My path to immortality began with my posting to guard Dawancun.

Chapter 1 On the Road
In the mountains and forests,
Rumble.
The ground trembled slightly, kicking up clouds of dust. Five horse-drawn carts loaded with various miscellaneous items, flanked by a procession of forty or fifty people, were advancing through the mountains and forests on the official road.

"Hurry up! Quicken your pace! We're only ten miles from Dawan Village!"

"Don't slack off! Once you've reached your destination, you'll naturally have time to rest!"

A squad leader dressed in a gray outfit was patrolling back and forth, his face tense as he loudly reprimanded someone.

Even the ordinary people in the group who were already exhausted from the long journey couldn't help but grit their teeth and persevere, thinking that they could rest as soon as they reached their destination.

At this time,
In front of the team,

At the very front, on either side of the relatively ornate carriage, two tall horses stood guard, one on the left and one on the right, about half a body length ahead.

On the tall horse on the left sat an old man in his sixties or seventies, with graying temples but still sharp eyes. He carried a decapitation sword slung across his back and exuded a fierce and valiant aura.

On the right is a man with a simple and honest face and a burly build. He has a three-foot-long spiked club with a head full of vicious iron nails, weighing several hundred kilograms, hanging from his waist.

"Xiao Chuan, your old man is really biased! No matter what, you are his son. We're not talking about those rich kids going to big cities to be city lords and enjoy life, but at least you should be able to work in some small towns, right? What kind of thing is it to be exiled to this godforsaken Dawan Village?"

"This journey alone has taken three months. This area is probably already the border that your Tiannan Shen family can control!"

"How much benefit can this dilapidated place possibly provide for your cultivation?"

The valiant old man, riding his tall horse, complained, occasionally patting the horse's head with his rough hands, making it snort.

His words revealed his dissatisfaction with the treatment of the boy in the carriage.

“Grandfather, the head of the family has more than fifty children, and I am just an insignificant illegitimate son among them.”

"Although he is called the illegitimate son of the head of the family, in reality, to a large cultivation family like the Shen family, he is nothing more than a servant."

On the carriage,
Fifteen-year-old Shen Changchuan spoke calmly, his face displaying a maturity beyond his years.

He didn't show much expression while speaking.

"My mother paid a great price to get me this job of being sent to manage Dawan Village."

"It's fortunate that Dawan Village is far from Tiannan City and is located on the border of the Shen family's influence. Moreover, apart from the spiritual grain produced by the spiritual fields, there is no other income, which is why it fell into my hands."

"Otherwise, those wealthy towns near Tiannan City are simply out of my reach given my status."

At this point, Shen Changchuan couldn't help but sigh.
He slowly explained to the valiant old man beside him.

The wiry old man, named Han Qinhu, was Shen Changchuan's maternal grandfather.

Han Qinhu was originally an ordinary farmer from a mountain village, but he was exceptionally talented from a young age. In his youth, he was able to fight tigers and leopards with his strength. Later, with the guidance of a master, he mastered the art of broadsword martial arts.

After reaching adulthood, he roamed the world and earned a reputation as a chivalrous hero.

Even the most renowned heroes in the mortal world are nothing compared to cultivators.

It is said that many years ago, Han Qinhu suffered a great loss in front of cultivators, which eventually led him to give up his adventures in the martial world, return to his hometown, marry and have children, including three sons and two daughters.

As for the specific humiliation he suffered in front of cultivators, Han Qinhu remained stubbornly silent, clinging to the truth for half his life, and no one knew.

Twenty years ago,

By chance, Han Qinhu, who was middle-aged, got in touch with a steward of the Shen family, a family of cultivators, and sent his famous and beautiful daughter to the Shen family as a maid.

A few years later, Shen Changchuan's cheap father, who was secretly called a human seed-sowing machine by Shen Changchuan and was also the head of the Shen family, Shen Fuxing, accidentally took the body of Shen Changchuan's mother after drinking, and thus Shen Changchuan was born.

It is precisely because of this,
Compared to the eldest son of the Shen family, whose marriages were arranged through alliances between immortal cultivation families, or the illegitimate sons and daughters born to concubines in alliances between various mortal royal and powerful clans,

Shen Changchuan's status can be said to be among the lowest of his more than fifty children, who were essentially cheap human seed-planting machines.

After all, the influence of Shen Changchuan's birth mother and her maternal family was almost equivalent to that of ordinary farmers in the eyes of other powerful clans, royal families, and even immortal sects.

