Chapter 370: Duan Xueyi

Half a month later, at the entrance of an inn in Guiyun Market.

On the bustling street, a man wearing a bamboo hat looked up at the signboard above the inn entrance. After confirming he hadn't found the wrong place, he lifted his legs and walked into the inn with large strides.

After entering the inn, the man in the bamboo hat asked the waiter at the entrance, then went directly to a guest room on the second floor of the inn's backyard and knocked gently on the door.

Before long, the guest room opened from the inside, and a woman in white slowly appeared from within.

"Fellow Daoist Song, please come in. You are truly punctual. If I hadn't seen you appear, I'm afraid that senior sister of mine would have sent another sound transmission to urge me."

Hearing this complaint from Gao Yuyao, Song Qingming smiled, removed the bamboo hat from his head, and explained:

"I actually arrived in the vicinity long ago, but I was worried that if I came too early, I would run into other acquaintances, so I didn't enter the market ahead of time. I hope you will forgive me, Fairy."

Half a month ago, after Song Qingming went back and pondered it repeatedly, he still decided to agree to Gao Yuyao's invitation this time. Not long after, he came to the vicinity of Guiyun Market according to the time they had agreed upon.

Compared to the lifespan of over five hundred years for Core Formation cultivators, Song Qingming's lifespan as a Foundation Establishment cultivator was only four sixty-year cycles. Once he couldn't successfully form a core before the age of two hundred, Song Qingming would inevitably be like Gao Jinhe, whom he had sent off not long ago, eventually passing away in his own cave dwelling and turning into a pile of withered bones.

Song Qingming's cultivation base had now reached the seventh layer of Foundation Establishment. It was estimated that in another twenty or thirty years, he would be able to cultivate to the ninth layer of Foundation Establishment. He was not far from the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage, and it was time for him to make some plans for Core Formation in advance.

In the cultivation world, things that could assist cultivators in forming a core were at least third-tier spirit items. This level of spirit item was rarely seen, let alone in major markets, even in those large auctions and black markets.

Moreover, high-tier spirit items were as rare as Foundation Establishment Pills. Many times, even if you encountered them, you might not be able to buy them even if you had enough spirit stones; in most cases, you could only barter with spirit items of the same tier.

When Song Qingming was still in the Qi Refining stage, he had once followed Old Daoist Chen to open a cave dwelling of a Foundation Establishment senior. That time, Song Qingming not only obtained several second-tier spirit items but also shared quite a few spirit stones and cultivation classics, which could be said to be an overnight fortune for him, who wasn't wealthy at the time.

This trip to the Fuyun Mountain Range, if he could truly find that Core Formation cave dwelling and obtain one or two high-tier spirit items left behind by a Core Formation cultivator, it would certainly be able to exchange for some precious resources for Song Qingming's future Core Formation.

Regardless of whether there was a harvest, by agreeing to Gao Yuyao's request to help this time, Song Qingming could at least obtain the five hundred merit points in Gao Yuyao's hands after returning. In this way, he could strive for a Foundation Establishment Pill for the family in a short period of time.

For this trip to the Fuyun Mountain Range, whether for himself or for the younger generation of the family to have a chance at Foundation Establishment, Song Qingming was worth making this trip.

After meeting with Gao Yuyao at the inn, under her guidance, the two put on bamboo hats to conceal their faces and left Guiyun Market directly, heading west.

After flying nearly a hundred miles, the two arrived at a high mountain in the northwest corner of Guiyun Market. Here, Song Qingming also saw the other two people accompanying them on this trip.

One was a man with a square face, thick eyebrows, and a very tall build. His cultivation base was about the same as Gao Yuyao's, also a cultivator about to advance to the eighth layer of Foundation Establishment.

The other was a woman in pink wearing a bamboo hat just like Gao Yuyao. Because she was covered by a veil, Song Qingming couldn't see her face clearly, but the aura emanating from her body had already reached the ninth layer of Foundation Establishment. Without asking, Song Qingming knew that this was likely the senior sister Gao Yuyao had mentioned.

This woman could see the secret that the mysterious hairpin on Gao Yuyao contained Spirit-Suppressing Sand; she was absolutely a cultivator with a powerful spiritual sense. With someone of such strength in the Xiaoyao Sect, Song Qingming estimated that this woman's status was not much different from Li Yungong's in Black Stone Valley back then, and she should also be a Core Formation seed that the Xiaoyao Sect focused on cultivating.

"Junior Sister Gao, is this the Fellow Daoist Song you mentioned a few days ago?" The woman in pink first stepped forward to greet Gao Yuyao, then immediately pointed to Song Qingming, who was standing beside her, and asked.

Gao Yuyao nodded and introduced: "Fellow Daoist Song also comes from Qinghe County, and he is the patriarch of the Song family on Mount Funiu. These two are Senior Sister Duan and Fellow Daoist Fang; they are both my close friends."

"I am Song Qingming, greetings to the two Fellow Daoists." Song Qingming bowed and took the initiative to step forward to greet the two.

On the way here, Gao Yuyao had actually briefly introduced the two companions to Song Qingming. The Senior Sister Duan she mentioned was not only a closed-door disciple of a Core Formation senior within the Xiaoyao Sect but also a second-tier alchemist with a very high level.

The reason Gao Yuyao had such a good relationship with her was also because both were alchemists who often cooperated in refining pills and discussing pill formulas and spirit herbs in the sect. Gao Yuyao herself was now also a second-tier alchemist, and this Senior Sister Duan's alchemy level seemed to be even a notch higher than hers.

The two in pink also returned the salute immediately and said with a smile: "Fellow Daoist Song, greetings. I am Duan Xueyi of the Xiaoyao Sect, and this is Fellow Daoist Fang Wuqian of Mount Yukong."

"Earlier, I heard Junior Sister Gao say that Fellow Daoist Song is also a second-tier formation master. None of us specialize in the way of formations. This time, when we explore the senior's cave dwelling, if we truly encounter difficult formations, we will have to rely on Fellow Daoist Song."

"Since I have agreed to Fellow Daoist Gao to come, I will naturally do my best. Please rest assured, everyone." Song Qingming agreed with a smile.

When cultivators form a team to travel together, whether hunting demon beasts or exploring for treasure, they naturally have to share the spirit items obtained according to the level of their contribution. If there was truly an opportunity to let him demonstrate his role, Song Qingming would naturally not be stupid enough to refuse.

After the few introduced each other, Gao Yuyao said to Duan Xueyi: "The senior's cave dwelling recorded in the hairpin is still several thousand miles away from here. Senior Sister Duan, since everyone has arrived, why don't we seize the time and set off immediately."

Duan Xueyi nodded lightly, casually tossed out a small white flying boat, and jumped on it first.

Seeing that Duan Xueyi actually had such a spirit item as a small flying boat, Song Qingming also showed a hint of small surprise and couldn't help but look at her a few more times.

After Duan Xueyi piloted the flying boat, the three, including Song Qingming, followed closely and jumped onto the flying boat under her feet. Soon, a white light lit up on the mountain and headed directly north. This mountain, which had been somewhat lively, returned to its former tranquility.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 371 =====