Immortality Starts With Investment

The description of the Star God Origin-Gathering Cauldron went on at length. For instance, when elevating a cave heaven into a true world, the cauldron could automatically draw in massive amounts of external origin power, helping the cultivator’s world achieve greater perfection, a higher starting point, and a loftier ceiling. And there were many other benefits besides.

In short, every function revolved around origin energy—precisely what cultivators craved most.

Ye Chen pondered carefully. His Dao Cauldron boosted cultivation speed and comprehension. The Nine Transformations Heavenly Furnace increased the gains and upper limits of every breakthrough.

Now, with the Star God Origin-Gathering Cauldron added to the set, he had a constant, effortless supply of the high-grade energies that other cultivators had to hunt, capture, and painstakingly refine.

Everything had come together perfectly. When combined, the three artifacts would send his progress soaring. His cultivation speed was already astonishing—add this complete cultivation trinity, and he felt as though he could prepare for immortality tomorrow.

Most importantly, all three were immortal artifacts. They would remain useful even after ascending to the Immortal Realm.

Perfect.

Ye Chen gazed at the Star God Origin-Gathering Cauldron, now placed within his small world.

It was a three-legged cauldron. The body displayed three distinct colors: deep indigo, purple-gold, and verdant green. Countless patterns covered its surface, tracing the orbits of cosmic star rivers.

In the finest details of each trajectory, faint stars could be glimpsed—as though entire real galaxies had been sealed within, radiating an aura of profound mystery and depth.

The mouth of the cauldron shimmered hazily, like a flowing galaxy. On each of the three legs stood an ancient divine beast carving: Kirin, Phoenix, and Black Tortoise.

They were not lifeless statues. Each possessed a spark of spirituality; their eyes occasionally flashed with sharp light, resonating with the patterns across the cauldron body and drawing in all manner of forces.

Ye Chen withdrew his divine sense. The more he examined the Star God Origin-Gathering Cauldron, the more satisfied he became. His gaze toward Yan Qingcheng grew even gentler. When it fell on the elder, a faint smile touched his lips despite himself.

Yan Qingcheng caught the exchange and sighed inwardly once more. Her father’s prejudice against Ye Chen was so blatant. Yet Ye Chen could still smile at him. It must be for her sake. Soon after, she arranged a secluded cultivation chamber for Ye Chen.

Ye Chen adopted a slightly embarrassed expression. ”This is the Heavenly Emperor Hall… Is it really appropriate for me to stay here? If it’s inconvenient, I’d better leave.”

Hearing this only deepened Yan Qingcheng’s heartache and guilt. But the person in question was her own father—certain words were difficult for her to say. She could only respond earnestly, ”Fellow Daoist Ye, cultivate here without worry. There is no inconvenience at all. Right, Father?”

The golden-robed elder, grinding his teeth, forced a thin smile onto his face.

”No problem, no problem at all. Ye Chen, feel free to stay. You can leave after breaking through to Saint…”

Only then did Ye Chen appear reassured. Before following Yan Qingcheng away, he remembered something and turned back to the elder.

”Old… Senior, my Western Empress Divine Carriage is still parked outside. While I’m in seclusion, could I trouble you to keep an eye on it for me?”

Beneath his sleeves, the golden-robed elder’s fists clenched hard.

Keep an eye on it? I’ll smash the damn thing. Let’s see how you seduce my daughter without your flashy ride.

But with his daughter right there, he could only nod stiffly. Once Ye Chen and Yan Qingcheng had departed, his expression finally darkened completely. The immortal artifact fragment that belonged to his family had somehow been turned into Ye Chen’s favor. It was absurd. It was suffocating.

But what alarmed him even more was Ye Chen’s attitude. The boy hadn’t even cared about an immortal artifact fragment. What did that mean?

It meant Ye Chen had far greater ambitions. Beyond simply taking his daughter, was he truly after the Heavenly Emperor Hall itself?

But the Heavenly Emperor Hall belongs to the Yan family! Even if you’ve inherited some of the Heavenly Emperor’s legacy, even with your Supreme Heart and Heavy Pupils—what does any of that have to do with our Yan family’s Heavenly Emperor Hall?

You’re dreaming!

In any case, the golden-robed elder made up his mind. The moment Ye Chen broke through, he would drive him out immediately. Since Ye Chen hadn’t kept the immortal artifact fragment, his kind-hearted daughter would surely still feel the need to repay him.

If she insisted on sharing half the Origin Pool with him, then fine—he wouldn’t try to stop her anymore. He would simply let Ye Chen take the entire thing and get lost. He could find other ways to help his daughter reach the peak of Saint quickly.

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In short, the instant Ye Chen achieved sainthood, he had better get the hell out.

…

Ye Chen bid Yan Qingcheng farewell and swept his gaze across the seclusion chamber she had arranged for him. It was vast. One entire wall was made of glazed crystal, offering an unobstructed view of the boundless starry sky beyond.

His Heavy Pupils scanned the room once. Confirming nothing amiss, he laid down an additional grand array for good measure. Only then did he step into his small world. The moment he entered, he sensed the change. Every kind of energy had grown noticeably richer. Clearly, the work of the Star God Origin-Gathering Cauldron.

Now, Ye Chen could immerse his divine sense and explore it fully. His eyes soon lit up. Aside from attracting and gathering all manner of energies, the cauldron could also compress any surplus energy he currently had no use for into spiritual crystals.

For example, it could condense one cosmic origin crystal per month. A single such crystal was enough for a Saint-realm cultivator to break through a minor realm.

For Ye Chen, this was an extremely useful function. Later, when his master, his fiancée, Lanno, and the others reached the appropriate realm, he could simply gift them origin crystals and let them advance rapidly.

