ISWI Chapter 623-625

Chapter 623: You've Successfully Caught My Attention!

As soon as Ye Chen spoke, the faces of several female cultivators lit up with unrestrained joy. Who was Ye Chen? What was his cultivation level? He was the heir of the Heavenly Emperor, a prodigy at the First Heaven of the Mahayana Stage, capable of slaying a Second Heaven Holy Master. For such a figure to give a lecture was nothing short of a grand feast for cultivators. Any insights gained would surely lead to immense growth.

The female cultivators, who had harbored reservations about Ye Chen for various reasons, now held no trace of doubt. Some even began to think he surpassed the Heavenly Intention Holy Son. After all, the Heavenly Intention Holy Son was arrogant, never sparing a glance for female cultivators of lower cultivation, leaving them to admire him from afar.

But the Fourth Holy Son? Countless times stronger than the Heavenly Intention Holy Son, yet so gentle. Most importantly, he was generous, gifting such precious treasures without hesitation. Who wouldn't be thrilled by such a Fourth Holy Son?

Initially, some had whispered behind his back, calling the women who devoted themselves to Ye Chen shameless and lacking ambition. True female prodigies were proud and would never agree to share a husband with others. But now, they understood those women. Because they, too, were willing.

…

Having spoken and seeing the effect was satisfactory, Ye Chen activated the Secret of the Word of Travel, departing with an air of effortless grace.

Lan Feifei watched his retreating figure, her eyes growing increasingly complex. She had thought the Fourth Holy Son might say something more to her. If he confessed his feelings or proposed to take her as his Dao companion, what would she do? How would she respond? Would Holy Maiden Yi Qingwu be upset if she found out? Did the Fourth Holy Son prefer boys or girls? Or perhaps both?

But Ye Chen said nothing. He didn't even spare her a second glance before leaving. This left Lan Feifei's heart in turmoil, caught between hope and doubt. What did the Fourth Holy Son mean? Did he have bold thoughts about her? Was he playing hard to get? If so, he had succeeded—she was thoroughly intrigued.

…

Meanwhile, Ye Chen returned to his cave abode without a hint of reluctance. Glancing at Yi Qingwu, he caught the faint lingering scent of osmanthus spirit liquid on her. His fingers twitched with desire to savor it immediately, but he restrained himself. Ye Chen knew his priorities and wouldn't delay the fiancée's refinement or her cultivation.

With a sniff, he resumed his own diligent practice. When the system's cooldown period ended, Ye Chen stepped out of his cave abode. His keen senses immediately detected hundreds of cultivators gathered at the waist of Holy Maiden Peak.

Quite a turnout! Ye Chen was pleased. But as his gaze swept over the crowd, his brow furrowed slightly. Why were there men here? Hadn't he been clear enough?

At the mountainside, the cultivators of Heavenly Intention Holy Land buzzed with anticipation. The female cultivators adorned themselves vibrantly, while the male cultivators eagerly awaited Ye Chen's arrival. News of the events from a week ago had swept through the entire Holy Land. The Fourth Holy Son had personally lectured female disciples, guiding their cultivation. One had even broken through a minor realm that very night.

More astonishing still was Ye Chen's extravagant generosity. Upon arriving at Heavenly Intention Holy Land, he had gifted a female disciple a Blue Crystal Divine Stone and Lesser Vehicle Holy Water. It was staggering. Some speculated he had taken a fancy to Lan Feifei, but most dismissed the idea. Even if Ye Chen were a womanizer, would he pursue others while his Holy Maiden was still in her cave abode? Besides, everyone knew he genuinely loved Holy Maiden Yi Qingwu, risking everything to become her Dao companion. Such actions would only alienate her. It was impossible.

The truth had to be that Ye Chen was integrating into Heavenly Intention Holy Land for Yi Qingwu's sake, earning everyone's approval. That explained the lectures and lavish gifts. It made perfect sense. Rumors of his generosity were well-known: at his Ascension Peak, he reportedly gifted disciples treasures worth millions of top-grade spirit stones, even immortal scriptures. Once thought exaggerated, these tales gained credibility after Lan Feifei's gifts. Any hostility over the Heavenly Intention Holy Son's fall at Ye Chen's hands vanished. They all craved progress.

