Chapter 386: Minghe Sect

When Song Qingming brought back the news that Song Xinyu had successfully established his foundation, the entire Mount Funiu also began to become lively. The Song family had a Foundation Establishment cultivator in the Xiaoyao Sect, and in the future, the family could finally have someone who could speak in the sect. This was also a great improvement for the status of the Song family.

A few months later, Song Xinyu, who had already established his foundation, returned to Mount Funiu. Under the instruction of Song Qingming, the family's Foundation Establishment ancestor, the Song family arranged a grand banquet for him and specially invited various Qi Refining families attached to the Song family in the surrounding area to come to Mount Funiu to observe the ceremony.

Although there were not many families attached to the Song family now, ever since they attached themselves to the Song family, except for the chaos of demonic cultivators experienced by the Wu family of Mount Luolong decades ago, no major turmoil had occurred in the territories of other families. Over the years, the strength of each family had grown somewhat compared to before.

Especially the Wang family of Mount Fengtou, which discovered the Geng gold mine, had obtained quite a few spirit stones relying on the share of the mine over the years. The strength of the Wang family had also risen with the tide. Now, just the number of ninth-layer Qi Refining cultivators in the clan had reached several, and they had already ranked among the first-class from the second-class Qi Refining families in Qinghe County back then.

The Wang family lying down to earn spirit stones like this every year naturally made the surrounding family forces very jealous. Over the years, they had also tightened their hold on the Song family's thigh. The spiritual items offered to the Song family every year would automatically be more than other Qi Refining families, and they had already proactively intermarried with the Song family.

This time, to celebrate Song Xinyu's Foundation Establishment, Wang family leader Wang Ziyuan was the first to arrive at Mount Funiu early in the morning and specially presented a second-tier spirit peach worth nearly a hundred spirit stones as a congratulatory gift, which truly won the favor of many people in the Song family. Song Qingming was naturally very satisfied with the Wang family's performance.

The banquet was held for two consecutive days, and many people who didn't receive invitations also heard the news and came to Mount Funiu, including Feng De from Qinghe Market and Ma Boshan, who was guarding the Mount Fengtou mine.

Both of these were Foundation Establishment cultivators within the Xiaoyao Sect. Knowing that this new Junior Brother Song Xinyu had returned to Qinghe County, they naturally gathered over. Being fellow sect brothers, they also wanted to take this opportunity to get on good terms with Song Xinyu.

Besides this, after the Huang family learned of this news, they also proactively sent a cultivator to offer congratulations. Because his master Huang Shengyang was a Huang family cultivator, Song Xinyu also gave enough face to this Huang family Qi Refining cultivator at the banquet and personally took him to the room where only a few Foundation Establishment cultivators were seated.

Song Xinyu's successful Foundation Establishment also greatly inspired the younger generation of the Song family this time. Those "Xin" generation cultivators who were not much different in age from him saw him being infinitely glorious at the banquet and all revealed expressions of envy.

Among the "Xin" generation, besides Song Xinyu, who had the best cultivation talent, there were only two people with the greatest hope of Foundation Establishment, namely Eighth Brother Song Xintang and Nineteenth Brother Song Xinhe.

Among them, Song Xintang had already cultivated to the eighth layer of Qi Refining. As an alchemist, he had not lacked cultivation resources over the years. He was absolutely certain to raise his cultivation to the ninth layer of Qi Refining before the age of sixty. It was just that he, like Song Qingming, was a pseudo-spirit root cultivator with four spirit roots. Even with a Foundation Establishment Pill, the hope of successfully establishing his foundation could only be at most three or four percent.

Another Nineteenth Brother Song Xinhe, although his cultivation had just broken through to the seventh layer of Qi Refining now, he was not old and was only in his thirties. Ten years later, he would also be able to cultivate to the ninth layer of Qi Refining. Moreover, his spirit root was slightly better. A three-spirit root cultivator with the addition of a Foundation Establishment Pill, on the surface, Song Xinhe's hope of Foundation Establishment was still higher than Song Xintang's.

Now the Song family had gathered enough merit points in the Xiaoyao Sect's Merit Pavilion, and it was absolutely possible to exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill within ten years. It was just that Song Qingming had not yet decided who this Foundation Establishment Pill should be used on, and had been considering it.

There was only one Foundation Establishment Pill. Whether to give it to Song Xintang, who had made greater contributions to the family, or to Song Xinhe, who had a better spirit root, or to save it first for Song Yuanli, who would have a greater certainty of Foundation Establishment in the future, was indeed a difficult choice for Song Qingming, this elder.

