..
"Ding! Host can now add points."
A voice echoed in his mind. Chen Xun immediately allocated a point to his strength and another to the black ox.
He quickly discovered the immense benefits of increased strength: his legs felt more energetic, his vision sharpened, and he possessed the power of two men. Even Cuihua, a forty-year-old woman in the village, frequently cast flirtatious glances his way.
Perhaps this is what it means to be a man, Chen Xun mused, admiring his developing muscles. His untamed charm, he thought, must be captivating countless young women in the village.
"Hey, old ox! Eat slower!" Chen Xun exclaimed, snapping out of his reverie. The black ox had, to his dismay, devoured his share of the late-night snack while he was lost in thought.
Moo!
The large black ox reacted swiftly, swallowing the last bite whole. Chen Xun stood dumbfounded, speechless for a long time.
The following year, Chen Xun and the black ox sought an apprenticeship with a blacksmith. His remarkable strength astonished the blacksmith, who continuously praised Chen Xun, declaring he had the makings of a true artisan. Chen Xun asked for no wages, only that the blacksmith provide food for him and the black ox, to which the blacksmith readily agreed.
However, a month later, on a fateful day, they were promptly kicked out because Chen Xun, unknowingly, had stepped into the blacksmith shop with his left foot first—a major taboo.
Chen Xun felt helpless. Perhaps this is the burden of the strong, he thought.
They then found a fertile field and began cultivating rice. With the big black ox plowing the land, man and beast worked in seamless harmony, diligently striving for prosperity.
"This is our territory," Chen Xun declared, gazing at the lush green field with joy. He gripped a mountain-splitting axe in his hand, with two more tucked into his waist.
The big black ox, too, seemed overjoyed, despite its four legs being covered in blades and an axe tied to its horn.
"If those villains dare to steal again!" Chen Xun's eyes hardened with a cold intensity. He looked at the big black ox, who met his gaze and nodded heavily.
"We'll just run. We absolutely won't confront them head-on. With our gear, I'd like to see who dares to chase us!"
Moo! Moo!
Surprisingly, this year was relatively smooth. They heard that something significant had occurred in the neighboring village, drawing everyone's attention, leaving Chen Xun's field undisturbed. He added another strength point to himself and the black ox, then happily began harvesting the rice.
The big black ox dug a pit in the cave. Chen Xun intuitively understood and placed countless sacks of white rice inside. He did, however, set aside some, planning to return several times the original amount to the village chief.
Clang! Clang!
The sound of gongs reverberated through the village, spreading in all directions. Even inside the cave, they could faintly hear it—the assembly signal for an important village event. Chen Xun narrowed his eyes slightly and quickly ran out of the cave. He hoped it wasn't a village brawl; with his current strength, taking down a big man would be effortless.
They stealthily lay prone on a small hillside to observe. However, the reality was quite the opposite: the village was festive, with people gathered outside the village chief's house.
"Let's go, old ox, let's take a look."
Moo!
In the village, over a thousand people, their eyes filled with hope and excitement, held chickens, ducks, fish, and meat, bowing their heads and clasping their hands towards the two people in the center.
"The Cloud Heaven Sect is accepting disciples. Anyone with spirit roots has a chance to embark on the path of immortality."
One of them, clad in a Daoist robe, stood arrogantly on the village chief's roof, looking down.
"Immortal, how can we know if we have spirit roots?"
"That's right. My Xiao Heizi has been strong as an ox since he was little. The fortune teller said he was an immortal reincarnated."
The villagers were extremely excited, a barrage of questions erupting like firecrackers, causing the two cultivators to frown repeatedly.
"Silence."
The cultivator seemed angered. He activated a talisman, and a large, terrifying fire suddenly ignited in mid-air, its scorching heat filling the air. The villagers instantly fell silent, so quiet that a pin drop could be heard. Their eyes widened in terror, thinking, So this is an immortal!
"This is truly like a big black ox leading a dog, from start to finish," Chen Xun muttered, bringing the black ox to the edge of the crowd, a flicker of admiration in his eyes. This world, he realized, indeed had cultivators.
