Li Xiaoyao didn't bother to hide his feelings. He was clearly dissatisfied with Ye Chen. His swordsmanship talent was top-tier, and he had once been a hope for his family, expected to become the direct disciple of the Sword Peak's master.

  Yet, when the time came, Gu Yunyun had not even spared him a glance. Instead, she turned around and chose this "simp" fool as her direct disciple. How could Li Xiaoyao accept this in his heart? Not to mention, among the female disciples of this generation, Yao Xi stood out the most.

  Li Xiaoyao had even thought about discussing the possibility of taking Yao Xi as his Dao partner once he reached Foundation Establishment. But now, Ye Chen had stolen his position as the direct disciple and, to make matters worse, had the audacity to flirt with the woman Li Xiaoyao was interested in, laughing and chatting with her in the sect every few days.

  Now that the opportunity had presented itself, Li Xiaoyao was determined to ridicule Ye Chen and take the chance to educate Yao Xi. She was someone he had his eye on as a Dao partner. How could she waste her time with another man over petty, external matters? If her reputation were to suffer, what qualifications would she have to be his Dao partner?

  ...

  Yao Xi, who had already turned to leave the stage, furrowed her brows when she heard Li Xiaoyao's words.

  "You, Li Xiaoyao, have the Li family, a Foundation Establishment family, supporting you. You lack nothing—resources, cultivation materials, everything you could possibly want. But now you're telling me not to care about external things?"

  It was easy for him to speak so confidently. If Li Xiaoyao had severed all ties with the Li family, Yao Xi might have believed his words. Moreover, although the battle was ongoing, Yao Xi had seen everything happening below the stage.

  Before, Yao Xi had also thought that Ye Chen was a man who would fall in love with anyone and everyone—a person who was not a good match. But what had just occurred had shown her how deeply Ye Chen loved those he cared for. It wasn't that Ye Chen was fickle; it was simply that he had been disappointed too many times and had, in the end, fallen out of love.

  Yao Xi even felt a pang of guilt for her previous cold attitude toward Ye Chen for not giving her a defensive magic tool. Ye Chen had given her so much without complaint, and yet here she was, treating him with the same harshness as someone like Sun Ruoxin—someone who only took and never gave. Even if she didn't love Ye Chen, Yao Xi had no intention of hurting him further.

  So, at that moment, she halted her steps and turned around. "Junior Brother Ye is my friend, not some unimportant person as Senior Brother Li claimed!"

  With those words, she calmly descended the stage.

  Yao Xi's words undoubtedly took the disciples by surprise. The eldest senior sister was actually speaking up for Ye Chen, this so-called "simp"? Her previous attitude had been so cold.

  Everyone had assumed that it was just Ye Chen's one-sided affection. But now, to hear her defend him like this...

  On the stage, Li Xiaoyao, who had held himself so high above the others, looked utterly pale at Yao Xi's response.

  Yao Xi had actually spoken up for Ye Chen. What had Ye Chen done? He had only given her some gifts, nothing more. What good were those gifts? They were nothing but trivial, insignificant things. Would he really give her something truly valuable—something that could alter her path? For instance, would he give her the spot in the Five Elements Cave?

  ...

  Yao Xi walked down from the stage and approached Ye Chen.

  "Junior Brother Ye, I lost. If you have no other matters, would you walk with me for a while?"

  Her mood was indeed rather low. This year, she wouldn't receive the Five Elements Cave spot, and next year wouldn't be any easier either.

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  Several disciples at the eighth level of Qi Refining were on the verge of breaking through to the ninth level this year. Many of them had influential family backing. Thus, the competition she would face would still be fierce.

  Even if she earned the spot next year, she would still be a year behind. Securing first place in the next Sect Tournament and obtaining the Foundation Establishment Pill was uncertain.

  One misstep could slow down an entire year. Many talented cultivators had seen their potential wasted in the face of repeated failures. So, she decided to take a walk with Ye Chen. Perhaps it would help ease her troubled heart.

  And, it would also serve as an apology for the coldness she had shown him earlier. If Ye Chen were a scumbag, Yao Xi would have no qualms about deceiving him. She wouldn't feel burdened by any guilt.

  But now that she had realized Ye Chen was a deeply devoted man, Yao Xi felt the need to explain things to him. The truth was, they weren't suited for each other. That way, she wouldn't keep delaying his future.

