Family Cultivation: Evergreen of the Song Family

The Song family currently has several cultivators preparing to break through to the Golden Core stage and reach the Great Perfection of the Purple Mansion stage, including Song Qingxi, Song Youlin, and Yuan Tianshu, who joined the Song family as the chief retainer in his early years.

However, they are either still preparing for the East China Sea war or have just gone into seclusion, so it is impossible for them to break through to the Golden Core stage so early.

Therefore, the identity of the one who will suffer this calamity is self-evident.

Song Xianming, the Supreme Elder of the Song Clan!
After nearly a century of seclusion, we have finally reached this point.

Song Changsheng stared at the cloud of calamity, his fists clenching unconsciously, his nails digging into his flesh without him even realizing it.

Although this Golden Core tribulation was not as terrifying as the tribulation his [Tai Chi Bagua Diagram] had experienced, he was even more nervous.

Song Xianming is not only the only surviving member of the "Xian" generation, but also a spiritual totem of the [Wangyue Song Clan], and one of his few remaining blood relatives.

If he can break through to the Golden Core stage, it will be far more than just adding a Golden Core cultivator to the Song family.

Conversely, if a breakthrough is not achieved, the blow to the Song family will be no less than a crushing defeat in a battle.

"Don't worry, the old man has a solid foundation. After so many years of accumulation, he will definitely be able to break through smoothly," Zhuang Yuechan, who had appeared beside him at some point, comforted him softly.

Song Changsheng nodded silently, without saying much, but his mood was somewhat heavy.

Breaking through to the Golden Core stage is never a sure thing. Throughout history, countless exceptionally talented cultivators have stumbled and fallen before this seemingly insignificant tribulation.

If it weren't for that unforeseen event, with Song Xianming's talent and the help of the Golden Core Formation, he would have had about a 60% chance of breaking through to the Golden Core stage.

But now... nobody can say for sure, it might go higher, or it might go lower.

The Heavenly Tribulation tests not only the physical body, but also the Dao heart.

Song Xianming's Dao heart has experienced a collapse, and no one knows whether he is more fragile or more resilient now, which will directly affect his life and fortune.

The Song family of today is not the same as it was two hundred years ago. Even if they fail to break through, they have the conditions and confidence to try again.

But all of this is predicated on survival; only by surviving this catastrophe is there any hope.

With the Song family's current resources, injuries, whether physical or fundamental, can be healed. Even if lifespan is insufficient, there is the [Azure Jade Jiazi Pill] as a guarantee, one pill can extend life by one Jiazi, and at most two Jiazi.

But once one's Dao heart collapses during the breakthrough process, even a god cannot save them.

On and off Cangmang Peak, all the cultivators raised their heads in unison, looking at the ever-expanding tribulation clouds in the sky, their eyes filled with doubt and even a trace of panic.

They have not yet "emerged" from the powerful calamity they just experienced.

Having just survived a powerful tribulation of thirty-six heavenly lightning bolts, my mind is still unsettled, and now another one is upon me. This situation is unheard of. Is today the end of the world?
Just as people were in turmoil, Song Changsheng's voice rang in everyone's ears.

"This is the Golden Core Tribulation. Everyone should return to their caves and rely on the protective mountain array for protection."

Beyond Cangmang Peak, those who cannot return in time should stay away from the range of the tribulation clouds and not approach them.

With just two simple sentences, the previously unsettled hearts were instantly calmed, and a sense of anticipation even arose in their hearts.

Another Golden Core Tribulation has struck. Is the family about to gain another Golden Core cultivator?
Amidst everyone's expectant gazes, the tall and upright Song Xianming emerged from his cultivation, his figure continuously growing taller until he surpassed Cangmang Peak, directly facing the heavenly tribulation filled with an aura of destruction.

A fleeting flash of lightning illuminated his face, his gaze unwavering, without the slightest hesitation.

A faint aura of sword energy could be seen flowing around him.

After more than four hundred years of stumbling and struggling, we have finally reached this point.

If we go back two hundred years, who could have imagined that he, or the Song family, would be where they are today?

All of this seemed like a dream, like a beautiful bubble, and he still couldn't believe it.

I'm terrified that one day I'll open my eyes and the bubble will burst, and this beautiful dream will end.

Only today, when he faced the heavenly tribulation head-on and the aura of tribulation enveloped him, did he truly believe that all of this was real.

Looking down at the vast peaks shrouded in the protective array below, a relieved smile appeared on his face.

Although he has been in seclusion for years, he can actually sense all the big and small things happening on Cangmang Peak.

Song Changsheng broke through to the Nascent Soul stage, Song Qingxing and Zhuang Yuechan broke through to the Golden Core stage, and even Qingyun, who had been away from his clan for many years, returned and also achieved the Golden Core stage.

The entire clan is thriving and full of vitality.

In comparison, this "old guy" seems a bit outdated.

