Immortality Starts With Investment

Chapter 381: Yi Qingwu

"Grandfather, is Yi Qingwu really that formidable? The greatest female cultivator of our generation?" He Jiu, in her early twenties, was brimming with curiosity about the outside world. She had little interest in the Heavenly Desire Sect's Divine Maiden but was deeply intrigued by Yi Qingwu, the so-called foremost female immortal.

Elder He's eyes flickered with reminiscence. "I've never met Yi Qingwu, but judging by her grandmother's grace back in the day, she's bound to be exceptional."

At this, Ye Chen's interest piqued. Was there a story between Elder He and Yi Qingwu's grandmother?

He Jiu's eyes sparkled with gossip. Elder He, unfazed, gave a carefree smile. "Back when I roamed the cultivation world, I was considered a prodigy of my generation. During an expedition to some ruins, I met Yi Qingwu's grandmother and was utterly captivated. When she unleashed her Broad Cold Immortal Physique, with a grand moon above her head and endless moonlight streaming from her back, she was like a lunar fairy. I was smitten.

"Despite the strained relations between our Holy Lands, I didn't care. I followed her for over a decade, using the Heavenly Evolution Immortal Scripture to divine secrets for her, even suffering backlash and spitting blood just to aid her cultivation. But in the end, she chose someone else. It broke my heart to realize I'd been used. I returned to the Holy Land and never saw her again. That was over two hundred years ago. Yet, thinking back now, I still feel a touch of nostalgia. And soon, I'll see her again—I'm even a bit nervous."

Elder He spoke candidly of his past with Yi Qingwu's grandmother. Ye Chen understood now: she was his unattainable white moonlight, the one that got away.

This wasn't good news. Ye Chen knew better than most the power a white moonlight held over a man. If Yi Qingwu came after him, would Elder He, lost in memories of her grandmother's beauty, get swept up in old feelings? Would he, in a moment of rekindled passion, side with her and suppress Ye Chen?

Glancing at Elder He, Ye Chen ventured, "It's admirable that you can speak so openly about it now, Elder He. It seems you've moved on—congratulations!"

Elder He sighed, gazing at the sky. "Moved on? I never even picked her up to let her go. But talking about it now makes me want to see her again. I heard her husband failed a breakthrough and died fifty years ago. Maybe I still have a chance."

This was bad—Elder He was unreliable. But his combat strength wasn't exceptional. Even if he lost his senses, Ye Chen's protector, Elder Mo, should keep things under control.

...

White Emperor City was already the liveliest immortal city in Great Yan Continent, frequented by prodigies due to the treasures from the Central Continent. Now, with the auction and the Heavenly Desire Sect's Divine Maiden debuting, it was buzzing with excitement. Prodigies from various sects and great families—each a standout of the younger generation—gathered, their discussions filling the air.

Today, an enormous skyship descended directly above the city's center, drawing gasps and awed stares from countless cultivators. Most factions had to stop at the city gates, but a Holy Land could boldly dock at the heart of White Emperor City.

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A figure radiating overwhelming presence stepped off the skyship. The man was imposing, his vitality surging like a tidal wave, black hair whipping wildly in the wind, exuding a carefree aura. Standing there, his battle intent blazed, so intense that ordinary cultivators felt their eyes sting and tear up just by looking at him.

Exclamations erupted in White Emperor City. "It's Yao Gu!"

"The Yao family never relies on numbers—just two or three heirs per generation."

"Yao Gu feels even more terrifying now. Has he broken through to Deity Transformation?"

"Tch, he's barely forty and already reached Deity Transformation? That's insane."

"Even if it's not a Holy Son, Yao Gu's no slouch. He was only slightly weaker than the Fourth Holy Son back then. Now, with Deity Transformation, he might even surpass him!"

Yao Gu, with his extraordinary physique, smirked at the chatter. Having broken through to Deity Transformation, he was brimming with confidence. This trip, he vowed to tame the Heavenly Desire Sect's Divine Maiden and settle an old score with Ye Chen, the so-called Fourth Holy Son.

Ye Chen's combat prowess was formidable, but Yao Gu was now in the Deity Transformation realm. If the gap between minor realms was one, the gap between major realms was five, even ten.

As a prodigy himself, Yao Gu's breakthrough brought an even greater boost. Against such a chasm, what could Ye Chen's Heavy Pupils do?

Still, his protector had advised him to befriend Ye Chen, so Yao Gu wouldn't challenge him publicly to save him some face. He'd wait for a private moment to crush him.

...

As the Yao family's skyship faded into the void, another arrived. A staircase of divine lightning unfurled from the sky, and a graceful figure cloaked in moonlight descended. Her face was obscured, only her flowing azure hair visible, yet her presence captivated all. Even without seeing her features, her perfection was palpable. The moment she appeared, the world seemed to dim—sun and moon paled in her radiance. No beauty could compare.

White Emperor City fell silent. Yi Qingwu had arrived.

Everyone marveled. Truly, she was Great Yan Continent's foremost female cultivator, stunning all without even revealing her face. What would her unveiled beauty be like? Hearts raced with anticipation, yearning for a glimpse. But like a lunar goddess, she glided ethereally into Heavenly Intention Holy Land's palace and vanished.

After her departure, hundreds of Heavenly Intention disciples disembarked, each exceptional, sparking awe. "Fairy Yi really came! If I could see her face, I'd die content!"

"Jealous of Heavenly Intention's Holy Son!"

"Who's better-looking, Fairy Yi or the Divine Maiden about to debut?"

"How dare anyone compare that Heavenly Desire Sect woman to our fairy?"

"Yao Gu's here from the Yao family, and Heavenly Intention brought Fairy Yi and two legacy disciples. Who's Heavenly Evolution sending?"

"If it's that Fourth Holy Son, things will get interesting."

"No way. Fairy Yi's too noble to bother suppressing Ye Chen, but if he shows up, it's a provocation. With her strength, she'd never let him off."

"Yeah, and Yao Gu's at Deity Transformation now. He'd probably fight him too."

"Shame. I wanted to see the Heavy Pupil prodigy in action."

The crowd speculated that Heavenly Evolution would send their Second or Third Holy Son, lamenting the missed spectacle.

...

Soon, another skyship descended over White Emperor City. A handsome man in a yin-yang fish robe stepped out, a smile on his face, followed by dozens of Heavenly Evolution disciples. They walked down from the sky.

The city fell into stunned silence. The onlookers were shocked. Heavenly Evolution's top prodigy was none other than the Fourth Holy Son? The one who killed Heavenly Intention Holy Son's brother and destroyed his avatar, knowing full well Yi Qingwu would be here—yet he still dared to come to White Emperor City? Was he fearless or just reckless?