Protective Measures

"Indeed, only adversity can bring out a person's potential to the fullest, and some people merely lack an opportunity."

As an observer, Yu An witnessed the transformation of the Yu family from beginning to end.

Although Yu Ershan was not in good health, he was meticulous and cautious, serving as the brains of the Yu family.

As for Yu Dashan, he might seem a bit foolish, but the fact that he secretly wanted to join the Insect Hunter Team showed he was someone who valued relationships. Even after being beaten and lectured by his younger brother, he didn't show any resentment or indignation.

In fact, all of this had spurred his ambition.

In Yu An's opinion, such a simple and honest personality would actually lead to a smoother path in cultivation.

What he lacked were sufficient resources.

As long as the resources could keep up, his chances of breaking through to the Qi Refining Realm were quite high.

Then there was Old Man Yu. Without his setting an example, he wouldn't have been able to raise these two brothers like this.

As for the youngest, Yu Xiaoshan, he also showed a hint of spiritual awareness.

Although the Yu family was a humble household, they already possessed the qualities for success.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they had a promising future.

Of course, Yu An didn't think his improved impression of the Yu family was related to the Spirit Stones and Spirit Field soil they were about to provide.

He hadn't even paid much attention when they discussed selling him off earlier.

As a tree, the first thing he learned was 'magnanimity.'

In the evening, after Yu Xiaoshan fell asleep, Old Man Yu and the Yu Dashan brothers, who took turns returning from the Spirit Field, all witnessed the extraordinary nature of their Rare Species.

Under the cool moonlight, its rhythmic breathing, its leaves that seemed to contain spiritual light, and the calming aura it exuded all corroborated Old Man Yu's earlier words.

This was a Rare Species!

Yu Ershan even felt that their Rare Species was clearly unusual.

Heaven truly favored his Yu family.

Afterward, Yu Ershan crushed a Spirit Stone, dug a pit beneath the tree, and after faintly seeing the root system, sprinkled it evenly. He then saw countless tiny roots emerge, and the Spirit Stone fragments, which had been emitting a faint glow, immediately dimmed at a visible rate.

In the time it took to finish a cup of tea, a Spirit Stone fragment had completely turned into useless dregs.

"It really works."

Old Man Yu and Yu Ershan excitedly watched the small tree before them. They had only been trying it out earlier, and couldn't be entirely sure if this Rare Species could directly absorb the spiritual energy from Spirit Stones.

After all, only cultivators who had reached the Qi Refining Realm could directly use Spirit Stones for cultivation.

Ordinary people could only use them as currency.

After absorbing the entire Spirit Stone, Old Man Yu and Yu Ershan could clearly see the changes in the small tree.

Its trunk had visibly thickened by a circle, its bark surface had gained some texture, its color had become deeper, and even its branches and leaves had grown noticeably.

At this very moment, Yu An was immersed in the changes brought about by absorbing the Spirit Stone.

He hadn't expected a single Spirit Stone to have such a significant effect.

Or rather, the soil where he had initially taken root was too barren and had long restricted his growth.

On one hand, it was the instinct of a long-thirsty tree, and on the other, it was the presence of Yu An's soul. The combined effect naturally far surpassed that of an ordinary Rare Species.

Even though he had done his best to use the spiritual energy from the Spirit Stone for root growth, as a whole, root growth was ultimately for better providing nutrients to the trunk and branches, allowing them to grow vigorously.

Therefore, no matter how Yu An tried to control it, he couldn't suppress the growth of the trunk.

Based on his experience cultivating through Fetal Movement over the past few days, he could basically judge that the spiritual energy provided by this one Spirit Stone was equivalent to a month of his own cultivation.

If he were given all fifty Spirit Stones, wouldn't that be equivalent to four years of cultivation?

At this moment, Yu An felt like he had found a shortcut and was uncontrollably excited.

He also felt more confident about surviving the upcoming Black Annihilation Wind Disaster.

"Spirit Stones, I want Spirit Stones!"

Yu An shouted in his heart.

As long as he had enough Spirit Stones, he could grow rapidly and enter the next stage sooner.

Calculating that the second stage of the juvenile period was equivalent to a human's Fetal Movement, then his next stage might be the third stage of the juvenile period, equivalent to the human Qi Refining Realm.

Currently, the most powerful cultivator in the entire Ox Ridge Settlement was only in the early stage of the Qi Refining Realm.

Wouldn't he be able to walk sideways then?

Unfortunately, as a tree, his shouts were not perceived by the Yu father and son. They only saw the small tree gently trembling and its leaves rustling after absorbing the Spirit Stone.

It seemed to be expressing its gratitude to them.

"Should we give it another one?"

Old Man Yu said.

"No, this Rare Species is still too young. Giving it too many Spirit Stones at once might not be a good thing. Let's feed it one per day from now on."

Although Yu Ershan was also tempted, his reason told him that Rare Species had their limits.

It's like watering a plant; too much can drown it.

Hearing his words, Yu An really wanted to lash out with his branches and give him a good thrashing.

Could this Rare Species of his be the same as ordinary Rare Species?

At the same time, Yu An also realized that as a tree, he lacked necessary means of self-defense.

Although the Spiritual Power of Bonding was powerful and could lead to Immortal Destiny, it wasn't a defensive Spiritual Power.

Therefore, he needed a method he could use daily, at any time.

The problem was, how could he, as an elm tree, possess such a method?

A spiritual sense attack?

Since he had a soul, Yu An felt he should be able to cultivate similar techniques. Unfortunately, the Yu family didn't even have proper cultivation methods, let alone such advanced techniques.

Moreover, such techniques were probably only cultivable by cultivators at the Qi Refining Realm or above.

Besides that, what else could there be?

He couldn't possibly swing his branches and leaves to hit someone, could he?

With the branches and leaves of his elm tree, even if he wanted to, he couldn't reach.

After all, he wasn't like a weeping willow, which naturally had countless whip-like tendrils.

Wait, no.

Didn't novels mention that flying flowers and falling leaves could both injure people?

If I could control my leaves, could I achieve a similar effect?

Then, if someone displeased him, or danger approached, whoosh, a leaf would fly out and open a gap on their forehead.

With the leaves he currently had, at least a thousand, they would be more than enough for combat.

Thinking this, Yu An began to try.

Finally, after a long while, he felt one of the leaves containing his consciousness move and detach from the branch.

"Fly!"

Instantly, a leaf detached from the branch tip and fell swaying.

"See, I told you it couldn't absorb too many Spirit Stones at once; it's already starting to drop leaves."

Yu Ershan reached out and caught the falling leaf, stating with certainty.