Qinghe Immortal Clan.

Chapter 1012 Taking stock of the gains, achieving early Nascent Soul formation

As the sun rose, the white mist that filled the valley slowly began to dissipate, and several birds that had been hiding above the cliffs immediately spread their wings and flew into the valley.

After the birdsong subsided, two streaks of light, one green and one blue, shot out from the clouds and stopped in mid-air.

The "Fairy of the Orchid," now dressed in a purple palace gown, looked around and then turned to bow to Song Qingming beside her.

"Fellow Daoist Song, I intend to take Xuanjizi's remains back to the sect first, so I will not be traveling with you."

"When you arrive in Green Mountain Kingdom another day, please let me know, and I will certainly treat you well."

"Fellow Daoist, take care. Until we meet again!"

After gently raising his hand in return, Song Qingming watched the other party transform into a streak of blue light and disappear. Only then did he turn around, take out the "White Bone Immortal Boat," and jump onto it.

Before long, the flying boat beneath his feet turned into a white light and fled north.

Only after leaving the original place by a hundred miles and standing on the "White Bone Immortal Boat" did Song Qingming take out a newly engraved book from the "storage magic artifact" at his waist and carefully open it to read it.

The book in Song Qingming's hand was the array formation inheritance that he had just found in the cave of "Zhou Xuan Sanren".

Because of a prior agreement, after finding the other party's "array inheritance", "Fairy Youlan" immediately inscribed it and handed it over to Song Qingming.

However, it seems to be somewhat different from the rumors. Although the "Zhou Xuan Sanren" was already very skilled in formations during his lifetime, he did not actually reach the fifth-grade low-level realm. He was stuck at the peak of the fourth-grade high-level realm.

Even so, the legacy left by such a master of formations can still be of significant help to Song Qingming, who is eager to improve his formation skills.

Having only opened and flipped through a few pages, Song Qingming sensed many things he had never experienced before, and his eyes couldn't help but reveal a hint of admiration for this person's talent in array formations.

Unfortunately, despite his extraordinary talent, he was still limited by his cultivation level and could not advance further. In the end, he exhausted his lifespan and passed away in his cave.

Otherwise, with Zhou Xuan Sanren's talent, as long as he could cultivate to the Nascent Soul stage and break the lifespan restriction, becoming a level 5 "Array Master" would be only a matter of time, and he might even be able to step into an even higher realm.

It's a pity, but that's how the cultivation world works. Over the millennia, countless genius cultivators like him, who were just one step away from success, have appeared.

A single step can lead to vastly different outcomes. When applied to the path and destiny of cultivators, this difference is as unfathomable as the distinction between immortals and mortals.

If one does not wish to be like "Zhou Xuan Sanren," who will be regretted by future generations, the only path left is to truly ascend to the upper realm.

Besides the "Formation Manual" in their hands, Song Qingming and "Fairy Youlan" also found many spiritual items left behind by the other party in the other party's storage magic artifact.

Although four or five thousand years had passed, many things remained undamaged, including several high-grade magic treasures of considerable quality, as well as numerous high-grade talismans, materials, and a large quantity of spirit stones, which greatly excited the two of them.

Now only the two of the four who came have remained. After some discussion, Song Qingming and "Fairy Youlan" directly appraised all the items and divided them in two, each taking half of the items.

Due to the agreed-upon rules, one of the best-grade level 4 magic treasures fell into the hands of "Fairy Youlan," who had priority in choosing spiritual items, while Song Qingming took the other two level 4 mid-grade magic treasures.

In addition, he also received three spirit talismans, including a fourth-grade superior spirit talisman, as well as other high-level materials and tens of thousands of spirit stones.

If all the spiritual items were put together and valued in spirit stones, their total value would be a staggering one million spirit stones.

Faced with so many spirit stones, even though Song Qingming was already a Nascent Soul cultivator with considerable skill, he could not hide his joy.

