A biting south wind whipped through the Southern Wilderness, transforming the landscape into a frozen wasteland. Yet, amidst the monochrome desolation, an emerald jewel defied winter's grasp. A vibrant bamboo forest shimmered, leaves like polished jade, dewdrops clinging to the slender blades like tiny crystal spheres.

Suddenly, a flash of movement shattered the tranquility. A serpentine creature, its body a symphony of scales shimmering with iridescent hues, slithered across the forest floor. In its wake, wisps of an unnatural, shimmering vapor lingered, an eerie residue of its passage.

Swish!

A sibilant hiss cut through the air, and fell upon the four-legged snake.

The air itself seemed to freeze, the temperature plummeting with a crackle that sent shivers down the bamboo stalks. In the blink of an eye, the vibrant green serpent was encased in a crystalline shell, a perfect sculpture where life once pulsed.

"Finally caught this damn little thief." The bamboo forest moved, and a young man walked out.

He was quick on his feet, with a figure tall and lean as a pine, regular facial features, but eyes like a clear, bottomless pool. He was wearing a thick cotton-padded jacket and had a look of relief on his face.

David approached the ice sculpture, his relief morphing into dismay as he hefted the frozen serpent in his hand. "A loss," he muttered repeatedly, a note of frustration creeping into his voice. "A complete loss!"

"This measly skink is barely worth ten mana shards. Yet, catching it took three days and a blasted Ice Scroll! A neophyte scroll, sure, but that's half a mana crystal down the drain!" (One mana crystal worth 100 mana shards.) David's face mirrored the despair in his voice.

A losing proposition, certainly. But David had no choice. As the guardian of this vibrant bamboo forest, his livelihood depended on its continued health. This "skink" wouldn't fetch much, but its appetite for the life force of the bamboo could spell disaster for next year's harvest.

Although grumbling, he carefully tucked away the skink. It worth ten mana shards after all! His entire net worth is only a few hundred shards!

The forest, though precious, wasn't his. Each year, after harvesting his meager allotment of 7 acres, he had to surrender half to the landlord, the Sato family. That left him with barely a 50 bushels of mana-infused rice - worth a measly three hundred mana shards. A year's backbreaking labor for three crystals.

"Oh, it's hard to become immortal, but even harder to survive!" David heaved a sigh as he brushed snowflakes from his threadbare coat, and began to clear the weeds in the bamboo forest.

These weren't ordinary weeds. Nourished by the same energy force that sustained the jade bamboo, they grew strong and resilient. Left unchecked, they'd steal vital nutrients, jeopardizing his scanty harvest. It wasn't just backbreaking labor; being a mana farmer demanded a mastery of minor weaves, such as the Breeze and Rain spell and the Kusanagi Sword for killing bugs.

Stuck as an early stage Aer Weaver, David was barely a neophyte around here. (Aer Weavers, the lowest rung of mages, manipulated mana in its raw, gaseous form – a less efficient, less accurate, and wasteful method compared to the higher echelons.) In the vibrant Jade Bamboo Mountain, mid-stage Aer Weavers weren't uncommon, and one might even encounter masters who had surpassed the late stage. The world of independent mages was brutal – the strong preyed on the weak, a law engraved in blood.

Dark mages, notorious for their ruthless pursuit of power, were said to conduct blood sacrifices spanning a hundred miles. Though David hadn't witnessed such horrors firsthand, the countless accounts in texts served as a grim reminder of the dangers lurking just beyond the emerald embrace of the bamboo forest.

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The ink-black sky pressed down on David, urging him into a hurried pace towards his meager dwelling. Jade Bamboo Mountain boasted magical protections, but those luxuries were reserved for the grand shops and bustling Main Street. Farming areas like his own were left exposed, vulnerable to the dangers that crept under the cloak of night.

Despite the Sato family's patrols, whispers of robberies still reached David's ears. He wasn't about to tempt fate - his life was precious, even if his Weaver's standing wasn't.

