Does that mean I’m technically immortal as well?

Lucas, the rock, had a long moment of silence that consisted of two entire days as he struggled to come to terms with his new identity. However, once he did, he realized it wasn’t that bad. At least I won’t accidentally die from pissing off the wrong people as a rock.

To be fair, it didn’t actually take that long for him to accept reality, and he had also used the time to gather what he could about his current situation. One of the things he noted was the passing of time. He isn’t sure if time is simply different here, or if it is his perception that has changed. After all, it is his first time being a rock, and he has no previous experience.

Bad news emerged one after another the more he explored. Again, he has no movement abilities, and he is starting to doubt whether he can be heard by humans even in a world with special abilities.

At least, the immortal (who is as still as a rock) has not shown any acknowledgment. He always thought they only needed a few hours of rest from the books and shows, but it seems even the knowledge from his previous life is not dependable.

Not surprisingly, a solid chunk of the time had been spent with him yelling different phrases in hopes of triggering a system or a golden finger. If he had limbs, he would be throwing around gestures as well. It seems his luck has not improved through death.

A normal guy till the very end, and even in this life, he can only be a normal rock. What a depressing thought.

{You done with the pity party?

No.

It appears you are if you have the spare energy to produce this conversation.

…-_-

You’re already mute in reality, there’s no need to further practice that skill in your mind as well.

Frick you.}

Lucas scrutinized his surroundings with his new vision for the 10th time to occupy his thoughts. Maybe I missed a clue somewhere. The crystal clear stream flowing over his fellow brethren, smoothing out their edges, held the occasional minnows and not much else. He spent a few minutes re-examining his dusty new form in the wobbly reflections. Nothing’s changed in his appearance from what he can tell.

There is not much else he can see besides the vast expanse of super-tall trees from his perspective. The main focus of the small clearing seems to be the large, flat-faced boulder where the cultivator is sitting. Is it just me, or does he appear a little younger than a couple of days ago?

Lucas swears it isn’t just his imagination. Before he could get sidetracked once more, a new movement on the edges of his vision caught his attention. A rabbit twitches its nose in their direction before hopping over. Ancient people often consume rabbit meat, right? Does an immortal even need to eat?

Lucas watches on in fascination as the fluffy little guy draws closer to the boulder. However, at the last second, it changes its mind and heads for the stream instead. Up close, the bunny looks even fluffier. It’s kind of…cute.

A movement from above catches his attention. A shadow is rapidly approaching them. It’s a large bird of some sort, and its sight is locked onto the rabbit that is still ignorantly drinking water.

[Watch out!]

As if the rabbit heard him, it jerks its head up from the water, but it is already too late. The sharp talons are almost within reach. However, before they can make contact, something fast slices through the air, and the bird plummets to the ground awkwardly unlike its previous calculated descent. The rabbit barely escapes unscathed like the main character of an Animal Planet episode.

Meanwhile, the bird’s limp body thumps onto the ground, its head detached. It wasn’t the resting cultivator who made the move.

“Master! Master! You’re alive!” A young girl in white hops off her flying sword and lands in the clearing. She skips over to the older man.

“What have I told you about interfering in the natural course of life and death? Have you already forgotten?” The girl’s master holds his position, showing no signs of moving anytime soon.

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“XiXi remembers…” The girl scratches her head sheepishly. “Xixi is just…hungry.”

“Have you learned to lie to Master?” The man finally opens his eyes. “Which one of your senior brothers taught you?”

“Wa! You look so much younger, Master. Are you an Immortal now?”

He sighs before rising from his spot. There is a distant look in his eyes as he stares off into the distance. “Immortality…” he mumbled under his breath. “...but who can truly escape from the laws of Life and Death?”

“What did you say, Master?” The girl asked. She had escaped next to the stream while her master was distracted by her question. In her hands is the rabbit she had saved earlier. “Can I bring it back with us? Please?”

The cultivator’s furrowed brows settled after a few seconds. “Forget it…there is no use pondering the inevitable. Bring it along, but you must be responsible for it if you choose to do so.”

“Thank you, Master! You are the best master in the whole realm!”

