Chapter 0001: The Golden Scales of the Great Field Manifest the Primordial Spirit

This small snake is approximately half a foot long, adorned with a vividly colorful skin. Its skin is covered with numerous dense protrusions, giving it a bumpy texture, resembling scales but not quite. Its head is not tapered like that of typical snakes; instead, it has a somewhat square shape, appearing quite peculiar.

Although he often encounters danger, Qin Haoxuan repeatedly turns peril into safety. The only injury he ever sustained was a bite from a strange little snake when he was twelve years old. Just that one bite completely changed the course of his life

As he swam, he discovered a remarkable phenomenon: wherever the snake's body passed, it left behind a unique scent. No matter how far he traveled, he could always trace his way back by following this scent, which meant he could use it to find his way home

His ancestors had once held official positions, but after the family moved to Daitian Town, they established a rule for their descendants: they must study but cannot hold official posts. Nowadays, his father only engages in some farming work, earning little, while his mother does some laundry work in town to earn a bit of money to supplement the household expenses

While searching for the way home, Qin Haoxuan also discovered various remarkable qualities of snakes, such as their immunity to poisons, their heightened sensitivity to certain medicinal herbs and unusual plants, and how some leopards and hungry wolves would turn and flee at the sight of a small snake

Although it is magical to possess a small snake to search for treasures, each time after the possession, there are lingering effects—exhaustion the next day, a lack of energy, and a desire only to sleep

A terrifying thought flashed through Qin Haoxuan's mind, swiftly drifting to his own body, imagining the soul traversing back.

Upon reflecting on this, Qin Haoxuan could not help but smile wryly. Although he had gained insight from his studies, he had also developed some of the bad temperaments typical of scholars. He was well aware that sometimes, by remaining aloof and detached, he could avoid many misfortunes, yet he could not bring himself to let go of this notion of 'reason' that lingered in his heart

However, this formidable character, who could dominate the group of children in Datian Town, was utterly fearful of Qin Haoxuan. Last year, he had been severely beaten by Qin Haoxuan, resulting in four broken ribs, and he lay in bed for three months before fully recovering. Since then, he has not dared to offend Qin Haoxuan again

This turmoil has already occurred as night falls, and the poisonous miasma in Xiaoyu Mountain begins to spread. If a human inhales the miasma, death is certain. This small snake previously resided in Xiaoyu Mountain, so the miasma is unlikely to pose a threat to it

"Everyone look closely, this is the consequence of not paying insurance premiums on time!" A subordinate of Zhang Kuang proudly declared while stepping on the face of a young boy on the ground

Could it be that I have died? Am I now attached to this little snake that is biting me?

During his hunting excursions, Qin Haoxuan specifically learned to identify herbs from Old Chen at the pharmacy. He immediately recognized that many valuable herbs were growing here. If he could bring some back to sell to Old Chen, it would be enough to cover a month's worth of grain, alleviating his mother's hardships.

In a relatively impressive courtyard at the west end of Datian Town, their target for surpassing, Qin Haoxuan, was still lying in bed, sound asleep

With another flicker of thought, a powerful force once again pulled the soul towards the little snake

Amidst the cheers, Qin Haoxuan was surrounded by a group of young people as he made his way to the Chen family pharmacy

The deer was extremely cunning, darting back and forth among the bushes. Qin Haoxuan missed several shots, and it even led him deeper into the Xiaoyu Mountain.

As Qin Haoxuan's thoughts stirred, he attached his soul to the small snake, and indeed, the miasma rising in the valley posed no threat to him at all

Um... Qin Haoxuan rubbed his eyes, sat up abruptly, and saw a motionless little snake at the head of the bed, which was not surprising to him. Instead, he casually took a yellow object from the little snake's mouth. This yellow object was about the size of a fingernail and emitted a faint fragrance. He then tucked the motionless little snake into his arms.

In the hearts of the youth in Datian Town, besides surpassing Qin Haoxuan and Zhang Kuang, there exists a dream that is as ethereal as it is enchanting: to be accepted as a disciple by the immortals on Xiaoyu Mountain, to cultivate extraordinary skills, and at the very least, to become an excellent hunter

Suddenly, a powerful suction force emanated from his "corpse," causing Qin Haoxuan to feel a wave of dizziness as his soul was drawn away. Moments later, when he opened his eyes again, he found himself back in his own body, while the peculiar little snake that had previously hosted his soul lay motionless on the ground.

Indeed, I have also heard that Brother Qin, you always have quite a few good items. If they take a liking to them, it is possible that they could make a fortune!

It is unclear how much time has passed, but Qin Haoxuan, who thought he was undoubtedly doomed, awakened from his coma to find that the originally small green grass had grown to the size of towering ancient trees, and the small valley, which was not particularly large, suddenly appeared much wider in his eyes

There were many onlookers, some filled with anger, some with sympathy, and others with righteous indignation, yet none dared to speak in front of the well-dressed young man

While Qin Haoxuan was happily picking fruits, a colorful little snake suddenly darted out from the grass and bit him on the web of his right hand.

