Chapter 1

Changchuan Wushen Chapter 1 (1/730)

The Tian Shan, covered year-round by eternal snow, where only cold air flows.

Xiahou Ying sat cross-legged, looking up at the sky.

Warm sunlight shone upon the pristine eternal snow.

It had been a long time since he felt such warmth.

As he gazed at the majestic scenery of the Tian Shan, which was instantly bathed in gold, it seemed as if the entire world was enveloped in warmth, not just the Tian Shan.

A gentle smile appeared on Xiahou Ying's face.

"Good."

He felt good, experiencing the warmth after a hundred days.

The sky was clear, without a single cloud.

Below the snow-covered peak, greenery was sprouting.

He could feel the yin and yang energies of the universe.

It was a rare day in the Tian Shan.

Because it was rare, it was precious, and it was a perfect day.

Xiahou Ying closed his eyes gently, feeling the warmth all over his body.

Memories from the past began to surface, slowly rising from the darkness.

From the days when he roamed the streets, scavenging for food like an animal, to the present moment, sitting cross-legged.

He had wielded a sword to survive and wandered the world as a ronin.

He had met many masters and survived countless life-and-death situations.

He was a genius.

Although he started practicing martial arts at the late age of fifteen, he became stronger and survived faster than anyone else.

At first, he learned martial arts to survive, but later, he fought to prove himself.

He fought and fought as if that was the only reason to live.

What was once a mere insect had finally become a dragon above the clouds.

No one could stop him.

He stood alone, reigning supreme.

The so-called order of the world, the Nine Great Sects and Five Great Families, could not stop him, and eight of the Ten Great Masters of the world knelt before him.

It was the moment when the world's order was reestablished.

And around that time, the demonic path rose like a wildfire, overturning the world.

He was curious about demonic arts and the masters of the demonic path.

To seek new proof, he fought against the demonic path as well.

Everyone held their breath and bowed at his every step.

In the end, after a ten-year war, he proved himself by beheading the Demon Lord.

A hero who brought down the sky of the demonic path and saved the world.

The First Under Heaven.

Xiahou Ying, the Lone Tyrant.

That was who he was.

A name no one dared to challenge under the heavens.

But was it because he was too successful?

Looking around, he saw nothing.

Xiahou Ying felt a deep sense of emptiness.

Even the Demon Lord, who was said to be close to the First Under Heaven, could not match him. Who in the world could stand against him?

No force, no martial artist, met his standards.

Over time, a sense of futility and despair began to consume him.

To escape this, he went into seclusion.

He wanted to know where his realm was and how far he could reach.

After searching for answers, he arrived at the Tian Shan.

And when he reached the Tian Shan, he found the answer.

Ascension.

Through the ascension spoken of by the Taoist priests, Xiahou Ying sought to reach a new realm.

The pinnacle of martial arts.

To achieve the ultimate state.

To shed the shell of the flesh and ascend to a new level.

Xiahou Ying focused.

'This is the last chance.'

During the ten years of preparation for ascension, he had experienced five failures.

As a result, his once diamond-hard body was now on the verge of cracking.

He could intuitively feel that his lifespan was coming to an end.

'If I fail this time... is it the end?'

He thought he had transcended the secular world, but the word "last" still held him back.

'Focus.'

Xiahou Ying cleared his mind of distractions.

The sixth attempt.

Perhaps the last chance.

He needed to focus more than ever.

His lower abdomen, the dantian, began to stir.

The inner strength he had accumulated throughout his life flowed out from every pore, enveloping his body.

The power that arose from his lower abdomen ascended to his heart and then shot up to the top of his head.

'I can do it.'

He felt his body becoming lighter.

'I must not let my guard down yet.'

The first time he reached the realm of ascension, he lost his composure and fell due to the same feeling.

He calmed his mind and waited.

He extended his breath and felt the flow of energy.

The energy emitted from his heart seeped into his crown.

The life force that enveloped his body bloomed like a flower.