Luo Bingling had naturally been roused by the appearance of yet another immortal artifact. She had been circling it for ages, her face radiant with delight. Within Ye Chen’s cave heaven, breakthrough and cultivation speed were already absurdly fast.

Now, with the Star God Origin-Gathering Cauldron, it had nearly doubled again. Luo Bingling had already reached the late Half-Saint stage. Cultivating day and night inside the cave heaven, accelerated by time dilation, her progress was almost catching up to Ye Chen’s.

Behind her, Lu Jing’s little face lit up with the desperation of someone spotting a savior the instant she saw Ye Chen. To his surprise, Lu Jing’s cultivation had reached the peak of Deity Transformation—she was on the verge of Unity. Even compared to the top heavenly geniuses of holy lands, her cultivation conditions were unmatched.

Yet given her personality, reaching peak Deity Transformation showed just how brutally she had been tormented by the cultivation maniac Luo Bingling during this period.

”Young Master… would you like something to eat?”

Lu Jing asked pitifully, clearly hoping to cook for him and steal a moment of rest.

Ye Chen’s lips curved into a smile. He gently pulled her into his arms.

”Not right now. Since you’ve already reached peak Deity Transformation, let me help you break through to Unity instead…”

Lu Jing’s small face instantly fell. Yet a spark of anticipation flickered in her eyes. It wasn’t anticipation for the breakthrough itself—but for the method Young Master used to help her break through.

After a light pat from Ye Chen, Lu Jing very skillfully placed both hands on the Seven-Colored Nirvana Jade.

Luo Bingling’s interest was immediately piqued. She smacked Lu Jing’s bottom. ”Let me go first this time!”

Lu Jing looked utterly wronged but obediently stepped aside. On one hand, she was terrified—if she disobeyed, Luo Bingling would force her to cultivate nonstop for twenty-four hours straight. In the outside world, that would be impossible. Her body wouldn’t endure it; all sorts of hidden injuries would appear.

But inside Young Master’s cave heaven, with the blessing of multiple immortal artifacts and every kind of immortal root gathered together, she didn’t even need to eat. Just inhaling the fragrance was enough to keep her body in perfect condition, healing any hidden injury the moment it appeared. Non-stop cultivation was genuinely possible. Lu Jing was truly frightened.

On the other hand, Luo Bingling always finished quickly. It wouldn’t be long before she was crying and begging to switch. So waiting a little was fine—Lu Jing wouldn’t be idle for long.

Ye Chen didn’t bother intervening in their little squabble. He treated it as a bit of playful intimacy. He gave Luo Bingling a light pat. She instantly understood his intent and leaned obediently against the Seven-Colored Nirvana Jade.

Soon, the Holy Spirit within the Seven-Colored Nirvana Jade glared through the shell at the blurred figures outside—made indistinct by the splashes of ”water.” She gnashed her teeth in fury. Once she was born, she would make every single one of them pay. Especially that purple-haired one in golden armor.

Do you think water is free?!

Of course, she could only curse them in her heart. Ever since the new immortal artifact, the Star God Origin-Gathering Cauldron, had appeared in the cave heaven, every energy within had grown even denser. Her gestation speed had accelerated several times over!

She felt that in just a few more years, she would be born perfect and complete.

…

After helping Lu Jing accumulate a perfect foundation and prepare for her breakthrough to the Unity realm, Ye Chen rose with deep satisfaction. His Dao Heart was now completely unobstructed. He could finally begin preparing to break through to Saint.

The mere thought made the corners of his mouth lift into an involuntary smile. His breakthrough speed was truly growing faster and faster.

As long as one had sufficient cosmic origin energy, advancing from Saint all the way to Saint King was entirely possible. And with the Star God Origin-Gathering Cauldron in his possession, his cultivation speed in the Saint realm would be nothing short of monstrous.

In other words, after breaking through to Saint this time, it wouldn’t be long before he reached Saint King. This pace of cultivation was truly taking flight. Immortality felt closer than ever.

Ye Chen did not leave his cave heaven. Instead, he flew straight into the Nine Transformations Heavenly Furnace and sat cross-legged. He began circulating the Chaos Golden Radiance Dao-Severing Method while simultaneously summoning the Chaos Destiny Stone!

The stone—hazy and dreamlike, almost impossible to discern clearly, resembling drifting mist—entered the space between his brows in an instant.

In that very moment, Ye Chen’s aura began to transform. Terrifying power surged outward from within, rippling around him in waves of pulsing golden flame.

Between his brows, a Dao Self that Ye Chen had condensed also sat cross-legged. It grasped the Chaos Destiny Stone and commenced refinement. Once the refinement was complete, his Dao Self would transcend and defy the Great Dao in reverse…

Cultivation knows neither day nor night.

In the blink of an eye, half a year passed.

Inside Ye Chen’s cave heaven, Luo Bingling—who had been cultivating quietly—and Lu Jing—who had already broken through to Unity only to be forced back into cultivation by the relentless Luo Bingling—suddenly opened their eyes at the same moment…

A terrifying aura spread throughout the cave heaven. Endless golden light surged, as though a great sun were about to rise. Beneath that overwhelming pressure, Lu Jing trembled on the spot. Dressed lightly as she was, ripples of water danced across her skin…

Luo Bingling, far more experienced, brightened at once.

”Husband has succeeded in severing his Dao and broken through to Saint. This is Saint Might! But the moment he breaks through, his Saint Might is already this terrifying—I’ve never seen anything like it. This aura… even the veteran Saints of the War God Clan fall far short. Husband truly grows more terrifying by the day.”

”…”

Feeling the dread-inducing pressure that seemed to pierce straight into her soul, Luo Bingling’s beautiful face flushed faintly. Achieving sainthood was a momentous occasion. She suddenly felt the urge to celebrate with him…