Chapter 246 - 243: Her Indecision

Chapter 246 - 243: Her Indecision

The Myriad Monarch Sect was renowned for its transparency, so those speculating over the strange events earlier were swiftly enlightened. Firstly was the sound that every living thing heard and then the voice. They explained it away as a unique spatial art causing ripples in space after interacting with a Void Gate, and the originator of this voice was Wei Wuyin.

Not only was this revealed, but also his breakthrough into the Astral Core Realm. Even the news regarding events on the Bloodforge Continent was explained and handled properly, leaving no imaginations left to wonder or develop conspiracy theories.

This caused an uproar to ignite amongst the citizens of the planet and members of the sect. Conversations filled with wonder and reverence kept echoing throughout the world. The renowned Prince of Everlore kept performing feats that amazed the world. It was less than half a decade yet his reputation and abilities were accelerating at lightspeed.

Word swiftly spread without end throughout the Myriad Monarch Astral Territory. Soon, three days passed.

In the Myriad Monarch Sect, the Extreme War Mountain’s fourth level, there was a residence established with the earth as its foundation. It was a tall, dark, and exceptional palace that was used by Earthly Elite rank disciples. It had various formations and arrays to support and reinforce cultivation bases.

This particular palace belonged to a recently promoted disciple of the Earthly Elite rank. Within this palace was a gathering of young talents, both men and women, with a single leading character—Long Chen. His black hair and eyes contained an innately majestic aura that seemed to highlight his presence. On his back was a black sword sheath with a translucent sword hilt embedded within.

Beside him, amongst the group, were female creatures of exceptional quality. They lacked nothing in beauty or innate potential when compared to others. They were notable figures to anyone familiar with Long Chen.

Wu Baozhai. Her aura stable and stately, eyes flashing with intelligence, and an innate pride that had been refined from exposure with the grand starfield. Her cultivation base had changed greatly since the Myriad Yore Continent, touching upon the Eighth Stage of the Qi Condensation Realm. From the depths of her cultivation base, her Qi Essence numbers exceeded thirty.

Lian Yu. Her serene aura was unsurpassable as she seemed like a quiet lake within a beautiful picture. Those sapphire eyes of hers rippled slightly with the delicate softness of water. Her cultivation base reflected herself, and she too was at the Eighth Stage. Her Qi Essence numbers didn’t lack when compared to Wu Baozhai.

Hong Ru and Xiao Bing. They stood opposite to each other, their auras a stark contrast amongst each other as one had a chilly and frigid, the other was blazing and fiery. As Earthly Elite disciples, they had long since entered the Second Stage of the Astral Core Realm. While they were of similar ages to Lian Yu and Wu Baozhai, their treatment and access to resources were heavens apart.

That being said, their foundations were certainly lacking as they both forged their Astral Souls at the 5th Mortal State. From this point, while their cultivation bases and strength was beyond Lian Yu and Wu Baozhai, their innate potential and future were gated unless they obtained grand opportunities.

Besides Long Chen, there was another male among this group. This young man had a stout appearance, his belly somewhat protruding from his robes, and his face was chubby as if there were remnants of baby fat within them. He had a baby face, soft and nascent, and seemed to be astonishingly young. However, his aura couldn’t be ignored. Despite his youth, looking no more than a teenager, his cultivation base was at the Astral Core Realm.

They were all gathered in a particular room, their eyes focused on a young woman with an ashen complexion that laid atop a jade bed. Her eyelids fluttered about as a weak light suffused those grey pupils. Her skin was somewhat cracked, dry, and lacked its normal brilliance. Each strand of her light-brown hair lacked its glow, seemingly losing its luster.

It was Na Xinyi. Her aura was frail and fizzling.

"...What happened to her?" Lu Feng, the chubby young man, asked with a shocked expression. His words caused Long Chen’s expression to darken as guilt flitted through his eyes. The other girls merely kept silent, but they were also curious as to what plight Na Xinyi suffered.

Only Wu Baozhai’s eyes were saddened.

Na Xinyi lifted her eyelids weakly to observe the room. That grey gaze of hers found its way to Long Chen whose face was laden with guilt. A soft, gentle smile suffused her lips.

"Don’t look down; I decided to of my own free will." Her voice was somewhat raspy as she spoke, causing the guilt on Long Chen’s face.

"Is there anything we can do to help, Big Sis Xinyi?" Lu Feng felt pained seeing Na Xinyi in a weak state. Since becoming friends with Long Chen, he tagged a form of emotional importance to each of those in his circle. He treated Na Xinyi and Lian Yu at the most important of the circle due to their kind temperaments. Unlike the other girls, they never made fun of him because of his chubby cheeks or youthful looks and mentality.

"..." Na Xinyi and Long Chen didn’t answer him immediately. Instead, Long Chen gritted his teeth and clenched his fists. Na Xinyi reached out and touched Long Chen’s face with her feeble and soft hands. The sensation of her touch instigated a change in Long Chen’s expression as his eyes widened and shook.

"Little Lu, your Big Brother Long needed something. I gave it to him. That’s why I’m like this, but...but it’s only temporary. I’ll get better soon." She beautifully smiled away any inkling of concern, completely relaxed and blissful. Lu Feng was taken aback, but he realized the situation was a little more complex than expected.

