Immortality Starts With Investment [XIANXIA LITRPG]

The sky was shrouded in heavy, ominous clouds, as if the entire world had been cloaked in darkness. Within the pitch-black thunderclouds, massive bolts of lightning, resembling serpentine forms, flickered in and out of view. The sheer power brewing within the storm was unimaginable, leaving onlookers unable to fathom the terror of the tribulation lightning taking shape.

The cultivators of the Divine Will Sect stood in awe. The aura was simply too overwhelming. Even An Miaoli's face paled slightly under the pressure. Had she faced such a tribulation cloud during her own Nascent Soul breakthrough, she doubted she could have survived.

Tian Mingzi's expression grew darker as he gazed at the clouds. A mighty Deity Transformation cultivator, he could dominate the Great Yan Continent with ease. Yet today, he was reduced to waiting for another to complete their tribulation, only to serve as their whetstone.

For any powerhouse, this was a profound humiliation. But with Hua Yunfei and the host of Heavenly Evolution Holy Land experts present, he had no choice but to endure, however bitter the pill. His only hope was to defeat the one undergoing the tribulation. No matter how strong they were, a newly ascended Nascent Soul cultivator was still a full realm below him. Surely, he could win… right?

...

"Hmm, the intensity of this tribulation cloud rivals the one you faced back then, Yunfei," a Unity-stage ancestor remarked with a satisfied smile. In the Holy Land, Unity-stage cultivators numbered only a dozen or so, each wielding immense authority and prestige.

Hua Yunfei nodded with a smile. "Indeed, it's no less formidable than the tribulation I endured. A Junior Brother chosen by Elder Shangguan would naturally possess exceptional talent." His tone was open and generous, devoid of any resentment that this new Holy Son's tribulation matched his own in scale.

The reason the tribulation's magnitude was used to judge the new Holy Son's potential lay in the impartial cruelty of the Great Dao. It sought to sever the paths of the strong, tailoring tribulations to match a cultivator's prowess. The greater one's strength, the more ferocious the tribulation. Yet the Dao was also fair—tribulations served as a baptism. The more powerful the ordeal, the greater the benefits reaped upon overcoming it.

This new Holy Son's ability to summon a tribulation of such magnitude was proof of his extraordinary talent. The powerhouses vying to become his Protector grew increasingly pleased, their anticipation mounting for the spectacle to come.

However, beneath the mist obscuring Lin Qingtan's face, her brows furrowed slightly. The more exceptional the new Holy Son, the better the prospects for a Protector to gain opportunities under their fortune's shadow. But a prodigy this dazzling would attract many powerful contenders. As only an early-stage Deity Transformation cultivator, her chances of being chosen were slim.

Still, Lin Qingtan didn't dwell on it. She lifted her gaze to the heavens. The tribulation clouds were gathering at an astonishing pace. It was about to begin.

Atop Quiet Wonder Peak, within Ye Chen's secluded cave abode, boundless divine light poured from his pores, illuminating the chamber. The rumbling vibrations within his body finally ceased. If anyone could peer into his dantian, they would be struck dumb with awe.

In Ye Chen's dantian, a myriad of terrifying visions manifested. A true dragon soared, as if capable of shattering the heavens and earth. A true phoenix underwent nirvana, eternal and unyielding. A glazed divine sea birthed golden lotuses, steeped in profound serenity. An ancient divine mountain loomed, crowned by a celestial pool that seemed to catch the waters of the heavens. A divine furnace stood resolute, as though it could refine all creation. Above, three thousand stars formed a radiant galaxy, orbiting his dantian. Each star gleamed like a mountain, dazzling and trembling the nine heavens.

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These were phenomena—manifestations of the ultimate mastery of the Dao, the Law, or one's innate constitution and talents. Only peerless prodigies with the potential to ascend to immortality could give rise to such visions. Even someone as exceptional as Hua Yunfei would count themselves fortunate to possess a single phenomenon. Yet, within Ye Chen's dantian, seven distinct phenomena intertwined, the Dao and Law merging in a wondrous Unity, forming a miniature cosmos.

