Cultivation: Being Immortal Chapter 1

Yun State's Spiritual Peach Mountain Villa.

The imposing man above him made Lin Jiang keep his eyes down, avoiding that stern look. Guilt weighed on him in this cultivation world, where he feared exposure as a soul who had seized another's body.

"Lin Jiang, the Lin family's sixth son, who has neglected cultivation for three years, will lose his servants and have his wages withheld for three years, as ordered by the family head."

The grave-faced man gazed at Lin Jiang, let out a sigh, and delivered the estate master's verdict. Three years in, and he lingered at the first level of Qi Refining—unthinkable. With luck, this penalty would spur the Sixth Young Master to reform and dedicate himself to cultivation ahead.

The announcement barely ended when over a dozen nearby servants broke into sobs. For more than a decade, they had served the Sixth Young Master in this villa, savoring an easy life. Leaving felt unbearable.

Yet the men accompanying the enforcer berated them harshly and herded them aboard a flying boat, departing the grounds at last.

"Quit gawking and get back to your tasks!"

Once the crowd dispersed, Lin Jiang stirred to life. Whispers lingered from bystanders, but he dismissed them with a wave, urging them away. The folks who stayed were mere tenants now, no longer his personal attendants.

He entered the villa's grandest structure and collapsed onto the expansive bed, a wave of relief washing over him. The initial ordeal was behind him.

Merely three months prior, he had been an everyday laborer on Earth, toiling endlessly. Death struck without warning, launching his soul into this realm, where it fused with the deceased original Lin Jiang's form during a botched cultivation session. Soul transmigration at its core.

Now, Lin Jiang held the status of a Lin family young master in Yun State, though as a bastard child. Half a century back, family head Lin Batian carved out a base in Yun State, founded the sect gate, wed multiple women, and fathered nine sons plus six daughters. His mastery of the Overlord Spear fueled territorial gains, elevating the Lin clan to a prominent new force in Yun State's cultivation scene.

With shaky roots, Lin Batian demanded excellence from his offspring. He judged them solely by cultivation progress. Swift advancements earned lavish favoritism, hefty inheritances, and swarms of servants. Laggards got exiled to remote outposts.

The former Lin Jiang earned the "trash" label due to his Five Spiritual Root, demanding three to five times the spiritual energy of a standard root for gains—progress crawled. Thus, banishment to Spiritual Peach Mountain.

"Struggle defined life before transmigration; it persists after. So, what's the point of crossing over?"

Memories of the original's existence flooded Lin Jiang—utterly woeful. Dawn broke, and cultivation began; even sleep brought meditative drills. At seventeen, exhaustion claimed him.

Thus, Lin Jiang chose to slack off, ignoring the harsh realities.

"Ding dong, system alert: host skipped today's check-in. Proceed?"

"Damn, nearly slipped my mind. Check in."

In his hazy fog, an electronic chime pierced Lin Jiang's thoughts, snapping him alert. He answered mentally.

"Well done, host—check-in complete. Reward: one year added to lifespan."

"Display the system interface."

"Ding dong, interface activated."

System: Lifespan Check-in System.

Host: Lin Jiang.

Lifespan: 17/80.

Staring at the figures, Lin Jiang grinned widely. His edge, the "golden finger," had booted up upon arrival here.

This Lifespan Check-in System offered no elite talents, supreme arts, or potion boosts. Its sole function: extend life. Daily check-ins granted an extra year.

Lin Jiang found it ample. Per the system's design, consistent check-ins meant endless vitality—eternal life beckoned.

Consider his father: over a century of rigorous practice yielded Golden Core Stage, good for 500 years. Seemingly eternal, yet ten months of check-ins would outpace that for Lin Jiang.

His launch point outshone lifetimes of others' toil.

"Paths to success vary, but some start at the peak. Envy that?"

Lin Jiang chuckled, rolled over, and drifted off. Immortality pursuit demanded just two daily hours; the rest suited slumber.

······

"Sixth Brother, Sixth Brother, still snoozing away?"

Sometime later, a small girl scrambled onto Lin Jiang's bed and tugged his ear.

"Lin Ying, I've warned you plenty—you're thirteen, all grown. No more bed-hopping. See Third Sister? She avoids my quarters entirely."

Lin Jiang shoved the girl off and gestured toward the entrance. A cool-faced youth in black lingered there, frowning at the ruckus.

"Sixth Brother, I'm your full blood sister, and you shove me? I'll tattle to Mom."

"You're impossible. What mess are you dragging in now? Spiritual Peach Mountain's fruits are history."

Lin Jiang rolled his eyes. Facing his mother? She always pushed ambition to curry father's favor—utterly at odds with him.

"Pfft, peaches aren't why I'm here. I came to console you."

"Console me? What for?"

"Father punished you, right? Servants gone, pay halted for three years."

"That's it?"

"Sixth Brother, isn't that grave?"

Lin Ying gaped. Her brother seemed transformed. Years back, father's exile to this villa enraged him. Now, stripped of aid and funds, no fury?

"Step out for a chat."

From the doorway, Lin Die fumed as the pair bickered. Propriety barred her entry, even to a half-brother's space.

Lin Jiang straightened his attire and, with Lin Ying, proceeded to the hall. No attendants served; no tea appeared. They settled casually.

"Third Sister."

"Lin Jiang, what's your issue? Stuck at Qi Refining first level? Fifth Brother, also Five Spiritual Root, hit second level last year."

(Translated by Gravity Tales 😧)

"I'm clueless. I've cultivated steadily, yet no advancement."

Lin Jiang replied. The original was earnest indeed, but gains eluded him—believe that?

"You squander opportunities. Big Brother's grandson underwent Spiritual Root testing last month. The Lin fourth generation begins cultivation soon. Won't you lag behind even them? Without progress, no place in the family."

"No place? Fine by me. Spiritual Peach Mountain suffices."

"Your little mountain—how vast? Annual spirit stones? Even if Mother deeded the true Spiritual Peach Mountain, so what?"

Lin Die's ire boiled at his words. Among siblings, Lin Jiang trailed in cultivation. Even the third generation outdid him—disgraceful.

"Third Sister, ease up on Sixth Brother—I'll look after him from now on."

Lin Ying interjected swiftly, spotting Lin Die's rising temper and impending tirade, soothing her.

"Lin Jiang, you won't lean on Lin Ying for protection forever, huh?"

"Sister shielding brother? Not unheard of."

"You…"

Outrage made Lin Die cough blood; she flicked her sleeve, rose, and stormed off—futile talk with the worthless.

"Sixth Brother, here—grab these spirit stones. I'll catch Third Sister."

Lin Ying, noting Lin Die's fury, pressed spirit stones into Lin Jiang's palm and dashed after her.

Eyeing the stones, Lin Jiang mixed laughter with sorrow, shook his head indifferently. Death once visited; honors meant nothing now.

He pocketed the stones, sleep evading, and exited the hall toward the orchards. Dusk fell, yet duties called. Time to survey his holdings.