Chapter 1138: The Immortal Monarch's Brand!
"Elder, since our ancestor saved Nangong Wan's life and mine, shouldn't the sect reward him?"
The Jade Pool Elder spoke with visible nervousness. She felt genuine gratitude toward Ye Chen. The sense of security brought by his imprint was unlike anything she had ever experienced—especially the unforgettable sight of that giant hand snatching Yu Tuo away.
Even though Huo Linglong had been displeased by Ye Chen's earlier words, she knew the elder was right. Ye Chen had saved her personal disciple, so gratitude was necessary. Still, she had no desire to see him.
Frowning, she said, "He is an ancestor. Protecting the sect's disciples and elders is simply his duty. Why should he be rewarded? However, it was my negligence as Nangong Wan's master that allowed her to fall into danger. I wasn't attentive enough. There's no need for the sect to reward him. I will do it myself."
Huo Linglong hesitated for a moment. Her snow-white peaks rose and fell with her breathing. After a long pause, she finally made up her mind. With a wave of her hand, she took out a red crystal stone that burned with raging immortal flames.
"This is a Fire Spirit Stone that I refined over many years using my Red Lotus Karmic Fire!"
"Ye Chen cultivates extremely quickly. It won't be long before he reaches the peak of Celestial Immortal. When he breaks through to Profound Immortal, he will need to evolve his inner world into a universe. Using this Fire Spirit Stone as the core during that evolution will allow him to birth a star comparable to a great sun. It will illuminate his entire inner universe, dispel loneliness and desolation, and greatly benefit the expansion of his cosmos…"
"Moreover, the power of his universe will carry the strength of my Red Lotus Karmic Fire, making it far more formidable. It will also provide some assistance when he breaks through to Golden Immortal and comprehends the Great Five Elements Technique."
"I originally planned to save this for Nangong Wan, but I'll give it to him first."
With clear reluctance, Huo Linglong flicked the divine stone forward, sending it to the Jade Pool Elder.
Joy lit up the elder's face as she accepted it. Ignoring the pained expression on the Law Enforcement Elder's face, she immediately prepared to deliver the gift to Ye Chen.
Seeing this, Huo Linglong ground her teeth in frustration. After returning to the sect, Nangong Wan had not come to pay respects to her master first, but had instead rushed straight to Transcendence Peak. And now even the elders of her Punishment Peak were turning their elbows outward.
Why did every Jade Pool female cultivator become enchanted the moment they got close to Ye Chen? Could this man have cultivated some kind of soul-enchanting dual cultivation art?
She needed to stay vigilant. This boy definitely harbored some grand scheme. If she didn't keep watch, the million-year foundation of Jade Pool Immortal Sect might very well be destroyed by this man!
…
Upon returning to Transcendence Peak, Nangong Wan went straight to Ye Chen's cave residence. She gently activated her transmission talisman, but received no response for a long time. Patiently, she waited at the entrance.
After a while, the cave door finally opened.
Ye Chen walked out with Yao Xi, whose figure had become even more voluptuous and whose cultivation had reached the late Quasi-Immortal stage. He had known Nangong Wan was waiting outside but paid it no mind.
There was no melodramatic confrontation, no tragic outcome. After all, he had never hidden his nature, so there was no risk of his image collapsing.
Nangong Wan didn't seem to care either. She even nodded politely at Yao Xi. Yao Xi glanced at Nangong Wan's long, slender legs and returned a gentle smile. She signaled to Ye Chen that he didn't need to see her off, then gracefully flew toward her own cave residence.
None of the three felt the slightest awkwardness.
Ye Chen invited Nangong Wan into the cave and had her sit down. The air inside still carried a faint floral fragrance, but she paid it no attention.
Gazing at Ye Chen with eyes so intense they seemed to weave invisible threads, Nangong Wan handed him a strand of her origin energy and spoke softly.
"Thank you, Fourth Ancestor, for bestowing your precious imprint upon Wan'er and saving her life!"
"I have no way to repay such great kindness. I can only offer myself to you. Please do not disdain me."
Ye Chen couldn't help but smile at her words, reminded of a joke from his previous life: the beautiful offer themselves in body, while the ugly promise to work like oxen and horses in the next life. But he was not that kind of person.
His eyes swept over the short skirt Nangong Wan had changed into after returning to the sect and the pair of long, shapely legs beneath it that resembled fine wine cups. Shaking his head, he said seriously, "There's no need for that. As an ancestor, taking care of my disciples is only natural. My heart is devoted entirely to the public good. You don't need to overthink it. However, since that imprint has already been used, once I condense the next one, I will come and plant it for you."
Ye Chen casually accepted the strand of origin energy. He noted with satisfaction that its quality was quite good—enough to gift to his fiancée once.
