Average Joe's Road To Immortality 1-10

Hsu Mu rose with the dawn, his sleep interrupted by the persistent tolling of a bell. The sound reverberated through the valley, showing no signs of fading. The local wildlife, long accustomed to this daily ritual, didn't stir. Even a large yellow dog at the village's edge barked only briefly towards the bell's source before settling back down to continue its slumber.

The mountain was known as Liverlam Rise. It wasn't the tallest peak in Mirror State, but it certainly held the title for the most enigmatic. Enveloped in a perpetual shroud of clouds and mist, villagers only dared to roam its outskirts. Those who ventured deeper into the forest invariably returned, bewildered and disoriented. To the villagers, the presence of immortals within the mountain was an open secret, and the village itself thrived under the auspices of the Immortal Sect nestled within Liverlam Rise. After all, one could only live off the land to the extent the Immortal Sect permitted.

Cultivators, though not true immortals requiring neither food nor drink, still had earthly needs. Particularly those below the Foundation Stage, including even the most advanced practitioners of the Qi Refining Thirteenth Layer, who needed to eat at least once a month. Only upon transcending to the Foundation Stage and achieving the Heavenly Foundation could they forsake worldly sustenance.

Thus, the small mountain village frequently interacted with the Immortal Sect. Although these interactions were often with mortals dispatched to procure supplies, they were not to be regarded as ordinary people, given their association with the Sect.

Hsu Mu was acquainted with the Sect's purchasing manager from Liverlam Rise, a man surnamed Zhao. Once a fellow villager, Zhao's shrewdness had caught the Sect's attention. Upon joining their ranks, he swiftly rose to the position of Outer Sect manager. He had left the village a skinny lad, but within a few years, he had grown so portly he could scarcely fit through his own doorway. Only the village chief's sizable wooden gate could accommodate his girth.

Life in the shadow of the Immortal Sect was tranquil, free from the worries of bandits or thieves. In gratitude for the village's support, Liverlam Rise annually allowed eligible village children to partake in the Immortal Sect's entrance trials.

Success meant a step towards immortality, while failure still offered a chance to serve the Sect in a role as esteemed as Manager Zhao's.

Despite not wanting to share Zhao's rotund fate, Hsu Mu eagerly anticipated the possibility of becoming an immortal and held the upcoming trials in high regard. Yet, history showed that success was elusive, with nine and a half out of ten aspirants returning home empty-handed.

Nevertheless, the children, not fully grasping the concept of failure, would wait excitedly at home after the New Year, especially those turning thirteen. The ringing bell signaled that Steward Zhao had descended from the mountain, and with his arrival, the children believed their transformation into immortals was at hand.

Upon hearing the bell, Hsu Mu swiftly fetched water from the courtyard and freshened up. Shortly after, he was ready to face the day.

"Fifth Baby, where are you? Uncle Zhao is here! called his father, Hsu Baoshan, from outside. At over forty years of age, he had fathered three daughters and three sons.

His eldest daughters had already married into families at opposite ends of the village. While girls could also join the Immortal Sect trials, tradition often dictated otherwise, and few took the opportunity.

Hsu Mu's older brothers, Hsu Shan and Hsu Lin, had tried their luck at the trials but, failing to ascend, left to apprentice with a blacksmith in the city. As the fifth child, Hsu Mu was followed by his younger sister, Xu Ling, the family's darling. Before her birth, he had been the favored one, but his time in the limelight was a fleeting two years, now a distant memory.

"He's here!" Hsu Mu called back, wiping his face and stepping out with a determined stride. Yet, upon seeing Manager Zhao's imposing figure, a wave of nervousness washed over him.

"Haha, Old Hsu, this must be your young one, eh? He's got a sharp look about him; perhaps he'll be the one to make it through this time!" chuckled Fatty Zhao, his smile as wide as his waistband.

When he laughed, his eyes were squinted into slits by the chubby cheeks on his face, yet his voice boomed with a robust energy, making him resemble a prosperous, plump fox.

Hsu Baoshan responded with a touch of irritation, "Enough with your arrogance.

You always say that, and my ears are practically calloused from hearing it!

Didn't I catch you saying the same thing at old Zhang's place?"

Unfazed by being called out, Fatty Zhao simply chuckled and replied, "What do you know? This is what you call a blessing. I've heard that immortals use magic to bless people. I'm just trying to do the same."

After a brief exchange, Fatty Zhao took his leave, mentioning he was off to notify the neighboring family. He suggested that Hsu Mu and his father should have a meaningful conversation while they still had the chance. Hsu Baoshan didn't think much of it. After all, he had sent two sons away before, and they had returned the next day, hadn't they?

Meanwhile, father and son exchanged awkward glances, the silence between them growing increasingly uncomfortable.

Eventually, Hsu Baoshan advised, "Be cautious when you head out later.

Observe more, speak less. Understood?"

"Understood, Dad," Hsu Mu nodded, his response dutiful and earnest.

Hsu Baoshan, pleased, stroked his beard and nodded in approval. His youngest son had always been understanding, a true comfort to him.

Soon after, Chen Xiu emerged from the back room, holding out a parcel to Hsu Mu. "Fifth Baby, take this with you. If you get hungry on the road, have something to eat. Don't go hungry," she said.

Hsu Mu accepted the warm bundle, delighted to find several sugar pancakes inside. He beamed at his mother, "Mom, you're the best!"

At home, their meals were usually bland pancakes, so Chen Xiu's gift of three sugar pancakes was a treat that could keep the young boy elated for hours.

Chen Xiu watched her son's joy with affectionate amusement, though her eyes betrayed a hint of resignation. These sugar pancakes might be among the last home-cooked meals Hsu Mu would enjoy for a while. Once he descended from the mountain, he was destined to follow in his brother's footsteps, venturing into the city to apprentice. Sustaining a family as a mere farmer was a daunting task, let alone establishing a household.

Even living in the mountain village under the protection of Liverlam Rise, Hsu Baoshan found it challenging to provide for his family.

But thirteen-year-old Hsu Mu was blissfully unaware of these hardships, contentedly nibbling on his sugar pancakes, his eyes brimming with simple joy.