Immortality Starts With Investment

In Central Continent, the top prodigies of the first tier had either reached Unity peak and were charging toward Mahayana or had already emerged from seclusion.

By tradition, when first-tier prodigies entered a new major realm, a fierce contest would erupt, with holy lands hosting grand events for their champions. But this generation was different. They broke through quietly, as if nothing happened, barely stepping out.

The reason? This generation’s Heavenly Emperor successor was too strong. Suppressing six peers single-handedly was absurd enough. Now, recent news was even more shocking. Not only had the Heavenly Emperor successor reached Unity peak, but under ambush, he, at Unity, killed three Mahayana cultivators!

The news was staggering, despairing all prodigies of this generation. Ye Chen’s cultivation was closely watched. He’d been a major realm behind the first tier. Yet in just a few years, he was at Unity peak?

Mahayana, the last major realm before true immortality, was leagues beyond prior realms. In earlier realms, some prodigies could cross major realms to kill. But Mahayana? Surviving, let alone escaping, was already impressive. Yet Ye Chen fought three and killed them all! It was too outrageous. Fast cultivation, terrifying combat power. How could anyone compete? Ye Chen alone made his generation’s prodigies lose all hope.

Soon, more news spread. As a divine maiden’s protector, he took a liking to the Heavenly Desire Sect Master, bringing her into the cave. After indulging for a month and a half, he returned to Heavenly Evolution Holy Land, entering seclusion to forge his Immortal Platform and break through to Mahayana!

The news shook the prodigy world, despair deepened. Ye Chen was already this heaven-defying before Mahayana. What would he be like after?

Some speculated that post-breakthrough, he might defy the impossible, possessing cross-realm combat strength even in Mahayana. Most top prodigies were rational, but a few hotheads, boosted by decent Law Qi in their Mahayana breakthrough, believed it was a fresh start. Ye Chen might not sustain his invincibility.

Regardless, all eyes turned to Heavenly Evolution Holy Land in Great Yan Continent, awaiting news of Ye Chen’s emergence and Mahayana breakthrough.

In ancient times, top prodigies used Immortal Qi for their Immortal Platforms. Its high quality required years to break through. Now, no one had access to Immortal Qi. Law Qi, at best, contained a hundred laws, so breakthroughs were faster—two to three months, a year at most.

Yet, a year passed, and Heavenly Evolution Holy Land remained silent, no sign of a heavenly tribulation. This puzzled the outside world. Why hadn’t the Heavenly Emperor successor emerged?

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Mahayana prodigies caused massive disturbances, especially someone like Ye Chen. His breakthrough couldn’t be hidden… so why no progress? Had he hit a cultivation snag? Fallen into deviation during breakthrough? Perished? Was he too powerful, envied by the heavens? Or had the holy body’s curse struck, preventing his Immortal Platform?

Countless prodigies, in anticipation, focused on Heavenly Evolution Holy Land, hoping for good news.

...

”Is this Immortal Qi?”

Feeling the formless, odorless aura that seemed to embody all the charm of the heavens and earth, Ye Chen sensed his body surging with excitement and anticipation. No longer hesitating, he sat cross-legged, placing the Immortal Qi deep in his brow, beginning to forge his Immortal Platform with it, officially breaking through to Mahayana.

…

In the cultivation world, the outside realm kept close watch on Ye Chen’s movements. One year, two years, three years… yet Ye Chen never appeared.

Speculation ran wild. Had he truly perished, or was he crippled? Five years after Ye Chen’s disappearance, the Immortal Path finally opened. An ancient teleportation array emerged, granting access to the Immortal Path. The entire cultivation world buzzed with excitement.

Prodigies emerged in droves. Even those who had long remained hidden revealed themselves—figures like the Seven-Crown King, sealed in divine essence, not of this era, and heirs of ancient traditions. Rare physiques surfaced, each one awe-inspiringly powerful.

Among the myriad races, top-tier prodigies also arose, like the son of the once-illustrious Undying Heavenly Sovereign, who emerged in this generation. Descendants of renowned ancient races, like the Golden Crow Clan, appeared as well.

On the day the Immortal Path opened, a terrifying aura filled the air, inspiring dread. Yet the most anticipated figure was undoubtedly Ye Chen. Everyone awaited his arrival, eager to witness his invincible presence once more.

But as prodigies entered the Immortal Path one by one, Ye Chen’s figure remained absent. This sent shockwaves through the cultivation world. The earlier rumors—born of envy and akin to curses—suggested he’d perished.

Now, his absence from the opening of the Immortal Path seemed to confirm something had gone wrong. After all, the Immortal Path was too crucial for any cultivator to miss, its benefits too immense.

Yet Ye Chen hadn’t come. Had he truly met with misfortune? Failed his breakthrough? Or perhaps, despite defeating three Mahayana cultivators with his tactics, had he been backlashed, his path to immortality severed? Or, as some rumors claimed, had a supreme power ambushed and killed him?

Ye Chen remained the focal point of the cultivation world’s discussions. As time passed, by the sixth year, discussions about Ye Chen dwindled. He was forgotten by many. In the cultivation world, countless prodigies, once dazzling, had their immortal paths shattered, fading like shooting stars. Ye Chen was no exception.

During the Heavenly Emperor’s era, a prodigy with unparalleled talent, deemed worthy of true immortality, suppressed the Emperor with a mere avatar. But after a battle that ruined his foundation, he became a cripple, forgotten by all.

Cultivators live long lives. Temporary victories mean little. Only those who stand at the pinnacle are revered. Except for Ye Chen’s lovers, most had moved on, their gazes fixed on the prodigies storming the Immortal Path.

By the eighth year, Ye Chen was a relic of the past. When mentioned, it was merely as someone who once fought six prodigies but perished. The cultivation world was cruel. No matter how radiant, those who fail to reach the peak are slowly erased from memory.