The Divine Will Mountains stretched endlessly across the land. Even a behemoth like the Divine Will Sect only occupied a few thousand miles at the range's center, claiming the main peaks as their territory.

Many of the surrounding lesser peaks remained outside the protection of the sect's grand formations. They were mostly used as training grounds for disciples or for hunting spirit beasts.

Ye Chen drifted through the air and landed atop a remote mountain ridge, far from the sect's main gate. There was no one around for miles.

Although Granny Manjusaka had personally said the phoenix blood was once the property of the Boundless Demon Sect, sealed away by her own hand, the fact remained that times had changed.

The land was now under the Divine Will Sect's control. It was best to be discreet. If he were caught red-handed, Ye Chen certainly had ways to escape, but it would be awfully awkward. His only concern now was whether the incantation Granny Manjusaka had given him could be trusted. Had the old lady left some kind of trap?

Still, Ye Chen decided to take the risk. Granny Manjusaka looked like your average ascetic cultivator, wholly devoted to cultivation. She even got dragged around by Su Yuxuan without protest. It shouldn't be much of a problem.

Ye Chen activated his spiritual energy and silently chanted the incantation. In the next moment, the small mountain beneath his feet gave a faint tremble, and a subtle wave of formation energy spread out. Then a golden portal of light materialized in the void before him.

Ye Chen's eyes lit up. Good old granny came through. So quiet, so clean—no flashy spectacle. There was no way the Divine Will Sect would notice. Now he just had to slip inside, retrieve the phoenix blood, and later deliver it discreetly to Li Feihuang. That would be instant profit.

As for whether he felt guilty taking something from another sect's territory? Not at all. He wasn't even keeping it for himself. The final recipient was Li Feihuang, a direct disciple of the Divine Will Sect itself.

How could that be considered stealing? He was merely the humble courier of the phoenix blood.

Just as Ye Chen was silently apologizing in his heart for ever doubting Granny Manjusaka, promising that next time, he'd never hurt her feelings again, and would respectfully call her Granny with utmost sincerity, the entire Divine Will Mountain Range suddenly quaked violently as if a dragon had awakened beneath the earth.

In the next instant, a blinding pillar of light burst forth from the mountain range's center, illuminating half the entire region.

"..."

Ye Chen's mouth twitched as he stared at the scene. If he wasn't mistaken, that light pillar's location was exactly where the entrance to the Divine Will Secret Realm was situated. With a disturbance like that, how could the Divine Will Sect possibly not investigate?

Damn it! The incantation really was faulty!

From deep within the sect, the oppressive aura of a powerful cultivator surged to the sky, vast spiritual sense swept across the Divine Will Mountains like a tidal wave.

Without hesitation, Ye Chen dove headfirst into the portal. He had no time to delay, not when he might get caught red-handed. While rushing through, he was already cursing inwardly—Demonic cultivators! Not a decent one among them!

...

Divine Will Sect.

At the edge of a cliff stood a refined and elegant pavilion. Within it, shrouded by countless veils of mist, a graceful figure was in the midst of cultivation. The atmosphere around her shimmered with mystic energy, her brow occasionally flashing with brilliance, solemn and transcendent.

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This was An Miaoli. But at that moment, she slowly ended her cultivation and rose lightly to her feet. As the mist gradually dispersed, her slender, flawless figure came into full view—exquisite and nearly divine. She turned with a soft smile.

"Yuyi, you're back? Did you and Ye Chen speak well? Have you resolved your misunderstandings?"

But when she fully turned and saw her niece's face, she paused in surprise. That charming face was brimming with indignation.

What happened? Did things go poorly again? Or worse—had they argued?

An Miaoli asked calmly, "What happened?"

An Yuyi took a deep breath and puffed up with righteous anger.

"Aunt, you know I've always disliked that Li Feng! She's just a little stronger in combat, yet she struts around the sect like everyone's beneath her! And she's not even pretty! Why does she act so high and mighty!? I went to see Ye Chen, and what do I find? He's walking Li Feng to the gate like a cherished guest! It pissed me off. But I told myself to be the bigger person—so I didn't say anything.

