Su Yuxuan awoke slowly, her hair disheveled, her pale face evoking pity. "Where's Senior Brother?" she asked, scrambling to her feet.

Manjusaka's voice was calm. "He left his Golden Core and departed."

Su Yuxuan's eyes reddened instantly.

Manjusaka's tone turned stern. "No time for tears. While you were unconscious, I fused the five-colored Law Core into your dantian and imparted the refining technique into your mind. Start now. The sooner you refine it, the higher its final grade. You don't want Ye Chen's core to drop to a mere ninth-grade, do you?"

Tears streamed down Su Yuxuan's tender cheeks, but she closed her eyes and began refining. Manjusaka watched, anxiety gnawing at her. What if the Law Core degrades to a standard Golden Core? It was a core of immortal potential—falling to ninth grade would be a travesty.

Soon, her eyes brightened. Su Yuxuan's aura, weaker than a Foundation Establishment cultivator's post-detonation, surged dramatically, swiftly matching her pre-explosion peak. Yet it didn't stop, climbing relentlessly. By dawn's first light, her aura stabilized.

Manjusaka's heart raced. Su Yuxuan's strength had multiplied tenfold, rivaling her own in her prime. She'd clearly forged a Law Core—but how many colors remained?

Su Yuxuan opened her eyes, tears still falling. Manjusaka asked urgently, "How many colors?"

"Three," Su Yuxuan whispered.

She felt an unprecedented power, her vital essence fuller than ever. Even against Champion King now, she believed she could hold her own. This strength stemmed from the core in her dantian—once Ye Chen's, now hers, reduced from five colors to three.

"Three colors!" Manjusaka's voice brimmed with delight. A three-colored Law Core paved a smooth immortal path, surpassing Su Yuxuan's original potential. What seemed a dead end after her core detonation had become a miraculous turn. The stronger Su Yuxuan grew, the better Manjusaka's odds of restoring her own body. How could she not rejoice?

But Su Yuxuan's tears flowed unchecked. "It's three because Senior Brother's heart and eyes helped me." His heart still beat within her, his eyes still saw through her, selflessly aiding her core's integration. Yet he, having lost his core, was now a broken man.

Manjusaka fell silent, guilt deepening. Had she known Ye Chen's true character, she'd never have spoken ill of him. He's different from other men.

…

Su Yuxuan sprang to her feet, barefoot, and rushed toward the door. "I'm going to find Senior Brother!"

Manjusaka frowned. "He said not to look for him. He doesn't want anyone seeing him weak."

Tears surged in Su Yuxuan's eyes, but her face set with defiance. "I don't care! Senior Brother's lost his core—his lifespan's barely a decade. I'll stay by his side until the end. That Li Feihuang will abandon him once she learns he's crippled. I'll capture her and make her his servant. After he passes, I'll bury her beside him. Wang Lun's been eyeing Li Feihuang, daring to steal Senior Brother's woman—I'll drown him in a pool! And Champion King must die. If he hadn't forced me to detonate my core, Senior Brother wouldn't have given me his. I'll wipe out his entire clan to accompany Senior Brother in death."

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She turned to Manjusaka. "Master, give me ten years, okay? After Senior Brother's gone, I'll help you rebuild your body."

Manjusaka fell silent. She knew Su Yuxuan was unswayable. Besides, Ye Chen's actions had earned her respect. Eight thousand years I've waited—what's ten more? She nodded, saying no more.

Su Yuxuan flung open the room's wards and strode out. With Ye Chen reduced to Foundation Establishment strength, he couldn't have gone far. Her blood spiritual root, tied to him through their intimate bond, would guide her.

But as the wards parted, the roar of the outside world hit her. She froze, looking up. On the colossal sky arena, Ye Chen stood tall, radiating an invincible aura. Across from him, Champion King loomed atop his war chariot, imperious and commanding.

Su Yuxuan's tears halted. Dazed, she muttered, "Master, did Senior Brother really give me his core? Why does he… not look like it?"

Manjusaka, sensing Ye Chen's vibrant aura, was equally baffled. "It doesn't add up. But I severed the core's connection myself."

The two, prepared to spend Ye Chen's final years with him, stared at the sky, their eyes filled with existential doubt. Something's seriously off.

…

High above, Champion King had arrived, his invincible presence overwhelming. No one dared mention his tardiness. The elder sealed the arena and retreated silently.

Atop his bronze chariot, scarred and ancient, wreathed in endless flames, Champion King stood with a long spear, his wild hair dancing like an ancient celestial emperor. His terrifying aura nearly forced the crowd to their knees. The capital fell silent, awestruck by his unparalleled might.

His cold eyes swept over Ye Chen, voice booming with supreme arrogance. "Kneel and submit, and I'll spare your life."

Ye Chen's fists clenched.

I hate when anyone but me acts this cocky. But that bronze chariot? Pretty cool. Mine now.

…

Ye Chen unleashed a fist, and a dragon-like force, vast as a mountain range, roared forth, aiming to blast Champion King off his chariot.

Champion King's eyes flickered with surprise. His star-like gaze shimmered with cosmic cycles, divine radiance bursting around him, threatening to engulf the entire sky arena. The bronze chariot's divine flames surged, conjuring visions of a Vermilion Bird and Black Tortoise, their dual spiritual energies swirling protectively around him.

Without lifting a hand, Champion King stood calm and aloof, watching the colossal dragon charge. The crowd gasped in awe. To face such a ferocious attack without flinching, Champion King was truly invincible.

Visiting experts from major factions were stunned. One exclaimed, "Vermilion Bird and Black Tortoise phantoms! That's the Four Spirits War Chariot of the Northern Emperor from eight thousand years ago. Champion King inherited his legacy!"

"The Northern Emperor dominated his era, crushing countless factions. Even Holy Lands tread carefully around him," another added. "That chariot, bathed in the blood of great powers and forged with the souls of four spirits, was unmatched in offense and defense. Even with only two spirits remaining, no Golden Core can breach it."

"With the Northern Emperor's inheritance and this chariot, few Golden Cores in the Holy Lands could rival him. No wonder he repelled a Nascent Soul!"

The crowd, enlightened by these revelations, grew even more convinced of Champion King's supremacy. The throne contest seemed decided—Li Feihuang's Moon Phoenix Body stood no chance.

But in the next moment, their jaws dropped. Ye Chen's mountain-like dragon tore through the divine radiance, shredded the chariot's dual spirits, and slammed into Champion King's towering frame. His face twisted, his armor shattered, and he was hurled off the chariot, crashing across the arena.

The invincible Golden Core Champion King, knocked from his chariot? The capital fell deathly silent, disbelief etched on every face.

Ye Chen frowned. What's he playing at? Like Li Feihuang, Champion King's confidence was absurd. A Great Chu royal family trait?

No patience for games, Ye Chen reached for the bronze chariot.

Better secure it now, so I don't accidentally wreck my new ride when I kill him.

…

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