Song Changsheng (Please Bookmark)

Great Qi Cultivation World, Ling Province.

Ling Province was one of the nineteen provinces of the Qi Kingdom. It lay in a remote region, bordering the southwestern borderlands and the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains.

Even so, Ling Province covered a vast area stretching tens of thousands of li in every direction. Three mountain ranges crisscrossed it: Moon-Gazing, Wutong, and Liuyun.

The Song Clan was one of Ling Province's Six Great Foundation Establishment Powers. The entire Moon-Gazing Mountain Range fell within their sphere of influence, and they possessed seven counties and more than six hundred thousand Mortal Clan Members.

The clan grounds were located on Vast Peak. This mountain rose over a thousand zhang high, with beautiful scenery all around. Spirit Mountains encircled it, lush vegetation flourished beneath swirling mists, and rare treasures and strange beasts spread throughout the mountain, adding several touches of immortal aura. It resembled an earthly paradise.

At this moment.

Beside a cliff halfway up Vast Peak sat a youth clad in a Qing robe embroidered with Yinyue cloud patterns, a gourd hanging from his waist. His hands formed seals as he sat cross-legged, facing the sun.

The youth was named Song Changsheng. He stood seven chi tall, with a face like polished jade. His Sword Brows lent him an air of sharpness, while his thick black hair was casually tied behind his head with a ribbon. He was truly handsome and distinguished.

At that moment, he had his eyes closed and his mind focused, embracing the origin and guarding the one. The intervals between each breath were extraordinarily long, yet they contained a certain rhythm, mysterious beyond measure.

Strands of Essence of the Sun entered his Baihui Acupoint with every breath, passed through the Hand Three Yang Meridians, the Foot Three Yang Meridians, and their acupoints, then completed a circuit before gathering in his Lower Dantian, where they formed a mass of grayish-white mist.

At a certain moment, he seemed to have touched upon some profound mystery. The Spiritual Power rapidly circulating through his meridians suddenly charged toward his Dantian, shattering an unyielding barrier into fragments and drawing a muffled groan from the youth.

Song Changsheng immediately accelerated the circulation of his cultivation art. Water-Fire Spiritual Power swirled around him, gradually calming the violent spiritual qi.

"I've finally broken through to the Qi Condensation Seventh Layer." Song Changsheng opened his eyes and slowly exhaled a mouthful of Turbid Qi, his heart brimming with joy.

"Congratulations, Little Brother. You've taken another step closer to Foundation Establishment." Song Changsheng had only just finished his cultivation when a delighted voice came from behind him.

Song Changsheng did not even need to turn around. He knew from the voice alone that it was Song Changming, his Elder Brother from the same branch.

After the Song Clan Ancestor, Song Taiyi, slew a Third-Tier Great Demon and occupied the Moon-Gazing Mountain Range, he took in numerous wives and concubines to Expand the Family Line. He had once established the ten characters, "Tai, Chu, Yun, Xian, Lu, Chang, Qing, You, Jing, Ming," as the generation names for cultivators.

Nearly five hundred years had passed since then. The clan now had close to four hundred cultivators, including six Foundation Establishment Cultivators. The eldest belonged to the Xian Generation, which had the fewest Numbers, while the youngest belonged to the Qing generation and were mostly still underage.

The two generations in between, Lu and Chang, were the Pillars of the Clan today and were gradually gaining control over the clan's voice.

When he looked back, he indeed saw a somewhat aged Middle-aged Man standing in the distance.

"I was wondering why I heard magpies chirping this morning. So Elder Brother had come to visit. Might I ask what brings Elder Brother to see Your Younger Brother?" Song Changsheng Stood Up and offered a smiling Cupped Fist Salute.

Song Changming gave a Bitter Smile. "Your Brother truly has a favor to ask of you."

"Elder Brother is far too polite. You have helped me greatly on the Cultivation Path. So long as it is something Your Younger Brother can do, Elder Brother need only speak." Song Changsheng invited him to sit on a stone bench nearby and spoke solemnly.

"Ah, it's like this. Since that battle Ten Years Ago, the clan has gone from bad to worse. Many of the clan's businesses outside lack manpower.

