Family Cultivation: Evergreen of the Song Family

Am I... still dreaming?

Seeing the tears welling up in her eyes, Song Changsheng couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt.

He had said he would visit her from time to time, but he broke his promise.

He opened his mouth, intending to explain, but swallowed the words back at the last moment, as if doing so would make him seem like he was deliberately covering up.

After a moment's hesitation, she asked, "How have you been all these years...?"

Kong Sang Xiruo, who had been holding back her emotions, could no longer contain herself after hearing these words. All the anticipation and grievances she had accumulated over the years turned into bitter tears that welled up from the corners of her eyes.

Amazingly, the glistening teardrops did not disperse; as they fell, they transformed into pure white "pearls," which rolled down onto the bed in a string.

Song Changsheng stared blankly at this scene, and the three words "Mermaid Tears" suddenly appeared in his mind.

Legend has it that when pure-blooded merfolk shed tears of love, those tears transform into precious pearls, also known as "merfolk tears."

Being moved is not a narrow sense of emotion, but a broad sense, including things like sadness, grief, or being very emotional.

Wearing a magical artifact crafted from "Mermaid Tears" can suppress negative emotions. Grinding it into powder and taking it can treat internal injuries and hidden ailments. Applying it as a topical ointment can also have beauty and skin-nourishing effects.

The "Mermaid Tears" produced under different emotions also have some special effects, and have been sought after for millions of years.

This has led to the emergence of numerous black market industries, namely, capturing merfolk, torturing them day and night in various ways, and mass-producing "merfolk tears."

【Mermaid Tears】 are not just simple tears, but the essence of a mermaid's life. The fate of these captured mermaids is unimaginable.

As the number of pure-blooded merfolk gradually decreases, the "Mermaid Tears" have become increasingly rare, almost becoming a legend. Unexpectedly, they were seen on Kong Sang Xi Ruo.

Such pure bloodline is probably extremely rare even among royalty. Kong Sang Xi Ruo's parents' status within the Merfolk clan is likely several times higher than he had previously anticipated.

It's no wonder that the [Jinxiu Banner] tried to scheme against them repeatedly after learning the news. Holding Kong Sang Xiruo as a bargaining chip could indeed directly change their predicament in the East China Sea.

Due to their unique racial talents, merfolk possess the ability to manipulate people's minds, and this effect is particularly pronounced when dealing with sea monsters with low intelligence.

Such formidable abilities are a complete game-changer when facing other sea creatures. It is precisely because of this unique talent that the Merfolk, whose individual strength is weak, have stood out and become the second ocean overlord after the True Dragon Clan.

However, the position they attained through this method was ultimately not as secure as that of the dragons, and their increasingly diluted bloodline became their main problem.

Because the strength of one's bloodline is directly related to the strength of their racial talent.

For this reason, purebred merfolk are especially rare and important.

In today's world where the conflict between the two races is becoming increasingly serious, Kong Sang Xi Ruo's value is self-evident. If the [Jinxiu Banner] knew that her bloodline was so pure, they probably wouldn't have rashly spread the news.

It's just that Song Changsheng is in trouble. Kong Sang Xiruo's identity as a member of the merman royal family is already sensitive. If the news of the "Mermaid Tears" gets out, it will be something that he and the Song family can't handle.

Fortunately, he is the only one who knows this news so far, and he just needs to take the person away without anyone noticing.

In a short period of time, Song Changsheng had considered everything that he would face next.

At this moment, Kong Sang Xiruo's soft sobs startled him, making him realize that he didn't need to think about things that were so far in the future; he should deal with the present first.

Seeing Kong Sang Xiruo crying with tears streaming down her face, Song Changsheng was at a loss. Even though he had lived two lives and was nearly two hundred years old in total, he still had no experience in dealing with this situation.

After hesitating for a while, he finally said sincerely, "I'm sorry, I broke my promise."

