Chapter 1: Dream Revisited

After a long bout of coughing, Yang Yun raised his head, revealing a face full of uncontrollable joy.

After just a brief use of the Jiyang Transformation Technique, Yang Yun felt as if he could consume an entire cow. A rice ball and a dozen green bamboo shoots barely made a dent in his hunger. The sun had just passed noon, and dinner was still far off. Moreover, his family was impoverished, and there was little to eat for dinner, mostly wild vegetable porridge, at best with a bit of sweet potato or similar additions. In short, they were not starving to death, but neither were they satisfied; the family was struggling to make ends meet. Where would there be any surplus food for Yang Yun to practice the Jiyuan Transformation Technique?

This dream was so vivid that after a moment of daze, Yang Yun struck his head forcefully and exclaimed, "How could I encounter something like this—just like Zhuang Zhou dreaming of being a butterfly?"

An egg was placed into Yang Yun's bowl

Yang Yun's eyes were blood-red, wildly waving his hands like a madman, futilely attempting to invoke the incantations from his memory that could flatten the land for a thousand miles. However, similarly, those incantations that should have been incredibly familiar had all vanished from his mind, leaving only their names and some fragmented techniques.

My mother's words seemed to open a great door, and the memories of my sixteen-year-old self surged forth like a tumultuous tide

Several simple introductory techniques were completely recalled by Yang Yun. Among them was a method called "Jiyuan Transformation Essence Technique," which was simple yet intriguing. Yang Yun's memories from the dream were very vivid, and it seemed that they could be used for experimentation at this moment

Since passing the examination to become a xiucai, Yang Yun no longer needs to attend the local primary school, but he is unable to continue his studies at the county academy, where tuition fees are required. During this period, Yang Yun can only engage in self-study. In fact, this is the sorrow of all impoverished students; without money, further education is unattainable, and the opportunity to pass the provincial examination becomes exceedingly slim.

Just as he thought of this, Yang Yun felt a darkness before his eyes and nearly fainted.

Yang Yun lay there in a daze, not moving, inhaling the wafting aroma of the food from m.hetushu.com, and began to rummage through the memories buried deep within, memories that had been hidden for many years

With a sharp crack, a thick piece of green bamboo snapped in two, sending bamboo shards flying, one of which struck Yang Yun on the top of the head

... ...

The once formidable Yang Yun, who was almost on the path to immortality, turned out to be a bizarre dream

Yang Yun's home is located at the edge of the village. After walking along a dirt path for about 15 minutes, he turned off the dirt road and entered a bamboo grove.

It is not possible; my body is too weak, and practicing the Jiyang Transformation Technique is too strenuous. My stomach feels as if it is burning with hunger. Yang Yun hurriedly took out the mixed grain rice balls prepared for him by the Yang family, stuffing them into his mouth in a few bites, yet he felt even hungrier.

Yang Yun opened a copy of "The Five Classics with Commentary" and flipped through a few pages, yet he felt a persistent unease. Countless memories from his dreams lingered in his mind, refusing to depart.

In dreams, after achieving mastery in my cultivation, I am sometimes sought after by nobles and dignitaries, who host banquets with delicacies gathered from all corners of the world. Thinking of those exquisite dishes, Yang Yun cannot help but wish to pounce on them and devour everything, including the plates and dishes.

San Er, it's time to get up and eat

What a familiar yet distant scent it is, how many years has it been since I last smelled it, a thousand years or ten thousand years

Yang Yun suddenly awoke, turning over to sit up, a fine layer of cold sweat already forming on his body

What is going on? This cultivation method that I have practiced for several hundred years, at this moment, apart from a few scattered incantations in my mind, I have completely forgotten the rest of the content. Moreover, not only that, but all of my true essence has also vanished.

The vegetable millet porridge flowed down my throat, the fragrance of millet intertwined with a hint of the wild vegetables' numbing flavor, instantly making my hungry stomach rejoice

Despite being only thirteen years old, Yang Lin also helps the Yang family with household chores. Mowing the grass, gathering firewood, washing clothes, cooking, and so on, the slender Yang Lin has already become quite skilled at these tasks.

