Paying Respects to the Old Ancestor

"Yes, Essence. With Essence, in at most a year or two, you'll reach Perfection of Fetal Movement. It'll take some risk, but compared to the gains, it's worth it."

Just then, Yu Ershan's voice rang out, laced with temptation.

"Second Brother, you think we should go hunt the Insect Race too?"

Yu Dashan immediately grew excited.

It was rare for him and his second brother to be on the same page.

But no sooner had he spoken than he noticed Yu Ershan's expression turn wrong—dark and grim, as if it could drip water. His heart gave a lurch.

Trouble.

"Yu Dashan, this is the first and last time I'll warn you. If you ever have that thought again, you can roll yourself back to the settlement. Don't forget who Father stayed behind for."

"Your only task now is to stay put right here and cultivate with everything you've got."

"As for the rest, don't worry about it. I'll handle it."

Yu Ershan said coldly.

"But..."

Yu Dashan seemed to want to argue, but seeing his second brother's unfriendly gaze, he wisely shut his mouth.

For some reason, he was growing more and more afraid of his second brother lately.

Even though he could still beat him in a fight.

"Xiaoshan, from now on, you're in charge of watching Big Brother. Without my permission, don't let him leave this place even one step."

Yu Ershan didn't bother with him anymore and turned to Yu Xiaoshan instead.

"Second Brother, don't worry. I'll definitely keep a good eye on Big Brother."

Yu Xiaoshan puffed out his chest and even shot a defiant glance at Yu Dashan.

That made Yu Dashan's blood boil.

Having his second brother climb over his head was bad enough, but now the third wanted to push him around too—did they think his fists weren't hard enough?

"Then it's settled. Xiaoshan, you and Big Brother take the upstairs. Make sure he tempers his blood and qi a few more times before sleeping. I'll stay down here."

Yu Ershan continued giving orders.

Though the room downstairs was used as a living area—barely any furniture besides a table, a few stools, and a stove—having a place to shelter was already good enough.

He could line up the stools, spread out bedding, and sleep.

Sleeping downstairs also let him keep watch at night.

After all, theft in their home hadn't been rare in past years.

Compared to the other families in this area, his household was well-off this year. If those fifty-plus Spirit Stones were ever exposed, someone would definitely come after them.

Those stones were tied to Yu Dashan's cultivation, and no amount of caution was too much.

"Second Brother, why don't you and Xiaoshan sleep upstairs? I'll temper my blood and qi in the second half of the night and keep watch anyway."

Yu Dashan said seriously.

He wasn't good with words, nor as clever as Yu Ershan, but that didn't mean his heart was made of iron.

He knew full well that their father staying behind and his second brother's sacrifices were all for him.

Only because he was closer to Perfection of Fetal Movement, with hope of reaching that step soon.

Only then would he not waste the fortune Heaven had granted their family.

If he missed this chance, their family would likely never rise again.

So even if it cost him his life, he couldn't let his father and two younger brothers down.

"No. Tempering blood and qi has its dangers too. If you get hurt, this whole year's work will be for nothing."

Yu Ershan refused without hesitation.

When he'd chosen their dwelling earlier, he'd deliberately picked a spot right next to Zhao Kun's family. That way, if anything stirred in the night, they could come to help in time.

"Fine. But if someone really shows up, don't try to be a hero. Wait for me to come down."

Yu Dashan warned, still uneasy.

After all, Yu Ershan was only at Fetal Movement Minor Accomplishment, and his foundation had been damaged. In a fight, he was inherently at a disadvantage.

Anyone bold enough to come thieving would at least be at Fetal Movement Major Accomplishment—definitely not someone Yu Ershan could handle.

"Don't worry."

Yu Ershan nodded. Once the two went upstairs, he barred the door, lined up the stools, laid out his bedding, and lay down fully clothed.

The big blade was placed within arm's reach.

In the Blessed Land, the entire North District was in chaos, only slowly settling down very late into the night.

On the other side, atop Moon Gazing Peak.

Though there was no moon in the sky, the place was bathed in a soft glow. If anyone observed closely, they would notice that all this light came from palm-sized, crescent-shaped leaves.

These crescent-shaped leaves stretched gently, their posture graceful, evoking a sense of tranquility and peace.

Here, there was not the slightest sign of the Black Annihilation Wind Disaster approaching; it was more like a paradise removed from the world.

At the center stood a heavy black hall, as if it had merged completely with Moon Gazing Peak.

At the entrance of the hall, a dignified man in a purple robe and feathered crown was waiting respectfully. He was Song Zhixing, the current head of the New Moon Song Family.

He was also the most gifted person of this generation in the Song Family.

A man who should have wielded immense power was now acting cautiously, not daring to overstep in the slightest.

Apart from his reverence for the Old Ancestor inside the hall, it was also because of the gently swaying Moon Gazing Vine leaves around him.

On a spiritual level unseen by others, layers of illusions continuously surged toward him. If not for his cultivation having reached the peak of the Qi Refining Realm, he would have long been immersed in them, unable to extricate himself.

And this was merely the illusions emitted unconsciously by the Moon Gazing Vine. If it were to attack actively, not even a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator could withstand it, let alone him.

Originally, with such a Heaven and Earth Spiritual Root in their possession, the Song Family's position should have been as stable as a mountain.

But...

As if recalling something, Song Zhixing's mind wavered. The illusions he had barely been resisting suddenly swelled, and in an instant, his mind was on the verge of complete collapse.

And the consequence of losing control would be sinking into those illusions, slowly becoming nourishment for the Moon Gazing Vine.

It was at this moment that the hall's door opened silently, and an aged voice transmitted into Song Zhixing's mind.

"Come in."

The voice was not loud, but it was like a morning drum and evening bell, instantly dispersing the illusions that had invaded Song Zhixing's mind.

"Yes, Old Ancestor."

After waking, Song Zhixing's face showed lingering fear. Then, with utmost respect, he walked into the hall.

Behind him, the leaves of the Moon Gazing Vine shook incessantly, as if somewhat displeased.

This made Song Zhixing quicken his pace.

In the eyes of outsiders, Moon Gazing Peak was practically a sacred ground.

But only those who understood the inside story knew just how dangerous this place truly was.

The Song Family had designated Moon Gazing Peak as a forbidden area, partly because they didn't want outsiders to disturb it, but it was also a necessity.

After all, this was the most suitable place for cultivation in the entire Blessed Land. If the younger generation of the Song Family could cultivate here from childhood, their speed would undoubtedly be much faster.

But without a cultivation level at the peak of Qi Refining, or the suppression of the Old Ancestor, one couldn't even reach the mountaintop.

In the past, there had been younger members of the Song Family who thought the elders were exaggerating and sneaked over here, but most of them ended up as skin-and-bone mummies.

Therefore, in the eyes of most of the Song Family, this place was even more terrifying than a demon lair.

If not for important matters, even Song Zhixing was reluctant to come here.

The moment Song Zhixing stepped into the hall, the door behind him closed silently. And unlike the outside, the interior of the hall was pitch black. Even with Song Zhixing's realm, which should have allowed him to see through darkness as if it were nothing, he could still see nothing within this hall.

Thus, he stood still on the spot.

"Zhixing pays respects to the Old Ancestor."