Qinghe Immortal Clan.

As the light dissipated, a "white flying boat" quickly appeared in mid-air, with two figures standing on it.

The person in the lead was relatively young, wearing a silver-white Taoist robe that occasionally emitted a silvery light. He was Song Qingming, who had spent more than two months traveling back from the outer sea.

"Oh! It's Senior Song. Junior Yu Bing greets Senior!"

Upon seeing that the newcomer recognized him at a glance, Song Qingming immediately glanced over and discovered that the white-clad woman bowing before him was none other than the Foundation Establishment maid who had followed Wang Lingji back then.

One hundred years ago, when Song Qingming and Bai Yuxian returned from Lei Yuanhai for the first time, they happened to run into Wang Lingji, their good friend who had shared hardships with them in the northern frontier, on "Windless Island".

The woman in white who introduced herself as Yu Bing was the one who led them to the meeting.

At that time, her cultivation level was only at the late Foundation Establishment stage. Unexpectedly, after a hundred years, she was fortunate enough to successfully form her core and become a Golden Core early stage cultivator.

The other person following Yu Bing was a middle-aged man with an unfamiliar face, dressed in a black robe. His cultivation level was slightly higher than Yu Bing's, having already entered the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm.

When this person first came out to stop him, he looked at Song Qingming with a wary expression and questioned him.

Unexpectedly, before he could even find out who the newcomer was, he suddenly heard Yu Bing address Song Qingming as "senior".

Upon realizing that the other party might be a Nascent Soul cultivator, the black-robed man's expression immediately changed, and he hurriedly stepped forward with a respectful bow.

"Junior Xue Tongshan greets Senior Song. I hope you will forgive my rudeness just now!"

After glancing lightly at the man in black robes, Song Qingming waved his hand dismissively, seemingly unconcerned about the man's earlier disrespectful behavior due to his ignorance of his identity.

Then he quickly turned around and looked at Yu Bing beside him.

"Junior Nephew Yu, has something happened on Windless Island recently? Why are you all so on guard?"

"Reporting to Senior Song, there is nothing wrong on the island. It's just that things haven't been very peaceful lately, so Senior Qi told us to be extra vigilant to prevent those with ill intentions from sneaking into the market."

"Oh! So, Windless Island can't be entered freely anymore?"

Upon hearing Yu Bing's reply, a hint of doubt flashed in Song Qingming's eyes, and he asked another question.

Upon hearing this, Yu Bing quickly smiled and cupped his hands in reply, "Senior, you misunderstand. We are only here to inspect the unfamiliar cultivators entering the market."

"You are a friend of my master, so you are certainly no stranger. You are welcome to come to the island at any time."

After speaking, Yu Bing couldn't help but glance at Ling Zhentian beside Song Qingming, then turned to Xue Tongshan beside him and said:

"Senior Song is a good friend of my master and has visited our Windless Island before. I am willing to vouch for the identities of the two of them."

"If Fellow Daoist Xue has no objections, I will take you and the others onto the island first!"

"Well, since this Senior Song is a good friend of Senior Wang, I naturally wouldn't dare to have any objections. Please do as you please, Fellow Daoist Yu."

Upon seeing Yu Bing's initiative to protect him, Xue Tongshan immediately nodded in agreement, and then watched as Yu Bing led the two into the protective array of "Windless Island".

After the three figures had disappeared for a while, he carefully took out a "transmission talisman" from his body and whispered a few words.

".."

Since leaving "Windless Island" with Bai Yuxian, Song Qingming has not been here for over a hundred years.

As an important port connecting the East China Sea cultivation world to the outer sea, "Windless Island" gathers treasure ships from four directions that come here for trade. The island's market has always been a place where various independent cultivators like to come to purchase spiritual items.

Compared to a hundred years ago, Song Qingming doesn't recall much change here, except that there are many more cultivators patrolling the island, and the atmosphere is noticeably more tense than it was back then.

After entering the market, Song Qingming originally planned to visit Wang Lingji first.

But when he asked Yu Bing, he learned that she was not on the island recently, and she did not know where her master was.

