Listening to Yao Xi's words, Ye Chen couldn't help but feel a sense of helplessness. When offering a gift, the worst thing was the endless back-and-forth, wasting precious time.

  Ye Chen had been eagerly anticipating the feedback reward from the Foundation Establishment Pills. Thus, as soon as the system cooldown ended, he could no longer hold himself back and hurried to Yao Xi's side in the middle of the night. He was determined to present the Foundation Establishment Pill.

  "Senior Sister, reaching the ninth level of Qi Refining will be a matter for next year. Once I break through next year, the sect will grant me a low-grade Foundation Establishment Pill. At that time, I'll take first place in the grand competition. With that, the low-grade pill will become a high-grade one, significantly increasing the chances of a successful breakthrough. So, please take this Foundation Establishment Pill, Senior Sister."

  Hearing this, Yao Xi smiled gently and shook her head, speaking softly, "Then keep it. The more Foundation Establishment Pills, the greater the chance of success."

  Ye Chen's spiritual roots were too poor. Even two might not be enough.

  Before Ye Chen could say more, Yao Xi stepped forward and took the initiative to grasp his hand. "Junior Brother, you came all the way here in the dead of night, and all you want to say is this? Is there nothing else you wish to discuss with me?"

  There was a hint of daze in Yao Xi's eyes. She stood very close to Ye Chen. If there had been even a trace of hesitation in her heart, then at this moment, Ye Chen's late-night gesture of presenting the Foundation Establishment Pill completely captivated her body and soul. She was now willing to offer her most treasured possession to Ye Chen.

  Ye Chen: "..."

  This development felt somewhat off.

  Of course, Yao Xi was undeniably captivating. With a thirtyfold multiplier, it was likely that half of it stemmed from her figure. But the issue was that Ye Chen had yet to find a suitable replacement with a higher multiplier than Yao Xi.

  Therefore, it was out of the question to make a move on her. Not to mention, he hadn't even given her the Foundation Establishment Pill yet. When it came to women versus his future, Ye Chen was very clear in his priorities.

  Without hesitation, Ye Chen released Yao Xi's hand. Seeing the bewildered look in her eyes, he spoke seriously, "I only wish to witness you reach Foundation Establishment, Senior Sister."

  As he spoke, Ye Chen, amidst Yao Xi's stunned gaze, picked up the pill bottle from the table, then moved behind her, his hands gently resting on her slender waist.

  Yao Xi felt no resistance to Ye Chen's actions. She allowed him to embrace her from behind without a word.

  As Ye Chen held her, feeling the soft curve of her form, he whispered gently in her ear, "Senior sister, I understand your feelings. However, I would prefer that we wait until your Foundation Establishment is complete."

  The warm breath that escaped his lips caused a blush to spread across Yao Xi's delicate face. Yet, his words only deepened her feelings of gratitude. She had already made her intentions so clear.

  Ye Chen, of course, could not have failed to understand her heart. Yet, all he did was hold her close, insisting that they wait until her Foundation Establishment was achieved.

  Clearly, Ye Chen was afraid that she might later regret her decision. After all, the chances of him breaking through to Foundation Establishment were slim. It was even possible that he would never achieve it in this lifetime. Once she reached Foundation Establishment, the gap between them would grow vast.

  The difference between Foundation Establishment and Qi Refining was not merely one of strength, but of status as well. Ye Chen feared that her progress toward Foundation Establishment might be hindered. He was even more afraid that, once she achieved Foundation Establishment, she would look back on tonight and regret it.

  That was why, despite his own desires, he had firmly rejected her. As for why she knew that Ye Chen desired her, it was because she had deliberately changed into a particularly soft dress. At this moment, it was clear that Ye Chen's sword hilt pressed gently against the center of her soft form.

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  In any case, Ye Chen's constant consideration for her well-being only deepened Yao Xi's gratitude. After a moment's hesitation, she spoke seriously, "Alright! Since that is the case, then I must thank you, Junior Brother!"

  Yao Xi had made her decision. The world of cultivation was far from safe. Since her chances of breaking through to Foundation Establishment were greater, she would take matters into her own hands. That way, if the cultivation world ever descended into chaos, she would at least be able to protect Ye Chen.

  Furthermore, once she successfully broke through to Foundation Establishment, she would immediately seek Ye Chen upon exiting her seclusion. She would make sure Ye Chen knew that she had no regrets. As she thought about it, a playful glint appeared in Yao Xi's eyes as she swayed her slender waist. It was clear that Ye Chen, holding her, tensed for a moment.

