Chapter 8: The Last Line of the Immortal  

"Chen Xun, you shouldn't spend too much time forging," Sun Kaile frowned slightly. This Chen Xun not only had great strength but also remarkable endurance. "It'll harm your body. When you get old, you'll end up like me." 

"Old Sun, don't worry. I was born strong, unstoppable," Chen Xun replied nonchalantly. This work didn't even require his full strength; he wasn't tired at all. He was constantly adjusting his power, increasing it bit by bit. In the past, he might have ruined the iron with one forceful strike, but now, with his mastery of strength and technique, one hammer blow was equivalent to several of his previous strikes, without damaging the material. To outsiders, it seemed like he was simply forging iron, but in truth, Chen Xun was continuously refining himself. Skills never go to waste, and the one thing he had in abundance was time. 

"Heh, alright then," Sun Kaile shook his head with a smile. Over the past year, Chen Xun's optimistic attitude seemed to have rubbed off on him, making him feel younger. 

That night, Chen Xun returned to the courtyard with the big black ox. He allocated this year's longevity points to speed again. The man and the ox huddled together, acting furtively. 

"Old Ox, dig!" 

Moo! 

Dirt flew everywhere, gradually revealing a clay jar filled with copper coins and a piece of silver. Chen Xun sighed deeply, marveling at his newfound wealth. 

"Moo! Moo!" The big black ox nudged Chen Xun, its eyes filled with hope. 

"Let's finish Brother Zhang's order first, then we'll go buy some wood carvings. Don't worry, I haven't forgotten." 

"Moo~~" The big black ox jumped happily; its joy was simple and pure. 

Chen Xun moved to another spot and buried the jar again. Out in the world, one could never afford to let their guard down. 

The next month, Zhang Jiang didn't show up, leaving Chen Xun puzzled. Brother Zhang had never missed an appointment before—why hadn't he come today? 

"Maybe something came up," Chen Xun thought, not dwelling on it. He continued forging, still far from mastering the subtle control of power. Hard work could make up for shortcomings. 

Another month passed, and someone finally came to pick up the knives, but it wasn't Zhang Jiang. 

"Hey, miss, where's Brother Zhang? He said he'd come last month to pick up the knives," Chen Xun asked casually, while the big black ox carried the long knives behind him. 

"Senior Brother Zhang... died in a fight with Bai Xuan Sect," the woman said softly, her mood somber. 

"What?" Chen Xun's eyes widened in shock. He quickly changed the subject. "I spoke out of turn. I'll go get the knives for you." 

"Alright," the woman nodded. 

Before long, she and her companions paid for the hundred long knives and left. Chen Xun sat in the back, sighing softly. He turned to the big black ox and said, "Brother Zhang is dead." 

"Moo?" The big black ox nudged Chen Xun in disbelief. Brother Zhang was still so young. 

"I heard he died in a fight. For people in the martial world, fighting and killing often lead to death," Chen Xun said, shaking his head in lament. "Even cultivators—if they get involved in conflicts, they can die too." 

The big black ox nodded heavily. Their way of life was much safer. 

"Our path to immortality is invincible. We don't provoke others, don't get involved, and only help friends within our capabilities," Chen Xun said calmly, his gaze distant. "Nothing in this world can stir our hearts anymore. Keep your mind steady." 

Moo! The big black ox looked at Chen Xun with admiration. Such wisdom—it couldn't express it in words. 

"Chen Xun, the iron ore seller heard about our booming business and raised the prices," Sun Kaile rushed in, visibly anxious. He was in charge of sourcing iron ore for the shop. 

"What?! What!" Chen Xun shot to his feet, his anger flaring. They had just started making some money. "This is bullying honest people!" 

"Old Ox, grab the gear. Damn it!" Chen Xun drew two mountain-splitting axes from his waist, baring his sixteen-pack abs. "Let's go teach them a lesson!" 

Moo! Moo!! The big black ox snorted in fury, its horns raised high. Its custom-made bandit gear instantly covered its body. No one could stop it—it was ready to reason with people. 

The iron ore seller's place was a few streets away. Chen Xun and the big black ox stormed over, their momentum intimidating, their steps swift. 

The iron ore seller was startled at the sight and shouted, "Good sirs, what is the meaning of this?" 

"Nothing much. We're just here to reason with you. Why did the price of iron ore go up only for us?" Chen Xun roared, gripping his axes. "This isn't fair, you know?" 

Moo! Moo! The big black ox bellowed behind him, its voice full of vigor. 

Damn it. 

Sweat appeared on the iron ore seller's forehead. This man looked fierce, with sixteen-pack abs, and he had a massive black ox covered in blades behind him. And he claimed to be here to reason? 

"Heh, good sirs, please don't be hasty. Are you from Sun Kaile's shop?" 

"That's right. Give us an explanation. That blacksmith shop is also under Brother Zhang's protection," Chen Xun said firmly. If you didn't show some backbone, you'd be bullied—this was true in any world. 

"Alright, please wait a moment. Have a seat," the iron ore seller said, bowing with a smile. 

"Fine. We're reasonable people, not here to cause trouble," Chen Xun said, his tone softening. He sat down, placing his mountain-splitting axes on the table, his heart calm. 

Before long, the iron ore seller stepped out, smiling broadly and bowing. "It's this man and ox causing trouble at the official's place." 

"Arrest them!" 

A group of soldiers rushed in, immediately detaining Chen Xun and even the big black ox. 

"We're here to reason! We're innocent!" Chen Xun shouted, struggling slightly. "I really came to reason!" 

"Enough nonsense! You're causing trouble here, disturbing the peace of Pan Ning City. Who are you trying to scare?" a soldier barked coldly, dragging the two offenders away. Chen Xun kept shouting about his innocence. 

Five days later, Chen Xun and the big black ox walked out of the prison, finally seeing the light of day again. But their mountain-splitting axes and blades had been confiscated, so they had to forge new ones. 

Back at the blacksmith shop, Sun Kaile had prepared a fire pit. The man and the ox jumped around, laughing and joking as if nothing had happened. However, after Chen Xun's commotion, the iron ore seller didn't raise the prices again—a small victory. 

... 

Time flew by, and five years passed. 

The blacksmith shop's business boomed, even stealing customers from the neighboring shop. When the rival shop owner realized it was Chen Xun, he was filled with regret, lamenting his failure to recognize a hero. He even invited Chen Xun to a meal at a restaurant, resolving their past grievances. However, Chen Xun's appetite shocked him—he not only ate a lot but also packed leftovers, leaving the rival shop owner with a hefty bill. 

Now the two were like brothers, and Chen Xun was adept at navigating human relationships. 

But today, Chen Xun sped through the streets, moving so fast that he stirred up a gust of wind. His eyes were filled with urgency. 

Over the past five years, he had mastered the control of his strength, refining it to perfection. He had allocated five longevity points to speed. 

Currently, Chen Xun and the big black ox's longevity points were: 

Strength: 21. 

Speed: 8. 

Chen Xun carried several bags of herbs in his hands. Sun Kaile's health was failing; for the past year, he had relied on herbs to sustain his life, draining all their savings. But so what? To Chen Xun, money was fleeting; the people around him were what truly mattered. Cherish the present and live life to the fullest. 

After all, humans are not unfeeling plants. He had reached the ultimate goal of all cultivators—immortality. There was no need to abandon emotions in pursuit of some so-called supreme path. This was his final line as an immortal. 

Chen Xun always adhered to one principle: help friends within your capabilities, but never overreach.