Chương 344: Chapter 343: No One Understands Gift-Giving Better Than Me!

Elder He's tirade gave Ye Chen a rough idea of who he was dealing with. In other ancient immortal families and Holy Lands, the core inheritance was always their own immortal scripture. Contemporary Holy Sons and Holy Maidens typically cultivated their family's scripture, like Yao Xuanji, who practiced the Void Scripture, or the Holy Son of the Heavenly Intention Holy Land, who did the same. But the Heavenly Evolution Holy Land was different.

The combat prowess of the Heavenly Evolution True Immortal was, historically, unremarkable among True Immortals. The Heavenly Evolution Immortal Scripture, passed down through generations, focused primarily on divination. At its peak, it was said to grant insight into all things in the world. Its only flaw? It wasn't strong. Its offensive and defensive capabilities were mediocre, and it lacked powerful divine abilities. Its sole strength lay in its unparalleled divination.

This had its advantages—divination was a skill many cultivators sought, earning practitioners the revered title of Heavenly Master. But the problem was that true top-tier prodigies valued personal strength above all else. Why rely on divination to earn respect when being invincible felt so much better? Moreover, the Heavenly Evolution Immortal Scripture was notoriously complex to cultivate. While its combat benefits were limited, its difficulty ranked among the highest of all immortal scriptures.

Mastering it could take over a century. Top prodigies, busy cultivating, chasing opportunities, and vying for the immortal path, had no time to waste on a scripture that offered little boost to their fighting prowess. Worse still, divination carried a risk: backlash. Peering into the secrets of heaven was akin to defying fate itself. Minor injuries were one thing, but glimpsing something forbidden could damage one's foundation or even shorten their lifespan. For top prodigies, this was unacceptable.

As a result, the First Holy Son and First Holy Maiden of the Heavenly Evolution Holy Land rarely practiced the Heavenly Evolution Immortal Scripture. Blessed with their own fortunes, they pursued other opportunities and inheritances. Though they were part of the Holy Land, they didn't rely on its core legacy. But the Holy Land's inheritance had to be preserved somehow. So, the rules were changed. Instead of a single Holy Son and Holy Maiden, there were now three of each.

The most exceptional two were free to do as they pleased, cultivating whatever they wanted, tasked with projecting the Holy Land's might and maintaining its combat strength. Meanwhile, the Second and Third Holy Sons and Holy Maidens were required to uphold the Heavenly Evolution Immortal Scripture, ensuring the Holy Land's legacy endured.

In essence, the Second and Third Holy Sons and Holy Maidens, despite their prestigious titles, were little more than tools—forced to perform divinations for the Holy Land's benefit, even at the cost of suffering backlash. It was a bitter pill to swallow. What's more, the Second and Third Holy Sons were only a step below the top prodigies, far surpassing ordinary Holy Land disciples. Yet their paths in life were worlds apart. This disparity caused them more pain than it did the average disciple.

It was like in a school: the top students weren't troubled—they just studied. The slackers weren't troubled either—they just gave up. But those who were close to breaking through, yet lacked the talent to reach the top, and who couldn't bring themselves to give up entirely? They were the ones who suffered most. Love what you're reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. It was clear now. Elder He, standing before Ye Chen, was likely a former Second or Third Holy Son.

His displeasure toward Ye Chen? Perfectly understandable. Elder He had dedicated himself to the Holy Land, a venerable elder worthy of Ye Chen's respect. So, despite the elder's cold demeanor, Ye Chen maintained a respectful tone.

"Elder, your tireless contributions to the Holy Land are truly admirable," he said earnestly.

"I came today to express my gratitude for your years of service. Upon acquiring two bottles of Glazed Purification Water, I immediately thought to bring them to you. One can soothe and clarify the mind, which I hope will aid your endeavors. The other is for your granddaughter. I've heard she's on the verge of breaking through to the Golden Core stage, and Glazed Purification Water can enhance the quality of her Golden Core."

He continued, "Additionally, I have three bottles of Starry Essence Water, obtained by chance. They can boost cultivation in the Golden Core stage without any side effects, as long as the foundation is well-prepared and progress isn't rushed. Within five years, she could reach Golden Core perfection, ready to practice heart-refining techniques and refine her spiritual sense.

"I also have a set of top-grade spiritual artifacts, crafted by a master and infused with divine metals of the treasure level. Once your granddaughter breaks through, these will significantly enhance her combat strength, allowing her to shine in the Holy Land's grand competition in two years. I've seen her once—she's undoubtedly a prodigy, and I was delighted by her talent. If you're willing, I'd be honored to accept her into Ascension Peak and nurture her potential." Ye Chen didn't mention his request outright.

Instead, he began by showering the elder with gifts, culminating in the enticing offer to admit Elder He's granddaughter into Ascension Peak. This was no small boon. Joining his peak meant regular gifts of treasures, and with outstanding performance, she might even gain access to the Hundred Flowers Immortal Scripture. Unless a female cultivator was a top-tier prodigy with boundless prospects, the Hundred Flowers Immortal Scripture was the ideal choice—a rare opportunity.

Having learned that Elder He doted on his granddaughter, Ye Chen had prepared meticulously to enlist the elder's help. As a Holy Son, he had no right to demand an elder's assistance with personal matters, and only a handful of people in the Heavenly Evolution Holy Land were skilled in divination. Elder He was one of them. Though there were rumors of a Supreme Elder with even greater expertise, such a figure was beyond Ye Chen's reach. Elder He was his best option.

When it came to gift-giving, Ye Chen was confident no one in the cultivation world could outdo him. This array of offerings was sure to sway the elder. As expected, Elder He's initial reaction was one of surprise, his eyes betraying a flicker of temptation.

Glazed Purification Water not only increased the odds and quality of advancing from Foundation Establishment to Golden Core but also had a miraculous effect on nurturing spiritual sense, a vital asset for divination, which often took a permanent toll on the mind. As for the Starry Essence Water, it was new to Elder He, but he trusted Ye Chen wouldn't deceive him. For his granddaughter, it could save decades of cultivation time—a remarkable gift. Ye Chen's sincerity and courtesy were impressive.

But when Ye Chen mentioned admitting his granddaughter to Ascension Peak, Elder He's expression darkened. After emerging from seclusion, he'd looked into this Fourth Holy Son and learned that, seemingly resigned to never claiming the Holy Lord's seat, Ye Chen had given up and turned Ascension Peak into his personal harem. And now he wanted to include his granddaughter?

"My granddaughter is only twenty-three…" Elder He muttered, his fists clenching. Before he could say more, a cheerful voice echoed through the hall.

"That's wonderful! I want to join Ascension Peak!" A graceful young female cultivator dashed out, tugging at Elder He's arm.

"Thank you, Holy Son! Grandpa, please help the Holy Son!" Elder He's face softened, his clenched fists loosening as he sighed in resignation. He shot Ye Chen a sidelong glance, his lips twitching.

"What exactly do you want to know?"