System Granted Me Immortality; I Outlived Everyone

Chapter 7: Master Yixiu, See You in Eighty Years

As Chen Changsheng’s voice fell, the System’s mechanical tone echoed in his mind.

“Since the Host harbors such doubts, why not seek the truth yourself?”

Chen Changsheng rolled his eyes, waving the thought away dismissively.

“Cut the jokes. Why would I ever subject myself to something so incredibly dangerous?”

“If even the slightest variable went wrong, the losses would be catastrophic.”

“Besides, I have zero interest in spending the rest of my life dodging extermination crusades like the Blood Demon Ancestor.”

“Host, my implication is that you could seek out the safest, most reliable methodology.”

That gave Chen Changsheng pause.

“The safest and most reliable method? Does such a thing even exist?”

“Why would the Host assume otherwise? Nothing in this world is truly absolute.”

“The Blood Demon Ancestor resorted to such desperate, shortcut measures simply because his lifespan was already burning out.”

“But you are different, Host. You possess a nearly infinite lifespan.”

“Given enough time to accumulate data, solving this biological hurdle is highly probable.”

Chen Changsheng tilted his head, chewing on the logic. “Fair point. Time looks intangible and weak, but it’s the sharpest butcher’s knife in the universe.”

“Whether you’re a supreme Soul Formation Ancestor or an imperishable divine weapon, nothing survives the rot of time.”

“Everything eventually grinds down to dust. A minor cultivation hurdle is no exception.”

The concept of an Artificial Spirit Root was a secondary hypothesis drafted by the Blood Demon Ancestor. He theorized that external catalysts could be surgically implanted into the human body to simulate a natural Spirit Root.

However, the methodology was littered with unresolved biological bottlenecks.

For instance: what specific heavenly treasures possessed the correct elemental compatibility? And how could one prevent the host’s immune system from simply absorbing the treasure’s energy before it could take root?

Chen Changsheng felt absolutely no rush to solve these issues. He had all the time in the world.

After exchanging a few more idle remarks with the System, Chen Changsheng climbed into his favorite sleeping coffin.

He had been working for three straight months. It was time to clock out.

……

Unsurprisingly, the burial of the Blood Demon Ancestor generated zero ripples in the mundane world.

Chen Changsheng slipped right back into his quiet, fiercely solitary routine.

The only variable was the bleeding-heart little monk, who made a habit of dropping by the shop every few days.

Sometimes he came bearing fresh corpses for Chen Changsheng to process; other times, he just wanted to ramble about his cultivation breakthroughs.

Mostly, however, they debated Buddhist doctrine.

For decades, Chen Changsheng had done nothing but read. He consumed everything from esoteric Buddhist sutras and Daoist scripture down to cheap street-stall romances and vulgar smut.

If it contained text, Chen Changsheng devoured it.

Backed by fifty years of cynical, real-world observation, Chen Changsheng ruthlessly dismantled the monk’s idealism, winning almost every debate.

……

“Chen Changsheng! Today, this poor monk will drag you through three hundred rounds of debate!”

A bald young man clad in a monk’s robe marched boldly through the coffin shop’s doors.

Noting the visitor’s complete lack of decorum, Chen Changsheng didn’t even look up from his book.

“You are supposed to be the official successor of the Heavenly Buddha Temple. The revered Master Yixiu.”

“If your worshippers saw you acting like a street thug, wouldn’t they die of embarrassment?”

Yixiu rolled his eyes, casually hopping up to sit on the lid of a nearby coffin.

“Let them laugh.”

“They can sing my praises to the high heavens, but it won’t change the agonizing fact that I’ve been losing arguments to you for twenty straight years.”

Indeed, the ‘Master Yixiu’ sitting before him was the exact same little monk who had dragged the Blood Demon Ancestor’s corpse to the shop all those years ago.

Time was a river; twenty years had vanished in the blink of an eye.

The naive little novice had grown into an immensely capable young powerhouse of the orthodox path.

Chen Changsheng finally lowered his book. “Sounds like you’re here for more punishment.”

“Obviously. Why else would I visit this depressing shop?”

“Out of everyone I know, you are the only one who can actually pressure my understanding of the Dharma.”

Yixiu sighed. “But having said that… your cultivation talent is genuinely offensive to the heavens.”

“Twenty years ago, you were at the third layer of Qi Condensation. Today, you are at the fourth layer. Your progress is practically moving backwards.”

“I’m terrified you’re just going to randomly drop dead of old age one day. Who would I debate with then?”

Chen Changsheng offered a faint, deadpan smile. “I can’t exactly reroll my starting stats. What do you want me to do?”

“If your talent is garbage, I can help!”

“I can’t magically give you a good Spirit Root, but extending your mortal lifespan is well within my power.”

“You dodge the question every time I ask your age. I just don’t want to lose my only actual friend.”

Chen Changsheng merely smiled, letting the silence hang.

The greatest perk of lingering around the edges of the cultivation world was that no one questioned his unchanging appearance.

Face-Preserving Pills were cheap and abundant.

“Life and death are fated; wealth and ruin are decided by the heavens. Don’t stress over lifespan. Just let nature take its course.”

“Actually, I’m not here to debate today. I need to outsource a job to you.”

“Denied.”

Yixiu rejected him with flat, immediate finality.

“Unless you finally let me extend your lifespan.”

Seeing the monk’s stubborn glare, Chen Changsheng let out a helpless chuckle.

“Deal. Run this errand for me, and I’ll let you feed me whatever longevity herbs you want.”

Yixiu instantly vaulted off the coffin, eyes gleaming with excitement.

“Name it! I, Master Yixiu, guarantee its completion!”

“You’re passing through the Linglong Sect’s territory to attend the ‘Longevity Fairy’s’ ascension ceremony to Elder, correct?”

“Yeah. What, you want a ticket to the show?”

“No.” Chen Changsheng shook his head. “I need you to hand-deliver this item to the Longevity Fairy.”

Reaching into his robes, he produced a small, meticulously carved wooden tiger.

Yixiu stared at the wooden toy, his face contorting into a mask of pure cringe.

“Chen Changsheng… please don’t tell me you’re a simp for the Longevity Fairy.”

“The woman is an ice block who has zero interest in Dao Companions. You’re throwing your life away.”

“Just put the woodcarving in her hands. Do not say a single extra word.”

“Succeed, and you get to extend my life.”

Yixiu scratched his bald head, agonizing over the suicidal social request.

Eventually, with a heavy sigh, he snatched the wooden tiger from Chen Changsheng’s palm.

“Let’s get one thing straight. I will act as your courier, but I am absolutely not mentioning your name.”

“If her army of psychotic suitors traces this back to you, you will die a very miserable, highly localized death.”

“Agreed.”

Having struck the deal, Yixiu tucked the carving away and marched out of the coffin shop.

Chen Changsheng watched his friend’s retreating back. “Little monk,” he murmured softly. “See you in eighty years.”

The moment Yixiu was out of sight, Chen Changsheng snapped into action, slamming several Spirit Stones into the floorboards.

Complex Formation patterns flared to life across the entire shop. It was a randomized teleportation array he had spent the last ten years secretly etching into the foundations.

Destination: unknown. Range: unknown.

It was an absolute fail-safe. If even he didn’t know where he was going, no one could possibly track the spatial coordinates to hunt him down.

Buzz!

A blinding flash of spiritual light erupted. Chen Changsheng vanished from the room, and the violent spatial distortion instantly shattered the array on the floor into unusable dust.