Family Cultivation: Evergreen of the Song Family

"The Golden Crow Sect and the Heavenly Vein Sect are now evenly matched, and there shouldn't be any further trouble, right?"

This was what Song Changsheng was most worried about.

Strength has always been the decisive factor in resource allocation. When the Golden Crow Sect was powerful, the two sects were roughly equal in terms of resource abundance, but there was a significant gap in key resources.

The Heavenly Vein Sect and the Golden Crow Sect have been engaged in open and covert struggles for years. Besides the fact that two tigers cannot share the same mountain, the main reason is actually because there is a Five Elements Immortal Crystal Mine at the border of Qingzhou and Xizhou, which are under the jurisdiction of the two sects.

In the cultivation world, people are generally cautious in the use of words in naming things. This crystal is named after "immortal," so it is naturally not an ordinary thing. It contains the power of the Five Elements Laws and has a great promoting effect on both Golden Core cultivators and Purple Mansion cultivators.

This mine has an extremely low output, and it is the only one in the Great Qi and even in the surrounding cultivation world, so its value is self-evident.

Previously, the Golden Crow Sect had exclusive control of this mine. Later, the Heavenly Vein Sect, an outsider, forcibly intervened. The two sects fought several battles, and neither could defeat the other. In the end, they could only go to the negotiating table to distribute the mine in a more amicable way.

In previous years, due to Su Ding, the Heavenly Vein Sect was always overshadowed, and could only get about 30% each year.

After Su Ding's death and Shi Potian's breakthrough to the Great Perfection of the Golden Core stage, the distribution ratio was directly reversed, with the Heavenly Vein Sect taking 70%.

The bigger the fist, the truth is.

Now that the Golden Crow Sect has regained its former glory, both sides will definitely have to start a new game of strategy around this [Five Elements Immortal Crystal Mine].

Song Changsheng was worried that this matter would disrupt the rare stability of the cultivation world of the Great Qi.

With a major war imminent between the Great Qi and the Golden-Eyed Demon Kingdom, we cannot afford to create internal conflicts over these matters and lose sight of the bigger picture.

Song Luzhou shook his head slightly and said, "Although the Golden Crow Sect is somewhat powerful, both sides are still relatively restrained and there is no major conflict. True Person Tiangang and True Person Wutian met and, with the mediation of the City Lord, finally chose to split the profits for the next sixty years equally."

By the way, after resolving this matter, the Great City Lord announced his seclusion. His eldest disciple, Yin Shang, returned to Luoxia City from the Great Chu cultivation world and began acting as the Great City Lord to handle city affairs. It's speculated that he will soon succeed the Great City Lord.

"Has Senior Brother returned from the Great Chu cultivation world?"

Song Changsheng raised an eyebrow. He hadn't seen Yin Shang for almost a hundred years. He only knew that Mu Guibai had arranged a marriage for him. The woman was a disciple of a Golden Core cultivator in the Great Chu cultivation world, so they were considered a good match.

At the time, he thought it was just an ordinary thing, but he never expected that Yin Shang would be gone for so many years. He almost thought that Yin Shang had married into another family. He never expected that she would come back now.

Before he went into seclusion, Mu Guibai had revealed his idea of ​​retiring to him, and that day seems to be not far away.

Unbeknownst to them, their generation has gradually become the main players in the game.

"Has the war between Tianxiao Sect and Qingyang Palace subsided?"

"The fighting went on for several years, resulting in considerable casualties. The Wanlong Chamber of Commerce eventually intervened to mediate. They must have reached a consensus or made some kind of deal in private, but neither the Wind Whisper Palace nor the Spider Web of Luoxia City were able to find out the specific details."

However, judging from the decisiveness of the ceasefire between the two sides, they must have achieved a very satisfactory result for both.

Intelligence agencies unanimously believe that the Bandung Chamber of Commerce is the biggest winner, as they most likely obtained the legacy left behind by the Heavenly Emperor.

"It doesn't matter what they got, as long as things calm down."

Song Changsheng doesn't care what they've gained at all, as long as there's no more internal strife. With a great war between the human and demon races imminent, the Great Yu cultivation world and the Gusu cultivation world, as their rear base, must maintain absolute stability.

If they are unable to withstand the offensive of the Golden-Eyed Demon Kingdom, only they can provide support at the fastest speed.

However, this incident also reveals the Bandung Chamber of Commerce's desire to go further.

After all, the Wanlong Chamber of Commerce has never interfered in the internal affairs of other forces. This battle between Qingyang Palace and Tianxiao Gate did not affect them in essence. Their eagerness to break their principles and step in to mediate could only be for the inheritance left by Tianyu Zhenjun or something else.

Back then, Song Changsheng had already handed over the legacy left by True Monarch Yu Shu to the Wanlong Chamber of Commerce through Peng Siying. Although he had never seen the legacy in person, he knew from True Monarch Yu Shu's memories that it did contain the cultivation method she had personally practiced, which was enough to cultivate to the Nascent Soul stage.

Clearly, that inheritance was far from enough to satisfy the Wanlong Chamber of Commerce, which is why they broke their long-standing principles and intervened in the affairs of the Great Yu cultivation world.

