Immortality Starts With Investment

Alkaid gazed at Ye Chen from afar. A trace of envy flickered in his eyes, mingled with battle intent. He envied Ye Chen’s unstoppable momentum and peerless talent. Yet gazing at him evoked a sense of kinship. Ye Chen surely concealed trump cards, just as he did.

Though born with a mere mortal physique, Alkaid actually harbored something extraordinary. So rare that it had deceived every great power in the Devouring lineage. Relying on it, he had carved a bloody path through their secret realm back then, claiming the true devouring inheritance.

And now, he wasn’t merely awaiting the chance to shed his demonic fetus. He sought a further step. An Acquired Chaos Body wasn’t enough—he craved an innate one.

The Devouring True Immortal’s talent stood unmatched across ages. Even reduced to mortal form, she remained invincible. But only the Devouring True Immortal could achieve that. For others, true mortalization would render them utterly ordinary.

Past true immortals and great powers of the Devouring lineage had all attempted to deduce the next step—transforming acquired into innate. None succeeded. They left only fragmented conjectures.

Yet he had gathered every predecessor’s attempts, studied the Heavenly Desire Sect’s Heart-Seed Demon Nirvana Scripture, the Divine Silkworm Clan’s Nine Transformations Immortal Scripture, and every nirvana method in the cultivation world. He had formed new ideas and was experimenting. If he succeeded, he would gain not merely an Innate Chaos Body. In the future—ascending to immortality, founding a lineage—he might reach even greater heights.

…

Alkaid spared Ye Chen no further glance and drifted away. He had his own matters to attend.

The great powers of the Devouring lineage narrowed their eyes, sweeping over Ye Chen. Alkaid’s speculation was too startling. They had always hoped the Heavenly Emperor’s heir would serve as a whetstone for him. But if he truly possessed a Sacred Spiritual Root as well... they dared wait no longer.

Whetstones abounded—this one was too hard. Better dead.

…

In another realm.

The violet-gold divine dragon lounged lazily atop the golden-robed elder’s head, glancing at Ye Chen as it spoke. ”Regretting it now? If back then you had invited Ye Chen over and made him the true Heavenly Emperor’s heir, that Sacred Spiritual Root would likely belong to your daughter.

”Chaos Body plus Sacred Spiritual Root—she’d ascend sitting down. Daughter with Chaos Body, son-in-law with Innate Sacred Body Dao Embryo plus Heavy Pupils and Supreme Heart—you’d be the cultivation world’s foremost father-in-law.

”Yet you insisted on this fake successor nonsense. Now you’ve offended him utterly. When you meet again, he might greet you with a fist first. What was the point?”

The golden-robed elder’s expression darkened, lips twitching.

Yet he replied coldly, ”Talent is vital, but not everything. My daughter Qingcheng possesses the makings of immortality. Her will rivals the Heavenly Emperor of old. A Sacred Spiritual Root or not—irrelevant. Once she severs the Dao and breaks through to sainthood, she will forge her own path. The future victor remains unknown. Besides, with so many women around him, he’s unworthy of my daughter.”

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The violet-gold divine dragon couldn’t be bothered with his stubbornness. Bored, it closed its eyes, anticipating the day Yan Qingcheng shyly led Ye Chen into the Heavenly Emperor Hall. No doubt, the old man’s expression then would be priceless.

…

Within the Immortal City.

Thunderbolt Great Saint Wen Tailai narrowed his eyes, greed surging in his heart. He truly coveted everything Ye Chen possessed. He knew he lacked the qualifications for immortality. He only wished to break through to Great Emperor—or even Quasi-Immortal—before the Age of Dharma’s End arrived. Thus, though he had missed his chance last time, he never abandoned hope. The moment opportunity struck, he would deliver a thunderous blow and utterly crush Ye Chen.

…

In the ancestral grounds of the Undying Celestial Phoenix Clan. Atop the sacred mountain.

The will of the Celestial Prince, still slumbering within the divine source, received the news. Learning of the fallen peak quasi-saint, his expression remained unruffled. He nodded calmly. ”In that case, no need to send anyone. This one is worthy of my personal attention. When I emerge, I will act myself!”

…

In the ninth realm of the Immortal Path.

Within a secret realm brimming with immortal spiritual qi, a divine pool shimmered with ethereal vapors. The pool water was crystal clear, cradling a single azure lotus that swayed gently. The bud appeared on the verge of blooming. Within it, a figure sat cross-legged—divine and sacred, radiating astonishing presence.

Upon receiving the news, only a sigh emerged from the lotus. ”When I emerge, I will reclaim the Seven-Colored Nirvana Jade from Ye Chen! This matter began because of me. In the future, I will bring her into the immortal realm and help mend her cracks!”

…

In Immortal City.

The dust settled. From beginning to end, Lan Nuo uttered not a word. After suppressing the peak quasi-saint, she calmly departed alongside Ye Chen and the Lan family great powers.

The Lan elders beamed with pride, their enthusiasm overflowing. The one who had summoned the Extreme Dao vessel greeted familiar peers warmly. ”This Extreme Dao vessel of mine bears inscribed top-tier spatial divine arrays—vastly spacious inside…”

”And astonishingly swift. Our clans are merely tens of millions of miles apart—quite close. Shall I ferry you partway?”

”What? You ask why I possess an Extreme Dao vessel? Ahem—the Heavenly Emperor’s heir insisted on gifting it. I refused, but he forced it upon me…”

”What? You ask about its grade and materials? Upper-grade, primarily forged from dragon-patterned immortal gold, blended with…”

Onlookers’ lips twitched. No one asked.

As Lan Nuo and the Heavenly Emperor’s heir departed, the storm over the Sacred Spiritual Root finally subsided. Yet Lan Nuo’s battle achievements swiftly spread across the entire cultivation world.

At the same time, the Heavenly Emperor’s heir’s reputation for womanizing grew ever more convincing. After all, gifting even a Sacred Spiritual Root—if that didn’t count, what did?

Beyond that, discussions of Ye Chen’s love for fishing proliferated. His reputation in the cultivation world now rivaled the Heavenly Emperor of old.

Equally cunning, equally fond of baiting hooks, equally vindictive. The sole difference: Ye Chen kept a harem; the Heavenly Emperor did not.

…

In the blink of an eye, a month passed.

”Master, you’re awful…”

Lan Nuo’s pretty face flushed crimson, staring at Ye Chen with deep resentment. Having thwarted her latest attempt at ”riding the master,” Ye Chen gently tidied her sweat-dampened strands, smiling. ”No more enduring. Since you can’t hold it back, enter seclusion.”

After refining the Sacred Spiritual Root, her cultivation had exploded to the peak. Coupled with the Stasis Secret he had taught her—mastery of time laws now perfected—she could no longer suppress her realm.

Yet Lan Nuo knew that once she secluded herself, Ye Chen would leave. Reluctant to part, she always sought to ”handle” her master before retreating. Each time, however, she suffered merciless suppression.

”Cultivate well. I’ll visit you again next time!”

Over the month, Ye Chen had gifted her several times, bestowing treasures acquired at auction. He had even triggered a heart-strike once, profoundly experiencing the might of a ten-thousand-times female cultivator. But now he lacked urgent needs. His own cultivation had also reached peak Third Heaven in this month. Thus, he urged Lan Nuo into seclusion. While he prepared to return to Great Yan Continent—first to gift his fiancée, then visit the Heavenly Desire Sect…