Zhu Xi Village.
The mountains stretched endlessly, covered in lush trees.
Just as dawn broke, Cheng Xiaofan, carrying a bamboo basket and a rake, was about to head out when his mother, Miao Xiuhua, stopped him at the doorway.
"Xiaofan, I've noticed you've been looking paler and thinner these past few days. You should go to the hospital for a check-up. Leave the land on the back mountain for your father to sort out once his leg injury heals!"
"Mom, I'm perfectly fine, I don't need to go to the hospital!"
Fearing his mother would pester him endlessly, Cheng Xiaofan bolted as soon as he finished speaking.
Miao Xiuhua watched her son's retreating back, a faint smile gracing her lips. Each time he returned from the city, this child never took a moment's rest, always eager to help with the family's chores.
...
On a sun-drenched slope on the back mountain lay a newly cultivated plot of land, a testament to Cheng Xiaofan's father, Cheng Fugui.
A little over a week ago, Cheng Fugui had been gathering herbs on the mountain when he slipped and fell, fracturing his leg. He had been confined to bed ever since.
It was at this opportune moment that Cheng Xiaofan returned from the city. He took over his father's work, coming every day to tend to the newly cleared land.
At this very moment, Cheng Xiaofan had arrived at the sun-drenched slope on the back mountain. His gaze swept forward, taking in the entirety of Zhu Xi Village.
The morning sun had already climbed above the mountain ridge, its rosy hues painting the entire village.
Zhu Xi Village was embraced by mountains on three sides and faced a river on the fourth. A mountain stream meandered through the village, its banks lined with verdant bamboo. A Qing stone arch bridge spanned the stream, connecting the two halves of the village.
A light mist swirled, creating a picturesque scene.
"Home is truly beautiful!"
A radiant smile bloomed on Cheng Xiaofan's face as he sighed with emotion.
Alas, due to its remote location and barren land, the villagers of Zhu Xi, despite breathing fresh, high-quality air, lived lives as empty as discarded sacks, perpetually struggling.
Cheng Xiaofan was the only university graduate to emerge from Zhu Xi Village, trading his hoe for a position as a senior executive in a large city company.
The villagers envied Cheng Xiaofan's success, but none knew the complexities of city life. Cheng Xiaofan's life in the city was far from the idyllic picture others imagined.
First, his college girlfriend of three years cheated on him. Then, his colleagues at the company engaged in fierce backstabbing and scheming, and Cheng Xiaofan was caught in the crossfire, demoted.
What was most unbearable for Cheng Xiaofan was that, half a month prior, he had suddenly experienced excruciating chest pain. A hospital examination revealed late-stage liver cancer.
It was like a bolt from the blue, completely shattering Cheng Xiaofan. Before he could even repay his parents for their nurturing, he was to leave this world?
This time, Cheng Xiaofan resigned from his company position and returned to his hometown. He wanted to spend his remaining days by his parents' side, fulfilling his filial duties.
However, his parents believed he had returned, as usual, on a leave of absence from the company.
Cheng Xiaofan swung his rake, beginning to till the uneven ground.
"Ouch!"
As he dug, Cheng Xiaofan felt a sharp pain in his chest again. His body swayed, and he collapsed onto the ground.
This pain was more intense than any he had experienced before!
Cold sweat instantly drenched his clothes.
Am I going to die?
Ding!
Just as Cheng Xiaofan was consumed by despair, a red bead emerged from the soil he had just turned, emitting a clear chime. It then shot into his brow.
What the heck!
What was happening?
As his consciousness flickered, Cheng Xiaofan found himself in a strange space. It was a dark expanse of land, estimated to be about ten mu in size.
In the center was a misty pond, its surface as smooth as a mirror, so clear that the bottom was visible. It exuded a tranquil, alluring luster.
The pond was encircled by a layer of bluestone.
Beside it stood a stone tablet, inscribed with four powerful, vigorous characters: Shen Nong Space.
What is Shen Nong Space?
As Cheng Xiaofan stood there in a daze, a red mist rose from around him.
Within the swirling red mist, an ethereal elder, clad in a homespun robe, ascended. He gazed at Cheng Xiaofan with a benevolent expression.
"Descendant of Cheng, I am Shen Nong. Because you are destined to meet me, I have waited for you in this space for thirty thousand years."
