Chapter 258: Myriad Heavens: Person in Shrouding the Heavens, Refining Treasures to Become Emperor Chapter 258: Ant Realm, Dao Friend

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Protagonist:

Jiang Xuan

Years shifted, two years of time quietly slipped by.

Inside Jiang Xuan's Hongmeng Realm, Liu Shen comprehended deeply amidst the endless Daojie, and the speed of recovery accelerated markedly.

In just two years, new branches sprouted; this was enormous progress, the dawn's first light, heralding that rebirth was hopeful.

In these two years, Xiao Budian also welcomed his own birth name — Shi Hao.

This was the name his parents told Shi Yunfeng when they sent him to Shi Cun.

Only at that time, Xiao Budian's life and death were uncertain, so Shi Yunfeng never mentioned it.

Now, it also counts as letting him return to his true, original name.

Jiang Xuan stepped out of the room and walked to the village's open space outside.

Here it was extraordinarily lively; children were displaying their strength in their own ways.

Stone blocks, thousand-jin heavy cauldrons, all became props for their display.

One saw some seven- or eight-year-old children lift thousand-jin heavy cauldrons one after another, causing the adults' faces to bloom with gratified and proud smiles.

This was an achievement difficult to reach in their own childhood; now their own children achieved it, and this joy even surpassed the enhancement of their own strength.

【17】 This was an achievement difficult to reach in their own childhood; now their own children achieved it, and this joy even surpassed the enhancement of their own strength.

Everyone saw Jiang Xuan walk out from inside the house and called out in unison: "Hongmeng Teacher."

In every person's gaze toward Jiang Xuan, there was full respect.

Over these two years, Jiang Xuan had already won the recognition of every single person in Shi Cun, and thoroughly integrated into this simple and kind Great Wilderness village.

Hongmeng Teacher's great grace to the village; numerous children at the age of six, seven, or eight could lift thousand-jin cauldrons. To Shi Cun people, Jiang Xuan is the Great Figure who leads their children toward excellence and helps them become talents; therefore they always maintain extremely high respect.

Jiang Xuan nodded and came before Shi Yunfeng and several clan elders. He looked at the children full of vitality in the field and smiled, giving affirmation: "All are children of extraordinary aptitude."

At this moment, these children throwing stones and lifting cauldrons relied purely on fleshly body strength; they had not yet used bone text power.

"All thanks to Hongmeng Teacher's careful teaching."

Shi Yunfeng's face full of smiles, he respectfully saluted.

"Their own talent is indeed outstanding."

Although he occupied the vast majority of credit in the children's growth, it cannot be denied that Shi Cun people all have excellent talent.

It can be said that Shi Cun people almost all possess cultivation talent of varying degrees.

Even the person with the worst talent, as long as they have a cultivation inheritance, certain cultivation resources, and cultivate persistently, before old age arrives, reaching the Blood Moving realm or nearing the Blood Moving realm is not a difficult matter.

However, this is merely the most ideal state.

Shi Cun's inheritance has already been lost; cultivation resources are scarce.

In this Great Wilderness land, countless ferocious beasts for a village like Shi Cun are not resources, but threats that may take lives at any time.

This place is a paradise for the strong, while Shi Cun people are not yet strong. Moreover, persisting in cultivation and having sufficient cultivation time is also a luxury hope for Shi Cun people.

Everyone must rush about for the livelihood of family and village; every hunting trip may cost their life in the wilderness.

The village has many people, but clan elders are few and far between.

Compared to Shi Hao and them, reaching the Blood Moving realm only near old age appears fairly inferior.

But one must know, in this world there are even more people with no cultivation talent at all, who cannot step into the cultivation threshold in their entire lives. After all, Shi Cun people are descendants of the Border Wilderness Seven Kings; even though the king blood has been diluted through countless generations and almost nothing remains, there is still a trace of inheritance after all.

For Jiang Xuan, targeted teaching of these children is not a difficult matter.

"Xiao Budian, what are you doing sneaking around?"

Jiang Xuan spotted Xiao Budian poking his head around in the crowd at a glance, "Come out and show off!"

With Jiang Xuan's shout, everyone's gazes gathered on Xiao Budian.

"Huh, Xiao Budian, why do you have a milky smell on you? Did you steal beast milk again?"

An eight- or nine-year-old child sniffed hard and shouted loudly.

Xiao Budian's face flushed red instantly, and he hid behind the crowd again, appearing extremely shy.

His body indeed emitted a milky fragrance all year round.

"No I don't, I'm already three years old, I don't drink beast milk anymore!"

Xiao Budian argued with a red face, voice childish.

"Hahaha."

The open space immediately rang with bursts of laughter; everyone looked at this adorable child, full of affection.

Everyone knows he still drinks beast milk.

Jiang Xuan walked forward, picked up Xiao Budian and brought him out, letting him go lift the cauldron.

