Chapter 512: Heavenly Dao Causality, Refining Corpse Puppet

Just as Song Yuanfang shouted in surprise, Song Qingming had already walked to Song Yuanhao's side one step ahead and placed one hand directly on his forehead.

"Not bad! It is a Lightning Spirit Root. No wonder your cultivation technique attributes were wrong, yet you still had such a cultivation speed!" After a good while, Song Qingming put down his hand and said with a full smile.

Song Yuanhao, who had not yet recovered from the shock, was also somewhat confused when he heard that he was a Lightning Spirit Root cultivator.

Having practiced for so many years, most of the common sense of cultivation that Song Yuanhao knew was taught by his mother. He had not received the family school education like normal Song family cultivators on Mount Funiu, learning various basic knowledge in the cultivation world.

Although he had heard the name "Heterogeneous Spirit Root" before, Song Yuanhao did not understand this kind of spirit root. He only saw a little bit from the abnormal behavior of Song Yuanfang and Song Qingming, that his kind of spirit root seemed very rare.

Although Heterogeneous Spirit Root cultivators are not as rare as Heaven Spirit Root cultivators in the cultivation world of the State of Wei, they are also very rare to see. Among the tens of thousands of cultivators in the Xiaoyao Sect, there are only a mere dozen or so.

In terms of cultivation speed, Heterogeneous Spirit Root cultivators are actually not much different from Dual Spirit Root cultivators, but in terms of fighting, Heterogeneous Spirit Root cultivators often have a slight advantage. Such cultivators are generally the primary objects for cultivation to reach the Core Formation stage in the Xiaoyao Sect.

Excluding guest elders like Song Qingming, among the nine Jin Dan elders currently in the Xiaoyao Sect, three are Heterogeneous Spirit Root cultivators, namely Sect Master Yao Ganshu, Law Enforcement Elder Li Wu, and Zhao Menglian.

Although it is not easy for Heterogeneous Spirit Root cultivators to form a core, generally, as long as they can worship a slightly better master, they can at least succeed in Foundation Establishment and smoothly practice to the peak of Foundation Establishment.

"Yuanhao, your spirit root is very special. You might have the opportunity to successfully form a core in the future. For your safety, you must stay on the mountain before Foundation Establishment. You are not allowed to go down the mountain without my permission."

When Song Xinhe was still alive, although he had told Chen Yanyun that he came from a cultivation family, he had not told her the detailed situation of the Song family. Chen Yanyun also did not know that Song Xinhe, who had never even thought of asking the family for help with Foundation Establishment back then, actually came from a Jin Dan immortal clan.

The Song family has been established for over three hundred years, and now they have Five Elements techniques for the Foundation Establishment stage. However, techniques for Heterogeneous Spirit Root cultivators have not yet been collected. Because Heterogeneous Spirit Root cultivators are rare, such types of techniques basically cannot be found in the market, so he still has to find a way to go to the Xiaoyao Sect's Merit Hall to take a look.

On the way, Song Yuanfang informed Chen Yanyun about Song Yuanhao being tested for a "Lightning Spirit Root" according to Song Qingming's instructions. Learning that her child had the hope of successfully forming a core in the future, Chen Yanyun also wept with joy.

After the lively funeral, a somewhat weathered figure came to Song Xinhe's brand-new tombstone again.

"Nineteenth Younger Brother, after parting back then, I didn't expect that I would never have the chance to see you again."

After Song Yuanli went to Mount Tuoyun, he very smoothly found Chen Yanyun. When she learned that the Song Yuanli in front of her was here to pick her up to go to the Song family, Chen Yanyun was also very shocked. She had not expected that the Song family would attach such importance to her, a widow outside, and would actually send a Foundation Establishment cultivator to pick her up.

As the family's first Heterogeneous Spirit Root cultivator, Song Qingming still wanted to keep Song Yuanhao in the family. In the future, he would not dare to say he could support him to successfully form a core, but Foundation Establishment would certainly be no problem. The only thing he still had to find a way to solve was the problem of his cultivation technique in the future.

Taking Song Yuanfang and the others, after exhuming Song Xinhe's remains, Chen Yanyun bid farewell to her relatives and friends on Mount Tuoyun and followed the Song family members onto the flying boat returning to Mount Funiu.

After Song Xinhe's remains were brought back to Mount Funiu, under Song Qingming's instructions, the Song family held a grand funeral for this family member who had unfortunately fallen outside and reburied his remains in the family cemetery at the foot of the mountain.

