Chapter 49

"WHAT? An earthquake! And a surge in spiritual energy?"

Yang Junshan’s face was full of disbelief for a moment, and he said insincerely, "There’s actually such a good thing?"

Yang Junping looked at his elder brother with suspicion and said, "Brother, the earthquake was quite severe the other day. Didn’t you know about it on the mountain?"

It was only then that Yang Junshan suddenly remembered that two days ago, when the three spirit acupoints in his body were activated, he was indeed jolted awake from his cultivation by a shaking that felt out of control. However, when he woke up, the earthquake had already stopped, so he thought it was just an illusion caused by his body’s adjustment to the breakthrough in cultivation.

At that time, although Yang Junshan had just broken through in cultivation, he knew that it was crucial to remain calm and stabilize his cultivation. Therefore, he continued to cultivate in the cave until he emerged from seclusion not long ago.

However, after recalling that the event did indeed happen, Yang Junshan felt an inexplicable panic. He knew nothing about these events, and in his previous life’s memories, the three acres of spirit fields in Tuqiu Village were divided without much trouble. But now, why was there an earthquake? Why was there a surge in spiritual energy? How did an extra acre of spirit field appear, and even seven acres of spirit fields improve to medium quality?

These things had never appeared in his previous life’s memories. For a moment, Yang Junshan felt that his familiar memories were gradually drifting away, and everything before him was slowly slipping out of his control. The once clear future became hazy, and panic instantly swept over his entire body.

"Brother, Brother, what’s wrong with you?"

Yang Junping felt that his elder brother seemed very strange today, standing in the field and having a fit. He quickly pushed Yang Junshan and said, "Brother, what should we do?"

"Grasshoppers!" Yang Junhao, holding a dogtail grass, said proudly, "We’ll continue catching grasshoppers. Look, I’ve caught such a big locust!"

A string of small green grasshoppers, each about the size of a finger, were strung on a dogtail grass about a foot long. At the top of the string was a large, plump locust, about the size of a human thumb, with a black-brown body and spots. Its strong hind legs were covered with sharp saw-like spines. Even when strung on the dogtail grass, it did not give up its struggle, flapping its wings and trying to climb up the string. Every time it did, Yang Junhao would push it back down with his finger.

"Go away, we’re talking about serious matters," Yang Junping said in a stern adult tone, "You little brat, don’t interrupt the grown-ups!"

However, at this moment, Yang Junshan shivered and suddenly snapped out of his daze. He turned his head sharply and looked at the dogtail grass in the hands of his thirteenth brother, Yang Junhao, and asked, "Thirteenth Brother, where did you catch the locusts?"

Yang Junshan’s intense gaze made Yang Junhao, who was only about six years old, feel a bit frightened. He said in a委屈 (wronged) tone, "There are plenty of grasshoppers and locusts, all caught in the field."

Seeing his elder brother’s sudden reaction, Yang Junping became even more convinced that his elder brother had caught a cold and fallen ill in the mountains over the past few days. He asked cautiously, "Is everything okay, Brother? Why don’t you go home and rest for a couple of days, and we can talk about it after you get better?"

"Get lost!" Yang Junshan slapped the back of his head and said, "You take your little sister and Junhao to catch locusts. Remember to catch a lot. I’m going to see Father."

Yang Junping looked at his elder brother’s back and then at his little sister and Junhao, and said, "Little sister, you two go play. I’ll go with Brother to see what’s happening. Remember what Brother said, catch a lot of locusts!"

As Yang Junshan walked into the crowd, he heard a calm voice saying, "I have come to the village this time on the orders of Commander Gu. The commander is very pleased to hear that the spirit fields in Tuqiu Village have matured. He has specially sent me to observe the distribution of the fields and to act as a witness for the town. He has also asked me to deliver cultivation items for his future junior sister. Of course, the commander has also asked me to convey his greetings to Clan Leader Xu, saying that he hopes Clan Leader Xu will take good care of Little Xu until she reaches the third level of the Mortal Realm. If anything happens, she can seek help from the commander, who will not stand idly by!"

Yang Junshan looked through the crowd and saw a tall man, about forty years old, with a three-inch beard, exuding a scholarly air. When he mentioned the commander’s greetings to Clan Leader Xu, Xu Sanlang bowed in acknowledgment. When he mentioned the hope that the Xu family would take good care of Xu Qing, Xu Sanlang promptly replied that she would not fail the trust. Finally, he asked Qian Chunlai to thank the commander on his behalf. The two were clearly in perfect harmony, and it was clear to anyone that Qian Chunlai was representing the town to support the Xu family, maintaining a facade of fairness while clearly favoring one side.

However, when Yang Junshan saw this man, he felt a surge of blood rush to his head, his eyes instantly bloodshot, and he wanted to rush forward and fight this man. But he quickly realized that this was not his previous life, and he was no match for a third-level Mortal Realm cultivator. Nevertheless, his gaze was filled with unhidden killing intent.

