Immortality Starts With Investment

The two figures who stepped from the teleportation array were striking. The man stood tall as an ancient pine, noble and imposing, handsome as an exiled immortal stepped out from a painting. His eyes resembled deep abysses harboring entire galaxies—unfathomable. A single glance could drown anyone within their depths.

The woman possessed a graceful, alluring figure, like a willow branch dancing in the wind. An innate aloof and peerless beauty radiated from her. Every gesture carried the ethereal aura unique to supreme heavenly maidens, captivating at first sight.

Both were renowned throughout the cultivation world, their fame even surpassing the two self-severed saints from moments earlier. The man was the Heavenly Emperor’s heir, the one who had schemed to bury an entire generation of myriad races’ prodigies. Of course, quite a few human prodigies had fallen along the way too.

The woman was Lan Nuo, bearer of Heavy Pupils, like a fairy hidden among the clouds. She rarely acted, yet each appearance shocked the world. Publicly acknowledged as humanity’s strongest female prodigy of this generation, her few battles carried immense weight.

Her debut had left the once-unrivaled Heavenly Emperor’s heir uncertain, forcing him to retreat with measured caution. Their second direct clash raged for a long time and ended in a stalemate. Even then, the heir had spoken regretful words: ”At the end of the immortal path, who stands at the peak? One glance at Lan Nuo...”

Though unfinished, those words sparked endless speculation. The regretful tone alone proved she had truly stunned him.

Of course, some harbored doubts inwardly. But fearing the heir’s infamous womanizing reputation, none dared voice them aloud. Thus, Lan Nuo’s invincible name remained untarnished.

Both were merely third-heaven kings, yet the semi-saints present gazed at them with deep reverence—no less than when facing the two self-severed saints. Even setting aside questions about Lan Nuo’s feats, the Heavenly Emperor’s heir alone had a record that spoke volumes. Slaying peak semi-saints was like butchering dogs to him.

Yet first, the two Holy Spirits had self-severed to enter the fourth realm. Now the Heavenly Emperor’s heir followed in person. The connection was undeniable.

What world-shaking treasure had emerged in the fourth realm to draw such heaven-defying powerhouses one after another?

The question itched like an invisible hand scratching at hearts, leaving everyone restless and anxious. Holy Spirits. Self-severed saints whose strength was unfathomable. Untouchable. The Heavenly Emperor’s heir—combat prowess heaven-defying, a veritable god of slaughter. Equally unassailable.

An opportunity that should have belonged to semi-saints now bore no relation to true semi-saints like them. Utterly stifling.

Soon, Lan disciples flew forth like trained attendants and respectfully guided the pair onward.

Ye Chen knew of the self-severed Holy Spirits, but the Nirvana Sacred Liquid was his by right. Self-severed or not—if they dared contest it, only death awaited them.

To save time, Ye Chen directly pulled Lan Nuo into his embrace. Pushing the Movement Secret and Kun Peng Treasure Technique to their extremes, he turned the pair into a blinding stream of light under countless watching eyes. They thundered toward the divine mountain.

Ye Chen held her naturally. Lan Nuo nestled just as naturally. Many onlookers wore ”as expected” expressions. The two definitely had something going on.

Yet some prodigies stirred inwardly. After a brief hesitation, several gritted their teeth. Their figures rose and chased in the duo’s wake. The direction was clear: the Heavenly Emperor’s heir and the Holy Spirits were pursuing the same goal.

Compelling saints to self-sever. Drawing the treasury-rich Heavenly Emperor’s heir in person.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

That was proof enough—the opportunity was staggering. In the contest for immortality, should one yield simply because one’s skill was inferior?

Even against the Heavenly Emperor’s heir, even against self-severed saints—they would gamble. Should fortune smile and they claim it, they might vault straight to immortality’s throne in one step to heaven.

In moments, countless fourth-realm cultivators burned with resolve. Streams of light streaked like meteors across the sky, all hurtling toward the same destination.

...

Deep within the fourth realm, a mountain range coiled like a slumbering giant dragon.

At its heart, a colossal waterfall cascaded like a heavenly curtain, giving birth to endless mist that shrouded the land in soft, ethereal haze—dreamlike.

Flame Heart Saint and Moonlight Saint arrived. They swept indifferent gazes around before charging straight into the falls.

