Immortality Starts With Investment

Chapter 581: Afraid Yet Elated!

Ye Chen's grave attitude, delaying the battle another week, stunned everyone. His proven strength meant one thing: Fairy Lan's Heavy Pupil was truly terrifying. Speculation buzzed—what trump card did Lan Nuo hide?

The dismissed "male-female Heavy Pupil" theory resurfaced. Ye Chen's caution, unseen even against six top prodigies, fueled rumors: were Heavy Pupils split by gender, with Ye Chen's being female? The crowd erupted in chatter.

Lan Nuo, inwardly chaotic, was floored. Why did Ye Chen take her so seriously? Was she worthy? Did his Heavy Pupils misjudge? Was he planning to one-shot her?

Panic surged—she wanted to back out. This posturing wasn't worth it. But the awe and shock in onlookers' eyes, her ancestor's probing about hidden trump cards, and even Mahayana cultivators' wary glances—Ye Chen killed a Mahayana fiend, and if he saw her as an equal, so could she—made her heart quiver. It felt divine.

Driven by instinct, Lan Nuo raised her head coldly, facing Ye Chen. "You're the strongest peer I've met, bar none. I look forward to our fight. If you lose due to injuries, my victory would be joyless. Heal fully—I'll wait for your peak state. Need healing treasures? I can lend some!"

Ye Chen was stunned. Too cooperative? And offering treasures? He confirmed: Lan Nuo was obsessed with posturing, never speaking plainly, all about flair. Perfect for gifting.

Smiling, he waved off the offer. "No need for treasures—I have my own. But your grace amazes me. Had you joined those six, I'd have lost. Now, you could win easily, yet you wait. A cultivator with such strength and prodigy demeanor is rare. I admire you. But I've delayed your time. Take this as my apology!"

He sent a glowing imprint toward her.

Lan Nuo froze. What was happening? Was she really that strong? She opened her mouth to refuse, but the imprint reached her.

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Ye Chen continued, "This imprint came from an ancient Heavy Pupil's mark I encountered during my tribulation, gained after our battle. It holds their full Heavy Pupil insights. Since you have Heavy Pupils, it's the perfect apology."

Without giving her a chance to refuse, he sat cross-legged, diving into deep cultivation, as if urgently healing to ensure their battle held no regrets.

The crowd was stunned. A grand gift just for Lan Nuo's week-long wait? Ye Chen's regard for her strength was overwhelming. Doubts vanished—Lan Nuo had to be formidable, or why would the Heavenly Emperor heir act this way?

Lan Nuo herself was shocked. Ye Chen faced an ancient Heavy Pupil during his tribulation—one she'd never encountered? They weren't on the same level. Why did he value her so highly?

Panic surged, yet the crowd's awe and worshipful gazes brought thrilling joy. She shouldn't accept the gift, but Ye Chen's nonchalance, already meditating, stopped her. Would rejecting it by waking him seem petty, like disturbing his healing?

Accepting it gracefully felt more like a prodigy's demeanor. Plus, with these insights, her strength might rise enough to survive his punch. Since he gifted it, he didn't need it. She'd find a comparable treasure later to repay him. If she survived his strike, she'd raid her clan's treasury for a return gift.

Confused yet elated, Lan Nuo casually raised her hand, guiding the imprint into her brow. Instantly, an ancient Heavy Pupil's full insights flooded her mind. Her face stayed calm, but her heart jolted—it was the Heavenly Emperor's archenemy, a Heavy Pupil whose mastery reached unparalleled heights. At quasi-immortal, one glance slew an aged true immortal, a terrifying feat. Only dimmed by the Emperor's era, they'd have shone brighter. And Ye Chen defeated them in the same realm? How strong was he?

Absorbing the insights, Lan Nuo's panic deepened. Could she survive his serious strike?

Yet, the crowd's awe, reverence, and chatter about her being the era's top prodigy made her feel… even death might be worth it.

…

Meanwhile, Ye Chen's mind echoed with system prompts:

"Congratulations, host, gift successful…"

"Gift: Ancient Heavy Pupil Insights!"

"4,000x feedback processing…"

"Detected: Gift significantly impacts the recipient's mindset…"

"Triggered critical hit rewards!"

"Reward: Ancient Stone Immortal King's Complete Heavy Pupil Insights…"

"Reward: Heavenly Emperor's Complete Supreme Heart Insights…"

"Reward: No-Beginning Immortal King's Complete Innate Sacred Body Dao Embryo Insights…"

"Reward: Yin-Yang Divine Monarch's Complete Yin-Yang Dao Sea Insights…"