So many years had passed that the face in his memory had grown blurry, but in the dream, it was incredibly clear. Song Changsheng could even make out the tiny black mole by the corner of his eye.

The three of them chatted and laughed along the way, a picture of warmth and harmony. The surrounding scenery felt very familiar to Song Changsheng. This must have been a scene from his memory, but for the life of him, he couldn’t remember where it was.

Although he was a Transmigrator, his soul had been in a state of Chaos for the first few years after his birth. He had been muddle-headed, and many things from that time were no longer clear.

He had likely been to this place before, and with his parents, no less. He just didn’t know where it was. According to the Song Clan’s rules, minors were not allowed to descend the mountain, let alone at such a young age.

Gradually, time seemed to speed up. He watched as the leaves on the large trees lining the road withered, fell, and quickly became bare at a speed visible to the naked eye. Then, they rapidly budded and sprouted new branches...

Song Changsheng had also grown a bit taller. They were still strolling along the Qingshi path, but his mother’s face no longer held a smile, and his father’s was etched with worry.

"Brother Yan," Xia Yunxue finally said to the man, as if she had been mulling it over for a long time, "tell me, this child... his Divine Soul Power is clearly strong, so why is he a bit slow? Could someone have tampered with him in secret?"

Song Luyan froze for a moment. He glanced at his dazed son and said, "It... it shouldn’t be that bad."

From pregnancy to birth, Xia Yunxue had been with the clan the entire time. If someone were to tamper with him, it could only have been one of the Song Clan Members, a possibility Song Luyan found unacceptable.

Although he knew there was a high probability his wife was right, he was still unwilling to believe it, clinging to a final shred of hope in his heart.

He looked at his wife, who grew more haggard by the day, and his heart filled with guilt. He comforted her in a gentle voice, "Don’t worry. Aunt Xiao has come out of seclusion. We’ll go find her now. She’s a Tier Three Alchemy Master; she’ll definitely have a solution."

Xia Yunxue nodded slightly, squeezing the small, chubby hand in hers even tighter.

The family arrived at a lush green bamboo forest where a quaint, antique bamboo house stood. Outside the house was a dry pond.

The couple, with little Changsheng in his dazed state, stood respectfully outside the bamboo house and bowed. "Junior Song Luyan, with my wife and son, pays respects to Aunt Xiao."

CREAK—

The bamboo house’s main door opened slowly. The three entered and were received by a tall woman whose face was veiled in a hazy mist.

Song Changsheng strained to widen his eyes, trying to see her face clearly, but he was always just a little off, unable to get a proper look.

The couple exchanged a few pleasantries with the woman, their every word filled with reverence. Then, the woman extended a delicate hand, as smooth as suet jade, and gently placed it on little Changsheng’s head as if sensing something.

And at that very moment, Song Changsheng glimpsed a Jade Pendant hanging from the woman’s waist. The character "Wan" on it sent a jolt through his entire body. Countless thoughts surged forth like a tidal wave, continuously washing over his Sea of Consciousness. The Space around him began to crack... to shatter...

...and ultimately dissolved into nothingness...

Lying on the Warm Jade Bed, Song Changsheng opened his eyes. He slowly sat up and looked out the window. It was already pitch-black outside, and the surroundings were exceptionally quiet, save for the faint chirping of insects and the RUSTLE of wind blowing through bamboo leaves.

’Did I sleep for that long? It’s already midnight.’ Arriving at the window and feeling the cool breeze, Song Changsheng murmured softly.

He hadn’t slept like this in a long time, not since he’d first set foot on the path of cultivation. The effect was excellent; the fatigue throughout his body was swept away, and he was restored to his peak condition.

However, the "dream" still weighed on Song Changsheng’s mind. He didn’t know if it was a product of his own imagination or a memory awakened from the depths of his Sea of Consciousness.

"Xiao... Wan..."

’Was that Aunt Xiao the owner of Grandpa’s Jade Pendant with the character "Wan"? Her surname is Xiao, and her given name likely contains "Wan." And she’s a Tier Three Alchemist...’

Song Changsheng felt he was on the verge of grasping the truth, but something was still missing.

’You could count all the Tier Three Alchemists in the entire Daqi Cultivation World on two hands, and the female ones are even rarer. But there doesn’t seem to be any with the surname Xiao. Could she not be from the Daqi Cultivation World?’ Song Changsheng was completely baffled. ’If the clan has such a powerful backer, why have I never heard of her?’

The night passed quickly. The next morning, Qian Duoyu appeared outside the bamboo house, cupping his hands in a fist-and-palm salute as he smiled. "Young Clan Leader, did you rest well yesterday?"

Song Changsheng nodded and returned the gesture. "This junior rested very well. Thank you for your concern, Steward Qian."

"Are the accommodations to your satisfaction? Is there anything you need?" Qian Duoyu was as enthusiastic as ever.

"Everything is more than satisfactory. In fact, I’m a little overwhelmed. What has this junior done to deserve such treatment?" This was indeed beyond the standard for a Foundation Establishment Cultivator like him. There’s no such thing as unearned courtesy. Song Changsheng could only attribute it to his old man having a great deal of face.

"This was all specially arranged by the Great City Lord. The Young Clan Leader is naturally worthy of it. Since you are well-rested, allow this humble one to show you around today," Qian Duoyu said with a broad smile.

"Then I’ll be troubling you, Steward Qian."

A thought stirred in Song Changsheng’s mind. This was perfect; he had many questions that needed answering.

Song Qingluo had a sudden moment of insight today and might be on the verge of a breakthrough, so she hadn’t come out with him.