Chapter 1

Yang Junshan was startled and sat up abruptly, only to realize that he was lying on a wooden bed. As he shook violently, the wooden bed creaked in protest.

The familiar wooden bed, the familiar beams, the familiar rafters, the familiar walls, and the familiar furnishings all exuded a long-lost warmth and naturalness, gradually bringing to the surface the memories that had long been buried deep in Yang Junshan's mind.

The only unfamiliar thing was his body, which had shrunk to half its size, but it was still dressed in the same warm and familiar clothes.

How did I become a half-grown child?

Before this thought could fully form in Yang Junshan's mind, a more powerful one exploded in his head, leaving him speechless: This is what I looked like a hundred years ago, I have been reborn!

The memories of the present and the experiences of a hundred years later began to clash in his mind. Scenes from different times and places emerged in a chaotic manner, causing Yang Junshan to become completely dazed. It wasn't until a small, white hand waved clearly in front of his eyes that he finally came to his senses.

A rosy, smiling face suddenly appeared in his line of sight, giggling, "Brother, brother, you're back, you're back!"

Yang Junshan's eyes regained their color. Looking at the cute little girl in front of him, he asked in disbelief, "Little Sister?"

The little girl giggled and withdrew her hand from in front of Yang Junshan, saying in a childish voice, "Brother, you were so lost in thought that you didn't even recognize me? You've been lying there for an hour, thinking about the Bǎiquè Mountain hunting ground, weren't you?"

The little girl's words instantly triggered Yang Junshan's memories from a hundred years later, causing them to trace back to a hundred years ago. The scene from a hundred years ago reappeared in his mind, blending seamlessly with the present, and the wanderer who had experienced a hundred years of vicissitudes finally merged completely with the young Yang Junshan.

The little girl hopped over to Yang Junshan's side, turned around, and with a push, sat down next to him on the bed. In a sweet, childish voice, she continued, "Daddy and Uncle Baishan said that the immortal spirits in the Bǎiquè Mountain hunting ground are all leftovers, and it's very dangerous, with fierce beasts often appearing and eating people. Can't Big Brother skip it?"

Yang Junshan affectionately patted his sister's head, causing Yang Junxin to pout, "Ah, don't touch my head, Mother braided my hair this morning!"

Scenes from his past life flashed through his mind, and Yang Junshan smiled, "Don't worry, Little Sister. Although Bǎiquè Mountain is dangerous, and the immortal spirits have been picked over by the Hànhuān Sect and other major clans, there might still be some high-quality immortal spirits that they haven't discovered. Maybe Big Brother will get lucky and find one."

"Is it that easy?"

A voice made Yang Junshan's gaze shift from his sister Yang Junxin to a boy standing at the door, who was two or three years younger but bore a slight resemblance to him. The boy pouted and said, "Big Brother, Father barely managed to get a piece of yellow earth stone from Grandmother, which, though not the best, is still considered a mid-grade immortal spirit. Since Grandfather passed away, you know how hard it's been for our family. Father has endured a lot of ridicule from Uncle Si and Uncle Wu to get this immortal spirit. Apart from the Hànhuān Sect and the major clans in Yù County, very few can afford mid-grade immortal spirits. Even when Father summoned his immortal spirit, he only used a mid-grade one. You insist on going to Bǎiquè Mountain, which is very dangerous!"

Yang Junshan was only about two years older than his second brother. They had often fought because of their similar ages. A few days ago, they had even argued over the ownership of a bow. Yang Junshan, being older and stronger, had taken the mulberry wood bow from his second brother, causing him to cry and complain to their parents. It wasn't until Father promised to buy him a similar bow when he turned twelve that he calmed down.

Seeing the worried and slightly reproachful look on his second brother's face, Yang Junshan felt a warmth in his heart, recalling his experiences over the past hundred years. He said gently, "Don't worry, Second Brother. I'll just go to Bǎiquè Mountain once. If I don't find anything, I'll use the yellow earth stone to summon a spirit. If I get lucky and find another immortal spirit, the yellow earth stone will be yours!"

Yang Junping's eyes lit up, but then he muttered, "If you had talked to me like this two days ago, I wouldn't have argued over the mulberry wood bow. I know Father bought it for you to go to Bǎiquè Mountain."

Yang Junshan, hearing his second brother's muttering, asked, "Second Brother, what did you say?"

Yang Junping huffed, "I don't want your yellow earth stone. You make it sound so easy, as if you're sure to get an immortal spirit. You know how dangerous it is there. You should just use the yellow earth stone to summon a spirit. The blacksmith's son, Hu Zi, from the village to the east is a year younger than you, but he has third-grade talent and is almost successful in summoning a spirit. He has boasted to us many times. If you don't summon a spirit soon, I'm afraid we won't be able to beat him next time."

