Immortality Starts With Investment

Shen Yu had been transmitting privately all along. Yet in his rising anticipation, Ye Chen asked aloud.

This startled Shen Yu badly. The distant great powers clearly heard as well. In unison, knowing expressions spread across their faces.

Feng Baiyu shook his head helplessly. His clan's prodigy excelled in every way—except when it came to women. Utterly without taboos. And his tastes grew ever more refined.

Once, only untouched maiden prodigies. Later, at least widows. Now, he even coveted others' dao companions.

The Lan family great power's expression turned complicated. But the most awkward by far was the Divine Silkworm Clan's great power. Especially the clan leader himself—his face darkened like the bottom of a pot.

Moments ago, they had found Shen Yu utterly humiliating. Yet wondered what he could have said to make the Heavenly Emperor's heir stay his hand. Their first guess: something woman-related.

After all, it was common knowledge—the heir only softened for women. But they never imagined Shen Yu, to save his life, would try to sell the clan leader's own wife! How filial of you!

"Bro, keep your voice down!"

Shen Yu shuddered under the clan leader's icy glare. But he quickly shrugged it off. Kneeling here was all the clan leader's fault anyway. He had insisted on coming despite warnings. Using his wife to rectify the mistake—what was wrong with that?

Offending the clan leader meant, at worst, future petty harassment. With his talent, he would surpass the leader someday. But failing to satisfy the Heavenly Emperor's heir before him? He wouldn't live to see tomorrow's sun.

Thus, Shen Yu hurriedly refocused on Ye Chen. Recalling Ye Chen's first words—asking if the clan leader's wife was in the city, voice laced with impatient urgency—Shen Yu relaxed further.

The Heavenly Emperor's heir truly favored this type. He had bet correctly—he would live!

Yet at Ye Chen's request, Shen Yu's face showed difficulty. "My lord, the clan leader's wife departed three years ago for the seventh realm of the Immortal Path. She reportedly discovered a relic secret realm and won't return anytime soon!"

Ye Chen frowned deeply at this. He cared nothing for the clan leader's presence. The man standing nearby might even heighten the thrill. But with the wife absent, he couldn't test whether the Nine Transformations Immortal Scripture affected the system. Disappointing.

Still, Shen Yu's reminder only deepened Ye Chen's curiosity about the Nine Transformations Immortal Scripture.

Thus, Ye Chen's gaze hardened as he declared unequivocally, "Give me the Nine Transformations Immortal Scripture!"

Shen Yu's mouth twitched, his expression troubled. "My lord, this scripture can only be cultivated by those of our Divine Silkworm bloodline. Even if you obtain it, you cannot practice it."

The Nine Transformations Immortal Scripture was extraordinarily wondrous. Each molt vastly elevated aptitude. It granted an entirely new body—benefits beyond counting. Even among immortal scriptures, its effects ranked top-tier.

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Countless races and experts had coveted it in the past. Some succeeded during the clan's declines—only to abandon it. Simply because it was uncultivable. Only the Divine Silkworm Clan could operate it. Other races lacked the capability entirely.

Moreover, the Nine Transformations Immortal Scripture was too unique—its principles held no reference value for outsiders. In time, none bothered pursuing it further.

But Ye Chen's resolve remained firm. He knew full well humans couldn't cultivate it. Yet if gifted away, perhaps it would feedback a version humans could practice? Trying costs nothing anyway.

Shen Yu felt helpless, but this wasn't a major issue. The immortal scripture could only be cultivated by clan members. The reason for keeping it secret was merely to prevent hostile races from studying its weaknesses.

But now, facing the Heavenly Emperor's heir, he had no need to research flaws—he could crush them outright. Handing it over or not made no difference!

"If I surrender the scripture, my lord, will you truly spare my life?"

Shen Yu sought confirmation. Though Ye Chen's tone had softened considerably after viewing the clan leader's wife's shadow stone. With his life on the line, clarity was best.

Ye Chen appraised Shen Yu for a moment, pondering briefly. That Shen Li had already completed the eighth divine silkworm transformation. If he could connect with her, the triggered multiplier would likely be staggering.

Ye Chen guessed—at least six thousand to start. As for that exceptionally nourishing clan leader's wife, she too sparked intense curiosity. He wanted to see if she could activate a system multiplier.

Killing their prodigy would turn future encounters hostile—no chance for deep exchange or discussion of Nine Transformations cultivation insights.

As for releasing Shen Yu risking future trouble?

Pure joke. If Shen Yu ever caught up to him in the future, Ye Chen might as well end himself.

With these thoughts, Ye Chen nodded faintly. He spoke, "Besides the Nine Transformations Immortal Scripture, return all twenty high-grade Extreme Dao weapons you took from me earlier. Then, I will let you leave..."

Shen Yu's mouth twitched, but relief flooded him. Living was what mattered. He hurriedly transmitted assent, "The Extreme Dao weapons are of utmost importance—I'll need to inform the clan. But my lord need not worry. My status in the clan is high—the only prodigy of the young generation. Those old fogeys like the clan leader won't live another thousand years. In the end, they'll rely on me. Not to mention the Compliant Golden-Hooped Rod is already lost—no harm in sparing the rest. The clan will surely agree."

With that, Shen Yu immediately transmitted to the distant clan's great powers. The Divine Silkworm great powers' faces changed upon hearing. The Heavenly Emperor's heir willing to release him was naturally good.

But returning twenty high-grade Extreme Dao weapons? Heart-wrenching.

Especially since the supreme Extreme Dao weapon, the Compliant Golden-Hooped Rod, was already reclaimed. This way, they gained nothing—and lost the Qiankun Cauldron for free. Beyond blood loss.

By comparison, surrendering the immortal scripture mattered little. It wasn't the first time they'd been forced to yield it. Even the Undying Celestial Phoenix Clan had once coveted it. But it was the same for all—none but the Divine Silkworm Clan could cultivate it.

In the end, the Divine Silkworm's great powers gritted their teeth and agreed. Even the clan leader—who wished Shen Yu dead on the spot—raised no objection. After all, with the Immortal Path closed in the future and unlikely to reopen, no one knew what would happen.

Producing prodigies in the Age of Dharma's End would be excruciatingly difficult. Fewer Mahayana capable of wielding Extreme Dao weapons might even emerge. Preserve the weapons, lose the person—weapons and person both may be lost. Preserve the person, lose the weapons—yet a future remains.

Soon, Ye Chen reclaimed his Extreme Dao weapons, then magnanimously released the man. He had no intention of keeping those weapons anyway. He would use them soon to curry favors.

The surviving Shen Yu stood beside his clan's great powers. It felt like a lifetime ago—he rejoiced endlessly. But in the next moment, the clan leader's sinister voice whispered in his ear, "Some issues arose at the ancestral grounds in the Northern Domain. It requires a Mahayana to garrison. You've been free lately—go stay there a decade or two..."