2 The Grand Festival

'Jiang Chen's road to immortality ' was a classic story in the Buxiu realm that parents would recite to their children countless times. For the humans, the spirit beasts, or any other species there existed no one who didn't know about this ancient tale.

One could say that most people's aspiration to the pursuit of immortality originated from this story. But strangely, despite its universal popularity, no person to this day knew who wrote this story, where it originated from, or even if it was a true story or not.

The story's content was quite informative of the immortal world.

The book, recited time and time again that in order to become a true immortal and to ascend beyond the 9 heavens one must sever all their connections and emotions of the mortal world and all of its material possessions.

Yao Tian didn't remember how many times he re-read the content of the book but unlike the rest of the village peoples who would feel admiration, reverence, and envy towards these illustrious immortal figures who have achieved things they couldn't even dream about in their wildest imagination.

Yao Tian couldn't help but feel a complete form of indifference towards the book and the unending quest towards immortality.

Why would people need to sever all the connections to their birthplace?

Why cut out all the people who raised them and those who provided all of their love and care?

On multiple occasions did he imagine himself being placed on the path of an immortal.

The thought of leaving behind his father who gave all of his effort to raise his children in a comfortable home despite having lacked the presence of a mother figure.

The thought of leaving his still very young brother facing the outside world without him by his side to protect him like a big brother should and lastly forgetting all the help the villagers provided to him and his family.

Cutting out any of them out made him feel utterly disgusted and impossible to achieve. This path seemed to him like a lonely path devoid of any feelings and any form of love, all that remaining being the near insanity-inducing desire to transcend the mortal plane.

"Yeah...these people are crazy." Completely agreeing with his statement, Yao Tian went to sleep.

When the quiet night slowly receded giving room to the rays of sunlight creeping out on the mountainous horizon. The villagers knew that it was time to get ready, for today was going to be an especially busy day. "Good morning you little brats! Wake up, don't forget that we have to go to help old man Jing to set up the lanterns for the upcoming festival! " Shouted Yao Tai who already seemed busy lifting wooden boxes of candles and incense sticks outside the house.

Woken from his peaceful sleep, Yao Tian woke up with a slight headache due to his father's loud voice. "Uggh, it's so early in the morning dad." Releasing a yawn he went on and closed his eyes, trying to go back to sleep. "Just...a few...more..." Without even finishing his phrase, Yao Tian fell asleep again.

Only to be abruptly woken up again by his father who effortlessly picked him and began shaking him with so much force that he almost threw up.

"Sto-Stop, STOP IM AWAKE, IM AWAKE YOU GORILLA!" Trying to free himself from this torture, Yao Tian tried prying of Yao Tai's hand from his shoulders with minimal results.

"Nahaha! Such energy in the morning, as expected from my son! Now, go freshen up and join me in the living room. Today is a very important day. We have a festival coming soon!" Dropping his son, the excited Yao Tai left the room and almost broke the door and the walls with his carelessness.

Already used to his father's freaking strength, Yao Tian got himself ready still feeling half asleep.

Lazily descending the stairs while scratching his back a half-awake Yao Tian tried to recall which festival they were preparing for. And seeing the various assortments of banners and red coloured decorations it wasn't hard for him to figure it out."Oh yeah, *yawns* the new year's festival is starting soon. Can't believe that we are already celebrating the 9th millennial."

After preparing breakfast for the still sleeping Yao Bao, who was somehow still sleeping despite what happened this morning, Yao Tian immediately followed his father for the preparations.

In the official calendar of the Buxiu Realm, they were currently in the 12th month of the year 8999 since the Silverstar Empire was founded. This was considered a major event since before the creation of the empire the human continent was divided into countless tribes and small local powers scattered throughout the human continent without any form of union.

They say that it was due to the continuous invasion from the nearby continent of the spirit beasts that a single tribe with the name Star decided to unite all of humankind to counterattack. As time went on and the Star tribe got stronger with each merge did they finally slowly started driving out the invading forces. After succeeding to do so did they established the Silverstar Empire.

In 4 days would mark the beginning of a new year and most amazingly the 9th millennium. The number 9 was considered a lucky number as it represented the absolute peak as well as rebirth or transformation. People would celebrate harder this time as it meant that the Empire would continue to grow stronger and transform into an even more powerful and amazing nation. But of course, Red Mountain Village was extremely far away from the Silverstar capital so they would just celebrate it as usual.