Avoiding Yang's attention, Yang Yunfei quickly placed the egg into his younger sister Yang Lin's bowl

Navigating with ease, I turned left and right, and soon arrived at a clearing in the bamboo forest

The farmers had their breakfast quickly. Yang Tiancheng and Yang Shan took up their hoes and a clay pot to the fields. Inside the pot were several rice balls prepared for them by the Yang family for their lunch. The two of them would have to work until evening before returning.

Simply placing the book on the bluestone, I sat down, closed my eyes, and began to reflect on the scenes from my dreams

Gradually, some memories from the dream became clearer, as if the dark clouds had dispersed and the sunlight had emerged

Seeing that Yang Yun looked unwell, the elderly woman reached out with concern to touch Yang Yun's forehead

A flash of brilliance passed through his eyes. With a swift motion of his hand, the round stone shot out like lightning, whistling through the air and striking a green bamboo.

According to the memories from dreams, merely cultivating to the realm of fasting requires at least a decade of effort. Before reaching that point, eating is the best and quickest way to replenish the body's vital essence.

Yang Yun is now a standard mortal, with an unrefined body, unawakened meridians, and lacking any semblance of realm or composure, and thus cannot comprehend his actions in the dream

This vacant area is only the size of a few rooms, with a ground made of very smooth bluestone. The largest stone surface is raised, forming a small platform where one can sit or lie down. This is a treasured spot for Yang Yun to read daily.

Yang Yun's father and elder brother also revealed a hint of a smile at the corners of their mouths

Yang Yun looked at the egg, drooling. In his dreams, he was an immortal who could feast on the wind and drink the dew, but in reality, his body was only sixteen years old and somewhat malnourished. The temptation of the egg was immense for him.

A gentle breeze wafted by, and the mottled shadows of bamboo danced across her face. Yang Yun remained motionless, her expression shifting continuously with the recollection of her dreams

Yang Yun's father, Yang Tiancheng, is an honest farmer. His elder brother, Yang Shan, is almost a carbon copy of their father; even their posture when holding a bowl and drinking porridge is identical. If it weren't for the wrinkles on Yang Tiancheng's face and the white hair on his head, it would be nearly impossible to distinguish between the two.

The terrifying tribulations came one after another, and Yang Yun felt like a solitary boat on the verge of capsizing in a furious sea. Yet, he persevered, and in the end, golden light radiated, making the brilliant shore seem almost within reach

Yang Yun is currently an ordinary person who has not undergone any cultivation. His family conditions are poor, and his health is somewhat weak. The result of forcibly using the Jiyang Transformation Technique is akin to having worked tirelessly without rest for several days, leading to a severe depletion of his vital energy.

"It is an illusion—surely it is an illusion" Yang Yun instinctively pinched a technique, intending to activate the "Yuanji Divine Light Breaking Forbidden Method"

The matter concerning Zhuang Zhou and the butterfly was too profound for Yang Yun to comprehend, yet his growling stomach reminded him that he had taken a seat at the dining table

Yang Lin's eyes brightened, and she ravenously stuffed the egg into her mouth, swallowing it whole. She couldn't catch her breath in one go and began to cough from choking.

Only Yang Yun does not have to work; his task is to study. Since childhood, the intelligent Yang Yun has not disappointed the expectations of his family. Ever since he passed the examination for the title of Xiucai two months ago, he has officially embarked on the path of studying for official titles. Although the position of Xiucai only provides a meager subsidy from the government, it is still a small relief for this impoverished family. Of course, if he were to achieve the Jinshi degree, his status and position would change dramatically, which is also the hope of the entire Yang family.

Yang Yun opened his eyes and picked up a round stone from the ground

Heavenly Tribulation—what about the Heavenly Tribulation?

One after another, the master, senior brothers, disciples, and grand-disciples fell, yet Yang Yun, with caution and a stroke of fortune, miraculously navigated through numerous challenges. From a disciple of a small, scattered sect, a grassroots figure in the cultivation world, he gradually transformed into a master, an extraordinary person, a true being, a grandmaster, a legend, and a myth. He traversed the heavens and the seas, becoming invincible, just a step away from becoming a true immortal.

