On the mountain path, Ye Chen’s silhouette receded toward the end of the stone steps, eventually shrinking into a small dot and vanishing from sight.
Xiaoxiao stood in place, tiptoeing as her gaze followed that direction, unable to look away for a long time.
It was only when the mountain wind dispersed the clouds, erasing even the slightest trace of him, that she let out a soft sigh.
“Alright, stop looking. He’s already far away.”
Lin Yueqi nudged her with an elbow, her tone carrying a hint of teasing.
“What, missing him already?”
“I am not,” Xiaoxiao retorted immediately, though her cheeks flushed slightly.
She withdrew her gaze and looked down at her toes.
“I was just… thinking about things.”
“About what?”
Lin Yueqi pulled her down to sit on a nearby bluestone, asking with great interest, “Reviewing today’s results?”
Xiaoxiao’s eyes brightened.
She looked up and asked somewhat uncertainly, “Senior Sister Yueqi, did we… succeed today?”
She recalled the scenes from earlier.
Her young master had not rejected Senior Sister Yueqi’s Heart-Clearing Candy, even if he had not eaten it.
He also said that she could consult Senior Sister Yueqi more often and should learn to handle things herself.
Those words sounded as if he were pushing her away.
Yet, he had also said she could ask him anytime if she faced confusion in her cultivation.
“Of course we did!”
Lin Yueqi said decisively.
She began counting on her fingers, analyzing the situation like an experienced strategist.
“First, we successfully broke his fixed impression of you. You didn’t cling to him or take the initiative to hold his hand. This is called ‘creating distance,’ and it will make him curious.”
“Second, even though he’s intentionally distancing himself, there’s no rush. Junior Brother Ye Chen only has you by his side right now. There is plenty of time, so we’ll take it slow.”
“Third…”
The series of logical analyses cleared the confusion in Xiaoxiao’s eyes, replacing it with pure admiration.
‘So that’s how it is…’ she murmured to herself.
That was right.
Since her young master wanted her to have friends and be independent, she would show him she could do it.
They still had plenty of time, and they didn’t live far apart now.
There was no need to rush, no need to rush at all…
Seeing that Xiaoxiao was successfully convinced, Lin Yueqi secretly breathed a sigh of relief, though she was grumbling in her heart.
These so-called “theories” were actually things she had read in mortal storybooks bought from the market at the foot of the mountain.
Domineering Sword Immortal Falls for Me, Cold Shifu’s Pretty Disciple…
The female protagonists in those books all used this step-by-step method of playing hard to get to eventually capture the male lead’s heart.
Although she had never practiced it herself, she figured the principles must be the same, right?
Looking at Xiaoxiao’s trusting face, a trace of guilt flickered in her heart, but it was quickly replaced by a stronger determination.
Xiaoxiao was her best friend, and she had to help her get what she wanted.
—
Ye Chen pushed open the heavy doors of the Thirty-Sixth Sword Tower.
A wave of spiritual energy, far denser than that of the outside world, surged toward him, mingled with a sharp sword intent.
Unlike the slightly scattered sword intent on the mountain path, the intent here felt like a tamed beast — quiet, restrained, and far more powerful.
However, the interior of the tower was shockingly empty.
The first floor was a massive hall.
The floor was paved with a single piece of unknown cold jade, polished so brightly it could reflect a person’s face.
On the four walls, countless complex formation lines were carved, slowly flowing and emitting a faint shimmer.
These formations were used for gathering spiritual energy, cleaning dust, and stabilizing the space.
Even though this place had likely been vacant for countless years, it remained spotless and as good as new.
There were no attendants, no servants, and he could not even sense the presence of a second person.
The entire sword tower felt like a magnificent… cage.
Ye Chen did not care.
He walked slowly up to the second floor, which housed the living quarters and quiet rooms.
The furnishings were simple, yet every piece was a masterpiece.
A cold jade bed and a set of red sandalwood tables and chairs showcased an understated luxury.
He walked to the window and pushed it open.
Outside was a surging sea of clouds.
Light poured down, illuminating the clouds until they were a brilliant white.
An astral wind blew through the high altitude, making a wailing sound, but it was blocked by the invisible seal on the window frame, unable to penetrate even slightly.
For a cultivator, this was undoubtedly an excellent place for practice.
Ye Chen sat cross-legged on the cold jade bed and closed his eyes.
His long-silent Divine Thought had suddenly sent him a crystal-clear message.
‘It is time.’
There was no warning and no preparation.
It happened as naturally as eating or drinking.
In the next moment, the ocean of spiritual energy within Ye Chen’s body began to collapse violently toward the center of his dantian.
