Immortality Starts With Investment

Chapter 558: The Cycle of Karma

Seeing Manjusaka's final glare, Ye Chen knew she'd controlled Su Yuxuan's body. Indeed, Su Yuxuan's big eyes blinked, feigning hurt. "Senior Brother, I let it slide when you chased those shady, entangled women. But now, with me here, you touch my master's foot… You don't care about my feelings at all? Does love really fade?"

Ye Chen rolled his eyes, dropping her foot. This girl was totally playing him.

She giggled, sensing his weakened aura, and asked uncertainly, "Senior Brother, why hasn't your origin recovered? Last time you regrew a golden core instantly."

He snorted. "It's a physique's origin, not chives to regrow on the spot. I'll need five years in seclusion to recover."

Su Yuxuan half-believed him, wary from past tricks. Still, she was touched. Most cultivators were selfish, avoiding even harmless acts without gain. Across the cultivation world, only Senior Brother helped her so selflessly. Even if he could recover instantly, his love was undeniable.

She nudged her foot closer. "Senior Brother, I'm so touched. Let me repay you…"

Ye Chen exhaled, impressed. Even after experiencing the Heavenly Desire Divine Maiden's top-tier skills, Su Yuxuan's agility—nimble as hands—stood out. Then, his eyes widened as the temperature shifted.

What technique was this? Something special!

He squinted, savoring the warmth and coolness, contemplating the Dao of temperature, occasionally glancing at her.

Since their parting at the Great Chu Dynasty, years had passed. Su Yuxuan seemed more mature, grown. Normally, humans—and cultivators—stopped growing at a certain age. Was this the Nether God Body's doing, with an enlarging effect? Impressive.

After a while, perhaps tired, Su Yuxuan floated up, her skirt fluttering. Ye Chen glanced, raising an eyebrow—no purple?

Noticing his surprise, she smirked slyly. "I took it off before you came… Senior Brother, is my gratitude enough?"

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Ye Chen: …

What could he say? The little demoness had grown, learning to repay kindness. He gave her an approving look as she drew closer.

…

In the Endless Sea, layers of arrays stacked: Heavenly Evolution Holy Land's outermost, Heavenly Intention's next, then Ying Tiansheng's to ambush Su Yuxuan, and Ye Chen's innermost for Manjusaka's cultivation.

Yi Qingwu was in the third layer, activating the Indestructible Heavenly Art. Ying Tiansheng's Devouring Heaven Demon Art was powerless against it, like meeting its nemesis.

Her hand on his head ruthlessly drained his origin. The agony of losing it, with Yi Qingwu showing no mercy, made him wail in torment. Her stunning face, captivating to billions, gazed down coldly. After a long while, Ying Tiansheng collapsed, utterly wasted, eyes filled with despair. Years of effort—gone.

The ultimate blow: the fiancée stole everything. Years ago, his first great medicine was his master—her father. Now, his master's daughter reclaimed it all. Ying Tiansheng glimpsed the cycle of karma, retribution inescapable.

"Qingwu, are you satisfied?" he asked, smiling bitterly. "I've done much wrong, but my feelings for you were true. I only hope you won't linger in pain after I'm gone."

Yi Qingwu shook her head, expressionless. "I thought avenging you would thrill or hurt me. But since meeting Ye Chen, I stopped caring about you. You're just my father's killer. Now, with you dead, I feel only relief. I can fully devote myself to Ye Chen."

She turned, a great moon condensing behind her, ready to end him.

Ying Tiansheng, just finding peace, widened his eyes. Her words stabbed deep. He'd been with her for years—how could he lose to Ye Chen? No longer calm, he roared, "Even if I erred, I gave you everything for years. How am I less than that Ye scoundrel?"

Yi Qingwu glanced back, disdainful. "Years with you don't compare to a week of joy with Ye Chen. You think you can match him?"

Ying Tiansheng felt suffocated, the ultimate humiliation for a man. But then, her great moon vanished. Hope sparked in him.

"Qingwu, are you sparing me for old times' sake?"

She smirked mockingly. "I remembered Ye Chen has a soul-summoning banner. Your Unity realm soul shouldn't go to waste. It'll make a fine gift for him. I was about to obliterate you, so I'll use a lighter strike."

His hopeful expression froze. His body stilled. Yi Qingwu, uninterested, unleashed a moonlit beam. His body shattered. Avoiding direct contact, she sealed his soul remotely. Lifting her hand, she dispelled the vision-blocking divine light.

Eager to talk and connect with Ye Chen, she scanned the area but didn't see him. Her gaze locked onto his array. Above it, Manjusaka's near-solid soul stood, looking displeased. She glanced at Yi Qingwu, said nothing, and looked skyward.

Yi Qingwu ignored her, guessing Ye Chen was inside. With a swan-like grace, she glided toward the array. Manjusaka considered warning her but held back. The area was safe, and Ye Chen hadn't restricted array access. In the next moment, Yi Qingwu's graceful figure vanished into it.