Immortality Starts With Investment

Outside world.

News of the Nirvana Sacred Liquid's emergence swept through the entire cultivation world like a tornado. It alarmed nearly every major power. Ancient monstrous geniuses from both human and myriad races emerged one after another. Shadows of Great Emperors flickered into view. Rumors even spoke of Quasi-Immortals lurking in the dark.

The Nether God Holy Land brazenly carried out a divine coffin, from which radiated the unmistakable pressure unique to a Quasi-Immortal. The entire cultivation world stirred in that moment. After all, possessing a Sacred Spiritual Root equated to forging a true heaven-defying prodigy. One with immense certainty of ascension. No one wished to miss it.

Yet just as the masses gathered, new intelligence spread. The Nirvana Sacred Liquid had fallen into the Heavenly Emperor's heir's hands. He had toyed with everyone, ultimately handing it to Lan Nuo to refine. Lan Nuo had already consumed it under the gaze of all present.

When this news broke, sighs of disappointment echoed everywhere. The ancestors departed silently, one by one. The oppressive pressures weighing upon Immortal City vanished without a trace.

Everyone marveled in disbelief. None had foreseen such an outcome. They had prepared for Ye Chen to claim it himself. They had readied pleas to their ancestors to bend rules and slay him.

For the Heavenly Emperor's heir was already invincible enough—if he gained a Sacred Spiritual Root too, no one else stood a chance. He had to die. Yet he surrendered the opportunity for a Sacred Spiritual Root to Lan Nuo.

While lamenting Ye Chen's magnanimity, many speculated he understood he could not become too unrivaled. Otherwise, the entire cultivation world would no longer tolerate him. Thus, he yielded graciously.

Even after learning the truth, most refused to accept it. They lingered in Immortal City, awaiting Lan Nuo's exit from the Immortal Path. They wanted to witness with their own eyes whether she truly possessed a Sacred Spiritual Root. And whether it proved as invincible as legends claimed.

The most shocked, without doubt, were the Lan family. The widespread knowledge of a holy spirit's self-severance causing the liquid's emergence had caught them off guard. That the Heavenly Emperor's heir still obtained it shocked them further.

Outsiders claimed Lan Nuo slew the saints—they refused to believe it. Surely the heir had first suppressed the pair, then let Lan Nuo play with them for her amusement. But for him to gift the Nirvana Sacred Liquid to Lan Nuo… this truly exceeded every expectation in the Lan family.

The clan elders exchanged glances, faces blank with mutual astonishment. Recalling their earlier hesitation, their feigned generosity… Contrasted against the Heavenly Emperor's heir's open-handed grace. The difference was stark.

"A prodigy like the Heavenly Emperor's heir likely believes he can ascend even without a Sacred Spiritual Root—yet we feared his greed might breed enmity. How laughable."

"We were the true frogs at the bottom of the well."

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"His actions render our petty scheming utterly ridiculous."

"The favor our Lan family owes him is immense!"

"Return at once and scour the clan treasury. Select every treasure beneficial to his future cultivation—send them all."

Shame filled the Lan family members. They resolved immediately to offer compensation. Amid the guilt, a touch of wonder stirred at their own Lan Nuo's fortune. Heavy Pupils were already terrifying beyond measure. Now augmented by a Sacred Spiritual Root. Their Lan Nuo truly seemed qualified to turn her back on all beings…

...

Within the Immortal Path.

Ye Chen wiped the corner of his mouth, gazing at Lan Nuo as she swallowed and revealed a smile. He gently wiped the corner of hers as well.

Lan Nuo's eyes held a hint of resentment. Ye Chen said nothing, only smiling softly.

Feeling the warmth in his smile, the resentful Lan Nuo immediately understood. Her master must be worried that her spiritual root had only just ascended and wasn't yet stable. He feared it might affect her potential, so he refused to fully claim her. Her master loved her so deeply. Though she felt a touch of emptiness, warmth filled her heart.

"Master, my cultivation speed has increased dramatically. Beyond that, all negative techniques no longer affect me—suppression, healing bans, slowing, confinement, and the like… my comprehension of the Heavenly Dao has grown far stronger.

"At the same time, my Sacred Spiritual Root is gestating sacred arts and divine abilities. It will likely take several years to complete. I feel the abilities it produces will surpass those of the Heavy Pupils—more powerful, more invincible… The Sacred Spiritual Root also influences my small world! My spell attributes have changed too, amplifying my Heavy Pupils… In short, I feel the current me is terrifyingly strong!"

Lan Nuo happily shared her transformations and the wonders of the Sacred Spiritual Root with Ye Chen. He listened and nodded. The Sacred Spiritual Root's enhancements, though inferior to the Immortal Spiritual Root, remained comprehensive. No wonder it had catapulted Lan Nuo from four thousand to ten thousand times. Her sensation was no illusion.

Ten thousand times—what did that mean? In any previous era's Immortal Path, Lan Nuo would absolutely qualify for the phrase "one glimpse empties the Dao." Even in this era, those with talent surpassing hers could be counted on one hand.

"Let's go! Plenty of people outside the Immortal Path are likely waiting to see you—let them witness it!"

Ye Chen was thoroughly pleased with this journey's harvest. He would soon obtain an Immortal Spiritual Root. Lan Nuo had gained a Sacred Spiritual Root, becoming his first ten-thousand-times female cultivator.

At the same time, he acquired an eight-thousand-times, still-growing holy spirit. Aside from the leeks growing wiser and harder to harvest, everything had been perfect.

At his words, anticipation colored Lan Nuo's pretty face. News of her obtaining a Sacred Spiritual Root had already spread worldwide. Countless awaited her emergence from the Immortal Path. Before, she might have felt a twinge of nerves. Now, only eager expectation.

At this thought, Lan Nuo—who had wanted to cling to Ye Chen a while longer, savoring the aftertaste—could no longer sit still, as though impatient. Ye Chen chuckled, took her hand, and strode from the small world toward the teleportation array.

…

At last, in Immortal City.

Under countless watchful eyes, the teleportation array slowly lit up. Two figures drifted gracefully from within. The Heavenly Emperor's heir—strikingly handsome, his aura terrifying, like a god incarnate.

Yet in this moment, no one spared him a glance. All attention was fixed on the arriving Lan Nuo. They wished to confirm whether she had truly refined the Nirvana Sacred Liquid. Her aura now differed vastly from when she entered. Her cultivation had soared straight to the peak of the third heaven. These changes proved much. Yet even with ninety percent certainty, everyone clung to a sliver of hope.

At the same time, certain prodigies wished to test whether a Sacred Spiritual Root truly proved as heaven-defying as legends claimed. Instantly, a figure shot from the crowd. All recognized him at once—a supreme human prodigy from a great sect.