Qinghe Immortal Clan.

Chapter 1032 Nine Tribulations Jade Lotus, An Unexpected Joy

Previously, when Wu Wenjie and others were attacked by bandits in the "Broken Cloud Mountains", they sent a message for help to the nearby sects. The message also reached the "Red Cloud Mountains" not long ago.

However, the reinforcements sent by Song Yuanhao and others had only been on their way for a short time when they encountered the large airship carrying Wu Wenjie and Song Changze, and learned that they had already escaped danger.

Upon hearing Song Qingming's inquiry, Song Changze immediately recounted the events of that day in detail.

As the dividing line between the "Floating Cloud Mountains" and the cultivation world of the East Sea, the "Broken Cloud Mountains," stretching for tens of thousands of miles, are not only rugged but also difficult for cultivators to traverse.

The area also harbored many demonic beasts, bandits, and evil cultivators, causing considerable trouble for those cultivators who wanted to cross it.

However, in the past, these bandit cultivators usually targeted cultivators with lower cultivation levels who were alone.

This was the first time in years that Song Qingming had heard of someone daring to attack the "Heavenly Pill Alliance's" flying boat carrying spiritual items, and he couldn't help but be somewhat surprised.

Moreover, these bandits acted decisively, as if they had already received word that they were coming for them.

If Wu Wenjie and his group hadn't been lucky enough to run into Song Changze and his wife, who were also on their way to the "Trade Conference," they probably would have been wiped out long ago and never made it to "Chiyun Mountain."

After explaining the details of the incident to Song Qingming, Song Changze dismissed the people behind him, took out a white letter that he had prepared beforehand, and handed it to him.

"Seventh Uncle, it seems that these people's attack on the Heavenly Pill Alliance's flying boat was premeditated."

During the previous battle, Yu Xin and I joined forces to kill a leader of a Golden Core bandit cultivator, and found a letter on his body. It turns out this person seems to have some connection to the Wu Kingdom in the south.

Upon hearing what Song Changze said, Song Qingming, who was standing to the side, immediately changed his expression and quickly took the letter from Song Changze's hand.

After opening the letter, Song Qingming stood there motionless for a long time before slowly putting it away. He then earnestly asked the two people in front of him:
"Besides you, does anyone else know about this letter?"

"Reporting to Seventh Uncle, Yu Xin and I have checked, and the people from the Heavenly Pill Alliance are unaware of this matter yet."

Upon hearing Song Changze's reply, Song Qingming pondered for a moment and then nodded slightly.

"Changze, Yuxin, this matter has not yet been fully investigated, so it's best not to say too much. Just keep this letter to yourselves and don't spread it around."

With the trade conference just around the corner, if word gets out, it could cause trouble, which wouldn't be good for us.

Let's discuss everything after the trade conference concludes!

"Don't worry, Ancestor. We know the importance of this matter, which is why we didn't dare to make the decision on our own and entrusted the letter to you for handling."

Seeing that Song Qingming was handling the letter with great care, Liu Yuxin, who was standing to the side, quickly stepped forward with a smile and offered an explanation.

Liu Yuxin was intelligent and perceptive from a young age, and she was also meticulous in her dealings after marrying Song Changze. Hearing her reply, Song Qingming nodded with a hint of relief and then invited them all to sit down.

Next, while brewing tea for the two of them, Song Qingming inquired about their experiences in the East China Sea over the years.

The family branch located in the "Tianxing Sea Area" of the East China Sea has been established for nearly two hundred years.

Over the years, the number of Song family cultivators on "Black Cloud Island" has grown from dozens to hundreds, and the number of ordinary people has exceeded 100,000.

Besides the two Golden Core ancestors, Song Changze and his wife, there are currently sixteen Foundation Establishment cultivators and more than five hundred Qi Refining stage clansmen on the island.

Under the leadership of Song Changze and his companion, the Song family not only controlled "Black Cloud Island," but also brought more than a dozen surrounding islands with spiritual veins into their sphere of influence. Now, they can be considered a relatively strong Golden Core force in the "Tianxing Sea Area."

Since the two forces in the "Tianxing Sea Area" fell into internal strife hundreds of years ago, the surrounding area has become peaceful in recent decades because a rising Nascent Soul force has taken control of the entire sea area.

