Uncle Chen nodded slowly, his hands still faintly trembling from holding the scroll earlier, but quickly calmed down when Aunt Lian touched his hand and held it gently.

  "Chen, Zhi Xuan will surely succeed," Aunt Lian said to her husband. She knew the tension her husband was experiencing, yet the heart of a woman and a mother could not deny her strong belief in Zhi Xuan.

  "I hope so, Lian," Uncle Chen replied, his voice hoarse. He turned to Grandfather Wu, who was strengthening the spirits of the youths who would attempt to break through to the Divine Wheel tonight.

  In front of the hut, Bashan and Zhuwei still stood. Zhuwei knocked loudly on the door, while Bashan stood with his hands on his hips.

  "Zhi Xuan! Get up, you lazy bum! The whole Village is celebrating and you are still sleeping like an overfed wild boar!" Zhuwei shouted, his voice containing a hint of hidden panic.

  A hurried creak from inside the hut was heard, accompanied by the door suddenly opening, causing Zhuwei's hand, which was still raised to knock, to swing towards Zhi Xuan's forehead.

  BAM!

  "Ouch!" Zhi Xuan exclaimed, jumping back, rubbing his forehead that had just met Zhuwei's fist.

  Zhi Xuan, wearing only short pants and bare-chested, looked dirty and dishevelled, exactly as Mingling had described. His sapphire eyes still looked slightly sleepy, a result of a very sound sleep.

  "Zhuwei! What are you doing?!" Zhi Xuan protested, his voice still a little hoarse. "I just had the best sleep of my life! I dreamed I was flying over a jade field!"

  Zhuwei immediately withdrew his hand, his rigid face blushing with embarrassment. "I... I didn't mean to hit you. I was just... excited. Why are you sleeping in broad daylight?! The whole Village is back!"

  Bashan burst out laughing, then clapped Zhuwei on the back. "That's for you, Zhuwei. You are too enthusiastic. Hurry up, Zhi Xuan, put on your robe! Grandfather Wu is calling you!"

  Zhi Xuan looked around. Mingling and Tang were gone. He scratched his messy head, still trying to gather his consciousness. "What is it? Did Aunt Lian make wheat pancakes? Has our running punishment been extended?"

  "No, idiot!" exclaimed Zhuwei, who now tried to smooth Zhi Xuan's dirty hair with an awkward motion. "We got the Fire Roaring Ape Core! And your Pure Forest Ginseng... it will be made into a foundation opening pill! Tonight we break through to the Divine Wheel!"

  Hearing those words, Zhi Xuan's sapphire eyes widened completely. He flinched, not out of excitement, but out of shock. He had planned his secret cultivation session for tonight, but it seemed Grandfather Wu had moved faster.

  Zhi Xuan quickly put on his dry black robe with red silk embroidery, hiding his chest which felt a faint throb. "Why didn't anyone wake me earlier?" he grumbled, though he knew he couldn't blame anyone for his deep sleep.

  As they walked towards the square, Zhuwei gave him a short lecture. "You should be grateful, Zhi Xuan. Grandfather Wu himself processed your pill. That means you will get the most stable foundation. Don't try to cause trouble again today. Don't stare at Yun Xiao for too long. Don't—"

  "I get it, Zhuwei," Zhi Xuan cut him off, suppressing a laugh. "Don't provoke women. I understand. How about you and Yun Xiao? Have you decided what kind of knot you will gift her?"

  Zhuwei's face flushed again. "Don't talk about that! And don't try to involve Bashan in your stupid plans! Grandfather Wu is serious today!"

  They arrived at the square. Grandfather Wu, Uncle Chen, and Aunt Lian stood on the stage. When Zhi Xuan arrived, all eyes were on him. He felt as if he had just emerged from the Black Jade Swamp.

  Mingling ran towards him, nudging him. "You're crazy, Zhi! You slept through our small party! We got Ginseng pills! And you will definitely get the best one!"

  Zhi Xuan only nodded, his eyes focused on Grandfather Wu, who was now staring at him with unusual intensity.

