Longevity, starting from being a chicken raising servant Chapter 1 - 1 1 Give up Completely_1
Chapter 1: Giving Up Completely
"Since you’ve arrived, don't ask unnecessary questions. Just focus on feeding the immortals' spiritual food properly, and you’ll reap the rewards! Perhaps one day you’ll follow in my footsteps and serve as an outer Sect Elder or deacon."
"Yes, yes, I understand completely."
"Mmm, take this bundle. It contains what you need to nourish these creatures. I’ll return for an inspection in half a month. If they aren't thriving, expect to be held accountable."
"I hear you. My thanks to Deacon Li for your guidance. Please, accept this small token of my gratitude."
"Mmm, you certainly know how things work. Very well, I’m off."
"Safe travels, Deacon Li."
Wang Ba maintained a respectful posture as he watched Deacon Li—a man with heavy features and a stout build—vanish into the valley. Slowly, the polite smile on his face began to wither.
In its place, a shadow of bitter disappointment took hold.
So, it had finally come to this!
Yet, who was there to blame but his own mediocre talent and wretched luck?
’I am truly a failure among transmigrators,’ he thought.
Reluctance and a sense of powerlessness clouded Wang Ba’s eyes.
When he first crossed over to this world, he believed he had a shot at seeking the Dao and achieving Longevity.
Unfortunately, after exhausting himself to reach the nearest immortal Sect, he was told his Cultivation potential was non-existent. They wouldn't even accept him as a lowly outer disciple.
Refusing to accept his fate, he spent eight grueling years trying every possible method, only to end up with nothing.
With his wealth nearly drained, there was no path left to retreat.
Driven by desperation, he finally abandoned his grand illusions. He used the last of his coins to bribe a connection to Deacon Li of the East Saint Sect.
The Deacon, having taken the bribe, was surprisingly efficient. He assigned Wang Ba to this location.
It was a villa dedicated to raising spiritual food for the immortals.
However, to Wang Ba, it looked like nothing more than a glorified chicken farm.
Everywhere he looked, roosters and hens were roaming freely throughout the villa grounds.
Each bird was exceptionally large, sturdy, and full of energy.
A quick look suggested they possessed a trace of spirituality, marking them as vastly superior to any poultry found in the mortal realm.
These chickens spent their days wandering the villa, provided with high-quality feed and spirit insects.
Their inevitable destiny was to be delivered to the kitchens of the immortals once they reached peak condition, where they would be transformed into spiritual meals rich in Qi.
Deacon Li had laid all of this out before his departure.
Aside from Wang Ba, the villa’s only other resident was an elderly man.
The man appeared to be in his late seventies or eighties, his skin mottled with age spots. Upon Wang Ba’s arrival, the elder simply grabbed a stool and sat beneath the eaves, soaking up the sun without offering a word.
"Greetings, elder. My name is Wang Ba. I’ll be working alongside you from now on. I hope for your guidance."
Wang Ba offered a practiced, friendly smile.
The old man peered at him, a strange, unreadable look in his eyes. After a long silence, he spoke hoarsely.
"My name is Sun."
"If Li sent you here, it’s clear you didn't give him enough of a kickback."
Startled by the bluntness, Wang Ba forced a nervous laugh.
"Haha, Old Sun, you’re joking. I truly didn’t have anything else of value to offer..."
"Heh!"
The old man gave a dismissive scoff and turned his head away, falling back into silence.
Realizing the elder had no interest in further conversation, Wang Ba felt a wave of awkwardness. He excused himself and sought out his assigned quarters.
The room was incredibly cramped, containing only a narrow, three-foot bed and a weathered wardrobe.
Opening the door released a puff of dust, revealing a space choked with cobwebs and the smell of mildew.
It was obvious the room had been vacant for years.
Wang Ba didn't mind the filth. After a quick cleaning, he hurriedly tore into the package Deacon Li had provided.
Inside was a sheet of yellow paper, a Sect robe, and a hand-copied manual.
Wang Ba skimmed the yellow paper first. It contained basic instructions on how to breed the spiritual chickens.
He tucked it into his clothes without much thought.
He ignored the standard dark blue robe of the East Saint Sect and reached for the book at the bottom of the pile.
Three simple words stared back at him from the cover.
Body Strengthening Scripture.
’Yes! This is the one!’
Wang Ba’s eyes shimmered with excitement.
This was his final gamble.
When immortal Sects recruit disciples, they prioritize spiritual roots above all else.
Those with high talent are fast-tracked, but the majority of people possess no spiritual root at all.
Wang Ba was one of those unfortunate souls.
However, the path to immortality isn't always a single road.
He had recently discovered a rumor that practicing the East Saint Sect’s exclusive Body Strengthening Scripture might offer a microscopic chance of manifesting a spiritual root.
Even if such a root were of the lowest quality—something even rogue Cultivators would mock—it was a glimmer of hope for Wang Ba.
A Cultivation method like the Body Strengthening Scripture was only available to those within the Sect.
That was the reason he was so desperate to join, even if it meant being a chicken-raising servant.
With the manual in hand, Wang Ba began flipping through the pages with feverish intensity.
’This Body Strengthening Scripture consists of thirteen stages...’
’Each stage mastered increases physical strength by dozens or even hundreds of pounds...’
’Reaching Stage X provides a chance to awaken a spiritual root?’
’And if one reaches Stage XIII, they could even develop a middle-grade spiritual root!’
’Incredible! This Cultivation method is a treasure!’
Wang Ba was ecstatic as he read. He hadn't expected the manual to be this potent.
Though the stages were numerous, the threshold for a spiritual root was only Stage X.
If he reached the pinnacle, he could possess a middle-grade root! In the East Saint Sect, even a low-grade root was enough to become an official outer disciple.
This meant if he could reach Stage XI or XII, he would finally be a true Cultivator of the Sect!
The road to Longevity was right in front of him!
’Phew... stay calm! Don't get ahead of yourself.’
’With such powerful results, the requirements must be incredibly steep.’
’I need to read further.’
Wang Ba took a long breath, trying to steady his racing heart.
He continued reading with meticulous care.
’Wait... there are no special requirements? It just takes time?’
Wang Ba was stunned. He read on, his eyes widening.
’The first stage takes one year to master... so I’d be in my fifties by the time I get a spiritual root? That’s still better than nothing...’
’Wait. The second stage takes two years? The third takes four?’
As he processed the numbers, Wang Ba’s expression went pale.
It was a geometric progression!
His mind quickly calculated the time required for the tenth stage.
512 years!
Refusing to believe it, he flipped the page. His heart plummeted as he saw the numbers written in black and white. He stood frozen, as if a bolt of lightning had struck him.
His calculations were correct.
Mastering the tenth stage required 512 years!
The thirteenth stage demanded a ridiculous 4,096 years!
Such a timeframe exceeded the lifespan of even many powerful immortals!
The book mentioned that those with exceptional talent could shorten the time required.
But looking at those words, Wang Ba could only manage a hollow, bitter smile.
To go from the first to the tenth stage would take a total of 1,023 years.
What kind of genius could bridge a gap of a thousand years?
He certainly wasn't that person.
Even if he somehow managed to get a spiritual root in a few decades, what would be the point? A mortal's life lasts only a century. How could he possibly have time left for Qi Refining or Foundation Establishment?
A crushing sense of despair washed over him.
Finally, he let go of his dreams entirely.
He stood motionless for a long time before letting out a heavy, weary sigh.
It was as if he were exhaling all his ambition and lingering resentment.
He tossed the hard-won Body Strengthening Scripture under his bed like a piece of trash.
All he held now was the yellow sheet of paper detailing how to raise chickens.