Chapter Seventy-One: The Yu Residence

Late at night, all was quiet.

Yu Daoyi watched from a distance as several people refined the Crimson Blood Fruit, waves of spiritual energy rippling from their bodies. Fortunately, apart from these few, another shadow lingered nearby, so Yu Daoyi and his companions did not have to worry too much about their safety. Otherwise, such fluctuations in spiritual energy would easily attract monsters and bring danger.

He weighed the Crimson Blood Fruit in his hand with some regret. If only he could refine it into a pill, it would surely be more effective than consuming it directly. Yet, under the current circumstances, such conditions were impossible.

With three quick bites, much like the gluttonous Pigsy devouring the Ginseng Fruit, the Crimson Blood Fruit entered Yu Daoyi’s body almost before he could savor its taste. He only felt that the fruit from the back mountain was somewhat sweet.

Instantly, a surge of pure spiritual energy spread through every corner of his body, bringing with it a refreshing coolness and a comfort that seemed to seep into his very soul. But only moments later, that comfort vanished, replaced by a slight swelling and pain—the sign of spiritual energy too pure and powerful for the third stage of Qi Refining to absorb quickly.

Luckily, though he was inept in many things, Yu Daoyi’s stubborn personality had allowed him to progress rapidly in physical cultivation. This pain now felt more like an itch than anything else, far less intense than the last time he broke through his physical limits.

Again and again, he guided the spiritual energy from the Crimson Blood Fruit through every meridian. The once hair-thin flows of energy slowly expanded—this was the sign of advancing toward the fourth stage of Qi Refining. The deficits in his body began to recover, and even his wounds slowly started to heal. Every injured place on his body began to itch, especially his right hand, which itched unbearably.

Within the center of his brow, above his sea of consciousness, a tattered crimson scroll floated, emanating a breath wholly different from ordinary spiritual energy—strange and mysterious, becoming ever more so.

The night passed without incident. As morning light once again touched the world, most of its rays were blocked by the pillar of black magic in the back mountain, leaving the area within dim and windswept, dust swirling in the air.

“Whew—” After a night spent refining the Crimson Blood Fruit, Yu Daoyi finally broke through to the fourth stage of Qi Refining, his foundation solid and unwavering.

My god, I’ve finally reached the fourth stage... It was so hard...

But waking up on this unusual morning, seeing his companions break through one after another, struck him hard.

“Ahem, Daoyi! Look! I’m at the fifth stage now!”

Yu Daoyi had just opened his eyes when he saw his mount from yesterday, swaggering and showing off in front of him. The spiritual energy he exuded was unmistakably at the fifth stage. This little brother, previously at the same realm as himself, had surpassed him overnight. Yu Daoyi nodded, a smile like that of an indulgent aunt spreading across his face, expressing his gratification.

Yeah, right!

---

What the hell! Did this guy eat the wrong medicine—or the wrong fruit? Breaking through two stages in one night, how outrageous! Why did I only advance one stage from the same realm? Did I eat a fake fruit? I’m not convinced, damn it!

“Ahem! Though I’m now of a higher realm in the cultivation world and could be considered your senior, Daoyi, but we’re so close! From now on, let’s each call the other by our proper titles! I call you Brother Daoyi, and you call me Senior Song!” Song Cheng, completely oblivious to Yu Daoyi’s dark expression, continued to boast.

“Song Cheng, you should really thank your Brother Daoyi for not killing you,” Yu Daoyi replied with a forced smile.

Song Cheng: “???”

“Cheng, have you ever seen a fist that could smash a ninth-stage tough serpent with one punch?”

Yu Daoyi flexed his right hand, now fully healed—not the bloodied mess it had been before. The skin was as smooth as newborn, strong and supple.

“...Well! Brother Daoyi, my admiration for you is like a mighty river, endless and profound! I was just lightening the mood between us earlier! From now on, and forever after, you will always be my brother!” Song Cheng laughed awkwardly, then patted his chest, declaring his loyalty.

Heh. For some reason, Yu Daoyi found Song Cheng’s attitude strangely familiar, as if he were looking into a mirror.

Looking around, everyone had made minor breakthroughs. Song Qiuling had advanced to the sixth stage of Qi Refining, Duan Yuxuan and Duan Yin had each broken through a stage, joy clear on their faces.

Except for his own mischievous little brother—after swallowing a Crimson Blood Fruit, he was still at the seventh layer of Qi Refining. But fortunately, his seventh layer was almost as strong as most people’s ninth layer, Yu Daoyi mused.

A few hours earlier—

Yu Residence.

A pillar of black light suddenly shot into the sky. Yu Father and Yu Mother, already uneasy about the sudden emergence of demonic energy, became even more restless.

“How could this happen? What is it?” Yu Mother asked, bewildered and anxious, her furrowed brow and worried face heartbreaking to behold.

“Something must have happened in the back mountain. Just now, a very subtle fluctuation came from deep within, but...” Yu Father looked up at the black pillar, his brow tightly knotted.

---

“But what?” Yu Mother asked anxiously.

“Though the fluctuation was subtle, its realm felt powerful. That pillar should be some kind of formation. Judging by the scene, there must be a legacy hidden in the back mountain. If that’s so, the master of such a legacy would have formidable strength,” Yu Father said slowly.

“What about Daoyi and Yun’er?” Yu Mother grew even more anxious, wishing she could rush to her children’s side.

“I trust them, and I trust Eleven. With such a conspicuous event, we can’t intervene openly, lest those with ulterior motives discover us. We’ve concealed ourselves for so many years—we can’t let it all go to waste now.” Yu Father turned away from the pillar, speaking to Yu Mother.

“But—” Yu Mother started, but was gently interrupted.

“I understand. If anything unexpected happens, we might regret it forever. So I will keep constant watch on the back mountain, and if it comes to it, I will intervene.”

“They’re no longer children. They have their own judgment. I believe Daoyi will realize Eleven is my arrangement once he finds him. If it comes to that, even if Eleven doesn’t say so, Daoyi will guess he can contact me.”

“Don’t worry—the two boys are clever, nothing will happen. I’m here. Besides, Yun’er aside, we can’t always be at Daoyi’s side. He needs to grow, to be tempered, to walk his own path.”

“Daoyi, Daoyi—It was for this reason that we chose his current name, wasn’t it?” Yu Father said softly.

“All we can do now is wait and investigate what happened in the back mountain. I’ve learned a fair bit about Green Mountain Town in recent years—whether it’s the Heaven Pavilion or the other three families, or the Lin Family’s secret dealings.”

“I simply disdain to dig deeper. I thought those clowns could never stir up much trouble, but it seems I underestimated them. They must be involved in this situation.”

Yu Father gently wrapped his arm around his wife’s waist, continuing to comfort her in a low voice. Yet from his tightly furrowed brow, it was clear he was deeply worried.