Cultivators harness the power of creation to achieve immortality, steal the essence of heaven and earth to endure, and refine the essence of the five elements for self-preservation.

  In the northern part of Muyun Prefecture, there is a mountain called Heavenly Pinnacle Peak, a place considered a dead zone by countless cultivators.

  At the entrance to the mountain beneath Heavenly Pinnacle Peak lies an ancient village, Small Stone Village, named for its entirely stone-built structures.

  Legend has it that a thousand years ago, Small Stone Village was established by the descendants of immortals who chose to live in seclusion. However, as time passed, the truth of this tale has long been lost.

  Nowadays, Small Stone Village is home to a group of ordinary mortals.

  The village consists of over forty households, occupying fertile lands, occasionally venturing to Dragon Return Town to trade for rare items, living a peaceful life.

  Evening.

  In the woods to the east of Small Stone Village, five sun-tanned children in coarse hemp clothing, around ten years old, were crouched in the grass.

  In the center, one child held a hemp rope, the other end tied to a stick propping up a sieve, with some scattered rice grains underneath.

  Nearby, a wild chicken cautiously pecked at the rice grains. Before long, unable to resist, it ventured inside.

  The child decisively pulled the rope, causing the stick to fall, trapping the greedy wild chicken under the sieve.

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

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

  "Brother Shi'er, you're amazing! When I grow up, can I marry you?"

  "Shi'er, I heard from my mom that an immortal is coming to Dragon Return Town to take disciples. You're so smart, maybe you could become an immortal's apprentice."

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

  "Alright! You little flatterers, I've taught you the method! You can play on your own now!"

  The boy finished speaking, walked over to the sieve, skillfully picked up the trapped wild chicken, and headed towards the nearby river.

  His full name was Su Shi'er, and he had been raised by his grandfather, growing up on the kindness of the villagers.

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  He was smart from a young age, quick to learn anything, and was like the leader among the children in the village.

  Su Shi'er reached the riverbank, skillfully bled and plucked the wild chicken, then took out a small, worn-out pill furnace the size of a fist from his pocket.

  The pill furnace was filled with salt. Su Shi'er grabbed a pinch, sprinkling it over the prepared wild chicken.

  Then, he tore off a lotus leaf, wrapped the chicken in it, and coated the outside with a layer of mud.

  The pill furnace had a three-legged round belly, its body engraved with intricate patterns of flowers, birds, insects, and fish. Its material was unknown, neither metal nor wood, neither jade nor stone, impervious to water and fire, unbreakable by knife.

  He had secretly retrieved it from the rafters at home. His grandfather treasured the pill furnace, never allowing him to touch it. Initially, Su Shi'er didn't care much, thinking it was just a strange, broken furnace.

  However, once he used the pill furnace to hold salt while making Beggar’s Chicken.

  He discovered that the salt stored in the pill furnace became exceptionally crystalline. The Beggar’s Chicken made with this salt was extraordinarily crispy and fragrant, and after eating it, his mind felt clear, and his thoughts became exceptionally sharp.

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

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

  "Hehe, the old geezer has never tasted such delicious roasted chicken. This time he'll be surprised, and maybe he won't refuse to let me use the pill furnace anymore!"

  Su Shi'er grinned as he prepared.

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

  An elderly man with white hair and beard, hands clasped behind his back, hiding a stick, approached the riverbank.

  The newcomer was Su Shi'er's grandfather, Su Mingren. Su Mingren was the only literate person in the village, held in high regard.

  "Of course, it's my grandpa... Old geezer, why are you here?!" Su Shi'er replied without thinking. Turning around to see his grandfather approaching with a stick, he was so startled that the prepared wild chicken slipped from his hands.

  "Calling me 'old geezer' with every breath, have all the teachings gone to the dogs?

  I've told you countless times, this furnace must never be taken out! You little brat, you dug it out again! Today, I'll teach you a lesson!"

  Su Mingren glared at the pill furnace in Su Shi'er's hands, his beard bristling, raising the stick as if to strike.

  Su Shi'er had been watching his grandfather's every move. Before his grandfather could act, he tucked the pill furnace into his arms, jolted, and dashed towards the village.

  As he ran, Su Shi'er shouted back, "Old geezer, I was kindly making roast chicken for you, and you... you actually want to hit me! You're not being fair!"

  "Not fair? You little brat, have you forgotten who raised you this big?!"

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

  "You're up on the roof every day, stealing chickens and dogs is one thing! But this furnace, wherever I hide it, you find it, are you at odds with it or something?!"

  Though young, Su Shi'er was quick on his feet. As he ran, he turned back to make a face at his grandfather, "Old geezer, this pill furnace is a family heirloom, isn't it going to be mine eventually? What's the difference if you give it to me sooner or later?"

  Su Mingren, hot on his heels, was livid, "You little brat, if I don't teach you a lesson today, you won't understand the gravity of the situation."

  This pill furnace had been passed down for generations, its purpose long forgotten.

  Su Mingren only knew that his father had instructed him before his death to guard it well, never letting anyone know, or it would bring disaster.

  He had never intended to let Su Shi'er know about this unless absolutely necessary.

  Su Shi'er occasionally glanced back, seeing his grandfather truly angry, and felt a bit apprehensive.

  Relying on his youthful agility, he ran circles around the village, and when no one was watching, he ducked into a haystack.

  Su Mingren, being older, was flushed and out of breath after a few rounds, unable to run any further.

  However, having raised his grandson himself, he knew his temperament better than anyone.

  After a round, Su Mingren's gaze locked onto a nearby haystack.

  Holding the stick, he quietly approached the haystack and grabbed Su Shi'er, who was peeking out from inside.

  "Hmph! You little brat, you're quite good at hiding! Let's see where you can run today..."

  Su Mingren was scolding when suddenly cries of surprise erupted nearby.

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

  "Oh my, can people really fly in the sky?"

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

  ***

  In the village, figures looked up one after another, exclamations rising and falling.

  Su Mingren also looked up.

  In the sky, a figure shrouded in black, trailing a streak of light, was flying towards Small Stone Village.

  Seeing the black figure, Su Mingren's pupils contracted sharply, his face changed instantly. He quickly shoved Su Shi'er back into the haystack, speaking solemnly, "Shi'er, listen to Grandpa. From now on, stay hidden inside and don't come out! No matter what happens later, you must not come out! Do you hear me?!"

  Inside the haystack, Su Shi'er, who was lamenting the beating he was about to receive, was suddenly stunned by his grandfather's unprecedentedly serious expression, instinctively nodding.

  After swiftly hiding Su Shi'er, Su Mingren quickly walked away.