Immortality Starts With Investment

Soon, the crowd made a new discovery, gasping in astonishment once more. The Fourth Holy Son’s cultivation had reached the late Nascent Soul stage! Just a few years ago, during his battle with the Heavenly Intention Holy Son’s incarnation, he was only at the early Nascent Soul stage. How could he have broken through so quickly?

”I’m a cultivator too—why haven’t I progressed this fast?”

Under the shocked gazes of countless cultivators, Ye Chen led the Heavenly Evolution Holy Land disciples calmly toward their designated residence. He sensed several hostile stares fixed on him.

Pausing, Ye Chen leisurely turned his head. Two disciples from the Heavenly Intention Holy Land stood at a distance, glaring at him coldly. Their robes resembled those worn by Ying Tianjing, the Heavenly Intention Holy Son’s fallen brother. Their cultivation was profound, both at the Deity Transformation stage.

Ye Chen glanced at them, then scanned their surroundings. No system prompt sounded. Nor did he spot Yi Qingwu, the Heavenly Intention Holy Maiden, famed as the Great Yan Continent’s greatest female immortal. A twinge of disappointment hit him. He was about to move on when he noticed the two disciples still staring, their eyes brimming with provocation despite their silence.

Ye Chen stopped in his tracks. Chaos qi swirled in his eyes, his pupils deepening like a starry river, as if they could swallow souls. The two Heavenly Intention Holy Land disciples, both at the Deity Transformation stage, were caught off guard. Their souls were momentarily ensnared.

Though they quickly stabilized themselves with a secret technique, they had already lost a wisp of their soul essence, their faces paling. Their gazes toward Ye Chen now carried a hint of wariness.

Ye Chen didn’t bother saying anything more. With a wave, he led his disciples away, vanishing from sight. Though the exchange was brief, countless onlookers had witnessed it. They were utterly stunned.

The Fourth Holy Son’s talent was astounding. In a single glance, he’d made two Deity Transformation-stage legacy disciples suffer a small loss. The Heavy Pupils bloodline was truly fearsome.

Even so, the crowd remained skeptical about Ye Chen’s chances. After all, the Heavenly Intention Holy Maiden, Yi Qingwu, was present. Her Broad Cold Immortal Body might not have the same renown as the Heavy Pupils, but its combat power was no less formidable.

Moreover, Yi Qingwu was at the peak of the Deity Transformation stage. The gap between her and Ye Chen was an entire major realm. If Yi Qingwu made a move, no matter how powerful his Heavy Pupils were, Ye Chen would surely be suppressed.

In short, the cultivators of White Emperor City were buzzing with excitement. They speculated eagerly about when Yi Qingwu would confront Ye Chen. They also wondered if Yao Gu would challenge the Heavenly Intention Holy Son again to wash away his past defeat.

…

Arriving at the Heavenly Evolution Holy Land’s residence, the disciples were buzzing with excitement. Though the auction was still half a month away, White Emperor City was already teeming with activity. There was plenty to see, including the cultivation world’s largest open market.

Many cultivators would display their treasures during this time, either selling them outright or bartering for other goods. The disciples were eager to explore, and Ye Chen waved them off, letting them wander freely.

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He, however, planned to return to his courtyard and cultivate beneath the Enlightenment Tea Tree. The divine maiden hadn’t yet appeared. His so-called fiancée was nowhere to be seen. With the auction still weeks away, he figured he might as well focus on his cultivation.

But he’d barely taken two steps when a servant from the residence hurried over, bowing respectfully. ”Holy Son, Yao Gu, the prodigy from the Yao family, has come to visit and requests an audience!”

Yao Gu?

Ye Chen raised an eyebrow.

The nickname ”Ye the Fourth” that had spread through the cultivation world? That was definitely this guy’s doing. Calling him ”brother-in-law” to his face but ”Ye the Fourth” behind his back, huh?

Still, Ye Chen waved a hand, instructing the servant to bring Yao Gu in. He wanted to hear about his senior sister, Yao Xi. Had she awakened her Primordial Spirit Body? How was she faring in the Yao family? Once things in White Emperor City wrapped up, he might pay a visit to the Yao family to check on her.

As he mused, a burly figure strode into the courtyard, radiating smug confidence. A powerful aura unique to the Deity Transformation stage rolled off him. It was Yao Gu.

Spotting Ye Chen, Yao Gu’s lips curled into a grin. ”Ye Chen, the Heavenly Desire Sect’s divine maiden will make her debut in three days. But with Yi Qingwu in the city, I’d suggest you stay put—unless you want a beating. Lend me your war chariot for a bit. With that chariot, I’ll take the divine maiden for a spin in the skies. Who knows? I might just win her heart.

”Don’t worry, I won’t mess it up. And if I do, I’ll clean it myself. Back in the day, the Heavenly Emperor got away with borrowing stuff for free. I, Yao Gu, am just following in the footsteps of the ancients! Since my brother isn’t here, this generation’s divine maiden is mine for the taking.”

Yao Gu’s voice boomed with bravado. Ye Chen couldn’t help but chuckle. Who did this guy think he was, comparing himself to the Heavenly Emperor? Last time they met, Yao Gu was all ”brother-in-law” this and that.

Now, a few years later, he’d dropped the pleasantries and was calling Ye Chen by name? Just because he’d broken through to Deity Transformation, he thought he was hot stuff?

For the sake of Yao Xi, Ye Chen couldn’t be bothered to argue. He asked calmly, ”How’s Yao Xi doing? Has she awakened her Primordial Spirit Body? What’s her cultivation level now?”

Yao Gu, clearly uninterested in answering, waved off the question with a scowl. ”Ye Chen, I’m talking about borrowing your chariot. Some friends asked me what happened to that chariot from before. Could I tell them it got smashed? Of course not! I said I upgraded to a new one. Tonight, when we’re drinking, I’ll show it off. The last one got wrecked, but for the sake of the Holy Maiden, I let it slide. Just lend me the chariot for a while, and we’re good.”

Ye Chen burst out laughing. This guy had the nerve to demand compensation for a chariot? He recalled their last encounter—Yao Gu could barely string a sentence together until Ye Chen had knocked some sense into him. Apparently, the lesson hadn’t stuck.

White Emperor City had rules against fighting within its bounds, but the private residences of holy lands and major sects were exempt. As long as the commotion didn’t spill outside, anything could happen within the array-protected grounds.

”And if I don’t lend it to you?” Ye Chen stood up, grinning.

Yao Gu’s brows furrowed, his eyes narrowing as he stared at Ye Chen. The pressure of his Deity Transformation cultivation surged like a tidal wave, bearing down on Ye Chen.

”Ye Chen, I broke through to Deity Transformation using the Void Visualization Diagram left by my ancestor, infused with a trace of his true intent. Not to mention, my Void Scripture has reached major completion, and I wield immortal techniques with ease. The me of today is not the me of the past.

”For the sake of our Holy Maiden, I’d rather not fight and suppress you. After all, White Emperor City is crowded, and I should let you save some face. But if you insist on being stubborn, don’t blame me for settling old scores.”

As he spoke, Yao Gu slowly rose into the air, divine light radiating behind him. A massive, hazy figure loomed at his back—the Heaven and Earth Manifestation, a divine ability unique to the Deity Transformation stage.

Together, Yao Gu and his towering projection looked down at Ye Chen, their voice like rolling thunder. ”Ye Chen, I advise you to think carefully…”