Village Feast

There was still a good while until the New Year.

Yet tonight, Chang-le Village was livelier than it ever was during the New Year.

It was already past eight in the evening, but torches and oil lamps lit up the threshing ground as bright as day.

Dozens of eight-immortal tables were set up on the threshing ground, and the entire village—men, women, old, and young—gathered here.

Everyone sat at tables divided by age and gender. The dishes were no different from those served during festivals, but at the center of each table sat an extra pot of meat compared to usual feasts.

The meat of the Six-Winged White Tiger had long been thrown into the pot by the villagers while it was still fresh.

Chen Xian was arranged by the village chief to sit at the head table, where all the village's most respected elders gathered.

Half a massive tiger head sat in the center of the table, looking quite conspicuous.

Shangguan Hongyue sat to Chen Xian's left.

Seeing so many people staring at her, she lowered her head in embarrassment.

This sword cultivator, who could slay a tiger with a flying sword, now fidgeted like a young girl.

She instinctively scooted her chair closer to Chen Xian.

At this moment, she truly regarded the old man beside her as an elder.

This small gesture did not escape the eyes of Wang Tie Zhu and the other elders. They exchanged silent smiles, only thinking to themselves that Chen Xian, despite his age, was still blessed with such good fortune.

Eighty years old, and still had a cultivator lover who looked like she was eighteen.

They wondered if old Chen Xian's body could still handle it.

At first, everyone had worried that these cultivators, who could fly through the skies and burrow into the earth, might have strange quirks or temperaments.

But now, it seemed they weren't so different from ordinary folk after all!

"Come, come! A guest is a guest—drink up and eat!"

Sensing the subtle tension, the old village chief immediately began to liven up the atmosphere.

After all, he had taken charge of everything, so it was only right that he fulfill his duties as host.

He already knew that Chen Xian would leave Chang-le Village tomorrow to follow the "lover" he had waited sixty years for.

They had lived together for decades—to say there was no affection would be a lie.

Chang-le Village was small to begin with. Everyone helped each other out in daily life, making it feel more like a clan, a big family.

"I may be the village chief, but I'm just a rough man. Let me toast the lady warrior first!"

The old village chief cupped his hands and downed his cup of wine in one gulp.

Though Shangguan Hongyue had grown up in the cultivation world, she still understood basic etiquette.

She quickly stood up and returned the toast.

As the mortal wine slid down her throat, a flicker of surprise crossed her face. It was a bit harsh, but it had a grape-like flavor—not unpleasant.

"The lady warrior has a great capacity for drink!"

"Please take good care of old Chen Xian from now on."

"Ah! Old Chen Xian, if you leave, what will my eldest grandson do when he craves your candied hawthorns?"

"Come! Fill it up! Let's see just how much you can drink!"

"..."

Everyone chimed in, and the atmosphere grew lively.

Chen Xian downed cup after cup of wine. Seeing their undisguised concern, his eyes reddened.

He had lived his whole life in Chang-le Village—to say he had no feelings for these old friends would be a lie.

Though he was a transmigrator, he had grown up here and was a true son of Chang-le Village.

"Eat up, eat the tiger meat! This tiger meat is a fine thing!"

Chen Xian turned his head away to hide a few tears, then turned back with a chrysanthemum-like smile.

Shangguan Hongyue watched it all, feeling deeply that this senior was truly a man of sentiment.

Seeing the senior mingling so naturally with these mortals, she gained some insight into the mortal world.

She had never understood why her sect spent vast resources every year to protect the scattered mortal settlements in the Xiongguan Mountain Range.

Now, she thought she understood.

Cultivators were human, and mortals were human too. Cultivators were merely humans with cultivation—everyone had flesh, blood, and emotions.

She recalled the sect leader's words during her initiation ceremony at the Azure Cloud Sword Sect—

"The Boundless Continent teems with countless races. Why is the human race revered above all?

"Because the Great Sage Human Ancestor put people first, and the strong supported the weak!

"Only thus can the human race pass down its flame from generation to generation, and geniuses emerge in abundance."

Those who speak lightly of mortals—compared to sages, are they truly any different from ordinary people?

All belong to the human race; the strong should naturally protect the weak, and mortals too have the right to exist on this continent.

She cultivated the path of the guardian sword; these principles should be etched deep in her heart at all times.

Thinking this far, Shangguan Hongyue felt a stir within, realizing that her Sword Master first-layer realm had actually loosened a little!