"But the moment Ye Chen saw me, he asked where you were, then told me he was busy and had no time to host me! I was livid! He has time for Li Feng but not for me? Still, I held it in. I figured maybe he's still mad. So I gave him the thank-you gift.

"And what happened? He accepted that rare and expensive core-forming treasure, barely said a word, and turned around to shut the door in my face! That's just too much! That spiritual item is worth far more than the Divine Will Pool he gave me! How dare he treat me like that?"

The more she spoke, the more furious she became. Her chest heaved visibly with each indignant breath.

Hearing all this, An Miaoli merely raised a delicate eyebrow. Her niece might not understand, but she did.

Ye Chen's indifference, even bordering on rudeness, must have been because she herself hadn't gone in person.

An inaudible sigh escaped An Miaoli's lips. Truth was… she had the time. By all logic, she should have gone herself to express thanks and deliver the gift. But she had deliberately stayed away, letting her niece deliver it on her behalf.

On one hand, she knew full well that she and Ye Chen were not meant to be. If she went personally, Ye Chen might misinterpret it… and things would only grow more complicated. His gaze was already far too intense. If her niece caught wind of something, that would only make matters worse.

On the other hand, she genuinely hoped to push Ye Chen and Yuyi together. If the two of them truly ended up together, her niece would find happiness. And Ye Chen could peacefully become her niece's husband, slowly letting go of those inappropriate thoughts he held toward her. It had all been a careful plan. She just hadn't expected that Ye Chen's fixation on her would be so strong. All it took was her not showing up for him to brush off Yuyi entirely.

Sigh… a fated entanglement, truly.

...

An Miaoli gently consoled her niece.

"Don't take it too hard. Perhaps Ye Chen is still upset. Give him time."

But An Yuyi remained puffed up in anger.

"The last incident wasn't entirely my fault to begin with! And he's a grown man—can't he be the bigger person for once? I've already humbled myself, swallowed my pride, and tried to make peace with him. But the more I yield, the more he walks all over me! It's gone too far. In any case, if Ye Chen doesn't apologize first this time, I won't forgive him. And as for becoming his Dao Companion, I'll have to seriously reconsider."

An Miaoli gave a soft nod.

"That might be for the best…"

Yes, perhaps it truly was for the best. If her niece gave up on Ye Chen, everyone's burdens would lighten. And she, too, would no longer be caught in the awkward tangle of owing Ye Chen a favor on her niece's behalf.

Hearing her aunt agree so readily, An Yuyi instead faltered slightly.

"Ye Chen really did go too far this time… but he does have his good points. He's strong, talented—his aptitude is about the same as mine—and that store he runs is booming. He's practically making gold by the hour. Honestly, we're pretty well matched. And before, he saved me… and gave up his Divine Will Pool slot for me. That says a lot about how he feels.

"So as long as he sincerely apologizes, promises to stop dealing with Li Feng, and stops being so petty, then… I might forgive him. I'd even reconsider becoming his Dao Companion..."

An Miaoli's mouth twitched slightly, and then she fell completely silent. Should I just tell her the truth?

Ye Chen not only didn't like her, but his talent far surpassed hers. He had a Heavenly Spiritual Root. It would be cruel to say it outright. But perhaps ripping the bandage off now was better than letting this farce drag on. Watching her niece spinning all these delusions, clinging to them like reality. It wasn't healthy.

...

Just as An Miaoli was considering how to break it gently, the peak beneath their feet suddenly shuddered. Both women widened their eyes in shock.

The Divine Will Sect's mountains were all reinforced with formations. An earthquake? Impossible. An enemy attack? Even more unlikely. The defensive arrays would've sounded the alarm by now.

Just as An Miaoli rose into the air, preparing to investigate, a beam of radiant light burst into the sky. An ancient aura of Cave Heaven origin spilled outward. Even someone like An Miaoli squinted slightly as she stared at it.

The Divine Will Cave Heaven… wasn't it supposed to open in another three years? Why was it activating early!?

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