Thus, hundreds of disciples gathered for Ye Chen's lecture, hoping for insights—or to catch his eye for greater rewards. They waited with bated breath. When Ye Chen arrived, the crowd fell silent.

…

Ye Chen scanned the vibrant, colorful scene before him, nodding in satisfaction. The dozens of male cultivators were an eyesore, but the system's continuous notifications in his mind kept his mood high. Heavenly Intention Holy Land's strength was impressive.

Among the female cultivators, eight had potential exceeding a thousandfold. One, as remarkable as Lan Feifei with fifteen hundredfold potential, was a captivating, enchanting type at the early Unity Stage.

Perfect timing. At the Mahayana Stage, Ye Chen had few gifts suitable for those at the Deity Transformation Stage, and their value was modest. But for Unity Stage cultivators, he had plenty. He could gift something, receive feedback, and perhaps bring a fitting candidate to his master.

Standing before the crowd, Ye Chen exuded an aura of profound charm, divine light flowing around him. After a sweeping glance, he began, slowly sharing his insights on cultivation.

Half an hour later, he paused. Every cultivator, regardless of realm, felt enlightened. To them, Ye Chen's words were lotus-blooming truths, his understanding far beyond theirs. Each sentence was a gem of wisdom.

Yet, his lecture didn't sate them—it left the female cultivators craving more. But Ye Chen was resolute. The lecture was over. He offered three question slots. Instantly, hands shot up, especially from those hoping for personal guidance.

Ignoring the frantically waving male disciples, Ye Chen casually and fairly chose a female cultivator with over a thousandfold potential, her qualities standing out.

Chapter 624: Is Ye Chen Harboring Ulterior Motives?

Atop Holy Maiden Peak, every cultivator listening to the lecture buzzed with excitement, their initial reservations about Ye Chen's identity long forgotten. They eagerly raised their hands, vying for a chance to ask questions and receive his guidance.

Ye Chen selected fairly and randomly. The first two female cultivators, after receiving his advice, sat down flushed and satisfied. When it came to the final question slot, Lan Feifei brimmed with confidence. Surely, the Fourth Holy Son would choose her. Hadn't he singled her out before, gifting her such precious treasures?

But her confidence faltered. Ye Chen's gaze skipped her, landing on a captivating female cultivator. "What would you like to ask?" he said.

Lan Feifei was stunned. Why hadn't he chosen her? After all those gifts, didn't he hold her in special regard? The enchanting female cultivator, delighted, blushed as she posed her cultivation question. Ye Chen answered effortlessly, his detailed response leaving her eyes sparkling.

Then, to her greater surprise—and Lan Feifei's dismay—Ye Chen looked at the woman with clear appreciation. "You have great insight," he said. "This is an Ancient Charm Pill. It will sharpen your sensitivity to the Charm of the Dao, helping you reach the peak of the Unity Stage sooner."

The crowd gasped as he presented the divine pill. Ancient Charm Pills, made from the extinct Enlightenment Tea Tree leaves, had been lost for ages. They could drastically shorten a Unity Stage cultivator's training time, their value far exceeding a million top-grade spirit stones. And Ye Chen was giving it away?

All eyes turned to the enchanting cultivator with envy. Trembling, her voice soft and sweet, she stammered, "Holy Son, this is too precious…"

Ye Chen smiled, stepping closer. He gently took her smooth hand, placing the pill box in her palm. "No need for formalities. If you truly wish to thank me, join Holy Maiden Peak."

She didn't mind him holding her hand—in fact, she offered her other hand eagerly. Joining Holy Maiden Peak? No issue at all. She agreed instantly. In the past, the Holy Maiden's aloofness and lack of resources deterred others from joining. But now? Joining meant proximity to the Holy Son, whose generosity at Ascension Peak was legendary. Surely, Holy Maiden Peak's benefits would be just as lavish.

As the enchanting cultivator agreed, other disciples—male and female—raised their hands.

"Holy Son, I want to join too!"

"Holy Son, I have a dream!"

"Holy Son, please let me join Holy Maiden Peak!"

Ye Chen smiled faintly, waving them off, selecting only female cultivators with potential exceeding a thousandfold. His standards were high—only those above this threshold were worth his attention. Six female disciples were confirmed to join, each receiving an Enlightenment Tea Tree leaf as a welcome gift, sparking another wave of envy.

