The system gave me immortality, and I survived everyone

Chapter 4: For "immortality", a journey of fifty years · Hearing Li Niansheng’s words, Chen Changsheng set down his book. · He had been in the crowd when they were testing for Immortal Destiny; he had simply returned a step ahead of her. · Looking at Li Niansheng, who kept her head bowed, afraid to meet his gaze, Chen Changsheng clicked his tongue and asked, "Do you really want to go?" · "I do." · "Why?" · At this, Li Niansheng’s hands tightened. She said softly, "For the sake of longevity." · The four words slipped lightly from her lips, yet they carried the weight of a thousand mountains. Only by attaining longevity could she remain forever by "Brother Changsheng’s" side. · Observing her stubborn expression, Chen Changsheng couldn't help but smile, then stepped before her. · "Many in this world have transformed from mortals into immortals, but no immortal has ever reverted to a mortal." · "This goes to show that the path of cultivation is a road of no return. If one day you grow tired of walking," · "Just look back, and Brother Changsheng will always be standing behind you." · With that, Chen Changsheng pulled her into a warm embrace. Yet, while holding her, he whispered in an extremely low voice, "The cultivation world is a place that devours people whole without leaving even their bones. You must guard your heart against others." · He released her with a bright smile. · "Oh! To have an Immortal visit this humble abode, it truly brings such brilliance to my home!" · Chen Changsheng bowed with excessive, sycophantic flair toward the woman at the door, mimicking the behavior of the townsfolk perfectly. · Faced with his groveling, the Immortal Cultivator at the door displayed a trace of disgust. She never imagined that a child with such genius talent would come from such an ominous, depressing Coffin Shop. · "The girl possesses Immortal Destiny. Her future prospects are limitless." · Though she despised Chen Changsheng, she offered a dismissive remark just to ensure she secured such an exceptional disciple. · At these words, Chen Changsheng’s smile widened. · "All of this is thanks to your sharp eyes, Immortal. Niansheng has been mischievous since she was little; I hope you won't find her too much trouble." · "By the way, where is the sacred mountain you reside on? If I have time, I would love to pay a visit." · Hearing this, the impatience in the woman's eyes deepened. · "There is a sect ten thousand miles to the south called the Linglong Sect. A commoner wouldn't be able to reach it in thirty years. If you want to come, then come." · With that, the woman looked at Li Niansheng. "I have a mission to complete; we must depart at once." · Li Niansheng gently set down her bundle. "Brother Changsheng, I have remembered your words. I will definitely come to find you." · Then, she left with the Immortal Cultivator. · Once they were gone, Chen Changsheng hummed a tune while tidying the room, muttering cheerful remarks to himself. · An hour later, his expression turned stern. "You've been hiding long enough. Come out." · His voice echoed through the Coffin Shop, but other than the cold, unmoving coffins, there was nothing there. · "Still not coming out? Do you want me to drag you out?" · He spoke coldly once more, but after waiting a long time with no response, he finally let out a sigh of relief. · "Looks like that old woman really is gone." · "So what if you can fly! Once I sleep for a thousand or eight hundred years, I'll be able to fly too. You’d better not have any ill intentions toward Niansheng, or I’ll dig up your entire ancestral grave." · With that, Chen Changsheng swept the coffins and the bundle Niansheng had left behind into the System space. · He had been here for eight years, and in all that time, his appearance had not changed in the slightest. Such things had already sparked rumors in the town; if he stayed any longer, he wouldn't be able to pass it off as "good skincare." · With that in mind, he stepped out of the Coffin Shop he had called home for eight years. · "Can't walk it in thirty years? Then I’ll just walk for fifty." · "I have nothing in abundance, except for time." · After muttering one last jab at the woman, Chen Changsheng vanished at the end of the street. · He was gone, and the town spent a long time gossiping about his whereabouts. Some said he had hitched a ride on Li Niansheng’s success, and the Immortal had taken him along out of favor; others whispered that he had offended the Immortal and been killed. In the end, the stories varied, but as time passed, the town gradually forgot Chen Changsheng entirely. · "Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul..." · Chen Changsheng lay on a patch of grass, flipping through a tattered book. · This was the twentieth year since he had left the town. · Naturally, he had inspected the contents of the bundle Niansheng left behind. There wasn't much: a set of Cultivation Techniques, a pellet of Alchemy, and some gold and silver. The techniques were simple—perhaps even crude. It gave a basic overview of the cultivation realms and provided the method for the Qi Refining stage. · When he first obtained it, Chen Changsheng had treated it like a priceless treasure. After all, it was a path to immortality! If he mastered it, he wouldn't need to endure such long, deep slumbers to gain the ability to soar through the heavens. · However, once Chen Changsheng witnessed the vastness of the world, he realized just how much garbage he had been holding. In the cultivation world, one only truly steps onto the path of longevity once they reach Foundation Establishment. Furthermore, cultivators in this world were not as rare as he had imagined; the only reason he had never seen them was because the place he had lived was far too remote. The Qi Refining technique in his hands was common "street-level" trash—not something one found on every corner, but something you could buy for a thousand silver pieces if you really tried. · At this thought, Chen Changsheng sat up and tossed the book into the campfire. In these twenty years, he had read it every single day; he could recite every character by heart. · "System, this says that reaching the first level of Qi Refining in three days makes you a genius. Doing it in one day makes you a top-tier genius. Doing it in an hour makes you a once-in-a-century prodigy." · "So, what level of talent am I, considering it took me twenty years to reach the first level of Qi Refining?" · "Host, a realm is merely one standard for measuring strength, not the only one." · "Cultivation Techniques are one means to become strong, but not the only means." · "The Cultivation System of this era is not suitable for you, but that does not mean the Cultivation System of the next era will be unsuitable as well." · Chen Changsheng’s eyes lit up. "System, what do you mean by the next era?" · "There is no dynasty that does not fall, and the same is true for the cultivation world." · "The reason all living things believe certain things will exist forever is simply because their own existence is far too brief." · [END]