Immortality Starts With Investment

Ye Chen was consulting the former Holy Maiden under the guise of seeking guidance. The Grand Elder, intrigued by his talent, robust physique, fierce Qi, and deep foundation, enjoyed their chat. But a sudden message in his primordial spirit made his eyes narrow. The Fifth Nether Maiden claimed to be his woman? Could she be Su Yuxuan?

Ye Chen lost interest in talking, stood, and his aura surged.

His movement made Feng Baiyu, seated cross-legged, frown. ”What’s wrong?”

Ye Chen activated the Kun Peng Treasure Technique and shot off, leaving only a transmission: ”The Fifth Nether Maiden is my woman!”

Feng Baiyu’s mouth twitched. You’ve never been to Central Continent—how do you have a woman there? Was his hunting range this vast? Every beauty was his, huh? Did he have a clone running around Central Continent under an alias? Absurd.

Ye Chen rushed to the battlefield, disrupting the plan. Feng Baiyu’s mind raced. Seeing Heavenly Intention Holy Land’s hidden forces emerge, he ordered, ”Five elders, join the Nether God Holy Land elders to fight Heavenly Intention’s people. If we confirm no more ambushes, the remaining four elders strike. Take down both sides, leave none alive.”

Ye Chen’s move meant not just targeting Ying Tiansheng but likely the First Nether Son too. Since they’d offend them, strike first and kill more. The elders agreed. Five figures harnessed the world’s power, flying to the battlefield.

…

Above, the battle raged. Within the array, Ying Tiansheng and First Nether Son’s clash was imminent. Both were confident of victory. But a Kun Peng cry shook the heavens, clearing clouds for thousands of miles, rippling space like water. All within the array looked up.

A massive golden Kun Peng shadow roared from the distance, piercing the array unhindered. As it faded, a man in a yin-yang fish robe stood beside Yi Qingwu. Tall, handsome—who else but Ye Chen?

Yi Qingwu, startled, used the Movement Secret to retreat behind Ying Tiansheng, as if fearing an attack. But Ye Chen ignored her, gently holding Su Yuxuan’s cold hand, his voice soft with heartache. ”Why didn’t you tell me you were back?”

Seeing Ye Chen, Su Yuxuan’s tense, pale face relaxed.

”I wanted to surprise you, Senior Brother, but got ambushed. I should’ve gone to you first. I knew you’d come. The First Nether Son wants me dead—kill him! And that guy you split in half, he drained my origin, making me a wreck. Senior Brother, drain him too—it hurts so much…”

Relieved, Su Yuxuan felt a surge of grievance. Years of hard cultivation, now ruined, her origin gone. Losing everything after such effort was crushing, with little chance to start over. She pouted, complaining to Ye Chen.

He forced a smile, ignoring the system’s update on Su Yuxuan’s multiplier, and said gently, ”Don’t worry, I’m here. Everything’s fine now.”

Su Yuxuan relaxed, a sweet smile breaking through. ”I wanted to dazzle you as the Fifth Nether Maiden… So unlucky, always a mess when I see you…”

She couldn’t hold on, fainting. Having her origin drained was excruciating. Her endurance until now was remarkable. Ying Tiansheng’s intensified devouring after learning her identity caused severe backlash injuries. Her collapse was only natural.

Seeing her unconscious, Ye Chen’s expression was calm, neither joyful nor angry, as he glanced at Ying Tiansheng and First Nether Son. That look made their hearts shrink, their fighting spirit dissolving.

Ye Chen didn’t rush to act, planning to send Su Yuxuan into his small world first. Immortal Roots could heal injuries and origins, but they were less effective for drained origins. He intended to place the little demoness in the Bronze Ancient Coffin and teach her the True Phoenix Treasure Technique and Healing Secret. With their profound effects and the coffin’s power, a few decades or a century should restore her, perhaps surpassing her former self. No big issue.

But then, a shadow emerged from Su Yuxuan’s brow. Manjusaka’s form was more solid than before, her eyes filled with guilt as she looked at Su Yuxuan. Ye Chen glanced at her calmly, not taunting her as he once did about her inability to protect anyone.

Yet Manjusaka spoke, voice low with worry. ”Yuxuan’s origin is drained. Without replenishment, her cultivation will regress. Three years at most, she’ll drop to mortal level. Her life force will also fade—ten years at best. Ye Chen, she’s your woman. You must help her, and fast, or even a restored origin won’t heal the damage.”

Ye Chen glanced at her, not mentioning his Immortal Roots, and asked lightly, ”Senior, do you have a method to extract origins?”

Manjusaka, an old devil woman, might know one. She shook her head, then pointed at Ying Tiansheng. ”He does. He used the Devouring Heaven Demon Art, a top-tier method for extracting origins…”

The Devouring Heaven Demon Art?

Ye Chen nodded, frowning at Su Yuxuan. ”Junior Sister’s unconscious. She can’t cultivate.”

Her coma wasn’t simple; without origin replenishment, she might stay asleep. Even gifting the Devouring Heaven Demon Art wouldn’t help.

Manjusaka replied instantly, ”I can… I’m her master. I once took over her body to overcome a crisis. With the Devouring Heaven Demon Art, I can cultivate it through her body.”

This was why Su Yuxuan progressed so fast—when she tired, her master could cultivate for her.

Ye Chen and Manjusaka spoke as if no one else existed. Ying Tiansheng glared at Ye Chen, murderous intent rising, confident but hesitant.

The First Nether Son narrowed his eyes, uncertain, hoping Ying Tiansheng would test Ye Chen first. After all, Ye Chen had slain a Star River King Body at Deity Transformation’s peak. Now in the Unity realm with a domain, how much stronger was he? Thus, the scene stayed quiet, no one interrupting their talk.

Ye Chen nodded, casually touching Manjusaka’s soul form. ”I have a technique, not the Devouring Heaven Demon Art, but it might work similarly. I gift it to you, Senior. Cultivate it well!”

His touch triggered her deep-seated aversion to men, making her uneasy. But hearing his words, she froze. How did Ye Chen have everything? Feeling the torrent of scripture flooding in, her soul trembled. When she grasped the technique, Manjusaka was stunned.