Immortality Starts With Investment

”Yi Qingwu: 2,500 times!”

2,500 times?

Yi Qingwu’s multiplier surpassed even his master, who had ascended to a Heavenly Spiritual Root with a 2,000-times multiplier, and their Holy Maiden, Dantai Xuan, who cultivated the Supreme Scripture and also had 2,000 times.

It was a staggering 500 times higher. She was the female cultivator with the highest multiplier Ye Chen had ever encountered. Her Broad Cold Immortal Physique was truly extraordinary. No wonder she could suppress the previous generation’s Yao Family Holy Maiden.

This multiplier ignited Ye Chen’s already keen interest. Such a high multiplier—how could he not give a gift? The Moon Laurel Tree fragment was now a must-have.

Without hesitation, Ye Chen joined the bidding: ”One million one hundred thousand top-grade spirit stones.”

His sudden bid caught Fan Qinghe, who was peeling a spiritual fruit to continue their playful game, off guard. Her enchanting face showed a flicker of surprise.

”Is the Holy Son interested in the Moon Laurel Tree too?”

Ye Chen nodded with a smile. ”I’m interested in any treasure that aids breaking through to the Deity Transformation stage.”

Fan Qinghe understood, her peach-blossom eyes gleaming. Her Nirvana Scripture’s first transformation involved soul communion with her protector, absorbing their spiritual sense to trigger her own metamorphosis. The stronger Ye Chen’s spiritual sense, the greater her gains. If he obtained the Moon Laurel Tree fragment and enhanced his spiritual sense, she’d benefit even more.

Of course, given the Holy Son’s generosity, he might gift it to her after winning it. But for her, the best outcome was Ye Chen using it himself. She could simply absorb from him afterward. To her, the Holy Son himself was the true treasure, not these external items. So, she refrained from interrupting, quietly feeding him spiritual fruits.

With Ye Chen’s entry, the bidding for the Moon Laurel Tree fragment skyrocketed. In moments, it reached one million five hundred thousand top-grade spirit stones—an astronomical sum. Yet Ye Chen’s bids were calm, almost indifferent, as if the spirit stones were insignificant.

Fan Qinghe was inwardly astonished. The Fourth Holy Son’s composure was terrifying. This resolve alone marked him as a top-tier prodigy. Her heart burned hotter. If she weren’t wary of not fully having him under her sway, she’d have planted the divine seed right there in the booth, communing with him and draining him on the spot.

…

Like Yi Qingwu, Ye Chen made no effort to disguise his voice. Everyone knew the bidder competing with the Holy Maiden was the Fourth Holy Son. This sparked endless speculation among the crowd.

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Ye Chen continued bidding, raising the price by 100,000 top-grade spirit stones each time. In no time, he pushed the price to 1.9 million top-grade spirit stones.

This figure made most cultivators gasp. It was an exorbitant amount. Even for a treasure as rare as the Moon Laurel Tree fragment, it wasn’t worth this price. With such a fortune, the Holy Son could acquire treasures far better suited for breaking through and enhancing his primordial spirit, rather than gambling on a fragment with uncertain effects.

It was clear to all: Ye Chen wasn’t after the fragment itself. He was targeting Yi Qingwu, the Heavenly Intention Holy Maiden.

The Heavenly Evolution Holy Land and the Heavenly Intention Holy Land were sworn enemies, their rivalry almost irreconcilable. Each generation’s prodigies clashed in life-or-death battles—a longstanding tradition in Great Yan Continent.

Moreover, the Fourth Holy Son had a personal feud with this generation’s Heavenly Intention Holy Son.

With Yi Qingwu, the Holy Son’s fiancée, determined to secure the Moon Laurel Tree fragment, it made perfect sense for Ye Chen to drive up the price, thwarting her. Nothing felt better than making an enemy suffer.

But many were puzzled. By pushing the price so high, wasn’t Ye Chen worried Yi Qingwu might suddenly stop bidding?

Unlike her, whose Broad Cold Immortal Physique made the fragment a necessity, for Ye Chen, spending nearly two million top-grade spirit stones on a mere fragment would be a catastrophic loss. Most believed 1.9 million was his limit. If Yi Qingwu raised the bid once more, he’d likely back off.

…

In her booth, Yi Qingwu, previously calm and composed, furrowed her delicate brows. Her oval face, fairer than jade, framed eyes as deep and radiant as black gems. Even squinting, she was breathtaking, radiant and untouchable, like a Moon Palace fairy.

”Is the one bidding against me the Fourth Holy Son, Ye Chen?” she asked.

The two legacy disciples behind her, spared from the Yin Demon Cave thanks to her, nodded eagerly. ”Yes, Holy Maiden, it’s Ye Chen! He must know how much you need this and is deliberately driving up the price!”

Their voices burned with indignation, their memory of Ye Chen’s voice seared into their minds.

Yi Qingwu wasn’t surprised. She easily deduced Ye Chen’s intent: to inflate the price.

For most prodigies, the Moon Laurel Tree fragment held little value. Only her unique Broad Cold Immortal Physique made it essential, a fact known to all. For this auction, her Holy Land had provided 500,000 top-grade spirit stones. Her grandmother and clan contributed another 500,000. The Heavenly Intention Holy Son sent an additional 500,000. With her own savings, she’d amassed nearly two million top-grade spirit stones—a sum rivaling the reserves of second-tier factions. She’d thought this would secure the fragment easily.

Yet, Ye Chen’s interference was an unexpected snag. Still, she smiled faintly. ”When strength falls short, one resorts to such tactics against enemies. Unlike the Holy Son, who’d confront his foes directly, disdaining such petty tricks.”

Her expression remained calm, unfazed by Ye Chen.

She bid again, her voice steady: ”Two million top-grade spirit stones. This is my final bid!”

Her tone was a warning to Ye Chen. This wasn’t a bluff. If he raised the bid again, she’d truly stop. In her view, he wouldn’t dare continue. Two million was an astronomical sum.

Spending so much just to spite her? Even Ye Chen wouldn’t be so reckless, nor would Unity or Mahayana cultivators. The auction should end here.

Though Ye Chen’s interference cost her an extra million spirit stones, securing the fragment made it worthwhile.

As for Ye Chen, he’d pay a heavy price later for these underhanded tactics. The other cultivators in the hall also believed Ye Chen would stop bidding.

But then, his voice echoed through the auction hall: ”Fine—oh, Heavenly Intention Holy Maiden, you’re not bidding anymore? Then I’ll bid two million and one top-grade spirit stone!”

The hall fell silent.

Yi Qingwu, serene and noble as a Moon Palace goddess, froze, her exquisite face stiffening…