This time, the two of them came to explore the cave of "Zhou Xuan Sanren" and were able to obtain so many spiritual items at once, as well as find the "array inheritance" they wanted most. They can be said to have gained a lot and achieved their goals.

However, in the world of cultivation, high rewards are often accompanied by greater dangers.

The treasure hunt was fraught with danger. If Song Qingming hadn't been so strong and possessed several supernatural abilities that could counter his opponents, the outcome for anyone else would have been quite different.

After carefully examining the "Array Inheritance" in his hand, Song Qingming quickly put it back into his "Storage Magic Item," and then took out an ordinary-looking white jade pendant from his waist.

He found this "white jade pendant" near Yuan Zifang's body. He had been busy searching for the array inheritance of "Zhou Xuan Sanren" and the "Youlan Fairy" was always by his side, so Song Qingming hadn't had time to deal with this item.

Now that he finally has some free time, he can finally take a good look at this thing.

With a slight movement of his magical power, Song Qingming wrapped it around Bai Yu's body. Soon, he felt his divine sense, which was covering the magical power, being blocked by an unknown force and unable to penetrate it. A barely perceptible smile flashed across his face.

The storage artifacts of ordinary cultivators are usually covered with sophisticated restrictions. The familiar feeling in front of him immediately confirmed that this item was indeed Yuan Zifang's storage bag, just as he had initially suspected.

Next, on the flying boat, Song Qingming spent some more time successfully breaking the restrictions that the other party had placed on it, and soon opened the other party's "storage artifact".

With his divine sense scanning the area, Song Qingming quickly discovered a large number of spirit stones and various magical treasures and spiritual objects, and hurriedly took them all out at once.

To prevent anyone from noticing him inspecting the treasure high in the air, Song Qingming deliberately stopped the flying boat on a deserted mountain and set up a simple barrier to conceal himself.

After spending some time sorting through Yuan Zifang's belongings, Song Qingming quickly picked out all the spiritual items that were useful to him.

According to the statistics, Yuan Zifang's storage bag contained two low-grade level four magic treasures, two sets of level four magic arrays, and one low-grade level four spiritual herb.

Besides these, there were some high-level cultivation pills, tens of thousands of spirit stones he carried with him, various low-level spiritual items, and materials for refining magic arrays. All of these items added up to an estimated six or seven hundred thousand spirit stones.

Although it was less than half the quality of what Song Qingming and "Fairy Youlan" found on Zhou Xuan Sanren.

However, Song Qingming was still somewhat surprised that Yuan Zifang, as a rogue cultivator at the Nascent Soul stage, possessed so many high-level spiritual items. It was no wonder that a rogue cultivator like him could cultivate all the way to the fifth level of the Nascent Soul stage.

After collecting all the useful items from Yuan Zifang, Song Qingming turned his attention to a pile of items that he had initially picked out but found difficult to identify.

The cultivation world is vast, spanning the five continents and four seas. Even Nascent Soul cultivators will encounter many things they have never seen before.

Moreover, this was Song Qingming's first time visiting "Xihua Immortal State," and he wasn't very familiar with many of the spiritual creatures here, so it wasn't surprising that he couldn't recognize some of them.

After carefully examining the items, Song Qingming discovered that most of them contained some spiritual energy, suggesting they were low-grade materials with little value.

There were also some that even he couldn't sense the presence of spiritual energy in; they just looked rather peculiar, and he wondered if the other party simply collected them because they liked them.

Soon, Song Qingming had checked everything and was able to determine that most of them were ordinary spiritual items with little value.

There were two or three items among them that seemed to possess extraordinary spiritual energy, but Song Qingming couldn't immediately determine what kind of spiritual objects they were. He could only put them into his "storage magic item" at his waist and study them slowly when he got back.

After putting away the spiritual item, Song Qingming immediately removed the restriction and left the spot.

After a rapid journey, Song Qingming finally returned to the outside of "Golden Sword Workshop," almost a year after he left.