Upon hearing this, Kong Sang Xi Ruo hurriedly wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes and waved her hands repeatedly, saying, "No, no, you are the head of a clan, you must be very busy usually. Father was like that before, I know that."

Seeing her so understanding and cautious, Song Changsheng felt even more guilty. If it weren't for his sudden intrusion that disrupted Kong Sang Xiruo's peaceful life, everything might have been different.

From being full of hope to a century of solitude, this process is the most difficult to endure.

After a moment of silence, Kong Sang Xiruo calmed herself down and said softly with her head down, "I've been doing quite well lately. I read books every day, tend to the flowers and plants, and sometimes I go for a walk outside the palace."

People like you pass by on the river every now and then. I can see them, but they can't see me..."

At first glance, the daily content seems quite substantial, but what if this were to continue for a hundred years? Day after day, year after year, repeating these tedious and boring tasks in this dark and sunless riverbed—anyone else might have already gone insane.

Even for a Golden Core cultivator with a firm will, it would be difficult to remain in the dark and not communicate with others for a hundred years.

"By the way, you left me my seeds, and I've been taking good care of them every day, following the methods you taught me."

I often fall asleep to the scent of its flowers; it smells so wonderful.

As she spoke, Kong Sang Xiruo prepared to show Song Changsheng the results of her efforts over the years, but when she turned her head, she saw the withered [Bright Moon Wisdom Orchid], and her smile froze on her face.

He picked up the flowerpot with both hands, gently touched the withered leaves, and after confirming that it was completely dead, his eyes immediately dimmed, and even the joy of seeing Song Changsheng again was somewhat diminished.

With a century of meticulous care, this small pot of orchid has been imbued with so much of her heart and soul, and carries with it so much longing and yearning for the mortal world.

This was also the only person she had confided in during the past century in this palace, but now she has completely withered away.

For a moment, she felt both wronged and guilty: "I'm so stupid, I can't even grow a pot of orchids properly."

Seeing that her eyes were red again, Song Changsheng quickly flicked his finger, and a ball of green light fell into the flowerpot. As the [Law of Life] surged, the [Bright Moon Wise Heart Orchid], which had been completely withered, instantly regained its vibrant life.

The withered leaves and stems turned green again at a visible speed, becoming lush and vibrant, and even sprouting new buds and flower buds.

Kong Sang Xi Ruo's eyes lit up instantly, making even the dimly lit bedroom seem brighter.

Seeing her turning it over and over, clearly enjoying it, Song Changsheng couldn't help but smile.

Although I'm reluctant to disturb you, there are some things I still need to say.

After considering his words for a moment, Song Changsheng said, "You suddenly fainted because the power of your bloodline suddenly awakened. Now I have helped you to completely refine it."

You have now essentially stepped into the realm of a demon king, and you could attract a heavenly tribulation at any moment. In that case, the exposure of your Jiangxia Water Mansion would be inevitable.

There are many powerful figures in the Great Qi, and recently some people have been deliberately spreading news about you, causing many people to search for your existence. Once exposed, your situation will be very dangerous.

Upon hearing this, Kong Sang Xiruo put down the flowerpot in her hand, her delicate brows furrowed, and she asked with a puzzled expression, "Why is there danger if I am exposed? Why are these people looking for me? How did they know I was here?"

"The reasons for this are somewhat complicated. In general, your identity is special, and these people want to capture you and make you do things that you don't want to do and that are very dangerous."

I came here for two reasons: first, I was worried about your safety and needed to check on you; second, I wanted to ask about your future plans.

"My future plans...?" A look of confusion appeared in Kong Sang Xi Ruo's eyes. She had never thought about this question before.

She was born here, grew up here, and should rightfully die here.

Song Changsheng had anticipated this, and said softly, "If you don't know what to do, I have two options for you to consider."

Firstly, the Xianglu River you are in is a tributary of the Canglan River.

