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

[Ding! Host can now allocate points.]

A voice echoed in his mind, and as usual, he added a point to his strength, and gave Black Bull an extra point of strength as well.

Chen Xun discovered the great benefits of increasing strength; not only did it make his legs and feet more vigorous when working, but his eyesight became sharper, and he was twice as efficient.

The village's forty-year-old spinster, Cuihua, often cast longing glances at Chen Xun.

"Perhaps this is what it means to be a man."

Chen Xun admired his own muscles and sighed deeply, unaware of how many village maidens had fallen for his unintentional charm.

"Hey, Bull! Slow down with the eating."

Chen Xun was shocked to find that Black Bull had taken advantage of his moment of reflection to eat his portion of the late-night snack.

Moo! Black Bull reacted swiftly, gulping it down in one bite, leaving Chen Xun speechless and at a loss for words for a long time...

***

The following year, Chen Xun and Black Bull became apprentices to a blacksmith. His impressive strength earned the blacksmith's praise, who constantly remarked that Chen Xun had the makings of a great blacksmith.

He didn't ask for wages; as long as he and Black Bull were fed, the blacksmith happily agreed.

The next month, due to Chen Xun stepping into the blacksmith shop with his left foot first, a big taboo, they were promptly kicked out.

Chen Xun was helpless, perhaps this was the pain of being strong.

They continued on, finding a good plot of land to grow rice. Black Bull plowed the fields, and together, man and bull worked seamlessly, diligently striving for prosperity.

"This is our kingdom."

"Moo!"

Chen Xun looked at the lush green fields before him, his eyes filled with joy, his hands gripping his axes tightly, with two more tucked at his waist.

Black Bull was also overjoyed, though its legs were covered in blades, and an axe was tied to its horns.

"If those villains dare to steal again!"

A cold aura filled Chen Xun's eyes as he looked at Black Bull, who nodded back firmly.

"Just run, we won't confront them head-on. With our gear, I'd like to see who dares to chase us!"

"Moo! Moo!"

Fortunately, the year went smoothly. There was some big event in the neighboring village that drew everyone's attention, so no one bothered with Chen Xun's fields.

He added another point to his and Black Bull's strength and happily began harvesting the rice.

Black Bull dug a hole in the cave, and Chen Xun understood its intention, storing countless bags of white rice inside.

However, he kept some aside, planning to return several times the original amount to the Village Chief.

***

Ding dang! Ding dang!

The sound of gongs rang throughout the village, even reaching the cave, signaling a major event.

Chen Xun squinted his eyes and hurried out of the cave, hoping it wasn't a village brawl. With his current strength, he could easily take down a grown man.

They sneakily observed the situation from a small hillside, but contrary to their expectations, the village was in a festive mood, gathered outside the Village Chief's house.

"Let's go, Bull, let's see what's happening."

"Moo!"

Thousands in the village, their eyes filled with hope and excitement, held offerings of chickens, ducks, fish, and meat, bowing respectfully towards the two central figures.

"Cloud Heaven Sect is recruiting disciples, anyone with a Spirit Root has a chance to tread the path of immortality."

One of the figures, dressed in a Taoist robe, stood atop the Village Chief's roof, looking down with an imposing air.

"How can we know if we have a Spirit Root?"

"Yes, my Little Black has the strength of an ox since he was young, the fortune teller said he's the reincarnation of an immortal."

The villagers were beside themselves with excitement, their questions firing off like rapid gunfire, causing the two cultivators to frown.

"Silence."

The cultivators seemed angered, activating a talisman that ignited a huge fire in mid-air, terrifying and scorching the air itself.

The villagers instantly fell silent, the tension palpable, their eyes wide with awe, whispering to themselves that this was the power of immortals.

"It's like Black Bull taking a dog for a walk, from head to tail."

Chen Xun, with Black Bull at his side, arrived at the edge of the crowd, his eyes shining with admiration for the world of cultivators.

After hearing this, Black Bull looked confused, wondering when it had ever taken a dog for a walk in the village.

"Spirit Roots are categorized into five-element mixed Spirit Roots, four-element lower Spirit Roots, three-element middle Spirit Roots, two-element upper Spirit Roots, and one-element Heavenly Spirit Roots."

The cultivator explained with hands behind his back, activating a token, "Don't be nervous, those under the age of twenty, begin testing for Spirit Roots."

Beams of light erupted from the ground, dazzling and colorful, causing a commotion among the villagers, with even the elderly wanting to give it a try.

The village's youth eagerly stepped forward, but the beams of light showed no reaction.

"This can't be, I've dreamed I was an immortal!" A villager muttered in disbelief, suddenly turning to kneel and cry out, "Immortal, please take me as your disciple."

"Leave, within three breaths." A cold voice commanded.

"Please, immortal."

The villager cried out, reluctant to leave the beam of light, "I've dreamed of it!"

Swoosh!

A sword light flashed, blood sprayed, and the villager fell to the ground, his eyes still filled with disbelief.

A wave of kneeling sounds followed, the villagers trembling, their eyes filled with fear.

Chen Xun's pupils shrank, and he quickly crouched down, his forehead beading with cold sweat. These cultivators were lawless.

Black Bull also lay low, their eyes meeting as they silently shattered some of their more beautiful illusions.

"Continue." The cultivator commanded coldly, his gaze indifferent as if looking at livestock.

The villagers then orderly passed through the beams of light, their eyes still filled with hope.

Chen Xun also timidly tried, but being a five-element mixed Spirit Root, he didn't catch the cultivators' attention.

"Not bad, there's actually a three-element Spirit Root."

The cultivator's lips curled into a faint smile, looking at a little girl, "Say goodbye to your family."

"Yes, immortal."

The girl was torn between reluctance and joy. After bidding farewell to her family, the cultivator gave them a few dozen silver taels.

"Those with five-element mixed Spirit Roots can join the sect for menial tasks, and also have a chance to tread the path of immortality."@@novelbin@@

The cultivator glanced at a few individuals, speaking offhandedly.

"Immortal, I'll go!"

The few with five-element mixed Spirit Roots were overjoyed, immediately kneeling down.

The cultivator glanced at Chen Xun, who was foaming at the mouth, sweating profusely, with Black Bull beside him barely clinging to life. They were clearly terrified by the recent events.

"Weak of mind, no hope for the path of immortality, leave."

The cultivator shook his head, summoning a celestial sword from his Storage Bag, and flew away with the few disciples, disappearing into the clouds.

The villagers were left feeling empty, their gazes lingering on the immortals' departing figures, filled with envy.

***

"Damn it... Bull, I told you to play dead to get us through, not to nearly kill me."

Chen Xun lay on the ground, severely injured, his chest heaving, the wind from that hoof almost sending him to meet his long-deceased parents.

Moo~ Black Bull nudged Chen Xun, not realizing its own strength.

It carried Chen Xun back to the cave, where he recuperated for several days, finally regaining his color.

"We can't go to those sects."

Chen Xun explained to Black Bull's puzzled look, "Sects are too dangerous, murder goes unpunished, and they even eat beef with a side of bullwhip."

Black Bull's pupils trembled, and it shook its head frantically. It didn't understand the part about murder being unpunished, but it understood the part about eating beef.

The incident with the cultivators didn't inspire Chen Xun with longing but instilled a profound sense of insecurity.

They had a feud with Old Wang's family in the next village, but that was just a fight. These cultivators would kill at the drop of a hat...

Chen Xun etched that gaze into his memory, reminiscent of his own when slaughtering chickens.

Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan