Ninth Uncle Leaves the Mountain

Over the past few months, Song Qingming had spent most of his time managing Lingyuan Mountain. Even Caolu Mountain, which he had previously visited on a fixed monthly schedule, had only seen him once in the past three months.

Seeing that Song Qingming had become thoroughly familiar with managing both mortals and the mines over the past few years, Ninth Uncle Song Changxin simply handed all matters concerning the settlement of mortals over to him.

Song Qingming had devoted himself so diligently to these matters because he knew that his three-year term at Lingyuan Mountain was about to end. Before leaving, he wanted to sort out everything here as smoothly as possible, so it would be easier to hand things over to the new family cultivator stationed here.

But just as Song Qingming had nearly finished his preparations, Ninth Uncle Song Changxin summoned him into his room and told him some unexpected news.

After years of development, the population around Mujiao Town had already been increasing every year. Now that the family had taken in several thousand mortals from the Liu Family, they could only establish several new villages beside Mujiao Town. At present, all the family mortals were managed by Fifth Aunt Song Changling alone, and she was truly overwhelmed. After the Fourth Elder and the clan leader discussed it, they decided to transfer Song Changxin back first to help her.

That would leave Song Qingming alone at Lingyuan Mountain. Song Changxin also knew that Song Qingming's term of stationing here was nearly up, so he called him over to discuss the matter.

"Qingming, I just received word from the Fourth Elder. He wants me to return to Funiu Mountain and help Changling manage the mortals under the family's jurisdiction. The family is short on manpower right now, and you are already familiar with the situation at Lingyuan Mountain. The Fourth Elder and I discussed it, and we thought it would be best for you to remain here temporarily to cultivate. Once I finish up over there, I'll come back and replace you. What do you think?"

There was some embarrassment in Song Changxin's tone. Although everything he said today was the family's arrangement, he was still a little afraid that Song Qingming would refuse outright. After all, for a cultivator choosing a place to cultivate, the spiritual vein at Funiu Mountain was certainly better. Remaining cooped up at Lingyuan Mountain would more or less delay one's cultivation progress.

Song Qingming was also caught off guard by the news, but he did not think too much about it. While cultivating at the Funiu Mountain spiritual vein would indeed be better, he was not lacking that bit of cultivation speed at present. Lingyuan Mountain was more secluded instead, making it easier for him to hide the spiritual items on his person that could not see the light of day.

The Incomplete Map on him, the items in Liu Tianlong's Storage Bag, and the Jade Profound Scripture he had obtained for no apparent reason—he did not dare let anyone else know about any of them.

When he thought of how the Liu Family had brought about the calamity of extermination merely because of a single Water Spirit Fruit, the value of the Incomplete Map on him was far greater than that. If he could make proper use of it, it might even give him a sliver of hope of Foundation Establishment in the future. If those High-tier Cultivators learned of it, the Song Family would certainly follow in the Liu Family's footsteps—and perhaps meet an even worse end.

As for the Jade Profound Scripture, ever since Song Qingming began cultivating this technique, he had increasingly felt that its profound mysteries were far from as simple as he had initially believed. Since cultivating the Jade Profound Scripture, Song Qingming had gradually sensed that the mana within his body had become much more substantial than before. This technique seemed to possess the marvelous effect of tempering the Spiritual Energy within one's body.

Naturally, the Earth Origin Art Song Qingming had originally cultivated could not compare to a technique with such an effect. The Earth Origin Art was merely an ordinary five-element Qi Refining technique. Against cultivators of the same realm, one would often fall into a disadvantage and could only rely on external aids such as magical artifacts and Spirit Talismans to make up for one's lack of strength.

After cultivating the Jade Profound Scripture for more than three months, Song Qingming could already clearly feel that the spiritual power he released was much stronger than before. If he continued cultivating the Jade Profound Scripture over the long term, his mana would certainly become far more substantial than that of cultivators who practiced ordinary techniques. If fate allowed him to unlock the techniques beyond Foundation Establishment, there might even be greater divine abilities awaiting him.

This made him increasingly aware of just how extraordinary this technique was. Fortunately, he had not yet had the chance to copy the technique into the family records, and no one else in the family knew that he was cultivating it. Otherwise, even if he wanted to conceal it, it would have been difficult.