Behind the curtain lay a hidden passage. Traversing it, the view opened into another paradise: towering spiritual plants, leaping spiritual beasts, and spiritual qi several times denser than outside.

Far ahead, atop a divine peak, seven-colored divine light flowed like radiant ribbons descending from the heavens.

The pair exchanged glances, confirmation in their eyes. They nodded slightly. ”As Lotus Emperor said—truly a Seven-Colored Nirvana Jade gestating a Holy Spirit here!”

”This Seven-Colored Nirvana Jade is genuine top-tier immortal material, rarer even than true immortal gold. Coveted indeed. If allowed perfect gestation, its strength would rival the ancient Stone Emperor or Fire Emperor!”

”A pity the timing is too late—no final ascension chance remains. Without Lotus Emperor, even perfect gestation would yield only quasi-immortal, wasting lifespan in this realm.”

They spoke while flying onward. Nearing the core, their brows furrowed tighter. They keenly sensed lingering human stench.

Many of the original arrays lay damaged. Top-tier Holy Spirits bore innate protective formations alongside natal treasures. This tightened their hearts—they feared the kin within the Seven-Colored Nirvana Jade had been disturbed and born prematurely.

Yet upon reaching the end, they exhaled faintly. The core array remained intact. The two human cultivators had departed not long ago.

”Holy Spirits gestate with great difficulty. Whenever humans and myriad races discover one, greed takes over—they interrupt without hesitation, even refining us into materials.”

”Deserve death! I have memorized their auras. When free, I will petition Spirit Channeling Ancient Emperor to divine them—exterminate their families and sects entirely!”

They decreed the fate of the prior two humans—and their entire lineages—casually as they spoke.

Far off, a crystalline seven-colored divine stone stood like a giant, roughly human in height. Such volume astonished them.

Before them, array patterns emerged like living things, blazing seven-colored light into an indestructible barrier that halted the pair. But it could not stop them.

Moonlight Saint pointed. Endless lunar radiance surged and silently opened a portal in the array. They stepped calmly within. The path cleared. Moments later, they reached the summit of the divine peak.

The Seven-Colored Nirvana Jade—absorbing heaven-and-earth essence ceaselessly—trembled faintly at their arrival. A hazy, graceful silhouette flickered within, indistinct. Pressure emanated, warning them away.

Seeing this, the pair sighed. The Holy Spirit within feared interruption—an instinctive reaction even though her consciousness still slumbered.

The tragedy of the Holy Spirit Clan: the path to heaven lay open, yet remained uncontrollable. Any disturbance risked eternal deficiency.

Toward kin, they shed their prior indifference.

”Awaken her!”

”I will cast the Supreme Sage Spirit Awakening Chapter! Guard me!”

Moonlight Saint raised his hands. Spiritual qi surged as lunar radiance enveloped him. His fingers wove seals rapidly. Special forces streamed into the Seven-Colored Nirvana Jade. It quivered like an awakening beast. The hazy, graceful shadow within gained vitality—gradually solidifying, becoming vivid.

Flame Heart Saint watched with profound emotion. Though this was not his first time witnessing it, shock still overwhelmed him. Holy Spirits slumbered in gestation with chaotic consciousness. Without breaking gestation, awakening was impossible.

Yet Lotus Emperor—still gestating—had somehow awakened early, defying heavenly rules. He had created the Supreme Sage Spirit Awakening Chapter, a divine art that allowed gestating Holy Spirits to awaken consciousness without being born.

For the clan, it was a supreme divine art. Thus, they pledged unwavering loyalty to the Lotus Emperor, like devout followers aiding his birth and ascension.

Finally, half an hour later.

Moonlight Saint withdrew his aura and lowered his hands. The special force ebbed like a retreating tide. Within the Seven-Colored Nirvana Jade, the now-solid graceful shadow—like Sleeping Beauty awakening—slowly opened her eyes.

A woman’s form appeared: jade-like skin, a meticulously sculpted masterpiece. Features heaven-carved—exquisite, the favored child of creation. Seven-colored divine light veiled her body like radiant clothes. Long hair flowed spiritedly. Stunningly beautiful. Her newly opened eyes—liquid jade—held brief confusion before turning ice-cold upon seeing the pair.

”Kin?”

Sensing their identity, the chill lingered undiminished, like an eternal glacier. She spoke indifferently.

”You disturb my gestation and slumber! You seek death?”