Immortality Starts With Investment

”Get lost!” Elder Mo snapped, his temper flaring.

Ye Chen’s talent was simply too terrifying, already rivaling the likes of Hua Yunfei. Such a prodigy had the potential to reach the Mahayana realm and compete for the immortal path in the future. How could Elder Mo tolerate the thought of him being snatched away?

Unable to hold back, Elder Mo sneered, ”The moment you see your prized genius beaten to a pulp, you immediately think of switching sides?”

Yet the Yao family elder gazed at Ye Chen with admiration, shaking his head dismissively. ”Yao Gu may have high talent, ranking among the best in Great Yan Continent, but his character is sorely lacking. His potential doesn’t even come close to his brother, Yao Xuanji. Unlike your Heavenly Evolution Holy Land, our Yao family pours all its resources into supporting Xuanji. As for guarding Yao Gu, that was only at Yao Xuanji’s and the patriarch’s request. Whether he wins or loses? I couldn’t care less.”

Elder Mo’s face darkened at these words. Shamelessness, it seemed, was truly unbeatable.

…

To avoid dragging Green Cloud Sect into the fray, the earlier battle had taken place tens of thousands of meters in the sky. Now, Yao Gu lay suppressed, tossed before them like a broken rag.

Ye Chen spoke calmly. ”Can we finally talk about Yao Xi?”

Yao Gu’s defeat had been utter. His celestial steed, his war chariot, and even his Void Mirror had shattered. His fighting spirit was gone. Captured now, with his Protector making no move to intervene, he had no choice but to accept his fate.

Forcing a smile, Yao Gu said, ”Brother-in-law, it was all a misunderstanding before!”

Brother-in-law? Ye Chen raised an eyebrow.

Yao Xi’s expression turned odd.

”I much preferred when you called me Ye the Fourth,” Ye Chen said, his tone dry, the joke delivered without a trace of humor.

Yao Gu’s mouth twitched, and he hurried to explain. ”I meant no harm earlier. I just wanted to test your strength, to see if you were worthy of my sister!”

Noticing the flicker of impatience in Ye Chen’s eyes, Yao Gu, still bound by restraints, quickly continued. ”Yao Xi is truly a member of our Yao family. Our clan has unique customs. Only those of the main bloodline can remain with the family each generation. For example, in my generation, my elder brother will surely take charge. My descendants, however, will have to leave the Yao family to establish their own branches elsewhere. That’s why our bloodline is so widespread outside the clan. Yao Xi is one of those descendants.”

He paused, then pressed on. ”Now, our Yao family is selecting a new Holy Maiden. Only female cultivators of the Yao bloodline who have reached the Golden Core stage, are under fifty years old, and carry immortal blood in their veins are eligible to compete for the position. Yao Xi just broke through to the Golden Core stage a few days ago, and her name appeared in the clan registry. That’s why I came to fetch her.”

Yao Gu laid out his purpose clearly.

Ye Chen’s frown deepened as he listened.

Was the Yao family’s standard for their Holy Maiden really so low? Reaching the Golden Core stage before fifty was enough to compete for the position? The requirement of immortal blood, though, reminded him of the faint, special aura he’d once glimpsed in Yao Xi’s body through his Heavy Pupil technique. Could that be a trace of immortal blood?

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”What happened to your Yao family’s previous Holy Maiden?” Ye Chen asked, vaguely recalling overhearing that she’d been a formidable figure, perhaps at the Deity Transformation stage.

Yao Gu sighed. ”She went to Central Continent and met with disaster while crossing the Endless Sea. A great demon there targeted her Protector, who couldn’t save her in time. She fell…” It was no secret; the news had spread across the Great Yan Continent.

Yao Gu didn’t hide it. The cultivation world was fraught with peril. Even prodigies with protectors could perish.

Ye Chen mulled it over, then turned to Yao Xi. ”Do you want to go?”

Yao Xi shook her head without hesitation. She knew her own limitations. Breaking through to the Golden Core stage had only been possible with her Junior Brother’s support. Competing for the Holy Maiden title would only make her a laughingstock. All she wanted was to stay quietly at Green Cloud Sect, where Ye Chen might visit her now and then.

