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 more than twenty spirit farmers. Two Low-Grade Spirit Stones from each person adds up to fifty.

Five people could each receive ten Low-Grade Spirit Stones. There would be plenty of willing takers then.

It was only because everyone's Spirit Rice had ripened these past two days, yet was still in the stage of 'growing taller and gaining weight,' that they were reluctant to harvest it now. Otherwise, this night-watch arrangement truly couldn't have been organized."

Old Xu hurriedly chimed in.

Though the Spirit Grain Rice had ripened, as long as its stalks had not turned yellow and withered, it would remain in a growth phase, increasing the size and weight of the Spirit Rice. Some shriveled grains at the tips could also benefit from this, nourished by spiritual energy until they became solid and plump.

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

After all, waiting one extra day per acre might increase a spirit field's yield by dozens or even hundreds of jin. Across ten acres, that meant hundreds or thousands more jin.

That was also why, despite suffering one disaster after another, Old Xu had been unwilling to harvest directly.

"All right."

Zhou Changwang hesitated briefly before finally nodding.

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 over to Xu Zhong's Spirit Field and began another round of persuasion.

Zhou Changwang paid him no mind and began tending to the Spirit Field as usual.

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

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

But compared to the Ironclad Boar, it was still far too weak. Even the lingering scent left behind by its opponent made it feel as though it faced a formidable enemy.

With the Spirit Rice nearly ripe, Zhou Changwang actually had fewer things to do.

Even the pest removal work was helped along by the Little Spirit Hound. Any spirit insect clinging to the Spirit Rice could be caught by it if it was not careful, then brought before Zhou Changwang for credit.

So, during his free time, Zhou Changwang focused his attention on those volumes of the Basic Talisman Compendium, gradually learning knowledge related to talismans bit by bit.

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

When his eyes grew tired from reading, he practiced other spells.

The main ones were 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 before he could unleash greater power.

Besides that, he also put some thought into the Earthsplit Technique and the Withered Wood Renewal Technique.

However, these two spells were, after all, mid-tier spells. Not only were their spell runes complex and numerous, but they also demanded extremely precise control over spiritual energy. Thus, although he had tried practicing them, he had not successfully cast either one even once.

"Of the two spells, the Earthsplit Technique has thirteen rune structures. Although I have enough spiritual energy, the mental strain is too great.

"The Withered Wood Renewal Technique has fewer, but it still has twelve... No wonder low-tier cultivators rarely cultivate mid-tier spells. They truly are exceedingly 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 comparatively simpler, and its rune structures were not as complicated as those of the Earthsplit Technique.

He stirred the spiritual energy within his body, rapidly condensing it into one rune structure after another.

One breath, two breaths, three breaths...

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

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

Though the casting had failed, Zhou Changwang did not mind.

Failure was normal.

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

Without becoming discouraged, Zhou Changwang began trying again.

"This time, I only condensed five rune structures. It was because my spiritual energy control was insufficient. The spiritual energy I fed in was too strong, which instead made the structures unstable."

"This time I condensed seven rune structures, but the overall structure is loose. Even if I eventually formed all twelve rune structures, the spell still couldn't possibly succeed..."

"It's still a matter of structural control. A spell's rune structures aren't flat; they are cubic. They must take shape in every aspect."

Zhou Changwang tried again and again. Spiritual energy spread from within his body and around him, then trembled with each failed spell.

Yet he did not stop in the slightest.

Once, twice, three times...

He continued trying, and continued summarizing his experiences.

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

By then, it was already past noon.

His father had delivered some Spirit Rice and set it beside him. Zhou Qiankun himself was sitting with Old Xu, chatting idly.

Seeing him come to, Zhou Qiankun bid 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've already made inquiries. Half a month from now, a merchant caravan will be heading to Eastwood Immortal City, passing through the Heavenly Martial Kingdom on 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 are you going?"

"Twenty years ago, I came to Phoenix-Cry Cove Market brimming with ambition, determined to cultivate immortality.

"But reality was that I possessed no Spirit Root, and the road to immortality was barred to me.

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

"Then your mother's death became another great obsession of mine, making me tread on thin ice and suffer terribly all these years.

"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 finally return without worry."

Zhou Qiankun looked at Zhou Changwang and said, "Besides, I truly can't 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 directly. "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've already made up my mind. I'll return to the mortal lands, find a place with beautiful mountains and waters, and spend my remaining years in peace. If I grow lonely, I'll marry another wife... Over these years, I have done all I could for your mother. As for what your future will be like in the cultivation world, I cannot judge it, nor can I control you.

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

"If fortune favors us and one of my descendants truly possesses a Spirit Root, I will also have him follow the path I once walked and come seek 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!!!