Immortality Starts With Investment

Holding the spear, Ye Chen kept it out for the upcoming gift. He glanced around. The two dead Mahayana cultivators were nearly obliterated, body and soul. Only faint traces of their origin lingered in the void.

Ye Chen sighed. This was his last battle at Unity, and he’d been a bit reckless. Next time he killed, he’d conserve energy. Otherwise, the harvest was too small. With a wave, he used the Indestructible Heavenly Art to collect the origins but didn’t refine them. He approached the last Mahayana cultivator, pierced through the brow by divine light, incurable and powerless.

The surviving Mahayana cultivator trembled. When he’d broken through to Mahayana, he’d felt invincible, believing all below his realm were ants. Yet now, he feared a Unity cultivator. Recalling Ye Chen’s divine ability that killed one foe instantly, and how he wielded two Extreme Dao Weapons, smashing another to oblivion with a single strike, he couldn’t stop shaking. He didn’t want to die and opened his mouth to speak.

But Ye Chen’s hand pressed onto his head. In an instant, he felt his origin draining rapidly. He looked up in terror, shouting, ”You’re not just the Heavenly Emperor’s successor—you’re a Devouring Lineage heir too? Is there internal strife in the Devouring Lineage? Holy Son, you’re our true Holy Son! Spare me, I beg you! I’ll follow you, help you reclaim everything in the Devouring Lineage…”

Ye Chen’s mouth twitched. What an imagination. He raised his hand, fully devouring the man’s origin, sealing it with the others. He’d find a fake successor later, let them absorb and filter out the toxins, then harvest it. That way, he could safely gift it to the fiancée. Food safety mattered, after all.

After devouring the origin, Ye Chen took out the Human Emperor Banner. Refining the Mahayana cultivator’s soul, the banner surged with purple qi, pleasing Ye Chen greatly. This trip’s harvest was excellent. With a wave, he erased all traces and auras within the formation. His trump cards were used, but as long as no one saw, they could be used again. Revealing trump cards brought shock and scrutiny. Keeping them hidden brought enemies greater surprises. The choice was obvious.

Everything handled, Ye Chen, using the Movement Secret, scanned the formation with his Heavy Pupils, then stepped out and left. When he appeared, everyone was stunned. Fan Qinghe and her master’s mouths hung open, equally shocked.

The Devouring Lineage attackers’ eyes widened. The Heavenly Desire Sect’s Supreme Elder, waving her pink lantern, showed a mix of surprise and joy.

The scene was too astonishing. Ambushed in a formation by three Mahayana cultivators, Ye Chen, a mere Unity cultivator, walked out unscathed? More importantly, the formation showed no signs of disturbance. The fate of those three Mahayana cultivators was obvious.

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No one believed Ye Chen killed them himself. Even the Heavenly Emperor couldn’t have done it. He must have used special external means or hidden resources. Even so, it was shocking enough. The Heavenly Emperor had clearly left many contingencies for his successor’s growth.

No matter the crowd’s speculations, Ye Chen’s survival meant the Devouring Lineage’s mission had failed. The half-saint powerhouse, fighting deep in the starry sky, glanced at Ye Chen and chose to leave.

The Second Heaven and the two Mahayana Third Heaven cultivators also departed. One, seemingly familiar with Elder Mo, snorted before fleeing: ”Sublimate your cultivation again, and just wait for death…”

Elder Mo watched, unwilling but helpless.

The Heavenly Evolution Holy Land didn’t stop their retreat. Above Mahayana, defeating an opponent was manageable, but killing or capturing them was exceedingly difficult. Unless your strength was overwhelmingly superior. These enemies, from major holy lands, were formidable, making it hard to keep them. So they let them go.

The battle subsided. Ye Chen saluted the elders in the sky, grateful. He planned to gift more Enlightenment Tea later. The elders smiled at him and vanished.

Elder Mo and Feng Baiyu glanced at Ye Chen, asking if he’d leave now. Ye Chen shook his head, claiming the battle was tough and he needed days to recover. The two, seeing him unscathed and holding a new Extreme Dao Weapon spear, didn’t believe him. But they didn’t press, retreating to the void to recover.

Fan Qinghe rushed to Ye Chen’s side. Her sparkling eyes brimmed with joy and admiration. She clung tightly to his arm. Killing three Mahayana cultivators, no matter the method, was astonishing. Her protector was just too strong. Most impressively, despite being drained earlier, he showed no weakness. Clearly, her and her master’s efforts to absorb his power were a mere fraction of his strength.

Ye Chen patted her head with a smile. Then he looked ahead. A voluptuous figure, curvaceous like a ripe gourd, appeared before him. Her wavy hair flowed smoothly, framing a delicate, enchanting face with striking features. She gave off the air of a reincarnated fox spirit. But her face was pale, and her faint smile stirred pity.

”Master, are you hurt?” the Heavenly Desire Sect Master asked anxiously.

The woman shook her head. ”Just grazed by the enemy’s divine arts. Those foes were definitely from a holy land, with deep foundations and terrifying techniques… I thought I was strong, but facing holy land experts, I realized how laughable I am! I’ll need to seclude myself for decades to heal. You and Qinghe, take good care of the Holy Son.”

She smiled at Ye Chen again, then flew toward the Heavenly Desire Sect’s back mountains. The Sect Master and Fan Qinghe were stunned. Decades of seclusion to heal? That was serious.

Seeing her injured for helping him, Ye Chen wanted to offer something. ”Senior, I have a healing treasure…” He called out.

But she didn’t pause, leaving only a striking silhouette. Her voice echoed: ”No need for formalities, Holy Son. As Qinghe’s protector, you’re my junior. How could I watch you get ambushed? My injuries aren’t your fault—I’m just too weak… I won’t be able to host you later, so please forgive me…”

Her voice faded. Her figure vanished.

Ye Chen, savoring her gourd-like silhouette, sighed. The Heavenly Desire Sect’s Supreme Elder was truly principled. Helping without seeking reward, leaving without even hearing thanks, hiding her deeds and fame. Such noble character…