Immortality Starts With Investment

Another week slipped by just like that.

News spread that the tail-wagging female prodigy had awakened her latent dragon bloodline—and unlocked a draconic divine ability—thanks to Ye Chen’s gifted Dragon Blood Spirit Wood. The revelation stunned countless souls.

In an instant, the myriad races’ female cultivators burned with even fiercer longing. Tails sprouted everywhere across the Myriad Races Immortal City. Even some male cultivators paraded about with tails attached. Harboring all sorts of peculiar hopes in their hearts.

Within the Peacock Clan’s outpost, the Little Peacock King’s mother caught wind of the outside rumors, her gaze tinged with quiet resentment. Ye Chen had gifted myriad race women three times now, and each occasion saw him pass right by their Peacock Clan grounds.

What did that signify? He clearly yearned to seek her out but felt too bashful. Terrified of drawing notice, he settled for doling out presents to random young nobodies on the streets instead. Others might not grasp it. But could she truly remain oblivious? Ye Chen favored the mature sort.

”So many women around him already, yet he’s still so thin-skinned... After all, he saved my son’s life. This time, I’ll take the initiative! It’s not for anything else—just pure repayment.”

Mulling it over, the Little Peacock King’s mother kept her divine sense locked on the gates, awaiting Ye Chen’s passage. After all, he emerged roughly once a week.

The moment he strolled by, she’d send him a transmission. But this time, whether the Peacock King’s mother herself, or those female cultivators—tails genuine or affixed—they waited until dusk fell, and still no sign of Ye Chen.

Disappointment etched deep lines across their faces. Had the Heavenly Emperor’s heir decided against venturing out? Or had he slipped away unnoticed?

...

And as whispers swirled about Ye Chen among the crowds, back at the Heavenly Demon Clan’s outpost. Under the watchful, caring eyes of Ye Chen, Yao Yuekong, and her parents, Yao Yuezhi emerged from seclusion.

Her aura, though not fully restored to its former glory, no longer carried that inescapable veil of defeat. Plainly, this retreat had succeeded: she had refined the Qiankun Cauldron, supplanting her original cave heaven core. The domain itself remained unrestored. But that alone sparked joy in every heart.

”Sister...”

”Daughter...”

”Darling...”

Her parents and brother called out with deep affection, arms outstretched for an embrace, a word of encouragement. Yet the instant Yao Yuezhi spotted Ye Chen upon exiting, her eyes lit up. She ignored the trio entirely and flung herself into his arms. Their extended hands hung frozen in the air...

”Brother, I’m so glad you didn’t leave. I worried the whole time that by the time I emerged, you’d be gone. My cave heaven core is restored now. Thank you, Brother. After this, my parents will probably help me find some kind-hearted prodigy to share his cave heaven essence, so I can rebuild mine. It won’t be huge, but even a little one would be cute, right? You wouldn’t mind if mine’s small, would you, Brother? Rebuilding the cave heaven might take another month too. Wait just a bit longer for me—wherever you go then, I’ll follow.”

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Yao Yuezhi clung to Ye Chen with boundless anticipation, murmuring her sweet nothings.

Yao Yuekong’s mouth twitched faintly. She no longer called him Brother Ye—just Brother now.

Your real brother stands right here!

For the first time in years, Yao Yuekong realized how sweetly his sister could utter that word. Pity it wasn’t meant for him.

Yao Yuezhi’s parents wore equally complicated expressions. She hadn’t even married yet, and already her eyes held only Ye Chen. Their feelings toward him tangled deeply. Gratitude ran true, of course. But their daughter had secluded herself for just one month.

In that span, Ye Chen had gifted three other female cultivators. Utterly absurd! Yet with the Qiankun Cauldron in hand, they could scarcely lecture her on breaking ties.

...

Ye Chen, listening to Yao Yuezhi’s words, couldn’t help but chuckle. A kind-hearted soul to share essence? More like they’d snatch some prodigy outright! He wasn’t surprised in the least. For all that his women appeared soft and fragile beside him—like willows bending in the breeze, in need of his shelter—each carried her own fire. His master, unburdened, slew without mercy. The little demoness, Luo Bingling, his fiancée—all bore blood on their hands aplenty. Even Senior An wasn’t some spineless saint. And this Yao Yuezhi before him? A classic case of powder-cut black.

Ye Chen shook his head. ”No need to trouble Uncle and Aunt with this. I’ve already prepared the cave heaven essence you need to rebuild.”

His words stunned all four others present. Yao Yuezhi’s eyes widened with delight. The remaining three, hearing him, linked it at once to the stir Ye Chen had kicked up lately in the Myriad Races Immortal City. A bold notion struck them.

The Heavenly Emperor’s heir’s recent gifts to female cultivators weren’t born of loneliness from the two women’s seclusion, driving him to hunt for flings. No—he had been scouting suitable candidates for their daughter. After all, compatibility minimized losses during absorption. Same-sex pairings boosted those odds sharply. And the higher the target’s talent, the vaster the cave heaven—the more she could draw.

The three women Ye Chen had chosen all boasted solid aptitudes, carrying real names among their peers. They fell short of the absolute elite, sure, but top-tier female cultivators were thin on the ground anyway. Those three? Optimal picks indeed.

With that realization, Yao Yuezhi’s parents brimmed with profound regret. Ye Chen had thought of their daughter every step of the way. Yet they had misjudged him, assuming he couldn’t bear the loneliness—and even schemed to quietly urge a split. They truly deserved to die for it!

Guilt flooded their gazes as they looked upon Ye Chen. Our son-in-law was simply too good.

...

Ye Chen, meanwhile, shifted uncomfortably under the couple’s peculiar stares. He didn’t dwell on it, though—likely they just disapproved of his recent gifts to other female cultivators. Such trifles didn’t faze him. So he held Yao Yuezhi close in his arms, locking eyes with her clear, emerald depths, and murmured softly, ”I’ve checked—the cultivators in the Myriad Races Immortal City mostly command cave heavens of just a thousand li or so, with paltry ceilings. Even the finest among them rarely breach ten thousand; you could count them on one hand. Even if you convinced them to contribute their essence willingly, it wouldn’t mean much for you. After all, anything under ten thousand—whether hundreds or thousands—hardly shifts the needle.”

Ye Chen’s words drew an involuntary sigh from Yao Yuezhi’s heart, a shadow of dejection crossing her face. This was indeed the crux of the issue. Even resorting to ruthless capture left no viable targets to drain. Those who reached the hundred-thousand-li pinnacle? All elite prodigies, treasured by their sects and clans. Utterly untouchable. So, it remained an unsolvable bind!

Yao Yuezhi’s parents, hearing Ye Chen’s assessment, grew all the more convinced of their earlier blunder. Their guilt deepened! Yet amid the remorse, anticipation flickered in their eyes. After all, if he hadn’t secured a fitting candidate, Ye Chen never would have uttered those words.

Could it be that Ye Chen had silently subdued a prodigy with a cave heaven exceeding ten thousand li? Already prepared it for their daughter?