Immortality Starts With Investment

At Heavenly Evolution Holy Land, the terrifying tribulation clouds finally dissipated, and the heavens cleared. Countless disciples and elders watched from afar, gazing at Holy Son Peak with awe. The half-month-long tribulation, the legendary Myriad Tribulation Transformation, had ended. Thunderbolts had cascaded as if turning the cultivation world into a lightning domain. Even Deity Transformation Stage elders shuddered, knowing they’d have been reduced to ash under such a trial.

Unity Stage elders, sensing deeper, felt fear—not just from the thunder, but from a humanoid figure that appeared in the final moments, battling the tribulation’s target. Its aura terrified even them, sparking guesses about which era-defining powerhouse left such a mark.

Most shocking was the tribulation’s survivor. To endure such a trial and emerge unscathed was unimaginable for a newly ascended Deity Transformation Stage cultivator. All eyes on the figure atop Ascension Peak held deep reverence.

That figure was Ye Chen. Reflecting on the intense battle, he sighed. It was fiercer than the Kunpeng during his Nascent Soul tribulation. But effort yielded rewards. As the tribulation faded, a glowing heavenly dao imprint descended. Ye Chen seized it without hesitation.

Dozens of figures approached—An Miaoli, her lovely face beaming with relief and joy; Senior Brother Hua Yunfei, smiling warmly; Holy Master Feng Baiyu, Elder Mo, Elder He, and others.

”Myriad Tribulation Transformation, just like mine back then,” Feng Baiyu, scholarly and teasing, said. ”Keep advancing, Ye Chen. I’ll hand over the Holy Master role to you, and your Senior Brother can follow you!”

His blatant provocation carried a playful grin.

Hua Yunfei, unfazed, sincerely congratulated, ”Congrats, Junior Brother, on reaching the Deity Transformation Stage! One step closer to the Immortal Path.”

The elders echoed his sentiments.

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Normally, higher realms widen gaps, making cross-realm victories harder. But Ye Chen’s tribulation, far surpassing the standard Myriad Tribulation, suggested ordinary Unity cultivators couldn’t match him. Curiosity burned about his final opponent. The battle seemed cataclysmic, rivaling a Unity clash, but the tribulation’s intensity prevented spirit sense probes.

Holy Master Feng Baiyu asked directly, ”Ye Chen, who did you face? It looked humanoid—not the Thunder Emperor. A true immortal, perhaps? When I broke through, I faced the Chaotic Ancient True Immortal and crushed him.”

The Chaotic Ancient True Immortal, a top-hundred historical figure, was a testament to Feng’s talent.

Ye Chen didn’t hide. ”I faced a heavy-pupil female cultivator, likely non-human, possibly the Heavenly Emperor’s old rival.”

Reflecting, he marveled at her prowess. Her mastery of heavy pupils was unimaginable, unlocking vast potential. Same-realm, Ye Chen’s heavy pupils alone couldn’t compete, but his many trump cards secured victory. Her fury spiked when he used his supreme heart, like a boss’s second phase, confirming her identity as the Emperor’s foe.

The revelation stunned Feng Baiyu and the others. The Heavenly Emperor, humanity’s greatest, had a rival who matched him until immortality. Such a prodigy, perfect in every realm, faced Ye Chen—and lost? Did this mean Ye Chen could outshine the young Emperor in the same realm? Even if an imprint paled compared to the real person, it was staggering.

Their gazes shifted, awe deepening. Feng, who’d boasted moments ago, fell silent before asking, ”So, the imprint you got is hers?”

Ye Chen nodded. ”It contains her profound insights on heavy pupils.”

Envy rippled through the crowd. An ancient heavy pupil cultivator who rivaled the Emperor had mastered its potential. This insight would elevate Ye Chen further. ”Why not use it now?” Feng urged, claiming no jealousy.

Ye Chen shook his head. ”I just broke through. I’ll stabilize my cultivation first, then refine it.”

In truth, he had no intention of using it himself. A female heavy pupils cultivator in Central State—the true heavy pupils—was the perfect gift recipient. Gifting it could skyrocket his gains, potentially maxing out his heavy pupils’ power, making his gaze lethal. The boost would far surpass using it himself. He wasn’t rushed; he was already strong, and the battle had deepened his own heavy pupils’ understanding.

Gazing at his primordial spirit in the Yin-Yang Dao Sea, radiating misty purple qi, Ye Chen smirked. Primordial spirits ranged from nine grades to the immortal grade, but a purple-glowing one was unheard of, clearly beyond limits. The Myriad Tribulation, terrifying for an immortal-grade spirit, was heaven’s limit—not his. Otherwise, he mused, the heavens might’ve struck him for a year.