Chapter One: The Onset of Calamity

Thunder rumbled and lightning flashed across the sky, splitting the silent night as if a bomb had exploded, turning the entire wilderness into a sea of fire.

Beneath the mist, one could clearly see the Nine Heavens Bird spewing flames, setting the wildlands ablaze and boiling with furious heat.

“My heavens, what is going on? There’s fighting everywhere—the whole wilderness is in chaos…” Ye Qiu watched the inferno, panic rising in his heart. He turned and fled back to the inn, slamming the door shut and locking it tightly.

His movements were swift and seamless, utterly smooth.

“Manager, what’s happening? What’s going on, why are you closing up? Are we not doing business anymore?” Cao He stared in confusion, thinking the manager was acting crazy again.

Then again, he mused, the manager’s eccentricity was nothing new; over the years, Ye Qiu had given them plenty of odd moments. For instance, he liked to forge iron in the back courtyard for no reason, which often resulted in mysterious explosions that destroyed and rebuilt the tavern time and again. Nobody knew what strange experiments he was conducting.

“Business? Forget it! The tavern is closing early today. From this day forward, we’re not serving anyone…” Ye Qiu snapped, glancing outside with lingering terror, his face pale.

As a transmigrator—especially one who’d devoured thousands of transmigration novels—Ye Qiu knew well that the chaos raging outside was the prelude to catastrophe.

He’d just gone out to look, and what he saw was staggering…

The entire wilderness had devolved into utter turmoil, with battles breaking out everywhere. All the legendary clans, sacred grounds, and immortal sects had mobilized. Whatever they were fighting for, it was fierce—hundreds of miles of wilderness littered with countless dead, rivers of blood flowing.

Even those ancient, fabled monsters of primordial times were on the move! With such a momentum, it seemed the whole mortal realm would soon collapse.

At that point, their tavern would surely be swept away as well, and Ye Qiu was frantic with worry.

“We’re finished, finished… What should we do? If the catastrophe erupts, won’t weaklings like us just be cannon fodder?”

No, no, absolutely not! I haven’t even married yet—I can’t die now.

The fairy maidens in this world are all so lovely; if deprived of my affection, wouldn’t they be pitiable?

The more Ye Qiu thought, the more anxious he became. He couldn’t sit idly by.

But with his frail, feeble body, how could he possibly resist such calamity?

The only thing Ye Qiu could do was try his utmost to survive this disaster.

When Cao He heard Ye Qiu’s words, he panicked. “Manager, we can’t do that! If the tavern doesn’t stay open, what am I supposed to do? I’m counting on this job to earn enough to get married someday.”

“Shut up! Look outside for yourself—see what a mess it is. Still thinking about business? You want money over your life?” Ye Qiu scolded, thinking, is this all the ambition he has?

Besides, with his meager monthly wages, he still dreams of marriage?

Relying on odd jobs to marry? What a joke—you’d better not count on it your whole life.

“Outside?” Cao He hesitated, then walked to the window and looked out. His face instantly turned white with fright.

“Good heavens… What happened? How did it come to this?”

He could hardly believe it. The once-beautiful wilderness had become a fiery sea, even the mountain range in front had been flattened.

It was like a battle of gods!

Ye Qiu shot him an annoyed look. “Shut up, stop panicking—what are you, a child? Can’t you be a little more mature, like me?”

Do you know what it means to remain calm even if Mount Tai collapses before you? Your behavior is deeply disappointing…”

Ye Qiu rebuked Cao He’s panic, but his own legs trembled uncontrollably.

Truth be told, he was terrified too! But fear solved nothing.

He claimed fearlessness, but inside, he was frantic. If the battlefield shifted their way, their tavern would surely be destroyed.

Those outside possessed vast powers and boundless magic.

But what did Ye Qiu and his companions have? Nothing.

It was a bitter pill for Ye Qiu. Other transmigrators began with invincible systems, sacred bodies…

He had nothing. His opening loot was a pile of scripture and random stuff—none of it related to cultivation.

That troubled Ye Qiu deeply! In a world of immortals, he spent every day quoting Confucius, playing music, painting, brewing wine, farming, even forging iron in his spare time.

Surely, no transmigrator had ever suffered as much as he.

How was he supposed to survive? If someone held a sword to his head, should he tell them, “A gentleman debates, not fights”?

Survive? Survive what…

“Manager, what should we do now? Maybe we should run?” Cao He suggested, but before he could finish, Ye Qiu cuffed him with an ear-slap. “Coward! Can’t you be brave like me?”

Besides, run where? Abandon our home?

This tavern is twenty years of my hard work. You want me to give it up? I’d rather die.