Honestly, apart from that incident, he has no regrets in his life.

Without the burden of family responsibilities on their shoulders, personal life and death become insignificant.

May you live another five hundred years, and take a few more glimpses of this prosperous world.

Defeated, his soul returned to heaven and earth.

When he meets his ancestors in the afterlife, and sees his uncle Yun Gui and aunt Yun Han, he, the fifth-generation clan leader, can stand tall and say that he has not let them down.

He was an ordinary leader, but he had a good daughter-in-law and a good grandson!

"People say that under the heavenly calamity, seven or eight out of ten will die."

Today, let this old man with his frail bones verify whether this claim is correct!

As soon as he finished speaking, Song Xianming no longer concealed his aura. His powerful magic surged like a raging sea, endless and unstoppable.

His face was ruddy and his back was ramrod straight.

This body, weathered by over four hundred years of vicissitudes, suddenly exuded an undeniable sharpness, and even its appearance seemed to have become younger, as if it had returned to the glorious years when it went around challenging others.

"Boom—"

A muffled clap of thunder sounded from within the tribulation clouds, a warning to him and a harbinger of the impending tribulation.

Song Xianming's face remained calm as he secretly gathered his inner strength.

Beneath the vast, boundless clouds of tribulation, his figure appeared exceptionally small, yet in the eyes of countless Song clan cultivators, he was a towering giant.

"boom--"

Without warning, the first bolt of heavenly lightning crashed down from the depths of the tribulation clouds, its fierce aura sending chills down one's spine.

"Minor Supernatural Power [Wind Finger]"

The power that Song Xianming had been accumulating within him was released from his fingertips, transforming into a streak of cyan light as fast as lightning that shot straight toward the crimson-gold lightning.

"Snapped"

The azure light lasted only a moment before being shattered. The heavenly lightning still possessed residual power, like a steel whip lashing at Song Xianming's body, sending lightning fragments flying and tearing his skin and flesh.

A horrifying two-foot-long wound stretched from his shoulder down to his upper abdomen, a charred mess.

He simply grinned, straightened his back again, and showed no fear in his eyes.

"Boom boom boom"

Several bolts of lightning struck in succession, and his body was instantly engulfed by the ocean of lightning. As the lightning raged, the sky seemed to tremble, causing the hearts of all the cultivators who were watching this tribulation to clench. Song Qingxi subconsciously gripped Song Qingxing's strong arm.

A moment later, when the dazzling lightning dissipated, Song Xianming's figure still stood in the sky.

Although he was covered in wounds and there were hardly any intact parts of his body, his aura remained high, and he showed no signs of fear.

Throughout his life, he has experienced countless trials and tribulations; even heavenly tribulations could not easily defeat him!
With a deafening roar, the fifth tribulation lightning bolt quietly brewed deep within the tribulation clouds.

If you can get through this ordeal, the tribulation clouds will send down sweet rain to repair your physical body, greatly increasing your chances of successfully transcending the tribulation.

Throughout history, most of those who failed to transcend tribulations perished under this lightning tribulation.

A slight sheen of cold sweat trickled down Song Changsheng's hand as he gripped Zhuang Yuechan's fair wrist. Even when he was undergoing his own tribulation, he had never felt this nervous.

"coming!"

Someone shouted, and everyone looked up to see a bolt of azure lightning crashing down from the rolling clouds of tribulation.

Song Xianming calmly summoned a large shield made from the scales of a dragon.

This is a mid-grade spiritual treasure, specially chosen by Song Changsheng for him to overcome tribulation.

He hadn't used the previous heavenly lightning bolts, but now was the time to go all out!
"Click"

The lightning bolts struck like spears, piercing through Lingbao after only a moment. Song Xianming behind him was also struck in the chest by the lightning, which pierced through his body, causing him to stagger helplessly for several steps in the air.

"Supreme Elder!" The Song clan members below were shocked, fearing that the figure would fall down.

Fortunately, although the figure was somewhat unsteady on its feet, it still stood stubbornly.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief at the same time, as if a hurricane had swept across Cangmang Peak.

Song Xianming looked down at his chest with difficulty. A hole bigger than a fist appeared in his right chest, which almost shattered his heart.

"crash"

A gentle rain fell from the sky, carrying abundant vitality as it landed on him. His injuries healed at a visible speed, with large chunks of old scabs falling off to reveal new skin.

The rain only lasted for half an hour.

Three more bolts of heavenly lightning struck down from the long-brewing tribulation clouds, and amidst everyone's worries and prayers, Song Xianming endured them all.

Only one bolt of heavenly lightning remained. If he could withstand it, he would be able to reach the Golden Core realm!
This heavenly lightning strike no longer tests the physical body, but rather the Dao heart; hence it is also called the Tribulation of Questioning the Heart.

Countless cultivators have fallen at this hurdle. Can Song Xianming's Dao heart withstand the test?
Everyone held their breath and focused their attention, awaiting the final dance of the heavenly tribulation.

