Chapter 117: No, You Don’t Understand

“These ungrateful wretches!”

These two messages brought to mind his eldest son bursting through the door in reality, leaving Yang Yu utterly defenseless.

“I’ve already explained everything so clearly. Why can’t they understand me?” Yang Yu struggled to comprehend.

He believed his actions were not wrong.

“Forget it, it’s better they leave. Such people only tarnish the family’s reputation,” Yang Yu comforted himself, though he couldn’t help but worry about the spirit stones.

The defection of two clan disciples meant losing two laborers. The monthly income from spirit stones dropped again to just ten pieces per month.

Although he had saved up some spirit stones before, it wouldn’t last long.

“I must increase the income from spirit stones...” Yang Yu set his sights on Baiyao Mountain.

There, he could earn at least ten spirit stones monthly, and by finding rare herbs, the income could be even greater. Overnight wealth was not out of the question.

With this thought, Yang Yu resumed accelerating time.

“Clan leader, perhaps Xiuer and the others acted on impulse. I will bring them back to apologize to you,” inside the courtyard, Yang Zhou was called back and immediately spoke.

Yang Yu shook his head at this: “Ungrateful wretches, no need to waste time on them. I called you back because I have something important to discuss.”

“What is it?” Yang Zhou frowned.

“I plan to gather herbs at Baiyao Mountain. The current income can’t sustain Xiao Tian’s cultivation for long.”

After a moment of silence, Yang Zhou said resolutely, “I will go. As the head of the household, you must not take risks.”

Hearing this, Yang Yu said no more. The matter was settled.

Time accelerated again—about one minute equaled a year.

During this, Yang Yu, viewing from a godlike perspective, clearly observed everything below.

The character he controlled steadily entered the Li family’s mine to dig, while Yang Zhou repeatedly ventured into Baiyao Mountain to gather herbs.

During the acceleration, notifications summarized important events:

Yang Tian occasionally had breakthroughs, improving his cultivation.

Yang Zhou harvested three White Moon Herbs in Baiyao Mountain, selling them for three spirit stones.

Yang Tian advanced to Qi Refining Stage Five, gaining the attention of Foundation Establishment teacher Li Yao.

Yang Zhou was attacked by a monster while collecting herbs in Baiyao Mountain, sustaining minor injuries and resting for half a month.

...

Yang Tian reached Qi Refining Stage Nine, gaining fame.

Yang Zhou ventured deep into Baiyao Mountain and did not return for half a month.

Yang Zhou’s body was discovered under a cliff.

Seeing the sudden appearance of two alerts—one yellow, one red—Yang Yu immediately stopped time acceleration.

The scene shifted.

His consciousness entered the body of the character he controlled.

At this moment, he stood alone before a stone tombstone.

He gazed silently at the name engraved there.

Yang Zhou’s sudden departure caught him off guard.

Five years had passed during the accelerated time.

At first, he worried about Yang Zhou’s safety, but as the latter became more skilled, he gradually relaxed.

Yet, he never expected this outcome...

“This game is just too realistic,” Yang Yu thought, feeling his resolve waver, his faith shaken.

“Was I wrong?”

A notification appeared: Yang Tian had broken through to Qi Refining Stage Ten and, after taking the Foundation Establishment pill, could attempt to reach the Foundation Establishment realm.

Seeing this, Yang Yu’s previously shaken heart steadied instantly.

“I was not wrong—only my methods were too extreme.”

Having come to this realization, he no longer lingered and returned to his small residence.

There, an eighteen- or nineteen-year-old youth waited in the courtyard.

“Clan leader, the Foundation Establishment pill costs a thousand spirit stones. Please gather it soon,” Yang Tian said upon seeing Yang Yu, addressing him as clan leader but with no respect in his tone.

Yang Yu paid no mind; Yang Tian’s talent entitled him to such behavior.

“Don’t worry, I’ll get the pill for you as soon as possible.”

“Good,” Yang Tian nodded and strode out without another word.

...

Yang Yu said nothing and headed toward Baiyao Mountain.

To quickly gather the thousand spirit stones needed for the Foundation Establishment pill, only by collecting rare herbs was it possible.

Though called a mountain, Baiyao Mountain was actually a connected mountain range.

