Immortality Starts With Investment

In the depths of the cosmic starry sky, the three-month-long thunder finally dissipated.

Ye Chen stood amid the stars, his robes tattered. He casually tore them off, donning new ones. With a wave of his hand, boundless starlight surged from all directions, enveloping him, replenishing the energy drained by his tribulation. Though this place lacked spiritual energy, at Ye Chen’s level, he had countless ways to recover.

Gazing at the Immortal Platform within his brow, brimming with immortal spiritual qi, he smiled. Etched upon it were all his insights, his Dao, and his laws.

Feeling the divine Immortal Platform, its vibrant life force, and his strength—now countless times greater—Ye Chen’s heart stirred with excitement. He could now pluck stars with a single hand, wielding the power to destroy them. Yet, the tribulation wasn’t over.

He looked up expectantly at the gathering thunder domain, eyes gleaming with anticipation. Returning home in glory without proving his might was like walking in fine robes under the cover of night.

For Ye Chen, nothing would validate his strength more than defeating the Heavenly Emperor of his realm fair and square. He eagerly awaited their encounter.

As the thunder domain fully formed, enveloping him, Ye Chen stood unmoved, calmly gazing ahead. Soon, the boundless origin of thunder coalesced, and a familiar figure slowly appeared before him.

Sensing the terrifying aura, Ye Chen smiled. When the figure fully materialized, it was the same Heavenly Emperor he’d faced during his last breakthrough.

The Emperor raised an eyebrow. ”You again? You’re breaking through pretty fast—almost catching up to me! Have you mastered the Heavenly Emperor Fist?”

Ye Chen chuckled, the true essence of the Heavenly Emperor Fist’s reincarnation swirling in his hand.

The Emperor’s brows lifted, his interest piqued. Last time was inconvenient, but now, at the Mahayana Stage, he could properly test this kid. Yet, as he studied Ye Chen closely, a trace of confusion flickered in his eyes.

”Innate Sacred Body Dao Embryo?”

Sensing Ye Chen’s aura, the Heavenly Emperor was genuinely stunned. Last time, wasn’t Ye Chen just an ordinary Myriad Stars Body? How had he suddenly become an Innate Sacred Body Dao Embryo?

If not for the absence of his own bloodline in Ye Chen, the Emperor might’ve suspected someone had tricked him into leaving a descendant in the cultivation world. But as for why Ye Chen’s physique had changed, the Emperor didn’t dwell on it. The vast universe held endless wonders. Who didn’t have their share of fortune?

Besides, Ye Chen’s strength made things more interesting. It would let the Emperor relive the fiery battles of his youth.

”Let’s see how much of my Heavenly Emperor Fist you’ve truly grasped…”

The Emperor struck decisively, his fist shaking the heavens with unmatched dominance. All the forces in the starry sky seemed to surge in response.

Ye Chen, long awaiting this battle, flashed with divine light in his eyes. He countered with his own fist. The true essence of reincarnation collided in the starry sky, shattering countless stars.

The Emperor’s expression shifted slightly. He’d passed on the insights of the Heavenly Emperor Fist, but how was Ye Chen’s understanding already on par with his own? And why was Ye Chen’s foundation so profound—far surpassing his own at the Mahayana Stage?

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Each clash left the Emperor feeling overwhelmed. His interest deepened. Golden vitality soared as his sacred body erupted.

Ye Chen met him fearlessly, fully activating his Innate Sacred Body Dao Embryo. The Dao Embryo amplified his paths and laws, while the Sacred Body’s indestructible nature made his physique invincible. Their clashes grew fiercer, black holes forming in the surrounding starry sky.

Moments later, the Emperor’s shock deepened. He was certain now—he, at the Mahayana Stage, couldn’t defeat Ye Chen. No, it wasn’t just defeat. He was utterly outclassed. Hadn’t he already taken the cultivation world’s Jianmu Tree? How could a monster like Ye Chen still emerge? This kid had something special!

The Emperor grinned as Ye Chen’s domineering fist came roaring in. His imprint’s aura surged, freezing Ye Chen in midair. Ye Chen stared, dumbfounded. This power far exceeded the Mahayana Stage. Was the Emperor playing dirty again?

