When silver snakes lashed across the sky and the Black Annihilation Wind Disaster descended in full, everyone throughout the Blessed Land instinctively looked up. Even though they were inside the Blessed Land, they could still clearly feel the shudder that rose from the depths of their instincts.
Only when light rose from Moon Gazing Peak, spreading like a great umbrella that sheltered the entire Blessed Land, did their heart-stopping anxiety finally fade.
The light lasted only a few breaths before vanishing completely. Looking toward Moon Gazing Peak again, they saw it already shrouded in clouds and mist once more, as if everything that had just happened had been nothing but an illusion.
The light that had just risen contained the power of a domain, so ordinary people could not see what had happened at all.
Only the Qi Refining Realm cultivators could just barely make out a thick vine wrapped in light, shooting up into the sky.
That thick vine was naturally the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Root of New Moon Blessed Land: the Moon Gazing Vine.
It was only when the Black Annihilation Wind Disaster descended that it briefly revealed its true form.
Even so, the sight left many Qi Refining Realm cultivators shaken to the core.
They wished they could claim it for themselves.
Once the Moon Gazing Vine spread its domain, the Black Annihilation Wind Disaster's ability to rob living beings of their lifespans could no longer threaten those living in the Blessed Land. That was the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Root's innate advantage.
Although Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators also possessed domains and could resist the Black Annihilation Wind Disaster, they could not compare with a Heaven and Earth Spiritual Root in either scale or endurance.
Besides, Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators could hardly be expected to play nursemaid.
What was more, the Blessed Land's uses went far beyond that; it offered many other wonders even in ordinary times.
North District, Area D.
Yu Ershan withdrew his gaze and looked at Yu Dashan and Yu Xiaoshan, whose faces were full of worry.
"Come on, let's head back first."
After speaking, Yu Ershan nodded to Zhao Kun's family, who stood not far away, then returned to the house.
"Second Brother, how's Father doing now?"
Yu Xiaoshan couldn't help asking.
Since they had to endure it every year, the Black Annihilation Wind Disaster was nothing new to twelve-year-old Yu Xiaoshan. In fact, he used to be curious about it, imagining that one day he might enter the disaster and hunt the Insect Race.
But now, his heart felt heavy as a stone.
"Don't worry. We dug the cellar a long time ago, and the walls are high enough. As long as Father stays down there, he'll be fine. Besides, Uncle Zhao gave him a bottle of Corpse Stench Devil Plant juice earlier."
Yu Ershan spoke calmly.
"Right, there's the cellar."
Yu Dashan's voice was low. Although he said "the cellar," Yu Ershan and Yu Xiaoshan both understood what he really meant.
Their father's lifespan being taken from him was a foregone conclusion; there was no point dwelling on it. Yu Dashan was also fired up inside. Once he reached the Qi Refining Realm, he would find Spirit Medicine to extend their father's life.
What truly worried him was the Insect Race.
After all, the Black Annihilation Wind Disaster would only take a dozen or so years from their father's life, but the Insect Race could take his life altogether.
And now, here in the Blessed Land, he couldn't help at all. All he could do was trust Yu Ershan's judgment.
That the space they had dug out beneath the Rare Species sapling really could hide them from the Insect Race's senses.
"Yu Dashan, we've already made our decision. It's too late to regret it now. Instead of worrying here, you'd be better off focusing on your cultivation. I'll take care of everything else."
Yu Ershan said.
He hadn't expected the Black Annihilation Wind Disaster to come so soon. On top of that, they had only just arrived in the Blessed Land and hadn't gotten familiar with things here. Even with Spirit Stones in hand, he still couldn't exchange them for cultivation resources.
But now that the Black Annihilation Wind Disaster had arrived, the Insect Race would appear within ten days at most.
So this lull was the Insect Hunter Teams' last chance to prepare.
It would also be when the most people went out to buy Spirit Medicine and all kinds of supplies.
That made it a perfect time for him to fish in troubled waters.
Too bad he hadn't managed to see Miss Xiaoxiao when he went to Area B earlier. Otherwise, he could have swallowed his pride and asked her to help buy Blood Replenishing Pills and Tendon Strengthening Bone Strengthening Grass.
With her background, buying resources worth just fifty Spirit Stones wouldn't draw any unwanted attention.
Only ordinary people like him, with neither connections nor strength, had to fear showing off their wealth and inviting trouble.
"I'll go temper my blood and qi right now."
Yu Dashan replied with determination.
For the first few days after the Black Annihilation Wind Disaster began, it was impossible to sense the faint rhythm between heaven and earth and cultivate. At this stage, all kinds of forces in the world were in turmoil. Forcing oneself to sense and cultivate would damage the mind; in serious cases, it could turn someone into an idiot.
But even if he couldn't cultivate through sensing, he could still temper his muscles and bones and refine his blood and qi, preparing in advance for his next Blood Change.
Inside the Blessed Land, the temperature kept dropping.
Outside, though it was still daytime, it was no different from night. Only the silver snakes that flashed now and then occasionally lit up the earth, before it sank into darkness once more.
That darkness was enough to swallow everything.
At that moment, it wasn't just New Moon Blessed Land. For thousands of miles, tens of thousands of miles, throughout the entire East Domain, throughout the entire world, everything was the same.
The Blessed Lands that had opened their domains were like lamps, like kindling passed down through generations, desperately holding back the darkness that would swallow everything.
Before this cataclysm of heaven and earth, humanity seemed so fragile it could be crushed in an instant.
Perhaps only the True Lords who raised Blessed Lands high and opened up and evolved them into grotto-heavens could transcend it all.
And that was the ultimate pursuit of countless Lords of the Blessed Land.
Ox Ridge Settlement.
Old Man Yu had already crawled into the cellar and reached the small space beneath the Rare Species.
Before the Insect Race arrived, it made no difference whether he was in the house, in the cellar, or here in this little space. Even so, he couldn't help coming here.
At least the sapling was here to keep him company and help ease the fear in his heart.
"Little Tree, it looks like it really is just the two of us relying on each other now. While the Insect Race hasn't appeared yet, you have to hurry and draw in your life force. Better yet, go into hibernation and enter the Returning to Hidden state."
Old Man Yu began rambling again.
In truth, even without Old Man Yu telling him, Yu An was already doing his best to convert his life force. It was just far less efficient than converting it while simultaneously sensing and cultivating.
Only his powerful soul gave him the confidence to finish before the Insect Race appeared.
Otherwise, if he were any other Rare Species, he would have no choice but to wait for death.
Of course, other Rare Species had already entered the Returning to Hidden state. There was no way they would let themselves end up in his predicament.
As time passed, Yu An could clearly sense that his trunk was growing tougher. He even used some of his life force to expand the small space formed by his roots.
It was his dining hall; a little cramped was fine under normal circumstances.
But he had to be ready for Old Man Yu to hide inside once the Insect Race came. After all, the old man was the one keeping him fed and clothed right now, and he was counting on him to earn more Spirit Stones to nourish him.
But what if Yu Dashan reached Perfection of Fetal Movement three years from now?
By then, Yu An might already have grown to the equivalent of the third stage of the Qi Refining Realm. There would be plenty of things his Household wouldn't get to decide for themselves.
Wasn't it just Immortal Destiny?
He could produce Immortal Destiny himself.
In the future, he would also open up a Blessed Land of his own and need some trusted people to help manage it.
The Yu Family were ready-made candidates.
The key was that he knew them inside and out. Any Immortal Destiny he produced would be raised by his own hand, so there was no need to worry about betrayal.
Just as Yu An was converting his life force, he suddenly sensed something was wrong, and his attention was immediately drawn to it.
Before you continue