No matter which one was chosen, there would inevitably be someone who would lose the opportunity to advance further on this Dao path forever. Moreover, such a large investment, once the chosen person failed to establish his foundation, how to explain it to other cultivators in the family when the time came was also a difficult problem.

There were countless cultivators in the cultivation world, but cultivation resources were always limited. Every cultivator who wanted to advance further had to fight for their lives to compete for these cultivation resources. Unless you could ascend to the Dao and leave this world, otherwise, no one could escape this final fate.

After the banquet ended, Song Xinyu originally wanted to stay on Mount Funiu for a few more months, didn't want that after only a month or so, his master Huang Shengyang sent a letter to Mount Funiu, calling him back.

Not long after Song Xinyu left, Song Qingming entered seclusion and didn't convert the materials in his hand into the spiritual talismans he had already made until more than half a year later. This time, Song Qingming had made more than a hundred second-tier spiritual talismans, which could already exchange for quite a few spirit stones for him.

This time, making talismans in large quantities during long-term seclusion, Song Qingming's talisman-making technique had also made great progress. Now he could stably make quite a few second-tier mid-grade spiritual talismans and had already become a second-tier mid-grade talisman master.

The hundred arts of cultivation were not easy to improve after reaching the second tier. Song Qingming's talisman-making level could now be considered the highest level in Qinghe County.

The spiritual talismans he made this time, except for a small portion left behind and put into his own shop in Qinghe Market, the rest were all taken by Song Qingming to several nearby markets such as Guiyun Market and Jin Shan Market to be sold separately.

Second-tier spiritual talismans were more popular on the market than those first-tier spiritual talismans, especially second-tier low-grade spiritual talismans, which could already be used by ninth-layer Qi Refining cultivators. Almost every Qi Refining family in Qinghe County would prepare a few sheets as the family's foundation to prepare for the unexpected.

This time, the sale of spiritual talismans was also very smooth. Not long after, Song Qingming earned nearly ten thousand spirit stones. After having enough spirit stones, Song Qingming also ran to the Xiaoyao Sect and directly exchanged for the Foundation Establishment Pill he had been thinking about for a long time from the Merit Pavilion, which was finally a major event in his heart.

After the Foundation Establishment Pill was in hand, Song Qingming hid it directly in his cave dwelling on Mount Funiu. However, Song Qingming did not directly inform all the clansmen that he already had a Foundation Establishment Pill, but only revealed some wind to several elders in the clan that the family's merit in the Xiaoyao Sect's Merit Pavilion could exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill within ten years.

Now Song Qingming still hadn't decided how to determine the ownership of the Foundation Establishment Pill. He still wanted to observe for a period of time and also wanted to listen to the suggestions of several family elders before deciding on this matter. In any case, the few people in the family who could use the Foundation Establishment Pill had not yet cultivated to the ninth layer of Qi Refining, and there was still plenty of time for everyone to consider this matter.

——

On the east side of the State of Zheng, there was a market similar in size to Guiyun Market, named Xianhe Market. The manager of this market was the only Core Formation sect near the market, the Minghe Sect.

As one of the two Core Formation sects in the State of Zheng cultivation world, the Minghe Sect controlled the territory of three counties in the eastern part of the entire State of Zheng. There were three Core Formation ancestors within the sect.

During the last beast turmoil, about one-third of the territory in the northern part of the State of Zheng fell into the hands of the beasts. In order to resist the beast attack, the Minghe Sect lost quite a few cultivators, and even a Core Formation ancestor fell into the hands of the beasts.

Fortunately, later, surrounding countries like the State of Wei came to help in time, finally letting them stabilize the situation and survive this beast turmoil. Subsequently, they also recovered quite a bit of lost territory.

It's a pity that good times didn't last long. Not long after the beast turmoil ended, the State of Zheng fell into internal strife among sects again.

The Minghe Sect and the Star Gate in the western part of the State of Zheng were old rivals who had been at odds for years. Both sides had been attacking each other for many years, but their strength was not much different, and neither had the strength to eat the other.

However, in the last ten years or so, the situation of the Minghe Sect had become worse and worse. The Star Gate didn't know when it started to get the support of a force, and its strength slowly suppressed the Minghe Sect side and occupied a great advantage. Over the past ten years, the Star Gate had already encroached on quite a bit of the Minghe Sect's territory.

The strength of both sides had gradually become unbalanced. If the Minghe Sect didn't make some changes, it would be a matter of time before it was swallowed by the Star Gate in the future. For this reason, the current Minghe Sect was also very worried.

