Family Cultivation: Evergreen of the Song Family

The previous exchange successfully misled True Monarch Youying, who believed that Song Changsheng's mastery of the Dao of Space was superior to his own. This meant that even if he broke free of the cage and tore through space, he would still be relentlessly pursued and even caught up by Song Changsheng.

Therefore, he had no choice but to reluctantly abandon the Broken Sword of the Human King, thus giving Song Changsheng a choice.

If you chase after him, Xu Miaoyin will surely die.

If he saves Xu Miaoyin, he can escape.

Since Song Changsheng was willing to be his enemy for Xu Miaoyin's sake, he certainly wouldn't stand by and watch her be killed. In this way, he could escape.

Where there is life, there is hope.

But he ultimately underestimated Song Changsheng's methods; he would take both paths!
"Great Divine Power [Thousand Shadows Mystery]"

Song Changsheng suddenly rushed forward, his body splitting in two in mid-air. His main body blocked the broken sword attacking the warship, while his clone chased after Youying Zhenjun through the still unclosed spatial rift.

This supernatural power is flexible and versatile; the fewer clones one creates, the stronger the power one can unleash.

With only one clone, the strength of the main body and the clone is roughly 60/40. The clone's strength can also reach the Nascent Soul realm, but without the main body's many trump cards, it is definitely not enough in front of a veteran powerhouse like True Monarch Youying.

However, the most distinctive feature of the [Thousand Shadows Mystery] is that it is difficult to distinguish between the real and the fake. Even when he had not yet broken through to the Nascent Soul stage, Thunder Elephant True Monarch could not tell the difference when he used this divine power, let alone now.

With a thought, Song Changsheng caused all the golden lotuses surrounding him to merge into one, and with a flick of his finger, he landed on top of the warship before Broken Sword could.

"Ding"

The broken sword clashed with the golden lotus, sparks flying, and the sharp sword energy left several dark marks in the surrounding space, which could not be healed for a long time.

The golden lotus was almost cut in half.

Fortunately, the power of destiny contained within it had been completely exhausted in the previous sword strike; otherwise, with only 60% of his strength, he might not have been able to block the sword strike in time.

He casually suppressed the broken sword of the King of Men, and then landed on the warship.

At this moment, Song Youping and the other talents, who were still in shock, suddenly came to their senses and bowed to greet him.

"We pay our respects to the clan leader/alliance leader."

Although the two only exchanged blows for a short time, it was enough to influence the lives of these cultivators.

Song Changsheng waved his hand casually and strode towards the unconscious Xu Miaoyin. Her face was deathly pale, and her clothes were soaked with cold sweat.

After quickly checking her over and confirming that she was not in any life-threatening danger, he quietly breathed a sigh of relief, channeled a wisp of law power into her, and then looked at Song Youping and Song Jingxiao, asking, "Who was the person who fought Youying before I arrived?"

On his way here, he was quite certain that two completely different auras were clashing.

One of them has been confirmed as Youying, while the other, somewhat familiar aura, has vanished without a trace.

Upon hearing this, Song Youping quickly stepped forward and briefly recounted what had happened. Finally, with a complicated expression, he looked at the unconscious Xu Miaoyin and said, "The one who made the move was none other than Miaoyin."

"Wonderful Sound?"

Something flashed through Song Changsheng's mind, and he suddenly turned around to look at Xu Miaoyin's brow.

"That's it!"

After learning the truth, he felt only relief.

If Xu Miaoyin hadn't been born with extraordinary abilities, he would probably have had a lifelong regret.

This made him determined to eliminate the threat completely, as letting the Shadow live would always be a hidden danger.

"Clan leader, is Miaoyin... alright?" Song Jingxiao asked, his face full of shame.

Before a Nascent Soul True Monarch, he was far too insignificant, unable even to put up a fight.

Song Changsheng glanced at him and nodded, saying, "It's just that you've overdrawn your strength; it's nothing serious."

He could naturally see that Song Jingxiao's Dao heart had wavered, but he did not intend to intervene. If he could not even overcome this setback, no matter how much he was trained, he would only be a mediocre talent.

With a flick of his sleeve, the surrounding space instantly froze. As his eyes opened and closed, his pupils seemed to transform into a captivating vortex. Anyone who met his gaze experienced a clouded consciousness, and in an instant, a certain memory was altered.

Song Changsheng moved among the warships, quickly altering everyone's memories of Xu Miaoyin, with the exceptions of Song Youping and Song Jingxiao.

After all this was done, a bolt of lightning suddenly struck down from the horizon, revealing a majestic figure on the deck.

“Ancestor Lei Xiang.” Song Changsheng was somewhat surprised. He hadn’t expected that it would be True Monarch Lei Xiang who came in person.