  When Ye Chen finally released her, Yao Xi turned her head and was met with the sight of his beaming face. This made Yao Xi smile brightly in return. It was she who had accepted Ye Chen's offering, yet it was Ye Chen who always seemed so happy. What a fool he was!

  ...

  "Since that is the case, I will take my leave," Ye Chen said, his voice filled with resolve. "Best of luck to you, Senior Sister, in your Foundation Establishment!"

  Ye Chen bowed slightly, his farewell brisk and decisive.

  Yao Xi, initially puzzled by the slight curve of his back after she turned, now understood. She couldn't help but giggle. "Junior Brother, you know, today could work. Do you really intend to wait until my Foundation Establishment?"

  Ye Chen, ever resolute, left without hesitation.

  As for Yao Xi, she truly was a mesmerizing beauty. Her physical allure was overwhelming. Especially that playful sway of her waist earlier—it had been almost scandalous. What man could possibly resist?

  However, Ye Chen quickly refocused his mind. The system's notification brought a greater pull of attention.

  "Gift successfully given!"

  "The gift is a Low-grade Foundation Establishment Pill."

  "Feedback is in progress..."

  "Thirty-fold feedback activated..."

  "System detects that the gift given by the host is extremely significant to the recipient, exceeding their expectations, causing a tremendous shift in their mindset, triggering a critical hit reward!"

  "Reward: Thirty top-grade Foundation Establishment Pills."

  "Top-grade Foundation Establishment Pill: Increases breakthrough chances by forty percent, and, when consumed, protects the body's meridian foundation. Failure will not result in Qi damage..."

  Looking at the reward, Ye Chen's smile grew even wider. The low-grade Foundation Establishment Pill increased the breakthrough chances by ten percent. The Medium-grade offered twenty percent. The high-grade, thirty percent. Moreover, the protective effect also increased accordingly.

  However, no matter the grade, these pills couldn't be used indefinitely. Each failure still caused some damage to one's Qi; it only varied in how much was lost. Even the high-grade Foundation Establishment Pill could only support seven or eight breakthroughs at most before its potential was exhausted, with no further opportunities.

  The low-grade Foundation Establishment Pill, on the other hand, could only support two or three breakthroughs. But the top-grade Foundation Establishment Pill, however, could allow for infinite breakthroughs. As long as you possessed the top-grade Foundation Establishment Pill, a failed breakthrough would have no lasting consequences.

  For Ye Chen, this was invaluable. After all, he had little confidence in his own ability to breakthrough. A third-grade spiritual root was, indeed, a considerable disadvantage.

  As for treasures that could improve one's spiritual root, Ye Chen had tried searching. Such treasures did exist in the world of cultivation.

  But Ye Chen had only seen them in books. They were mostly monopolized by top-tier factions like Sacred Grounds, used exclusively by their disciples. For outsiders, acquiring them was nearly impossible. Improving his natural aptitude seemed out of reach for now.

  Thus, for Ye Chen, the top-grade Foundation Establishment Pill was the most crucial item. With enough of these, he was certain he could successfully reach Foundation Establishment.

  ...

  According to Yao Xi's multiplier, the system should have rewarded him with thirty low-grade Foundation Establishment Pills. But with the critical hit, they had all turned into top-grade ones. It was almost too good to be true.

  The difference in value between top-grade and low-grade Foundation Establishment Pills was at least a hundredfold. For ordinary cultivators, the top-grade Foundation Establishment Pill was of immense importance. With enough of them, one could certainly break through.

  But refining Foundation Establishment Pills was an arduous process. And the primary ingredients were quickly becoming extinct, mostly controlled by monopolistic factions. Alchemists had few opportunities to craft them, so producing top-grade Pills was exceedingly rare. Even the top factions, like Sacred Grounds, might not have many of them.

  Thus, top-grade Foundation Establishment Pills were practically priceless in the cultivation world. And now, the system had rewarded him with thirty of them. It was truly a blessing.

  But thirty top-grade Foundation Establishment Pills were not enough. Ye Chen needed more. Next year, he would surely reach the ninth layer of Qi Refining and win the Sect Competition, which would grant him high-grade Foundation Establishment Pills.

  If Yao Xi hadn't broken through by then, he'd give it to her. If he offered her a high-grade Foundation Establishment Pill, he was confident that the feedback would result in even more top-grade Foundation Establishment Pills...