Seeing this, Song Qingming took the initiative to stop and declined Yu Bing's offer to arrange accommodation for them.

Ling Zhentian and he found an inn in the market and checked in.

Although Song Qingming and his companion did not encounter any dangers on their journey back from the open sea, the continuous travel over the past two months had left them physically and mentally exhausted.

Therefore, Song Qingming also planned to rest on "Windless Island" for two days, and purchase some spiritual items before continuing his journey back to the Floating Cloud Mountain Range.

After meditating and resting in his room for a night, Song Qingming got up early the next morning, tidied himself up, and planned to go out for a stroll by himself.

Unexpectedly, before he could even leave the house, a figure that surprised him came to his door first.

"Fellow Daoist Song, how have you been lately?"

"Huh, it's Fellow Daoist Wang?"

Upon seeing that the person who had come to his door was none other than Wang Lingji, whom he had not seen for many years, Song Qingming was also surprised. He quickly smiled and reached out to invite him into his room.

After they were seated, Song Qingming poured them a cup of spiritual tea before asking with some confusion:
"Yesterday I heard from my junior brother Yu that Fellow Daoist was not cultivating on the island. How come Fellow Daoist Wang has returned by chance today? Could it be that you knew that I, Song, was here?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Lingji first carefully set up a soundproof barrier around the two of them, then stood up and, full of apologies, cupped his hands to Song Qingming to explain:

"Fellow Daoist Song, please don't misunderstand. I have actually been on Windless Island recently. I just lied to the outside world that I went on a journey to avoid some troublesome matters."

Wang kept this matter a secret from the outside world; only a few close friends and family members on the island knew about it.

Yesterday, I learned from Bing'er that Fellow Daoist Song had arrived at Windless Island, which is why I took the initiative to pay my respects. I hope Fellow Daoist Song will not take offense if I have offended you.”

"Oh! So that's why Fellow Daoist Wang suddenly arrived here so early in the morning."

“Fellow Daoist and I are old friends who have been through thick and thin together. How could I dare to blame you for such a small matter? Brother Wang, you are overthinking this.”

Like Wang Lingji, Song Qingming, after so many years of cultivation, has also used seclusion as an excuse to decline encounters with cultivators he doesn't want to see.

For a Nascent Soul cultivator who frequently needs to go into seclusion for several years, or even more than a decade, this is not unusual.

Upon hearing the other person's explanation, Song Qingming finally understood why he had suddenly appeared here, and quickly nodded to show his understanding.

"In recent years, Mr. Song has been traveling abroad and only just returned from overseas yesterday."

I wonder what happened on Windless Island? Is the trouble you're facing, Brother Wang, related to this?

When Song Qingming first returned to "Windless Island", he noticed that something was off about the atmosphere on the island.

Hearing that Wang Lingji, a Nascent Soul cultivator, actually needed to pretend to be in seclusion to avoid trouble, he couldn't help but ask out of curiosity.

Faced with Song Qingming's question, Wang Lingji sighed helplessly.

"Alas, Brother Song has just returned from the outer seas and may not know this."

In recent years, due to the struggle between the Yunyang Sect and the Hundred Flowers Palace, our entire cultivation world in the East Sea is almost in chaos.

Many sects in the Inner Sea have now been drawn into the conflict, making Windless Island a relatively peaceful place.

The reason Wang announced his seclusion for spiritual cultivation was because he feared he and his disciples would be unwittingly drawn into this mess and unable to escape this calamity.

".."

Knowing that Song Qingming had just returned from the outer sea and was unaware of what had happened in the East China Sea, Wang Lingji responded and then patiently explained to him.

He then detailed several major events that had occurred in the cultivation world of the East China Sea in recent years to his friend.

Through Wang Lingji's description, Song Qingming learned that several years ago, the "Four Seas Merchant Alliance" built an intercontinental teleportation array connecting the East Sea cultivation world to the "Thunder Origin Sea".

The two major Nascent Soul forces in the East Sea, led by the Yunyang Sect and the Baihua Palace, have already engaged in several fierce battles in their struggle for the enormous profits from cooperating in the operation of the grand formation.

