Chapter 142: The Old Clan Leader Departs

When Song Qingming came to the Xiaoyao Sect three years ago, he was only a ninth-layer Qi Refining cultivator and had relied purely on his legs to walk for a month before reaching Yangshan Fang.

Now, standing on a flying sword and soaring high in the sky, Song Qingming looked down at the beautiful scenery beneath his feet. He finally experienced the thrill possessed only by high-tier cultivators in the cultivation world.

For Song Qingming, who had just stepped onto the path of cultivation, his greatest expectation for the path of immortality was not some ethereal longevity, but the ability to soar freely through the sky like the high-tier cultivators recorded in the classics, and to see all the beautiful scenery in this world.

Walking freely on a flying sword—this was the path of immortality he had wanted most in the beginning.

The most important step for a Foundation Establishment cultivator to fly on a sword is to attach their physical body to the spiritual light of the refined magic treasure, so that they can control the flying sword as they wish.

However, to fly on a sword, it is best to have a flying sword of second-tier or higher.

It was just that Song Qingming had just achieved Foundation Establishment, and he was truly penniless. His only second-tier defensive magic treasure could not be used as a flying sword.

For this reason, Song Qingming could only temporarily purchase a first-tier top-quality flying sword in Yangshan Fang as a substitute. The spiritual light on a first-tier flying sword is limited, and it can at most support one person standing on it, and the speed is not as fast as a second-tier flying sword. If Song Qingming wants to travel as quickly as Xu Ziyan, he must quickly get a second-tier flying sword in the future.

Regardless, thirty-plus years had passed since he stepped onto the path of immortality at the age of ten. Song Qingming had finally achieved this long-held wish of his. Touching the remnant map still sewn to his chest, Song Qingming could not help but feel a bit emotional. His journey to this point had truly not been easy.

——

On Mount Funiu, in the Song family's council hall, Clan Leader Song Changfeng was discussing family affairs with several Song family elders.

Unexpectedly, before they had finished speaking, a seventeen or eighteen-year-old youth suddenly rushed in from outside the door.

"Thirteenth Uncle, Thirteenth Uncle..." Seeing that there was more than one person sitting in the council hall, the youth instantly shut his mouth, and the words that followed could not be spoken.

"Xinhu, speak quickly. What happened!" Seeing Song Xinhu's panicked face, the Law Enforcement Elder Song Zhangxiong, not knowing the reason, asked quickly with some displeasure.

Clan Leader Song Changfeng also asked the youth softly, "Is it that Mount Lingyuan has been attacked by demonic beasts again?"

Song Xinhu shook his head and replied, "It is Seventh Uncle who has returned; he has already come up the mountain!"

Song Changfeng smiled, nodded, and said to everyone, "Since Qingming has returned, everyone come with me to welcome him. Let's discuss this matter later; it would be good to hear Qingming's opinion."

"It's just Qingming returning, why be so nervous? You brat, you've been cultivating for so long, can't you have some backbone?" Facing this honest-looking Song Xinhu, Song Zhangxiong sighed, shook his head, and followed the others out of the council hall.

Just as everyone walked out of the council hall, unexpectedly, a sword light suddenly flew across the sky behind the council hall. After circling in front of the council hall, it landed steadily.

After Song Qingming put away the flying sword beneath his feet, he walked toward the Song family members with a smile on his face.

"Sword flight... you are Qing... Qingming!" After Song Zhangxiong saw the person coming clearly, his eyes suddenly widened, and he couldn't help but shout out.

The others, upon seeing Song Qingming, also opened their mouths wide one after another.

"Thirteenth Uncle, it's only been a few years, have you already failed to recognize me?" Song Qingming walked up to the crowd and replied to the stunned Song Zhangxiong with a smile.

Song Changfeng looked at Song Qingming, who had become a Foundation Establishment cultivator, and his eyes suddenly turned red. After shedding two long-lost tears, he slowly said, "It is truly a pity that Fourth Uncle did not live to see this day."

In the Song family graveyard behind Mount Funiu, Song Qingming, who had just returned, looked at the newly erected tombstone before him, and his heart could not help but feel extremely heavy.

"Fourth Uncle had been unconscious for half a year, only occasionally waking up for a moment. He passed away in his cave dwelling three months ago. Of the older generation, the thing they talked about most until their death was revitalizing the family. Fortunately, in your hands, the dying wishes of these elders can finally be fulfilled." After Song Changfeng finished speaking, he stepped forward and poured a cup of wine for the old clan leader's tombstone.

Song Qingming's trip to the Xiaoyao Sect this time had inadvertently caused him to miss the old clan leader's final moments. After achieving Foundation Establishment, the reason Song Qingming was so anxious to return was also to see the old clan leader quickly. He had not expected that he would still be a step too late.

Ever since the Great Elder passed away, including his own father, Song Qingming had lost several elders who were very important to him in succession.

The old clan leader had painstakingly supported the Song family for decades. In the hearts of the younger generation like Song Qingming, he and the Great Elder were the greatest support for the Song family. Now that the older generation of cultivators had basically departed, it was time for them to stand up and shield the descendants of the Song family from the wind and rain.

After paying his respects to the old clan leader, Song Qingming composed himself and rose to return to his cave dwelling.

Just as he returned to the cave dwelling on the mountaintop, Song Qingyu and Song Qingsi, whom he hadn't seen for several years, came knocking at his door again.

"Seventh Brother, congratulations on your successful Foundation Establishment." Seeing Song Qingming, who had already become a Foundation Establishment cultivator, Song Qingyu's face seemed to show a hint of disappointment.

Song Qingming looked at the two carefully and said, "You have already broken through to the late stage of Qi Refining; you have been quite diligent in your cultivation these past few years. Qingsi, how is your study of formations now? How many types of formations can you set up now?"

"I can still only barely set up some simple formations, but I am already quite proficient with the Spirit-Gathering Formation." Seeing her half-master, Song Qingsi replied somewhat shyly.

Song Qingming nodded and continued, "Is there something you two need by coming to find me?"

"Seventh Brother, it's like this: we would like to ask you for a favor. This matter is very simple for you..."

"Tell me about it first." Before Song Qingyu could finish, Song Qingming hurriedly interrupted her, telling her to get straight to the point.

Song Qingyu helplessly stuck out her tongue and continued, "Tenth Sister and I bought a spiritual beast egg in Qinghe Fang. We tried several times, but it wouldn't hatch. I heard from Ninth Uncle that this spiritual beast egg requires someone with deep magic power to constantly catalyze it with spiritual power to hatch quickly. Seventh Brother, you are already a Foundation Establishment cultivator; I think you will definitely be able to do it."

Song Qingming shook his head after hearing this and said, "Are you two trying to make me your manual laborer? I am a dignified Foundation Establishment cultivator; do I not need to cultivate?"

"Seventh Brother, just help us try it. For this spiritual beast egg, Tenth Sister and I spent over a hundred spirit stones. If it doesn't hatch, we two will have suffered a huge loss."

"Take it out first. I want to see what kind of spiritual beast egg could actually trick you out of so many spirit stones." Seeing Song Qingsi, who had never asked him for anything before, also looking at him with a pleading expression, Song Qingming hesitated for a moment but still couldn't bear to refuse.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 143 =====