Grand Year God of the Human Realm!

Chapter 1: Biwu Immortal Realm
“In the seventh year of Tianfeng, the government stopped the students’ stipends. Last year, when His Majesty ascended the throne, he directly abolished the imperial examination. From then on, the path of scholars was cut off, with no way to ascend to heaven.”
“Ha! Think of us studying bitterly by the cold window for ten years, only to end up at a dead end. Not to mention serving as an official in one region and educating the people, even feeding ourselves is difficult. It’s truly laughable!”
“Good for nothing, truly good-for-nothing vermin fools!”
“Cough! Brother Hong, mind your words, mind your words. Drink, drink! Don’t talk about state affairs!”
Bang!
“Drink what damn wine? My mind is full of nothing but making money right now, got it?”
“Hehe! If it’s just to get some silver for expenses, this little brother has a way. Does Brother Hong want to hear it?”
“Yes!”
……
Buzz buzz!
Noisy and miscellaneous clamor came to his ears, growing clearer, as if many people were gathered together discussing something.
It was an unfamiliar language, but he could understand it.
His body gradually detached from the ‘possessed by a ghost’ state, and the first thing he could move was his fingers.
The cool, rough, and solid touch at his fingertips let him know this was a stone table.
His nostrils fluttered slightly, and a strand of heavy fragrance rushed in.
Light and shadow flowed before his eyes, like a bolt of lightning tearing through the pitch-black sky.
Hong Yuan’s eyelids trembled lightly, and he finally opened his eyes, looking at this world.
Transmigration!
The memories still surging like tides in his mind let him slowly understand everything.
No coincidence of same name and surname, after all, the writing and language were different. Although checking the memories, this life and previous life always had a sense of similar flowers.
His previous life’s name and all encounters were meaningless now, no need to dwell on them.
This body’s surname was Hong, name Yuan, a person from Qingxu County, Linjiang Prefecture, Great Yin Dynasty.
Once an outstanding student of Qingxu Academy, with a bright future, but after Emperor Yongchang ascended the throne and the news of abolishing the imperial examination came, Dean Chen Huanshan packed up the next day, taking his wife, two concubines, and sister-in-law and ran away.
The academy’s students cursed and swore, engraved a stele to vent their grief and indignation, but in the end, there was nothing to be done, and they each went their separate ways.
Hong Yuan’s long robe hadn’t even come off, and in the blink of an eye, he was thrown into the marketplace for flexible employment.
In the blink of an eye, almost a year had passed.
“Heh! You’re awake!”
A light laugh entered his ears.
Hong Yuan jolted awake from the hazy dream, rubbing his glabella, and looked up to meet a square and upright face with firm contours and a full beard.
At this moment, the man was looking over with a smile, his gaze pausing on Hong Yuan’s face, then ‘heh’ again: “Among this batch of newcomers, little brother, you’re the last one to wake up.”
Newcomers?
Hong Yuan propped himself on the stone table and stood up: “Your Excellency… what do you mean? And what is this place?”
He kept calm, inquiring while his eyes unconsciously observed.
The man before him was about thirty years old, broad-shouldered and sturdy, tall and burly, in a well-tailored black outfit, exuding a tough air, looking very formidable, just that his eyes had hidden bloodshot veins, and dark circles around them.
Perhaps he hadn’t slept well recently!
He was now in a spacious courtyard by the water, the lake not large, an artificially dug landscape lake, with pavilions standing around this small lake, winding paths leading to secluded spots, occupying a vast area.
At the head of this garden was a large incense burner, nearly half a person’s height, with misty vapors drifting out from within.
Hong Yuan sniffed, confirming that the fragrance he smelled in his daze earlier came from this.
As a scholar, Hong Yuan was not unfamiliar with burning incense, after all, the famous line from previous greats: ‘No carts or horses at the time, burn incense and sit to read books.’
Burning incense, brewing tea, hanging paintings, and flower arranging were all regarded as elegant pursuits of scholars, and burning incense was the foremost of the four elegant arts.
In the past, Hong Yuan would also buy some incense formulas, bathe, burn a furnace of incense, sit and read, extremely leisurely and comfortable.
But what he bought was mostly low-grade incense, which after burning always had an inescapable grassy woody miscellaneous smell. Occasionally indulging, he would only get a box of mid-grade incense, which was enough to make him feel heartache for ten days or half a month, and even when using it, there was a subtle sense of guilt.
But the incense in this burner was rich and fragrant, clear and sweet, refreshing, entering the nose as if a strand of pure energy rushed straight to the heavenly gate, invigorating the spirit.
