Immortality Starts With Investment

”Why’re you shouting so loud? So smug over killing my senior brother’s avatar? Come in and face me if you dare!”

Ye Chen’s towering phantom glared down at Ying Tiansheng, voice cold.

Ying, thinking of Ye Chen seizing the formation’s core, couldn’t help imagining the fiancée’s fate. His eyes blazed with killing intent. But with her inside, status unknown, he restrained himself, glaring coldly. ”Ye Chen, open the formation, and I’ll spare you today. Otherwise, you’ll end like your senior brother’s avatar.”

Ye Chen’s phantom was about to retort but suddenly closed its eyes, shuddering lightly, exhaling long and slow. After a while, he opened his eyes, radiating a sage-like calm. Waving a hand, he started, ”Don’t suck…”

Pausing, he shifted. ”I know you’re impatient, but hold on. I’m done here. I’ll be out soon—wait a bit.” His phantom vanished.

Ying frowned, puzzled.

Was Ye Chen ill?

Whatever it was, it wasn’t good.

Killing intent surging, he shielded the area with divine light to hide his actions. His Devouring Heaven Demon Art was too dangerous—if known, others would guard against him, hindering his growth. In Central Continent, he’d befriended prodigies only to betray them, saving time and effort. If his art was exposed, that tactic would fail. Concealed, he unleashed countless divine flowers, bombarding the formation.

Boom!

Terrifying waves echoed, but divine lightning from the formation neutralized most attacks.

Ying’s immense power barely shook it.

”The Primordial Thunder God-Slaying Formation, eighth-grade pinnacle, unbreakable below Mahayana,” he muttered, eyes dark.

The formation was formidable but not invincible—its materials lasted only seven days before collapsing. But Ying couldn’t wait five more days. Who knew what Ye Chen might do to the fiancée? He contacted his protector. ”Senior Fang Qing, please act—help me break this formation!”

A reply came. ”Wait a few days. If I’m exposed, you’ll draw more attention.”

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Ying couldn’t wait. ”Senior, my fiancée’s inside, possibly in danger. I can’t delay!”

No response.

Ying’s eyes shadowed with doubt. His protector had always been dismissive, aiding only with origin enhancement, ignoring other matters. Even mentioning the fiancée didn’t sway them. Was he not the sole heir to the Devouring Heaven True Immortal’s legacy? Would he need to compete for it?

Suspicions aside, the formation had to break. He spoke again. ”Inside is Ye Chen, the Heavenly Emperor’s heir, with a Supreme Heart and Heavy Pupils. Devouring him would yield more origin than all I’ve consumed. His senior brother’s true body isn’t here, nor are other Heavenly Evolution Holy Land powerhouses. This is our only chance. Delay, and Heavenly Evolution’s forces will arrive, leaving no opportunity!”

This time, a response came.

”Good!”

The Heavy Pupils and Supreme Heart far surpassed most king or divine bodies, not even in the same league. If Ying Tiansheng could devour them, the gains would eclipse all prior absorptions. This was indeed a prime opportunity.

An old man stepped from the void, unremarkable, frail, white-haired, as if a breeze could topple him. Yet his appearance silenced the Great Shang Immortal City. He became the world’s center, drawing all eyes. Many cultivators bled from their eyes just glimpsing him, as if he were a god too divine to behold, no longer akin to ordinary cultivators.

Nearby sect powerhouses trembled. This was the aura of a Mahayana cultivator, their bodies evolving toward immortality, bearing true dao.

A Mahayana being had appeared? Shock surged through all.

The old man calmly raised a withered hand, pointing at the Primordial Thunder God-Slaying Formation. No divine light or ripples—just a gesture.

Inside, Ye Chen, listening to Yi Qingwu recite the remaining Movement Secret, snapped his head up. His powerful spiritual sense screamed danger from the old man. Even with the formation, he felt unsafe.

Mahayana! Ying Tiansheng had a Mahayana protector? Was his luck this insane? With the Nine Secrets, origin-devouring art, and now a Mahayana ally, he seemed even stronger than Hua Yunfei.

Ye Chen had no desire to test a Mahayana foe—the gap was too vast, a brush with death. But he wasn’t panicked, ready to open his small world. With the Fusang Divine Tree inside, anyone entering would die. If the old man stayed out, Elder Mo was no match, but Heavenly Evolution Holy Land wasn’t helpless. They’d send powerhouses to save him soon. No big deal.

Yi Qingwu, sipping water to recover, stopped reciting, frowning at the outside. Worry creased her stunning face. ”I didn’t know Heavenly Intention Holy Son had a Mahayana protector. This formation can’t stop a Mahayana strike. I’ll plead for you, citing your gift of the treasure herb, to buy time. Contact Heavenly Evolution Holy Land now—get them to send powerhouses fast.”

In this crisis, she dropped the act, revealing her true heart. She didn’t want Ye Chen to die. Before, she might’ve spared him as a useful pawn to provoke Ying. Now, her concern was genuine.

Though Ye Chen’s actions often humiliated her, his feelings were undeniably sincere, like her late father’s care. With her father gone, she couldn’t bear to see Ye Chen die before her, devoured by Ying Tiansheng.