Hearing Song Qingming say this, Song Yuanhao's expression changed, and he was about to speak, but was directly interrupted by Song Qingming.

Although Heterogeneous Spirit Root cultivators are rare, it is not a surprising thing for the Song family, as a Jin Dan family, to have one.

After comforting Song Yuanhao, early the next morning, Song Qingming arranged for Song Yuanfang to take several Song family Qi Refining cultivators and the Chen-surname middle-aged man who had come with Song Yuanhao to Mount Tuoyun.

If Song Yuanhao were like Bai Yuxian, a Heaven Spirit Root cultivator who even Nascent Soul old monsters were interested in, then for his safety, Song Qingming would probably only be able to choose to send him directly to the Xiaoyao Sect.

"Unexpectedly, you would choose to desperately impact Foundation Establishment on your path in the end. If you had this determination and courage back then, if the family had chosen to give the Foundation Establishment Pill to you, perhaps you would have succeeded!"

"No need. Even if he is a Heterogeneous Spirit Root cultivator, the family now has enough ability to protect him. As long as Yuanhao does not go down the mountain, no one dares to come to Mount Funiu to have designs on him." Song Qingming waved his hand confidently.

"Rest assured, I will arrange for your mother. At most, you should be able to see her in a month. Do not go back this time, so as to avoid any accidents on the road."

In order to facilitate their journey, Song Qingming also specially lent the second-tier flying boat he had to Song Yuanfang. With this flying boat, Song Yuanli and the others could not only speed up their journey, but when they picked up Song Yuanhao's mother, they could also let her suffer less on the road.

Thinking of the hardships mother and son had endured on Mount Tuoyun over the years, Chen Yanyun also felt a wave of emotion in her heart. Fortunately, Song Yuanhao had now successfully returned to the Song family, and their lives could finally be considered to have turned from bitter to sweet.

Song Yuanfang stepped forward and said cautiously: "Seventh Great-Uncle, the family is now full of people with loose lips. Should we keep Yuanhao's spirit root a secret?"

Song Yuanhao hesitated for a moment after hearing this, but did not say much, nodding slightly to agree to Song Qingming's arrangement.

"Compared to you, I, a former failure, really feel that I have no face to reminisce with you, but you didn't even give me a chance to apologize."

"..."

Looking at Song Xinhe's tombstone in front of him, Song Xintang, who was already full of white hair, sat alone on the side, crying like a child while speaking.

After sitting in place and speaking for a long time, Song Xintang finally wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes and stood up. Just as he was about to leave, the smiling Song Yuanfang suddenly came here to find him.

"Ninth Uncle, Seventh Great-Uncle has something to find you for. Please go to the meeting hall."

In the Song family meeting hall, Song Xintang looked at Song Yuanhao in front of him and then looked at Song Qingming sitting at the head, hesitating before speaking:

"Seventh Great-Uncle, should we reconsider this matter? Yuanhao's aptitude is so good, it should be more appropriate to hand him over to Yuanfang or Yuanxue to bring up. Although I am a bit old now, I can still contribute to the family, and there is no need to return to the mountain to retire so early."

"Although Yuanfang and Yuanxue are more suitable, they have a pile of family affairs to manage apart from daily practice, and they are all somewhat overwhelmed now. I am also somewhat afraid that they will not do this well. After all, Yuanhao is the family's first Heterogeneous Spirit Root cultivator, so someone must be specially assigned to bring him up. You are also a cultivator in the family with rich experience in all aspects, so I am more at ease handing him over to you."

Whenever the family discovers juniors with good spirit root aptitude, the Song family will specially arrange an elder to be responsible for teaching them year-round. The elder Song Qingming chose for Song Yuanhao this time was precisely Song Xintang in front of him.

Since going to Qinghe Market, Song Xintang had been doing some things that could not be seen for the family in the market, and he had rarely returned to the family over the years. He did not expect that as soon as he returned this time, he would be reassigned a heavy responsibility by Song Qingming.

Seeing that Song Qingming insisted on him teaching Song Yuanhao, Song Xintang did not refuse again and nodded in agreement.

"Return to Qinghe Market tomorrow. I will have Yuanfang arrange for someone to go over to replace you. You have also worked hard outside all these years. After you return, don't be busy with other things for now, just focus on teaching Yuanhao!"

