Immortality Starts With Investment

Chapter 302: Strike!

”Senior Brother Ye!”

Ye Chenʼs speed was blistering, his approach heralded by the crashing of collapsing trees. An Yuyi recognized him instantly, her voice breaking as she called out.

The Divine Will Ancestor raised an eyebrow, observing. ”His auraʼs impressive, and that speed—itʼs slightly faster than mine. Those wings are extraordinary!”

But An Yuyiʼs face was etched with worry. ”Why did Senior Brother come? That Heavenly Nether Sect elder is too strong—heʼll die!”

The Ancestorʼs mouth twitched.

I nearly got beaten to death just now, and you werenʼt this concerned. You really donʼt value my life, do you?

He huffed, speaking gruffly. ”Donʼt worry. Iʼll hold them off. Let this kid take you and run. With that speed, they wonʼt catch up.”

An Yuyiʼs eyes filled with guilt as she looked at her Ancestor. His plan would mean certain death for him.

The Divine Will Ancestor stood leisurely, preparing to act, even offering her comfort. ”No matter. As the Ancestor, itʼs my duty to protect the sect. Iʼm old—youʼre the future of Divine Will Sect. We must kill that Young Master to cripple Heavenly Nether Sectʼs future.”

An Yuyiʼs eyes reddened further, tears threatening to spill. But in the next moment, both she and the Ancestorʼs expressions shifted.

Ye Chen, charging in with unstoppable momentum, wasnʼt targeting Han Feng—he was heading straight for the Heavenly Nether Sect elder. His speed was so blinding that even the Ancestor couldnʼt react in time.

Han Fengʼs face darkened. As a self-proclaimed prodigy, heʼd nearly been bested by An Yuyi, and now another late Golden Core cultivator approached, radiating an aura that unnerved him. Unacceptable. He sneered, ”Elder Qin, suppress this man. I want those wings!”

The wings were clearly extraordinary, granting a mere Golden Core cultivator Nascent Soul-level speed.

Elder Qin, seeing Ye Chen barreling toward him, chuckled. ”Young Master, youʼre truly blessed by the Heavens. Iʼll tear those wings off for you.”

As he spoke, Ye Chen closed the distance. Elder Qin raised a hand, unleashing a gray-black nether qi dragon that roared forth.

Ye Chen didnʼt even glance at it. His golden wings blazed brighter, his figure a streak of lightning, undeterred. The nether qi dragon was sliced in half by his wings, dissipating into nothingness.

Before Elder Qin could register shock, Ye Chenʼs speed surged, as if teleporting, appearing right before him. A fist shot out, shrouded in countless dragon shadows, its might earth-shaking.

Elder Qin realized with horror that his defensive spells, spiritual robe, and crown were like paper before this punch. Worse, Ye Chenʼs eyes emitted a strange force, locking him in place, rendering his escape techniques useless.

In the next moment, under the disbelieving gazes of An Yuyi, the Divine Will Ancestor, and Han Feng, Elder Qin—who had just crushed the Divine Will Ancestor with ease—had his head obliterated by Ye Chenʼs single punch.

Nascent Soul cultivators, however, had many life-saving techniques. As Qinʼs headless body exploded, a tiny, infant-like figure shot out, fleeing into the distance. His Nascent Soul was escaping—a standard survival tactic for Nascent Soul cultivators, offering a chance to rebuild a body if it escaped.

Ye Chen didnʼt move. Opening his mouth, he unleashed a phoenix cry that echoed through the heavens. A torrent of radiant light poured forth, like a river of stars. Qinʼs Nascent Soul, caught in the deluge, didnʼt last half a second before vanishing completely.

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As the phoenix cryʼs echoes faded, silence blanketed the battlefield.

The Divine Will Ancestor, who had been gearing up to rescue Ye Chen, froze in place. The Heavenly Nether Sect elder, who nearly killed him moments ago, was obliterated by a Golden Core cultivator in a single exchange? Not even his Nascent Soul escaped?

The Ancestor stood dumbfounded, questioning reality. Watching Ye Chen pull out the Human Emperor Banner and expertly collect Qinʼs soul, he muttered, ”This Ye Chen… really from Green Cloud Sect? So practiced at soul collection—is he secretly from Misty Sect?”

An Yuyi didnʼt respond. Her eyes, rimmed with tears, fixed on Ye Chen, brimming with admiration and gratitude. The image of him arriving with golden wings, blazing like a meteor, was etched into her memory forever.

Han Fengʼs hands trembled, his mind reeling. He couldnʼt fathom what heʼd just witnessed. Elder Qin, dead? Killed by a Golden Core cultivator?