At the heart of this cosmos, a golden infant materialized, seated upon a radiant golden lotus. Its expression was serene, bathed in starlight, encircled by dragon and phoenix, and cleansed by the celestial pool. The infant exuded an aura of chaos, its breaths like a mighty beast drinking deeply, drawing in the divine splendor of heaven and earth. It radiated divinity, as if a true god had descended.

The moment the Nascent Soul appeared, Ye Chen opened his eyes. His muscles, taut and unyielding like mountains forged of steel, erupted with towering vitality. His eyes, now even more mystical, shone with a light that made others dare not look directly at him. Clearly, his Heavy Pupil talent had advanced further upon breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage.

Ye Chen calmly turned his inner vision to his dantian, observing the newly formed Nascent Soul with a faint smile of satisfaction. This Nascent Soul inherited the chaotic properties of his original Chaos Core, far surpassing any so-called top-grade Immortal Nascent Soul. It resonated with the heavens, amplifying his mastery of the Dao and Law. With each breath, it automatically drew in the world's energy, replenishing his power and granting him near-endless endurance.

As for the phenomena? Their uses were boundless, each imbued with unique powers. They could enhance the potency of his energy, suppress foes, refine objects, or seal adversaries. Each phenomenon had its own distinct function, and possessing them set him worlds apart from those without.

However, despite their potency, a Nascent Soul cultivator couldn't unleash the full might of phenomena. Only upon reaching the Deity Transformation stage, when one could manifest the Law of Heaven and Earth, would these phenomena materialize fully, merging with the cultivator's form to amplify their power. At that point, their true potential would shine.

With his chaos-infused Nascent Soul and prior cultivation of the Shakyamuni Heart Refining Art, Ye Chen sensed he could manifest even more phenomena in the Nascent Soul stage, bolstering his foundation. This would make his eventual breakthrough to the Deity Transformation stage and his manifestation of the Law of Heaven and Earth even more formidable.

But those were matters for the future.

Ye Chen set aside his thoughts and calmly raised his head, his eyes flashing like lightning as they pierced through the cave abode to gaze at the tribulation clouds above, now nearly coalesced into a sea of thunder. A faint smile curved his lips. He rose unhurriedly and glided out of the cave, standing in the void to face the tribulation head-on.

...

Ye Chen's appearance sent a ripple of concern through An Miaoli and the others. The tribulation was terrifying, its clouds forming a vast, thousand-meter sea of lightning. Such a trial seemed far beyond what a Nascent Soul cultivator should endure, stirring deep worry.

Yet the powerhouses of the Heavenly Evolution Holy Land lit up at the sight of him. Ye Chen stood with heroic poise, his presence commanding and extraordinary. Though he had only just broken through, his aura and vitality were profound beyond measure—a true peerless prodigy.

Hua Yunfei's lips curved into a smile as he looked at Ye Chen. "So it's you. Quite the coincidence."

He recognized Ye Chen. At his words, the other elders grew curious, surprised that Hua Yunfei was acquainted with him. Without holding back, Hua Yunfei recounted their encounter in the Great Chu Dynasty.

The elders nodded, unsurprised. For a future Holy Son, crushing the so-called Heir of the Northern Emperor was only natural. As for the Northern Emperor's War Chariot, though a decent treasure, it was insignificant to a Holy Son blessed with immense fortune—something he could easily give away.

Lin Qingtan, however, was taken aback. Her gaze shifted to her disciple behind her. After all, Li Feihuang was the former Empress of Great Chu, who had abdicated to join the Heavenly Evolution Holy Land. To think that the new Holy Son, Ye Chen, had once aided Li Feihuang in reclaiming her throne?

When Lin Qingtan turned, she saw Li Feihuang's delicate face drained of color, her eyes wide with disbelief. Though she had suspected it earlier, seeing Ye Chen and having his identity as the new Holy Son confirmed sent shockwaves through her.

How could it be him? How could Ye Chen be the new Holy Son?