"So the clan assigned me to Station at a mine vein. Once I leave, Did Not Know how many springs and autumns will pass before I return. Thus, I wish to ask Worthy Brother to refine a Protective Talisman for Xi'er."

Song Changming waved his hand, and a Qing jade pendant and a small pile of Spirit Stones appeared on the stone table In Front Of him. There seemed to be more than a dozen of them.

"So that was it. But Xi'er lives on Vast Peak, where her safety should be assured. Why would she need such Chicken Ribs?" Song Changsheng was somewhat puzzled.

Song Changming was sixty-three this year. Seeing no hope of Foundation Establishment, he had married an Outer Clan Cultivator and had children with her. Several years ago, she had given birth to their daughter, Song Xi. This Protective Talisman was what he sought for Song Xi.

That was precisely what puzzled Song Changsheng. Although a Protective Talisman possessed a trace of Spiritual Power, it could only deal with ordinary mortals. His little niece lived in the clan's main stronghold, so where would she ever need such Chicken Ribs?

Song Changming's expression was complicated as he said, "Xi'er is six this year and will soon be tested for spiritual roots. If she has a spiritual root, then all is well. But if she does not, according to Clan Rules, she will be sent to a Mortal City.

"Once I leave, whether I can return is still uncertain. By then, she will be all alone. Your Brother truly cannot rest easy, so I beg Worthy Brother to help me."

Song Changsheng fell silent upon Hearing This. The Clan Rules were strict. All the clan's mortals lived in the county towns. Which Is why Song Changming's Descendants could live on Vast Peak only because he was a Cultivator.

Yet immortals and mortals were worlds apart. Those without spiritual roots would be sent away to Mortal Cities. Man was not wood or grass; how could one be without feeling? How could he possibly stop worrying about his own flesh and blood? That was why Song Changming had come to seek this Protective Talisman.

Song Changsheng had never experienced such a thing, so he considered the Protective Talisman to be Chicken Ribs. But to Song Changming, it was a safeguard he could leave behind for his daughter.

"Changsheng understands. I will certainly do everything in my power." Song Changsheng swept his sleeve and put away the jade pendant, but pushed the pile of Spirit Stones back.

"That will not do. Even close brothers must settle accounts clearly. This is the payment you deserve." Song Changming was startled and hurriedly tried to push them back again, only for Song Changsheng to stop him with a raised hand.

"Elder Brother, I am Xi'er's elder after all. Consider this Protective Talisman my gift to her. After you descend the mountain, you will need Spirit Stones at every turn. You should keep them."

Cultivators required enormous amounts of spiritual qi to cultivate. But the laws of the current world were incomplete, and the spiritual qi was chaotic, making it difficult for cultivators to absorb. Thus, they needed to cultivate upon Spirit Veins.

The higher the grade of a Spirit Vein, the denser its spiritual qi and the faster one could cultivate.

Vast Peak possessed Ling Province's only Third-Tier Spirit Vein. Cultivating there yielded twice the result with half the effort. Outside, however, things were different. There were often only First-Tier Spirit Veins, or none at all.

Under such circumstances, one had to rely on Spirit Stones to cultivate, or one's cultivation would stagnate. Spirit Stones were precious; for low-level cultivators, more than a dozen was no small sum.

Song Changming was moved. "Then many thanks, Worthy Brother."

"Elder Brother is too polite. Would you care to drink a couple of cups with Your Younger Brother?" Song Changsheng Smiled, then removed the gourd from his waist.

"Hahaha, I have long been thinking about the fine wine brewed personally by Sixth Aunt. Of course I can't miss it." Song Changming's eyes immediately lit up.

Song Changsheng Smiled Slightly. He would have been reluctant to bring out the spirit wine brewed by his mother if not to send Song Changming off.

Taking out two small Wine Cups, the two drank together atop the cliff until Si Hour, when they reluctantly parted.

Song Changsheng returned to his courtyard reeking of Alcohol Content, yet his mind was unusually clear. He tightly shut the Room Door, then sat down and focused his mind.

His consciousness soon sank into an extreme calm. Within his Sea of Consciousness, a pristine white Jade Slip floated silently.

