Immortality Starts With Investment [XIANXIA LITRPG]

At Champion King's mansion, a steady stream of officials and powerhouses paid their respects, bearing lavish gifts, all convinced he would be the next Great Chu emperor. His subordinates regarded Su Yuxuan with newfound awe. She'd crushed Wang Lun, and had he not surrendered, he might've been refined to death. Her strength was undeniable.

On his throne, Champion King's impassive gaze lingered on Su Yuxuan, a flicker of approval in his eyes. With a wave, a golden pill floated to her. "This is a Dragon-Tiger Pill, crafted from the cores and blood of a late Golden Core tiger and Jiao—a supreme healing medicine."

Su Yuxuan accepted it without hesitation. "Thank you, Lord! But I'm too drained to fight for you tomorrow."

Champion King nodded calmly. "No matter. Flying Tiger, you're up. Kill that Ye Chen—don't care if he surrenders. The day after, I'll take the stage myself and usher in Great Chu's new emperor."

The Flying Tiger General, late Golden Core with a surging aura, rose with murderous intent. He obeyed without question. "Yes, Lord!"

Su Yuxuan raised an eyebrow, glancing at the General with pity. She wasn't sure if her Senior Brother could outmatch Champion King, but this Flying Tiger? He's already dead.

…

At the Wang residence, the mood was grim. No one had anticipated Wang Lun's defeat. Su Yuxuan, an unknown, had proven terrifyingly strong. Even Li Feihuang's face darkened.

She turned to Ye Chen. "Fellow Daoist, are you confident?"

Ye Chen grinned. "Your Highness, just prepare for your coronation."

Li Feihuang chuckled, assuming he was joking. But Ye Chen was dead serious. The cultivation world's major powers, shameless in their greed, dragged out a one-day arena into a prolonged spectacle to milk visitors' spirit stones.

Ye Chen had no patience for it. He aimed to wrap it up in three days—tomorrow, he'd fight Su Yuxuan, then the Flying Tiger General, and finally crush Champion King in one fell swoop.

But recalling Su Yuxuan's feigned injury today, he suspected her cunning would keep her from facing him. If so, he might finish in just two days.

…

On the second day, under the gaze of countless cultivators, the sky arena rose again. Ye Chen faced the silver-armored Flying Tiger General and sighed—as expected. His eyes flicked to Su Yuxuan in the crowd, dangling her feet and watching the show. Catching his gaze, she flashed a sly smile, tilted her head, and blew him a kiss.

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As the Great Chu elder's authoritative voice rang out, the Flying Tiger General, gripping a long spear, eyed Ye Chen, pondering how to crush him decisively—perhaps letting him cry surrender before striking, or denying him even that chance. Ye Chen, seeing the General frozen in place, frowned. Just standing there waiting to die?

With a casual wave, Ye Chen slapped out. Purple-gold energy surged, blanketing the capital's skies, dimming the heavens. A massive purple-gold palm descended with a boom.

The Flying Tiger General's face twisted in shock. Locked by the Heaven-Destroying Hand, his aura was suppressed, leaving him no time to react. The palm slammed him into the arena floor, shaking the platform and sending tremors through the capital below.

As the purple-gold hand dissipated, the General lay broken—silver armor shattered, flesh torn, barely clinging to life, unable to rise. The crowd erupted in stunned uproar.

Li Feihuang's eyes flashed with surprise. The Wang Clan buzzed with elation. Even Champion King's ever-stoic gaze narrowed slightly.

Ye Chen glanced at the General, then calmly turned to the elder. He'd held back—since the General harbored no killing intent, Ye Chen saw no need to kill. Securing the reward was enough.

"Princess's side wins!" the elder declared, his thunderous voice echoing across the capital, proclaiming Ye Chen's victory.

…

On her way back to Champion King's mansion, Su Yuxuan skipped along, mood buoyant. She spoke to Manjusaka in her mind, "See, Master? I told you Senior Brother's incredible! Good thing I didn't fight him. I'll stay at the mansion one more day. If Senior Brother wins tomorrow, we'll go straight to him. He's no saint, but he's generous."

Manjusaka wanted to retort but fell silent, recalling that palm. Even at her peak in mid-Golden Core, she couldn't have unleashed such a spell. Ye Chen's spiritual power was terrifyingly potent.

Still, she huffed, "Ye Chen's decent, but Champion King's stronger. I just remembered—that chariot is the Northern Emperor's, the ultimate killing machine of my era. I saw it myself. The Northern Emperor was nearly invincible in the Unity Realm, carving his own path of slaughter and even slaying a Great Ascension. He fell attempting to break through to that realm. If Champion King inherited his legacy, Ye Chen's no match."

Su Yuxu frowned. The cultivation world's history was vast, and figures like the Northern Emperor, who didn't reach the pinnacle, faded quickly. She'd never heard of him, but Manjusaka's words painted a fearsome picture. Better warn Senior Brother.

Using the transmission talisman she'd exchanged with Ye Chen, she relayed the warning about the chariot's possible Northern Emperor heritage, urging caution. Then she returned to the palace, settling into her courtyard to await tomorrow.

That evening, a servant knocked. "Lady Su, Champion King summons you."

Su Yuxuan frowned, suspecting he wanted her to probe Ye Chen in the arena tomorrow. Fine. Senior Brother won't go too hard. Unfazed, she sauntered to the main hall.

Champion King sat alone on his throne, hair disheveled, wine cup in hand, eyes gleaming.

"Greetings, Your Highness," Su Yuxuan said. "Tomorrow, I'll risk my life to expose Ye Chen's secrets."

He fixed her with a calm stare, his voice like rolling thunder. "No need. I'll handle it. Tonight, you'll serve me."

Su Yuxuan's eyes narrowed, her voice icy. "I have a dao companion."

Champion King's lips curled. "Even better."

Her face chilled further. "You insist on forcing this?"

Toying with his cup, he eyed her feet. "What I want, I always get."

Before he finished, Su Yuxuan transformed into a blood-red light, streaking toward the hall's exit. Champion King, unsurprised, smirked. He flicked his wine, and it morphed into a massive hand, radiating a slaughterous aura, enveloping the bloodlight.

…