"Gift successfully given!"

  "The gift is a Five Elements Cave token."

  "Returning feedback..."

  "Thirty times feedback in progress..."

  "The gift given by the host this time is extremely important to the recipient and exceeds their expectations, causing a significant emotional fluctuation, triggering a critical reward!"

  "Reward: Improved version of the Five Elements Pill recipe."

  "The improved version of the Five Elements Pill recipe uses currently avaible herbs to create pills with effects identical to the original, without any side effects..."

  The system's feedback made Ye Chen unable to suppress a smile.

  Originally, Ye Chen was pondering whether the system would give him a private Five Elements Cave or dozens of top-grade Five Elements Pills as feedback.

  But unexpectedly, it directly revealed a new pill recipe.

  The value of this is immeasurable.

  After all, the Five Elements Cave gathers and converts a year's worth of Five Elements spiritual energy, which is said to be equivalent to just about two low-grade Five Elements Pills.

  It can be said to have an effect, but not much.

  And Ye Chen had read in ancient texts that cultivators of the ancient times needed at least a hundred Five Elements Pills to expand their dantian to the limit.

  In terms of the sect's Five Elements Cave, that would be fifty years' worth of Five Elements spiritual energy, all for one person's use.

  And now, he directly obtained the pill recipe.

  Just spending a few days to make ten batches of pills would be equivalent to the sect's Five Elements Cave's fifty years of accumution.

  Easily, he could expand his dantian to the limit.

  Most importantly, the Five Elements Pill is essential for cultivators.

  If one day Ye Chen wanted to establish a sect,

  Training a group of alchemists to make Five Elements Pills every day could support the entire sect.

  The benefits are enormous.

  In short, at this moment, Ye Chen looked at Yao Xi with even more fervent eyes.

  Thirty times plus a critical hit, the reward is just that outrageous.

  Yao Xi is indeed a huge treasure.

  ...

  As Yao Xi felt Ye Chen's fervent gaze, the previous awkwardness and discomfort in her heart vanished.

  Instead, she chuckled and said, "Junior Brother, if I can't break through to the Foundation Establishment stage by the time I'm thirty, I'll become your Dao companion!"

  "I'm already twenty-five now, just five years to go."

  "And if I break through to the Foundation Establishment stage, the lifespan gap between us will be too rge, and we won't be suitable as Dao companions."

  "At that time, I will naturally protect you and your offspring for life."

  The reason Qingyun Sect has a rule requiring disciples to leave the sect or become stewards if they haven't broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage by thirty isn't because it's impossible to break through after thirty.

  It's just that the probability drops to a very low level.

  If the chance of breaking through before thirty is one in a thousand,

  Then after thirty, the chance is one in ten thousand.

  Moreover, breaking through requires consuming more resources.

  Not only is it a waste of resources, but there's also no further potential for advancement.

  And their combat power is generally poor.

  Such a Foundation Establishment stage is of no use to a sect like Qingyun Sect, which is slightly rger.

  Naturally, they won't waste resources on them.

  That's why in the cultivation world, there's the saying "thirty without Foundation Establishment, basically no chance."

  ...

  Ye Chen smiled upon hearing this.

  In the entire sect, besides the master, Yao Xi has the highest multiplier.

  Now she has brought such a big surprise to him.

  The master seems to have a bit of a detached attitude.

  After breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage, it's uncertain whether he should ftter the master.

  So Yao Xi must achieve Foundation Establishment.

  Otherwise, if he reaches the Foundation Establishment stage and Yao Xi is still in Qi Refining,

  Then the gifts he gives, which are only usable at the Foundation Establishment stage, would be useless to Yao Xi.

  The system certainly wouldn't acknowledge that.

  That would dey his cultivation.

  So, even if he has to invest heavily, he must push Yao Xi to the Foundation Establishment stage.

  Besides, his goal is the vast sea of stars, thousands and thousands of times more.

  Thirty times and you want to be my Dao companion?

  Hindering my progress.

  You're dreaming.

