She recalled a certain night not long ago.
A woman clad in red had suddenly descended. Without anyone noticing, she had probed into the ring where the remnant soul resided with a divine sense, engaging her in a conversation.
It was precisely that exchange which allowed her to see many things clearly—and also steeled her resolve to betray Ye Chen.
She continued speaking.
"I won't help you, simply because you have deeply disappointed me."
"Look at yourself—since entering the Taihuang Sacred Land, what exactly have you done?"
"I warned you again and again to act cautiously, to think thrice before moving, and not to provoke powerful enemies."
"And you? You didn't listen to a single word! You acted entirely on your own impulses. Ye Chen, do you really think you're invincible under heaven?!"
For a moment, Ye Chen was left speechless.
Chu Ge, on the other hand, watched the scene unfold with a faint smile.
The Child of Fortune falling out with the very catalyst of his rise—
Even in the novels he had read in his previous life, this kind of scene was considered utterly explosive.
And it wasn't only Chu Ge.
On the high platform, Dantai Jinglian also revealed a wicked little smile, her eyes narrowing.
Anyone familiar with her would immediately understand—at this moment, Dantai Jinglian was in an extremely good mood.
"Nothing to say now? Have you finally realized how foolish you are?"
Seeing Ye Chen choke on his words, a sneer appeared on the woman's face.
Ye Chen, however, roared in rage and humiliation:
"So what?! It was I who awakened you! Without me, you would've vanished long ago, who knows when!"
"I saved your life! Helping me is only what you should do!"
"You dress it up with pretty words, you wretch—aren't you just trying to betray me and throw yourself at Chu Ge, that dog thief?!"
"Isn't it simply because Chu Ge can help you rebuild your body? Haven't I also helped you?! Haven't I been working toward that too?!"
Ye Chen had completely lost his mind.
And in places he could not perceive, something was rapidly draining away…
Hearing this, the woman's expression grew even colder. A trace of disdain even flickered through her eyes.
"Vanish? How ridiculous. Let me tell you— even without your awakening, in a few dozen years I would still have awakened on my own. Do you really think the ring that houses my remnant soul is just some ordinary trinket?"
"Saving my life? You truly give yourself too much credit!"
"I helped you only because I was grateful that you awakened me early, and because I saw how you were bullied and humiliated like a stray dog within your clan. I took pity on you—that was all."
"Looking back now, I must have been blind to think you were worth cultivating!"
The more she spoke, the colder her voice became, as though she were finally venting all the dissatisfaction that had long accumulated in her heart.
"And you speak so nicely about searching for spirit materials to help me rebuild my body—but what did you actually do? Even for a tiny soul-nourishing herb, I had to ask you again and again before you were willing to hand it over."
"Ye Chen, you are nothing but a hopeless piece of rotten mud, a white-eyed wolf that cannot be tamed!"
"The help I've given you has long surpassed that so-called 'favor' you like to boast about!"
"These past years—who was it that reshaped your shattered roots? Who elevated your physique? Who searched for opportunities for you? Who guided your cultivation, taught you techniques, spiritual arts, and combat skills? Who saved you time and again at the brink of life and death?"
"All of that was me!"
"Without me, you would still be that worthless trash in your clan, mocked and trampled on by everyone!"
"And you—what have you ever given me in return, Ye Chen?"
"A few soul-nourishing items? A few empty verbal promises? Besides those, what else?"
By the end, the woman's words had turned into a fierce interrogation.
And Ye Chen's face suddenly turned deathly pale, as white as paper!