It was truly the dog days of summer. The sweltering sun made working twice as hard and even more unrewarding than usual, but thankfully, Jun didn’t have to lift a finger.
After all, who would make a dog till the fields?
Besides, he had paws, not fingers.
“Jun! It’s time for supper!”
An old, grumpy voice shouted from inside a shoddy house made of mudbrick and thatch. With a sigh, Jun stood up, stretched his body, and slowly walked inside. The place was far from big, especially by Jun’s standards, but it had a certain rustic charm to it.
Entering the kitchen and looking up, he saw a balding old man with a long, white beard. It was so unkempt that Jun sometimes thought there was an entire ecosystem living there. His clothes were worn and rugged, a classic brown to blend in with the surroundings.
“Look at you, Jun. You just sleep and eat, sleep and eat. Other dogs at least herd sheep,” old man Wei wagged his finger as he put down a plate of rice, eggs, and a tiny scrap of pork. A generous portion considering most of the villagers ate less.
‘Grumpy old bastard.’
Jun once again thanked the gods that dog food hadn’t been invented yet. He wasn’t sure this stuff was safe for him to eat, but he had lived so far, so what did it matter? Once he was done with the food, he moved to lap up some crystal clear water. As he did so, he glanced at his reflection, and a golden retriever with luscious, golden fur looked back at him. Two big, watery eyes blinked at him.
Most days, this wouldn’t bother him, but today marked the fifth year since he was reincarnated. And, yes, he counted. What else was there for a dog to do?
Jun’s real name was Michael. He was a twenty-two-year-old digital artist fresh out of university, dealing with the constant problem of trying to find work. It took serious will and effort not to start drawing some very questionable things, although if he knew he was going to die so soon, he would have rather died rich and in comfort than poor and with ethics. Alas, life wasn’t fair.
And now, here he was. Perhaps this was bad karma for shoplifting when he was five—some god probably didn’t like how he took that chocolate bar, thus cursing him with a dog’s fate. Or perhaps it was when Jun was feeling tired and he didn’t stand up for an old lady on the bus. She must have harboured a grudge for life, muttering curses with her dying breath about “rude youngsters”. Either way, he was stuck here in the middle of nowhere.
“Fuck me. Five years in a run-down village filled with old people and brats! Where is my cheat?! Do you know how long it took me to even learn this damn language?” He suddenly yelled out, on the verge of tears.
“Gah!”
Jun’s shouts must have startled the old man because soon enough, he stood up and hit Jun’s head with a karate chop. “Stop barking up a storm! Are you in heat?”
On top of everything that was already going wrong, Jun couldn’t even properly speak the language. All that came out of his mouth were barks and howls. He had tried for months on end, but a dog’s anatomy was simply too different. Truly a wretched fate.
“Your mother is in heat. Your whole family is in heat! Don’t provoke a dog with nothing to lose!” He once again barked, which prompted another karate chop from the old man.
“Who taught you manners like these? I bet it was Chen Hao, the rascal that he is. Both of you need to learn some politeness.”
Once he had finished huffing and puffing, old man Wei sat back down on a chair, continuing to mutter under his breath. He was a stubborn fool at times, especially when it came to etiquette. According to him, manners were what separated men from beasts, and his dear Jun was certainly no beast.
‘Whatever. Let’s see who gets the last laugh when a dog outlives you.’
Just as he was about to lie down, he smelled a familiar scent coming from far away. The vibrations suggested it was Chen Hao, and a minute later, Jun was proven right. A young boy burst through the door like a bulldozer, panting and out of breath.
“You have three seconds to explain this behaviour before you get the beating of a lifetime!” the old man yelled, already pissed off by Jun’s previous actions.
Before Chen Hao even spoke, Jun could smell that the boy was both happy and stressed about something. A tangle of smells suggested that he had been in a crowd recently.
It never ceased to amaze Jun how he could do that. His sense of smell would be considered a modern-day superpower if it didn’t come with partial colour blindness, and, well, being a dog.
“Grandpa! Grandpa! There’s an immortal in the village!”
Immediately, a commotion broke out in the house.
“Holy shit. They’re real. Praise the gods!” Jun yelled, his tail reaching unfathomable speeds as it swished through the air.
“Stop lying, brat. Everyone knows immortals are a myth.” Old man Wei shouted, grabbing his beating stick.
“Nuh-uh. He had a cool flying sword. He punched the air and a dragon made of fire flew into the sky!”
Chen Hao dramatically looked up. Then, with all of his might, he punched towards the sun, mimicking a whooshing sound.
“A common charlatan, no more, no less,” the old man muttered under his breath, but he was too stubborn to admit any wrong.