Since childhood, Qin Haoxuan has understood from reading that the purpose of studying is to gain wisdom rather than to achieve fame and fortune. Therefore, being more mature than his peers, he accompanied adults on hunting trips at the age of eight, honing his skills amidst danger and conflict. Dissatisfied with the game that the adults took for themselves, he ventured into the mountains to hunt alone at the age of ten

Relying on the mountains for sustenance, and depending on the water for resources, the town of Daitian, nestled against the small Yushan Mountain, carries the beautiful aspiration of cultivating fields in its name. However, due to the scarcity and infertility of the land, its inhabitants have no choice but to hunt for their livelihood across generations

Datian Town has been hunting for generations, yet they only roam around the outskirts. Even today, when prey is becoming increasingly scarce, no one dares to venture deep into Xiaoyu Mountain. There were once bold hunters who ventured into Xiaoyu Mountain, but they were never seen again.

Qin Haoxuan gritted his teeth and pursued relentlessly for a long distance, finally shooting down the cunning roe deer. At this point, he had ventured deep into Xiaoyu Mountain, a place rarely visited by people. Towering trees with trunks thick enough to embrace blocked out the sun, and dense underbrush thrived all around. The damp ground was covered with layers of decaying leaves, and he could only determine the direction of Datian Town, relying on his memory to navigate the path he had taken.

The previously inactive Zhang Kuang's face flashed with a fierce expression, and he quickly walked up, preparing to kick the boy in the mouth. One can imagine that if the kick landed, the boy would be left with very few teeth.

Just as Qin Haoxuan was on his way to the pharmacy, a scream suddenly reached his ears

At dawn, the night and day are transitioning, and the town of Daitian is still asleep in the thick fog. Apart from a few diligent hunters who have begun their ascent to hunt, the occasional crowing of roosters and barking of dogs has not disturbed the peaceful dreams of Daitian, quickly fading into silence

Several youths are fiercely kicking two boys who are rolling on the ground. One of the well-dressed youths appears calm and seems to be greatly enjoying the cries of others, occasionally letting out a cold laugh. He is none other than the notorious Zhang Kuang, who is renowned alongside Qin Haoxuan.

Qin Haoxuan suddenly felt a wave of dizziness, and with a thud, he fell to the ground, losing consciousness.

This small yellow object is a precious Huangjing. On the outside, it resembles a yellow stone. Although its appearance is unremarkable, its delicate texture and the subtle, refreshing fragrance it emits indicate its extraordinary nature. It is no wonder that the old man at the pharmacy has been talking about it for several years, believing it will fetch a good price.

The fiercely resentful and arrogant expression of Zhang turned, with a hint of frost lingering at the corners of his brows: "Those with the surname Qin, these two have violated my rules, shouldn't we teach them a lesson?"

Qin Haoxuan felt a stir in his heart, secretly thinking he was lucky, and cheerfully promised: "Let's see, if the selling price is good, I will treat you to drinks"

After wandering aimlessly for a long time, Qin Haoxuan could not find his way home, but instead arrived at a small valley

"Nonsense, when has what Brother Qin brought out not been a good thing?" Before Qin Haoxuan could speak, a young man took the lead in responding, seemingly flattering, and soon garnered a chorus of agreement.

Seeing Zhang Kuang's unpleasant expression, Qin Haoxuan understood what the other party was thinking. He could only sigh inwardly and mutter to himself: Qin Haoxuan, oh Qin Haoxuan, you have been educated and sensible since childhood, you should know the importance of 'benefits and harms', and even more so, you should know to stay away from such vile people. Why can't you restrain yourself when encountering such situations?

It is said that not only do immortals reside in the small Yushan Mountain, but there are also many fierce and malevolent demons and monsters.

Qin Haoxuan's voice was like an invisible shackle, forcing Zhang Kuang to retract the foot he was about to kick out. He looked towards Qin Haoxuan, and although he wished to tear him to pieces in his heart, he did not dare to show even the slightest hint of it on the surface

Zhang Kuang's expression was grim, yet he understood that turning against him would only lead to loss. He cursed Qin Haoxuan a thousand times in his heart, unable to comprehend what Qin Haoxuan was thinking. A person who had grown up studying should deeply understand the two characters "benefit and harm." By joining forces with him, they could dominate the countryside, yet Qin Haoxuan insisted on opposing him at every turn.

He knows that Qin Haoxuan can say and do what he means. If he really kicks this foot, he will definitely do what he says about tying himself up and throwing himself on the mountain to feed the wolves

After several reincarnations, Qin Haoxuan finally confirmed that his soul could traverse and possess both the body of the small snake and his own original body. At that moment, he felt as if he had found a great treasure, beaming with joy.

