Chapter 572 : A Tree Yearning for the Sun

Even if it meant facing ten thousand calamities, even if she could never truly touch the sun at the horizon's end, she would still grow towards the sunlight, to tell him of her yearning.

Thus, she took a deep breath and spoke with serene honesty: "Eldrin Chen, you are like the proud sun in the heavens—dazzling, brilliant, and so lofty that one dares not look directly upon you or reach out to touch you."

"The greatest fear of my life is that one day, while you remain as radiant as ever, I will have withered into a hunched old woman, forced to hide in the shadows and silently watch you Ascendant Immortal [achieve immortality and ascend]."

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

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

"Whether you return my feelings or not, my love for you should be as open as a tree growing in the sun—declared clearly and plainly under its rays: I love you."

Exquisite Jiang fell silent. Her heart was a tumult of sympathy, a flicker of resentment, and helpless frustration—a complex weave of emotions.

Her resolve softened, yet she could find no words. She could only look at Eldrin Chen, awaiting his reply.

Eldrin Chen frowned. He was a man of normal sensibilities; his mind, while not possessing seven apertures of Exquisite [profound insight], still held its own depths and contours. How could he fail to understand the meaning in the fair maiden's heart?

Yet his affection was not cheaply given. He had his own principles and boundaries, and his will was not easily swayed by another. Your portal to cultivation novels: audio - novel . com.

He was not one to give his heart lightly, but when he did, he offered it with profound sincerity.

More importantly, he could not bear the thought of one day witnessing a beloved's beauty wither to dust and bone, nor endure the agony of watching those close to him pass away in meditation [a state of deep spiritual cultivation often preceding death for aged cultivators].

Over the years, the departures of Seventh Granduncle, Old Granduncle Eternal Spread, Verdant River Chen, and others had each carved a pang of heartache within him. It was a pain he was unwilling to experience anew.

This was why he had spared no effort in supporting Eternal Profound Chen and Lior Chen all these years—a desperate attempt to hold back the relentless tide of time from claiming those he held dear.

If one day, all those close to him, even his most cherished loves, were to depart, what meaning would there be in becoming a lofty Immortal? An eternity of solitary, unchanging existence amidst the Nine Heavens Above, blessed with Longevity yet cursed with isolation, would be no blessing at all.

Immortality [eternal life achieved through cultivation] is inherently lonely, but an immortality of absolute solitude is perhaps nothing more than a profound curse.

This was also the reason he had long been reluctant to have children—a fear that he would lack the power to guide them to ascendancy as Immortals.

Unless he could one day be certain of his ability to help his children achieve Ascendant Immortal [the state of a true, ascended immortal being], he would not bring them into the world. The thought of watching beloved children turn to dust, or worse, presiding over their funerals himself, was a torment too great to contemplate.

This same principle guided the distance he maintained from Lila and Silas. Though their affection had stirred ripples in his heart, he had always firmly restrained those fleeting thoughts.

For the human heart holds its affections in tiers. The shattering grief of losing a soulmate is a world apart from the sorrow of losing a clansman.

For one who aspires to the Immortal Path, watching a beloved one age away in his arms was a far greater torment than severing all attachments from the very beginning.

Yet, at this very moment, Eldrin Chen found himself in silent turmoil, caught in a dilemma of the heart.

Lila's words had struck a chord deep within him. That affection was like a seed buried in the earth, sprouting and growing into a tree that strained towards the sun, even against wind and scorching light.

On one side was this sentiment that stirred his soul; on the other, the unseen, distant end of the Immortal Path. How was he to choose, knowing he would one day watch her wither with age?

"How can the world offer a perfect path, one that neither betrays my own heart nor fails her?"

Eldrin Chen whispered inwardly, his gaze finally hardening with resolve. "So be it. If the day comes when I ascend to become an Ascendant Immortal, then even if I must shoulder karmic burdens unprecedented since antiquity, I shall take you with me to the heavens."

