Chapter 1: Infinite Lifespan, Eternal Youth

Morning.

Zhushan Immortal Market.

Threads of sunlight streamed down from the high heavens, gently illuminating the bustling Zhushan Immortal Market.

As the sun rose, the entire market seemed to come alive.

Shadows danced and interwove as people moved to and fro.

The not-so-wide streets were filled with a cacophony of sounds, as cries of merchants echoed from all directions:

"Low-grade Earth Talisman! A must-have for home protection! Just five spirit stones each!"

"Spirit rice! Homegrown spirit rice! Ten jin for one spirit stone!"

"Low-grade demonic beast meat! Two jin for one spirit stone!"

The spring breeze carried a chill, and the pedestrians on the street walked hurriedly, their expressions indifferent. Only the vendors eagerly scanned the crowd, hoping for a customer to approach.

He Song tightened the sleeves of his robe against the wind and let his gaze wander over the bustling throng. He lingered for a moment at a stall selling spirit rice before reluctantly averting his gaze to glance at the mundane mortal rice on display nearby.

Spirit rice was indeed delicious, not to mention it could help increase one's cultivation. But with his current financial situation, filling his stomach took precedence.

"Senior, please give me twenty jin of mortal rice," He Song said as he approached the rice stall.

"Alright, that'll be two spirit grains."

Spirit grains were a smaller currency compared to spirit stones. One spirit stone could be exchanged for a hundred spirit grains.

As for mundane silver or gold? Utterly worthless in the cultivation world. Here, only items imbued with spiritual energy held any value, and spirit grains were the smallest recognized unit of currency.

The rice vendor was an elderly man who appeared frail and decrepit, yet the spiritual pressure emanating from him made He Song's heart pound with unease.

The old man didn't comment on He Song's modest purchase. He simply packed the rice into a bundle and handed it over.

He Song retrieved two spirit grains he had prepared earlier from his sleeve and completed the transaction without incident.

Carrying the twenty jin of rice, He Song felt a weight lift off his chest. Without sparing another glance at the other stalls, he turned and made his way to the market's exit.

"This first trip went smoothly," He Song thought as he carried the rice, exhaling a subtle sigh of relief.

Though he knew from his predecessor's memories that the Zhushan Immortal Market strictly prohibited killing, stepping into a strange new world still left him feeling uneasy.

He Song was a transmigrator.

Three days ago, he had transmigrated into this world and taken over the body of a first-layer Qi Refinement cultivator.

Fortunately, this body's former owner had also been named He Song. After absorbing his predecessor's memories, he had spent three days at home, perfectly replicating the previous owner's habits and lifestyle.

This was the cultivation world.

Body possession was not uncommon here.

To protect his own life, He Song couldn't afford to step out unprepared. If he was discovered to be a body-possessor, he'd be labeled an evil cultivator and cut down on the spot.

After three days of mimicking his predecessor and reinforcing his memories, He Song finally felt confident enough to leave his home. For the first time, he could observe this familiar yet alien cultivation world with his own eyes.

He Song's residence wasn't far from the market. After walking for a short while and confirming that no one was following him, he finally returned home.

Locking the door behind him, he leaned against it and exhaled deeply.

"Modern society was better—at least I didn't have to worry about losing my life out of nowhere."

Setting the sack of rice aside, a black-and-white panel suddenly appeared before He Song, visible only to him.

Name: He Song

Lifespan: Infinite

A transmigrator with a cheat ability.

This kind of thing was practically routine.

Having read countless web novels, He Song wasn't surprised by the existence of a cheat system.

However, this black-and-white panel didn't grant him any earth-shattering powers.

Instead, its sole function seemed... underwhelming.

Infinite lifespan.

Eternal youth.

It sounded fantastic at first glance.

How many mortal emperors and noble elites had spent their twilight years chasing immortality?

But here, at the very bottom of the cultivation world, possessing such an ability felt almost... useless.

Eternal youth and immortality. 

It sounds wonderful. 

How many mortal emperors and noble elites have pursued eternal life in their twilight years? 

But... to possess such an ability as a mere first-layer Qi Refinement cultivator, at the very bottom of the cultivation world, feels rather underwhelming. 

Who are the ones who have sought immortality throughout history? 

Mortal emperors. 

Noble elites. 

Wealthy merchants. 

Ancient aristocratic families. 

These individuals share common traits: 

They hold high status, have tasted all the pleasures the world has to offer, and wield immense power. 

The logic is simple—live longer, and their luxurious lives can continue indefinitely. 

But has there ever been an ordinary person, living at society's lowest rungs, who aspired to immortality? 

An old beggar seeking eternal life—to beg for alms for ten thousand years? 

A courtesan seeking immortality—to entertain guests in a brothel for ten thousand years? 

A farmer seeking endless years—to plow the fields for ten thousand years? 

A corporate slave seeks immortality by working hard to carry bricks for 10,000 years?

Would such a masochistic tendency even make sense? 

Eternal youth and an infinite lifespan still require living. 

You can still die from injuries, poisoning, hunger, or illness. 

And everything costs money—food, medical care, rent. Everything.

In such circumstances, being immortal at the bottom of society isn't as glamorous as one might imagine. 

Of course, it's a different story if you're already a noble or an elite. After all, those who seek immortality are almost always of that class. 

This is why He Song found his so-called "golden finger" a bit underwhelming. 

Still, He Song wasn't discouraged. 

This world had one thing his previous one didn't—a way to defy fate and change one's destiny. 

Cultivation! 

Cultivation was unlike anything else. 

As long as you have time and continue to absorb spiritual energy into your body, your cultivation will steadily grow. 

And as your cultivation grows, so will your status, class, and power. 

Currently, He Song's cultivation was at the first layer of Qi Refinement, placing him at the lowest rung of the cultivation world. 

But if he could break through to the Foundation Establishment stage, his status and standing would undergo a dramatic transformation. 

And as he advanced further, his identity and rank would naturally continue to rise. 

This—this was the true means to defy fate! 

As long as you lived long enough, your identity would improve, unchallenged and undoubted. No one would dare to suppress you. 

Strength is the foundation of all status and power! 

"Sigh, for now, the most important thing is earning spirit stones," He Song muttered to himself, shaking his head to dispel his thoughts. 

With a sigh, he grabbed the sack of rice and stood up. 

Pouring the rice into the nearly empty storage jar, he glanced around the now-familiar room—his home from now on. 

The house was rented. 

Ten spirit stones a month. Not cheap. 

For someone like He Song, it was downright expensive. 

The Immortal Market cared little about whether rogue cultivators could afford to rent a place. The steep rent was the market's way of "filtering out" competent cultivators. 

If you couldn't afford it, leave the market and be a wandering cultivator. 

Sure, the spiritual energy outside was thinner. 

Sure, the outside world was more dangerous. 

Sure, the mortality rate out there was higher. 

But at least, you wouldn't have to pay so much rent. 

After rummaging through his belongings and the house for a while, He Song eventually sat down, staring at the thirty-some spirit stones on the table before him, deep in thought. 

If he only paid rent, this amount could cover him for three months. 

But when he factored in food, drink, and the cost of learning a craft, He Song felt that it wouldn't be long before he was thrown out onto the streets. 

{end of chapter }

ps1: jin is unit of muser old chinese have used before 1 jin equal 0.5 kilogram