Chương 292: Chapter 291: Spiritual Soul Fruit

"Ding…"

"Congratulations, Host, for successfully gifting an item!"

"Gift: Phoenix Cry, a single move from the True Phoenix Treasure Technique!"

"Processing feedback…"

"Two-hundredfold feedback in progress…"

"Detected significant emotional fluctuations in the recipient… Critical reward triggered!"

"Reward: True Phoenix Treasure Technique!" At the sound of the prompt, Ye Chen's eyes lit up. Though he'd anticipated it, receiving the complete True Phoenix Treasure Technique still filled him with exhilaration. The Ten Vicious Treasure Techniques were among the most supreme techniques in the cultivation world. The power of a complete set compared to a single move was like night and day. Take the True Phoenix Treasure Technique, for example.

In the Great Chu royal family, those with strong bloodlines might awaken a single move through sheer luck. With just that, they could dominate their peers, earning the title of prodigy. But against Ye Chen? Those scattered moves were nothing. The true Vicious Ten inheritance offered a comprehensive boost to a cultivator's abilities. If the Champion King had possessed the full True Phoenix Treasure Technique, he might have lasted a few more blows before falling.

And if the Great Chu Ancestor had it, with his significant realm advantage, Ye Chen might not have subdued him so easily. That was the gap between a single move and the complete art. Everyone understood this disparity, and everyone coveted the full Ten Vicious Treasure Techniques. Scattered moves might be found with enough luck and opportunity, but acquiring the complete set? That was a monumental challenge.

Even the descendants of the True Phoenix itself rarely awakened the full art—it depended on luck and bloodline purity. In the cultivation world, even the legendary Heavenly Emperor, widely regarded as the greatest of his era, had only mastered three complete Ten Vicious Treasure Techniques. If someone of his caliber couldn't collect them all, it spoke volumes about their rarity. Yet, through his system, Ye Chen could exchange a single move for the complete art.

Collecting all Ten Vicious Treasure Techniques and surpassing the Heavenly Emperor was no longer a distant dream—it was within reach. The Heavenly Emperor had believed that combining all Ten Vicious Treasure Techniques would yield a supreme, unrivaled technique capable of sweeping the cosmos. He'd failed to achieve it, but Ye Chen now had the chance. His smile was impossible to suppress. The True Phoenix Treasure Technique was formidable in its own right, with its divine flames that could incinerate the heavens.

But what excited Ye Chen most was its unparalleled regenerative power. The concept of Nirvana wasn't just a myth. With his Myriad Star Body and Supreme Heart already granting him astonishing recovery, adding the True Phoenix Treasure Technique would make him virtually unkillable. In the future, at higher realms, he might truly embody the legends—able to regenerate from a single drop of blood or a strand of hair, emerging even stronger. It was almost absurdly powerful.

Eager to begin, Ye Chen prepared to leave and cultivate the True Phoenix Treasure Technique. The Holy Land was where true prodigies gathered. Someone like Senior Brother Hua Yunfei was terrifyingly strong, and in the Holy Land, Ye Chen's future opponents would likely be of that caliber. The urgency to grow stronger burned within him.

"Then, Senior, please study the True Phoenix Treasure Technique thoroughly with Yuyi!" With that, Ye Chen bid farewell, preparing to leave. An Miaoli froze at his words, a flicker of surprise crossing her face. Noticing her expression, Ye Chen paused, puzzled.

"Is there something else, Senior?" An Miaoli steadied her gaze, keeping her tone calm and serene.

"The True Phoenix Treasure Technique is profound. Studying it might take me quite some time… What about your Nether Poison? Is it under control?" Ye Chen blinked, caught off guard, before a deeper smile spread across his face. This was the first time An Miaoli had proactively offered to help with his detoxification. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Cultivating the True Phoenix Treasure Technique was important, but delaying it by half a day wouldn't hurt.

How could he refuse such a heartfelt gesture from his senior? Nodding earnestly, he said, "Thank you for the reminder, Senior. The Nether Poison has been building up for too long—it might harm my body. I'll have to trouble you again…" Perhaps it was the look in Ye Chen's eyes, but An Miaoli felt a rare flush of embarrassment. Her tranquil, fairy-like gaze held a faint trace of shyness.

Yet, seeing how seriously Ye Chen took her every word—producing treasures like the Azure Hill Jade Bamboo Core and the True Phoenix Treasure Technique without hesitation—she felt obliged to repay him. His generosity deserved reciprocation, especially if it meant he'd treat Yuyi even better. After all, Ye Chen's affliction with the Nether Poison was partly her doing. As his senior, it was only right to show him care. So… a clear conscience was all that mattered! With that thought, An Miaoli's shyness vanished.

Her expression returned to its usual composed, ethereal calm, as if she were an immortal untouched by mortal concerns. The next day, Ye Chen lingered on the memory of that perfectly proportioned sensation, like an upturned bell, neither too much nor too little. While An Miaoli wasn't as… abundant as his master, she was far from lacking. Paired with her refined aura, she was nothing short of perfection, especially with her generous disposition.

