Chapter 510

"This Ghost King Core is formed by the condensation of pure Yin energy between heaven and earth. If used as the main ingredient along with secret corpse puppet techniques, one can refine a Core Formation stage corpse puppet. It is a rare treasure in the cultivation world. Brother Song, you have only been back for a few days and have already obtained such a precious item; your luck is truly good."

Song Song Qingming smiled and nodded, saying, "Haha! Brother Chen is right. I didn't expect to run into such a thing as soon as I returned. This time, it was quite dangerous; I never imagined such a great hidden threat was lurking near the family, which almost caused a huge disaster."

"Fortunately, that Ghost King had only just broken through to the Core Formation stage and its strength was still average, so I was able to take it down smoothly. Otherwise, I'm afraid I wouldn't be sitting here chatting with you, Brother, right now."

"Since you mentioned this item to me, Brother, did you come here for this ghost core?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Chen Xuanxin paused before saying, "Brother Song is right. I did come here because of the ghost core in your hand. However, Brother, do not misunderstand; I have no interest in this ghost core. I only wish to use an item in my possession that has a deep connection to this ghost core to exchange for a spiritual item from you."

"Oh! I wonder what item is related to this ghost core? Please, Brother, tell me in detail!" Hearing Chen Chen Xuanxin say he had something useful for the ghost core in his hand, Song Song Qingming immediately became interested.

"Brother Song also knows that a ghost core can be refined into a Core Formation corpse puppet. Many years ago, when I was traveling, I happened to obtain a scroll containing the secret technique for refining such Core Formation corpse puppets. I came here today to exchange this item with Brother Song for a spiritual item." After Chen Chen Xuanxin finished speaking, he took out a cyan scroll and threw it directly to Song Song Qingming.

Song Song Qingming took the scroll with a calm expression. Upon opening it, he discovered that it was indeed, as Chen Chen Xuanxin had said, a secret technique for refining corpse puppets. Song Song Qingming scanned it briefly and found that, apart from the ghost core—the main material required, which was relatively difficult to find—the other materials were not difficult for the current Song Song Qingming to gather.

Since obtaining this ghost core, Song Song Qingming had not yet thought about how to use it. He did not expect that only a few days later, Chen Chen Xuanxin would take the initiative to come to his door and send him such a big gift, which truly surprised Song Song Qingming.

"Brother Chen, you are giving me this secret method for refining corpse puppets; I wonder what you wish to exchange it for?" After scanning the cyan scroll, Song Song Qingming immediately returned it to Chen Chen Xuanxin's hand.

Although Song Song Qingming had not told Li Li Xianyun that he still possessed "Millennium Spirit Milk" after completing their transaction, Li Li Xianyun, as a Core Formation rogue cultivator who had traveled extensively for many years, certainly possessed keen observation skills. He should have guessed at that time that Song Song Qingming still had this item.

If he could successfully obtain a Core Formation corpse puppet, Song Song Qingming's strength among early-stage Core Formation cultivators would surely make it difficult for him to encounter any opponents. Even if he were to run into a mid-stage Core Formation cultivator with mediocre strength in the future, he would not necessarily lack the power to fight.

The "Millennium Spirit Milk" spiritual item, even if only a few drops, was not of extremely high value, but it was a rare spiritual item useful to Core Formation cultivators. Chen Chen Xuanxin coming to Song Song Qingming's door today to exchange for this item was likely for the purpose of breaking through his own cultivation realm.

"Brother Song, don't overthink it. You might not know that my relationship with Fellow Daoist Li Xianyun has always been quite good. I also learned from him about your exchange of spiritual items with him back then. Rest assured, apart from me, no one else in the sect should know about this matter."

Facing Song Song Qingming's exhortation, Chen Chen Xuanxin smiled knowingly: "Brother Song, rest assured. I am not a loose-lipped person. Even if the Sect Master were to ask me, I would not casually reveal you."

Hearing Chen Chen Xuanxin mention "Millennium Spirit Milk," Song Song Qingming's originally calm expression changed slightly. Not many people knew he possessed this spiritual item. Song Song Qingming couldn't immediately figure out where Chen Chen Xuanxin had learned of it.

"To be honest, this item is extremely important to me right now. If Brother Song truly still has some, please exchange some for me. I, Chen, will definitely remember this favor." After Chen Chen Xuanxin finished speaking, he stood up, cupped his hands, and looked at Song Song Qingming with anticipation.

