Chapter 736: Who Doesn't Have a Tail? |
Ye Chen's brief emergence from seclusion sparked rumors that spread like wildfire through the Myriad Races Immortal City. He had taken a fancy to a female prodigy from the Heavenly Fox Clan and showered her with lavish gifts.
The myriad races' male cultivators all wore darkened expressions. Though they might not fancy women themselves, it still grated on them deep down. So what if he'd claimed the Heavenly Emperor's treasury? Weren't the human female cultivators enough for him to ruin? Did he have to come poaching from the myriad races too?
Besides, who knew how much of that Heavenly Emperor's hoard had been looted straight from their own clans? In an instant, the men brimmed with resentful mutterings against Ye Chen. They even dredged up the Heavenly Emperor's old atrocities, fanning the flames of hatred right onto him.
The female cultivators' attitudes, however, grew far more ambiguous. Before, most had viewed Ye Chen with outright disdain. But now? Things had shifted entirely.
The Heavenly Emperor's heir parted with spirit plants worth a million top-grade spirit stones at a whim. That was nothing short of astonishing. If they caught his eye too, wouldn't such fortune fall to them as well?
Most crucially, the Heavenly Emperor's heir proved picky beyond measure. The women at his side were all acknowledged as the pinnacle. So, being chosen by him? That in itself symbolized a mark of excellence. Many female cultivators had already hatched plans. The next time Ye Chen ventured out, they'd do the same. Perhaps they'd "accidentally" cross paths. Who knew? She might just be the next lucky one.
...
In the days that followed, Ye Chen cultivated diligently each day. Once the system's cooldown lifted, he'd head out for a stroll, seeking those fated encounters.
Luo Bingling, for reasons unknown, remained in seclusion without end. Even if gifting grew a touch more cumbersome, Ye Chen savored every bit, thoroughly enjoying himself.
A few even flung open casements, propping frames as if by mishap, only to "accidentally" drop them toward their own heads. As if deliberately lying in wait for him.
Ye Chen chuckled at the sight, grasping the gist of it. Civilizations among the myriad races and humans diverged in subtle ways, after all. Back in human immortal cities, plenty of female cultivators had yearned to become his fated ones too—but always with demure restraint.
Here in myriad race lands, though, they proved bolder, their feelings worn openly on their sleeves. And which style did Ye Chen prefer? Why, both, of course!
"I feel such an instant kinship with you, Miss. This back-and-forth discourse, delving deep yet touching light, has left my heart utterly refreshed..."
"Truly, I never imagined I'd find a soul like yours amid the Myriad Races Immortal City."
"Please, Miss, don't refuse—do accept this token!"
On the second floor of a quaint spirit tea house steeped in ethnic charm, Ye Chen had just finished reading the palm and tail lines of the female cultivator before him, who seemed to sport a little raccoon tail. After expounding on how tail fur coloration influenced one's Immortal Path, he rose with evident satisfaction, presented his gift, and bid farewell.
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The myriad race woman across from him—embodying that slight plumpness many Earth men from his past life favored—watched him prepare to leave with a pang of reluctance, a sense of loss washing over her. The Heavenly Emperor's heir had chosen her, out of all those female cultivators, granting her immense face.
Moreover, the man himself cut a striking figure—handsome of face, brimming with vigor. Merely from his touch on her hand, she had sensed the formidable strength of his physique. When he had gripped her tail firmly, it sent shivers racing through her entire body. She even harbored fleeting thoughts of taking things further with Ye Chen!
Yet he had touched and departed, crisp and clean. A melancholy settled in the woman's heart. But as she felt the envious stares from those around her, joy bubbled up anew. Only then did she find the moment to examine the gift Ye Chen had left behind.
"Dragon Blood Spirit Wood—this outvalues every spirit plant the Heavenly Emperor's heir gifted before..."
Those nearby, upon discerning the item, erupted in a collective uproar. Dragon Blood Spirit Wood had nearly vanished from the world, its worth staggering. For it demanded immersion in dragon blood to thrive, harboring profound draconic essence that could thicken a cultivator's dragon lineage. To any with dragon blood heritage, it ranked as a supreme treasure. Once matured, it could serve as prime material for forging Extreme Dao Weapons. It even enabled brewing the near-lost Dragon Blood Pill, which offered massive boons when consumed by those cultivating draconic divine abilities. In short, this item brimmed with inestimable rarity, beyond comprehension. It surfaced only at the grandest auctions.
Many male cultivators, sensing the adoring, envious gazes from the women around them, bristled with cold fury, itching to ambush Ye Chen outright. Others wore faces of utter dejection, wishing they had been born daughters instead.
The myriad race female cultivators, meanwhile, burned with reluctance and jealousy—yet their eyes gleamed brighter than ever. The Heavenly Emperor's heir proved staggeringly generous. To part with even Dragon Blood Spirit Wood? It stoked their anticipation to a fever pitch.
This time, that long-tailed vixen had schemed her way in—perching deliberately by the window, mooning half her rear outside, tail swishing to brush Ye Chen's head and draw his notice. What a scheming bitch.
But the Heavenly Emperor's heir fancied tails, it seemed. That diverged sharply from most human tastes. They were Myriad Races, after all—who didn't have a tail? They simply concealed them in humanoid form! Next time, they'd let theirs out plain, to lure him in. Even those tail-less paid it no mind. Just tuck one in—same effect, just as fetching.
One could say, the myriad races' culture of one-upmanship rivaled the humans' own. Especially when it came to the Heavenly Emperor's heir's favor—not just prestige, but tangible gains. Enough to send countless myriad race women flocking in pursuit.
...
Ye Chen gazed at the system feedback in his mind, his mood buoyant.
"Congratulations, host—gift delivery successful..."
"Three-thousand-five-hundred-fold feedback in progress..."
"..."
"Max critical hit reward triggered..."
"Feedback: One hundred stalks of Dragon Blood Heavenly Gold Trees!"
The sight of the reward lifted Ye Chen's spirits even higher. Dragon Blood Heavenly Gold Trees, legend had it, formed when dragons cultivated fleshly body techniques—shedding and regrowing their scales. Some chose sacred mountains for the grind; others, unyielding divine trees. The dragon would coil around it, scraping relentlessly, day after day. The tree bathed daily in dragon blood, feeding on shed scales as nourishment.
Most withered and splintered under the strain. But those that endured evolved into Dragon Blood Heavenly Gold Trees, each towering ten thousand meters tall. Their uses bordered on the infinite. For one, they served as supreme materials for Extreme Dao Weapons. Planted in a cave heaven, they bolstered its foundation while infusing it with dense true dragon essence—accumulating over time to empower the host. It amplified one's draconic Treasure Techniques and divine abilities to greater ferocity. For myriad race cultivators bearing even a trace of dragon blood, it could awaken that lineage fully.
Dragons had a notorious penchant for meddling, mating with anything that moved; countless myriad races carried their heritage. This treasure held irresistible allure for the vast majority of myriad race cultivators. Its value defied reckoning.
Ye Chen's heart soared. By his count, Yao Yuezhi should have nearly finished refining the Qiankun Cauldron into her cave heaven's core. Likely next week, he could begin bestowing cave heaven essence upon her. The prospect thrilled him.
For any cultivator, expanding one's cave heaven imposed no burden—only boundless benefits. The larger the domain, the higher the conversion efficiency; cultivation speed surged accordingly. That alone would draw Ye Chen in. The myriad other advantages? Scarcely worth mentioning.
In all, Ye Chen had longed for Yao Yuezhi's emergence from seclusion far too long! At last, the moment drew near!