He had to display a bit, only then could it highlight his excellence as this master.

Xiao Budian's silhouette was still short, but the cauldron was huge; he simply ducked under the cauldron, and immediately with a "whoosh" sound, he lifted the thousand-jin cauldron.

This scene shocked Shi Cun people immensely; he is only a three-year-old child!

However, this is only the beginning.

Even without Jiang Xuan's teaching, Xiao Budian lifting a cauldron at three years old would not be difficult; but with Jiang Xuan, it underwent an earth-shaking change.

Jiang Xuan had Xiao Budian go lift heavier cauldrons; Shi Cun lacks nothing else, but this type of heavy object is extremely abundant.

A two-thousand-jin cauldron was easily lifted by Xiao Budian; immediately after, a ten-thousand-jin cauldron was also smoothly lifted over his head top.

Every single person in Shi Cun was shocked speechless, looking at the shortest, porcelain-doll-like Xiao Budian in the crowd, who actually lifted a ten-thousand-jin giant cauldron; the shock in their hearts was difficult to express.

This scene simply does not seem like something a mortal could do; it resembles more an Ancient Times ferocious beast's cub displaying strength.

"Drinking beast milk all along, and the effect is actually this astonishing?"

A child as skinny as a monkey, eyes bulging as if they would fall out.

Upon hearing this, Boy instantly lost his composure, set down the cauldron, and hid behind Jiang Xuan and the others, his pale, feeble voice drifting over: "Boy doesn't drink milk anymore!"

Laughter rang out across the clearing once more, the atmosphere cheerful and lively.

Boy's display shocked everyone in Shi Cun, and afterward, all gazes turned toward Jiang Xuan.

Recalling the other children's extraordinary performance, a reasonable answer was on the tip of everyone's tongue — it was all because Hongmeng Teacher's teaching was proper!

After this demonstration, Jiang Xuan gathered all the children together and solemnly announced a matter.

"Master, you're a cultivator, so you must know where in the Great Wilderness there are tasty ferocious beasts, right?" Boy tilted up that childish face, curiosity sparkling in his eyes, and asked Jiang Xuan.

So it is — the Desolate Heavenly Emperor's love of eating ferocious beasts is inborn!

"Why this sudden question?"

Jiang Xuan gently cradled Boy in his arms, wiping the lingering traces of beast milk from the corner of his mouth, and half-jokingly smeared the milk stain onto his face with a backhand motion.

"Master's learning is profound, your experience extraordinary, and you always manage to produce those delicious rare treasures!"

Boy cocked his head, thought seriously for a moment, and said solemnly.

The so-called rare treasures he spoke of were actually those extremely high-grade precious medicines, as well as true blood containing vast power.

"You're quite clever." Jiang Xuan gave a slight nod, admitting without reservation, "I am indeed a cultivator."

"Then Master must be number one under heaven, right?" Boy's eyes instantly shone like stars, filled with reverence.

"Alas."

Jiang Xuan let out a gentle sigh, a touch of emotion on his face. "Within this Shi Cun, my cultivation level may still count as outstanding. However, if one expands one's horizon to the vast, boundless outer world, experts whose cultivation far surpasses mine are as numerous as stars. The path of cultivation is like the vast Star River, endless; I have merely taken the first few steps."

"Your master, I, have never had top-tier talent since childhood; I spent long years painstakingly cultivating, and if judged solely by realm, I am only barely one realm higher than you, Boy."

Jiang Xuan deliberately put on a worried expression and continued, "Who knows — in a few more years, with your heaven-shaking talent, Boy, your cultivation might easily surpass your master's."

Ant Realm, Fellow Daoist Realm, Senior Realm.

Jiang Xuan's words were not wrong.

Hearing this, Boy immediately stretched out his tender small hand, lightly hugged Jiang Xuan, his childish little face full of concern and seriousness: "Master need not worry; when Boy later also becomes a cultivator, stands at the peak of heaven and earth, unrivaled in the world, I will surely find the world's most precious treasure for Master, just as Master once gave to me!"

"Good child; Master's doting on you these years has not been in vain after all."

Jiang Xuan's face was full of gratification as he stroked Boy's head.

Inwardly he pondered: Boy has now completed the most basic cultivation; how should the subsequent path be taught?

With his current strength, among the Shi Cun children, he is undoubtedly the strongest.

Even those children aged twelve or thirteen are easily suppressed before Boy.

As for youths of fourteen or fifteen or even older, although they are no longer pure children, in Shi Cun, at around fifteen or sixteen they already marry and start families, establishing their own households — this is a universal phenomenon in all villages of the Great Wilderness, and even many tribes outside.

But even so, they are absolutely no match for Boy.

"Boy!" Suddenly, shouts came from outside. "Come out and play!"

It was a group of Shi Cun children.

In a village like this, children always play in groups, responding in droves; every outing is a mighty throng, a powerful "force" that cannot be underestimated.

