Family Cultivation: Evergreen of the Song Family

"We will set off for the Great Chu cultivation world tomorrow, and from there take a long-distance space teleportation array to the Great Zhen Immortal Dynasty. This journey will take at least one or two decades."

If you need anything, you can inform the elder in charge of general affairs, and he will prepare it for you.

"If there's nothing else, go and make your preparations," Song Changsheng said, waving his hand.

Upon hearing this, Hua Yan hesitated, her red lips trembling as if she wanted to say something, but in the end she didn't say anything and just responded in a low voice.

Stepping out of the main hall, Chi Li's steps were light, his face full of anticipation for the new environment, while Hua Yan's steps were somewhat heavy, creating a stark contrast.

Seeing Chi Li's eagerness, she stopped and asked, "Senior Brother seems very happy to leave Master?"

Chi Li was taken aback for a moment, then turned around in confusion and said, "Junior Sister, why do you have such thoughts? It is Master who has given me a new life, so naturally I would rather stay by Master's side to serve him. This is what I have always dreamed of."

"Then why did you..."

Seemingly guessing what Hua Yan was thinking, Chi Li smiled helplessly and said, "Junior sister, you've seen more of the world than I have."

"At my age, breaking through to the mid-stage of the Purple Mansion realm was only possible through the awakening of my bloodline power. Tell me, among the cultivators of your age, are you even considered worthy of mention?"

Hua Yan thought about it carefully for a while, and finally fell silent.

She came into contact with top geniuses from the border regions and even the Five Academies. Although not everyone was as freakish as Song Changsheng, there were many who broke through to the Purple Mansion stage within sixty years.

After cultivating for about two cycles of sixty years, these geniuses often need to prepare for breaking through to the Golden Core stage. For example, the Five Academies Grand Competition's Purple Mansion Battle selects cultivators under the age of one hundred and fifty who have broken through to the Great Perfection of the Purple Mansion stage.

For these people, breaking through to the Golden Core stage at the age of two hundred is a very normal thing, and breaking through to the Golden Core stage before the age of one hundred and fifty is considered to be among the ranks of the most outstanding geniuses.

If it weren't for the lack of a Heavenly Palace, she should have been able to be among them, becoming the third person in the Five Academies after Song Changsheng and the First Prince Zhao Yin.

Chi Li was about the same age as her, and in her eyes, his cultivation level was truly beneath him, and he was not worthy of the title of the chief disciple of Master Zixu.

The truth is a sharp knife; these words are truly hurtful.

After pondering for a while, he could only try to comfort him, saying, "Being behind is only temporary. Senior Brother has awakened the Golden Crow Bloodline, and your cultivation will definitely advance by leaps and bounds in the future."

"How long will it take, thirty years or fifty years?"

Chi Li sighed and said, "Junior sister, you don't need to comfort me."

The wasted years cannot be easily turned back. No one will stand still and wait for me. If I want to catch up with those genius cultivators, I must put in more effort than they do.

Staying by Master's side is certainly good, as it provides safety, stability, and honor.

However, without experiencing wind and rain, without that leap off a cliff that disregards life and death, how can a fledgling bird spread its wings and fly high?
Our master has protected us too well. Every time he wanted to toughen us up and give us some trials, he would soften in the end and give us protective charms again and again.

There is no fertile ground for me to catch up in the Great Qi or even the border regions. Only the Zhulu Academy, the top university in the southwest, can give me the opportunity to catch up or even surpass it.

I used to be of average talent, but I was fortunate enough to become a disciple of my master because of my father.

Over the years, I haven't accomplished many decent things.

I am ashamed to mention my master's name to outsiders.

I have always believed that only a prodigy like my junior sister is qualified to become Master's disciple.

However, the facts cannot be changed. Since Master has chosen me, I cannot let him down.

My departure is only temporary. As long as I live, I will return to this land sooner or later!
At that time, I will stand before everyone with dignity and tell them.

I, Chi Li, am a direct disciple of Master Zi Xu!

At this moment, Chi Li's heart pounded violently, spurting out scalding blood, and his red hair seemed to burn like a raging flame.

Hua Yan never expected it would be for this reason. She had never considered these things before. Since embarking on the path of immortality, she had been someone that her peers looked up to.

Her achievements are enough to make everyone around her proud and gratified.

No one will question her, and she doesn't need to prove anything.

This is where the two are completely different.

She has her responsibilities, and Chi Li also has his pressures, which are no less than hers.

The Great Celestial Dynasty, the Zhulu Academy.

That was the place where Song Changsheng became famous in one battle. On that cloud-top arena, he defeated Zhao Yin, the former number one genius of the Five Academies.

