After inspecting the grate and confirming it was completely dry, Fang Chang dug a hole with a gap in the ground and placed the grate over it. This served as the furnace's ash chamber, facilitating ventilation and intensifying the fire.

Using ordinary dirt and mud, he carefully molded the furnace.

He applied the kneaded mud around the edges of the furnace, building it up in layers, gradually raising the furnace's body.

Fang Chang also brought firewood and used a fire bow to ignite a fire in the furnace, accelerating the drying process. Simultaneously, he continued adding mud to the furnace body. However, during this process, the stove was prone to cracking upon drying, requiring constant filling with mud to cover the cracks.

Once the bowls and jars were dry, he carefully placed them into the kiln, filled it with firewood, and ignited it.

As the fire burned, he carefully added more firewood.

Dinner was prepared next to the stove. The roasted chestnuts easily shed their shells, revealing golden, fragrant, and soft interiors. While eating chestnuts and peeling pine nuts, Fang Chang continued tending to the kiln.

Until midnight.

When he discovered that all the kiln vessels had broken.

He stopped the burning process and went to sleep.

In the early morning, Fang Chang rose from the bamboo bed board, which was much more comfortable than the previous firewood stack. Before sunrise, he picked some tea leaves, then sat cross-legged on the large rock by the cliff, beginning his breathing exercises.

Two white mists streamed from his nostrils like little dragons, though Fang Chang couldn't see this with his eyes closed, and the white-haired monkey hadn't returned.

He didn't rise until the sun fully emerged over the horizon. With his daily practice, a subtle yet indescribable change had occurred in the aura of Xianqi Cliff.

Checking the kiln, Fang Chang extracted the burnt vessels for observation.

After some thought, he concluded that the pottery pieces hadn't been completely dry before being placed in the fire, causing them to crack.

Broken vessels wouldn't go to waste.

Fang Chang walked to the stream, found two pebbles, and returned. After a day's washing, the stream was clearer, though still slightly turbid.

At his stone table, he gently crushed the broken pottery shards with pebbles, grinding them into powder, and carefully collected the pottery powder.

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This powder could be mixed into the next batch of pottery, which would significantly increase the success rate. After mixing the pottery clay with water and pottery powder, Fang Chang remade several cooking utensils and set them aside in a ventilated area to dry.

He had no specific plans for the day.

Reflecting, Fang Chang moved the bed board outside, laid it flat on the woodpile, and lay down. Under the open sky, on the cliff, he watched the clouds roll and calm throughout the day.

Leisurely and free.

Relaxing quietly on the bamboo bed outside, doing nothing, Fang Chang felt his cultivation improve.

Yet he didn't concern himself with these gains; practice was simply practice. Being overly obsessed would contradict the original intentions of Daoism and nature.

The monkey didn't appear until the following morning.

Upon the monkey's arrival, Fang Chang stood up from the bed and smiled, "All set?"

By now, the monkey could speak human language, and its behavior mimicked humans more closely. Upon seeing Fang Chang, it bowed and said, "Thank you, Shangxian, for helping me overcome this barrier!"

Fang Chang accepted the bow, then said to the monkey:

"Everything is due to fate. Your ability to refine the bones in your mouth is your own opportunity. I merely gave a timely push. I hope you won't forget your heart in the future and refrain from evil deeds."

Bidding farewell to the monkey spirit.

Fang Chang glanced at the upper cliff's location, frowned, and asked the monkey, "What are your plans for your future cultivation path?"

"I came to seek your guidance, Shangxian."

Seeing the monkey's newfound respect, Fang Chang pondered and said, "My surname is Fang, and my name is Chang. You can call me Mr. Fang from now on."

"We don't share the fate of master and apprentice, so I cannot accept you as a disciple. As for your future path, if you're unsure, I have a suggestion."

"Descend the mountain, enter the world. First, find clothing, then learn human etiquette and language. Work to earn your living, find shelter, visit the Great Wall, explore small counties, observe the world, and see how people pursue fame and fortune throughout their lives with no turning back."

"There are mysteries within; if you understand them with your heart, you may return to the basics and achieve the Dao."

This path is common for demons, though timing varies by species.

Tigers, leopards, deer, wolves, and pythons, being large and fierce, often change form later to avoid being easily hunted. But smaller creatures like cattle, sheep, cats, dogs, rabbits, and foxes, or those resembling humans, tend to change earlier. Apes, with their human-like form, are hard to distinguish once clothed, which is quite advantageous.

The monkey tapped the ground joyfully:

"I heard it's better to seize the moment than delay. Since Mr. Fang pointed the way, I'll bid farewell and descend the mountain today to join the mortal world."

"Since you're descending the mountain, you should have a name. I'll give you one." Without waiting for the monkey's consent, he continued, "By old custom, your surname will be Sun. Since you were born in Yunzhong Mountain, we'll call you Sun Yun."

The monkey was ecstatic at Fang Chang's words, scratching its head excitedly: "Hello, Sun Yun! Hello, Sun Yun! Now I have a name too!"

Fang Chang glanced at the upper cliff's location and said to the monkey, "Someone's coming. Since you're willing to descend the mountain, go say goodbye to your group, then proceed down."

The monkey kowtowed again and departed.

Fang Chang watched the upper cliff's location when a sudden movement caught his attention.

The grass on the hillside parted, and woodcutter Lin Hai hurriedly emerged. This was the first time a mountain dweller had set foot on Xianqi Cliff. Standing on the flat ground, he surveyed the area and, spotting Fang Chang, quickly approached.

Fang Chang stood, one hand behind his back, waiting for Lin Hai to arrive.

It seemed today would be eventful.

Lin Hai rushed over, hesitant to get too close, and kowtowed to Fang Chang from a distance: "Please help us, Fang Chang!"

Extending his hand to help him up, Fang Chang asked, "What's happening in Linxi Village? From here, the village seems to be in decline."

Hearing that Fang Xianchang was aware of Linxi Village's plight, Lin Hai found himself crying. He raised his forehead with his hands, bowed, and said, "I shouldn't trouble you, but the village is on the brink of losing food and clothing. It all started recently..."

...

Among the many villages at the foot of Yunzhong Mountain, Linxi Village was unique, situated halfway up the mountain.

It consisted of twenty or thirty families.

Backed by the bountiful Yunzhong Mountain, the village managed several terraced fields at the mountain's base. With the world at peace, the villagers led content lives.

Joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness were part of everyday life.

The only major event in recent years was Shen A Niu's serious illness. The villagers pooled money, food, and cloth to seek medical help from the only doctor within miles.

Not being able to procure the medicine was common; people were used to it, and the villagers did all they could.

If Shen Aniu's fate was unfortunate, it was considered his bad luck. The villagers had already prepared a straw mat and mourners in case of the worst.