Although Song Song Qingming still had half a bottle of "Millennium Spirit Milk" left, he really did not want too many people to know he possessed this spiritual item, lest it bring him unnecessary trouble in the future.

A corpse puppet refined using a secret method is not comparable to an ordinary puppet beast of the same tier. Not only is its combat power formidable, but a Core Formation corpse puppet can also fight using a magic treasure just like an ordinary Core Formation cultivator. Used properly, this item is almost equivalent to a combatant of the same tier and is a spiritual item that can be of great help to Song Song Qingming right now.

"So it really was Li Li Xianyun who let this matter slip." Song Song Qingming couldn't help but sigh secretly in his heart. Back when he was fighting against demonic beasts at Zixing Square, Song Song Qingming had used a few drops of "Millennium Spirit Milk" to exchange with Li Li Xianyun for a Demon King's essence soul, which he used to break through the "Soul-Devouring Art" he was cultivating.

When he made the trade with Li Li Xianyun that day, Song Song Qingming had been a bit too anxious. He thought Li Li Xianyun was a person of indifferent character who didn't like to communicate with others and wasn't a loose-lipped person. That was why he had been careless, leading to Chen Chen Xuanxin coming to his door today.

"Brother Song, since both public and private matters have been settled, I will take my leave now. Another day, when Brother Song arrives at Mount Guyang Mountain, you must remember to come sit at my cave dwelling."

After hesitating for a moment, Song Song Qingming still agreed to Chen Chen Xuanxin, took a small porcelain bottle containing a few drops of "Millennium Spirit Milk" from his person, and handed it to him.

Song Song Qingming only had half a bottle of "Millennium Spirit Milk" left in his hands now. He might need to save it for his own use in the future, so naturally, he didn't want to exchange it with others casually. If Chen Chen Xuanxin hadn't brought out the "Corpse Puppet Secret Technique" that truly moved him today, Song Song Qingming wouldn't have taken out the "Millennium Spirit Milk" so easily.

If he could truly refine a Core Formation corpse puppet from the ghost core in his hand as recorded in this secret technique, then Song Song Qingming's transaction today was not only worthwhile but could even be said to be a huge bargain.

Chen Chen Xuanxin put away the scroll and said directly: "I want to use this item to exchange with Brother Song for some Millennium Spirit Milk. It doesn't need to be much, just four or five drops will suffice. I hope Brother can grant this favor."

"Apart from what you have in your hands, Brother, I truly don't have many drops of Millennium Spirit Milk left. I beg you, Brother, never to mention this matter to anyone else again. Otherwise, if other brothers come looking for me in the future, it will put me in a difficult position again." After completing the transaction, Song Song Qingming said this to Chen Chen Xuanxin with a troubled expression.

"Take care, Brother Chen!"

Hearing Chen Chen Xuanxin mention "Millennium Spirit Milk," Song Song Qingming's heart immediately thought of Li Li Xianyun. It was just that he hadn't expected Li Li Xianyun and Chen Chen Xuanxin's relationship to be so good that he even told the other party about Song Song Qingming's secret transaction with him.

"Brother Chen, you are too kind. I obtained this item by chance in the Mount Yunwu Mountain Range back then. These years, my ability to cultivate to my current level is largely due to this stroke of fortune. Today, Brother Chen came here specifically for this item, so I cannot refuse you. Please, Brother, keep this item safe."

"Brother Song is indeed a straightforward person. I, Chen, thank you, Brother!" After Chen Chen Xuanxin took the porcelain bottle and opened it to take a look, his face immediately showed joy. He cupped his hands and bowed, then handed the "Corpse Puppet Secret Technique" he had just put away to Song Song Qingming.

After the two walked out of the council hall, Chen Chen Xuanxin, with a happy face, cupped his hands to bid farewell to Song Song Qingming, and soon turned into a streak of golden light and left Mount Funiu Mountain.

Half a month later, the Xiaoyao Sect's Hall of General Affairs directly sent a large flying boat, carrying over a hundred cultivators and a large amount of supplies to Qinghe Square. These people were all cultivators sent by the sect's Hall of General Affairs to participate in planning the mining of the "Yin Fire Stone" vein.