The two forces are still fighting each other in the inner sea, and no victor has been decided. Many sects in the cultivation world of the East Sea have been drawn into the conflict.

Wang Lingji, who was cultivating in seclusion on "Windless Island," had no intention of getting himself and his disciples involved in the great war between the two major forces.

However, recently, both major powers have been eyeing the independent cultivators on Windless Island, which is in a neutral position, and many people have come to the island to invite them to a meeting.

Unable to bear the disturbance any longer, and not wanting to offend either side, Wang Lingji reluctantly announced that he had gone on a trip.

As someone who had helped the "Four Seas Merchant Alliance" build the intercontinental teleportation array, Song Qingming had known for a long time that the "Hundred Flowers Palace" would cooperate with him to operate the array.

Hearing the news that they had suddenly broken out in a great battle with the "Yunyang Sect", they were not too surprised.

After all, Yunyang Sect is still nominally the number one sect in the cultivation world of the East Sea, and it is impossible for them to willingly watch the rising star, Baihua Palace, take away the huge benefits that originally belonged to them.

The "Hundred Flowers Palace" had foreseen this ten years ago, and Xia Mo even made a special trip to the Floating Cloud Mountains to win over this ally.

However, Song Qingming took Huang Siyuan to the "Eastern Phoenix Kingdom" to seek an opportunity to form a Nascent Soul, and never returned.

He didn't know if Xia Mo had sent any messages to him over the years.

After listening to Wang Lingji recount the internal strife in the East China Sea, Song Qingming pondered for a moment, then feigned surprise and said:

"Fellow Daoist Wang, I have just returned. I did not expect such a big thing to have happened in the East Sea."

"I wonder how the battle between Hundred Flowers Palace and Yunyang Sect is going. Are Fellow Daoist Xia and Fellow Daoist Shen alright?"

"Hehe! Brother Song, don't worry. Although Yunyang Sect is known as the number one sect in the cultivation world of the East Sea..."

However, the Hundred Flowers Palace also united with many sects, and with the great cultivator Fellow Daoist Xia present, their overall strength was not much inferior to that of the other side.

Although the two sides are currently engaged in fierce fighting in the inner sea, those who have fallen on the battlefield are mostly low-level cultivators.

Currently, Wang has not heard of any Nascent Soul cultivators from the Hundred Flowers Palace being injured or killed. Brother, are you asking this because you're worried about Fellow Daoist Xia's safety?

Back when Song Qingming went to the "Northern Frontier" with them, it was Xia Mo who invited him to join the team, so Wang Lingji knew that the two of them had a good relationship.

Seeing that Song Qingming asked about the two people from "Baihua Palace", he guessed that he was mainly worried about Xia Mo, and immediately offered a word of comfort.

After receiving a reply from Wang Lingji, Song Qingming also felt relieved of his worries.

Although he had promised Xia Mo that he could help the "Hundred Flowers Palace" when it needed him, the two had not agreed on a specific time.

Now that the "Hundred Flowers Palace" has not yet been defeated, he has not broken the agreement and there is no need to rush this matter for the time being. He raised his teacup and nodded to Wang Lingji.

“Brother Wang is right. I have known Fellow Daoist Xia for many years and consider her a close friend. Naturally, I don’t want to see anything happen to her.”

Hearing Song Qingming's sincere reply, Wang Lingji hesitated for a moment before finally saying, "I understand perfectly well that Fellow Daoist Song is worried about his friend's safety."

However, we cultivators should prioritize our own cultivation and try our best not to get involved in the great battles between sects and forces in the cultivation world.

After all, swords and spears have no eyes on the battlefield; even we Nascent Soul cultivators would find it difficult to protect ourselves if we got involved.

"After so many years of cultivation, I no longer hold much hope for the path of cultivation. However, I still have many disciples under my tutelage, and I really don't want to see them become cannon fodder for others."

We don't know how long this great war will last, and it's really not easy for us to have a few days of peace.

The island is now spies everywhere. Even I, a Nascent Soul cultivator, have to worry about being seen if I just go out for a walk. It's quite frustrating!

“Brother Wang is right. We cultivators should prioritize cultivation. I agree with your decision.”