Upon hearing this, the big black ox's eyes showed confusion. When did it ever walk a dog in the village?
"Spirit roots are divided into Five-Element Mixed Spirit Roots, Four-Element Low-Grade Spirit Roots, Three-Element Mid-Grade Spirit Roots, Two-Element High-Grade Spirit Roots, and Single-Element Heavenly Spirit Roots." The cultivator explained, hands behind his back. He activated a token. "Don't be nervous. Those under twenty years old, begin testing your spirit roots."
A dazzling, multicolored beam of light appeared on the ground. The villagers became noisy again; even the elderly wanted to step forward and try. The children and young people eagerly stepped forward one by one, standing in the light, but it showed no reaction.
"This is impossible! I dreamed I was an immortal the other day!" A villager muttered to himself, eyes wide with disbelief. He suddenly turned, knelt, and cried out, "Immortal, please accept me as your disciple!"
"Leave, you have three breaths of time," a cold voice commanded.
"Immortal, please!" the villager cried out, still not leaving the light beam. "I really dreamed about it!"
Whoosh!
A flash of sword light streaked past, and blood spurted. The villager's eyes still held disbelief as he slowly fell to the ground. Countless sounds of kneeling followed. The villagers trembled like chaff, their eyes filled with fear.
Chen Xun's pupils constricted. He quickly squatted down, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead. These cultivators were utterly lawless. The big black ox also silently prostrated itself. They lowered their heads and exchanged glances, some beautiful fantasies in their hearts quietly shattered.
"Continue," the cultivator said coldly, his gaze like someone looking at livestock.
Now, there was no more commotion. The villagers passed through the light beam in an orderly manner, their eyes still holding hope. Chen Xun also timidly went to try, but he only had Five-Element Mixed Spirit Roots, which didn't attract the cultivator's attention at all.
"Not bad, there's actually one with Three-Element Spirit Roots." A faint smile appeared on the cultivator's lips. He looked at the little girl. "Say goodbye to your family."
"Yes, Immortal." The little girl was both reluctant and secretly delighted. After saying goodbye to her family, the cultivator even gave her family dozens of taels of silver.
"Those with Five-Element Mixed Spirit Roots can enter the sect to do odd jobs. They also have a chance to embark on the path of immortality," the cultivator said casually to the few people.
"Immortal, I'll go!" Upon hearing this, those with Five-Element Spirit Roots were overjoyed and immediately knelt.
The cultivator glanced at Chen Xun. The latter was already foaming at the mouth and sweating profusely. Even the black ox beside him was on the verge of death. They were clearly terrified by the previous scene.
"Weak-willed, no hope for the path of immortality. Leave." The cultivator shook his head, conjured an immortal sword from his storage bag, and, taking the few chosen individuals with him, rode the sword away, ethereal and leaving no trace.
The villagers felt a sense of loss, their gazes still lingering on the immortals' retreating figures, their hearts filled with envy.
"Damn it... Old ox, I told you to just give me a casual kick to fake death and get through it. You wanted to kill me, didn't you?" Chen Xun lay on the ground, heavily injured, his chest heaving. That kick almost sent him to meet his parents who had died years ago.
Moo~
The black ox nudged Chen Xun. It also hadn't expected its strength to be so great. It carried Chen Xun back to the cave. The latter recuperated in the cave for several days, his complexion finally improving.
"We absolutely cannot go to those sects," Chen Xun explained, looking at the black ox's confused eyes. "Sects are too dangerous. Killing people isn't illegal, and they eat beef, plus ox penis."
The big black ox's pupils trembled, and it shook its head frantically. It didn't understand that killing wasn't illegal, but it understood 'eating beef'.
The incident with the cultivators that day didn't make Chen Xun yearn for them; instead, it instilled in him an extreme sense of insecurity. They had a feud with the Old Wang family in the neighboring village, but that was just fighting. These cultivators kill people at the slightest disagreement...
Chen Xun deeply remembered that look in their eyes, just like when he killed chickens.