Immortality Starts With Investment

”Ye Chen, you’ve worked hard…”

The golden-robed elder flew forward to meet him. He gazed at Ye Chen’s blood-soaked black hair, the tattered Daoist robe missing even its yin-yang fish emblem. Guilt flooded his eyes…

Yet Ye Chen simply gave a carefree smile.

”It’s nothing. Battling such a formidable enemy was a valuable experience for me… how could it be called hardship?”

His tone was light and unburdened.

The golden-robed elder, however, felt his respect for Ye Chen’s character deepen even further.

Ye Chen’s injuries were so severe that even now, days later, they showed no sign of healing. Clearly, the Celestial Prince’s incarnation had inflicted grave damage. Had it not been for that final counter-kill, he might have perished on the spot.

Yet here he was, speaking as calmly as if nothing had happened. All the prejudice the elder had once held against Ye Chen now felt utterly misplaced.

Ye Chen finished speaking with the elder, then turned his head and swept his gaze toward the distant Undying Celestial Phoenix Clan powerhouses and the many experts from the myriad races. Their faces were ashen, expressions rigid with disbelief.

Though it had been only a wisp of the Celestial Prince’s incarnation, losing to a mere early-stage Saint like the Heavenly Emperor’s heir was something they could scarcely accept. The Celestial Prince had slumbered for a million years—how could his first battle upon awakening end in defeat?

It would have been better if he had never emerged at all. And to lose to the Heavenly Emperor’s heir, of all people… A dark shadow now hung over their faith in the Celestial Prince.

Ye Chen looked at them and spoke in an icy voice.

”Pass this message to the Celestial Prince: tell him to come out sooner rather than later! Otherwise, once I reach quasi-immortal, I’ll bring my immortal artifact straight to the Northern Domain and smash his shell to pieces.”

The words sent a shockwave through the crowd. The Heavenly Emperor’s heir rarely issued threats. He had never needed to—he had never suffered a true defeat. Yet now he was breaking character and speaking so harshly. It could only mean this battle had truly pushed him to the edge.

The Undying Celestial Phoenix Clan powerhouses, already seething, erupted in fury.

”Insolent! How dare you show such disrespect to the Celestial Prince!”

”Who do you think you are? You merely defeated a wisp of his incarnation. If his true body were here, a single glance would reduce you to ashes!”

”Insult our Undying Celestial Phoenix Clan—do you think you can bear the consequences?”

”When the Celestial Prince emerges, you will be the first he slays!”

Killing intent soared into the heavens, turning the air in Immortal City frigid. Even the protective arrays stirred, flaring with divine light. Some among them even began to move, itching to strike Ye Chen down on the spot.

But in the next instant, a surge of human auras rose in response. The Heavenly Evolution Holy Land, the Heavenly Emperor Hall, and many allied forces all stepped forward to declare their stance.

The golden-robed elder moved without the slightest hesitation, positioning himself directly in front of Ye Chen. He sneered.

”Do you want to start a war?”

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The myriad races’ powerhouses turned livid. Especially the Undying Celestial Phoenix Clan. They had counted on the Celestial Prince’s overwhelming debut to rally confidence and unite the myriad races. Instead, his incarnation had fallen. All their plans had come to nothing. They were not prepared for all-out war.

The clan elders gave Ye Chen a few venomous stares, then turned and departed in a thunderous rush. They still held faith in the Celestial Prince. After all, it had been only a wisp of incarnation—far inferior to his true body in every respect.

And Ye Chen? He had barely scraped by against that wisp. This battle had revealed his ceiling. There was no way he could match the Celestial Prince’s true self.

”I hope you can still be so arrogant when you reach the wheel of reincarnation…”

With that cold parting shot, the experts who had arrived alongside the Celestial Prince all left. Ye Chen’s lips curved in faint amusement. He couldn’t be bothered to respond. After offering a polite smile and nod of thanks to the surrounding crowd, he turned back to the golden-robed elder.