Qin was a prodigy of the previous generation, among the strongest of Heavenly Nether Sectʼs elders, with potential to reach Deity Transformation. Only an accident stalling his cultivation and a promise from Han Fengʼs father had made him a protector.

With such a guardian, Han Feng believed he was untouchable unless facing a Deity Transformation powerhouse. Yet Elder Qin was gone, his Nascent Soul eradicated. How could a Golden Core be this powerful? Why isnʼt someone this monstrous a Holy Son in a Holy Land? Whatʼs he doing in a trash sect like Divine Will Sect?

Shock and fear consumed him, but Han Feng forced himself to stay calm. Fleeing was futile—he knew he couldnʼt outrun Ye Chen.

Han Feng fixed his gaze on Ye Chen, speaking earnestly. ”My father is the Sect Master of Heavenly Nether Sect, Han Ming, a Deity Transformation powerhouse. Iʼm his only son. If I die, heʼll surely seek vengeance. I admit my fault in this matter, but Elder Qin is already dead. Your Divine Will Sect hasnʼt suffered losses—on the contrary, I was injured by that womanʼs attack. Why not let this end here? You wouldnʼt want to make an enemy of a Deity Transformation cultivator, would you? If it comes to that, not only you but the entire Divine Will Sect will be annihilated. Instead of mutual destruction, letʼs call it quits.”

Ye Chen, still holding the Human Emperor Banner, remained unfazed by the mention of a Deity Transformation cultivator. He glanced at An Yuyi, noting she was unharmed, while Han Feng bore traces of being struck by the True Phoenix Treasure Technique.

Ye Chen wasnʼt concerned about Heavenly Nether Sectʼs retaliation, but he couldnʼt act recklessly. Divine Will Sect was a large organization and might not be eager to provoke such an enemy. It was best to consult them first. He turned his gaze to An Yuyi and the old man beside her, presumably the Divine Will Ancestor.

Catching Ye Chenʼs look, the Ancestor, still reeling from the earlier shock, broke into a smile. This kidʼs got manners, respecting the opinion of his senior. A promising lad.

Seeing Ye Chen pause, Han Feng exhaled in relief. Older cultivators always had concerns, and the Divine Will Ancestor would surely prioritize the sectʼs legacy. Heʼd likely let him go. Han Feng forced a gentle smile, confident heʼd stabilized the situation.

But inwardly, venom festered. Once he returned, heʼd beg his father to raze Divine Will Sect. This man, whose mere aura made him tremble, had humiliated him like never before. He vowed to personally tear off those wings and refine Ye Chen into a nether slave, condemning him to eternal torment.

The Divine Will Ancestor smiled at Han Feng.

Han Feng quickly mirrored the smile.

The Ancestorʼs lips curved. ”Kill him!”

Han Fengʼs eyes widened in disbelief.

The Divine Will Ancestorʼs unexpected move caught Han Feng off guard, his eyes widening in shock. He roared, ”If I die, youʼll all die too! My father, who devoted himself to cultivation, only had me forty years ago. The wrath of a Deity Transformation powerhouse is beyond what you can bear. Everyone will pay for my death!”

In the cultivation world, the higher oneʼs realm, the harder it was to sire offspring—rumored to be the Heavenly Daoʼs way of limiting the proliferation of overly powerful beings.

The Divine Will Ancestor chuckled darkly. ”Took that long to have you? Then youʼre even more deserving of death. I may not beat a Deity Transformation cultivator, but making one feel the pain of losing a son? Worth it.” He glanced at Ye Chen. ”I overheard—this guy wanted to refine Yuyi into a cauldron.”

High in the sky, Ye Chenʼs eyes narrowed. The Ancestor was sharp and skilled at stoking hatred. Targeting An Yuyi as a cauldron? Unforgivable. Even if the Ancestor had disagreed, Han Fengʼs fate was sealed.

Realizing his doom, Han Feng dropped all pretense, his face twisted with venom as he glared at Ye Chen. His body surged forward like lightning, spiritual qi erupting with a dangerous aura.

The Ancestorʼs expression shifted—Han Feng was about to self-detonate his Golden Core.

But Ye Chenʼs eyes swirled with chaotic qi, calmly meeting Han Fengʼs gaze. Han Fengʼs face paled. His body froze, uncontrollable, and his surging Golden Core instantly stilled.

What power was this? He couldnʼt even self-detonate?

Han Fengʼs eyes brimmed with disbelief.

Ye Chen smiled faintly, sweeping the Human Emperor Banner. Han Feng was sucked inside, where countless vengeful souls tore into his flesh, devouring him. In moments, only bones remained. His soul would suffer eternal torment within the banner.