Star-defying cultivation

"W... What the hell! Who did this to my chicken coop?" an angry middle-aged man with black hair asked as he pointed at a chicken coop that now contained only 2 chickens and several chicken feathers scattered across the ground.

Several other people were standing behind him with terrible expressions, not knowing what to say.

"Village Chief... Uh..." a young boy behind him stammered with a slight smile.

The man suddenly turned toward him and grabbed him by the collar of his clothes, squeezing it as he shouted, "Who is it?"

"Uh... You might have a heart attack, hehe," said the young boy as he had already begun to sweat.

The man was surprised, before beginning to think seriously, then snorting before asking, "Kid! Are you trying to play riddles with me?"

"It's Ye Xian!" the young boy then said hurriedly, not wanting any trouble.

When everyone heard this name, they were stunned before taking a slight step back. After all, this name, just like the person who carried it, was a symbol of bad luck in this village. No one even dared to give this name to their newborn under the threat of being contaminated as well.

"It's still somewhat reassuring, isn't it? I thought a new monster had been born. The little Xian was already difficult enough to deal with." a woman said while forcing a smile.

"That's not wrong, but still... This kid is really brave. Our chickens weren't enough, now even Chief Yang's chickens are ending up in his stomach. Not only is he useless, but he does nothing except steal." a man then said while scratching his head.

Meanwhile, the middle-aged man named Yang gritted his teeth and released the young boy's collar, causing him to sigh, before turning toward his chicken coop and holding his head while shouting.

"Oh heavens, please make this little devil leave before he drives all of us crazy, I can't take it anymore."

The others sighed as they sympathized with him. They knew that even the heavens did not want to get involved in this matter. They had prayed several times.

Seeing no response from the heavens, Yang turned around with determination before picking up a stick lying nearby on the ground.

"All the better! I'll take care of him myself."

_____________________

Inside a very small wooden house near the forest, several chicken bones were scattered across the floor and kept coming out of the house, as if someone were eating all the meat before throwing the bones outside.

A 14-year-old boy was sitting inside. He was very handsome, with abnormally long blue hair that would reach his feet if he were standing. He wore ordinary clothes that immediately made it obvious that he was poor.

This was Ye Xian, the one nicknamed both the useless one and the thief.

An orphan with neither a father nor a mother, he lived alone in this small wooden house, and his favorite food was chicken. It was like a curse. Every time he saw a chicken, he would steal it and eat it. This month, 80% of the village's chickens had already disappeared and found a home inside his stomach.

"Alright! Uncle Ye's chicken isn't very big, but it's passable." he commented while struggling with two chicken legs in his mouth. After a few seconds, he ate the meat and threw the bones outside.

"However, damn, those belonging to Chief Yang! He keeps the best chickens in the village and doesn't want to share. Besides, he must have a lot of work as the chief. Taking care of chickens must be tiring. Not just him, everyone should be tired of raising them in this village considering their work."

"That's why I, Ye Xian, the emperor! was born in this village. I will eat them all and free them from this burden." he finally said sincerely, like a hero.

"Ye Xian! Little devil, get out of there if you dare!"

Suddenly, a loud shout rang out from outside, making him jump in fright.

"..."

That voice... He suddenly stood up and hid the rest of the meat in a corner before adopting a dignified posture — both hands crossed behind his back and his chin raised — and heading toward the exit.

"Who seeks the emperor? I am here!" he said as he walked out. The first thing he saw was Yang holding a stick, standing there with a wrinkled expression, making him chuckle.

Whoa! Why is he so angry?

"Little devil, where are the chickens?" Yang asked while showing him the stick, letting him know that he was serious.

"I swear I didn't touch your chickens this time," Ye Xian said while shaking his head. "Here, if I'm lying, may lightning strike me."

Immediately, a loud rumble rang out before lightning struck his house, destroying it and making Ye Xian jump in fright.

A sudden silence fell.

The house was completely destroyed, and one could see pieces of chicken meat grilled by the lightning.

"..."

The heavens have rebelled against me... I'm finished! Ye Xian thought inwardly while slowly turning his head toward Yang, who had a darkened expression.

Yang walked forward before grabbing the boy by the collar and throwing him into the forest behind him.

"Since the death of your parents, you've become a calamity, Xian. Today, I'm asking you sincerely, why do you do this? Answer me before I decide to throw you out of the village."

Ye Xian sat with his legs crossed before coming up with an excuse. "All my friends went to cultivation sects and are pursuing their destinies while I'm here. How am I not supposed to get bored?" As he spoke, he watched Yang from the corner of his right eye, hoping his excuse would work.