The spiritual energy cyclone that had been rotating at high speeds suddenly accelerated by 100 times, then 1,000 times!
A tearing pain radiated from his meridians.
His dantian felt as if it were being crushed into a singularity by this immense centripetal force.
If this were any ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator, their mind would have collapsed by now, resulting in either severed meridians or a fatal internal explosion.
Yet, not a hint of pain showed on Ye Chen’s face.
His divinity dominated everything.
‘Pain was merely an invalid signal sent by the body.’
His consciousness was like a cold, indifferent craftsman, precisely controlling every strand of spiritual energy and guiding this primordial storm occurring within him.
Collapse.
Extreme collapse.
When all the spiritual energy had been compressed to its limit, a tiny, almost imperceptible golden light ignited at the very center of his dantian.
Though initially the size of a grain of rice, it contained incomparable energy.
As soon as it appeared, it began to devour the surrounding spiritual energy, rotating and growing larger.
This process lasted an entire night.
When the first ray of purple qi rose from the east at dawn, shining through the window into the room, a golden orb sat quietly suspended in Ye Chen’s dantian.
It was perfectly round, its surface carved with profound Dao patterns.
The Golden Core was formed.
Ye Chen slowly opened his eyes.
The world looked completely different through his gaze.
With a single thought, a breeze was born out of thin air within the quiet room, fluttering the hem of his robe.
He extended a finger, and a crystal-clear drop of water quietly condensed at the tip, emitting a faint cold mist.
The core follows the mind; Summoning Wind and Rain.
This was the Golden Core Realm.
A moment later, the transmission stone by his pillow vibrated again.
Ye Chen picked it up and connected the call.
“Young Master! Good morning! Hurry over to the Spirit Gathering Plain! There are so many senior brothers and sisters here discussing the Dao today!”
Xiaoxiao’s voice was as full of life as ever.
‘Spirit Gathering Plain?’
“Alright.”
—
The Spirit Gathering Plain was located on a wide platform halfway up Heaven Sword Peak, paved with massive, unknown stones.
Dozens of prayer mats were scattered across the plain, surrounded by swirling clouds and rare flowers.
The spiritual energy was so thick it almost condensed into droplets of water.
By the time Ye Chen arrived, twenty to thirty people had already gathered.
They sat in groups of three or five, some talking in low voices, others closing their eyes to breathe.
Judging by the various styles of sword robes they wore, it was clear that in addition to disciples from Heaven Sword Peak, there were elites from other main peaks as well.
His appearance did not cause much of a stir.
After all, new faces appeared here frequently.
Ye Chen’s gaze swept through the crowd and quickly found his target.
Near the edge of the platform, Xiaoxiao and Lin Yueqi were sitting together.
The moment Xiaoxiao saw him, she waved excitedly, but then she seemed to remember something and quickly lowered her hand, merely watching him with sparkling eyes.
Lin Yueqi, on the other hand, stood up gracefully and called out clearly, “Junior Brother Ye Chen, over here!”
This shout instantly drew the attention of the entire field.
Disciples who had been talking or meditating opened their eyes, their gazes shifting toward Ye Chen before moving back and forth between him, Lin Yueqi, and Xiaoxiao.
There were no whispers or hushed conversations.
However, everyone present could feel a torrent of information woven from Divine Sense rapidly passing through the crowd.
‘Who is he?’
‘I know him. I think his name is… Ye Chen. I heard his relationship with Junior Sister Xiaoxiao is unusual. It seems the rumors are true.’
‘Why is Junior Sister Lin Yueqi so familiar with him too? Doesn’t she usually avoid getting close to men?’
Not far away, in a small group of four or five wealthy-looking disciples, a handsome young man holding a jade fan frowned slightly.
He wore the disciple uniform of Purple Mist Peak, and his ethereal temperament marked him as someone of high status.
‘Senior Brother Wei,’ someone beside him sent a Divine Sense transmission, ‘isn’t that Junior Sister Yueqi? Who is that man beside her? He looks unfamiliar.’
The young man addressed as “Senior Brother Wei” was Wei Zhao.
His gaze lingered on Ye Chen for a moment before he sent a cold transmission back.
‘This person is the inner disciple who rose to fame on the Questioning Lake rankings a few years ago: Ye Chen. I didn’t expect him to join Heaven Sword Peak and be so close with Yueqi and the others…’
He did not finish his sentence, but the implication was clear.
Ignoring the gazes of curiosity, scrutiny, or jealousy, Ye Chen walked straight over and sat in the empty spot Lin Yueqi had reserved for him.