Time flies, and it's already deep winter, approaching the New Year in the future.
Most places in the wilderness don't have this tradition, but Yu Su feels that Yu Village can have it this year.
After a busy year, consider it an opportunity for everyone to celebrate and relax.
Entering the 25th of the twelfth month, the village started bustling according to Yu Su's instructions.
Considering the current situation in Yu Village, Yu Su didn't make it too complicated.
He wrote couplets on red paper, each household pasted a pair on their doors; then, Xin Ya and others made some peace knots, hanging one in each household; red lanterns were also hung.
With red lanterns, couplets, and peace knots, the festive atmosphere was set.
Next is the bonfire banquet on New Year's Eve.
On this night, the whole village gathers to celebrate, and on the morning of the second day, which is New Year's Day, Yu Su performs a blessing ceremony.
The blessing ceremony is grand, with Yu Su wearing a solemn priest robe, solemnly praying to the gods for the village's peace and joy in the new year.
Villagers who attended the ceremony could feel the warm power that descended upon them that day, creating a sense of reverence and excitement, filling them with expectations for the new year.
This is the spiritual grace that Yu Su bestowed upon the villagers, ensuring fewer illnesses and disasters in the coming year.
...
After the blessing ceremony, Lu Yan felt that his foundational tribulation had arrived.
When he mentioned it to Yu Su, the tribulation clouds in the sky had already begun to gather.
"Go to the Black Flame Mountain; the fire spiritual energy there will benefit you," Yu Su said, then took Lu Yan to Black Flame Mountain, with the tribulation clouds following.
Yu Su took out healing pills from the spatial dimension for Lu Yan.
"If you can't hold on, take these. I'll be nearby to protect you."
"Okay."
Later, Lu Yan entered Black Flame Mountain, and Yu Su, wielding his sword, stood in the air, guarding the mountain.
Similar to Yu Su's tribulation, Lu Yan's foundational tribulation was quite imposing.
Living beings within a radius of hundreds of miles instinctively hid, and nothing dared to approach.
When the first tribulation thunder struck, Black Flame Mountain lit up like daylight.
Although Yu Su couldn't see inside the mountain, the elves' keen senses allowed him to clearly monitor Lu Yan's situation.
As a native of the wilderness, facing tribulation thunder for the first time, Lu Yan performed exceptionally well, remaining calm and composed.
Then came the second, third, fourth...
One tribulation after another struck, and Lu Yan withstood them all.
In the later stages, he took a few healing pills and stubbornly endured the final tribulation. When it disappeared, a radiant light enveloped him, and the rich fire spiritual energy rapidly healed all his wounds.
Yu Su could feel the pressure of a foundational cultivator emanating from Lu Yan.
After about half an hour, a divine sense belonging to another foundational cultivator swept over from Black Flame Mountain, stopping at Yu Su.
Yu Su: "..."
This guy.
"Since everything's fine, come out. It's time to apply the Qi control technique I taught you."
Lu Yan retracted his divine sense, recalling the details of the Qi control technique Yu Su had taught him. After a few attempts, he successfully controlled the Qi and flew out of Black Flame Mountain.
The mountain's summit had collapsed to some extent.
After Lu Yan used the Qi control technique to come out, he went to the stream in the valley to take a bath.
When Yu Su felt he had bathed enough, he took out the clothes he had prepared for Lu Yan from the spatial dimension and walked over to hand them to him.
Lu Yan stood up from the deep pit in the stream, his body muscular and powerful in the sunlight—a body exuding masculine strength.
He looked at Yu Su with deep and fiery eyes.
Caught off guard, Yu Su looked at Lu Yan's entire body, his eyes widening.
This was the second time Yu Su had seen Lu Yan's appearance, the first being when they met sincerely in the lake outside the Tree of Life Island.
The impact this time was even greater, especially...
Yu Su's ears heated up, and he threw the clothes to Lu Yan.
"Hurry up and put these on!"
Lu Yan, holding the clothes, walked ashore. After drying himself, he put on the clothes.
His gaze chased after Yu Su, who had already turned away and left the stream. After reaching the shore, Lu Yan quickly caught up.
"Why did you turn around just now?" Lu Yan asked as he caught up.
Yu Su thought he was really inscrutable, "What's the reason? Just wanted to go back sooner. It's not as comfortable here as at home."
Lu Yan made a disappointed sound and didn't notice the slightly flickering gaze of Yu Su.
...
A month passed in the blink of an eye, and the weather gradually warmed up, signaling the revival of all things.
After the snow had melted, River Qing and the others, along with some villagers, began preparations for spring planting. Meanwhile, Yu Su led the slaves from the slave camp northward to continue the road construction project left unfinished before.
Ironforge Village and the barbarians still sent people to help as usual.