Under the arrangement of the Song family, the next day, a team of nearly two hundred cultivators took the Xiaoyao Sect's large flying boat and headed straight for Mount Yunwu Mountain in a grand manner. They soon occupied the mountain range where the ghost cultivator's cave dwelling was located and renamed this originally nameless mountain range "Yinfeng Ridge."

This time, the Song family also gathered many cultivators to come along. Under Song Song Qingming's command, the group soon swept through the demonic beasts entrenched around "Yinfeng Ridge" and began to cultivate the spirit vein on the mountain.

Although there are many demonic beasts on the side of Mount Yunwu Mountain near the State of Wei, there have never been any Demon Kings above the third tier. Although "Yinfeng Ridge" is already located deep in Mount Yunwu Mountain, as long as four or five Foundation Establishment cultivators are stationed here, there will be no major danger.

After a few months, when the spirit vein is cultivated and a second-tier or higher mountain-protecting formation is set up on "Yinfeng Ridge," combined with several Foundation Establishment cultivators stationed here year-round, there will basically be no major problems, and they can boldly and safely mine the Yin Fire Stone vein below.

This time, the Xiaoyao Sect's Hall of General Affairs sent two Foundation Establishment cultivators and over a hundred Qi Condensation cultivators to Qinghe Square. These people are all preparing to be stationed at the "Yinfeng Ridge" mine for a long time.

On the Song family's side, Song Song Qingming arranged for Song Song Yuanli to take dozens of cultivators to help. Because the Song family still needs to provide many cultivators to mine the ore for the subsequent mining, Song Song Qingming directly arranged for the family to start recruiting rogue cultivators in Qinghe Square. Once the spirit vein at "Yinfeng Ridge" is upgraded, they will be sent directly there to help with mining.

After being busy for nearly a few months, the spiritual energy of the second-tier spirit vein cultivated at "Yinfeng Ridge" finally stabilized, and it finally slowly got on the right track and began to mine ore. Song Song Qingming finally had some free time.

On this day, Song Song Qingming sat in his cave dwelling. After carefully setting up a formation restriction on the spot, he took out a "Soul-Gathering Bowl" and released a ball of green light that had been imprisoned inside and was already somewhat weak.

"Fellow Daoist... I beg... I beg..." Before the ghost cultivator could finish its intermittent words, Song Song Qingming directly cast a spell to cover a golden talisman over its primordial spirit. Immediately after, Song Song Qingming closed his eyes and began to control his spiritual sense, entering directly into the ghost cultivator's primordial spirit.

After Song Song Qingming reached the Core Formation stage, he learned many advanced spells that Core Formation cultivators can cultivate from the Xiaoyao Sect's Merit Pavilion. Among them was this "Soul-Searching Secret Technique." After casting the spell, the caster can directly enter the opponent's primordial spirit and quickly obtain the memory information hidden in the opponent's sea of consciousness.

This type of soul-searching secret technique is very common in the cultivation world, and almost every cultivator who reaches the Core Formation stage knows it. However, when this technique is cast, the success rate is only relatively high when facing cultivators with lower cultivation than oneself. If the opponent's primordial spirit is too powerful when cast on a cultivator of the same tier, not only is it difficult to succeed, but the caster may also immediately suffer a backlash, damaging their own spiritual sense.

When Song Song Qingming caught the primordial spirit of the ghost cultivator who ambushed him earlier, he learned from the ghost cultivator's mouth that the opponent was, after all, a former Core Formation cultivator, and its primordial spirit might not be weaker than the current Song Song Qingming.

Precisely because of this, after leaving the ghost cultivator's cave that day, Song Song Qingming did not rush to search its soul immediately, but put it into the "Soul-Gathering Bowl" to refine it for a few months. Only when its primordial spirit was already weak today did he begin to cast the soul-searching secret technique on it.

Regardless of success or failure, once the "Soul-Searching Secret Technique" is cast, it will cause the opponent's soul memories to become chaotic. The caster only has one chance to obtain the opponent's complete memories. For this reason, Song Song Qingming was also very careful and cautious when casting the spell.

After his spiritual sense entered the ghost cultivator's primordial spirit, it didn't take long for Song Song Qingming to successfully find the memories the ghost cultivator had hidden in its sea of consciousness, and he began to patiently flip through them.

