Song Changsheng spent some effort killing the two severely wounded Qi Condensation Great Perfection cultivators. This patch of heaven and earth finally fell completely silent.
The other side had clearly come prepared. Other than the magic artifacts, talismans, and similar items used in battle, their Universe Bags contained practically nothing else.
After finishing everything, Song Changsheng sat cross-legged on the spot. After gulping down several mouthfuls of spirit wine, he began regulating his breath.
Though the process of breaking the array had not been long, it had truly been fraught with peril for Song Changsheng. As he comprehended the formation patterns, he had felt pressure unlike anything before.
Had his own comprehension not been extraordinary, allowing him to shatter his own bottleneck in the midst of desperation and successfully break through this second-tier Array, he could have gone off to reincarnate by now.
"Since I began cultivating, everything has gone smoothly. It has made me arrogant and conceited. I thought my tracks were hidden, yet I had long since fallen into someone else's calculations. If a Foundation Establishment Cultivator had been here to intercept and kill me today, my life would have been over."
Song Changsheng's heart was filled with both relief and lingering fear. He had once again luckily picked up his life from the brink.
This incident had to serve as a warning. He knew his limelight had been too great and that the Earth Fire Sect wanted nothing more than to eliminate him, yet he had still dared leave the Market. He truly did not know how the word "death" was written.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
While Song Changsheng was regulating his breath, the horizon began to pale with the light of dawn. Strands of sunlight pierced the pitch-black night curtain and descended upon this nameless mountain forest.
Three streaks of light swept over from the horizon. Upon sensing Song Changsheng's aura, the group finally sighed in relief.
Song Changsheng opened his eyes. What entered his sight was Wang Wanzhou's relief, Song Luhai's concern, and Song Luyao's indifference.
"Thank you for running about on this junior's behalf, esteemed elders." The instant Song Changsheng saw them, he understood the whole chain of events. He stood up and solemnly cupped his fist salute.
"It is good that you are safe, good that you are safe. Do not be so careless next time. You must place your own safety first." Song Luhai lightly stroked his beard and consoled him with a smile.
"Hmph. If there is a next time, we may not even see a whole corpse." Song Luyao's willow brows stood on end as she coldly reprimanded him.
"This nephew shall heed Aunt's teachings. I will certainly reflect on myself often. There will absolutely not be a next time."
Song Changsheng had already recognized his error. If he had informed the lineage elders beforehand, he would never have placed himself in dangerous places time and again.
If not for Niu Dazhuang arriving in time, if not for Wang Wanzhou valuing trust and keeping his word, if not for the protection of a spirit artifact... no number of lives would have been enough for him to lose.
"Hmph, utterly foolish." Song Luyao coldly tossed out those words, then walked to one side and began identifying the dead from the Earth Fire Sect.
"Changsheng, do not take your Ninth Aunt's words to heart. She has a knife for a mouth but a heart of tofu. In truth, she cares for you more than anyone.
Half a year ago, after learning that Cheng Yufei had arrived at the Market, she and I secretly went down the mountain. We simply feared beating the grass to startle the snake, which was why we had never contacted you.
Who would have thought that you brat used some method or another? Not only did you fool the Earth Fire Sect's people, you even fooled our own people.
Had Du Huating not secretly left the Market, we would not even have known where you had gone. On the way, we even fought that old ghost of the Chou Clan and nearly failed to make it in time. Do not do this again." Song Luhai patted Song Changsheng's shoulder and spoke in a low voice.
Only then did Song Changsheng understand. The lineage had always had people standing behind him; it was only through a strange twist of fate that he had created such a situation.
For a moment, Song Changsheng felt a sting at the corners of his eyes.
"Hey, isn't it enough that he is fine? What is the point of saying so much?" Though Wang Wanzhou had just fought a great battle, he was still in good spirits.
"If we do not say it, he will only do more foolish things.
I have confirmed it. The one who died was Chu Suiyang, one of the Earth Fire Sect's three Second-Tier Array Masters. Counting Du Huating and Cheng Yufei, who were injured and fled this time, their losses have not been small.
Senior Wang, it is time for our several families to make a move. Since the Earth Fire Sect does not want peace, then we shall grant them their wish!" Icy killing intent filled Song Luyao's eyes.
The Earth Fire Sect had provoked them again and again. If they did not take some measures now, the Song Clan would truly become a laughingstock!
"You are right. The Earth Fire Sect is becoming more and more shameless. We must loosen their muscles and bones." Wang Wanzhou had long been itching to fight the Earth Fire Sect.
His lifespan was already running short. After he passed away, the family would find itself increasingly unable to cope with the Earth Fire Sect. Better to strike the Earth Fire Sect ruthlessly while these old bones of his could still move, buying the descendants of later generations a period of peaceful development.
Song Changsheng's heart trembled. The storm was coming...
After returning to the Market, Song Changsheng remained there because his mission was not yet complete. Only after he promised the two that he would not leave the Market again did Song Luyao and Song Luhai return to the lineage in peace.
Before leaving, Song Luyao left behind a Message Flying Sword, while Song Luhai left him a Second-Tier Low-Grade talisman he had personally drawn for protection.
After they returned, the Great Elder issued a summons to eleven subordinate families and two Monster Hunting Teams. Their allies, the Wang Clan and Li Clan, also mobilized in succession. Striking out on multiple fronts, they fiercely returned the Earth Fire Sect's attack, seizing several of its resource sites and shaking the entirety of Ling Province. The Earth Fire Sect also temporarily retreated into its shell and dared not emerge...
None of this affected Liuyun Market. In fact, because of the conflict between the several major powers, business in the Market improved considerably.
Song Changsheng, meanwhile, had no spare energy to pay attention to the battle situation. He was consolidating his cultivation. After breaking through to become a Second-Tier Low-Grade Array Master, many of his previous doubts suddenly became crystal clear.
Taking advantage of this, he completed the incomplete formation patterns he had obtained earlier and comprehended an array called Heavenly Sun Demon Refining. It came from the same source as the Mystic Sun Heavenly Gang Array, but was even more exquisite.
By the time he finished all this, a week had already passed.
Only then did Song Changsheng have the chance to take stock of his gains from that Immortal Cave.
Aside from the two jade slips recording inheritances and the Nameless Jade Tablet, he had also obtained three jade boxes and two jade bottles. What they contained would depend on his luck.
"Let's start with these two jade bottles."
He first picked up a white jade bottle. The moment he removed the bottle stopper, a sweet fragrance rushed toward him. Tilting the bottle, he poured out a pink medicinal pill the size of his thumb.
Song Changsheng held it beneath his nose and sniffed it. His expression immediately turned strange. "This... seems to be the legendary Beauty Retention Pill?"
The Beauty Retention Pill was a medicinal pill that could preserve one's appearance forever. Countless female cultivators flocked to it, but because its ingredients were scarce, it was rarely seen on the market.
But this thing was of no use to him.
"Mm, I'll save it for Mother. Let's see what is in this one."
He then opened the other purple jade bottle. It actually contained a Second-Tier Low-Grade Blazing Sun Pill. Cultivators with Fire Spiritual Roots could improve their cultivation by taking this pill, making it perfect for him.
The gains from the two jade bottles could only be called decent. Now, it depended on whether the three jade boxes could bring him any surprises.
He opened the blue jade box that most caught his eye. A dazzling radiance immediately illuminated the entire room...
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