Although he could not directly witness what happened through the imprint, now that Nangong Wan had returned, he could sense everything from its lingering traces. Seeing the battle record, he felt a hint of surprise, but mostly it was only natural. Given the imprint's performance, even though the gap between the immortal realms was enormous, he might already possess the strength to cross the Profound Immortal realm and dominate the Golden Immortals.
Of course, those two opponents could not be considered top-tier prodigies, so it was hard to say for certain. Still, the result left him somewhat pleased.
What Ye Chen looked forward to most, however, was the gift that would come once the next imprint fully condensed. He had originally intended to use the previous one as a gift, but when Nangong Wan arrived earlier, he had just given one away, so it failed to trigger. Once the next imprint was ready, offering it as a gift should produce an extraordinary result thanks to Nangong Wan's multiplier.
An Immortal King might still be difficult, but an Immortal Monarch or Saint Immortal should be possible. With that, he would gain even greater security. And once he could produce an Immortal King imprint, he would finally regain the freedom to walk the Immortal Realm as he pleased.
…
After refusing her, Ye Chen found it inappropriate to keep staring at her legs. He closed his eyes and began pondering the matter of the next gift.
When Nangong Wan heard the Fourth Ancestor reject her again, she gently bit her lower lip. She did not believe a word he said. He was clearly still hesitating, worried that being with her would invite criticism from outsiders. But she truly did not care.
Gratitude and admiration surged within her, filling Nangong Wan with unprecedented courage. She gazed at Ye Chen, her eyes brimming with boldness. "Fourth Ancestor, you claim to be devoted entirely to the public good, yet you close your eyes. If you open them and look at me directly, I refuse to believe your gaze would remain empty…If you don't even dare to look at me, how can you speak of being devoted to the public good?"
The next moment, she threw herself into Ye Chen's arms, bringing with her a fragrant breeze. Her cool lips brushed against the corner of his mouth.
Ye Chen's eyes snapped open. He truly wanted to be a good ancestor and restore his reputation in the Immortal Realm.
Nangong Wan stared straight into his eyes, her courage growing stronger. She took his hand and placed it on the very spot he had been looking at earlier.
"Fourth Ancestor, I have already gone this far. If you still refuse me, I will be heartbroken."
"Is it because I was once someone else's fiancée that you cannot make up your mind?"
"I swear that I only met Nalan Qingxuan a few times in total. We never even touched fingertips."
"If Fourth Ancestor does not believe me, you may inspect me thoroughly…"
At this moment, Nangong Wan's courage rivaled that of an Immortal Monarch.
And when Ye Chen heard the words "fiancée," it was as if a hidden switch deep inside him had been flipped.
Chapter 1139: You've Truly Troubled Your Ancestor!
Ye Chen's hands moved restlessly, unsure where to settle as they kept shifting positions. Looking at Nangong Wan's determined face and her eyes as soft as water, he could not help but sigh. He simply wanted a good reputation in the Immortal Realm. Why was it so difficult? Everyone kept forcing him like this. So this was the fate of a good man?
But things had already reached this point. If he refused now, Nangong Wan would surely think he despised her. Her gratitude ran so deep that he could not bear to hurt her.
Thus, Ye Chen continued moving his wandering hands while sighing to her, "You've truly troubled your ancestor…"
Nangong Wan's face immediately lit up with a brilliant smile.
"Ancestor, I know exactly what kind of person you are. I'm not afraid if my reputation becomes mixed."
Ye Chen's mouth twitched. He chose not to explain further and instead began the familiar work he had practiced with his senior sister.
He did feel a slight regret, though. It was truly a pity she wasn't wearing a pair of stockings on those legs…
At first, Nangong Wan tried to take the initiative. But soon her eyes grew misty and filled with spring charm. She realized that in front of the Fourth Ancestor, she was nothing more than an apprentice. Yet she did not mind at all. She liked a man like the Fourth Ancestor—experienced, able to guide and take care of her at every moment.
…
The Jade Pool Elder whom Ye Chen had saved soon arrived at Transcendence Peak. She stood before his cave residence and activated the transmission array.
After waiting for a long time, the Fourth Ancestor's voice finally sounded, though it was noticeably unsteady. "What is it?"
The Jade Pool Elder immediately understood. The Fourth Ancestor's imprint had been exhausted and dissipated, and his true body had likely suffered considerable strain.
She quickly replied, "Because you saved the personal disciple of the Law Enforcement Elder, she wishes to reward you…"
"Reward?" Ye Chen's voice inside the cave carried surprise and a hint of anticipation. "I didn't expect her to be so thoughtful… Hmm, what is she rewarding me with?"
The elder's expression turned somewhat strange. Could the ancestor be so heavily injured that even speaking made him pant? That would be quite serious. And why did she faintly hear the sound of water? Was the ancestor taking a medicinal bath? No wonder he wouldn't come out.
