Ascending the Path to Immortality

Chapter 1 - Su Twelve

Cultivators steal the power of creation to achieve immortality, harness the energy of heaven and earth to endure, and refine the essence of the five elements to protect themselves.

In the northern region of Muyun Prefecture, there lies a mountain known as Tianjue Peak, a place seen as a death zone by countless cultivators.

At the base of Tianjue Peak, near the mountain’s entrance, rests an ancient village called Xiaoshi Village.

Xiaoshi Village got its name from the fact that all of its buildings were constructed using stone.

Legend has it that a thousand years ago, the village was founded by descendants of immortals who had secluded themselves in this remote location. However, as time passed, the truth of this tale has long been lost to history.

Today, Xiaoshi Village is home to nothing more than a group of ordinary mortals.

The village consists of about forty households, surrounded by fertile fields and rich soil. Occasionally, the villagers venture out to Huilong Town to trade for rare items. Life here is peaceful and uneventful.

Dusk.

In the woods east of Xiaoshi Village, five children dressed in coarse hemp clothing, their sun-tanned skin darkened by exposure, crouched in the grass.

In the center, a small boy held a hemp rope. One end of the rope was tied to a wooden stick, which propped up a wooden sieve. Beneath the sieve, scattered grains of rice served as bait.

A wild chicken cautiously peeked around, drawn to the rice. After some hesitation, it finally couldn’t resist and darted under the sieve.

The boy immediately pulled the rope, causing the stick to fall. The greedy chicken was quickly trapped beneath the sieve.

Seeing this, the children erupted in excitement, clapping and cheering for the boy in the center.

"Wow, we caught it! We really caught it! Twelve, you’re so clever!"

"Twelve-gege, you’re amazing! When I grow up, will you marry me?"

"Twelve, my mom said there’s going to be an immortal coming to Huilong Town tomorrow to accept disciples. You’re so smart—you might be able to become their apprentice!"

The boy, called Twelve, rolled his eyes and laughed. "Give me a break! You can’t even count to three, you little fatty. How would you understand anything about immortals? Do you really think it’s that easy to become an apprentice? Besides, what’s so great about cultivation? Staying in the village with Grandpa isn’t good enough for you?"

"Alright, you little bootlickers," Twelve said as he stood up, "I’ve already taught you how to do it. Now go catch something yourselves!"

He walked over to the sieve, skillfully reached underneath to grab the trapped chicken, and headed toward the nearby river.

Twelve’s full name was Su Twelve. He had grown up with his grandfather, relying on the kindness of villagers to survive.

Smart and quick to learn, he was the leader among the village children—a "king of the kids."

At the riverbank, Su Twelve deftly slaughtered the chicken, draining its blood and plucking its feathers. From his pocket, he took out a small, battered, fist-sized miniature alchemy furnace.

The furnace was filled with salt. Su Twelve pinched a bit of salt between his fingers and sprinkled it over the cleaned chicken.

He then tore a lotus leaf from the riverbank, wrapped the chicken in it, and coated it in a layer of clay.