Fang Chang smiled and took in his surroundings.

The spring water was located on higher terrain, offering a clear and expansive view.

The scenery in the mountains behind was vivid, with clouds and air flowing above, blurring the shapes of mountains, rivers, and vegetation. It seemed as if tigers, leopards, deer, and sheep were hidden within, fresh and full of vitality.

At the foot of the mountain lay the human world, where human life thrived, and he could vaguely sense its grandeur.

Fortunately, the nearby mountain villages were not in danger.

Eh?

Fang Chang looked closely and noticed that the mountain village below was surrounded by a sense of decay, with what seemed like black air enveloping it, making it difficult to see clearly.

This village, near Yunzhong Mountain, was accessible by an official road. When Fang Chang first arrived at Yunzhong Mountain, he had turned directly off the official road and bypassed this small mountain village.

Considering the distance the woodcutter could travel on foot, there was no other village nearby. This small mountain village was likely Linxi Village, where the woodcutter Lin Hai lived.

What's happening here?

Or is something about to happen?

Fang Chang didn't dwell too much on Linxi Village's situation. With his sight, he observed the decaying clouds above the village, still carrying a trace of vitality.

The saying goes that heaven never seals off all paths; in the face of crisis, there must be a way to solve it. Fang Chang hoped they could survive this disaster.

Fang Chang had developed a slight fondness for the mountain village, where the villagers had pooled their resources to help Lin Hai's seriously ill friend.

However, he knew he wasn't capable enough to immediately discern Linxi Village's situation, so he set it aside in his mind.

Beckoning, Fang Chang led the monkey to continue wandering in the mountains.

The sun gradually rose.

He moved quickly through the mountains, occasionally stopping to check the soil quality, while the white-haired monkey tried to follow closely—though it didn't quite understand why it felt compelled to follow him.

As the rising sun cast its light, the water vapor in the mountains rose, a result of the earlier rain. The vapor intertwined with the dense fog, gradually thickening.

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With a sense of excitement, Fang Chang returned to the mountain peak behind Xianqi Cliff and began climbing up.

The monkey hesitated for a moment but decided to follow.

The journey was challenging, with steep peaks and strange rock formations. At times, Fang Chang had to help the monkey along.

The precipitous peak could only be climbed by someone with Fang Chang's skills, and Yunzhong Mountain's remoteness kept this peak hidden from view.

Standing at the highest point, the vista suddenly expanded, revealing a boundless sea of clouds stretching out before Fang Chang.

Here, one could already feel the chill of the high altitude, and the wind was biting. Looking down, Xianqi Cliff was obscured by thick clouds, completely disappearing from view.

Surrounded by misty clouds, like the shore of a sea, the waves surged, splashing, while layers of clouds shimmered under the sunlight, floating in gold, rapidly shifting and changing.

This scene filled Fang Chang with awe and wonder.

Feeling the vastness and magnificence of the natural world, Fang Chang found his mind broadened, thoughts clarified, and even his breathing eased.

Unknowingly, his cultivation improved slightly, bringing him joy.

Noticing no movement nearby, Fang Chang turned to look beside him.

This sea of clouds had already captivated the white-haired monkey.

The white fur on its body trembled in the wind, but the monkey remained still, enthralled.

No monkey had ever climbed to such heights in this mountain.

Feeling something within, the monkey suddenly moved, adopting a posture with five hearts facing the sky. Seeing this, Fang Chang smiled slightly and stepped back a little.

From this posture, monkeys with four limbs have a considerable advantage over most wild beasts. Many monsters can't assume this standard posture even if their joints are broken. It's a pity that the way of heaven is balanced, and most monkeys are irritable, making it difficult to gain spiritual awareness and even harder to practice. This little white-haired monkey could be considered "the hope of the whole monkey group."

Fang Chang knew it was preparing to refine Henggu, an important hurdle in monster cultivation.

The winds and clouds seemed to gather, but due to the mountain's peak, there were only a few thunderclaps in the clouds below.

Although refining the crossbone is crucial, there aren't too many obstacles. This monkey hadn't done any evil, wasn't entangled in karma, and the sympathy between heaven and man wasn't strong, so there'd usually be no catastrophe.

Monsters are usually stuck at the front part. It was a chance for the white-haired monkey to catch up with the boss and come to the sea of clouds on the mountaintop after the rain.

When the wind dissipated, the monkey let out a "boo."

Seeing this, Fang Chang understood the monkey had successfully passed the gate. He gave the monkey a thumbs-up and said with a smile, "Congratulations, Brother Monkey. Consolidating your gains over time will be beneficial. I'll leave now; I have other things to attend to." So he descended the mountain, leaving the monkey alone in the distance.

...

Yunzhong Mountain is truly rich in resources.

Fang Chang returned to the foot of the peak, wandered through the valleys and slopes, and easily found suitable pottery clay, which wasn't too far from Xianqi Cliff.

To avoid dirtying his clothes, Fang Chang used broad leaves to line the basket, took out thin stone flakes, and dug a basketful of pottery clay, planning to carry it back for testing.

The surrounding mountains and forests remained steaming and humid, making firewood gathering unsuitable.

Fortunately, Fang Chang had accumulated enough firewood before the rain, and with vast surrounding woods and his strength, the firewood filled the previous shack and even circled the new house. His bed was neatly arranged with firewood and plenty of hay.

The extinguished fire pit was relit, and the room's moisture gradually dissipated.

Fang Chang left the house, dug a pit, and mixed mud in front of the door. He didn't use pottery clay but ordinary soil. To make pottery, he first needed a kiln.

After digging a small hole, Fang Chang used a large piece of mud to create a flat plate with holes, setting it aside to dry. This would be the grate, needing firing before use.

Then, he added water to the clay, forming a block, kneading it until it felt right, and began shaping some utensils—jars, jars, and bowls. He made four or five pieces and set them aside to dry.

After rinsing his hands and face, Fang Chang brewed himself a cup of tea.

The vessel bodies needed time to dry, as did the grate. During the wait, Fang Chang planned to upgrade his bed and continue polishing his little jade knife.

Using a small stone chisel, he retrieved a few bamboos, split them, cut them to suitable lengths, and tied them side by side on horizontal bamboo slices like a bamboo raft.

Testing it, he found it solid.

Instead of adding bed legs, he placed the bamboo bed board on the firewood pile, between the hay and firewood, allowing for a flatter and more comfortable sleeping surface, avoiding raised wooden knots.

Fang Chang ate something and took a leisurely nap.

In this moment, he truly felt a sense of happiness as "a man in the mountains."

In the afternoon, he carried the rattan basket loaded with stone axes and bamboo slices. Fang Chang planned to return to the hillside where he discovered the pottery clay and dig another basketful.

After determining the direction, he chose a different path to explore.

While passing through the middle of a mountain, Fang Chang accidentally discovered that continuous mountain weeds concealed a small temple half a person's height, with only a corner exposed.