Song Xintang is also about a hundred years old. Part of the reason why Song Qingming arranged it this way was also for his sake, wanting him to return to the family early to spend his later years.

The "Xin" generation cultivators of the Song family have all gradually grown old. The oldest, Song Xinhu, passed away on the mountain a few years ago. Apart from Song Xinyu in the Xiaoyao Sect, no "Xin" generation cultivator remaining in the family has successfully established a foundation. In another twenty or thirty years, this generation will completely disappear from Mount Funiu.

Although their generation caught up with the good times of family development, they also paid a lot of blood for the family. Just in this demon beast turmoil, several people in the "Xin" generation died in battle, and only a small half of them were able to live to the end of their lives.

Not long after Song Yuanhao returned to the family, Song Qingming received another piece of good news. After more than a year, the third-tier formation plate in Bai Yuxian's hand was finally successfully repaired.

After receiving the sound transmission from Bai Yuxian, Song Qingming immediately set off for the Xiaoyao Sect and obtained the third-tier formation plate he had always wanted from Bai Yuxian.

Seeing Bai Yuxian this time, Song Qingming also gained a lot. Not only did he successfully obtain the third-tier formation plate, but Bai Yuxian also helped him configure the formation flags.

After the two met, Song Qingming also took the opportunity to humbly ask Bai Yuxian about the path of formations. Bai Yuxian did not begrudge this, not only answering all of Song Qingming's questions but also teaching him some relatively common third-tier formation diagrams, which also benefited Song Qingming, who specialized in the path of formations, a lot.

After leaving Bai Yuxian's cave dwelling, Song Qingming came to the Xiaoyao Sect's Merit Hall, wanting to exchange for a few spiritual objects he needed here.

Since obtaining the secret technique for refining corpse puppets from Chen Xuanxin a year ago, Song Qingming had immediately mobilized the entire Song family to start collecting various materials needed for the secret technique everywhere. By now, most of them had been gathered, leaving only a few that were very difficult to buy in the market. To refine the corpse puppet he wanted faster, Song Qingming could only come to the Merit Hall to try his luck.

"Uncle Song, among these spiritual objects, some are rarely exchanged by anyone and have been piled up in the second-floor warehouse. It will probably take some time to find them. I need you to wait patiently for a moment." The Foundation Establishment cultivator responsible for guarding the Merit Hall took the slip of paper Song Qingming handed over and, seeing the materials written on it, spoke somewhat embarrassedly.

"No matter! I am not in a hurry to go back. As long as they can be found, it is fine for you to search slowly, saving me the trouble of going elsewhere."

Just as Song Qingming was preparing to go to the side to drink tea and wait, a Foundation Establishment stage cyan-clothed woman walked down from the second floor of the Merit Hall. Seeing Song Qingming standing in front, she hurriedly stepped forward and bowed.

"Disciple Hu Ying, pays respects to Uncle Song!"

Song Qingming waved his hand. When his gaze swept across Hu Ying's face, he suddenly paused, then turned into a smile and slowly spoke: "Oh! It is truly a coincidence to meet you here. How has Daoist Cheng Ziyan been recently?"

This cyan-clothed woman was precisely Hu Ying, the junior sister of Xu Cheng Ziyan, whom Song Qingming had met once back then. Decades had passed in a flash, and Hu Ying's cultivation base had also improved from the fifth layer of Foundation Establishment back then to the seventh layer.

Although it was only a one-time meeting back then, after cultivators reach the Foundation Establishment stage, they basically have the ability to never forget what they see. As long as it is not too long, they generally will not easily forget the appearance of someone they have dealt with.

Back then, after Song Qingming participated in a Heaven Pill Alliance auction, he happened to run into her and Xu Cheng Ziyan when he was preparing to leave. When the three of them returned to Mount Guyang together, they encountered several Foundation Establishment cultivators on the road who wanted to snatch the spiritual objects on them. After a great battle, they finally escaped from danger.

The reason the few encountered an attack was that Xu Cheng Ziyan had obtained a Jin Dan spiritual object, "Golden Yang Fire Essence," at that auction. It is a pity that although Xu Cheng Ziyan had good luck in obtaining this item, she did not succeed in her later seclusion to form a core.

Hearing Song Qingming ask about Xu Cheng Ziyan, a complex expression suddenly appeared on Hu Ying's face. After struggling for a moment, she slowly replied: "Reporting to Uncle Song, Senior Sister Xu... she... she is not doing very well recently. She encountered a bit of trouble, and when I went to find her these past few days, she was not in the mood to pay attention to me."