The mana farmers' quarters, nestled close to the city walls, benefited from frequent patrols and were relatively safe. David, with a wry twist of his lips, figured it was because looting mages wouldn't stoop to robbing the likes of him: poor, barely-trained farmers guarding meager crops.

After a brisk uphill walk, a ramshackle collection of dwellings came into view. Fenced yards, filled with the sounds of squawking chickens and barking dogs, announced his arrival at home. A genuine smile finally broke through the tension carved on David's face.

David ambled passed a weathered old man, whose face crinkled like a dried apple and two yellow teeth glinting in a smile.

"David, " he greeted, his aura was even weaker than David's. This was Old Barly, David's neighbor. David didn't know where he came from, but bumping into each other every now and then, they had become aquaintent.

"Lookin' for some fun, are we?" Old Barly winked, a sly grin spreading across his weathered face. David recognized the implication - the ramshackle wooden buildings scattered through the shantytown housed Muses, those who didn't toil on the farms but enjoyed a comfortable life thanks to their, ahem, "alternative" professions.

Old Barly, despite years spent hunched besides his crops, was far worse off than David. He'd even borrowed mana shards before - a loan that probably ended up funding a night of "entertainment." David sighed. Some things, it seemed, never changed.

David shook his head. "Old Barley," he said, "still gotta practice tonight..."

In fact, shortly after coming of age, he went to the "Whispering Roses" in the market. He spent half of his fortune, had a good night, and draped himself out...

Let's just say, those little fairies who specialize in charm can be a real ... pain.

Since then, David has poured all his energy into farming. He had no other choice - without crystals...

"How can I have tea with a young lady if I don't save money? Yesterday's tea just won't do..."

David's small quarter was divided into sections - a living area, a bedroom, and a training room. Some mages maximized their space by planting mana-infused vegetables and raising elemental poultry in a fenced enclosure.

David went to the kitchen, retrieved some mana-infused rice mixed with whole grains, and cooked himself a pot of porridge.

The rice was, of course, jasper bamboo rice. Each grain resembled jade and emanated a delightful fragrance. Even when mixed with ordinary rice and whole grains, it remained remarkably delicious, boasting a sweet and delightful taste.

A pleasant warmth bloomed in David's stomach after his meal, accompanied by a subtle surge of energy force. Seizing this prime opportunity, he wasted no time making his way to the practice room. There, in the quiet seclusion, he diligently began his exercises.

Half an hour later, David cracked open his eyes, a bitter smile twisting his lips. The "Everlasting Spring Practice" was a cruel taskmaster. Five years of relentless exercise, and he hadn't even glimpsed the peak of the early stage Aer Weaving, let alone breached the barrier into the mid stage. Frustration clawed at him.

He pricked up his ears, catching the faint sounds of life outside his secluded practice room. Reaching for a talisman, he pressed it against the wooden wall. This neophyte level charm offered little defense, but its true value lays in its soundproofing and ability to mask mana and energy fluctuations.

Psychic sensing, a danger form those Wave Weaver, wouldn't be blocked, but the talisman would explode as a warning. A small price to pay for a shred of privacy.

David finished with a sigh, the frustration of his practice session fading as his fingers snapped. In an instant, the worn wooden walls of his practice room dissolved, replaced by a scene of opulent luxury. Warm light bathed the room, highlighting the vibrant greenery and the delicate wisps of smoke rising from a gold-and-purple incense burner. A plush rosewood chaise beckoned, promising comfort after a long day.

With a flick of his wrist, a cool breeze filled the air, courtesy of a magical air conditioner. David cast aside his ragged jacket, revealing a rich brocade robe that emphasized his youthful features. He pushed open the balcony doors, and sunlight streamed in, illuminating the sprawling grounds of his magnificent estate.

In the blink of an eye, it seemed like the world has completely changed. In fact, that was exactly what happened!

A wry smile touched David's lips. People can do anything when pushed to the brink, including travel to a parallel universe.