Chapter 1072: Ye Chen Is Being Unreasonable!
Ye Chen raised an eyebrow as he watched Wang Xuanji overcome her immortal ascension tribulation.
The Heavenly Emperor's displayed talent at the quasi-immortal realm was even higher than when he had been at the seventh heaven. This proved that the Heavenly Emperor's growth potential was truly frightening. He was the type of prodigy who started as a small-town genius, then became a sect genius, a major sect genius, a continental genius, and finally a world-shaking genius.
However, even defeating Wang Xuanji had taken him considerable effort. This showed that while the Heavenly Emperor's upper limit kept rising, it was still far slower than Ye Chen's own progress.
Ye Chen no longer felt any strong obsession about defeating the Heavenly Emperor at the same realm. He simply wanted the achievement for completion's sake. With his current talent, fighting anyone at the same level felt too much like bullying.
When he underwent his own immortal ascension tribulation and faced the Heavenly Emperor's imprint, he could afford to hold back slightly. Although the outside world claimed the Heavenly Emperor had died beyond the pass, Ye Chen believed he was most likely still alive. It was better to show some respect.
After all, a man who could single-handedly hold back an entire realm was monstrously powerful. No one knew what realm the Heavenly Emperor had reached now. It was even possible he had already achieved the transcendence that the Eight-Crowned King so desperately sought.
In any case, it was wise to maintain good relations with someone he might not be able to afford to offend.
...
Wang Xuanji frowned slightly.
The main reason was that after the Heavenly Emperor's imprint dissipated, it had left behind no insights. This left her somewhat disappointed.
The stronger one became, the more one understood just how terrifying the Heavenly Emperor was. Back then, her father and the others had been called the Nine Dragons United, capable of fighting an Immortal King. Yet when the Other Domain's Seven Extremes Immortal King descended, a single beam of seven-colored immortal light had heavily injured all nine of them. If not for their ancestor's intervention, they would have perished.
Such an existence had been killed by the Heavenly Emperor with a single punch, after which the Other Domain no longer dared to emerge. His terror was beyond imagination.
Thus, failing to obtain any insights from his imprint left Wang Xuanji with a touch of regret.
Still, having re-ascended, the true immortal laws she had forgotten during her fall were gradually awakening. This greatly improved her mood.
At the true immortal realm, cultivation revolved entirely around comprehending laws. The first heaven focused on true immortal laws, the second on celestial immortal laws, and so on. As she gradually returned to her former realm, the forgotten laws would continue to resurface. She would return to the eighth heaven with an unimaginable foundation and charge straight toward the Immortal Monarch realm.
With the World Tree's help in comprehending the three thousand Great Daos, she would reach the Immortal King realm far more easily than before. One could truly say she had turned misfortune into fortune. And all of this was thanks to Ye Chen.
Thinking of this, Wang Xuanji looked at him. Even though she was now stronger than him, her smile remained gentle. She floated over to him and said softly, "I have ascended. From now on, you will come with me to the immortal realm. I will bring you into the Wang Family.
"You need not worry about your identity as the Heavenly Emperor's heir. I will suppress any dissenting voices within the clan and ensure no one disrespects you.
"I will also open the Wang Family's treasury to you. Once you reach the Immortal Monarch realm, we can marry.
"You also have the potential to become an Immortal King. With both our talents, the Other Domain will value us highly. Joining them in the future will be easy."
Wang Xuanji calmly laid out her plans.
Ye Chen raised an eyebrow. She really intended to make him a son-in-law of the Wang Family?
If Wang Xuanji could continue providing such massive critical hits, becoming a live-in son-in-law wouldn't be bad. After all, her multiplier had reached a staggering five hundred and eighty thousand times—an overwhelming lead.
But this was too sudden. He still had many things to handle. He could not possibly abandon his female cultivators. He also needed to arrange matters for his senior brother and the others, and it was time to calculate his father's whereabouts.
In short, Ye Chen could not go to the immortal realm just yet. He needed to farm more ascension slots first. He smiled and shook his head. "I cannot bear to leave my Dao companions behind in loneliness. Could you leave the slots for my Dao companions instead?"
Ye Chen thought for a moment and decided that giving the slot to Yan Ruyu was the best choice. Her multiplier was also very high—twenty thousand times. Even without a critical strike, the feedback would easily provide twenty thousand slots, which was more than enough.
Most importantly, he had no deep feelings for Yan Ruyu, so he would feel no emotional burden. Letting her ascend first would be completely stress-free.
When Wang Xuanji heard his request, the smile on her face faded considerably. But remembering the deep affection Ye Chen had shown by giving her the World Tree, she still spoke gently, "Since you will become my Dao companion in the future, you naturally cannot continue as you did before.
"The road ahead is extremely difficult. The seal on the Emperor Pass could break at any time, and countless experts from the Other Domain may descend once more. With your exceptional talent and potential to become an Immortal King, you should seize every opportunity to cultivate and improve yourself instead of being held back by those women.
"I will not bring your other female cultivators into the immortal realm."
Times had changed. Previously, Wang Xuanji had been desperate and had no right to mind how many women Ye Chen had. But now it was different. She was destined to become an Immortal King. How could she share a husband with other women? Were they even worthy?
She could overlook his past, but in the future, there could only be her. This was the pride of a prodigy.
Ye Chen's lips curved slightly as he looked at her with calm eyes.
She's trying to control me now?
He was not surprised by her attitude. Human nature was like this. Just like stories from his previous life where a man dropped out of school to work and support his girlfriend's education, only for her to break up with him after she succeeded.
Wang Xuanji had once needed his help. Now that she had everything she wanted and regained her strength, her attitude had naturally shifted.
Ye Chen shook his head indifferently. "Since you refuse to bring my Dao companions, then please bring the Eight-Crowned King into the immortal realm instead. This is the promise I made to him."
The Eight-Crowned King looked at Ye Chen with a complicated expression. He had never approved of Ye Chen giving away the World Tree. Sure enough, once the initiative was in someone else's hands, Ye Chen could not even bring his own women. If he had kept the World Tree, this woman would have continued looking up to him.
Ye Chen was still too young. He didn't understand how to handle women. Even so, the fact that Ye Chen still remembered his earlier promise moved the Eight-Crowned King with gratitude.
However, Wang Xuanji frowned. "Other than you, I will not bring anyone else into the immortal realm. The news that I obtained the World Tree cannot leak out at all, or I will face endless trouble."
Ye Chen narrowed his eyes.
She really flipped as soon as she got what she wanted. The little immortal fairy from the immortal realm was just as unreliable.
Wang Xuanji saw Ye Chen's displeased expression and felt he was being unreasonable. She had already been dug out of her immortal root once. Did she have to risk it again?
Still, she remembered his deep affection. After a moment of hesitation, she parted her lips and said…
Chapter 1073: I'm Doing This for Your Own Good!
Perhaps it was Ye Chen's previously invincible bearing, or perhaps it was the way he had wholeheartedly considered her needs and given everything for her. The World Tree was simply too precious.
Wang Xuanji asked herself honestly—if her own father had obtained the World Tree, would he have chosen to give it to her to restore her Spiritual Root, or would he have kept it for himself? She didn't dare think too deeply about the answer. Even her own father might not have done it, yet Ye Chen had.
Because of this, Wang Xuanji was truly moved by Ye Chen. Even though he seemed a little naïve right now, she was willing to accommodate him.
Thinking of this, she couldn't help but smile gently.
Perhaps this is what love feels like.
Wang Xuanji parted her cherry lips, her gaze soft. "Then I'll take a step back… As long as you come with me to the immortal realm and allow me to plant a brand in the Eight-Crowned King's mind—so that if he ever betrays me, I can destroy his body and soul with a single thought to ensure the secret doesn't leak—I will also bring him into the immortal realm."
She was willing to compromise for Ye Chen. Moreover, the Eight-Crowned King had exceptional talent. He had been unrivaled in the lower world and could become a powerful expert in the immortal realm, with a chance to reach the Immortal Monarch realm in the future. It would not be a loss for the Wang Family.
However, the Eight-Crowned King let out a cold laugh upon hearing this.
Ye Chen narrowed his eyes as he looked at Wang Xuanji. This little immortal fairy really has quite the imagination.
Making someone like the Eight-Crowned King her slave? Even he wouldn't dare say something like that so casually. She really thought she was getting a great deal.
The corners of Ye Chen's mouth curved upward. "Just planting a brand is enough? Why don't you plant one on me as well?"
As he spoke, Ye Chen seriously considered whether Wang Xuanji might repay kindness with enmity once they reached the immortal realm. In the past, he had been tolerant toward his women because even if they turned against him, they couldn't actually threaten him. But Wang Xuanji was different.
If there were any signs of trouble, it would be better to kill her now and avoid future problems. He might even be able to retrieve the World Tree. Although he wouldn't get feedback again, he could use it to improve his master's or Senior An's aptitude.
Wang Xuanji sensed Ye Chen's displeasure and sighed inwardly. The Wang Family did not accept outsiders. In the immortal realm, due to various reasons, there was also little interest in nurturing the next generation. For the Eight-Crowned King to be allowed entry and receive the full support of the Wang Family was already an enormous opportunity.
But Ye Chen simply didn't understand. He also didn't seem to realize that if news of the World Tree spread, she would be thrust into the center of a storm and face countless dangers. In the worst case, she might have her immortal root dug out again, and the entire Wang Family could be implicated and destroyed.
Yet looking at Ye Chen's cold expression, Wang Xuanji ultimately softened. A man as deeply affectionate as Ye Chen was someone she felt she might never meet again if she missed this chance.
She gently bit her lower lip and finally spoke seriously, "You are the Dao companion I have chosen. I naturally trust you. As for the Eight-Crowned King, for your sake I won't plant a brand. But he must swear a cruel immortal oath to never reveal anything that happened in the lower world. Once in the immortal realm, he can go wherever he wishes!"
Seeing that Ye Chen's attitude still hadn't softened, Wang Xuanji sighed again. "Additionally, you may bring your other Dao companions into the immortal realm with the remaining slots.
"However, once they enter the Wang Family, they must serve as maids. It's not that I am heartless, but as the princess of the current generation of the Wang Family, I cannot share a husband with others. The family will never agree to it.
"If my father and the elders find out, they will definitely eliminate them and it will also affect their view and attitude toward you. That would not be good for you at all."
Wang Xuanji patiently explained all the pros and cons to Ye Chen.
Ye Chen ignored her and turned to the Eight-Crowned King. "Fellow Daoist Qin, what do you think of these conditions?"
The Eight-Crowned King shook his head with a cold laugh. "Forget it. I'm afraid that if I follow her to the immortal realm, I'll just be disposed of quietly…"
For someone like the Eight-Crowned King, having another person suggest planting a brand in his mind was an extreme humiliation. Moreover, Wang Xuanji had already shown she could flip on a dime. Who knew what would happen if he followed her?
The Eight-Crowned King would rather not go at all.
Ye Chen nodded calmly, then looked at Wang Xuanji with cold eyes. After a brief pause, he asked, "If the World Tree is dug out after being refined, will it still retain its original effects?"
A warmth spread through Wang Xuanji's heart. She thought Ye Chen was worried about her and finally understood her difficulties. She gently shook her head. "It would be extremely difficult. Only an Immortal King-level expert might be able to plunder it perfectly, and even then, there would be significant damage. Moreover, the World Tree carries my will. If anything unexpected happens, I can destroy it with a single thought. So you don't need to worry. If there is a next time, I will make sure both sides perish together."
Ye Chen, who had been considering whether to take the World Tree back, immediately abandoned the idea after hearing her words.
Forget it. Her explanation sounded reasonable. Wang Xuanji was not completely ungrateful, but she was too arrogant and everything she said revolved around her family and the future. In short, she was not entirely bad, but she was also not someone he could truly trust.
Ye Chen stared at Wang Xuanji for a moment before shaking his head. "You should go by yourself."
His words stunned not only Wang Xuanji, but also the Eight-Crowned King and the surrounding spectators.
The Heavenly Emperor's heir was actually giving up his chance to enter the immortal realm? With his talent, once he reached the immortal realm, he would never be mediocre. Yet he had refused. And for what? Clearly, it was for his Dao companions.
Wang Xuanji could no longer maintain her gentle expression. She stared at Ye Chen with anger. "You're rejecting the chance to enter the immortal realm just because I won't let your Dao companions have anything more than the status of maids? You truly disappoint me!
"Your talent is not inferior to mine right now. You have a bright future ahead. You have the potential to become an Immortal King. Yet you're willing to give all that up for mere romantic entanglements?"
Ye Chen no longer felt like dealing with her. Since there would clearly be no critical strike, he had no intention of giving her the Heart of the Jianmu Tree either.
He spoke indifferently, "Open the heavenly gate and leave."
His attitude made Wang Xuanji's beautiful face turn even colder. "Do you know how desperate it will be if you stay behind? You have the qualifications to ascend, yet you would trap yourself in the quasi-immortal realm for the rest of your life. You will regret this for the rest of your days.
"No, you won't even have the rest of your days. The Other Domain could descend at any moment. They will shatter the immortal realm, and all the minor worlds connected to it will be destroyed along with it. If you stay here, you will die!"
Yet Ye Chen remained unmoved. This caused a mixture of fury and disappointment to fill Wang Xuanji's eyes. Killing intent even surged within her. "Those women tricked you out of your treasures and are now dragging down your future and endangering your life. Let me kill them all and sever your attachments. Then you will naturally leave with me!"
She truly hoped Ye Chen would walk the path to greatness instead of staying here to wait for death.