"Yes. Essence. As long as you have Essence, you'll reach Perfection of Fetal Movement in a year or two at most. It'll be a little risky, but compared to what you stand to gain, it's worth it."
Just then, Yu Ershan's coaxing voice rang out.
"Second Brother, you think we can go hunt the Insect Race too?"
Yu Dashan immediately grew excited.
It was rare for him and Second Brother to see eye to eye.
But as soon as he finished speaking, he noticed Yu Ershan's expression had turned strange, dark as if it could drip water. His heart gave a sudden lurch.
Oh no!
"Yu Dashan, this is the first and last time I'm warning you. If you get that idea into your head again, then go back to the settlement by yourself. Don't forget who Father stayed behind for.
"Your only task now is to stay right here and devote all your strength to cultivation.
"As for anything else, don't worry about it. I'll find a way."
Yu Ershan said coldly.
"But..."
Yu Dashan seemed to want to say more, but when he saw the unfriendly look in Second Brother's eyes, he wisely shut his mouth.
For some reason, he was growing more and more afraid of Second Brother.
Even though he could beat him in a fight.
"Xiaoshan, from now on, keep an eye on Big Brother. Without my permission, don't let him take a single step out of here."
Yu Ershan ignored him and turned to Yu Xiaoshan.
"Second Brother, don't worry. I'll keep a close watch on Big Brother."
Yu Xiaoshan puffed out his chest and even shot Yu Dashan a provocative look.
That made Yu Dashan see red.
It was bad enough that Second Brother had climbed all over him. Now even Third Brother wanted to keep him under his thumb. Did they really think his fists were soft?
"Then it's settled. Xiaoshan, you and Big Brother sleep upstairs. Make him temper his qi and blood a few more times before he goes to bed. I'll sleep down here."
Yu Ershan continued giving instructions.
Although the room downstairs was being used as a living room, with little more than a table, a few stools, and a stove, having a place to stay was already good enough.
They could arrange the stools, lay down their bedding, and sleep.
And by sleeping downstairs, he could keep watch at night.
After all, their home had been robbed more than once in the past.
Compared to the other households in the area, his family was quite well-off this year. If their more than fifty Spirit Stones were exposed, someone would definitely target them.
Those Spirit Stones were vital to Yu Dashan's cultivation. They couldn't be too careful.
"Second Brother, you and Xiaoshan should sleep upstairs. I can temper my qi and blood during the second half of the night and keep watch at the same time."
Yu Dashan said earnestly.
He might not be good with words, and he might not be as clever as Yu Ershan, but that didn't mean he was heartless.
He knew very well that Father had stayed behind and Second Brother had made sacrifices, all for his sake.
It was only because he was closer to Perfection of Fetal Movement and had a chance of reaching that level sooner.
Only then would he live up to the opportunity Heaven had bestowed upon their family.
If they missed this chance, his family might never again have any hope of rising to prominence.
So even if it cost him his life, he couldn't let Father or his two younger brothers down.
"No. Tempering your qi and blood is dangerous too. If you get hurt, we'll have wasted all our effort this year."
Yu Ershan rejected the idea without hesitation.
When choosing their lodgings, he had deliberately picked one next to Zhao Kun's family. That way, if anything happened in the middle of the night, they could come to their aid in time.
"All right, then. But if someone comes to the door, don't try to be a hero. Wait for me to come down."
Yu Dashan warned him, still worried.
After all, Yu Ershan was only at Fetal Movement Minor Accomplishment, and his foundation had been damaged before. He was already at a disadvantage in a fight.
Anyone who came to rob them would at least be at Fetal Movement Major Accomplishment. Yu Ershan wouldn't be able to handle them.
"Don't worry."
Yu Ershan nodded. Once the two had gone upstairs, he barred the door, lined up the stools, and put his bedding on top. Then he lay down fully clothed.
He placed the greatsword within easy reach.
Inside the Blessed Land, the whole North District was in an uproar. It wasn't until very late that things gradually quieted down.
Elsewhere, on Moon Gazing Peak.
Though there was no moon in the sky, the mountain was bathed in a gentle glow. Anyone looking closely would have seen that the light came from countless palm-sized, crescent-shaped leaves.
The crescent leaves unfurled softly, their graceful forms giving the place an air of peace and serenity.
There was no sign that the Black Annihilation Wind Disaster was approaching. The place seemed more like a hidden paradise.
At the center stood a massive black hall, as if it had become one with the entire Moon Gazing Peak.
At the entrance stood a dignified man in a purple robe and feathered crown. He was Song Zhixing, the current head of the New Moon Song Family.
He was also the most talented member of his generation of the Song Family.
Though he should have wielded immense authority, he now appeared cautious, not daring to overstep in the slightest.
This was not only out of respect for the Old Ancestor inside the hall, but also because of the gently swaying leaves of the Moon Gazing Vine around him.
On a level unseen by the eye, layer upon layer of illusions surged toward him. If his cultivation hadn't already reached Perfection of the Qi Refining Realm, he would have long since sunk into them, unable to escape.
And these were only illusions the Moon Gazing Vine unconsciously emanated. If it attacked on purpose, let alone him, even a Foundation Establishment Realm expert would struggle to resist.
With a Heaven and Earth Spiritual Root like this, the Song Family should have been as steady as a mountain.
But...
As if remembering something, Song Zhixing's mind wavered. The illusions he had been barely holding back surged, and in an instant, his mind was on the verge of collapsing.
If he lost control, he would sink into those illusions and slowly become nourishment for the Moon Gazing Vine.
Just then, the hall's doors silently swung open, and an aged voice entered Song Zhixing's mind.
"Come in."
The voice wasn't loud, but it rang like a temple bell at dawn, instantly dispersing the illusions that had invaded Song Zhixing's mind.
"Yes, Old Ancestor."
When Song Zhixing came to, his face was pale with lingering fear. He then stepped into the hall with the utmost respect.
Behind him, the leaves of the Moon Gazing Vine swayed restlessly, seeming displeased.
Song Zhixing couldn't help but quicken his pace.
To outsiders, Moon Gazing Peak was practically a holy land.
But only those who knew the truth understood how dangerous it really was.
The Song Family had sealed off Moon Gazing Peak as a forbidden area partly to keep outsiders from disturbing them, but also because they had no other choice.
After all, this was the most suitable place for cultivation in the entire Blessed Land. If the Song Family's juniors could cultivate here from childhood, they would make much faster progress.
But without cultivation at Perfection of Qi Refining, or the Old Ancestor's suppression, they couldn't even make it to the mountaintop.
There had been Song Family juniors who thought the adults were exaggerating and secretly came here. Most of them ended up as dried corpses, nothing but skin and bones.
So, in the eyes of most members of the Song Family, this place was even more terrifying than a demon's lair.
If he didn't have something important to discuss, even Song Zhixing wouldn't want to come here.
The moment Song Zhixing stepped into the hall, the doors behind him closed. Unlike outside, the hall was pitch-black. Even though Song Zhixing had long since reached a level where darkness should have been no obstacle, he still couldn't see a thing inside.
So he stopped where he was.
"Zhixing pays his respects to the Old Ancestor."
Before you continue