In Xianhe Market, in a small courtyard that was very inconspicuous in the market, two cultivators were talking softly.

"Junior Sister Liu, heard that you found two helpers with good strength this time. I received the message you sent on the mountain and rushed over immediately. This matter is of great importance. Can you tell me first?"

The Liu-surnamed woman looked at this somewhat worried Sect Master Senior Brother in front of her and said somewhat urgently: "Sect Master Senior Brother, rest assured. The two people I found this time have good strength and are not below me. As long as they can be recruited, we will have certainty in going to Gufeng Ridge this time. Please be sure to come forward to help talk and strive for these two fellow daoists to join in."

The Sect Master Senior Brother in the Liu-surnamed woman's mouth was precisely the Miscellaneous Affairs Sect Master of the Minghe Sect, Tao Hede. His coming down the mountain this time was precisely for a major event related to the sect.

"Junior Sister Liu, don't be too anxious. Tell me first what the background of these two people is and how their strength is."

The Liu-surnamed woman nodded and said: "These two people don't seem to know each other before, and it was their first time coming to the market. They came to look for elixirs to improve cultivation. One of them is from the State of Wei and claims to be a loose cultivator. Although this person's cultivation is still at the fourth layer of Foundation Establishment, his strength is already not below mine.

The other person's appearance is somewhat mysterious, and I can't see any background. I only feel like she came from the east. Her cultivation has already reached Foundation Establishment. When you get there, you will naturally be clear."

"That's good, then follow what Junior Sister said. We have already found quite a few fellow daoists this time. If we add two more people, we can also have a few more points of certainty. In order to recapture Gufeng Ridge, the Great Elder has already issued words that second-tier spiritual items in the sect's Treasury Pavilion can be taken out. As long as these guys are willing to help, everything can be discussed."

After Tao Hede finished speaking, led by the Liu-surnamed woman, the two quickly arrived at a restaurant in the market together.

As soon as they entered the door, the two saw from afar two women who had covered themselves tightly with bamboo hats, sitting by the window and slowly admiring the scenery around them.

The Liu-surnamed woman glanced at these two people, secretly gave Tao Hede a wink, and then walked over with him.

As soon as the two sat down, one of the bamboo-hat women pointed in the air, and quickly set up a relatively simple sound-insulation restriction, and said to the Liu-surnamed woman: "Fellow Daoist Liu, what is the matter with inviting us over this time? Please speak directly."

"The two fellow daoists must have already guessed my identity. This time I won't beat around the bush. This is my Senior Brother Tao Hede. The two of us came this time precisely to ask the two fellow daoists for a favor, to follow us to Gufeng Ridge to recapture a spirit stone mine. Don't know if the two fellow daoists have any intention?"

Hearing the Liu-surnamed woman say this, the two bamboo-hat women looked at each other and slowly stood up.

"Fellow Daoist Liu, we two are just loose cultivators and have no intention of getting involved in the affairs of your sect and the Star Gate. Please find someone else, lest we delay things here."

Seeing that these two were about to leave, Tao Hede said with a smile: "Two fellow daoists, wait a moment. Can you let this old man speak a word first before making a decision?"

"Fellow Daoist, please speak!"

Tao Hede paused and said: "We cultivators seek the Dao, and what we seek is also a piece of fortune. Now there is a piece of fortune placed before the two. If the two miss it so easily, aren't you afraid that you will regret it too late in the future?"

"Haha! Wanting to move the two of us to sell our lives for you, don't know what kind of fortune you have brought out? Can you tell me first?"

Hearing that the other party already had the intention to stop, Tao Hede also knew that his goal had basically been completed. He smiled and took out a white scroll from his sleeve and placed it on the table.

"As long as the two agree to this matter, you can choose one of the spiritual items in here as a reward. After the matter is accomplished, the two will be friends of my Minghe Sect in the future. From now on, no matter which shop you go to in this market, you can directly enjoy a ten percent discount. Don't know if the two are still satisfied?"

The bamboo-hat woman who spoke just now heard the other party say this, directly took the scroll from Tao Hede's hand, scanned it with a calm face, and then handed it to her companion.

Another woman looked at it carefully and said directly: "Fellow Daoist means that you can take out the things on this immediately, right?"

"Not bad! As long as the fellow daoist has chosen, you can take them away directly. Although my Minghe Sect is not a big sect, it is not to the point of joking with the two about these things. The two can rest assured about this point." Tao Hede said with a face full of confidence.

"Fine! Then it's settled. When are we setting off? Please tell us in advance when the time comes. We two will go one step ahead."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 387 =====