Eternal Tale

”When I was young, I also encountered a few benefactors. After cultivating immortality for many years, I finally understood why they were willing to help me when I was at my weakest.”

Chen Xun’s eyes revealed a hint of reminiscence, as the sea breeze flowed around him. ”Because I let them see that one day, I would be their equal or even surpass them.”

”My own potential is the fundamental reason for gaining benefactors. After all, those who can be called benefactors have the vision to see what ordinary people cannot.”

”It’s about trusting their own judgment. Once this trust is established, they can’t help but support you.”

”Because it’s a process of validating their own vision. Your rise is the day they validate their extraordinary insight.”

”The higher you stand, the more gratified they feel.”

”So, in this grand era of cultivating immortality, it’s not that benefactors won’t appear, but rather that a cultivator’s potential might not be enough to catch their attention.”

Chen Xun lifted his fishing rod, speaking unhurriedly, ”And I have my own reasons for taking an interest in you. I want to see how far you can go.”

With that, Chen Xun’s lips curled into an unusually gentle smile. Back then, Old Sun, Teacher Ning, Senior Brother Ji, and others must have felt the same way.

He slowly raised his head, gazing at the vast sky, his lips moving slightly as he called out in his heart, ”Everyone, Bull and I haven’t let you down, have we...”After advancing to the Void Refinement stage, he also wanted to try passing on his teachings.

He found the Five Elements inferior spirit root to be quite compatible and relatively easy to modify, marking an important step in his departure from the Spiritual Qi Immortal Path.

The ”Five Elements Immortal Scripture” was his true prototype for the Five Elements Technique, and currently, all his techniques were still based on the Spiritual Qi Immortal Path.

Back then, he didn’t have the capability, whether in cultivation or resources, but now the plan could begin.

Mo Fuyang was the first person he chose, but he would still explain the pros and cons, leaving it entirely voluntary, without any coercion, though there would certainly be some risks.

As for the Five Elements supreme spirit root, it surpassed the Heavenly Spirit Root and had long been selected by major forces.

He wasn’t fortunate enough to encounter such a person, as they were not common.

”Senior, I understand.”

Mo Fuyang’s eyes were filled with determination as he solemnly bowed, ”Mo Fuyang has no regrets, no complaints.”

Chen Xun lifted an eyelid, and the storage ring on his finger suddenly glowed faintly, suspending three Chaoyuan Red Treasure Fruits in the air, blood-red as if they were real blood.

Mo Fuyang’s eyes widened slightly, swallowing a mouthful of saliva. What kind of spiritual herb was this, and why did its aura make his blood feel like it was pulsating...

”This is the Chaoyuan Red Treasure Fruit, obtained from a friend’s race, very useful for body refining.”

Chen Xun introduced briefly, ”Take your time refining it. This ’Five Elements Profound Art’ is for you as well. I’ll find a way to get the required essence blood. First, train yourself into an iron-walled body.”

”But this body refining technique will have the effect of condensing mana, and you might be stuck at the Elemental Infant phase for a while.”

”Yes, factory owner.” Mo Fuyang respectfully accepted with both hands.

”Alright, go ahead. I’ll continue fishing.”

Chen Xun looked relaxed, leaning back in his chair. ”As for the matter of the discarded talismans, you handle it. No need to consult me on everything. Keep it simple, just buying and selling.”

Mo Fuyang also smiled slightly, looking at the distant sea, exhaling softly. He couldn’t yet achieve the factory owner’s level of nonchalance.

His expression suddenly paused, stepping forward, ”Factory owner, there’s one more thing.”

”Hmm?”

”It’s about the young lady’s flower field. It’s my negligence. I forgot to remind her, and that’s why she forgot...”

”Alright, I’m aware of it. Let’s leave it at that.”

”Yes.”

Mo Fuyang’s face showed a hint of awkwardness, thinking to himself that this was the only way to help the young lady, taking the blame upon himself.

He then bowed and took his leave, as the factory owner clearly didn’t want to say more.

After he left, two figures quietly appeared beside Chen Xun. They were Qing Li and Qing Wan.

”Greetings, factory owner!”

”What is it?”

”Factory owner, it’s about our tribe.”

Qing Li lowered his head, only daring to look at Chen Xun’s robe. ”We are from the Soul Nurturing Crying Spirit tribe, but after becoming immortal slaves, we were not recognized by any race, and now we are a wandering tribe.”

”What is the origin of immortal slaves?” Chen Xun asked calmly, with no fluctuation in his eyes. ”I rarely hear about immortal slaves on the Nine Heavens Immortal Sound Array Disk.”

”In the racial wars, the defeated tribes...”

Qing Li responded solemnly, beginning to explain the origins of immortal slaves to Chen Xun.

It turned out that in the Three Thousand Great Worlds, small tribes often fell into wars, with both sides having relatively equal power.

Due to some historical reasons in the world of immortals, racial wars would break out, with some hatreds that time couldn’t erase.

But in such cases, the defeated would often face extermination. To preserve these small tribes, powerful forces would turn them into immortal slaves, sending them to auction houses as miners.