"Oh! What trouble did Daoist Cheng Ziyan encounter? Is it convenient for you to tell me?"

After looking up at Song Qingming, Hu Ying did not hesitate in her heart and directly told Song Qingming the whole story of Xu Cheng Ziyan's affairs.

Since her failure to form a core last time, Xu Cheng Ziyan had also been working hard to execute sect missions over the years, accumulating merits to exchange for core-forming spiritual objects. Finally, a few years ago, she gathered enough merits and reserved a Five Elements core-forming spiritual object in the Merit Hall.

Half a year ago, Sect Master Yao Ganshu and others brought back some core-forming spiritual objects from the State of Wu. Among them happened to be a "Heavenly Fire Profound Pearl" that matched her cultivation technique. This item, like the "Golden Yang Fire Essence" she obtained back then, was also a precious Five Elements spiritual object that could assist cultivators in forming a core. Moreover, Xu Cheng Ziyan refining this item to form a core would be even more effective than the "Golden Yang Fire Essence."

Learning this news, Xu Cheng Ziyan was also overjoyed and hurriedly went to the Golden Treasury, wanting to exchange for this spiritual object. Unexpectedly, because there were many disciples exchanging for core-forming spiritual objects this time, the Merit Hall also temporarily increased the merits required to exchange for the "Heavenly Fire Profound Pearl."

In this way, the merits Xu Cheng Ziyan had accumulated were suddenly not enough. Originally, some of the merits she had were borrowed from close friends around her, and it was already difficult to borrow merits from others in a short period of time. The Merit Hall now only gave her ten days to raise the merits, otherwise, this spiritual object would be yielded to others.

Hearing this news, Xu Cheng Ziyan was like a bolt from the blue. A core-forming spiritual object like the "Heavenly Fire Profound Pearl," even in the Xiaoyao Sect's Merit Hall, was rarely available for exchange. If she missed this opportunity for no reason, Xu Cheng Ziyan would probably find it difficult to have another chance to obtain such a spiritual object.

In the State of Wei, there are not many spiritual objects that can assist cultivators in forming a core. Five Elements core-forming spiritual objects like the "Heavenly Fire Profound Pearl" are already considered relatively effective. Ordinary rogue cultivators or Foundation Establishment cultivators from cultivation families, wanting to impact the Jin Dan realm, basically can only rely on secondary spiritual objects like the "Jade Dust Pill."

Hearing Hu Ying explain Xu Cheng Ziyan's difficulties in detail, Song Qingming nodded calmly and said: "Junior Niece Hu, can you help me invite Daoist Cheng Ziyan to the Merit Hall? Just say I have something to find her for!"

"Ah!... Uncle, wait a moment, I will go and return immediately." Hearing that Song Qingming had something to find Xu Cheng Ziyan for, Hu Ying was slightly stunned before reacting, hurriedly stepping away from the Merit Hall happily.

In less than half an incense stick of time, Hu Ying returned to the Merit Hall with someone in a hurry.

Because she had been unable to gather enough merits to exchange for the "Heavenly Fire Profound Pearl," Xu Cheng Ziyan's expression was obviously much more haggard. Seeing Song Qingming, who had already become a Jin Dan senior, she hurriedly stepped forward and bowed.

"Cheng Ziyan pays respects to Uncle Song. I wonder what matter you have for finding me, Uncle?"

Song Qingming stepped forward and waved his hand with a smile: "We have known each other for many years, so no need to be so polite. Although I have joined the sect, I have no master-disciple relationship with you, so it is also fine to continue to address each other as Daoist."

"This... since Daoist Song thinks so highly of me, then Cheng Ziyan will presumptuously address you as Daoist!" Xu Cheng Ziyan smiled beautifully, recovering a trace of her past expression.

"Just now I heard Junior Niece Hu say here that Daoist Xu needs to exchange for a core-forming spiritual object in the Merit Hall and is still short of some merits. I wonder how much you are still short of?"

Hearing Song Qingming's words, Xu Cheng Ziyan looked at Hu Ying on the side with some surprise. On the way here just now, the two were in a hurry, and Hu Ying did not have time to tell her in detail what had just happened. Xu Cheng Ziyan did not know that Song Qingming had actually found her for this matter.

