Chapter 193

After chasing for dozens of miles, just as Huang Siyuan and Song Qingming were about to catch up to Gao Yubai, a black light had already appeared on the distant horizon, flying rapidly toward this side. Gao Yubai was overjoyed at the sight and hurriedly increased his escape speed again.

Seeing that the person coming was Lu Xingde, Huang Siyuan and Song Qingming could not help but sigh, took the initiative to stop their pursuit, and turned back the way they came.

The two of them actually had not really wanted to kill Gao Yubai from the beginning; it was just that as they fought, they discovered this kid was somewhat powerful, and both became a bit hot-headed, wanting to resolve this future trouble right here. It was not until now, seeing Lu Xingde coming, that the two finally sobered up and took the initiative to retreat.

By the time they returned, Duanliu Mountain had already been jointly captured by the cultivators of the Huang and Song families below. Except for four or five cultivators with higher cultivation who fought to the death to escape, the rest had all died here.

In this battle, because the Huang and Song families had been prepared early and joined forces to be several times stronger than the enemy, there were not many losses after the battle; only a few cultivators suffered some light injuries.

After killing the Gao family cultivators who had occupied their territory, the Huang family members, who had been suppressed for several months, cheered for a while and immediately began to take over the Duanliu Mountain mineral vein.

Because the Gao family had also been mining the vein here during this time, they had maintained the original mine very well and had not made things difficult for the Huang family mortals who were mining here. Everything in the Duanliu Mountain refined copper vein was preserved very completely. It would not take long before it could operate normally again.

After taking the Duanliu Mountain mineral vein, Song Qingming specifically left behind Ninth Uncle Song Changxin with eight cultivators to help the Huang family guard this mineral vein.

Duanliu Mountain was located at the boundary between the Huang family and the Lu family. Having a piece of territory here also symbolized that the Song family had to stand out together with the Huang family to share this pressure.

When Huang Siyuan originally offered 40% of the shares of Duanliu Mountain to the Song family, this was actually the purpose: to pull the Song family in to share some of the pressure of the front line.

Song Qingming had already figured this out when he decided to participate in the beginning. This time, their joint strike with the Huang family could be considered to have hurt the Gao family. The current Song family was already firmly tied to the Huang family's war chariot; it was impossible to withdraw for the time being.

After discussing the joint development of Duanliu Mountain with Huang Siyuan, Song Qingming directly took the remaining Song family cultivators and returned to Funiu Mountain.

Next, Song Qingming did not choose to go to Qinghe Marketplace to see Gao Jinhe, but instead replied to him with a letter, directly refusing the Gao family's request to exchange shops with the Song family.

Since he already knew the situation on the Huang family side, Song Qingming naturally would no longer worry that the Gao family would dare to continue attacking the Song family. After the battle of Duanliu Mountain, the Huang family and the Song family could be considered completely tied together. If the Gao family wanted to attack the Song family, the Huang family naturally would not sit idly by.

For these immortal cultivation families, wanting to seize more cultivation resources still depended on strength. When Song Qingming went missing, the Song family lost the protection of a Foundation Establishment cultivator and naturally lost the qualifications to occupy more resources.

Even if the Gao family did not have designs on them, there would be other Foundation Establishment families attacking them later. This was the iron rule of the cultivation world: resources were all in the hands of high-tier cultivators.

After this letter was sent to Qinghe Marketplace, Gao Jinhe did not reply, nor did he make any reaction or send cultivators to Funiu Mountain. It was as if the previous events had never happened. The Gao family and the Song family no longer had any interaction.

After the Huang family recaptured Duanliu Mountain, it caused a huge uproar in Qinghe County again. Overnight, the Huang family recovered most of its former prestige, stabilized the hearts of the many affiliated immortal cultivation families below, and also broke the rumor that had been spreading wildly for several months that the Huang family patriarch had already died.

It was just that besides recovering Duanliu Mountain, the Huang family did not continue to strike. The Gao family and the Lu family also returned to the calm of several months ago and also did not make any moves. Neither side took any further action, which also made Qinghe County seem to suddenly fall into a strange calm.

Just in this hard-won calm, not even two months later, Song Qingming, who was in seclusion cultivating, unexpectedly received news from Mujiao Town at the foot of the mountain that his mother was seriously ill.

Ever since reaching Foundation Establishment, Song Qingming had rarely returned to his home at the foot of the mountain, but his mother was always the worldly tie he found difficult to let go of.

Song mother was already over seventy years old, which was already a rare advanced age in the secular world. This time, when the news of her serious illness suddenly came, Song Qingming also knew that the old lady probably did not have much time left.

After putting away his thoughts of cultivation, Song Qingming came directly to Mujiao Town.

Over these years, the Song family had developed relatively rapidly, constantly expanding the existing mortal villages and towns, which also increased the family's mortals by quite a bit. Before Song Qingming went down the mountain, the entire Song family had only twenty thousand mortals; now it had almost doubled.

Just as he arrived in Mujiao Town, Song Qingming saw Fifth Brother Song Qingyuan already waiting there.

"Paying respects to the Supreme Elder!"

Song Qingming nodded and said, "Fifth Brother, there is no need for such formalities here. You go and busy yourself with your affairs first. If I have need, I will come find you."

For the 'Qing' generation, cultivators older than Song Qingming basically had no room for improvement in their Dao path. Most had already begun to start families and went out to hold some relatively easy positions.

Eldest Brother Song Qingshi, Fourth Brother Song Qingrui, and Sixth Brother Song Qinghe had all started families over these years. The Fourth Brother, who married earliest, now had a whole bunch of children. Half a year ago, they even tested a child with spirit roots, which made him overjoyed. He, who had already stopped paying attention to cultivation, now had his heart and mind set on paving the way for his child's future.

For these people, their Dao path in this life was hopeless. Being able to enjoy the remaining days in peace and add a few more children with spirit roots to the family, pinning their hopes on the next generation, was also killing two birds with one stone.

Just as he walked into the house, Song Qingming saw the Fourth Brother and his wife sitting in the main hall.

They were already people over fifty years old. Although they had lived a life of wealth and luxury without suffering any hardships, they were now beginning to walk with a limp.

Seeing Song Qingming walk in, the Fourth Brother was so excited he nearly fell to the ground in one step. Fortunately, the eldest nephew Yunshan, who was already the head of the household, timely supported his father, and the few of them led Song Qingming to the backyard together.

Seeing his mother, who was already bedridden and had become much thinner, Song Qingming still could not hold back a few tears that fell.

"Mother hasn't been able to eat anything for half a month and can only take some soup and water. A few days ago, after calling your name a few times, she suddenly fell asleep. It's been several days and she hasn't woken up. That's why there was no choice but to entrust someone to go up the mountain to notify you." The Second Sister, who was caring for her at the bedside, also had a head full of white hair. At this moment, her eyes were red when she spoke. It seemed she had not shed few tears these past few days.

"Second Sister, I have a spiritual pill here that should be able to let Mother wake up first. Later, you take care of her and have her take it." After Song Qingming finished speaking, he left a pill by the bedside and turned around, walking out in a lonely manner.

(End of chapter)