Chapter 436: The Great Dao is Not Easy

Hearing Song Qingming suddenly ask for his opinion, Song Yuanfang was stunned for a moment.

Since the establishment of the Song family, for major events related to the clan, the Clan Leader basically only discussed them with clan elders or elders with higher prestige.

Song Yuanfang was only thirty-something this year, neither a clan elder nor having any prestige in the clan. Logically speaking, for a major event like setting up a tablet outside the clan's council hall, it was definitely not his turn to offer opinions to the Clan Leader.

"Reporting to the Clan Leader, Yuanfang also very much supports your idea of setting up a tablet here. Since Ancestor Qingyu set up the 'Cautionary Tablet' at the foot of the mountain, our Song family cultivators have indeed been much more restrained when acting outside these few years."

"Not only that, after the atmosphere of the clan cultivators improved, our Song family's reputation in the market is now better than before. Because our family doesn't have the big airs of other Foundation Establishment clans, many rogue cultivators like to come to our Song family's shops."

"If the clan can continue to maintain this good atmosphere, it will certainly benefit a lot in the future. Our Song family is in this Qinghe County..."

After hearing Song Yuanli analyze it like this, Song Qingming nodded with satisfaction and said: "Since you think it is feasible, then handle this matter. Three days should be enough for you, right!"

"Thank you, Clan Leader, for your trust. Yuanfang will definitely not fail the Clan Leader's commission."

Looking at Song Yuanfang's departing figure, Song Qingming, standing in place, couldn't help but feel a hint of relief. Now the clan is developing steadily, and there are more and more capable cultivators. Although Song Yuanfang's cultivation talent is not particularly outstanding, his brain is flexible enough. As long as he is given more time to experience, he might also become a pillar of the clan in the future.

Just as Song Qingming was still thinking, a beautiful green figure had already quickly arrived in front of him. Song Qingming looked at this familiar figure, and a smile immediately appeared on his face.

"Seventh Brother, you left for a few years; you truly can abandon us."

"Did you not have us in your heart after you went out? You only sent one letter back in over a decade, and now you have the nerve to blame me."

Hearing Song Qingming's already prepared counterattack, Song Qingyu's mouth curled slightly, and she leaned into Song Qingming's ear and whispered somewhat mysteriously: "Seventh Brother, don't be in a hurry to blame me. There are some reasons why I returned late this time. If you know about it in the future, you must reward me well."

"How come? Listening to what you mean, is there my reason for your late return?"

"Not bad! It is indeed your reason, but I don't want to tell you now. If you want to know, ponder it yourself first!" After Song Qingyu finished this sentence, she suddenly blinked and walked away quickly on her own, leaving behind a confused Song Qingming.

Although Song Qingyu was more mature than before after Foundation Establishment, her personal character was sometimes the same as when she was a child, especially when facing Seventh Brother Song Qingming alone. Song Qingyu always easily turned into the little sister who followed behind Song Qingming years ago, without any dignity of a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

After standing in place and pondering slightly, Song Qingming shook his head and left here, returning to the mountaintop and back to the cave dwelling he had been away from for several years.

No one had come in for several years, and many places in the cave dwelling were covered with dust. After Song Qingming gently waved his hand to cast a few spells to clean it up, he took out a yellow meditation cushion from his storage bag and sat on it.

Subsequently, Song Qingming took out a white elixir and swallowed it, beginning to sit in meditation and operate his magic power to refine the elixir.

An hour later, Song Qingming, who had completely refined the elixir in his body, spat out a breath of blood and slowly stood up, coming to a wooden table on the side to sit down.

In two years of seclusion, Song Qingming attempted Core Formation to impact the Core Formation realm. Although he also reached the final step of condensing the core and triggered heaven and earth phenomena, he ultimately failed to condense the golden core and break through the realm because his personal foundation was a bit poor.

This Core Formation attempt not only consumed quite a few spirit items on Song Qingming, but the failure of Core Formation also caused Song Qingming's dantian to be backlashed by spiritual power. He spent another half a year recuperating at the Hearing Huo Feng's place before Song Qingming barely recovered most of his injuries.

It was also because he was afraid that if he left for too long, there would be some changes in the clan, so Song Qingming didn't wait for his injuries to fully recover before rushing back to Mount Funiu.

Recalling his Core Formation process this time, Song Qingming couldn't help but sigh slightly in his heart. Compared to Huang Shengxin years ago, Song Qingming was much better prepared for Core Formation this time. Whether it was spirit items or the spirit land for Core Formation, they were much better than what Huang Shengxin had years ago, but the result was the same—he failed to pass this hurdle.

The only thing that was somewhat comforting was that the heaven and earth phenomena triggered by Song Qingming this time lasted for nearly a day before dissipating. This result was much stronger than the heaven and earth phenomena that could only be maintained for a few hours years ago by Huang Shengxin.

Although breaking through Core Formation failure will not cause any life danger to cultivators, the dantian in the cultivator's body will more or less be injured. Ordinary cultivators need at least a few years to recover before they can use magic power at will. The reason Song Qingming could recover most of it in half a year was also because he had the treasure of the remnant map to help restore magic power, greatly shortening the time he spent healing.