I originally thought I would be back in about six months at most, but it took so much longer than I expected. I wonder if Huang Siyuan, who stayed in the market, is worried about me again.

Having lived in the market for so long, many of the city guards at the gate had already come to recognize Song Qingming. Before he even got close, the Foundation Establishment cultivator leading the group reached out to greet him.

"Senior Song, you've finally returned. The Purple Sword Peak on the mountain instructed me to inform you upon your return that they would like you to come over."

"Oh! Thank you for reminding me, young friend."

Upon hearing the words of the city guard, Song Qingming immediately nodded slightly, then calmly strode into the market.

After entering the market, Song Qingming did not rush back to "Tingyuxuan". Instead, he went directly to "Yujianlou" in the middle of the market to send a letter to the mountain.

Not long after, Song Qingming was taken directly to the mountain and met the little girl in purple who had once teased him.

"Did you send a message down the mountain looking for me?"

Upon meeting, Song Qingming did not give the other party a friendly look and immediately questioned him.

Seeing that Song Qingming didn't seem to like her very much, the little girl in purple wasn't angry. She immediately said, "Something happened with Junior Sister Qingyu. Senior Uncle Liang is waiting for you at the Sword Tomb. Please come with me, Senior!"

"What happened to Qingyu? Tell me quickly!"

Upon hearing that Song Qingyu was in trouble, Song Qingming's expression immediately changed, and he quickly asked a question.

Seeing this, the little girl in purple shook her head gently and said, "Uncle Liang has already instructed us not to reveal this matter to others casually. I think you shouldn't make things difficult for me. It would be better to ask Uncle Liang yourself when we get there."

Seeing that the other party was unwilling to speak, Song Qingming was displeased but held back and did not say anything more, and left "Purple Sword Peak" with the other party.

Deep within the back mountains of the "Ten Thousand Swords Mountain Range," the white-haired "Liang Jianxuan" stood atop the canyon, carefully observing the situation below.

A moment later, he suddenly looked up at the sky and saw two streaks of light approaching from afar and quickly landing in front of him. "Fellow Daoist Song, thank you for coming!" Upon seeing Song Qingming arrive, Liang Jianxuan quickly stepped forward and cupped his hands in greeting, his face full of amiable expression.

Upon seeing this, Song Qingming quickly returned the greeting with a cupped hand.

"Fellow Daoist Liang, what exactly happened on Qingyu's side? Please tell me!"

Hearing Song Qingming's worried question, Liang Jianxuan shook his head slightly and immediately explained, "Fellow Daoist Song, don't worry. Just look down below and you'll see what's happening."

Upon hearing this, Song Qingming immediately stepped forward, closed his eyes, and released his divine sense with all his might.

Not long after Song Qingming's divine sense entered the canyon below, he quickly sensed the intense fluctuations of spiritual energy below, and a slight hint of excitement flashed across his face.

"This spiritual energy... could it be that Qingyu is already attempting to form her Nascent Soul?"

"Fellow Daoist Song is right. I have cultivated in the Ten Thousand Swords Mountain Range for more than 1,300 years and have seen more than a dozen fellow cultivators form their Nascent Souls. This aura should be genuine."

It seems that Junior Nephew Qingyu is currently attempting to condense his Nascent Soul, but we haven't noticed it until Junior Nephew Ziyue came here several months ago and discovered the anomaly in the valley.

"Fellow Daoist Song is, after all, Qingyu's elder brother. This matter concerns the crucial matter of her Nascent Soul formation; how could we not inform her?"

As Liang Jianxuan spoke, he turned his gaze to the little girl in purple standing to the side, and only then did Song Qingming learn her name.

Since seeing Qingyu in the Sword Tomb five years ago, Song Qingming had not seen her emerge for so many years, and he had already suspected that she might be preparing to go into seclusion to form her Nascent Soul.

Unexpectedly, things progressed much faster than he had anticipated. In less than five years, she had already reached the point where she was about to condense her Nascent Soul.

