Family Cultivation: Evergreen of the Song Family

Compared to the Thorn Road, the Flame Demon Purgatory is not as complicated or bizarre; this level tests one's magical power.

According to Li Yuxia's description, this purgatory space contains many strangely shaped fire demons. These fire demons are incredibly powerful and can wield the [Law of Fire]. Each one has the strength of a Purple Mansion cultivator, and the strongest is capable of contending with a Purple Mansion Great Perfection cultivator.

Although the Balrogs are of low intelligence and have weak perception, they like to huddle together in groups of three or five, and are extremely sensitive to magic power. Once they sense it, they will bite like mad dogs.

This means that when hunting down the Flame Demon, one must act swiftly and decisively, without any delay. Otherwise, if surrounded by a horde of demons, even a Golden Core cultivator, unless they reach the level of Song Changsheng, will be defeated by a large number of fearless Purple Mansion cultivators.

The reason for hunting these fire demons is that they leave behind a special energy essence on the ground after they die. According to Li Yuxia, this essence can not only quickly replenish the consumed mana, but also make the mana more condensed and expand the dantian.

He spent a full six months hunting down nearly two hundred fire demons, which greatly improved his abilities and laid a solid foundation for overcoming the endless sea of ​​suffering in the final "Trial of Water".

Completing this trial is very simple; all you need to do is kill one hundred fire demons to unlock the "Trial of Earth" space.

Although the Flame Demons were troublesome, they weren't too difficult for Song Qingxing. The only problem was how many Flame Demons he needed to kill.

Li Yuxia killed two hundred demons, not because he lacked the strength to continue, but because he discovered that the effects of the Flame Demon Essence were gradually weakening. Therefore, he only hunted two hundred before heading to the Rock Space.

There are still more than twenty years before the Trial Road is completely closed, so he has plenty of time and can hunt more. For him, even the slightest improvement is invaluable.

Stepping into the Fiery Demon Purgatory, a wave of heat hits you, and what comes into view is a lava world composed of pools of lava of various sizes.

Looking around, those lava pools were filled with towering fire demons.

These fire demons are on average over ten feet tall, with extremely long upper limbs that almost reach past their knees. They are covered in a thick layer of lava armor, and have a single, upturned lava horn on their heads. Their faces do not show any features that could represent organs such as eyes, ears, mouth, and nose.

They huddled in small groups, soaking motionless in the scalding lava pools, as if they were dozing.

"This is……"

Seeing the appearance of these fire demons, Song Qingxing's doubts about the Path of Thorns continued to grow, because he had seen these things before.

That was the second time he ventured into the abyss. (See Chapter 163 of Volume 5 for details)
Then he suddenly encountered a strange creature with two horns on its head. Its height and appearance were similar to the fire demon, and it was also incredibly strong. After killing it, it would drop a strange black bead.

Because he couldn't figure out where it came from, he didn't touch it. Instead, it was absorbed by the [Traceless Sword] in his hand, and its power increased significantly.

Later, he was hunted down by that strange creature and barely escaped with his life, only managing to do so thanks to Wu Jie.

That creature was not one of the known species at present. Even someone as learned as Song Changsheng did not know its race or origin, and simply regarded it as a unique alien race of the abyss.

He had already put this matter out of his mind, but seeing the Flame Demon now brought back those long-forgotten memories.

These two creatures are so similar, they're practically the same species.

The distance between the Boundless Sword Sect and the Abyss spans almost half of the human cultivation world. Logically speaking, it is impossible for the same species to appear in both places unless someone deliberately intervenes.

The Wuliang Sword Sect named it "Demon". Could it be that the alien races he saw in the abyss were also "Demons"?
If that's the case, then the situation of the Great Qi cultivation world is somewhat dangerous. Just what he saw in the abyss back then was enough to overthrow the entire border region.

At this moment, he finally understood why Song Changsheng had been so persistent in seeking a way out for the Song family all these years—it was because they faced far too many unstable factors.

He didn't know whether there was any connection between the fire demons before him and the alien races in the abyss. He was more concerned about whether the essence left behind by these fire demons after their deaths could be absorbed by the [Traceless Sword].

There are a large number of fire demons here, and the number that one person can absorb is limited. If they can be used to upgrade the [Traceless Sword], it means that the resource utilization rate of this place can be maximized.

"Just try and you will find out."

