Immortality Starts With Investment [XIANXIA LITRPG]

"A Five-Colored Spiritual Peach Tree…" Ye Chen raised an eyebrow.

The Five-Colored Spiritual Peach Tree was quite rare. Its leaves were crisp as jade, and its blossoms, composed of five vibrant colors, were dazzlingly beautiful. The fruits, while less significant to Ye Chen, were still valuable. As a third-grade spiritual plant cultivator, he could tell at a glance that the tree in the jade box had been freshly uprooted.

Clearly, An Yuyi's sudden trip deep into Divine Will Mountain was to find this tree for him. The problem was, Ye Chen didn't actually care for spiritual peach trees—it was his master who loved them. Seeing An Yuyi's eager, expectant expression, however, his heart softened.

She'd faced danger and chosen not to involve him, showing she wasn't just a spoiled girl anymore. The past was the past. He patted her head again, smiling gently. "I love it! Thank you!"

An Yuyi's face lit up with joy. "No need to thank me—as long as you like it! You can plant it by the small…" She caught herself mid-sentence, remembering the Ancestor's presence, and clamped her mouth shut. The small world's value was enough to tempt even Holy Lands. Better not reveal it.

The Divine Will Ancestor, watching their exchange of a Heaven-grade technique and a spiritual peach tree, felt overstuffed despite not eating for years. Noticing An Yuyi's caution around him, he rolled his eyes.

You call me for life-or-death fights, but when it's time for gifts, I'm left out?

"Alright, alright, I'm heading back," he grumbled. "You two can talk after I'm gone. We killed the Heavenly Nether Sect Master's son, so expect them to come knocking. I'll inform the sect and reinforce the mountain gate array."

The Ancestor hadn't hesitated to order Han Feng's death because he knew sparing him wouldn't resolve the conflict. Heavenly Nether Sect's ruthless reputation was well-known—one elder, failing to seize a treasure, had later annihilated an entire clan out of spite. Since enmity was inevitable, killing Han Feng was the only option. Why let him grow stronger and seek revenge?

A Deity Transformation cultivator was terrifying, but not invincible in Great Yan Continent. Divine Will Sect was far from Heavenly Nether Sect, and even a Deity Transformation expert would need time to arrive. The sect's protective array could hold them off for a while, and Heavenly Nether Sect's enemies might exploit their absence. If the sect endured long enough, the crisis could pass.

With that, the Ancestor departed, flying low, toppling trees in his wake.

Ye Chen watched, amused. The behavior reeked of petty resentment.

Ye Chen decided to plant the Five-Colored Spiritual Peach Tree. While rare, it wasn't exceptionally hard to acquire with enough spirit stones. Since it was An Yuyi's heartfelt gift, he'd keep it.

The gesture sparked an idea. Perhaps he could gift some truly remarkable spiritual plants in the future. His small world supported cultivator life with decent spiritual qi, but it fell short of a true world, lacking starlight, complete heavenly rules, and the ability to break through realms.

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Ye Chen dreamed bigger—controlling time flow, for instance. If he could obtain a World Tree and plant it in his small world, it might evolve into a genuine realm.

There was also legends of the Jianmu Sacred Tree. In ancient times, a Jianmu connected Earth to the Immortal Realm, allowing free passage. Immortals once roamed freely, leading to endless wars. Eventually, with humans struggling in the Immortal Realm and ancient races sending ancestors down, the Heavenly Emperor led the charge to destroy the Jianmu, severing the connection. Immortals gradually vanished from the mortal world.

If Ye Chen could acquire a Jianmu for his small world, its immortal qi could flow like a pipeline, linking to the Immortal Realm. What a delight that would be! Moving forward, he'd keep an eye out for extraordinary spiritual plants, hoping to trigger a critical reward for one.

Taking An Yuyi into his small world, Ye Chen transplanted the peach tree, dousing it with spiritual liquid. His third-grade spiritual planting skills made it effortless. He then summoned his Heavenly Emperor War Chariot, and they rode back to Divine Will Sect.

Ye Chen wasn't overly concerned about Heavenly Nether Sect's potential revenge—a Deity Transformation cultivator wasn't a major threat. His priority was breaking through to Nascent Soul. He sensed that in a month, his spiritual sense would reach perfection, allowing him to begin the process.

Along the way, An Yuyi lingered, clearly hoping for something more. Ye Chen saw through her intentions but held back. With An Miaoli in seclusion, An Yuyi was his only reliable critical reward trigger. Moreover, if he got too close to An Yuyi, how would Senior An Miaoli react? Could she still act with a clear conscience? Better to wait until after his Nascent Soul breakthrough to address such matters.

Back at the sect, An Yuyi was disappointed. The chariot was spacious and smooth, yet nothing happened. She suspected Ye Chen's restraint was due to her aunt. Did that mean she had to wait until Ye Chen became her "uncle" to get closer? Should she urge her aunt to hurry up? Otherwise, when would it be her turn?

Ye Chen resumed seclusion, cultivating the Shakyamuni Heart Refining Art. Meanwhile, Divine Will Sect sprang into action. The higher-ups learned of the feud with Heavenly Nether Sect: their Young Master had killed Elder Lin and attempted to capture An Yuyi.

The Ancestor, with formidable prowess, was credited with slaying the Young Master and his mid-Nascent Soul protector, forging a blood feud. With a Deity Transformation cultivator potentially attacking, the sect began urgent preparations.

Divine Will Sect buzzed with activity. The sect recalled its members, stockpiled resources, and spared no expense to hire a fifth-grade array master to upgrade the mountain gate's defensive formation, bracing for a potential assault from Heavenly Nether Sect.

Amid this flurry, Ye Chen emerged from seclusion weekly to gift An Yuyi treasures, triggering feedback or critical rewards—often items beneficial for forming a Nascent Soul.

After his fourth gift, he spoke to her. "I've reached the peak of Golden Core. I'll soon begin my breakthrough to Nascent Soul. If Heavenly Nether Sect attacks, please look after the people from Ye Boutique. I've instructed them to seek refuge with Divine Will Sect if trouble arises."

An Yuyi nodded solemnly.

Ye Chen smiled, patting her head. Once he achieved Nascent Soul, he'd head to Heavenly Evolution Holy Land to become their Holy Son. Before that, he planned to visit Green Cloud Sect to bring along his senior sister, Lu Jing, and Lin Ke'er. As for Caidie and Yun Qianyue, currently Divine Will Sect disciples who often visited him overnight, he'd take them if they wished to join.

Heavenly Evolution Holy Land excelled in divination. As Holy Son, he could request a Unity Realm powerhouse to divine the whereabouts of his master and investigate whether his original body's father was alive or truly missing.

After giving his instructions, Ye Chen met An Yuyi's hopeful gaze, then turned and drifted back to his cave abode. He entered seclusion to officially break through to Nascent Soul.