Seeing Song Qingming lost in thought, Liang Jianxuan stroked his beard and continued speaking to Song Qingming:

"Fellow Daoist Song, do not worry. Junior Nephew Qingyu has already tried to form a Nascent Soul once before, so he should have some confidence in this regard."

Even if she doesn't succeed this time, at her age, she will surely have another chance to achieve Nascent Soul.

Hearing the reassuring words, Song Qingming came to his senses and immediately raised his hand in response.

"Thank you for informing me of this, fellow Daoist!"
Now that Qingyu has come this far, we can only wait and see what the outcome will be.

"Fellow Daoist Liang, Qingyu and I are connected by blood. If there is anything you need from me, please don't hesitate to ask. I will certainly not refuse."

"Hehe! Junior Nephew Qingyu is not only your family, but also the only successor of Junior Brother Ling of our sect. We, the old man and Zijian Peak, cannot ignore the matter of her Nascent Soul formation."

Fellow Daoist, rest assured, I have already made all the arrangements in the valley below. As long as Junior Nephew Qingyu can successfully condense her Nascent Soul, I will prepare everything else for her. There will definitely be no mistakes.

After giving Song Qingming a confident assurance, Liang Jianxuan quickly wiped the smile off his face and put on a more serious expression.

"I brought you here today not only to inform you of this matter, but also because I have some things I would like to discuss with you."

If Junior Nephew Qingyu successfully forms his Nascent Soul, what are your plans, fellow traveler?

"Well, Fellow Daoist Liang, I actually already mentioned Qingyu in the Sword Palace Hall back then."

This concerns her path in life, and even as her elder brother, I will not interfere too much. Whatever choice Qingyu makes next, I, Song, will respect her decision.

As Song Qingming spoke, his eyes once again revealed a hint of determination, clearly indicating that he already had the answer in his heart.

Seeing this, Liang Jianxuan, who was standing to the side, nodded slightly, but then quickly sighed softly.

"Fellow Daoist Song traveled thousands of miles to find my Heavenly Sword Pavilion, and was willing to stay at the foot of the mountain for so many years for Junior Sister Qingyu. It is evident that your feelings for her are indeed very deep."

To be honest, like Fellow Daoist Song, I am not one to force others to do things against their will, and I will respect Junior Nephew Qingyu's choice.

It's just a pity that I'm now old and frail, a man nearing the end of my life, and even if I wanted to remain in the sect, I wouldn't have anything to say anymore.

Regarding Junior Sister Qingyu's Nascent Soul attainment, Junior Sister Yuhua has indeed put a lot of effort into it, and I'm afraid she won't be able to let it go so easily.

"Fellow Daoist Liang, I am not an ungrateful person, but some things are indeed beyond our control."

"Now that we've come this far, I, Song, would like to ask you, fellow Daoist, if you have any good strategies to persuade Fellow Daoist Yuhua to let this matter go and stop making things difficult for Qingyu?"

Upon hearing Liang Jianxuan's reminder, Song Qingming realized the purpose of his summons. After thinking for a moment, he decided to get straight to the point and show his true attitude, instead of continuing to play games with him.

After all, Qingyu still needs the help of the "Heavenly Sword Pavilion" to successfully form his Nascent Soul. If he can reach a peaceful agreement with them, Song Qingming naturally doesn't want to offend them at this time.

Moreover, a Nascent Soul sect like "Heavenly Sword Pavilion," which is renowned in the cultivation world, still has some reputation to maintain. If word gets out that they were doing something unreasonable, it would have a negative impact on them.

Since Song Qingyu has not yet formed his Nascent Soul, both sides can still calmly discuss the matter openly. However, once Song Qingyu forms his Nascent Soul, this matter will inevitably be exposed to other sects and forces in the surrounding area.

If they were to fall out with Song Qingming and his sister, even if they managed to forcibly keep Song Qingyu, the impact on the "Heavenly Sword Pavilion" would inevitably increase exponentially, which wouldn't necessarily be a good thing for them.