Song Qingxing drew his sword and stood up, a cold glint in his eyes as he looked at the two Flame Demons closest to him...

In less than a quarter of an hour, he killed the two fire demons and obtained two crimson beads, which were only different in color from the alien races he had killed in the abyss.

He absorbed one of the pills as Li Yuxia instructed, and the mana he had just consumed was instantly restored. Moreover, a strange power circulated in his dantian, making his mana even more condensed.

He placed the other essence with the [Traceless Sword]. It was absorbed the moment it came into contact with the sword, and the spiritual energy of the [Traceless Sword] was noticeably enhanced.

"effective."

Having successfully confirmed his suspicions, Song Qingxing looked at the hordes of Flame Demons in the distance, a strange light appearing in his eyes, as if he were looking at a vast treasure trove.

He hadn't experienced such a heart-fluttering moment in a long time.

His sudden impulse led to the annihilation of all the fire demons in this space.

In just one year, he hunted down nearly four hundred fire demons, turning this space into a literal "fire demon purgatory," empty as far as the eye could see, a stark contrast to when he first arrived.

Both he and the [Traceless Sword] in his hand have been greatly improved, and his dantian now contains a large amount of undigested essence.

He wasn't in a hurry, because the upcoming "Trial of Earth" in the rock space would help him completely refine these remaining powers to strengthen himself.

The term "rock space" can also be interpreted as "rock".

To put it simply, it's like a giant "millstone," and the trial participants are the grinding material beneath it. This is a trial designed to help the trial participants strengthen their physical bodies.

This trial posed no difficulty for him either, as his physical body had been tempered since his youth and was no match for body cultivators of the same level.

In just two months, he successfully passed this test, greatly strengthening his physique and entering the "Gold Trial" Void Sword Tomb.

This trial is designed to hone a cultivator's understanding of the [Sword Dao Laws]. Of course, if one understands one law, all laws will follow. Cultivators who practice other laws will achieve the same results, provided they have sufficient comprehension.

This Void Sword Tomb has a remarkable history. The swords buried here include those from the past elders of the Boundless Sword Sect, as well as those belonging to trial participants who perished in the trial grounds.

In short, each sword represents a swordsman who has passed away.

Even though Song Qingxing's understanding of swordsmanship had reached a high level, he still gained new insights in this void sword tomb.

Unfortunately, his own sword intent had already reached its peak, and he did not make any significant breakthroughs. He only comprehended a divine ability through this.

The supernatural power is called "Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Source".

Many swordsmen in the world have mastered this supernatural ability, because it is an inevitable result that occurs when one's sword intent reaches a certain level.

Although it was an inevitable outcome, everyone's understanding of it differed, resulting in different final effects. This outcome, however, was within his expectations.

After all, his understanding of swordsmanship was far too advanced, far exceeding the scope of the Purple Mansion stage.

The purpose of the Trial Path is to fill the gaps in the knowledge of cultivators who were originally unable to break through to the Golden Core stage. He has no shortcomings in his understanding of the laws, so the Void Sword Tomb is not a test for him at all, and naturally it cannot bring any improvement.

The only true test is the final trial, the endless sea of ​​suffering.

Li Yuxia recounted that he spent ten years in a boundless sea of ​​suffering to temper his mind.

In the path of cultivation, mental state is of paramount importance.

To survive the Heavenly Tribulation, one needs not only a strong physical body and a resilient soul, but also an unbreakable Dao heart.

Standing before that boundless sea of ​​suffering, he stepped firmly into it. As soon as his calves entered the sea, his flesh was completely corroded away, leaving only stark white bones.

Song Qingxing remained calm and continued to move forward until all his flesh and organs were completely devoured, without ever stopping.

Before long, his flesh and blood, which had been devoured, "grew" back.

This was merely the first test the sea of ​​suffering had given him, and also a warning.

The sea of ​​suffering is boundless, but turning back is the shore. If you don't want to sink into this boundless sea of ​​suffering, it's not too late to turn back now.

But Song Qingxing came for this very reason, so how could he possibly give up halfway? Besides, he had no way out; he either had to cross this sea of ​​suffering or wait to die here.

He slowly closed his eyes, quietly accepting the erosion of the sea of ​​suffering. His Dao heart was like a reef standing in the sea, unmoved no matter how the waves crashed against him...

