Mortal World (Please Bookmark)

"Absolute bandits." After being thrown out of the main hall, Song Changsheng straightened his rumpled clothes and muttered in dissatisfaction.

He was secretly annoyed as well. He had gotten a little carried away, knowing full well that Fifth Uncle was an iron rooster who plucked every feather from passing geese, yet he had still gone knocking at his door. Now he had truly suffered a loss...

After returning to his courtyard, Song Changsheng immediately began weaving formation flags again.

The Dao of formations required formation bases, formation flags, formation patterns, and spirit veins. To arrange a permanent formation such as a clan protecting array, all of these were indispensable.

Formation patterns and formation flags could each be used independently to set up formations. For example, engraving formation patterns onto magic artifacts could grant them special functions and improve their quality.

More commonly, however, formation flags and formation patterns were used together. Formations arranged this way were called temporary formations, characterized by low cost and quick setup.

What Song Changsheng needed to do now was weave another set of First Tier formation flags.

Setting up a First Tier formation required twelve formation flags. Depending on the Array Master's level, the resulting formation was divided into four grades: initial, intermediate, advanced, and ultimate, corresponding to cultivator realms.

Song Changsheng was accustomed to making two preparations for everything. Though he already had a set of formation flags, he still wanted another set on hand. Better to be prepared than caught unawares.

Weaving formation flags was meticulous work, greatly testing one's patience and energy. The remaining time quietly slipped away like this...

"Clan Brother Changsheng, time to set off!"

Early in the morning, just as Song Changsheng finished his morning cultivation, a slightly childish voice rang beside his ear.

He followed the sound and saw four people approaching him—two old and two young. One of the youths was waving at him.

Song Changsheng hurried forward and cupped his fists toward the two men in front. "Nephew pays respects to the two Clan Uncles."

One was tall and one short. The tall one was Song Luding, over seventy years old and at Qi Condensation Great Perfection. He was a deacon of the Spirit Testing Hall.

The shorter one was Song Luzi, in his sixties and at the Qi Condensation Ninth Layer. He was likewise a deacon of the Spirit Testing Hall.

"Worthy Nephew, no need for such courtesy. These are Changjiu and Changying, descendants of your Fourth Grandfather. They are accompanying us this time to broaden their horizons." Song Luding smiled as he pointed at the young man and woman around him.

"Greetings, Clan Brother Changsheng." The two cupped their fists in salute. Song Changying was composed and dignified, graceful and generous, but Song Changjiu kept stealing glances at him from the corner of his eye, his gaze brimming with curiosity.

Song Changsheng returned the salute while looking them over. Both were fifteen years old. Song Changying was at the Qi Condensation Fourth Layer, while Song Changjiu was at the Qi Condensation Fifth Layer.

They were far inferior to him, but among their peers, they were still considered quite good.

"It is getting late. Let us depart early," Song Luzi suddenly said.

"Indeed. We should go swiftly and return swiftly." Song Luding nodded. With a sweep of his sleeve, a large paper kite appeared before them.

Qi Condensation Cultivators could not yet achieve sword flight, so they sometimes used flying magic artifacts such as flying shuttles and paper kites for travel.

However, such magic artifacts were extremely difficult to refine and required Mid-Grade Spirit Stones as power sources.

One Mid-Grade Spirit Stone could be exchanged for a hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones. Ordinary people simply could not afford them.

"Wow, so this is a paper kite? This is my first time seeing one." Song Changjiu was like a monkey, looking here and touching there, occasionally letting out strange cries.

Song Changying immediately turned her face away, her expression seeming to say, Don't look at me. I don't know him.

Watching Song Changjiu leap about, Song Changsheng could not help recalling the first time he had seen his father cast a spell. He had probably behaved much the same way.

The five boarded the paper kite. Song Luding gently activated his spiritual power, and the paper kite immediately flapped its wings, soared from the ground, and flew toward the boundless dense forest in the distance...

The Great Qi Cultivation World lay in the southern part of the Human Race's controlled territory. Officially known as the Nanchuan Barren Continent, it was also called the Southern Continent and had the shortest history among the Five Continents of the Human Race.