Not only has the Song family's "Black Cloud Island" developed relatively smoothly, but the "Tianxuan Sect" led by Luo Li has also expanded its strength rapidly in recent years.

The Tianxuan Sect now has over a thousand disciples, and their strength has increased many times over compared to when Song Qingming first visited.

Now that both families are nominally affiliated with this Nascent Soul power, their lives are much more stable than before.

Apart from paying offerings to the superiors on time in exchange for protection, the surrounding waters have been peaceful in recent years, and they have not encountered any difficulties.

Although every now and then, "Black Cloud Island" would send messages to "Funiu Mountain" to exchange information, Song Qingming knew some of the situation there.

However, being able to hear Song Changze and the other man describe it to him personally made Song Qingming feel much more at ease, and a look of relief appeared on his face from time to time.

"Changze, you and Yuxin came all the way from the East China Sea to Chiyun Mountain to attend the trade fair. Is there anything else you urgently need?"

We're family, so there's no need to stand on ceremony here. Just say whatever you want to say.

After chatting with Song Changze and his wife for a while, Song Qingming glanced at the two of them and asked a question with a smile.

When Song Qingming transferred Song Changze and Song Qingze to Donghai to manage the family branch, he told them that they should not easily return to the family without a reason.

Now that Song Changze and Liu Yuxin have suddenly arrived at Chiyun Mountain, Song Qingming has already guessed their purpose for this trip, which is definitely not as simple as just attending the trade conference.

Seeing that their ancestor had asked directly, Song Changze and Liu Yuxin exchanged a glance, then immediately adopted a more serious expression, stood up, and cupped their hands to Song Qingming, saying:

"Seventh Uncle is right. Yu Xin and I have indeed come to Chiyun Mountain this time to report an important matter to you in person."

Because this matter is extremely important, I dared not use letters for fear of leaking the information, and came here in person. I hope you will not be offended, Uncle.

"Hehe! Didn't I just say that you should just say what you want to say?"

"Now that Qingyu and I have both reached the Nascent Soul stage, our family is no longer what it used to be. Even if you were to come back now, it wouldn't be a big deal."

Seeing that Song Changze still looked a bit nervous, Song Qingming quickly smiled and waved to him, inviting him to sit down first.

After taking his seat, Song Changze first took a slight breath and then explained the main purpose of his trip.

"Seventh Uncle, Yu Xin and I have come to see you specifically because of a spiritual object that you asked me to help find back then, the Nine Tribulations Jade Lotus."

There is currently one of these plants in the Tianxing Sea.

"What did you say? The Nine Tribulations Jade Lotus has appeared in the Tianxing Sea. Changze, are you sure it's the level-four spiritual artifact I was looking for?"

Upon hearing the name "Nine Tribulations Jade Lotus," Song Qingming's previously calm expression changed instantly, and he excitedly put down his teacup.

The "Nine Tribulations Jade Lotus" is a rare level-four mid-grade spiritual plant in the cultivation world. It can help cultivators refine high-level "Tribulation Avoidance Talismans" and cultivate some special defensive supernatural abilities.

In addition to obtaining the "Tongtian Wanling Jue" from the "Tower of Babel," Song Qingming also brought out a high-level substitute technique for self-preservation from the "Tower of Babel."

Unfortunately, cultivating this secret technique requires the "Nine Tribulations Jade Lotus," which is extremely rare in the cultivation world. Song Qingming has spent a lot of time inquiring about this item during his travels over the years, but he still hasn't been able to find it.

The "Nine Tribulations Jade Lotus" blooms once every six hundred years, absorbing the essence of heaven and earth. It must undergo nine cycles to mature, and cannot be prematurely ripened, otherwise the spiritual herb will wither directly.

It is one of the few high-grade spiritual herbs in the cultivation world that cannot be accelerated using the "spiritual plant technique," and very few sects would deliberately spend thousands of years to cultivate it, making it much rarer and more scarce than other herbs of the same grade.

Even if a major sect occasionally cultivates this item, it is mostly for the benefit of its own cultivators, and it will never be allowed to fall into the hands of outsiders.

Over the past few hundred years, Song Qingming has inquired about this item in the cultivation world of the East China Sea in the "Floating Cloud Mountains", as well as in the "East Phoenix Kingdom" and even the West China Immortal Continent.

