Eternal Through the Ages, Begin Adding Points

"Eternal life really is lonely as snow."

A young man reclined on Small Hillside, a foxtail grass stem between his lips as he gazed into the distance. A breeze swept past, bowing all the trees.

Yet from his tone, he did not seem to be sighing; rather, he was brimming with undisguised delight.

Moo~ moo~

Beside him sat a Broken Horn Black Ox. That was right—it was not standing, but sitting upright on its hind legs, its black back ramrod straight.

The youth was called Chen Xun. He had transmigrated here a year ago. This world was vast and boundless, with countless immortal cultivators capable of Moving Mountains and Overturning Seas, seated high above the clouds as they looked down upon the mortal realm.

Yet when he had transmigrated here, he had actually come with a system. Back then, Chen Xun had truly been grateful, as the stories of countless novel protagonists flashed through his mind.

However.

Chen Xun's system was not one of those exhilarating systems that came with an invincible physique or peerless cultivation techniques.

He had gained eternal life... Heaven and Earth Laws could no longer limit his lifespan, but he could only increase one attribute point each year.

Strength, speed, defense, mana, Essence of All Things.

He could understand strength, speed, defense, and mana, but Chen Xun had never managed to gain enlightenment regarding Essence of All Things. He soon cast it aside—staying alive was what mattered most.

Still, the system was quite thoughtful. The Longevity Path was long, so it had also given him an Immortal Spirit Beast to keep him company.

Though it could not speak, it could understand his words. He could also Add Points to it every year without consuming his own Longevity Points.

"We may have eternal life, but we can still be killed. We'd better keep a low profile from now on."

Chen Xun let out a long sigh. Half a year ago, he and Black Ox had planted a patch of rice in Small Mountain Village and raised quite a few chicks. Who would have thought that on a dark, windy night, Old Wang from the Next Village would lead a group of people over and steal every last thing?

When Chen Xun found out, rage surged into his heart. Did this world still have justice?! Did it still have laws?!

Sharpening his blade, he took an axe and led Big Black Ox to the next village to demand an explanation.

Who would have thought the other side had greater numbers? Chen Xun was beaten senseless, and one of Black Ox's horns was snapped off. They fled in utter disarray and spent several days recovering from their injuries.

Moo!

Black Ox snorted heavily, hatred in his eyes. That bunch truly was vile.

This incident had also cast a huge psychological shadow over Chen Xun, one with far-reaching consequences.

Ding! The host can now Add Points.

Chen Xun gave a crooked grin. The one-year term had arrived—add them for me!

Without hesitation, he put the point into strength. Back when he had been beaten, it was because he had been too weak to force away the men restraining him.

"Wocao..."

Chen Xun's face turned Liver-Colored as a surge of strength suddenly welled up through his body. Veins bulged along his arms, and he smashed a fist into the ground, startling Black Ox so badly that he sprang up on two legs.

"My fate is mine, not Heaven's!"

Bang—

For every action, there was an equal reaction. Chen Xun broke the bones in his hand and spent several days recovering with Big Black Ox.

While he was at it, he also added one point of strength to it. There was no noticeable change in its appearance, but after seeing what had happened to Chen Xun, Black Ox merely tested its strength casually. It was quite satisfied.

They lived in a Thatched Cottage in Small Mountain Village, keeping out of worldly strife. Yet the laws of this world seemed carved into people's bones.

When mortals encountered immortal cultivators, they had to bow, show respect, and Absolutely Not offend them. Even the people in a backwater like Small Mountain Village knew this.

"Xun-ge."

A boy's voice sounded outside the Thatched Cottage. It was Xiao Heizi from the village. His skin had been dark at birth, so he had been given a lowly nickname.

"What is it, Xiao Heizi?" Chen Xun's injuries had already healed, and he slowly opened the door.

"The village chief asked me to bring you some rice." Xiao Heizi held a sack of rice and smiled foolishly, his eyes innocent and pure.

"Thank the village chief for me."

Chen Xun took it from him, deeply Moved inside. He and Big Black Ox had been so hungry that they had spent several days eating wild vegetables.