Adjusting his mindset, Ye Chen dove into cultivating the True Phoenix Treasure Technique with a buoyant mood. With his current aptitude, he quickly entered a focused state. The long-dormant Myriad Star Fire within him began to surge, transforming into countless phoenixes that circled around him. Ye Chen remained unshaken, immersed in silent cultivation. For the next week, he alternated between practicing the Shakyamuni Heart Refining Art and the True Phoenix Treasure Technique.

His already near-peerless strength climbed even higher, with noticeable progress each day. A month passed in the blink of an eye. Sun Ye hadn't delivered any good news. Treasures capable of enhancing a Golden Core cultivator's spiritual sense were exceedingly rare and difficult to find, even if Ye Chen wasn't specifically seeking a spiritual fruit.

Sun Ye did locate a few items suited for Foundation Establishment cultivators, but when Ye Chen gifted them to several female disciples on Jingmiao Peak, the results were underwhelming. Though the gifts triggered critical rewards, none produced a Shakyamuni Fruit. Instead, he received common items that could boost Golden Core spiritual sense. The Shakyamuni Fruit was simply too rare, and the disciples' reward multipliers were too low.

Combined with the mediocre quality of the gifted items, even critical hits couldn't meet the threshold for a Shakyamuni Fruit. Ye Chen wasn't discouraged. With his system and vast resources, he was confident that patience would eventually yield the Shakyamuni Fruit. In the meantime, he wasn't wasting time. Cultivating the True Phoenix Treasure Technique and the Shakyamuni Heart Refining Art steadily bolstered his strength.

He casually consumed a system-rewarded item that enhanced Golden Core spiritual sense, but shook his head in disappointment. His spiritual sense was already so formidable that ordinary items had negligible effects—barely better than nothing. As he pondered, a ripple stirred in his cave abode's array. An Yuyi had arrived. She used to visit often, but after Ye Chen personally gifted her the Azure Hill Jade Bamboo Core, she'd gone into seclusion. Half a month had passed without her bothering him.

Her visit now likely meant she'd made a breakthrough. Sure enough, An Yuyi's face radiated joy. The system, silent until now, chimed: "An Yuyi: Two-hundredfold multiplier!" Two hundred times? Clearly, the Azure Hill Jade Bamboo Core had helped her achieve an Earth Spirit Root. Not bad. An Yuyi had truly changed, capable of triggering critical rewards and even willing to share her aunt. Her only flaw had been her low multiplier, but now she'd caught up to An Miaoli.

If her aunt went into seclusion, An Yuyi could serve as a fine substitute.

"Thank you, Senior Brother!" An Yuyi's eyes sparkled with gratitude as she hugged Ye Chen's arm. He smiled gently, patting her soft head like an elder. Her eyes curved into crescents, clearly relishing the gesture. Ye Chen wasn't sure when their dynamic had shifted to this familial warmth—it felt a bit peculiar.

"Senior Brother, are you looking for a spiritual fruit to boost Golden Core spiritual sense?" An Yuyi asked after some small talk, recalling something.

"I remember the son of Magic Peak Master mentioning that his father found a Spiritual Soul Fruit this year…" Ye Chen's eyes lit up. The Spiritual Soul Fruit was incredibly rare, capable of boosting spiritual sense by up to half for an ordinary cultivator. If he gifted it to An Miaoli, it might trigger the Shakyamuni Fruit he sought. It wasn't surprising that Magic Peak Master's son had shared this with An Yuyi.

While she held little status with Ye Chen, she was a prodigy in the Divine Will Sect, with countless admirers. Young men, eager to impress her but lacking personal achievements, often boasted about their fathers instead.

"The Master of Magic Peak? Let's pay him a visit!" Ye Chen stood, eager to act. Today was a feedback day—perfect timing to secure the Spiritual Soul Fruit and test his luck. An Yuyi shook her head, her expression troubled.

"Senior Brother, you don't know much about the Divine Will Sect, so you might not understand the Magic Peak Master's situation. He reached the Golden Core stage at 180 and hit peak Golden Core at 270, but his physical vitality is waning. He's been collecting vitality-enhancing herbs, hoping for one last push to break through to Nascent Soul.

"Most don't think he'll succeed—he's too old—but few cultivators can resist trying, even if it means death. That Spiritual Soul Fruit is his best shot, especially since rumors say it's most effective for a breakthrough if used within a month. No matter how many spirit stones you offer, he won't sell. It's his only chance at forming a Nascent Soul." An Yuyi looked sheepish, realizing she'd hyped up the lead only to dash it.

Worried Ye Chen might be upset, she quickly added, "I'll keep asking around for other treasures like it. I know people in nearby sects—I'm sure I can help!" Ye Chen just smiled and patted her head again.

"No worries. Let's go visit the Magic Peak Master first." An Yuyi was skeptical, certain it was a lost cause, but seeing Ye Chen's determination, she led him toward the Divine Will Sect's Magic Peak.