Back when Wang Lingji, Song Qingming, and others went on an adventure to the Northern Frontier, their physical bodies were injured, and their cultivation levels unfortunately dropped to the first level of the Nascent Soul realm.

After his physical body was reconstructed, he spent over a hundred years recuperating and recovering, and his cultivation level had been restored to the third level of the Nascent Soul realm.

However, this delayed his cultivation by nearly two hundred years, and Wang Lingji's path to enlightenment is now far less bright than that of Song Qingming before him.

If nothing unexpected happens, he will probably only be able to stay at the Nascent Soul stage for the rest of his life.

Now that Song Qingming heard that Wang Lingji had come to terms with these things, refused the attempts of the two major forces in the East China Sea cultivation world to win him over, and was determined to stay out of it, Song Qingming understood perfectly.

However, in the world of cultivation, some things cannot be avoided simply by trying to escape them.

Although Song Qingming understood Wang Lingji's actions, he knew he would be involved sooner or later, so he simply nodded and said nothing more.

"It's rare to find Brother Song so understanding. I've certainly come to the right place today. Let's have a drink together!"

"Brother Wang, you're too kind!"

".."

Having not seen each other for a century, the two naturally had much to talk about, and immediately began drinking and chatting in the room for quite a while.

During this time, Song Qingming originally wanted to ask Wang Lingji about the things that had happened in the "Floating Cloud Mountains" over the years.

Unfortunately, Wang Lingji has spent most of these years in seclusion on "Windless Island" cultivating his skills.

Aside from the cultivation world of the East Sea, he knew very little about other things in the outside world, so he couldn't give Song Qingming any useful answers.

The two chatted in the room for more than an hour before Wang Lingji got up to take his leave, donning a long robe and bamboo hat to conceal his identity as he left the inn.

After seeing Wang Lingji off, Song Qingming went out to stroll around the market for a while, bought some spiritual items, and had a good meal before returning to the inn, completely satisfied.

Ling Zhentian, who lived next door, was somewhat surprising. He didn't leave his room for three whole days, and instead spent the entire time meditating and cultivating in his room.

Even though Song Qingming only spent eight years in the "Purple Sun Heavenly Palace," he was already bursting with excitement upon his return.

Ling Zhentian had been trapped for hundreds of years, yet he remained so calm and composed after returning to the "Huayang Realm," demonstrating his unwavering Dao heart. He truly deserves to be called a peerless genius who could cultivate to the late Nascent Soul stage.

Three days later, when Song Qingming was preparing to return to the "Floating Cloud Mountains", Ling Zhentian, who had received the telepathic message, took the initiative to come out of the room.

Since Wang Lingji was currently unable to receive guests, Song Qingming decided not to bid him farewell.

Unexpectedly, upon learning that the two were leaving, Wang Lingji insisted on seeing them off in person. Unable to refuse, Song Qingming followed Yu Bing to a secluded port on the west side of the island.

When the three arrived, a magnificently decorated ship was already moored there, and Song Qingming soon saw Wang Lingji waiting for him.

"Brother Song, I, Wang, have prepared a small feast to bid you farewell. Please... Oh, and who is this fellow Daoist?"

Previously, Yu Bing and the others, due to their own low cultivation level, did not see Ling Zhentian's true cultivation level and always thought that he was just a follower of Song Qingming.

It wasn't until Wang Lingji realized that the person standing next to Song Qingming was actually a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator.

He, who had been somewhat composed, immediately showed surprise and asked a question.

"This Fellow Daoist Ling is an old friend of mine whom I met not long ago in the outer sea. Please don't stand on ceremony, Fellow Daoist Wang."

"Uh, no, no, Fellow Daoist Ling, you're too kind. Please have a seat!"

"Fellow Daoist Wang, you're too kind!"

Although Ling Zhentian possessed profound cultivation, he was not a talkative person. Faced with Wang Lingji's enthusiastic invitation, he did not respond much, but simply nodded slightly and sat down alone.

After the ship set sail, it became clear that the great cultivator before them did not seem to enjoy crowds.