"From the moment you entered this space, you have become my official successor. I shall impart to you the Shen Nong Sutra. May you utilize it well in the future and bring benefit to the people!"
As his words faded, the elder vanished into the void. The surrounding red mist transformed into countless stars, swirling around Cheng Xiaofan. In an instant, these stars entered his body.
Oh my god!
Is this a vision after death?
A torrent of information flooded Cheng Xiaofan's mind.
This information encompassed a myriad of rare skills and abilities, including planting, medicine, and treasure identification.
However, Cheng Xiaofan's mind could not fully process it all at once; he would have to come to grips with it step by step later.
Simultaneously, he felt a current flowing from his dan tian throughout his meridians, as if his entire body was undergoing constant renovation.
Cheng Xiaofan finally understood that he had not died. The bead that had entered his brow was called the Shen Nong Bead, which had helped him enter this space.
From now on, whenever he needed it, Cheng Xiaofan could enter and exit this Shen Nong Space at will, simply by a thought.
With this knowledge, Cheng Xiaofan's heart was filled with curiosity. He tried silently thinking, I want to go out!
A cool mountain breeze brushed against his face. Cheng Xiaofan realized he was back on the sun-drenched slope.
He then silently thought, I want to enter Shen Nong Space!
In the blink of an eye, Cheng Xiaofan was back inside the space.
When Cheng Xiaofan emerged from the space again, he knew he had struck gold.
What made him ecstatic was that his body, after this transformation, felt incredibly energetic and radiant. He felt lighter, without any discomfort whatsoever.
Seeing that it was nearing noon, Cheng Xiaofan filled his basket with pig feed, preparing to head back for lunch.
As he descended the slope, he suddenly heard a woman's pained groan emanating from the nearby bushes.
Cheng Xiaofan immediately rushed over, pushing aside the waist-high grass. He discovered a young, beautiful woman lying on the ground.
Judging by her attire, she was clearly not from the countryside.
"Beauty, what happened?" Cheng Xiaofan quickly approached and asked.
The young woman replied in pain, "I was bitten by a venomous snake!"
Upon hearing that the young woman had been bitten by a venomous snake, Cheng Xiaofan blurted out, "Don't be afraid, where were you bitten? Let me take a look!"
The young woman pointed to her right foot, saying, "On my ankle!"
"Don't worry, I'll give you a massage to expel the snake venom, and you'll be fine!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, Cheng Xiaofan himself was stunned. When had he learned to expel venom through massage?
Who gave him this confidence?
Cheng Xiaofan squatted down, helped the young woman remove her shoes and socks, and placed her foot on his leg. He noticed that the bite marks on her ankle had turned purplish-blue, and blood was seeping from the wound.
Clearly, she had been bitten by a five-pace viper!
At this moment, Cheng Xiaofan's heart pounded with anxiety. A bite from a five-pace viper was difficult to treat without specific medical knowledge. Would his impulsive offer to help result in the death of this beautiful woman?
Despite these thoughts, a voice in his mind urged him, "Don't hesitate. This girl is in danger. Hurry and save her!"
Cheng Xiaofan extended his right hand, bringing it close to the young woman's ankle. Instantly, he felt a warmth in his palm, and a faint green light enveloped her ankle.
Huh?
How miraculous!
Could this be the spiritual energy mentioned in online novels?
"Beauty, it might hurt a bit at first when I massage you, you'll have to bear with it!" Cheng Xiaofan suddenly felt a surge of confidence and cautioned her.
The young woman nodded, "Mm-hmm!"
Cheng Xiaofan immediately placed his hand on her ankle and began to massage it gently.
"Ah, it hurts!" the young woman cried out involuntarily.
Cheng Xiaofan said, "Beauty, hold on, it'll be better soon!"
In a short while, the young woman's foot, which had been swollen like a meat bun, quickly subsided under Cheng Xiaofan's massage. A purplish lump appeared on her ankle.
Cheng Xiaofan's eyes scanned the surroundings. He found a thorn on a nearby branch and pricked the purplish lump on the woman's ankle, releasing a stream of dark blood.
"There, beauty, you're all right!"
Normally, a bite from a five-pace viper would require antivenom serum to be effective. Cheng Xiaofan, however, had not only expelled the snake venom using spiritual energy but also left no trace of a wound on the woman's ankle.
He looked at his right hand, thinking, This spiritual energy is truly a treasure. I wonder if it can help heal my father's leg injury.