Whenever they heard news of the "Nine Tribulations Jade Lotus," many cultivators would shake their heads. Even Song Qingming couldn't find out anything about it at the "Eastern Phoenix Sword Gathering."

Over the years, after making numerous inquiries without success, Song Qingming had almost given up on finding this item.

Hearing the news that Song Changze had suddenly brought him the "Nine Tribulations Jade Lotus" was incredibly exciting.

Many thoughts that had long been extinguished in my heart seemed to be reignited all at once.

Seeing that the ancestor Song Qingming was so excited upon hearing the news of the "Nine Tribulations Jade Lotus," Song Changze and Liu Yuxin, who was standing next to him, were also somewhat surprised.

"Reporting to Seventh Uncle, this item was found in the outer sea by a fellow cultivator from our Tianxing Sea. It just so happens that this person knows Fellow Daoist Luo Li of the Tianxuan Sect, which is how I learned about this matter."

He is now looking for buyers everywhere, hoping to exchange the Nine Tribulations Jade Lotus in his possession for a Nascent Soul artifact.

After learning about this, I personally visited him to make an agreement, and then rushed to Fuyun Mountain Range to inform you, my seventh uncle.

Seventh Uncle, I have already made an agreement with the other party. As long as we can find a Nascent Soul artifact within three months, he will give this artifact back to us first.

However, this person only accepts the exchange of Nascent Soul artifacts and does not accept any other artifacts, and he is also backed by a Nascent Soul power.

"Exchanging for Nascent Soul items is really troublesome!"

Hearing that the other party needed to exchange the "Nine Tribulations Jade Lotus" in their possession for a Nascent Soul spiritual item, Song Qingming wasn't too surprised.

After all, the lucky person who obtained this item had already reached the late stage of the Golden Core realm. Anyone else would probably have thought of items for Nascent Soul formation first.

Moreover, as a mid-grade fourth-level spiritual medicine, the "Nine Tribulations Jade Lotus" is not much different in value from the "Nurturing Infant Pill," so the other party's actions cannot be considered exorbitant. It's just a pity that Song Qingming has already exhausted all the Nascent Soul spiritual items he has, and only Huang Siyuan still has a "Nascent Soul Transformation Pill."

However, the "Infant Transformation Pill" is an item far more valuable than the "Nine Tribulations Jade Lotus." Even if Song Qingming cannot find a suitable item for the time being, he would not do such a losing deal with the other party.

He must find a way to obtain another "Nurture Pill" or other spiritual items for infant formation, otherwise he will have to watch this opportunity slip away.

Fortunately, Song Changze's agreement with the other party still has more than two months left, so Song Qingming can still find another way to complete this deal for the time being.

As the saying goes, fate and chance are intertwined. Now that I have learned of this news, I don't think I will miss it so easily.

Unexpectedly, when he sent Song Changze to the East Sea, he only casually told him a few words, and such an unintentional act led Song Changze to find out about the "Nine Tribulations Jade Lotus".

Thinking of this, Song Qingming couldn't help but smile.

However, with only two months left, finding a way to assist in the formation of the nascent soul is a rather troublesome matter.

After a moment of thought, Song Qingming turned to Song Changze and instructed him, "Changze, you did a good job this time. This item is indeed very important to me."

You return to the Tianxing Sea area first and keep an eye on this person for me, in case anything unexpected happens along the way.

I will try my best to find an item that can help him form a nascent soul, to see if I can meet his requirements. If that's not possible, then we'll think of other ways.

"Don't worry, Seventh Uncle. When I came, I already asked Fellow Daoist Luo Li to discuss with him again and see if we could exchange spirit stones or other spiritual items with him."

She would send a message immediately if there was any news.

"Yes! It's good that you can think of these things, but she's all alone after all, so I'd feel more at ease if you went back."

As for things at Crimson Cloud Mountain, let Yuxin handle them.

“Husband, Uncle Qi is right. Sister Luo Li may not be able to keep an eye on that old fox on Qitian Island by herself. You should listen to Uncle Qi and go back to help him as soon as possible to be safe.”

Besides, with me here, what are you worried about?