In Qingxu County, there was an old-brand incense shop named Yun Jian Fang, whose signature item was a high-grade incense formula called ‘Wander Ten Thousand Miles’. After Hong Yuan got acquainted with the old shopkeeper, he curiously asked what wonder ‘Wander Ten Thousand Miles’ had. The old shopkeeper hesitated repeatedly, finally wrapping a nail-cap sized pinch of incense to burn.
Hong Yuan smelled it then and was indeed greatly amazed, but compared to this garden full of pure fragrance, suddenly that ‘Wander Ten Thousand Miles’ seemed just so-so.
“Moreover, this incense burner is so large, how much would it consume? Not to mention just placing it outdoors, letting the fragrance fill the garden—luxurious, truly too luxurious! If that old shopkeeper knew, he would probably beat his chest, howling about wasting heavenly resources!”
Hong Yuan’s mind wandered.
The black-clad bearded man raised an eyebrow, smiling as he answered: “Oh? Little brother, that’s an interesting question. Didn’t they tell you?”
“They?”
Hong Yuan showed surprise, then shook his head: “I’m indeed confused. I only remember drinking with a friend that day, getting dead drunk, and waking up here. Please tell me, brother.”
“I’m Yang Lie!”
The black-clad bearded man first pointed to himself, chuckling: “Friend? Hehe! Looks like little brother got here through your friend’s connection! But since you’re here, even if I don’t say, you’ll know soon enough…”
He turned around, facing the small lake in the garden, palm open: “This place is called Biwu Immortal Realm, the dao field of seven immortal aunts.”
Biwu Immortal Realm?
Seven immortal aunts?
Immortals?!
Hong Yuan was startled; this world actually had immortals?
No one told him this!
‘Himself’ in leisure had stealthily read some wild histories and miscellanies, strange tales and the like, which were full of divine ghosts, sword masters’ anecdotes, and also records of demons causing trouble, feeding on human blood, but he always took such trivia as entertainment—who would take it seriously?
Seeing Hong Yuan’s shocked face, Yang Lie nodded lightly: “The seven immortal aunts are respectively Si Yan Niangniang, Hehe Immortal Aunt, Yupuo Madam, and…”
Yang Lie paused, his expression somewhat unnatural, a forced smile.
“Hehe, the remaining immortal aunts, let little brother find out for himself! In short, those selected to enter this Biwu Immortal Realm are all without exception people of outstanding natural talent, but whether they can truly stay depends on the immortal maidens testing their capacity, but…”
He scrutinized Hong Yuan again, more carefully than before, meaningfully saying: “With little brother’s natural talent and demeanor, it’s truly the most remarkable Yang has seen in his life. Even if capacity is poor, you should still be able to stay.”
“What’s the benefit of staying?” Hong Yuan grew more puzzled, and those immortal aunts’ titles sounded a bit improper. Was this Biwu Immortal Realm some evil cultivation sect?
He felt uneasy inside, many dark cultivation novels from his previous life flashing through his mind. Just as he was about to probe deeply, a sneer came from not far away: “Benefit? Naturally, it’s the immortal aunts granting immortal fate.”
Several zhang away, a hook-nosed youth leaned against a corridor pillar, arms crossed, face stern, his slightly narrowed eyes sweeping over Hong Yuan’s face like a hunting dog.
Hong Yuan frowned slightly, vaguely sensing some hostility from the other.
But he didn’t confront sharply, just smiled and said: “May I know this brother’s name? And what does that immortal fate mean?”
“No need to get chummy; I don’t have the task of answering your questions.”
The hook-nosed youth glanced at Yang Lie, directly closing his eyes to feign sleep.
“Immortal fate…” Yang Lie sighed, then said no more.
Hong Yuan didn’t press, his gaze scanning the crowd in the courtyard.
Compared to this vast courtyard, the number of people inside was really not many; a quick glance showed about twenty people, sparsely divided into many groups.
Some in twos and threes, gathered whispering; more were like the hook-nosed youth, alone in a corner, some sitting, some standing, expressions varied.
Some indifferent, some excited with anticipation and longing, some anxious with hesitation, some looking around, faces blank, at a loss.
And these twenty or so were all men; the young ones looked like youths, the older ones around thirty, prime-of-life men around forty.
As Hong Yuan looked, a strange expression floated on his face.
Because no matter old or young among this crowd, all could be called handsome-featured, dignified in bearing. Seventeen- or eighteen-year-old youths and twenty-something young men were naturally talented in appearance, handsome. Those thirty-something men also each had their charm, either robust and majestic, or gentle and elegant, suave…
As for that man who looked over forty, though his temples were slightly frosted white, his demeanor was elegant and poised, eyes still bright as lacquer points, a slight smile revealing a refined face with some wrinkles that didn’t repel but added mature and seasoned charm!
Hong Yuan suddenly looked at the hook-nosed youth.
