ISWI Chapter 768-769

Chapter 768: Spiritual Qi Origin Essence

The bid landed, and bewildered cultivators throughout the hall gasped once more. Was this how one raised the price?

Those in the know from the myriad races smiled faintly. The plan to harvest Ye Chen had officially begun. They had agreed beforehand to form a pricing alliance—nothing less than a tenfold premium. They would wring him dry.

Ye Chen, unfazed, even amused, called out, "Forty million!"

"Fifty million!"

"Sixty million!"

…

"One hundred million!"

The bids flew back and forth, each increment ten million. When Ye Chen reached the astronomical one hundred million, the hall plunged into dead silence. Uninformed cultivators gaped at the Spiritual Qi Origin Essence, minds racing with confusion.

Had some new function been discovered? Or was a dragon egg sealed inside? Why else command a hundred million top-grade spirit stones? Who was this madman? Surely a shill planted by the auction house—to inflate the final price and hype later items?

Amid the crowd's bewilderment, the three War God Clan Half-Saints rejoiced inwardly. Jackpot—this was a massive windfall!

A hundred million top-grade spirit stones were a fortune even for their clan. And the Spiritual Qi Origin Essence would return intact afterward. Once activated, it couldn't be stopped. They might even keep it for themselves.

Pure profit—absolute profit! They'd struck gold!

…

In his box, Ye Chen watched the auctioneer hammer down excitedly, confirming the item was his. A deeply satisfied smile spread across his face.

Spiritual Qi Origin Essence was normally unobtainable—even with spirit stones in hand. Buying it at tenfold price, even gifting to non-critical Luo Bingling, yielded an eight-thousand-fold return. Not to mention harvesting their origin later.

Pure profit—absolute profit. He'd struck gold this time!

…

Beside him, Yao Yuezhi—though long aware of the auction's truth—winced at seeing him spend a hundred million on mere Spiritual Qi Origin Essence. Far too costly. Yet she knew his cave heaven origin languished, desperately needing nourishment. Even knowing the tenfold markup, he had to have it.

"Brother, they're too much…"

Her emerald eyes reddened with guilt and self-reproach, voice choking. "If I hadn't taken so much from you…"

Ye Chen reached out, gently stroking her head, gaze tender and resolute. "It's not your fault. I gave willingly. Your well-being matters more than anything."

The simple words flowed like a warm current into her heart, deepening her emotion. Just then, the auction manager entered respectfully, bearing the Spiritual Qi Origin Essence.

After Ye Chen inspected it thoroughly and nodded approval, the manager smiled obsequiously. "How does the Heavenly Emperor heir intend to settle the payment?"

Without reply, Ye Chen casually plucked a handful of spiritual plants from his cave heaven and tossed them onto the tray.

"Enough?"

The manager froze, then scanned the plants. His eyes widened. A rough estimate confirmed it more than covered. Minor discrepancies aside, the War God Clan would be ecstatic. No need to consult further.

And indeed, when the manager delivered the payment to the War God Clan box, seeing over twenty spiritual plants, their eyes lit like beacons. One even opened his vertical pupil in excitement, startling the manager.

"The Heavenly Emperor heir must have emptied his hidden stock of spiritual plants."

"Tsk tsk. Slip the manager one later—have him bump our other items forward. Otherwise, at tenfold each time, I worry we'll drain him dry too soon."

"We've struck gold. He's losing everything this round."

"And it's not just his foundations—he'll lose his life too!"

The War God Clan members brimmed with glee. Other watchful clans, receiving the news, brightened as well. Spiritual plants were precious—and inheritable. Some, nurtured centuries or millennia, could even spawn offspring. For great clans, this held the greatest value.

"Harvest him. Keep harvesting. Bleed him dry today…"

They resolved inwardly, sharpening their blades for the next round.

…

In the auction hall, the next item was prepared to take the stage.

Ye Chen toyed briefly with the Spiritual Qi Origin Essence before presenting it to Yao Yuezhi.

"Yuezhi, this is for you. Place it in your cave heaven."

Yao Yuezhi, still steeped in distress, had ached watching him suffer such exploitation—though not her spirit stones, her gratitude for him ran deep. Seeing him bled at tenfold premium felt like knives to her heart. Now, hearing this, her eyes widened in shock.

Brother bid at such markup—only to gift it to her? This…

She waved frantically, even rising to step back, voice urgent and firm. "Brother, your cave heaven origin is depleted. You need this! My Demon Spirit cave heaven is fine—I don't require it."

She truly refused. She only wished his recovery.

Ye Chen merely smiled. "Your Demon Spirit Cave Heaven formed recently—its spiritual density remains low! You've planted many top-tier spiritual plants lately. Without sufficient density, how can they thrive safely?"

Yao Yuezhi's heart swelled further, emotions tangled. Brother's own realm teetered on exhaustion, yet he considered her realm so meticulously—even her plants' growth. He truly loved her deeply. But precisely because of that, she refused harder. She couldn't let him sacrifice more.

"Brother, I've scattered top-grade spirit stone dust across the soil—it's manageable."

Ye Chen chuckled. "Top-grade spirit stones pale beside Spiritual Qi Origin Essence. It vastly boosts survival rates and growth—elevating your realm's charm and your cultivation speed! Spirit stones can't compare. No refusing—or leave now and never return…"

His gentle yet unyielding tone misted Yao Yuezhi's eyes, tears threatening to spill.

Seeing her relent, Ye Chen smiled in satisfaction. He gently wiped her eye corners. "There, there—no crying! This is good. I'll place it myself…"

"Mm, open the entrance a little…"

"Don't tense up—I'm coming in!"

