Qinghe Immortal Clan.

In the main hall of the market town at the foot of "Red Cloud Mountain", five or six Golden Core cultivators, including Song Yuanhao and Song Linrui, sat upright on wooden chairs.

Not long after, another person walked in from outside. He first greeted everyone with a cupped-hand salute, and then sat down not far from Song Yuanhao.

"Senior Brother Song, you suddenly summoned us here. Did the Ancestor send down some news?"

The market has been under lockdown for almost a month now, and lately I've been getting people coming to me every day asking about reopening. It's giving me a terrible headache, and I can't even find peace for a short period of seclusion for cultivation.

The speaker was a gray-clad man sitting at the lower end of the table. His name was Li Xuanhe, and he was a newly promoted Golden Core cultivator from the "Xiaoyao Sect" who had successfully formed his Golden Core more than a decade ago.

As he asked questions, he carefully observed Song Yuanhao sitting not far away, seemingly trying to discern something from the other's expression.

However, in response to the other party's complaint, Song Yuanhao calmly shook his head and said, "Junior Brother Li, you misunderstand. I didn't gather everyone here today on purpose."

"If it wasn't our senior brother who summoned us, then who was it that gathered us here to discuss something? Could it be...?"

Seeing Song Yuanhao raise a finger and point upwards, Li Xuanhe immediately realized what was happening, stopped talking, and smiled.

"Senior Brother Song, did the Ancestor give any instructions? What exactly has happened on this mountain recently? Could it be that Senior Sister Huang has already formed her Nascent Soul?"

Just as Li Xuanhe sat down, a secret voice transmission quickly entered Song Yuanhao's ear, causing him to frown slightly.

“Junior Brother Li, where did you hear that? I’ve been sitting here every day and haven’t gone up the mountain. How would I know what’s happening on the mountain?”

Junior brother hasn't been at Crimson Cloud Mountain long and doesn't yet know the temperaments of the elders. Such matters concerning sect secrets must not be subject to reckless speculation outside the sect.”

"Hehe, Senior Brother Song, don't overthink it. I only heard some rumors from others, so I was just curious to ask you about it."

Since even my senior brother doesn't know, these must all be rumors. I'll definitely give those gossips a good warning later.

Given the commotion on the mountaintop a few days ago, how could Li Xuanhe, a Golden Core cultivator, not see some clues?

In fact, it wasn't just him; everyone present had their own thoughts on this matter. Even Song Yuanhao had heard others inquire about it from him before.

But despite his speculations, Song Yuanhao wasn't actually sure what had happened on the mountain, so he wouldn't easily give an answer to others.

Not long after Li Xuanhe took his seat, a figure in green robes walked in from outside the main hall. Song Yuanhao and the others immediately stood up and bowed to him.

"We pay our respects to our ancestor and seniors!"

After glancing at everyone, Song Qingyu nodded slightly, then quickly stepped forward and sat down on a large wooden chair inlaid with gold and gemstones at the head of the table.

"Alright, please sit down!"

After everyone was seated, Song Qingyu continued, "Some things happened on the mountain a few days ago, which I'm sure you all know about."

Now that this matter is over, you can lift martial law and allow the market to resume operation.

However, there is something I must remind you of: no one is allowed to discuss matters on the mountain without permission, and even less is it allowed to spread rumors.

Anyone who dares to disregard this order will be arrested and severely punished by the enforcement team without prior notification!

After giving his command, Song Qingyu's eyes flashed with a cold light, sweeping over everyone before finally settling on Li Xuanhe, who had just delivered the message.

Suddenly feeling an invisible pressure, he broke out in a cold sweat under Song Qingyu's gaze and quickly stood up with the others to respond.

"I'll wait for the order!"

".."

After Song Qingyu's instructions were conveyed, the entire "Red Cloud Mountain" immediately began to lift all restrictions, many shops began to open their doors, and many cultivators who had been cooped up in their caves for a long time gradually began to emerge on the streets of the market.

The main gate on the south side of the market had been under martial law for nearly a month, and thousands of cultivators were already waiting outside the city gate.

