Chapter 73

More than a year had passed since the locust disaster, and Yang Junshan had just turned fourteen. The weather in Yu County had been favorable during this period, and the spirit fields in the affected towns and counties had gradually begun to recover.

However, due to the severity of the previous year's locust disaster and the ineffective response from the counties, the locusts reappeared on a small scale in the spirit fields of the affected areas the following year. Although they were quickly eradicated, they still caused some damage. Additionally, the recovery of the spirit fields themselves required time, so the spirit grain harvest in the affected towns and counties the following year only barely recovered to seventy percent of the previous year's level.

Of course, this did not include Tuqiu Village. Although the spirit fields in Tuqiu Village had also been damaged by the larvae of the giant locusts, Yang Junshan had warned Yang Tiangang in advance, and he had made preparations to eliminate the pests at the earliest stage. As a result, the spirit grain harvest in Tuqiu Village the following year had returned to its normal level.

The grain tax of the Heaven-Shaking Sect also returned to its normal level that year, and the majority of the spirit farmers naturally complained bitterly. In many villages, the spirit grain harvested by the spirit farmers was barely enough to maintain their cultivation, and the growth of many young cultivators was affected due to the further reduction in cultivation resources. Some parents even reduced their own spirit grain intake to support their children's growth, leading to a decline in their cultivation.

News of elderly spirit farmers whose cultivation declined, whose lifespans shortened, or who even died due to insufficient spirit grain to maintain their cultivation was not uncommon.

None of this happened in Tuqiu Village. The villagers, who had initially been somewhat proud of their situation, began to fall silent. They quietly observed what was happening in the surrounding villages and, in comparison, appreciated the difficulty of maintaining their current living conditions. Yang Tiangang's prestige also rose to an unparalleled level through this silent comparison.

Yang Junping followed Yang Junshan as they ran towards West Mountain. The two did not stop for a moment until they reached the pomegranate grove.

Yang Junshan's breathing was even and his face unchanged, while Yang Junping was already panting heavily. After all, he was only twelve years old. Although he had practiced the Wild Ox Fist and the Lying Tiger Chart diligently under Yang Junshan's supervision over the past two years, making his physical strength outstanding among his peers, he still fell far short of Yang Junshan.

"Brother, what are we doing here? I'm exhausted. Couldn't you slow down on the way? I just tested my spirit orifices, and the spirit energy hasn't even circulated through my body yet!"

Sitting on the ground with his hands on the ground and his body half-lying, Yang Junping said, "Brother, quickly pick me a pomegranate, I'm so thirsty!"

A month ago, Yang Tiangang had taken Yang Junping back to the Yang family's old house in Qingshi Town, Chenyu County, for a talent test. Just like in his previous life, Yang Junping had three spirit orifices, one pair of which were located in the palms of his hands.

Unlike the regretful expression on Yang Tiangang's face when he learned that Yang Junping had a pair of spirit orifices in his hands in his previous life, this time he was so excited that he almost shouted out loud.

When his son brought back the pair of bear paw spirit orifices from Baique Mountain, Yang Tiangang had considered exchanging them for jade coins or other cultivation resources. After all, a pair of medium-grade spirit orifices, though worth as much as a high-grade spirit orifice, were even rarer. If used to exchange for cultivation resources, it would be a substantial amount.

However, he was eventually persuaded by Yang Junshan, who said he had two younger brothers and sisters. What if one of them also had a pair of spirit orifices?

It turned out that his son's words were prophetic, and his second son indeed had a pair of spirit orifices, which appeared in his palms, making them even more suitable for the bear paw spirit orifices.

Yang Tiangang, overjoyed, immediately increased his expectations for his second son. After returning to Tuqiu Village, he began to personally train Yang Junping, teaching him the "Earth Covering Spirit Technique," how to guide spirit energy, and even correcting his Wild Ox Fist movements.

As Yang Tiangang put it, "Your elder brother risked his life to bring back a pair of medium-grade spirit orifices from Baique Mountain. You have the talent, so if you don't work hard, you'll waste these good things. I'll kick you out of the family!"

When Yang Junshan said he would take him to West Mountain to play, Yang Junping was overjoyed and immediately agreed. He had been trained to the point of exhaustion by his father recently, and even when Han Xiumei pleaded for her son, Yang Tiangang refused to show any mercy. Only his elder brother Yang Junshan, who had more influence with their father, dared to take him out to play.

Yang Junshan picked a large, red pomegranate from the highest tree in the grove and threw it to him. Then, under Yang Junping's surprised gaze, he lifted a camouflaged wooden board in the pile of dead leaves, revealing a cave underneath.

