Chương 166: Chapter 165: What If I Feel Guilty?

Just handling Ye Chen was already so troublesome. How could Gu Yunyun possibly consider taking on another disciple? Gu Yunyun looked earnestly into Ye Chen's eyes, "In this life, I will only take you as my disciple. But as you said, you are my disciple! In my eyes, you will always be a disciple.

"Yet, in the entire world of cultivation, it has always been the masters who bestow treasures upon their disciples. When have you ever heard of a disciple giving such a precious gift to their master? If others were to find out, wouldn't they all criticize me, Gu Yunyun, for exploiting my disciple's treasures, seeing only my own interests? They might even suspect if there is some undisclosed relationship between us."

"After all, no matter how deep our bond as master and disciple is, how could it outweigh a treasure like the Blood Sea Golden Lotus Seed? Therefore, I cannot accept the Blood Sea Golden Lotus Seed! Please take it back." Gu Yunyun spoke with utmost seriousness. Seeing his master's firm attitude and realizing she really wouldn't accept it, Ye Chen became somewhat anxious. He immediately responded, "Master, if you don't tell and I don't tell, who would know?"

Gu Yunyun's gaze was serene, "In the world of cultivation, there are countless methods; nothing can be hidden from everyone." Ye Chen frowned, "Even so, what does it matter if they know? Our matters as master and disciple are clear to us. I, Ye Chen, am simply showing filial piety! Why should we care about what others say? All we need to do is be guilt-free in our hearts." Seeing that Ye Chen still refused to give up, Gu Yunyun sighed, her expression carrying a hint of confusion as she looked up at the sky...

Seeing that his master remained silent, Ye Chen stood up decisively, "Master, I am giving this Blood Sea Golden Lotus Seed to you. If you don't want it, then just throw it away! I, Ye Chen, hereby swear an oath to heaven here and now, that even if it costs me my life, even if I were to jump from here, I absolutely will not touch the Blood Sea Golden Lotus Seed again!" As soon as he finished speaking, Ye Chen turned and walked away. Gu Yunyun's beautiful eyes widened.

She had not expected that Ye Chen, in his determination to have her accept the Blood Sea Golden Lotus Seed, would actually make such a heavenly oath. Even if she did not want it, Ye Chen would absolutely not take it back. This... Watching Ye Chen leave, Gu Yunyun raised her hand hesitantly, ultimately choosing not to call out to him. As the door closed again, Gu Yunyun let out a deep sigh. Guilt-free? But what if I feel guilty? If I accept this Blood Sea Golden Lotus Seed, what can I possibly give in return?

After a long while, Gu Yunyun finally reached out her hand and tightly grasped the bottle containing the Blood Sea Golden Lotus Seed.... Ye Chen left in what appeared to be a carefree manner. Yet he was immensely anxious inside. Returning to the courtyard, he barely reacted to the maids who excitedly rushed up to greet him. But after a long wait, finally, a system notification echoed in Ye Chen's mind.

"Gift successful!"

"Gift was a Blood Sea Golden Lotus Seed."

"Processing feedback..." A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

"100x feedback in progress..."

"Detection of the host's gift has significantly impacted the recipient, exceeding expectations and causing substantial emotional fluctuation, triggering a critical reward!"

"Reward: Bodhi Seed."

"Bodhi Seed: From the sacred Bodhi tree of Buddhism, surrounded by monks chanting for a thousand years, this fruit is born. Upon assimilation, it can enlighten and open the mind, providing extraordinary comprehension, elevating to a Heavenly Spiritual Root!" A Bodhi Seed? Ye Chen's eyes widened in astonishment. The system's description of the Bodhi Seed wasn't lengthy, but its effects were terrifyingly potent.

Previously, whether it was the Blood Sea Lotus Seed or the Blood Sea Golden Lotus Seed, they only offered a possibility of enhancing the spiritual root, not a guarantee, and the enhancement had its limits. For instance, Ye Chen, with a third-grade spiritual root, even if he consumed the Blood Sea Golden Lotus Seed, the best outcome would be reaching an attribute spiritual root level. It was impossible for him to ascend to an Earth spiritual root because the gap between the grades of spiritual roots was too vast.

