In the sky, a black-clothed person sped towards the village, his sharp gaze sweeping over it like an eagle's eyes, cold and indifferent.

Moments later, the black-clothed person hovered directly above the village.

Black mist swirled around him, and his clothes fluttered without wind, sending out gusts of eerie wind, his entire being exuding a chilling evil aura.

"Who is Su Mingren?!"

The cold, hoarse voice sent shivers down everyone's spine.

Is this an Immortal? He looks terrifying!

He's here for Su Mingren? When did the village chief get involved with an Immortal?

Hearing the commotion, many villagers curiously poked their heads out, observing the black-clothed person in the sky.

On the ground, Su Mingren looked up at the newcomer, his heart tightening with a strong sense of foreboding.

He's here for me, is it really for that Pill Furnace?

As he hesitated, unsure whether to respond.

"Hmph! What? No one wants to speak?!"

In mid-air, the black-clothed person snorted when no one answered.

A thick, sinister aura emanated from him, enveloping the entire small mountain village.

In the next second, everyone felt as if they had fallen into an ice cellar, their bodies chilled.

Seeing the black-clothed person about to lose his temper, Su Mingren hurriedly spoke, "High Immortal, I am Su Mingren. I don't know what business you have with me?"

Hearing the voice, the black-clothed person flickered in the air, transforming into a streak of light and appearing before Su Mingren.

Gazing at Su Mingren, the black-clothed person's eyes glinted coldly as he sinisterly said, "Hand over the Treasure Furnace, or die!!!"

Su Mingren shivered, his heart leaping to his throat, but he feigned calmness and said, "Treasure Furnace? What Treasure Furnace? High Immortal, I... I don't understand what you're talking about?"

The black-clothed person's eyes turned cold, and with a wave of his hand, True Essence transformed into a force that sent Su Mingren flying.

Staring at Su Mingren as if looking at an ant, he said, "Old man, do you really think I know nothing since I managed to find this place? If you obediently hand over your family's heirloom Treasure Furnace today, everything will be fine.

Otherwise, it won't just be you who dies today; everyone in your village will perish!!"

As he spoke, the black-clothed person stepped towards Su Mingren, a thick killing intent spreading throughout the village.

The villagers watching felt as if the sky was about to collapse, terrified, and hurriedly shouted at Su Mingren on the ground.

"Village chief, if you really have that furnace, just give it to this Immortal!"

"Yeah, it's not worth angering the Immortal over some Treasure Furnace."

"Immortal, please don't be angry! We've lived here for so many years and have never heard of any Treasure Furnace in the village chief's house!"

***

Su Mingren landed heavily on the ground, his old limbs breaking several ribs, his face contorted in pain.

In a nearby haystack, Su Shi'er witnessed the entire scene.

Seeing his grandfather injured, his heart tightened, and he clutched the Pill Furnace, ready to go out and save his grandfather.

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To him, no matter how precious the Pill Furnace was, it was not more important than his grandfather's life.

But just as he was about to go out and hand over the Pill Furnace, his grandfather's earlier warning echoed in his mind.

No matter what happens, never go out!

Remembering his grandfather's words, Su Shi'er hesitated.

On the ground, Su Mingren noticed the slight movement in the haystack and, enduring the pain, continued to speak, "High Immortal, I... I really don't know what Treasure Furnace you're talking about!"

Su Mingren, wise with age, knew from the moment he understood the other's purpose that whether or not he handed over the Pill Furnace, he and the villagers were unlikely to escape death today.

Now, the only thing he could do was to protect his grandson's life.

Hearing this, the black-clothed person's eyes gleamed with cold light, and he let out a strange laugh, "Heh heh... Old man, are you seeking death? What a pity... Seems like I'll have to find it myself!"

The black-clothed person shook his head, his eyes turning cruel.

With that, he activated the True Essence within him, forming a sword seal with his hand. A dark flying sword shot out from his back, hovering in the air, spinning rapidly.

Immediately, sword light filled the sky, each beam transforming into a skull that dived towards the villagers.

Seeing this, the villagers were petrified, with only a few reacting quickly enough to turn and flee.

"No... No!"

"Immortal, spare us, spare us!"

"Please, let us go, we know nothing!"

Feeling the threat of death, the villagers were terrified, instinctively begging for mercy.

But facing a cultivator like the black-clothed person, capable of flying through the sky and burrowing into the earth, they were no different from ants. Under the assault of this sinister Sword Qi, death was but a moment away!

In the blink of an eye, the entire Small Stone Village was awash with blood, the air thick with the scent of blood.

Su Mingren lay on the ground, his eyes filled with anger and despair.

Though he had long been prepared to die, seeing the villagers die so tragically filled him with immense sorrow.

In the haystack, Su Shi'er was also terrified by the scene, lying on the ground, his hands and feet cold, as if plunged into an ice cave.

This was no Immortal, but a bloodthirsty demon!

At this moment, the black-clothed person coldly walked up to Su Mingren, "Old man, see? They all died because of you! I'll give you one more chance, hand over the Treasure Furnace!"

The black-clothed person reached out, and the flying sword in the air fell into his hand, the tip pointing directly at Su Mingren.

Black mist rolled around him, releasing a terrifying pressure.