Upon hearing Liu Yuxin's reminder, Song Changze immediately nodded and said nothing more.

Soon, the Song family elder who had just arrived at "Red Cloud Mountain" hadn't even had time to warm up before he hurriedly left Red Cloud Mountain and set off again to return to the cultivation world of the East Sea.

Shortly after Song Changze left, Song Qingyu, who was still busy at the foot of the mountain, learned that Song Changze and his wife had returned, and immediately dropped what she was doing and rushed back up the mountain.

Unfortunately, she arrived too late and missed seeing Song Changze, whom she hadn't seen for many years. She only saw Liu Yuxin leading several younger relatives to pay their respects.

Liu Yuxin and Song Changze have been together for over two hundred years. After both of them reached the Core Formation stage, they have had many children, one of whom has already successfully established his Foundation.

It was a rare treat to see Liu Yuxin bring her whole family to pay their respects, and Song Qingyu was overjoyed. She immediately bestowed many spiritual items upon them.

When Liu Yuxin saw Song Qingyu, who had successfully formed her Nascent Soul, she was filled with mixed emotions, thinking of her master He Mengxin's repeated failures to do so.

Back then, whether it was her talent for personal cultivation or her heart for pursuing the Dao, He Mengxin was far superior to Song Qingyu. She even went so far as to completely sever her family ties in Qinghe County for the sake of her Dao path.

Unexpectedly, hundreds of years later, He Mengxin, who had a firm Dao heart, was still blocked from the path of Nascent Soul, while Song Qingyu, who was determined to stay in the family, succeeded in forming her Nascent Soul first.

Such a path and opportunity truly demonstrate the unpredictability of life!

Upon learning that Song Changze had arrived at "Chiyun Mountain" but suddenly left quickly, Song Qingyu immediately asked Song Qingming about the reason after meeting Liu Yuxin.

Seeing this, Song Qingming did not hide anything from the other party and immediately told them everything about the "Nine Tribulations Jade Lotus" and the arrangements for Song Changze to return to the East Sea.

Many years ago, Song Qingyu already knew that her brother had been searching for this spiritual object. When she learned of the "Nine Tribulations Jade Lotus," she was quite surprised.

Knowing that this spiritual object was very important to Song Qingming, Song Qingyu immediately offered to help him go out and inquire about the spiritual object for infant formation.

With the long-awaited "Trade Conference" about to take place, it is indeed inconvenient for Song Qingming, the host and organizer, to leave at this time.

Seeing that Song Qingyu was eager to help, Song Qingming immediately arranged for her to go to "Tiandan City" first and ask the "Tiandan Alliance" Grand Elder Xuantong Ren if there was any news about "Nurture Pill".

There aren't many places in the entire "Eastern Phoenix Immortal Continent" where you can find spiritual objects that can help you form a Nascent Soul. The most likely place to find out information is naturally the cultivation world of the "Eastern Phoenix Kingdom".

However, with only two months remaining until the agreement between Song Changze and the other party, even a Nascent Soul cultivator like Song Qingyu could not possibly travel back and forth between the "Floating Cloud Mountains" and the cultivation world of Donghuang Kingdom to purchase spiritual items within just over two months.

The closest place to the "Floating Cloud Mountains" and the place where the Nurturing Pill could be found is the "Heavenly Pill Alliance" in the cultivation world of the East Sea.

Upon learning of the "Nine Tribulations Jade Lotus," Song Qingming immediately thought of this place and arranged for Song Qingyu to go there in person.

He himself stayed at "Red Cloud Mountain" to oversee the event and entertain the cultivators from all over the surrounding area who came to participate in the "Trade Conference".

After all, there is only a little over a month left before the start of the "Trade Conference".

A month passed quickly, and as the "Trade Conference" approached, Song Qingyu, who had gone out to inquire about the "Infant-Binding Spirit Object," hurried back from the East Sea.

Unfortunately, Song Qingyu returned with a disappointed look on her face, and did not bring any news about the "Nascent Soul Spirit Object".

Song Qingyu, who was heading to the cultivation world in the East Sea, first went directly to "Tian Dan City" to find Xuan Daoist, but was unable to meet him because he was in seclusion. Instead, he met another elder of the "Tian Dan Alliance", Yu Yangzi.

