Immortality Starts With Investment Chapter 682: The Monkey Comes Knocking!

Ye Chen's rapport with his Eldest Senior Sister was minimal, their connection practically non-existent. Even the grand gesture of gifting her a war chariot had yielded no significant reaction. However, his Eldest Senior Brother appeared to share a profound bond with her.

For the sake of his Eldest Senior Brother, should the chance to acquire the Immortal Exquisite arise, Ye Chen would readily bestow it upon his Eldest Senior Sister. It might offer a path to reclaiming a semblance of her former self.

Meanwhile, a subtle chill entered Feng Baiyu's eyes as he contemplated:

"This Supreme Emotionless Scripture might not stem from our realm, perhaps not even from the Immortal Realm itself. I've never encountered it before. It could be a transmission from a formidable being originating from a foreign domain, possibly through some clandestine technique... Dantai Xuan might undergo a complete transformation, becoming an entirely different entity—a potent force from beyond. Should I act now? Eradicate her before her full awakening, extinguishing the nascent threat?"

Yet, after a brief deliberation, Feng Baiyu dismissed the thought with a shake of his head. He had largely resigned himself to the futility of resisting the foreign domain. After all, the Heavenly Emperor himself had vanished, fighting his way out of the Immortal Realm and never reappearing. For a century thereafter, celestial rains of blood had fallen. The esteemed powers within the Immortal Realm pursued their own clandestine agendas.

Feng Baiyu harbored the suspicion that many within the Descent Faction had secretly forged alliances with the foreign domain, divvying up anticipated spoils. Without the Heavenly Emperor's dominion, the inherently weaker Immortal Realm was no more than scattered dust.

One might fight valiantly at the forefront, only to be betrayed by their own confederates. The foreign domain's subjugation of the Immortal Realm was an inevitable outcome. Eliminating Dantai Xuan to prevent one additional foreign entity from manifesting would scarcely alter the predetermined conclusion. It seemed pointless to attract undue scrutiny. Let events unfold...

With his own reincarnation and subsequent re-cultivation, perhaps it was time to engineer his own means of escape. This realization extinguished the residual good cheer Feng Baiyu had experienced following Ye Chen's advancement. He gestured dismissively, concluding their exchange.

…

Ye Chen also gave little further thought to his Eldest Senior Sister. Upon confirming that the others remained immersed in their seclusion, he turned his attention to the pitiful maidservants, their gazes fixed upon him with silent supplication. He distributed a portion of the spirit liquid to each, dispatching them to commence their cultivation.

Subsequently, Ye Chen summoned the spectral manifestation of his Dao Cauldron, commencing his personal training. Now positioned at the second heaven of the Mahayana stage, his subsequent objective was the forging of his own cave heaven.

Thanks to the Minor Space Technique, this particular endeavor presented minimal challenge. However, Ye Chen harbored a more ambitious vision: to refine his personal small world, utilizing it as the foundational core for his cave heaven.

Undeniably, a cave heaven surpassed an ordinary small world. Nevertheless, a small world remained an external entity, always susceptible to the risk of being sealed or becoming inaccessible. By refining it directly into his cave heaven, such inherent vulnerabilities would be permanently eradicated.

Furthermore, the scale of a cave heaven directly correlated with the cultivator's strength. The assimilation of an entire small world was poised to dramatically augment his combat prowess. This integration would also yield substantial long-term advantages for his future cultivation journey.

For instance, upon ascending to the fourth heaven of Mahayana, the intrinsic fragments of the law of time within the small world would greatly facilitate his comprehension. Mastery over the law of time would grant him dominion over the temporal flow within his cave heaven, thereby accelerating his cultivation pace. Upon achieving subsequent breakthroughs into higher realms, the cave heaven could be readily reshaped back into a small world, potentially with enhanced capabilities.

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In essence, the trajectory of Ye Chen's future cultivation was largely preordained. For the present moment, his paramount focus was solely on elevating his cultivation realm.

…

For the ensuing full month, Ye Chen dedicated himself to cultivation with unwavering concentration and a buoyant spirit. The primary catalyst for this was the astounding rapidity of his progress. Possessing the Dao Cauldron, the Enlightenment Tea Tree, and his exceptionally robust physical constitution, his cultivation speed had ascended to extraordinary heights.

