An Yuyi's talent was impressive in its own right, and now, as a Golden Core cultivator with a Grand Elder as her aunt, her status in the Divine Will Sect was far from ordinary.

Ye Chen, however, was on another level entirely. In the Great Chu Empire, he'd effortlessly crushed the Champion King, a figure capable of battling Nascent Soul cultivators. His talent had even earned praise from the Heavenly Evolution Holy Son, Hua Yunfei, a peak Deity Transformation powerhouse—an undeniable mark of a top-tier prodigy.

When the two arrived at Magic Peak, they were received with utmost respect. Soon, they met the Magic Peak Master.

"Greetings, Fellow Daoist An, Fellow Daoist Ye…"

The Peak Master was an elderly man. Though his eyes sparkled with vitality, his physical body showed clear signs of decline, tinged with an air of twilight. When he looked at Ye Chen, his expression carried a mix of emotions. At less than fifty years old, Ye Chen had already reached the peak of the Golden Core stage—an achievement that took the Peak Master 270 years.

In youth, everyone dreams of being the protagonist of their own legend, charging toward immortality with boundless ambition. But by middle age, after facing resource shortages, weak techniques, and stagnant cultivation, most realize they're not prodigies—just slightly above average. Seeing a true genius like Ye Chen stirred a mix of envy, jealousy, and resignation in the Peak Master's heart.

After exchanging greetings, they sat down. The Peak Master smiled and asked, "May I know the purpose of your visit, Fellow Daoists?"

An Yuyi, skeptical about the outcome, hesitated to speak. Ye Chen, however, got straight to the point with a smile. "I heard that Fellow Daoist obtained a Spiritual Soul Fruit. I'm on the verge of breaking through to Nascent Soul, but my spiritual sense is just shy of perfection. If I could refine a Spiritual Soul Fruit, my chances of forming a Nascent Soul would greatly improve. So, I've come to ask if you might be willing to part with it."

The Peak Master's brow furrowed, and he shot a stern glance at his son standing behind him. He'd acquired the Spiritual Soul Fruit by chance while helping his son slay a demonic beast—a fact only his son knew. Clearly, the boy had let it slip.

The son, catching his father's glare, flinched and cast a resentful look at An Yuyi.

An Yuyi lowered her head, embarrassed.

Ye Chen observed the scene, feeling a pang of pity for the young man. Such was the fate of a simp—pouring his heart out for a girl, only for her to turn around and offer his secrets to her idol. The goddess one idolizes might just be another's simp.

The Peak Master quickly regained his composure and smiled at Ye Chen. "Fellow Daoist Ye, I do indeed have a Spiritual Soul Fruit. But I need it for my Nascent Soul breakthrough, so I'm afraid I can't help you."

His refusal was swift and resolute.

Ye Chen, however, smiled lightly. "Why not hear my offer first, Peak Master?"

The Peak Master shook his head. "I know you're wealthy, Fellow Daoist Ye. Your store has quite a reputation in Divine Will City—I've even bought top-grade pills there myself. But you must understand how crucial a breakthrough is to a cultivator. The Spiritual Soul Fruit is my only shot at forming a Nascent Soul. In the cultivation world, we fight for every chance, no matter how slim. So, please, don't try to persuade me—I won't give up my hope of breaking through."

An Yuyi shook her head inwardly. She'd predicted this outcome. The Magic Peak Master was set on his final attempt to break through to Nascent Soul, his resolve unshakable. He'd left no room for negotiation, shutting down Ye Chen's request outright. This wasn't something spirit stones could solve.

To the Peak Master, the Spiritual Soul Fruit was non-negotiable—no amount of spirit stones, not even a mountain of them, would sway him. Without breaking through, he had only a few years left. What use were riches then?

But Ye Chen just smiled faintly. Was there truly such a thing as a non-sellable item? If someone refused to sell, it only meant the offer wasn't tempting enough.

Unfazed by the Peak Master's stance, Ye Chen spoke with a warm smile. "Fellow Daoist's dedication to forming a Nascent Soul and pursuing the Dao is admirable. I wouldn't dream of asking you to give up. On the contrary, I'd like to help you succeed."

The Peak Master froze, caught off guard.

Ye Chen reached into his storage bracelet and produced a pill. "This is an ancient Tyrant Body Pill, a fourth-grade elixir. Upon consumption, it can surge your physical vitality for a full year."

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

The Peak Master's eyes lit up. He'd heard of the Tyrant Body Pill, a legendary elixir from ancient times, coveted by aging cultivators seeking breakthroughs. It could revitalize a waning body, significantly boosting the odds of success.

But its main ingredient was nearly extinct, and as a fourth-grade pill, it was practically a myth. Yet here was Ye Chen, holding one. Its value was beyond measure, especially for someone like him, whose body was failing. Even Nascent Soul or Deity Transformation cultivators would be tempted. It was arguably more precious than the Spiritual Soul Fruit.

The Peak Master's face betrayed his longing, but he hesitated. For a Nascent Soul breakthrough, spiritual sense was paramount. Without the Spiritual Soul Fruit, his spiritual sense wouldn't reach perfection, rendering the Tyrant Body Pill insufficient. Still, with it, his chances would improve dramatically. He couldn't help but ask, "Fellow Daoist, you're young and have time. Would you consider parting with this pill? In my travels, I once acquired a—"

Before he could finish, Ye Chen waved a hand, cutting him off. "No need to rush, Fellow Daoist. I'm not done."