Seeing Song Qingming utter the words he had been hoping for, Liang Jianxuan's face immediately flashed a smile. After a pause, he replied:
"Fellow Daoist Song, to be honest, I have also thought a lot about the matter of Junior Nephew Qingyu over the years. I really don't want to see the sect and you become enemies over this."

Now that you, fellow Daoist, also have this idea, I have a suggestion in mind that you might want to consider.

"If you think this is feasible, I can act as a mediator and reconcile this matter with Junior Sister Yuhua. If you don't like it, then just pretend I never said this today. What do you think?"

"Fellow Daoist Liang, rest assured, I also intend to resolve this matter peacefully, and I will not hold any grudges because of it!"

After speaking, Song Qingming cupped his hands in a respectful gesture to the other party, his face full of seriousness.

Liang Jianxuan nodded slightly upon hearing this and continued, "After all, Junior Sister Qingyu is Junior Brother Ling's only successor. If she is unwilling to stay, please leave a copy of her inheritance to our sect after she reaches the Nascent Soul stage. This will allow us to find another disciple to inherit her skills for Junior Brother Ling, so as not to break the lineage of hers."

"This is only right. After Qingyu forms her Nascent Soul, I will also help to persuade her to stay. After all, Senior Ling is the one who gave her this great opportunity, and I think Qingyu will understand that."

"Well! Besides that, there's something else I'd like to exchange with you. If you're willing to offer this item to complete the transaction, I think Junior Sister Yuhua won't hold it against you."

After all, she had put in a lot of effort to support her junior disciple Qingyu over the years, and it would not be easy to persuade her without making some compensation.

I hope you can understand this point, fellow Daoist.

"Fellow Daoist Liang wants the things I have to compensate Madam Yuhua. Could it be that she wants that Heavenly Silver Stone?"

"Oh! I haven't said much, so how can you be so sure it's this?"

Upon hearing Song Qingming immediately reveal what he wanted next, Liang Jianxuan's face flashed with surprise, clearly not expecting the other party to guess it so quickly.

Seeing this, Song Qingming had already prepared to speak: "My cultivation is average, and I really don't have anything good on me. The only thing that Fellow Daoist Yuhua, a weapon refiner, can take a liking to is this meteorite from outer space."

"Hehe! Fellow Daoist Song is indeed a wise man. I did not expect that you could guess the item directly just by asking me this question. I am truly impressed."

To be honest, Junior Sister Yuhua had mentioned this item to me before, and I recently heard that she has found a secret method to refine it into a natal magic weapon.

If Fellow Daoist Song is willing to part with this item, I can compensate you with other spiritual items or spirit stones on behalf of my junior sister, and help persuade her to respect Junior Sister Qingyu's wishes and not make things difficult for you.

What do you think, fellow Daoist?

After Liang Jianxuan finished speaking, he glanced at Song Qingming's face again, and saw that after thinking for a moment, the other party suddenly waved his hand.

"Fellow Daoist Liang, there's no need for this spirit stone compensation."

If you can truly help persuade Fellow Daoist Yuhua to stop making things difficult for Qingyu, I can consider this deal. However, I have one small request.

"I was in a bit of a rush when I forged my natal magic weapon, and I didn't use any particularly good materials. I wonder if Fellow Daoist Yuhua could also help me refine and improve my natal magic weapon?"

Faced with Song Qingming's request, Liang Jianxuan pondered for a moment before nodding in agreement.

"According to Junior Sister Yu Hua, Fellow Daoist Song has a large piece of Heavenly Gang Silver Stone, which should be enough to refine two or three natal magic treasures. I think that shouldn't be difficult to do."

Since Fellow Daoist Song agrees to this, please give me some time to handle the matter. I will inform you when I have news.

"That's wonderful! I'll leave it to you, Fellow Daoist Liang."

(End of this chapter)