Chapter 642

Although they also knew in their hearts that Zhao Jibai, as the Sect Master of the "Profound Heaven Sect" back then and a Jin Dan peak cultivator with profound cultivation, might not have only had these spiritual items that Song Qingming took out.

However, for a Jin Dan cultivator to send back the remains of a predecessor Sect Master from ten thousand miles away was already very rare, not to mention that Song Qingming also gave them so many precious spiritual items.

If it were replaced by other cultivators encountering this fortune, they might at most dig a hole on the spot to bury Zhao Jibai's bones. How could they be as thoughtful as Song Qingming, spending so much energy to bring it back to the "Profound Heaven Sect" for burial.

Moreover, the current "Profound Heaven Sect" is already a declining small sect in the cultivation world, and it simply does not have the ability to protect those precious high-tier spiritual items. A slight carelessness would lead to the disaster of sect destruction.

Even if Song Qingming was willing to return one or two third-tier magic treasures to them, Chen Jianghai and the other might not necessarily dare to take them now.

Seeing that the two of them did not ask much about Zhao Jibai's relics and were still reasonable people, Song Qingming waved his hand with a smile and said: "For me, this matter is just a matter of lifting a finger. You don't need to be so polite."

"Senior Song! We would like to hold a funeral for Ancestor Zhao in a few days. I wonder if Senior can stay in our sect for a few days, so that we can have a chance to fulfill the duties of a host and properly thank Senior for this kindness to the sect!"

"Meeting Sect Master Zhao in the outer sea can be considered a bit of fate with your sect. Since this is the case, I will stay for a few days and see Sect Master Zhao off!"

Facing Chen Jianghai's enthusiastic invitation, Song Qingming thought for a moment and nodded in agreement.

Since he had already sent Zhao Jibai's remains back all the way, Song Qingming did not mind these few days. After seeing him laid to rest, Song Qingming could be considered to have successfully completed this matter, and he could also feel more at ease.

At the moment, there should be at least a few months before Huang Siyuan comes out of seclusion, and Song Qingming was not in a hurry to return to "Tiandancheng."

Seeing Song Qingming agree, a trace of a smile immediately appeared on Chen Jianghai's face. He hurriedly arranged accommodation for Song Qingming and the other, and sent them many special spirit fruits and spirit tea of the sect.

Learning that they were to stay in the "Profound Heaven Sect" for a few days, Luo Li was also very happy.

Having never been far from home, she was very curious when she came to another sect for the first time. Accompanied by several "Profound Heaven Sect" cultivators specially arranged by Chen Jianghai, she played around on Baishadao all day.

After Song Qingming and the other stayed on the island for five days, the "Profound Heaven Sect" finally prepared Zhao Jibai's funeral.

Although Zhao Jibai was only a predecessor Sect Master from a thousand years ago, Chen Jianghai and the others still attached great importance to his funeral this time. Not only did they use the highest specifications of the sect, but they also invited many nearby Foundation Establishment forces to come.

Song Qingming also participated in the funeral as a distinguished guest of the "Profound Heaven Sect." Chen Jianghai also pulled over several Foundation Establishment cultivators who had a good relationship with the "Profound Heaven Sect" to greet him.

Knowing that the other party wanted to take this opportunity to show off the good relationship between him, a Jin Dan cultivator, and them in front of surrounding cultivators, Song Qingming did not mind too much and still cooperated with Chen Jianghai's performance with a calm face.

After all, he had neither revealed his background in front of them from beginning to end, nor did he often walk in the East Sea cultivation world. It was nothing more than borrowing the name of a Jin Dan cultivator for Chen Jianghai and the others to use, making other surrounding Foundation Establishment forces look at them with higher regard.

After seeing Zhao Jibai's remains buried, Song Qingming, who felt at ease, prepared to leave the "Profound Heaven Sect" the next day.

However, what he did not expect was that after Luo Li had contact with the "Profound Heaven Sect" cultivators these days, she actually had the idea of joining this small sect and staying on Baishadao to cultivate.

Song Qingming had originally planned to send Luo Li to Wanhu Island to see if he could let her join the "Hundred Flower Palace" through He Mengxin's relationship.

Now that he suddenly heard that this little girl wanted to join the "Profound Heaven Sect," although Song Qingming was a bit surprised, he still respected her idea and took her to find Chen Jianghai to clarify this matter.

Learning that Luo Li wanted to join the "Profound Heaven Sect," Chen Jianghai, as the Sect Master, was also full of excitement. He immediately agreed and accepted Luo Li as his personal disciple on the spot, fearing that Song Qingming and the other would go back on this matter.

For the choice Luo Li made, Song Qingming actually did not feel it was bad in his heart.

Although this little girl's cultivation talent was not bad, it could not be considered very good. Even if she could successfully join the "Hundred Flower Palace," I fear she would not have the chance to be focused on by the sect.

Staying in a small Foundation Establishment sect like the "Profound Heaven Sect," although the future of the path does not look as good as a major sect, it can also experience fewer internal struggles of a major sect, which might not be a bad thing for her.

Moreover, the path of cultivation mainly depends on fate. How far Luo Li's path can go in the future cannot be seen from a decision today; it still depends on her personal fortune in the future.

Before coming to the door, Song Qingming had already inquired about the surroundings. Although the "Profound Heaven Sect" is a declining small sect, its reputation in the nearby sea area is still not bad.

Chen Jianghai has accepted Luo Li as his personal disciple, and with his relationship, it is impossible for him to treat her badly. As long as Luo Li can cultivate hard, there will definitely be opportunities for Foundation Establishment in the future.

After helping Luo Li stay in the "Profound Heaven Sect," Song Qingming left her a few spiritual items before leaving Baishadao alone by flying boat.

