Song Changsheng took out a three-legged, two-eared Bronze Cauldron. With a flick of his right hand, the "Fire" character in his palm flashed and disappeared, and a cluster of orange-red flames immediately appeared beneath the cauldron, blazing fiercely.
He tossed the egg-sized Jade Pendant inside and pondered, "If I'm making it, I might as well make it the best. But this jade pendant is too brittle—I'll need to add some Hidden White Clay to increase its strength."
With that, he took out a Jade Bottle and poured some white powder into it. Then he activated his Spiritual Power, making the flames burn even more fiercely.
The Bronze Cauldron soon turned red-hot beneath the licking flames. Inside, the jade pendant fused with the Hidden White Clay, leaving specks of white mottling across its emerald-green surface.
Song Changsheng added the powdered remains of several more minerals in succession, making the fragile jade pendant much sturdier. About an hour later, the almost completely reforged jade pendant emerged fresh from the furnace.
Next came the inscription of Formation Patterns. As the saying went, formations and artifacts had been inseparable since ancient times; any outstanding Artifact Forger was bound to have attainments in arrays.
Likewise, an exceptional Array Master needed to study the path of artifact forging, because the two were intertwined—you within me, and me within you.
Special Magic Artifacts required arrays to be inscribed upon them to improve their quality. Setting up an array also required forging Formation Bases and Formation Flags, and being able to do it personally was naturally best.
Because he had spent years comprehending Dao Scriptures, Song Changsheng's insight far surpassed that of ordinary people. Thus, he was not only a First-Tier High-Grade Artifact Forger, but also a First-Tier High-Grade Array Master—a rare dual-specialist talent. That was why Song Changming had come looking for him.
"Though this protective talisman is meant for a mortal, it should still focus on defense. That way, it won't cause trouble in the future and end up harming Song Xi instead."
After thinking briefly, Song Changsheng gripped the Jade Pendant and began gathering Mental Energy to inscribe Formation Patterns within it.
"If it is to gather Spiritual Power, it will need a miniature Spirit Gathering Array. It will also need a Sensing Array, so it can automatically activate to protect its owner upon sensing killing intent.
"This is my first time arranging such a Linked Formation. It seems I'll have to stay on twelve points of alert."
Song Changsheng's Mental Energy was like an engraving knife, rapidly carving Formation Patterns into the Jade Pendant. Before long, he had drawn the two basic arrays and linked them together.
The instant the array was completed, Song Changsheng immediately sensed a small vortex form inside the Jade Pendant, slowly absorbing the surrounding spiritual qi.
"For defense, let's use the Spirit Shield Array. Three hundred and sixty degrees of defense without a single blind spot—only then can one rest easy." Song Changsheng muttered to himself as he swiftly inscribed the third array.
It should have ended there, but he suddenly recalled the Water-Fire Control Technique he had just comprehended. After hesitating for a moment, he still picked up the Jade Pendant and infused a thread of Fire Energy into it.
The Secret Art had made his control over fire Spiritual Power exceptionally precise. That thread of Fire Energy fused perfectly, and the originally cool Jade Pendant became warm.
Looking at his masterpiece, Song Changsheng said cheerfully, "If I had possessed such an ability in my previous life, wouldn't I have been able to mass-produce warm jade? I'd definitely have made a fortune."
Originally, he had not planned to add any offensive means to this protective talisman. But remembering that constant defense would eventually fail, he decided this would be the final life-saving measure he left for Song Xi.
If Song Xi ever encountered a cultivator, she could smash this Jade Pendant and trigger the hidden Fire Energy within. Caught off guard, even an Early Qi Condensation cultivator might perish in the Yellow Springs.
"Whew, I've finally fulfilled elder brother's request. I'll deliver it to him tomorrow." Song Changsheng looked at the evening glow outside the window and murmured.
He tidied up his things, then made some Spirit Rice Porridge to fill his stomach. He was merely a Qi Condensation Cultivator and Could Not Do without food for extended periods; he had to eat regularly.
Of course, he could substitute it with Bigu Pills, but those were supplied only to the Lineage's Foundation Establishment Elders. If others wanted them, they had to exchange Contribution Points for them. Contribution Points were precious, so few people would do that.
After finishing the porridge, seeing that it was about time, he paced over to the pool in the rear courtyard and prepared to begin his nightly cultivation.
The Yin-Yang Profound Radiance Scripture he cultivated was highly unusual. Every day, he had to absorb the Essence of the Sun during Mao hour and Chen Shi, then absorb Moonlight Qi during Xu hour and Hai hour.
Sun Essence Moon Splendor, one yin and one yang, formed Primal Chaos Qi, which was stored within the Dantian Qi Sea.
Primal Chaos Qi possessed endless wondrous uses. Balancing water and fire was merely one of them. Over the years, he had only managed to store a single breath of it...
The next morning, after finishing his cultivation, Song Changsheng left his residence and headed toward the foot of the mountain.
Within the Song Clan, the residential areas for clan members were strictly divided. The spiritual qi at the mountain peak was the richest, making it the place where the Patriarch or Purple Palace Cultivators entered seclusion.
However, after the Song Clan's last Purple Palace Cultivator, Song Yungui, passed away a hundred years ago, no new Purple Palace Cultivator had emerged. The strongest person now was Patriarch Song Xianming, at the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment and also a Third Tier Low-Grade Array Master. He was the Pillar of the Sea of the Lineage.
He was also Song Changsheng's biological grandfather, so people often said that he had inherited his grandfather's talent for arrays.
The mountainside was where the Lineage's upper ranks and some clan members lived. Song Changsheng was qualified to reside there only because of his status as a Foundation Establishment Seed.