“We don’t have time. He said to gather everyone between the ages of 13 and 15. Those with ‘spiritual roots’, whatever they are, can join the sect.”
With that said, the boy bounced in place for a few seconds and then looked at Jun. “Come, let’s go.”
Jun didn’t have to be told twice. He sprinted ahead, sticking out his tongue while panting. Neither the sweltering wind nor the blistering heat could wipe off his grin.
“Spiritual roots. I knew reading so many different novels would pay off. No shot a con man would know anything about those. This is the real deal!”
He ran along wide fields and weaved between squat buildings, following the mixed scent of numerous people. Usually, people would be working at this hour, but the news had spread quickly. Children giggled as he dashed past them, their parents dragging them along by hand. Everyone was heading towards the village centre.
There, hundreds of people, young and old, stood in a circle, discussing the strange event. The wooden tables and chairs that were usually present in large gatherings were all pushed to the side, save for a single table. Nearby sat a dashing man who couldn’t have been older than twenty, sipping a cup of wine.
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Many things could be said about his symmetrical face, his long, black hair, or his demeanour, but what stood out most to Jun was the ornate black robe. Any peasant could tell that it was made by a highly skilled craftsman using superb-quality silk, which, alongside any magical properties it might have, likely made it cost more than the entire village combined. In a place full of peasants, he looked like a wandering emperor.
A few minutes later, Chen Hao finally caught up. Just like the other children, he lined up to stand before the immortal, reeking of stress and nervousness. In comparison, the immortal’s scent made everyone else smell dirty and impure, as if they were ‘tainted by the mortal world’.
Chen Hao stuck out amidst the sea of brats. He was tall and lanky, with short, dirty blonde hair. It was wild and dishevelled, a bird’s nest for any crow brave enough. His hands were calloused, and his clothes were dirty, but none of that took away from the brilliance of his gaze. Where others were scared, his eyes were filled with constant optimism and hope, no matter the situation. Jun was also sure he was one of the oldest gathered here—on the edge of reaching fifteen.
The commotion continued for some time before the village elder confirmed that no one else would be showing up. Then, the immortal clapped, and the sound travelled through the village like thunder.
“Right. Now that everyone has gathered, I will repeat what I said. I am an immortal from a renowned sect. Which sect or who I am doesn’t matter.”
Although he was not shouting, his voice was perfectly clear to everyone present. His arrogant bearing provoked some whispering, but none dared to raise their voice.
“No, I am not here to steal your children. If they have spiritual roots, their status will rise above mortal kings and emperors, and they, too, can attain immortality.”
One of the villagers who was previously whispering blushed a deep red at the immortal’s words.
“As for proof—here it is.”
As he finished speaking, a sword by his side started soaring through the sky, moving like fish through water. With a simple gesture, the sword disappeared from view. When it reappeared, someone shouted, and everyone turned towards a nearby house. It was sheared in half, and so was everything behind it.
“Hey! That was my house!” Old man Ma, the town’s drunkard, shouted in outrage.
But before he could cause any trouble, the immortal formed a hand seal, and the earth moved as if it were alive. The entire building shook, and when the tremors stopped, the house was in a better shape than before.
“It’s magic! A miracle! Can you also conjure some wine? What about some fine, busty women?” The drunkard yelled out and laughed, but a single, piercing glance from the immortal made him drop to his knees. His bladder decided to give out at the same time.
‘Who wouldn’t want an alcoholic husband who can’t hold his piss? Prime marriage material right there,’ Jun thought to himself.
“Regardless, it is good fortune for your village to come under our sect. Now, let’s begin,” he said, turning to the teenagers. “Hold out your hand, your palm facing the sky. Do not be afraid. This won’t hurt.”
As expected, his previous words had the inverse effect on children. He reached his hand out towards the first girl, and when their hands touched, blue light coursed through her body. She screamed in mortal terror for a few seconds before realising it didn’t hurt.
“No spiritual roots. You may go back to your parents,” the immortal said, letting the girl run away.
The whole procedure was incredibly underwhelming. Twenty brats were sent back to their parents, both relieved and disappointed by their lack of talent. When a spiritual root eventually popped up in one of the girls, it turned out to be the worst one—the Five Element Dispersal Spirit Root.
“Unfortunately, the sect doesn’t accept those with no chance of breaking through to Foundation Establishment. Still, you may try joining a lower-ranked sect or try your luck as a loose cultivator.”
The villagers didn’t quite understand what it meant, but Jun let out a sigh of relief upon hearing the words. At least the cultivation terms were still familiar to him. Still, he couldn’t help but pace back and forth in worry. If none of the kids had any talent, then how was he supposed to escape this cruel fate?
