Chapter 1: Cangwu Corpse Collector

Winter. Snowfall.

A towering cliff stretched into the sky, shrouded in mist. It stood alone, with only a massive stone bridge connecting it to the surrounding peaks.

This was the Celestial Burial Mountain of Cangwu Immortal Sect, the final resting place for the sect's fallen disciples.

Under the eaves of a simple thatched hut, a young man in plain white robes reclined on an old wooden chair. He idly played with a rusty bell in his hand, looking bored.

"It's been three days since I arrived..." he muttered.

His name was Chen Shen, and he was not originally from this world. Three days ago, he had transmigrated into this unfamiliar realm.

The original owner of his body had been born into a scholarly family in the Cang Kingdom, which was ruled by the Cangwu Immortal Sect. He had studied at Sheji Academy, preparing for a peaceful life. But fate took an unexpected turn when his family was assigned a position to serve an immortal sect disciple.

He had two older brothers and several younger siblings, so it should not have been his turn. Yet, by some twist of misfortune, the role fell to him.

His body lacked spiritual roots, meaning he had no potential for cultivation. However, if he had served his master well, he could have lived out a long, mundane life.

Unfortunately, after just ten days of training on the mountain, he found himself without a master. The disciple he was assigned to had already filled their quota of attendants, leaving him unwanted. So, he was sent to the Celestial Burial Mountain, a cold and desolate place.

Thus, Chen Shen, the corpse collector, was born.

But as a transmigrator, he did not come empty-handed.

Although he lacked spiritual roots, he had gained a Corpse Collector System.

As long as he buried a corpse, he could absorb its cultivation experience, techniques, and even part of its spiritual root.

Chen Shen had been prepared to bide his time, growing stronger in secret.

But after three days, not a single corpse had arrived.

Wasn't the world of immortals supposed to be brutal? Where were the bodies?

So, for the past few days, he had done nothing but admire the snowfall, play in the snow, and drink in the snow.

It was boring.

Just as sleep was about to take him again, two young men in gray robes appeared before him.

They were handyman disciples, the lowest-ranked members of the sect.

"Senior Brother Chen, please follow us," one of them said.

Chen Shen's eyes lit up. Finally, a corpse!

He followed them across the snow-covered bridge for ten minutes before arriving at the corpse. It was wrapped in a blood-stained white cloth, abandoned near the mountain path.

Chen Shen frowned. If they came to find me, why didn't they bring the body themselves?

Only when he got closer did he understand—the corpse had already begun to rot, emitting a foul stench.

"Senior Brother, please give her a proper burial. She had a hard life," one of the handymen said, a look of sadness on his face.

But before he could finish, Chen Shen cut him off.

"I don't want to know her story," he said flatly. "Just leave. I'll handle the burial."

Knowing too much in this world could get him killed.

The two handymen left, leaving Chen Shen to his work.

Despite being a scholar, he managed to carry the surprisingly heavy corpse on his back, taking half an hour to reach the burial site.

The Celestial Burial Mountain had strict burial rules. High-ranking disciples were given tombs, monuments, and even mausoleums. But low-level disciples like this one?

They were left in unmarked graves, their bodies simply covered in dirt.

With a sigh, Chen Shen grabbed a shovel and got to work.

After half a day, he had dug a pit deep enough for burial.

The first burial was complete.

At that moment—

Ding!

[You have buried a corpse.]

[Reward: Cangwu Immortal Technique (Qi Training, Level 1), Fireball Technique.]

[Immortal Experience Gained.]

[Partial Spiritual Root Acquired.]

Suddenly, information flooded his mind.

A warm sensation spread through his body. His vision sharpened, his thoughts became clearer, and for the first time, he could feel a connection to the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

He had gained a spiritual root!

Just as he was processing this, another notification sounded.

[You have acquired the Dao-Concealing Technique.]

[Effect: Your cultivation realm can no longer be seen by others.]

Chen Shen exhaled slowly. This was perfect.

Keeping a low profile was key to survival.

Turning to the grave, he clasped his hands together in respect.

"Thank you, Miss Alan."

Through the system, he had gained fragments of the deceased's memories.

The girl's name was Alan, a lowly handyman disciple.

She had been abused and killed by an outer disciple named Zhou Zheng, then discarded in an unmarked valley. The sect's patrol found her body and brought it to be buried.

The world of immortals was cruel.

Still, he had gained power from her death.

Chen Shen returned to his thatched hut and sat cross-legged. With his newfound spiritual root, he began to cultivate.

The Celestial Burial Mountain's frigid winter could no longer harm him. His body, once frail, now pulsed with strength.

But after five days of training, he frowned.

"Still not at Qi Training Level 1?"

The problem was his spiritual root was incomplete. His absorption of spiritual energy was slow.

He sighed. I need more corpses.

Days passed. Half a month later, the sect delivered over a dozen more bodies.

Most were handyman or outer disciples, victims of infighting, assassinations, or the wrath of powerful figures.

To his surprise, three more were female disciples killed by Zhou Zheng.

The immortal world was ruthless.

Chen Shen continued to bury the dead, growing stronger in secret.

Until one day—

Boom!

Spiritual energy surged within him.

His body trembled, and with a final deep breath, he broke through to Qi Training Level 1!

The once-frail scholar now possessed strength beyond mortal limits.

The immortal path had begun.