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 Baiyuʼs 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 Chenʼs 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. Wonʼt Heavenly Intention notice their eldersʼ deaths and send reinforcements?”

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

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

”As for those two, letʼs wait,” Ye Chen said. Heʼd 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 Continentʼs affairs.

Ye Chen sat cross-legged, studying the Indestructible Heavenly Art. Though he wouldnʼt cultivate it to devour others, he saw its value. The Devouring Heaven Demon Artʼs false heirs werenʼt 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 Manjusakaʼs array, shielded from all detection. Inside, Manjusaka, controlling Su Yuxuan, opened her eyes joyfully. ”Iʼve mastered the Devouring Heaven Demon Art. I can start devouring!”

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But her words barely landed when Su Yuxuanʼs eyes shifted. Manjusakaʼs soul withdrew—Su Yuxuan herself awoke.

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

”Senior Brother, whatʼs…”

Su Yuxuan, confused by the situation, sensed sheʼd cultivated a new technique.

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

Su Yuxuanʼs 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 Sonʼs dead, and Ying Tiansheng is Yi Qingwuʼs fatherʼs killer. I promised her heʼs hers to deal with. No go.”

Su Yuxuanʼs face fell, aggrieved. Sheʼd disliked Yi Qingwu from the start—engaged yet cozying up to Senior Brother. Shameless! And now he prioritized that womanʼs needs? Clearly smitten. Her eyes welled up, lips pursed, head bowed. ”So, does love fade…”

Manjusaka grew anxious too. Su Yuxuanʼs 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 Yuxuanʼs head lowered, stifling sobs, tears dripping, her bare feet curled in distress, Ye Chen chuckled. Patting her head, he said, ”There, there. Love doesnʼt fade…”

She looked up, hopeful. ”So, youʼll give me Ying Tiansheng?”

She knew Ye Chen, having shared the Indestructible Heavenly Art, wouldnʼt abandon her. But she couldnʼt resist competing with Yi Qingwu, that haughty engaged woman. She had to show her place in Senior Brotherʼs heart.

Ye Chen shook his head, smiling. ”Forget Ying Tiansheng. His originʼs a patchwork—high quantity, poor quality. It could harm your future cultivation. No need to compete. Iʼve prepared something better for you.”

Su Yuxuanʼs heart leaped, curiosity piqued. Better than Yi Qingwuʼs? 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 Emperorʼs 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 canʼt… Losing your origin will ruin your immortal path… Iʼm not worth such a sacrifice… If you insist, Iʼd rather stay a wreck, I wonʼt…”

Too emotional, weakened, she fainted mid-sentence.

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