Chapter 554: The Yin-Erosion Demon Sword, Shen Anyu chuckled~
The Yin Corpse Devil Sword, forged primarily from top-grade Supreme Yin Crystal, requires the slaughter of enough close relatives and beloved friends to achieve minor completion. To achieve major completion, the person performing the sacrifice must be someone with great fortune and strong spiritual power! After the Yin Corpse Devil Sword achieves major completion, it contains terrifying power. If it inflicts even a tiny wound, the victim's blood will turn to pus. Moreover, it is extremely sharp and excels at destroying various energy shields and magic shields.
This weapon was a cut above the Myriad Curses Sword from the Wan Fa Sect, its malevolence and killing potential exponentially greater. Once forged to major completion, it would be considered an excellent exotic treasure, a formidable tool even for a cultivator in the Foundation Establishment Stage. Better still, the sword was a living weapon, capable of continuous growth. According to the records within the Two-Aspects Life-Death Medical Scripture, a fully nurtured Yin Corpse Devil Sword could remain a dire threat even to cultivators at the Nascent Soul Stage.
Of course, reaching that pinnacle would require a truly staggering investment of resources, time, and dedicated effort, a feat far beyond the scope of the Mortal World.
However, achieving its initial major completion was entirely feasible here. While top-grade Supreme Yin Crystals were nearly impossible to find, ordinary ones could still be sourced. In his quest to gather rare materials for Huangfu Xian's Soul Nurturing Array, Shen Anyu had already directed his people to scour the globe, and in doing so, they had managed to unearth several pieces of the coveted crystal.
Such exotic materials were exceedingly scarce in the Mortal World, their locations hidden and their quantities limited. But under the immense, crushing weight of the Yanxia Shen Family's influence—their limitless manpower, boundless financial resources, and vast network—a few hidden treasures could always be brought to light.
With the Supreme Yin Crystals in hand and Zhang Zhiyun—the most perfect sacrificial lamb imaginable—waiting in the wings, there was absolutely no reason not to forge this demonic blade.
A cold, predatory smile touched Shen Anyu's lips as his thoughts coalesced. He had already penned the entire script for Zhang Zhiyun's tragic performance. It was a play in three acts: a descent into depravity, a betrayal of all kin, and a final, public execution. The stage was set. The actor was chosen. All that remained was to give him his first push.
And as for how to orchestrate Zhang Zhiyun's fall from grace?
…
A low, amused chuckle rumbled in Shen Anyu's chest. His gaze drifted to the rearview mirror of the Rolls-Royce Phantom, catching the reflection of Ji Xiaolin pouting silently in the back seat. The sight was all too entertaining.
'What is that scoundrel Shen Anyu laughing at me for?' Ji Xiaolin's small fists clenched in her lap, her cheeks puffed out with a mixture of anger and frustration. A hot flush of shame and jealousy crept up her neck. She was already regretting her decision to come along. The entire drive had been a torturous spectacle. Watching Shen Anyu and Zhou Luyao whisper and flirt, their bodies pressed close together in the front seats, felt like being force-fed a mountain of sugary poison. Every laugh, every intimate touch, sent a fresh wave of seething jealousy through her veins.
Yet, she was unwilling to back down. Ji Xiaolin was fundamentally defiant, refusing to simply give up and walk away. Shen Anyu had already taken everything from her—her innocence, her pride, her sense of control. Was she supposed to just swallow the bitterness and pretend nothing had ever happened between them?
The truth was, no matter how fiercely she denied it, even to herself, her feelings for Shen Anyu ran dangerously deep. The memory of him saving her was seared into her mind—the raw intensity of that life-or-death struggle, the shared hardship that had forged a bond between them in the crucible of chaos. That, combined with his devilishly handsome features and their tangled, complicated past, made it impossible for her to remain indifferent. How could she not care?
The System, in its cold, impartial way, would have shown that Ji Xiaolin's favorability towards Shen Anyu had climbed to a staggering seventy-three points—a level of affection that many committed couples never reached. But of course, she couldn't see the numbers. All she could feel was the chaotic storm raging in her heart.
Lost in her turbulent thoughts, Ji Xiaolin barely noticed as the Rolls-Royce Phantom glided smoothly through a set of ornate gates and into the driveway of a magnificent villa within the exclusive Jinxiu Mountain Villa community.
Zhou Luyao's long, charming eyes, shaped like a phoenix's, lifted. A triumphant, cat-like smile spread across her face as she turned to address the girl in the back.
"Xiao Lin, look how much my Brother Shen spoils me," she purred, her voice a weaponized blend of sweetness and arrogance. "He actually bought me a luxury villa in Jinxiu Mountain Villa. This is the most upscale residential area in all of Hangzhou, you know. The land alone is over three hundred thousand per square meter."
She paused for dramatic effect, letting the weight of her words sink in. "This villa alone is worth over one hundred and twenty million."
The number hit Ji Xiaolin like a physical blow. Her mind went blank for a second, then exploded with a fresh, volcanic surge of jealousy. It felt as if acid had been poured directly into her heart. She stared at Zhou Luyao's perfectly made-up face, at that gloating, self-satisfied smile, and felt a primal urge to launch herself forward and punch it.
'She's doing this on purpose, isn't she? The witch!'
Outwardly, however, Ji Xiaolin managed to maintain a brittle facade of indifference. She forced a casual shrug, her voice carefully devoid of emotion.
"Is that so? That's quite nice," she said coolly. "Is this your wedding home?"
The moment the words left her mouth, the smug, triumphant expression on Zhou Luyao's beautiful face froze solid. The air in the car grew heavy and cold. All the joy and pride she'd felt just a moment before evaporated, leaving a bitter residue of reality.
