I Must Leave an Heir for My Zhou Family

"Just two Low-Grade Spirit Stones? Of course no one would be willing to stand guard.

But at the foot of Long Ridge Mountain, there are over twenty spirit farmers. Two Low-Grade Spirit Stones from each person adds up to fifty.

Split among five people, each would get ten Low-Grade Spirit Stones. Quite a few people would be willing then.

It is only because the Spirit Grain Rice has ripened these past two days, yet is still in the stage of 'growing taller and putting on weight.' No one can bear to harvest it now. Otherwise, there would be no way to organize this night watch."

Old Xu hurriedly chimed in.

Though the Spirit Grain Rice was ripe, as long as its stalks had not turned yellow and withered, it would remain in a growth stage. The grains would grow larger and heavier, while the shriveled grains at the tips would also benefit from the nourishment of spiritual energy, becoming plump and full.

Thus, for the sake of a better harvest, many spirit farmers would rather wait a few more days.

After all, waiting one extra day for a single mu could increase the yield by dozens or even hundreds of jin. For ten mu, that would mean hundreds or thousands more jin.

That was also why Old Xu had suffered disaster after disaster, yet still refused to harvest immediately.

"All right."

Zhou Changwang hesitated slightly, then nodded in the end.

This spontaneously organized night watch benefited everyone, so naturally he would not refuse.

Besides, he was not short of those two Low-Grade Spirit Stones now.

After handing over two Low-Grade Spirit Stones, Old Xu happily trotted off to Xu Zhong's spirit field and began another round of persuasion.

Zhou Changwang paid him no mind and began tending his spirit field as usual.

The Little Spirit Hound padded around the spirit field on its short little legs. Only when it approached the area ravaged by the Ironclad Boar did it become wary, letting out low growls from time to time.

Clearly, it had caught the other party's scent.

But compared to the Ironclad Boar, it was still far too weak. Even the lingering traces of its scent made it feel as though a great enemy stood before it.

With the Spirit Rice nearly ripe, Zhou Changwang actually had fewer things to keep him busy.

Even the pest removal was helped along by the Little Spirit Hound. Any spirit insects clinging to the Spirit Rice would be caught by it if they were not careful, then brought before Zhou Changwang so it could claim credit.

So, taking advantage of his spare time, Zhou Changwang devoted his mind to those volumes of the Basic Talisman Compendium, slowly beginning to learn the knowledge related to talismans.

Whenever he encountered something he did not understand, he would take out the jade slip containing the Talisman-Making Notes and slowly resolve the doubts in his heart.

When his reading tired him out, he practiced other spells.

Mainly the Geng Metal Finger and Fireball Art.

After all, they were the only two offensive spells he had mastered. Naturally, he needed to raise their skill levels to unleash greater power.

Besides that, he also devoted some thought to the Earthsplit Technique and the Withered Wood Renewal Technique.

However, these two spells were, after all, mid-grade spells. Not only were their spell runes complicated and numerous, but they also demanded extremely high control over spiritual power. Though he had tried practicing them, he had yet to successfully cast either one even once.

"Of these two spells, the Earthsplit Technique has thirteen rune structures. My spiritual power is sufficient, but the drain on my mind is too great.

"The Withered Wood Renewal Technique has fewer, but it still has twelve... No wonder low-level cultivators rarely cultivate mid-grade spells. They truly are immensely difficult."

Zhou Changwang silently familiarized himself with the rune structures of the two spells.

After thinking it over, he decided to learn the Withered Wood Renewal Technique first.

After all, this spell was relatively simpler, and its rune structures were not as complex as those of the Earthsplit Technique.

The spiritual power within his body stirred, rapidly condensing into rune structures one after another.

One breath, two breaths, three breaths...

After five breaths, his spiritual power scattered and slipped out of control.

"As expected, it is extremely difficult. In five breaths, I only condensed six rune structures before I could no longer maintain them."

The spellcasting failed, but Zhou Changwang did not mind.

Failure was normal.

Even for a low-grade spell like the Fireball Art, he had failed more than ten times before casting it successfully, let alone a mid-grade spell like the Withered Wood Renewal Technique.

Without discouragement, Zhou Changwang began trying again.

"This time, I only condensed five rune structures. My control over spiritual power was insufficient. The spiritual power I fed in was too strong, making the structures unstable instead."

"This time, I condensed seven rune structures, but the overall structure is loose. Even if I eventually condensed all twelve rune structures, the spell could not possibly succeed..."

"It is still a matter of structural control. A spell's rune structures are not flat; they are three-dimensional. They must take shape in every direction."

Zhou Changwang tried again and again. Spiritual power diffused around him, then trembled and scattered with every failed spell.

Yet he did not pause for even a moment.

Once, twice, three times...

He kept trying, and kept summarizing his experience.

Only after the spiritual power in his body had been completely exhausted did he emerge from that state.

By then, noon had long passed.

His father had brought him a bowl of Spirit Rice and set it beside him. Zhou Qiankun himself was sitting with Old Xu, chatting idly.

Seeing him awaken, Zhou Qiankun finally bade Old Xu farewell and walked over.

"Dad, did you agree to teach Old Xu's grandson martial arts?"

Zhou Changwang had vaguely overheard a sentence or two. Seeing Zhou Qiankun approach, he could not help asking curiously.

"No."

Zhou Qiankun shook his head and said, "I have already asked around. Half a month from now, a merchant caravan will be heading to Eastwood Immortal City, passing through the Heavenly Martial Kingdom along the way."

"What do you mean?"

Zhou Changwang froze.

"I plan to leave."

Zhou Qiankun sighed.

"Leave?"

Zhou Changwang immediately rose to his feet and asked somewhat at a loss, "Leave here? Where would you go?"

"Twenty years ago, I came to Phoenix-Cry Cove Market full of lofty ambition, determined to cultivate immortality.

"But reality is that without spiritual roots, there is no path to immortality.

"That is why I placed my hopes on the next generation—on you.

"Then your mother's death became another obsession of mine, making me tread on thin ice all these years, suffering greatly.

"Now, your mother's great vengeance has been avenged, and you have gradually gained a foothold here. You can take care of yourself.

"So I can return with peace of mind."

Zhou Qiankun glanced at Zhou Changwang and said, "Besides, I truly cannot help you with much anymore."

"How could that be?

"Without your guidance in so many matters..."

Zhou Changwang hurriedly said.

But Zhou Qiankun cut him off. "A fledgling eagle must ultimately rely on itself to soar.

"Your old man spent the first half of his life living for others. For the second half, I want to live for myself.

"I have already made my plans. I will return to the mortal kingdoms, find a place with beautiful mountains and waters, and spend my remaining years in peace. If I feel lonely, I will take another wife... Over these years, I have done all I could for your mother. As for you, in the cultivation world, I cannot judge what your future will be, nor can I keep managing you.

"In the future, I must leave an heir for my Zhou Family.

"If luck is on our side and one of my descendants truly possesses spiritual roots, I will have him follow the path I once took to come find you.

"I only hope that, for the sake of the bond between father and son, you will look after him a little."

Thanks to the reader whose account ends in 0417 for the reward—the first helmsman of this book. Thank you!!!