Relying on a single lotus seed to bridge this gap was too difficult. However, the Bodhi Seed was different. Once assimilated, it directly elevated the cultivator to a Heavenly Spiritual Root. There were no terms like 'potential' or 'possibility' used. This fact alone thrilled Ye Chen immensely. And how powerful was a Heavenly Spiritual Root? According to what Ye Chen had read in the scriptures, a Heavenly Spiritual Root signified a potential Deity Transformation powerhouse.

Cultivators with Heavenly Spiritual Roots face no bottlenecks on their path to Deity Transformation status. They could easily break through all the way, illustrating its preciousness. But encountering no obstacles in cultivation was just one of the benefits of a Heavenly Spiritual Root. The cultivation speed would be much faster. A Heavenly Spiritual Root could also automatically and perfectly filter spiritual Qi, making detoxifying pills like Clear Meridian Pills unnecessary during cultivation.

There were also various other miraculous benefits, too numerous to count. Even the Divine Will Sect did not have a single Heavenly Spiritual Root. In the Holy Lands, Heavenly Spiritual Roots were exceedingly rare. Once one appeared, even sacred lands would compete fiercely for it. The value of a Heavenly Spiritual Root was thus evident. To leap from a third-grade failure to a Heavenly Spiritual Root was something even Ye Chen couldn't help but rejoice over in his heart.

Choosing not to give the Blood Sea Golden Lotus Seed to Yao Xi, but to his master instead, had clearly been the right decision. Indeed, his master was a treasure trove of immeasurable value.... Watching the Bodhi Seed within his storage ring, translucent like agate and the size of a fist, Ye Chen resolutely refused the hungry, eager advances of his maids who longed for progress. Women were indeed interesting, but what could be more important than the path to immortality?

Engaging in such diversions was fun, but unless it involved dual cultivation techniques, Ye Chen wouldn't normally forsake his sleep every night. Advancing his spiritual root to a Heavenly Spiritual Root was now his utmost priority. Thus, Ye Chen chose to enter seclusion without hesitation. Sitting cross-legged on a bed of jade, he took out the Bodhi Seed. The crystalline, agate-like Bodhi Seed emitted a faint luminescence as he held it, its sacred glow undeniable.

Merely holding it in his hand, Ye Chen could feel his mind becoming clearer. Many of the previous confusions in his cultivation seemed to resolve themselves effortlessly at that moment. Impressed by such miraculous effects, Ye Chen grew even more impatient. He closed his eyes immediately, beginning the process of assimilation. Instantly, the room seemed filled with the faint sound of Buddhist chants. Sacred light shimmered around Ye Chen.

A unique power flowed from the Bodhi Seed into his body, nourishing the pitifully inadequate spiritual root within him...... At the peak of Sword Peak, Gu Yunyun still sat there, unmoved. She gazed up at the countless stars. The starlight bathed her, making her skin, visible beyond the red dress, appear as flawless as porcelain. Thinking of Ye Chen's return, Gu Yunyun instinctively extended her spiritual sense, habitually wanting to check on Ye Chen's activities. Yet, all was quiet in Ye Chen's courtyard.

Gu Yunyun knew that Ye Chen had been practicing dual cultivation techniques. The rapid improvement in the cultivation levels of those maids was evident. Ye Chen had always been diligent in enhancing his cultivation. But tonight, Ye Chen had even forsaken dual cultivation... What did that imply? It meant that Ye Chen was probably still worried about her not accepting the Blood Sea Golden Lotus Seed. So much so that he didn't even feel up to dual cultivation. Gu Yunyun sighed softly.

It seemed she really had to use it now. She gently picked up the pill bottle, the golden lotus seed inside emitting a faint glow as it floated out and landed in Gu Yunyun's palm. No longer hesitating, Gu Yunyun gently parted her lips and placed the golden lotus seed in her mouth... Gu Yunyun had made up her mind. From now on, no matter what, she would only have Ye Chen as her disciple. She would protect this disciple for a lifetime!