Immortality Starts With Investment

The Devouring lineage had considerable depth. Scheming for a treasure from Violet Radiance Holy Land—with preparation against the unprepared—stood a strong chance of success.

That was why Ye Chen had arrived with genuine anticipation. Gaining such a prize without ever leaving home would be ideal. Yet now he stood with his head lowered, staring silently at the severed head clutched in the Demon-Exterminating Great Saint's hand.

After a long pause, the Demon-Exterminating Great Saint spoke in shame, the head dangling from his grip: "Young Master, this servant deserves death a thousand times. Were it not for the need to deliver this message to you, I would have shattered my own divine soul long ago…"

The words sounded oddly familiar. Ye Chen waved his hand helplessly.

"Put your head back on before you speak!"

The Great Saint hurriedly released his grip. The head flew back into place on its own.

"What happened? A Half-Saint from the Devouring lineage couldn't handle Violet Radiance Holy Land?"

Ye Chen asked for the details.

The Great Saint shook his head frantically.

"I dispatched six Half-Saints in total—all at the peak. Two of them even possessed prodigious talent, no weaker than most Holy Sons. Suppressing the Half-Saints of Violet Radiance Holy Land would have been effortless. But after they entered the Fourth Realm… the entire group was annihilated. Only one managed to send a dying message. He spoke of encountering a man whose physique was terrifyingly powerful—capable of withstanding the killing techniques of the Heaven-Devouring Demonic Art head-on…"

"This man fought six against one and suppressed them all. Besides that man, two women were also present in the canyon, both extraordinarily remarkable… One of them was shrouded in Chaos Qi, inspiring instinctive awe from the bloodline itself—suspected to be a Chaos Body! The other was none other than the Holy Maiden of Heavenly Evolution Holy Land… your Senior Sister, Dantai Xuan."

Because Alkaid had once targeted those close to Ye Chen during the ten years he was away, the prodigies of the Devouring lineage had recognized Dantai Xuan.

The news made Ye Chen's brow twitch. An unknown male Half-Saint? A female Chaos Body cultivator? Could it be Yan Qingcheng—no longer concealing her physique?

And Dantai Xuan being there was truly rare. Though they belonged to the same holy land, the two of them had met only a handful of times.

Ye Chen still remembered his astonishment the first time he saw her, when he discovered her 2,000× multiplier and was utterly stunned. But the version had changed. His system now filtered out notifications for any female cultivator at 2,000× or below.

So compared to Dantai Xuan, the appearance of a Chaos Body drew far more of Ye Chen's attention. A 7,000× Chaos Body still held strong competitive value.

Moreover, if she was no longer hiding her physique, it meant she was likely about to make her move. Delivering the war chariot right now would be perfect timing. And since she was present, the Dao-Entrust Treasure could be given to her as well.

From their previous interactions, Ye Chen knew Yan Qingcheng was not heartless. She was fully capable of triggering critical hits. He still vividly remembered the flood of feedback notifications she had once given him—utterly overwhelming.

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"Send me the location. I'll head there shortly."

Ye Chen spoke calmly.

The Demon-Exterminating Great Saint hurriedly transmitted the coordinates, then bowed his head in guilt.

"This matter should have been handled by this old servant on your behalf, Young Master. Instead, an accident occurred. This old servant truly deserves death without reprieve. Were it not for the need to continue assisting you, Young Master, this old servant would rather not live. But on this trip, this old servant has also brought a gift for you! Please take a look, Young Master—see if it suits your taste…"

As the words fell, the Great Saint's cave heaven opened. An ice coffin floated out from within. Through the transparent ice, the vague outline of a voluptuous female figure could be seen!

Veins bulged on Ye Chen's forehead. He couldn't even be bothered to speak. He simply waved his hand.

"Wherever you got her from, send her back! I'll say it one last time: I have zero interest in these women!"

With that, Ye Chen turned and left.

The Demon-Exterminating Great Saint's mind raced.

"My Young Holy Son seems uninterested in women. But a Young Holy Son could never truly be uninterested in women. Therefore, it must be this woman's status that displeases him… Sending her back is impossible. I'll keep her as a future bonus gift."

Having failed twice now, the Great Saint felt genuine worry for his future. The new Young Master lacked for nothing—except interest in women. So from now on, that would be his only avenue to win favor… If the Young Master ever felt truly satisfied, perhaps he would one day bring this old servant along to the Immortal Realm.

...

When Ye Chen returned to Heavenly Evolution Holy Land, the mere thought of what the Demon-Exterminating Great Saint had done made his mouth twitch again. His reputation was already bad enough. If word of the Great Saint's antics ever spread, he'd never be able to show his face in the cultivation world again. Still, though the Great Saint had failed miserably in execution, the information he brought was genuinely useful.

Ye Chen would head to the Fourth Realm next. Once he obtained the Dao-Entrust Treasure and finished presenting the gifts, he might even break through to the Saint realm directly. Perfect in every way.

As for that Senior Sister of his, Ye Chen felt nothing particular toward her. For the sake of his Eldest Senior Brother, as long as she didn't court death, he would protect her completely. The unknown male prodigy, on the other hand, didn't spark the slightest curiosity in Ye Chen.

Back when he was a Third-Heaven King, he had already stopped taking Half-Saints seriously. Now that he himself was a Half-Saint, there was absolutely no need to care…

But the Great Saint had also said the Dao-Entrust Treasure still needed time to emerge. Ye Chen saw no reason to rush off immediately. He drifted leisurely toward Elder Lin's cave abode to continue playing with the peach-heart tail. After all, constantly releasing water without replenishing it would be immoral.

Several days later, only after seeing Elder Lin looking refreshed, radiant, and utterly content did Ye Chen finally escort her out of the cave abode with satisfaction.

There was still a faint reluctance in her brows. She wished he would stay a few more days. But when she heard he was heading to the Immortal Path on important business, she stopped trying to persuade him. Pleasure was delightful, but the immortal path came first—she was fine waiting.

Just as the two were saying their farewells, however, a graceful figure with flowing red hair appeared at the entrance of the cave abode. It was Li Feihuang. Seeing them, she hurriedly bowed in greeting.

Lin Qingtan glanced at her disciple and shook her head helplessly. Whenever the Holy Son came to her cave abode, this disciple would linger outside the door. Sometimes she even reached the threshold but still lacked the courage to step inside.

Lin Qingtan had seen it all clearly from within. At times, it only heightened her own excitement.

Ye Chen looked at Li Feihuang—her once-proud red hair now soft and smooth, her cultivation having reached the peak of Spirit Transformation.

Memories of the past surfaced. The arrogant girl who had once declared she would confer him as her Golden Dragon King had completely changed.

"Feihuang, while I was on the Immortal Path, I killed two Half-Saints of the Undying Celestial Phoenix Clan and obtained their Phoenix Fire origin. I'll give it to you now. Refine it."

Ye Chen harbored no grudge—especially since Li Feihuang had once revealed exactly what he wanted. He raised his hand lightly and sent forth a small flame. Within the flame danced the illusory form of an Undying Celestial Phoenix, scorching the void with terrifying heat.

Gazing at the Phoenix Fire, Li Feihuang felt an instinctive craving surge from deep within her bloodline. Overjoyed and deeply grateful, she looked up at Ye Chen…