Chapter 01: The Beginning of the Encounter
Two brothers were leisurely walking along the riverbank, enjoying the quiet night. These adventurous men were engaged in conversation as they soaked in the peaceful atmosphere.
Suddenly, they heard the sound of small footsteps approaching them. As seasoned cultivators of the martial path, they recognized the footsteps as those of a young child.
Before long, Guan Yu and Guan Wei saw the figure of a tired child approaching. The child, upon spotting them, stopped running about two spear lengths in front of them.
The exhausted child, taking irregular breaths, remained frozen in place. He slowly approached and, at a distance of one spear length, immediately prostrated himself before Guan Yu and Guan Wei.
"Sir... Sirs... Fan'er pleads... Please help my mother, sirs... Please help my mother, sirs!" the child said while repeatedly bowing to Guan Yu and Guan Wei. The two of them exchanged glances, observing the actions of the five-year-old.
Guan Wei stepped forward and approached the child. "What is your name, young one?"
"My name is Tian Fan, sirs," the child replied quickly.
"Please rise, child. What's wrong with your mother?"
"My mother won't wake up, sirs. She's been in bed since yesterday, and her body is cold!" Tian Fan explained with a worried expression.
"Her body is stiff, sirs... Please help my mother. Fan'er promises to be your servant forever, as long as you check on my mother's condition!"
"It's my promise as a young man. My mother used to say that a man should keep his promises, and he should never break his word or owe anyone!" he declared firmly.
Moved by the determination of the young child, Guan Yu and Guan Wei agreed to his request. Guan Yu picked up the child and carried him.
"Where is your home, child?"
Tian Fan pointed in a direction, and Guan Yu, carrying Tian Fan, and Guan Wei leaped in the direction indicated by the young boy.
After a quarter of an incense stick's time, they arrived at a ramshackle hut near a small river. They hurriedly entered the hut.
Guan Wei, also a medic, immediately examined the woman lying motionless on a wooden pallet in the small room.
In truth, even without Guan Wei's examination, they could tell that the woman had lost her vital signs. As cultivators, they could sense that the woman had passed away.
However, to give the young child some hope, Guan Wei followed the child's request to examine his mother.
"Come here, child," Guan Wei called the young boy closer. "Can you check if there's breath coming from her nose?"
Tian Fan promptly directed his finger under his mother's nostrils. "There's none, sir!" he replied quickly.
"Now, get close and put your ear to her chest."
"Do you hear or feel her heartbeat?" Guan Wei asked.
"No, sir," replied Tian Fan, his head still resting on his mother's chest.
"Your mother has passed away, child. It seems she hasn't eaten for days, and her condition was already weak. That's what made her condition worse and led to her passing," Guan Wei explained calmly.
Guan Wei didn't want to sugarcoat the situation for the child. He wanted him to accept the reality and be strong in this harsh world.
Hearing Guan Wei's words, Tian Fan fell silent and stared at him intently. After a few breaths, Tian Fan nodded in understanding.
Tian Fan looked back at his mother, hugged her lifeless body, and then took two steps back. He performed three bows in front of his mother's body. Afterward, he turned to Guan Wei and prostrated himself before him.
"This child pays his respects to the medic, sir. Thank you both for checking on my mother!" he expressed his gratitude.
"As promised, I will serve you as your servant," Tian Fan added firmly.
Guan Yu and Guan Wei were taken aback by the five-year-old's words. They hadn't expected such a declaration from him.
"We didn't help expecting anything in return. There's no need for you to become our servant. It's only natural for people to help each other," Guan Wei quickly replied.
"Sir, my mother used to say that a man should never break his promises and oaths," Tian Fan insisted.
"Fan'er promised to be your servant, and I kindly ask that you accept me as your servant in return. I have nothing to offer, so please accept me as payment for your services," he said seriously.
Guan Yu and Guan Wei exchanged glances, surprised by the determination and strong-willed nature of the young child.
"Very well, if that's what you want. You will be our servant until we believe your debt is paid," Guan Yu exclaimed, winking at Guan Wei, who understood his brother's intentions.
"Thank you, sirs. This servant will not disappoint you," Tian Fan said with gratitude.
