Immortality Starts With Investment

After a bit more conversation, Yao Xi, despite her deep reluctance, had to leave at the Yao family elder’s urging. The Yao family’s Holy Maiden position couldn’t remain vacant for long and needed to be settled swiftly. The ancestor also had to inform the patriarch promptly, lest the clan select another Holy Maiden, complicating matters.

Yao Xi pressed a gentle kiss to Ye Chen’s cheek, her eyes soft as water, brimming with longing. ”Junior Brother, come visit me at the Yao family when you have time. Or, once I’ve achieved something in my cultivation, I’ll come find you at Heavenly Evolution Holy Land.”

Ye Chen smiled and agreed. Once he settled at Heavenly Evolution Holy Land, he’d make time to visit her.

Watching Yao Xi’s graceful figure ascend the skyship, her silhouette evoking memories of a full moon from his homeland, Ye Chen felt a pang of reluctance. He’d returned intending to bring her to the Holy Land, but this unexpected turn of events had changed everything. Still, he’d keep a close eye on the Yao family from the Holy Land. If Yao Xi’s Holy Maiden position faced any issues, he’d rush to the Yao family to bring her back.

The Primordial Spirit Body was enticing, but by his side, it might not even be the limit.

The Yao family elder, seated at the ship’s bow, chuckled lightly. ”Young friend Ye, come visit Yao Xi at our clan often. If you two become dao companions, the Yao family will provide a generous dowry!”

Yao Gu, who’d once been wild and defiant, had been thoroughly subdued by Ye Chen’s strength. Now, aboard the skyship, he looked at Ye Chen with reluctance. ”Brother-in-law, they say the Heavenly Desire Sect’s Divine Maiden is about to make her debut. Could I borrow your war chariot for a bit when the time comes? Don’t worry, you won’t need to go yourself. I’ll return it in a few days, spotless.”

Ye Chen’s mouth twitched. Yao Gu’s adaptability was something else. Not long ago, he’d been sneering ”Ye the Fourth,” and now ”brother-in-law” rolled off his tongue with ease, not a hint of reluctance.

The Heavenly Desire Sect’s Divine Maiden? Ye Chen hadn’t heard of her. He knew of the sect, though—a dual cultivation faction with formidable strength and a sprawling business. They ran pleasure houses in major immortal cities, catering to both men and women.

Sun Ruoxin had once hired a Heavenly Desire Sect disciple as a teacher, learning techniques that Ye Chen found quite impressive. As for this ”Divine Maiden,” she was probably just their top courtesan rebranded with a fancy title.

Ye Chen had no interest in such female cultivators. They didn’t even qualify to trigger his system rewards, so what was there to care about? As for lending his chariot? Out of the question. Neither car nor wife was for lending.

…

Yao Xi stood on the skyship, reluctantly waving goodbye. The vessel was swift, vanishing in the blink of an eye.

Elder Mo spoke up, ”We really need to return to the Holy Land soon. Your name’s already spread across Great Yan Cotinent. The new Holy Son ceremony needs to happen quickly. The Holy Lord and elders are eager to meet you. Plus, next year, the Holy Land will open its gates to recruit new disciples. You’d better select some for your Holy Son Peak as well.”

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Ye Chen nodded. ”Got it.”

But if he had a Holy Son ceremony, wouldn’t the Yao family hold a Holy Maiden ceremony for Yao Xi? He wondered when it might take place. He’d have to attend to support his Senior Sister.

When he mentioned this, though, Elder Mo shook his head. ”The Yao family only holds Holy Son ceremonies. In all my years, I’ve never heard of a Holy Maiden ceremony.”

Ye Chen frowned slightly. The Yao family truly didn’t value their Holy Maiden. The requirements weren’t even strict—just possessing immortal blood was enough, and a single clan elder could pre-select the candidate. Yet, if it was so unimportant, why the rush to replace the previous Holy Maiden after her fall? It was peculiar.

When he asked Elder Mo, the elder didn’t know either. Ye Chen tucked the matter away in his mind, resolving to visit the Yao family often. If there was any issue with the Holy Maiden position, he’d pull Yao Xi out.

Then, Ye Chen escorted Lu Jing and Lin Ke’er onto a skyship, preparing to depart. At the sect gate, he glanced at the old sect master, absentmindedly fishing.

”Fight’s over?” the sect master asked. The earlier battle had caused a massive commotion, but he hadn’t budged, still fishing. There was no point—he wouldn’t have been able to help or even see clearly.

Ye Chen briefly explained what had happened. The old sect master’s face lit up with disbelief when he heard Yao Xi was becoming the Yao family’s Holy Maiden. ”One Heavenly Evolution Holy Son and one Yao family Holy Maiden? How did Green Cloud Sect get so lucky to produce both a Holy Son and a Holy Maiden?”

He was genuinely stunned, even excited. With a Holy Son and a Holy Maiden, Green Cloud Sect would have the backing of two Holy Land-level forces. Even Deity Transformation experts might steer clear of their sect in the future.

”Old Sect Master, I’m leaving too,” Ye Chen said. ”If anything comes up, just send word, and I’ll rush back no matter where I am.”

It was time to officially depart for the Heavenly Evolution Holy Land. His Holy Son Peak hadn’t even been formally established, yet he’d already recruited a thousand-fold elder. A two-thousand-fold Holy Maiden was waiting for him, and An Miaoli had reached five hundred-fold. His breakthrough speed was about to soar.

The old sect master nodded. ”Go on, then. But don’t forget to find your master. Before I kick the bucket, I want to see both of you back here together. I don’t have many years left, so don’t dawdle.”

Ye Chen smiled lightly. Life-extending elixirs in this cultivation world were treasures so rare they were almost mythical, beyond the reach of even Nascent Soul or Deity Transformation cultivators. But with his system, he was confident he’d eventually produce one. When that time came, he’d send some back to let the old sect master live a few more years.

This trip to the Holy Land wasn’t just about asking the elders to divine his master’s whereabouts. He also needed to track down his father, Ye Tianhe. If he was truly dead, so be it—Ye Chen would one day ascend to immortality and fish him out of the river of time. If he was alive, Ye Chen would find him.

”Old Sect Master, you’ve got some skills! That’s a huge softshell turtle you caught,” Ye Chen said, glancing at the fish basket with surprise before leaving.

The old sect master waved dismissively, his face calm. ”It’s nothing special, just a two-hundred-year-old turtle. I fish for the sake of fishing, not for the catch. Want it? Take it.”

Ye Chen chuckled, shaking his head. What would he do with it? Amid the old sect master’s mutterings about the big fish that got away years ago, Ye Chen gracefully boarded the skyship. Under the expectant gazes of Lin Ke’er, Sun Ruoxin, and Lu Jing, he soared off toward Heavenly Evolution Holy Land.

Heavenly Evolution Holy Land lay in the central region of the Great Yan Continent. Even with Ye Chen’s current strength, it would take over half a month to reach. Meanwhile, at the Holy Land, news of the Fourth Holy Son’s imminent arrival had sparked a flurry of preparations.