Yang Junshan jumped off the bed, walked to his second brother, and patted his shoulder, saying, "Don't worry, nothing will happen."

With that, he walked past his second brother, opened the door, and left his room. Yang Junping, puzzled, shrugged his shoulder that had been patted by his brother, turned to look at Yang Junshan's back, and followed him out, muttering to himself.

Outside, Yang Tiangang had just finished smoking a pipe of tobacco and was sitting on a millstone, tapping the pipe to knock out the ashes.

The jade-mouthed, wind-polished copper pipe was a high-grade magical artifact that Yang Tiangang had obtained with the help of his third sister, Yang Tianfang. For this high-grade magical artifact, Yang Tiangang had almost spent half of his family's savings, causing Yang Junshan's family to live a hard life for a while. It wasn't until three years ago, when Yang Tiangang separated from the family and became the village head of Tǔqiū Village in Mengyú County, that their life gradually improved.

Two small bags hung from Yang Tiangang's pipe. One was made of ordinary black cloth and contained a full bag of tobacco, which he usually smoked. The other, a smaller brocade bag, was much flatter.

However, Yang Junshan knew that the brocade bag contained a low-grade magical herb, the Cold Jade Tobacco Leaf, which, when smoked, produced a cool, refreshing sensation with a faint aura of spiritual energy, making one feel refreshed. Yang Tiangang only smoked this when he was happy or when guests visited.

Moreover, Yang Junshan knew that this brocade bag was not just for storing Cold Jade Tobacco Leaves; it was also a small storage bag that could hold many things much larger than the bag itself.

Seeing Yang Junshan come out, Yang Tiangang dug a full pipe of tobacco from the black bag, pinched it with his fingers, and with a spark, lit the pipe. After a few puffs, he exhaled a cloud of white smoke and looked at Yang Junshan, asking, "Have you made up your mind?"

Yang Junshan, though young in appearance, had a determined look and nodded, "Yes, I'm going to Bǎiquè Mountain!"

"Going where? Going where?"

Hán Xiùméi, looking anxious, rushed out of the kitchen, dried her hands, and pointed at Yang Junshan's forehead, scolding, "Brat, do you know what Bǎiquè Mountain is? Those sects and wealthy families have ulterior motives. They say they're giving everyone a chance, but they only let children enter and not adults. Isn't that the same as sending them to their deaths? No, you're not going, and that's final. If you go, I'll break your legs!"

Yang Junshan dodged his mother's finger, but no matter how he shook his head, Hán Xiùméi's finger always hit his forehead accurately. Helpless, Yang Junshan covered his forehead and cried, "Ouch, ouch, Mother, don't worry, nothing will happen."

Hán Xiùméi became even angrier, withdrew her finger, and before Yang Junshan could celebrate, slapped the back of his head, making him stagger. "Brat, do you know how hard it was to raise you? Your father went through so much trouble to get the yellow earth stone, and you insist on going to Bǎiquè Mountain! Even if you have the skills to return from Bǎiquè Mountain, can you find a better immortal spirit than the yellow earth stone? It's been searched by so many people; there's nothing good left!"

Yang Junshan just laughed foolishly. Hán Xiùméi knew this was his usual tactic when he was determined to resist. Worried, she turned to Yang Tiangang, "Husband, what do you think?"

Yang Tiangang took a puff of tobacco, the smoke obscuring his face, and then slowly asked Yang Junshan, "You rarely focus on anything. Did you practice archery for a year just to go to Bǎiquè Mountain?"

Yang Junshan scratched his head, laughed, and said, "Yes!"

Yang Tiangang continued to smoke without speaking. Yang Junping and Yang Junxin, who had come out of the house, also remained silent, waiting for Yang Tiangang to make a decision.

After finishing another pipe of tobacco, Yang Tiangang knocked out the ashes, glanced at Yang Junshan, and said, "Then go!"

Hán Xiùméi was immediately alarmed and shouted, "Husband, you..."

Yang Tiangang waved his hand, interrupting Hán Xiùméi, "It's fine. The elder rarely focuses on anything for so long. Since he's been preparing to go to Bǎiquè Mountain for a year and has even practiced archery, I'll take him in three days."

Seeing that Hán Xiùméi was still worried, Yang Tiangang added, "I'll just let him explore the outskirts of Bǎiquè Mountain. It won't be too dangerous, and at worst, he won't find anything."