Immortality Starts With Investment

The next moment, Ye Chen finally remembered who the woman in the ice coffin was.

When he had slain the contemporary the Firmament Overlord Body along the way, he had also conveniently killed a Feather Transformation Divine Body. After leaving the Immortal Path, the parents of that divine body had come looking for him outside the Immortal City, attempting to block his way. And the mature woman now lying asleep before him was precisely the mother of that Feather Transformation Divine Body.

Back then, she had worn an expression of murderous fury, clearly intent on killing him on the spot. Who could have imagined that, in the blink of an eye, she would end up delivered straight to him. Truly, the world was full of unexpected turns.

Yet Ye Chen looked at the Demon-Exterminating Great Saint with utter incredulity. Sending someone else’s wife over as a gift… Wasn’t that just a little too much?

A woman without any multiplier—though her aura was noble and refined—simply couldn’t compare to the mother of the Little Peacock King, Yan Wenwen. Let alone the four generations of the Heavenly Desire Sect.

Yan Wenwen had only been worth the trouble because of Yan Ruyu. And the Heavenly Desire Sect? They offered nirvana. What possible use was a woman without a multiplier? And this was what you brought to test your Young Lord with?

Sensing Ye Chen’s expression, the Demon-Exterminating Great Saint grew a little confused. The wife of the Alkaid Holy Master had been too difficult to approach. The wife of the Divine Silkworm Clan Leader was still inside the Immortal Path, a Saint King with considerable combat strength—also hard to capture. The rest had cultivation levels too high and required careful planning.

This mother of the Feather Transformation Divine Body had been, in his careful consideration, the most suitable candidate for atonement. There was deep enmity between the Feather Transformation Divine Body and Ye Chen. The divine body’s parents had even gone to block him outside the Immortal City. A mature woman with such profound hatred—shouldn’t she be exactly to the Young Lord’s taste?

”Enough, enough. If she didn’t see your aura clearly, just release her. And remember—if there’s any news about a Dao-Entrust Treasure, come inform me immediately.”

Ye Chen waved his hand casually. His ceiling wasn’t limited to the cultivation world. Spending all his time on these petty, underhanded schemes would be far too small-minded.

After giving the instructions, he turned and left without the slightest hesitation. He left behind the utterly bewildered Demon-Exterminating Great Saint, standing frozen in place.

Something wasn’t right. From all his observations, this should have been exactly to the Young Lord’s taste! So why the lack of interest? And earlier, when the Young Lord’s gaze swept over the woman’s figure, his eyes had clearly lit up!

”Was it because there was only one? Or because she wasn’t big enough? This woman definitely can’t be released—otherwise the hidden agent will be exposed. Fine, I’ll keep her sealed for now. Once I’ve gathered a few more, I’ll send them all together. This one can serve as an extra… First things first—focus on making up for this failure!”

The Demon-Exterminating Great Saint once again laid down a sealing technique, ensuring the woman remained in deep slumber. He resealed the ice coffin. Then he departed silently into the distance.

…

Ye Chen returned to Heavenly Intention Holy Land with an utterly speechless expression. Every time he thought back to the ”gift” the Demon-Exterminating Great Saint had brought, he could only shake his head. Sometimes he really couldn’t understand—exactly who had ruined his reputation to this extent?

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Fortunately, he was already at the peak of Half-Saint. Ascension to immortality and entry into the Immortal Realm were now within sight. When the time came, he could simply start fresh in the Immortal Realm.

While he was lost in thought, the Divine Maiden Peak suddenly trembled. Endless divine light erupted from his fiancée’s cave abode, connecting straight to heaven and earth.

A terrifying aura poured forth. All the female cultivators on Divine Maiden Peak trembled as they stared upward in awe. Even the Heavenly Intention Holy Hall was alarmed—several streaks of light shot over. Among them were the figures of the Heavenly Intention Holy Master and others.

Ye Chen watched, and his eyes immediately brightened. It seemed his fiancée’s transformation had been completed. Yet he didn’t rush over at once. Instead, he drifted far away to a remote mountain peak, sat beside a clear pool, and began fishing.