Lying on the ground, Su Mingren felt suffocated just from the pressure.

But he shook his head resolutely, "No!"

The black-clothed person's eyes turned cold, and he activated the flying sword with True Essence, sending a skull Sword Qi flying out, biting off Su Mingren's arm.

"Now?!"

In excruciating pain, Su Mingren gritted his teeth and shouted, "I... I really don't know about any Treasure Furnace!"

"Hmph! In that case, you have no reason to live!" The black-clothed person snorted coldly, sending another skull Sword Qi straight towards Su Mingren's heart.

"No... No..."

In the haystack, Su Shi'er watched helplessly, opening his mouth to shout. But when he opened his mouth, no sound came out.

Clutching the Pill Furnace tightly, he wanted to go out and save his grandfather, but already frightened and under the oppressive aura of the black-clothed person, Su Shi'er lay on the ground, feeling as if a thousand-pound weight pressed down on him, rendering him immobile.

"Thud!"

In the next second, a dull sound echoed as the skull-like Sword Qi pierced through Su Mingren's heart.

A fist-sized hole appeared in Su Mingren's chest. His head tilted, and he died on the spot!

Seeing his grandfather lying in a pool of blood, Su Shi'er's pupils contracted sharply, his heart clenched, and he fainted from grief.

In the village, the black-clothed person paid no attention to the haystack on the ground, instead going from house to house, searching each courtyard.

Killing the entire village was like a trivial task to him!

From dusk till midnight, the black-clothed person searched every room in the village. From the rafters to the cellars, he left nothing unchecked, but found nothing.

Though powerful, he could not extend his Divine Sense, something only achievable by those who had formed a Golden Elixir.

Small Stone Village, adjacent to Heavenly Pinnacle Peak, was a forbidden ground for cultivators. Not to mention that Golden Elixir cultivators were rare, even they would face mysterious suppression here.

***

Two hours later, the black-clothed person returned to Su Mingren's corpse, confirming that there was nothing on him either, feeling somewhat frustrated.

"Damn it! Could the information be wrong? Or has someone else already taken it? Forget it, I'll have to find another lead!"

With that, the black-clothed person leapt into the air, transforming into a streak of light and shooting towards the sky.

He never imagined that right where he descended, a half-grown child was hiding!

This is the so-called most dangerous place being the safest!

***

An hour later, the black-clothed person, hidden in the night, silently descended once more.

Seeing the scene unchanged, he shook his head in frustration and left on his sword.

Su Shi'er remained unconscious for two hours until the sky began to brighten. He suddenly twitched and woke up, drenched in cold sweat.

In his unconsciousness, his mind was filled with images of the skull-like monster killing his grandfather.

The first thing Su Shi'er did upon waking was to look outside, hoping that everything that happened yesterday was just a nightmare.

However, it was all in vain.

In his sight, his grandfather lay motionless in a pool of blood.

Su Shi'er trembled all over, crawling out of the haystack and rushing to Su Mingren's side.

"Grandpa... Grandpa... wake up, please wake up! I beg you... respond to me!"

Su Shi'er held Su Mingren, calling out repeatedly, tears streaming down like broken beads.

But no matter how he called, the person on the ground showed no response.

Su Shi'er held his grandfather on the ground, crying until the sun rose, until his tears ran dry, until blood flowed from his eyes.

He fainted several times, until his voice was hoarse, unable to cry anymore, before looking down at the Pill Furnace in his arms.

"It's all because of you! If it weren't for you, grandpa wouldn't have died, and neither would everyone else!"

In anger, Su Shi'er grabbed the Pill Furnace, believing it to be the culprit behind everyone's death. If it weren't for this Pill Furnace, none of this would have happened.

If he could trade it for his grandfather's life, he would do so without hesitation.

Gripping the Pill Furnace tightly, he angrily threw it away.

Watching it roll on the ground, he hesitated for a moment, then picked it up again.

"This Pill Furnace is the last thing grandpa left me; I can't lose it.

Besides, if even those Immortals want it, it must be some kind of treasure. If I want to avenge grandpa and everyone, I'll need to rely on this treasure. I just don't know how to use this Pill Furnace.

Maybe... once I learn Immortal Techniques, I'll know how to use it!"

Su Shi'er took a deep breath, tucking the Pill Furnace back into his arms.

Then, he forced himself to endure the pain, found a shovel, and dug large pits in the village clearing, burying his grandfather and the villagers.

***

By the next evening, a simple mass grave for a hundred people had appeared in the village center.

Su Shi'er knelt before the graves of his grandfather and the villagers, sobbing again.

But he forced himself to hold back the tears. He silently told himself that today would be the last time he cried. From now on, he had only one goal: revenge. No matter what hardships he faced, he would not shed another tear.

"Grandpa, that black-clothed person is powerful. To deal with him, I must join an Immortal Sect and learn Immortal Techniques. Perhaps, once I master them, I'll understand the purpose of this furnace! Little Chubby said that in Dragon Return Town, there are Immortals recruiting disciples these days. I plan to check it out!

No matter what, I will avenge you and everyone!"

Su Shi'er whispered, glancing at the Pill Furnace in his arms, then kowtowed four times to his grandfather's grave.

Then, he resolutely stood up, gritting his teeth, and ran towards Dragon Return Town.