The following month passed swiftly. Yao Xi had been focusing on adjusting her condition and preparing for her breakthrough to Foundation Establishment.

  Ye Chen, ever the devoted one, naturally did everything in his power to assist Yao Xi in gathering the necessary resources. For instance, she needed Clear Heart Pills, which helped cultivators maintain a clear mind and make fewer mistakes.

  Typically, two pills would suffice. But Ye Chen was having none of it. "Two pills? How could two pills be enough! If the other direct disciples see this, they'll think I, Ye Chen, can't afford more! Ten pills, it must be ten! You need ten, just for yourself! And they must be top-grade Clear Heart Pills! You're after Clear Mirror Incense? I'll go buy it right away!"

  Ye Chen was especially generous when it came to gifting.

  Yao Xi couldn't help but feel a little helpless, but she didn't feel embarrassed in the least. On the contrary, she accepted his offerings without hesitation. She smiled sweetly. After all, the moment she accepted the Foundation Establishment Pills, Yao Xi had already considered herself to be Ye Chen's.

  It was just that Ye Chen loved her too much, which was why things hadn't gone any further yet. Since she already belonged to him, accepting a few more gifts didn't matter. After all, her breakthrough to Foundation Establishment would also benefit Ye Chen in the end.

  In any case, with Ye Chen's help, Yao Xi's preparations for her breakthrough to Foundation Establishment were complete, and all the necessary pills and items were ready.

  "Junior Brother, wait for me to come out!"

  In front of the sect's designated seclusion cave, Yao Xi embraced Ye Chen tightly. Their bodies, perfectly fitting together, left no space between them.

  Ye Chen smiled warmly. "I wish you a smooth and successful breakthrough, Senior Sister. May you become a powerful Foundation Establishment cultivator."

  To break through to Foundation Establishment, most cultivators needed to enter seclusion for about a month. Of course, it wasn't the breakthrough itself that took so long. It was the time spent adjusting one's state, finding the right moment, breaking through, and solidifying the new realm—all of these steps combined made up the time.

  Though this meant that Ye Chen would not be seeing Yao Xi for over a month, he wasn't in any rush. If it came down to it, he could always go and send a gift to that one female disciple with a twenty-fold multiplier. Though she was ten times less than Yao Xi, it would still be acceptable for a quick fix.

  As for whether Yao Xi would successfully break through, Ye Chen didn't have any strong opinions. A successful breakthrough would, of course, be ideal. He himself was planning to break through to Foundation Establishment by the end of the year at the latest.

  If Yao Xi became a Foundation Establishment cultivator ahead of him, it would be more convenient for him to send her the necessary items for her breakthrough. The feedback he would receive could be directly used once he himself reached that stage.

  However, if Yao Xi were to fail, he would continue sending her Foundation Establishment Pills and other treasures that could increase her chances of success. In any case, he wouldn't lose out.

  ...

  After sending Yao Xi into her seclusion cave, Ye Chen leisurely made his way to the market. He intended to see if there was anything he fancied, something he could buy as a gift. As he passed by, the disciples who saw him all bowed respectfully.

  In the past, everyone had thought Ye Chen was a nobody, someone who might not even remain a direct disciple in a few years. No one bothered to get close to him.

  But ever since the Sect Competition, when Ye Chen had decisively defeated Fa Zhen, his reputation had completely changed. Now, he was undoubtedly the number one disciple of the Green Cloud Sect.

  In the cultivation world, strength commanded respect. Anyone who saw Ye Chen had to address him as "Senior Brother Ye." Some even called him "Big Brother Ye," trying to curry favor with him.

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  ...

  "Senior Brother Ye, I have a second-grade Beauty Pill here. It may have been stored for a long time, but at least half of its effects remain. You should buy it and give it to Senior Sister; she'll surely love it."

  "Senior Brother Ye, look at this hand-stitched undergarment I made with spiritual silk. See the hollowed-out design? It also contains a Heart Protection Formation. If you gift it, both she and you will benefit..."

  "Senior Brother Ye, what do you think of this cloak? It has a detection-warding function. Any beautiful female cultivator who wears it will appear unrecognizable, making it impossible for anyone to discern her gender. It can protect female cultivators when they travel, preventing them from being targeted by rogue cultivators..."

  ...

