Chapter One: A Family of Remarkable Talent

The early summer night was cool, the sky deep into the fourth watch. In the small courtyard of the Jiang family in Qingshu Village, a sturdy woman dressed in coarse linen stood inside the spirit pigpen, holding an oil lamp. With one hand, she grasped a knife, and with the other, she mixed the lowest grade spirit plants into feed for a red-breasted spirit pig. Her knife landed steadily on the chopping board, splitting it slightly.

Cradled in her arms was a baby, drifting between sleep and wakefulness. The infant was only a few months old, yet lacked any infantile plumpness—dark-skinned and thin, a stark contrast to the fat pig happily munching feed nearby. Anyone might mistake the pig for the family’s child.

Before Jiang Haohao opened her eyes, the pungent odor of pig manure reached her nose. She frowned, struggling to open her eyes, and, as usual, began to wail loudly. Hungry, she cried for her mother to feed her.

The woman, hearing the cries, quickly set aside her work, gently patted her little bundle’s back, uttered a cleansing spell, and returned to the house to expertly lift her shirt and quiet the crying baby.

Confronted with the whiteness before her, Jiang Haohao, in her previous life a strong, modern woman, found herself resigned. People’s resilience is remarkable; after three or four months in this world, aside from the initial embarrassment of breastfeeding and the distress of soiled diapers, she had adapted well. Her routine consisted of eating, sleeping, and crying. Yet this body remained fragile—though born into a world of cultivation, poverty made the path arduous. Her parents, at best, inhabited the lowest rung of cultivators, middling in the Qi Refining realm.

Their spiritual roots were merely of the lowest grade. Rising above would be difficult!

This impoverished life was nothing like the world of cultivation she had imagined. Fortunately, her mother, though fierce in appearance, possessed a warm embrace and a smile that could reassure the heart.

She sighed, nursing vigorously, determined to build a strong foundation for her cultivation. But even for a child, feeding was exhausting. Wearied, Jiang Haohao drifted into a doze within her mother’s warmth.

In her dreams, she checked her spiritual sea and found the seven-colored gourd in her dantian still quietly radiating light. This gourd had arrived as a transmigration gift just days ago. Its purpose was unclear, but the spring water within tasted sweet and nourished her body.

Her meridians grew, rooted and strengthened by the spiritual energy from the gourd, though invisible to the naked eye. With this golden finger, she feared not her poor aptitude!

Thinking of this, Jiang Haohao couldn’t help but smile sweetly.

Barely asleep, she heard her father rise from bed and the rustle of clothing. Still half-awake, Jiang Haohao was transferred from her mother’s broad, strong arms to her father’s somewhat chill embrace.

Her father was a sickly beauty, frail as a willow in the wind, which only emphasized his stunning, delicate charm.

After so long in the world of cultivation, seeing countless ordinary cultivators, Jiang Haohao felt her father’s ethereal temperament fit the reputation of a famed handsome man in the cultivation world.

She had not expected her mother to be so different—how could the legendary fairy be such a formidable figure?

Jiang Haohao could only silently pray that fate would grant her more of her father’s looks and not turn her into another fierce butcher.

“Has Haohao gotten thinner again lately?”

“Ai, yes. She’s not getting enough nutrition, always hungry. But she’s much smarter than the elder two—she knows to cry when she’s hungry.”

“Just sleep a bit more, the county office is off today. Speaking of which, has the thief been caught yet? Who would dare steal spirit stones from the county office!”

Jiang Haohao, initially drifting between sleep and wakefulness, paid little attention until she heard about the stolen spirit stones. Her ears perked—her father was in charge of spirit stones; she hoped he wouldn’t be blamed!

Her mother continued, “That big bag you brought home the other day, is it...?”

Jiang Haohao: ???

Even her ethereal, beautiful father had a share in these matters!

“Mm, keep it hidden. If necessary, stash it in the mustard seed pouch. Don’t touch it for now.”

Jiang Haohao: ...

Before she could protest, her father calmly said, “Don’t worry, ours is just a small portion. I took advantage of the chaos to grab some. The real culprits will take the blame, no matter how deep the investigation.”

“No, you mustn’t be so rash next time. At least come up with a thorough plan before acting!”

Jiang Haohao: Wait, mother, are you planning for next time? And a thorough plan...

A thousand wild horses thundered through her mind—she felt as if she’d been born into a bandit’s family!

The most shocking thing was, how could her radiant, virtuous father do something so contrary to her worldview?

But as the saying goes, principles follow appearances—who cared, as long as it meant more to eat...

