Immortality Starts With Investment

Chapter 581: Afraid Yet Elated!

Ye Chenʼs grave attitude, delaying the battle another week, stunned everyone. His proven strength meant one thing: Fairy Lanʼs Heavy Pupil was truly terrifying. Speculation buzzed—what trump card did Lan Nuo hide?

The dismissed ”male-female Heavy Pupil” theory resurfaced. Ye Chenʼs caution, unseen even against six top prodigies, fueled rumors: were Heavy Pupils split by gender, with Ye Chenʼs being female? The crowd erupted in chatter.

Lan Nuo, inwardly chaotic, was floored. Why did Ye Chen take her so seriously? Was she worthy? Did his Heavy Pupils misjudge? Was he planning to one-shot her?

Panic surged—she wanted to back out. This posturing wasnʼt worth it. But the awe and shock in onlookersʼ eyes, her ancestorʼs probing about hidden trump cards, and even Mahayana cultivatorsʼ wary glances—Ye Chen killed a Mahayana fiend, and if he saw her as an equal, so could she—made her heart quiver. It felt divine.

Driven by instinct, Lan Nuo raised her head coldly, facing Ye Chen. ”Youʼre the strongest peer Iʼve met, bar none. I look forward to our fight. If you lose due to injuries, my victory would be joyless. Heal fully—Iʼll wait for your peak state. Need healing treasures? I can lend some!”

Ye Chen was stunned. Too cooperative? And offering treasures? He confirmed: Lan Nuo was obsessed with posturing, never speaking plainly, all about flair. Perfect for gifting.

Smiling, he waved off the offer. ”No need for treasures—I have my own. But your grace amazes me. Had you joined those six, Iʼd have lost. Now, you could win easily, yet you wait. A cultivator with such strength and prodigy demeanor is rare. I admire you. But Iʼve delayed your time. Take this as my apology!”

He sent a glowing imprint toward her.

Lan Nuo froze. What was happening? Was she really that strong? She opened her mouth to refuse, but the imprint reached her.

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Ye Chen continued, ”This imprint came from an ancient Heavy Pupilʼs mark I encountered during my tribulation, gained after our battle. It holds their full Heavy Pupil insights. Since you have Heavy Pupils, itʼs the perfect apology.”

Without giving her a chance to refuse, he sat cross-legged, diving into deep cultivation, as if urgently healing to ensure their battle held no regrets.

The crowd was stunned. A grand gift just for Lan Nuoʼs week-long wait? Ye Chenʼs regard for her strength was overwhelming. Doubts vanished—Lan Nuo had to be formidable, or why would the Heavenly Emperor heir act this way?

Lan Nuo herself was shocked. Ye Chen faced an ancient Heavy Pupil during his tribulation—one sheʼd never encountered? They werenʼt on the same level. Why did he value her so highly?

Panic surged, yet the crowdʼs awe and worshipful gazes brought thrilling joy. She shouldnʼt accept the gift, but Ye Chenʼs nonchalance, already meditating, stopped her. Would rejecting it by waking him seem petty, like disturbing his healing?

Accepting it gracefully felt more like a prodigyʼs demeanor. Plus, with these insights, her strength might rise enough to survive his punch. Since he gifted it, he didnʼt need it. Sheʼd find a comparable treasure later to repay him. If she survived his strike, sheʼd raid her clanʼs treasury for a return gift.

Confused yet elated, Lan Nuo casually raised her hand, guiding the imprint into her brow. Instantly, an ancient Heavy Pupilʼs full insights flooded her mind. Her face stayed calm, but her heart jolted—it was the Heavenly Emperorʼs archenemy, a Heavy Pupil whose mastery reached unparalleled heights. At quasi-immortal, one glance slew an aged true immortal, a terrifying feat. Only dimmed by the Emperorʼs era, theyʼd have shone brighter. And Ye Chen defeated them in the same realm? How strong was he?

Absorbing the insights, Lan Nuoʼs panic deepened. Could she survive his serious strike?

Yet, the crowdʼs awe, reverence, and chatter about her being the eraʼs top prodigy made her feel… even death might be worth it.

…

Meanwhile, Ye Chenʼs mind echoed with system prompts:

”Congratulations, host, gift successful…”

”Gift: Ancient Heavy Pupil Insights!”

”4,000x feedback processing…”

”Detected: Gift significantly impacts the recipientʼs mindset…”

”Triggered critical hit rewards!”

”Reward: Ancient Stone Immortal Kingʼs Complete Heavy Pupil Insights…”

”Reward: Heavenly Emperorʼs Complete Supreme Heart Insights…”

”Reward: No-Beginning Immortal Kingʼs Complete Innate Sacred Body Dao Embryo Insights…”

”Reward: Yin-Yang Divine Monarchʼs Complete Yin-Yang Dao Sea Insights…”