He produced a spiritual talisman, its surface shimmering with intricate Dao patterns and an air of profound mystery. The Peak Master stared, then his pupils shrank as realization hit. "Is this… the Holy Infant Talisman from Heavenly Intention Holy Land?"

Ye Chen nodded with a smile. "Indeed, it's the Holy Infant Talisman from Heavenly Intention Holy Land. They're exceedingly rare—I was fortunate to obtain one. It can boost the odds of forming a Nascent Soul by twenty percent, making it the most effective breakthrough aid in existence."

Great Yan Continent had three Holy Lands, Heavenly Evolution among them. The Holy Infant Talisman required complex materials and was fiendishly difficult to craft, so even within the Holy Land, they were scarce. To see one in the outside world was almost unthinkable. The Peak Master hadn't expected Ye Chen to possess such a treasure.

Now, he was truly tempted. But without the Spiritual Soul Fruit to perfect his spiritual sense, even the Holy Infant Talisman wouldn't guarantee success. Spiritual sense-enhancing treasures were rare, and time was not on his side. With a regretful shake of his head, he said, "I appreciate your sincerity, Fellow Daoist, but the Spiritual Soul Fruit is…"

Ye Chen didn't let the Peak Master finish. With a calm flourish, he produced a third item. "This is a Clarity Jade. I'm sure Fellow Daoist has heard of it. It sharpens the mind and greatly enhances spiritual sense—its effects are even stronger than the Spiritual Soul Fruit."

The Peak Master's eyes locked onto the jade stone, shimmering as if it held a pool of clear water. He knew of the Clarity Jade; its ability to boost spiritual sense surpassed even the Spiritual Soul Fruit. But the Spiritual Soul Fruit worked faster, fully refining in half a month, and rumors suggested it could boost Nascent Soul formation odds if used within a month.

He stared at the three treasures floating before Ye Chen—each one vital to his breakthrough. His heart ached. Any one of them would be invaluable, but trading for just one wouldn't suffice. Without the Spiritual Soul Fruit, his spiritual sense wouldn't reach perfection. He needed at least two, if not all three, but the thought alone made him smile bitterly. Even the least valuable of Ye Chen's offerings outshone the Spiritual Soul Fruit. A one-for-one trade was already a steal—how could he dream of two or three?

After a long, reluctant gaze at the treasures, the Peak Master sighed. "Fellow Daoist Ye, your sincerity is overwhelming, but I truly can't agree. Please, take them back."

To his surprise, Ye Chen glanced at him and began to retract the items. "I didn't expect that even these three treasures together wouldn't sway you, Fellow Daoist. Your resolve is admirable. Let's consider this matter closed—my apologies for the disturbance."

"What?"

Three gasps echoed in the hall.

Three for one?

The Peak Master, fearing Ye Chen might change his mind, moved like lightning, pulling a jade box from his storage ring and thrusting it toward Ye Chen. "Fellow Daoist Ye, I'm willing!"

...

On the way back, Ye Chen toyed with the jade box, a faint smile on his lips. Beside him, An Yuyi's expression flickered between shock and heartache. She was stunned that Ye Chen had actually secured the Spiritual Soul Fruit, but the cost—three priceless treasures—pained her.

Ye Chen, however, showed no regret, only anticipation. He had over a dozen Tyrant Body Pills, hundreds of Holy Infant Talismans from system rewards, and the Clarity Jade, a recent acquisition, was useless to him and couldn't be gifted again. Trading them for a Spiritual Soul Fruit that might yield a Shakyamuni Fruit was an absolute bargain.

As he'd always believed, there was no such thing as a non-sellable item. If something couldn't be bought, the offer simply wasn't good enough. One day, he might even buy an entire Holy Land. Was the trade a loss? For someone with a system like his, such concerns were irrelevant. Early breakthroughs and greater strength were worth more than anything.

Money was never the goal—just a means to an end. Hoarding resources without purpose was meaningless, a lesson many from his past life on Earth failed to grasp, becoming slaves to wealth.

"Senior Brother, was it really worth paying such a huge price for a Spiritual Soul Fruit?" An Yuyi asked, curiosity tinged with concern. "Is there some technique you're practicing that requires it?"

Ye Chen smiled. "Senior An is at the peak of Golden Core, with her spiritual sense nearing its limit. The Spiritual Soul Fruit can be refined in half a month and boosts Nascent Soul formation odds. Saving time to help her break through faster is absolutely worth it."

An Yuyi's eyes widened. Ye Chen had paid such a steep price… for her aunt? Her heart swirled with conflicting emotions. She admired Ye Chen even more—how many cultivators would go to such lengths for the woman they loved? She was happy for her aunt, but a pang of sadness hit her. Ye Chen's heart belonged to An Miaoli, and she was just tagging along.

Noticing her dejection, Ye Chen smiled warmly. An Yuyi was only at the early Golden Core stage, far from even mid-stage, let alone forming a Nascent Soul. She had no urgent need for spiritual sense-enhancing items, so gifting the Spiritual Soul Fruit to An Miaoli was the better choice. But with An Yuyi's multiplier now at two hundred and capable of critical hits, boosting her cultivation could make future gifting more rewarding.

He patted her head gently. "Don't feel down. When it's your turn to form a Nascent Soul, I'll prepare just as well for you."

His tender words warmed An Yuyi's heart, her eyes sparkling with emotion.

Senior Brother is just too kind.

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