"After you left, Guying mentioned Youying to me, but unexpectedly, I received your message shortly afterward."

"Where is the Shadow?" Thunderous light surged in Lei Xiang Zhenjun's eyes, his tone filled with murderous intent.

He absolutely would not allow anyone to sabotage the hard-won peace on the frontier!

"They just escaped, but I sent a clone to follow them. The White Butler in the black market has also received the news and should go and intercept them in advance."

Without asking further questions, True Monarch Lei Xiang decisively ordered, "Chase!"

"Return immediately, do not linger." Song Changsheng took out the [Tai Chi Bagua Diagram] and handed it to Song Youping, giving him these careful instructions. Then, he and Lei Xiang Zhenjun followed the aura of the clone and chased after it...

Meanwhile, True Lord Youying used a feint to escape successfully, but before he could catch his breath, he sensed an aura relentlessly pursuing him from behind.

"Song Changsheng?"

Feeling that familiar aura, even though True Monarch Youying had experienced countless storms, he was still so shocked that he couldn't speak.

This was completely different from what he had previously envisioned.

Could it be that Song Changsheng didn't even care about Xu Miaoyin's life or death in order to kill him?
Or was he confident that his attack posed no threat to Xu Miaoyin?
Looking at the unhealed wound on his right palm, his heart sank. If that treasure still had some reserves, it might indeed have been able to block that attack.

Things were once again out of his control, and his intuition told him that he had to find a way to get rid of Song Changsheng immediately.

Clearly, he had no idea that the one relentlessly pursuing him was just a clone.

Although the clone's aura is the same as the original, it lacks sentience. Once this is understood, it can be easily gotten rid of.

Unfortunately, Youying didn't see Song Changsheng use his supernatural powers, so naturally she wouldn't understand the key to it.

Just as he was pondering a way to escape, a tremendous force erupted from the outside, and the spatial passage he had constructed collapsed instantly.

"not good!"

Youying was startled and quickly left the spatial passage, avoiding the misfortune of being swept into the spatial turbulence.

Reappearing above the azure sea, a figure in white robes stood blocking his way, the dark crescent moon embroidered on its chest particularly glaring.

"Bai Wuyou".

Upon seeing the person's face clearly, True Monarch Youying's heart sank; his worst fears had come true.

“Shadow, surrender and come with me back to the main headquarters to face trial. Your clansmen and disciples may still be spared,” the White Deacon said calmly.

"Ridiculous! You are just looking for a scapegoat. You want to judge me? Dream on!" True Monarch Youying remained unmoved.

Ultimately, he was simply being lenient with his descendants.

Given his status and position, the worst that could happen is that he would have to give up his power and be transferred to a less demanding position.

However, he shouldn't have been involved in the demonic calamity; the Shadow Pavilion needed him to take the blame to quell the anger of the people. He was a rogue cultivator who had worked his way up from the lowest-level Yellow-rank black market to where he was today, and he had earned his place through hard work and merit.

He could never accept such a ridiculous accusation!
"Stubborn to the end!"

Upon hearing this, Bai Wuyou immediately stopped wasting words with him. With a tremor, a lifelike white dragon, five hundred feet long, appeared behind him.

The dragon coiled in the void, its upper body upright. Its single horn, several meters long, gleamed with a chilling light under the sunlight. Its huge eyes were fixed on the Shadow True Monarch, and its blood-red tongue flickered in and out of its gaping maw.

"hold head high--"

The roar was deafening, the waves surged, and the entire East China Sea seemed to echo it.

"You can't stop me!"

Looking at the ferocious white dragon, True Monarch Youying remained calm and fearless, his robes fluttering without wind, his wide sleeves rustling in the wind.

Behind him, a towering figure also appeared, almost the same height as the white dragon. It had no facial features, nor even a solid form, and looked like a shadow of the Shadow True Monarch magnified countless times.

Both of them were core figures in the Shadow Pavilion and had heard of each other's names long ago, but this was their first meeting.

This is because of the Shadow Pavilion's unique operating model, which divides everyone from ordinary disciples to high-ranking elders into inner and outer pavilions.

The outer cabinet adopts a "cast a wide net and catch as many fish as possible" approach. Regardless of status, cultivation level, or qualifications, anyone who can pass the test or has a special skill can join.

These people are widely distributed across various industries of the Shadow Pavilion, and the black markets and intelligence networks that span the world are all supported by the outer pavilion disciples.

The inner circle disciples are the direct descendants of the Shadow Pavilion, carefully selected and trained according to a system, following an elite route, and are the most elite force of the Shadow Pavilion.

The cabinet focuses on domestic affairs, while the outer cabinet focuses on foreign affairs; they do not interfere with each other.

But once the disciple rose to the management level, the situation completely reversed.