Apart from them, the Lineage's other clan members lived at the mountain's foot and on several nearby Spirit Mountains. Though these places could not compare to the mountainside, they were still rare cultivation treasures.
Song Changming's small courtyard stood beside a stretch of Spirit Fields. It was early spring, and green Spirit Wheat shoots swayed in the wind as though they were holding a grand dance.
A little girl dressed in green, with two pigtails pointing skyward, ran and played between the ridges of the fields. Like a butterfly dancing gracefully through the farmland, she was bursting with life.
Song Changsheng arrived at the edge of the field, a gentle smile appearing on his face. He beckoned to her. "Xi'er, come here."
Song Xi, who had been catching grasshoppers, turned at the sound. Spotting Song Changsheng by the field, a sweet smile immediately bloomed across her slightly chubby face. She spread her arms and ran toward him at full speed.
Song Changsheng scooped the little girl up and smiled. "Xi'er, where's your father?"
"Father went out to take care of something." Song Xi's voice was as clear and pleasant as a silver bell, making people unable to help but adore her.
"Is that so? Do you still recognize me?" His timing was somewhat unfortunate, but since little Song Xi was here, he could simply give it to her.
"You're my little uncle." Song Xi called out sweetly.
An indulgent smile immediately spread across Song Changsheng's face. He took out the Jade Pendant and hung it at Song Xi's waist. "Your father asked me to give this to you. Don't lose it, and don't touch it carelessly, understand?"
Song Xi nodded her little head. "I understand, little uncle."
With a flip of Song Changsheng's hand, a Spirit Fruit rich in spiritual qi appeared in his palm. He had specifically exchanged for it at the Contribution Hall before coming down the mountain. Once a mortal consumed it, they would be free from illness for life.
It was a small gift for his younger cousin's daughter.
Song Xi hugged the fruit and happily gnawed on it while acting coquettishly in Song Changsheng's arms. "Little uncle, tell me a story."
Song Changsheng had only met this little girl a few times, but every time, he would tell Song Xi a story. It seemed to have become an unspoken agreement between them.
"Alright. How about Uncle tells you about our Lineage's history today?" Song Changsheng said as he walked beneath a large tree and set the little girl down.
Song Xi's eyes curved like crescent moons as she hurriedly sat down beside Song Changsheng.
A trace of reminiscence filled Song Changsheng's eyes. "Our Song Clan Lineage descended from an ancient Golden Core Family.
"Our old ancestor, Song Taiyi, was expelled from the family for a crime. After much wandering, he arrived at the Moon-Gazing Mountain Range. Relying on his formidable Purple Palace Stage cultivation, he slew a Great Demon and seized Ling Province's only Third-Tier Spirit Vein.
"Then Old Ancestor founded the Lineage. With the Moon-Gazing Mountain Range's abundant mineral resources, it developed rapidly and dominated all of Ling Province in a short time.
"Later, he also nurtured Old Ancestor Yungui into a Purple Palace Cultivator, and for a time, the Lineage's prestige was without equal.
"But heaven had unforeseen storms. Less than a hundred years after Ancestor Taiyi passed away, Old Ancestor Yungui also fell in battle against a Great Demon. From then on, the Lineage began to decline and had no choice but to surrender many benefits, dividing Ling Province among itself and five other foundation establishment forces.
"Yet even so, there were still people who wanted to seize our home. The Blazing Sun Sect, the overlord of eastern Yang Province, tried every possible means to oppress us.
"To avoid being exploited by them, ten years ago, your Great Grandfather secretly entered seclusion to break through to the Purple Palace Stage. But a traitor leaked the news, and the Blazing Sun Sect came attacking in full force.
"At the very moment the Lineage was about to be overturned, your Great Grandfather halted his breakthrough, emerged from Seclusion, and took control of the Clan Protecting Array. Only then did he drive back the Blazing Sun Sect..."
When he finished, Song Changsheng looked at Song Xi. "Do you remember?"
Song Xi nodded vigorously, then waved her little fist and said angrily, "The Blazing Sun Sect is awful! Why did they come bully us?"
Song Changsheng did not answer. Instead, he stroked her head and murmured, "You must remember it well. You must never forget."
No one could forget that history. It was the root of the Song Clan Members.
Moreover, in the battle ten years ago, five Foundation Establishment cultivators and over a hundred cultivators of the Song Clan had fallen. Song Xianming had also damaged his vital energy by halting his breakthrough, and had to remain in seclusion year-round to suppress his injuries.
Song Changsheng had personally witnessed his father's blood staining the skies. He had also seen many uncles who doted on him collapse in pools of blood. That scene was one he would never forget for the rest of his life.
After the war, the Lineage was draped in white mourning cloth. Every household wore hemp garments and mourning bands. Every Song Clan Disciple should remember this hatred, as deep as sea and blood.
Song Xi had to remember it even more. If not for that battle, her grandfather would not have died, and her father would not have gone down the mountain due to a lack of manpower, leaving them separated in two places.
Song Xi seemed to understand something. She sat quietly beside Song Changsheng, and only after a long while did she stare up with wide eyes and ask, "Why do people have to fight? Can't everyone be friends?"
"Friends" were a luxury in this world. Human desires were bottomless, and everyone wanted to seize more resources.
When the Song Clan had flourished, it had dominated Ling Province and formed blood feuds with many forces.
Thus, he could not answer her question. Big fish ate little fish—such was the iron law of the Cultivation World, with no right or wrong involved.
One large and one small figure sat silently beneath the tree.
But a child was still a child; her emotions came quickly and went quickly. Before long, she became lively again and pulled Song Changsheng off to catch butterflies.
Only when Song Changming returned at dusk did Song Changsheng bid farewell and leave...
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