Chapter 1117: Nangong Wan's Despair!
Nangong Wan fell into despair.
The strange entity inside her body had stopped draining her cultivation and had begun absorbing her lifespan instead. This was even more hopeless than before.
For immortals, a hundred years passed in the blink of an eye. Some cultivators would seclude themselves for a century at a time, regarding it as nothing more than a fleeting moment. If she were to fall after only a hundred years, it would truly be an early death.
Most importantly, how heartbroken and devastated would her parents be, having to send off their own child while still alive?
Nangong Wan panicked. She immediately rushed to find the Peak Master of Hundred Flowers Peak. With her talent, she should have been taken as a direct disciple by one of Jade Moon Immortal Monarch's disciples long ago. However, because she had never been able to reach the peak of the True Immortal realm, she could not participate in the direct disciple selection and had remained an inner sect disciple. She had no master and could only seek out elders when problems arose.
When Nangong Wan explained her situation, the elder's expression turned grave. The elders of Hundred Flowers Peak had been looking forward to the potential transformation in Nangong Wan's talent once her cultivation issue was resolved. They had hoped for something miraculous.
Yet now that her cultivation problem was solved, the situation had only grown worse.
The elders frowned. In the end, they invited the Punishment Elder. As a disciple of Jade Moon Immortal Monarch and the second strongest expert in the Jade Pool Immortal Sect, the Punishment Elder was a terrifying Saint Immortal at the peak of the eighth stage of the True Immortal realm.
After examining Nangong Wan, the fiery-tempered Punishment Elder furrowed her brows. "I once heard of a case where a powerful expert was supposed to be born with a strong Divine Ability, but because their parents' bloodline was not strong enough, it failed to develop properly. After becoming an immortal, the Divine Ability finally began to form, causing the expert's cultivation to stagnate and their life force to be drained in massive amounts. They nearly died of old age before finally awakening the ability and becoming a powerhouse. Nangong Wan may be experiencing something similar."
The moment the Punishment Elder spoke, the other elders' eyes lit up. Could there be such a silver lining? Even Nangong Wan showed a trace of hope.
However, the Punishment Elder's expression remained serious. "It's not that simple. This kind of postnatal nurturing consumes an enormous amount of energy. You might be drained to death before it's even enough. And this is only the beginning. The drain on your life force may become even more intense later."
Everyone's faces grew solemn again. Nangong Wan could already only live for another hundred years at most. If the drain grew stronger, wouldn't that mean certain death?
Nangong Wan grew even more panicked, feeling that fate was toying with her.
Fortunately, as a peak Saint Immortal, the Punishment Elder quickly thought of a possible solution.
"If you can cultivate the sect's Immortal King scripture, the Western Empress Undying Chapter, it may help you overcome your current crisis and survive this period. The Western Empress Undying Chapter was created by Ancestor Western Empress using the Great Life Technique—one of the three thousand Great Daos—as its core. The most basic benefit of cultivating this scripture is an incredibly strong life force, up to ten times that of an ordinary immortal. It is currently the most suitable scripture for you."
The others' eyes brightened once more.
Only Nangong Wan's expression stiffened. "But Immortal King scriptures can only be cultivated by direct disciples, and only after Jade Moon Immortal Monarch personally approves them. Didn't Jade Moon Immortal Monarch enter seclusion some time ago?"
The Punishment Elder shook her head helplessly. "That is correct. Master is indeed in seclusion."
The Jade Pool Immortal Sect had suffered heavy losses in the past, leaving only Jade Moon Immortal Monarch from that generation. She had not received all of Western Empress's inheritance, so only the Western Empress Undying Chapter remained from the three great scriptures. Immortal King scriptures were incredibly precious. Even direct disciples might not receive them. They could only be taught after Jade Moon Immortal Monarch personally met the person and confirmed they were trustworthy.
"I will keep an eye on Master's situation for you. The moment she emerges from seclusion, I will inform her of your condition. During this time, focus on your cultivation. If you can break through to the Celestial Immortal realm, your lifespan will reach two hundred thousand years. There is no need to panic."
The Punishment Elder made the arrangements after careful thought.
Nangong Wan could only accept this. However, existences like Immortal Monarchs might remain in seclusion for thousands or even tens of thousands of years. If Jade Moon Immortal Monarch did not come out, even reaching the Celestial Immortal realm might not save her.
…
Nangong Wan's heart was filled with anxiety. Still, as the Punishment Elder had said, she should first try to break through to the Celestial Immortal realm.
