C260 Winter's Bite Greets You!

Asvetaesi, one of the seven cities of the Silvermoon Empire, was the least established.

Its location was also quite secluded.

Surrounding Asvetaesi, the air was humid, ideal for cultivating a variety of herbs, which is why the Yu family originated from Thylethlume.

To the north of Thylethlume, dense forests and numerous swamps were home to poisonous insects and alien beasts.

Legend had it that if one ventured north through these treacherous swamps and forests, they could reach the territory of the Sunblessed Empire.

However, due to the rugged terrain and the vast distance separating the Sunblessed Empire from the Silvermoon Empire, the two rarely established contact through this region.

Only cultivators of exceptional prowess could navigate this perilous area swiftly and fearlessly.

Under the blazing sun, Yu Yuan stood among waist-high bushes in the northern part of Thylethlume, squinting as he surveyed his surroundings.

Yu Zhu, the slender girl with bright, inquisitive eyes that he had named, was exploring curiously, her nostrils flaring occasionally as if picking up on unique scents.

"Mr. Yu, what brought you to this place?" asked Ning Ji, who had accompanied him. Standing on tiptoes, he could see nothing but bushes. "The north indeed leads to the Sunblessed Empire, but it's an incredibly long journey. The Sunblessed Empire, despite its might, has never considered crossing this region to infiltrate the Silvermoon Empire. Do you know the reason?"

Yu Yuan smiled and replied, "I have some knowledge of it."

Ning Ji looked at him with a hint of surprise. "You know about this, too?"

"Yes," Yu Yuan nodded. "To my understanding, the area north of Thylethlume is vast beyond measure. Mostly, it's a stretch of bushes and swamps. Certain areas are breeding grounds for vicious alien beasts and peculiar insects, making them quite challenging to contend with. The environment is harsh, and the spiritual energy is exceedingly scarce, unsuitable for ordinary people to inhabit, and equally inhospitable for cultivators to practice their arts."

"That's the situation," Ning Ji acknowledged.

Opening up this region seems pointless. With its extremely harsh environment, it has, over time, become a haven for exiles," Yu Yuan said with a grin. "Many individuals from the Silvermoon Empire and the Sunblessed Empire who have committed grave offenses flee to this place for refuge."

"The area is vast and sparsely populated, with dense vegetation. Once someone disappears into it, they're incredibly hard to track down."

"To true cultivators, those who can traverse with their Lunar Spirits, the criminals from both empires are insignificant. They wouldn't bother capturing them, allowing many to evade capture by either country."

He was aware, however, that the genuine alien souls were confined and subdued within the Moonfall Sanctuary.

The escapees to the north of Thylethlume were hardly significant figures.

"So what brings you here?" Ning Ji inquired with curiosity.

"I'm planning to clear new land for a medicinal garden to cultivate new herbs," Yu Yuan explained, his gaze fixed ahead, a clear plan in mind. "Let the neglected medicinal gardens around Thylethlume remain so. The herbs grown there are common and not in short supply; they're replaceable."

"Yu Yuan!" A booming voice called out, and suddenly, a 'meat wall' appeared, mounted atop a massive white tiger, making an imposing entrance through the shrubbery.

The 'meat wall' was none other than Zhao Yafu's father—Zhao Dongsheng.

His voice resonated like a great bell as he laughed heartily, slapping the white tiger beneath him before pulling up beside Yu Yuan. "I knew you'd be alright! My father is in Thylethlume, waiting there due to his age. When I arrived, I happened to see your grandfather, your aunt, and the others—they've all come to Thylethlume."

"Good day, Mr. Zhao," Yu Yuan greeted with a slight bow. "How is Yafu faring?"

"Thanks to you, she's doing very well," Zhao Dongsheng replied with a twinkle in his eye and a hint of mystery. "She's not currently in the Silvermoon Empire, so she can't meet with you right away."

Yu Yuan nodded in understanding.

"You mentioned wanting to establish a new medicinal garden here?" Zhao Dongsheng asked, his eyebrows raised. "Are you certain? The climate is rumored to be conducive to herb cultivation, but your Yu family's ancestors tried years ago and failed. Moreover, even if you succeed in growing the herbs, selling them could prove challenging."

"The medicinal herbs I'm cultivating here will be unlike any found in Thylethlume," Yu Yuan said, a hint of a smirk playing at the corner of his mouth. "Once they've matured, I'll spread the word. There'll be no shortage of buyers. Even the major families of the Silvermoon Empire, including the Su family, might find I'm not so willing to sell to them."