Once the city guards opened the gates, the numerous cultivators spontaneously formed long queues and began to surge forward into the city.

"Don't rush, everyone. Those with red rings can enter the city directly. Those who haven't registered their identities should prepare to register before entering the city."

No one is allowed to cut in line; anyone who does so will have their entry into the city revoked!

In the crowd, a woman in white heard the constant reminders from the cultivators of the enforcement team ahead. With a slight flicker of spiritual light in her hand, she took out an ordinary-looking cyan iron token from her person.

When it was the woman in white's turn in line, the monk in charge of registering her looked up and, noticing she wasn't wearing the ring she wore as a long-term resident, immediately picked up a pen and paper and asked:
"Where are you from, cultivator? What brings you to Crimson Cloud Mountain? Have you been here before?"

"I'm from Qinghe County, looking for someone here!"

Qinghe County?

Upon hearing the white-clad woman's reply, the cultivator in charge of registration was slightly taken aback, and then looked up at her again.

"May I ask where in Qinghe County you are from, and who you are looking for here?"

"Looking for a friend in Qinghe County, Funiu Mountain!"

After the woman in white finished speaking, she took out the blue iron plate that she had prepared beforehand and handed it directly to the other party.

Upon seeing the large "Song" character engraved on the "cyan iron plate" that the woman in white had taken out, the cultivator in charge of registration immediately changed his expression and stood up to take it.

"Ah! So you are a fellow Daoist from Funiu Mountain. I apologize for my rudeness. Please leave your name; I don't need to register anything else here."

Upon seeing the familiar token and realizing that the person in question was a cultivator from the Song family of "Funiu Mountain," the surrounding crowd looked at him with even more respect.

Even the monk in charge of registration didn't dare to ask any more questions. He simply asked the woman in white to leave her name before letting her into the city.

"That's strange. Don't the Song family cultivators always use the White Lion Pavilion teleportation array to come to Crimson Cloud Mountain? How come someone would come from the south and cross the mountains?"

Moreover, this person only looks to be at the Qi Refining stage; he doesn't seem like someone who's out training.

Watching the white-clad woman walk away into the city, the cultivator in charge of registration looked at the name written in front of him and shook his head with some doubt.

However, his doubts did not last long, as he was quickly interrupted by other cultivators who came to register, and he immediately came back to his senses and began to get busy.

".."

At the summit of Chiyun Mountain, in Song Qingming's cave dwelling.

Huang Siyuan, who was having tea and chatting with Song Qingming, saw Song Qingyu, dressed in green, walk quickly in from the entrance of the cave. She quickly got up and invited her to sit down.

"Qingyu, how's it down the mountain? Is everything alright?"

"Hehe! Sister-in-law, Seventh Brother, don't worry. Yuan Hao has been with us for so many years, he's quite experienced in handling these things."

There wasn't much discussion about Senior Sister Li's Nascent Soul formation. I had already passed on the order and wandered around the foot of the mountain for a while before returning.

Most shops in the market have reopened, and several teleportation arrays are now operational, so things have largely returned to normal.

"Yes! As for Senior Sister Li's Nascent Soul formation, let's not let too many people know about it except for a few of us, so as to avoid causing some unnecessary trouble."

Let's wait until she comes out of seclusion before discussing anything further!

Hearing his satisfactory answer, Song Qingming smiled slightly, nodded to Song Qingyu, and then poured her a cup of spiritual tea.

Song Qingyu picked up the spirit tea, smelled it, and then drank it all in one gulp. A moment later, a look of surprise flashed across her face.

"Huh! Could this spiritual tea have been brewed by Seventh Brother? It's been so many years since I've had this tea. It seems Seventh Brother has been in a really good mood lately!"

"Your palate is getting more and more discerning these days; you can taste this right away."

Hearing the veiled meaning in Song Qingyu's words, Song Qingming could only smile helplessly and poured her another cup of spiritual tea.

It has to be said that since witnessing his senior sister Li Xuanyi's formation of her nascent soul, Song Qingming has been very happy these days, and even when he speaks, he smiles more often.