…

Many people hovered in the skies above Divine Maiden Peak, waiting in quiet anticipation. After a long while, a figure of peerless beauty emerged slowly from the cave abode—clad in flowing white, her aura cold and transcendent. Who else could it be but their own Holy Maiden, Yi Qingwu?

The moment everyone laid eyes on her, astonishment rippled through the crowd. Especially the Holy Master and the elders—their gazes carried open shock. Previously, their Holy Maiden had already stunned them by rapidly reaching the peak of the Second Heaven of Mahayana—a speed that, in any previous era, would have marked her as a supreme prodigy. Even in this golden age overflowing with geniuses, it was still outstanding.

But now… in the blink of an eye? Her cultivation had broken through again. Straight to the late stage of the Third Heaven King realm. She stood only one step away from the peak. And Yi Qingwu’s already breathtaking beauty had undergone a subtle yet profound change in temperament.

She now carried an additional air of ethereal detachment, as though she had transcended the mundane world entirely. Standing there, she truly resembled a celestial maiden descended from the heavens. No one dared harbor even the slightest profane thought.

Her aura had grown even more terrifying. Because the breakthrough was so recent and she had yet to perfectly control it, even the Fourth-Heaven Half-Saints of Heavenly Intention Holy Land felt palpable pressure when facing her now.

The Holy Master and elders exchanged glances. Shock flickered in their eyes, yet none of them probed deeper. There was no need to ask. Their Holy Son had returned. The Holy Maiden had immediately gone into seclusion. Clearly, the Holy Son had brought her something extraordinary.

That realization put everyone at ease. They had worried a little before—after hearing about Ye Chen giving Sacred Spiritual Root to Lan Nuo, about his indulgence in the three-generation gatherings of Heavenly Desire Sect.

They had feared Yi Qingwu might not hold a favored place in his heart. But now, seeing such a massive leap in her cultivation, it was obvious the treasure Ye Chen had given her was priceless beyond measure. Her position in his heart was absolutely unshakable.

The Heavenly Intention Holy Master spoke up. He had something to discuss with Yi Qingwu anyway.

…

Yi Qingwu stepped out of the cave abode with an expressionless face and swept her gaze across the surroundings. She didn’t see that certain someone. Her moon-like eyes narrowed slightly. An even colder aura emanated from her, causing the female cultivators who had been about to offer congratulations to instinctively retreat.

At that moment, the Heavenly Intention Holy Master spoke: ”Qingwu, come up here for a moment.”

Yi Qingwu regained her usual aloof demeanor. She floated gracefully into the sky and gave a light nod to the elders. No one minded her cold attitude.

The Heavenly Intention Holy Master transmitted quietly: ”Qingwu, have you given any more thought to becoming Dao companions with Ye Chen? Ye Chen already sent over the betrothal gift when he arrived. If you’re still unwilling for now, I’ll return it to him. But if you are willing… then we really need to have a proper talk about this gift…”

The Holy Master’s words caused Yi Qingwu’s delicate brows to lift slightly beneath her otherwise impassive expression.

Ye Chen had already sent the betrothal gift?

The Holy Master, seeing her reaction, spoke with some confusion: ”You didn’t know?”

A faint ripple stirred in Yi Qingwu’s heart. She gave a small nod.

The Holy Master sighed inwardly at Ye Chen’s staggering wealth, then continued: ”When Ye Chen arrived, I brought up the matter of becoming Dao companions. He agreed at once and said he would persuade you. After meeting with you, he came straight here and presented the betrothal gift. That’s what I wanted to discuss.

”We in Heavenly Intention Holy Land are not selling our Holy Maiden. What does he mean by giving such an extravagant gift? So take the gift back for now and discuss it properly with Ye Chen. Of course, I’m not saying we can’t afford to return something of equal value. I just hope the two of you won’t place too much importance on material things… True affection is what matters most. Gifts are just a gesture…”