Each of the nine stages of the True Immortal realm added one hundred thousand years to one's lifespan. Overall, immortals rarely lacked longevity. Breaking through to the Celestial Immortal realm would allow her to hold on much longer.
To break through, she needed to condense a wisp of Celestial Immortal law. Nangong Wan officially entered seclusion and began attempting to gather True Immortal laws to form that wisp of Celestial Immortal law.
However, in the blink of an eye, a month passed.
Nangong Wan's fair little face had grown haggard. Her talent and comprehension were excellent, and she had spent many years stuck in the True Immortal realm. Condensing True Immortal laws and forming a wisp of Celestial Immortal law should not have been difficult.
Yet she discovered to her horror that she could not break through. The mysterious change inside her body seemed to have sealed her cultivation. Even though she had condensed the Celestial Immortal law, she could not advance.
This left Nangong Wan completely devastated. The rate at which her life force was being drained had grown faster, nearly ten times quicker than at the beginning. At this pace, she had at most ten years left to live. And with the drain still accelerating, it might be even less than ten years.
Nangong Wan gave a bitter, pale smile. For the first time, she felt true despair toward fate. She had thought she was contaminated by something filthy, only to discover it might be a top-tier talent. Yet before she could even feel happy about it, she might be drained to death before fully awakening that talent.
Truly, fate loved to toy with people.
Nangong Wan no longer had the heart to cultivate. If she was destined to die, she should at least do a few meaningful things before the end.
She wanted to see the Ancestor one last time, to sincerely thank him for all his care. It was a pity she might not have the chance to repay him. She would return all the unused pills and other gifts. Then she would go home.
Ever since she joined the Jade Pool Immortal Sect and encountered her misfortune, she had never returned. Partly because she felt too ashamed to face her family—she was supposed to be their hope, yet she had fallen so far. Partly because she feared her parents would be too heartbroken if they saw her condition.
But now that she was going to die, if she did not see her parents one last time, both she and they would carry that regret for the rest of their lives.
Nangong Wan did not like farewells. She left a jade slip in her cave residence, then quietly packed her things and left while no one was watching.
As she flew away from Hundred Flowers Peak, she gave it one last nostalgic look before heading straight toward Transcendence Peak.
Fourth Ancestor was truly a good person, and he had been very good to her. If she could survive this crisis, then the fact that he already had Dao companions didn't seem so important anymore. After all, compared to life and death, most things were insignificant.
And so, Nangong Wan arrived in front of Ye Chen's cave residence and gently sent a voice transmission.
Soon, the cave residence door opened.
Chapter 1118: Fourth Ancestor Ye Is Also an Ancestor!
"Come in."
Ye Chen's voice rang out, stirring countless emotions in Nangong Wan's heart. She was certain that Fourth Ancestor liked her. Even though his gaze was usually pure, whenever she wore shorter skirts, his eyes would linger on her legs a few extra times. She had been struggling with this internally for a long time.
But now, there was no need to struggle anymore. If she could not solve her lifespan issue, she had no future left. And if she only had a hundred years or even less, she should not get close to Fourth Ancestor. It would only bring him sadness.
"Wanwan, why did you come today? You don't look well. Did your breakthrough fail? Don't worry. You've already waited so many years—what's a few more days? Take it slow. If you need more top-grade True Origin Return One Pills, I still have plenty here."
Ye Chen looked at the somewhat haggard Nangong Wan, who was forcing a smile, and frowned with concern.
Although he had not had much left to gift her recently, a ten-thousandfold multiplier was extremely valuable. She was worth the effort to nurture carefully.
Hearing his concern, Nangong Wan's eyes reddened. She held back her tears and spoke softly, "I came today to return home. I may stay there for quite a long time, so I specially came to say goodbye to you, Fourth Ancestor."
She had no intention of telling Ye Chen about her condition. Fourth Ancestor liked her so much, but if he couldn't help, it would only make him sad.
Ye Chen narrowed his eyes. With his vast experience, he could tell something was wrong with Nangong Wan's state. Her tone sounded less like she was going home and more like a final farewell.
His expression turned serious as he adopted the demeanor of an elder. "What happened? Tell Fourth Ancestor. I will help you solve it."
Nangong Wan was a grateful girl and worth investing more effort into. She was different from someone like Wang Xuanji.
Nangong Wan hurriedly shook her head. "It's nothing, really…"
Ye Chen's frown deepened. "Do you even regard me as your Fourth Ancestor? If you do, tell me the truth. If not, then leave. I'll pretend all my care and concern during this time was given to the wrong person."
