Immortality Starts With Investment [XIANXIA LITRPG]

As the voice echoed, a profound silence fell over the Divine Will Sect. The onlookers, powerful cultivators among them, were stunned. A Deity Transformation powerhouse was on the verge of annihilating the sect and seizing a companion, the atmosphere so tense that none dared utter a word. And yet, someone had casually interrupted to ask about their Junior Brother?

An Miaoli's delicate face was etched with confusion. Moments ago, her Nascent Soul had teetered on the edge of self-destruction, only for a single sentence to restore her to normalcy. What kind of existence could wield such power?

...

Tian Mingzi's expression darkened as he looked up, his eyes brimming with murderous intent. Whoever could obstruct him so effortlessly had to be a Deity Transformation cultivator of equal standing. But so what? Anyone who dared stand in his way would face his wrath, even if it meant a fight to the death—or a vendetta that would never end.

Such was Tian Mingzi's nature. He had clawed his way up from the Qi Refining stage through sheer slaughter. A mere glance that displeased him was enough to warrant death. Once, an elder of the Heavenly Nether Sect had disapproved of his bloodthirsty ways and sought to temper his character. When Tian Mingzi broke through, that elder was the first he brutally killed.

His cold, piercing gaze locked onto the void above, his killing intent surging like a tidal wave. Behind him, the shadowy figure of a Nether Monarch loomed, its aura blazing with menace, ready to strike the moment the interloper appeared.

Soon, a figure descended gracefully from the heavens. Clad in a white robe, he exuded an air of refined elegance, a golden divine wheel glowing above his head. His handsome face bore a gentle smile. No terrifying aura emanated from him, only an extraordinary presence.

The moment Tian Mingzi saw him, his ferocious demeanor froze. The Nether Monarch's shadow dissipated instantly. His eyes cleared, and he bowed respectfully. "Greetings, Holy Son! I have not encountered any disciples of the Heavenly Evolution Holy Land here."

The mighty Deity Transformation cultivator, Tian Mingzi, had shifted his demeanor in an instant. Yet, no one was surprised. The iconic divine wheel marked the man's identity unmistakably: Hua Yunfei, the First Holy Son of the Heavenly Evolution Holy Land. A late-stage Deity Transformation cultivator capable of slaying those in the Unity stage, he was virtually unmatched among his generation. Even the other two Holy Lands had no one in this era who could rival him.

Even a Unity-stage powerhouse would show deference to Hua Yunfei, let alone Tian Mingzi. But why had the First Holy Son of the Heavenly Evolution Holy Land come to the Divine Will Sect? And who was this Junior Brother he sought? Was it mere coincidence, or did the Divine Will Sect truly have ties to the Heavenly Evolution Holy Land?

Speculation swirled in the minds of the onlookers. Even Tian Mingzi grew uneasy, his earlier bravado replaced by a cautious urge to retreat. Yet, with matters unclear, he didn't dare flee.

Hua Yunfei paid Tian Mingzi no further heed. His gaze swept casually over the scene before he raised a hand and pointed lightly, his voice calm. "Mountains, return to your former state."

In an instant, the Divine Will Sect, reduced to near-rubble, began to restore itself. Countless shattered stones rose, reforming into towering peaks. In the blink of an eye, the sect was restored to its original splendor.

The sight left everyone trembling with awe.

Hua Yunfei closed his eyes briefly, sensing the surroundings, before his gaze settled on Quiet Wonder Peak. A faint smile curved his lips. "The token is here… So, my Junior Brother is in seclusion, breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage."

He chuckled lightly. "I knew it. How could a Junior Brother worthy of Elder Shangguan's Holy Son token be unable to handle a third-rate Deity Transformation cultivator, needing to activate the token for the Holy Land's aid? Turns out, he's in the midst of a breakthrough."

His words were spoken openly, and they sent a shockwave through the crowd. Everyone's expressions shifted. In the entire Divine Will Sect, only one person was currently in seclusion attempting a Nascent Soul breakthrough: Ye Chen.

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Could it be that Ye Chen was the Junior Brother Hua Yunfei sought? That he was a Holy Son of the Heavenly Evolution Holy Land?

An Miaoli's eyes widened in disbelief. Divine Will Ancestor, recalling Ye Chen's earlier claims, was equally stunned. Had Ye Chen spoken the truth? Was he truly destined to join the Heavenly Evolution Holy Land as a Holy Son after reaching the Nascent Soul stage? The notion was utterly absurd.

The cultivators of the Heavenly Nether Sect, their subordinate sects, and the onlookers were equally shaken. They were astonished that a Holy Son had been hiding in the Divine Will Sect, breaking through to Nascent Soul. But what struck them even harder was Hua Yunfei's casual dismissal of Tian Mingzi as a "third-rate Deity Transformation cultivator"—a blatant insult.

