Chapter 1: This Immortal's Mouth is Filthy

Chapter 1: This Immortal's Mouth is Filthy

In the city of Fufeng, as the sun began to set, a man named Chen Qiu stood in a daze, clad in hemp robes, gazing towards the city gate not too far away. There, a sect called the Thunderclap Sect was recruiting disciples. A plump man, claiming to be an Outer Gate Elder, was enthusiastically shouting through a wooden megaphone.

"The annual Thunderclap Sect's disciple recruitment has begun!"

"Don't miss this opportunity, pass by, or walk on by!"

"The path to immortality begins now!"

"Join the sect, and we'll give you 100 wen right away!"

Chen Qiu had crossed over to this world thirty-one days ago. After tirelessly chopping firewood for thirty days, he had finally earned over two thousand wen, enough to rent a small house of his own in this unfamiliar city.

Chopping firewood was a physically demanding task.

The buyer specifically requested Ironwood, an extremely hard tree to cut, making the task even more challenging. Additionally, the areas where this tree grew were monopolized by Village Bullies, and one had to pay an entrance fee to chop wood in their territory.

For twenty-nine days, Chen Qiu could only find small corners overlooked by the bullies, where he had to compete with villagers for scattered Ironwood trees, earning just over ten wen each day, barely enough for a decent meal.

He was a bit slow-witted and couldn't seem to learn the art of chopping firewood.

Fortunately, on the thirtieth day, he learned how to chop people instead.

This earned him a small fortune.

Feeling good about his progress, he took a day off yesterday and today, spending 300 wen to rent a small house. He wandered around the city during the day, and with a few dozen wen, he bought some pork head meat, peanuts, and half a catty of shaozi liquor to celebrate in his new home.

After resting today, he would resume chopping firewood tomorrow.

He was looking forward to this feast, the most sumptuous dinner he had since crossing over.

It seemed like just a small step.

But it represented a significant stride towards establishing himself in this unfamiliar world.

Throughout his journey, he felt quite content, even hearing about a famous theater troupe from the capital city about to enter the city. He specifically came to check out the commotion. Until then, his spirits had been high, that is, until he heard the name "Thunderclap Sect."

A sense of familiarity and strangeness washed over him, making him wonder if he had actually crossed over or if he was just dreaming.

He knew that there were Immortals in this world.

But he rarely entertained the thought of cultivating immortality. He just wanted to survive. If he were to be a bit more ambitious, it would be to have pork head meat for every meal and never get caught for chopping people, as he struggled to even feed himself.

Moreover, the Thunderclap Sect's recruitment gave off a low-class vibe. After all, the Elder was an Immortal, yet he shouted like a common peddler.

Most people around barely glanced at the recruitment and quickly moved on. Had the people of this world lost their desire for cultivation?

Chen Qiu shook his head and didn't linger. Perhaps it was just a coincidence that the names were the same. Meanwhile, the theater troupe entered the city, surrounded by a bustling crowd, with a famous singer from the capital among them.

The status of actors in this world was not particularly high.

But this troupe had a renowned singer from the capital, known for selling her art but not her body. It was said that a high official from the capital had offered three Spirit Stones for a night with her, but she politely declined. Naturally, many wanted to see what a woman worth three Spirit Stones looked like.

Chen Qiu stood on his tiptoes to get a glimpse, and she seemed okay. It appeared that the people of this world hadn't experienced much luxury either.

After checking out the commotion, Chen Qiu didn't linger and turned to head into the city.

Just then—

Perhaps he had stood there too long, or maybe he was moving against the flow of the crowd, but the shouting Elder from the Thunderclap Sect noticed him. After a loud shout, he began running towards Chen Qiu.

"Fellow Daoist, please wait!"

". . ."

Chen Qiu's mouth twitched slightly. Holding the pork head meat wrapped in oil paper and the shaozi liquor in a porcelain bottle, he didn't hesitate and turned to leave.

"Fellow Daoist, please wait."

The voice from behind grew louder.

His strides became longer.

However, being an Immortal, the Elder quickly caught up, panting heavily as he reached Chen Qiu. With his hands on his hips, he angrily asked, "Where the hell do you think you're running off to?"

This Immortal had a filthy mouth.

Knowing he couldn't outrun the Elder, Chen Qiu stopped struggling. Instead, he bowed and said with a fearful expression, "Forgive me, Immortal. I didn't know you were calling me. What do you need from this humble one?"

However, the man's forehead creased slightly, hidden from view.

Was this an Immortal?

Could an Immortal get out of breath from running a few steps? This Immortal seemed rather useless.

"Stop acting stupid!"

The plump man pointed at Chen Qiu's nose and scolded, "I'm the Outer Gate Elder of the Thunderclap Sect, in charge of recruiting disciples in Fufeng City. Do you want to cultivate or not? Just say the word!"

A crude and pathetic Immortal.

He looked like he could be killed with just two strikes.

Instinctively, Chen Qiu touched the axe he carried for chopping wood, but he straightened up and respectfully explained, "I humbly report to the Immortal that I've never had the talent for cultivation since I was young, so I've never thought of pursuing the path of immortality."

"Forget it, it's nothing."

