A Sudden Storm

"Rumble!"

That night, without the slightest warning, a deep clap of thunder exploded, waking countless people from their sleep.

Old Man Yu's family hurried to their feet. The moment they opened the door, a chilly gust of wind swept inside.

"Oh no, the weather's turning."

Old Man Yu blurted out instinctively.

They had thought the Black Annihilation Wind Disaster was still at least half a month away, but it seemed this year's disaster showed signs of arriving early.

"The Blessed Land didn't issue any warning in advance."

Yu Ershan looked up at the gloomy sky, so dark it seemed on the verge of collapsing, his expression turning grave.

"Perhaps even the Blessed Land didn't expect the Black Annihilation Wind Disaster to come early,"

Old Man Yu said.

"Not necessarily."

Yu Ershan shook his head.

"Whether the Blessed Land gave a warning or not, you'll have to set out for the Blessed Land first thing tomorrow morning. We can't delay any longer."

Old Man Yu spoke sternly.

"Okay."

Yu Ershan didn't argue. Going by the usual pattern, the weather would grow increasingly foul before the Black Annihilation Wind Disaster arrived. Violent winds and torrential rain were to be expected.

It was as if even Heaven was warning all living things to prepare in advance.

Until the Black Annihilation Wind Disaster finally arrived.

"Second Brother, our Rare Species will be all right, won't it?"

Yu Xiaoshan poked his head out from behind them and looked anxiously at the little tree swaying in the wind by the wall.

"This bit of wind and rain is nothing to a Rare Species or an ordinary tree. Besides, this is their last chance to absorb nutrients with all their might. Before the Black Annihilation Wind Disaster fully arrives, they'll all go dormant.

"So, over the next few days, give it more Spirit Stones. As long as it can absorb them, keep feeding it."

Yu Ershan spoke as if he were ready to spend every last thing they had.

"I'll feed it."

Yu Xiaoshan said at once.

"Good. You and Dad go feed it Spirit Stones, and keep an eye on how its roots are changing. Big Brother, let's hurry and pack, too. Rain or shine, we'll probably have to leave first thing tomorrow morning."

Yu Ershan nodded.

Hearing his second brother agree, Yu Xiaoshan cheered and immediately ran to Old Man Yu's bedroom. He lifted the thick wooden boards covering the bed and jumped down first.

This was the entrance to the Yu Family cellar, more than ten meters deep.

The entrance was less than half a meter across, just wide enough for someone to squeeze through.

Below, they had dug out a space of more than ten square meters. Daily necessities were arranged in one corner: clean water, rice cakes they had baked, and thick clothes and quilts to keep warm—all essential supplies.

Before the Black Annihilation Wind Disaster arrived, they would seal every door and window, block the entrance, and leave only a ventilation passage.

Under the dim yellow oil lamp, a passage over a meter tall could be seen on the side facing the courtyard. An oil lamp hung inside it as well.

Yu Xiaoshan swiftly rummaged out a few Spirit Stones, then crawled into the passage.

Before long, he reached another cramped space.

Fine roots as thick as fingers covered the walls, while a thick main root curled through the center like a coiling dragon.

Once there, Yu Xiaoshan used a tool he had prepared earlier to crush a Spirit Stone, then sprinkled the pieces evenly around the space.

The tiny roots, already impatient, immediately poked out and wrapped around the fragments, straining to absorb them.

If someone unaware of the truth had seen this scene, it would have made their hair stand on end.

But Yu Xiaoshan was overjoyed.

"Eat up. Eat as much as you can. Only when you're full will you be able to withstand the Black Annihilation Wind Disaster."

Yu Xiaoshan murmured to himself.

By the time Old Man Yu hurried over, Yu Xiaoshan had already started crushing a second Spirit Stone.

Then the two of them watched with relieved smiles as the fragments were completely absorbed.

Then came the third.

After absorbing so many Spirit Stones, the roots around them grew rapidly, thickening and multiplying until they formed a small room almost entirely enclosed by roots.

But the little room was much too cramped. Not even an adult could lie down inside; all they could do was curl up.

In Old Man Yu's eyes, however, this was the best hiding place there was.

At that moment, Yu An was also doing his utmost to absorb the Spirit Stones, making his roots—especially the main root—thicker and tougher. It seemed that only this could give him a greater sense of security.

When the critical moment came, even if he had to give up his trunk, as long as his roots survived, he wouldn't die.

That night, Yu An absorbed a full seven Spirit Stones before he couldn't take in any more. He even felt as if he had indigestion.

Still, he had grown remarkably over the course of that night.

Leaving aside the roots covering most of the courtyard, his trunk had surged upward again, growing nearly half a meter taller and now just edging above the wall. His crown had also grown impressively large.

His trunk had thickened to the width of a fist, and the patterns on its bark had grown finer and denser. Even if Old Man Yu took an axe to him again, he would probably need to swing with seven or eight tenths of his strength just to break through the bark.

There was no doubt that this burst of growth had made Yu An much stronger.

If he had only just entered the Fetal Movement stage before, he had now reached Fetal Movement Minor Accomplishment.

Of course, Yu An's rapid growth didn't mean other Rare Species could grow the same way.

His growth was the result of the right time, the right place, and the right people. It couldn't be replicated.

Because he had a soul, he could make the most of the nutrients he absorbed without wasting any. His efficiency far surpassed that of other Rare Species.

And Yu An could faintly sense that this autumn rain carried a rich vitality. It was a gift from this world to all living things.

At dawn, through a thin veil of mist, Yu An could just make out the trees across Ox Ridge. They had all changed considerably, proving his earlier guess had been right.

As morning broke, Ox Ridge Settlement suddenly came alive. People kept emerging from their homes with large and small bundles on their backs, gathering at the center of the settlement.

Unlike previous years, when everyone had set off for the Blessed Land with their belongings, this year there were many more people left behind to see them off, lending the settlement a somber air.

Perhaps this farewell would be the difference between life and death.

Before Yu Dashan and the others had even set out, someone arrived at his home ahead of them.

"Dashan, Ershan, I'll be counting on you to look after them along the way."

Tiezhu led his wife and two children, both around ten years old, to the Yu Family's home.

"Don't worry, Brother Tiezhu. I'll take good care of your sister-in-law and the children on the way."

Yu Dashan nodded.

They had clearly arranged this in advance. Tiezhu had to stay behind with his elderly mother, so only his wife and children were going to the Blessed Land.

Although everyone from the settlement would be traveling together, there was no guarantee that someone wouldn't get any funny ideas when a woman was traveling with two children.

"Dashan, thanks. I forged this knife over the past few days. Take it with you for protection on the road."

Tiezhu then handed over the thick-backed saber in his hand.

Added to the long spear he had previously given Old Man Yu, the "thanks for the effort" was already more than generous.

"Brother Tiezhu, there's no need. I have a weapon."

Yu Dashan pointed to the heavy axe by the wall.

"Take it. One more means of protection is always good. There's still a long spear at home, so I don't need this."

Tiezhu insisted.

Seeing that Tiezhu wouldn't take no for an answer, Yu Dashan glanced at his second brother. When Yu Ershan nodded, he silently accepted the saber.

Tiezhu and his wife both visibly relaxed.

At last, Yu Dashan and the others turned to Old Man Yu.

"Go on. I'll be here waiting for you to come home."

Old Man Yu smiled faintly, showing no sadness at their parting.

A fledgling must leave its parents' wings and soar alone.

All he could do now was protect the Rare Species at home—and protect this family.