Three black buds appeared above his crown, and the waves of energy they emitted instantly withered the surrounding pine trees.

A storm of wind and lightning disrupted the peaceful sky.

And then the harmony suddenly subsided.

With a peaceful face, the harmony that had centered on Xiahou Ying suddenly disappeared.

A beam of golden light descended from the sky, and Xiahou Ying attained infinite freedom.

His soul, carried by the wind, left his old body and ascended to the heavens.

'Ah! Finally, finally!'

A look of joy appeared on Xiahou Ying's face.

"Ah, ascension. It's ascension!"

All the troubles that filled his mind were emptied, and a sense of emptiness washed over him.

Conversely, he felt a sense of fulfillment in his heart.

As his soul rose into the air, the sky drew closer, and the Tian Shan shrank to the size of a palm.

Ascension, his final wish, was within reach.

Above the mysterious clouds, the realm of the immortals began to appear.

"Ha ha ha! Finally, finally, I have reached this place! I will become an immortal and achieve a new realm!"

As Xiahou Ying laughed and was about to step into the realm of the immortals, other immortals poked their heads out from above.

From an old man with a long beard to a young boy and a beautiful woman dressed as an immortal maiden.

Eight immortals were staring down at him.

'Ha ha, these immortals must have recognized me and come to welcome me!'

Xiahou Ying smiled warmly.

In a way, they were now his peers.

At that moment, the mysterious voices of the immortals echoed in his ears.

"Wow, that guy is finally ascending."

"He's full of killing intent. Is he even an immortal? It's worse than last time."

"He must have tasted too much blood in the mortal world. With so much sin, I can't tell if he's a ghost or an immortal."

The immortals frowned.

"What can we do? He possesses a talent that can disrupt the natural order."

"That's true. He will disrupt the natural order and destroy the immortal bath you love."

"What? This bastard! We have to send him back! Send him back!"

"Wow! Isn't that disrupting the natural order itself?"

"His ascent itself is against the natural order. What are you talking about?"

The immortals murmured, emitting a faint aura of anger.

"Ugh! The karma on his shoulders is too heavy."

"We shouldn't accept such a bloodthirsty soul. Send him back."

What are they saying?

The content seems strange.

"Another one like him is appearing."

"Let's drop him quickly! He's getting closer with every word."

"How about giving him one more chance? If he can atone for his past mistakes, he will earn the right to ascend and maintain the natural order."

"Hmm... not bad."

Xiahou Ying frowned as he listened to the eight immortals.

'What are these guys babbling about?'

Before he could wonder, one of the immortals pointed at the air.

"Huh?"

His body, which was ascending to the immortal realm, suddenly tilted.

And the feeling of falling endlessly... no, he was really falling.

Wh-what?!

"Ugh?!"

The voices of the immortals echoed in his ears.

"Disgusting. Cleanse the blood smell and come back."

"Wow, he even has demonic energy. What a mess!"

"We'll give him one more chance. Start anew."

What?

Cleanse what?

The futility of his lifelong wish, which vanished in an instant as his soul fell to the ground, pierced his entire body.

At the same time, anger erupted.

Who are they to knock me down while I'm ascending?!

As Xiahou Ying desperately lifted his head to look up, he saw the faces of the eight immortals who had dropped him and were smiling contentedly.

Smiling?

"These bastards!"

* * *

Boom!

A heavy impact rang in his head.

His stomach churned, and his limbs tingled.

Trying to get up by touching the ground, he found no strength in his hands.

He could barely open his eyes.

Pain as if his muscles were being squeezed and a dizzying sensation filled his mind.

"Ugh! You, you bastards!"

Xiahou Ying shouted despite the pain.

The feeling of falling from the sky was still vivid.

The faces of the eight immortal bastards laughing from above the clouds were clearly etched in his mind.

'What the hell! Laughing? Laughing?'

Daring to mess with me, Xiahou Ying the Lone Tyrant?

Are these guys challenging me?

