Had He Sold Himself?

Yu Ershan glanced at Yu Dashan, who wore a deeply troubled expression, and spoke as if to himself. "Eldest Brother has reached Fetal Movement Major Accomplishment and completed one Blood Change. By all rights, after one or two more, he should be able to reach Perfection of Fetal Movement and qualify to attempt the Qi Refining Realm.

But qualifying is all it means.

Countless ordinary people in this world are trapped at Perfection of Fetal Movement. Is it because they don't want to break through?

No. It's because they lack [Immortal Destiny].

Only with Immortal Destiny can one break through to the Qi Refining Realm.

If Eldest Brother can reach Perfection of Fetal Movement soon, we can trade this Rare Species directly for a measure of Immortal Destiny.

Then Eldest Brother can immediately refine it, and we won't have to worry about anyone snatching it away.

That's the safest way.

And the sooner Eldest Brother breaks through to Perfection of Fetal Movement, the safer our family will be."

"Second Brother, you've never undergone Blood Change, so you don't understand how difficult it is. And do you think breaking through to the Qi Refining Realm is that easy?"

Yu Dashan said with a bitter expression.

Yu Ershan's brows twitched wildly. He fought the urge to give him another couple of punches in the face.

What did he mean, he'd never undergone Blood Change and didn't understand how difficult it was?

Still, Yu Ershan couldn't be bothered to argue over it. He continued, "I think three years is the cutoff. If Eldest Brother can reach Perfection of Fetal Movement within that time, all the better.

If he can't, then we'll have to find another way."

"Why three years?"

Yu Dashan asked, puzzled.

He might have completed one Blood Change already, but each successive Blood Change would be harder than the last.

He firmly believed he would reach Perfection of Fetal Movement, but three years still seemed too short.

Even Old Man Yu turned to look at his clever second son.

He had hoped his eldest son would manage it within five years.

After all, in five years Yu Dashan would only be twenty-seven, still within the prime age range for breaking through to the Qi Refining Realm, which ended at thirty. His vital energy and blood would be nowhere near beginning to decline.

Once someone passed thirty, even with Immortal Destiny to help, their chances of breaking through would begin to fall.

The older they got, the lower their chances.

"Father, three years is the best point to aim for. During that time, we have to protect this Rare Species. But the longer we wait, the greater the chance it'll be exposed.

Right now, this Rare Species is still small and inconspicuous. But what about three years from now? Five years?

Do you think no one will notice it by then?"

"Three years?"

Old Man Yu pondered for a moment, then looked at his eldest son with a grave expression.

"Did you hear what your second brother said?

For your own sake and for the sake of this family, you must devote yourself wholeheartedly to cultivation over the next three years. Complete the remaining Blood Changes as soon as possible and reach Perfection of Fetal Movement."

"Father, I understand."

Yu Dashan answered firmly.

Compared with his second brother, he might be a bit dull, but he wasn't stupid.

How could he not understand, after all that had been said?

He silently vowed to reach Perfection of Fetal Movement through his own efforts as soon as possible, so he wouldn't let down his father, who had sacrificed so much for the family.

In truth, he now understood that even if the family had enough Spirit Stones, his father couldn't go to the Blessed Land. He had to stay behind and protect the family's Rare Species.

And even if his father managed to escape misfortune this year, the years he'd lost from his life were real.

This year, then what about next year?

His father surely wouldn't go to the Blessed Land then, either.

Good fortune might favor someone once or twice, but not forever.

After their father died, if he still hadn't broken through, who would be next?

His second brother!

Of the three brothers, the youngest was still too young, so there seemed to be only one choice.

But with his second brother's health, how long could he last?

For a moment, Yu Dashan wanted to urge his father and second brother to give up. He couldn't let them sacrifice themselves for him. But when he saw their resolute expressions, he understood that nothing he said could change their minds.

Only by breaking through as soon as possible could he turn things around.

Seeing this, Old Man Yu nodded with some satisfaction.

But when he looked at his second son again, he saw him struggling inwardly, and his heart gave a thump.

"Second Brother, are you hiding something from me too?"

Old Man Yu suddenly realized that if even his eldest son had secretly joined the Insect Hunter Team, could his clever, resourceful second son have done something similar?

Even if his earlier warning had stopped him from joining the Insect Hunter Team, that didn't mean he hadn't thought of some other way.

"Father, I..."

Yu Ershan looked as if he wanted to speak, but couldn't bring himself to.

"Second Brother, you didn't do something foolish too, did you?"

Even Yu Dashan caught on.

"Speak!"

Old Man Yu felt both touched and guilty.

It was all his fault for being a useless father, and for not telling them about the Rare Species sooner.

He'd only meant to tell his second son once everything was confirmed.

After all, it was only a few days' difference.

Who could have known that one unexpected event after another would happen?

"Father, Eldest Brother, don't worry. It's not what you think."

Yu Ershan hesitated, then continued, "Eldest Brother, do you remember the people from Yangshan Gathering Place we met in the Blessed Land last year?"

"Yangshan Gathering Place?"

Yu Dashan furrowed his brow as he thought for a moment, then his eyes widened.

"You mean that, that very heavy Miss Xiaoxiao?"

"That's right, Miss Xiaoxiao. I wrote her a letter. If nothing unexpected happens, we should get a reply in the next couple of days."

Yu Ershan said.

"Second Brother, did you sell yourself?"

Yu Dashan looked at Yu Ershan with a strange expression.

Of the three brothers, he and their youngest brother took after their father: broad and burly, with wide faces and thick jaws. Yu Ershan, on the other hand, took after their late mother. He was fair-skinned and delicate, a little too refined for a man.

And because he'd been injured at the root during Fetal Movement, he seemed even more frail.

If the two of them walked around together, no one would ever think they were brothers.

The previous year, they had entered the Blessed Land. One day, while out shopping, they happened to run into that very heavy Miss Xiaoxiao. A small incident brought them into contact, and to his surprise, Miss Xiaoxiao took a liking to his second brother.

She was a very forthright, easygoing sort. After they'd spent some time together, she openly confessed her feelings.

She'd even said that in the future, she could find a way to make up for the damage to Yu Ershan's foundation.

There was just one condition: she wanted Yu Ershan to marry into her family.

Her grandfather was a Qi Refining Realm cultivator. He was only at Early Qi Refining, but that was still far beyond anything the Yu Family could match.

Yu Dashan had been rather tempted, though not for his own sake.

But Yu Ershan had refused without the slightest hesitation, making it clear he would never become a live-in son-in-law.

On their way home, Yu Ershan had also told him to keep it secret and not tell anyone. It had become a secret between the two brothers.

Yu Dashan had thought they'd surely lost touch, but he couldn't believe his second brother had written to her again—and at a time like this.

Wouldn't that mean...