Why was he doing this? For the critical hit, of course. Why else would he waste time on this?

But Ye Chen didn't say that. Instead, he reached out and placed his hand on Li Feihuang's abdomen. A surge of restorative power flowed from his left eye—not as a visible beam, but channeled through his palm.

He wasn't trying to take advantage of her. His Heavy Pupil was a secret best kept hidden. A supreme Divine Ability, rare even across generations, could draw the envy of even Holy Land powerhouses. Discretion was necessary.

Li Feihuang, still reeling from Ye Chen handing her the Phoenix Blood, was entirely focused on the jade bottle. Her reaction was half a beat slow, and by the time she registered his touch, shock turned to fury. What was he doing? Did he think he could use the Phoenix Blood to buy her? She, a royal daughter of Great Chu, would never lower herself for a treasure, no matter how precious. The very idea was unthinkable.

The indignity was unlike anything she'd ever endured. She was on the verge of erupting when a sudden warmth spread through her abdomen, stopping her cold.

The destructive aura that had clung to her wound like a leech, hindering her body's recovery, began to dissipate at an astonishing rate under this restorative power. Her injury healed rapidly, the warmth spreading through her entire body. Even old, unnoticed scars from past cultivation were mended in moments.

The sensation was so comforting that Li Feihuang nearly let out a sigh of relief. When Ye Chen's hand finally pulled away, leaving that fullness behind, she felt an unexpected pang of loss.

Not only had he given her the Phoenix Blood, but he'd also healed her. Such a potent healing effect had to come at a great cost. Sure enough, while his face hadn't changed after defeating her with a single strike, now it was slightly pale.

What was going on?

Li Feihuang was utterly bewildered, her mind a tangle of confusion. But Ye Chen's act of healing her melted away her anger. Could it be… he hadn't betrayed her at all? Was there something more to this?

...

Ye Chen, of course, couldn't tell the truth. Admitting he was playing a game of tough love—slapping her down only to offer a sweet reward—was out of the question. But coming up with an excuse? He wasn't sure what to say. The more he explained, the more likely he'd slip up. Better to let her figure it out herself.

Meeting Li Feihuang's searching gaze, Ye Chen steadied his aura, his eyes warm with encouragement. "Fellow Daoist Li," he said gently, "please cultivate diligently from now on."

What?

Li Feihuang blinked, caught off guard. Before she could respond, Ye Chen stood, offering no further explanation. His face held that same encouraging smile, his gaze soft as he looked at her.

Confused, Li Feihuang glanced down at her abdomen, where her wound had just been healed. A realization hit her like a bolt of lightning—she understood. She truly understood.

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She bore the weight of reclaiming her throne, yet she'd always been arrogant, her pride towering above all. Even after losing to Ye Chen in the arena, she hadn't reflected, still believing herself invincible. Revealing her Fire Phoenix Spirit Body, she'd assumed Ye Chen would cower. She'd never taken the other Divine Will Sect disciples seriously either.

But pride comes before a fall. In the cultivation world, countless prodigies had stumbled due to their own arrogance. Her future held a battle with the Champion King, a fight to reclaim everything that was hers. The path was fraught with danger—failure could mean death. Yet she'd never worried, assuming victory was assured.

Such hubris would cost her dearly.

Ye Chen, clearly aware of this, had been watching her closely. His initial hesitation, letting An Yuyi vie for the Phoenix Blood, was meant to jolt her into taking things seriously. But when she easily crushed An Yuyi and grew even more conceited, Ye Chen had no choice but to act himself. And when he did, he struck with a devastating blow.

She'd thought he betrayed her. Now, she saw the truth: he hadn't betrayed her at all. Every move was for her sake. Even the timing—right before her Golden Core breakthrough—was deliberate. He'd shattered her pride to teach her there were heavens beyond heavens, people beyond people.

Why not wait until after her Golden Core formation? Simple. Once she achieved a ninth-grade Golden Core with her Earth Spiritual Root and evolved her Fire Phoenix Spirit Body into the Moon Phoenix Body, her power would be unimaginable. Even Ye Chen might not be able to defeat her then. This was his only chance to humble her.

As the pieces fell into place, Li Feihuang's gaze softened with gratitude. "Thank you, Fellow Daoist Ye, for the reminder," she said earnestly. "Your painstaking efforts—I'll never forget them."

Ye Chen raised an eyebrow. Good, you get it.

With a light chuckle, he said, "Then keep the Phoenix Blood, Fellow Daoist Li."

Now understanding Ye Chen's true intentions, Li Feihuang knew the Phoenix Blood was his sincere gift to her. Overwhelmed, she opened her mouth to speak, her heart swelling with emotion…

...

Just then, a furious voice erupted behind Ye Chen. "I object!"

It was An Yuyi.

Ye Chen shook his head. Li Feihuang's Fire Phoenix Spirit Body and the Phoenix Blood were a match made in heaven. What right did a weakling like An Yuyi have to protest?

An Yuyi glared at Ye Chen, her face flushed with humiliation and rage. She'd poured out her heart, offering to become his cultivation partner, only for him to ignore her completely. First, he injured Li Feihuang, then healed her himself, and now he'd handed her the Phoenix Blood.

What was this? Were the two of them playing some romantic game, treating her like a joke? Already shaken by Li Feihuang's stunning true appearance, Ye Chen's choice was a blow An Yuyi couldn't bear. In her twenty-plus years, she'd never felt such disgrace.

Her eyes reddened as she stared at Ye Chen. "If I had beaten Li Feihuang, would you still have given her the Phoenix Blood?"

Without hesitation, Ye Chen nodded. The system's reward hadn't triggered yet—he had to stay resolute.

Li Feihuang, hearing his response, felt her heart stir with even deeper gratitude. But for An Yuyi, Ye Chen's cold answer was like a knife. Her body swayed, barely able to stand.

At this moment, the Phoenix Blood's ownership hardly mattered. What she couldn't fathom was why the Ye Chen who supposedly loved her would act this way. Was it just because of Li Feihuang's beauty? Where was she lacking compared to Li Feihuang?

Clenching her fists, her voice broke with anguish. "You clearly like me! Why are you doing this?"

Ye Chen's expression remained calm. "Go ask your aunt."

The last time he'd spoken with An Miaoli, he'd made it clear he didn't like An Yuyi and had his heart set on another. He wasn't about to repeat himself.

An Yuyi's eyes widened. What did her aunt have to do with this? Could it be… Her mind churned with a storm of thoughts.

...

Ye Chen ignored her, turning to Li Feihuang with a smile.

Li Feihuang clutched the Phoenix Blood—the key to her future and her dynasty's glory. With heartfelt sincerity, she bowed deeply to Ye Chen. "Thank you, Fellow Daoist Ye, for giving me the Phoenix Blood. This kindness—I'll never forget it. The Li family always repays its debts, and I swear I won't let you down."

At that moment, a system notification chimed in Ye Chen's mind…

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