Tian Mingzi's lips twitched. Never in his cultivation journey had he been so humiliated. Yet, the one who spoke was Hua Yunfei, a prodigy capable of slaying Unity-stage experts. No matter how stifled Tian Mingzi felt, he could only bow his head and swallow his pride.

"Holy Son, I was unaware your Junior Brother was in seclusion here," he said, his voice strained. "I apologize for any offense. My actions were driven by grief over my son's death at the hands of the Divine Will Sect. The Heavenly Nether Sect will offer a generous gift to your Junior Brother as amends."

The once-invincible Tian Mingzi, now labeled a third-rate cultivator, was forced to grovel and apologize. The scene drove home the Heavenly Evolution Holy Land's supreme authority and Hua Yunfei's terrifying influence.

Hua Yunfei smiled faintly. "No need to rush off. My Junior Brother will emerge soon. Face him in combat. If you survive, you may leave."

His words stunned the crowd. Hua Yunfei was allowing Tian Mingzi to challenge his newly broken-through Nascent Soul Junior Brother? A full realm apart—how could such a fight be fair? Was Hua Yunfei deliberately suppressing this new Holy Son?

An Miaoli, still reeling from learning Ye Chen's status as a Holy Son, now felt a surge of worry. She began to suspect Hua Yunfei's intentions. But he only said calmly, "If he can't even suppress a third-rate Deity Transformation cultivator, how could he be worthy of being a Holy Son of the Heavenly Evolution Holy Land?"

Even with Hua Yunfei standing before him, Tian Mingzi's face darkened at the repeated slight. Before anyone could fully process the implications, the sky dimmed abruptly.

All eyes turned upward in shock. A massive sky ship emerged from the void, and figures began descending from it. Each one radiated a terrifying aura—at least Deity Transformation stage. Three among them stood out, their presence so profound it was as if they existed outside this world. Though clearly visible, their auras were imperceptible—a hallmark of Unity-stage powerhouses.

Three Unity-stage cultivators had arrived at once. For most cultivators present, the combined might of all the powerhouses they'd encountered in their lifetimes paled in comparison to the spectacle before them today. Such was the Heavenly Evolution Holy Land's might. For a single Holy Son, they mobilized a force of this magnitude. No wonder the Holy Land was untouchable—any one of these figures could effortlessly obliterate the renowned Heavenly Nether Sect.

As the powerhouses descended, their gazes swept over Tian Mingzi, their brows furrowing slightly. At their level, a single glance was enough to grasp the situation. Their scrutiny made Tian Mingzi tremble. Even the weakest among them, a woman at the early Deity Transformation stage like himself, sent a chill through his heart with a mere look.

In that moment, Tian Mingzi realized the truth. Even among Deity Transformation cultivators, he was worlds apart from these figures. Perhaps Hua Yunfei hadn't been insulting him after all.

Soon, after hearing Hua Yunfei's explanation, the brows of the Heavenly Evolution Holy Land powerhouses relaxed. They had initially assumed the new Holy Son had activated the token to seek aid against Tian Mingzi. If that were true, his talent would have been a grave disappointment—unworthy of their Protectorship. But learning that the Holy Son was in the midst of breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage changed everything.

They didn't mind a Holy Son with a lower cultivation level. What they feared was a lack of talent. Tian Mingzi, conveniently present, could serve as a test for the new Holy Son's induction into the sect—a chance to gauge whether his potential warranted their investment as Protectors.

The powerhouses waited patiently, unhurried. A Holy Son was tied to the Holy Land's legacy and their own choices as cultivators. He was worth the wait. The Heavenly Evolution Holy Land experts remained calm, while Tian Mingzi trembled in fear. Beside her master, Li Feihuang, who had disembarked from the sky ship, stood in stunned disbelief.

Why had they come to the Divine Will Sect? The new Holy Son was here? Who could it be?

Her gaze drifted to Quiet Wonder Peak, and her thoughts turned to Ye Chen, the guest elder residing there. By her calculations, the timing aligned with Ye Chen's potential Nascent Soul breakthrough. But it couldn't be possible. Ye Chen, a Holy Son? Surely, it was just a coincidence.

As Li Feihuang's mind churned with confusion, the heavens darkened once more. A mass of thunderclouds, radiating an aura of destruction, gathered unnoticed, enveloping the entire Divine Will Sect.

The Heavenly Evolution Holy Land powerhouses smiled faintly. The new Holy Son had completed his breakthrough. The Nascent Soul Tribulation had arrived.