Recalling two years ago, Boy was still young, physically weak, and could only trail behind the other children, running unsteadily; not far in he would plop down panting heavily, gasping for breath, resting a while.

Now, relying on his own formidable strength, Boy's status in the children's group has risen greatly; he is imposing and extraordinary in bearing.

The only fly in the ointment is that he still drinks beast milk, which often becomes the target of the little companions' teasing and jokes, dealing no small blow to his "prestige" in the children's hearts.

Besides, Boy has a special hobby: chasing flying birds — before it was the colorful, dazzling Five-Colored Sparrow, later he set his sights on the fiery red, gorgeous Red Sparrow.

Over these two years, although Jiang Xuan gave the children unified instruction, he also fully respected and preserved their nature; when it was time to play he never imposed excessive restrictions.

Therefore, in his spare time from study, Boy missed none of the interesting things: drinking beast milk, chasing birds, walking the big dog, digging holes.

At this moment, hearing his little companions' calls, Boy excitedly wriggled his body, and with a "bang" landed nimbly on the ground. "Master, I'm going out to play!" Before his words had even fallen, his small figure shot out like an arrow off the string.

"Wow! Boy, did you secretly drink beast milk again? There's still some on your face!"

Just as he went out, a sharp-eyed little companion spotted the clue and shouted loudly.

"No, I was afraid of wasting it!" Boy's face flushed red as he forced a defense.

"Shame shame shame, three years old and still not weaned, bird-chasing Xiao Hao Hao!"

Another kid joined the jeering, making everyone laugh even more merrily.

"How can you groundlessly slander me?" Boy's face was full of grievance, yet he could not refute, only puffing up angrily in argument.

Amid the clamor, the children's figures gradually receded, their cheerful, hearty laughter echoing all along the way. Adults passing by, seeing this group of lively, adorable little ones, couldn't help but reveal gratified, contented smiles.

Now, with their own children becoming increasingly outstanding and living conditions greatly improved, every person in Shi Cun truly feels happiness rising straight up, full of beautiful yearning and expectation for the days ahead.

All feel this life is getting more and more promising!

Jiang Xuan quietly listened to the children's fading laughter, his heart full of satisfaction and gratification.

Just then, a small, exquisite red bird emitting a gentle light flew in and perched steadily on the stone table.

Its nimble eyes gazed at Jiang Xuan, revealing spirituality.

"Little guy, what business do you have with me?"

Jiang Xuan's gaze fell on the little red bird, then he turned and properly put away Boy's milk jar.

"Thump thump thump!" Right at this moment, a knock came from outside the door.

Jiang Xuan couldn't help but smile; today was quite lively.

He opened the door — Shi Yunfeng stood outside.

With Jiang Xuan's permission, Shi Yunfeng stepped inside. His gaze landed on the little red bird, a flicker of surprise in his eyes, but he said nothing more.

After all, this bird often appeared in the village and was always chased around by Boy, so everyone was used to it.

"Hongmeng Teacher." Shi Yunfeng spoke respectfully.

"Patriarch has come this time for Boy's matter, right?" Jiang Xuan seemed able to see through everything, piercing straight through Shi Yunfeng's purpose in a single sentence.

"Yes." Shi Yunfeng nodded in acknowledgment, "Boy's current performance is truly astonishing. Only the Xi Sui he is about to face..."

Shi Yunfeng's words carried a trace of You Lu.

In the Ancient Law cultivation system, cultivators usually undergo the first crucially important Xi Sui of their lives at age five.

This process seals the child in a specially made furnace, using various rare precious medicines, true blood containing powerful strength, and other divine objects to decoct and temper the fleshly body, thereby stimulating the child's potential and laying a solid foundation for the future cultivation path.

And the divine object quality used for Xi Sui is often closely related to the child's background.

The more noble and extraordinary the background, the more rare and high-grade the divine objects used.

Given the outstanding gift Boy has revealed, if some subpar, not up-to-grade things were used for Xi Sui, it would undoubtedly be an enormous waste of his gift, simply ruining heaven's gifts.

"Patriarch need not worry over Boy's Xi Sui matter. He is destined to become a future Supreme, so naturally he ought to enjoy Supreme Level treatment." Jiang Xuan wore a smile, speaking with a determined tone.

"Thank you, Hongmeng Teacher!" Shi Yunfeng heard this, his heart shook, and in his excitement he was about to perform a grand salute toward Jiang Xuan to indicate gratitude.

Fortunately Jiang Xuan was quick-eyed and quick-handed, promptly reaching out to support him.

"Patriarch need not be like this. Boy has already bowed to me as teacher; arranging these for him is all within my duty."

Shi Yunfeng's visit this time was in truth a tactful request for him to act and assist.

"Not only Boy, the other children are also my disciples; I will prepare matching Xi Sui for each according to their respective gifts and potential, absolutely not letting any child's gift be buried." (Chapter End)