Ye Chen felt extremely troubled.
He truly hadn't considered so many things in advance. He had only naively assumed that under his verbal provocation and pressure, Chu Ge would very likely agree. In the past, he had used such tactics many times, and they had always worked without fail.
But today was different.
He did possess quite a few treasures, all gained from his cultivation trials over the past few years—each one precious beyond measure. Yet to take them out and give them to Chu Ge for nothing was something he was utterly unwilling to do.
'Idiot! At a time like this, you're still hesitating and holding back!'
The voice in his mind rang out, filled with anger.
Suppressing the fury from being reprimanded, Ye Chen spoke, "Please, senior, instruct me."
'Take out the Sacred Source Stone you previously obtained.'
The voice in his mind became calm.
"How can that be possible? That is what I prepared for my King Body's future ascension to the Soaring Dragon Sacred Body! I paid an enormous price for it—how could I possibly hand it over to someone else?"
At these words, Ye Chen nearly lost control.
Ever since his engagement had been annulled more than two years ago, he had, under the guidance of that presence in his mind, gone out on arduous training. The time spent just to obtain this Sacred Source Stone alone had exceeded a full year. If not for this, how could his cultivation have been stuck at only the Second Heaven Realm?
"Relax. Since things have come to this, you might as well gamble with him directly. Use the Sacred Source Stone as the stake and demand the Radiant Dragon Seal (Huanglong Seal) from him!"
"If you win in the end, you take everything! With the help of the Radiant Dragon Seal, you can elevate your King Body to Soaring Dragon Sacred Body. At that time, when both of you are Sacred Bodies, your status within Taihuang will rise accordingly, and you will no longer need to fear his position as a personal disciple!"
The voice grew gentle, carrying a persuasive, coaxing tone.
"But… but…"
Ye Chen still hesitated.
The Radiant Dragon Seal and the chance to elevate his King Body tempted him greatly. Yet deep within his heart, unease lingered.
"What if I lose to that bastard…"
Such thoughts surged endlessly, filling him with anxiety. For the sake of the Sacred Source Stone, he had invested time and poured in his blood and sweat—it was the most important treasure he possessed!
"Senior, what if I…"
Ye Chen found it difficult to voice his fear. Only now did he realize that he had actually become lacking in confidence.
"To reach the supreme peak, how can one be timid and hesitate at every step? Do you really want to spend your whole life living in Chu Ge's shadow?"
"It's merely a temporary disadvantage, yet your mentality has already regressed to such a degree? If this continues, you will never step into the realm of Seventh Heaven great powers in this lifetime!"
The voice in his mind turned stern, overflowing with oppressive pressure.
"I…"
Ye Chen still wavered, unable to make up his mind. Seeing him so disgraced and unambitious, the presence in his mind grew increasingly regretful of its earlier impulsive choice. Other thoughts quietly began to swell within her.
"Think of Dantai Xuanyin, who annulled your engagement back then. When you first met her, she was already at the Third Heaven Realm. Now, two years have passed—she has likely already forged a flawless foundation in the Aperture-Opening Realm, perhaps she has even stepped into the Fourth Heaven Realm!"
"And look at your current state. How much time remains before your agreement with her arrives? Do you wish to be humiliated by her again and trampled beneath her feet?!"
The words thundered through Ye Chen's mind, causing the flames of rage in his heart to surge violently!
"No! Dantai Xuanyin! The three-year agreement—I will definitely trample you beneath my feet and make you regret your decision!"
"Think of how invincible your bearing was back in Little Stone City!"
At this point, even the presence in his mind nearly lost composure.
What kind of place was Little Stone City? A backwater town in some forgotten corner, where even proper cultivators were hard to find—how could it possibly be mentioned in the same breath as the current situation?
A prodigy of Chu Ge's caliber, with such talent and status, was someone Ye Chen had never truly faced before.
But to stimulate him, she no longer cared about such details.
"Yes! Back in Little Stone City, how spirited and dominant I was! After years of obscurity, I rose in a single cry! What if he's a peerless genius of my generation? It's not like I've never defeated one before! Chu Ge—I can make him my defeated opponent as well!"
Light flickered in Ye Chen's eyes, and a powerful fighting intent surged forth!