His prestige in the Great Zhen Immortal Dynasty was far greater than it was in the border regions, because most people in the border regions did not know how valuable this victory was.

If Chi Li's identity were to spread within the Zhu Lu Academy, it's hard to imagine how much attention it would attract.

Although both are disciples of Song Changsheng, Hua Yan is also the champion of the Purple Mansion Battle, leading the individual points ranking by a huge margin. Her strength has long been proven.

But Chi Li is different; every flaw he makes is magnified and then turned into questioning and ridicule of Song Changsheng.

This pressure is terrifying.

This senior brother was inferior to her in every aspect, but there was one thing she greatly envied.

No matter what, Chi Li is a person of this land. Whether he lives or dies, he will eventually return to the land that nurtured him, while she... is just a passerby from the East.

Seeing that Hua Yan remained silent, Chi Li didn't mind and smiled slightly, saying, "Let's go, junior sister, it's time to pack our bags."

Every word of their conversation reached Song Changsheng's ears.

It wasn't that he had a strange habit of eavesdropping on the younger generation; the entire Cangmang Peak was within the range of his divine sense, and whether the two were deliberately hiding or not, he couldn't help but hear.

He wasn't surprised that Chi Li could utter such bold words.

Back then, Chi Li was also a proud and arrogant young man who dared to draw his gun even when facing enemies stronger than him.

Unfortunately, through a series of setbacks and frustrations, his edges were gradually worn down.

In his presence, Chi Li was a respectful and courteous disciple who valued his teacher.

In front of Xu Miaoyin and others, he was a mature, steady, and trustworthy senior brother.

There are many people in this story, but not the dashing young man who brandished his gun at him at the foot of Tianyang Peak.

He originally thought that Chi Li had lost his pride and sharpness, but he didn't expect that he had just hidden it in his heart, and now it has finally reappeared.

The last lingering doubts in my mind vanished completely at that moment.

In contrast, Huayan's condition actually worried him a bit.

From the first time he saw Hua Yan, he could see the heavy, suffocating pressure she carried. This situation didn't improve after the Five Academies Grand Competition; instead, it became even more burdensome due to her failed attempt to break through to the Golden Core stage.

That's why, after Huayan became his disciple, he avoided putting pressure on her and instead deliberately guided her.

Wangyue Cliff was not a cultivation site chosen randomly; it is the place with the most open view in the entire Lingzhou, and the view of the sun and moon is also exceptional.

His suggestion that Huayan smile more often wasn't just a joke between master and disciple; he genuinely felt that his disciple was too tense, like the strings of Zhuang Yuechan's zither, never letting up for a moment.

"The lives of ordinary people in this world are truly too tiring."

Song Changsheng sighed and casually picked up a jade slip from the table in front of him. He had a lot to do on this trip, and many things needed to be arranged in advance...

The following morning, the three of them met and gathered in front of the teleportation array, embarking together on this long journey.

There is only one long-range teleportation array in the border region that can directly cross the Tianshan Mountains, located in the Great Chu cultivation world.

Therefore, they need to transfer once in Luoxia City.

While both are spatial teleportation arrays, the long-distance one is not only expensive but also requires a long wait, only starting to operate after the maximum number of users has been reached.

It took almost a month to teleport to the Great Zhen Immortal Dynasty. It was still a long way from Gaoyang, the capital city where Zhulu Academy was located. Moreover, there were many passes along the way, and it would be difficult to move an inch without a travel permit.

Fortunately, the Wanxiang Palace had already contacted the Zhulu Academy in advance, and they sent people to pick them up early on.

As soon as he stepped out of the teleportation array, Song Changsheng saw a familiar figure standing in the crowd, bowing to him.

"Fellow Daoist Shu Qi, how could it be you?"

"Haha, of course it's because of the favor of guiding you in the past. You and your two young friends have come from afar and must be tired. We have prepared a flying boat, and you can fly directly to the capital now."

After saying that, he looked at a young cultivator in front of him and said, "Don't you bow yet? This is the Purple Void True Man you regard as your role model."

The young cultivator, his face filled with excitement, bowed deeply and said, "This junior pays respects to True Person Zixu."

"Fellow Daoist Shu Qi, who is this...?"

"This is Shu's youngest son, Shu Qingchi. He has been cultivating in seclusion at the Baiding Pavilion branch for many years and has only recently been promoted to Zhulu Academy."

Ever since he learned of your achievements, he's considered you his role model. When he heard you were coming to the academy, he pestered you relentlessly, insisting on coming with you.