Ye Chen's projections indicated that a maximum of five months would suffice to reach the mid-Mahayana stage. Another half-year, perhaps, would see him attain the late stage, followed by the peak. In total, approximately two years should be adequate to advance through an entire cultivation heaven.

Two years to advance one major realm was a laughable rate. Even Ye Chen himself found it absurd. For typical cultivators, ascending levels meant slower progress, with breakthroughs requiring millennia without a second thought. Yet, for him, the higher he ascended, the quicker his advances became.

Upon careful reflection, Ye Chen realized the most sluggish phase of his entire journey was actually the Qi Refining stage. His entire progression had been turned on its head.

However, it made perfect sense. At that time, he possessed nothing—no unique physique, no resources, no advantages. His body was the most common mortal form, and his spiritual root was merely third-grade.

Now?

His physique bore the imprint of Primordial Chaos itself—undeniably far surpassing anyone else. Even if it was operating at only one-millionth of its full capacity, it was already vastly superior to his former self. Coupled with various immortal artifacts and immortal roots…

Viewed in this light, it perhaps wasn't so outrageous after all. Thus, Ye Chen continued his tranquil cultivation, harboring no intention of ending his seclusion. He only emerged once each week to bestow gifts upon the attending disciples.

In the blink of an eye, an additional month elapsed.

While immersed in deep meditation, Ye Chen suddenly perceived a transmission talisman activating. He gradually withdrew his Qi and opened the message. His brow slightly creased. A Mahayana-stage golden-furred monkey had appeared at the sect's entrance, professing to carry a message.

A monkey? Golden-furred? At the Mahayana stage?

Ye Chen immediately recalled the Victorious Fighting Ape Clan from amongst the myriad races.

Could they have come seeking the Compliant Golden-Hooped Rod?

He wasn't particularly taken aback. Ever since the Dao Cauldron had drawn Luo Bingling to him, Ye Chen had been aware that the Battle Saint Apes would not remain indifferent to the Compliant Golden-Hooped Rod he now held.

Nevertheless, the staff held no particular significance or unique function for him. With the Armament Secret, a staff was indistinguishable from any sword, spear, or halberd.

Distinct from the Dao Cauldron or the Heaven-Devouring Demon Jar, which possessed irreplaceable capabilities, this item was expendable. If the opposing party desired its return, they merely needed to offer something of equivalent worth.

In this manner, the Compliant Golden-Hooped Rod—once an item deemed "non-giftable"—would be cleanly converted into a "giftable" supreme Extreme Dao weapon. And Ye Chen would undoubtedly emerge with a profit.

With this consideration in mind, he lightly emerged from seclusion and proceeded toward the sect gate. What greeted his sight was a monkey of modest stature but an impressive physical build, its entire form enveloped in golden fur that radiated like sharpened spears.

Upon perceiving Ye Chen and recalling the fearsome reputation he held concerning male cultivators, the monkey—despite its usual disdain for humans—clasped its fists in a gesture of respect.

"Greetings, heir of the Heavenly Emperor!"

Ye Chen offered a slight inclination of his head, silently indicating for him to state his business directly.

The monkey spoke with solemnity: "The Compliant Golden-Hooped Rod currently in your possession is a sacred artifact of our Victorious Fighting Ape Clan. During the colossal conflict between our clan and the Heavenly Emperor in ages past, we suffered a minor defeat, and the staff was lost in the depths of the starry void. Now that the successor of the Heavenly Emperor has reclaimed it, our clan is profoundly grateful… The Holy Prince has specifically dispatched me here with the earnest hope of recovering the Compliant Golden-Hooped Rod!"

Ye Chen gave another nod. The Compliant Golden-Hooped Rod materialized instantly in his palm.

The monkey's eyes immediately ignited with intense desire.

A supreme Extreme Dao weapon differed fundamentally from ordinary Extreme Dao weapons. Only when its master attained immortality, imprinting the weapon with the entirety of their cultivation journey, their comprehension of the Dao, and their amassed power, could it undergo the final metamorphosis into a supreme Extreme Dao weapon. And even then, it relied on fortune. Some would evolve further, becoming true immortal weapons.

Consequently, supreme Extreme Dao weapons were exceptionally rare, even among the most ancient immortal lineages—each one a paramount treasure capable of stabilizing an entire clan. Their value was simply beyond comprehension…