Facing Song Qingming's inquiry, Xu Cheng Ziyan also understood in her heart that the other party might intend to help her. Without hesitation, she directly replied: "I tried to borrow some from others these past few days, but I am still short of two thousand merits."

Song Qingming nodded slightly, took out his sect token from his person, and said to Xu Cheng Ziyan on the side: "I happen to still have two thousand merits. Come with me."

Seeing Song Qingming already walking in front, Xu Cheng Ziyan was also extremely excited and hurriedly followed.

With the help of the Merit Hall guarding cultivator, two thousand merits soon appeared on Xu Cheng Ziyan's sect token, and she finally gathered enough merits to exchange for the "Heavenly Fire Profound Pearl," feeling overjoyed in her heart.

In the Xiaoyao Sect, Foundation Establishment cultivators like Xu Cheng Ziyan, who have no Jin Dan elders to take care of them, basically have to rely on themselves at the critical moment of forming a core. Under normal circumstances, it is very difficult to compete for core-forming spiritual objects with those direct disciples of Jin Dan elders.

For days, in order to raise merits, Xu Cheng Ziyan had tried every possible way to find people in the sect to help. Seeing that there were only three days left before the date stipulated by the Merit Hall, Xu Cheng Ziyan, who was still short of two thousand merits, was already somewhat at her wit's end.

She thought she was about to miss the "Heavenly Fire Profound Pearl" she had been thinking about, but she did not expect that she would encounter Song Qingming at the right time, who generously helped her make up for the missing merits. It must be said that Xu Cheng Ziyan could be considered to have been favored by the Heavenly Dao.

Back then, when Song Qingming was weak, Xu Cheng Ziyan had helped him a lot. Song Qingming had always remembered this kindness in his heart. Now that he heard she was in trouble, Song Qingming naturally wanted to help her as much as he could.

Adding flowers to brocade is often not as good as sending charcoal in snowy weather. Two thousand merits are nothing to Song Qingming now, but it is a major event concerning Xu Cheng Ziyan's path. Xu Cheng Ziyan was extremely grateful for Song Qingming's righteous help this time.

"Today, let these merits be borrowed from Daoist Song first. I will never forget this kindness of help, Cheng Ziyan."

"Haha! A small effort, Daoist Xu, do not take it too much to heart. I was helped by you when I was establishing my foundation back then. Since I can help you today, I am naturally duty-bound. This can also be considered Heavenly Dao causality!" Seeing Xu Cheng Ziyan about to bow again, Song Qingming hurriedly waved his hand to stop her.

After Xu Cheng Ziyan and the other left, the Merit Hall cultivator who was looking for spiritual objects for Song Qingming also finally walked down from the second floor.

Song Qingming's luck was not bad this time. The few materials he needed were all found in the Merit Hall. Besides this, Song Qingming also exchanged for a Foundation Establishment stage Lightning attribute cultivation technique, "Heavenly Fire Startling Lightning Art," for Song Yuanhao in the Merit Hall.

In the Xiaoyao Sect's Merit Hall, cultivation techniques below the Jin Dan stage can be directly recorded after being exchanged with merits. However, such recorded techniques have special restrictions and can only be provided for one person to view. Song Qingming obtained the "Heavenly Fire Startling Lightning Art" and could only hand it to Song Yuanhao to practice alone; it could not be passed on to other family members.

Moreover, the recorded "Heavenly Fire Startling Lightning Art" can only be practiced to the ninth layer of Foundation Establishment. If Song Yuanhao is lucky enough to form a Jin Dan in the future, the follow-up Jin Dan stage cultivation techniques required will also need to be obtained from the Xiaoyao Sect's Merit Hall.

After successfully obtaining these materials and returning to Mount Funiu, Song Qingming also immediately went into seclusion and became busy.

Half a month later, Song Qingming, who was in his cave dwelling, looked at the corpse of a young cultivator lying on the stone platform in front of him and whispered to himself: "I hope I can succeed once!"

After speaking, Song Qingming took out a cyan spiritual talisman and stuck it directly on the corpse's forehead. Then, his hands quickly cast a spell, casting a set of techniques, and injected his magic power directly into a formation beneath the corpse.

Soon, the five formation flags inserted around the corpse slowly glowed with a strange green light, forming a pentagonal green circle of light.

Half an hour later, as the green circle of light became brighter and brighter, Song Qingming suddenly shouted loudly.

"Five Souls Gather Corpse, get up for me!"

(End of Chapter) ===== CHAPTER 513 =====