I thought I had transcended the secular world, but I was wrong.

No, it's because they are immortal brats that I'm so angry.

These guys messing with me?

I'll give them back what they deserve.

Ten times, a hundred times.

Xiahou Ying, the Lone Tyrant, will show these immortal bastards that he is not someone to be trifled with.

To ascend again, to ascend again... but to ascend again, I need a body, right?

...Huh? What is this?

Xiahou Ying looked at his hand lying on the bed.

He could vaguely see the back of his hand, and when he moved it, it was definitely his own.

Although the shock of the fall had not completely worn off, he could clearly feel the sensation.

But wasn't his body at its limit?

Xiahou Ying's eyes lit up.

'They really gave me another chance?'

These fools even gave me a chance for revenge!

What a stroke of luck!

Strength he didn't even know he had surged within him.

A wave of joy washed over him.

He wanted to get up and roar.

If it weren't for the dizziness and weakness, he would have done so already.

Xiahou Ying gritted his teeth.

"These bastards! I'll crush them all. All of them!"

"...Calm down, calm down! You'll fall again!"

"Fall? Me?"

"Yes, that's why. Please calm down."

"That's ridiculous. The ones who will fall are the immortal brats..."

Xiahou Ying paused and turned his head.

Was there anyone else on the peak of the Tian Shan besides him?

No... was the Tian Shan this warm?

He rubbed his eyes, which were still blurry.

He rubbed them until tears welled up in his eyes.

A familiar yet strange voice sounded again.

"Are you feeling better? Not dizzy or anything? Can you see me? Here, take this, quickly!"

"...What is this?"

"It's medicine."

"Medicine?"

"Drink it, all of it."

"What?"

"I knew you would say that, so I brought a straw. Suck it, all of it."

A long object was placed in his mouth.

Xiahou Ying instinctively sucked it.

Suck.

The medicine flowed down his throat through the thin tube.

A bitter taste spread in his mouth.

Swallow, swallow!

"Good, you're drinking well."

"..."

"Why?"

Xiahou Ying, sucking the medicine, focused his eyes.

As his blurry vision cleared, the face of the person holding the medicine bowl came into view.

Suck, suck!

"Does anything else hurt? If you feel any pain, tell me right away. Oh, why did you overexert yourself? I told you not to walk. I said it was cold. After you take this, wash your face."

"..."

"I was really scared. When you suddenly fell again, I didn't know what to do. Suck, suck! There's still a little left. Drink it all until you see the bottom, suck!"

"Who are you?"

"...Excuse me?"

"Who are you?"

The person holding the medicine bowl, Jin Chianshang, blinked.

"...Don't you remember? Did you hit your head when you fell? No, they said there were no external injuries."

Jin Chianshang stood up and examined the back of Xiahou Ying's head, muttering.

Xiahou Ying frowned.

'What is this guy babbling about?'

What? Master?

"Who are you?"

"I am Jin Chianshang."

"Who is Jin Chianshang?"

"I am the eldest son of the Nan Gong family's chief steward and the one who serves Master. Don't you remember?"

Xiahou Ying frowned again at Jin Chianshang's words.

The words were familiar yet strange.

"Nan Gong family?"

"Yes, the Nan Gong family. Do you remember?"

A hollow laugh escaped his lips.

So...

'These immortal brats dropped me here?'

In the Nan Gong family?

"What a crazy..."

"Master?"

Xiahou Ying turned his head sharply to look at Jin Chianshang.

Then, seeing Jin Chianshang's eyes widen, he asked quietly.

"Who am I?"

Jin Chianshang answered immediately.

"You are the second son of the great Nan Gong family."

Xiahou Ying's gaze moved from his smooth, wrinkle-free palm to Jin Chianshang.

After staring at Jin Chianshang for a moment, Xiahou Ying raised his head blankly.

Above the blocked ceiling, the faces of the eight immortals appeared one by one.

Xiahou Ying's expression slowly twisted.

"What the hell!"