Immortal and Martial Dual Cultivation Chapter 1 - Tianwu Continent, Good-for-nothing Xiao Chen

Tianwu Continent, Great Qin Nation, Qizi County, Mohe City, Xiao Clan.

Atop a house roof in the Xiao Clan's backyard, Xiao Chen sat brooding. Though the day shone brightly under a clear sky, his spirits plunged into deep gloom and heavy depression.

He vowed that should he ever return to Earth, Taobao purchases would be a thing of the past for him.

The Compendium of Cultivation he bought for 250 RMB came bundled with an Immortal Pill, which the seller claimed could propel one straight to the Immortal World.

Fascinated by immortal legends and cultivation techniques, Xiao Chen had snapped it up without hesitation.

For three full years, he diligently practiced the methods from the Compendium of Cultivation, yet saw zero advancement. He memorized only the steps for pill refining, talisman crafting, formations, and weapon forging; the rest eluded him completely.

Undeterred, Xiao Chen pinned his hopes on that eerie dark-green Immortal Pill.

Once, he swung a steel hammer at it, only to encounter an unyielding force field as it neared. No matter the force behind his blows, the barrier held firm.

This enigma pushed Xiao Chen to swallow the Immortal Pill at last.

Unexpectedly, after consuming it, he did transcend to another realm—but not the fabled Immortal World, instead landing in the Tianwu Continent.

Dazed for ages, he finally grasped that he had transmigrated, taking over the body of a namesake: Xiao Chen.

A standard transcendence might have been bearable, but didn't every transmigrator boast unmatched prowess—soloing hordes of experts barehanded and driving throngs of beauties wild with a mere gesture?

In the might-makes-right Tianwu Continent, the original owner of this body proved utter cultivation trash. At sixteen, he hadn't even condensed his Martial Spirit.

The Xiao Clan dominated Mohe City as its top family, and Xiao Chen was the clan head's son—a title that rang grand, yet his cultivation failings earned scorn from even the clan's servants. His trash reputation spread across Mohe City, drawing contempt wherever he ventured.

“Young Master Xiao, the first elder summons you to the martial hall for your ability test. If you're free, head there now. I've delivered the word; going or not is on you.”

That voice shattered Xiao Chen's reverie. A Xiao Clan servant girl had spoken, yet she spared him not a glance from his rooftop perch. Message delivered, she dismissed him entirely and departed.

Xiao Clan servants could all cultivate. The speaker's talents weren't top-tier, but she'd condensed her Martial Spirit at twelve—surpassing the sixteen-year-old trash Xiao Chen, who couldn't manage it. Plus, he often leveraged his status to harass such girls, ruining his name further; respect was impossible now.

“Even a servant girl scorns him… what on earth did this Xiao Chen get up to?” Her departure soured his mood more. He brushed dust from his rear and leaped straight off the roof.

Not her disdain that irked Xiao Chen, but the summons itself: the Xiao Clan's tri-monthly ability test!

From the body's memories, Xiao Chen learned every clan member, young or old, faced this assessment every three months.

It gauged their cultivation progress—rewards for gains, penalties for sloth or stalls, varying by degree. Most young clan disciples buzzed with excitement that day; prodigies especially anticipated dazzling the crowd and flaunting their power.

Yet, this day proved to be pure torment for Xiao Chen. Since his cultivation stalled at age 8, he remained trapped at the 9th Grade of the Spirit Refinement Realm. Unable to advance, he failed to condense a Martial Spirit and truly become a cultivator.

For eight long years, every such occasion haunted him like a nightmare. In each test, he stayed stuck at the 9th Grade of the Spirit Refinement Realm, with zero progress. Meanwhile, disciples his age had soared to the peak of Martial Disciple, and the strongest among them had even broken through to Martial Master.

As Xiao Chen entered the martial hall, the expansive training grounds—spanning hundreds of square meters—teemed with people. Tallying them up revealed at least 800, all young generation disciples from the Xiao Clan, none older than twenty. Even the weakest boasted Martial Disciple Realm cultivation, showcasing why the Xiao Clan reigned as Mohe City's top power.

He quietly picked a corner and stood there silently. No wild dreams of glory filled his mind; he simply wished to arrive and leave without drawing attention.

Next to the Magic Sealing Stone, which gauged strength, an elderly man stood watch. This was the Xiao Clan’s First Elder, Xiao Qiang, a Peak Martial Grand Master whose might ranked second only to Clan Head Xiao Xiong. In Mohe City, he counted as a true powerhouse.

A young man around eighteen or nineteen years old positioned himself before the Magic Sealing Stone, ready for his turn. But as he glanced back, he happened to spot Xiao Chen in the shadows of the corner.

A faint sneer curled at the youth’s lips. In a strange, mocking tone, he called out, “So Brother Chen has arrived already; why are you standing so far away? Since you are here, how about I let Brother Chen take the test first?”

Xiao Chen offered a bitter smile. Some troubles chased you down no matter how you dodged them. He had hidden far away, but still got noticed. The speaker was Xiao Jian, his half-brother—same father, different mother—who always targeted him during these tests.

Xiao Chen began cultivating at age 4. In just one year, he sensed the Essence of Heaven and Earth. Another year passed, and he reached 1st Grade Spirit Refinement. Three more years took him, before turning eight, to 9th Grade Spirit Refinement, on the brink of forming his Martial Spirit. Back then, he shone as the Xiao Clan’s once-in-a-century prodigy.

At that time, Xiao Jian lingered near 5th Grade Spirit Refinement. The whole Xiao Clan fixated on Xiao Chen, with elders heaping endless praise upon him. Xiao Jian turned into a forgotten puppet, overlooked by all.

From that point on, Xiao Jian harbored deep hatred for Xiao Chen. Both were sons of Xiao Xiong—why did everyone cherish Xiao Chen while casting him aside?

The Xiao Clan disciples around them buzzed with excitement, eager for the drama. In every strength test, Xiao Jian found new ways to shame Xiao Chen, and they had grown used to the routine. Besides, seeing the former genius reduced to trash sparked a wicked joy in their hearts.