  So Ye Chen spoke without hesitation, "I will do my utmost to help Senior Sister break through to the Foundation Establishment stage."

  Yao Xi ughed immediately upon hearing this.

  If it were an ordinary man, after hearing what she said,

  They would probably want to take back the Five Elements token to completely eliminate her chance of breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage.

  To make her his Dao companion.

  But Ye Chen?

  He was determined to push her to the Foundation Establishment stage without hesitation.

  Yao Xi knew that Ye Chen's actions didn't mean he didn't love her or didn't want to become Dao companions with her.

  Ye Chen loved her too much.

  That's why he said this.

  Because he wanted her to go further.

  To truly love someone is to let her fly freely, not to cage her.

  "I love you, and it has nothing to do with you."

  This sentence is the truest portrayal.

  However, Yao Xi didn't really take it seriously whether Ye Chen could help her achieve Foundation Establishment.

  After all, using the Five Elements Cave to expand the dantian only increases the probability of Foundation Establishment.

  In her view, it increases the chance by at most half a percent.

  To have a higher chance,

  She still needed a Foundation Establishment Pill.

  And various other spiritual items.

  Foundation Establishment is difficult, requiring too many preparations.

  Even though Ye Chen is a direct disciple, many things are still out of reach for him.

  But Yao Xi didn't reveal the truth.

  Instead, she smiled brightly, "Thank you, Junior Brother!"

  "If Senior Sister breaks through, I'll help you find a suitable Dao companion, definitely not worse than me!"

  "Junior Brother, you must have many children!"

  "Although I won't become your Dao companion, I won't be with anyone else either."

  "So, Junior Brother, you should let the child who resembles you the most be adopted by me, as a keepsake!"

  Yao Xi was sincere, not deceiving Ye Chen.

  After all, any woman who has encountered a deeply affectionate man like Ye Chen is unlikely to be moved by another man.

  Being able to wholeheartedly raise a little Ye Chen during the long life of the Foundation Establishment stage would surely not be lonely.

  Ye Chen thought to himself, you're dreaming.

  It's one thing to ask for gifts, but now you even want my son.

  Do you want millions or billions of them?

  However, Ye Chen couldn't help but wonder if he really gave Yao Xi a son, would the system consider it a gift?

  If it did, what would it give him in return?

  Thirty sons?

  Thinking of this, Ye Chen shivered.

  Having children is something he should handle personally, no need to trouble the system.

  After chatting with Yao Xi for a while, Ye Chen took his leave.

  Yao Xi stood there until Ye Chen's figure disappeared from view.

  Only then did she turn and leave with a smile.

  Now, she already had the Five Elements token she longed for.

  But for some reason, her urgency for Foundation Establishment seemed to have diminished.

  However, after taking a few steps,

  Yao Xi frowned slightly.

  Because someone blocked her path.

  It was Sun Ruoxin.

  Sun Ruoxin's eyes were red and swollen, paired with her beautiful face, evoking pity.

  Thinking of what Sun Ruoxin had done to Ye Chen, Yao Xi's expression showed some disgust.

  Although most cultivators are selfish,

  Yao Xi never considered herself a good person.

  But someone like Sun Ruoxin was rare.

  So she didn't want to say anything to Sun Ruoxin and tried to bypass her to leave.

  However, as they passed by, Sun Ruoxin reached out and grabbed Yao Xi's sleeve, "Senior Sister, can you give Ye Chen back to me..."

  Yao Xi stopped, forcefully pulled back her sleeve, and spoke more coldly, "I never took Ye Chen from you."

  "It was you who lost Ye Chen!"

  With that, she ignored Sun Ruoxin's reaction and left with a cold face.

  Sun Ruoxin stood there in a daze.

  The tears she had managed to hold back welled up again.

  Yes...

  Ye Chen used to love her so much, giving her everything.

  Who could take Ye Chen from her?

  It was all because of herself!

  Disappointing Ye Chen time and again.

  That's how she lost him!

  CPDD