Chapter 572 A Heart True to Both

Even if it meant eternal damnation, even if she could never reach the sun at the horizon's edge, she would still grow bathed in its light, declaring to him her yearning.

Taking a deep breath, she spoke with serene composure, "Eldrin, you are like the blazing sun in the heavens—radiant and dazzling in your lofty prominence, making 1 dare not gaze directly nor reach out to touch."

"My greatest fear in this life is that 1 day, you will still radiate divine grace while I become a stooped old crone, forced to hide in the shadows and silently watch you ascend to immortality."

"That is why I dare not touch you, nor even express my longing in your presence."

"But today I must tell you, even if a tree cannot reach the sun, it must still yearn for the light."

"Whether you return my affection or not, my love for you should be as natural as a tree growing under sunlight—declaring my devotion to you as openly as branches reaching for the light."

Lyra fell silent, her heart a turbulent mix of sympathy, simmering resentment, and helplessness—countless complex emotions intertwining within her.

Her heart softened, yet she could voice none of it, merely gazing at Eldrin as she awaited his reply.

Eldrin furrowed his brow. He was a normal man, and though his mind wasn't exactly 7-apertures-lyra-cunning, he still possessed considerable depth of thought. How could he fail to grasp the meaning hidden in the beauty's heart?

Yet his affections were not cheaply given, for he knew his own measure and held a will not easily swayed by others.

He was not 1 to fall for another easily, but once he did, he would give them his sincere devotion.

More importantly, he could not bear the thought of 1 day witnessing his beloved transformed into withered bones, nor endure the agony of watching those close to him enter eternal slumber.

Over the years, the departures of Seventh Granduncle, Elder Chen Changyan, Chen Qinghe, and others who had walked alongside him had each wrenched his heart with anguish. Thus, he refused to endure such sorrow again.

Over the years, he had spared no effort in supporting Chen Changxuan, Lior (Person Name), and others, for he could not bear to watch each old acquaintance fade with time.

If 1 day, all those dear to him, even his most beloved, were to depart, what meaning would there be in becoming a lofty immortal, dwelling alone in the 9 Heavens Above, eternal yet solitary?

Eternal life is a solitary existence, yet an eternity of absolute solitude may well be a curse.

That was why he had always been reluctant to have children—he feared he would be unable to help them ascend to immortality.

Unless 1 day he was confident he could help his children ascend to immortality, he was unwilling to have offspring. For to watch his beloved children ultimately turn to withered bones, or even personally lay them to rest—what an agonizing ordeal that would be.

Lila and Silas maintained a similar distance, for even though their admiration had stirred ripples in his heart, he always restrained those fleeting thoughts.

There is a distinction between intimacy and estrangement; the grief brought by the loss of a beloved is entirely different from that of a clansman.

For 1 who aspired to the path of immortality, it was better to sever such thoughts from the very beginning than to watch a beloved slowly age in his embrace.

Yet at this very moment, Eldrin remained silent in his heart, torn between 2 difficult choices.

Lila's words struck a chord in his heart, that emotion like a seed sprouting beneath the soil—a tree determined to grow toward the sun even as it weathered wind and scorching daylight.

On 1 side was the affection that stirred his heart, on the other lay the unseen end of the immortal path. Watching her days dwindle into frail old age, how would he choose?

"In this world, how can 1 find a dual-path method, that neither fails my heart nor fails you?"

Eldrin (Person Name) murmured inwardly, his gaze finally settling into resolve. "So be it. Should I ever ascend to immortality, even if it means bearing karma unprecedented since ancient times, I shall carry you with me into ascension."

With Lila's (Person Name) foundation, achieving ascension to immortality from the Violet Realm was nearly impossible in the mortal world. Only by growing stronger after reaching the immortal realm might there still be room for reversal.

Lyra knew Eldrin best. Seeing the look on his face, her heart trembled faintly.

Her heart wavered between tenderness and irritation, yet she could not vent her frustrations. All she could think was how she should never have followed him here—had she stayed away, at least her eyes would have been spared this torment.

She turned around, staring at the Banner of 6 Desires and Mortal Dust in her hand, and grew increasingly furious as she thought about it. "It's all your fault, you demonic spiritual treasure of desire!"

In a fit of rage, Lyra forcibly channeled her true essence, intent on destroying this unique spiritual treasure.

That demonic spiritual treasure was, after all, a genuine spiritual treasure, proving difficult for her to destroy. Yet how could the fierce-tempered Lyra tolerate such defiance once her fury was ignited? With a resonant clang, she summoned the Heavenly Ruins Sword of Immortal-Slaying and swung it down.

This Lust Demon Spiritual Treasure was a unique type of spiritual artifact. Though its effects were exceptionally powerful, its material composition ranked among the most fragile of all spiritual treasures. Confronted with the Heaven's Ruin Immortal-Slaying Sword, it was instantly cleaved into 2 pieces.

"Bzzz—"

But after the 6 Desires Mortal World Banner was destroyed, a wave of pink 6 Desires Mortal World Qi instantly spread out, completely enveloping the 3 of them.

Eldrin (Person Name)：“…”

Lyra (Person Name)：“…”

Lila (Person Name)：“…”

After this demonic treasure was destroyed, the accumulated 6 Desires and Mortal Dust Qi was released in its entirety, becoming hundreds of times more potent than the colorless and odorless 6 Desires and Mortal Dust Qi.

The 3 of them fell into a brief silence, only to feel an endless blaze igniting from within, setting every last shred of desire in their bodies ablaze.

In an instant, Eldrin noticed the 2 women's alabaster skin flushing a delicate pink, their enchantingly curvaceous figures seeming to drip with allure, their eyes brimming with unambiguous desire.

"Well, this is..."

Lyra’s mind went blank for a moment, then flooded with memories of her own actions, sending a wave of scorching shame across her face.

Burning with shame and rage, she decided to use the fiery passion to mask her embarrassment, lunging forward first as she declared, "You're mine!"

Eldrin was taken aback for a moment before realizing Lyra had already pressed her lips against his. Then he felt a cool sensation below his waist, only to discover Lila lifting her exquisitely beautiful face, her eyes gazing at him with a silken, seductive allure.

"Hiss..."

"Forget it!"

He drew a sharp breath, then let out a soft sigh before pulling both beauties into an embrace and leaning in to press them down.

The desire in Eldrin's eyes gradually faded as he opened them, only to find 3 snow-white, graceful figures lying beside him.

Recalling the absurdities of the past 3 months, he couldn't help but sink into deep contemplation.

Lyra was truly a captivating beauty in bed, and when her jealousy flared, she became utterly unrestrained. She even released her second nascent soul to entwine with him, as if declaring she would claim more of him.

Though Eldrin possessed a resolute Dao heart, even he felt these past 3 months had been blissful as an immortal's existence, nearly causing him to sink into this indulgence.

"Ying—"

At that very moment, Lyra (Person Name) awoke.

She nestled closer into Eldrin's embrace, rousing from her dazed state before sinking into silence.

Recalling all she had done during this period, a blush of shame spread across her face. Yet the thought that she herself had caused it all made her feel too embarrassed to back down.

Seeing Eldrin's (Person Name) ambiguous half-smile, she simply pushed him down and lowered her head.

Eldrin drew a sharp breath, this time taken aback himself. "Don't be absurd. It's time she came to her senses."

"Fear not, let her watch if she wishes."