Zhou Luyao was a sharp woman. She knew her place. She was Shen Anyu's canary, a beautiful bird kept in a gilded cage. She might not even be the only one. The fantasy of becoming the young mistress of the great Yanxia Shen Family was just that—a fantasy.
A wedding home? The idea was so preposterous it was almost cruel.
Seeing the light die in Zhou Luyao's eyes, a sliver of dark, petty satisfaction pierced through Ji Xiaolin's misery.
'That's right, keep showing off,' she thought viciously. 'I knew it. A man like Shen Anyu would never marry you.'
The feeling of victory was fleeting, immediately consumed by a wave of self-disgust.
'What am I even happy about? Shen Anyu is a scumbag. A complete bastard. Scum!'
Ji Xiaolin shot a hateful glare at the back of Shen Anyu's head, her imagination running wild as she mentally drew countless circles and rained down curses upon him.
The three of them stepped out of the car and entered the villa.
The interior was even more stunning than the exterior. As Ji Xiaolin looked at the magnificent, exquisitely designed space—the priceless hand-woven carpets, the museum-quality decorations, the bespoke furniture crafted from rare woods—the slight unhappiness Zhou Luyao had felt from the "wedding home" comment vanished without a trace. Her beautiful eyes seemed to light up, reflecting the opulence around her as if they were filled with glittering gold coins.
Nothing could soothe the soul of a gold digger quite like a luxury villa worth over a hundred million.
Unless, of course, it was two.
"Xiao Lin, feel free to look around," Zhou Luyao said, her good mood completely restored. She looped her arm through Shen Anyu's, effortlessly slipping into the role of the hostess. "We're old classmates, after all. What do you think? Isn't the decor beautiful?"
"It's very good." Ji Xiaolin's phoenix eyes swept across the grand foyer, a flicker of genuine amazement breaking through her resentment. She had to admit, it was breathtaking. While her family background wasn't poor, and her father possessed heaven-defying strength, a residence of this caliber was far beyond their means. A luxury villa worth over a hundred million was a different world. After all, a man like Zhang Tianen had never pursued fame or fortune.
Thinking of him, Shen Anyu felt an urge to complain. 'You're a master at the Celestial Master Peak, and you're out there delivering packages? If you're going to dote on your precious daughter, couldn't you at least earn some money to give her a better material life?'
But that was the way of these reclusive masters. Figures like Zhang Tianen and the Sword Immortal Nie Yun were all a bit eccentric, if not seriously touched in the head. They seemed to insist on living lives of hardship, believing it was a necessary form of tempering.
Shen Anyu had no such masochistic inclinations. A life of comfort and enjoyment? Now that was a life worth living.
"Oh, by the way," Shen Anyu said with a casual smile, turning to Zhou Luyao. "I forgot to give you the property deed for this place. I'll have my lawyer come over later today to sign some documents and officially transfer this villa into your name."
"What?" Zhou Luyao's voice was a shocked whisper. Her body went rigid. "Brother Shen, you're… you're putting this villa in my name?" She was completely stunned. This was a property worth over a hundred and twenty million yuan! She had thought the annual three hundred million and the unlimited expense account were already a dream come true. She never, in her wildest fantasies, imagined he would gift her an entire luxury villa. Was this the sheer, overwhelming magnanimity of the Young Master of the Yanxia Shen Family?
Ji Xiaolin's beautiful eyes widened in disbelief, her jaw slack with shock. 'He's too generous, isn't he? Is this for real?'
Shen Anyu simply smiled, a warm, indulgent expression on his face. He reached out and playfully tapped the tip of Zhou Luyao's delicate nose.
"Of course," he said, his voice low and magnetic. "I told you I'd give you a lifetime of happiness. What's a mere villa in comparison?"
[Ding! Detected Destined Heroine Zhou Luyao's favorability +3. Plundering 9000 Destiny Points!]
"Brother Shen… I love you!" Zhou Luyao's eyes instantly filled with a misty, emotional sheen. All her carefully constructed defenses crumbled. If Ji Xiaolin, that infuriating third wheel, hadn't been standing right there, she would have thrown herself into his arms without a second thought.
Shen Anyu chuckled to himself. He wasn't being reckless. Not only would every cent spent on a Destined Heroine be returned a hundredfold once her favorability maxed out, but even if that weren't the case, he simply didn't care about the money. This single villa was nothing. The entire Jinxiu Mountain Villa development, the most upscale and exclusive residential area in Hangzhou, was the property of the Shen Corporation to begin with.
Standing nearby, Ji Xiaolin listened to their exchange, her mind reeling. She felt like she'd been struck by lightning. This opulent villa, a place that represented the pinnacle of wealth in Hangzhou, worth a staggering hundred and twenty million, was being given away… just like that?
Even if Shen Anyu was obscenely rich, this level of generosity was insane. It defied logic.
Could it be… true love?
The thought was a dagger twisting in her gut. She felt as if a ten-gallon jar of aged vinegar had shattered inside her chest, flooding her entire being with an unbearably sour, burning sensation.
She felt awful. A profound, soul-crushing misery washed over her, and for the first time all day, she felt the hot sting of tears threatening to spill from her eyes. She wasn't a materialistic person; she didn't care about wealth or mansions. But seeing Shen Anyu dote on Zhou Luyao with such breathtaking extravagance, seeing the genuine adoration in Zhou Luyao's eyes… it made her lose her composure completely.
Shen Anyu's peripheral vision caught Ji Xiaolin's resentful, heartbroken expression, and he chuckled inwardly~
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