Yang suddenly calmed down as his anger slowly disappeared, replaced by astonishment. Then he sighed.

He knew perfectly well that what Ye Xian was saying contained some truth. He was certainly lying when he said he ate chickens because he was bored, but he was telling the truth when he said he was bored. All the children his age or older had been chosen by the Celestial Emperor Sect six months ago, except him, who, according to the Immortals, did not have a dantian to cultivate. From that day on, his nickname was no longer only "the thief," but a new one had been added.

"The useless one."

But still, Ye Xian had quickly gotten over it. No one knew whether it was because he was still a child or because he simply didn't care.

Yang approached him a little before crouching down and sighing.

"Tell me, if you had a chance to be accepted into the Celestial Emperor Sect, would you take it? You must be tired of staying here anyway."

Ye Xian raised his head before widening his eyes several times in surprise. He then turned toward Yang in astonishment and asked while looking around him, "Of course I would accept! So, where is this chance?"

Yang thought for a moment before asking curiously.

"Why do you want to become an immortal? You never talk about it."

At that moment, Ye Xian began to say excitedly, "Become an emperor."

"..."

Yang scratched his head in astonishment.

"Why do you want to become an emperor? I thought you were only joking when you played emperor."

"An emperor can live in peace, eternally, and according to Father, eat all the chickens in the universe if he wants to." Ye Xian immediately replied while raising his chin. He wanted to cross both hands behind his back, but Yang laughed lightly, interrupting him.

"Very well, I'll tell you a secret!"

"A secret?"

"Yeah! But of course, if nothing changes afterward, don't come and blame me."

Ye Xian nodded eagerly, excited to hear it. Without realizing it, the scene of his classmates and the girl who was always chasing after him, wanting to marry him, mocking him in front of the Immortals crossed his mind, making him shake his head as if trying to deny the memory.

Yang sighed deeply before beginning to explain.

"There are rumors that sitting on a mountain while looking at the sky attracts the attention of the Heavenly Voice, which can grant a wish. In ancient times, only one person was said to have succeeded and received an extremely powerful cultivation."

Ye Xian fell silent before looking Yang up and down, as if wondering whether Yang was making fun of him or not. From his point of view, it was a story for babies, considering how absurd those words were.

Seeing this, Yang said with a slight smile, "You've heard of the Eternal, haven't you?"

"Yep, the most powerful cultivator," Ye Xian simply said, wondering where he was going with this.

"It's that person who heard the Heavenly Voice in ancient times."

Ye Xian was stunned this time. He remembered hearing his father say one day, "If only the mountain had done the same for me as it did for the Eternal." He had never understood it, but he could understand it now.

He eagerly stood up before looking around him, under Yang's astonished gaze.

"Where are you going?" Yang asked when he saw him begin walking to his right.

"I'm going to make a wish to become an emperor."

________________________

Fú Mountain was near Níng Village, where Ye Xian lived, and was a mountain known for granting blessings and fortune. There were several legends about this mountain, all concerning immortals, and the mountain itself could, according to rumors, have been created by an immortal from ancient times.

Ye Xian was currently sitting on the mountain, with a large bag containing provisions.

He planned to last three days.

However, when he looked up at the slightly cloudy blue sky, he couldn't help but yawn.

I forgot to ask if I could sleep at night, damn, this is boring. Ye Xian complained inwardly while scratching his head. But he forced himself to continue looking.

A day passed in silence and still nothing... Ye Xian had fallen asleep several times without realizing it, and he was sure that was the reason why nothing had happened.

So he forced himself to stay a little longer.

Another day passed and still nothing! Even worse, his eyes were red from forcing himself not to sleep.

He was now beginning to wonder whether Yang had been making fun of him, as he frowned.

His provisions were already running out, and he couldn't stay for two more days at the risk of starving to death, especially since he wasn't someone who could really endure hunger.

"One more day and I'm leaving... Maybe it'll work on the third day." he prayed as he made his decision.

Thus, another day passed in silence and, as usual, still nothing... This time, Ye Xian stood up and raises his middle finger toward the sky in front of him.. The sky itself wasn't his target, but the Heavenly Voice.

He couldn't stand people making fun of him and fully intended to settle the score with Yang later for making him waste his time. For him, it had been three days spent on a mountain staring at the sky, while there were chickens waiting for him in the village.

However, just as he had turned around, a rumble rang out as lightning struck behind him, missing the mountain and making him jump.

A female voice rang out with a hint of anger, making the mountain tremble.

[ You fucking bastard! Is it me you're fucking? Are you tired of living? ]