"Immortality is truly as lonely as drifting snow."
A youth lay sprawled on a small hillside, a stalk of foxtail grass dangling from his lips as he gazed into the distance. A gentle breeze swept past, bowing the trees in its wake.
Judging by his tone, however, this wasn't a somber lament, but rather a note of sheer, smug satisfaction.
Moo~ Moo~
Beside him sat a black bull with a broken horn. That's right—it wasn't standing, but sitting upright on its haunches, its black back held ramrod straight.
The youth was named Chen Xun. He had transmigrated to this world a year ago. It was a vast, boundless realm where countless Cultivators could move mountains and drain seas, sitting high atop the clouds to look down upon the mortal world.
When he first arrived, Chen Xun had been profoundly grateful to find he possessed a "System." The legendary tales of a thousand different protagonists had flashed through his mind.
However...
Chen Xun's System wasn't one of those "invincible-from-the-start" setups with god-tier physiques or peerless manuals.
He was simply immortal. The laws of heaven and earth could no longer limit his lifespan. The catch? He could only increase his attributes by a single point once a year.
Strength, Speed, Defense, Dharma Power, Primordial Essence.
He understood the first four well enough, but "Primordial Essence" remained a mystery he couldn't quite wrap his head around.
Eventually, he just tossed the thought to the back of his mind. Staying alive was what mattered most.
The System was also surprisingly thoughtful. Knowing the road of immortality would be long and lonely, it had provided him with an immortal spirit-beast companion. Though the bull couldn't speak, it understood his words perfectly. Better yet, it gained its own attribute points every year without consuming Chen Xun's own stash.
"Listen, old partner. We might be immortal, but we can still be killed. From now on, we've got to lay low. Play it safe."
Chen Xun let out a long sigh. Six months ago, he and the bull had planted a rice paddy in a small mountain village and raised a few dozen chickens. Then, on one dark and windy night, Old Wang from the neighboring village led a mob to steal the whole lot.
When Chen Xun found out, he was livid. Where was the law? Where was the justice?!
Grinding his teeth, he grabbed an axe and led the Great Black Bull to the next village to demand an explanation.
Who could have guessed the other side would have so many people? Chen Xun had been brutally beaten, and the black bull had even had one of its horns snapped off. They had fled in disgrace and spent several days nursing their wounds.
Moo!
The black bull let out a heavy snort, its eyes burning with resentment. Those people were truly detestable. That incident had left a deep psychological scar on Chen Xun, one with far-reaching consequences.
[Ding! Host has an attribute point available.]
Chen Xun's lips curled into a smirk. The one-year mark had arrived. Add the point!
Without a moment's hesitation, he dumped it into Strength. Back when he was getting thrashed, it was precisely his lack of strength that prevented him from shoving off the men pinning him down.
"Holy—!"
Chen Xun's face turned the color of bruised plum as a sudden surge of power rippled through him. Veins popped out on his arms. He slammed a fist into the ground, startling the bull so much it leaped up on its hind legs.
"My fate is dictated by me, not by Heaven!"
Thwack—
Physics is a cruel mistress. Chen Xun broke his hand and spent the next few days nursing his injury alongside the bull.
He had also given the bull a point in Strength. While its appearance didn't change, the bull—having seen Chen Xun's disastrous display—simply tested its new power with a casual nudge. It felt quite good.
They lived in a thatched hut in a small mountain village, far from the world's strifes. Yet, the laws of this world were etched into the very bones of its people: if a mortal met a Cultivator, they must bow and show respect. Under no circumstances were they to be offended. Even the villagers in this remote corner of nowhere knew that.
"Brother Xun!"
A boy's voice called out from outside the hut. It was "Little Blackie," a village kid given the "ugly" nickname because of his dark skin at birth.
"What is it, Little Blackie?" Chen Xun had recovered from his injury and ambled over to open the door.
"The village chief sent me to bring you some rice." Little Blackie offered a simple, honest grin as he held out a sack. His eyes were full of innocent light.
