Immortality Starts With Investment

"Although the Illusion-Destruction Black Hole draws world power at twice the rate of an ordinary cave heaven, it is still not the absolute best among variant cave heavens! But paired with your seven-colored divine light, the Illusion-Destruction radiance has quite wonderful uses. It counts as a solid improvement."

Yan Ruyu's return was naturally a major event for the Peacock Clan. No one believed she could become an immortal, even with her outstanding talent.

However, reaching the Quasi-Immortal realm was practically set in stone. The ancestor was nearing the end of her lifespan. Even with the ginseng fruit gifted by the Heavenly Emperor's heir, she could only last another three hundred years at most.

In the future end of the Dharma era, the Peacock Clan would still have to rely on Yan Ruyu to hold it up. Therefore, the ancestor personally retrieved the Illusion-Destruction Divine Stone from the clan treasury and handed it to Yan Ruyu.

Yan Ruyu nodded, her voice like heavenly music. "Thank you, ancestor!"

Looking at Yan Ruyu—whose beauty could topple kingdoms, whose skin was flawless like white jade, and who could be called the greatest female cultivator in the history of the Peacock Clan—the ancestor could not help but say, "You… truly have no interest in the Heavenly Emperor's heir?

"With your appearance, you might even compete for a chance to enter the Immortal Realm. Even if the Peacock Clan declines, as long as you enter the Immortal Realm, our lineage will continue. That is still better than gradually withering away and going extinct in this realm.

"Besides, the Heavenly Emperor's heir is a decent person. I have lived for so many years and can tell that although he is affectionate, he is definitely not promiscuous or heartless."

"…"

Perhaps because she had received the ginseng fruit, the ancestor could not resist putting in a few good words for Ye Chen.

Yet Yan Ruyu shook her head without the slightest hesitation. "The Heavenly Emperor's heir is indeed outstanding, but I am unwilling!"

Her attitude was exceptionally firm.

The ancestor hesitated for a moment, then stopped speaking.

At that exact moment, a mature and graceful figure drifted over and stopped before the two.

It was Yan Wenwen who had hurried back.

Yan Wenwen saluted. "Greetings, ancestor!"

The ancestor smiled. "Has the Heavenly Emperor's heir already left?"

Yan Wenwen nodded. "He has already departed!"

The ancestor nodded again. "This year, the clan's cosmic origin spiritual liquid has condensed three drops! Since you have already reached the Saint realm, take all of them for your cultivation!"

The cosmic origin spiritual liquid was a special liquid condensed by the Peacock Clan's secret art. It greatly assisted the Saint realm cultivators in absorbing cosmic origin energy.

Normally, such a treasure would never go to Yan Wenwen. But because of Ye Chen, Yan Wenwen's status in the Peacock Clan had skyrocketed. She now had priority for all good things.

Yet Yan Wenwen shook her head and refused. "Thank you, ancestor, but I already have treasures gifted by the Heavenly Emperor's heir. I won't need these. Please give them to the other clansmen instead!"

The ancestor smiled. "It seems the Heavenly Emperor's heir really likes you. Try to win his favor. If you can enter the Immortal Realm and bear children with him, our Peacock Clan's lineage in the cultivation world will also have a continuation…"

When Ye Chen had been at the Saint realm, his breakthrough speed had been shockingly fast. There were many guesses circulating outside. So it was not strange that Yan Wenwen now claimed to have treasures from Ye Chen.

On the side, Yan Ruyu's long lashes trembled slightly. The Heavenly Emperor's heir really treated Wenwen very well. Wenwen was already a Saint now, her cultivation speed astonishing, and she even had treasures better than cosmic origin spiritual liquid. Reaching the peak of the Saint King realm in the future was probably only a matter of time.

However, Yan Ruyu did not feel envious. She was simply happy for her sister. Yan Wenwen now turned to Yan Ruyu, her eyes smiling. "Ruyu, you're back!"

Yan Ruyu also revealed a faint smile. She was naturally aloof and preferred to walk alone, unwilling to get entangled in others' karma. Only with Yan Wenwen was she different.

"Wenwen, do you have any cultivation difficulties? In a few days, I plan to enter closed-door cultivation to break through to the Great Emperor realm. Before that, we can sit and talk at length. If you have any questions about cultivation, feel free to ask me."

Yan Ruyu took the initiative to speak.

But Yan Wenwen smiled and shook her head.

