Immortality Starts With Investment

After a long absence, Ye Chen and An Miaoli talked for hours. Her 500x multiplier was modest compared to Holy Maidens, Divine Maidens, or even some female cultivators on Holy Son Peak. Yet, to Ye Chen, An Miaoli’s place in his heart rivaled his master’s. Her serene, guiltless demeanor was utterly captivating.

”This is a gift for Senior,” Ye Chen said, presenting the Infinite Ocean Visualization Diagram. ”When you reach late Nascent Soul, use it to hone your spirit sense for the Deity Transformation Stage breakthrough.”

An Miaoli, now mid-Nascent Soul, felt a pang of emotion cross her serene face. Visualization charts were rare treasures, and Ye Chen’s was surely exceptional. Despite his trip to White Emperor City, he hadn’t forgotten her, rushing to her first upon return. His sincerity, coupled with his higher cultivation yet unchanged respect in calling her ”Senior,” stirred her deeply, her eyes shimmering with misty warmth.

”Holy Son, after so long away, has the nether poison flared up?” An Miaoli asked proactively, her tone free of shyness or hesitation, as if Ye Chen truly suffered from a persistent nether poison.

Ye Chen smiled—his ”poison” was, of course, unhealed. But he stopped her from activating her white silk spirit treasure gloves or tying up her hair. An Miaoli paused, puzzled. Her constitution had always required this method for detoxification. Did he want to take it further?

After a moment’s hesitation, she nodded. ”Holy Son, your cultivation now surpasses mine. You could restrain me directly, bind my wrists and ankles, or use spiritual chains to lock my hands and feet. That way, even if I instinctively resist, I can’t escape. It’ll help detoxify you better, and after the first time, it might get easier.”

Binding wrists and ankles? Ye Chen thought, ’Senior, you really know how to play.’ Though tempting, he wasn’t that type.

”Senior, my nether poison has invaded my sea of spirit sense—far more critical than my body. I’ll teach you a soul communion detoxification method to assist me.”

His eyes flashed with divine light, beaming into An Miaoli’s brow. She didn’t resist. Nether poison in the sea of spirit sense? Any Golden Core rogue cultivator would scoff at such a claim. Yet An Miaoli, without a trace of doubt, absorbed the technique. A small shadow projected from her brow, and Ye Chen, smiling, sent out his primordial spirit.

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As it was her first time with this method, An Miaoli was clumsy, her technique unsteady. Ye Chen patiently guided her, and soon the detoxification flowed smoothly, reaching a harmonious peak.

A figure burst into the cave abode. ”Auntie, the Holy Son’s back!”

It was An Yuyi, rushing in upon hearing the news. But seeing the scene, her eyes widened. Two ethereal figures were detoxifying in the air, their movements intense. Her aunt sat aside, forehead beaded with sweat, fair skin flushed pink.

”What kind of cultivation is this? Are they practicing some divine art? Should I not disturb them?”

Calming her excitement, An Yuyi felt she’d come at a bad time and prepared to slip away. But An Miaoli opened her eyes, her languid yet ethereal gaze fixing on her.

”Yuyi, you’re just in time. The Holy Son’s been gone long, and the nether poison has invaded his spirit sense. I’m helping him recover, but his body must be riddled with poison too. Assist with his physical detoxification to speed his recovery.”

An Yuyi’s eyes widened. She admired her aunt’s ability to treat the ”nether poison” excuse as fact, as if Ye Chen had truly been plagued for years. Though she saw through the pretense, she missed him after his long absence and didn’t want to leave.

Approaching Ye Chen, she said softly, ”Holy Son, I’ll help detoxify you too.” She sat steadily, ready to begin.

Ye Chen couldn’t refuse her kindness, letting her fuss over him. Thus, spirit sense and physical detoxification proceeded together, doubling the bliss—an indescribable sensation, understood only by those who’d experienced it.

Ye Chen’s long absence meant severe ”poisoning.” It took three full days to complete. An Yuyi, accustomed to this, tidied his collar with care. An Miaoli, however, leaned dazedly against a table, her icy fairy aura radiating charm. The new detoxification method had overwhelmed her with novel sensations, too much to process.

Ye Chen smiled, offering An Yuyi cultivation advice before inquiring about An Miaoli’s condition, especially her past-life issues. Things looked promising. Since severing her memories, she’d used the Thunder Emperor Soul Purification Technique daily, and no strange visions or traces of the Seven Absolutes Immortal Scripture had reappeared—a good sign.

Bidding farewell to the aunt and niece, Ye Chen left the cave. Mo Yuzhu and other disciples waited outside, bowing respectfully. They hinted at inviting him to their caves for a few days.

After a brief report on Holy Son Peak’s recent affairs, Ye Chen waved off further details. On recruiting disciples, he changed the annual intake to every five years, then floated toward his Holy Son residence.

His spirit sense was now formidable, and with the visualization chart, he was ready to seclude himself for the Deity Transformation Stage breakthrough. He hadn’t prepared a Deity Transformation Stage technique, but that could wait. At the peak, he spotted Lu Jing sitting listlessly outside his cave, gazing at the sunset, looking unwell.

Approaching her, Ye Chen startled Lu Jing, who leapt up. Recognizing him, her eyes lit up with joy, her gentle voice brimming with delight. ”Young Master, you’re back! How long will you stay? Shall I prepare some food?”