"Immortality is as lonely as snow."
A young man was lying on a small hillside, a blade of grass between his teeth, gazing into the distance. The gentle breeze swept across, bending countless trees in its wake.
But from his tone, it didn't sound like lamentation—rather, it carried a thick sense of secret delight.
Moo~ Moo~
Beside him sat a one-horned black ox. Yes, it wasn't standing but sitting upright on its hindquarters, its back perfectly straight.
The young man was named Ethan Wells. He had transmigrated to this world a year ago—a boundless, infinite realm where countless cultivators moved mountains and seas, sat high among the clouds, and looked down upon the mortal world.
When Ethan arrived, he brought a system with him. At the time, he was truly grateful, recalling countless protagonist stories that flashed through his mind.
However.
Ethan's system wasn't one of those wish-fulfillment systems granting invincible physiques or supreme cultivation techniques.
He became immortal... The laws of heaven and earth could no longer limit his lifespan, but he could only increase one attribute point each year.
Strength, Speed, Defense, Magical Power, and Elemental Essence.
He could understand Strength, Speed, Defense, and Magical Power, but this Elemental Essence remained a mystery that Ethan couldn't comprehend. He eventually pushed it to the back of his mind—staying alive was the most important thing.
Yet the system was quite thoughtful. Knowing the path of immortality would be long and lonely, it provided him with an immortal spirit beast as a companion.
Though unable to speak, the beast understood his words. Each year, Ethan could add a point to its abilities without consuming his own immortality points.
"Even though we're immortal, we can still be killed. Better to lay low from now on," Ethan sighed deeply.
Six months ago, he and the black ox had planted rice paddies in the small village and raised several chickens. Who would have thought that on a dark, windy night, Old Wang from the neighboring village would lead a group to steal everything?
When Ethan found out, anger surged through him. Was there no justice in this world?! No law?!
Sharpening his blade, he grabbed an axe and took the black ox to the neighboring village to demand an explanation.
Little did he know that they were outnumbered. Ethan was severely beaten, and the black ox's horn was snapped off. They fled in disarray and spent days recovering.
Moo!
The black ox snorted heavily, eyes filled with resentment. Those people were truly despicable.
This incident left a deep psychological shadow on Ethan, with far-reaching effects.
[Ding! Host may now add attribute points.]
Ethan smirked crookedly. The yearly cycle had completed. Add points now!
Without hesitation, he added to his Strength. When he was beaten previously, it was because he was too weak to push away the people restraining him.
"Holy crap..."
Ethan's face turned liver-colored as a surge of power suddenly flooded his body. Blue veins bulged on his arms as he punched the ground, startling the black ox into jumping up on two legs.
"My fate is in my own hands!"
Force is mutual—Ethan's hand bones broke, and he spent several days recovering with the black ox.
He also added a point to the ox's strength, though there was no visible change. After seeing what happened to Ethan, the ox merely casually tested its strength—quite impressive.
They lived in a thatched cottage in a small mountain village, keeping to themselves. But the rules of this world seemed ingrained in everyone's bones.
Mortals must bow and show respect when meeting cultivators. They must never offend them. Even people in this remote little mountain village knew this.
"Brother Ethan."
A boy's voice sounded outside the cottage. It was Little Blackie from the village, named for his dark skin at birth.
"What is it, Little Blackie?" Ethan's injuries had healed, and he opened the door leisurely.
"The village chief asked me to bring you some rice." Little Blackie held a bag of rice, smiling innocently with pure eyes.
"Thank the chief for me."
Ethan accepted it, deeply moved. He and the black ox had been surviving on wild vegetables for days.
To think that an immortal might have starved to death—what nonsense!
Thinking of this, Ethan couldn't help but feel resentful. A gentleman's revenge may take a hundred years, but it will come. Just wait until I dig up your ancestors' graves!
"Brother Ethan, I need to go now. My mother is calling me home for dinner."
"Alright, hurry back then."
Ethan smiled, looking at the rice in his hands. Tears of gratitude rolled down his cheeks. There were still good people in this world.
Moo!
The black ox called impatiently from inside the cottage. It didn't like grass—it preferred rice too.
Soon, fragrant rice filled the air. Man and ox sat on the ground, wolfing down their food, eyes filled with dreams of the future.
"Old ox, we need to survive properly. No more impulsive actions."
Ethan chewed his rice and swallowed hard. "This world is vast. When we make it big, I'll find you some female oxen."
Moo! Grumble.
The ox's eyes showed disdain, as if saying, "Weren't you the one who rushed to the neighboring village with an axe?"
"They outnumbered us. We need to use strategy against people like them," Ethan said mysteriously.
The black ox's eyes lit up with excitement, immediately drawing closer to Ethan.
"When they're decrepit with age, we'll knock out their teeth and dig up their ancestral graves! How dare they provoke immortals?"
Ethan spoke with conviction, his eyes sharp and full of confidence.
Moo! Moo!
The ox's bell-like large eyes gleamed with approval, nodding repeatedly. This was good, this was good!
"Why do I smell something burning?"
Ethan sniffed, suddenly looking toward the kitchen, his eyes widening in alarm. "Our thatched cottage!!"
Moo~~ The black ox also let out a startled snort.
"Fire!"
"Ethan's house is on fire! Quickly, save it!"
An hour later, the fire subsided, leaving the cottage nearly burnt to the ground. Man and ox knelt outside, eyes lifeless, having lost the will to live.
Ethan was an orphan in the village who had suffered successive misfortunes, too pitiful. The villagers each offered a few words of comfort before dispersing.
"It's over. We've lost our home."
Ethan said dejectedly. He didn't know how to build a house. When it rains, it pours—life was truly miserable.
Yet heaven never completely closes all paths. The black ox had managed to save the rice, which would sustain them for a few more days.
"Old ox, I see some caves on the eastern hillside. Well, let's go live there."
Ethan shook his head despondently. He should have learned some skills in the village, but he had only learned farming since arriving, and now he knew nothing else.
Moo! The black ox didn't mind. Wherever Ethan went was home to it.
Outside the small village, the black ox carried bundles of dry grass on its back. Ethan also gathered firewood to bring to the cave. This would be their temporary home.
Over the next year, Ethan apprenticed with the village carpenter while the black ox helped transport materials. The villagers all said it was intelligent and told Ethan not to slaughter it for food.
Ethan scoffed at this. Even if he were starving to death, even if he had to jump off a cliff, he would never betray a friend.
"Delicious."
Ethan smiled, eating beef heartily. At year's end, for celebration, the villagers had slaughtered several oxen and feasted the entire village.
He wouldn't miss such a good event, though the black ox watched with constricted pupils, hesitant to eat the beef Ethan offered.
After the feast, they couldn't waste food. What others didn't eat, he and the black ox took home. Living frugally was essential.
In the cave, the black ox ate with relish, and Ethan finished all the beef that it wouldn't eat.