"Ye Chen left me many treasures. They are enough for me to rapidly reach the peak of the Saint King realm within ten years. However, since you are about to break through to the Great Emperor realm, I do have something to give you. It should greatly help you in your breakthrough."

With those words, Yan Wenwen took out a jade box.

Yan Ruyu looked at the jade box but did not reach for it. She frowned slightly. "A gift on someone else's behalf?"

A man's figure immediately surfaced in her mind.

At that time, Ye Chen's black hair had danced wildly as he shattered Quasi-Immortal arrays with a single punch and killed Alkaid's Holy Son. He had been terrifying and domineering.

Yan Ruyu's beautiful eyes quietly gazed at the jade box before her. She knew that anything Ye Chen took out would definitely be extraordinary. It was most likely superior to the Illusion-Destruction Divine Stone she had just received.

Yet she still shook her head. Ye Chen was very domineering. He might not be a bad person and probably would not abandon a woman after toying with her. But the karma surrounding Ye Chen was simply too heavy.

As the Heavenly Emperor's heir, once he entered the Immortal Realm, he would inevitably have many enemies—including the Other Domain. In other words, becoming Ye Chen's Dao companion meant enjoying benefits while also bearing his karma, which could be even more dangerous.

She was unwilling.

"Wenwen, I don't want this item. Take it back!"

A gentle breeze blew past, causing Yan Ruyu's long hair to dance. She looked impossibly beautiful as she softly refused.

Yan Wenwen sighed and shook her head. "Before he left, he specifically told me that you don't need to feel any pressure about this item. He is gifting it to you with absolutely no intention of forcing you into anything. Accepting this item does not mean you have agreed to anything."

Yan Ruyu still shook her head. She understood that even if Ye Chen had no expectations when gifting it, the moment she accepted it, many things would change.

At the very least, the next time she met Ye Chen, she could no longer ignore him—she would at least have to express gratitude. So it was better to refuse from the very beginning.

Yan Ruyu did not want to open the box. She was afraid she would be tempted once she saw what was inside.

But Yan Wenwen had already gently pointed a finger.

A pitch-black lotus seed, radiating world-destroying qi, slowly rotated inside the jade box.

The moment she sensed the aura of the World-Destroying Black Lotus seed, Yan Ruyu's delicate body trembled lightly. Divine radiance surged around her, faintly resonating with it…

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Looking at the World-Destroying Black Lotus seed, the expression on Yan Ruyu's peerlessly beautiful face changed instantly. Her delicate body trembled lightly. She could not help biting her lower lip.

Behind her, faint, thin strands of black light surged involuntarily, drawn toward the World-Destroying Black Lotus seed. Even her almost unchanging eyes for ten thousand lifetimes revealed a hint of struggle. But in the next moment, she gritted her teeth and forcefully pulled the weak, grayish-black light back into her body.

Yan Ruyu stared fixedly at the World-Destroying Black Lotus seed slowly rotating inside the jade box, her gaze complicated. This item was extremely useful to her. She had been trying to raise the upper limit of her bloodline.

Her ancestor had left behind a path: On the foundation of seven-colored tail feathers, add two more colors to reach nine. If successful, Her bloodline would directly rival an immortal body.

The two new colors were black and white. Black represented destruction, white represented rebirth. Her mastery of the power of destruction had always been only at a superficial level.

Yet this World-Destroying Black Lotus seed contained surging destructive power. If she could obtain it and use it to gestate her black hole while advancing to the Great Emperor realm, her comprehension of the power of destruction would advance by leaps and bounds.

Then, when she reached Quasi-Immortal and fused her black hole with her world, she might be able to completely control it. She could successfully grow the eighth tail feather representing destruction. This would greatly increase the time she could enter the Immortal Realm.

But even though the benefits were endless, Yan Ruyu ultimately suppressed the impulse in her heart.

"I still have nearly seven thousand years of lifespan. That is enough for me to slowly comprehend destruction and rebirth, achieve perfection, pass the ancestor's ruins trial, obtain the ancestor's legacy, and enter the Immortal Realm.

"The Heavenly Emperor's heir carries too much karma. I am unwilling to get entangled and be affected. This item is ultimately not fated for me!"

Yan Ruyu gently waved her slender hand.

The jade box closed once more.

She shook her head at Yan Wenwen. "Thank him for me, but I do not need this item! Please also tell him that in the future he should not send me any more gifts! Just as I said last time, I have no intention of taking a Dao companion. I only wish to focus on cultivation!"

Yan Ruyu's voice was like heavenly music, her breath fragrant like orchids. Even when refusing, it still made one feel refreshed, as if bathed in a spring breeze.

The ancestor beside her could not help shaking her head. Yan Ruyu was too stubborn. This was such a great opportunity. Why insist on giving it up?

Yan Wenwen was also a little surprised by Yan Ruyu's firmness. After all, she had clearly seen the emotional fluctuation on Yan Ruyu's face just now. Still, Yan Wenwen was not discouraged. A woman like Yan Ruyu would not be easily persuaded. Otherwise, she would not have made so many male cultivators unable to forget her.

Moreover, the fact that Yan Ruyu could be moved at all was already the best thing. Yan Wenwen did not take the jade box back. Instead, she gently pointed a finger and sent it toward Yan Ruyu again.

Yan Ruyu frowned slightly.

Yan Wenwen gave a bitter smile. "After Ye Chen entrusted me to deliver this to you, he left immediately. Now that I think about it, he was probably afraid you would refuse. Before he left, he said that if you don't want it, just throw it away!"

Yan Ruyu's small mouth opened slightly, revealing a look of surprise. Although she had long heard that Ye Chen was extremely generous toward female cultivators and never took back any gifts he gave, even the Nirvana Sacred Liquid could be casually discarded.

But for a top-tier treasure like the World-Destroying Black Lotus seed—something perfect for condensing a black hole—Ye Chen had gifted it without the slightest hesitation and then left. This was truly too magnanimous.

Most importantly, Ye Chen was also at the peak of the Great Saint realm. He needed it too!

Such a man was truly deeply affectionate. What the ancestor had said earlier might actually be true. Although he was romantic, he was not promiscuous or heartless.

Even so, Yan Ruyu still shook her head. "I don't want this item. You keep it for him for now. Next time you meet him, return it to him!"

With that, she flicked the jade box back toward Yan Wenwen.

But Yan Wenwen did not touch it. She took a few steps back and smiled bitterly. "I can't keep it!"

Yan Ruyu frowned. "Why?"

Yan Wenwen: "I'm afraid he'll get angry!"

Yan Ruyu frowned deeper. She could not stand seeing Yan Wenwen act so subservient. "You are his Dao companion. How could he get angry over something so small?"

Yan Wenwen gave another bitter smile. "Ruyu, have you forgotten? I'm actually not his Dao companion. From the very beginning, he only accepted me because of you! I borrowed your name to get close to him. Although Ye Chen has never shown anything about it, as the price for taking a shortcut, I naturally have to be extremely cautious. Otherwise, I'm afraid he will never see me again!"

Yan Ruyu fell silent, a trace of guilt appearing. "Wenwen, you know me. I don't want to get entangled in other people's karma…"

Yan Wenwen shook her head. "Don't overthink it. You are independent. You shouldn't change your attitude because of me. But I really can't keep this item. If you don't want to keep it, you can throw it away or keep it temporarily and return it to him later. Everything is up to you!"

With those words, Yan Wenwen turned and left.

Yan Ruyu stared at the jade box on her fingertip. For the first time, hesitation appeared on her face.

The ancestor beside her also spoke up. "The Heavenly Emperor's heir will definitely break through to the Great Emperor realm after leaving this time. After all, he is already at the peak of the Great Saint realm.

"And since he is contending for this era's immortal opportunity, he definitely won't wait. Even if you keep this item and return it to him later, it will be useless to him at that time. So why be so rigid? Just keep it for yourself!

"If you really don't want to get entangled in karma with the Heavenly Emperor's heir, you can gift him something even more valuable once your realm is high enough and settle the karma that way."

Yan Ruyu stood silently in place.

The ancestor knew her temperament, so she said nothing more. She only shook her head and turned to leave.

Yan Ruyu remained standing there for a long time. After a long while, she finally let out a soft sigh, carrying a trace of melancholy. She used her slender hand—which was even whiter than the jade box—to gently grasp it. She opened the jade box. The World-Destroying Black Lotus seed rotated inside.

This time, Yan Ruyu felt it even more clearly. Staring at the item, she sensed Ye Chen's deep affection. Yan Ruyu was certain that in the entire cultivation world, there was no better treasure for condensing a black hole than this one.

And what about her?

