Chapter 100: Breaking Through Cultivation

Half a year later, in an open space behind Mount Funiu, an eleven or twelve-year-old boy was sitting on a flat stone platform, closing his eyes and meditating without moving.

From early morning until the scorching sun was in the sky, several hours had passed in succession, but this boy still maintained this meditation posture without moving, as if time had stopped here. This boy had already merged with the giant stone beneath him.

A gentle breeze blew, and a fallen leaf just happened to drift above the boy with the wind. What was strange was that when this fallen leaf drifted to a distance of one finger away from the boy's body, for some reason, it suddenly changed direction, turned around, and bypassed the boy to slide to the ground.

As soon as the fallen leaf landed, the boy suddenly opened a pair of bright eyes, stood up somewhat nervously, and looked at the spiritual light emitted from the mountain wall in front. After confirming again that he had not seen wrong, a happy smile appeared on the boy's face. He jumped down from the giant stone and rushed directly toward the front.

After passing through the bamboo forest half a mile ahead, the boy came to the outside of a cave dwelling surrounded by clouds and smoke. Seeing that the cave gate in the clouds and mist had not yet opened, the boy hesitated slightly, but still stopped his steps wanting to move forward and stood patiently not far outside the door.

The time it takes for an incense stick to burn passed slowly. The clouds and mist outside the cave dwelling were suddenly blown away by a gentle breeze, and a man in cyan clothes opened the cave gate and walked out slowly.

After the boy saw the young man, he hurriedly stepped forward and bowed: "Nephew congratulates Seventh Uncle on successfully coming out of seclusion."

The man in cyan clothes waved his hand, looked at the boy outside the door, and said with a smile: "Xinhu, you came here, is it because the old patriarch has something to look for me?"

Song Xinhu nodded and said: "A few days ago, Great-Uncle asked me to come here and wait for you, saying that after you come out of seclusion, let you go find him immediately."

"Oh! You go back and report to the patriarch first, just say, I will tidy up here and come over immediately."

After Song Xinhu left, Song Qingming, who had just come out of seclusion, returned to his cave dwelling again, took out a dark green storage bag, opened it and checked it, then carried it on his body and quickly left here.

After staying on Mount Funiu for half a year, Song Qingming's cultivation finally reached the time when he could break through again. For this reason, half a month ago, he did not hesitate to use a mid-grade spirit stone he had obtained in Mount Yunwu not long ago. After meditating for half a month with the help of this spirit stone, he finally successfully raised his cultivation to the eighth layer of Qi Refining.

Since Song Qingming became an elder, he also had the qualification to practice on the back mountain. Half a year ago, Song Qingming had already selected a place with better spiritual energy here, and then opened up a new cave dwelling and moved directly here.

Now his cave dwelling was not far from the old patriarch's cave dwelling, only four or five miles away. Without spending much time, Song Qingming had already walked quickly to there.

The old patriarch Song Gushan still had that kind and gentle appearance, but he had added a few more white hairs compared to a few years ago when Song Qingming had just returned from traveling abroad.

In the cave dwelling, not only Song Qingming had come, but several other elders of the Song family had also arrived here.

The Song family elders all had family matters they were responsible for managing. Song Qingming had served as an elder for several years, and except for the family meeting at the end of the year, this was the first time he had seen everyone arrive so completely. It seemed that the patriarch had something important to discuss.

After greeting several elders, Song Qingming sat on a chair on the side. Every time the family held a meeting, juniors like him did not have much to say, and it was better to sit further away.

During the few years Song Qingming was in Qinghefang, the Song family also had one person break through to the late stage of Qi Refining and added an elder. This person was the second of the Qing generation who went to Qinghefang to replace Song Qingming, Song Qingwan.

Although Second Sister Song Qingwan's spiritual root talent was very ordinary, she learned a good craft and became an alchemist early on. In recent years, she had even broken through her alchemist level to mid-grade, which could be considered the one with the highest alchemy talent in the Song family.

Relying on her own good alchemy skills, Song Qingwan almost monopolized the elixir supply for most of the Song family's cultivators, earned a lot of spirit stones, and her cultivation also steadily improved to the late stage of Qi Refining.

The Song family had been turbulent in recent years. The one with the best talent, Song Qingze, went to the Xiaoyao Sect, and the Great Elder Song Gubai, who was at the ninth layer of Qi Refining, exhausted his lifespan and passed away on the mountain, causing the strength to be greatly damaged by losing two late-stage Qi Refining cultivators at once.

Fortunately, now, Song Qingming and Song Qingwan both broke through to the late stage of Qi Refining one after another, making up for the shortage of family elders, and the Song family finally slowly recovered its vitality.

The old patriarch Song Gushan saw that Song Qingming's cultivation had another breakthrough, nodded to him with great relief, and then said: "Since Qingming has come out of seclusion, Changfeng, you tell everyone about the matter again."

"Five days ago, the Huang family issued a decree to us, wanting us to cooperate with them in clearing the demonic beasts of Chifeng Ridge in a month. According to the letter sent by the Huang family, this time we must send at least six cultivators. In the past few days, I have communicated with several surrounding families, and their situation is about the same as ours. It is just heard that this time the Huang family also invited helpers, it is estimated that they want to take down this second-tier spiritual vein of Chifeng Ridge in one breath." Sixth Uncle Song Changfeng took a sip of tea and said unhurriedly.

Fourth Elder Song Gucai touched the long beard at the corner of his mouth and said: "The Huang family has not issued such a decree for many years. They already have many spiritual veins, why do they still want to have ideas about other second-tier spiritual veins? Could it be that someone in their family is going to build a foundation again? Calculating the time, it seems there is such a possibility."

"The demonic beast turmoil is near, and Chifeng Ridge is too close to the Huang family's territory. It is also possible that the Huang family wants to solve this hidden danger in advance."

Everyone guessed for a long time, and there were all kinds of ideas, but in the end, they could not get around a fact: the Huang family's move against Chifeng Ridge this time looked like they had spent all their money, and they must be determined to win.

"There are many demonic beasts in Chifeng Ridge, and there is also a powerful Foundation Establishment demonic beast. For the sake of safety, this time I will go with Changxin and Qingming, and Changfeng and Qingwan will stay behind in the family." After a simple discussion, the old patriarch initially decided on the candidates for this mission.

"Patriarch, let me lead the team this time. If you stay on the mountain, everyone will feel more at ease." Sixth Uncle Song Changfeng, hearing that the old patriarch wanted to go down the mountain himself, felt somewhat worried and wanted to replace the old patriarch to execute this mission.

The old patriarch was, after all, an old man over a hundred years old. Acting rashly would easily consume too much essence and energy, affecting his own lifespan. Everyone in the crowd was also somewhat worried about this point.

"You don't have to think too much. I haven't reached the point where I can't make a move. After I go down the mountain, the family will be handed over to you." Song Gushan shook his head with relief and still decided that he would go to execute this mission himself.

This mission, in addition to Ninth Uncle Song Changxin at the eighth layer of Qi Refining and Song Qingming, also included Fifth Aunt Song Changling, Thirteenth Uncle Song Changxiong, and Fourth Brother Song Qingrui, three cultivators at the sixth layer of Qi Refining.

Added to the old patriarch Song Gushan at the ninth layer of Qi Refining, these people could be considered the most elite strength of the Song family now.

After this matter was discussed, everyone left the old patriarch's cave dwelling one after another.

After everyone else had left, Song Qingming mysteriously took out a storage bag directly and handed it to Song Gushan.

"Qingming, what is this?" Song Gushan did not open the storage bag in his hand directly but asked Song Qingming somewhat puzzled.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 101 =====