"Tuan, may I request some time to take care of my mother's body? My mother once said that if she passed away, she wanted her body to be cremated, and her ashes to be scattered in this river," Tian Fan requested straightforwardly.
"Yes, take your time," Guan Wei replied, offering a small smile to Tian Fan.
Tian Fan immediately left his home.
"Why did you agree to make the child our servant, brother?" Guan Wei asked his older brother.
"This child has strong principles and a strong will. The more we refuse, the more we'll challenge his principles. Besides, I already told him he would be our servant until we feel he's paid his debt," Guan Yu explained.
"This child is not as simple as he appears. I just wanted to evaluate his character and determination. Do you understand, brother?"
"Wei'er understands your point, brother," Guan Wei replied.
"Good. Let's observe what the child is doing," Guan Yu said.
Guan Yu and Guan Wei watched as Tian Fan, without any light source, easily reached the edge of the forest. In the dark night, they could see him gathering dry sticks by the river's edge. His thin body carried the sticks by tying them to himself, and he dragged them towards his hut.
"This child has a strong memory. His maturity doesn't match his age," Guan Yu noted.
"True, as long as we guide him properly, he can become someone great," Guan Wei added.
"Although he may not be a genius, individuals like him can surpass even geniuses," Guan Yu stated.
"Like a rough stone, with proper polishing, even a worthless stone can become valuable. Don't forget, even diamonds start as ordinary rocks," Guan Yu explained with a broad smile.
"You're right, brother. This child has the potential to grow," Guan Wei said with enthusiasm.
"Yes, that's correct!" Guan Yu agreed confidently.
Chapter 2: Testing AbilitiesAs morning approached, Tian Fan stood in front of a stack of wood prepared to cremate his mother's body. It would be the last time he saw her.Tian Fan embraced his mother's body one last time and then removed a necklace from her neck. The necklace had an octagonal pendant with the word "Tian" written on the back and a carved dragon on the front, engulfed in flames."Rest peacefully in heaven, Mother. Fan'er will fulfill all your wishes and dreams. I promise, Mother," he whispered softly. "Always watch over Fan'er from above."Tian Fan then put on his mother's necklace and proceeded to light the fire for her cremation.Guan Yu and Guan Wei, who had been observing Tian Fan all night, were sitting inside Tian Fan's hut, cultivating their own arts.Guan Yu slowly opened his eyes. "Younger brother, please retrieve the books from your storage pouch. I have an idea to test the child's abilities and desires.""Sure thing," Guan Wei replied.Guan Wei then pulled o
Chapter 3: Beginning of TrainingFrom the very beginning, Tian Fan had intended to become a cultivator, driven by his promise to his mother. He wanted to become strong enough to fulfill his mother's unfulfilled wishes."Fan'er, from now on, you can call us Master Yu and Master Wei," Guan Yu said. "We will teach you the skills and knowledge we possess, even though our knowledge is not extensive. At least what we teach you can serve as a foundation for your survival.""In addition, the most important thing is to use the knowledge you gain from us for the path of virtue and truth. Always remember, every person is the same; there is no difference. Act justly toward everyone, uphold the highest standards of truth, be firm when necessary, and stand on your own feet. Be a useful person, don't let yourself be used and manipulated by others," Guan Wei added firmly."A great person is one who works hard and constantly challenges themselves to progress and reach the peak, whether on the path of
Chapter #4: The Inevitable FarewellDuring the first week of Tian Fan's rigorous training, he endured it with unwavering determination, never once complaining. As the days passed, his body slowly began to adapt to the demanding regimen set before him.In the second week, Guan Yu intensified Tian Fan's training, pushing him even harder. Just as Tian Fan had grown accustomed to the previous level of exertion, he found himself facing even greater challenges. His muscles and bones were pushed to their limits, and he was tasked with running while carrying a stone three times his weight and scaling trees with a burden equal to three times his own.The third week brought yet another addition to Tian Fan's training under Guan Yu's watchful eye. This time, he was required to endure prolonged periods in the water, testing his survival skills.In the fourth week, Guan Yu raised the bar once more. Tian Fan was tasked with performing push-ups while carrying a load equivalent to ten times his body
