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 on Little Green Mountain for nearly two years. Though his cultivation was still at the Qi Condensation Eighth Layer, his combat power could no longer be spoken of in the same breath as before.

He had already cultivated the Water-Fire Control Technique to perfection. Combined 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.

All cultivators turning eighteen this year would attend the coming-of-age rites on this day. Several Foundation Establishment Elders and highly respected Clan Elders would be present.

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

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

Neither the content nor format of the assessment was fixed. The only certainty was that it would be a real blades-and-blood mission. Blood might be spilled, and lives might even be lost.

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

I wonder what kind of mission it will be? Song Changsheng felt a faint stir of anticipation in the bottom of his heart...

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 all the cultivators still on Vast Peak had come.

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

The back of the Daoist robe bore the Lineage's Silver Moon Clan Emblem interwoven with dark-gold patterns. Its front was covered in intricate Auspicious Cloud designs, while dark-gold lines trimmed the cuffs, making it look exceedingly solemn and dignified.

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

"So it's Clan Brother Changhu. Your little brother had been tending spirit fish on Little Green Mountain, so I returned a little late. Have the elders 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. Although he was two months older than Song Changsheng, he had only just reached the Qi Condensation Sixth Layer.

He was already quite impressive compared to others his age, but compared to Song Changsheng, he still fell far short.

When Song Changhu heard Song Changsheng mention tending spirit fish, a flash of envy immediately surfaced in the bottom of his heart. Who did not know that breeding assignments were cushy jobs?

Having a good mother really is different, Song Changhu thought to himself.

After casually exchanging a few words, the two went their separate ways. Their relationship amounted to little more than recognizing each other by sight.

The ceremony was scheduled quite late. There was still more than an hour before it began.

This had been arranged deliberately. After all, as the Lineage grew larger, the opportunities for everyone to gather became fewer and fewer. Put plainly, these large events were family reunions, meant to give everyone a chance to build their bonds.

It was also one way of maintaining the Lineage's unity.

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

Fortunately, many people knew him, and from time to time someone would come over to chat. This spared Song Changsheng some awkwardness.

"Little Uncle."

Suddenly, Song Changsheng heard a crisp, ethereal voice by his ear. Turning his head, he discovered Song Xi pulling the coffin-faced Song Qingxing along as she stood prettily not far away, waving at him.

A smile immediately appeared on Song Changsheng's face. He walked over to the two of them and said, "You came too."

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

Song Xi, on the other hand, was much livelier. Pulling 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 spoke with feigned surprise.

In truth, he had learned this news long ago. Half a year earlier, at the Immortal Ascension Assembly, Song Qingxi had been found to possess a Wood-Water Twin Spiritual Root. Her Wood Spiritual Root had reached an astonishing eight inches, making her the most talented of that session.

Now, half a year later, the little girl had successfully entered the Dao and become 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. He truly deserved his reputation as someone with a Variant Spiritual Root—he was even a shade stronger than Song Changsheng had been back then.

"I heard from my little 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 felt like the visitor had come with ill intent.

But 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 insignificant.

"You're not as good as Little Uncle," Song Qingxi said, wrinkling her delicate nose in displeasure.

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

"You won't." Song Qingxi planted both hands on her hips, revealing two little canine teeth and looking exceptionally fierce.

The two of them kept arguing back and forth without tiring of it, while Song Changsheng instead 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 asked Song Xianming to arrange Qingxing and Qingxi together, he had merely wanted to give it a try. Now, nearly two years later, it seemed the results were beginning to show.

Though Song Changsheng was far away on Little Green Mountain, he frequently kept in contact with the Lineage and had carefully looked into Qingxing as well.

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

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

The ones who usually interacted with him were also the Lineage's several Foundation Establishment Elders. Yet without exception, every elder had quite a few criticisms of him.

It was only because Song Qingxing had taken coldness to the extreme. He also spoke very impolitely; his words never contained names or any other form of address, always just "you, you, you."

Besides that, he was extremely impatient. It was as though speaking one extra word would waste his saliva.

It seemed that aside from cultivation, nothing else ever entered his eyes.

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

But now, it appeared they had all worried too much.

Just now, Song Qingxing had not only called Qingxi "little sister," but he also responded to every single thing Qingxi said to him. Even if those words were completely meaningless, he still answered with meticulous seriousness.

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

Wasn't this a very good beginning?

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

The two argued for about a quarter of an hour. In the end, Song Qingxi was the first to admit defeat and could only glare at Song Qingxing in a huff.

Song Changsheng's eyes smiled. Anyone who argued with an iron lump like this would end in defeat.

For reference, try arguing with an iron lump that could speak. No matter what was said, not the slightest trace of emotion would change on its face. Before long, even the one arguing would find it meaningless.

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

"Yield?" Song Qingxing glanced at the sulking Song Qingxi, and at last, a faint ripple appeared in his eyes.