Returning to the sect this time, she should soon break through to Sword Master second layer!

After several rounds of food and drink, the moon had nearly risen to the zenith.

By now, the group of old men led by the village chief had almost all been drunk under the table by Chen Xian.

"I give up! I really give up!"

Even Wang Tie Zhu, who could hold his liquor, raised the white flag. Chen Xian only felt a bit of a bladder ache. Looking at the old men slumped over the table or staring dazedly, he smiled and took a small sip of wine.

"Senior, I'll toast you as well."

A pair of fair hands extended a cup. Chen Xian turned his head to look at Shangguan Hongyue, raised his glass, and gently clinked it with hers.

After they both drank, each picked up their chopsticks and ate.

Chen Xian sent a mouthful of greens into his mouth, savoring them slowly. Now that he had a moment of leisure, he finally had time to check the system.

After binding the cultivation-related entry, the system seemed to have undergone some changes.

[Name: Chen Xian]
[Realm: Dao Disciple First Layer]
(Realm Division: Though the paths differ, the realms are shared: Dao Disciple, Dao Master, Dao Sect, Dao Venerable, Truth-Breaking, Dao Integration, Tribulation Transcendence, Saint Entry, Saint, Great Saint)
[Lifespan: Less than one year]
[Skills: Candied Hawthorn Making (Mastery), Clothing Mending (Proficient), Crop Cultivation (Proficient)]
[Mystic Jade Sword Bone (Mystic) > Viewable entry info]

Seeing the expandable option that had appeared after the entry, Chen Xian's heart leaped with joy.

Previously, although the system allowed him to view and copy entries, he could only guess their effects from the literal meaning, sometimes needing to test them himself.

For example, he had once copied an entry called [Widow's Friend]. After personally testing it, it had really caused him trouble—billions had been swindled out of him!

Now that he could check the detailed attributes, it was much more convenient.

With a thought, the entry's attributes unfolded.

[Mystic Jade Sword Bone (Mystic)]
[Passive: Suppression effect on natal Sword Qi/Sword Intent below Mystic quality in sword bone/sword heart increased by 50%; comprehension speed for sword-type cultivation techniques increased by 100%...]
[Active: Current natal Sword Qi attack strength at Dao Disciple Ninth Layer Perfection, can be fully charged once every twelve hours.]

This Mystic Jade Sword Bone was truly formidable.

The passive was strong, and the active gave him some means of self-defense.

His gaze swept to his own cultivation level—he had actually gone from a mortal to something called Dao Disciple First Layer. Chen Xian's mind trembled.

He hadn't even started cultivating yet, and he already had a cultivation base?

It must be the effect of this sword bone.

But seeing that his lifespan was still less than a year, his heart tightened again.

It seemed that having cultivation didn't necessarily mean living longer; he probably needed to break through to a certain realm to increase his lifespan limit!

Thinking of this, he glanced at Shangguan Hongyue, who was gnawing on a pig trotter, and felt another surge of urgency.

If he didn't start cultivating soon, he would die of old age! What kind of nonsense was this!

He wished he could fly straight to the Mystic Cloud Sword Sect and find a chance to begin cultivation.

Shangguan Hongyue noticed the senior's gaze, smiled slightly, with a bit of meat grease at the corner of her mouth, looking a little silly.

"Let's see this girl's specifics!" Chen Xian thought.

[Name: Shangguan Hongyue]
[Cultivation: Dao Master First Layer (Sword Master)]
[Entries: Innate Sword Bone (Yellow), Flash of Inspiration (White), Pure Heart (White), Sleeping Like a Pig (Mortal)...]

Chen Xian glanced at Shangguan Hongyue again. He didn't know about "Sleeping Like a Pig," but it could definitely be perfectly combined with her eating habits.

Since a person could only copy an entry once, Chen Xian closed the panel.

Besides, he had now stepped onto the path of cultivation.

Without any extra way to earn points, he had to use his copy points and refinement points sparingly.

From what he knew, copying a Mortal entry cost 1 point, White 5 points, Yellow 10 points, Mystic was estimated between 15 and 20, and Earth grade he had never seen, so he didn't know how much it would need.

And above that were Heaven-grade entries—if he ever encountered an incredibly powerful talent entry and didn't have enough copy points, that would be tragic.

He looked up at the bright moon in the sky. In sixty years, for the first time, he felt anticipation for "tomorrow."

Just as he was gazing at the night sky, a meteor streaked across from the southeast toward the north...