Immortality Starts With Investment

Caiyu froze the moment she heard those words.

Another gift for her? Uncle really valued her far too highly, didn’t he? Was the thought of tormenting her truly something he looked forward to that much?

Yet she had not emerged yet. There were not many things in the world that could actually benefit her at this stage. Even so, Caiyu had already decided: even if the gift was useless, she would thank Uncle properly and make him happy.

The next moment, Ye Chen waved his hand lightly.

Caiyu’s pupils widened instantly. The jade box she had been paying close attention to and constantly thinking about rose from the sea of origin and landed in Ye Chen’s palm.

The Seven-colored Nirvana Jade trembled violently at that instant.

Caiyu felt as if her entire gestation process had come to a halt. She stared unblinkingly at the jade box in Ye Chen’s hand. She did not know what was inside. But her holy spirit instincts told her that the object within was incomparably precious to her—far more important than the Lotus Emperor’s origin she had received earlier. If she could obtain it, she might advance even further.

Was Uncle really going to give this treasure to her?

Caiyu did not dare speak. If Ye Chen did not offer it himself, she would not ask.

On his side, Ye Chen gently opened the jade box and presented its contents before Caiyu’s eyes. It was a perfect heart that looked as if it had been carved from the finest jade.

Nine apertures resembling nine stars in a line flowed with divine radiance, constantly swallowing and spitting out the essence of the sun and moon. Even though Alkaid had been dead for several years, the heart still expanded and contracted vigorously, beating with powerful thuds. The rhythmic drumming echoed without end.

This was the Nine Apertures Exquisite Heart.

The Seven-colored Nirvana Jade shook even more fiercely than when Luo Bingling had been on top of it.

The Nine Apertures Exquisite Heart—truly the Nine Apertures Exquisite Heart. For a holy spirit, this was the most precious treasure in the world, bar none.

It was well known that once a holy spirit formally emerged, although she would be extremely powerful, her cultivation speed would be shockingly slow—slower even than a War God Clan member at the Mahayana stage.

The main reason was that holy spirits lacked a heart. Their essence was still not truly perfect. But the Nine Apertures Exquisite Heart, with its jade-like material, was naturally compatible with holy spirits.

Once refined and fully integrated, it would leave no flaws whatsoever. Her cultivation speed would then be no weaker than any other race’s heaven-chosen genius. She would have no weaknesses at all.

Moreover, if she obtained it while still in gestation, she could fuse with the Nine Apertures Exquisite Heart completely. She could even continuously refine and adapt the heart during the gestation process to make it even more suitable for herself.

At this moment, the Seven-colored Nirvana Jade trembled more violently than it ever had.

Caiyu’s excitement was evident.

Ye Chen wiped the star pool water droplets from his face and smiled gently. ”After I obtained this item, I actually wanted to give it to you right away. But at that time you had not yet developed consciousness, so I did not know how to present it. Now that you have awakened, this treasure belongs to you!”

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As soon as he finished speaking, Ye Chen flicked his hand lightly.

The flawless, crystalline Nine Apertures Exquisite Heart floated slowly toward Caiyu.

Hearing his words, Caiyu’s heart skipped a beat as an even more inexplicable emotion surged within her.

Uncle had wanted to give it to her all along?

He had simply been waiting because she had been pretending and he did not know how to offer it.

Uncle truly valued her too much.

All she would have to do after emerging was endure a few sessions of torment. How could that possibly be worth such a priceless treasure?

For the first time, a deep sense of guilt rose in Caiyu’s heart. She felt guilty for having guarded against Ye Chen, feared him, and hidden things from him before. She also felt guilty for continuing to deceive him now, even though she knew her upper limit had already risen.

Uncle valued her so highly. How could she keep deceiving him? If she continued like this, wouldn’t she truly become the bad holy spirit that the wicked woman had described? That was absolutely unacceptable.

After hesitating for a moment, the Nine Apertures Exquisite Heart had already arrived right in front of the Seven-colored Nirvana Jade. With a single thought from Caiyu, she could merge it into herself.

Caiyu did not move. Instead, she spoke carefully in her doll-like voice, ”Uncle, I may not emerge so soon. Because your inner world contains a special aura that has raised my upper limit. And although the Lotus Emperor’s origin mainly increased my cultivation, it still raised my upper limit slightly. Then there is this Nine Apertures Exquisite Heart. I have a feeling that if I refine it, my upper limit will advance even further.

”In other words, achieving a perfect gestation will require more time. I may need to reach the True Immortal realm—or even beyond—before I emerge. But I know Uncle is very eager to taste me. If Uncle really cannot wait, then there is no need to gift me the Nine Apertures Exquisite Heart now. You can give it to me after I emerge. It will be the same.”

After she finished speaking, Caiyu gazed at Ye Chen cautiously, afraid he would be displeased.

Yet when Ye Chen heard her words, his eyes lit up.

For the current Ye Chen, he lacked nothing when it came to female cultivators, let alone a holy spirit. He truly had little interest. But multipliers—especially high ones—he valued greatly.

After all, Caiyu had been gestated within the Seven-colored Nirvana Jade. She was genuine top-tier divine material, far surpassing the Fire Emperor and Stone Emperor of history, with aptitude not much different from the Lotus Emperor’s.

She was undoubtedly a ten-thousand-times talent. If her upper limit could keep rising, could she reach twenty thousand times? Thirty thousand times?

That was what Ye Chen truly looked forward to.

As for not being able to wait? How could that be possible?

As long as there were benefits to gain, Ye Chen’s patience far exceeded imagination. Even the aloof Senior An had nearly run out of patience from his persistent efforts.

However, Caiyu’s talk of ”tasting her flavor” made Ye Chen’s face darken slightly.

Did he seem like that kind of person?

Ye Chen waved his hand and spoke to Caiyu seriously, ”Caiyu, you don’t need to worry. My kindness toward you comes from seeing you as a junior. I don’t need any repayment!

”What you need to do is focus on your gestation and raise your upper limit peacefully. The higher your cultivation and aptitude when you emerge, the happier I will be.

”As for the Nine Apertures Exquisite Heart, of course, it is better to use it sooner rather than later. Do not refuse. Refine it quickly.”

Caiyu was stunned by his words.

Uncle did not crave her taste? He did not want to torment her? How was that possible?

Whenever Uncle appeared in the inner world, he was always tormenting someone. He was clearly obsessed with it.

Yet he said this. It was obvious that although Uncle wanted to torment her, he cared more about her achieving a perfect gestation. He was unwilling to let his own desires affect her future.

Once she understood everything, Caiyu gently bit her lip.

Uncle was truly the best human she had ever met. Especially when contrasted with that wicked woman, he seemed even better. And since Uncle was so good to her, how could she disappoint him?

From now on, she would put even more effort into her gestation, speed up the process, and emerge as soon as possible. She would let Uncle torment her to his heart’s content.

”Thank you, Uncle. Once I emerge, I will definitely let Uncle enjoy himself fully.”

Caiyu thanked him earnestly.

Ye Chen: …

I really don’t want to taste a holy spirit’s flavor. Why won’t even Caiyu believe me?

After expressing her sincere gratitude, Caiyu no longer hesitated. A surge of power flowed out, drawing the Nine Apertures Exquisite Heart toward her until it pressed against the inner wall of the Seven-colored Nirvana Jade.

In that instant, a strange transformation began!