Qin Haoxuan was skeptical about the legends of monsters and demons in the deep mountains, but he was aware that the area was filled with miasma and countless ferocious birds and beasts. Therefore, he had always refrained from venturing deep into Xiaoyu Mountain for hunting. However, if he did not bring any game back home this time, he would have to face hunger along with his father and mother.

Qin Haoxuan could only sneer inwardly; when did such cunning plunder become the norm? He was too lazy to say much to Zhang Kuang and simply squeezed out a single word: "Get lost"

"Zhang, didn't you see me?" Qin Haoxuan, passing by, said without even raising his eyelids, "If you dare to kick again, I will tie you up and throw you to the wolves on Xiaoyu Mountain"

With keen eyesight, one could see that there seemed to be something in Qin Haoxuan's tightly clenched fist, which also emitted a faint and serene fragrance of medicine. He said, "Hmm... it smells so good! Brother Qin, what good stuff did you get today? Are you heading to the Chen family's pharmacy to sell it?"

At this moment, another young man could no longer contain his anger and shouted, "Thief, may you, the arrogant thief, meet a terrible end!"

Compared to the towering ancient trees outside, this is a small valley with only red flowers and green grass, featuring a serene and beautiful environment filled with the sounds of birds and the fragrance of flowers

However, the game in the nearby mountains had already been hunted down to a great extent. After wandering around for an entire morning without any success, Qin Haoxuan was at a loss. Just then, a roe deer dashed past him, and without a second thought, Qin Haoxuan gave chase.

It was a summer morning, following four consecutive days of heavy rain. The mountain paths were muddy and difficult to traverse, breeding miasma. With no rice to cook at home, Qin Haoxuan had no choice but to head up the mountain at dawn to begin searching for prey

Qin Haoxuan's hand reached into his pocket, feeling the cold little snake inside, his thoughts drifting as he couldn't help but recall scenes from a few years ago

Why is it that instead of walking, one is moving with their body lying on the ground?

Most of the shouts during these training sessions are still youthful and immature, coming from the young practitioners engaged in morning exercises. They grit their teeth, harboring the ambition to surpass Qin Haoxuan and Zhang Kuang, and are diligently practicing.

From then on, Qin Haoxuan often possessed a small snake at night, venturing deep into Xiaoyu Mountain to search for rare medicinal herbs, which he then sold to the pharmacy run by Old Chen, earning far more silver than he could from hunting. His family's life improved steadily, and he himself became a model example among the youth of Datian Town

Move your body, as it has never been so agile, weaving through the grass that towers like a towering tree

In the month of September, the autumn air is slightly cool

Having changed his clothes, Qin Haoxuan stepped out of the house with Huang Jing. With two dark circles under his eyes, he appeared exhausted and managed to greet acquaintances he encountered along the way.

The rooster crows three times, the sky gradually brightens, and shadows of people begin to appear on the streets, with the sound of "heh, heh" from practicing martial arts echoing through the air of Datian Town.

Among the group of youths in Datian Town, Qin Haoxuan is truly an anomaly. Having taken on the heavy responsibilities of his family and gone hunting at the age of eight, he rarely mingles aimlessly with his peers. Naturally, Zhang Kuang, who is on par with him, has become the leader among the boys.

Brother Qin, it is said that today two out-of-town guests have completely purchased all the precious medicinal materials from the Chen family pharmacy, and they have also announced that anyone else seeking rare medicinal materials can sell to them at prices significantly higher than those offered by the Chen family pharmacy

By the edge of a clear pool of water, Qin Haoxuan saw that his body was no longer the familiar human form, but rather a colorful snake. Not far away, his body lay sprawled in the grass, devoid of heartbeat and breath

As soon as Qin Haoxuan appeared, he drew all eyes to himself. Zhang Kuang, with only a few loyal followers left by his side, gritted his teeth and said, "The day when the immortal from the mountains comes to select disciples is approaching. I must be chosen by the immortal to vent this resentment!"

Oh dear... Boss Zhang, I truly have no money, please spare me... Oh dear...

Zhang Kuang's father is the most outstanding hunter in Datian Town, and Zhang Kuang himself is exceptionally gifted. At the age of twelve, he once killed two starving wolves with his bare hands, which can be considered a remarkable achievement for a young man

Determined to act, Qin Haoxuan disregarded the fact that he was deep within the perilous Xiaoyu Mountain, and began to gather medicinal herbs in abundance

No one noticed a colorful little snake quietly slithering into Qin Haoxuan's room, skillfully making its way up to his bedside, and then lying motionless in front of Qin Haoxuan's pillow

Among the group of children in Datian Town, Qin Haoxuan stands out as the most skilled. He sleeps until the sun is high in the sky every day, and among his peers, he is unmatched. In addition to his exceptional hunting skills and techniques, he occasionally sells rare herbs to the town's apothecary, earning a considerable amount of silver to support his family. He is not only admired and envied by many of his peers, but even the adults praise him endlessly, feeling inferior in comparison.