Wang Lingji then gestured for the maids beside him to leave the cabin, leaving himself and Song Qingming some space to talk alone.

"Fellow Daoists, I would like to offer you a toast first today. I hope that you two can visit Windless Island more often in the future. I will certainly do my best to be a good host."

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Wang!"

".."

Inside the cabin, Wang Lingji and Song Qingming kept toasting each other, while Ling Zhentian sat alone to the side, only occasionally raising his glass in response to the two.

The treasure ship, meanwhile, headed east against the wind and quickly passed through the protective array of "Windless Island".

To bid farewell to his friend Song Qingming, Wang Lingji, just like last time, meticulously prepared a lot of local delicacies on the ship.

Although these things were not considered precious by other Nascent Soul cultivators, Song Qingming, who always had a gluttonous appetite, was quite fond of them.

It is evident that Wang Lingji also put some thought into this aspect.

Just as the group was enjoying wine and chatting in the cabin, Ling Zhentian, who was sitting to the side, suddenly seemed to sense something and turned his head to look at the bow of the ship.

Seeing this, Song Qingming and his companion were about to ask questions, but soon they sensed two very powerful auras on the distant sea, heading straight towards their treasure ship.

"Fellow Daoists, do not worry. There are many cultivators coming and going on Wufeng Island every day. Perhaps it is just one of you passing by!"

Seeing the puzzled looks on Song Qingming and the other person's faces, Wang Lingji immediately explained and then instructed the maid waiting outside to go out and check the situation.

Before that person could even step out, two streaks of light flew swiftly from the front of the treasure ship and landed directly above the bow.

"Who are you, and why are you blocking our treasure ship from Windless Island without cause!"

Yu Bing and the others who were guarding the ship saw the two unfamiliar cultivators who had suddenly appeared and hurriedly asked them a question with wary expressions.

Unexpectedly, as soon as she finished speaking, a golden-robed man in mid-air gently raised his hand and released a burst of spiritual light, which directly knocked Yu Bing and several people beside her to the ground.

"Hmph! Ignorant brats, how dare you speak so arrogantly in front of me! Today, I will teach you a lesson on behalf of your master."

Upon seeing that the newcomer was also a Nascent Soul cultivator, the others on the ship were so frightened that they dared not move.

The maid who had just run out immediately turned around and went back into the cabin.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, Qin Guangde from the Yunyang Sect has come to pay a special visit. Why don't you come out to greet him?"

"Sigh, after hiding for so long, I never thought I couldn't escape it in the end!"

Wang Lingji, who was sitting in the cabin, heard a very loud noise coming from outside and immediately showed a helpless expression.

Not only Wang Lingji, but Song Qingming was also fully aware of the situation, but he didn't expect the other party to come knocking on his door so conveniently.

"Fellow Daoists, I am truly sorry for today. I can only see you off here. I will certainly make amends to you another day when there is an opportunity!"

After saying this, Wang Lingji raised his wine glass apologetically and drank it as punishment, then got up and started to leave.

Just as Wang Lingji was about to go out to greet the uninvited guests, Song Qingming, who was sitting next to him, suddenly raised his glass and interrupted him.

"Since Brother Wang has guests, why not invite them in for a drink? It would be a good opportunity for me to get to know a few more fellow cultivators from the East Sea."

Maybe if they see me, they won't want to cause you any trouble!

"What, Brother Song, what did you say?"

Wang Lingji, who had originally intended to have someone escort Song Qingming and the other person away from the side, suddenly looked surprised when he heard that he wanted to take the initiative to meet the visiting cultivators from the "Yunyang Sect".

He thought he had misheard and really didn't understand what Song Qingming's intention was.
Just as Wang Lingji was filled with doubt, Ling Zhentian, who was sitting next to him, suddenly spoke up, which was quite unusual.

“Fellow Daoist Song is right. I also want to see what kind of people have come from outside. Fellow Daoist Wang, why don’t you invite them in?”

I've heard that the Yunyang Sect is the number one sect in the cultivation world of the East Sea, but unfortunately, I've never had the chance to meet them. Today, I can finally fulfill that wish. (End of Chapter)