  "Zhi Xuan," Grandfather Wu called, his voice calm yet deep. "You are late. But destiny can no longer be postponed."

  Grandfather Wu stepped forward. He reached for a small jade bottle from his robe. The pill was not an ordinary pill like the ones given to Mingling and Tang. The pill glowed, half burning orange, the other half milky white. It was a Spirit Shaping Pill, a perfect blend of the hot Ginseng essence and the cold Jade Root.

  "This pill," Grandfather Wu said, his voice firm and final, "is the Spirit Shaping Pill. It is processed from your Pure Forest Ginseng and the Village's Thousand Year Jade Root. It is the best I can give."

  Grandfather Wu handed the jade bottle into Zhi Xuan's hand, presenting it as a form of deep trust.

  "I know, you have hidden many things from me." Grandfather Wu said, sighing softly and smiling faintly, the smile of an old man seeing the youth he raised from a baby now grown up. "Your naughtiness and your overly curious attitude have brought many unexpected things, I am proud of you."

  Zhi Xuan grasped the jade bottle. The coldness of the jade immediately penetrated his skin, contrasting with the faint warmth radiated by the pill inside. The dual-colored glowing pill—orange and milky white—looked like a tiny sun trapped within ice.

  He looked at Grandfather Wu, his expression filled with surprise. Grandfather Wu was not angry; he was proud. This recognition, coupled with such a precious pill, made Zhi Xuan's throat tighten.

  "Grandfather Wu..." Zhi Xuan tried to speak.

  Grandfather Wu raised a hand, stopping him. His gaze was now sharp again, full of hidden warning. "I know what you did in the river. I saw that heat wave. This pill is not just a gift, Zhi Xuan. It is a test. And this is your only chance to stabilize your foundation. Do not waste it."

  Grandfather Wu turned to Uncle Chen and Aunt Lian, nodding briefly. Then he turned back to the village youths gathered in the square.

  "All of you, go fill your stomachs first, enjoy the fire roaring ape meat, the benefits of which are not only for those who cultivate." Grandfather Wu said calmly and wisely, looking at the villagers one by one, the young men and women. "But for mortals, it is delicious meat rich in jade essence that can nourish your bodies."

  The crowd of villagers, who had long awaited the announcement, erupted in laughter and loud cheers. Fire Roaring Ape meat was a rare and nutritious delicacy.

  Aunt Lian, acting as the head of the kitchen, immediately took charge. "Come on! All you young men, don't be shy! Come on, help me carry those pots! You will need energy for the Divine Wheel tonight!"

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  Mingling, who was impatient, quickly pushed through the crowd. He ran towards Lin, the weaving girl with gentle eyes, who was smiling at him.

  "Lin! Did you see it?! My pill! And tonight I will break through to the Divine Wheel! I will become a hunter! I will bring you the most beautiful flowers from Shadow Cliff!" Mingling exclaimed, his face beaming.

  Lin laughed softly, her laughter as melodious as a bell. "I saw it, Mingling. But the flowers here are enough. You should focus more on your horse stance, so Grandfather Wu doesn't scold you again."

  Near them, Zhuwei walked rigidly, while Yun Xiao, the girl famous for her knot-weaving skills, walked by his side.

  "Yun Xiao, I'm telling you, horse stance posture is everything," Zhuwei debated in a serious tone. "If you want to make a strong knot, you must have a strong foundation, just like I will achieve a perfect Divine Wheel tonight!"

  Yun Xiao snorted, folding her arms. "Oh really, Zhuwei? The best knot has softness in its core, not rigidity. You focus too much on strength. You should learn from the more relaxed Zhi Xuan."

  "Zhi Xuan is just careless! He doesn't care about structure!" Zhuwei retorted, his face reddening with frustration, but he still walked side-by-side with Yun Xiao towards the great hall where the kitchen was located. Bashan just shook his head, grinning, following them from behind.

  The veteran hunters, like Liang, Bao, and Fourteen, walked with their wives.