Shi Potian, Chen Zhongfang, Peng Shi, and he are all striving to break through to the Nascent Soul stage.

However, judging from the current situation, the Peng family is the most promising.

Shi Potian and Chen Zhongfang had only recently broken through to the Great Perfection of the Golden Core stage, and had not even reached the level that Su Ding had reached back then. They were still quite far from the Nascent Soul stage, as can be seen from Su Ding's experience back then, who tried to extend his life several times but failed.

Although he was extremely confident that he could break through to the Nascent Soul stage, he had only just broken through to the late Golden Core stage, and the road ahead was equally long.

Therefore, in this silent competition, the Peng family is currently far ahead, and given their size, they certainly have no shortage of ordinary fifth-order cultivation techniques or inheritances.

This time, their involvement is most likely for something more important than the inheritance of the cultivation method.

This can also be seen in reference to the Jade Dew True Lord.

After deciding to reincarnate, Jade Dew True Monarch began to plan for her new life, leaving behind treasures of different levels in different places. Most of these treasures contained rare cultivation resources that could help her return to her peak as quickly as possible.

That's how Song Changsheng obtained the Golden Elixir.

Most of those treasure troves have already been opened by them; currently, only one remains, but its location is rather dangerous.

Besides its dangerous location, this place also requires her personal intervention to open. Currently, only Zhuang Yuechan is qualified to do so. To be on the safe side, we can only put it aside for now and reconsider after she successfully breaks through to the Golden Core stage.

Without a doubt, True Lord Tianyu must have made similar preparations.

If it were truly just a matter of inheriting a cultivation technique, Qingyang Palace and Tianxiao Sect wouldn't have fought each other for several years. After all, they are both established Golden Core forces, and each has its own foundation.

The treasures that can attract the Wanlong Chamber of Commerce must be those that are crucial for breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage.

It would be impossible for Song Changsheng not to feel a sense of urgency, as a Nascent Soul True Monarch could bring far too many variables to the borderlands.

The reason why the Wanlong Chamber of Commerce can still maintain neutrality and do business peacefully is because it does not yet have the power to overturn things. Once it has a Nascent Soul True Monarch, it will dare to directly rival the Wanxiang Palace with the foundation it has accumulated over the years.

It is impossible for the Song family and the Wanlong Chamber of Commerce to maintain their current harmonious relationship. At that time, they will not only have to act according to the other party's wishes, but the East China Sea Alliance may also end up benefiting them.

This is a race, and although he started much behind the Pengs, he could only do his best to catch up.

Now all he can rely on is his extraordinary talent and good fortune.

"How has the family's training been going during this period?"

With a major battle imminent, we cannot afford to slack off on military preparations.

Currently, in addition to its 3,000 elite clan soldiers, the Song Clan also has the 5,000-strong Blazing Sun Guard, the 2,000-strong Demon Suppressing Guard, and the 3,000-strong Formless Guard. These 13,000 men are all elites who have left production to focus on cultivation and practice of battle formations. Their cultivation levels are all above the late Qi Refining stage. With the support of a large number of Foundation Establishment and Purple Mansion cultivators as commanders, they constitute the Song Clan's main fighting force.

When the beast tide comes, they will build the strongest walls with their flesh and blood.

"It's going very smoothly. All legions have been replenished according to their established ranks. They are currently intensifying their training based on the battle formations you designed and the [Ten Absolute Dao Formation]. Once the war begins, they will be the family's sharpest spear and strongest shield."

By the way, speaking of this, there's something else I need to report to the clan leader.

Yu Xueqian, the patriarch of the Yu clan in Jiangzhou; Wang Qianqian, the patriarch of the Wang clan in Wutong County; Liu Mingtao, the sect leader of the Liuyun Sect in Liuyun County; and Chu Lingxiao, the patriarch of the Chu clan in Yangzhou, have all broken through to the Purple Mansion stage in recent years thanks to their families' [Breakthrough Pills]. As is customary, their families have incorporated them into the family's Guardian Hall for their command.

"Four people succeeded, which is more than I expected."

Upon hearing this, Song Luzhou sighed and said, "Actually, the proportion is not high. In recent years, more than ten cultivators from various major forces have died because of breaking through to the Purple Mansion stage. Families such as the Bai family and the Shangguan family have changed their patriarchs."

This is the dilemma faced by smaller factions: without treasures to aid them, the success rate of breakthroughs is simply too low.

Those who succeeded all used the [Breakthrough Pill], while none of those who didn't succeeded.

In the past, the human race was merely a blood-eating food raised by all other races. The reason why they were able to rise above others is largely due to the elixirs.

This made Song Changsheng realize the importance of alchemists even more, and he couldn't help but ask, "Has Wu Jie made any progress lately?"

"Master Wujie's physical body has been almost completely reconstructed. Only his facial features have not been completely fixed, but he is already able to communicate with the outside world. According to his own estimate, he will definitely be able to emerge from seclusion within ten years."

As if guessing what Song Changsheng was thinking, he added at the end, "Both I and Qingyu are now able to refine third-grade low-level pills stably, which can fully meet the daily cultivation needs of the family elders."

