Chapter 425: Returning to the Clan

Seeing this, Song Qingming did not stand on ceremony with her. After taking the spirit beast bag, he placed it directly at his waist.

After the three of them circled the spot to confirm no spirit items had been left behind, they immediately flew off on their swords together, heading toward Yangshan Market.

Over an hour later, seeing that they were getting closer and closer to Yangshan Market, Song Qingming's somewhat tense expression gradually relaxed. He steered his flying sword to the side of the woman in green.

"Fellow Daoist Hu, I wonder how much you know about these Golden Illusion Butterflies? Could you tell me more in detail? Although I was lucky enough to win just now, I was indeed forced into a rather embarrassing situation by these bugs. I wonder if there is any way to counter them."

Hearing this, the woman in green was slightly stunned for a moment before immediately speaking up: "Big Brother Song, to tell you the truth, my knowledge of these Golden Illusion Butterflies only exists in an ancient text. Whether what is written inside is true or not, I cannot confirm, so you should just listen to it as a story."

"The Golden Illusion Butterfly is a type of spirit insect that likes to live year-round in places rich in spiritual energy and with damp spirit veins. Although these spirit insects are not easy to cultivate, they possess decent lethality even when young. Generally, if a Foundation Establishment cultivator encounters a swarm of these insects, it will indeed be quite troublesome."

"However, these spirit insects are not easy to raise. In fact, the reason that fellow could keep casting spells to release spirit insects during the fight just now is because the Golden Illusion Butterfly has a unique innate ability: the Thousand-Change Illusion Technique. You probably didn't notice that although you killed so many spirit insects just now, there were very few corpses on the ground, right!"

After listening, Song Qingming nodded gently and said: "So that's how it is. No wonder I used spirit talismans to burn several waves of over a hundred Golden Illusion Butterflies earlier, and the opponent didn't look pained at all. It turns out most of them were illusions created by these spirit insects. I was wondering why so many bugs suddenly disappeared from the sky just now."

"These bugs can deceive the spiritual sense of us Foundation Establishment cultivators even while still in their juvenile stage; they are indeed quite formidable. I wonder what method this person used to cultivate them like this."

"Although the Golden Illusion Butterflies are powerful, cultivating them is indeed very difficult. But Big Brother Song, you don't need to be discouraged. That fellow's storage bag is now on you; perhaps it contains the method for cultivating Golden Illusion Butterflies!" the woman in green said with a smile.

"Oh! Then I shall take your kind words to heart."

While they were talking, the group finally arrived at the foot of Mount Guyang. Because Song Qingming still needed to return to his cave dwelling in Yangshan Market, he stopped his flying sword, cupped his hands toward the two of them, and said:

"Captain Xu, Fellow Daoist Hu, I have some matters that require me to go to Yangshan Market, so I won't accompany you up the mountain. We shall meet again if fate allows."

"We shall meet again if fate allows."

Watching the sword light disappear before her eyes, Xu Ziyuan finally collected her thoughts. She looked at the woman in green beside her and said: "Junior Sister, let's go too!"

Just as the two set off, the woman in green leaned toward Xu Ziyuan and smiled: "This Big Brother Song is truly a person who knows how to repay kindness. Along the way, he wasn't even slightly tempted by the Golden Yang Fire Essence we were carrying. It is truly rare for Senior Sister to have such a good friend."

"How can one always rely on others instead of practicing diligently? No matter how good our luck is, it's impossible for someone to come and save us every single time."

The woman in green smiled upon hearing this: "If we don't rely on others, once Senior Sister succeeds in Core Formation this time, I will never have to rely on others again. You must not let down my painstaking efforts!"

"You girl, your tongue is truly unforgiving. Don't go around flattering me so casually."

After bidding farewell to Xu Ziyuan and her companion, Song Qingming returned to the cave dwelling he had rented in Yangshan Market. After packing up his personal belongings, he went down the mountain and returned the cave dwelling he had been renting.

Although he had not successfully purchased a Foundation Establishment Pill during this trip to Yangshan Market, the goal of breaking through his own cultivation had been successfully achieved. Song Qingming prepared to set off immediately to return to Qinghe County.

Having stayed in Yangshan Market for nearly half a year, Song Qingming was also concerned about the situation at home. Now that Song Qingyu had been away for over a decade without returning, there was only one Foundation Establishment cultivator left in the clan. With himself away for so long, Song Qingming was afraid that some mishap might occur at home.

Traveling rapidly, Song Qingming soon rushed back to Mount Funiu.

Upon returning to the clan, Song Qingming first made a round of the mountain to show his face and stabilize the hearts of the clan members. Shortly thereafter, he summoned several elders to the clan's council hall to inquire about the recent situation of the clan.

Fortunately, nothing major had happened in the clan over the past half year, which finally allowed Song Qingming to set his mind at ease.

After all the elders had left, Song Qingming kept his eldest brother, Song Qingshi, who had managed the clan for many years, and the fourteenth elder, Song Qingsi, behind.

"Qingming, you kept me behind—you aren't planning to go on a long journey again right after coming back, are you?" Hearing Song Qingshi say this, Song Qingming, who was just about to speak, smiled somewhat awkwardly.

"Big Brother is right; I do indeed have to go on a long journey in a few months. However, that is not what I want to discuss with you two right now."

Song Qingshi looked surprised and said: "Oh! If it's not that, what else could it be? Just say what you have to say quickly, so we two old fellows don't have to keep guessing. Haha! Among our generation, you, Qingming, are the one who likes to keep people in suspense the most."

"That's right, Seventh Brother. Recently, I've been in charge of the clan's miscellaneous affairs and have to find time to go to the Golden Treasury Pavilion to teach Xintong; I'm truly overwhelmed. If you have something to say, just give your orders!"

Song Qingming waved his hand gently and said: "Your temperament used to be quite composed; why are you now just as impatient as Second Sister?"

"Not impatient, not impatient, please speak!" After spreading out her hands, Song Qingsi replied to Song Qingming with a helpless expression.

"Big Brother, Qingsi, I kept you here this time mainly because I wanted to clarify one thing with you. Was this magic tool refined by Xinde?" After saying this, Song Qingming took out a blue flying sword of very ordinary quality and placed it on his table with a solemn expression.

Seeing this somewhat familiar-looking flying sword, Song Qingshi and Song Qingsi's expressions changed slightly, and they exchanged a glance.

"Seventh Brother, this magic tool was indeed refined by Xinde in the past; I have some impression of it. However, the quality of this sword has some issues, and the clan really couldn't bring it out to sell, so it remained in his own hands. Why is it in your hands now?" Seeing Song Qingming take out this sword with what seemed to be displeasure, Song Qingsi immediately spoke up to explain.

After listening, Song Qingming nodded calmly and looked at Song Qingshi, asking softly: "Does Big Brother know about this matter as well?"

(End of Chapter) ===== CHAPTER 426 =====