  As Ye Chen listened to the various calls of the vendors, the corners of his mouth twitched. The majority of the things being recommended to him were clearly meant for female cultivators.

  Seriously? Do they really think I'm that much of a simp? Is that the kind of person I am?

  Ye Chen smirked, choosing to ignore them as he continued to leisurely browse. Before long, he came across a symbol that looked somewhat ancient.

  "Heart Command Symbol! A second-grade talisman. For use by cultivators, it ensures that the target cannot betray or harm the user's interests."

  At the sight of this, Ye Chen's eyes lit up.

  This is interesting!

  He had an immediate need for such a talisman. After all, with the system in his possession, there were many secrets he needed to protect. But knowing someone's face doesn't guarantee knowing their heart.

  Ye Chen found it hard to ensure that the people around him would never betray him. He had witnessed too much deceit and scheming in his past life. Backstabbing incidents were far too common.

  Ye Chen had always been pessimistic when it came to human nature. Thus, he had been looking for something like this for a long time. He hadn't expected to come across it today.

  "How much is this talisman?" Ye Chen asked.

  The disciple selling the talisman saw Ye Chen and quickly stood up. "Senior Brother Ye!"

  After glancing at the talisman, the disciple hesitated before speaking, "Senior Brother Ye, this talisman does have a few flaws. First, the target must be willing for the talisman to work. Using it forcefully is ineffective. Second, the user's cultivation must be higher than the target's. If the target surpasses the user's cultivation, the talisman will lose its effect.

  "Third, even if it works, it won't allow you to command the target. They cannot betray you, but they are not under your direct control. I've checked, and the Heart Command Talisman is an ancient talisman. However, after the enslavement talisman was introduced, the Heart Command Talisman gradually fell out of use and was eventually lost."

  "After all, the enslavement talisman can directly force someone to act. With a thought, you can make the person suffer immense pain, and with a stronger thought, you can even kill them. Compared to that, the Heart Command Talisman is rather mild in its effects."

  Ye Chen's reputation was well-established here. The disciple, knowing Ye Chen's strength, was cautious, ensuring that he wouldn't feel deceived. He wanted to avoid any potential trouble in case Ye Chen felt swindled.

  Ye Chen raised an eyebrow at the explanation. In comparison to the enslavement talisman, the Heart Command Talisman was indeed milder.

  But that was exactly what Ye Chen needed. He had seen the enslavement talisman before, but honestly, it didn't feel right for his situation. What kind of decent person would place an enslavement talisman on a female cultivator who followed them? And wouldn't the female cultivator herself feel uncomfortable?

  A maid was just a title, but once an enslavement talisman was used, that person became a true servant. The Heart Command Talisman, on the other hand, was perfect for Ye Chen's needs. As long as the person didn't betray him and spread his secrets, that was all he required. Everything else was secondary!

  "Senior Brother, this is a second-grade talisman," the disciple continued softly. "While its effects are not as powerful as the enslavement talisman, it has become rare and is considered valuable. I originally planned to sell it to the disciples or elders from the Talisman Peak; they might have an interest in studying it. So, I've priced it at one high-grade spirit stone."

  The disciple spoke quietly, afraid that Ye Chen would think he was trying to overcharge.

  Ye Chen nodded in response.

  Ye Chen had studied talismans and was even a perfectionist in first-grade talisman crafting. Though he couldn't create second-grade enslavement talismans, he knew well that making second-grade enslavement talismans was extremely difficult. The materials were rare, and the price was steep.

  One high-grade spirit stone was usually the minimum price for such talismans. While the Heart Command Talisman was priced at one high-grade spirit stone, it seemed less valuable in terms of its effects. But it perfectly suited Ye Chen's needs!

  Without hesitation, Ye Chen took out a spirit stone and, after confirming that the talisman was intact, completed the transaction.

  Holding the Heart Command Talisman in his hand, Ye Chen began to ponder who he should give it to in order to double its effect. After all, one Heart Command Talisman would not be enough. Just for the people around him, such as Lu Jing and Lin Ke'er, two would be necessary.

  As he thought, Ye Chen continued on his way back to Sword Peak. Suddenly, a figure stepped into his path.

  Looking at those familiar, graceful legs, perfectly proportioned and slender, Ye Chen raised an eyebrow. The person blocking his way could only be Sun Ruoxin.