Immortality: Grinding as a Library Scribe

Mo Chen only wanted to live a quiet life, but his youthful appearance at thirty sparked rumors that he was a ginseng spirit whose flesh could grant eternal life. Hunted by bandits seeking to refine him into pills, he fled to the capital and took refuge as a humble scribe in the Imperial Library to secretly cultivate. There, he uncovered a devastating truth: the concept of spiritual roots is a lie perpetuated by cultivators to block mortal ascension. In reality, one’s true aptitude lies in their Eight Characters and Na Yin elemental affinities, each granting unique and potent abilities. Furnace Fire doubles spell potency through accumulation, Thunderbolt Fire infuses flames with lightning, Stream Water corrodes bodies and artifacts, and Pomegranate Wood manifests a soul-shattering secret art within the consciousness. However, these extraordinary powers demand a terrible price. Cultivators must constantly consume Five Elements Remnants—essences refined from demon beasts and fellow practitioners—to temporarily supplement their spiritual foundations. Even after achieving immortality, a single misstep can reduce one to mere raw material for another’s advancement. In this dark and unforgiving path of cultivation rooted in destiny and metaphysics, survival requires not just talent, but relentless grinding and the willingness to bear unimaginable costs.