  "You see, Lu Xi? Look how excited they are," Fourteen said, hugging a relieved Lu Xi. "Tonight, our Village will have a new Golden Foundation. We can hunt further!"

  "I know, Wang Yu," Lu Xi replied, her eyes burning with ambition. "But you must be more excited! You must be the fastest among all of them!"

  Liang and Bao, with their wives beside them, only smiled tiredly, but there was a deep relief in their eyes.

  "I will eat two servings of Fire Roaring Ape meat! Our baby needs nutritious food!" Xin Mu exclaimed to Bao, pinching her husband's cheek.

  As everyone dispersed, only Grandfather Wu, Uncle Chen, and Aunt Lian remained in the square, along with Zhi Xuan who still held the jade bottle. Aunt Lian, without hesitation, stepped towards Zhi Xuan.

  "My son," Aunt Lian whispered. She no longer called him 'Zhi Xuan' but 'my son'.

  The tears she had held back finally spilled, streaming down her gentle cheeks. She hugged Zhi Xuan tightly, embracing him with the strength of a protective mother. Zhi Xuan, though confused by the tears, hugged her back, Aunt Lian's body warmth feeling familiar and comforting.

  "Aunt Lian, what's wrong?" Zhi Xuan asked, his voice filled with genuine concern. "Are you crying because I was punished to run around the Village? I told you I'm fine!"

  Aunt Lian released the hug, holding Zhi Xuan's face in both her hands. Her red eyes stared into Zhi Xuan's sapphire eyes that always brought beauty in the midst of this simple Village.

  "You know, you foolish boy," Aunt Lian sobbed. "I never thought this day would come. I remember... I remember the first day Grandfather Wu brought you to the Village gate. You were just a small bundle in a woven basket, your face pale from the cold river water. We all thought you wouldn't survive. But those sapphire eyes of yours..."

  Aunt Lian touched Zhi Xuan's eyes with her rough thumb from working with roots. "Those eyes looked at the world with quiet curiosity, as if you already knew everything, as if you had already seen your own destiny."

  She chuckled slightly amidst her sobs, a sound filled with sadness and happiness. "Grandfather Wu handed you to me and said you were a mysterious seed that this Village must nurture. You were that small, Zhi Xuan. Your body was no bigger than a basket of berries. How could such a small boy carry a 'catastrophe' as written on that scroll?"

  Uncle Chen stepped closer, looking at his wife, then at Zhi Xuan. Even Grandfather Wu, standing tall on the stage, now bowed his head, allowing Lian to vent her emotions.

  "Time passes so quickly," Aunt Lian continued, her voice now softening, flowing like the river beneath Shadow Cliff. "You grew into a stubborn child. You always disappeared into the forest alone, looking for a quiet place. I remember when Grandfather Wu strictly forbade you to touch even one spiritual leaf. You never argued, Zhi Xuan. You just nodded, then quietly went to the pottery workshop, helping your uncle. You never complained when you were considered different from the other children."

  Zhi Xuan listened, the memories surging back, his childhood memories that felt bittersweet. It was true, he always had to restrain himself, letting his friends go ahead, while he could only watch from a distance, trying to find a way to strengthen himself without breaking the vow.

  "And do you remember, when I was having trouble finding the right small jade stone for my weaving needle?" Aunt Lian smiled warmly, tears still moistening her cheeks. "You disappeared for two days, and came back with hands and knees full of cuts, just to bring three perfect pure water jade pebbles. Not spiritual stones, just ordinary river stones, but you carved them yourself. You said, 'Auntie, this weaving needle must be strong, because Auntie always sews robes for everyone, and those robes must protect them'."

  She hugged Zhi Xuan again, more gently this time. "You have been our protector since you were a child, Zhi Xuan. Every time I look at you, I see a sincere heart, a heart that was never greedy, even when you could have stolen a piece of Ginseng or spiritual essence from the Village's supplies."