*Bam! * *Bam! * "Careful when dropping those boxes you blockhead! These candles are very delicate and fragile and we won't be able to prepare another batch in time if all of them were ruined. " Shouted an old hunchbacked man with grey hair using a cane with bells attached to it ringing every time he walked.

"Nahahaha don't sweat it you old booger Jing, with my son by my side and my reliable muscles these candles won't even have the slightest crack on them!" Said the giant man while striking several poses showing off his goods.

"Oi! Be careful you're still holding the boxes, you buffoon!" Shouted old man Jing.

Sweat dropping at his weird attitude, the old man couldn't help but feel sympathy for the young Yao Tian. "I hope you finish up your work without any accidents you dense muscle head or else you'll be responsible for the damage! *sigh* my boy Tian you must make sure to never turn as...Ummm...eccentric as your father when you grow up, especially your younger brother, kids his age are quite impressionable."

Coming into view from behind the giant stature of Yao Tai came Yao Tian carrying the last wooden box which he placed it down gently without it making any noise. "Don't worry Grandpa Jing, dad is just excited about the new year's festival sparring tournament, so he is a bit reckless" Indeed Yao Tai was very excited about the festival as it was the only time of the year where he could spar with other members of the village as well as others from the nearby villages and settlements.

For the last 15 years he never was once beaten and always ended up coming up as the champion that it left people wondering if he was a beast in human skin.

Seemingly recalling something Old man Jing said "Oh yes, this old man almost forgot to share a piece of certain news with you, I have heard that the Chief's son Song Shou is returning to the village for a visit. I remembered you were quite close, he was practically your older brother so grasp this opportunity to catch up with him."

Song Shou? He left the village 4 years ago to make a name for himself and experience the world. Yao Tian remembered how they use to spend a lot of time together and he even helped take care of Yao Bao from time to time. To tell the truth, Yao Tian was kinda eager to reunite with his old friend.

In fact, he still remembered the day when in order to win over a girl from a foreign village, he pretended to be a thief and tried to run away with some of her stuff. But Song Shou "coincidentally" happened to be near the area and stopped him with a kick to the face. Fortunately, he wasn't hurt much and was just left with a red footprint mark on his face for days.

And so the four days passed in a blink of an eye, despite the large amount of work needed to arrange and build the stage and stalls for the festival the villagers still had to take care of the fields. But they managed to work it out with everyone supporting each especially Yao Tian, who multitasked many different issues bothering many people. Yao Tai did most of the heavy lifting of the materials while Yao Bao cheered his family from behind with his cheeks stuffed with sweets and treats given to him by the passing villagers. Red Mountain Village barely managed to finish the preparation on the eve of the festival day.

During the early morning, in the middle of the Red Mountain's path, hundreds of people from the surrounding villages and settlements could be seen travelling down the road leading to the Red Mountain Village where this new year's festival would take place. Walking among the masses were numerous merchants with goods origination from across the empire, performers, priests, and even some wandering warriors coming to participate in the tournament to show off their might. At the back of the group walked a single man with a strange aura around him making everyone feel an invisible pressure and terror in their hearts.

One of the groups of people included merchants carrying various wares that they planned to sell off at the village.

This group travelled closely with the mysterious man, and of them immediately recognised the strange pressure coming from the man as he had felt such a thing once during his many travels.

"I-is th-that an Immortal!? It can't be! Why would one come here, boss!? " Whisper one of the merchant's assistants walking near the mysterious man.

"Shhhhhh! Shut your blabbering mouth, you imbecile! Never gossip about an immortal or question their actions unless you want to be reduced to ashes. If you want to die then do it alone, don't drag me and my wares with you! " Said the merchant harshly.

He might have seemed very mean and unreasonable to his assistant's simple question, but there were lots of daily cases where immortals would kill simple people like him over the smallest matter.

He had once seen one of his associates get crushed into meat paste just because he didn't greet the elderly immortal since he didn't recognize him. Memorizing all of the mysterious man's features so that he could identify him in the future the merchant and his assistant hurried along down the road.

While the mysterious man heard every word that was exchanged between those two he didn't pay them any attention instead he looked towards the direction of the village with a complicated yet determined gaze. Clenching his fists, he said to himself

"I will become a true cultivator."