"Is this the lower realm?"
A silver-haired youth stood at the highest point of the Purple Cloud Mountain Range.
The Purple Cloud Mountain Range wound like a great dragon. Clouds and mist curled between its peaks, and Spiritual Qi abounded, making it seem like an immortal paradise.
Countless ferocious beasts lurked within, savage and bloodthirsty. Their terrifying roars made hearts tremble.
The youth stood with his hands behind his back, gazing into the distance. Three thousand silver strands spilled freely over his shoulders. His exquisitely jade-like face had brows like painted spring mountains and eyes as clear and cold as a winter river. He was impossibly handsome, without a single flaw.
The youth was called Su Chen. Eighteen years ago, he had been reborn into the Su Household of the immortal realm, as the son of its patriarch.
While still in his mother's womb, Su Chen had known he had a system.
It was a strange system. In eighteen years, it had never assigned Su Chen a task. From time to time, it even raised his cultivation realm or gave him treasures.
That suited Su Chen just fine. In his previous life on Earth, he had been caught up in the rat race until he dropped dead from overwork.
In this life, he had decided not to contend or compete, nor to fight and kill. He only wanted to drink a little wine, admire the world's beautiful scenery, and experience the people and things of the mortal world.
Since his birth, Su Chen had never cultivated. He had spent all his time eating, drinking, and enjoying himself, taking in the sights of the immortal realm and sampling delicacies from mountain and sea.
As a result, the Su Household's higher-ups grew displeased. In the end, they unanimously decided to banish Su Chen to the lower realm and let him return only when he reached the Saint Realm.
The cultivation realms were divided the same way in both the immortal realm and the lower realm.
They were, in order: the Body Tempering Realm, Qi Refining Realm, Xiantian Realm, Origin Core Realm, Divine Treasure Realm, Purple Mansion Realm, Life and Death Realm, Venerable Realm, Half-Saint Realm, Saint Realm, Great Saint Realm, Saint King Realm, Half-Emperor Realm, and Emperor Realm.
The Saint Realm!
Even members of the older generation found it difficult to reach. One could imagine how hard it would be for Su Chen.
The Su Household's higher-ups weren't making things difficult for Su Chen, because only they knew just how terrifying his talent was...
"Roar!"
A roar rang out as a giant python at the first level of the Venerable Realm appeared behind Su Chen. Its body was covered in incredibly hard golden scales, and its crimson eyes were fixed on Su Chen as though he were prey.
This giant python was the only ferocious beast in the Purple Cloud Mountain Range to have reached the first level of the Venerable Realm, and it was the king of all the ferocious beasts there!
Su Chen turned around, his eyes utterly calm, as though nothing in the world could stir the slightest ripple within him.
Whoosh!
The giant python opened its gaping, abyss-like maw and lunged at Su Chen, its powerful Venerable presence sweeping across heaven and earth!
Bang!
Blood sprayed everywhere as Su Chen blasted the giant python's head apart with a single punch!
The stench of blood filled the air.
Su Chen shook his hand and took out a handkerchief to wipe it, even though not a drop of blood had gotten on it.
"From now on, I won't have that bunch of old fellows nagging me, and I can enjoy myself in peace. I just don't know if there's anywhere in the lower realm that will interest me."
Su Chen walked around the giant python's corpse and, with his hands behind his back, slowly headed out of the mountain range...
Time flew by in the blink of an eye. Before he knew it, ten years had passed.
In Jiangnan City, perhaps because the evening temperature was pleasant, shops and street vendors could be seen everywhere, with a dazzling array of goods and bustling crowds.
The river was clear and green, its color surpassing the blue of the sky. A painted pleasure boat rested on the water, and Su Chen sat at its bow, his left hand propping up his forehead and a wine jug in his right. He listened to a tune, taking a sip now and then, utterly at ease.
Over those ten years, Su Chen had wandered from place to place, touring the world's mountains and rivers and seeing all its splendor. His footprints remained in many places.
Although the lower realm's scenery couldn't compare to the immortal realm's, it had a unique beauty of its own, and Su Chen enjoyed it.
Su Chen picked up his wine jug and shook it, only to find it empty. A trace of displeasure flashed in his eyes, and he gave up drinking.
He stood up, and the pleasure boat moved toward the shore on its own. After stepping off, he prepared to buy some wine at a tavern.
With his handsome face and snow-white silver hair, he drew many gazes as he walked down the street. Women in particular felt their hearts race and their faces and ears grow hot.
Just then, a little beggar ran straight into Su Chen. The impact hurt her, and she fell to the ground.
The little beggar looked up at Su Chen. Her face was a little dirty, but her eyes were clear and bright, like luminous pearls. Her messy hair seemed not to have been tended to in a long time.
[Name: Ye Lingxi] [Identity: reincarnation of an empress] [Age: seven] [Talent: emperor-grade] [Physique: Immortal Spirit Divine Physique] [Task issued: take Ye Lingxi as a disciple]
Su Chen froze. This was the first time the system had ever issued a task. He took a long look at the little beggar, shocked. She was actually the reincarnation of an empress!
Throughout history, very few had become emperors, and every one of them had been a powerhouse with monstrous talent and heaven-reaching strength!
Yet he had merely wandered around the lower realm and run into the reincarnation of an empress. How absurd was that?
He shook his head slightly and stopped dwelling on it. Reaching out a hand, he said apologetically, "Sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going. Are you all right?"
Ye Lingxi blinked and shook her head. Taking Su Chen's hand, she stood up.
Su Chen smiled. "That's good. To make it up to you, how about I buy you some candied hawthorn?"
Ye Lingxi nodded, then seemed to realize that wasn't right and hurriedly shook her head.
Su Chen rubbed Ye Lingxi's little head. "It's all right. If you don't accept my apology, I'll be very sad."
Ye Lingxi hesitated, then nodded.
Su Chen smiled slightly and took Ye Lingxi by the hand, leading her to a candied hawthorn vendor nearby. "Two skewers of candied hawthorn."
The vendor smiled. "Coming right up."
Su Chen handed one of the skewers to Ye Lingxi.
Ye Lingxi stuck out her little pink tongue and licked the candied hawthorn, her face full of satisfaction.
Su Chen watched Ye Lingxi, the corners of his mouth lifting. Then he took some silver from his robes, crouched down, and placed it in her hand.
Ye Lingxi looked at Su Chen in confusion.
Su Chen smiled. "I'm giving you this silver of my own free will. Please don't refuse it."
Ye Lingxi blinked but said nothing.
Su Chen patted Ye Lingxi's little head. "I'm leaving now."
With that, he stood up and walked away.
He had no intention of taking Ye Lingxi as a disciple. He knew that, as an empress, she was surely entangled in great karmic ties. If he really took her as his disciple, there would surely be enormous karmic ties waiting for him in the future, and he would have plenty to keep him busy.
He didn't want to take on those karmic ties. He only wanted to drink a little wine and listen to a few tunes each day, nothing more.
As for the system's task, he didn't care.
Ye Lingxi suddenly grabbed the hem of Su Chen's robe.
Su Chen stopped and looked at Ye Lingxi. "What is it?"
Ye Lingxi gathered her courage and said softly, "Th... thank you."
Su Chen smiled. "It's all right."
Ye Lingxi stared after Su Chen's departing figure for a long time.
Su Chen arrived at the tavern, where the proprietor came up to him with a smile. "Young master, are you here to buy wine?"
Su Chen nodded, and the proprietor smiled. "Then you've come to the right place, young master. No one in all of Jiangnan City can match the wine our tavern sells!"