However, now he, although he couldn't see any injuries on the surface, could only exert about seventy percent of his usual strength if he fought with others. It would take a few months to fully recover as before.

Compared to the injuries on his body that would recover sooner or later, what Song Qingming was more worried about was that his prospects for Core Formation were somewhat unclear. There were not many spirit items to assist Core Formation in the cultivation world. He had a Jade Dust Pill, plus the Red-Green Fruit given to him by the Hearing Huo Feng, and the "Hidden Origin Technique" he had practiced for many years. It could already be considered the best condition he could reach now.

Although this breakthrough failed, Song Qingming's age still allowed him to have another opportunity for Core Formation. But even if he could have this condition next time, Song Qingming was still somewhat bottomless in his heart about whether he could succeed.

Unlike when Song Qingming was Foundation Establishment years ago, although he took the first Foundation Establishment Pill and the result was also a failure, he knew in his heart that he was only a little bit short. When taking the second Foundation Establishment Pill, Song Qingming actually had great certainty of successful Foundation Establishment in his heart.

Ever since returning to Mount Funiu, Song Qingming had been in seclusion for more than ten days and had not left the cave dwelling. This somewhat abnormal behavior finally attracted Song Qingyu's attention, and she soon took the initiative to come to the door.

Facing Song Qingyu's inquiry, Song Qingming didn't intend to hide it from her, so he told her about his failure in Core Formation and his injuries.

However, Song Qingming didn't intend to reveal his relationship with the Hearing Huo Feng to her, only lying that his seclusion was in a cave dwelling rented in Guiyun Market. That place originally had many Foundation Establishment rogue cultivators, and it was not strange for someone to occasionally go into seclusion for Core Formation.

"Seventh Brother, you really are... you didn't even say a word when you were injured, causing me to run here to disturb your healing." Knowing about Song Qingming's injuries, Song Qingyu was also somewhat regretful that she hadn't discovered these abnormalities before.

Song Qingming smiled and comforted: "My injuries have recovered quite a bit now and are no longer a hindrance. You don't need to worry. In about half a year, I will be able to recover."

"Years ago, Senior Huang failed Core Formation and spent four or five years recuperating. How could it recover so quickly? You aren't coaxing me, are you?"

"Hey! My Core Formation this time is different from Senior Huang's. It failed before triggering heaven and earth phenomena, so naturally, the injuries would be lighter. Otherwise, the news of someone in Guiyun Market undergoing Core Formation should have spread to our Qinghe County long ago."

Hearing Song Qingming's explanation, seeing that he indeed didn't look like he was seriously injured, Song Qingyu finally set her mind at ease and sighed slightly: "I was wondering why you suddenly went out for so long, but Big Brother and the others didn't know what you were doing. It turns out Seventh Brother really went to find a place for seclusion for Core Formation."

"However, Little Sister really didn't expect that even someone as powerful as Seventh Brother wouldn't trigger heaven and earth phenomena. Is this Core Formation hurdle really so difficult?"

Song Qingming nodded and smiled self-deprecatingly: "I only knew after trying it once. This Jin Dan Great Dao is truly not so easy to walk. Think about it, cultivation geniuses like Huang Shengxin years ago spent their whole lives trying to impact the Jin Dan realm several times, but they could only stand back and sigh. How much more powerful can I be than him?"

"Not to mention too far, just say our Wei Kingdom cultivation world. In the decades since Senior Chen reached Core Formation, there should have been at least dozens of cultivators who reached the step of Core Formation. Which of those who can reach the peak of Foundation Establishment is not a gifted person? But until now, there is still no one who can succeed in Core Formation."

"However, this path of Dao cultivation ultimately depends on personal opportunity. Others can't do it, but that doesn't mean you can't. Qingyu, your cultivation has now reached the sixth layer of Foundation Establishment. As long as you can break through to the late stage of Foundation Establishment earlier, you will also have the opportunity for Core Formation. You and I must not slack off in cultivation because of this."

"Hmm! Seventh Brother, don't worry. Although I haven't reached your step yet, I am not a person who gives up lightly. However, I believe that Seventh Brother, you will definitely be able to succeed in Core Formation before me. No matter how difficult this Jin Dan Great Dao is, I will have confidence in you." After Song Qingyu finished speaking, she smiled sweetly at Song Qingming, her eyes full of confident looks.

Seeing the confidence in Song Qingyu's eyes, Song Qingming also nodded with some relief. "Qingyu, you have indeed done a good job managing the clan while I was away. It has been hard for you."

"Seventh Brother, you must not say that. Qingyu is also a member of the Song family. These are all my duties. How can you say the word 'hard'?"

"However, after dealing with these trivial matters too much, I am indeed somewhat bored. I wonder if it is convenient for you, Seventh Brother, to accompany me for a walk outside and reward me by the way!" Song Qingyu turned her eyeballs and revealed a hint of a proud smile.

(End of Chapter) ===== CHAPTER 437 =====