On the one hand, it was because through so many years of hard work and help, he had finally fulfilled his promise to his master, "Lingxu Daoren," and at this moment he felt relieved.

On the other hand, it also includes some personal feelings that I have developed for my senior, Li Xuanyi, over the years.

Li Xuanyi is not only Song Qingming's senior sister from the same sect who has known him for many years, but she has also helped him and the Song family on several occasions. In Song Qingming's heart, she has long surpassed the status of an ordinary friend.

Being able to witness her step onto the path of Nascent Soul, Song Qingming was genuinely happy for her, to the point that he couldn't hide the smile on his face lately.

Seeing that Song Qingyu was about to start nagging him again, Song Qingming quickly changed the subject and asked her first:
"Qingyu, the monster turmoil has now ended, and the north has gradually stabilized. Siyuan and I just discussed taking this opportunity to hold a trade fair in the market."

What do you think about this? Or do you have any good ideas? Feel free to share them.

"Hold a trade fair!"

"I had heard that Brother Qi had already held one at Chiyun Mountain, and it seemed to have worked well. It's just a pity that I wasn't home last time."

Now that the monster turmoil has just ended, many good things have appeared everywhere.

"Plus the numerous monster materials we seized last time, we can just take them out and dispose of them. I don't think there's any problem with this." Upon hearing that Song Qingming and Huang Siyuan were planning to hold a trade fair at "Red Cloud Mountain," Song Qingyu pondered for a moment and immediately expressed her approval.

Upon hearing this, Song Qingming nodded slightly and then said directly, "Since you agree, then this matter is settled."

Siyuan will need to go into seclusion to heal her injuries, and I'll need your help with this. Don't just offer verbal support and then disappear later.

"Don't worry, sister-in-law, just focus on your seclusion. Leave this matter to me and Seventh Brother. I guarantee we won't do a worse job than you did last time."

As Song Qingyu spoke, she gave Huang Siyuan, who was standing next to her, a reassuring look.

Ten years ago, Huang Siyuan, who had already prepared everything, also entered the cave where she was in seclusion to form her nascent soul.

However, unlike Li Xuanyi's successful attainment of the Nascent Soul stage, Huang Siyuan's seclusion to form her Nascent Soul lasted only seven years. She did not even reach the stage of condensing her Nascent Soul before leaving her cave and prematurely announcing her failure to form her Nascent Soul.

This dealt a heavy blow to Huang Siyuan, who was attempting to form her nascent soul for the first time, and she is still somewhat depressed about it.

It should be noted that although this seclusion was Huang Siyuan's first attempt at condensing a nascent soul, she had made considerable preparations for it.

After her cultivation reached the ninth level of the Golden Core stage, she had spent decades meticulously honing her magical power. In addition, Song Qingming, Song Qingyu, and others had taught her a great deal of experience in condensing the Nascent Soul.

In addition, Song Qingming prepared three auxiliary spiritual items for her to help her form a Nascent Soul. Compared to Song Qingyu and Bai Yuxian, although this was her first time forming a Nascent Soul, her conditions were much better.

Unfortunately, despite such meticulous preparation, Huang Siyuan still failed to reach the stage of "transforming from fetus to nascent soul".

He didn't even have time to take the "Nascent Soul Pill" that Song Qingming had prepared for him before collapsing during the second step of Nascent Soul formation, "Primordial Qi Tempering Pill," due to insufficient control of his internal magical power.

It should be noted that Bai Yuxian, Song Qingyu, and Senior Sister Li Xuanyi, these three cultivators who had already successfully formed their Nascent Souls, all passed this test very smoothly in the early stages of their attempt to form their Nascent Souls, and even triggered a trace of celestial phenomena.

However, when faced with the next stage of "transforming into a nascent soul," all three of them were defeated one after another, and it was not until the second time they formed their nascent souls that they were able to achieve the Great Dao.