Undoubtedly, Holy Maiden Peak was poised to become one of the most sought-after peaks in Heavenly Intention Holy Land.

With the gifting complete, the system's maxed-out critical hit notifications rang in Ye Chen's mind. He was deeply satisfied. Next lecture, even more female cultivators would surely attend. Filling Holy Maiden Peak with high-potential disciples would ensure that, once he and the fiancée became Dao companions, he'd have options if she were unavailable. After carefully explaining the divine pill's usage, Ye Chen released the enchanting cultivator's hand without lingering and returned to Yi Qingwu's cave abode.

The enchanting cultivator looked crestfallen. The Holy Son had held her hand so intently—she'd hoped for a private lecture.

…

When word of the Fourth Holy Son's first lecture spread, Heavenly Intention Holy Land was stunned. Charm Pills, Enlightenment Tea Tree leaves—each priceless, yet Ye Chen gave them away. Disciples who had dismissed the lecture and stayed away now regretted missing a fortune. Even those once hostile toward Ye Chen began to question: could someone so generous truly be the villain rumors painted? More and more resolved to attend the next lecture, hoping to catch the Holy Son's eye.

For a week, Ye Chen's actions dominated the Holy Land's discussions.

…

The higher-ups of Heavenly Intention Holy Land also caught wind of Ye Chen's spectacle. The Holy Master and several elders sat together, their expressions varied. Initially, they'd viewed the marriage alliance as a mere transaction. They hadn't expected Ye Chen to not only join their Holy Land but also lecture and give extravagant gifts—treasures that even supreme elders coveted.

"Could Qingwu have tamed Ye Chen, making him genuinely want to integrate into our Holy Land?" one elder speculated.

The Holy Master frowned, puzzled. But a mature female elder, her cold phoenix eyes glinting with suspicion and hostility, sneered. "Impossible. I wager Ye Chen harbors ill intentions. He might be using these lectures to spread flawed teachings, undermining our prodigies' foundations. We can't underestimate him. Next lecture, I'll personally observe. If there's an issue, we'll seize him and cripple his cultivation as a warning."

The Holy Master and others couldn't agree to such drastic measures. They stayed silent, knowing this elder's close friend had died at the hands of Heavenly Evolution Holy Land, fueling her deep animosity toward Ye Chen and the marriage alliance. Crippling him was out of the question.

The Holy Master spoke calmly. "Elder Ling, please attend the next lecture discreetly and assess if Ye Chen has ulterior motives. If you find anything, report to us, and we'll handle him."

Elder Ling nodded, her eyes burning with resolve to expose Ye Chen's true nature.

A week later, the next lecture began. The crowd was massive—over five thousand disciples. Though numerous, the quality had dipped. Aside from those already recruited to Holy Maiden Peak, only two had thousandfold potential. But Ye Chen's eyes soon sparkled. In the void, he spotted a mature, aloof female cultivator. Her cultivation was at the Third Heaven of Mahayana Stage, with a staggering two-thousandfold potential.

She'd arrived at the perfect moment.

Chapter 625: All the Blame Falls on Feng Baiyu!

Ye Chen shortened the second lecture to twenty minutes. He then selected the three female disciples with the highest potential for questions. Once the session concluded, he permitted the two thousandfold-potential female disciples to join Holy Maiden Peak, gifting them Enlightenment Tea Tree leaves.

But despite the crowd's expectant gazes, Ye Chen didn't choose a lucky recipient for a gift. Instead, he soared into the sky, heading toward the firmament.

…

In the void above, the mature, aloof female elder, who had arrived early, listened to Ye Chen's lecture with deepening frowns. It wasn't that his teachings were flawed—on the contrary, every word was profound, offering her fresh insights into cultivation. But as the Holy Son of Heavenly Evolution Holy Land, Ye Chen must be as despicable as Feng Baiyu. How could he genuinely help Heavenly Intention Holy Land's disciples improve, even gifting treasures like Enlightenment Tea Tree leaves? There had to be a larger scheme.

As she pondered, her brows twitched, a flicker of panic crossing her face. Ye Chen was flying toward her. His double-pupil eyes had clearly spotted her. Steeling herself, she revealed herself, glaring coldly, ready to see what he'd do. If he questioned her spying, it would confirm his guilt.