She hurriedly answered, "It is a Fire Spirit Stone that the Law Enforcement Elder personally refined over many years using her Red Lotus Karmic Fire. When you reach the peak of Celestial Immortal, you can use it as the core to elevate your inner world into a universe."
After she finished speaking, Ye Chen remained silent for a long time. Only the continuous sound of splashing water echoed from within.
Finally, he let out a long breath. "Just this? Well, it's acceptable. Thank her for me. You may leave the Fire Spirit Stone at my door."
Sensing that the ancestor seemed to have gained some breakthrough, the elder dared not disturb him further. She placed the jade box containing the Fire Spirit Stone at the entrance and respectfully withdrew.
Soon after, the sound of water rose again inside the cave.
A full week passed like this. Only then did the tightly closed cave door finally open. A refreshing fragrance of plum wine drifted out.
Ye Chen stretched lazily as he walked out, carrying Nangong Wan in his arms. Though her legs no longer ached, she still felt a lingering sensation.
"Fourth Ancestor…"
At this moment, Nangong Wan's eyes were full of attachment, resembling a small bird nestling against him.
Ye Chen gently stroked her head, then bent down to pick up the jade box. "Fire Spirit Stone? The name doesn't sound very impressive. That woman Huo Linglong is so stubborn. She probably thinks I'm a bad person and wouldn't send anything truly valuable."
Nangong Wan, whose eyes were still somewhat dazed, pulled her gaze away from Ye Chen and quickly explained on behalf of her master, "Fourth Ancestor, this Fire Spirit Stone can only be refined with Red Lotus Karmic Fire and requires a full century of continuous effort. It can even serve as the main material for a supreme immortal artifact—its value is immeasurable.
"Using it as the core when advancing your inner universe brings enormous benefits. It can birth a star comparable to a great sun, illuminating the entire inner cosmos, dispelling loneliness and desolation, and providing an endless source of power.
"This is an incredibly rare treasure. In the absence of a Great Sun Origin Core, the Fire Spirit Stone is the best substitute."
Nangong Wan hoped to persuade her master, Huo Linglong, to treat the Fourth Ancestor more kindly. At the same time, she wished for the Fourth Ancestor to hold less prejudice against her master. For this reason, she explained the matter with great seriousness.
Ye Chen raised an eyebrow after listening. It seemed that little chili—or rather, the big chili—was quite generous. That made it perfect for him to test gifting the item and see what kind of surprise his first dao companion with a multiplier above one hundred thousand could bring him.
The system's voice had been ringing in his mind without pause.
"Congratulations, host, for gaining a new dao companion: Nangong Wan!"
"Because she possesses a two hundred thousand times multiplier, all gifts given after forming the dao companion relationship will be directly doubled."
Ye Chen felt great anticipation.
"In that case, I will give this item to you. When you reach the peak of Celestial Immortal, it will directly help you condense your inner universe."
As he spoke, Ye Chen handed the jade box containing the Fire Spirit Stone to Nangong Wan.
Nangong Wan had originally felt drained of strength. Although she felt incredibly sweet inside, she had wanted to gently ask the Fourth Ancestor not to be so rough with her legs next time. Yet those words now stuck in her throat.
The Fourth Ancestor was actually giving her the Fire Spirit Stone?
Such a precious gift was something her master likely possessed only one of. Yet the moment he received it, he chose to give it to her without hesitation. His attitude had not changed in the slightest after obtaining her. He treated her with the same affection from beginning to end—completely different from those other men her senior sisters had mentioned, who lost interest once they succeeded.
At this moment, Nangong Wan no longer felt any pain in her legs. As long as the Fourth Ancestor liked it, anything was fine.
Yet despite the overwhelming sweetness in her heart, she shook her head without the slightest hesitation. "Fourth Ancestor, your cultivation speed is astonishing. From the aura around you, I estimate you will reach the late stage of Celestial Immortal in at most half a year, and the peak within two years at most. Your talent far exceeds mine and your cultivation is faster. This item suits you better."
Ye Chen smiled and gently stroked her head. He then took out a handful of pill bottles and placed them in her arms. "Cultivate well. You won't be slow either…"
Nangong Wan looked at the pill bottles in surprise. But when she opened one at his signal and caught the medicinal fragrance, her eyes widened instantly.
Just one sniff caused a stronger reaction in her body than swallowing a supreme Heavenly Clarity Pill. What kind of divine pill was this?
Ye Chen smiled and said, "Top-grade Impermanence Pills."
Upon hearing the name, Nangong Wan's eyes widened even further. These were the acknowledged top-tier pills for Celestial Immortal realm cultivators. Yet they had been lost for a long time after the foreign invasion shattered several continents.
The fact that the Fourth Ancestor had obtained so many showed his incredible capability. Most importantly, he shared them with her without any hesitation, all to help her cultivate faster so she could accept the Fire Spirit Stone.
The Fourth Ancestor… he truly loved her so much!