Last time, in order to cut off Ye Chen's feelings, she had rejected him without hesitation in front of everyone and treated him coldly. That had already damaged his face.

Yet what had Ye Chen done?

After seeing that she had also reached the peak of the Great Saint realm, he had still unhesitatingly gifted it to her. He had given up the chance to condense a World-Destroying Black Hole himself.

This depth of affection left Yan Ruyu feeling extremely melancholy. It was easy to return a treasure, but how could she ever repay Ye Chen's deep feelings?

In this way, she stared deeply at the World-Destroying Black Lotus seed for several full days without moving.

Like a flawless jade beauty.

Finally, Yan Ruyu let out another soft sigh and placed the World-Destroying Black Lotus seed into her bosom.

"Fellow Daoist, thank you! Although I am unwilling to become your Dao companion, I am truly grateful to you! If there is a chance in the future, Ruyu will definitely repay you!"

Yan Ruyu's graceful figure drifted away. Only a few gentle words remained, still lingering in the air!

…

Outside the Myriad Races Immortal City.

Ye Chen waited high in the sky.

After a long time, Yan Wenwen flew out of the city toward him.

No system notification had sounded, so Ye Chen could not help shaking his head. Clearly, the World-Destroying Black Lotus seed had not been gifted.

He felt a little disappointed, but not too much. Since it had been rejected, He could stop thinking about it. Next, he would head straight to the Lan Clan Immortal City and gift it to Lan Nuo.

Thinking of this, Ye Chen became much more carefree. Looking at Yan Wenwen before him, he spoke softly, "Wenwen, it's fine if it wasn't gifted. You are not an accessory to anyone. You are yourself. There's no need to be so cautious around me!"

Ye Chen had always known about Yan Wenwen's worries. Even though he had said it before, he could still feel the hidden anxiety she carried. It could be said that, aside from those few maidservants, Yan Wenwen was the female cultivator who maintained the lowest posture when facing him.

Hearing his words, Yan Wenwen gave a sly smile. "I already gifted it…"

Ye Chen frowned.

Gifted it? But his system had shown no reaction! As expected, when someone else delivered the gift on his behalf, the system did not recognize it? Damn, that was a huge loss! The World-Destroying Black Lotus seed was quite valuable.

Ye Chen considered whether he should ask Yan Wenwen to get it back. Although it would be quite embarrassing, and he would probably be looked down on by Yan Ruyu, Ye Chen did not mind losing face in front of a woman who did not love him.

Benefits were what mattered most. But perhaps he did not need to retrieve it personally. He only needed to fly a lap around the Myriad Races Immortal City. Once Yan Ruyu knew he was still in the city, she should take the initiative to return it to him.

Yan Wenwen continued, "I understand Ruyu's personality. She is firm, but not inflexible. Although she most likely has not accepted the World-Destroying Black Lotus seed yet, with my last few words, and the look I gave the ancestor, she will definitely speak on your behalf. Under those circumstances, if Ruyu realizes that refusing the seed means it will simply gather dust, she will definitely compromise and accept it.

"She is not an ungrateful person. She is simply aloof and unwilling to get entangled in other people's karma. And once she accepts it, she will no longer be able to treat you with the same attitude as before. Once her attitude changes, everything will naturally go smoothly in the future."

By the end, Yan Wenwen was extremely confident.

Ye Chen raised an eyebrow. So it had not been gifted yet. It was not that it had been gifted, but produced no reaction.

This put Ye Chen much more at ease. In that case, he could simply wait a few more days.

…

"The gift has already been delivered. Are you leaving now?"

Yan Wenwen looked at Ye Chen with tender affection and reluctance. But unlike Yao Yuezhi, she did not try every possible way to persuade him to stay. This was the difference between youth and maturity. A young female cultivator only wanted to cling to you every moment and feel your warmth. A mature one would be passionate when it was time to be passionate, and decisive when it was time to part.

Ye Chen smiled and pulled Yan Wenwen into his arms. "I'm not leaving yet. I'll stay with you a few more days!"

Yan Wenwen bit her lower lip lightly. "Is this a reward for handling the matter well?"

Ye Chen laughed. "No. It's because I want to."

Yan Wenwen looked around expectantly. "Right here? Won't people see us?"

Ye Chen grinned and casually tossed down an array disk. It was a shielding formation. Outsiders could not see or hear inside, But from within, it felt as if the surroundings were made of glass, allowing them to see everything outside…