  Aunt Lian released the hug, turning towards the now quiet hut, the hut that was Zhi Xuan's first home there. "And now? Now you risked your life at Shadow Cliff, not for the Thousand Year Jade Root or the Fire Core, but for thirteen clusters of Pure Forest Ginseng that you would share with your friends!"

  "Yesterday morning, when we punished you to run around the Village, you didn't complain. You ran, you fell, you got up. You only thought about how to get that Ginseng into Grandfather Wu's hands. You didn't think about yourself, Zhi Xuan!"

  Zhi Xuan couldn't help but drop down and kneel before Aunt Lian, his body trembling slightly, a sign that he was moved by all of Aunt Lian's struggles.

  "Auntie!" Zhi Xuan exclaimed, his voice cracking with sudden emotion. He knelt in the dry mud, tears streaming from his usually calm sapphire eyes, mixing with the dirt from yesterday's run. he held Aunt Lian's hands, hands rough from hard work.

  "I... I'm sorry," Zhi Xuan said, his head bowed. "I'm sorry I could never tell you the truth. I'm sorry I always made you worry."

  He raised his face, tears wetting his cheeks. "I did all that, not because I am good. I just want to be a part of this Village. I want to have a foundation strong enough so I can stand beside Mingling and Tang. I just... I just want to be able to say that I too am a Golden Foundation that protects this place, like Grandfather Wu and Uncle Chen."

  Zhi Xuan kissed the back of Aunt Lian's hand, deep gratitude flowing through him. "Thank you, Auntie. Thank you for believing in me, even when I know my destiny is different. I promise, I will be a tough protector. I will be a Golden Foundation that never lets catastrophe touch this Star Village!"

  Uncle Chen, witnessing the scene, turned his gaze away, his throat choked. Even the usually stern Grandfather Wu now smiled faintly, a smile that contained recognition and a little hope.

  Aunt Lian pulled Zhi Xuan up, hugged him again, and kissed his forehead. "I know, my son. I know. Now, go. Go and eat. Today is a festival day. Eat until your stomach aches. Your pill... your pill will wait until night falls. That Spirit Shaping Pill is the greatest gift and challenge for you."

  Zhi Xuan nodded, wiping his tears with the back of his hand, his eyes now shining with new determination. He gripped the small, cold jade bottle tightly in his hand.

  "I will go, Auntie. I will eat a lot! And I will crack the Divine Wheel tonight!" Zhi Xuan exclaimed, his tone returning to cheerfulness, although his eyes showed a new depth.

  Zhi Xuan bowed deeply to Aunt Lian, Uncle Chen, and Grandfather Wu, a tribute full of respect. He then turned and ran towards the kitchen hall, where the delicious smell of Fire Roaring Ape meat and the sound of his friends' laughter welcomed him.

  Behind him, Grandfather Wu only looked at Uncle Chen. "You see, Chen? The boy has a sincere heart. If the prophecy of catastrophe is true, he will be a protective storm, not a destructive storm. That Spirit Shaping Pill is the key to his destiny."

  Uncle Chen nodded, his gaze now filled with hope, although the bamboo scroll in his robe felt heavy. "I hope so, Grandfather. I hope so."

  The three of them, the Golden Foundation of Star Village, could only wait, as Zhi Xuan, the mysterious seed, now joined his friends in a celebration that would soon end with a test of destiny under the moonlight.

  Zhi Xuan walked quickly towards the great hall, where the young men were busy with large pots of Fire Roaring Ape meat.

  He saw Mingling and Tang already seated at the long table, each with a plate full of tempting meat. Mingling was busy recounting their adventure to a group of village girls, while Tang just ate greedily.

  On the other side, Zhuwei was having a heated debate with Yun Xiao in the corner of the room, about which knot was best suited to tie heavy grain sacks. Bashan just enjoyed his food, listening to them with an amused smile.

  Zhi Xuan felt relieved. Amidst this warmth and chaos, he no longer felt like a child carrying a secret. Tonight, he was just a youth who would break through to the Divine Wheel with his friends. He safely tucked the jade bottle into his robe. The Spirit Shaping Pill would wait for him until the perfect moon arrived.