"Fifth Uncle and Qingyu have made rapid progress over the years, but it's not enough. Prepare the materials in advance so that Master Wujie can regain his form as quickly as possible after his physical body is reconstructed."

He believed that Song Luzhou and Song Qingyu would eventually grow up, but the Golden-Eyed Demon Kingdom wouldn't give the Song family that much time. Wu Jie was their only hope.

“I understand.” Song Luzhou nodded; he could understand Song Changsheng’s urgency.

What has the Embroidered Banner been up to in recent years?

Song Luzhou's tone carried a hint of barely perceptible excitement as he said, "The struggle is becoming increasingly fierce, with both external and internal troubles. The dissatisfaction of the lower-level cultivators of the [Jinxiu Banner] is about to reach its peak."

Song Daoling is still recovering from serious injuries, and Song Tianyuan is firmly tied down in the Tenglong Islands, making it impossible for him to control the development of the situation.

I believe the family has every opportunity to eliminate this threat with minimal cost before the Golden-Eyed Demon Kingdom invades.

After silently calculating the time in his mind, Song Changsheng nodded slightly and said, "That's good. They've been living for so long, it's time for it to end."

"Have the East Sea Alliance and the clan's troops prepare themselves. When I emerge from seclusion next time, I will march on the East Sea; consider it a training exercise."

He didn't want to give the [Brocade Banner] any more chance to catch their breath, but now was not a good time to go to war.

Zhuang Yuechan and Song Xianming are currently in seclusion to break through their cultivation barriers, and they need someone to protect them. There is absolutely no room for wishful thinking in this matter.

If Mu Guibai hadn't gone into seclusion, he could have taken over for a while, but Mu Guibai was currently in seclusion breaking through to the late stage of the Golden Core realm. He was the only Golden Core cultivator in the southwest of the Great Qi, so he had to stay and wait for Mu Guibai to emerge from seclusion.

I can’t be in both places at once!
After Song Luzhou accepted the order and left, Song Changsheng reached into his storage bag and took out two jade slips.

These are the powerful divine abilities obtained from the corpse raiser, namely [Soul Binding and Spirit Capturing], and the strongest inherited divine ability of the Chen Clan of the Eastern Heaven, [Flowers Bloom in an Instant].

With his current strength, there is no need to cultivate ordinary supernatural abilities anymore, but these two supernatural abilities are unique skills with endless uses, so they are still worth his effort.

At the same time that Song Changsheng went into seclusion for the third time, Zhuang Yuechan, who was also in seclusion in the Ruyun Palace, was also facing her own crucial moment.

Although they all broke through to the Golden Core stage, Zhuang Yuechan was somewhat different from the others.

She merged with Jade Lord's Nascent Soul and True Spirit, completely inheriting his insights into the Dao of Laws. Her main cultivation, the [Law of Music], had long since reached the Great Perfection level, which was even more exaggerated than Song Changsheng's back then.

In addition to the breakthrough experience of True Monarch Yu Shu, there were no obstacles in front of her that other cultivators would face.

She faces only one problem: the tribulation of her inner demons.

The tribulation of inner demons is divided into minor tribulation and major tribulation, which occur when one breaks through to the Purple Mansion stage and the Nascent Soul stage, respectively.

Normally, breaking through to the Golden Core stage only requires facing a minor heavenly tribulation.

However, Zhuang Yuechan needs to face an additional inner demon tribulation.

Strictly speaking, this was not her tribulation, but rather the inner demon that Yu Shu Zhenjun had not completely eradicated back then.

The inner demon did not disappear with the fall of Jade Dew True Monarch; instead, it took root in Zhuang Yuechan's heart, stirring restlessly.

This is probably the price she has to pay for taking shortcuts.

Yu Shu Zhenjun's inner demon was born when she broke through to the Nascent Soul stage. It was formed from her deepest obsession and hatred, and was deeply rooted, far beyond the reach of ordinary inner demons.

During the years that Zhuang Yuechan spent in seclusion, she spent most of her time struggling with her inner demons, and was deeply trapped in them, unable to extricate herself.

Yu Shu Zhenjun's past unbearable experiences were presented to her in the most direct way.

From the harsh living conditions of a Gu refiner to being used as a furnace for humiliation, every day of Yu Shu's early life was bleak.

It's a miracle that she survived.

Even bystanders could clearly feel that profound despair.

And so, she shed her role as a bystander, drew her sword, and with one stroke chopped off that filthy head. She then wrapped clothes around Yu Shu, who was barely clothed, and with one hand holding her and the other carrying the ugly head, they fought their way out of that hellhole.

After she had killed everyone and stood amidst the mountain of corpses and sea of ​​blood, Zhuang Yuechan, covered in filthy blood, realized that Yu Shu, whom she had been holding hands with, was nowhere to be found.

The next moment, Yu Shu suddenly appeared in front of her, bowing her head and whispering, "Thank you for saving me."

Zhuang Yuechan was about to respond when she saw the other person suddenly raise their head, their eyes bloodshot, and scream sharply:
"But why didn't you appear sooner!"

...(End of chapter)