The outskirts were relatively safe due to frequent travelers.

But safety meant low income.

The outskirts had been thoroughly searched; only ordinary herbs were left.

A hard month’s work yielded barely ten spirit stones—mere drops in the bucket for buying the pill.

He would have to wait indefinitely.

Thus, only one path lay before him: venture deep into Baiyao Mountain.

To search for rare herbs yet undiscovered.

...

For safety, Yang Yu only accelerated time during the initial part of the journey into Baiyao Mountain; deeper inside, he switched to manual control.

If it were automatic, the system would kill you without mercy, but with manual control, he could at least struggle.

Whenever he found herbs, he would immediately accelerate time to return and sell them.

Once deep inside the mountain, he controlled manually.

This mode greatly increased his safety.

He faced danger several times but skillfully avoided injury.

A month passed in the game.

High risk brought high reward: he earned over a hundred spirit stones that month.

Still, Yang Yu was not satisfied.

At this rate, it would take seven or eight months to gather enough spirit stones.

That meant Yang Tian’s cultivation would stagnate for over half a year.

This was unacceptable.

“Go deeper,” he resolved and resumed herb gathering.

This time, he ventured further into the territory of Foundation Establishment-level monsters.

Here, rare herbs hard to find outside were not everywhere but could be found with some effort.

Yang Yu cautiously searched, placing herb after herb into his basket.

Soon it was full.

He estimated today’s haul valued at three hundred spirit stones.

Only two more such trips would secure the pill’s required stones.

As he placed another herb in his basket, ready to accelerate time to return automatically, his peripheral vision caught a faint red glow flickering on a nearby hillside.

“What’s that?”

Curious, he approached the small hill to investigate.

“Fire Lotus!”

Below the hill bloomed a red lotus-shaped plant emitting a faint red light.

Yang Yu recognized it as one of Baiyao Mountain’s most precious plants.

One alone could be exchanged for a Foundation Establishment pill.

After carefully surveying the surroundings and finding no danger, he dashed out of hiding toward the Fire Lotus.

Harvesting it proceeded without incident.

Just as a smile formed on his face after placing the Fire Lotus in his basket, an anomaly occurred.

From beneath the ground, fiery red wasps began to emerge.

These wasps were fist-sized, each seeming ablaze.

Yang Yu’s eyes narrowed.

These were among the most feared monsters in Baiyao Mountain.

Called Fire Glow Wasps, they were highly venomous.

Touching one at the Qi Refining stage meant certain death; even those at Foundation Establishment dared not provoke them lightly.

Without hesitation, Yang Yu turned and fled Baiyao Mountain.

However, perhaps due to the Fire Lotus in his basket, the Fire Glow Wasps burst from the ground and immediately pursued him relentlessly.

Soon, a red cloud made of hundreds of Fire Glow Wasps hovered over the mountain.

Where the red cloud passed, no grass grew; rocks corroded by potent poison emitted thin white smoke.

During his escape, Yang Yu was poisoned by some wasps.

Since this was a game, not reality, he decisively cut off the poisoned flesh to prevent spreading.

When he finally staggered out of Baiyao Mountain, his body was battered.

His hand was broken, thighs bore multiple wounds the size of bowls, deep to the bone.

His face was bloodied, looking as if he had clawed his way out of hell.

Yet, despite the injuries, the herbs in his basket remained intact.

To him, they were the hope of the Yang family’s future.

Without tending to his wounds, he rushed straight to the herb trading store.

Eager to see Yang Tian breakthrough to Foundation Establishment and lead the family to prosperity.

After selling the herbs, exchanging for the pill, and buying a healing pill to stabilize his injuries, Yang Yu set out to find Yang Tian.

Entering the city, passersby saw his battered form and avoided him, fearing bad luck.

Yang Yu paid no mind.

Following the small map on the family interface, he located Yang Tian.

Yang Tian was trailing a handsome young man, acting sycophantically, flattering him nonstop.

The young man’s expression was one of enjoyment until he saw the bloodied Yang Yu; his brows immediately furrowed.

Seeing this, Yang Tian hurriedly bowed and whispered to the youth before turning with a grim expression toward Yang Yu.

“Where did this beggar comeI'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.