While the Supreme Elder of the "Heavenly Pill Alliance" warmly welcomed Song Qingyu's visit, he shook his head helplessly upon hearing that the other party had come to inquire about "Nascent Soul Spirit Objects".

Afterwards, Song Qingyu went to the "Hundred Flowers Palace" and several large markets in the surrounding area, but still returned empty-handed and could only return to "Red Cloud Mountain" with some disappointment.

Seeing that Song Qingyu had run into a wall in the cultivation world of the East Sea, and that Song Qingming himself had not been able to find any useful information in the "Floating Cloud Mountains", he felt deeply helpless.

Just as Song Qingming was planning to temporarily abandon this matter and wait until the "Trade Conference" ended before trying to find spiritual items in the cultivation world of "Donghuang Kingdom",

Unexpectedly, a guest who had traveled a long way to the "Trade Conference" brought him some good news.

This person was none other than Long Ziyun, the elder of the Four Seas Merchant Alliance who had done several transactions with Song Qingming and expanded her business to "Chiyun Mountain".

However, Long Ziyun, who had not been seen for decades, was no longer the Golden Core cultivator she once was. Instead, she had achieved the Nascent Soul Dao and become a Nascent Soul cultivator like Song Qingming.

When Long Ziyun was still a Golden Core cultivator, she had a Golden Core peak expert like Qi Rong by her side to protect her. Song Qingming had long ago realized that her status in the "Four Seas Business Alliance" was extraordinary.

Seeing Long Ziyun break through to the Nascent Soul realm, Song Qingming was somewhat surprised, but not too astonished.

After all, the influence of the "Four Seas Business Alliance" covers several continents, including "Lei Yuan Hai" and "Dong Huang Xian Zhou", and its strength is far beyond that of ordinary sects.

Over the years, when Song Qingming traveled around, he had heard of no fewer than seven or eight Nascent Soul elders in the "Four Seas Merchant Alliance".

He even learned from some fellow cultivators that there was a Nascent Soul cultivator behind the "Four Seas Business Alliance," but he didn't know whether it was true or not.

For a powerful force like the "Four Seas Merchant Alliance," which controls vast resources in the cultivation world, cultivating one or two Nascent Soul cultivators is definitely much easier than for an ordinary Nascent Soul sect.

Moreover, Long Ziyun herself had good cultivation aptitude, and with ample resources to support her, it was not surprising that she was able to successfully form her Nascent Soul.

After successfully forming her Nascent Soul, Long Ziyun was assigned by the "Four Seas Business Alliance" to manage various businesses in the "Eastern Phoenix Immortal Continent".

Upon hearing the news of the trade fair being held at "Red Cloud Mountain," he led a group of people from Donghuang Kingdom to come here, intending to join in the fun.

Upon seeing Long Ziyun, representing the "Four Seas Business Alliance," Song Qingming, knowing that she was well-informed, wanted to take this opportunity to inquire with her about where to find "Infant-Binding Spirit Objects."

Long Ziyun, who didn't want to hear Song Qingming's question, gave him an unexpected answer: the "Four Seas Business Alliance" currently has a "Nurture Pill".

However, this elixir is currently still in the "Eastern Phoenix Kingdom". To transport it over quickly, we need to find a way to set up a high-level teleportation array in Crimson Cloud Mountain.

Upon hearing the news, Song Qingming was overjoyed and immediately made a deal with Long Ziyun, spending 300,000 spirit stones to purchase the "Nurture Pill".

As for the high-level teleportation array, there was already one in "Red Cloud Mountain". It only needed to be slightly modified and combined with the token on Long Ziyun's body to work.

These problems couldn't stop Song Qingming, who had already become a mid-level fourth-grade "array master".

Having finally found information about the "Nurture Pill," Song Qingming's brows, which had been furrowed for over a month, immediately relaxed, and his face became relaxed and cheerful.

He thought he was unlikely to fulfill the promise, but Long Ziyun's unexpected arrival suddenly solved the problem for him.

For Song Qingming, who was at his wit's end, this was truly an unexpected stroke of good luck!

Now that he was at ease, Song Qingming focused all his attention on the "Trade Conference," and soon the entire "Red Cloud Mountain" ushered in the most lively moment in nearly a hundred years.

(End of this chapter)