Immortality Starts With Investment

The starlight flared brilliantly once more, this time even more dazzling than before, and it lingered far longer. Ye Chen raised an eyebrow. Was divining his father’s whereabouts proving more difficult than his master’s?

After a full half-hour, Elder He opened his eyes, frowning in confusion as he looked at Ye Chen. ”Ye Chen, do you really have a father?”

Ye Chen’s mouth twitched. He suspected the elder was mocking him, but he had no proof.

Elder He didn’t mince words. ”I activated the Heavenly Evolution Immortal Scripture, but I couldn’t trace a single hint of him.”

Ye Chen sighed, his heart sinking as he came to a conclusion. ”Then it seems my father has truly fallen.”

If even Elder He couldn’t find a trace, death seemed the only explanation. Perhaps Ye Chen had read too many fantastical tales, fueling his overactive imagination. He resolved to wait until he ascended to immortality, when he might have the power to resurrect him.

But Elder He shook his head gravely. ”It’s not that he’s dead. If he were, unless it was over a century ago, there would still be traces for me to divine. But your father—I couldn’t find anything at all. There could be other reasons. His traces might have been deliberately erased, or a great power might have shielded him from divination. He could also be in a unique environment that blocks such attempts. There are many possible causes.”

Ye Chen’s eyes widened. He hadn’t held much hope for divining his father’s fate. The Ye family was insignificant, and his father’s cultivation was meager. Even if he was adopted, he’d shown no remarkable qualities. By all accounts, he seemed ordinary. But now, could there actually be something more to him? Did Ye Chen himself have some hidden background?

”Is there no way to find out?” Ye Chen asked, his curiosity now thoroughly piqued.

Elder He shook his head. ”I’ve cultivated the Heavenly Evolution Immortal Scripture for eight hundred years. There are more advanced techniques that might yield results, but they come at a cost.”

Ye Chen began to consider what price he could offer to persuade Elder He. Before he could speak, the elder’s granddaughter tugged at her grandfather’s arm, pleading sweetly, ”Grandpa, if the cost isn’t too high, please help the Holy Son. He must miss his father terribly. Why else would he bring so many treasures to ask for your help?”

Elder He’s expression faltered, a mix of exasperation and affection. He couldn’t be upset with his granddaughter. Sighing, he explained seriously, ”Those techniques would drain my lifespan! If the interference is too great, there could be unpredictable backlash, even loss of my foundation. And even then, there’s no guarantee of success.”

The girl’s face grew solemn. ”Is it that serious? Holy Son, my grandpa is already very old. I heard from my father that when Grandpa was young, he was beaten by the Holy Son of the Heavenly Intention Holy Land and injured his foundation. He challenged them again later to settle the score and got beaten again. So, let’s not force the divination!”

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Elder He’s mood lightened at his granddaughter’s concern, but his face twitched when she brought up his past. ”It wasn’t being beaten,” he corrected hastily. ”It was a narrow loss due to a slight misstep. And the injuries weren’t that severe!” His dark history had been exposed.

Ye Chen was curious about his father’s mysterious circumstances but wasn’t about to demand that Elder He sacrifice his lifespan or foundation. The elder’s words already hinted at significant possibilities—knowing his father wasn’t dead was enough for now. If there was a grand background behind him, his father was likely faring well. That was sufficient. When Ye Chen’s strength grew, his father would surely hear of him and seek him out. There was no need to rush.

The knowledge that his master was in the Sword Sect was already satisfying. Ye Chen bowed deeply to Elder He. ”Thank you for your help today, Elder.”

Divination carried risks, and despite the elder’s gruff demeanor, Ye Chen understood his reasons. Seeing Ye Chen’s respectful and courteous attitude, Elder He’s mood softened. He gave a faint nod in acknowledgment.

Elder He’s granddaughter turned to Ye Chen with enthusiasm. ”Holy Son, my grandpa can’t help you, but once I’ve mastered the Heavenly Evolution Immortal Scripture, I’ll divine for you!”

Elder He’s brief moment of relief turned to exasperation, his heart tightening again. He had already resolved to talk his granddaughter out of this. The Fourth Holy Son was trouble. He barely remembered anything about his own father but could recount every detail of his female master, down to her toes.

With Ye Chen’s prodigious talent and Heavy Pupils, it wouldn’t be long before his cultivation surpassed Elder He’s. Then, unchecked by fear, he might make a move on his granddaughter. Worse, she seemed so taken with him—what if she took the initiative? If she showed up one day with a child in her arms, Elder He would be powerless. No, Ascension Peak was out of the question.

But just as Elder He was about to shoo Ye Chen away, Ye Chen gently patted the girl’s head. ”You have great talent, and I like your personality. Once you break through to the Golden Core stage, come straight to Ascension Peak. I’ll personally teach you a technique from the True Phoenix Treasure Technique.”

The True Phoenix Treasure Technique? The girl’s eyes lit up.

Elder He, however, remained unmoved. The technique was valuable, but a single move wasn’t worth the risk. He could find a way to acquire it himself. No way was she going.

But Ye Chen wasn’t done. ”Also, after reaching the Golden Core stage, don’t rush to cultivate just any technique. I once obtained an immortal scripture called the Hundred Flowers Immortal Scripture. It’s faster for cultivation, greatly extends a female cultivator’s lifespan, nourishes the body, and enhances beauty and temperament. It even preserves youth, keeping you radiant even centuries later.”

The girl’s eyes widened in shock. An immortal scripture?

Elder He, about to dismiss Ye Chen, swallowed his words. In the cultivation world, while many had achieved immortality, not every True Immortal had the brilliance to create their own scripture. Some even lied, claiming to have crafted one while secretly recycling an older text.

Since immortal scriptures were rare and rarely circulated, few could tell the difference—until one prodigy compared their inherited scripture to another and found them identical, exposing the fraud to widespread ridicule.

True immortal scriptures were scarce, and those that survived the ages were even rarer. Yet Ye Chen possessed one—the Hundred Flowers Immortal Scripture, tailored for female cultivators?

Elder He cleared his throat and bellowed toward the palace entrance, ”The guest has been here this long, and still no tea? Where are your manners?” Turning to his granddaughter, he added, ”Jiujiu, no need to wait for the Golden Core stage. I’ll take you to Ascension Peak with Holy Son Ye myself, right away!”