Only by searching for stone fragments on the ground could I chop the exposed bamboo shoots to satisfy my hunger, and it was only after consuming more than ten of them that I was able to slightly quell the fire of hunger

Why is my dream self so aloof, looking down on these mundane pleasures, at most giving a nod of courtesy by nibbling on a few pieces of fruit

Morning light streamed through the hole in the paper window, illuminating the willow wood bed, the coarse cloth quilt, the aged and darkened mud walls, and a broken table scattered with books and writing implements.

When the bowl of rice was brought to her lips, Yang Yun felt as if her stomach was ablaze with hunger

An elderly woman dressed in coarse cloth entered the room, "San'er, what has happened to you?"

Is it possible that dreams are real? I failed the heavenly tribulation, and for some reason, I did not disperse into soul and spirit, but instead reincarnated back to the age of sixteen. Yang Yun pondered for a long time; such a strange occurrence is unheard of even in dreams. However, based on the memories from the dream, those who underwent the great heavenly tribulation never returned, and it is unknown whether anyone succeeded in passing it. Perhaps failing the great heavenly tribulation leads to such an outcome.

Yang Yun's mother looked at her son, her eyes filled with affection. She could not understand what her son was saying and thought that Yang Yun was once again engrossed in his studies, so she quietly exited the room

Yang Yun understood what cultivation is, what realms are, and how arduous the path of immortality can be

A call, like the morning bell, awakened Yang Yun, who was on the verge of being enchanted.

Self-study is not easy; in the entire village, there is only Yang Yun as the sole scholar, and there is no one to engage in discussions with. Moreover, books are quite expensive, and the Yang family does not possess many books.

As Yang Yun drank the porridge in large gulps, he reminisced about the taste of dragon's liver and phoenix's marrow from his dream.

"Why are you sweating so much? Could it be that you strained yourself by studying too late last night?" The old woman retracted her wrinkled hand, hesitated for a moment, and said to the book, "Wait a moment, I will add an egg to your porridge. You have been working hard on your studies, so you need to replenish your strength."

Mother did not allow Yang Yun to interfere with any chores; his only task was to study. As before, after having breakfast, Yang Yun left home with two books in hand

The bamboo grove is serene, and sunlight spills down from above the open space. A few years ago, Yang Yun stumbled upon this place and has since often come here with a few books to study diligently.

Regardless of its authenticity, what matters is that the techniques in the dream are real. Although I am a scholar, it is also beneficial to cultivate certain skills. Remembering the miraculous abilities of the practitioners who could soar through the skies and traverse the earth in the dream, Yang Yun felt a deep yearning.

In the spring slumber, unaware of the dawn, Yang Yun had a grand dream, in which he encountered an immortal who took him to the East Sea to learn the arts

The Jiyang Transformation Technique is a unique method that does not require the use of true energy or true essence for activation. Instead, it relies on extracting the vital essence from within the body to create a temporary yet powerful strike. Consequently, it was experimented with by Yang Yun, who had no foundational training in cultivation.

I remembered that I am Yang Yun, sixteen years old, from a poor family. With the support of my entire family, I have been studying diligently since childhood. Two months ago, I successfully passed the examination to become a scholar, becoming the only official "student" in the village. Last night, I studied late under the dim light of an oil lamp, and fell asleep only when the lamp oil ran out.

The sound of a clanging kitchen knife striking the cutting board abruptly awakened Yang Yun from his slumber

With a single stone thrown, Yang Yun appeared as if he had been drained of all energy, his complexion pale and haggard, stooping as he began to cough.

It is the aroma of porridge made by simmering the wild vegetable picked from Xiaoyue Mountain with millet. When I was still an ordinary person, during my childhood when my family was poor, we often used this wild vegetable to make porridge

Before Yang turned his head to look, Yang Lin quickly used his tongue to roll away the egg yolk residue at the corner of his mouth, blinked, and stuck out his tongue at Yang Yun with a smile.

From beginning to end, they did not look at the egg in Yang Yun's bowl

It is true! This method is indeed real!