Chương 403: Chapter 402: I Only Feel Heartache for the Divine Maiden!

Fan Qinghe's delicate hand was naturally held by Ye Chen, and she felt no resistance. Her soft fingertips even lightly brushed against his palm. This was because she was genuinely pleased with him. If Ye Chen were to become her protector, they'd share even deeper intimacy through dual cultivation. A mere touch like this was nothing. Otherwise, with her cultivation, how could anyone so easily hold her hand? But her thoughts weren't on this moment. She was pondering Ye Chen's words.

Finding a suitable protector was no easy task for a divine maiden. Those who threw themselves at her without hesitation were mostly mediocre. Draining them dry would yield little benefit. Only top-tier prodigies could significantly enhance her spiritual sense, origin, talent, and cultivation through the Nirvana Scripture. But convincing such prodigies to willingly become a cauldron was incredibly difficult.

It required prolonged maneuvering and careful manipulation—building emotional bonds, making them lower their guard, and ultimately surrender willingly. The process was far from the simple seduction outsiders imagined. Most men were willing to pay a price for a woman's affection, but giving up everything? That was a hard sell. Many past divine maidens, despite their enchanting allure, saw their targets waver at the critical moment, fleeing in fear and leaving the maidens' efforts in vain.

In the end, those maidens had to resort to the Path of All Beings, tasting the lips of countless men, sinking into a sea of desire for the rest of their lives. Fan Qinghe was very satisfied with Ye Chen. His talent was peerless, possibly surpassing even the three titans. But the greater the prodigy, the harder they were to tame. She'd prepared herself for a long game of tug-of-war with him, knowing nothing in this world came easily. Yet, unexpectedly, Ye Chen agreed so readily.

He even offered to let her plant the seed right now. Fan Qinghe couldn't help but wonder: did he actually believe everything she'd said? His quick agreement made her hesitate. The Heart-Seed Demon Nirvana Scripture allowed a divine maiden to condense only one divine seed in her lifetime. Once planted in a protector's sea of spirit sense, it forged a unique bond, enabling subsequent nirvanas and deeper influence over them.

But if the protector, after receiving the seed, used some mysterious method to suppress it and refused further nirvanas, the divine maiden would be the one controlled. She'd either be forced onto the Path of All Beings, sinking into debauchery, or her cultivation would stagnate forever. Neither outcome was acceptable to Fan Qinghe. So, she grew wary. Ye Chen's eager acceptance—could he have some countermeasure against the Nirvana Scripture? …

"Why does the divine maiden hesitate? Is my talent still not enough to meet your requirements for a protector?" Ye Chen asked, raising an eyebrow. Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. Fan Qinghe gave a gentle laugh, her peach-blossom eyes shimmering with charm.

"Of course, I know the Holy Son's sincerity. As for your talent, it's peerless in this world. In my eyes, even Hua, Ying, and Yao combined couldn't match you. That you're willing to be my protector fills me with joy.

"But as a Heavenly Desire divine maiden, I'll give everything to my protector in the future, opening my heart completely. My protector and my future are deeply intertwined. But if I'm betrayed or deceived, I'll lose everything, sinking into the mortal dust. That feeling of powerlessness terrifies me. This choice is too heavy for me. So, please forgive me, Holy Son. It's not that you're not exceptional enough—it's just that I'm too afraid. You won't blame me, will you?"

Her eyes glimmered with fear of the future, her stunning face radiating vulnerability. Such a woman could do anything and be forgiven. Ye Chen, of course, chose forgiveness. Without hesitation, he said, "Why think that way, Divine Maiden? How could I blame you? I only feel heartache for you!" Whether she was stringing him along, keeping her options open, or genuinely afraid, Ye Chen understood. He didn't mind. He wasn't impatient. He'd just given a gift, and the system was on cooldown.

The next gift would be a week away anyway. … Fan Qinghe's eyes blinked, her thoughts swirling. Honestly, she couldn't quite read Ye Chen. So, she wouldn't cast the technique or plant the divine seed in his primordial spirit yet. But she wouldn't give up on him either. She was confident. Whether Ye Chen's feelings were genuine or feigned, she'd unleash her full charm to conquer him completely. Once conquered, his intentions would become true, no matter how they started.

Then, she could boldly refine him into her cauldron to fuel her cultivation. Her eyes sparkled with gratitude.

"Holy Son, you're so kind! I'm truly moved by you. Your heroic figure in battle is etched deep in my heart. If you became my protector, I'd feel so secure. But the world is full of rumors about you, making me uneasy, lacking a sense of safety.

"So I'd like to understand you better. And please, Holy Son, consider being a protector seriously. The Nirvana Scripture can broaden your immortal path, but breaking and rebuilding is no easy feat. Supreme talent and unyielding resolve are both essential. Without them, you might not progress further.

"So please, think carefully, Holy Son. If you ultimately choose to walk away, I won't blame you—I'll understand. Then, I'd abandon the Heart-Seed Demon Nirvana Scripture, leave the Heavenly Desire Sect, and find a quiet mountain to live out my days." Her gaze drifted, her words dripping with sincerity. Ye Chen raised an eyebrow. Applying pressure now, huh? Claiming insecurity, needing more understanding before deciding—classic tactics for stringing someone along.

She was playing the long game, coaxing him to shower her with gifts and devotion to prove his love. Though he saw through it, Ye Chen didn't mind her tactics. For him, if gifts could solve it, it was no issue. The more he gave, the more he'd gain. So, in the time that followed, Ye Chen genuinely engaged in discussing the Dao with Fan Qinghe. But during their chats, he'd "casually" flex his prowess. Mentioning an immortal gold? He'd show her a sample. Talking about a lost, powerful Treasure Technique?

He'd demonstrate it with a flick of his hand. Referencing golden cauldron-shaped Enlightenment Tea leaves? He'd pull out a dozen from his storage ring, riffling through them to "check" if he had it. Her eyes gleamed with every display. But this time, Ye Chen only showed off—he didn't gift or teach anything. As the saying goes, good things are for showing women, not giving. Only then would she become more proactive…