Chapter 9

"If you want, you can sleep, you know," the man reassured, his voice calm. He understood her fear of falling asleep and possibly losing the dream that felt so real and comforting. He couldn't bear the thought of her going through pain.

"I will not move. You can just sleep, embracing me like this. You can wake up if you do not feel my warmth anymore," he continued, offering her the assurance she needed. He knew the circumstances would not let her easily succumb to sleep. He had experienced this struggle before and knew how to provide the warmth and comfort she desired.

"Okay," she replied, trusting the man completely. She tightly held onto his shirt, feeling safe, and soon drifted into a peaceful slumber. The exhaustion and the man's reassuring presence made it easier for her to let go of her fading consciousness. She knew she was safe with him, and without him, she felt as if she were nothing.

....

'Tomorrow is the third day. Will the divine energy you acquire will be enough for what I need?'the man inquired, his obsidian eyes reflecting his concern as he gently caressed the woman's head, her form leaning against his chest.

[Human, it will be sufficient to acquire <Chaos Devouring Physique>.]

'That's good. She cannot be saved before a week, and if she holds on until then, the divine energy you receive can be used to save her,' the man contemplated, determination etched in his features. It wasn't love, not in the traditional sense, but a resolute determination to save her. If he were to face defeat once more, he would not shatter; he'd remember and channel that defeat into a vengeance, directed towards the one who caused his sufferings once again.

[Human, why don't you get a heavenly cultivation technique rather than a physique, you know when you will travel to another world,you can only take things that are bound to your soul not to the body?]

'Any cultivation technique would typically demand time, but time is a luxury I can't afford. My objective is clear: gather as much strength as possible within these thirty years. That's why I chose the body of a wealthy man, possessing a physique capable of assimilating any elixirs and a source to amass an extensive collection of them and also While I inherited the memories of this body's previous owner, my intentions did not involve managing his business empire and about the way to maintain my income source, I have someone special for that' the man responded, his eyes shifting towards the blonde woman's head.

He gently rested his cheek on her head, a gesture filled with tenderness, before placing a kiss atop her head before falling into sleep.

The woman's eyes fluttered slightly, revealing her lack of complete trust in the man. Fear of losing him compelled her to hold on to consciousness, despite the exhaustion. She had held on for so long, and now just a week remained. She resolved to fight for this man, to keep the dream intact, and to not let herself succumb to sleep.

In the slightly cold night, two figures appeared to be asleep, holding each other in a tender embrace. However, the woman remained awake, acutely aware of the situation.

She felt a dampness on her head, and as she slightly opened her eyes, she witnessed a scene that was far more heart-wrenching than all the pain she had endured in her life. It felt as though a thousand knives had pierced her heart as she saw the obsidian eyes that appeared closed, yet were filled with ceaseless tears.

The pain the man bore was reflected in those tears. For the man, the nightmare he experienced tore at his very soul. However, for the woman witnessing him in this state, it felt as if she had to gather all her strength and live—for this man.

She couldn't bear to see him so sad, not like this. Unaware of the slight glimmer of fluctuation that arose in her soul for just a fleeting moment, she closed her eyes. She couldn't bear to witness the man in such agony.

A voice, a mere murmur for the man, but for the woman, it felt as if she had lost something she could never regain. Her whole mind went blank as if her entire world had come to a standstill. A single word, simple yet powerful enough to make the woman feel the pain of eternity, escaped his lips: "Jia."

.....

With the first rays of sunlight painting the sky, a Rolls Royce Phantom arrived at the grand mansion situated at the heart of the city, a symbol of opulence and prosperity.

Stepping out of the luxurious vehicle, the man gently took the delicate, slender hand of the woman in his arms. She seemed in awe, gazing at the grandeur of the mansion that surpassed her wildest imagination.

As they entered the mansion, a vast group of hundreds of servants bowed before them, creating a bewildering sight. The woman glanced at the man, still lost in the memory of those poignant moments when his obsidian eyes had been brimming with tears. Her heart ached at the recollection of that sight, and a name echoed in her mind—'Jia.'

Jealousy gnawed at her, a sentiment directed at a woman she had never even met. She envied the profound place this woman had carved in the man's heart, to the extent that his tears bore the weight of her memory.

If only she could find a small space within that immense heart, it would make her the happiest woman. But she bore witness to the man's sorrow for that woman; she wasn't naive. Though everything seemed like a dream to her, she comprehended the source of the man's concern and care for her—rooted in his feelings for the other woman.

A sharp pain pierced her heart, prompting her to clutch his shirt even tighter. Her time was running out, with only five days left, and she didn't wish to be parted from him, even if he held another woman so dear. She made a resolution: if fate allowed her to survive, she would try to create a small corner for herself in the man's heart.

As midnight approached, the woman lay awake, held in the embrace of the man who seemed determined not to let her go. He enveloped her as if she were the center of his universe, and she found solace in his care. Yet, amidst the luxurious and heavenly scenes that seemed to fade from her mind, clarity began to emerge.

She slightly realised deep down that this wasn't a dream.She had survived in a corner of a slum with her young child, battling her disease. She wasn't a weak woman;not at all, she understood how the world worked.

There had to be a hidden reason behind this man's actions,maybe selfish one too but she had fallen for him,yet simple but something that can bond two souls forever,simple words but no-one escaped this if one's they experienced it — Love.

She couldn't turn back now. She had succumbed to this man's charms, hoping that he would always care for her like this, even if it was all an act,even if one day he will leave her, she will do her utmost to survive and if she , no she will definitely live for this man.

she after realising that it really isn't a dream drifted into sleep on a large bed where man held her as if something precious and woman embraced him as if inseparable.

...

The night had passed, and a new day emerged, painting the room in a gentle glow. In the bed, two figures were entwined, their closeness a testament to the bond they shared.

The woman's eyes fluttered open, welcoming the morning light. Her gaze met the serene face of the man beside her, a face marked with traces of tears, and yet, an epitome of beauty as the Obsidian hair glistened in the sunlight.

She spoke softly, "Good... morning." Her words, an unconsciously whispered greeting, weren't meant to elicit a response from the man who still slumbered. But to her surprise, she heard his sleepy murmur, "A very good morning indeed."

Caught off guard by his response, she hid her face in his chest, her heart fluttering with a newfound warmth. The morning seemed brighter, and for the first time, she allowed herself to hope for something beautiful.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Chaos Devouring Physique allows the person to consume an array of elixirs, pills, and other consumables, extracting energy from them without suffering any adverse effects. It's a unique and powerful cultivation physique, seemingly defying the boundaries of what a typical cultivator can achieve.

However, like any profound power, it comes with its own set of limitations. The physique demands a double dosage of elixirs for energy extraction, making it a high-cost endeavor. The advantage lies in its versatility and the ability to harness energy from a wide variety of substances, even those that are harmful or unstable.