Cao He felt aggrieved—why did it seem nothing he said was right? He retorted, “But manager, don’t you always say, ‘As long as the green hills remain, there’ll be wood for the fire’?”

“Huh? Did I say that?” Ye Qiu paused, realizing he probably had. For over twenty years, Ye Qiu had lived by one principle:

Survival…

He’d even written a book on the art of survival, called “The Self-Cultivation of a Transmigrator,” which included that saying.

Looking across all genres of transmigration novels, most protagonists are dragon kings, asuras, or son-in-laws.

Only he was pitiful—forced to be the king of survival.

But even survival required skill. For instance… if you ever transmigrate, there are certain people you must never provoke.

Never provoke anyone named Ye, never provoke anyone named Xiao! Never provoke someone with a tragic past who’s impossible to kill—these are usually what we call… protagonists.

If you cross them, one day they’ll say, “Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west—don’t look down on the poor youth,” and then you’re done for.

“Enough chatter! I did say that, but we’re not at the end of the road yet—maybe there’s a way out.”

If it really comes to that, we can still run then.”

Ye Qiu considered carefully, earnestly persuading, worried Cao He would flee alone and leave him behind.

That wouldn’t do—he’d dread the lonely journey to the underworld.

Cao He nodded, “You’re right!”

“All right, hang the closed sign outside, lock the door, and don’t let even a fly in…”

Ye Qiu nearly shouted the last words. At this critical moment, he absolutely didn’t want to get involved.

If he had an invincible system or a sacred body like other protagonists, he’d welcome such chaos.

But he knew nothing! Just music, chess, painting, the Analects, the Book of Songs, Three Hundred Tang Poems…

What was he supposed to do?

Cao He didn’t argue, quickly went out to hang the closed sign, which read:

The manager is dead. Temporarily closed.

Ye Qiu glanced at it, his face darkening. Good heavens… To survive, he’d even sacrificed the tavern manager.

“Hurry, lock the door!”

Ye Qiu said nothing more. If it meant safety, ten signs wouldn’t be enough.

Just as Cao He was about to shut the door, suddenly… the entrance was blocked by a sword sheath.

“Oh no… Someone’s coming to cause trouble? No, no—I mustn’t panic, mustn’t lose control…”

At the sight of the sword sheath, Ye Qiu’s heart skipped a beat, but he quickly calmed himself. At such a critical moment, panic could only bring death faster.

He now regretted opening the tavern in this place. At first, he thought it was safe—few people, mostly travelers passing through, staying briefly. Less chance of conflict, relatively secure.

Now, it seemed more dangerous than anywhere.

Who could have predicted such sudden chaos? Man proposes, heaven disposes—he could only accept his fate.

“Immortal friends, our tavern has closed for the night. Please find lodging elsewhere…” Cao He stammered, terrified.

Damn it, why come now of all times? This is pure trouble for old Cao.

“Brother, we’re passing through and wish to rest here for the night. May we trouble you for accommodations?” came a courteous voice from outside, suggesting a reasonable person.

Cao He hesitated, glancing inside for Ye Qiu’s guidance.

Ye Qiu knew he couldn’t avoid this, so he stepped out. Seeing a group clad in white robes, he was confounded.

“Hm? Which sacred ground’s disciples are these? Why have I never seen them?”

No matter their origins, Ye Qiu donned a professional smile. “Immortal friends, apologies—our tavern has no spare rooms. Please seek somewhere else…”

It wasn’t that Ye Qiu didn’t want to host them. Who knew if they had enemies? Judging by their battered appearance, they’d just escaped the battlefield, carrying wounds.

The lead youth frowned. “Brother, I am Yang Xuan, chief disciple of Radiant Star Sacred Ground… These behind me are my junior brothers and sisters. We mean no harm—please grant us shelter for one night.”

Grant shelter?

Ye Qiu would love to help, but he truly didn’t want trouble.

Yet he dared not offend them. His eyes flickered, and he said suddenly:

“Immortal friends, it’s not that I’m unwilling! Look outside—how many have died? Even our manager has passed away. We’re debating how to split the inheritance. It’s really not convenient…”

“Damn… That’s ruthless—even sacrificing himself?” Cao He exclaimed, recognizing the craftiness.

Ye Qiu had barely finished when Yang Xuan grew annoyed. He’d already humbled himself, yet Ye Qiu wouldn’t yield? Even spinning such lies to trick the cleverest disciple of Radiant Star Sacred Ground…

“You…”

Yang Xuan was about to lash out, but a junior female disciple tugged at his sleeve.

She whispered, “Senior brother, senior sister says this man’s power is terrifying. Don’t provoke him—otherwise, we’re doomed…”

“What!!”

Yang Xuan’s heart raced with fear, cold sweat streaming down his brow…