Moreover, the entire tribe had to be auctioned off as a package, with pricing based on cultivation and remaining lifespan.

These immortal slaves would work for the mine owners for half of their remaining lifespan. Although they couldn’t cultivate, they were given inferior spirit stones to restore mana.

Because of this, they were grateful to the mine owners, as it was seen as saving their tribe’s lives.

The victorious tribes would also receive a large amount of cultivation resources, as these immortal slaves were sold, compensating for sparing them.

So, after the wars, the victorious tribes wouldn’t completely annihilate the defeated ones, as no one had too many cultivation resources.

The defeated tribes would be sent to another continent or even another celestial domain, disappearing from this boundary, unable to find their way back for revenge.

This move not only curbed the victorious tribes’ bloodlust but also gained all the territory of the defeated tribes, and they could sell the population for a large amount of resources, satisfying the victorious tribes.

The defeated tribes were also satisfied, as they weren’t completely wiped out, retaining seeds and a chance to rise again.

The mine owners were even more satisfied, as the immortal slaves were grateful and would serve them for hundreds or thousands of years at the lowest cost, without complaint.

The powerful forces were also satisfied, maintaining order in the world of immortals.

Having helped resolve disputes, they warned against causing chaos, as they were watching from above, and no one was foolish.

After their time as miners, immortal slaves could leave or wait for their tribesmen to rejoin the mines.

However, their spirit stone salary wouldn’t change, as they were marked with the immortal slave seal, and their resources would always be the lowest tier.

In such times, most immortal slaves would stay in the mines for the rest of their lives, while many would leave to find new places to settle and reproduce.

Although the great era was vast and rich, danger was everywhere.

Creatures like the Sky-roaming Roc and ancient fierce beasts roamed the lands, making it difficult for them to navigate a new environment.

At such times, tribes would begin to fracture, with some leaving and others choosing to stay in one place, never regaining their former glory.

Qing Li’s tribe was one of those that left the mines, but shedding the identity of an immortal slave required spending a large amount of spirit stones at the All-Heaven Myriad Realms Spirit Bank.

Otherwise, revealing the Thousand Mechanism Spirit Seal would instantly expose their identity as immortal slaves, making it extremely difficult to develop their tribe and personal cultivation.

Immortal slaves rarely produced strong individuals, often relying on others to survive, as the era’s environment determined their limits, making them the main workforce for mining, cheap and plentiful.

Even with the identity of an immortal slave, no matter how talented, they would be inexplicably removed from the Chaos Immortal Spirit List, with no major force accepting them, though they could still serve as guardians.

...

After explaining these circumstances, Qing Li fell silent, cautiously observing Chen Xun’s expression.

”So that’s how it is, immortal slaves, the Soul Nurturing Crying Spirit tribe.”

Chen Xun looked at the two after listening, finally putting down his fishing rod. ”You want to bring your tribesmen over?”

”Factory owner... yes.”

”Factory owner, Qing Li is just seeking your opinion.”

Qing Wan couldn’t discern Chen Xun’s intentions, as he was too calm, and quickly explained, ”Those tribesmen are still doing well, and not coming to Trash Island wouldn’t affect them.”

”How many people?”

”Reporting to the factory owner, about thirty thousand tribesmen, on an unnamed island, coexisting with some spirit beasts, with an eighth-grade spirit vein.”

Qing Li’s eyes held hope, as the tribesmen’s situation wasn’t good. ”Our tribe has some talents that might be of help to the factory owner.”

”That’s not important. Since they’ve been through hardship, their temperament shouldn’t be too bad.”

Chen Xun waved his hand, uninterested in the tribe’s talents. ”If they come to collect trash for sale, they’re welcome. It’s as simple as that.”

”But...”

He paused, his eyes flickering with a faint light. ”Trash Island has its own rules. Spirit stones are earned together, and I don’t want any trouble. Bring a thousand people first for Old Mo to see.”

Qing Li and Qing Wan exchanged glances, their expressions excited, bowing in unison, ”We won’t disappoint the factory owner!”

”Alright, Trash Island is simple, no need to overthink it. Come and go freely.”

”Factory owner, we’ll go prepare now.”

”Good.”

Chen Xun’s face held a gentle smile, yet it was marked with untold, indescribable stories. With another flick of the rod, the line extended further.

The sky seemed like burning flames, with two suns gradually sinking, painting the evening sky in vibrant colors.

The vast waves reflected shifting cloud shadows, and a fishing figure leaning against the trash field seemed lost in the clouds and waters, detached from worldly troubles.

He remained motionless, quietly watching the distant waves as the sky darkened.

Suddenly, his Void Transmission Disk vibrated, it was Yun Jin.

The disk hovered before him, a light projection unfolding, and a voice emerged, ”Senior.”

”Yun Jin.”

”I have an important matter to discuss. I hope you can come to Chengfeng Villa. I’ll be waiting for you at the foot of the mountain.”

”Alright.”

Chen Xun gave a sharp tug on the rod, pulling up a hook full of trash, green and black, mixed with seawater.

He grinned, feeling he had struck it rich!