The Emperor’s imprint smiled faintly. ”Not bad, kid. Your Heavenly Emperor Fist carries eight parts of my true intent. Keep practicing, and you’ll catch up to me one day. I planned to guide you further, but some troublemakers are acting up again. We’ll fight again when you become an immortal…”

Ye Chen, used to cutting down same-realm cultivators like vegetables, was just getting into the fight. And now it was over? This unresolved feeling—who could stand it?

”You’re in such a rush? Can’t we finish the fight first?”

Ye Chen burned to complete the battle, to earn the achievement of defeating the Heavenly Emperor at the same realm.

The Emperor’s imprint shrugged. ”What can I do? Timing’s bad.”

Ye Chen, caught in this frustrating limbo, couldn’t help but taunt, ”Senior, are you sure you’re not just making excuses because you know you can’t win?”

The Emperor didn’t take offense, chuckling instead. He looked at Ye Chen with a knowing smile. ”Kid, you’re young and don’t understand an Immortal Emperor’s affairs, so I won’t hold it against you. After you complete the nine heavens of the Mahayana Stage, become a True Immortal, and keep breaking through… If all goes well, in about a hundred thousand years, you might reach my current realm. Then you’ll understand what I’m dealing with… Being an Immortal Emperor isn’t easy!”

Ye Chen’s lips twitched at the Emperor’s words. Was this guy flexing or what?

The Heavenly Emperor smirked, retracting his power. ”I know you’re in the heat of battle, and stopping now leaves you hanging. I sparked your fire, so I can’t just leave you like that. Here’s the deal—I’ll pick a few tough guys for you. Guaranteed to satisfy!”

With that, the Emperor’s imprint faded. Ye Chen stood dumbfounded as the thunder domain expanded. Soon, twenty to thirty imprints emerged.

”Is that a Mahayana Stage Kun Peng? True Dragon, True Phoenix, Thunder Emperor, and all Vicious Ten? Heavy Pupils, Innate Sacred Body Dao Embryo, Chaos Body, Heavenly Demon Body, Divine King Body… Is that the Immortal Emperor of the myriad races? And that one with the staff—could it be the Mahayana Stage War Saint Emperor?”

Ye Chen was formidable, but facing this lineup of legendary figures from history—icons of the cultivation world—was overwhelming. So many at once? Clearly the Emperor’s doing. A hint of retaliation, no doubt. The Emperor was a bit shady… but complaints aside, Ye Chen, ignited by the Emperor’s challenge, needed worthy opponents. These imprints were perfect.

Without hesitation, he unleashed the Heavenly Emperor Fist, charging at them. These top prodigies from various eras, though mere imprints, were astonishingly talented. They unleashed profound paths and laws, the Vicious Ten’s techniques soaring, joining forces to suppress Ye Chen.

This was no simple sum of parts. Even a Third Heaven might struggle. Yet Ye Chen’s vitality surged, his battle intent unmatched.

He countered True Dragon Treasure Technique with True Dragon Treasure Technique. He met the Chaos Hand with Heaven’s Calamity Light. He shattered the Pure Land with Heavy Pupils. He even fought two-on-one, clashing physically with the Sacred Body and Firmament Overlord Body. The tremors here dwarfed the earlier tribulation.

The legendary imprints were formidable. Ye Chen honed himself through the battle. Ten days later, he shattered the nine divine forms protecting the Firmament Overlord Body, tearing it apart. It was over. The surrounding stars lay in fragments, forming a meteor belt—a testament to the battle’s ferocity.

Ye Chen grabbed the imprints’ remnants, satisfied yet slightly unfulfilled. This tribulation hadn’t granted him the achievement of defeating the Heavenly Emperor at the same realm. A pity. But next time, at immortality, he’d face the Emperor again.

Ye Chen refused to believe the Emperor would ”just happen” to be busy. The immortal Heavenly Emperor, hailed as the cultivation world’s greatest immortal, was a true terror. Defeating him then would be the ultimate achievement.

Deep in the thunder domain, the Emperor’s lingering thought watched Ye Chen finish, mildly surprised. He smiled. Wait for immortality. When he’d created his own immortal scripture, his power peaked. Then, he’d properly teach this young man a lesson in respecting his elders.