System Bestows me with Immortality, Living on to Eventually Become Invincible

"Immortality truly is as lonely as snow."

A youth lay reclined on a hillside, a blade of grass between his lips, gazing into the distance as a gentle breeze swept by, causing the myriad trees to bow.

Yet from the tone of his voice, it seemed not so much a lament as it was a thick undercurrent of smug delight.

Moo~ Moo~

Beside him sat a horn-broken black bull—not standing, but sitting upright on its haunches, back as straight as a rod.@@novelbin@@

The youth was Chen Xun, who had crossed over to this world a year ago. It was a vast and boundless realm, teeming with cultivators who could move mountains and seas, sitting high above the clouds, looking down upon the mortal world.

But when he crossed over, he brought with him a system. At that moment, Chen Xun was truly grateful, as countless tales of novel protagonists flashed through his mind.

However.

Chen Xun's system was not one of invincible physiques or peerless martial arts—it was a system of contentment.

He had become immortal... The laws of heaven and earth could no longer limit his lifespan, but he could only improve a single attribute each year.

Strength, speed, defense, mana, World Soul.

Strength, speed, defense, mana—these he could understand, but this World Soul eluded him. He cast it aside from his thoughts; after all, staying alive was what mattered most.

The system was quite considerate, too. On the long road to immortality, it had gifted him an Immortal beast for company.

Though it couldn't speak, it understood his words, and he could enhance its attributes each year without spending his own immortal points.

"We may be immortal, but we can still be killed. From now on, let's keep a low profile."

Chen Xun sighed deeply. Half a year ago, he and the Black Bull had planted rice in a small mountain village and raised quite a few chickens, only for Old Wang from the neighboring village to steal everything on a dark and windy night.

Upon learning this, Chen Xun was furious. Was there no law in this world? No justice?!

Sharpening his knife, he took an axe and, along with Black Bull, went to the neighboring village to demand an explanation.

But the opposition was too strong. Chen Xun was beaten up, and one of Black Bull's horns was broken off. They fled in defeat, licking their wounds for days.

Moo!

Black Bull snorted heavily, its eyes filled with resentment. Those people were truly detestable.

This incident cast a long shadow over Chen Xun's psyche.

[Ding! Host can now allocate points.]

Chen Xun smirked, the year had passed—it was time to allocate points!

Without hesitation, he added to his strength. When he was beaten up, it was because he lacked the strength to push away those who held him down.

"Holy shit..."

Chen Xun's face turned the color of liver as a surge of power flooded his body, veins bulging on his arms. He punched the ground, startling Black Bull into jumping to its feet.

"My fate is mine to control, not heaven's!"

Boom—

The force of the punch was mutual; Chen Xun's hand was fractured, and he spent several days recuperating with Black Bull.

He also added a point to Black Bull's strength, but there was no outward change. After seeing what happened to Chen Xun, Black Bull simply tested its own strength, which was quite impressive.

***

They lived in a thatched cottage in a small mountain village, at peace with the world. Yet the world's laws were ingrained in people's bones.

Mortals must bow and show respect to cultivators, never offending them. Even the folks in this remote mountain village knew that.

"Brother Xun."

A boy's voice came from outside the cottage. It was Little Black from the village, named so because he was born with dark skin.

"What's up, Little Black?" Chen Xun, now recovered, opened the door leisurely.

"The Village Chief sent me to bring you some rice." Little Black said with a simple smile, innocence in his eyes.

"Please thank the Village Chief for me."

Chen Xun took the rice, deeply moved. He and Black Bull had been surviving on wild vegetables for days.

To think an immortal could nearly starve to death was a ludicrous travesty!

At the thought, Chen Xun felt a surge of resentment. A gentleman's revenge could wait a hundred years. Your ancestral graves, wait for our spades.

"Brother Xun, I gotta go. My mother's calling me home for dinner."

"Alright, hurry back."

Chen Xun said with a smile, touched by the rice in his hands, tears of gratitude streaming down his face. There were still good people in this world.

Moo! Black Bull called out restlessly from inside the cottage. It didn't like grass; it liked rice too.

A wisp of smoke curled up, and the fragrant rice was ready. Man and bull sat down to eat, wolfing down their meal while dreaming of the future.

"Bull, we need to survive well, no more rash actions."

Chen Xun chewed on the rice, swallowing hard. "The world is vast. Once we make it big, I'll find you a few cows."

Moo! Gurgle.

Bull looked at him with disdain, as if to say it was Chen Xun who had charged into the neighboring village with an axe.

"We were outnumbered; we need to be cunning to deal with those people," Chen Xun said mysteriously.

Black Bull's eyes lit up, inching closer to Chen Xun.

"When they're old and frail, we'll smash their teeth, dig up their graves! Damn it, they dared to mess with an immortal?"

Chen Xun spoke with conviction, his eyes fierce and spirited.

Moo! Moo! Black Bull's eyes shone like copper bells, nodding continuously. This plan was good.

"What's that burning smell?"

Chen Xun sniffed the air, then suddenly turned towards the kitchen, his eyes widening in horror. "Our thatched cottage!!"

Moo~~ Black Bull also let out an alarmed snort.

"It's on fire!"

"Chen Xun's house is on fire! Hurry and put it out!"

***

An hour later, the fire had died down, and the cottage was nearly burnt to the ground. Man and bull, devoid of hope, knelt outside, utterly despondent.

Chen Xun was an orphan in the village, having suffered one misfortune after another. It was too pitiful. The villagers comforted him with a few words before dispersing.

"It's over, our home is gone."

Chen Xun spoke in a daze, clueless about building a house. Life was already bleak, and now it was raining on his parade.

But as they say, every cloud has a silver lining. Bull had regurgitated some rice, enough to last them a few days.

"Bull, there are some caves at the foot of the eastern hillside. Let's live there."

Chen Xun shook his head in dejection, resolving to learn some skills in the village. He had come here to farm, and now he knew nothing else.

Moo! Black Bull didn't mind. Wherever Chen Xun went, that was its home.

Outside the small village, Black Bull carried a load of hay, and Chen Xun gathered some firewood for the cave, settling in for the time being.

***

Over the next year, Chen Xun apprenticed with a village carpenter, and Black Bull helped with hauling. The villagers said it was spirited and warned Chen Xun not to slaughter it for food.

Chen Xun laughed at the thought. Even if he starved, he would never betray a friend.

"Delicious."

Chen Xun ate beef heartily. At year's end, to celebrate, the villagers slaughtered several cows and feasted everyone.

He wouldn't miss out on such an event, though Black Bull's pupils constricted at the sight, hesitating to eat the beef Chen Xun offered.

After the feast, leftovers couldn't go to waste. He and Black Bull packed up what others didn't eat, for frugality was key in daily life.

Inside the cave, Black Bull enjoyed its meal, while Chen Xun took care of the beef it wouldn't eat.

Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan