Chapter 545 Another Story

Lu Ye had just exchanged a gaze with Shen Xitong—that gaze.

To be honest, if the TriLife Tribulation hadn’t been perfected and Lu Ye was still in a love-starved state, that gaze from Shen Xitong might have even brought him to tears.

It was a look of aching concern—for him!

Shen Xitong began to speak.

“Imagine if I were Yin Qingcheng.”

“From childhood, I joined the Forgetful Immortal Palace, becoming its holy maiden, devoted to the Great Dao. None of my peers measured up, so I cultivated the Way of Forgetting.”

“Later, while practicing swordplay beneath a peach tree, I noticed a man secretly watching me. I attacked, only to have my sword knocked away with a single move. I assumed he was some ageless ancient monster unwilling to age, maintaining a youthful appearance—until my elders told me his name was Lu Ye, and he was my age.”

“He was my age, yet not only was his strength immense, but he was also proficient in every art of cultivation. He had even ascended all the way from the First Heaven.”

“Honestly, I was astonished. He truly could be called a once-in-a-generation talent—and, crucially, he was handsome. So I looked into him further, only to learn he had six wives, including his own master. How could someone be such a womanizer?”

“At the time, I scrapped the thought of making him my Dao partner. But my master told me that such a man was actually more suitable—because despite having many wives, he had never abandoned a single one, bringing them all up with him. Though he was unfaithful, he was deeply loyal.”

“If my Way of Forgetting could have such a man as my Dao companion, it would surely advance by leaps and bounds. If I could receive all his love, then forget it, my Way of Forgetting would reach perfection. Then, I would transcend even the heavens, and even an Emperor would no longer be my match.”

“Unfortunately, I still couldn’t tolerate his unfaithfulness.”

“I thought the matter was over and continued my cultivation, but my progress was agonizingly slow. I realized I needed to walk the mortal world—to learn of love and longing. Yet, during one of my trials, while fleeing demonic beasts, I encountered that man again—Lu Ye.”

“This time, he was even stronger. The speed of his growth shocked me. And after speaking with him, I found he wasn’t just powerful—he was humble, witty, and irresistibly charming. A few words from him made me laugh.”

“My master’s words echoed in my mind.”

“I had wandered the mortal world but found no one who stirred my heart.”

“Finally, I began to approach Lu Ye. Only then did I realize how wonderful it was to be by his side. I had never met someone so selfless. And I also met his six so-called wives.”

“The day I officially became Lu Ye’s Dao companion, my stagnant Way of Forgetting exploded in progress. His love was so all-consuming, like drowning in a sea of devotion. I knew—I had found the right person.”

“Afterward, my cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds—and that was with six other wives. I couldn’t imagine how far my Dao and cultivation would soar if I were his only wife.”

“I wanted all of Lu Ye’s love, so I poured even more love into him. By then, I knew he was desperately starved for love—and that his Great Dao was the Path of Protection.”

“I thought that if I gave him more love, he would give all of his to me. But I was wrong. Part of his love had already been given to others, and he refused to take it back.”

“I wanted to drive them away, but I couldn’t.”

“I couldn’t stand it. For my Way of Forgetting to reach its peak, I needed him to give me all his love—and then I would give him all of mine.”

“I grew increasingly intolerant of Lu Ye’s other wives. But then, to my fury, he saved yet another woman and brought her home.”

“I’d had enough.”

“Then, the Dark Upheaval descended. I knew—my chance had come.”

“Lu Ye tried to send us to safety, but I sneaked off. Sure enough, I found my opportunity. A Dark Emperor launched a sneak attack. I knew if I intervened to stop it, I would die.”

“But I also knew—Lu Ye would never let me die.”

“So, even though I knew the strike wouldn’t kill him, I stepped forward and took the hit.”

“When the attack shattered my Emperor’s Armament and my broken body fell into Lu Ye’s arms, I saw the fury in his blood-red eyes. I knew—my gamble had paid off.”

"Isn’t Lu Ye starved for love? I’d stake my life just to give him love—I refuse to believe I still can't claim all of his affection!"

"But I was completely blindsided when my path of the Detached Immortal Dao manifested before her. Just as shocking, Lu Ye twisted his own memories to believe my Dao became the Detached Immortal Dao due to the influence of the Detached Immortal Venerable."

"I know damn well that Lu Ye is deceiving himself now, but one day, as her power grows, she’ll snap out of it."

"I also know deeply that I’ve hit my ceiling at Emperor."

"I’ve never forgotten my goal of becoming the top dog. Seeing Lu Ye’s power skyrocket while I still fail to claim all his love, seeing him draw ever closer to Sagehood, who knows if his Guardian Dao will even hold him back once he becomes a Sage?"

"If, after attaining Sagehood, the Guardian Dao no longer affects Lu Ye, his wives’ true colors—mine included—will be laid bare."

"He might abandon us all."

"So, I can’t let him become a Sage!"

"I must sabotage his ascension!"

"Thus, I teamed up with An Li, who had her own agenda, and together we orchestrated a grand scheme. In my grand plan, Lu Ye’s final life would belong to me, the Reincarnation Celestial Worthy would attain Sagehood, and An Li and the others would all perish."

"But I never expected Lu Ye to self-destruct."

"After his rebirth, I was floored—no clue why he chose self-destruction. Lost, I began gathering news of Lu Ye, and when I learned he had returned reborn—and severed ties with those other women—I was overjoyed."

"So, I set out to reclaim a place in Lu Ye’s heart."

"Yet... I couldn’t get in..."