”Many thanks for your protection, Senior…”

The golden-robed elder: ”…”

Look at this child—such excellent character. If not for the fact that he himself had forced Ye Chen into the role of false Heavenly Emperor heir, Ye Chen might never have been targeted so relentlessly by the Undying Celestial Phoenix Clan and the Celestial Prince. Yet Ye Chen showed not the slightest resentment and even thanked him.

The elder’s guilt deepened to an unbearable degree…

Ye Chen’s face was deathly pale as he spoke.

”Senior, I’m afraid I’ll need to enter seclusion for a while to heal. I’ve already troubled you enough, so I won’t be returning to the Heavenly Emperor Hall. Please give this to Qingcheng on my behalf. It’s a pity there are several cracks… I’m not sure whether it can still help her condense a divine-grade Heavenly Heart Imprint…”

As he spoke, Ye Chen took out the Heavenly Heart Immortal Crystal and offered it toward the golden-robed elder.

The elder stared at the once-perfect, jade-smooth crystal—now marred by several fine cracks—and his eyes widened in shock. To break through from Saint to Saint King, a cultivator had to condense a Heavenly Heart Imprint and fuse with it.

Once fused, the cultivator could calculate heavenly secrets, gain enlightened wisdom, and perceive the truths of all things. It also allowed one to probe others while shielding oneself. In battle, its advantages were immense.

This step was the single most crucial gateway to the final three levels of the Mahayana realm. Heavenly Heart Imprints were divided into three grades: heaven, earth, and human. But there existed a higher grade still—divine-grade.

A divine-grade imprint could draw upon far greater heavenly calculation power. Some even awakened Divine Abilities as a result. Yet to condense a divine-grade Heavenly Heart Imprint required none other than the Heavenly Heart Immortal Crystal.

Such a treasure was so rare that even the Heavenly Emperor Hall no longer possessed one. Likely, the Undying Celestial Phoenix Clan had owned the only remaining piece in existence. Its value was beyond imagination.

And Ye Chen, to obtain this supreme treasure, had nearly lost his life—barely escaping death. Yet the moment he acquired it, his first thought was to give it to Qingcheng?

This…

In that instant, the golden-robed elder only wanted to slap himself. He truly was not human. Everything he had done before had been utterly deplorable.

The Heavenly Heart Immortal Crystal lay right before him. Of course, the elder desperately wanted to take it for his daughter. Even with cracks, it remained a Heavenly Heart Immortal Crystal. Though its effectiveness would be greatly reduced, Qingcheng’s talent was high enough that she might still condense a divine-grade imprint.

Yet in the end, the elder shook his head and spoke gravely.

”No. Qingcheng’s talent, compared to yours, falls short… You are the one with a true chance of ascending to immortality. In the future, you will contend with the Eight-Crowned King, the Celestial Prince, the Exiled Immortal, and others… Moreover, this treasure was won with your life on the line. It belongs to you.”

Before, the elder had disliked Ye Chen and judged him unfairly. But now, weighed down by guilt, he could finally speak the truth and face reality. His daughter’s aptitude truly could not compare to Ye Chen’s.

This era’s Immortal Path was absurd—freaks and monsters of every kind had emerged. In such circumstances, strengthening a prodigy like Ye Chen was the wisest course. And given how deeply Ye Chen cared for his daughter, in the future, when the qualification to enter the Heavenly Gate appeared, it would be enough if Qingcheng received one.

With that decided, the elder did not give Ye Chen any chance to insist on gifting it. He continued solemnly.

”The Heavenly Emperor Hall possesses sacred healing medicines. Where do you think you’re going? Of course, you’re coming back with me to the Heavenly Emperor Hall. From now on, you will cultivate together with Qingcheng in the Origin Pool and rapidly advance your cultivation.

”Unfortunately, the resources in the Origin Pool are not enough for both of you to reach the peak of the Saint realm simultaneously. But that’s no problem—you take more. As for the rest, I will find a way…”

The same elder who had once wished he could kick Ye Chen into oblivion now refused to let him leave. He even summoned his immortal ship on the spot, determined to bring Ye Chen back to the Heavenly Emperor Hall…