Chapter 320: Fellow Daoist! The Times Have Changed!
Ye Chen exchanged a glance with the Foreign Affairs Elder, but neither spoke.
It was clearly impossible for his master to be unaware of the extinction of the Longevity Tree.
So, his master must be waiting for someone fated.
Nangong Wan lifted her delicate face and earnestly said to Ye Chen, “Xiao Chen, why don’t you buy a copy of the Longevity Technique? Your talent is extraordinary. You might be able to modify it and upgrade it so it no longer requires the Longevity Tree Core to begin cultivation. By then, you’d live a few thousand years longer than others. Wouldn’t that be a huge profit?”
Ye Chen’s mouth twitched.
He had no ability to modify Heaven-tier techniques.
Maybe in the future, when he developed an AI system for the Immortal Net powered by big data, it might be possible. But that was far off.
It was obvious that his master was just trying to squeeze some spirit stones out of him.
Ye Chen pretended not to hear and ignored his master’s disappointed gaze.
After launching the Immortal Net Sutra Pavilion, Ye Chen had thought of new features.
For example, breaking techniques into sections so that cultivators could purchase them based on their cultivation stage.
Some techniques are limited to a single stage, such as Qi Refinement or Foundation Establishment.
Others cover multiple stages, becoming progressively more expensive the higher they go.
By selling techniques in sections, cultivators could buy only the parts relevant to their current stage, reducing their payment burden and boosting sales.
Additionally, bulk purchasing services could be offered to the major cultivation forces of Great Yan Province.
The emergence of the Immortal Net Sutra Pavilion was a blow to sects and clans.
Previously, a single technique, no matter how expensive, could be shared among all disciples in a sect.
When split among many, the cost was quite reasonable.
However, the techniques in the Immortal Net Sutra Pavilion couldn’t be shared.
Each disciple who wanted to learn a technique had to buy their own copy, multiplying the spirit stone expenditure several times over.
To address this, bulk purchasing services could be provided to major sects and clans, offering a 2% discount on group purchases of technique usage rights.
These rights could then be allocated to disciples who needed them.
Of course, these were plans for the future.
Right now, Ye Chen’s immediate priority was to prepare for seclusion to break through to the Integration stage.
For Ye Chen, this breakthrough was particularly significant.
Once he succeeded, his strength would increase dramatically, allowing him to face any force in Mingwang Province without fear.
He could then formally enter the Mingwang Province market.
Ye Chen attached great importance to entering this market.
Even now, his perfect breakthrough to the Integration stage would consume one hundred million high-grade spirit stones.
Future breakthroughs would demand even more.
Mingwang Province, with its vast expanse, abundant resources, and a population of over ten billion cultivators, was an opportunity Ye Chen was determined to seize.
If he could dominate this market, even without introducing new applications, his revenue from existing ones could increase tenfold.
Thus, once the breakthrough was complete, Ye Chen would officially enter Mingwang Province.
From a cliffside, Ye Chen slowly ascended into the air and first addressed the Foreign Affairs Elder, “I have some insights to explore and plan to enter seclusion. Handle any upcoming matters on your own.”
The Foreign Affairs Elder instinctively nodded, accustomed to Ye Chen delegating specifics while he managed the broader direction.
But then he realized something, his eyes widening.
Nangong Wan’s beautiful eyes also contracted. “You’re entering seclusion again? Don’t tell me…”
She didn’t finish her sentence, but her meaning was clear.
The Foreign Affairs Elder also stared intently at their Saint Master.
Could it be that their Saint Master was preparing to break through to the Integration stage?
If it were anyone else, this idea wouldn’t even cross their minds.
But for their Saint Master, breakthroughs were as effortless as eating or drinking.
In just over two years, he had advanced from early Nascent Soul to late Deity Transformation.
With such an outrageous pace of progress, it wasn’t impossible for the Saint Master to aim for Integration.
Ye Chen smiled slightly at Nangong Wan’s words.
Without hiding it, he nodded. “This seclusion is indeed to prepare for breaking through to the Integration stage.”
“That’s impossible…” Nangong Wan blurted out.
Of course, she wanted Ye Chen to grow stronger.
But it had been less than six months since Ye Chen reached late Deity Transformation.
This was beyond unbelievable.
In the past three thousand years, Great Yan Province had produced dozens of late Deity Transformation masters, all of whom were supremely talented and deeply devoted to the path of immortality.
But they had struggled in seclusion for thousands of years, only to fall in despair at the threshold of the Integration stage. Only one Elder Jinwu had ever succeeded in reaching Integration.
This demonstrated just how difficult it is to achieve this stage.
Given such circumstances, how could Ye Chen possibly break through so quickly?
Nangong Wan found it impossible to believe.
Seeing her expression, Ye Chen’s lips curved upward. “If Master doesn’t believe me, how about we make another bet?”
As Ye Chen finished speaking, Nangong Wan blushed, stealing a glance at the Foreign Affairs Elder to ensure he hadn’t noticed anything.
Only then did she relax, giving Ye Chen a glare.
