One Hundred Spirit Stones

Yu Ershan was now somewhat regretful.

When his father had been about to act just now, he shouldn't have stopped him—it would have been best to slap Yu Dashan's foul mouth until it was swollen.

However, facing his father's puzzled gaze, he still briefly recounted what had happened.

Though he hadn't spoken directly, how could Old Man Yu fail to understand his second son's intentions?

He knew well the pride of this second son of his; making such a choice must have taken immense resolve, even more difficult than joining the Zhou Family's Insect Hunter Team and risking his life.

"Second son, what are you thinking?" Old Man Yu hesitated, then asked.

"Father, I'm not like Big Brother, judging people by appearances. In my view, Miss Xiaoxiao is wonderful, and our personalities mesh well. Given my situation, it's me who's reaching above my station. My earlier refusal was more out of unwillingness and not wanting to burden the family with gossip.

If our family hadn't discovered this Rare Species, then the letter I wrote might have been the best outcome. But with things as they are now, how could I possibly leave?"

Yu Ershan could only lament the unpredictability of fate.

At this point, even Old Man Yu found himself in a difficult dilemma.

For his son's sake, he could sacrifice himself without hesitation or regret, but he wouldn't demand the same of his son.

Even if he held greater expectations for his eldest son, that didn't mean he didn't cherish his second—both were flesh of his flesh.

In fact, he felt even more indebted to his second son.

He had originally thought that if he could just give his life to see his eldest son break through to the Qi Refining Realm, he would die without regret.

Then the eldest son could help the second son, and they would support each other.

But now, he seemed to see a better path, one more suited to his second son.

How could he bear to let his already-indebted second son stay?

Seeming to sense Old Man Yu's pain, Yu Ershan spoke to comfort him: "Father, let's not talk about the outcome being unknown yet. Even if things really work out, I can't leave this family now.

Without me here, how could that Yu Dashan possibly hold this family together?"

"How could I not hold this family together?"

Yu Dashan grumbled inwardly but didn't dare show it.

He even endured Yu Ershan calling him by his name outright.

Once he broke through to the Qi Refining Realm, he would find a way to mend Second Brother's foundation, then promptly marry him off in style.

After all, he had figured it out—his second brother clearly had feelings for that Miss Xiaoxiao.

Once Yu Second was married off, wouldn't this family be his to rule?

"Then..."

"Father, Father, someone's here for Second Brother."

Just as Old Man Yu was about to speak, Yu Xiaoshan's shout suddenly came from outside, startling the three into silence, dropping the topic.

When the three walked out of the courtyard, they saw Yu Xiaoshan leading a middle-aged man toward them.

"I am Yu Ershan. May I ask..."

Yu Ershan stepped forward and began, but the other man cut him off directly.

"You're Yu Ershan?"

The man looked at Yu Ershan expressionlessly, sizing him up from head to toe, then casually tossed a bundle over.

"This is something Miss Xiaoxiao asked me to give you. I hope you'll know what's best for yourself."

With that, without waiting for Yu Ershan to respond, the man turned and left.

Watching the retreating figure, Yu Ershan's face flickered between pale and red, but in the end, he said nothing.

Though there wasn't a trace of contempt on the man's face, this dismissive attitude spoke volumes.

"Second Brother, who was that?"

Yu Xiaoshan broke the silence first, eyeing the bundle in Yu Ershan's hands with curiosity.

"Just... a friend of a friend. Xiaoshan, go back and guard the Spirit Field. If anyone gets close, do the same as before."

With that, Yu Ershan headed back into the courtyard first.

Old Man Yu and Yu Dashan exchanged a glance, then followed, leaving a bewildered Yu Xiaoshan behind.

Though burning with curiosity, he still returned to the Spirit Field, looking back every few steps.

He knew where his priorities lay.

Back in the courtyard, Yu Ershan opened the bundle. Inside was a rectangular wooden box. Pushing open the lid, the top held a letter, and beneath it were Spirit Stones arranged neatly.

On any normal day, seeing so many Spirit Stones would have made Yu Ershan's hands itch, but now he casually tossed the box of stones to Yu Dashan, then tore open the letter and read it intently.

While his second brother was reading, Yu Dashan secretly counted the Spirit Stones in the box, then couldn't help but gasp.

A full hundred stones!

In all his years, this was the first time he'd seen so many Spirit Stones in his own home at once.

It was also selling himself, but he, a 'master' at Fetal Movement Major Accomplishment with one Blood Change, had to go risk his life just to get this much Settlement Fee.

Yet his own second brother, merely by writing a single letter, had someone send over this many Spirit Stones.

So it turned out that just being good-looking was useful too.

At this moment, Yu Ershan, who had already put away the letter, shot him a chilling glare, startling him into hurriedly closing the box.

He wasn't sure if it was an illusion, but he felt his second brother's gaze carried a murderous intent.

"Yu Dashan, for the next three years, I will be watching you every moment. If you slack off even a little, I'll make you know what pain means."

Hearing his second brother's words, Yu Dashan couldn't help but shiver.

His pride as the eldest brother made him want to tell him that he could suppress him with one hand, but somehow he felt an inexplicable unease.

"Second son, these Spirit Stones?"

Old Man Yu couldn't help but ask.

"Father, these Spirit Stones are borrowed. I'll take half of them when I leave, just enough to buy some Blood Change Spirit Medicine to let Yu Dashan cultivate faster. And once I get to the Blessed Land, I'll make things clear with Miss Xiaoxiao—this is something I owe her."

Yu Ershan took a deep breath.

In truth, in the letter, she had already explained that these hundred Spirit Stones were a personal 'loan' to him out of friendship, hoping his family could survive this calamity. As for his earlier promises in the letter, she had clearly stated she wouldn't take advantage of his plight.

But the more this was the case, the more uneasy Yu Ershan felt.

In the end, he could only vent his anger on Yu Dashan.

This was obvious from how he kept calling him 'Yu Dashan' instead of 'big brother.'

"Take half?"

Old Man Yu was puzzled.

"Yes. Over the next few years, Yu Dashan is important, but don't forget what all this is built on.

I've heard that a Spirit Planter Master can concoct a kind of Spirit Liquid that promotes the rapid growth of Rare Species.

We don't know how to brew Spirit Liquid, but grinding these Spirit Stones into powder and burying them under the tree should have some effect.

Not only that, tonight we'll secretly dig up some soil from the Spirit Field and gradually replace the soil in the courtyard. Spirit Field soil is far more beneficial for Rare Species.

Father, you said this tree of ours cultivates like a person at night. It must have sensed the Black Annihilation Wind Disaster approaching and is gathering strength to survive it.

In that case, we can't hold it back.

Only if this Rare Species survives can we talk about the future. Otherwise, nothing else matters."

Yu Ershan analyzed calmly.

"Right, I almost forgot about that. Tonight, we'll move quietly."

Old Man Yu made the final decision.

Although Yu Dashan felt a pang of regret over these fifty Spirit Stones, he understood that his father and second brother were right.

Besides, he had no say in this matter.

And after this incident, he realized his standing in the family had clearly dropped.

But he believed that once he broke through to the Qi Refining Realm, everything would return to normal.

Wasn't it just training like his life depended on it?

Who was he supposed to be scared of?