Immortality Starts With Investment [XIANXIA LITRPG]

Su Yuxuan's heart fluttered with joy when she heard Ye Chen offer his Golden Core. Senior Brother truly loves me. Her efforts pampering him the past few days weren't in vain. Still, she had no intention of taking his core. Both were ninth-grade—why ruin his immortal path when they could just kill Wang Lun and sink his body in a pool? Far simpler.

But when she sensed Ye Chen summon his core and Manjusaka fell silent, curiosity stirred. Her master, a prodigy from the Northern Emperor's era, had seen it all. For Ye Chen's ninth-grade core to stun her speechless? Does Senior Brother have an extra one or something?

Unable to resist, Su Yuxuan squinted through crescent-shaped eyes. The next moment, she felt blinded. What's floating in the room? Golden Cores were supposed to be golden—why was his bursting with multiple colors? And why was it so massive, just like him? What even is this?

Her eyes widened in disbelief. Manjusaka's soul form quaked, as if roiled by a tsunami. After a long pause, she stared at Ye Chen, incredulous. "You've forged a Law Core?"

"Law Core?" Ye Chen echoed, intrigued by the unfamiliar term.

Manjusaka explained solemnly, "A Law Core, also called a Core of Laws or Immortal Core, is rare. To become a True Immortal in the Great Ascension Realm, one must comprehend the Laws of Heaven and Earth. But such laws are elusive—many spend their lives grasping mere fragments, dying in regret.

"However, a select few in Foundation Establishment, whose power surpasses the realm's limits, can forge a Law Core. Each ray of its divine light signifies affinity with a specific law, making it easier to seize and refine. The more laws mastered, the greater the chance of ascending to immortality."

She continued, awe creeping into her voice. "In ancient times, the Chaotic Ancient True Immortal forged a seven-colored Law Core, mastering seven laws in the Great Ascension Realm. Upon ascending, he slaughtered a horde of True Immortals, rivers of blood in his wake. And you… you've forged a five-colored Law Core!"

Her gaze on Ye Chen shifted, tinged with reverence. Even as the top genius of the Boundless Demon Sect in her era, with few rivals, she'd only formed a single-colored white core. Ye Chen's five-colored core was beyond comprehension.

For the first time since her revival, Manjusaka felt genuine shock. Ye Chen's eyes lit up as he absorbed her explanation. Much of the cultivation world's knowledge was guarded, passed only through oral tradition, never written. He'd always wondered why his multi-colored Golden Core mattered and how it tied to immortality. Now it clicked—it's about mastering the Laws of Heaven and Earth.

No wonder the Chaotic Ancient True Immortal, with a seven-colored Law Core, lamented its limits in the True Immortal Chronicles. Seven colors let him slaughter True Immortals upon ascending. A nine-colored core? That'd be unstoppable.

Ye Chen's mind raced with one thought: Gift it. I have to gift it.

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Su Yuxuan, no longer feigning unconsciousness, gaped. Ninth-grade cores aren't the peak? She'd never heard of Law Cores or Immortal Cores. Is Senior Brother this monstrous? If she refined his core, could she restore a ninth-grade core—or better? If even one or two rays of divine light remained, could she aim for immortality? For cultivators, wasn't immortality the ultimate dream?

Her empty dantian pulsed with raw desire. She craved it. But eyes could regrow, hearts could regenerate—golden cores didn't. If Ye Chen gave his, what would happen to him? His cultivation would collapse, his lifespan slashed to a fraction. This core, a peerless treasure, was something he offered so calmly, without hesitation.

Her rare conscience stirred. After a moment's hesitation, Su Yuxuan decided to refuse—not as a ploy or tactic, but out of self-awareness. She wasn't a supreme prodigy. Refining Ye Chen's core might yield a mediocre result, wasting its potential if no divine light remained.

Instead, she could refine Wang Lun's ninth-grade core. It'd degrade to mid-grade at best, but with a senior brother destined for immortality—and generous to boot—she'd reap far greater benefits. If Ye Chen ascended in this era, she'd rise with him, perhaps even touching immortality herself. One person's ascension lifts all around them wasn't just a saying.

Weighing the pros and cons, Su Yuxuan spoke earnestly, "Senior Brother, just kill Wang Lun for me. Keep your five-colored core. My immortal path may be rough, but I have no regrets. As long as I can watch you ascend in this mortal world, I'm content—"

Thud.

Before she finished, her eyes rolled back, and she fainted—for real this time.

…

Ye Chen sighed, addressing Manjusaka solemnly. "Yuxuan's fainted again—her condition's critical. Senior, I leave her to you."

With a gesture, he guided his five-colored Golden Core to hover before Manjusaka, then gently laid Su Yuxuan's frail form on the bed.

Manjusaka's gaze on Ye Chen was complex. She'd noticed he'd subtly knocked Su Yuxuan out, likely to prevent her from refusing. She didn't call it out, understanding his intent.

"Are you certain?" she asked gravely. "A five-colored Law Core isn't just a ticket to immortality—it's beyond that. Giving it to Yuxuan, she might not even retain a single color. Is such a sacrifice worth it?"

Ye Chen smiled, glancing at Su Yuxuan. Worth it? Of course. Five colors weren't enough—he aimed for more.

He didn't answer aloud, but his tender, smiling gaze on Su Yuxuan spoke volumes. Manjusaka's heart, long still as an ancient well, churned with waves of awe. She was stunned by Ye Chen's talent and floored by his selflessness. With a five-colored core, he was destined to be this era's brightest prodigy, a near-certain True Immortal. Yet, for the woman he loved, he surrendered it without a second thought.

Guilt gnawed at her. She'd spent years badmouthing Ye Chen to Su Yuxuan, questioning his sincerity. Now, she saw the truth—some men were truly good.

Softly, she murmured, "I'm sorry."

Ye Chen blinked, puzzled, but didn't press. He just watched her intently.

Manjusaka's soul force extended, enveloping the five-colored core. Sensing no resistance from Ye Chen, her emotions grew heavier as she activated the secret technique. In an instant, the bond between Ye Chen and his core severed. The core's radiance dimmed, and Ye Chen paled, his aura collapsing to a frail wisp.

Yet he stood tall, forcing a smile at Manjusaka. "This core is yours now, Senior. Please take good care of Yuxuan. When she wakes, tell her not to seek me out. I don't want anyone seeing me weak. Let her forget me."

With that, he turned, not sparing the core another glance, and left decisively. The door shut behind him.

Manjusaka heard him stagger into the courtyard, coughing up blood in heavy gasps. To spare her feelings, he suppressed the sound, hobbling away quickly.

She bowed her head, staring at the five-colored core floating in her soul force. A torrent of emotions—admiration, guilt, awe, and regret—overwhelmed her, escaping as a long, wistful sigh.

…