Shu Qingchi said with admiration, "Your Excellency comes from the border region, yet you are able to overpower the geniuses of the Five Academies. I admire you greatly. It is my great honor to meet you today."

Upon hearing this, Song Changsheng laughed and said, "I only have two eyes and one mouth, what's so special about that I need to come and take a look?"

"Fellow Daoist, please don't be modest. Your reputation in the Cloud Arena is renowned. Who in the world doesn't know you? Enough of this small talk. Before the people around us react, Fellow Daoist, please come with me. Otherwise, it will be difficult to get away later."

Although Song Changsheng felt that Shu Qi's words were a bit exaggerated, he still quickly followed.

No sooner had they left than a cultivator recognized him and exclaimed, "That man just now looks like Master Zixu!"

"Who?" Decades had passed since the competition, and no one could react for a moment.

"Oh my, it's Master Zixu, who came in first place in the Five Academies Grand Competition."

"really?"

"How could this be fake? It's exactly the same."

These words immediately stirred up a hornet's nest, and many young cultivators rushed after them. As the news spread, more and more cultivators joined in, frightening the city's garrison commander who thought a riot had broken out. After learning the truth, he was immediately relieved.

If it's that person, then it's perfectly normal.

"Fellow Daoist Shuqi, what is the reason for this?"

Sitting in the flying boat, Song Changsheng looked at the crowd in the city calling his title and was a little stunned. It had been decades, yet he still had such a great influence.
“If we had been any later, we would have been stuck down there.” Shu Qi lowered the window blind and smiled. “In the past, the champion of the Five Academies Competition did not have this much influence, but you defeated the First Prince.”

The Crown Prince's reputation for virtue has spread far and wide over the years, deeply resonating with the people. Whenever they think of the Crown Prince, they will think of you as well. That defeat had a tremendous impact on Da Zhen.

Fellow Daoist, you are now a role model for all young cultivators in the Great Zhen and even the Five Academies. Do not underestimate yourself.

"Hearing what you say, fellow Daoist, it doesn't seem like you admire me. On the contrary, you seem to be here to seek revenge on me," Song Changsheng said with a smile.

"Speaking of which, young friend Huayan was also the first place winner in the Purple Mansion Battle. Why did you two come together?"

"Fellow Daoist Shuqi, you're out of touch. Huayan has already become my disciple. This time, I intend to recommend the son of an old friend to enroll, and I'll send Yan'er along as well."

After saying that, he looked at Chi Li and said, "Li'er, this is Elder Shu Qi of Zhulu Academy. He is a disciple of Xiaoyao Zhenjun. Xiaoyao Zhenjun comes from the Four Realms, so he can be considered a fellow townsman. You must not be negligent when you see him in the academy."

He didn't directly reveal Chi Li's identity, not because he felt it was beneath him, but because it was a change he made after witnessing his influence in Da Zhen.

If others find out about their relationship, Chi Li will likely never have a peaceful day again.

"Chi Li pays respects to Elder Shu."

"No need for formalities." Shu Qi nodded subconsciously. At this moment, he was quite shocked by Song Changsheng and had no extra energy to pay attention to Chi Li.

"Isn't Hua Yan a direct disciple of True Monarch Longxiang? Fellow Daoist, what is this...?"

"The process was somewhat tortuous; I will discuss it in detail with you when I have more time in the future."

"I wonder how your esteemed master, the Carefree True Lord, has been lately? May I have the opportunity to pay him a visit?"

Shu Qi suppressed his shock and shook his head, saying, "My master is traveling and has not yet returned. Fellow Daoist, you have chosen the wrong time."

Upon hearing this, Song Changsheng couldn't help but feel a little regretful.

However, the path of carefree wandering is about pursuing unrestrained freedom, and this outcome was within his expectations.

With the guide provided by the Zhulu Academy, the flying boat had no obstacles within the Great Zhen Immortal Dynasty and soon arrived at the familiar ancient city—the royal capital Gaoyang.

Seeing such a magnificent city for the first time, Chi Li stood by the window, momentarily mesmerized.

Hearing someone tell you a thousand times is never as shocking as seeing it with your own eyes.

No wonder people say that the world inside and outside Tianshan is two completely different worlds; now he can understand it.

"Only a place like this can give me the opportunity to catch up. One day, I will announce my identity to everyone!" Chi Li secretly vowed in his heart.

A seed called "becoming stronger" quietly took root and sprouted at this moment...

……

P.S.: Bonus chapter of 4,000 words! Fellow Daoists, the promised 14,000-word bonus chapter is now complete. Thank you again for your monthly votes, thank you... (End of this chapter)