Even her glare carried boundless charm, a testament to her beauty.
Ye Chen smiled brightly. “If I don’t break through, I’ll buy a copy of the Longevity Technique.”
Hearing this, Nangong Wan’s eyes lit up.
The Longevity Technique was priced at a million spirit stones, and if it sold, her share would amount to five hundred thousand — a substantial sum.
However, recalling the shameful result of their previous bet, Nangong Wan couldn’t help but ask, “And if you do break through?”
Ye Chen’s lips moved subtly as he transmitted his answer to her mind.
Nangong Wan’s face turned redder than the evening glow by the cliffside.
But after a moment of hesitation, she still agreed.
Though she had lost last time, she still believed breaking through to Integration couldn’t be so simple.
Ye Chen must have found a suitable technique in the Immortal Net Sutra Pavilion and planned to study it during this seclusion.
This bet must be his way of showing filial piety in a roundabout manner.
With that thought, Nangong Wan’s worries dissipated, and her face broke into a radiant smile.
Ye Chen, satisfied, flew off toward the forbidden area, leaving the Foreign Affairs Elder utterly confused.
What kind of bet did this master-disciple duo make this time?
Seeing the Elder’s flushed face, could it be…
The Foreign Affairs Elder dared not think further, only sighing inwardly. “Young people these days sure know how to play!”
Within the forbidden area, Ye Chen sat cross-legged and opened the system interface with a calm heart.
The system promptly displayed:
[Host’s cultivation: Late Deity Transformation!]
[Eligible for breakthrough to Early Integration. Please select breakthrough level:
Ordinary Breakthrough: 2 million high-grade spirit stones (potential capped at late Body Integration stage).
Excellent Breakthrough: 10 million high-grade spirit stones (potential capped at late Heavenly Immortal Realm).
Perfect Breakthrough: 100 million high-grade spirit stones (no cap on future breakthroughs, includes random rewards)]
The Integration stage marked a watershed moment.
At this level, one’s primordial spirit transforms into a Heaven and Earth Dharma Image, allowing control over a small domain of the world.
Ye Chen’s primordial spirit, along with his numerous anomalies, would become unimaginably powerful once materialized.
Moreover, only three of the Nine Secrets remained undiscovered.
What secret would the system reward this time?
With anticipation, Ye Chen chose the Perfect Breakthrough without hesitation.
The mountain of spirit stones in his storage ring, enough to blind countless cultivators, vanished in an instant.
A mysterious and profound power surged through him.
Ye Chen officially broke through to the Integration stage.
—
Meanwhile, near the Eastern Sea, an ancient ruin had surfaced two months earlier.
Five Nascent Soul experts entered and spent two months dismantling its formations, finally reaching the core.
At the heart of the ruins was a high platform holding five treasures: A Heaven-tier technique. A bottle of pills. A magical artifact. A top-grade formation disk. A shimmering golden talisman.
Beside the platform, inscriptions described the treasures clearly.
Daoist Wuzhong stood on guard, his gaze wary.
Though all the treasures were top-tier, the value of the Heaven-tier technique, Nine Heavens Mystic Thunder Manual, eclipsed the rest combined.
The rarity of Heaven-tier techniques needed no explanation.
In Daoist Wuzhong’s mind, the other four were undoubtedly eyeing the technique.
A battle was inevitable, and he was ready to strike first at the red-robed Nascent Soul cultivator, his greatest threat.
Just as tensions were about to erupt, the red-robed cultivator spoke first, “There are five treasures here, and there happen to be five of us. How about we each take one?”
The other three remained silent, but Daoist Wuzhong sneered.
“Split them equally? Are you suggesting the Heaven-tier technique should just go to you?”
He was mocking the red-robed cultivator, but to his surprise, the latter froze, giving him a strange look.
After glancing at Daoist Wuzhong’s hand, the red-robed cultivator’s expression became one of understanding.
The other three Nascent Soul cultivators also gave Daoist Wuzhong peculiar looks after hearing his words.
This odd behavior made Daoist Wuzhong uneasy.
Two months ago, his Heavenly Origin Little Spirit Communicator had been damaged in a battle and couldn’t be replaced.
But what were they thinking?
Could they be planning to gang up on him because he lacked a Little Spirit Communicator?
Daoist Wuzhong’s spiritual energy surged, ready to erupt at a moment’s notice.
To his surprise, the red-robed cultivator spoke again, “I’m not interested in the Heaven-tier technique. I’ll take the artifact instead. Do you agree?”
Daoist Wuzhong was stunned.
Not interested in a Heaven-tier technique, opting for an artifact instead?
Is this cultivator insane? Did he not understand the value of a Heaven-tier technique? Or was there some hidden agenda?
Though suspicious, Daoist Wuzhong nodded, and the others agreed as well.
Under Daoist Wuzhong’s watchful eye, the red-robed cultivator grabbed the artifact and left without delay.
What… He really wasn’t after the Heaven-tier technique?
Daoist Wuzhong stood there, dumbfounded and utterly at a loss.