Sure enough, as Song Song Qingming expected, the day Song Song Changze was sucked into the ancient formation, it was this ghost cultivator who actively caused the trouble, and the restriction on his body was also placed by this ghost cultivator.

The reason the opponent did this was to use a secret method to seize Song Song Changze's physical body and be reborn. It's just a pity that the matter of seizing a body is very cumbersome and cannot be prepared casually in a day or two. Before this ghost cultivator had time to cast it, Song Song Qingming and the others came to its door.

After flipping through these memories related to Song Song Changze, Song Song Qingming's spiritual sense rested slightly for a moment, then explored the deeper memories of this ghost cultivator again, and slowly understood some of the true origins of this ghost cultivator.

The memories seen earlier were actually similar to what the ghost cultivator described itself. The name of this ghost cultivator was "Wen Wen Tianyang," and before he fell, he was indeed a Core Formation cultivator.

In his previous life, his physical body was injured by someone for some reason, and he had no choice but to escape to that cave to take refuge. As a result, his injuries were too severe and he fell in that cave. Before his primordial spirit dissipated, Wen Wen Tianyang finally used a secret method to actively transform into a ghost cultivator and remained in the world, embarking on the path of cultivating the ghost Dao.

After escaping into the ghost Dao, although Wen Wen Tianyang actively transformed into a ghost cultivator, he preserved most of his intelligence and memories, which was different from the ghost cultivators in the land of Yin spirits.

Afterwards, Wen Wen Tianyang had been hiding in that land of Yin spirits, cultivating with that group of ghost cultivators. There is also competition among ghost cultivators. Wen Wen Tianyang, who had just switched to ghost Dao, also had a hard time at first.

Later, after his cultivation level became higher, Wen Wen Tianyang also regained some memories. Using a set of ancient cultivation formations in his storage bag, he hid the cave where his physical body fell. Once he encountered threats from other ghost cultivators, he hid in that cave.

After about a thousand years like this, Wen Wen Tianyang slowly re-cultivated to the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage, only one step away from condensing a ghost core.

Just as Song Song Qingming continued to search forward, from a fragment of Wen Wen Tianyang's previous life's memories, he suddenly saw something he was somewhat familiar with, which made Song Song Qingming feel extremely surprised, almost shouting out!

"It can't be such a coincidence!"

What Song Song Qingming saw was a small, exquisite cyan-green jade box. This item was seen by Wen Wen Tianyang shortly before his death in his previous life. Although he only glanced at it lightly, Song Song Qingming recognized this jade box at a glance, which was very similar to a jade box he found after being ambushed in Mount Yunwu Mountain more than a hundred years ago.

It was precisely because he accidentally obtained that jade box back then that Song Song Qingming discovered the "fragmented map" treasure he had been carrying with him for many years.

However, it is a pity that when Song Song Qingming flipped through Wen Wen Tianyang's memories again, he never found any images related to the jade box or the "fragmented map," which made him unable to fully confirm whether the jade box he saw in Wen Wen Tianyang's memories now was the same thing as the one he obtained in Mount Yunwu Mountain back then.

Because after transforming into a ghost cultivator, most of Wen Wen Tianyang's previous life's memories were lost, Song Song Qingming could not know why he fell and died, or what his detailed identity was in his previous life.

Only from some scattered memory fragments could he see some scenes of Wen Wen Tianyang's previous life's cultivation. It could barely be seen that this person did not seem to be a cultivator from the Fuyun Mountain Range. He came to Mount Yunwu Mountain seemingly to find something, but he didn't know why he finally fell here.

It was not until two hours later that Song Song Qingming ended this soul search with a solemn expression and cast a spell to put away his spiritual sense.

After searching in Wen Wen Tianyang's memories for so long, Song Song Qingming had seen most of the useful memories. In addition to knowing many expected things, it also brought him a pile of doubts.

After seeing this jade box in Wen Wen Tianyang's memories, Song Song Qingming was also very excited and could not calm down for a long time. The two jade boxes were almost identical in appearance and both appeared in Mount Yunwu Mountain. Although they were separated by more than a thousand years, there was indeed a great possibility that they were the same thing.

"Could it be that the thing this guy came to Mount Yunwu Mountain to find back then was this jade box?"

Although he vaguely felt in his heart that these two things were closely related, the information Song Song Qingming could get now was still too little. Even if the jade box Wen Wen Tianyang saw was the "fragmented map" that fell into his hands a thousand years later, Song Song Qingming still knew nothing about the origin of this "fragmented map" and Wen Wen Tianyang's purpose in looking for it.