Another half month later, the smooth road from Yu Village to the Salt Lake was finally completed.
For Ironforge Village and the barbarians, they never expected to have such a well-made road so quickly. It was the people of Yu Village who broadened their horizons.
So, at the moment the road was completed, they were even more excited than the people of Yu Village.
"In the name of the Beast God, can't believe we helped build this."
"After we go back, I can boast about this for a whole year."
"A whole year? I can boast for a lifetime."
While everyone was celebrating, Yu Su led a group to inspect the Salt Lake.
The Salt Lake was quite large, with no worries about salt production.
The salt-producing equipment left here by the Salt Village before was outdated and of little use. Yu Su had them cleared. He placed a new order with Ironforge Village for customized equipment.
"This area can be used for salt production."
After inspecting the Salt Lake, Yu Su selected a suitable location. In terms of distance and other conditions, this location was perfect.
The scale of the salt field here would undoubtedly be larger than the one in the Salt Spring Valley, so it would take more time to construct. Therefore, after the road was opened, Yu Su started arranging the construction of the salt field.
After drawing up detailed plans, he entrusted the construction of the salt field to Yu Feng and Xin Dong. He told them to take their time; there was no need to rush.
"We don't lack salt for the time being. When the construction is complete, we can start salt production."
"The guards around the salt field will be entrusted to Yu Wu."
Yu Feng and the others nodded, expressing their assurance to complete the task.
After returning to the village...
"Father, how do you feel?" Yu Su asked Jian Yunchuan.
"It's fine. After frequent contact with the earth recently, my control over earth spiritual energy has improved. It shouldn't take long to advance to the ninth level of Qi Refinement," Jian Yunchuan replied.
As a cultivator with dual earth and wood spiritual roots, Jian Meng also gained considerable benefits.
Yu Su said, "So, do you think we should take a break and then continue road construction, or can we proceed now?"
Jian Yunchuan said, "I'm fine, we can continue."
Jian Meng also said he could continue and believed that this training method was more advantageous for them.
Yu Su nodded. "Then, in ten days, we will start opening the road to Ironforge Village. Father, you will lead the team. Bring the three mountain-piercing beasts, and I've already talked to Tie Ying; he will mobilize the villagers from Ironforge Village to help. Villagers from other villages along the way will also join in."
Jian Yunchuan nodded. "Okay, I will communicate with Tie Ying."
Jian Meng asked Yu Su, "What about you?"
Yu Su replied, "I plan to clear the western wilderness after planting what needs to be planted now and cultivate cotton there. Also, I'll work on taming the barbarian horses and making carriages. Once the salt field at the Salt Lake is completed, we can put them to use."
Jian Yunchuan frowned slightly. "Don't overwork yourself."
"It's okay. The cotton seeds from Da Ye Village are not many. Even if I clear the land now, it will only be a small part. It won't take long to finish," Yu Su reassured.
After hearing this, Lu Yan said he would take care of taming the barbarian horses, so Yu Su didn't have to worry about it.
After some thought, Yu Su agreed and handed the task of taming the barbarian horses to Lu Yan.
With these arrangements, the manpower in Yu Village became somewhat tight.
Fortunately, when the barbarians heard that Yu Su needed help, they sent many people to assist.
With the addition of the barbarians, the manpower for planting increased. After a short time, all the fields that needed to be planted were sown, marking the completion of the most important task for Yu Village at the moment.
Next, the barbarians joined in clearing the western wilderness. They quickly opened up land suitable for growing cotton.
Yu Su personally oversaw the cotton planting process. After planting was completed, he assigned someone to look after the cotton field. He also had the eagles and snow wolves patrol the area to prevent any disturbances from the sky or ground.
"Lord Yu Su is truly amazing. He can even tame things that fly in the sky and run on the ground."
"If I had such skills, I could become the first warrior of the barbarians!"
"You? Want to become the first warrior of the barbarians? You have to defeat me first."
"How can you talk like that? Last time, I let you win."
"Don't argue. Do you want Lord Yu Su to witness a joke?"
The barbarians became excited while discussing this. Their leader, Yellow Leopard, glared at them, and they quickly fell silent.
This time, the disciple of the Great Shaman, Li Ye, also came. He gazed at the eagles in the sky with excitement and said, "I heard that Ironforge Village has an eagle tamed by Lord Yu Su that can be used to communicate with him. I wonder if we can ask Lord Yu Su to tame an eagle for the Beast God Temple so that we can contact him in a timely manner."
Yellow Leopard's eyes lit up. "You have a point. Why not ask now?"
Li Ye thought for a moment before saying, "Let's wait a bit. Lord Yu Su has been very busy lately. Let's ask after he finishes his work."
Yellow Leopard nodded. "Good, then ask Lord Yu Su if there's anything we can help with."