Immortality Starts With Investment Chapter 639: Then Forget It!

With a swift motion, Ye Chen struck. The leaf he held disintegrated into motes of dust. Where his sword intent passed, only emptiness remained.

Dugu Sheng's eyes widened in sheer terror. He sensed the imminence of death in Ye Chen's attack. However, as a prodigy of the sword Dao possessing an indomitable spirit, he refused to yield. He lifted his sword resolutely.

Years of profound understanding gleaned from the Dugu Nine Swords and the fragment of the Sword Grass Treasure Technique converged, manifesting as a sea of blood-red sword intent that descended like a cataclysm…

The collision between their power sent shockwaves through the surroundings, stunning every observer.

"Boom, boom, boom…"

A ferocious shockwave erupted, inflicting cracks upon the Sword Sect's formidable gate array. Disciples nearby began to bleed from their sensory orifices. It was only the timely intervention of a Saint, who moved to suppress the chaotic aftermath, that prevented the array from shattering and slaughtering countless disciples. Their unleashed power was nothing short of apocalyptic.

But then, astonished gasps rippled through the crowd. Dugu Sheng's blood-red intent, upon impact, detonated into nothingness. Ye Chen's sword intent, with unstoppable force, slammed directly into the Azure Jade Radiant Sword.

Crack.

Web-like fractures instantaneously spiderwebbed across the blade.

In a mere flash, the sword—a weapon painstakingly forged over a century through Dugu Sheng's unwavering dedication and the sect's immense resources—shattered into irreparable pieces.

The fourth Holy Son's strike had annihilated an Extreme Dao Weapon?

A profound silence descended upon the scene.

Disbelief was etched onto every face. Confronting Ye Chen's relentless sword intent, Dugu Sheng stood utterly frozen. He had braced himself for defeat against Ye Chen. Yet, to be so completely and utterly vanquished in the very domain he prided himself most—his sword Dao—was a blow his spirit could scarcely withstand. His pride lay in ruins, leaving him spiritually hollowed.

…

As Ye Chen's ultimate sword intent advanced, the Sword Sect's ancient ancestor let out a sorrowful sigh. The sheer terror of this single strike, he knew, was sufficient to obliterate even a Dugu Sheng at the Second Heaven cultivation level. Standing firm, he could not bear to witness the young man's demise. With a subtle flick of his wrist, he released a minuscule shard of sword intent, which effortlessly dissolved Ye Chen's attack, calmed the turbulent spatial energies, and restored an aura of peace.

He cast a discerning gaze upon Dugu Sheng. "After today's events, understand your true standing. This current era teems with countless prodigies. You possess considerable talent, yet you are far from exceptional. While reaching immortality may elude you, with the Immortal Path now accessible, you have the potential to ascend to higher realms. Depart immediately for the Immortal Path to temper yourself. Do not show your face here again until you have reached the Third Heaven!"

Fearing Ye Chen might harbor resentment, the ancestor orchestrated Dugu Sheng's immediate departure. This was, in essence, a protective measure. Dugu Sheng, having narrowly survived, was forced to confront the stark reality that he could not even withstand Ye Chen's casual leaf strike. His entire understanding of the sword Dao was thrown into doubt. His gaze became unfocused, clouded with profound confusion.

The ancestor sighed once more—Dugu Sheng's sword heart was, in all likelihood, irrevocably shattered. Without a means of recovery, his cultivation would stagnate at the Second Heaven.

Under the gaze of countless onlookers, Dugu Sheng observed Ye Chen with a wry, bitter smile, attempting to console his own bruised ego. Defeat at Ye Chen's hands was not, in itself, a source of shame. Rumors persisted that Ye Chen had overwhelmed Mahayana experts at the Unity stage through cunning tactics. However, having personally experienced the terrifying prowess of Ye Chen's sword Dao, Dugu Sheng harbored a suspicion that Ye Chen had crushed them through sheer, overwhelming force. This dawning realization served to stabilize his fracturing sword heart. If victory was unattainable, he resolved to focus on ceaseless improvement. He then descended to stand beside Luo Bingling.

