Chapter 1: Take a Bath

urn.Naturally, they would not know that the world they lived in was about to face a catastrophic disaster. This was the consensus reached by the high-levels of all major sects and aristocratic familie...Jiangcun, a small village tucked away in the midst of towering mountains, is home to only a few hundred people.

At this very moment, the full moon hangs high in the sky. All is silent, as if heaven and earth have fallen into slumber. However, in Jiang village, there are a dozen children of different ages sitting cross-legged, their hearts focused on the heavens, their faces towards the full moon. They breathe deeply and evenly, and wisps of mist, thick or thin, can be seen swirling around their bodies.

The man's words went unanswered, for all the children were intently absorbing the moonlight.

However, about several dozen paces away from them, there sat a solitary boy of fifteen or sixteen, alone with at least a hundred different shapes and forms of beast bones spread before him.

Under the moonlight, one could clearly see that this young man had a handsome face. His black hair was braided into several strands and hung over his shoulders. He had a well-proportioned figure and was wearing a pelt just like the others. However, there were many scars of varying lengths on his exposed skin.

The boy's clear eyes, though most of the time fixed on the plants before him, would occasionally lift to glance at the group of children seated afar. And every time this happened, a hint of envy would cross his youthful features.

The young man, whose name was Jiang Yun, had grown accustomed to such scenes. He knew that his companions were absorbing moonlight to cultivate.

Cultivation cultivates the self and cultivates—the Dao!

Although I also yearned to join them and cultivate together, my grandfather had told me since childhood that because of my constitution being different from theirs, I couldn't cultivate.

At first, Ginger Cloud didn't believe it. It wasn't until he privately asked several playmates and secretly practiced according to their methods a few times, discovering that his body was indeed unable to absorb the so-called "sun essence and moon dew" they spoke of, that he had to give up helplessly.

"Though it's fortunate to be able to become an alchemist and refine pills suitable for them, helping to strengthen their abilities, at least that's not bad."

Ginger's mind soothed itself, continuing to focus its attention on the herbs, beast bones before her.

"Cloud Child, this is the last batch, right Do you remember how it was"

Just then, a burly man walked up to Jiang Yun's side, his hands clasped behind his back, curiously eyeing the plants, animal bones.

Jiang Yun raised his head and smiled, "Yes, Uncle Mu, I've basically remembered it all."

"Good!" Jiang Mu nodded, not doubting Jiang Yun's words at all. A look of approval appeared on his rugged face.

Perhaps Ginger Cloud didn't think much of remembering the characteristics of these plants, beasts, and bones. But as an adult, Ginger Mu knew better.

Alchemical concoction requires ingredients, and the most basic ones are various plants and animals. To become a qualified alchemist, one must strive to understand and master their characteristics as much as possible.

The mountains where Jiangcun is located are called the Hundred Thousand Mang Mountains. They are almost completely isolated from the world. There are tens of thousands of plant and animal species that grow inside, and it is extremely difficult to know the characteristics of every single one, let alone a tedious process.

While Ginger Cloud was only sixteen years old, she had accomplished so much in just a few short years. This required not only talent but also resilience and a persistent attitude.

"Good job!" Jiang Mu couldn't help but praise again, "Yunwa, you will definitely become a great alchemist in the future!"

As for the praise Ginger Mu showered upon him, Ginger Yun didn't show any excitement whatsoever. He just gave a faint smile, an old-fashioned look that seemed out of place for his age.

Jiang Mu naturally knew Jiang Yun's thoughts. He would rather cultivate and become a cultivator than become a pharmacist.

Extending a palm as large as a fan, Jiang Mu rubbed ginger Yun's head forcefully. He wanted to say something more, but swallowed his words when they reached his lips.

Turning around, Jiang Mu sighed and said, "Yunwazi, it's not that we won't teach you the cultivation methods. It's because you are not a child of my Jiang clan!"

Yes, Ginger Cloud wasn't from Ginger Village. He was an abandoned child found by Old Village Head Ginger Wanli, which is what Ginger Cloud calls his grandfather.

This is not a secret, even Ginger Yun herself has long known.

Although Ginger Cloud is not from Ginger Village, no one in the village treats him as an outsider. Sixteen years of shared life make Ginger Cloud, in their eyes, one of their own.

After a while, Jiang Mu looked up at the round moon in the sky and shouted: "Alright, little ones, it's past Zi Shi, time to end your cultivation!"

This is the genuine article!

With a shout of "Hu la!" the group of children sitting on the floor all jumped up at once.

Although they all know the importance of cultivation, after all, they are still children. Asking them to sit still for several hours is a great torment.

In the blink of an eye, a figure as swift as a weasel darted to Jiang Yun's side.

"Cloud brother, are you going out again tomorrow When you come back, can you catch me a tricolor sparrow"

This is a little girl, about eight or nine years old. She has three colorful bean-sized markings in the shape of a triangle on her forehead. Her delicate face is filled with anticipation.

Her name is Jiang Yue Rou, the true granddaughter of Jiang Wan Li. Unfortunately, shortly after her birth, both her parents died in a hunting accident while venturing into the mountains, leaving her and her grandfather to rely on each other. One could say that Jiang Yun raised her, making her the closest to him.

The mountains are perilous, and no child under eighteen is allowed to leave the village. But Jiang Yun was different.

In order to better understand the characteristics of animals and plants, he would follow his grandfather into the deep mountains every day after the full moon. He would stay there for most of the month and when he returned, he would bring back small trinkets and little animals for the children in the village. Therefore, the children in the village would ask Ginger Cloud for whatever they wanted.

"Good!" Jiang Yun stretched out his hand and gently pinched Jiang Yue's soft cheek, "Wait for me to come back, I will definitely catch you a three-colored sparrow."

"Yunwa, come back and take a bath!"

Just then, a voice from afar sounded aged, and at the same time, Jiang Mu also glared at the children and roared: "Alright alright, little brats, go to sleep quickly. Yunwa, Yue Ruo, come here, you go take a bath!"

All the children scattered at once, and Jiang Yun also stood up, pinched Yue Rou's cheek, greeted Jiang Mu, then turned and walked towards a small house deep in the village.ould we intervene and stop this person"Not far behind him, there was a long-bearded elder with eyebrows almost dragging to the ground. With a calm expression, he said: "Since Qingfeng has been chosen...