Yiselie's father knew it was nothing more than a pipe dream to have a daily meal of a beast of the 9th level of the Mortal Realm every day. If it were just a normal beast of the 9th level, it might have posed no trouble. But the beast he hunted was no ordinary creature—it was a Green Scaled Dragon.
Even as an infant, these dragons were infamous for their ruthlessness. From the moment they hatched, they displayed instinctive cunning and lethal precision, attacking not only humans but other beasts without hesitation. Their scales were naturally dense, coated with venomous secretion that served both as defense and a paralyzing toxin. This made them exceptionally difficult to confront, even for experienced martial cultivators. In adulthood, these dragons would reach the 9th rank of the Body Refining Realm, making them among the most valuable and dangerous beasts in existence. Many cultivators would give their lifetime to obtain it's hides, flesh and skin, yet few survived the attempt.
Yet for Yiselie's father, the risk was worth it. The dragon's meat was extraordinary—each scale condensed immense energy, a living reservoir of spiritual power accumulated within its body. This made the flesh extremely dense, tough to chew for ordinary humans, but for someone in the Body Refining Realm, it was a delicacy that could strengthen one's internal energy with each bite. Its bones were just as remarkable, so hard and durable that they were perfect for crafting in the blacksmith's workshop. When infused with heat and refined techniques, they could produce weapons and tools of unparalleled sharpness and resilience.
Yiselie's father had planned to immerse himself in meditation on the Holy Scriptures first, allowing his mind to attune to the divine energies. After that, he would meditate on his encounter and eventual battle with the Green Scaled Dragon, a practice meant to mentally and spiritually prepare him for the real confrontation.
However, as he settled into position, he suddenly heard the familiar voice of his son calling from just outside the compound.
"Hm… he's back. Guess I'll have to come back to this later."
The door screeched open, revealing a little boy adorned in a long sky-blue dress, with a golden robe wrapped carefully at his waist. Observers would notice intricate patterns woven into the fabric—complex formations that shimmered faintly, designed to act as a defensive mechanism. If a cultivator attempted to attack him, the formations would automatically respond, creating a protective barrier. Though similar robes were available for sale in the village, none carried the precision or power of this one.
Following closely was another boy wearing a white dress, cloaked in a silver robe. It bore similar formation patterns, crafted with equal care and strength. Yiselie's father had personally designed both robes, while Enhui's father had purchased his at a fair price.
"Oh, Enhui, your father has contacted me. You, as you and your friend Yiselie, are of age now. I plan to ask you: what do you want to do for your side occupation? Have your seat."
The chair was pulled back, and the boys sat down.
"Martial cultivators must have a way to earn money," Yiselie's father began, "but that is not the only reason for having a side occupation. Cultivation consumes energy, resources, and time. Without a proper occupation to support your martial cultivation, even the strongest martial arts can be wasted. This is one reason the village has progressed so rapidly in martial cultivation rank."
He handed them a list of potential occupations. The boys scanned it with wide eyes.
"Wow, Dad, this is incredible! I never knew blacksmiths could gauge the quality and sharpness of a blade so precisely," Yiselie exclaimed.
His eyes widened further as he continued, "Even beast tamers are formidable. A skilled beast tamer can bond with a rare, low-rank beast and cultivate it to fight alongside them at equal strength, making them fearsome opponents. This is essential, because in battle you are never facing just one enemy—you are often facing multiple. Such mastery earns respect among all martial cultivators.
"However, there are challenges. A Beast Tamer must bond with an intelligent beast. An unintelligent beast will fall into traps easily, halving the tamer's effective strength. Nurturing a beast to a high level requires vast resources, rare medicines, and careful training. Moreover, Beast Tamers usually maintain three beasts—two for combat and hunting, and one as a reserve in case one dies. This system allows them to maintain nearly full strength even under adversity. The bond between a Beast Tamer and their creatures is absolute: if the tamer dies, the beasts die as well.
"Their loyalty is unwavering, and such a bond cannot be broken. Because of this, stealing a beast-tamer's spirit beast is pointless—the creature's soul is already bound to its master.
Enhui responded, "Farmers are also impressive. My father said that martial arts pharmaceutical produce are so rare because cultivation is delicate. Most plants never reach the desired quality due to poor weather or environmental factors. Take the Red Sun Bulb, for example—it comes from the Red Sun Flower, a rare plant that absorbs sunlight and volcanic energy. When lit, it glows like a miniature sun inside a greenhouse. Helping plant in photosynthesis when no sun is available during winter. Or raining days."
Yiselie's father's face grew solemn. "Just as there are beautiful and extraordinary plants in the martial world, there are dangers beyond imagination. Some plants are so poisonous, they can kill me in half a breath."
Yiselie shivered. "I had no idea the martial world could be so dangerous."
His father nodded gravely. "I am in the 4th Rank of the Body Refining Realm. Most never reach this level in their lifetime. The world is far more dangerous than you can imagine. If not for the Heavenly Martial Cultivation Scripture granted by the Eternal God, we would have perished long ago after our encounter with Him."
"The village has been attacked multiple times since that encounter. Thanks to the Scripture, our ranks increased rapidly, enabling us to defend ourselves. The guards from the Great Ling Empire who assisted us also inherited these arts. They perished alongside us during the massacre a year ago and have since become part of the village, bringing their families to live here. No one outside knows of our encounter with the Eternal God. It remains a tightly kept secret, for revealing it would mean certain death. The villagers seem devout now, though few understand the true reason for our newfound strength."
