Chapter 143: Winds Rising and Clouds Moving

On Mount Taiyuan, in the Huang family's council hall.

More than a dozen late-stage Qi Refining cultivators of the Huang family were standing obediently before two Foundation Establishment ancestors.

"Have you found out the situation of the person from the Song family who suddenly achieved Foundation Establishment?"

Facing the inquiry of the two ancestors, an older elder in the crowd hurriedly stepped out and replied, "Reporting to the ancestors, we have already investigated clearly over the past two days. The person from the Song family who just achieved Foundation Establishment is named Song Qingming. This person is a 'Qing'-generation cultivator of the Song family. Judging from the fact that he only reached the ninth layer of Qi Refining in his forties, he is likely a three-spirit-root cultivator."

"Three-spirit-root Foundation Establishment, his luck is not bad. But why have you never mentioned this name to us? Did the clan leader not specifically instruct you to pay more attention to the talented cultivators in the vassal families below?" Huang Chengliang, with a majestic face, asked again thoughtfully.

Hearing the ancestor's reprimand, the dozen or so Huang family cultivators below instantly became somewhat nervous, looking at each other in dismay, not knowing how to answer.

Seeing that no one was speaking, the elder who had taken the lead in answering could only bite the bullet and continue, "The most talented cultivator in the Song family is named Song Qingze. We have actually been paying attention to him all these years. This person left the Song family many years ago and joined the Xiaoyao Sect..."

"I am asking about the one who has already achieved Foundation Establishment; why are you bringing up others? Could it be that in all these years, none of you have ever had contact with this person?" Huang Chengliang interrupted the elder with some displeasure, his tiger-like eyes turning to scan the others.

"Reporting to the ancestor, seven years ago, when the family campaigned against Chifeng Ridge, Song Qingming once participated in that great battle in response to our summons. I saw this person when I was receiving the Song family cultivators at that time, but his cultivation was only at the eighth layer of Qi Refining. In that battle, the performance of the Song family cultivators was also very average and did not attract much of my attention. Later, during the demonic beast chaos, Song Qingming also followed us to Mount Huoyun, and his performance was equally mediocre. I did not expect that after a few years of not seeing him, this child would actually achieve Foundation Establishment." The person who stood up to speak was Huang Xianlong, who had once received the Song family cultivators at Mount Wufeng. This person had known the current Song family clan leader, Song Changfeng, for many years and had some friendship.

Another middle-aged man continued, "We have also investigated Song Qingming's recent situation over the past few days. One year after the demonic beast chaos, this person suddenly left Qinghe County, seemingly going to the Xiaoyao Sect. It was not until he returned to Qinghe County last month that he was already a Foundation Establishment cultivator."

Hearing this, another Huang family Foundation Establishment ancestor, Huang Shengyue, who had not spoken until now, suddenly said, "Third Uncle, this Song Qingming likely achieved Foundation Establishment near the Xiaoyao Sect. It would be better to trouble you to send a message to Nineteenth Uncle, asking him to help inquire within the sect what kind of Foundation Establishment spiritual item Song Qingming obtained and how he actually achieved Foundation Establishment."

Huang Chengliang nodded, accepted the matter, and then said, "Shengyue, the clan leader is still in seclusion, and it is inconvenient for me to move around. You should go to the Song family side. Pay attention to see how talented this kid really is and whether he can continue to be used by our Huang family in the future."

Huang Shengyue nodded and said, "Third Uncle, rest assured, I will prepare everything properly."

——

In Qinghe Fang, in a secret chamber behind the Gao family restaurant.

The Gao family clan leader, Gao Jinhe, looked at the young man in front of him with a smile and said slowly, "Daoist Lu, you should have heard, right? Not long ago, Qinghe County gained another Foundation Establishment cultivator. I feel that we might have gained another helper."

"Brother Gao, what do you mean by this? Please explain." The other young man speaking was the clan leader of another Foundation Establishment family in Qinghe County, the Lu family, Lu Xingde.

Gao Jinhe paused and said, "I only found out not long ago. My daughter, Yuyao, is of a similar age to this Daoist from the Song family who just achieved Foundation Establishment, and they once had some friendship. I am willing to come forward and try to see if we can pull him over to our side."

Lu Xingde, upon hearing this, said with a look of surprise, "Brother Gao, our two families have been suppressed by the Huang family for many years, and most of the resources in Qinghe County have been occupied by the Huang family. For all these years, we have had no other way but to swallow our anger. Now that we have such a rare opportunity, Brother Gao, please be sure to grasp it well. As long as this matter can be accomplished, my Lu family will definitely follow the lead of the Gao family in the future."

The Lu family only had Lu Xingde as a Foundation Establishment cultivator. He had achieved Foundation Establishment for no more than forty years, and his cultivation was only at the third layer of Foundation Establishment. In Qinghe County, the Lu family occupied the southeast side, and the cultivation resources within their territory were already scarce. They also had to face the suppression of the massive Huang family at all times. Lu Xingde, who had always been cautious, decisively chose to hold onto the Gao family to resist the Huang family's step-by-step encroachment.

——

Chifeng Ridge, the Qian family.

Qian Guangyao looked at the dozen or so remaining cultivators below and said slowly with some pain, "The choice to move the family here back then was indeed a step I took wrongly. Now, although we have the mountain-protecting formation to guard us, there are few clan members left. What is the meaning of guarding this empty spiritual vein?

I have already decided: from now on, the whole family will join the Xiaoyao Sect. This spiritual vein will also be handed over in exchange for some resources to distribute to everyone. Those who are willing to go to the Xiaoyao Sect with me can follow me, and those who are not willing can return to the ancestral land of Mount Linlong. It's just that from now on, separated by thousands of miles, you will no longer be able to rely on me."

The Qian family cultivators below, upon hearing that the clan leader was going to abandon this place and join the Xiaoyao Sect, shed tears one after another. But their words carried little weight, and even if they spoke to persuade him to stay, it would be difficult to change the clan leader's mind, so they could only be filled with sorrow.

The Qian family had already established their clan in Qinghe County for several hundred years. They had not expected that just as someone in the clan had achieved Foundation Establishment and they were welcoming a moment of good development, they would suddenly suffer the devastating disaster of the demonic beast chaos. The mortals under their rule were almost all dead or injured, and now even the family was difficult to continue.

Song Qingming, who was on Mount Funiu, did not know that with his return after Foundation Establishment, the situation in Qinghe County was undergoing some subtle changes.

Ever since Song Qingyu gave him a colorful spiritual beast egg, he had been studying it in his cave dwelling for more than half a month, but he still had no clue.

"Judging from the bright appearance of this spiritual beast egg, it should not be a dead object."

It was just that he had searched through a lot of materials but still could not find a way to hatch this spiritual beast egg. He had also tried catalyzing it with magic power, but similarly, he did not see the slightest effect, which could not help but make him feel a bit discouraged.

He truly did not expect that just after achieving Foundation Establishment, before he had time to show off in front of his clan members, he would encounter such a big problem. If those two little girls knew he was helpless, he wouldn't know where to put his face.

Just as Song Qingming was racking his brains without finding an answer, a sound transmission suddenly entered from outside the cave dwelling. Upon opening it, he realized it was the clan leader asking him to go to the council hall. Song Qingming could only temporarily put aside the matter of the spiritual beast egg and walk out of the cave dwelling's gate.

The next chapter will have some problems; everyone, read it later.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 144 =====