"Tell the chief I said thanks."
Chen Xun took the bag, feeling a genuine pang of emotion. He and the bull had been reduced to eating wild greens for days. To think, an Eternal Immortal was nearly starving to death—it was a grand absurdity under the sun!
The thought reignited Chen Xun's spite. A gentleman's revenge is not too late even after a hundred years. Just you wait, Old Wang. We're going to dig up your ancestral graves.
"Brother Xun, I'm heading out! My mom's calling me for dinner."
"Alright, get going."
Chen Xun smiled. Looking at the rice, the "tears" of gratitude practically drooled from the corners of his mouth. There were still good people in this world.
Moo!
Inside the hut, the bull let out an impatient cry. It didn't like grass; it liked rice, too.
Soon, a plume of smoke rose from the hut. With a pot of fragrant white rice ready, the man and the bull sat on the floor, gorging themselves as they dreamed of the future.
"Old bull, we've got to live well. No more impulsive behavior."
Chen Xun chewed his rice and swallowed hard. "This world is huge. Once we've made it, I'll find you a few fine cows."
Moo! Gulp.
The bull shot him a look of pure disdain, as if reminding him who was the one who charged into the next village with an axe in the first place.
"They had the numbers. Dealing with people like that requires strategy," Chen Xun said conspiratorially.
The bull's eyes lit up, and it immediately leaned closer to Chen Xun.
"We wait until they're old and gray. Then, we'll knock their teeth out and dig up their ancestors! Dammit, who dares provoke an immortal?"
Chen Xun spoke with righteous conviction, his eyes sharp and full of spirit.
Moo! Moo!
The bull's lantern-like eyes sparkled. It nodded vigorously. This is good. This is very good.
"Wait, why do I smell something burning?"
Chen Xun's nose twitched. He suddenly looked toward the kitchen, his eyes widening in horror. "Our hut!!"
Moooo—! The bull let out a panicked blast of breath.
"Fire! Chen Xun's house is on fire! Quick, help put it out!"
...
An hour later, the fire had died down. The thatched hut was little more than a pile of smoldering ash. The man and the bull sat outside, the light gone from their eyes, looking utterly defeated.
Since Chen Xun was an orphan in the village, the neighbors felt pity for this string of misfortunes. They offered a few words of comfort before heading home.
"It's over. The house is gone," Chen Xun said, his soul seemingly leaving his body. He didn't know the first thing about building a house. When it rains, it pours; life truly was a series of tragedies.
However, there was a silver lining. Through the magic of rumination, the bull had managed to keep some of the rice safe in its stomach. It was enough to last them a few days.
"Old bull, I saw a few caves down by the eastern slope. Sigh. Let's go live there."
Chen Xun shook his head dejectedly. He really needed to learn a trade from the villagers. He'd spent all his time farming since he got here and knew how to do absolutely nothing else.
Moo! The bull didn't care. Wherever Chen Xun was, that was home.
On the outskirts of the village, the bull carried a load of straw on its back while Chen Xun gathered firewood. They moved into the cave for the time being.
Over the next year, Chen Xun apprenticed with the village carpenter. The bull helped haul materials, earning a reputation for being remarkably intelligent. The villagers even joked that Chen Xun should never slaughter it for meat.
Chen Xun just laughed. He, Chen Xun, would sooner starve to death or jump off a cliff than betray a friend.
"Man, this smells great."
Chen Xun grinned as he took a large bite of beef. To celebrate the end of the year, the village had slaughtered several oxen for a grand feast.
Naturally, he wasn't going to miss out on such a treat. The black bull, however, watched with dilated pupils. It couldn't bring itself to touch the few pieces of beef Chen Xun had offered it.
After the feast, Chen Xun made sure not to let any food go to waste. He packed up everything others hadn't touched for himself and the bull. One had to be frugal to survive, after all.
Back in the cave, the bull ate its leftovers with gusto, while Chen Xun finished off the beef the bull had refused.