Hearing these words, Nangong Wan lowered her head. She believed Fourth Ancestor had his own selfish motives, but he always spoke of acting for the public good and caring for her. How could she bear to hurt his feelings?
At that thought, she could no longer hold back. In a soft voice, she told him everything that had happened to her recently.
Ye Chen's eyes lit up immediately.
"With your talent, it would be easy for you to receive the Immortal Scripture from Senior Sister. Why are you so troubled?"
Nangong Wan smiled bitterly. "After accepting you as her junior brother, Jade Moon Immortal Monarch announced her seclusion. She said this seclusion is very important and might take a very long time. So…"
By the end, even she felt that fate had been cruel to her.
Ye Chen, however, laughed. "I thought it was something serious. So that's all? Have you forgotten that besides Jade Moon Immortal Monarch, the Jade Pool Immortal Sect also has me, Fourth Ancestor Ye? Whatever Jade Moon Immortal Monarch can do, I can do as well."
"Here, this is the Undying Chapter of the Western Empress Scripture. Consider it my gift to you."
Ye Chen had not expected such a timely opportunity. He had been holding onto the Western Empress Undying Chapter without cultivating it himself, but it had also been difficult to gift. Giving it to outsiders would be betrayal, and he was not that kind of person. As for insiders, those who qualified already had access to it. It had truly been hard to find a way to give it away.
Now, through this coincidence, the chance had appeared. Of course, he would not miss it.
With those words, Ye Chen took out the jade slip that Jade Moon Immortal Monarch had given him.
Nangong Wan was stunned. Her first reaction was to refuse. "Fourth Ancestor, you can't! This is privately teaching a forbidden scripture. In the Jade Pool Immortal Sect, anyone who learns an Immortal King scripture must have the Jade Moon Immortal Monarch's personal approval. Otherwise, it is considered betraying the sect. You will get into trouble."
Ye Chen smiled.
Nangong Wan was on the verge of death, yet she was still worried about implicating him. What a good girl. The better she was, the more he wanted to help her.
He smiled gently and said, "You don't need to worry about that. I am Jade Moon Immortal Monarch's junior brother. Who understands our relationship better—you or me? Besides, I am also an Ancestor. Why should only she have the final say? I don't accept that. I will speak with Senior Sister Yue Yao about this matter later. Just take the jade slip and focus on your cultivation."
Nangong Wan still hesitated. This went against the rules. She was afraid that Fourth Ancestor would get into serious trouble because of her. After all, as a male cultivator in the Jade Pool Immortal Sect, he was already unpopular. Many of the older elders, including the Punishment Elder, wanted to drive him out to restore the sect's purity. They were simply waiting for him to make a mistake so they could expel him.
Fourth Ancestor had been so good to her. She did not want to drag him down. Moreover, secretly learning an Immortal King scripture as a Jade Pool disciple was a grave offense that could result in expulsion.
Seeing that Nangong Wan was still hesitating, Ye Chen frowned. "What's wrong, Wanwan? Do you think my words carry no weight in the Jade Pool Immortal Sect? Do you think I, as an Ancestor, am just for show? If others think that way, must you think the same?"
Nangong Wan could no longer refuse. She held the jade slip with both hands as her eyes turned completely red. Fourth Ancestor had been far too good to her. She had thought she was going to die, yet he had unhesitatingly given her an Immortal King scripture. He must have taken on countless risks to do so.
"Thank you, Fourth Ancestor. Wanwan will remember this kindness for the rest of her life and will never forget it."
Nangong Wan had many things she wanted to say, but her reserved personality allowed her to only utter these words. However, she had already made up her mind. So what if Fourth Ancestor already had Dao companions? How could she possibly find another man in the Immortal Realm who treated her with such genuine care? Moreover, she owed him far too much—more than she could ever repay.
As long as she survived this crisis, she would return home and tell her parents everything. She would let them know just how good Fourth Ancestor had been to her, so they could accept that their daughter had chosen a man who already had Dao companions.
Watching Nangong Wan accept the jade slip, straighten her legs, and bow solemnly in thanks, Ye Chen smiled. She truly was a grateful and good girl.
"Go on. Cultivate well. If you need anything, you can still come to me. Whether it's treasures to replenish life force or anything else, I will keep an eye out for you."
Hearing these words, Nangong Wan grew even more moved and felt like crying. She did not dare look at Ye Chen any longer, afraid her true feelings would show. Lowering her head, she replied in a slightly muffled voice, "Thank you, Fourth Ancestor. I… I'll head back now."
Ye Chen nodded with a smile and watched her leave.
At the same time, a system notification sounded in his mind…