Immortality Starts With Investment

Ye Chen frowned as he listened. He didn’t have much of a connection with Dantai Xuan, but she was, after all, a Holy Maiden of their Heavenly Evolution Holy Land, with a two-thousand-fold return. Because of his senior brother, Ye Chen felt a strong sense of belonging to the Holy Land.

Having the Holy Maiden so close by was convenient for gift-giving. Even though his master now had hopes of reaching a two-thousand-fold return as well, having another option was always better. After all, different female cultivators had different needs, and certain treasures would yield better returns when given to the right person.

But this Supreme Scripture was truly sinister. With ordinary cultivation techniques, if something felt off, one could at least stay cautious, seek solutions, or even abandon the practice altogether.

The Supreme Scripture, however, was different. Once someone began cultivating it, they couldn’t stop. Worse, it subtly eroded their wariness, luring them to continue cultivating without question. The thought was chilling. At its end, this practice might transform someone into an entirely different person—or, worse still, into a vessel for the scripture’s creator.

”Is there no way to fix this?” Ye Chen couldn’t help but ask.

Hua Yunfei shook his head. ”I’ve tried countless methods—spiritual items, treasures, and divine techniques to preserve one’s true self. None of them worked. Not even a temporary reprieve was possible. Unless we can obtain the Immortal Exquisite, there’s likely no way to stop it.”

Immortal Exquisite? Ye Chen’s brows furrowed in confusion. He’d never heard of such a thing.

Hua Yunfei explained, ”The Immortal Exquisite is one of the immortal roots, said to be a flower. Refining it into oneself can awaken memories of past lives. If taken to the Immortal Realm, it can even transform into a supreme scripture. But almost no one has ever seen it.

”Back when the Jianmu Tree still stood, when immortal energy lingered in the cultivation world and true immortals walked among us, a true immortal once searched for the Immortal Exquisite for a hundred years, hoping to awaken past-life memories and forge a new path. He found nothing. I’ve scoured ancient texts myself, and there’s not a single trace of it.

”If we could find the Immortal Exquisite, Dantai’s problem might be solved. But if even a true immortal couldn’t locate it, I suspect it might be a myth, something fabricated in the Immortal Ancient era and recorded as fact. It may not even exist.”

Hua Yunfei, a prodigy of his caliber, seemed disheartened by this. His deep understanding of the cultivation world’s truths and falsehoods made him skeptical of the Immortal Exquisite’s existence. The real challenge was not just finding it but confirming whether it was real at all.

Ye Chen, however, raised an eyebrow. He wasn’t afraid of difficulty or the unknown. As long as the Immortal Exquisite truly existed, he was confident he could obtain it by gifting the right treasures in the future. Would it be a waste to give something so precious to Dantai Xuan?

Not at all. With her two-thousand-fold return, the investment would pay off quickly. Besides, for the sake of his senior brother, it was worth it.

That was just how Ye Chen operated. If someone treated him well and showed no malice, he would never hold back in return.

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”Senior Brother, rest assured. If the Immortal Exquisite truly exists in this world, I’ll definitely find it,” Ye Chen declared boldly.

Hua Yunfei chuckled, not taking it too seriously. After all, even true immortals had failed to find it. As for calling Ye Chen the ”son of the Heavenly Dao,” Hua Yunfei had always meant it as a jest. Ye Chen was indeed blessed with great fortune, but not to the extent of being the Heavenly Dao’s favored child.

A month later, the grand and majestic gates of Heavenly Evolution Holy Land came into view. Hua Yunfei gazed at the sea of clouds above, a smile on his face.

”This trip of yours was impressive. You slew the Heavenly Intention legacy disciple and destroyed the incarnation of their Holy Son. Our Heavenly Evolution Holy Land stands firm in the Great Yan Continent, and while we get along decently with the Yao Clan without any major conflicts, we’ve always been at odds with Heavenly Intention Holy Land.

”The Holy Lord, in particular, was once betrayed by them and nearly died. He despises Heavenly Intention Holy Land with a passion. Not only did you uphold our Holy Land’s honor, but you also slapped their faces. The Holy Lord will surely be delighted and reward you handsomely.

”You’ve now become a thorn in Heavenly Intention Holy Land’s side. Though they boast about embodying the will of heaven, their mastery of divine lightning is undeniably unparalleled, not just in the Great Yan Continent but across the entire cultivation world. Their Holy Son, for instance, wields heavenly punishment like an ancient immortal god. You’ll inevitably face him in the future, so you’d best prepare in advance.

”The Holy Lord once obtained the Thunder Emperor Treasure Technique, one of the Vicious Ten techniques. He claims it’s only a few scattered moves, but I suspect he has the full inheritance. If you can convince him to pass down a few moves, you’ll have a better chance against Heavenly Intention Holy Land’s people.”

Ye Chen’s brows shot up. The Thunder Emperor Treasure Technique? The Thunder Emperor, one of the Vicious Ten, was a unique spirit born from lightning. It commanded thunder, acting as heaven’s enforcer, bearing the will of the cosmos, and presiding over tribulations to rule over all beings—a truly fearsome entity.

The Thunder Emperor Treasure Technique was said to be the pinnacle of lightning-based techniques, capable of controlling heavenly tribulations at its peak. Even the Heavenly Emperor had never obtained it. To think the Holy Lord possessed it?

Ye Chen had long dreamed of collecting all the Ten Vicious Treasure Techniques and the Nine Secrets. If he could acquire even a single move and gift it to someone, wouldn’t that trigger a return of the entire Thunder Emperor Treasure Technique?

The Heavenly Intention Holy Son likely possessed the Battle Secret. Ye Chen already had the True Dragon Treasure Technique to counter him, along with the Indestructible Scripture to protect himself. If he could add the Thunder Emperor Treasure Technique and gain a deeper understanding of lightning, the Heavenly Intention Holy Son would be no match for him. He could even suppress the Holy Son’s fiancée in one fell swoop. This plan was feasible.

Looking at his senior brother, Ye Chen felt a surge of gratitude. What a great senior brother, always thinking of his best interests, even planning out what rewards he should seek from the Holy Lord.

”Senior Brother, after I received that Enlightenment Tea Leaf from you, I had a faint premonition that I might obtain more in the future,” Ye Chen said. ”If my hunch is right and I do get more, I’ll send you dozens of leaves to brew tea with.”

Hua Yunfei burst into laughter. He knew the Enlightenment Tea Tree had been destroyed by the Heavenly Emperor. Over a million years, the reserves held by major Holy Lands had long been depleted. Even he had only inherited three leaves.

Dozens more? The entire cultivation world might not have that many left. Still, he didn’t question Ye Chen’s words, only laughing heartily. ”In that case, I’ll thank you in advance, Junior Brother.”

Ye Chen grinned. ”When the time comes, you and I will sit down, sip tea, and discuss the Dao together.”

With that, the two said no more and flew toward their respective immortal peaks. Upon returning to Ascension Peak, Ye Chen swept the area with his spiritual sense and smiled. In the year he’d been away, the disciples of Ascension Peak had all grown stronger. Those who had been on the verge of breaking through had succeeded.