Chapter #5: Nurturing InstinctTian Fan ventured into the Red Forest to commence his training. Following the guidance of Masters Yun and Wei, Tian Fan had been instructed to train in this forest to sharpen his instincts.In addition to honing his instincts, Tian Fan also practiced survival skills he had acquired earlier. He had been informed that, before opening his dantian, he could only stay on the forest's edge. The Red Forest was inhabited by spiritual creatures known as "beasts."These beasts were divided into various tiers, and their strength levels were akin to cultivator realms, ranging from black, fighter, earth, earth king, emperor, sky, tianzun, saint, to immortal.The connection between cultivators and beasts was significant, as many cultivators and alchemists used beast cores to enhance their power. Furthermore, the bodies of these beast creatures had value and served various purposes for cultivators.Tian Fan took his first steps into the Red Forest. After half an incens
Chapter #6: Opening the DantianTian Fan woke up, feeling a sharp pain in his shoulder. He sat up and retrieved his storage pouch, a smile forming on his face as he looked inside.It turned out that Master Wei had provided him with a variety of herbs. It seemed that Master Wei had anticipated what Tian Fan would go through during his training.Tian Fan took out a healing ointment and applied it to his shoulder wound. The pain quickly subsided, and the open wound healed rapidly.Next, Tian Fan grabbed a piece of dry bread and ate it hungrily. After satisfying his hunger, he examined the contents of his storage pouch once more.Inside, he found two sets of acupuncture needles, more healing ointment, a tool for concocting medicine, various medicinal plants, a basket of bread, some dried meat slices, and two leather pouches filled with water. Additionally, there were several books on medicine preparation and pill refinement techniques.Tian Fan placed all these items back into his storage
Chapter #7: Nature Pays Its Respect Three years had passed since Tian Fan had been living in the Red Forest. Currently, he resided in the deepest region of the forest, known for being inhabited by mid and high-level martial realm beasts. The central area of the Red Forest was dominated by earth-level and earth king-level beasts. Living in the forest had heightened Tian Fan's sensory perception and instincts. He had killed dozens of low and mid-level martial realm beasts, gaining various benefits from their carcasses. Tian Fan obtained body parts such as gallbladders, claws, bones, and hearts from these beasts, which he dried and turned into powders for medicinal use. The elemental cores of the beasts, comprised of various elements, were stored for refining pills. Their meat provided Tian Fan with sustenance, as it was rich in qi and nutrients, making it ideal for cultivators. Tian Fan also improved his medical skills during this time. He practiced herbal medicine, acupuncture, and
Chapter #8: Allies The silver wolf that had recently advanced to the earth-level realm let out a long howl, which was met with echoing howls from the other silver wolves. Its transformation upon advancing was apparent: its height had increased to two meters, and its body had grown to three meters in length. Its silvery fur had lengthened, and it now sported silver manes around its neck. Its dominating aura exerted immense pressure on Tian Fan. In response to the aura, Tian Fan had to release his own qi and even his killing intent to counteract the oppressive sensation. The combination of both auras somewhat lessened the suppression. The earth-level silver wolf began approaching Tian Fan slowly. Tian Fan stood his ground, bracing himself for a potential battle against the formidable beast. As the distance between them shrank to just a couple of spear lengths, the earth-level wolf's aura intensified, pressing down heavily on Tian Fan. He struggled to maintain his position, resisting
Chapter #9: New Training Companions The entire pack of silver wolves experienced a realm advancement after consuming Tian Fan's medicinal food. Tian Fan observed that most of the pack members were now in the early and middle stages of the fighter realm. Shandian and Rain, the pack leaders, had also reached the middle stage of the earth realm. In total, there were now two beasts at the early earth realm and the rest were fighter realm members. Tian Fan was recognized as part of the pack and regarded as one of its strongest members. He had established a bond with the wolves, and he was more than willing to assist them in becoming stronger. Over the course of six months, Tian Fan helped the entire pack advance by one realm level. With the pack's combined strength, they became the most dominant force in the deep forest. As beasts, it was natural for them to establish dominance over their territory and expand it. Tian Fan didn't mind this natural order because it also provided him with