Confronting her striking and valiant beauty, he collected himself. "Esteemed Daoist Luo, I regret to have disappointed. I was unable to secure the Dugu Wooden Sword required to unlock the secret realm. However, the profound insight I gained from witnessing Ye Chen's sword intent has provided me with a novel understanding of the Sword Grass Treasure Technique. After a period of secluded cultivation for a few months, my sword Dao is poised for advancement, which will undoubtedly enable us to open the secret realm!"

His intention was to escort her back to the Immortal Path. However, Luo Bingling's brow furrowed in displeasure. "Who knows when the secret realm will materialize? I cannot afford to wait indefinitely. Esteemed Daoist, please find a suitable location for your secluded cultivation. The sword intent displayed by the Heavenly Emperor's heir is exceptionally potent—a mere leaf nearly sundered you. With the Heavenly Emperor Sword in hand, he can effortlessly breach the secret realm's defenses. I shall extend an invitation to Fellow Daoist Ye to accompany me!"

Dugu Sheng, already reeling from his defeat, stood dumbfounded.

This… was unexpected.

He felt an urge to protest, to contest this turn of events.

Luo Bingling, disregarding Dugu Sheng entirely, strode purposefully toward Ye Chen. Her cascading purple hair framed a face of exquisite beauty, and the elegant lines of her waist were accentuated with each step, exuding a vibrant and captivating presence.

"Fellow Daoist Ye, allow me to introduce myself. I am Luo Bingling, a princess of the War God Clan! Your mastery of the sword Dao is truly unparalleled. Within the second realm of the Immortal Path, I discovered a secret realm pertaining to a sword cultivator, which necessitates the highest caliber of sword Dao to unlock. It is highly probable that this realm contains a Space Divine Stone. Should you refine this stone into your domain, you could elevate it to the status of a cave-heaven, thereby achieving the Second Heaven realm. Assist me in opening this secret realm, and we shall divide the spoils equally between us!"

As she spoke, she consciously suppressed her overt disdain. Ye Chen's formidable strength was undeniable. Yet, his reputation for womanizing, his ostentatious displays, and his lowly human origins were deeply repugnant to her. Were it not for the potential existence of the Dao Cauldron, she would not have deigned to even glance at any mortal present.

The air, thick with the presence of numerous humans, felt overwhelmingly oppressive. She had extended this invitation, harboring a secret hope that some private time together would reveal whether he possessed the Dao Cauldron. If he did, a touch of feminine charm should be sufficient to secure it. If not, the prospect of allowing him even the slightest physical contact made her skin crawl.

…

Dugu Sheng was overcome with despair. Ye Chen, however, eyed the alien with its 4,000-fold power. To progress from the Second to Third Heaven of the Mahayana stage, one needed to elevate a domain into a cave-heaven. A Space Divine Stone, abundant with spatial laws, would considerably simplify and bolster this transformation.

The path to immortality was not an unwelcome journey. Yet, the unfinished business of his master, long postponed, was finally within reach. Even a Space Divine Stone could be set aside for the moment. Being only at the First Heaven of Mahayana, there was no immediate rush. He would pursue it once he reached the peak of the Second Heaven.

Ye Chen descended with a serene demeanor, posing a question, "Will the secret realm commence its opening soon?"

Luo Bingling, impatient to depart, gave a swift nod. "It will open imminently. We must depart without delay, lest others seize it first!"

She presumed her invitation, a gesture hinting at intimacy, would elicit an eager acceptance from Ye Chen. To her utter astonishment, he merely inclined his head. "In that case, let us forgo it. I have other matters to attend to. Farewell, Fellow Daoist!"

Under her bewildered gaze, Ye Chen proceeded to return to his master…