Immortality Starts With Investment

He activated the Extreme Dao Weapon hidden in his mind. Feeling the terrifying aura unique to the Extreme Dao Weapon, the man, initially panicked, found reassurance under its power. His heart brimmed with a sense of security.

Extreme Dao Weapons were rare and fearsome. A Mahayana stage cultivator with one was in a league apart from those without. But forging an Extreme Dao Weapon was incredibly difficult. The materials required were astronomical, even for Mahayana cultivators. Many of those materials had nearly vanished in the current era, almost impossible to buy even with spirit stones.

As a result, most Mahayana First Heaven cultivators lacked an Extreme Dao Weapon. Even among Second Heaven cultivators, only the elite or high-ranking members of holy lands typically possessed one. Only at the Third Heaven Realm did Extreme Dao Weapons become common.

Like the four King Realm beings currently battling, each wielded an Extreme Dao Weapon—even the woman from the Heavenly Desire Sect held a small pink lantern that qualified.

As for himself, after breaking through to the Mahayana stage, he had served the Nether God Holy Land diligently for three hundred years. He had also done tasks for the Devouring Lineage, secretly targeting several of the holy land’s prodigies. Only then did he gather enough materials, spending over a decade to finally forge his own Extreme Dao Weapon. He had planned to keep it as a trump card, surprising future enemies. Yet here, it was forced out by a mere Unity stage cultivator.

He made his decision. After forcing Ye Chen to retreat and leaving this place, He would complete the task previously assigned by the Devouring Lineage. He would find a chance to lure their Fifth Nether Maiden into a dangerous situation. Once done, he should have enough resources to break through to Mahayana Second Heaven.

Mid-thought, he looked at Ye Chen, assuming Ye Chen would back off and let him leave. But to his surprise, Ye Chen grinned: ”You’ve got an Extreme Dao Weapon? Now I’m wide awake!”

Before the man could react, spatial rift opened around Ye Chen. In the next moment, an overwhelmingly terrifying aura surged forth.

The man’s face changed. He saw a fearsome long staff slowly emerge from the rift, hovering in the heavens. Its terrifying aura made it hard for him to breathe. He stared in horror at the staff. Its ends were golden, etched with dragon divine patterns. Its middle was crimson, as if countless divine flames flowed within.

This staff was too terrifying. The man’s mind raced, and he shouted in disbelief: ”Is that the Compliant Golden-Hooped Rod? The supreme Extreme Dao Weapon of the Victorious Fighting Ape Clan?”

For Mahayana cultivators, aside from quasi-immortals who could barely wield immortal artifacts, everyone used Extreme Dao Weapons. But Extreme Dao Weapons varied in quality. His own, for instance, was a low-grade Extreme Dao Weapon. To improve it, he would need to keep infusing top-tier materials and weaving in his own insights, gradually raising its grade. From low-grade to mid-grade, to high-grade, then to top-grade.

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Beyond top-grade were the supreme Extreme Dao Weapons. These were almost always nurtured by top-tier powerhouses through their cultivation journey. They were the closest things to immortal artifacts, treasured by holy lands and clans, only surpassed by true immortal artifacts. Their power was immense, reaching the absolute limit of Extreme Dao Weapons. Once revealed, they drove not just half-saints mad—even saints and those above would go wild. Yet Ye Chen, a mere Unity cultivator, possessed one.

But considering Ye Chen’s status as the Heavenly Emperor’s successor, the man wasn’t entirely shocked. After all, the Heavenly Emperor had stormed countless gates back then. It wasn’t surprising he’d claimed the Compliant Golden-Hooped Rod.

The man was shocked but not panicked. After all, Ye Chen was only at the Unity stage. He could summon an Extreme Dao Weapon to protect himself with its innate spirituality, but he couldn’t wield it to attack.

The man had no desire to fight anyway. So be it. He was about to speak to Ye Chen, but in an instant, his newly calmed eyes widened again. The spatial rift on Ye Chen’s left had just closed, yet another rift opened on his right.

The man, realizing something, shuddered in disbelief. From the new rift, a massive sword emerged slowly—its blade pitch-black, its hilt azure-gold. Seeing the enormous words ”Heavenly Emperor” etched on the blade, and feeling its aura that compelled reverence,

The man was utterly stunned, roaring, ”The Heavenly Emperor Sword! Another supreme Extreme Dao Weapon! The Heavenly Emperor Sword is in your hands too!”

If you spoke of the most famous Extreme Dao Weapon in today’s cultivation world, it was undoubtedly the Heavenly Emperor Sword. Back then, at Mahayana Ninth Heaven, the Heavenly Emperor wielded it to slay an immortal, bathing the cultivation world in blood. Yet, past Heavenly Emperor successors never used the Heavenly Emperor Sword. Everyone assumed the Emperor had taken it with him. Clearly, that wasn’t the case.

The man quickly grasped why. Past successors were strong but not strong enough to wield the Heavenly Emperor Sword. But Ye Chen’s combat power rivaled the Heavenly Emperor himself. In that case, he was naturally worthy of receiving it.

The man gazed at the two priceless, terrifyingly powerful supreme Extreme Dao Weapons, His eyes burning with longing and admiration. But he still had his wits. Gritting his teeth inwardly, he resolved to spread this news. When he did, even reclusive saints would be roused, eager to seize them.

The man spoke earnestly to Ye Chen: ”The strength of the Heavenly Emperor’s successor surpasses all past successors. Even the Heavenly Emperor himself might only be your equal. The Heavenly Emperor Sword rightfully belongs to you. Though you’re still at Unity and can’t wield Extreme Dao Weapons, with your cultivation, it won’t be long before you reach Mahayana and master them effortlessly!”

The man subtly hinted to Ye Chen: Your Extreme Dao Weapons are incredible, but you’re still at Unity—you can’t use them.

Ye Chen, watching him, smiled with satisfaction. This was the kind of opponent he liked. Knowledgeable, recognizing his treasures instantly, and shocked on the spot. Otherwise, he’d have to explain himself, which felt too low-class.

As for the man’s words, Ye Chen chuckled. A normal Unity cultivator couldn’t wield an Extreme Dao Weapon. But he wasn’t ordinary.

Ye Chen extended both hands to his sides. In an instant, the two Extreme Dao Weapons he’d summoned were gripped firmly in his hands.

Seeing this, the man’s composure shattered. His eyes filled with disbelief. But then, something clicked, and he shouted in shock, ”The Armament Secret? You have the Armament Secret?”

The curve of Ye Chen’s smile widened. He loved fighting cultured opponents like this. The experience was just too perfect…