Qian Chunlai stood there, looking at Yang Tiangang’s ashen face with great satisfaction. Although the commander had sent him to witness the distribution of the spirit fields in Tuqiu Village and to deliver cultivation items to the Xu family, Qian Chunlai did not mind using this opportunity to stand by the Xu family and put Yang Tiangang in his place, to diminish his authority and prestige.

The current commander of Huangtu Town had been in office for a long time, and Qian Chunlai, as his deputy, had also served for many years. With the commander’s impending departure, Qian Chunlai, with his third-level Mortal Realm cultivation, was very likely to succeed him. Once he became the commander of Huangtu Town, he could become an outer disciple of the Heaven-Shaking Sect, and further advancement would not be impossible.

However, according to the information he had obtained from the commander, the commander intended to evaluate several third-level Mortal Realm experts in Huangtu Town and recommend two or three of the strongest and most capable to the Heaven-Shaking Sect. The final decision on who would succeed the commander would be made by the Heaven-Shaking Sect.

This made Qian Chunlai secretly very dissatisfied. Although he was among those being evaluated, he believed that in terms of cultivation and experience, he was more qualified than anyone else in Huangtu Town to succeed the commander. He did not dare to resent the commander, who was about to become an inner disciple of the Heaven-Shaking Sect, so he vented his resentment on the other village chiefs who were his competitors.

Yang Tiangang was one of these village chiefs who was a strong contender. Although he had only been in Huangtu Town for less than four years, he had already made a significant name for himself. Despite his cultivation being slightly lower at the second level of Mortal Realm, it was said that he had the backing of a prestigious clan, and his brother was a village chief and an outer disciple of the Heaven-Shaking Sect. Therefore, compared to the other competitors, Yang Tiangang was more intimidating.

In fact, in Yang Junshan’s previous life’s memories, Yang Tiangang had indeed aimed for the position of commander and, through his efforts in leading the people of Tuqiu Village to cultivate spirit fields over the next few years, his reputation in Huangtu Town had steadily risen. He eventually defeated Qian Chunlai to become the deputy commander of Huangtu Town and was admitted as an outer disciple of the Heaven-Shaking Sect, ready to take over the town’s affairs once the commander stepped down.

However, the mighty Heaven-Shaking Sect collapsed in a short time, and the resentful Qian Chunlai immediately turned to the enemies of the Heaven-Shaking Sect, leading forces to raid Huangtu Town. He massacred many villages where he had old grudges, including Yang Junshan’s family and the entire Tuqiu Village, which had a population of over six thousand.

Yang Junshan looked at Qian Chunlai, who was smirking in the distance, and thought that the news of the commander’s plans to select a successor had not yet been made public. It seemed that Qian Chunlai had already received the information and knew that his father was one of the commander’s favored successors. Today, he was deliberately putting his father down to vent his frustration.

Sure enough, at this moment, Qian Chunlai said, "Since this is the distribution of spirit fields in Tuqiu Village, I must speak up for the people of Tuqiu Village on behalf of the commander. How can there be outsiders here? Is someone trying to invite wolves into their home?"

As Qian Chunlai spoke, he sneered and looked at An Xia, who was standing next to Yang Tiangang. However, the people of Tuqiu Village believed he was also referring to Zhang Chenghong. Some of the Xu clan members even cheered, saying, "Mr. Qian is right. Matters of Tuqiu Village should be decided by the people of Tuqiu Village. What business do outsiders have here?"

Qian Chunlai was not bothered by this. After all, he was using the commander’s authority. Zhang Chenghong was a weakling, and although he had a famous son, the commander was about to become an inner disciple, so any conflict would not affect him. Moreover, it seemed that Zhang Chenghong was likely being used by others for their own gain.

Whether it was An Xia or Zhang Chenghong, both were influential figures in the situation in Tuqiu Village. An Xia was a first-level Mortal Realm cultivator who had opened his dantian, and Zhang Chenghong, though a weakling, had a famous son. Qian Chunlai could not single out Yang Tiangang, so he decided to target both Yang and Zhang. As long as he could suppress Yang Tiangang, it would benefit the Xu clan.

Zhang Chenghong hid behind Zhang the blacksmith and remained silent, further earning the contempt of the people of Tuqiu Village. An Xia, however, stepped forward and said solemnly, "What you say is inappropriate. Although I am not a resident of Tuqiu Village, I have been standing here without interfering in the distribution of the spirit fields. Why are you accusing me without cause?"

Qian Chunlai smiled and said, "If you have not interfered, that is best. My previous words were just a warning. Since that is the case, why don’t you stand aside and watch the villagers distribute the fields? Would that be better?"

"Since Mr. Qian insists that the spirit fields of Tuqiu Village should be decided by the people of Tuqiu Village, and since Mr. Qian is not a resident of Tuqiu Village, should you also not interfere in the affairs of Tuqiu Village and stand aside like my Uncle Qi?"

As Qian Chunlai finished speaking, a young voice came from the crowd, neither humble nor arrogant.

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