C2 The Treasure Bowl

Though young, Ye Chen recognized the immense value of his find. He hastily buried the spiritual herbs on the spot, snatched up the jar, and ran back to the village.

Along the way, some people caught a glimpse of Ye Chen and casually inquired about his haste, but they didn't give it much thought. He was just a child, after all, and many kids treated any old jar they found by the roadside as a prized possession.

By the time Ye Chen made it home, night had fallen. His parents were still out working, as they did all day long. Life in the mountains was tough, but at least they could count on some stability. The neighboring villages weren't so lucky; for them, finding work was a constant struggle.

"Brother!"

As soon as Ye Chen stepped through the door, a tiny figure rushed up to him. The little one was only about half Ye Chen's height and looked to be four or five years old.

Clutching a cube of sugar, the child's mouth was watering, yet he beamed with joy. "Brother, this sugar Brother Hsu Qi brought is so sweet. You have to try it!"

Ye Chen affectionately tousled his sister's hair. "Little Hui, you enjoy it. I've already had some at Hsu Qi's place."

In the secluded Ye Family Village, getting to town to trade goods was a half-month's journey, making such treats like sugar cubes a rare delicacy.

Little Hui muttered something indistinctly, about to pop the sugar into her mouth, when Ye Chen playfully snatched it back. "Bad brother, you said you'd already had some!"

"Little Hui, hold on a second. I'm going to show you a magic trick. Stay right here and don't move; I'll be back in a flash."

With that, Ye Chen stepped out into the yard. His sister waited obediently, her eyes wide with curiosity as she watched her brother. In no time at all, Ye Chen tossed the sugar into the jar, and within moments, it was filled with sugar cubes.

"Here, this is a reward from Master Zhang today. Go on, Little Hui, enjoy it."

Children are easily contented. Ye Chen handed her a generous scoop of sugar cubes, and Little Hui scampered off to her little room, overjoyed. She soon fell asleep, her dreams as sweet as the sugar she'd savored.

Upon realizing his sister was sound asleep and his parents wouldn't be home for a while, Ye Chen secured the doors and windows. He was determined to awaken his Spirit Root, no matter the cost.

Ye Chen had previously learned from Immortal Zhang that the less talented disciples of prestigious families needed to cultivate their abilities to inherit their family wealth. They would use numerous herbs to forcibly open their meridians, thus embarking on the path of cultivation.

This inspired Ye Chen to attempt the same, despite the luxury of using spirit herbs being beyond the reach of his humble village.

Now, the situation had changed. With a jar in hand and an abundant supply of spirit herbs, he was confident of success.

"If those pampered young masters can do it, so can I. What's a little pain compared to them? I am just as capable!" he thought to himself.

Throughout the night, Ye Chen endured unimaginable pain, driven by the desire to improve his family's life and a fierce determination not to be outdone.

What he didn't realize was that the big family disciples Immortal Zhang referred to didn't consume spirit herbs raw, which could cause excruciating pain and even unconsciousness. They would refine the herbs into Pills.

After what felt like an eternity, Ye Chen lost track of how many spirit herbs he had consumed. The intense pain had numbed his mind, erasing any sense of time.

Then, a crisp crackling sound pierced the silence. Ye Chen felt something inside him shatter, replaced by a refreshing clarity in his mind. The fatigue and pain vanished in an instant.

"At last, I've done it!" he thought, brimming with excitement, yet careful not to disturb his family's rest with a loud cheer.

The following morning, in the ancestral hall, Immortal Zhang took a leisurely sip of his fragrant tea and nearly choked on it.

Ye Chen, who had persevered with little hope, now stood before him with a mist emanating from his forehead.

This year, the Ye Family Village celebrated the emergence of three spiritual children. The news filled the villagers with joy. That evening, at the village chief's banquet, Immortal Zhang announced that the subsidies for the Ye Family Village would be doubled, much to everyone's delight.

It should have been a cause for celebration, but Xiao Hui was noticeably downcast. She stubbornly wanted to sleep alongside Ye Chen, clearly struggling with the idea of her brother leaving. Despite the difficulty of parting, the journey ahead was inevitable. Moreover, the presence of the jar meant that the Ye family was assured a prosperous life.

The moment of farewell finally arrived. Ye Chen and his companions were ready to embark on their journey, and Godly Zhang's carriage was set to depart. Their parents, with tears streaming down their faces, clung to their son's hand, reluctant to let go. Having been by his side for so many years, the prospect of him stepping into an unknown world was unsettling for any parent.

Time waits for no one, and Godly Zhang was no stranger to such farewells. With a simple wave, he set off.

By this time, Ye Chen's courtyard was filled with hundreds of kilograms of sugar, and the cellar held a considerable amount of silver. This would surely sustain his parents in comfort for quite some time.

Even then, Ye Chen pondered the future. Once the silver was spent, he anticipated his return, ready to surprise his parents with the fruits of his journey.

After several days of a bumpy ride, Ye Chen and his companions finally left Cang Lang Mountain behind. They were greeted by an endless plain, a sight that captivated Ye Chen and Hsu Qi, who had never traveled far from home. Peering out the window at the passing landscapes was their greatest delight.

Immortal Zhang was in no rush, regaling them with tales of the region's past wonders and oddities, feeding the youngsters' thirst for adventure.

He emphasized the Void Returning Sect's impact. Before the Void Returning Taoist's arrival, the land of Northern Chu was rife with perils and banditry, largely ignored by distant authorities. But the emergence of the Void Returning Taoist and the founding of the Void Returning Sect changed everything. With his mystical arts, he vanquished the Wolf Gang and the Soaring Flying Sect, bringing peace to the region.

Ye Chen was bewildered by the conversation and couldn't resist asking, "Immortal Zhang, I've heard that martial arts masters can effortlessly scale walls and roofs. Does the Void Returning Sect possess techniques that surpass even theirs?"

"Hahaha, no matter how advanced ordinary mortal martial arts may be, they pale in comparison to the Cultivation Realm's supreme methods. The disparity is like that between the clouds and the mud, beyond the scope of mere words," Immortal Zhang chuckled heartily. Seeing the children nearby, he saw a bit of his younger self in them and indulged in a little more conversation.

Back when he left his village, he was one of three. His two companions, blessed with superior talents, had been sent to the higher echelons of the Essence Opening Sect by the Void Returning Taoist. His own gifts were modest, confining him to duties within the Void Returning Sect's domain.

Nevertheless, his position still sparked envy in Ye Chen and the others. To be revered like Immortal Zhang, receiving grand treatment in any village, was a matter of great prestige.

The four of them continued on their way, laughing and joking, and after ten days, they finally reached the pine forest near the Void Returning Sect.

Immortal Zhang was in high spirits, pleased that the journey had been uneventful. He announced that they would reach the Void Returning Sect in just two more days.

Ye Chen and Hsu Qi couldn't help but dream of the idyllic life awaiting them in the Void Returning Sect. But just then, a whizzing sound from outside the carriage shattered their daydreams.

The pace of their travel was already slow, and suddenly, the horse let out a loud neigh and came to a halt. Immortal Zhang swiftly shielded Ye Chen and the others, his fingers weaving an intricate seal.

A pale white light shield unfurled around them, encasing the carriage in its glow.

Yet it was futile. The whizzing grew louder, and while most of the incoming arrows were deflected, some slipped through the defenses. In an instant, the carriage was reduced to rubble. The horses and coachman upfront were riddled with arrows, their entrails strewn across the ground in a nauseating display of red and white.

Immortal Zhang rose to his feet, only to be confronted by dozens of individuals brandishing gleaming scimitars. It was clear that they had arrived with malevolent intent.