The Canglan River is the largest inland river, and it is frequently mentioned in ancient books, so you should remember it.

The Canglan River flows directly to the sea and is guarded by the Alligator Dragon Clan.

I met the Water Lord of the Alligator Dragon Clan in this section of the river not long ago; he is still loyal to your Merfolk Clan.

If you are willing, I can take you out and secretly send you to live temporarily with the Dragon Clan. Given your status and bloodline, the Azure Water Lord will certainly treat you with courtesy.

With the protection of the Dragon Clan, your personal safety will be absolutely guaranteed. Whether you are breaking through to the Demon King realm or going to the East Sea to find your fellow clansmen, they can provide assistance.

"Furthermore..." Song Changsheng paused, then continued, "If you want to find your father, they can also help you."

Kong Sang Xi Ruo hesitated for a moment before saying, "The Dragon Clan... Father once mentioned it. He warned me that I should not have contact with them unless absolutely necessary."

Song Changsheng frowned slightly. When the Merfolk conquered the world, the Dragon Clan made great contributions and was one of the most powerful legions. Otherwise, they would not have been assigned to such an important position as the Canglan River after the war.

No matter how you look at it, the Dragon Clan is the Merfolk's most trustworthy ally, so it's quite intriguing that Kong Sang Xi Ruo's father left such an instruction.

The Water Palace was placed here, which Song Changsheng originally thought was for the convenience of the Dragon Clan to take care of it, but now it seems that's not the case.

Thinking about it carefully, it makes sense. If the Dragon Clan knew of her existence, there's no reason why they wouldn't have taken any action all these years.

However, the rule of "no contact unless necessary" means that contact is allowed only when necessary, which fits Kong Sang Xi Ruo's current situation.

He then gave a second option: "The second option is to come with me. My family now has an enclave in the East China Sea."

In that place, I met a demon queen from the Rainbow Lin Clan. They were also loyal to the Merfolk Clan, and in fact, the two clans were somewhat related.

The demon lord she serves is named Kongsang Lifeng, who is also a member of the royal family and might even be related to you.

Even if he doesn't recognize you, given your bloodline connection, you'll definitely receive proper accommodations and treatment if you go there.

When she heard the first half, a bright smile appeared on Kong Sang Xi Ruo's face, but she fell silent after hearing the second half.

After a long silence, she said in a low voice, "Am I really that useless? I'll just be a burden and a drag on you once we get out."

Song Changsheng smiled slightly and said seriously, "You are certainly not a burden. Without you, I would have been fed to the fish more than a hundred years ago, and I would never have achieved what I have today."

The reason I made this arrangement is because I was worried that you wouldn't be able to adapt to human society, and it would be better for you to get along with your own kind.

There's no need to rush into a decision. You can come back to your clan with me first, experience what human society is like, and enjoy the scenery of the inland areas—things you can't see at sea.

However, I need to prepare for a very important competition during this period, and I will need to stay in seclusion most of the time, so I won't be able to be with you.

But I can introduce you to my wife; I'm sure you'll get along very well.

"Your wife?"
"She must be a very beautiful and kind person." Kong Sang Xiruo said with her hands supporting her chin, her face full of curiosity.

Song Changsheng thought for a moment and said, "He is a very gentle person."

……

During the brief moment of their conversation, the tribulation clouds above the Xianglu River gathered ever larger, seemingly within reach.

There was not a single living creature to be seen within a radius of a thousand miles.

Golden lightning bolts struck from time to time, leaving scorched craters in the ground.

The air was thick with the aura of thunder, sending chills down one's spine.

A streak of light flashed across the sky, stopping at the edge of the tribulation clouds, revealing a majestic figure dressed in snow-white robes.

Looking at the tribulation cloud that had been brewing in the sky for a long time, Mu Guibai couldn't help but feel a little puzzled: "The tribulation cloud has descended, but why can't I sense the aura of the person who is to be afflicted? This is really strange."