Drawn by his Mental Energy, the Jade Slip slowly unfolded, revealing densely packed scripture within.

Song Changsheng formed a Magic Incantation with his hands. Taking advantage of the Wine Liquid within his body continuously transforming into pure Spiritual Power, he began to study the scripture on the Jade Slip.

This Jade Slip was a Dao Scripture named the Mysterious Creation Canon, profound beyond measure.

In his Previous Life, he had been an orphan on Blue Star, taken in by a Daoist temple. He and an old Daoist had depended on one another for twenty years. Before the old Daoist died, he handed him a blank Jade Slip.

The first time he opened the Jade Slip, it stirred the heavenly mysteries. Nine bolts of Xuanlei descended from the heavens, striking him alive into a charred corpse.

Fortunately, the Jade Slip protected his soul, tore through the void, and fled to the Ziyu Realm, where he was reincarnated into the Song Clan.

At first, his soul was shrouded in Chaos, so he was no different from an ordinary Child. It was not until the great battle Ten Years Ago, when he was six years old and Witnessed the death of his biological father, Song Luyan.

At that moment, perhaps because of the intense shock, his memories of his Previous Life finally awakened. Only then did he discover that the Jade Slip had always been in his mind.

He began attempting to comprehend the Jade Slip and discovered that it contained Daoist classics that pointed directly to the source of the Great Dao. Every word and sentence contained supreme wondrous methods.

When he first achieved Qi Absorption into Body, he comprehended a cultivation art named the Yin-Yang Profound Radiance Scripture. This art could absorb Sun Essence Moon Splendor and form Primal Chaos Qi within the Dantian.

Primal Chaos Qi was exceedingly mysterious and could harmonize the water and fire spiritual qi within his body.

Song Changsheng's Water-Fire Spiritual Root was both his advantage and his weakness. His Dual Spiritual Root allowed him to absorb spiritual qi faster than ordinary people, but water and fire were incompatible. While cultivating, he had to expend great effort maintaining the balance between them.

This greatly hindered his cultivation speed. Yet ever since he began cultivating the Yin-Yang Profound Radiance Scripture, this problem had been solved as easily as splitting bamboo.

Not only did it harmonize his water and fire spiritual qi, it also encouraged their fusion, greatly increasing his cultivation speed. That was how he had broken through to the Qi Condensation Stage, Late Phase at the age of sixteen.

But although the Dao Scripture was exquisite, comprehending it required Spiritual Power to sustain him. Therefore, before each attempt at comprehension, he needed to drink a great deal of spirit wine.

Second by second, time passed. Just as his Spiritual Power was about to be completely Consumed, the Dao Scripture suddenly shone brilliantly. The two ancient characters for "water" and "fire" abruptly came alive, rushing out of his Sea of Consciousness and merging into the centers of his palms.

Song Changsheng opened his eyes, and a Sharp Light Flashed and Disappeared. He murmured, "Water-Fire Control Technique?"

He looked at his palms. The character "water" Appeared on his left palm, while "fire" appeared on his right. With a slight urge of spiritual qi, the water and fire spiritual qi between heaven and earth immediately began to churn. He felt that with a single thought, these powers could be used by him.

"What a marvelous Secret Art. It can actually control water and fire. I have gained another means to face enemies." Song Changsheng said in surprise.

"There truly seems to be a pattern to this. I often study the Dao Scripture, but most of the time, I gain nothing and merely increase my comprehension and Mental Energy slightly.

"Yet whenever I break through a realm, I comprehend a cultivation art or Secret Art.

"When I first achieved Qi Absorption into Body, I comprehended the Yin-Yang Profound Radiance Scripture. When I broke through to the Qi Condensation Stage, Mid-Phase, I comprehended the Breath Concealment Technique. Today, upon breaking through to the Late Phase, I also comprehended this miraculous Water-Fire Control Technique.

"I Did Not Know what supreme wondrous method I might comprehend once I break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm." Song Changsheng could not help but feel several degrees more anticipation in his heart.

After adjusting his breath briefly, Song Changsheng took the Qing jade pendant from his Universe Bag and began refining the Protective Talisman...

A nobody setting out on the road, with the outline complete and updates stable. Please support me generously; I would be endlessly grateful!