Immortality Starts With Investment

Ye Chen paid no mind to the shifting atmosphere around him. He was unaware of Yao Gu’s resolve to be a good brother-in-law. Nor did he care that the two Heavenly Intention legacy disciples had stepped aside. His gaze was fixed on the sky, where, amid the blood mist, a faint flicker of spiritual energy glimmered. After a while, a body began to slowly reform.

The crowd erupted in astonishment. That body belonged to none other than the Little Roc King, Zhang Pengfei. Beaten into a mist of blood, his primordial spirit nearly shattered beyond recovery—yet he was still alive?

The onlookers marveled at the sight. As for Zhang Pengfei himself, his reforming body gazed at Ye Chen with eyes full of terror and pleading. He knew that even if he survived and reconstructed his body, he’d still be swatted down by Ye Chen with ease. But Ye Chen merely glanced at him before calmly turning away. He didn’t spare him another look.

Zhang Pengfei was a prodigy, perhaps saved by some treasure or a peculiar life-preserving technique. But Ye Chen could easily see—his foundation was cracked, his primordial spirit still shattered and teetering. Even if he recovered, even given time to heal, he’d likely fall short of an ordinary Deity Transformation cultivator. His path as a prodigy was finished. He wasn’t worth another glance. So, Ye Chen let him go, watching as Zhang Pengfei fled toward the city’s edge.

Turning, Ye Chen’s eyes met Fan Qinghe’s on the jade boat. Her eyes sparkled with unparalleled brilliance, as if beholding the most perfect feast.

Ye Chen smiled faintly. Fan Qinghe smiled back. Her captivating face grew even more alluring, her crescent-moon eyes still seeming to beckon. Their exchanged glances and subtle smiles were like a private dance, as if the world around them had faded away.

Yet no one dared voice a complaint. A consensus had formed: Fan Qinghe, the divine maiden, belonged to the Fourth Holy Son. A perfect match of talent and beauty—who would dare object?

At this moment, Ye Chen knew he could board the jade boat. But he didn’t. Instead, he turned his gaze to the two Heavenly Intention legacy disciples who’d retreated to the side.

Ye Chen usually avoided pointless fights and scoffed at prodigy battles for fame. But since he’d revealed his edge today, he’d sharpen it to its fullest. He’d deal with everyone who needed dealing with. This would spare him future hassles. No need for these two to reach late Deity Transformation and think they could challenge him again.

The Heavenly Intention legacy disciples were among the top prodigies, just below the likes of Hua Yunfei and the other titans. Suppressing them would grant him true peace.

So, to everyone’s shock, Ye Chen raised his hand and unleashed a punch. Thirty-six golden True Dragons, vast as mountain ranges, roared toward the two legacy disciples.

The crowd gasped. The two legacy disciples had already backed off, yet the Holy Son was still attacking? Was he a battle maniac?

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But those familiar with the Fourth Holy Son’s stories thought deeper. They knew he wasn’t bloodthirsty. Nor was he petty. Take the Green Cloud Sect incident: a nobody named Fa Zhen had provoked him, yet Ye Chen spared him. After rising, he’d even gifted Fa Zhen treasures, grooming him to become a Golden Core cultivator and the next sect leader. Such acts proved the Fourth Holy Son’s broad-mindedness.

But his possessiveness and protectiveness over women were unmatched. For a demonic sect woman, he’d fearlessly killed a Golden Core sect leader while still at Foundation Establishment. For the honor of the Great Chu princess, he’d stormed the Great Chu Dynasty and slain the Champion King for her throne in front of everyone. And the destruction of the Heavenly Intention Holy Son’s avatar? Common knowledge. It all started because a Heavenly Intention legacy disciple had threatened to capture Ye Chen’s female master and offer her to someone else.

The two Heavenly Intention legacy disciples had clearly backed off, yet the Fourth Holy Son still chose to strike. It was hard not to wonder if Ye Chen already viewed the divine maiden as his exclusive prize.

The legacy disciples’ earlier covetous glances must have provoked his displeasure, prompting this attack. Prodigies, backed by great powers, had access to more intelligence about Ye Chen. Now, their minds raced with speculation.

The prodigies still on their boats, already devoid of any intent to compete, sat even more rigidly, not daring to move. They feared the Fourth Holy Son might think they still harbored ambitions.

Yao Gu, recalling how openly he’d shown his desire for the divine maiden, felt a pang of panic. Was merely stepping back enough? Perhaps he should sincerely apologize to his brother-in-law later?

…

The two Heavenly Intention legacy disciples were both shocked and enraged. They’d already yielded, yet Ye Chen dared to attack? This was too much!

”Ye Chen, do you really think we’re afraid of you?”

”Even as a prodigy, you’re far from our match. Stop now, and there’s still room to maneuver, or we’ll make you lose all face!”

They roared in fury. Yet the thirty-six golden True Dragons charged forward relentlessly. Their anger boiled over. In that moment, their eyes blazed with battle intent. Their earlier retreat, though a loss of face, could be excused as caution or weighing the odds since no fight had occurred. It wasn’t too humiliating.

But now that Ye Chen had struck, if they retreated again, it would be true cowardice. It would shame the entire Heavenly Intention Holy Land. Back at the sect, they’d face punishment, likely losing their legacy disciple titles. They couldn’t retreat—there was no way back.

Exchanging a glance, their eyes showed no fear. Ye Chen was strong, but not invincible. He wasn’t even at Deity Transformation, lacking a Heaven and Earth Manifestation. Together, they were confident they could defeat him. It wouldn’t be a glorious victory, but since Ye Chen had initiated the attack, they had no choice.

”Boom, boom, boom…”

The heavens shook. Two terrifying, invincible Heaven and Earth Manifestations were summoned, rising above the Pure Moon River.

The two legacy disciples stood atop their manifestations’ brows. Their manifestations’ aura far surpassed the Little Roc King’s. One was humanoid, clad in lightning armor, like a thunder lord descended, inspiring instinctive awe as if facing a heavenly tribulation.

The other was beast-shaped—not modeled after an ancient beast but a mythical thunder beast conjured by cultivators’ imaginations. It had a dragon’s head, phoenix claws, a qilin’s tail, and golden wings resembling a Kun Peng’s. Though not real, its combined form stood in the void, its ferocity rivaling the true Ten Beasts.

One manifestation unleashed a lightning bolt, sealing the heavens. The other’s beast opened its maw, spewing endless thunderous liquid. Their attacks collided with the thirty-six True Dragons, and in a blink, both sides vanished into nothingness.

The onlookers marveled. The Heavenly Intention legacy disciples’ combat strength was indeed far beyond the Little Roc King’s…