Long Chen forced a smile, grabbing her hand into his own. Their eyes remained on each other’s faces. Only after a long moment was it interrupted by a soft voice, "She needs rest." It was Lian Yu who spoke. Hong Ru, Xiao Bing, Wu Baozhai, and Lu Feng soon understood the meaning and left. Long Chen stayed a little longer, his eyes never leaving Na Xinyi’s face as if to brand it into his mind.

"You too," Lian Yu said. Long Chen inhaled deeply and exhaled softly. He nodded, reluctantly rising and leaning forward. He left a kiss on Na Xinyi’s forehead and whispered to her, "I’ll find a way to restore them. I promise." He soon left after those words, his steps steady and his back strong.

Lian Yu waited until they were all left before walking to Na Xinyi’s bedside. Na Xinyi’s eyes grew misty as her body shivered. She was experiencing an immense amount of pain within every cell of her body. This was a side-effect of the method she deployed earlier.

Lian Yu waved her hand, bringing forth a chair to sit on. She softly said, "My water healing arts won’t help you." Lian Yu admitted, but Na Xinyi’s face suffered no change. It was as if she already knew.

Biting her lips, Lian Yu couldn’t help but feel for her. "You didn’t have to do that." Those six words carried so much pity and sadness that it was heartbreaking. But Na Xinyi still didn’t blink or show any change in her expression.

Who didn’t?

But would Long Chen be able to help her? Will she merely be the foil for him to rise, given comfort and slowly fading from history as she was reserved to birth his children and warm his bed. A life like that...

"...I’m tired..."

Lian Yu’s eyelids drooped as she felt a tinge of discontent at Na Xinyi’s indecision. This feeling became a heat of anger in her heart. She couldn’t just leave as she abruptly walked forward and glared at Na Xinyi, forgetting her fragile state as she exclaimed, "Do you think Long Chen’s not capable of fulfilling your wants? Do you not love him?!"

Her normally serene eyes were now suffused with blazing rage.

"..." Na Xinyi remained silent, which only fueled Lian Yu’s emotions. Stoked by Na Xinyi’s verbal silence, Lian Yu clenched her delicate fists.

"I don’t believe Wei Wuyin will ever surpass Long Chen. He’s an alchemist, nothing more. Even the King of Everlore was merely a pill dispenser. He wasn’t strong, merely capable of allowing others to become strong. Others simply used him until they exceeded his capabilities, giving him proper respect after. When he vanished from this world, he was the ultimate foil for others. He has no force or status in this world. Only someone like Long Chen will have the ability to reign supreme throughout the eras!"

Her words were her most innermost thoughts. While she remained silent throughout their interactions, she watched Wei Wuyin and Long Chen interactions. She had her own thoughts and opinions, and she honestly believed that Wei Wuyin wasn’t Long Chen’s equal. Long Chen was someone with infinite potential and an honest heart.

He would...he would never stoop so low as to force himself on a woman or abandon his sect who helped him reach his current achievements. He would never abandon his loved ones and friends. Long Chen was the only light in this dark, dirty world of cultivation. For Na Xinyi to not understand this thoroughly enraged her.

But Na Xinyi clenched her teeth, her fists weakly shaking. "You..."

Lian Yu heard this and bite at it, "You what?!"

"You...you don’t understand. Please leave." Na Xinyi turned over, gripping the covers of the bed and wrapping it around her body.

Lian Yu’s ample chest rose and fell repeatedly. It was only after a while did she calm down and directly left. The door slammed behind her.

Na Xinyi’s heart was stinging with boundless pain that exacerbated her already horrible condition.

Was she selfish? Was she wrong?

"You really don’t understand. I do feel like you do...but I want to reign supreme throughout the eras." Her words were little more than a whisper, but in the end, no one could hear them.

-----

As Lian Yu left the room, she walked outside to see the five gathered about discussing something. Leng Fu was the first to notice her arrival and his eyes were flashing with brilliant light filled with intrigue, "Big Sis Yu!" He called out, his short stature and legs walked towards her.

Lian Yu smiled gently. "What is it?" When she asked this, her eyes briefly glanced at Long Chen whose expression was indeterminate. He seemed to contain a little frustration, thinking, and determination, but also something new.

Lu Feng excitedly bounced about and said, "News just in! Heavenly King Wei was responsible for that voice, and he seemed to have secretly left for the Bloodforge Continent earlier. He just returned which caused that sound and voice to resound. And he reached the Astral Core Realm!"

Lian Yu’s eyebrow lifted. Before she could speak, Lu Feng energetically continued. "It’s said his strength when he ascended could rival those at the Third Stage of the Astral Core Realm! He defeated an impressive genius on the Bloodforge Continent!"

"..." Lian Yu stilled.

What?

Third Stage?

At the First Stage?

Recalling Long Chen’s struggling victory against those at the Second Stage of the Astral Core Realm, her heart quivered slightly. She glanced at Long Chen, recalling what she said before. Her face wasn’t hot yet, but Lu Feng’s next words felt as if it was a slap to her face.

"Because of his shocking combat prowess that even rivals Heavenly Kings in terms of battle, not only have those started calling him the Prince of Everlore but the Prince of the Myriad World! They’re calling him the next Grand Monarch! It makes sense! After all, he doesn’t have an Alchemic Astral Soul like the King of Everlore so he should be able to cultivate normally!

"With both talents in the Dao of Alchemy and the Martial Dao, he’s truly the improved version of the King of Everlore!" Lu Feng was quite excited at the news. He admired Wei Wuyin deeply, untainted yet by the bad blood between Long Chen and Wei Wuyin.

"..." Lu Feng’s eyes became dazed.