Just a moment after Song Song Qingming finished casting the spell, Wen Wen Tianyang's primordial spirit, which was imprisoned by the talisman, suddenly became restless. As the effect of the talisman slowly dissipated, the memory damage after the soul search gradually made it scream in pain.

Seeing this, Song Song Qingming did not hesitate too much, directly cast a spell to release a golden light, scattered Wen Wen Tianyang's primordial spirit, and ended its pain.

Like him, a person who actively switched to ghost Dao, his primordial spirit is also not tolerated by reincarnation and cannot be reincarnated, and soon dissipated directly between heaven and earth.

After solving Wen Wen Tianyang's primordial spirit, Song Song Qingming took out the storage bag he left behind and found a black jade token from a pile of messy things.

Because more than a thousand years had passed, the spiritual items in Wen Wen Tianyang's storage bag were basically eroded and corrupted by the Yin energy in the cave because they were in the land of Yin spirits and were useless. The remaining useful things, apart from the ancient cultivation formation he set up at the door, were dozens of mid-grade spirit stones and the black jade token in Song Song Qingming's hand.

Apart from the fact that the material was somewhat special and not afraid of Yin energy corrosion, this item had no other function. The front was engraved with Wen Wen Tianyang's name, and the back was carved with some simple patterns and a black dragon, looking like an identity token of a large sect.

Since opening Wen Wen Tianyang's storage bag and discovering this item, Song Song Qingming had been holding the black token for many days, but he had never seen any clues from it, and he didn't know where this Wen Wen Tianyang came from.

Just as Song Song Qingming was pondering the black token in his hand in the cave dwelling, a sound transmission talisman suddenly flew into the cave dwelling and landed beside him.

Seeing that his train of thought was suddenly interrupted, Song Song Qingming's face also showed a trace of displeasure. Since advancing to the Core Formation stage, Song Song Qingming rarely had anyone dare to come to him for anything when he was in seclusion.

After Song Song Qingming opened the sound transmission talisman and saw the content inside, he realized it was sent to him by Song Song Yuanfang. However, the matter written inside made Song Song Qingming somewhat unexpected. His face also turned from displeasure at the beginning to a trace of surprise, and then he quickly packed up, got up, and walked out of his cave dwelling.

——

At the top of Mount Tuoyun Mountain, Feng Feng Yangde was practicing with his eyes closed in a cave dwelling.

The spiritual energy in this cave dwelling was very abundant. It was the place where Chen Chen Jinliang practiced back then. More than ten years ago, before the demonic beast turmoil began, Chen Chen Jinliang, the number one rogue cultivator in the State of Wei, had actually passed away in this cave dwelling.

At that time, Feng Feng Yangde and the others on Mount Tuoyun Mountain, in order to stabilize the situation on the mountain and cope with the upcoming demonic beast turmoil, chose to bury Chen Chen Jinliang's bones hastily and blocked the news of Chen Chen Laozu's passing to the outside world, only informing the Xiaoyao Sect about this matter.

It was not until the demonic beast turmoil ended that Feng Feng Yangde and the others re-held a grand funeral for their master on Mount Tuoyun Mountain.

Although he only formed a fake core and his own cultivation speed was very slow, Feng Feng Yangde still did not waste his daily cultivation. When he had nothing to do, he basically practiced in seclusion in his cave dwelling.

Feng Feng Yangde, who was meditating and practicing, suddenly felt a fluctuation in the restriction at the entrance of the cave dwelling. He put away his cultivation technique, got up, and came to the outside of the cave dwelling, only to find that the visitor was his senior brother Liang Liang Wenxu.

After seeing Feng Feng Yangde, Liang Liang Wenxu, who was already somewhat old and frail, hurriedly handed him a letter in his hand.

"Fourth Junior Brother, the Ma family sent another letter, inviting you to discuss the matter of Mount Luoyun Mountain. This time it was a letter written by Ma Ma Hongshan himself, specifically naming you to go to the appointment together."

Because both of them were disciples officially accepted by Chen Chen Laozu, and Liang Liang Wenxu started earlier, even if Feng Feng Yangde had already formed a core now, he still had to call Liang Liang Wenxu senior brother.

(End of chapter)