Upon discovering that the person she encountered might indeed be the Senior Ye who Yun Qianyue had met before, Caidie was thrilled. In the days that followed, she guided Ye Chen with even greater dedication, so much so that she didn't even want to return to the sect at night. She was wholly fixated on the life of a luxurious cultivation maven, equipped with all the resources she could possibly desire.

However, Ye Chen remained aloof. He was not lacking in women... to him, Caidie was merely a tool. He couldn't be bothered to seek another. Thus, he completely ignored the implications of servitude that Caidie's actions suggested. Each day, his routine consisted of selling goods, purchasing treasures suitable for gifts, and then quietly cultivating.

The past half-year had brought him close to the threshold of the late Foundation Establishment stage. He felt that a breakthrough was merely a month away.

...

Ye Chen peacefully continued his cultivation. As a seeded contestant, he only needed to participate in the last five days of competition.

Meanwhile, the Divine Will Assembly was already in full swing. Numerous talents stood out in the conclave, drawing the attention of countless cultivators. The added option to place bets only made the atmosphere more vibrant.

With the Qi Refining stage competition concluded, the Foundation Establishment stage contestants took to the stage one after another.

Various rogue cultivators showcased their astonishing talents and magical techniques, providing a feast for the eyes and elevating the event's prestige further.

Atop a certain celestial peak within the Divine Will Sect, An Miaoli stood in a pavilion. Clad in a flowing white gown, with her black hair gently swirling around her, she seemed a celestial being untouched by the mortal world.

She turned around, her eyes like tranquil waters, and looked upon An Yuyi, whose face was etched with sorrow and frustration. Her voice, ethereal as an illusion, rang out, "Although you lost the direct disciple competition and didn't secure a spot to enter the Divine Will Pool. There's no need to be disheartened! The path of cultivation is long and obstructed; momentary speed means little. The Divine Will Pool can rapidly enhance one's cultivation, but it also impacts one's mental state. Since you can't enter the pool, you should focus on steady cultivation. You can still achieve the Golden Core in the future."

However, An Yuyi, looking up defiantly, replied, "Aunt, the drop of Phoenix Blood available in five years is the top-grade spirit material for forming the Golden Core! If I can't use the Divine Will Pool to quickly reach the late stage of Foundation Establishment. In five years, I won't be able to reach the peak of Foundation Establishment, nor will I be eligible to contend for the Phoenix Blood.

"Without the Phoenix Blood, even if I break through to the Golden Core in the future, with my mismatched spiritual roots and the resources you can provide, at best, I could only form a mid-tier third-grade Golden Core. And the likelihood of advancing to the Nascent Soul from a mid-tier third-grade Golden Core is exceedingly low."

Golden Cores are categorized into nine grades. Divided into top three grades, middle three grades, and lower three grades. It is widely accepted in the cultivation world that only those with a top-tier Golden Core have the highest chance of advancing to the Nascent Soul stage.

As for those with a middle-tier Golden Core, the chance of advancing is one in a hundred. The grade of a Golden Core is influenced by the cultivation technique practiced, the cultivator's talent, and their accumulated resources. But to form a top-tier Golden Core, supreme spirit materials are indispensable.

An Miaoli was well aware of this fact. In a secret realm, their Divine Will Sect had acquired a piece of Phoenix flesh, which, due to its properties, was indestructible. Every hundred years, it produces a drop of Phoenix Blood.

Using it not only forms a top-tier Golden Core but might also grant related Divine Abilities due to the properties of the Phoenix Blood. Its importance was self-evident.

Stolen story; please report.

Yet, the problem was, her niece had lost. The Divine Will Sect's direct disciples were exceptionally talented. Her niece, with her discordant spiritual roots and less than a year into the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, was simply too weak.

An Miaoli, her eyes misty like veiled waters, giving an ethereal, dreamlike sensation, looked at An Yuyi and said, "Yuyi, luck is also crucial. Cultivators must learn to accept their fate. Since fortune was not on your side this time, don't dwell on it. These five years may yet bring other opportunities to reach the peak of Foundation Establishment and qualify to contend for the Phoenix Blood. Obsessing over this will only hinder your cultivation."