Fortunately, the heavens always found a way. As the immortal linked hands with Sun Ping, blue light instantly covered her entire body, turning into a silver-grey hue that nearly blinded everyone present. From the corner of his eye, Jun saw the immortal grin.
“The heavens have blessed our sect—it’s none other than a Pure Metal Spirit Root. No doubt many elders will want to accept you as a disciple. Congratulations in advance, junior sister.”
Before the excited murmurs could grow in volume, the girl let out a piercing wail before breaking out in tears.
“I-I don’t want to go. I want to stay with my family. Aaaaaaah-,” her mother emerged from the crowd, grabbing her by the hand. Despite that, she didn’t stop crying.
“We’ll be leaving in two hours,” the immortal said, pinning Sun Ping’s mother with a look that wouldn’t take no for an answer. Then, he tossed her a small pouch. It didn’t take a genius to figure that it was some sort of payment.
‘In ten years, she will be able to level a hundred of these villages with a single technique. With any luck, she could even buy some miracle pills that would extend a mortal’s lifespan.’ Jun sighed. ‘Still, it’s all too abrupt for someone who is only thirteen, even if this is a blessing in disguise.’
The sombre mood quickly passed as the next teenagers were tested. Those who failed now let out sighs of relief. The previous promises of grandeur were all but forgotten. Finally, it was Chen Hao’s turn.
“Go on, brat. You can now stop hiding your extremely unique cultivation physique. Let the world see your Extreme Yang Body or your Heavenly Thunder Immortal Root,” Jun said, but no one paid attention to his barking.
To his shock, the blue light that flew into Chen Hao’s body split in two. The first stream of light flowed to his heart and tinted it light blue, while the second became a spiral of green light that twirled around him like a ballerina.
“The Dual Water Wind Spirit Root. Although it can’t compare to a Pure Spirit Root, you still have decent potential.” The immortal nodded. “It all depends on how hard you work. Now, take this, resolve any private matters, and say goodbye to your family.” He tossed Chen Hao a similar pouch, moving on to the next person before the kid could say much.
The crowd parted where Chen Hao walked, looking at him with complicated expressions. Jun’s mouth was still open in shock when he made his way back to the boy. Truthfully, he never expected that Chen Hao could actually cultivate.
“Good shit, boy. I believed you from the start! Not a single doubt in my mind,” Jun said. The brat looked back at him with a sullen expression on his face.
“Oh come on. It’s called the Hidden Extreme Yang Body for a reason. I’m sure you can beat that Sun Ping girl in no time once you awaken.”
Alas, Chen Hao couldn’t understand him. Still, he squeezed out a smile.
The village was desolate as the sun began to set. Even Jun began to feel melancholic as they walked through it all. Five years was a long time, and the memories he had made here were dear to his heart despite all of his complaints. He would miss all the brats that used to tease him, sit on his back, and pull at his fur.
When they finally made their way back to their house, old man Wei was waiting for them. He likely wanted to join the commotion, but he was too stubborn to go.
“So? Spit it out! Judging by how sad you look, you must not have been chosen,” he laughed, slapping the wooden table a few times.
“It’s the other way around. I’ve got something called the Dual Water Wind Spirit Root. He said I could become an immortal,” Chen Hao said, desperately blinking to not cry.
“And you’re sure it’s not someone trying to scam you?”
“I’m sure. The entire village saw it.”
The old man sighed. Chen Hao put a small pouch on the table. Inside glinted several golden coins, enough to buy the entire village twice over. Someone who could casually give this amount of money had no reason to scam a few village kids.
“Is this what you truly wish to do? If not, we can smuggle you out of the village. He won’t stick around for long if he’s as important as you say,” old man Chen Wei bit his lips as he asked.
A few seconds of tense silence passed before a determined look lit up on the boy’s face.
“Teacher Li is always telling us about how big the world is and how many wonderful things there are. I want to see them all,” Chen Hao said, sniffling and wiping away a small tear. “Besides, I want to go look for dad.”
“Ah, my little boy. You’ve grown up too quickly. If you wish to follow your dreams, then I have no reason to stop you. Just remember, you can always come back.”
The next hour consisted of old man Wei teaching his grandson how to behave and what the world would throw at him, emphasising his safety again and again. Chen Hao packed a small burlap sack full of personal belongings, but in truth, it wasn’t much. A woven straw doll, a fang necklace, a small, rusty knife, and other various knick-knacks he was fond of. When the boy was done, he rushed towards his grandfather and tightly embraced him, not letting go for some time.
“Alright. I’ll be heading out now. Remember to take care of Jun and feed him often. I’ll miss the both of you.”
As he said that, he reached over to ruffle Jun’s fur. Jun, in return, stared blankly at Chen Hao.
“What the fuck?”