Immortality Starts With Investment

Chapter 554: So, Does Love Fade?

Manjusaka began cultivating the Indestructible Heavenly Art.

Ye Chen settled into silence. Looking up, the battle above had ended. All five Heavenly Intention Mahayana elders were dead—none escaped. Late-stage cultivators were hard to kill, but Feng Baiyu's thorough preparation, numerical advantage, and sealing array left no chance. Only Heavenly Evolution Holy Land elders remained, chatting with the panicking Nether God elders.

Seeing Ye Chen's side quiet, Feng Baiyu transmitted, "Done? Shall we head back? What about these two Nether God elders? Deal with them?"

Ye Chen shook his head. "Need more time here. Won't Heavenly Intention notice their elders' deaths and send reinforcements?"

Feng Baiyu shook his head. "Before we left, I summoned a Third Heaven Realm elder. If they send anyone, he'll block them. No worries about reinforcements."

Ye Chen gave a thumbs-up. His Holy Master had everything covered.

"As for those two, let's wait," Ye Chen said. He'd let Su Yuxuan decide their fate—recruit or kill—once she woke.

Feng Baiyu had no objections, asking, "How long?"

"About half a month," Ye Chen estimated.

Feng Baiyu raised an eyebrow. Ying Tiansheng was crippled, not killed; the fiancée was unharmed; the Fifth Nether Maiden was there…

Half a month? He suspected Ye Chen was up to something scandalous in the array. But he said nothing, continuing to chat with the Nether God elders, probing Central Continent's affairs.

Ye Chen sat cross-legged, studying the Indestructible Heavenly Art. Though he wouldn't cultivate it to devour others, he saw its value. The Devouring Heaven Demon Art's false heirs weren't limited to Ying Tiansheng.

Mastering this art would let him detect them early, counter threats, and strip their origins for his allies. Physiques had no limit—gifting enough might yield a Chaos Body or beyond. Elevating his women to Acquired Chaos Bodies would secure their boundless futures.

A week passed in a blink. Checking Yi Qingwu—still no progress. He reinforced the Binding Dragon Art on Ying Tiansheng, then entered Manjusaka's array, shielded from all detection. Inside, Manjusaka, controlling Su Yuxuan, opened her eyes joyfully. "I've mastered the Devouring Heaven Demon Art. I can start devouring!"

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But her words barely landed when Su Yuxuan's eyes shifted. Manjusaka's soul withdrew—Su Yuxuan herself awoke.

Ye Chen frowned slightly. Su Yuxuan's 2,500x multiplier was impressive, far above Manjusaka's 500x. But he wanted Manjusaka for the critical hit potential. Her waking now was… untimely.

"Senior Brother, what's…"

Su Yuxuan, confused by the situation, sensed she'd cultivated a new technique.

Ye Chen smiled. "While you were unconscious, Senior Manjusaka controlled your body, practicing the Indestructible Heavenly Art. It can plunder others' origins to restore yours. You woke at the perfect time. The technique's mastered—next is devouring."

Su Yuxuan's eyes lit up, excited. She thought she was finished, but now there was hope—not just to recover, but to surpass her past self. Her gaze sparkled. "Are we devouring the First Nether Son or that guy you split?"

Ye Chen shook his head. "The First Nether Son's dead, and Ying Tiansheng is Yi Qingwu's father's killer. I promised her he's hers to deal with. No go."

Su Yuxuan's face fell, aggrieved. She'd disliked Yi Qingwu from the start—engaged yet cozying up to Senior Brother. Shameless! And now he prioritized that woman's needs? Clearly smitten. Her eyes welled up, lips pursed, head bowed. "So, does love fade…"

Manjusaka grew anxious too. Su Yuxuan's drained origin caused backlash; delays worsened recovery and capped her potential. At this critical moment, Ye Chen still chose Yi Qingwu? Men were all the same—tiring of the old for the new.

Seeing Su Yuxuan's head lowered, stifling sobs, tears dripping, her bare feet curled in distress, Ye Chen chuckled. Patting her head, he said, "There, there. Love doesn't fade…"

She looked up, hopeful. "So, you'll give me Ying Tiansheng?"

She knew Ye Chen, having shared the Indestructible Heavenly Art, wouldn't abandon her. But she couldn't resist competing with Yi Qingwu, that haughty engaged woman. She had to show her place in Senior Brother's heart.

Ye Chen shook his head, smiling. "Forget Ying Tiansheng. His origin's a patchwork—high quantity, poor quality. It could harm your future cultivation. No need to compete. I've prepared something better for you."

Su Yuxuan's heart leaped, curiosity piqued. Better than Yi Qingwu's? How much better?

Ye Chen sat cross-legged before her, grinning. "My own origin."

Her eyes widened, her competitive streak fading. Senior Brother was giving his origin? As the Heavenly Emperor's heir, his was far superior. What could Yi Qingwu compare with? From past gifts—eyes, heart, golden core—she knew he had recovery means. Should she act concerned, offer some emotional value?

She shook her head, feigning distress. "Senior Brother, no, you can't… Losing your origin will ruin your immortal path… I'm not worth such a sacrifice… If you insist, I'd rather stay a wreck, I won't…"

Too emotional, weakened, she fainted mid-sentence.

Ye Chen blinked, then laughed. Even as the Fifth Nether Maiden, she was still his little demoness.