Chapter 769: Chaos Spiritual Qi Sacred Origin Crystal

"Bear with it a little! Placing the Spiritual Qi Origin Essence into the Qiankun Cauldron will better elevate your entire cave heaven's spiritual charm! Don't panic. Your trembling is just the brief surge from activating the essence. It'll stabilize soon."

As he spoke, Ye Chen carefully guided the Spiritual Qi Origin Essence into the Qiankun Cauldron. Only then did this deeply affectionate gifting conclude.

Yao Yuezhi was overwhelmed with emotion, throat choked as though blocked. Words failed her. She clung tightly to Ye Chen's arm. Her gaze held a thousand tender feelings, unwilling to leave his face even for a moment.

Brother loved her more than himself. To be cherished by such a man—she was truly blessed. She resolved to repay him fully. Seduce… him. Bear his children and continue his lineage. And find a chance to spar with Luo Bingling again—vengeance for that day's splashing.

Yet recalling how much he had sacrificed—his cave heaven still depleted. Worry crept into her heart. What about Brother's cave heaven?

…

While Yao Yuezhi's emotions surged, the system prompt echoed in Ye Chen's mind.

"Congratulations, Host. Gift successfully bestowed."

"Gift: Spiritual Qi Origin Essence!"

"Six-thousand-fold feedback in progress…"

"Detected: The gift holds utmost importance to the recipient…"

"Maximum critical reward activated…"

"Reward: Chaos Spiritual Qi Sacred Origin Crystal!"

Holy—another maximum critical? His little green tea princess was simply incredible.

Ye Chen's gaze toward Yao Yuezhi grew even softer, overflowing with tenderness. Already deeply moved, Yao Yuezhi felt that gentle stare and her thoughts drifted inescapably to him—to pleasing him, to bearing his children.

The Chaos Spiritual Qi Sacred Origin Crystal was still settling at her core, sending waves of pure spiritual energy surging against the Qiankun Cauldron.

Her breathing grew ragged. She could barely hold herself back. After quietly confirming no surveillance arrays watched the box and the doors were securely sealed, Yao Yuezhi slowly leaned down…

Ye Chen's heart pounded with anticipation. Chaos Spiritual Qi Sacred Origin Crystal—the name alone radiated domineering power. He drew in a sharp breath, his eyes drifting downward.

How could he possibly refuse his sweet, gratitude-repaying princess? So, with great effort, he turned his attention back to the auction catalog.

"Chaos Spiritual Qi Sacred Origin Crystal: Releases chaos Spiritual Qi to nourish cave heavens…"

"Contains wondrous effects promoting spiritual plant growth and evolution…"

"Directly reinforces cave heaven origin, strengthening foundations and vastly enhancing resilience…"

"Chaos Spiritual Qi also accelerates cultivation speed…"

"…"

Line after line of dense text widened Ye Chen's eyes bit by bit. By the end, his body trembled faintly from pure shock.

The sheer volume of Chaos Spiritual Qi within the crystal was staggering—but its longevity was truly heaven-defying. It could sustain the spiritual needs of a fully law-completed minor world for a full million years.

Utterly absurd.

Compared to ordinary spiritual qi, Chaos Qi was far superior and more profound, carrying the primal force of heaven and earth's creation, brimming with infinite possibilities.

Whether shattering bottlenecks, elevating realms, comprehending supreme divine abilities, or mastering profound dao arts—under its blessing, efficiency soared.

What might take millennia could now be halved. Such outrageous effects left one speechless. His own cultivation speed was already monstrous. Add Chaos Qi to the mix?

Forget two and a half years. With focused, undivided seclusion—no distractions from women, of course—a year and a half might well suffice.

…

As for the Chaos Spiritual Qi Sacred Origin Crystal's ability to accelerate spiritual plant growth, Ye Chen didn't place much emphasis on it. Though valuable, it held little importance for him. Regarding claims of strengthening the cave heaven's resilience or even reinforcing its core.

Ye Chen doubted the crystal could achieve that. After all, his was the Primordial Cave Heaven. Placing it inside to continue expanding the realm posed no issue, however.

In summary, Ye Chen felt utmost satisfaction with today's system reward. Such lavish feedback defied description by mere thousands or tens of thousands fold. Let alone buying the Spiritual Qi Origin Essence at tenfold markup. Even purchasing every auction item at a hundredfold premium—then discarding them. He would still profit immensely.

Perhaps from sheer excitement. The usually steadfast and composed Ye Chen faltered slightly in restraint this time.

Caught off guard, Yao Yuezhi gazed at him resentfully with emerald eyes, tears glistening at the corners…

…

The auction's second item was called Myriad Woods Spiritual Root. Possessing powerful vitality and growth force, planting it in a cave heaven allowed rapid rooting. It connected all spiritual plants within, weaving a vast wood-element defensive network through its roots.

The Myriad Woods Spiritual Root held another wondrous trait. The more numerous, higher-grade, and spiritually rich the plants in the realm. The stronger the defense it unleashed.

Moreover, it continuously nourished the plants. Promoting ever more luxuriant growth and boundless vitality. It could also release healing force to mend realm damage from various causes. Truly a guardian artifact for cave heavens.

Its benefits abounded, though drawbacks existed. It demanded a high quantity and quality of spiritual plants. In realms with few or mediocre plants, its defensive boost proved negligible. Only reaching a threshold triggered a qualitative change—unleashing true power. To withstand a Mahayana powerhouse's assault required millennia of nurturing by ancient powers.

For ordinary prodigies, it offered limited use. Yet as a rare treasure, it stirred many hearts. Bids flew eagerly. After fierce competition, the price hit six million top-grade spirit stones. At that level, few dared continue.

The hall cooled somewhat. Yet bids crept upward amid hesitation and probing. In his box, however, the Peacock Clan Leader furrowed his brows deeply. Why wasn't Ye Chen bidding? What was he doing in there?

…