A dignified Eternal Life Being Was Almost starving to death—what an Absurdity Under Heaven!

Thinking of this, resentment rose in Chen Xun's heart. A gentleman's revenge could wait a hundred years. Just wait until we dig up your Ancestral Tomb.

"Xun-ge, I'll be going now. My mother told me to come home for dinner."

"Alright, hurry back."

Chen Xun said with a smile. Looking at the rice in his hands, tears of gratitude could not help flowing from the corners of his mouth. There were still more good people in this world.

Moo!

Big Black Ox let out an impatient cry inside the Thatched Cottage. It did not like eating grass; it liked rice too.

Smoke curled through the air, and fragrant rice had already come out of the pot. One man and one ox Sat on the Ground and began wolfing it down, their eyes filled with dreams of the future.

"Old Ox, we have to live well. Don't act so impulsively again."

Chen Xun chewed his rice and swallowed hard. "This world is huge. Once we make it big, I'll find you a few old cows."

Moo! Goo goo.

Old Ox's eyes were full of disdain, as if saying: Wasn't it you who charged into the next village with an axe back then?

"The other side had greater numbers. To deal with people like them, you have to use strategy." Chen Xun spoke mysteriously.

Delight flashed in Big Black Ox's eyes, and it immediately scooted closer to Chen Xun.

"Wait until they're bent and decrepit, then smash their teeth out and dig up their Ancestral Tomb! Damn it, how dare they provoke an Eternal Life Being?"

Chen Xun spoke with righteous conviction, a sharp gleam in his eyes as he looked incomparably spirited.

Moo! Moo!

A bright glint appeared in Big Black Ox's bell-sized eyes as it nodded repeatedly. This was good, this was good.

"Why do I smell something burning?"

Chen Xun sniffed the air, then suddenly Turned Towards the kitchen, shock filling his eyes. "Our Thatched Cottage!!"

Moo~~ Black Ox also let out a startled snort.

"It's on fire!"

"Chen Xun's house is on fire! Hurry and put it out!"

An hour later, the fire gradually died down. The Entire Thatched Cottage had almost burned away completely. One man and one ox knelt outside it with lifeless eyes, utterly devoid of any desire to live.

Chen Xun had originally been an orphan in the village. He had suffered one disaster after another and was simply too pitiful. The villagers each offered a few words of comfort before dispersing.

"It's over. Our home is gone."

Chen Xun said in a daze. He did not know how to build a house. Truly, when the roof leaked, it rained all night; life itself was bleak.

Yet Heaven never barred every path. Black Ox had preserved the rice through rumination, enough to last them a few more days.

"Old Ox, I saw several Mountain Caves beneath the eastern slope. Sigh, let's go live there."

Chen Xun dejectedly Shook Head. He would have to learn a few trades in the village. When he had first arrived, he had focused only on farming; now, he could not do anything at all.

Moo! Big Black Ox did not mind. Wherever Chen Xun went was home to it.

Outside Small Mountain Village, plenty of dried grass was tied to Black Ox's back. Chen Xun also gathered some firewood and carried it into a Mountain Cave, where they would stay for the time being.

Over the following year, Chen Xun apprenticed himself to the village carpenter, while Black Ox helped carry things. The villagers all said it had spirit and told Chen Xun not to slaughter it for meat.

Chen Xun scoffed when he heard that. Even if he, Chen Xun, starved to death and jumped off Small Hillside, he would never do something as treacherous as selling out a friend.

"Delicious."

Chen Xun grinned as he stuffed his mouth with beef. At year's end, to celebrate, the villagers slaughtered several cows and held a grand feast for the entire village.

Naturally, he would not miss such a good thing. Yet Big Black Ox's pupils constricted as it watched, and it could not bring itself to eat even the few pieces of beef Chen Xun gave it.

After the feast, food could not be wasted. Whatever others did not eat, he and Big Black Ox packed up. One had to be thrifty in life.

Inside the Mountain Cave, Big Black Ox ate with great relish, while Chen Xun finished all the beef it refused to eat.