Qingshi Town was a border town at the southern tip of the Xuanhuang Continent. Home to over ten thousand households, it enjoyed a thriving economy despite its remote location thanks to its honest and hardworking folk.
On this day, a slovenly youth was walking down the main road outside the town.
He had a cloth bag slung diagonally across his shoulder and was carrying a chicken coop in his right hand, glancing from time to time at a jade pendant in his left hand as he walked.
This youth was none other than Jiang Feng. Ever since bidding farewell to his grandfather three days ago, Jiang Feng seemed to have matured overnight, shedding all his previous playfulness and childishness. His gaze revealed a worldly weariness that did not belong to someone his age.
"Grandfather is my only family. I don't want to lose him."
Hundred Herb Hall was easy to find. Stepping into the pharmacy, a rich fragrance of herbs immediately hit the senses. The shop was spacious, with various herbs and ointments displayed in the cabinets, and the assistants were frantically busy.
Finding a moment when an assistant was free, Jiang Feng stepped forward and asked, "I've come to seek out relatives. Is Manager Liu in?"
"Manager Liu is out. Have a seat over there and wait a moment." The assistant pointed to a corner.
Jiang Feng sat down in the corner, pulled out the jade pendant again, and gently rubbed it. "...I'm going to be living under someone else's roof now. How am I supposed to find you all... No matter what, I must ask you in person—if you didn't want me, why did you give birth to me in the first place?" As Jiang Feng thought this, he clenched his fists tightly, tears welling up in his eyes.
About half an hour later, a middle-aged man in a green robe walked in from outside. He had a square face and a sharp, piercing gaze.
Seeing him arrive, the assistant hurriedly stepped forward to greet him. "Manager, that kid is looking for you. He says he's here to seek out relatives." With that, he pointed at Jiang Feng.
Jiang Feng hurried over. Manager Liu looked him up and down a few times, then glanced at the chicken coop in his hand, his brow furrowing slightly. "Who sent you here?"
"My grandfather, Liu Yuankun, sent me."
Manager Liu's gaze contracted, and he said in a deep voice, "Follow me."
In the study, Manager Liu listened intently as Jiang Feng recounted his life with his grandfather.
Upon hearing that Liu Yuankun had passed away, Manager Liu's expression darkened, his eyes filled with sorrow.
"What are your plans for the future?"
"I want to cultivate. I want to avenge my grandfather."
Looking at Jiang Feng's resolute gaze, Manager Liu nodded.
"Let me see your jade pendant."
Jiang Feng immediately took out the jade pendant and handed it over. The pendant was antique and oval-shaped; one side had the character "Tian" engraved on it, while the other featured a carved coiled dragon in relief.
Manager Liu studied the pendant for a moment, but couldn't figure out its origin. He then gripped it tightly in his palm to carefully sense it, finally shaking his head. "This is a very fine jade pendant, but don't show it to others casually in the future—there are many bad people out there. Go find Liu Quan in the front hall in a bit. How old are you? Can you read?"
"I'm fourteen. Grandfather taught me."
"Cultivation is no easy matter. On the contrary, it is extremely arduous and grueling, requiring sweat, bloodshed, and even the price of one's life. Can you do it?"
"I certainly can! I don't want to live weakly. I want to avenge my grandfather."
"Good. Then every day at the Yin hour, I will first guide you in the basics of cultivation in the backyard. You can arrange the rest of your time yourself. Remember, only by enduring the harshest tempering can one rise above others. You may go now."
Jiang Feng was overjoyed. He excitedly bowed deeply to Manager Liu, then turned and left.
As he reached the door, Manager Liu suddenly asked, "Did your grandfather ever mention anything about his past before he died?"
Jiang Feng shook his head and left.
Watching Jiang Feng's retreating figure, Manager Liu let out a soft sigh. "Second Uncle, oh Second Uncle, you spent twenty years being stubborn with the family and cut off all contact, yet in the end, you asked me for help over a child you picked up. Looking at Jiang Feng, you clearly didn't teach him deliberately; you must have wanted him to live an ordinary life. But the ways of the world are unpredictable—you probably never expected to meet such a catastrophe yourself, did you? So be it. The family may be heartless, but I cannot be. Let me see for you whether this Jiang Feng turns out to be a dragon or a worm..."
With the help of the assistant Liu Quan, Jiang Feng settled in. Suddenly thrust into an unfamiliar environment, Jiang Feng found it very difficult to adapt. "Grandfather, once your grandson achieves success in cultivation, I will do whatever it takes to revive you, and then we will never be separated again."
The next day, at the Yin hour, Jiang Feng arrived at the backyard and saw that Manager Liu was already waiting for him. He cautiously called out to Manager Liu and hurried over to stand before him.
Manager Liu glanced at Jiang Feng's still-sleepy eyes and said calmly, "First time waking up this early, isn't it? To cultivate, you must wake up a bit earlier. During the Yin hour, heaven and earth intersect, Yang qi ascends, and Yin qi descends; a person's vital energy is at its peak at this time. In the future, make sure not to miss this optimal hour for cultivation... Also, starting today, you can call me 'Uncle Liu'." Jiang Feng quickly and respectfully called him that, a trace of warmth welling up in his heart.
"Before we begin, let me introduce you to the realms of cultivation. The realms currently known to people are divided into seven major stages: Mortal Body Stage, Qi Refining Stage, Origin Returning Stage, Core Formation Stage, Nascent Soul Stage, Spirit Severing Stage, and Saint Stage. Each major stage contains three minor stages: Early Stage, Middle Stage, and Late Stage."
"Among them, the Mortal Body Stage is somewhat special. It is the foundation and is divided into nine heavy tiers: Body Strengthening, Skin Tempering, Bone Refining, Marrow Cleansing, Meridian Unblocking, Mortal Entry, Mortal Mastery, Mortal Transcendence, and Transcendence Stage."
"The first through fourth tiers belong to the Early Stage of the Mortal Body Stage. At this stage, people are not vastly different from ordinary people, merely having stronger vital blood and a somewhat sturdier physique."
"The fifth through eighth tiers belong to the Middle Stage of the Mortal Body Stage. People at this stage possess extraordinarily powerful physical bodies, can sense the changes in their internal vital energy, and begin to refine their essence, qi, and spirit into True Qi, which they use to unleash and execute martial techniques. Hundreds of ordinary people would find it difficult to rival them."
"The ninth tier is called the Transcendence Stage, also known as the Late Stage of the Mortal Body Stage. In this realm, the human body can truly sense the state of external spiritual qi and guide a wisp of spiritual qi into the body to temper the physical vessel and elevate one's realm."
"The Mortal Body Stage has the lowest strength, but it is the foundation of cultivation. The sturdier the foundation, the easier it is to reach higher realms in the future."
Listening to Manager Liu's introduction, Jiang Feng's eyes grew brighter and brighter, as if a door leading to a new world was slowly being pushed open. Jiang Feng asked hopefully, "Uncle Liu, does the Saint Stage have the ability to revive others?"