Huang Siyuan failed to pass the "Primordial Qi Tempering Pill" stage during her Nascent Soul formation this time, a performance far inferior to Bai Yuxian and the other two, indicating that the difficulty of her Nascent Soul formation was much greater than theirs.

The only consolation is that Huang Siyuan's injuries during this Nascent Soul stage were not too serious. After several years of seclusion to heal, she has recovered most of her injuries and only needs to rest and recuperate for another two or three years.

Furthermore, because she knew too early that she would fail to form a nascent soul, Huang Siyuan did not take the "Nascent Soul Transformation Pill," and the pill was preserved.

This pill is already of the fourth-grade mid-level quality, and it can still be preserved for a long time, enough to last until Huang Siyuan's next Nascent Soul stage.

Once she recovers from her injuries and dedicates herself to honing her magical power, Huang Siyuan will soon be able to attempt to form her Nascent Soul again.

Similar to Huang Siyuan, Xu Ziyan, the sect leader, was also in a similar situation.

Previously, it was agreed that all Golden Core cultivators in the sect who could collect 300,000 sect merits could go directly to the sect's "Good Deeds Pavilion" to exchange for Nascent Soul Pills to cultivate their Nascent Souls in seclusion.

After more than twenty Golden Core cultivators from the entire "Free and Unfettered Sect" had spent a considerable amount of time working diligently, it was still the sect leader, Xu Ziyan, who was the first to gather enough merit points to obtain the spiritual pill.

Before Song Qingming and his group returned from their travels, Xu Ziyan had also begun her seclusion to form her Nascent Soul.

Unfortunately, her attempt to form a nascent soul ended in failure just like Huang Siyuan's. She failed before even reaching the stage of "transforming the fetus into a nascent soul" and triggering a celestial phenomenon.

Compared to Huang Siyuan, who had support from others, Xu Ziyan spent all her family fortune and accumulated a lot of merit in order to exchange for the "Nurture Pill".

Over the years, Xu Ziyan, the sect leader, has also had a difficult time. Not only has she spent a lot of time in seclusion to heal her injuries, but she also has to find a way to repay the merits she owes.

As a result, after her failure to break through to the Nascent Soul stage, she was unable to afford the pills needed for her secluded healing. It was Bai Yuxian who promptly lent her a sum of spirit stones, which helped Xu Ziyan temporarily overcome the crisis.

Although Xu Ziyan holds the position of sect leader, she has far more opportunities to earn merit spirit stones than other elders in the sect. It is not too difficult for her to pay off the merits she owes.

However, having exhausted her family fortune, it won't be so easy for her to raise merit points again to exchange for the Nascent Soul artifact.

Its future prospects still seem somewhat uncertain.

Seeing that Song Qingyu readily agreed, Song Qingming and Huang Siyuan nodded with smiles, and then the three of them began to discuss some detailed procedures and details of holding the conference.

Back when Song Qingming first held a trade fair on "Red Cloud Mountain," he earned hundreds of thousands of spirit stones in one go, and he still cherishes those memories.

Having finally found another opportunity to quickly earn spirit stones, he naturally didn't want to let it slip away easily and had to put in some effort to prepare for it.

We should strive to make the "Red Cloud Mountain" conference one of the top trading conferences in the "Floating Cloud Mountain Range," attracting more cultivators from the surrounding area to participate.

Hundreds of years later, the fame of the "Red Cloud Mountain" gathering will resound throughout the Floating Cloud Mountain Range. At that time, Song Qingming will not need to send out invitations; everyone will come upon hearing the news.
-
At the foot of the mountain, in the "Red Cloud Lane" shop, the woman in white kept scanning the streets on both sides, curiously looking at the various shops around her.

Once inside the market, she would sometimes stop to look around, and sometimes ask questions by the roadside, seemingly showing great interest in the entire market.

Only after she walked from one end of the street to the other did the woman in white withdraw her curious gaze and enter a nearby restaurant.

".."

Several days later, Song Qingming was in seclusion in his cave when a figure in white suddenly appeared from the foot of the mountain and slowly came up to a stone pavilion not far from the summit.

