The First Immortal

The story begins in the dark wilderness, by a boisterous bonfire, and a magnificent, extraordinary world has opened up…

It was early spring, and the weather was still cold. The night wind howled through the mountains and forests, blowing into the main hall of the Taoist temple, which had only half of its gate remaining. However, it was momentarily halted by the lively atmosphere inside.

In the center of the hall, a roaring bonfire blazed. Over a dozen men sat around it, drinking, eating meat, laughing with each other, their faces flushed and lively.

Among them, a dark-faced man sat in the first seat below the head. He took a swig of strong liquor and, fueled by the alcohol, bellowed:

"With Brother Xuanqing here, our brothers' business for a year is worth ten. This year, the situation is even better than last year, and it's only a matter of time before we all make a fortune!"

The hall erupted in cheers, and the atmosphere grew even more fervent. The dark-faced man laughed heartily, took another swig from his gourd, and then turned to see that the "Brother Xuanqing" he had just praised seemed not to have heard the flattery. He maintained his usual posture, clad in a yellow Taoist robe, his eyelids half-closed, forming a Taoist seal, appearing unfathomably profound.

The dark-faced man spat inwardly but maintained a respectful expression, asking, "Brother?"

Hearing the call, Xuanqing opened his eyes. His beard and hair were black, his skin was lustrous, and his demeanor was unhurried and dignified. He hummed, "What is it?"

The dark-faced man, with a fawning smile, asked, "Brother, are we still giving tribute to Old Lu this year?"

Xuanqing glanced at him. "Besides Steward Lu, who else has any say in the manor?"

The dark-faced man shook his head vigorously. "If you ask me, that Lu fellow has his eyes set on the sky and is the most difficult to deal with. It would be better to go find Elder Chang. This man is in charge of the Shrimp Whisker Grass. If you handle the relationship well, you can pass off ordinary quality and get the price for top-grade. Where else can you find such a good deal?"

The Taoist cast a sidelong glance and sneered, "You lack foresight. Chang Rong makes a substantial income every year and has long been spoiled. If you want to offer him tribute, how much will it take to satisfy him? Besides, that fellow already has several regular customers, earning quickly and steadily through annual commissions. He can't even be bothered to glance at us casual customers…"

At this point, Xuanqing paused before asking, "Have you found a way?"

"No, no, I just saw you struggling to deal with that Lu fellow, and I couldn't stand it…"

As he uttered words that even disgusted himself, the dark-faced man retracted his head, cursing inwardly, "Bullshit. Isn't it just because you're hoping that Lu fellow will give you some pointers? Damn it, you even call him godfather, why don't you sell your own mother?"

He both hated and feared this leader. He hated that this person had stolen his original leadership position, yet he feared this person's Bright Aperture Upper Stage cultivation, which was the peak of mortal cultivation, and his extremely refined Talisman Arts skills. Killing him would be as easy as killing a chicken.

As the two were engaged in their scheming, someone suddenly burst in from outside, shouting, "We have a buyer!"

Inside the hall, everyone's spirits were lifted. In this cold weather, could this be the start of this year's profits?

Xuanqing remained calm. After thinking for a moment, he narrowed his eyes and asked, "What's the situation?"

The lookout outside, rubbing his hands and breathing on them for warmth, immediately bent over and said, "A lone traveler, moving cautiously. I can't see much else."

Xuanqing was slightly displeased and glanced at him. Seeing that the person was still respectful, he let it be and stroked his beard, pondering, "With the moon dark and the wind high, daring to travel alone means either a foolhardy person or a capable one… Heizi, give him a probe, see how he reacts."

"You got it!"

The dark-faced man grinned, looking around. The people next to him, without needing further instruction, placed their swords and sabers within easy reach, ready to react promptly if the situation turned unfavorable. Only Xuanqing resumed his unfathomable posture, and the hall fell silent for a moment.

Although the place where they were gathered was called a Taoist temple, it was actually just a solitary room, with no distinct inner sections. It was more like a local shrine. Before long, those in the hall heard footsteps approaching from outside. Immediately after, the hall door was knocked upon. The visitor was very polite, and their voice was low and pleasant:

"Is it convenient inside?"

Those inside were not so polite. The dark-faced man gruffly called out, "Who's there!"

"A night-time herb collector, seeking a place to rest."

The dark-faced man's expression fell, and the others sighed. Based on their experience, this was at most a small fry, perhaps one they could fatten up later, but tonight was destined to be fruitless.

Seeing the lazy demeanor of these men, Xuanqing opened his eyes and glared. The dark-faced man shivered and then forced a laugh, "Collecting herbs? You mean cutting grass… Come in!"

The person outside thanked them again and pushed the door open. The mountain wind blew in with his arrival, causing the bonfire in the hall to flicker unstably. Everyone's gaze immediately fell upon him, and then they all froze.

The dark-faced man reacted the fastest. He drew out his words and said with a laugh, "Well now, it turns out we have a fellow practitioner… and a pretty boy at that!"

Following this sarcastic remark, the hall erupted in laughter, and the spirits that had just settled were lifted again, their momentum growing.

It was no wonder the dark-faced man spoke that way. The newcomer was indeed a handsome and refined Taoist, appearing quite young. There was no need to mention his full moon-like face and rosy lips and white teeth; just his skin, which was more delicate than a woman's, made these rough men, accustomed to the wind and sun, envious. Some with impure thoughts even had their minds wander elsewhere.

This handsome Taoist was quite tall, with a long sword slung across his shoulder. However, he habitually stooped slightly, appearing very honest and shy. Upon entering and seeing the hall full of fierce individuals, his face showed some discomfort, and he seemed to hesitate at the doorway, as if wanting to retreat.

Seeing this, the dark-faced man was even more convinced that this was a novice with no immediate profit to be made, and he found it uninteresting. However, since Xuanqing became their leader, he had always adhered to the principle of "better to kill the wrong person than let the right one go." He could only clear his throat, signaling his companions to calm down, and then proceed with the familiar routine:

"Since we are fellow practitioners, why don't you come up and pay respects to Immortal Xuanqing? This esteemed immortal possesses great divine abilities; a little something trickling from his fingers would be enough for you, little Taoist, to enjoy for a lifetime!"

"Zheng Da, why so much noise?"

This was the first time Xuanqing had spoken since the handsome Taoist entered. Although his eyes were still closed, his voice, when it suddenly came, silenced the dozen or so people by the bonfire. It truly commanded obedience and exuded a unique aura.

Now, it was Xuanqing's turn to shine.

Seeing the more than ten burly men stunned into silence by Xuanqing's words, the handsome Taoist also breathed a sigh of relief, his expression becoming respectful. He took a step forward and bowed, "I am Yu Ci, a recluse. I pay my respects to Immortal Xuanqing."

Xuanqing finally opened his eyes, swept his gaze over Yu Ci, and then lowered his eyelids, speaking in a level tone:

"Little Taoist, are you heading to Sky Rift Valley to gather Shrimp Whisker Grass?"

Yu Ci replied with a "yes."