Crisis! Danger!

With a snap, the porcelain bottle fell to the ground, immediately enshrouded by countless fine root tendrils.

To cope with the impending crisis, Yu An had to partially revive his vitality. Because he had previously suppressed his vitality, his tree body was currently in a state of semi-dormancy and semi-wither.

In this state, his root system was unable to absorb and convert nutrients to supply his tree body. Only in this way could he evade the insectoids' detection.

But now, the situation within the Settlement was clearly spiraling out of control. Especially that rampaging beast—no one knew when it would come charging over here.

Therefore, Yu An had no choice but to deploy his trump card, the Corpse Stench Devil Plant's leaves and branches, ahead of schedule.

Even if it meant taking a slight risk.

In reality, he had another option: not to revive, and let Old Man Yu crawl out of the cellar, move the stone, and sprinkle the sap onto his tree body.

However, doing so would greatly increase the chance that Old Man Yu wouldn't return.

Furthermore, having Old Man Yu smear the sap onto him would be far less effective than him absorbing the Corpse Stench Devil Plant's sap himself.

So, sacrifice Old Man Yu to achieve his own goals?

Setting aside the fact that Yu An intended for the Yu family to become his future protectors, his very nature was not one of cold-blooded, extreme selfishness.

To put it more sentimentally, Old Man Yu being alive would bring him even greater help.

Moreover, he recalled the companionship he had received during this time, and the constant feeding of Spirit Stones.

Even though the old man's original intention was to exchange him for Immortal Destiny in the future.

But to disregard the facts and only consider the outcome was essentially acting like a scoundrel.

If it were him, encountering a Rare Species, he would definitely think about selling it for cultivation resources. That was human nature.

After all, who could have imagined that a human soul would reside within this small Rare Species sapling?

To resent Old Man Yu solely for this?

Even if Yu An transformed into a tree, he wouldn't be so petty.

Besides, the stories Old Man Yu told had made him identify with this world, creating more bonds. Coupled with the Spirit Stones the old man fed him, regardless of the initial intent, this was the reality.

This was karma, something that needed to be repaid.

This was also Yu An's cultivation insight as a Rare Species elm tree.

The cycle of heaven, retribution is inescapable.

As a Rare Species with the Town Protection Spiritual Power, harming Old Man Yu would ultimately harm himself.

Rather than letting Old Man Yu venture out and attract the insectoids, it was better for him to absorb the Corpse Stench Devil Plant's sap himself.

Absorbing various nutrients and converting them was the instinct of plant-based life. Therefore, as those fine root tendrils burrowed into the porcelain bottle, in just a few seconds, they had completely absorbed all the Corpse Stench Devil Plant's sap.

Logically speaking, Yu An had no sense of taste. He could see and hear, but more than that, he had spiritual perception. His tree body and branches served as his eyes and ears.

In the past, whether he absorbed soil from the Spirit Field or Spirit Stones, he had no concept of smell or taste.

Yet, after absorbing this small bottle of Corpse Stench Devil Plant sap, he surprisingly 'tasted' an indescribable flavor.

This flavor wasn't foul. After all, fragrance and stench were, at times, one and the same.

Take jasmine fragrance and the smell of feces, for example. Both originate from the same substance, indole.

At low concentrations, indole presents as a jasmine or fruity scent; at high concentrations, it emits a putrid odor.

Or ambergris, which initially smells fishy and foul, but after drying, becomes a refreshing, top-tier spice.

And the Corpse Stench Devil Plant's sap—despite the name "corpse stench"—did not actually smell putrid. This could be seen from Old Man Yu instinctively taking a deep breath, a hint of intoxication on his face.

But to Yu An, this was a flavor that made him deeply uncomfortable, a feeling of rejection from the inside out.

The more this was the case, the more Yu An understood that this Corpse Stench Devil Plant sap was a good thing. Its taste wasn't directed at the simple olfactory senses of humans, but at the unique 'scent' perception of similar plants and insectoids.

Therefore, the more he rejected it, the more it indicated its effectiveness against the insectoids.

Immediately, Yu An forced himself to endure the internal discomfort and transported the sap along his roots, through the vascular tissues—the phloem and xylem of the tree—to his entire body.

Although, relative to his current tree body, that small bottle of Corpse Stench Devil Plant sap was but a drop in the bucket, what he truly needed was that particular scent and aura.

After completing this, Yu An did his best to gather this vitality into the root system within his root space.

At that very moment, the Wolf Bear, which had escaped from Tiezhu's house and wreaked havoc in the Settlement, was also rapidly rushing towards Old Man Yu's house.

In the air behind it, the locust-like insectoid could be faintly seen.

And further away, about dozens of miles away, a small insectoid squad was rapidly approaching.

This insectoid squad consisted of about twenty to thirty individuals. The one leading them was significantly larger, its antennae on its head constantly twitching, as if receiving some signal.

"Second brother."

In the Blessed Land.

Yu Dashan's face was pale as he frantically ran down from the second floor.

"What's wrong?"

Yu Ershan stood up abruptly upon seeing his demeanor. Even Yu Xiaoshan, who was exercising with a stone in his hand, looked over in confusion.

"I, I was just sensing my cultivation when I suddenly felt a sense of unease. I couldn't calm down at all. Do you think... something might have happened to Dad?"

Yu Dashan said, his face full of worry.

Although this world didn't have the idiom "hunch," similar sayings existed.

Especially when practicing perception cultivation, one could often sense things closely related to themselves about to happen.

Coupled with the fact that news of the insectoids' arrival had already spread throughout the Blessed Land, it was no wonder Yu Dashan couldn't help but overthink.

"No way, the tunnel we dug, and that little cellar, you know it yourself. As long as Dad hides in there, even if one or two insectoids find the Settlement, they won't be able to find Dad."

Yu Ershan took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.

In reality, when Yu Dashan brought up this guess, his own heart had inexplicably skipped a beat.

It felt as if something bad was truly about to happen.

But he still chose to comfort Yu Dashan rather than voice his own feelings.

After all, no matter what was happening at the Settlement, they couldn't go back.

Rather than letting Yu Dashan lose his composure and be unable to cultivate properly, it was better to choose to 'hide' all of this.

"Really? The insectoids really won't find Dad?"

Yu Dashan stared intently at Yu Ershan's face. He knew his younger brother was smart and considered things far beyond his own capabilities.

"Really."

Yu Ershan nodded forcefully.