Now, while cultivating the Jade Profound Scripture, he had not neglected the Earth Origin Art either. Before others, ordinary Qi Refining Cultivators would certainly be unable to detect anything unusual about his technique. Even Ninth Uncle Song Changxin, a Late Qi Refining Stage Cultivator, had not noticed recently that he was cultivating another technique.

At that thought, Song Qingming hesitated briefly before agreeing. Even without that reason, he truly could not bring himself to refuse Song Changxin, who had shown him such care over the past few years.

Seeing that Song Qingming did not make excuses or decline, Song Changxin finally set his mind at ease and nodded approvingly. Among the young cultivators of the Qing generation in the family, aside from Song Qingze, that gifted talent with excellent Spirit Roots, the others had rather low cultivation. Song Qingming had reached the Fifth Level of Qi Refining at twenty-three. Though he had encountered some opportunities, he was already considered a diligent person.

"Don't worry. When I return this time, I'll speak to the Fourth Elder and have some more Spirit Stones allocated to you, so your cultivation will be delayed as little as possible. While I'm gone, watch over Lingyuan Mountain carefully. You absolutely must not slacken your vigilance at the Mysterious Iron Ore Vein."

As a cultivator devoted to Arduous Cultivation, Song Changxin rather liked the hardworking younger generation in the family and had always shown great concern for Song Qingming's cultivation path.

"Ninth Uncle, if I am the only one left at Lingyuan Mountain for now, Qingming's cultivation is still too low. I fear there may be matters beyond my strength." Song Qingming nodded, then after hesitating for a moment, slowly voiced the concern in his heart.

Song Changxin smiled faintly and took a red Spirit Talisman from his Storage Bag, handing it to Song Qingming as he said solemnly:

"This is a high-grade communication talisman. Keep it safe. If you encounter harassment from a High-grade Demonic Beast, activate this talisman. The family will receive word within an hour and send people to support you. This Spirit Talisman was not easily obtained by the family, so do not use it lightly unless absolutely necessary. In a few days, the Fourth Elder should also arrange for someone else to come help you. With that, there should be no problem on your end, right?"

"Since Ninth Uncle has already arranged everything properly, your nephew will naturally not fail his mission." Song Qingming nodded in agreement, and the worry on his face vanished as well.

Over the past few years, he had already become highly proficient in operating Lingyuan Mountain's Mountain Protection Array. So long as he did not encounter those troublesome High-grade Demonic Beasts, he had absolute confidence that nothing would go wrong.

Even if a High-grade Demonic Beast attacked, with the communication talisman Song Changxin had just given him, he only needed to hold out for an hour before the family reinforcements arrived. For the current him, that was not too difficult a task.

That day, after Song Changxin gave him some instructions, he returned to pack his belongings and left Lingyuan Mountain beneath the setting sun. As a Late Qi Refining Stage Cultivator, he naturally traveled much faster than Song Qingming and could easily return to Funiu Mountain before nightfall.

After Song Qingming waited alone for several days, the family cultivator sent to assist him in guarding the mountain finally arrived: his Sixth Brother, Song Qinghe.

Song Qinghe was two years older than Song Qingming, and his talent was even poorer. He was a cultivator with Five Spiritual Roots. Although he cultivated quite diligently, his cultivation was only at the Fourth Level of Qi Refining.

Song Qinghe had a rather rigid temperament. Aside from entering seclusion to cultivate, he usually helped out in the family Spirit Fields. He was a Spirit Planter Master and was perhaps more interested in flowers and grass than in people. Though Song Qingming had not spoken much with this Sixth Brother in the past, he knew that Song Qinghe had an honest nature.

When Song Qinghe saw that Song Qingming's cultivation had now surpassed his own, he felt somewhat envious of his Seventh Brother's opportunities. Though his Spirit Root talent was poor and he had no great ambitions, he had not given up on his cultivation path. Seeing someone around him obtain an opportunity, he naturally longed for the day when heaven might favor him as well.

Yet opportunities were not something one could easily obtain by hiding at home and blindly pursuing Arduous Cultivation. Song Qingming had only received heaven's favor after passing through nine deaths and one life.

After Song Qinghe arrived at Lingyuan Mountain, Song Qingming assigned him to the mine, where he was responsible for patrolling and overseeing the excavation of the ore vein. Song Qingming himself built another small house beside Crescent Moon Lake, where he took charge of guarding Lingyuan Mountain's array and managing the mortal affairs there, while also instructing those Martial Masters in their cultivation techniques.