Chapter 1

Jiang Village, a small settlement hidden deep in the vast mountains, is home to only a hundred or so people.

At this moment, the full moon hung high in the sky, and all was silent, as if the world had fallen into a deep slumber. However, in Jiang Village, a dozen or so children of various ages were sitting cross-legged, their palms facing the sky, their faces toward the full moon, breathing deeply and steadily, with a faint mist surrounding their bodies.

In front of these children stood a man, clad in animal skins, his physique robust, speaking in a deep voice: "To us, the moon's essence is an extremely precious resource for cultivation. Today is the 15th, and at midnight, the moon's essence is at its peak. So don't waste time; absorb as much of the moon's essence as you can, to unblock your meridians and enhance your strength."

The man's words received no response, as all the children were fully focused on absorbing the moon's essence.

However, about a hundred feet away, a teenage boy sat alone, surrounded by at least a hundred different types of plants and animal bones.

Under the moonlight, one could clearly see that the boy had a delicate face, his black hair braided and falling over his shoulders, his figure well-proportioned, and he wore an animal skin. His exposed skin bore numerous scars of varying lengths.

The boy's clear eyes were mostly fixed on the plants and bones before him, but from time to time, he would look up at the group of children sitting in the distance, and at such moments, a hint of envy would appear on his slightly youthful face.

The boy's name was Jiang Yun. He was no longer surprised by such scenes; he knew that his playmates were absorbing the moon's essence to cultivate.

Cultivation is about refining oneself, refining the Dao!

Although he also yearned to join them and cultivate together, his grandfather had told him from a young age that due to his different constitution, he could not cultivate.

At first, Jiang Yun did not believe this. He asked a few of his playmates in private and tried to cultivate using their methods, but he found that his body could not absorb the essence of the sun and moon. Reluctantly, he gave up.

"But at least I can become an alchemist, refine elixirs to help them enhance their strength, which is not bad," Jiang Yun consoled himself, refocusing his attention on the plants and bones before him.

"Yun, is this the last batch? Do you remember them?"

At that moment, the robust man walked up to Jiang Yun, his hands behind his back, and looked at the plants and bones with interest.

Jiang Yun looked up and smiled, "Yes, Uncle Mu, I've basically memorized them."

"Good!" Jiang Mu nodded, not doubting Jiang Yun's words, and his rugged face showed approval.

Perhaps Jiang Yun did not find it remarkable that he could remember the characteristics of these plants and bones, but as an adult, Jiang Mu knew the significance.

To refine elixirs, one needs materials, and the most basic materials are various plants and animals. To become a qualified alchemist, one must understand and master as many of their characteristics as possible.

The mountains where Jiang Village was located, known as the Ten Thousand Wild Mountains, were almost completely isolated, and they were home to tens of thousands of different plants and animals. To know and understand each one's characteristics was extremely difficult and a tedious process.

Jiang Yun, at just sixteen years old, had managed to do this in just a few years. This required not only talent but also a strong will and perseverance.

"Great!" Jiang Mu couldn't help but praise him again, "Yun, you will definitely become a great alchemist in the future!"

Jiang Yun did not show any excitement at Jiang Mu's praise, only a faint smile, a mature expression that seemed out of place for his age.

Jiang Mu, of course, knew what Jiang Yun was thinking. He would rather cultivate and become a cultivator than be an alchemist.

Reaching out his large hand, Jiang Mu rubbed Jiang Yun's head, wanting to say more but swallowing his words.

Turning around, Jiang Mu sighed, "Yun, it's not that we don't want to teach you cultivation, but you are not a child of the Jiang clan!"

Indeed, Jiang Yun was not from Jiang Village. He was an abandoned child found by the old village chief, Jiang Wanli, whom Jiang Yun called Grandfather.

This was not a secret, and Jiang Yun himself had long known.

Despite not being from Jiang Village, no one in the village treated him as an outsider. Sixteen years of living together had made Jiang Yun a part of Jiang Village in their eyes.

After a moment, Jiang Mu looked up at the full moon and shouted, "Alright, kids, it's past midnight, time to end the cultivation!"

With a rustle, the group of children jumped up.

Although they all knew the importance of cultivation, they were still children, and sitting still for several hours was a great ordeal.

In an instant, a figure as quick as a cat rushed to Jiang Yun's side.

"Brother Yun, are you going out again tomorrow? Can you catch me a tricolor sparrow when you come back?"

This was a little girl, about eight or nine years old, with three colorful marks on her forehead arranged in a triangle, her delicate face filled with anticipation.

Her name was Jiang Yuerou, the true granddaughter of Jiang Wanli. Unfortunately, her parents died in a hunting accident when she was very young, leaving her to be raised by her grandfather. Jiang Yun had practically raised her, so she was very close to him.

The Ten Thousand Wild Mountains were full of dangers, and no child was allowed to leave the village before the age of eighteen. However, Jiang Yun was different.

To better understand the characteristics of plants and animals, he would follow his grandfather into the depths of the mountains the day after each full moon, staying for about half a month. When he returned, he would always bring back small trinkets or animals for the village children, so they would often ask him for things.

"Sure!" Jiang Yun reached out and pinched Jiang Yuerou's cheek affectionately, "I'll definitely catch you a tricolor sparrow when I come back."

"Yun, come back and take a bath!"

At that moment, a hoarse voice called out from a distance, and Jiang Mu also glared at the children, shouting, "Alright, kids, go to bed! Yun, take Yuerou and go take a bath!"

The children scattered, and Jiang Yun stood up, pinched Yuerou's cheek, and greeted Jiang Mu before turning to walk toward a small house deep in the village.