After donning the entire set, Ye Chen cast the Water Mirror Spell to take a look, nodding in satisfaction. Radiant light flowed around him, enhancing his handsome appearance to the point of brilliance. It was remarkably light, as though he wasn''t wearing anything at all. When he moved, it was without sound, as if not even the slightest breeze could affect him.


    As for the Divine Wind Sword, whether it was swung or struck, it made no sound at all. Infusing spirit qi into it, he slowly thrust it toward the wall. In the next moment, it effortlessly sank in. Before the Divine Wind Sword, the wall was as soft as tofu.


    Ye Chen barely felt any resistance. "The Divine Wind set... it''s a bit like an assassin''s outfit!" he muttered with a smile. He nodded in satisfaction. Then, with a flicker of thought, the once radiant robes, hat, and shoes dimmed immediately. Even the style of the attire changed, shifting into the typical everyday clothing worn by cultivators.


    Ye Chen''s smile widened. The hat even vanished. Now, he no longer had to worry about attracting attention. A satisfied grin appeared on his face as he reflected on the rewards of the day.


    The next day….


    Ye Chen continued his cultivation. He could already feel the breakthrough approaching. It was likely that in just a few days, he would break through to the fifth level of Qi Refining. This realization put him in a great mood.


    But, it wasn''t without its problems. The downside of Ye Chen''s lack of innate talent had begun to show. He had developed a resistance to the Qi-Nourishing Pills. The effects of taking high-grade Qi-Nourishing Pill had diminished considerably. Once he broke through to the fifth level, the effects would likely be even weaker. So, he would need to change pills.


    Fortunately, there were many other pills suitable for cultivators in the mid Qi Refining stage. Qi-Nourishing Pill was so well-known simply because it was the most widely circulated. It wouldn''t be a problem to switch to another pill.


    Later that afternoon, after finishing his cultivation, a maid came to report: "Master Ye, Fairy Lin has come to visit."


    Lin Ke''er was here?


    Upon hearing this, Ye Chen''s face immediately lit up with a smile. After giving her the high-grade magic tool in front of her yesterday, Lin Ke''er had clearly been unable to resist.


    Ye Chen was pleased by this. Though he received rewards for gifting, it wasn''t as though he was handing them out for nothing.


    Besides, Ye Chen was a normal man. While he could suppress his urges for the system''s rewards, he wasn''t about to forgo what benefits he was entitled to. Once he had more stable high-rate feedback targets, he could begin to reap the rewards from women cultivators like Lin Ke''er and Lu Jing, who had received so many gifts from him.


    An ordinary simp only knew how to give gifts, but didn''t know how to maneuver the hearts of others. Such people were doomed to have nothing. But Ye Chen wasn''t truly a simp. So, he had given the gifts, and now the benefits were his to claim. Otherwise, wouldn''t he have just been giving gifts to other people’s future partners?


    Ye Chen couldn''t tolerate such a loss.


    Opening the courtyard door.


    Today, Lin Ke''er was clearly dressed with great care. She wore a youthful knee-length skirt that revealed her delicate, fair calves. Her entire presence radiated an ethereal beauty, with a hint of shyness that only enhanced her charm. The long black hair, left untied, cascaded down her back, evoking memories of a first love from one''s youth.


    Stolen story; please report.


    "Fellow Daoist Lin, what brings you here?" Ye Chen asked, his tone slightly cold.


    At his words, Lin Ke''er''s eyes reddened, and her voice trembled. "Fellow Daoist Ye, please don''t be like this! I was wrong, I truly was. I know you couldn''t bear to part with me, which is why you deliberately interacted with Lu Jing after I entered the mountains, trying to make me jealous. I shouldn''t have gotten angry with you as soon as I came back. You''ve done so much for me, and yet I acted so willfully. I truly shouldn''t have. Since I returned, every time I close my eyes, I think about all of this. I haven''t slept a full night since."


    Her voice was soft and weak, and with her red-rimmed eyes, she could only be described as heart-wrenchingly adorable. But Ye Chen could only give Lin Ke''er''s performance a six out of ten.


    Still, the fact that Lin Ke''er lowered her head was a good start. People always think they have a line they won''t cross. But once they take a step back, they''ll continue retreating.


    So, Ye Chen allowed a trace of pity to show on his face, but also a hint of hesitation. The moment Lin Ke''er saw Ye Chen hesitate, her heart soared with joy. She immediately adopted an even more pitiful tone. "Fellow Daoist Ye.… Do you remember, I once mentioned treating you to a meal. How about tomorrow afternoon? I know Lu Jing makes lunch for you every day. So, would you allow me to treat you tomorrow afternoon? Lu Jing should be fine with it, right? If she''s upset, I''ll go beg her. Would that work?"


    This was Lin Ke''er''s plan from last night. To act a little weaker, in hopes of gaining Ye Chen''s sympathy.


    Ye Chen inwardly gave Lin Ke''er high marks for her strategy. Yet, on the outside, he wore a face full of reluctance. He glanced once more at her eyes, which were filled with a hint of pleading, and finally made up his mind, nodding in agreement.


    Lin Ke''er''s heart leaped with joy, her face lighting up with happiness. "Then, tomorrow’s noon at Fragrant Pavilion, I''ll wait for you, Fellow Daoist Ye. Please, go ahead and take care of your matters. I''ll leave now, before I run into Lu Jing and make things awkward for you."


    Ye Chen looked at Lin Ke''er, appreciating her thoughtfulness. He nodded appreciatively. After she left, he closed the door, his face full of smiles.


    As expected, it was the same everywhere. When you give freely, the other side often dismisses it as a given. But the moment you hold back and let them see what you''ve got, they''ll grow anxious and come running. A man should never be a simp.


    In the evening….


    As Lin Ke''er saw Lu Jing return to the courtyard, a triumphant smile spread across her face. No matter how proactive Lu Jing was, what difference did it make? In the end, Ye Chen would always prefer her. Today, she had merely apologized, and he was already softening. It wouldn''t be long before Ye Chen would once again become her simp.


    With a contented smile, Lin Ke''er settled down for a peaceful night''s rest.


    The next morning….


    Lin Ke''er woke up early, eager to prepare herself for the day ahead. She was already a top-tier beauty, but today, she made sure to enhance her appearance, making herself look even more ethereal, more captivating. She placed great importance on the meal she was hosting today. She even planned to go all the way and prepared to be taken advantage of just a little bit by Ye Chen. Though a part of her felt a bit uneasy about it, she knew that with Lu Jing having already invested so much, how could she not give something in return?


    As long as she could solidify her position and make Ye Chen hers once more, everything would be worth it. After all, Ye Chen''s father had just visited, and surely he had brought plenty of medium-grade spirit stones and valuable spells with him. Now, Ye Chen was certainly worth her investment.


    But just as Lin Ke''er was contemplating her strategy to win Ye Chen''s favor, a knock came at the door. She initially thought it was Ye Chen and, her eyes lighting up, she eagerly went to open it. But when she saw who it was, her expression faltered for a brief moment, only to quickly recover.


    It wasn''t Ye Chen. It was Jin Wuqing.


    Jin Wuqing noticed the slight change in Lin Ke''er''s expression and frowned slightly. But today, Lin Ke''er was undeniably even more beautiful than usual. Her serene face stirred a sense of sympathy in others. She wore a white form-fitting dress, the contours of her graceful figure subtly revealed, leaving little to the imagination. It was a sight that was impossible to resist.


    Jin Wuqing, who had long harbored feelings for Lin Ke''er, was now even more determined to win her over.