It's only because he has some talent for cultivating immortality, coupled with his mature mindset from his previous life, that he acts cautiously. Otherwise, in the scheming and backstabbing Shen family compound, he would have lived a life worse than a servant.

after all,

In a large, cultivation-focused family like the Shen family, the members don't have any brotherly or fraternal relationships.

"Actually, it's better to be further away. This suits me just the way it is. At least I can avoid the infighting within the family and the vortex of the struggle between the first and second wives."

"Otherwise, with my small stature, even a small wave stirred up in the family would be enough to wash me to death on the beach."

Having said that,

Shen Changchuan also felt a sense of sympathy.

This wasn't just him being overly pessimistic; it was something that could very well happen. Two years ago, one of his sworn brothers, simply because he displayed some decent talent for cultivating immortality, ended up committing suicide with seven stab wounds to his back.

The treacherous power struggles among these powerful families were far beyond the reach of an ordinary person like him from his previous life.
to be frank,
Before, when he was in the Shen family mansion, he lived in constant fear and trembling, afraid that he might lose his life at any moment.

In comparison, being sent to Dawancun, which is far from Tiannan City, wouldn't be too bad, even if it's not the best place.

"Well, that makes sense."

"It's a bit far, but at least there aren't so many troublesome issues there."

Hearing this,

Han Qinhu also opened his mouth and muttered something.
However, their voices were lowered, clearly indicating that they dared not discuss matters concerning the inner quarters of the immortals in public.

However, he also understood the situation clearly.

The power struggle between the first and second wives of Shen Fuxing, the head of the Shen family, was well-known even to outsiders.

As Shen Changchuan's maternal grandfather, he learned even more about the inside story.

However, being just an ordinary person, Han Qinhu dared not delve too deeply into these private matters.

After all, trouble comes from the mouth.

Han Qinhu was a seasoned wanderer in the martial world, experienced in all sorts of human affairs, and understood what could and could not be said.

"I heard that twelve acres of spiritual fields have been cultivated in Dawan Village. If managed well, and the family's share is paid, it can be a valuable asset."

In fact, Han Qinhu had no complaints about being stationed in Dawancun.

He was just an ordinary mortal in the eyes of the immortals, how could he have the right to be picky and dissatisfied?

You should know that many renowned heroes in the martial arts world have served as dogs for immortals for years and still might not be able to afford a bowl of spiritual rice.

And Dawan Village,

I heard it has a full twelve acres of sacred fields!

The spirit grains planted there, as long as the Shen family's annual quota is fulfilled, the rest belong to the guardians.

Through his grandson's connection, he might be able to taste the spiritual rice that immortals eat during their cultivation.

That's a wonderful thing that, if consumed regularly over the years, might give you a chance to cultivate qi and enter the Dao!

It is precisely because of this,
When he learned from his daughter that his grandson Shen Changchuan was to be sent to a post outside the capital and that he needed manpower to help, he abandoned most of his wealth and business, and came with his eldest son Han Dayong and most of his servants to follow his grandson to his new post.

This is euphemistically called helping his grandson out, lending a hand, and helping him solve problems such as manpower management for the town's defense.

To put it bluntly, they are just eagerly joining in, hoping that if one person succeeds, all their relatives and friends will benefit, so that they can ride on the coattails of their grandson and help their family's descendants.

You should know how many famous heroes and chivalrous figures in the martial arts world would love to be dogs of the immortals, but they don't even have the connections!

If it weren't for the blood relation, how could Han Qinhu have gotten such a good opportunity?

His earlier grumbling was merely an expression of his dissatisfaction with the treatment his grandson, Shen Changchuan, received.

Deep down, I was incredibly excited and looking forward to this trip to Dawancun.

I hadn't slept well for several days since the day I set off.

There's no reason to actually find fault with it.
Shen Changchuan chatted casually with his maternal grandfather, Han Qinhu.

By the way, it's also a chance to broaden my knowledge and learn about the general situation of the ordinary world outside, since I grew up in a secluded mansion.

The eldest uncle, Han Dayong, on the right, rode his horse silently, not uttering a single word for a long time, and did not join the two's chat.

At this time,

suddenly,

"what!"

Suddenly, a piercing scream rang out from the road ahead.

Shen Changchuan suddenly woke up.

problem occurs!
(End of this chapter)