In the empty Fiery Demon Purgatory, that towering figure reappeared. His gaze seemed to penetrate the Rock Space and the Void Sword Tomb, reaching Song Qingxing, who was immersed in the Sea of ​​Bitterness.

His gaze fell on the [Traceless Sword], and his eyes flickered slightly.

"Not only does he possess this sword, but he also cultivates the [Heaven-Opening Sword Intent]. It is indeed the will of Heaven. It is just a pity that this person cannot be used by me, and... his growth time is too short. He may not be of any use in this calamity."

It shouldn't be the one Tianji Pavilion is looking for.

The deductions of those in the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion cannot be entirely trusted. Instead of expending effort searching for that so-called chosen one from outside the heavens, it would be better to continue consolidating the Four Extremes Heaven.

As soon as he finished speaking, the imposing figure took a step forward, directly crossing the rocky space and entering the Void Sword Tomb.

Looking at the swords floating in mid-air, he waved his sleeve, and wisps of fierce aura spread from the tips of the swords and gathered in his palm. He couldn't help but shake his head slightly and said, "The efficiency is too slow. At this rate, even a thousand years of nurturing will not be enough."

Despite saying that, he still collected every last bit of the malevolent energy. This kind of malevolent energy could only be collected once every sixty years. There was probably no substitute in the entire human cultivation world. Even if it was inefficient, there was no other choice at the moment.

"The heavens wept blood and tears, pouring down to the northwest. Hence the sun, moon, and stars shifted there; the earth was incomplete in the southeast, hence floods and dust settled there..."

"With a single sword, the Heavenly Gate was reopened. Demons were suppressed in the abyss, and the streams were diverted to the void, thus bringing peace to the world!" The imposing figure murmured softly, a hint of vicissitude appearing in his eyes, but even more so, a sense of reminiscence.

"Hopefully, this time it won't come to that."

He glanced one last time at the [Traceless Sword] hovering above Song Qingxing, his figure fading until he vanished from this world as if he had never existed.

Above the boundless sea of ​​suffering, the [Traceless Sword] seemed to sense something, turning its hilt and, in a human-like manner, "looking" towards the direction of the Void Sword Tomb...

"call……"

At the edge of Cangmang Peak and Wangyue Cliff, Chi Li let out a long sigh of relief and slowly finished his work.

"how?"

"Reporting to Master, I have been able to circulate my Qi nine times within an hour." Chi Li's face was filled with undisguised joy and excitement.

Song Changsheng had given him a three-year deadline, but only two years have passed and he has already completed the task. He has finally proven himself and is naturally quite excited.

"Not bad, but this is only my minimum standard. Next, you will need to cultivate the Yin chapter simultaneously, and your junior sister will also cultivate the Yang chapter simultaneously. During this period, you will need to verify each other's knowledge and help each other."

"This breathing method is the foundation upon which I created this mental cultivation method. It is of utmost importance, so you must not be negligent." Song Changsheng's tone was more serious than ever before.

The cultivation method he tailored for the Song family cultivators has reached the final verification stage, and no mistakes can be tolerated.

Once this mental cultivation manual is published, the Song family will surely rise like a dragon emerging from the abyss, soaring to great heights.

This was not arrogance on his part, but rather a precise conclusion reached after two years of continuous refinement and verification. For the Song family, this was absolutely a groundbreaking cultivation manual.

After all, even the most useless person will eventually become enlightened if they are nourished by the essence of the sun and moon for a long time.

The Song family will truly win at the starting line in the future.

Now, after a final verification by Chi Li and Hua Yan, this mental cultivation technique, which embodies his years of hard work, can truly be released!

This will be the most meaningful thing he has done in his life.

"Master, Junior Sister has only just reconstituted her Yin Body. Can her body withstand absorbing the essence of the sun so quickly?" Chi Li asked worriedly.

For the [Nine Yin Body], the essence of the sun is practically its nemesis.

Song Changsheng glanced at him and said, "This step was bound to be taken sooner or later. Huayan is not as fragile as you think."

"I'm going to meet with Master Wujie next, and we'll officially begin after I return. Prepare yourselves in advance."

"Disciple, obey."

Watching Chi Li's retreating figure, Song Changsheng shook his head slightly. The kid's intentions were too obvious.

Unfortunately, the falling flowers are willing, but the flowing water is indifferent...

...(End of chapter)