Immortality Starts With Investment Chapter 609: Too Strong, So It Took a While!

Traversing the vibrant passage of colors, Ye Chen stepped out into the brilliance, arriving back at his cave dwelling. Detecting the plentiful spiritual energy, a grin spread across his face. The journey had dragged on, yet his rewards were tremendous—he had achieved a breakthrough into the Mahayana Stage. Positioned at the First Heaven of Mahayana now, he earned the title of Great Power in the outside world.

The Mahayana Stage stood as the vital realm just shy of True Immortal, encompassing nine heavens. The divide between each heaven outstripped the cumulative gaps of every previous major realm.

Every heaven bore a designation: First Heaven as Great Power; Second Heaven as Holy Master; Third Heaven as King. From the Fourth Heaven's Half-Saint onward, the ranks ascended to Saint, Saint King, Great Saint, Great Emperor, and Quasi-Immortal.

Upon reaching the First Heaven, a cultivator's lifespan extended to seven thousand years, accompanied by tremendously boosted vitality that rendered lethal wounds almost incapable of causing death. Their domain also intensified greatly.

Ye Chen stood apart. His vitality hinted at a potential lifespan of ten to twenty thousand years. Regarding his strength? It had long transcended evaluations based on realms.

Stretching out comfortably, Ye Chen noticed the transmission array humming with activity. His extended absence had obviously sparked numerous attempts to reach him.

With a quick probe of his divine sense, messages popped up from Holy Master, his senior brother, Senior An, Yuyi, Elder Lin, Li Feihuang, Mo Yuzhu, his master Gu Yunyun, senior sister Yao Xi, the Divine Maiden along with her master and even her grandmaster, plus the fiancée.

Ye Chen let out a chuckle. All who could reach him had done so. By cultivator time, his absence wasn't overly prolonged, but the moment was pivotal. The Immortal Path had probably opened, and his failure to appear had stirred concerns.

Reviewing the messages verified it—the Immortal Path had indeed opened. Yet as he delved deeper, his brows knitted. His face hardened, a mocking sneer twisting his lips. “I was merely in seclusion for eight years, not dead! You bunch have some nerve!”

A flicker of murderous intent gleamed in his gaze. With a casual flick, he triggered the array. A fearsome aura erupted, radiating from Ascension Peak to blanket the whole Heavenly Evolution Holy Land.

Right away, the female cultivators atop the peak stiffened, then erupted in delight. This was unmistakably a Mahayana aura! Their Holy Son had returned.

In no time, swarms of female cultivators soared toward the peak's crest, the Holy Son's abode. Senior An landed first, beaming at Ye Chen. An Yu Yi dashed up, latching onto him koala-style, overjoyed at his safety. Elder Lin arrived next, wordless, yet demonic floral patterns blossomed across her cheeks, conveying her joy plainly. Li Feihuang, her fiery red locks flaring, rushed in, breathing a sigh of relief while casting an envious look at An Yu Yi.

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Following them was Mo Yuzhu, once a Sword Sect elder, daughter of a minor sect leader, orphan of a slain elder, and more. Witnessing Ye Chen's return and sensing his overwhelming aura, they all exhaled in relief. As the sole male on Ascension Peak, countless female disciples had flocked there for him. His prolonged vanishing act had filled them with worry.

“Uncle, your seclusion dragged on forever this time!”

An Yu Yi, maybe on purpose, shouted “Uncle” before the group—a pet name typically for their intimate detox rituals—like marking her territory.

Ye Chen paid no heed to her cheeky move, laughing lightly as he fielded the crowd's questions. “I'm a tad too powerful, so the breakthrough required more time.”

The women accepted it without doubt. Eight years back, memory might have faded for some, but they recalled vividly. Their Holy Son spoke truth—his might was genuine. Glad it wasn't from concealed wounds or cultivation backlash, they eased up.

Ye Chen's reappearance rippled far beyond Ascension Peak. Elders from other peaks in Heavenly Evolution Holy Land detected his aura, staring enviously toward Ascension Peak.

A group of figures shot out from Cloud Summit Heaven Palace. Ye Chen looked their way. At the forefront flew Holy Master Feng Baiyu, accompanied by Elder Mo and various Supreme Elders.

Feng Baiyu retained his refined scholarly look but had advanced, now a Second Heaven Holy Master. Elder Mo appeared as usual, half-lifeless, on the verge of keeling over.

Feeling Ye Chen's vigorous aura, they grinned with relief. Similar to the outer world, they'd fretted his long retreat arose from secret injuries or Dao wounds. Observing his lively, pristine energy, they realized the truth.

Feng Baiyu drew near, opening his mouth to inquire, but Ye Chen preempted with a smirk. “Too powerful. My Immortal Platform's quality is top-notch, demanding extra duration.”

Feng Baiyu rolled his eyes. “Rubbish. Even crafting an Immortal Platform using Immortal Qi wouldn't consume eight years.”

Yet cultivation customs honored personal secrets—figures at this tier all harbored mysteries. Feng Baiyu refrained from probing, instead inviting Ye Chen to Cloud Summit Heaven Palace. Eight years passed swiftly, but the juncture was crucial amid brewing events.

Ye Chen agreed, transmitting notes to Senior An and Elder Lin, softly prying An Yu Yi loose. Then, alongside Holy Master and the rest, he headed to Cloud Summit Heaven Palace.

Within, as the aroma of spiritual tea filled the air, Ye Chen queried, confused, “Where is Senior Brother? Still inside the Immortal Path?”

Feng Baiyu shook his head, face somber. “Dead. The Holy Master seat belongs solely to you now.”

Ye Chen's mouth quirked, skeptical. His Senior Brother was sly and ever-wary. Ye Chen had never glimpsed his actual form—death seemed unlikely so soon.

Noting his failure to deceive Ye Chen, Feng Baiyu took a tea sip, crestfallen. “His avatars perished. One shielded your master, another got tracked and slain. Likely one remains, perhaps under fresh guise on the Immortal Path. His true body? Unknown to me.”

Ye Chen's eyes narrowed once more.