Chapter 1: Immortality

In the spring of 260 BC, on New Year's Eve.

In the State of Zhao.

In the capital city of Handan.

Early in the morning, King Dan of Zhao sat on the imperial dais, wearing a pearl-embroidered headdress.

A court historian reported in the hall, holding a tablet:

"Your Majesty, half a month ago, a comet appeared with a divided tail, emerging in the southwest at the first watch and landing in the territory of Zhao, specifically in the Hongtong region. This morning, an official from Hongtong reported that after the comet, a celestial being appeared in the Dahuixiang area. This being has a body like jade, a living appearance, and wears strange clothing unlike that of the seven states. Since its appearance, it has not opened its eyes and has not eaten or drunk for seventeen days. Some villagers, fearing it to be a monster, have tried to burn and chop it, but it has shown no damage. Now, the local people have built a shrine to worship it as a 'god' and have constructed a living temple for it."

King Dan half-closed his eyes, lazily saying, "The villagers are ignorant and spread rumors. Most of what they say is not true. Gentlemen, focus your attention on the battle against Qin. The Qin army has provoked us multiple times, but General廉頗 has retreated without fighting. I am considering replacing him. Who do you think can replace廉頯?"

"Your Majesty, Zhao Kuo, the son of the famous general Ma Fu Jun, is well-versed in military strategy. The Qin army fears him. If we appoint Zhao Kuo as the general, we will surely win a great victory!"

King Dan's eyes flickered, and he smiled slightly:

"Zhao Kuo? I have heard of his extraordinary talents. If we replace廉頗 with him, we will surely win a great victory, break through the Qin army, and enter Xianyang! Zhao Kuo! It is decided!"

...

At the same time that the State of Zhao replaced its general with the young prodigy Zhao Kuo.

In the Dahuixiang area of Hongtong County, which King Dan had not inquired about.

A simple shrine made of thatched grass was built against a large locust tree.

Inside the shrine, on a one-zhang-high yellow mud altar, sat a young man with long hair hanging to his shoulders.

He wore a wide white robe, had broad shoulders, a high nose bridge, and a face as white as crystal, resembling a statue, with features that seemed carved, surpassing all earthly beauty.

He looked more like a divine sculpture than a human.

At that moment, outside the shrine, hundreds of villagers, dressed in various hemp and silk clothes, men and women, old and young, all bowed around the altar.

The villagers, bowing and rising, formed waves, their voices filled with various wishes directed at the statue.

"Pray that the divine being blesses my family with peace!"

"Pray that the divine being grants us a child to continue our lineage!"

"Pray that the divine being shows mercy and gives us some wealth..."

Since the divine being descended with the meteor in Dahuixiang, in just half a month, the news had spread to dozens of surrounding villages, and people came to pray and pay their respects.

Couples knelt and prayed for the divine being to grant them a child to carry on their lineage.

Some who were skeptical at first, upon seeing the divine being's skin, which was unlike any human's, and its chiseled features and divine aura, could not help but believe.

The village chief, Old Man Chen, even led the effort to build the shrine.

As Old Man Chen led his family in daily prayers before the altar, bowing and praying for the divine being's protection, his family's heads buried in the ground in reverence.

Suddenly, a child's innocent voice called out:

"Grandpa, Father, look, look, the divine being has opened its eyes!"

Old Man Chen's son quickly lowered his head, seeing his son standing up and pointing at the divine being, his face changed, and he immediately scolded, "Sheng'er, do not point at the divine being, kneel down, and do not speak nonsense!"

He did not take his son's words seriously at all.

How could the divine being open its eyes?

That would mean it was truly alive!

But just as the man scolded his three-year-old son, he heard a commotion around the altar. People stood up, shouting in fear:

"The divine being has opened its eyes!"

"The divine being has opened its eyes!"

"The divine being has stood up!!!"

The man's mind exploded, as if struck by lightning, and he turned his neck in disbelief to look...

He saw that the young man statue, which they had revered as a deity, sitting on the yellow mud platform, had indeed opened its eyes and was looking at him...