Without bothering to peel the pomegranate, Yang Junping stood up and approached the cave, seeing a stone slab at the bottom, identical to the one sealing the spirit well in their backyard.

"Brother, what is this? Did you hide something good here?"

Yang Junshan chuckled and, bending down, suddenly pulled the stone slab away. A surge of spirit energy immediately rushed out from the cave, catching Yang Junping off guard and knocking him backward onto the ground. He sneezed three times before recovering.

However, once he recovered, Yang Junshan didn't bother to complain about his brother's trick and instead leaned over the cave to look down, being more cautious this time and not being overwhelmed by the dense spirit energy.

"Brother, is this the spirit vein you found? No wonder you often come to West Mountain. I thought you were just playing with Hu Niu, but it turns out you have such a good place here. The spirit energy here is even denser than in our spirit well!"

Yang Junping first praised it, then complained, "Brother, you're too selfish, only bringing me here now!"

"Nonsense!" Yang Junshan laughed and scolded, "What could you do if I brought you here earlier? You hadn't tested your spirit orifices, hadn't started cultivating, and couldn't absorb any spirit energy. Bringing you up the mountain every day would only raise suspicions and expose this place."

Seeing his brother jump into the cave, Yang Junping quickly followed, saying, "But you shouldn't have kept it a secret from me. This place is your discovery, does Father know?"

Before Yang Junshan could answer, the gushing spirit spring in the cave had already caught his attention. He immediately cheered, forgetting the pomegranate in his hand, and ran to the edge of the pond, scooping up clear spring water and drinking two large gulps.

Yang Junshan lay on a green stone by the small pond, looking around the cave. On the west side, there was a raised stone platform with a spirit-sealing box, a small bucket of talisman ink, a green jade stone inkstone, a talisman brush, and some scattered talisman paper, some of which already had many talisman patterns drawn on them. A cold mountain stone paperweight carved into a leopard shape was also on the platform, along with some spirit stones and talisman arrows with fine talisman patterns, which Yang Junshan used for practicing talisman making.

Feeling the dense spirit energy and the coolness in the cave, Yang Junshan said enviously, "Brother, this place you found is really great. Can I come here to cultivate in the future?"

Yang Junshan laughed, "Of course! I brought you here today to tell you that you can come here to cultivate anytime in the future. The spirit energy here is dense, which will greatly shorten the time it takes for you to guide spirit energy. Father is eager for you to summon the spirit orifices, and he can't wait to press the bear paw spirit orifices into your palms."

Yang Junping patted the green stone under him and said, "I'm also eager, Brother. You don't know how much I like those bear paw spirit orifices. It feels like they were meant for me to refine. I've been impatient, and now with this spirit vein, it will definitely be easier."

"But," Yang Junping added worriedly, "If I often come to West Mountain to cultivate, how will I explain it to Father?"

Yang Junshan laughed, "Do you think Father doesn't know about this feng shui treasure? Do you think he really lets me run to West Mountain every day, sometimes even staying out all night?"

"Father knows about this place?"

Yang Junshan said, "Of course he does. He doesn't ask just to give us our own space!"

Yang Junping nodded, "I guess Father has a lot on his mind, and it's in places we can't see."

Yang Junshan nodded, "It's good that you understand. From now on, this place is your territory. When your younger sister starts cultivating, you should bring her here too."

Yang Junping laughed, "You have an excuse to go to West Mountain often, but what about me? If the two of us from the Yang family keep going to West Mountain, even a fool would suspect something."

Yang Junshan said, "In the past, I was afraid of suspicion because I didn't want anyone to discover this cave and compete with us. But now, even if someone discovers this spirit spring cave, who in Huotu Town would dare to take what belongs to the Yang family?"

Yang Junping also laughed, "That's true. Now everyone in Huotu Town says Father is one of the top three experts in town. I think no one in Huotu Town can match Father except for Liu Zhen."

Yang Junshan also laughed, "In the future, not only will this spirit spring cave belong to the Yang family, but the entire West Mountain will become our territory!"

At this moment, Yang Junping seemed to suddenly think of something and sat up, asking, "Brother, are you planning to go on a long journey soon?"

Yang Junshan was surprised, "How did you know?"

Yang Junping said, "It's obvious. First, Xu Jing was taken to the county by Liu Zhen to become an outer disciple of the Heaven-Shaking Sect. Then, Zhang Huzi's father arranged for him to be an apprentice in a refining workshop in the county. Recently, it's said that Xu Lei was introduced to work for the Yu family, one of the three powerful families in the county. I guessed Father would also send you away."

——

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