How quickly had she fallen? Well, her family couldn’t be relied upon; she’d have to grow strong herself!

Jiang Haohao closed her eyes, focusing on the seven-colored gourd in her spiritual sea, silently following its energy to strengthen her meridians, hoping to change her inferior spiritual root soon.

...

By dusk, Qingshu Village was bathed in the glow of sunset, and every household began to prepare meals.

Jiang Haohao slept soundly in her father’s embrace, the early summer breeze cool, but she was snug and comfortable in his warmth.

Her mother, Song Liyao, rolled up her coarse sleeves and used a cloud-summoning spell to water the spirit plants with spring water. Turning, she saw her unfortunate eldest child, Jiang Lin, standing at the door, covered in mud.

His left leg had a gaping hole, and in his arms he held a trembling Scarlet Cloud Rabbit.

His silly little face broke into a row of clean teeth, guilty yet eager as he said to Song Liyao, “Mother, I found a Scarlet Cloud Rabbit—tonight we’ll have a feast!”

Jiang Haohao, deep in sleep, heard the words “rabbit” and “feast” and opened her eyes involuntarily.

Seeing her ragged brother holding a fire-red, long-eared, plump rabbit, her tiny mouth reflexively swallowed.

Her father, Jiang Xu, glanced thoughtfully at the bundle in his arms, quietly approaching the eldest, watching as the little hands stroked the rabbit’s fur, his smile gentle.

As the rabbit drew nearer and Jiang Haohao focused on its fur, she saw her beautiful father’s gentle smile and drooled even more...

Wiping her baby’s drool, Song Liyao eyed the filthy little rascal—how could such a big hole be the result of “finding” a rabbit?

You think a Scarlet Cloud Rabbit is so foolish as to run into your arms?

Jiang Xu addressed Jiang Lin sternly, “Is it so easy to find Firecloud Master’s rabbits?”

“Next time, don’t hunt in those mountains. If you’re caught, they’ll break your legs—do you understand the consequences?”

Jiang Haohao, still happily playing with the rabbit, felt troubled upon hearing that hunting in the mountains could lead to broken legs.

Her elder brother risked himself to bring home nutritious food—such was the fate of lowly cultivators without status or background.

“Father, don’t worry. With Firecloud Master’s daughter and Hidden Spirit Master’s son around, even if Firecloud Master finds out, he won’t blame me.”

Jiang Lin’s wide eyes were earnest as he spoke to Jiang Xu.

Jiang Haohao: Why did things feel increasingly off?

Her seemingly easygoing, gullible elder brother was secretly full of cunning.

Sensing the awkward silence, Jiang Lin hurriedly excused himself to deal with the Scarlet Cloud Rabbit, quickly disappearing from the scene.

Jiang Haohao felt a pang of regret—how could such a cute rabbit be eaten?

Her bright eyes followed her brother, as her beautiful father carried her and quietly followed.

Brother: Father, the tonic’s coming over!

Jiang Haohao watched as her brother, with a steady hand, plucked fur from the rabbit’s neck, expertly slit its throat, and remembered to catch the blood in a bowl—showing no fear or pity.

He smiled tenderly at the stunned Jiang Haohao, “Later, I’ll make a real leather jacket for little sister from the rabbit’s hide, even Treasure Master couldn’t bite through it!”

Jiang Haohao felt both horrified and touched...

Jiang Xu shot an exasperated glance at his foolish eldest, handed the baby to her mother to help with the rabbit, and saw his second daughter Jiang Yunyun bounding home with spirit cake still on her lips, carrying a small basket.

“Father, Mother, I’m home!”

“Mother, look—wow! There’s a Scarlet Cloud Rabbit! Father, are we really eating rabbit tonight?”

She had meant to show off the spirit cake she brought home, but upon seeing the rabbit in her brother’s hands, swallowed hard and forgot what she wanted to say.

Jiang Xu, picking up the rabbit without looking up, moved deftly despite his frail frame.

“Mm, your brother found it.”

Jiang Yunyun nodded happily, then remembered something and turned to Song Liyao, “Mother, Hidden Spirit Master’s feast today was grand—Water Sun Lord even attended. I helped out and was given plenty of spirit stones, and the steward let me bring home Lotus Immortal Peach Cake from the banquet!”

“I’ve been wanting to taste this Grade Three immortal cake—let’s all share it together later!”

She looked eager yet restrained, and Jiang Haohao suddenly felt her second sister was the only truly good bamboo shoot in the family.

Clearly she wanted to eat, but she also wanted the whole family to enjoy together—isn’t that what a good bamboo shoot should be?