As soon as she arrived here, the woman in white sensed a sudden change in the spiritual energy ahead, followed by a voice coming from the void.

"Halt! This is where our ancestor cultivated in seclusion. Who are you? Who gave you permission to come up here?"

No sooner had the words fallen than a figure in black robes stepped out of the void. It was Wei Yunlong, who was guarding the array below the mountaintop.

At the summit of "Red Cloud Mountain," only Song Qingming and Song Qingyu had established a secluded cave for quiet cultivation. No one else from the foot of the mountain was allowed to disturb them without being summoned.

Even the Golden Core elders like Song Yuanhao, who guarded Mount Ling, had to send a message to report before they could go up the mountain. Yet the woman in white walked here with ease, which really puzzled Wei Yunlong.

"That's strange. This person looks completely unfamiliar. How did those people down the mountain let him up here? Could it be that there's some problem within the enforcement team again?"

Faced with Wei Yunlong's questioning, the woman in white showed no panic whatsoever, calmly shaking her head and replying:

"No one let me up here; I came on my own. I'm here to see an old friend, so could you please deliver a message for me?"

After the woman in white finished speaking, she took out a letter from her person and handed it directly to Wei Yunlong, who was not far away.

Faced with this scene, Wei Yunlong instinctively tried to dodge to the side, but before he could move, the woman in white in the distance smiled slightly.

After Wei Yunlong landed, he looked up again and saw that the woman in white and the letter in mid-air had suddenly disappeared.

Just as he turned his gaze to search his surroundings, petals of Wushu suddenly fell from the void in front of him. Then, to his astonishment, the petals reassembled into a woman in white.

The letter that the other party had just thrown out was now in his own hands.

"I just asked you to help deliver a message, there's no need for you to be so nervous, young friend!"

Seeing the woman in white hand the letter to him again, Wei Yunlong, whose forehead was already covered in cold sweat, could only reach out and take the letter.

The white-clad woman's supernatural power had been completely undetectable to him, a Foundation Establishment Level 4 cultivator, indicating that her cultivation level was far superior to his own.

As expected, the woman in white should be at least a Golden Core cultivator, someone I am definitely not capable of dealing with.

Faced with such a powerful opponent, Wei Yunlong had no desire to resist and could only temporarily believe what the other party said.

Holding the letter, Wei Yunlong was about to return to the magic array behind him when, as soon as he turned around, he saw a surge of spiritual energy in front of him, and a familiar figure walked out from within.

"Master!"

After glancing at Wei Yunlong, whose face was full of tension and surprise, Song Qingming waved his hand lightly and walked past him directly to the woman in white.

"I am Song Qingming of the Xiaoyao Sect. May I ask if you have come here to see me, fellow Daoist?"

Upon seeing his master appear, he was extremely polite to the woman in white in front of him, even addressing her as a fellow Daoist. Only then did Wei Yunlong, who was standing to the side, realize what was happening.

The person before her was also a Nascent Soul cultivator. No wonder she was able to bypass the enforcement team guarding the area below and walk directly here.

Upon seeing Song Qingming before her, the woman in white remained silent for a moment before a smile appeared on her face, and she returned the greeting with a cupped hand.

"Fellow Daoist Song is right. I came here specifically to see you. Do you still remember the agreement made in the East Sea a hundred years ago?"

"So it was you! Please forgive my poor eyesight, I almost misunderstood!"

Upon hearing the other party mention the agreement made in the East China Sea a hundred years ago, a figure immediately appeared in Song Qingming's mind, and the somewhat solemn expression on his face disappeared.

He immediately put on a smiling face and extended his hand to the person in front of him, saying, "It's not convenient to talk here, how about we go up the mountain to rest for a while?"

"That is certainly very good."

Faced with Song Qingming's invitation, the woman in white nodded slightly and accepted.

After leading the woman in white into his cave, Song Qingming turned around and stood in front of her, smiling as he invited her to sit down.

"Fellow Daoist Xia, it has been many years since we parted ways. I never expected you to suddenly come to Chiyun Mountain to find me."

"I am truly honored!" (End of Chapter)