It was named for its many mountains and hills, as well as its scarcity of Cultivation Resources.

Among them, borderlands such as Great Qi were the worst of all. Endless mountains and hills stretched everywhere, yet spirit veins were pitifully scarce.

At first, there were few Song Clan Members, and Vast Peak could still accommodate them. But in less than two hundred years, the Lineage's mortal population had swelled to several hundred thousand, exceeding Vast Peak's limits of capacity.

Moreover, it was inconvenient for immortals and mortals to live mixed together.

Thus, the Song Clan's third Patriarch, Purple Palace Cultivator Song Yungui, personally oversaw the establishment of a place for Mortal Clan Members to live.

After weighing their options, they ultimately chose a small plain four hundred li from Vast Peak. It took the entire clan more than ten years to transform it into a habitable region.

But Human Race flesh and blood was coveted by Demonic Cultivators and Demon Beasts alike. To safeguard the clan members, Song Yungui oversaw the construction of seven cities.

These seven cities were arranged according to the Big Dipper. Beneath each city ran several First Tier spirit veins, while at the center lay even a Second-Tier Spirit Vein.

They then invited Third-Tier Earth Masters and Array Masters to link these earth veins together and transform them into an enormous Third Tier Low-Grade formation, named the Seven Star Mountain Locking Array.

Though it lacked the support of a Third-Tier Spirit Vein, this grand formation could still withstand Purple Palace Cultivators for several hours.

That was enough time for the clan to dispatch Reinforcements.

Later, after the clan no longer had a Purple Palace Cultivator guarding it, the current Patriarch, Song Xianming, incorporated the Low-Grade Magic Treasure Black Tortoise Mountain Suppressing Seal left behind by Patriarch Song Yungui into the formation as its formation eye in order to strengthen its defenses.

As long as a skilled Array Master controlled it, it could stand toe-to-toe with a Purple Palace Cultivator, becoming a symbol of the Song Clan's foundation!

The paper kite was extremely fast, and they encountered no Demon Beasts foolish enough to provoke them along the way. They covered the four hundred li in half an hour.

"Wow, Clan Brother, is that the Demon-Illuminating Mirror? They say even Demonic Cultivators at the Purple Mansion realm cannot hide from it." Song Changjiu was like Granny Liu entering the Grand View Garden, finding everything novel along the way.

They were high in the air, looking down from above. The seven cities lay in full view, and at their center floated an enormous Glazed Mirror, shining with brilliant light. This was the Demon-Illuminating Mirror Song Changjiu had pointed out.

"That is indeed so. Without it, who knows how many demons and monsters would have infiltrated this place." Song Changsheng nodded.

"How incredible." Song Changjiu gazed at the mirror in the sky, and it seemed as though stars were shining in his eyes.

This fellow was a living treasure and a chatterbox. By now, no one found any of his behavior surprising.

Song Luding controlled the paper kite and flew directly into the city, landing in a central manor.

The city lord had long since brought all the officials to await them there. Before the paper kite even touched down, a great swath of people had already fallen to their knees, crying out, "We pay respects to the Immortal Masters!"

Seeing such a scene for the first time still made Song Changsheng rather uncomfortable. He felt there was something strange about the way those people looked at them.

Song Luding said mildly, "Rise, everyone. We are all of the same clan, so there is no need for this. This old man is Song Luding, the person in charge of this Immortal Ascension Assembly."

The middle-aged city lord stood up and cautiously asked, "Immortal Master, may I ask when the assembly will begin?"

Song Luding glanced at Song Changsheng, then said, "Three days from now. Go make preparations."

After receiving the order, the city lord led everyone away. Though he wanted to exchange a few more pleasantries, he understood that excess was as bad as deficiency. He should finish his task properly and strive to leave a good impression instead.

After everyone had left, Song Luding said to the others, "There is still plenty of time. Find rooms and settle in first. However, I must trouble Worthy Nephew Changsheng to pay respects to Fifth Elder on our behalf."

Song Changsheng was overjoyed upon hearing this. "Nephew understands!"

If any fellow Daoists want a minor role, or have any opinions or ideas about the plot, feel free to leave a message in the reader circle. I will read them one by one. Thank you~