System Bestows me with Immortality, Living on to Eventually Become Invincible

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Chen Xun didn't enter right away but took Black Bull to the side. The Ascension Conference was still a few days from officially starting, and now was the time for solitary cultivators to enter.

He silently observed the group of solitary cultivators. Their attire varied; some wore bamboo hats, others masks, all shrouded in mystery.

They all stepped into the mist and then vanished from sight. Chen Xun suddenly had an epiphany.

"Moo~ Moo!" Black Bull seemed impatient, wondering why they weren't entering yet.

"Let's go!"

Chen Xun shouted loudly, pulling a bandit's headscarf from his bosom and putting it on his head, then leading Black Bull into the thick fog.

Buzz—

A humming sound arose, and as the fog gradually dispersed, a brand-new world unfolded before their eyes.

Nine Stars Valley was much larger than he had imagined, stretching beyond sight. Countless solitary cultivators walked within, their whispers filling the air.

The surroundings were full of vendors' stalls, yet there were no cries of hawkers. Chen Xun had never seen any of the items on display, nor could he name them.

In the distance, there were some pavilions, where small sects and factions would stay, coming each year to purchase items from solitary cultivators.

"Awesome..."

"Moo~~"

Chen Xun led Black Bull through the valley, keeping a distance from the vendors, then stood still to observe. They were trading not with gold or silver, but with hexagonal crystals called spirit stones.

Many cultivators also bartered pills for goods. Chen Xun's throat was dry as he widened his eyes.

Black Bull looked confused. What were all these things? Where did they come from? How had they lived so many years without seeing any of them?

"Bull, we're really country bumpkins."

Chen Xun swallowed hard, his heart pounding. It was like Liu Lao Lao entering the Grand View Garden—completely out of his element.

Black Bull kept nodding, its large, bell-like eyes growing wider. It nudged Chen Xun, pointing its head in a certain direction.

"Wow, is that a spiritual herb?"

Chen Xun looked in that direction, his feet moving on their own, until he reached a young girl's stall and saw three lush and dripping spiritual herbs, emitting a faint aura.

These were completely different from ordinary herbs, whether it was their patterns or their fragrance, they were entirely different species.

The girl was busy arranging her stall when she suddenly saw two legs and four bull hooves.

"Are you looking for something, fellow Daoist?"

The girl slowly raised her head with a smile, but her face changed dramatically at the sight. "What are you going to do!"

"Miss, you misunderstand, we're good people." Chen Xun showed a friendly smile. "We're just looking."

The girl broke into a cold sweat. Why did that smile look so terrifying under the headscarf? This person must be no good, perhaps a bandit from his past life.

"Okay, okay... look."

The girl stepped back, her expression tense, the headscarf exuding a strong sense of oppression.

"Miss, how can one tell the age of these spiritual herbs? I've heard that in..."

"Are you buying?"

"Not at the moment, I don't have any spirit stones."

"Do you have any Qi-Enhancing Pills that can be traded? I could exchange for those."

"Not at the moment."

"Then what are you asking for?"

The girl said irritably, already frightened and now feeling toyed with.

"Sorry to bother you."

Chen Xun felt a bit embarrassed, leading Black Bull away. Doing business with cultivators was completely different from dealing with mortals; he needed to change his way of thinking.

They just stood near the stalls, listening to others explain the names and uses of these items.

After a while, they had learned quite a bit—about talismans, seal brushes, cinnabar, and pills, gaining a superficial understanding.

"Bull, I've got it all down. Next time we can brag a bit, right?"

Chen Xun was in high spirits, having learned many new things. "Come on, let's check that out."

"Moo~ Moo~" Black Bull bellowed joyfully, having remembered as well.

Next to a stall, a white-bearded elder stood proudly, surrounded by many solitary cultivators, proclaiming, "This is the Qi-Enhancing Pill, long-term use can increase one's cultivation by a whole level!"

"This old man has spent forty-nine days to refine it. It's effective even for those at the fifth level of Qi refining. Three low-grade spirit stones, no deception!"