Looking closely, though this man’s facial contours were somewhat sinister, his appearance was also top-notch, worthy of ‘handsome’, and in previous life’s short dramas, if acting roles like ‘evil emperor’ or ‘demon lord’, he would stand out.
Hmm?!
This Biwu Immortal Realm recruits only good-looking people?
Thinking about it made sense; after all, it’s an immortal realm, too ugly would damage the facade, right? Even the Joyous Sect originally only took handsome and elegant, pure and refined male and female disciples!
Xu Zhu? That’s cheating!
This way, Hong Yuan perhaps understood why the hook-nosed youth had inexplicable hostility toward him.
In fact, not just the hook-nosed youth; among the gazes occasionally cast from the crowd, several carried malice.
Hong Yuan sighed.
He didn’t blame these people, nor resent heaven or earth; this was all ‘his own’ fault, his cause, his result, he shouldered it all, never shirking!
It wasn’t that these people had narrow minds, thus envious and hateful—what fault did they have? The blame was only on Hong Yuan’s innate peerlessly handsome good looks!
Now, even in just a simple green robe, a small year’s marketplace hardships didn’t diminish his handsome and elegant bearing, naturally otherworldly poise.
Amid this crowd of young and strong handsome men, saying ‘standing out like a crane among chickens’ would be too arrogant, but he could humbly say he monopolized the top spot!
In the clamor, lamps suddenly lit up in the surrounding pavilions and connected corridors, instantly like a fire dragon, quite dazzling.
Several exclamations from the crowd, and at the same time, a clear ‘zheng’ sound pierced the air, like clear spring leaping over stones, resounding through the garden.
As if a signal, the hook-nosed youth leaning on the pillar twitched his ears, abruptly opened his eyes, and with several large strides squeezed toward the lakeside.
The nearby Yang Lie also ignored Hong Yuan at this time, striding with long legs to catch up, craning his neck toward the lake center.
Several others acted like Yang Lie; Hong Yuan recalled Yang Lie’s earlier words, guessing these should be the immortal realm’s ‘veterans’, while most of the rest, like him, were first-time newbies.
Naturally, a fair-faced newbie showed confusion: “Big brothers, what are you doing?”
“Hehe! Miaoyun Immortal Fairy has arrived. Even though I’ve come to the immortal realm several times, not every time do I get to hear Miaoyun Immortal Fairy’s immortal music. This time, we’re fortunate.”
Among the ‘veterans’, a thirty-ish, thick-browed, big-eyed, upright and martial man sighed.
“Quiet!” The hook-nosed youth scolded, his sharp gaze sweeping over, coldly snorting: “No noise, or if anyone disturbs the fairy’s interest, I won’t spare him!”
Miaoyun Immortal Fairy!
About to see a cultivation immortal?
Hong Yuan couldn’t help feeling a mix of apprehension and anticipation, looking toward the landscape lake with complex emotions.
Now near dusk, daylight fading, sparse sunset glow piercing from clouds, but bringing little warmth or light. Autumn evening, cool breeze over the small lake, ripples spreading, suddenly bringing a chill.
Suddenly, layers of thin mist perhaps carried by wind spread over the lake, like donning a light, milky-white gauze dress.
In the swirling mist, a vague ethereal voice seemed to chant faintly, waves surging then, wetting the swaying flowers and trees by the lake.
On the misty water surface, at the lake center seven or eight zhang away, a serene and elegant stone pavilion suddenly appeared, as if conjured from thin air, descending from an otherworldly realm into the mortal world.
“Ah!” This wondrous scene again drew exclamations from many.
Hmm?
Hong Yuan’s gaze flickered, glancing at the surrounding crowd, seeing most with awe and shock. He turned to the abruptly appeared stone pavilion in the lake center, brow slightly furrowed.
The mist originated from the lake center, instantly spilling in all directions, obscuring everyone’s sight. But Hong Yuan saw clearly; his gaze pierced the gauze-like mist, seeing that the stone pavilion had quickly surged up from the lake bottom in one or two breaths!
And he even heard ‘ka ka’ crisp sounds from the lake bottom, guessing it was some mechanism friction noise.
“Immortal realm? Immortal aunt?” Hong Yuan grew suspicious.
“Moreover, over twenty meters away, with mist blocking, I can see clearly—that’s fine—but I can even hear some noises from below the lake bottom? That’s too astonishing! When did my eyesight and hearing become this good?”
“Transmigration benefit? Enhanced my eyes and ears, or rather, improved my physical fitness?”
The ‘himself’ in memories, due to years of bitter reading immersed in books and exams, though young, suffered from ‘nearsightedness’, not too severe, but where did such powerful eyesight come from?
In the end, it was a good thing.
Hong Yuan thought to himself.
Weather too hot, better to type.