His words were bold and assertive.

Zhao Dongsheng watched him intently before suddenly declaring, "You, I believe in you! If you're ready to begin, just let the Zhao family know how we can support you!"

"I appreciate it, especially when I'm away from the Yu family," Yu Yuan responded.

"I wish I could have been more help," Zhao Dongsheng admitted with a touch of embarrassment. "The mayor is unable to resolve the issues facing the Yu family, and the Zhao family is no different. Thankfully, we have a solid foundation and are ready to assist where we can."

"That will be more than enough," Yu Yuan nodded. "Let's head back to Thylethlume."

With that, he led the way.

"Right, my dad and your granddad are waiting for you in town," Zhao Dongsheng said with a smile.

Ning Ji observed Yu Zhu with curiosity. Since her arrival, there had been something peculiar about her behavior.

Yu Zhu showed no signs of leaving, and after Yu Yuan turned back, she ventured even deeper into the area.

Ning Ji harbored many questions about the small, unassuming girl Yu Yuan had brought back, but without any explanation from Yu Yuan, he chose not to pry.

He acted as if he hadn't noticed anything out of the ordinary and followed Yu Yuan back to town.

Once everyone had departed, Yu Zhu ventured alone into the thicket.

She meandered as if aimlessly, yet the dense shrubs in her path toppled one after another as she passed.

Beneath the foliage lay segments of crystalline bone, slicing through the shrubs like scythe blades, effortlessly clearing vast swathes of land.

Undeterred, she pressed on deeper.

Below the moist earth, tendrils of mist and invisible, colorful speckles of light were drawn to her, emerging as if by magic, only to vanish within her as she continued her mysterious journey.

The toxins that once hindered the growth of magic plants, lurking deep within the subterranean muck, now served as her nourishment. Yu Yuan's inspiration to establish a medicinal garden in this region stemmed from her presence. As her creator, Yu Yuan understood her uniqueness more than anyone else and had brought her from the Serpent Spine Mountains for this very reason. With her here, this world was brimming with endless possibilities. Moreover, this place was even more suitable for her than the Serpent Spine Mountains or Gloomhollow.

The marshes of the Serpent Spine Mountains, a land of poisonous fumes and miasma, encompassed only a small area. Sacred Hands had declared it a forbidden area, and the miasma clouding the swamp actually originated from this very land. Yu Yuan had collected it in a previous era and had intentionally transported it to the Serpent Spine Mountains for her. He had placed Yu Zhu in the Serpent Spine Mountains, rather than here, because at that time, he was the Sect Master of the Order of Healing, and the Sacred Hands were bound to follow his command. But truly, the most fitting habitat for Yu Zhu was this desolate, uninhabited expanse of marshland lying between Asvetaesi and the Sunblessed Empire.

...

At the Yu family's ancestral home in Thylethlume, Yu Cen was visibly anxious, frequently glancing northward, barely registering Zhao Zhenghao's words. His sole concern was the return of his grandson, Yu Yuan. The herb slaves in town had confirmed the rumors that his grandson, believed to have perished in the Moonfall Sanctuary, was indeed alive and had returned. Even his old friend Ning Ji had secretly taken refuge in the town, quietly awaiting his grandson's arrival. Had Zhao Zhenghao not informed him that Zhao Dongsheng had already set out to notify Yu Yuan, he might have already rushed to the desolate Wasteland to the north.

"Sir, there is someone here to see you," Yu Lili announced abruptly, her expression stern as she approached Yu Cen and Zhao Zhenghao, who appeared to be in conversation.

"Someone to see us? Who could it be?" Yu Cen inquired, puzzled. "This is Thylethlume, not Asvetaesi. How could anyone know so swiftly that we've left the city and come here?"

"The individual claims to hail from Winter's Bite," Yu Lili stated.

"Winter's Bite!"

Upon hearing this, both Yu Cen and Zhao Zhenghao's expressions shifted noticeably.

Cultivators from Winter's Bite had not been seen since their humiliating defeat in Asvetaesi.

Why had they suddenly resurfaced, and why now of all times?

"I won't meet with them!" Yu Cen declared firmly.

"Such a minor Asvetaesi, an insignificant Yu family, and a trivial Veil Breaking. Such a lack of manners!"

A scoff broke the silence. The speaker emphasized their contempt for both the Yu family and Yu Cen by repeating the belittling term "small" three times. Disregarding Yu Cen's refusal, the figure made an uninvited appearance.

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