Chapter 1

Cultivators, by seizing the power of creation to achieve longevity, steal the energy of heaven and earth to sustain their existence, and refine the essence of the five elements to protect themselves.

In the northern part of Muyun Province, there stands a peak called Tianjue Peak, which is considered a forbidden place by countless cultivators.

At the foot of Tianjue Peak, at the entrance to the mountains, lies a thousand-year-old village called Xiaoshi Village.

Xiaoshi Village is named for its buildings, all constructed of stone.

Legend has it that a thousand years ago, Xiaoshi Village was established by the descendants of immortals who came here to live in seclusion. However, time has passed, and the truth is no longer known.

Now, Xiaoshi Village is home to a group of ordinary people.

There are over forty households in the village, occupying fertile land. Occasionally, they go to Huilong Town outside the mountains to exchange for rare items, and life is relatively peaceful.

Evening.

In the woods to the east of Xiaoshi Village, five children, dressed in rough hemp clothes and with sun-tanned skin, were crouching in the grass.

In the middle, a child held a hemp rope, the other end of which was tied to a stick propping up a sieve, with some broken rice grains scattered underneath.

Beside them, a wild pheasant was cautiously pecking at the rice grains. After a while, it finally couldn't resist and entered the trap.

The child decisively pulled the hemp rope, and as the stick fell, the greedy pheasant was trapped under the sieve.

Seeing this, the children jumped up excitedly, clapping and cheering for the child in the middle.

"Wow, we caught it, we really caught it! Shier, you're so smart!"

"Brother Shier, you're so amazing. Can I marry you when I grow up?"

"Shier, I heard that in the next few days, an immortal will be recruiting disciples in Huilong Town. You're so smart, maybe you can become a disciple of an immortal."

The boy called Shier rolled his eyes and smiled, "Forget it! You can't even count to three, what do you know? Do you really think it's that easy to become a disciple of an immortal? Besides, what's the point of cultivation? Isn't it better to stay in the village with Grandpa?"

"Alright! You flatterers, I've already taught you the method! You can play by yourselves now!"

After saying this, the boy walked to the sieve, skillfully reached in, and grabbed the trapped pheasant, then turned and walked towards the nearby river.

Shier's full name is Su Shier. He has lived with his grandfather since he was a child, growing up on the charity of the villagers.

He has been smart since he was young, learning quickly, and is a leader among the children in the village.

Su Shier came to the river and skillfully bled and plucked the pheasant. He then took out a small, old, and broken alchemy furnace from his pocket.

The furnace was filled with salt, and Su Shier reached in to grab a handful, sprinkling it on the prepared pheasant.

He then wrapped the pheasant in a lotus leaf and coated it with a layer of mud.

The alchemy furnace had three legs and a round belly, with intricate patterns of flowers, birds, insects, and fish carved on its body. It was made of an unknown material, neither metal nor wood, neither jade nor stone, impervious to water and fire, and unbreakable by knives.

He had secretly taken it from the beam in his house. His grandfather treasured the furnace and never let him touch it. In the past, Su Shier didn't care much about it, thinking it was just a strange old furnace.

However, one time when he was making beggar's chicken, he used the furnace to hold the salt.

He found that the salt became exceptionally clear after being stored in the furnace. The beggar's chicken made with this salt was especially fragrant and crispy, and after eating it, his mind became clear and his thinking became more agile.

Since then, no matter where his grandfather hid it, he could always find it! Of course, he got beaten many times for it.

This time, he planned to make it for his grandfather to taste.

"Hehe, the old man has never eaten such delicious roasted chicken. This will definitely surprise him. After he tastes it, he won't refuse me using the furnace anymore!"

Su Shier smiled as he prepared the chicken.

Suddenly, a familiar voice came from behind, "Old man? Which old man?!"

An old man with white hair and beard, carrying a stick behind his back, was walking towards the river.

The man was Su Shier's grandfather, Su Mingren. Su Mingren was the only literate person in the village and had high prestige.

"Of course, it's my grandfather... old man, why are you here?!" Su Shier answered without thinking, but when he turned around and saw his grandfather approaching with a stick, he trembled and the prepared pheasant slipped from his hands.

"Calling me an old man, have you read the classics into the dog's stomach?"

"How many times have I told you, you must never take this furnace out! You little brat, you've taken it out again! Today, I'll beat you to death!"

Su Mingren glared at the alchemy furnace in Su Shier's hand, fuming, and raised the stick behind his back, ready to strike.

Su Shier had been watching his grandfather's every move. Before his grandfather could strike, he quickly tucked the furnace into his chest and ran towards the village.

As he ran, he shouted back, "Old man, I was making roasted chicken for you, and you... you actually want to beat me! You, you're not fair!"

"Not fair? You little brat, have you ever thought about who raised you?"

Su Mingren, holding the stick, chased after him angrily.

"You climb onto the roof and tear off tiles, steal chickens and dogs, and you still do this! No matter where I hide the furnace, you find it. Are you obsessed with this thing?"

Although Su Shier was young, he ran very fast. As he ran, he turned and made a face at his grandfather, "Old man, this furnace is a family heirloom, and it will eventually be mine. What's the difference between giving it to me now or later?"

Su Mingren chased after him relentlessly, his face turning blue with anger, "You little brat, if I don't teach you a lesson today, you won't know the gravity of the situation."

The furnace had been passed down for generations, and no one knew what it was used for.

Su Mingren only knew that his father had told him before he died to keep it safe and never let anyone know, or it would bring disaster.

He didn't plan to tell Su Shier about it until the last moment.

Su Shier occasionally looked back and saw that his grandfather was really angry. He was a bit scared.

Relying on his young and agile body, he ran around the village a few times and, when no one was paying attention, found a hay stack to hide in.

Su Mingren, being old, was red-faced and out of breath after running a few laps.

However, he knew his grandson's temperament well.

After walking around, Su Mingren's eyes locked onto the hay stack nearby.

Holding the stick, Su Mingren quietly walked to the hay stack and grabbed Su Shier, who was peeking out.

"Hmph! You little brat, you're quite good at hiding! I wonder where you'll run to today..."

As Su Mingren was scolding him, he suddenly heard a series of exclamations.

"Hey, everyone, look, there's someone flying in the sky."

"Heaven, can people really fly in the sky?"

"Who is it? It's an immortal! That immortal seems to be heading towards our village?!"

...

In the village, people looked up, and exclamations echoed.

Su Mingren also looked up.

In the sky, a figure wrapped in black clothes, trailing a glowing arc, was flying towards Xiaoshi Village.

Seeing the black figure, Su Mingren's pupils dilated, his face changed, and he quickly pushed Su Shier back into the hay stack, saying seriously, "Shier, listen to Grandpa, from now on, you must stay hidden and not come out!"

"No matter what happens, you must not come out! Do you hear me?!"

In the hay stack, Su Shier, who was annoyed at the impending beating, was stunned by his grandfather's unprecedentedly serious expression and instinctively nodded.

Su Mingren quickly hid Su Shier and quickly walked away.