Given Lila's foundational talent, achieving Ethereal Ascension within the Purple Seal Realm was a near-impossible feat in the Mortal Realm. Perhaps only in the Immortal Realm, if he could grow powerful enough, would there be room for maneuver.

Exquisite Jiang, who knew Eldrin Chen best, felt a tremor in her heart as she read the determination in his expression.

A mix of soft-hearted pity and simmering anger rose within her, yet she had no outlet for it. She wished she had never followed him here; out of sight would have been out of mind.

Turning away, she glared at the Six Desires Mortal Dust Banner in her hand, her frustration mounting. "A Spiritual Treasure of the Desire Demon... this is all your fault!"

In a surge of fury, Exquisite Jiang forcefully channeled her true power, intending to destroy this peculiar Spiritual Treasure [an enchanted artifact used by cultivators].

That Desire Demon Spiritual Treasure was, after all, a Spiritual Treasure, and proved surprisingly difficult for her to shatter. Yet, with her fiery temper ignited, how could the resolute Exquisite Jiang possibly endure this? With a sharp *clang*, she summoned forth the Heavenly Ruins Immortal-Slaying Sword and cleaved down upon it.

This Desire Demon Spiritual Treasure was a special type of Spiritual Treasure. While its effects were extraordinarily potent, its material composition ranked among the most fragile of all Spiritual Treasure. Faced with the Heavenly Ruins Immortal-Slaying Sword, it was instantly severed into two pieces.

"*Hummm—*"

However, upon the destruction of the Six Desires Mortal Dust Banner, a billowing cloud of pinkish Six Desires Mortal Dust [the worldly dust of mortal passions and desires] Qi [vital energy] instantly erupted, completely enveloping the trio.

Eldrin Chen: "…" This chapter is part of a larger work available at audio-novel dot com.

Exquisite Jiang: "…"

Lila: "…"

Once this Demonic Treasure [a treasure forged with demonic arts] was shattered, the accumulated Six Desires Mortal Dust Qi it had stored was released in its entirety. This was hundreds of times more potent than the colorless, odorless Six Desires Mortal Dust Qi they had encountered before.

A heavy silence fell upon the three, but it was swiftly broken as they felt an infinite blaze ignite from within, setting every latent desire in their bodies aflame.

In that instant, Eldrin Chen beheld a startling transformation. The jade-like skin of the two women flushed a delicate shade of pink, their alluring figures seeming to glisten with dew. Their eyes held nothing but a smoldering, intimate warmth.

"Ah, this..."

Exquisite Jiang's mind went blank for a moment. Then, recalling her own actions, a wave of shameful heat rushed to her cheeks.

Overwhelmed by this mix of embarrassment and indignation, she decided to use the flames of passion to mask her awkwardness. She was the first to pounce. "You are mine!"

Eldrin Chen was momentarily stunned, only realizing Exquisite Jiang had kissed him when her lips met his. Then he felt a sudden coolness below, and looked down to see Lila's exquisite face gazing up at him, her eyes half-lidded and seductive as silk.

"Hiss..."

"So be it!"

Though Eldrin Chen possessed a will of tempered steel, even he had to admit the past three months had been a bliss bordering on the divine, a sweet intoxication he found himself sinking into.

"Mm—"

It was at this moment that Exquisite Jiang awoke.

She nestled closer into Eldrin Chen's embrace, finally shaking off the lingering haze of sleep, and then fell into a profound silence.

Recalling her actions over the past period, a flush of shame crept across her cheeks. Yet, remembering it was she who had initiated it all, she found herself unable to back down gracefully.

Seeing the faint, teasing smile playing on Eldrin Chen's lips, she decided to take the offensive. With a decisive push, she toppled him back and buried her head against him.

Eldrin Chen drew in a sharp breath, his expression shifting to one of startled disbelief. "Don't be reckless," he murmured. "She's about to wake up."

"What are you afraid of?" she countered, her voice a low, defiant whisper. "Let her watch." This chapter appears courtesy of audio-novel`com.