entirely and flung herself into his arms. Their extended hands hung frozen in the air...

"Brother, I'm so glad you didn't leave. I worried the whole time that by the time I emerged, you'd be gone. My cave heaven core is restored now. Thank you, Brother. After this, my parents will probably help me find some kind-hearted prodigy to share his cave heaven essence, so I can rebuild mine. It won't be huge, but even a little one would be cute, right? You wouldn't mind if mine's small, would you, Brother? Rebuilding the cave heaven might take another month too. Wait just a bit longer for me—wherever you go then, I'll follow."

Yao Yuezhi clung to Ye Chen with boundless anticipation, murmuring her sweet nothings.

Yao Yuekong's mouth twitched faintly. She no longer called him Brother Ye—just Brother now.

Your real brother stands right here!

For the first time in years, Yao Yuekong realized how sweetly his sister could utter that word. Pity it wasn't meant for him.

Yao Yuezhi's parents wore equally complicated expressions. She hadn't even married yet, and already her eyes held only Ye Chen. Their feelings toward him tangled deeply. Gratitude ran true, of course. But their daughter had secluded herself for just one month.

In that span, Ye Chen had gifted three other female cultivators. Utterly absurd! Yet with the Qiankun Cauldron in hand, they could scarcely lecture her on breaking ties.

...

Ye Chen, listening to Yao Yuezhi's words, couldn't help but chuckle. A kind-hearted soul to share essence? More like they'd snatch some prodigy outright! He wasn't surprised in the least. For all that his women appeared soft and fragile beside him—like willows bending in the breeze, in need of his shelter—each carried her own fire. His master, unburdened, slew without mercy. The little demoness, Luo Bingling, his fiancée—all bore blood on their hands aplenty. Even Senior An wasn't some spineless saint. And this Yao Yuezhi before him? A classic case of powder-cut black.

Ye Chen shook his head. "No need to trouble Uncle and Aunt with this. I've already prepared the cave heaven essence you need to rebuild."

His words stunned all four others present. Yao Yuezhi's eyes widened with delight. The remaining three, hearing him, linked it at once to the stir Ye Chen had kicked up lately in the Myriad Races Immortal City. A bold notion struck them.

The Heavenly Emperor's heir's recent gifts to female cultivators weren't born of loneliness from the two women's seclusion, driving him to hunt for flings. No—he had been scouting suitable candidates for their daughter. After all, compatibility minimized losses during absorption. Same-sex pairings boosted those odds sharply. And the higher the target's talent, the vaster the cave heaven—the more she could draw.

The three women Ye Chen had chosen all boasted solid aptitudes, carrying real names among their peers. They fell short of the absolute elite, sure, but top-tier female cultivators were thin on the ground anyway. Those three? Optimal picks indeed.

With that realization, Yao Yuezhi's parents brimmed with profound regret. Ye Chen had thought of their daughter every step of the way. Yet they had misjudged him, assuming he couldn't bear the loneliness—and even schemed to quietly urge a split. They truly deserved to die for it!

Guilt flooded their gazes as they looked upon Ye Chen. Our son-in-law was simply too good.

...

Ye Chen, meanwhile, shifted uncomfortably under the couple's peculiar stares. He didn't dwell on it, though—likely they just disapproved of his recent gifts to other female cultivators. Such trifles didn't faze him. So he held Yao Yuezhi close in his arms, locking eyes with her clear, emerald depths, and murmured softly, "I've checked—the cultivators in the Myriad Races Immortal City mostly command cave heavens of just a thousand li or so, with paltry ceilings. Even the finest among them rarely breach ten thousand; you could count them on one hand. Even if you convinced them to contribute their essence willingly, it wouldn't mean much for you. After all, anything under ten thousand—whether hundreds or thousands—hardly shifts the needle."

Ye Chen's words drew an involuntary sigh from Yao Yuezhi's heart, a shadow of dejection crossing her face. This was indeed the crux of the issue. Even resorting to ruthless capture left no viable targets to drain. Those who reached the hundred-thousand-li pinnacle? All elite prodigies, treasured by their sects and clans. Utterly untouchable. So, it remained an unsolvable bind!

Yao Yuezhi's parents, hearing Ye Chen's assessment, grew all the more convinced of their earlier blunder. Their guilt deepened! Yet amid the remorse, anticipation flickered in their eyes. After all, if he hadn't secured a fitting candidate, Ye Chen never would have uttered those words.

Could it be that Ye Chen had silently subdued a prodigy with a cave heaven exceeding ten thousand li? Already prepared it for their daughter?