Logically, after the tribulation clouds descend, they should quickly lock onto the person destined for the calamity, but the current state of these tribulation clouds is rather like that of headless flies. If this continues, this place will surely be reduced to scorched earth.

Looking at the Xianglu River churning in the distance, he couldn't help but wonder to himself, "Could it be that some powerful monster has emerged from the river?"

If that's the case, things get a bit tricky.

The relationship between Daqi and the Canglan River aquatic tribes had just eased, so he couldn't very well intervene if a demon were undergoing tribulation.

However, it would be unreasonable to simply allow the demon race to break through within the territory of Daqi.

Just as they hesitated, a golden bolt of lightning, thicker than an adult's arm, crashed down, breaking through the surging surface of the Xianglu River and creating towering waves.

Although this bolt of lightning was some distance from Kong Sang Xi Ruo's water mansion, it still shook the outer barrier, and the outer array was passively activated.

Inside the bedchamber, Song Changsheng and Kongsang Xiruo simultaneously raised their heads.

"Is it thundering?"

"No, this isn't ordinary thunder. Stay here and don't move."

Song Changsheng comforted her, then walked out of the bedchamber. His vast divine sense spread out and quickly took in the situation outside through the barrier. Seeing the tribulation clouds that were about to approach the river, his expression suddenly turned ugly.

Because of the barrier, he was completely unaware at first, allowing the tribulation lightning to build up to this extent.

Judging from the timing, the appearance of these tribulation clouds most likely occurred at the moment when Kong Sang Xi Ruo had just finished refining the power within her body and awakened.

"Why did this demon king's tribulation come so quickly?" Song Changsheng was completely baffled.

The nature of the Demon King's Tribulation and the Human Race's Golden Core Minor Tribulation is the same; to trigger them, the right timing, the right location, and the right people are all indispensable.

According to his calculations, there should have been at least several years of buffer time, so how did it arrive so quietly?

"With the tribulation lightning descending, the entire cultivation world of the Great Qi is probably in an uproar." Song Changsheng's expression darkened slightly. He was certain that the Golden Core cultivators from the two sects and one city were probably already on their way.

It was inevitable that Kong Sang Xiruo would be exposed; things had become somewhat out of his control.

He hurried back to his bedchamber and said in a solemn tone, "Your Demon King Tribulation has been triggered. You must immediately open the barrier to prepare for the tribulation."

"Demon King's Tribulation? No wonder I suddenly felt a sense of unease just now. I thought it was..." Kong Sang Xi Ruo's face was slightly pale. Although she was naive, she had already learned about the terror of the Demon King's Tribulation from various ancient books.

Do you possess any magical artifacts of the spirit treasure level?

Kong Sang Xiruo hurriedly rummaged through her storage bag and finally took out a bunch of magical artifacts of various shapes. These artifacts were full of aquatic style, but without exception, they were all spiritual treasures, totaling seven pieces.

It's no exaggeration to say that the entire Song family doesn't have that many magical treasures; they're incredibly extravagant.

But he didn't feel it was out of place at all. On the contrary, he felt a sense of how it should be. Such wealth was worthy of her status as a mermaid royal.

He had originally planned to give her the [Hundred Fiends Qiongqi Cauldron] to help her through her tribulation if she didn't have it, but thankfully he didn't say it out loud. His own wealth was really nothing compared to hers.

Are these okay?
"Father said that the main body of this palace is also a magical artifact, so it should be useful, right?" Kong Sang Xi Ruo said somewhat nervously.

People are always filled with fear of the unknown. The lightning tribulation was a completely unfamiliar territory for Kong Sang Xi Ruo, and she had no experience in dealing with it. It would be a lie to say that she was not panicked.

Song Changsheng: "..."

He had already discovered this problem; the main body of this underwater palace was at least a fifth-grade low-level magic artifact.

