Immortality Starts With Investment

With his strength partially exposed, Ye Chen prepared to end the battle and shower the 4,000x Lan Nuo and 7,000x Yan Qingcheng with gifts. The Cave Heaven’s initial restrictions were odd, alarming external protectors. The earlier commotion had drawn their attention, and great powers probed inside.

As Ye Chen moved to crush Ba Wang and Yao Yuekong, the Cave Heaven’s sky cracked. Two giant hands descended, snatching them away.

”This generation’s Heavenly Emperor heir is astounding!”

”Indeed, peerless in his era—perhaps the immortal path needs no contest.”

Two aged voices echoed.

Ye Chen raised an eyebrow but didn’t act—these weren’t ordinary Mahayana, at least Third Heaven. If they were mortal enemies, he’d be furious, but mere ants? If they escaped now, he’d crush them later. No regrets. He watched them go.

Soon, more hands retrieved the Solar Body, Feathered Divine Body, and others. Ye Chen, indifferent, let them leave, noting their awe and despair—while he lived, their immortal hopes were dead.

In a blink, most prodigies were gone. The Star River King Body’s protector glared, furious. Why only their divine son died? Was Ye Chen picking on the weak, targeting their clan? If not for Heavenly Evolution Holy Land’s watchful powerhouses, he’d confront Ye Chen. Glaring, he left, pondering how to report the need for yet another divine son.

…

A hand reached for Lan Nuo, but she waved it off. ”Ancestor, I’m not leaving yet! They lost, but my Heavy Pupil hasn’t!”

Her ancestor was stunned. Ye Chen’s dominance—defeating a Mahayana fiend—was unearthly, even making some suspect he was the Heavenly Emperor reincarnated. Yet she stayed, claiming others lost, not her?

His mouth twitched, but he didn’t force her away. Let her face reality—a beating might curb her arrogance. With him present, Ye Chen couldn’t kill her. The ancestor stayed silent.

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The remaining prodigies were shocked. Ye Chen slew a Mahayana fiend, his power beyond limits, yet Lan Nuo stayed? She wasn’t foolish—did she have a trump card? Despite Ye Chen’s invincibility, did she still dare fight? Eyes lit up with anticipation. Ye Chen, intrigued, found her courage amusing.

Ye Chen ignored Lan Nuo for now, flying toward Yan Qingcheng, who’d aided him. Before the unremarkable figure, he sensed no trace of disguise—without the system, he’d never guess she was the Chaos Body.

”Thanks for the help, friend!” Ye Chen smiled.

Yan Qingcheng glanced at him, shaking her head calmly. ”Even without me, they couldn’t threaten you. No need for thanks.”

Ye Chen shook his head. ”Help is help, regardless of my strength. It’s about what you did. Are you here for the longevity medicine?”

Yan Qingcheng raised an eyebrow. Was he implying, due to her trivial aid, he’d give her the medicine? Such gratitude?

This stirred complex emotions in her. If Ye Chen were vile, letting him take the fall as a fake Heavenly Emperor heir would’ve been easy. But his pure kindness made her feel uneasy.

”No need. I have no elders needing it—just here for the spectacle,” she said, preparing to leave, unsettled by guilt and awkwardness.

Ye Chen felt a twinge of disappointment—she didn’t need the medicine. But a 7,000x multiplier was too rare to waste. Noting her fist practice, likely new to the Heavenly Emperor Fist, he decided the fist’s insight imprint from the Emperor was perfect.

As she turned to go, he raised a hand, sending an imprint before her. Smiling, he said, ”Since you don’t need the medicine, take this as thanks for your help.”

Yan Qingcheng froze. As the true heir, with the Heavenly Emperor Hall’s treasury at her disposal, she lacked nothing. She’d already wronged Ye Chen—not her intent, but her father’s doing, sparked by her. She hadn’t made amends, yet he offered a gift?

The glowing imprint felt familiar, prompting her to touch it. Instantly, endless Heavenly Emperor Fist insights flooded her mind, clarifying murky points and deepening her grasp of its reincarnation intent.

Eyes widening, she stared at Ye Chen in disbelief. How did he have these insights? Why give them to her? How did he know she was practicing the fist? Did he know her identity? If so, why gift her instead of cursing her?

Confused, she transmitted, ”You… know who I am?”

Ye Chen, expecting this, nodded lightly. ”During my Unity tribulation, I met the Heavenly Emperor’s imprint. He revealed I’m not the true heir, lacking core legacies. I realized I’m a decoy. Today, sensing familiar traces in you, despite your concealed fist technique, I recognized the Emperor’s shadow. You’re the true heir.”