But Ye Chen stopped before her, his face warm with a friendly smile. "Greetings, Elder Ling!"

She blinked, caught off guard. "You know me?"

She'd been in seclusion for over thirty years since reaching the Mahayana Stage, rarely stepping outside. Ye Chen smiled. "Holy Maiden Peak lacks elders, so I inquired about potential candidates. I heard Elder Ling is profoundly skilled, with keen insight into cultivation. More than that, you're said to be not only beautiful but exceptionally patient. I doubted such a perfect female cultivator could exist, but seeing you now, I realize the praise wasn't exaggerated—you're even more remarkable, unforgettable at first sight."

Elder Ling was stunned. Despite her deep hostility toward Ye Chen, his flood of compliments disarmed her. Coming from a top-tier prodigy like him, the praise carried weight. A smile tugged at her lips, but she quickly forced a stern expression. "I'm not interested in being an elder for Holy Maiden Peak. I was just passing by to observe. Find someone else."

In her heart, she began to doubt her suspicions. Ye Chen didn't match the rumors. Perhaps he was untainted, unlike Feng Baiyu. Maybe she didn't need to keep watching him.

Ye Chen's face turned apologetic. "My apologies for the presumption, Elder Ling. Please accept this as amends for my offense."

Elder Ling's mature features froze. Was the Fourth Holy Son really this courteous? Offering a gift just for asking a question? She'd misjudged him. Her friend's death surely had nothing to do with Ye Chen—it must be Feng Baiyu's fault.

But when she saw what Ye Chen presented before her, her captivating eyes widened. She couldn't help but exclaim, "This is…"

Ye Chen smiled. "This is the Domain Divine Light. For a Mahayana Stage cultivator at the peak of the first level, integrating it into your domain will raise its power ceiling and boost its effects. When you break through to the second level, uniting domain, soul, and body, your strength will be far more formidable."

Elder Ling's captivating eyes couldn't look away. She murmured, "Domain Divine Light is incredibly rare, said to form only in the resting place of a half-saint. Ten years ago, a single strand appeared at White Emperor City's auction, sold for twelve million top-grade spirit stones."

Ye Chen nodded, still smiling. "Exactly, that very strand."

Though absent from the cultivation world then, Ye Chen had leveraged Heavenly Evolution Holy Land's influence to acquire useful items at auctions. This light was perfect for the Mahayana Stage, a realm he was destined to reach. His elders had secured it at that astronomical price, storing it in the Holy Land's treasury. Upon his return, it was promptly delivered to him. Now, with Elder Ling at the peak of the first Mahayana Stage, it was the ideal gift.

"It's too precious. I can't accept it," Elder Ling said, embarrassed. Twelve million spirit stones' worth—she coveted it but couldn't justify taking it.

Ye Chen chuckled softly. "Don't overthink it, Elder Ling. I simply wish to befriend a prodigy like you. If you have time, perhaps visit Holy Maiden Peak occasionally to lecture the disciples. Surely a talent like you isn't so indecisive?"

His sincerity was disarming. Seeing her hesitation, Ye Chen gently took her smooth hand, placing the jade box containing the Domain Divine Light in her palm. With the treasure already in her grasp and his words so earnest, Elder Ling couldn't refuse. She lowered her head, grateful. "Thank you, Holy Son. I'll make time each year to lecture at Holy Maiden Peak."

Clutching the jade box, her heart swirled with mixed emotions, tinged with guilt. She'd come with such malice, yet Ye Chen had admired her and gifted her this priceless treasure. She shouldn't have compared him to Feng Baiyu.

Ye Chen, seeing her acceptance, smiled as the system's voice echoed in his mind: "Congratulations, host, gift successfully given. Gift: Domain Divine Light. Two-thousandfold feedback triggered. Critical hit reward activated. Reward: Unity Flower."

The Unity Flower, a divine bloom from the immortal realm, could be consumed by a peak first-level Mahayana cultivator to elevate the limits of domain, soul, and body simultaneously. Breaking through to the second level required uniting these three; the stronger they were, the more powerful the breakthrough. The flower's effect was extraordinary.

Ye Chen's gaze toward Elder Ling softened further, brimming with warmth. Feeling his gentle look, her guilt deepened. All the fault lay with Feng Baiyu. The Fourth Holy Son was surely innocent.