The Champion King was dead. The struggle for the throne had ended in a way no one could have predicted. The clan elders glared at Ye Chen, their eyes blazing with murderous intent. But Li Feihuang, witnessing Ye Chen's relentless actions despite their protests, let out a soft sigh.

She stepped forward, positioning herself before the elders, and spoke calmly, "The contest for the throne is over. Elders, please announce the results."

The elders gritted their teeth. "He killed a member of the Li family! How will you explain this to the Ancestor?"

The Li family was the very foundation of the Great Chu Empire. Anyone could die—except a Li.

Li Feihuang's eyes narrowed slightly. "You elders altered the ceremony's timing to favor the Champion King, and I overlooked it, letting bygones be bygones. As for this matter, let it end here. When the Ancestor emerges from seclusion, I will explain it myself."

The elders' expressions shifted. They had undeniably sided with the Champion King, pulling strings behind the scenes. Li Feihuang's willingness to let it pass was a relief. After a moment's hesitation, they bowed to her. "We will follow the Royal Lady's arrangements."

One elder ascended into the sky, his voice booming like thunder: "Royal Lady Li Feihuang, with extraordinary strength, wise leadership, and the favor of the heavens, is hereby declared the next Emperor of Great Chu. The coronation will take place in one month."

The city erupted in an uproar. Ye Chen had killed the Champion King, and no one was holding him accountable? Could it be that the Royal Lady had ordered it? Rumors swirled that after her father's death, Li Feihuang had fled in disgrace, enduring countless hardships and harboring a deep hatred for the Champion King. Conspiracy theories multiplied.

But regardless, the matter was settled.

The Wang family was beside themselves with joy. Their loyalty had secured them a monumental reward. The other families, however, wore grim expressions, already scheming how to curry favor with the new emperor through gifts.

Among the onlookers, the cultivators buzzed with talk of Ye Chen's strength. It was staggering. A mid-Golden Core cultivator had slain the Champion King, someone capable of contending with Nascent Soul experts. Most astonishingly, Ye Chen had made it look effortless, barely lifting a finger beyond commanding the chariot.

...

Li Feihuang glanced at Ye Chen, signaling for him to follow her into the Great Chu Palace. Once inside, the trembling attendants were dismissed with a wave of her hand. She turned to Ye Chen, her expression grave.

"Ye Chen, you went too far. I know you did this for me. The Champion King would never have submitted after my ascension, defying my orders and undermining my authority. That's why you went to such lengths to kill him. But now the world will think I ordered it, staining my name with the crime of kinslaying! When the Ancestor emerges, how am I to face him? And the entire royal clan watched you kill him—how will they see me now?"

Ye Chen blinked, bewildered.

I killed the Champion King to avenge Su Yuxuan, not to secure your throne. Was that my reasoning?

He gave a faint smile. "No matter. Once this is over, I'll leave. Your Highness can pin everything on me."

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Ye Chen's solution was straightforward and blunt. He had no intention of lingering in the Great Chu Empire. Once he claimed his rewards, he planned to leave without looking back.

Li Feihuang, however, was stunned by his words. She gazed at him, complex emotions flickering in her eyes. The dust had settled, and her ascension to the throne was imminent—a time to divide the spoils.

Ye Chen, with his unmatched strength and immense contributions, deserved the largest share. Yet, the one who had given the most was ready to walk away without a second thought?

He sought no reward, willing to face eternal ruin just to aid her, without a trace of regret. Despite his formidable power, he humbly placed himself beneath her, handling all the dirty work she couldn't touch.

How could she, as an emperor, let such a loyal vassal down? No matter the obstacles, no matter the infamy she might bear, she resolved to ensure Ye Chen held a high position and remained in the Great Chu Empire. When the Ancestor emerged, she would plead her case.

Looking at Ye Chen, she spoke with unwavering resolve. "You don't have to leave. As an emperor, I must reward and punish justly. In the future Great Chu Empire, there will always be a place for you. And among the empire's top families, the Ye family will have its rightful seat."

Ye Chen's mouth twitched. "No need for that, right?"

Li Feihuang's gaze was resolute. "What We give you, you must accept!"

You're already calling yourself 'We' like an emperor?

Ye Chen was speechless. Li Feihuang was putting on quite the act, channeling the domineering aura of a CEO from his past life. These types always have a screw loose, he thought. Unwilling to argue further, he decided he'd grab his rewards and leave. Who could stop him?

The battle for the throne had concluded. As the next emperor, Li Feihuang had a mountain of tasks to attend to. Ye Chen, meanwhile, inquired about when he could claim his treasures. They weren't immediately available—there were formalities to complete. In a week, the Nether King's Gall and a slot for Imperial Aura Infusion would be delivered to him.

This suited Ye Chen just fine. The timing was perfect: the Nether King's Gall would enhance Su Yuxuan's spiritual root, amplifying its potency, and the Imperial Aura Infusion would maximize her gains. Ideally, he'd pass these to the Old Granny for even greater benefits.

As for the Champion King's chariot, though impressive, Ye Chen had noticed its many damaged arrays after using it. Once sealed with the souls of the Four Spirits, it now held only two, both weakened to a pitiful state. It was time to trade it for something better.

Then there was the Champion King's Golden Core. Ye Chen had taken it on impulse, driven by the memory of the Champion King forcing Su Yuxuan to self-detonate her own core. But now, it seemed rather useless. He'd ask the Old Granny if she had any need for it—perhaps it could yield something valuable.

With the struggle for the throne concluded, Ye Chen did not return to the Wang family. As for Su Yuxuan, he felt she didn't need his immediate attention. Sure enough, he had barely settled into the inn when a knock sounded at the courtyard gate. Moments later, a lithe figure in a white dress, barefoot and graceful, threw herself into his arms.

The air filled with her delicate fragrance.

"Senior Brother, you tricked me again! I cried all day because of you…" Su Yuxuan's voice trembled, her tear-streaked face looking up at him with a mix of relief and reproach. "But seeing you unharmed puts my heart at ease. Still… what's the deal with your Golden Core?"

She gazed at him, her expression pitiful yet curious. How could Ye Chen, who had supposedly given her his Golden Core, stand before her unscathed?

Ye Chen gently stroked her hair, his voice calm. "To break is to build anew. After giving you my Golden Core, I suffered a backlash—my dantian withered, my immortal path severed. But in that moment of despair, I sensed a seed within my dantian. I poured all my focus into it, and in the end, my Golden Core was reborn from oblivion, stronger than before, its quality elevated to new heights."

He paused, then added, "Losing my Golden Core wasn't the end. For a true prodigy, the original core can be a limitation."

Su Yuxuan nodded eagerly, her eyes sparkling. "I believe you, Senior Brother! You're amazing!"

But nearby, Manjusaka's soul form let out a derisive scoff. "What, so you've reborn a Seven-Color Golden Core? Comparable to the Chaos Ancient True Immortal now?"

Ye Chen shook his head solemnly. "A Seven-Color Golden Core? Even a Nine-Color one wouldn't suffice. My current core is a Chaos Core, capable of encompassing all the laws of heaven and earth."

Manjusaka rolled her eyes, refusing to even glance at him. A Chaos Core? Never heard of it. Men were all the same—liars, spinning tales with every breath. Unless they were dead, not a single one was trustworthy.

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