Song Qingxing (Please Bookmark)

Cultivation knew no ages; in the mountains, one did not know the years. A year passed in the flick of a finger.

In the blink of an eye, Song Changsheng had turned eighteen. He had been at Little Green Mountain for nearly two years. Though his cultivation was still at the Qi Condensation Eighth Layer, his combat strength could no longer be spoken of in the same breath as before.

He had cultivated the Water-Fire Control Technique to perfection. Paired with the Treasure Gourd, he could steadily hold the upper hand even against an ordinary Qi Condensation Great Perfection cultivator.

Today, Song Changsheng was leaving Little Green Mountain and returning to Vast Peak to take part in a grand Lineage event—the Coming of Age Ceremony.

Any cultivator turning eighteen this year would attend the ceremony. Several Foundation Establishment Elders and highly respected Clan Elders would be present as well.

And these newly grown cultivators would face the first major hurdle of their lives—the Clan Assessment.

According to the Song Clan's rules, Clan Cultivators had to be assigned a collective assessment upon reaching adulthood, to test the results of their cultivation within the Lineage.

The content and format of the assessment were never fixed. The only certainty was that it would be a mission involving real blades and real spears. Blood might be spilled; lives might even be lost.

Though the odds were low, every few years there would always be one or two unlucky bastards.

What kind of mission will it be? Song Changsheng felt a faint sense of anticipation...

The ceremony was being held on Bluestone Square before the Soul Lamp Hall. By the time Song Changsheng arrived, many people had already gathered there. Nearly every cultivator still on Vast Peak had come.

Song Changsheng had taken off the green long robe he usually liked to wear and changed into a rather heavy black Daoist robe.

The back of the robe bore the Silver Moon Clan Emblem amid dark-gold patterns, while its front was embroidered with intricate Auspicious Cloud designs. Dark-gold lines edged the cuffs, making it appear exceptionally solemn and dignified.

"Clan brother Changsheng, why are you only getting here now?" A tall man in the same black Daoist robe came over to greet him.

"So it's clan brother Changhu. Your little brother had been handling the job of raising Spirit Fish on Little Green Mountain, so I returned a little late. Have the elders all arrived?"

Song Changsheng recognized the newcomer at a glance. He was also one of the Lineage's Foundation Establishment Seeds and possessed a Gold-Water Twin Spiritual Root. Though he was two months older than Song Changsheng, his cultivation had only just reached the Qi Condensation Sixth Layer.

Compared to others his age, he was already quite impressive, but compared to Song Changsheng, he was still far behind.

Upon hearing Song Changsheng mention raising Spirit Fish, a trace of jealousy immediately surfaced in Song Changhu's heart. Who did not know that breeding assignments were cushy jobs?

Having a good mother really does make all the difference, Song Changhu thought darkly.

After exchanging a few casual words, the two went their separate ways. Their relationship amounted to nothing more than being familiar by sight.

The ceremony was scheduled rather late. There was still more than two hours before it began.

This had been arranged deliberately. After all, as the Lineage grew larger, the chances for everyone to gather became fewer and fewer. Put bluntly, these large events were family reunions meant to let everyone build relationships.

It was also one way to maintain the Lineage's unity.

Song Changsheng had always focused on cultivation, so there were truly few cultivators of his generation whom he knew.

Fortunately, many people knew him, and someone would come over to chat with him every so often, sparing Song Changsheng some awkwardness.

"Little Uncle."

Suddenly, Song Changsheng heard a clear, ethereal voice by his ear. Turning his head, he saw Song Xi pulling Song Qingxing—whose face looked like a coffin lid—as she stood prettily not far away and waved at him.

A smile immediately appeared on Song Changsheng's face. Walking over to the two of them, he said, "You're here too."

Song Qingxing held an ancient, simple longsword in his arms, his face practically bearing the words "keep strangers away."

Song Xi, on the other hand, was much more cheerful. Tugging on Song Changsheng's hand, she chattered, "Little Uncle, Xi'er can cultivate now too."

