Immortality Starts With Investment

Lan Nuo, slayer of two saints, remained silent, resolutely turning her back to the crowd.

The onlookers were genuinely stunned. Throughout the battle, she had utterly dominated the two self-severed saints—her victory untainted by any exaggeration. The only point of doubt was how frail the saints’ auras had appeared.

Some believed Lan Nuo had battered them into origin depletion, weakening their presence. Others suspected the Heavenly Emperor’s heir had suppressed them first. But no one dared voice that thought.

Regardless, gasps of admiration filled the air. Though the field teemed with quasi-saints, all gazed at Lan Nuo’s graceful yet domineering silhouette with newfound reverence.

”I always thought the rumors of Heavy Pupil Lan Nuo rivaling the Heavenly Emperor’s heir were mere exaggeration. Today, I know how wrong I was. If I ever have a daughter, may she be like Fairy Lan! At the end of the immortal path, who claims the peak? One glimpse of Lan Nuo, and the Dao itself empties!”

An unknown Unity Realm cultivator shouted this line.

The crowd’s awe deepened. The words carried staggering audacity.

Yet Lan Nuo, single-handedly felling two self-severed saints, deserved them. With her back to the assembly, she exuded an unfathomable, inscrutable majesty that inspired profound respect.

Unseen by the crowd, Lan Nuo’s lips threatened to split her face, curving almost to her ears. Especially hearing the line she had secretly instructed a clansman to shout—met with waves of exclamation—sent exhilaration surging through her. She also discovered the supreme advantage of turning her back on the masses.

It felt incredible. When maintaining an icy facade grew impossible, facing away ensured no one would notice. Still, she decided against coining ”turning one’s back on all beings” just yet.

It would feel too rushed—impressions wouldn’t stick. Better to rack up a few more triumphs, leaving only a silhouette after crushing each foe. Then unveil the phrase. The impact would be far greater.

…

By now, the outsiders clearly understood the treasure of this place. They knew why saints had severed their cultivation and why the Heavenly Emperor’s heir had come in person.

A Seven-Colored Nirvana Jade gestating a holy spirit. The jade alone was worth a fortune. Not to mention the Nirvana Sacred Liquid capable of forging a Sacred Spiritual Root. Attaining one virtually guaranteed ascension to the pinnacle of the cultivation world.

It placed its owner on par with legends like the Celestial Prince or the Seven-Crowned King. A Sacred Spiritual Root was arguably the supreme physique the cultivation world could offer. Throughout history, only two had ever appeared. Its rarity spoke for itself.

Under normal circumstances, its emergence in the fourth realm would ignite a bloodbath—at least half the entrants would perish. No one could remain unmoved. Yet it rested in the hands of the Heavenly Emperor’s heir. Truth be told, even if they outnumbered him vastly and threw lives away, they might not threaten him at all. And Lan Nuo stood beside him.

Every gaze fixed on Ye Chen burned with envy and awe. His innate talent already astonished the world. He stood shoulder-to-shoulder with figures like the Celestial Prince and the Seven-Crowned King.

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The outside world firmly believed that, should his cultivation speed prove swift enough to catch the frontrunners, he could absolutely contend for that strand of Immortal Qi. If he gained a Sacred Spiritual Root as well… the others might as well quit. He could crush them utterly.

Many even suspected that anyone still harboring hopes of immortality would now desperately wish Ye Chen dead. After all, Heavy Pupils, Innate Sacred Body Dao Embryo, and Supreme Heart were already absurd enough. Adding a Sacred Spiritual Root on top, it bred pure despair.

In that moment, countless cultivators in the fourth realm who had clung to slim dreams of ascension felt the urge to give up entirely. No chance. Truly no chance. Why fight to the death on the Immortal Path? Better to go home, inherit the family legacy, and live as an ancestor.

Under the gaze of all present, Ye Chen watched Lan Nuo bask in her moment of glory, a smile playing on his lips. He drifted forward gracefully and appeared at her side. With a casual sweep of his hand, he collected the fallen remnants of the two saints along with their scant remaining origin.

Their bodies were forged from immortal-grade materials—immensely valuable in their own right. Because holy spirits possessed innate spirituality, even identical materials shaped into their forms surpassed ordinary equivalents. They would yield far superior results when forged into Extreme Dao weapons or immortal artifacts.

But Lan Nuo cared nothing for such spoils. She had come solely to shine. And now, she had far exceeded even her wildest expectations.

As for the rewards?

They rightfully belonged to Ye Chen. She was not greedy. Obtaining what she desired was enough. In her heart, boundless gratitude swelled toward Ye Chen for going all out to create this stage for her. If not for the outsiders present—and the need to maintain her image—she might have already thrown herself into his arms.

”Thank you, Fairy Lan, for pinning down the enemies. Only then could I leisurely harvest the Nirvana Sacred Liquid and claim the Seven-Colored Nirvana Jade.”

Ye Chen knew her personality well. Before outsiders, he gave her a full face.

With her back to the crowd, a curve hooked the corner of Lan Nuo’s pretty lips. But she quickly schooled her expression into icy aloofness and replied coolly, ”Enemies of that caliber can be suppressed with a flick of my hand—no thanks are needed!”

Her words sparked another wave of uproar among the onlookers. Those were two self-severed saints!

Did Fairy Lan truly regard them as nothing? Could it be that she possessed more than just Heavy Pupils—some other hidden bloodline divine ability?

Otherwise, it made no sense.

Lan Nuo continued indifferently, ”Next, refine the Nirvana Sacred Liquid atop the divine peak. I will stand guard for you. Should anyone harbor ill intent, I will deal with them personally!”

Though her back faced the crowd, her voice rang with unyielding dominance, echoing throughout the small world. It deepened their wariness even further. Yet Ye Chen merely shook his head.

Seeing him refuse, Lan Nuo’s brows furrowed slightly. The Nirvana Sacred Liquid was far too precious. The ancestor had warned that once obtained, it must be refined immediately.

The moment it left the Immortal Path, even Quasi-Immortals would discard all face to seize it. Be they human supremes or great powers of the myriad races, all would descend into frenzy. Let alone the Lan family—even the Heavenly Emperor Hall could not protect it. It would truly be overturned.

Half of the Central Continent might collapse in the chaos. For something of such monumental importance, why would Ye Chen not refine it at once? Did he doubt her ability to guard him?

At this thought, a twinge of guilt pricked Lan Nuo. Ordinary quasi-saints—she believed she could handle. Even peak quasi-saints were worth a try; she might fight them to a standstill.

But against so many… She truly might fall short. The lingering onlookers harbored similar notions. They did not wish to see Ye Chen enter seclusion and refine the sacred liquid.

Ye Chen himself—they lacked the courage to challenge. But Lan Nuo… her strength was formidable, yet uncertain. United, they dared test her.

However, under Lan Nuo’s faintly worried gaze, Ye Chen smiled. He gently extended his hand. ”The Lan family discovered the Nirvana Sacred Liquid. Fairy Lan, with your world-shaking prowess, held off two foes alone—only then could I obtain it smoothly. How could I claim it for myself? This treasure rightfully belongs to you, Fairy Lan!”

Upon his outstretched palm rested the jade vial containing the Nirvana Sacred Liquid.

In that instant—Lan Nuo included—every single person’s eyes widened in disbelief!