Ye Chen felt the same. With his system, he could easily carry Yao Xi to greater heights. There was no need for her to chase some Holy Maiden title.

So, he promptly refused.

He told Yao Gu to leave. Though they’d clashed earlier, the offense didn’t warrant death.

Yao Gu, however, seemed reluctant. If Yao Xi didn’t come, he couldn’t call Ye Chen ”brother-in-law.” Ye Chen’s combat prowess was staggering—despite his lower cultivation, he’d effortlessly crushed Yao Gu and shattered his imitation Void Mirror. He was undoubtedly a top-tier prodigy, on par with Yao Gu’s brother or Hua Yunfei, far beyond Yao Gu’s league.

Yao Gu had hoped that if Yao Xi became the Holy Maiden, he’d gain a powerful backer. Mentioning his brother already made people tremble; if Ye Chen’s reputation grew and Yao Gu could call him ”brother-in-law,” who would dare cross him?

With that connection, he might even borrow Ye Chen’s war chariot someday. That chariot was undeniably impressive—maybe even enough to catch the eye of the Heavenly Desire Sect’s Divine Maiden. Inviting her aboard for a long, intimate night would be perfect.

With these thoughts, Yao Gu couldn’t resist tempting them. ”If she becomes the Holy Maiden, the family can awaken the immortal blood in her veins, causing her bloodline power to soar. Though it won’t match my brother’s innate immortal physique that suppresses all, once the immortal blood’s concentration rises, she could awaken the Primordial Spirit Body!”

He continued, ”The Primordial Spirit Body is unique to our Yao family. It naturally resonates with all origin energies between heaven and earth, granting incredible cultivation speed. Its potential is nearly limitless—as long as she doesn’t fall, reaching the Unity realm is all but guaranteed.”

Ye Chen’s eyes widened slightly. The Primordial Spirit Body… He’d heard of it, one of the cultivation world’s top physiques, exclusive to the Yao family. Could his Senior Sister really gain it by becoming the Holy Maiden? Was this for real?

Yao Xi, too, looked stunned. Her own mediocre talent had convinced her she wasn’t even worthy to stay by Ye Chen’s side, leading her to accept a passive role. But if she could obtain the Primordial Spirit Body and achieve the unimaginable Unity realm, wouldn’t that mean she could stay with her Junior Brother far longer?

Her heart pounded. She feared it was too good to be true, that she might not even be a true Yao family member. Or that she’d have no chance in the competition. Yet, she couldn’t help yearning to seize this incredible opportunity.

Ye Chen noticed his Senior Sister’s excitement. He understood. If he were in her shoes, he’d feel the same. The Primordial Spirit Body was indeed among the cultivation world’s elite physiques. Even with his system, he wasn’t certain he could replicate it. If Yao Xi could obtain it, it would undoubtedly be a blessing.

But was the Holy Maiden position really so easy to claim?

”How is the Holy Maiden chosen?” Ye Chen asked.

”It’s mainly based on aptitude, immortal blood concentration, and age,” Yao Gu replied honestly. ”But to be frank, the odds aren’t great. The family has already brought back two Yao women with Heavenly Spiritual Roots and high immortal blood concentration.”

Yao Xi’s face fell, disappointment clear in her eyes. It seemed she had no real chance—being summoned was likely just to make up numbers. She chose to give up.

Ye Chen, too, let it go without much regret. He gently wrapped an arm around Yao Xi’s slender waist, comforting her while pondering what kind of gift he could give to trigger a Primordial Spirit Body-level physique. Not just for Yao Xi—he wanted to equip all the women around him with such top-tier physiques. Wouldn’t that mean everyone could become an immortal in the future? A perfect plan. Though he wasn’t sure what gift would work, he was confident he’d find something suitable once his cultivation advanced further.

As Ye Chen mused, a presence descended, accompanied by a voice tinged with amusement. ”No need to choose a Holy Maiden. I can assure you right here—Yao Xi will be the next Holy Maiden of our Yao family!”

Yao Gu’s eyes widened in shock.

Ye Chen looked up to see an old man with an ethereal, immortal-like aura, smiling warmly at him. That look… it was almost as if he were sizing up a future son-in-law.