With so many treasures in her possession, there's really no need to worry about a mere demon king's lightning tribulation.

Since her father was able to leave her so many magical artifacts, he must have had other life-saving tricks as well.

However, he also knew that for Kong Sang Xi Ruo at the moment, the most important thing was her mindset. If she lacked confidence, no amount of treasures would be of any use.

"Don't be nervous. With your bloodline, the mere tribulation of the Demon King will definitely not be a problem for you." Song Changsheng encouraged Kong Sang Xiruo while reaching out to touch her brow.

"This is my experience from when I went through my previous tribulation. Stay calm and don't panic. You can definitely do it."

His composure and confidence inspired Kong Sang Xiruo, gradually calming her down so she could begin to analyze and learn from Song Changsheng's experience of overcoming tribulation.

At this moment, Song Changsheng waved his sleeve, opening the barrier and array that had been operating around the palace for hundreds of years. The tribulation clouds that had been brewing to their fullest extent instantly locked onto Kong Sang Xiruo beside him, and even he felt a slight sense of unease.

He had a premonition that if he didn't leave the area of ​​the tribulation clouds, he would be the next one to be targeted.

He turned to look at Kong Sang Xiruo and said softly, "If I don't leave now, I'll be in your way. You'll have to walk the rest of the way by yourself. I'll wait for you outside, and we'll walk together then."

This was both an encouragement and a promise from him; no matter who came today, he would take her away.

Kong Sang Xiruo naturally couldn't think of that much, and simply nodded firmly.

As the Yin and Yang energies emerged, his figure instantly shifted to the area outside the range shrouded by the tribulation clouds. At this moment, he also sensed Mu Guibai's aura.

At the same time, Mu Guibai also noticed the sudden appearance of Song Changsheng and asked in confusion:
"Chang Sheng, how did you emerge from the tribulation clouds?"

Seeing that Mu Guibai was the only one around, Song Changsheng breathed a sigh of relief. After all, it was a remote area, and it would take some time for other Golden Core cultivators to arrive.

At this point, there was no need to hide anything anymore. After meeting with Mu Guibai, he simply recounted the whole story in a straightforward manner.

Aside from a few secrets and details, there was nothing hidden, including the fact that Kong Sang Xi Ruo was a member of the Merfolk royal family, but the concentration of her bloodline was not mentioned.

Because Kong Sang Xi Ruo will soon appear to undergo her tribulation, this information cannot be hidden even if one wants to.

After listening, Mu Guibai sighed softly and said, "So those rumors really weren't unfounded. I never expected that you were rescued in this way. It's just that you weren't meant to die."

After saying that, he looked at Song Changsheng and said, "You were too careless. Why didn't you take her to another place to undergo the tribulation? You shouldn't have made such a mistake."

Song Changsheng gave a wry smile and said, "Originally, I planned to send her away directly on this trip, but I didn't expect the tribulation to come so quickly, without any prior warning."

"Now that things have come to this, we have no choice but to sacrifice our dignity as master and disciple."

He was naturally referring to the Golden Crow Sect and the Heavenly Vein Sect. It was difficult to guarantee that the Merfolk royal family wouldn't have some ulterior motives.

It's either a formal event or a favor that has to be done.

Seeing Mu Guibai standing beside him without hesitation, Song Changsheng felt a warm current flow through his heart and bowed, saying, "I have troubled Master."

"Why are we talking about these things? She saved your life, and I, as your teacher, will not stand idly by."

At this point, Mu Guibai suddenly looked up at the distant horizon and said, "They've arrived."

As soon as he finished speaking, a dazzling sword light pierced the sky and landed beside the two of them. It was none other than Bai Zimo, the Heavenly Sword Master of the Golden Crow Sect.

Before long, Bai Yan, the Heartless True Person of the Heavenly Vein Sect, also arrived, stepping through the air.

"You two are quite fast. I wonder what your background is?" Bai Zimo asked calmly, his sword in his arms.