After catching his breath, the man was about to speak, but his expression gradually became strange: "Hey, what did you just say?"

Cultivation talent?"

Chen Qiu was momentarily taken aback, unsure how to respond. Was it common for Immortals in this world to be so approachable? To use such casual language with mortals, even calling them 'bro'?

Despite his confusion, he instinctively replied, "Yes."

"Hahahahahaha!"

The stout, sweaty man wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, then snatched the pig's head meat from Chen Qiu's hands. Without any regard for his appearance, he tore open the oil paper and began to chew vigorously, visibly excited. "Very good, very good!"

". "

But the man didn't see what was happening.

Chen Qiu's face visibly turned cold. This pig's head meat was something he had been looking forward to for a whole month. It was possibly the happiest thing to happen to him since his transmigration. Everything he had done today was in preparation for this feast.

And now, his pig's head meat had been snatched away by this fat, pig-headed man right before his eyes. The hatred he felt surpassed even that of a stolen wife.

Chen Qiu glanced around; a troupe had entered the city today, and the city gate was crowded with onlookers. The guards tasked with maintaining order were also numerous, making it an unsuitable place to start a fight.

Not far away, there was a bamboo grove where he could take the man to settle the score.

Just as Chen Qiu was planning how to strike, the man wiped the grease from the corner of his mouth, satisfied. "Big hammer 80, small hammer how much?"

". "

Chen Qiu froze, a hint of disbelief flashing in his eyes. He thought he had transmigrated alone, but it seemed like it was a group transmigration! After hesitating for a moment...

"40?"

"Imperial Nectar Wine, what's the next line?"

"One hundred and eighty taels per cup."

"Good!" The plump man enthusiastically put his arm around Chen Qiu's shoulder and led him to his stall. He took down the flag of the "Thunderclap Sect" and then brought Chen Qiu to the bamboo grove nearby.

"Let me introduce myself. I'm Fat Dragon. Back on Bluesphere, I was the boss of a startup company. What do you call yourself, brother?"

"I'm Chen Qiu. Back on Bluesphere, I was a freelancer."

Chen Qiu nodded thoughtfully, now having a basic understanding of the fat man before him. A startup company was likely one that hovered on the brink of bankruptcy.

Outsourcing finances and never paying social security.

Never taking Saturdays off, but not guaranteeing Sundays either.

The company would go bankrupt as soon as an employee sued.

"But are you sure your name is Fat Dragon? Is there such a surname on Bluesphere?"

"No."

Fat Dragon shook his head confidently. "I gave myself this name. When you're out in the world, you have to create your own identity. It's so difficult to recruit disciples these days; if you don't give yourself a flashy name, who will follow you?"

"The story I made up for myself goes like this: when I was born, a divine phenomenon occurred in the heavens, and a five-clawed fat dragon circled in the sky nine times before drilling into my body, proving that one day I would soar like a dragon across the world!"

"You can even eat fish and find a five-clawed golden dragon reasonable, can't you?"

Fat Dragon took a deep breath, then took the skewered meat from Chen Qiu's hand and gulped it down before belching contentedly. "It's been a long time since I've had such good food and drink."

". "

Chen Qiu looked at the empty porcelain bottle, his face calm as he patted the lumberjack knife at his waist. He scanned the surroundings without speaking, then asked softly, "You're not an Outer Gate Elder of the Thunderclap Sect? Can't you afford pig's head meat?"

"Didn't I say that when you're out in the world, you create your own identity? The Thunderclap Sect is just me."

"So you don't have a sect, and you're not an Outer Gate Elder?"

"No."

"You don't have a sect, but you're recruiting disciples?"

"Once I have disciples, won't I have a sect?"

". "

Chen Qiu fell silent again. Normally, people would establish a sect first and then recruit disciples, but this guy's idea was to get disciples first and the sect would naturally follow. He didn't judge which was right or wrong, but he had to admit this guy had guts.

"You promised 100 taels upon entry. Do you have the money?"

"No."

Fat Dragon nodded seriously. "But for new disciples, I send them into Mystic Realms. If they come out alive, the treasures they bring back will be worth more than just 100 taels. If they don't make it, there's no need to pay."

"High death rate in the Mystic Realms?"

"Very high."

"What if they come out alive but don't give you the treasures?"

"I'm at the sixth level of the Qi Condensation Stage. I'm definitely stronger than the newcomers. If they don't give it to me, I can just take it."

"If you're at the sixth level of the Qi Condensation Stage, why don't you enter the Mystic Realms yourself?"

"Didn't I just say the death rate is high in there? I'm a bit afraid to die. Aren't you scared?"

"I am too."

"Even so, how will you manage the sect's mountain gate? Every sect has a mountain gate, right?"

"The sect focuses on training outer disciples through external travels. Only after advancing to inner disciples can one see the Mountain Gate."

The two men locked eyes, and Chen Qiu was momentarily speechless.

He knew it; these startup company bosses were all the same, not one of them was any good.

This wasn't recruiting disciples; it was recruiting people to risk their lives for him. He was giving them empty promises, and no actual benefits. No wonder he couldn't recruit anyone. It would be a miracle if he ever did.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end