What kind of eyes were these?

Though the image was that of a young man, they were so weathered, like a deity looking down from above, with eyes as deep and vast as the night sky.

"Divine being!!"

Old Man Chen's mouth dropped open, his scalp tingling, but as the village chief, he was not like the common people. Hearing the villagers' frightened cries, he was the first to react:

"The divine being has shown itself, this old man Chen Jiu bows to the divine being!"

Old Man Chen's lead caused most of the villagers to follow, kneeling in fear.

But they still shouted:

"Divine being, spare us!"

"Divine being, do not kill us!"

Humans are like this.

Even though they had been worshipping the divine being, the moment they saw the statue come to life, their first reaction was not reverence but fear.

Old Man Chen, though leading the kneeling, was also trembling with fear, knowing that kneeling was the right thing to do in this situation, but unsure if the divine being coming to life was a good or bad omen.

While he was trembling in fear...

He felt a gentle breeze from the altar, lifting him and all the villagers of Dahuixiang to their feet.

Then, a deep, warm male voice flowed into their ears:

"If it were not for the incense and prayers of the past ten days, which awakened me, I would have slept for many more years. You are all my benefactors, and I, Jiang Taiyi, am grateful. How could I harm you?"

This voice, powerful and reaching the heart, was gentle and warm.

Old Man Chen and his family, along with all the villagers, felt a sense of calm and relaxed involuntarily.

"Taiyi!"

Old Man Chen, with great reverence, raised his head, hearing the young man's name, and exclaimed in shock:

"It is the will of heaven!"

The divine being called himself Jiang Taiyi.

Not to mention that the surname Jiang was the surname of the Flame Emperor.

Taiyi, the deity revered in Chu, and even in the seven states, was a symbol of the heavens, the sky, and the supreme god.

"My heavens!"

The villagers were even more shocked, realizing that the divine being before them was the Heavenly Emperor, and that his opening of the eyes was truly the heavens opening their eyes!

"Lord Taiyi..."

Jiang Taiyi's eyes were calm, but he saw the reactions of the hundreds of villagers below:

"Is the Heavenly Emperor of this world called Taiyi? It seems there has been a misunderstanding. I am not the Lord of Heaven you think, but merely an immortal practitioner."

After speaking...

Old Man Chen was confused, not understanding what an "immortal practitioner" meant.

But he clearly heard four words.

"Immortal and eternal!"

The divine being had personally admitted to being an immortal and eternal being.

If not the Lord of Heaven, what else could it be?

What in this world is eternal? Spring and autumn, cold and heat, birth, aging, sickness, and death—no one can escape. Only the Lord of Heaven can exist forever, watching over all living beings.

Seeing that the old man still had some misunderstanding, Jiang Taiyi did not intend to explain further but asked instead:

"What year is it now? Who is your ruler? How vast is this world?"

Old Man Chen thought for a moment and quickly replied, "In response to the divine being, since the Zhou dynasty, after the five great lords of the Spring and Autumn period, the world is now divided into seven states: Qi, Chu, Yan, Han, Zhao, Wei, and Qin."

"My family is now in the Dahuixiang area of Hongtong County in the State of Zhao. The ruler is King Dan of Zhao, the son of King Huiwen, and this is the beginning of the twentieth year of King Dan's reign."

"Qi, Chu, Yan, Han, Zhao, Wei, Qin."

Hearing this, Jiang Taiyi murmured to himself:

"A world of seven warring states?"

He had come to this world, and if not for the villagers' incense and prayers, he might have slept for much longer, perhaps never waking again. All the people of this village were his benefactors...

As he spoke...

He looked at the child who had first pointed at him and said he had opened his eyes. The child was now hiding behind Old Man Chen, looking at him with curiosity and reverence, his black eyes like gems. Jiang Taiyi smiled gently and asked:

"What is your child's name?"

Old Man Chen was about to speak, but the little boy poked his head out and loudly said:

"My name is Chen Sheng!"

(End of Chapter)