About thirty li from Ox Ridge Settlement, a winding river stretched across the land.
The river was called White Wave River. As far as the eye could see, it was generally over fifty meters wide. Its source was Raging River, also known as the River to Heaven, which connected countless Blessed Lands, large and small.
Because of last night's storm, the water in White Wave River had grown somewhat murky.
"Stay alert, everyone. Don't let your guard down, and especially don't go near the riverbank."
In the middle of the long line, Zhao Kun quietly warned Yu Dashan and the others.
To reach New Moon Blessed Land, they had to cross this river.
White Wave River might look calm on the surface, but in reality, it held plenty of dangers.
Heaven and Earth Spiritual Roots did not exist only on land.
They could also be found at the bottom of Raging River, where they formed underwater Blessed Lands for the Demonic Beasts that lived in the water.
Just as humans left the Blessed Lands and built settlements around them to live and multiply, the aquatic Demonic Beasts did the same.
As a river connected to Raging River, White Wave River had also become a haunt for those Water Demons and spirits.
On ordinary days, when the water was clearer, there was less to worry about; they could spot danger in time. But now, no one knew what kind of Water Demons lurked beneath the murky surface.
If they ventured too close to the river and a Water Demon dragged them under, climbing back out would be no easy feat.
Could they count on the Qi Refining Realm cultivator in their group—a stranger with no ties to them—to risk his life and save them?
Anyone could see that was impossible.
So now, not just Zhao Kun, but every experienced elder reminded the young people beside them.
Even though they repeated the same words twice every year.
They had to follow White Wave River upstream. A dozen or so li from here, the river narrowed, and that was where they could cross.
"Don't worry, Uncle Zhao."
Yu Dashan tightened his grip on the axe.
The blade Tiezhu had given him was now in Yu Ershan's hands, while Yu Ershan's old short knife had been passed to Yu Xiaoshan.
"Dashan, if we run into some fool who doesn't know what's good for him, don't you dare try to beat me to it."
Behind Zhao Kun, a young man in his twenties wore an eager look. He was Zhao Kun's eldest son, Zhao Jiadong, and had reached Fetal Movement Major Accomplishment.
He was a year older than Yu Dashan, but his strength was inferior.
After all, Yu Dashan had already completed one Blood Change.
On top of that, Zhao Jiadong was more hotheaded. He often got into fights back at the settlement, giving Zhao Kun no end of worry.
When chatting with Old Man Yu, he often lamented that he wished his own boy were as steady as the Yu Family's eldest and as clever as their second son.
"Shut up. If you dare act rashly without my orders, I'll break your legs when we get back."
Zhao Kun glared at his son in exasperation.
Then he looked at Yu Dashan and Yu Ershan beside him, and his earlier lament only grew stronger.
Even Yu Xiaoshan had become more levelheaded this year.
Why was his own son the only one who couldn't give him a moment's peace?
The one thing that comforted him—and that he felt put him ahead of Old Man Yu—was having a sensible, obedient daughter.
He glanced again at his daughter, who was walking with his wife's support. She was already sixteen and had grown into a graceful young woman. The anger his son had just stirred up faded away.
"Cuilian, give your things to your brother to carry. Take a break."
"No need, Dad. I can still carry them."
Zhao Cuilian raised a hand to wipe the fine sweat from her forehead. Her gaze drifted unconsciously toward Yu Dashan. When she saw that he wasn't looking her way, disappointment spread through her heart.
"All right, I'll carry them. You go rest. If you exhaust yourself with a body like yours, Dad will skin me alive."
Zhao Jiadong grumbled as he came over to his sister and took the pack from her back without giving her a choice.
Compared to him, who had reached Fetal Movement Major Accomplishment, his sister still hadn't even entered Fetal Movement.
If she hadn't stubbornly insisted on carrying it earlier, he would have taken it from her long ago.
Now he'd just earned himself another scolding.
Hearing her brother's words, Zhao Cuilian's disappointment deepened.
That was right.
She was already sixteen, yet she hadn't even begun Fetal Movement. How could she ever be worthy of Brother Dashan?
It was only natural that he didn't like her.
As they talked, the group continued onward. Neither Zhao Kun nor Zhao Jiadong noticed anything unusual about Zhao Cuilian.
Only Yu Ershan glanced her way a couple more times, understanding what was going on.
The group followed White Wave River upstream for another dozen or so li before finally reaching the crossing.
The terrain here was much higher than before, like a hill split down the middle. Because of the terrain, the river ran noticeably faster.
The two banks were about thirty meters apart. More than a dozen thick iron chains stretched across from north to south in a row.
The chains hung over twenty meters above the river, making it difficult even for the Water Demons below to reach them.
That was precisely why they had built the bridge here.
At that moment, thick wooden planks covered the iron chains. Two tall figures suddenly sprang out from the line ahead, took a few quick steps onto the bridge, and raced toward the opposite bank.
Both were at least at Fetal Movement Major Accomplishment, and they moved so fast that they reached the other side in the blink of an eye.
After making sure everything was normal and there was no danger, they signaled the others.
Then, with a crowd escorting it, a broad carriage was the first to roll onto Chain Bridge.
When the people in the long line saw the carriage, they all looked upon it with reverence.
That was because the Qi Refining Realm cultivator stationed at Ox Ridge Settlement by New Moon Blessed Land was inside.
Among cultivators, the Qi Refining Realm was undoubtedly near the bottom. But it still carried the word "immortal"—the immortal that marked the divide between immortals and mortals.
The difference of a single word was like an uncrossable chasm.
In the eyes of cultivators, ordinary people's lives were barely more valuable than grass.
Part of this was due to the Black Annihilation Wind Disaster, which forced ordinary people to rely on the Blessed Lands and cultivators.
It was also because the gap in strength was simply too great.
Even at Perfection of Fetal Movement, with a strength of two thousand jin, one could shatter hard stone with a punch and kick down a tree as thick as a bowl. Yet in the eyes of a true cultivator, that still meant nothing.
In a proper fight, there had never been a case of someone at Perfection of Fetal Movement defeating a Qi Refining Realm cultivator.
After the carriage crossed Chain Bridge, it did not continue on its way. Instead, it stopped on a platform on the other side. As the cultivator stationed at Ox Ridge Settlement, he had a duty to protect these ordinary people.
Because as long as these ordinary people lived, they would continue creating wealth for the Blessed Lands.
Even when some were deliberately abandoned, it was only for greater "benefits."
Only then did the rest of the group begin lining up to step onto Chain Bridge.
Though the more than a dozen thick iron chains were incredibly sturdy and covered with thick wooden planks, with several iron chains serving as handrails on either side, a glance over the edge still revealed the swift river below.
For those afraid of heights, it felt as though the bridge kept swaying beneath their feet, making them dizzy.
People had fallen before, and without exception, every one of them had become food for the Water Demons.
Fortunately, they had family members beside them to help, and they made it across, trembling with fear.
Soon, it was Yu Dashan's group's turn to step onto Chain Bridge.
Before you continue