Bai Yan's eyes flickered slightly as she said, "This place is remote and lacks large spiritual veins, so it's probably not inhabited by people of our human race."

Song Changsheng stepped forward and said, "To be honest, the person undergoing tribulation is indeed not human."

But she is my friend, she once saved my life, and I can assure you, her hands have never been stained with blood, nor does she pose any threat to Daqi. I would appreciate it if you two could do me the favor and leave.

"If it's not human, then it must be a demon. Are there any demons in this world that don't shed blood?" Bai Zimo gently stroked the hilt of his sword with his fingertips, a strange light flashing in his eyes, and an invisible sword aura surging.

Mu Guibai stepped forward and blocked Song Changsheng's path, saying with a sigh, "Fellow Daoists, I have already learned the details of what happened."

This demon is a special case. It had been sealed in the Fragrant Dew River and had never set foot in the outside world, so its hands were naturally stained with blood.

Humans are divided into good and evil, and so are demons; they cannot be generalized. Do you two fellow Daoists agree?

After a long silence, Bai Zimo released his hand from the sword hilt and nodded slightly, saying, "Fellow Daoist is right. In that case, I'll leave this matter to you two. As long as it doesn't affect the stability of the Great Qi, I can turn a blind eye."

"Since this demon was able to save Fellow Daoist Zixu's life, it must not be a vicious and evil person. Therefore, we naturally have no need to kill it all."

"However, this demon is still a demon. It's one thing if the breakthrough fails, but if it succeeds, please send it out of the human territory as soon as possible to avoid any negative consequences," Bai Yan said meaningfully.

"It's natural."

Seeing this, Bai Zimo and Bai Yan retreated a little further away, indicating their attitude as bystanders.

After they retreated to a distance, Mu Guibai suddenly transmitted his voice to Song Changsheng: "Bai Zimo has always been bloodthirsty. With you and me as guarantors, he might be able to spare ordinary demons. However, if he finds out that the one undergoing tribulation is a member of the Merfolk royal family, things might take a turn for the worse. We need to prepare for both possibilities."

Humans and demons are different, so we shouldn't get too involved, or it won't look good on us.

If he insists on taking action later, go directly to the Azure Water Lord. The Merfolk and the Dragon Clan are ruler and subject; they certainly won't stand idly by.

After the rumors spread, some people from the Golden Crow Sect also participated in the search, which shows that they also had some ideas about the Merfolk royal family, so they did not trust Bai Zimo.

In comparison, Bai Yan is much easier to talk to.

"Disciple understands." He could understand Mu Guibai's good intentions. Neither of them were alone. If they really started fighting, the balance that Daqi had maintained would be broken, and things would be difficult to handle at that time.

Involving the Alligator Dragon Clan is the best option.

"Boom..."

A thunderclap exploded in the clouds of calamity, and the surging lightning snakes seemed ready to pounce.

Having fully adjusted her state, Kong Sangxi Ruo used her magic to burst out of the river.

"crash"

This was the first time she had seen the magnificent landscape described in the book.

"The world is indeed as vast as described in the books, stretching as far as the eye can see, so beautiful..."

After discovering this completely new world, the last trace of fear and doubt in her heart vanished instantly, and she bravely and resolutely charged into the depths of the tribulation clouds.

At this moment, Bai Zimo's eyes narrowed slightly, releasing a dangerous aura, and he said in a cold voice, "So, there really are merfolk!"

……

P.S.: My update schedule has been a bit irregular these past few days. Thank you for your understanding, fellow cultivators. I will adjust it as soon as possible.

Today's chapter is a 7,000-word long chapter, with a base update of 4,000 words and an extra 3,000 words, leaving 6,000 words still owed.

I plan to boost average daily subscriptions during this period, and any extra chapters will be released in the form of longer chapters. Goodnight, fellow cultivators~~ (End of this chapter)