Yiselie's father continued, "And that strength was only possible because so many villagers increased their cultivation. Otherwise, we would have been utterly defeated. And if we were to face the two intruders who massacred us a year ago… we would be slaughtered like lambs again."
Yiselie's expression turned to stone. "I will not let that happen again." The little boy's eyes dimmed as the nightmare from a year ago clawed its way back into his thoughts.
"I will grow stronger. No matter what… I will protect the village
Enhui said, "My father warned me about the Red Sun Flowers. They are extremely dangerous. Even a 9th Rank Mortal Realm cultivator could be vaporized if not careful. The flowers grow across a volcano called Sunlight. You can harvest the ones at the base safely, but the higher you ascend, the rarer and stronger the flowers become. At the peak are the Great Red Sun Flowers. Their glow is so bright it turns a fifty-kilometer-wide area into daytime, even at night."
"The flowers absorb the Sunlight Volcano's magma during the night, maintaining their glow even after being plucked. And you may wonder—how does the magma remain on the surface constantly? It's because this volcano is perpetually active, continuously replenishing the heat and energy."
"The flowers must be cut carefully at the head of the plant. They only grow in Sunlight Volcanic zones, where volcanic magma and sunlight merge to create their energy. Uprooting improperly can destabilize the formation, causing a catastrophic magma eruption. Even a 9th Rank Body Refining Realm cultivator cannot survive at the volcano's center if an explosion occurs. The flowers themselves will explode, releasing poisonous gas. According to authentic cultivation records, a full 2nd Rank Body Insight Realm cultivator could be killed if caught in the epicenter. At the base, where temperatures are moderate, a 7th Rank Mortal Realm cultivator can survive, barely. The consequences of miscalculation could destroy kingdoms though no kingdom has been destroyed by a sunlight volcano throughout history as the volcano is far from any know human settlement."
"Enhui, what is a Sunlight Volcano?" Yiselie asked.
"Well," replied Enhui, "a Sunlight Volcano forms only under very rare conditions. The ground must be rich with formation stones, which store and emit energy. These energies adapt to the surrounding environment and season. In deserts or special terrains, the energy can create a faint, continuous sunlight effect, forming a Sunlight Volcano. Minimal wind is required; too much disperses the heat, preventing the formation of sunlight. This energy accumulates in the magma, giving it unique properties. My father commissioned the blacksmith and potter to create special vases from formation stone that can endure the intense heat of the flowers."
Yiselie clenched his fists, his resolve burning. "I must become stronger and stronger so that I can defend my family. No… though I must defend my family, God comes first. I must obey His will, for this is my life. Serving the Eternal God is the sole purpose of our life; we must not forget that," he repeated in his mind, recalling his father's teachings.
"Yes, sir," the boys responded.
"You can go and read more of the Holy Scriptures so you can understand the mysteries of this world and stay connected to the Eternal God," Yiselie's father instructed.
"Yes, sir," they replied again.
He waved his hand, and two books appeared on the table.
"Wow, Dad, how did you do that?"
"It's a secret. Even if I explained it, it wouldn't benefit you. The path of cultivation is fragile—once exposed and followed it twists. What one discovers through their own insight cannot be handed to another. Everyone walks the Dao alone.
He understood this deeply. If he spoke, his son would chase borrowed comprehension, not his own. Keeping the secret was not neglect, but protection—so the boy could awaken to his own insight in due time.Both of you can go to the house in the midst of the garden to decide what to do and read the Holy Scriptures together."
"Ok, sir!" they responded happily.
The "house in the midst of the garden" wasn't actually a house but a gazebo. The gazebo was entirely made out of low-tier formation stone. Only the village vice chief, the village chief, and a few wealthy villagers could afford one. Then they left for the gazebo.
After they left, a man in a rainbow-colored cloak suddenly appeared in the room. He knelt down ,holding a scroll in both hands.
Vice master, Elder Brother Guang said I should deliver this.
Yiselie's father took the scroll and guided a blue-colored energy from his fingertips. His eyes glowed faintly as he read it carefully, absorbing every word. Once finished, he handed the scroll back.
"Ok, you can go back," he said.
He wasn't afraid of others seeing the message in the scroll, for its contents could only be deciphered by certain people—such as the village chief and other members of the village's foundational elite. To anyone else, the scroll appeared blank, as if it held no secrets at all.
The man's cloak blended perfectly with the colors of the room, and he shot out at high speed without disturbing the air or light the slightest even the ground didn't carry his footprint, A mere cultivator observing him in daylight would never have known a person had been there.
Once the man had gone, Yiselie's father's expression grew serious, the shadow of a looming threat crossing his face.
"We must get stronger fast," he murmured. "I have to go and inform the village chief immediately."
1. If you find flaws in the story please comment on it, you know, it is not easy to write a novel
2."I'll be posting a chapter per day. On days when I don't upload a chapter, the next day will have two chapters. However, I'll be posting 7 chapters in a week."
3. "If you're enjoying the story, just drop a comment saying 'I love the story!' Your support means a lot and gives me the confidence to keep writing. Thank you for being part of this journey!".