Are they leaving? Lucas watched the pair hop on their swords. Even the rabbit that was going to become a meal earlier has hopped over the dragon’s gate and become an immortal’s beloved pet. Why can’t I share in some of that luck?!

“Master?” Xixi turned around on her sword when she realized he wasn’t following.

The Cultivator floated on his sword towards the bank of the stream where the bird’s body lay. Is he going to give the bird a burial? Lucas felt rather surprised that a cultivator who does not care about human lives in the novels he read would care about a dead bird.

Up close, Lucas felt a strange aura emanating from the person before him. Is this an Immortal’s aura? It felt strange…magnetizing?

“I sense a loose thread of fate here.” The Immortal’s eyes glow golden before he forces them shut, and droplets of blood drip onto the weeds next to Lucas.

Frick, an immortal’s blood is good stuff. Not even this opportunity? He felt mildly annoyed that the critters and weeds around him all received some sort of good fortune, while he was still a boring rock. He knew even if he did, it would be difficult for a ‘nonliving’ thing to receive any benefits anyway. Still…

A hand reaches down, and plucks him off the ground, shocking him into mental silence. “Interesting, it seems to be originating from this stone here. It doesn’t seem to be composed of any precious material…”

“Elder He?” A new face appeared not too far from the clearing. “Elder Wei requests to speak with you about the upcoming sect events when you are available.”

“Master? Do you want me to bury the bird?” The girl tries to peek at what her master has picked up from the ground, but she doesn’t notice anything interesting.

“Leave it. Prepare to demonstrate the recent improvements in your practice upon our return.”

Xixi’s curiosity morphed into desperation at her master’s words. The three soared through the sky in the direction of their sect. Soon, the clearing disappeared among the sea of trees. As they exited the forest, a large stone with Chinese characters carved into it came into view.

Lucas regrets his decision to not learn to read or write Chinese. He only knew how to listen and speak it from the massive amount of content he consumed online. Picking the easier intro to Spanish class over Chinese has screwed him over, but there is no medicine for regret.

Elder He had stashed him in a space ring earlier, but Lucas can still ‘see’ the outside world. Don’t ask him how because he doesn’t know either. However, he was extremely grateful for the ability once he noticed he couldn’t sense anything else in the bag. Probably because he is not the owner. It was so dark, it sent his mind spiraling before he forced it to refocus on the outside scenery instead.

It didn’t take long for the trio to reach man-built structures. The first thing that came into view was the mountain gate and an abundance of stairs that depleted Lucas’s energy by just looking at them. Most people got off their flying swords after reaching the gate, but the trio flew by.

There are privileges in every world, and for the first time, Lucas got to indirectly experience it. He couldn’t deny the satisfaction he felt at the respect that wasn’t even being shown towards him.

“Elder He, I will be returning now.” The disciple bowed before departing from the group. Lucas watched with envy as the guy sped away.

“Master, I will pass on the news of your successful promotion to my senior sisters and brothers.”

“You stop right there.” Elder He waved his hand, instantly stopping the sneaky disciple in her tracks. “Have you slacked that hard in your practices during the time I was absent? If I don’t discipline you right, I will be guilty of wasting a superior talent. I will have no face to see the sect master.”

“Uncle will never blame you, Master. You’re the most powerful elder in our sect! You can beat him up if he dares to criticize you.” Xixi gave up the useless efforts of trying to break free. Instead, she turned to verbal persuasion.

Elder He sighed. “Just wait till I find who’s been teaching you all these crooked ways. I will personally guide them to the right path.”

Lucas watched with fascination as the little girl showed off her moves. She looked overpowered to him, but her Master only looked disappointed at the end of the display. He punished her by assigning her practices to be led by the most studious third senior brother. Xixi pouted sadly and left with drooping shoulders.

“This girl…” Elder He didn’t know to feel helpless or amused by his most talented and least disciplined disciple. The moment passes, and the usual stoic expression reappears on his face as he enters his dwelling at the top of the mountain.

Lucas reappeared in the real world.

Oh, looks like it’s my time again. I wonder what attracted him to me…maybe I’m not just a normal stone after all?