Immortality Starts With Investment

Chapter 364: Enlightenment Tea Tree

Hua Yunfei, clad in white, exuded a divine charm. As he approached Ye Chen, the radiant halo behind his head dimmed from its earlier brilliance, yet his presence remained awe-inspiring, like a descended god-king.

"Thank you, Eldest Senior Brother! I knew the Heavenly Intention Holy Son was no match for you," Ye Chen said with a grin.

In truth, when the Heavenly Intention Holy Son sought revenge, Heavenly Evolution Holy Land could have sent elders to escort Ye Chen safely. But since this was a grudge among peers, involving seniors would have been a loss of face.

It was best settled by their generation, and Hua Yunfei had proven his mettle, clashing with the Heavenly Intention Holy Son for a year. Now, to ensure Ye Chen's safety, he'd come personally—a heartwarming gesture.

Hua Yunfei smiled, shaking his head. "The Heavenly Intention Holy Son is formidable. His Heavenly Intention Immortal Scripture is at great completion, and his offensive power is astonishing, even surpassing mine slightly. I suspect he's inherited the Battle Secret, though likely incomplete. He wields a half-divine stele, extraordinary in nature, capable of manifesting myriad Dao and laws, nearly ignoring all defenses. That stele carries an ancient, timeless aura, and I believe its inscriptions hold the Battle Secret's legacy."

His words dropped a bombshell. Ye Chen, however, wasn't overly shocked. During their battle, he'd suspected as much. With his True Dragon Treasure Technique and Imperial Dragon Qi, his offensive power was already remarkable, yet the Heavenly Intention Holy Son's attacks had unsettled him. The Battle Secret would explain it.

This didn't mean the Battle Secret outpowered the True Dragon Treasure Technique. The Heavenly Intention Holy Son's higher realm and deeper comprehension of Dao and laws, even through his avatar, gave him an edge. But once their realms aligned, that advantage would vanish, and the incomplete Battle Secret's flaws would become a liability against Ye Chen.

Hua Yunfei's mention of the half-divine stele piqued Ye Chen's interest. If it truly bore the Battle Secret's inscriptions, its value was immense. Acquiring and gifting it could yield the complete secret. The Ten Vicious Treasure Techniquess were the legacy of myriad races, while the Nine Secrets were humanity's counter, developed to rival them. Mastering both would elevate Ye Chen's strength to new heights.

…

"Is Senior Brother injured?" Ye Chen asked with concern, knowing Hua Yunfei had clashed with the Heavenly Intention Holy Son because of him.

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Hua Yunfei shook his head calmly. "The wounds from the Battle Secret are tricky to heal, but they're no issue. Don't worry about it." He continued, "Half a year ago, during a break from fighting, I heard the elders say you were cultivating a technique in the Sword Sect and might face challenges. I obtained this treasure from a legacy; it could help. But seeing your aura now, you likely don't need it yet. Keep it for when you break through to Deity Transformation."

With that, Hua Yunfei presented an ancient jade box. Ye Chen's keen eyes recognized its rarity—a top-tier artifact capable of sealing its contents for hundreds of thousands of years without leaking a trace of aura. The box alone was priceless; the treasure inside must be extraordinary.

Ye Chen was genuinely stunned. His senior brother was too generous, gifting treasures at every meeting. Did Hua Yunfei have a "good brother system" of his own? As Ye Chen opened the box, his eyes lit up. Elder Mo, standing nearby, couldn't contain his shock. "Is that a leaf from the Enlightenment Tea Tree?"

Ye Chen's gaze turned incredulous. The Enlightenment Tea Tree was among the cultivation world's supreme immortal roots, each unique with unparalleled effects. This tree aided enlightenment—cultivating beneath it yielded a month's progress equivalent to a year elsewhere. Its leaves, brewed into tea, boosted comprehension, making breakthroughs or technique mastery far easier, with effects bordering on absurd.

The tree produced only 108 leaves annually, sparking fierce battles among great powers for their share. Long ago, a dying True Immortal used a segment of its trunk as a coffin, hoping his corpse might achieve enlightenment and live a second life.

The attempt failed, nearly killing the tree. Later calamities left it on the brink of death until the Heavenly Emperor intervened, attempting to transplant it. Tragically, it perished soon after, becoming a legend. Surviving leaves grew scarcer, yet here was one in Hua Yunfei's possession.

Ye Chen examined it. The leaf wasn't green but golden, etched with a mountain-and-river pattern and countless divine runes, infusing the surroundings with a profound Dao charm. Its faint fragrance cleared his spiritual sense. An unrivaled treasure.

Does Senior Brother have a system too? This generosity was outrageous. Was Hua Yunfei a transmigrator like him?

Hua Yunfei added, "Don't feel shy about the tea leaf. I obtained three. I used one for my breakthrough, gave one to Tantai, and this one's for you. This era's immortal path may be the most perilous, possibly the last. After it closes, the world might change drastically, becoming unfit for cultivation, perhaps impossible. So, before it opens, Junior Brother, you must boost your strength to catch this era's immortal path."

Ye Chen was startled by Hua Yunfei's words. What did he mean? Hua Yunfei didn't elaborate, admitting his knowledge was limited, pieced together from fragments. But his solemn tone made Ye Chen thoughtful. Still, he wasn't panicked. With his diligence and system, no matter how harsh the cultivation world became, he could carve a new path. No problem!

Moreover, with the Enlightenment Tea Leaf, if he gifted it and triggered a critical hit, his cultivation speed could soar even further.

…