"Really? Xi'er is amazing. From now on, you should be called Qingxi." Song Changsheng rubbed the little girl's soft hair and feigned surprise.

In truth, he had learned this news long ago. At the Immortal Ascension Assembly half a year earlier, Song Qingxi had been found to possess a Wood-Water Twin Spiritual Root. Her Wood Spiritual Root had reached a remarkable eight inches, making her the most gifted participant of that assembly.

Half a year had now passed, and the little girl had successfully entered the Dao, becoming a Qi Condensation First Layer cultivator.

As for Song Qingxing, who was two years older than her, he had already reached the Qi Condensation Second Layer. As expected of a Variant Spiritual Root, he was even a shade stronger than Song Changsheng had been back then.

"I heard from my younger sister that you are the number one among the Lineage's younger generation?" Song Qingxing suddenly spoke from the side.

Song Changsheng raised his brows. What was with that tone? It sounded like the visitor had come with ill intent.

Still, he was not about to fear a junior. Song Changsheng met his gaze and said, "If you mean those under eighteen, then my cultivation is indeed currently the highest."

"I will surpass you," Song Qingxing said coldly, as if he were merely stating something trivial.

"You're not as strong as Little Uncle at all." Song Qingxi wrinkled her delicate nose, clearly displeased.

"I will surpass him," Song Qingxing responded calmly.

"No, you won't." Song Qingxi planted her hands on her hips, revealing two little tiger teeth and looking exceptionally fierce.

The two of them continued arguing back and forth without growing tired of it, while Song Changsheng became an outsider for a moment.

He lifted his gourd and took a sip of wine, his eyes moving between the two with great interest.

Back then, when he had Song Xianming arrange for Qingxing and Qingxi to be together, he had only intended to give it a try. Now that nearly two years had passed, it seemed to be showing its first effects.

Though Song Changsheng was far away on Little Green Mountain, he often kept in contact with the Lineage and had carefully looked into Qingxing's circumstances.

Because the Lineage did not intend to reveal his existence too early, Song Qingxing normally stayed only with Song Qingxi and had scarcely shown himself before anyone else.

The number of people who knew his true talent could be counted on two hands.

The ones who interacted with him normally were also only several Foundation Establishment Elders. Yet without exception, every elder had quite a few complaints about him.

That was because Song Qingxing carried his coldness to the extreme. He was also very impolite when speaking; his words never contained anyone's name or any form of address. It was always "you, you, you."

Besides that, he was terribly impatient. Saying even one extra word seemed like a waste of his saliva.

It was as though, apart from cultivation, nothing else was worthy of entering his eyes.

When Song Changsheng had first heard those evaluations, he had wondered whether this fellow had already stepped onto the Dao of Ruthlessness.

But now, it seemed they had all worried for nothing.

Just now, Song Qingxing had called Qingxi "Younger Sister." He also responded to every single thing Qingxi said, even when her words were utterly meaningless. He still answered each one with meticulous seriousness.

This showed that Song Changsheng's strategy back then had been correct. Song Qingxing still retained emotions. Though they were currently directed only toward Song Qingxi, that was already enough.

Wasn't that a very good beginning?

As long as he retained emotions belonging to a human, he would sooner or later integrate into the Lineage.

The two argued for nearly a quarter of an hour. In the end, Song Qingxi was the first to concede defeat and could only glare angrily at Song Qingxing.

Song Changsheng smiled from the corner of his eye. Anyone who argued with such an iron lump would end in defeat.

Just imagine arguing with an iron lump that could talk. No matter what you said, there would not be the slightest change in its expression. After arguing for a while, you yourself would find it meaningless.

"Qingxing, as the older brother, you should learn to yield to your younger sister," Song Changsheng said at the right moment.

"Yield?" Song Qingxing glanced at the puff-cheeked Song Qingxi, and at last, the faintest ripple appeared in his eyes.

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