However, An Yuyi was unwilling to accept fate: "We cultivators defy the heavens; how can we simply resign ourselves to fate? Aunt, you are the great elder of the Divine Will Sect, and you are most likely to breakthrough to the Nascent Soul stage in the future. Could you please speak to the Sect Master on my behalf? My father would certainly want me to obtain the Phoenix Blood to achieve a top-tier Golden Core. Aunt…"

An Yuyi pleaded pitifully, shaking An Miaoli's arm.

An Miaoli initially wanted to refuse outright. But upon hearing her niece mention her father, a wave of emotion stirred within her.

"It's futile to ask the Sect Master; the competition for direct disciples has ended, and no one can change that—not even me. However, at the Divine Will Assembly, there might be a chance. Some family participants who have already reached the peak of Foundation Establishment don't need the pool; they are only competing for the true transmission status. If the first-place winner is at the peak of Foundation Establishment and doesn't need the pool slot, I'll try to find a way to exchange it for you."

Hearing this, An Yuyi's eyes lit up, and she jumped up excitedly: "Aunt, you're the best!"

An Miaoli stood there, gazing at the rolling clouds between the cliffs, her brow furrowed. She actually disliked such dealings. But her brother had only this one child. What else could she do?

Even as a cultivator, one couldn't sever all emotional ties. Officially, slots are not transferable. If unused, the Divine Will Sect would reclaim them. But there's always a solution to everything.

The slender, elegantly curved An Miaoli slowly rose: "If you want this slot, then let's go and see for ourselves. The open selection ended yesterday. Those who will perform today can truly be called geniuses. If we find someone, it would be good to know in advance what they want, making it easier to negotiate for the slot."

An Yuyi nodded eagerly. In the next moment, she was whisked away by An Miaoli, stepping onto a blue cloud and soaring towards the Divine Will City.

...

The Divine Will Assembly was in full swing, the venue bustling with crowds. At the forefront, there was a high viewing platform designated for the senior members of the Divine Will Sect.

Upon An Miaoli's arrival, she was promptly ushered to the central seat. An Yuyi stood behind her aunt, eyes fixed on the arena. At that moment, two cultivators at the late stage of Foundation Establishment were locked in fierce combat, spells flying chaotically.

However, after only a glance, An Miaoli withdrew her attention. Such strength was even slightly inferior to the inner disciples of Foundation Establishment in the Divine Will Sect. They stood no chance of winning the championship. Unworthy of attention.

After the duel concluded and a victor was declared, the next match was quickly set to begin.

As the next two competitors took the stage, An Miaoli's expression subtly changed. An Yuyi also showed a look of surprise. One of the contestants was someone they both knew—Ye Chen.

But the surprise was fleeting. An Yuyi scoffed, "Only at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment and he dares to participate in the conclave. Ye Chen might not have much strength, but he certainly isn't lacking in audacity."

Due to Ye Chen's previous aloof behavior, An Yuyi harbored no good feelings toward him.

Hearing this, An Miaoli slightly furrowed her brow.

"He has helped you, after all, having given you the Star Thunder Technique. You shouldn't speak of him in such a manner!"

An Yuyi merely pouted but said no more, secretly hoping that Ye Chen would be quickly eliminated. She found his presence irritating.

To An Yuyi's dismay, even though Ye Chen's opponent was in the late stage of Foundation Establishment, he didn't seem to put much pressure on Ye Chen.

Before long, Ye Chen had defeated his opponent and advanced to the next round.

This irked An Yuyi. Ye Chen's opponent was clearly a loose cultivator. And Ye Chen, a sect disciple, defeating such an opponent was not surprising. Nothing to fuss over. She thought it unlikely for Ye Chen to keep encountering independent cultivators.

As for An Miaoli, her Golden Core stage's formidable spiritual sense subtly detected that Ye Chen's strength was not ordinary. Yet, he was still only in the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment.

With many family prodigies participating in this year's Divine Will Assembly, Ye Chen's lower cultivation level meant he stood little chance. Thus, neither paid much more attention to Ye Chen as he advanced off the stage. They continued to watch the arena, searching for a true prodigy who might win the championship.

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