After speaking, he opened a bottle, and a wave of spiritual energy mixed with the scent of medicine hit everyone's face. Many cultivators around were tempted, ready to take out their spirit stones.

"That old swindler is at it again, scamming at the Ascension Conference!" Suddenly, several loud shouts came from afar, full of aggression.

"Fellow Daoists, I suddenly feel an insight coming on, perhaps my cultivation will advance. I'll return tomorrow!"

The old man's face changed, and with a sweep of his hand, he fled, disappearing into the crowd. His practiced movements showed this wasn't his first time engaging in such deceit.

"Fellow Daoists, do not believe this man. Those pills are all fake, with no effect after taking them."

The newcomers hastily bowed to the surrounding crowd, their eyes filled with ferocity—it seemed they had been swindled quite a bit.

The surrounding cultivators thanked them, a wave of relief washing over them. They had almost been deceived; the pills showed no signs of being problematic.

After the crowd dispersed, Chen Xun clicked his tongue and said, "Bull, look, even in the world of immortals there are swindlers, no different from us mortals."

"Moo moo!"

Black Bull nodded vigorously, its pupils quivering. It had also believed the old man's lies.

Chen Xun led Black Bull on, eavesdropping on conversations and gathering information, their behavior quite sneaky, though he didn't realize it.

"The Ascension Conference is starting in three days, with all ten great immortal sects of Kingdom Qian gathering. If one gets in, it's like a carp leaping over the dragon gate."

"Ha ha, let's not kid ourselves. It would be good enough to enter an ordinary immortal sect. How could we of mediocre talent enter the ten great sects?"

"True, but it's still hard to give up without trying."

"Those ten great sects, each has five trials in the valley's center. Without great wisdom and perseverance, it's better not to even think about it."

"I've heard there are many casualties every year. If you're not at least at the seventh level of Qi refining, it's better not to go."

"Sigh..."

Several cultivators shook their heads and sighed as they passed by Chen Xun. The path to ascension was like crossing a log bridge amidst an army—fraught with difficulties, unlike those with exceptional talents who were taken away at birth.

"Valley's center, ten great sects, five trials."

Chen Xun and Black Bull remembered the key points, exchanging smiles, feeling like they had gained once more.

"Bull, let's go over there. It looks like they're selling weapons."

Chen Xun shouted excitedly, a connoisseur of blacksmithing, and led Black Bull over, where many people were also gathered.

They stood on the outskirts, but to Chen Xun's disappointment, these were not weapons but magical instruments, not made by blacksmithing.

Displayed were numerous flying swords and various oddly shaped objects, all requiring mana to wield.

"Amazing."

Chen Xun's mouth dripped with envy. If he could turn his Mountain-axing axe into a magical instrument, he might really be able to split mountains with one swing.

"Moo~"

Saliva dripped from Black Bull's mouth. If it could turn its horns into magical instruments, who could withstand Black Bull's charge?

The two seemed to share the same thoughts, each lost in their fantasies, drool flowing continuously, causing the surrounding cultivators to frown. Where did these country bumpkins come from, even the bull was the same.

They paid no mind to the stares of others, instead noticing another stall.

"Bull, it's all skills... no, spells."

Chen Xun spoke incoherently, leading Black Bull closer, startling the muscular cultivator at the stall. "Damn, even bandits are cultivating immortality now."

Goods Taming Technique, Fireball Technique, Suppression Technique, Immobilization Technique, and other spells were displayed in abundance on the ground.

Chen Xun and Black Bull kept swallowing saliva, wanting all of them but lacking spirit stones. For the first time, they felt the sting of being penniless.

"Do you see anything you like, fellow Daoist?"

"Big brother, where did you get all these spells? There are so many..."

"What do you mean?"

The muscular man frowned, suspecting the visitor might be up to his old tricks. He quietly reached for a talisman, ready to call for help.

"Big brother, don't misunderstand, don't misunderstand. I'll come to buy when I have spirit stones."

Chen Xun quickly waved his hands, somewhat flustered, and ran off with Black Bull, his heart still racing with excitement.

"What a weirdo."

The muscular man put the talisman back and watched Chen Xun's retreating figure with a fierce gaze.