"boom--"

The thunder arrived as expected.

At this moment, Song Xianming had no strength left to resist and could only passively accept the judgment of fate. There was no fear on his face, only a look of relief.

"boom"

The heavenly thunder was like a heavy hammer, striking his chest and his Dao heart, which had been shattered once before.

Past events flashed before his eyes, and his life essence continued to leak out of his body.

The figure fell from the sky like a bird with broken wings, and the world was silent.

Everyone watched this scene with trembling eyes.

Just as Song Changsheng couldn't help but intervene, a miracle occurred.

A dazzling light emanated from Song Xianming's middle dantian, and the Purple Mansion Furnace roared incessantly, frantically absorbing the laws and Dao essence of heaven and earth.

His body, which was falling rapidly, gradually slowed down, and his tightly closed eyes opened at this moment, landing steadily on the vast mountain peak.

After an unknown amount of time, the Purple Mansion Furnace within the dantian stopped operating, and a golden, round pill flew out from it, hovering above the Purple Mansion Furnace. Its five spiritual apertures transformed into vortexes, frantically devouring the surrounding spiritual energy.

"crash"

The much-anticipated rain finally fell, washing away the lingering aura of calamity in the air.

The layers of calamity clouds dissipated, revealing a clear blue sky, and the gloom in everyone's hearts was swept away.

Song Changsheng let out a long sigh, closed his eyes, and slowly calmed his turbulent emotions.

This was perhaps the most nerve-wracking moment of his life.

Zhuang Yuechan took out a handkerchief and gently wiped away the thin layer of sweat from his forehead.

Song Xianming held the same position in Song Changsheng's heart as Mu Guibai did in hers.

She had been through this herself, so she knew very well how much pressure Song Changsheng had been under.

"Granddaughter-in-law Yuechan, congratulations to Grandfather on attaining the Golden Core realm and adding five hundred years to his life!"

"Grandson congratulates Grandfather on attaining the Golden Core realm and adding five hundred years to his life!"

As the couple's voices echoed across the summit of Cangmang Peak, all the cultivators bowed down and offered their congratulations in unison, their voices shaking the heavens.

Today, the Song family of Wangyue welcomed its fourth Golden Core cultivator.

The legend of the Immortal-generation cultivators will continue in this young family...

The news of Song Xianming's breakthrough to the Golden Core stage spread throughout the entire border region in just a few days.

An ordinary Golden Core cultivator's breakthrough would not naturally garner such widespread attention, but the person who broke through this time was surnamed Song, and was also the grandfather of True Monarch Zixu!
All factions, whether they had connections with the Song family or not, were prepared to send envoys to offer their congratulations.

But before they could set off, the Song family's statement had already reached various places:
"The Song family just held the Nascent Soul Ceremony, and the Supreme Elder advocates frugality, so they will not hold the Golden Elixir Ceremony."

Upon hearing this news, all the major powers deflated like punctured balloons, their disappointment evident in their expressions.

Although no ceremony was held, everyone still wrote congratulatory messages, prepared gifts, and sent them to Cangmang Peak.

They didn't expect the Song family to reciprocate; as long as they could leave some impression on True Lord Zixu, it would be worthwhile.

Of course, the Song family wouldn't take advantage of this, so they returned all the gifts intact, but accepted the congratulatory messages.

"Grandpa, this is all from everyone's good intentions, why refuse?"

Behind the Cloud-Entering Hall, by the Mirror-Hanging Lake, Song Changsheng and several Golden Core cultivators from his family sat on the ground. Song Changsheng asked, puzzled.

It is a tradition for Golden Core cultivators to hold ceremonies. Even the Myriad Manifestations Palace will invite some close forces to participate on a small scale, but they will not accept congratulatory gifts.

The Song Clan Elders' Council intended to hold a grand event, but Song Xianming resolutely rejected it, as did the Wanxiang Palace and Luoxia City.

"The family has been quite prominent in recent years, and people are getting a bit restless. What's wrong with letting things settle down a bit?"

Moreover, most of them were not genuinely congratulating him, but had ulterior motives.

"The family no longer needs to display its power in this way. Why waste money? It's just a mess and disturbs the peace." Song Xianming reached out and added some dried fruit to the teapot on the stove, saying nonchalantly.

Zhuang Yuechan agreed, saying, "Grandpa prefers quiet, and he has to attend to social events during ceremonies, which is indeed boring."

But you, without a word, left Yin'er and Li'er at the Golden Crow Sect, without even telling me.

They returned to their clan more than ten times in the past five years, but you haven't seen them even once.

"Ahem, I'm in seclusion, aren't I? Let's have some tea, it'll get cold soon." Song Changsheng chuckled awkwardly and quickly changed the subject.

……

P.S.: This chapter contains 4,000 words. (End of Chapter)