The outer cabinet elders, who rose through the ranks by merit, sit in the center, seemingly wielding great power, but in reality, their every move is being monitored.

The cabinet's deacons were assigned to various businesses under the Shadow Pavilion, with the black market being of paramount importance.

Even the lowest-level Yellow-rank black market cannot be controlled by cultivators from the outer pavilion.

These deacons have a high degree of autonomy when they are outside, and it would not be an exaggeration to call them local emperors.

The cabinet has always held absolute control over resources and the power of discourse.

This is also what True Lord Youying resents the most. He did indeed become an apprentice halfway through his career, but the merits he has accumulated surpass those of most cabinet deacons.

But the label of "outer cabinet" followed him relentlessly, and he could never get rid of it, nor could he ever touch the true core of the Shadow Pavilion.

This time, she didn't even hesitate to give him up.

If he weren't an intelligence elder with the privilege of not being permanently stationed at headquarters, he probably wouldn't even have the ability to resist.

In his view, the so-called headquarters was actually a cage that had been carefully designed for them.

The position of the Grand Elder may seem glamorous, but in reality, he is always an "outsider".

Even their disciples and bloodlines will be labeled with this tag.

Direct descendants like Bai Wuyou, starting from the Purple Mansion stage or even the Foundation Establishment stage, can independently manage a black market and always receive the best resources.

His path to success was much smoother than that of the Shadow.

The sight of those high-sounding words coming out of his mouth made Youying feel nauseous!

"boom--"

The dragon and the shadow clashed fiercely in the air, both of them using their full strength from the very beginning.

At this moment, Song Changsheng's clone instinctively joined the battle.

It was difficult to discern from their auras, but once they exchanged blows, True Monarch Youying immediately discovered the trickery involved; their strength was far too weak.

"Clone!"

Youying Zhenjun was both shocked and furious. At this moment, he finally realized that he had been tricked.

The reason he chose to confront Bai Wuyou head-on was that escaping under the combined attack of the two was unrealistic; it would be better to fight to the death and survive.

Who would have thought that the one who followed him all the way was just a clone!
It was only then that I realized what was happening, and it was, to say the least, a bit too late.

"buzz"

A ripple spread through the space, and Song Changsheng's figure appeared above them like a ghost.

"Swish"

Immediately afterwards, another bolt of lightning descended from the sky, its powerful aura enough to make True Monarch Youying feel despair.

He never expected that it would be Lei Xiang Zhenjun who personally took action.

Before a Nascent Soul Grand Perfection level expert, all his methods were in vain.

Song Changsheng recalled his clone, and his strength rose to its peak again. Together with Bai Zhishi and Lei Xiang Zhenjun, he sealed off all of Youying Zhenjun's escape routes. The three of them stood in the air in a shape resembling the Chinese character "品" (pin).

"Song Changsheng and Bai Wuyou are one thing."

"I have no past grudges or recent enmity with the Myriad Manifestations Palace. What is the reason for your actions, fellow Daoist? Could it be that you also want to use my head to collect the reward from the Shadow Pavilion?"

The Shadow Lord's tone was tinged with sarcasm, but he was utterly perplexed.

The speed at which Vientiane Palace provided support was incredibly fast; there was absolutely no hesitation.

With such a large family business as Wanxiang Palace, do they really have no scruples in their actions?

Why should I explain my actions to a dying man like you?

Lei Xiang Zhenjun snorted coldly, his tone extremely contemptuous.

With a flick of his wrist, a vast amount of lightning power gathered, causing the clouds to churn and the world to change color...

With Lei Xiang Zhenjun personally taking action, and Song Changsheng and Bai Wuyou assisting from the side, there was naturally no way for Youying to escape. Even though he used all his methods, his physical body was still destroyed.

Lei Xiang Zhenjun originally intended to obliterate his nascent soul to end the matter once and for all, but unexpectedly, Song Changsheng and Bai Wuyou both pleaded for mercy at the same time.

“Youying is a wanted criminal by our organization. I beg you to spare his life so that I may take him back to the headquarters for trial. I will reward you handsomely in the future,” Bai Wuyou said sincerely.

Song Changsheng then transmitted his thoughts telepathically: "Ancestor, I still have some questions that need to be answered by him. They concern the [Human King Sword]. Please allow me to ask him clearly."

"The King of Men Sword?" Lei Xiang Zhenjun's eyes narrowed slightly as he glanced at Song Changsheng, then said in an unquestionable tone, "Since you want it, I will naturally hand it over to the Shadow Pavilion, but not now."

The Supreme Ceremony is approaching; fellow Daoist, you are welcome to attend if you have the time.

As soon as he finished speaking, he took the Nascent Soul of True Monarch Youying and left...

……

P.S.: One more chapter will be released a little later. (End of this chapter)