  As for the gifts Ye Chen had given her, though they were moving, they didn't change the fact that her own talent in combat was mediocre. No matter how much she enhanced herself, she was still no match for Li Xiaoyao.

  Without securing first place in the sect competition, she wouldn't get the Foundation Establishment Pill. No amount of spells or magical tools would help her then.

  ...

  Before Yao Xi, Ye Chen appeared slightly surprised.

  Yao Xi had actually defended him? While Ye Chen had only flattered her for the system's feedback and didn't care about her attitude, hearing her speak up for him still lifted his spirits. At least Yao Xi had more conscience than Sun Ruoxin.

  Ye Chen chuckled and said, "Senior Sister, why be so downhearted over temporary success or failure? It's just that you didn't get the Five Elements Cave spot. I'll give you mine!"

  As he finished speaking, Ye Chen casually took out the Five Elements Cave token sent by the Internal Affairs Hall.

  Yao Xi had been smiling wryly at Ye Chen's words of comfort, but when she saw the token in his hand, her smile faltered.

  Ye Chen... he was actually giving her the Five Elements Cave spot? This... how could this be possible?

  Yao Xi was stunned. And at that moment, the disciples around them were equally dumbfounded.

  Li Xiaoyao, standing high on the stage, was wide-eyed in disbelief. Even Elder Chen from the Internal Affairs Hall couldn't stop his eyes from widening in shock.

  The Five Elements Cave was incredibly valuable. It could help cultivators open their dantian, enhancing their magical power and increasing their chances of breaking through to Foundation Establishment. Its importance was unquestionable.

  The Green Cloud Sect had been established for over a thousand years. Whether direct disciples or ordinary disciples, anyone who obtained such a spot was treated like royalty. It was unthinkable to give such a spot away. Yet now, it was happening right before their eyes.

  The disciples looked at Ye Chen with mixed emotions. Some had still doubted Ye Chen before. They had wondered if his proclaimed deep affection for Yao Xi was genuine. But now, seeing him give away the Five Elements Cave spot, their doubts evaporated entirely.

  Even Li Xiaoyao, who had been silently mocking Ye Chen, was stunned. Just moments ago, he had ridiculed Ye Chen's supposed devotion, thinking it was all an act. True treasures, Li Xiaoyao had believed, would be kept for himself. But Ye Chen's actions now had slapped Li Xiaoyao squarely in the face.

  Li Xiaoyao's expression turned a mix of pale and green as he could only internally reflect: "Simp... truly impressive."

  On the stage, Elder Chen was equally stunned. He had never expected Ye Chen to do something like this. Ye Chen was actually giving away his own Five Elements Cave spot? Absurd. It was truly absurd.

  However, this did bring Elder Chen some relief. After all, compared to Ye Chen, it was clearly better for Yao Xi to receive the spot. Perhaps she could help the sect by becoming another Foundation Establishment cultivator.

  Elder Chen's opinion of Ye Chen had improved somewhat as a result. Still, when the sect tournament came around, Elder Chen would insist on stripping Ye Chen of his direct disciple status and expelling him from the sect.

  After all, their Green Cloud Sect's direct disciple, who didn't even care about his own cultivation, had no hesitation in giving his chance to a female disciple.

  Such a direct disciple, if word of it spread, would be a huge embarrassment.

  ...

  In the center of the scene, Yao Xi stood frozen, staring at the Five Elements Cave token in her hand. This was the very thing she had dreamed of obtaining. But…she had just made up her mind that she would no longer lead Ye Chen on, that she would be clear with him and stop causing him pain with her mixed signals. Yet now, Ye Chen had given her such a huge surprise.

  Of course, Yao Xi wanted to accept it immediately. After all, this year's Five Elements Cave had an abundance of spirit Qi, and its effects would be even better than in previous years. Her chances of breaking through to Foundation Establishment would be much greater.

  But as she thought of Ye Chen's deep affection, the fact that he was even willing to give her the Five Elements Cave spot… what would happen if, one day, she became someone else's Dao partner? How would Ye Chen feel then?

  Struggling internally, Yao Xi couldn't tear her eyes away from the token. After several moments of hesitation, she finally bit her lip and spoke…