Immortality Starts With Investment

The Heavenly Desire Sect Master watched, envious yet bored, occasionally stealing glances at Ye Chen. Her expectations dwindled. No Heavenly Desire Sect record showed a divine maiden, after her protector’s death, achieving transformation or advancement via another’s leftovers.

The divine seed’s non-native transfer caused massive loss. Most protectors, drained repeatedly, grew too weak to satisfy their divine maiden, let alone others. She held little hope, only pitying the divine maidens’ fate—tied to men, reliant on luck and choice.

Stuck at Unity’s peak, her own Master, more talented and luckier, lost her protector to an ambush at Mahayana, found as a husk. Despite years of hard cultivation, she stalled at Mahayana Third Heaven, inches from Fourth Heaven, never breaking through.

Even if Ye Chen’s vast reserves fed Fan Qinghe fully and, against high loss, gave her enough for a transformation, she’d only reach Mahayana, likely stalling at Third Heaven. The Sect Master’s mature face showed a bitter smile—Mahayana was already a dream, yet she mused on post-Mahayana woes. Laughable.

Three days passed in such thoughts. Fan Qinghe soared from early to late Unity, her aura still climbing toward peak. The Sect Master envied her deeply—only cultivators knew Unity’s grueling demands.

Yet her disciple, doing nothing, broke two minor realms in three days. Such a tale could birth heart demons in others. Per past divine maidens’ insights, protectors typically dried up by now, the ritual ending. But Ye Chen’s Dao charms flowed endlessly, undiminished, unwavering.

The Sect Master marveled—his foundation was profound. Yet Fan Qinghe’s prior transformations made her a bottomless pit, now absorbing for realm advancement, not yet for transformation. Even Ye Chen’s depth likely left little.

Two more days passed.

Fan Qinghe’s aura shifted, glowing with perfect Dao charms, visions swirling around her. She’d hit Unity’s peak. Five days, early to peak Unity—a record-shattering feat. Enviable.

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Yet, five days in, Ye Chen’s charms showed no decline—stabler, even accelerating as Fan Qinghe advanced, matching her growing capacity.

The Sect Master’s awe deepened. The fourth Holy Son was too formidable. Now, preparations for Fan Qinghe’s third transformation would begin.

Fan Qinghe reached late Unity, her Dao charm absorption accelerating. Ye Chen didn’t hesitate, ramping up transmission.

Fan Qinghe took deep breaths to adjust, then focused on refining. She estimated: breaking from early to peak Unity used one unit of capacity. Now, she could handle three.

Ye Chen’s increased speed, multiples of the initial rate, suggested ten days to finish—barely enough for her. Her Master waited, but even without loss, Ye Chen’s remnants wouldn’t suffice for her breakthrough, especially with her high loss rate.

Still, Fan Qinghe wanted her Master to feel included, a filial gesture. She’d stop at 2.5 units, letting her Master take the rest. It’d slightly weaken her transformation but was acceptable. Determined, she cultivated earnestly, waiting for the moment to invite her Master.

Four days later, at 2.5 units, Fan Qinghe smiled, satisfied. Ye Chen’s reserves must be low. Time for her Master.

”Master, I’m nearly full for transformation. Join the ritual, share the burden,” she said.

The Sect Master, seeing Fan Qinghe’s expression, knew she wasn’t truly complete—her true fullness looked different. Touched by her disciple’s filial heart, she knew Ye Chen’s remnants wouldn’t help her, only hinder Fan Qinghe. She waved it off.

Ye Chen frowned. ”Fan Qinghe, you’re not at your limit. I said, as your protector, all my Dao charms are your gift. Only when you’re fully complete can you share. Until then, give to no one.”

As if to punish her, he doubled the transmission speed. Fan Qinghe’s eyes rolled back, nearly overwhelmed, but sensing his anger, she gave a pitiful glance, struggling to adapt. Guilt gnawed—she’d promised her Master but now might leave her with nothing.

The Sect Master smiled, letting go. ”The fourth Holy Son’s foundation is unmatched in the Heavenly Desire Sect’s million-year records. Your cultivation is paramount. Use all that remains. My high loss rate can’t even sustain a basic transformation. His efforts are better spent making you stronger.”

Fan Qinghe’s eyes reddened, but she stayed silent, focusing on cultivation. The Sect Master watched, smiling warmly.

Half a day later, Fan Qinghe, frantic, spoke, ”Master, I’m full, I can’t take more! Come quickly!”

The Sect Master chuckled. Her disciple’s filial heart shone, wanting her to taste even a sliver, feigning fullness convincingly. But it wasn’t needed.

She waved gently. ”Qinghe, focus on your cultivation. Don’t worry about me.”