Because he did not need to send Luo Li to Wanhu Island anymore, Song Qingming turned his direction directly to rush to "Tiandancheng," and finally arrived there more than ten days later.

At this time, nearly four years had passed since Huang Siyuan went into seclusion to impact the Jin Dan realm.

As soon as he entered the city, Song Qingming went straight to the "Tiandan Pavilion," wanting to first find Ye Qiuyuan to inquire about the specific situation of Huang Siyuan's seclusion.

Seeing Song Qingming arrive, Ye Qiuyuan, who happened to be on duty at the "Tiandan Pavilion," immediately invited him to the side and clarified to him what had happened since Huang Siyuan went into seclusion in recent years.

After learning the news that Huang Siyuan had not yet come out of seclusion, Song Qingming slowly felt relieved in his heart.

Generally, if a cultivator fails to form a core, they will usually come out of seclusion in about three or four years. If they succeed, it will take about five years.

Now that it is just at the fourth-year mark, as long as Huang Siyuan has not failed to form her core and come out of seclusion, it indirectly proves that the probability of her success this time will be much higher than before.

Seeing that Huang Siyuan would not end her seclusion so quickly, Song Qingming rented a cave dwelling in "Tiandancheng" and waited patiently in the city. In a flash, more than half a year passed.

On this day, in a cave dwelling on the back mountain of "Tiandancheng."

Song Qingming, holding a high-tier talisman brush he had bought in "Tiandancheng" not long ago, stood in front of a stone table with focused eyes, patiently dancing the talisman brush in his hand.

After a good while, Song Qingming, whose forehead had already broken out in a burst of fine sweat, finally completed the last rune. After performing a spell to seal the spiritual power above the talisman, he carefully picked it up.

Seeing that this third-tier low-grade talisman in his hand was glowing with spiritual light and did not have any major quality problems, a trace of joy immediately appeared on Song Qingming's face. He took out an identical talisman from his body and compared them carefully.

In the half year of waiting for Huang Siyuan to form her core, when Song Qingming had nothing to do, he strolled in the market below and bought quite a few high-tier talisman-making materials, then began to try to improve his talisman-making technique.

Hard work pays off. After so many years of diligent practice by Song Qingming, and after investing quite a few spirit stones and many high-tier talisman-making materials, he finally improved his success rate of making third-tier low-grade talismans to about thirty percent, becoming a qualified third-tier talisman master.

The reason Song Qingming was able to buy so many high-tier talisman-making materials was also thanks to the high-tier materials in "Tiandancheng," which were indeed much richer than other places Song Qingming had been to.

Plus, Song Qingming had the relationship of "Tiandan Pavilion" to help inquire, so he did not spend much effort to acquire quite a few high-tier talisman-making materials, which made his talisman-making technique improve so smoothly.

Now, besides being a third-tier formation master, Song Qingming had also successfully improved his talisman-making technique to the third tier. In terms of cultivation skills, he was already leading many cultivators by a large margin.

Seeing that there was nothing amiss with the talisman in his hand, Song Qingming patiently put it away, intending to take it and the several third-tier talismans he had made before to the "Tiandan Pavilion" and place them in their shop to help him sell them.

"Tiandan Pavilion," besides mainly selling various elixirs, also managed other types of spiritual items.

However, for high-tier spiritual items above the third tier like those in Song Qingming's hand, "Tiandan Pavilion" generally would not collect them directly, but could only place them in the shop to help sell them, extracting spirit stones obtained after the transaction.

This was already enough for Song Qingming. Talismans, even those above the third tier, did not lack a market anywhere in the cultivation world.

What Song Qingming had were also relatively common offensive talismans. As long as they were not sold too expensively, they could generally be sold successfully in at most ten days or so.

Just after leaving his cave dwelling and walking about several hundred zhang down the mountain, Song Qingming suddenly felt some subtle changes in the surrounding spiritual energy.

Turning around to look at his surroundings and finding nothing abnormal, Song Qingming suddenly raised his head to look at the sky above, only to discover that at this time, white clouds had gathered in the sky not far away and began to roll violently.

"This should be the heaven and earth phenomenon of core formation!"

Seeing the phenomenon in the sky, Song Qingming was immediately happy and hurriedly quickened his pace to go down the mountain, wanting to ask Ye Qiuyuan to help go to the top of the mountain to see if the one triggering the heaven and earth phenomenon was indeed Huang Siyuan, who was in seclusion forming her core.

Just arriving at the entrance of "Tiandan Pavilion," Song Qingming bumped into Ye Qiuyuan, who had just walked out of the door, and learned that he had also just received the news of the heaven and earth phenomenon appearing on the top of the mountain and was preparing to go check the situation.

——

A brief intermission!

Seeing the trace of nervousness on Song Qingming's face, Ye Qiuyuan hurriedly smiled and said to him: "Fellow Daoist Song, don't worry. No one else on the mountain is in seclusion forming a core recently. The one triggering this heaven and earth phenomenon must be your wife.

Since you are here, you might as well go up the mountain with me to see, which saves me from looking for you later."

"That would be great, then many thanks to Fellow Daoist Ye!" Seeing Ye Qiuyuan invite him to go to the top of the mountain together, Song Qingming hurriedly nodded in agreement.

The top of the back mountain of Tiandancheng is the place where Elders of the "Tiandan Alliance" above the Jin Dan stage cultivate. Outsiders are not allowed to enter at will. Song Qingming had returned to Tiandancheng for more than half a year, and he had only been there once when he first returned, accompanied by Ye Qiuyuan.

Precisely because of this, he did not rush to the cave dwelling where Huang Siyuan was in seclusion forming her core at the first moment, but ran to "Tiandan Pavilion" to find Ye Qiuyuan to help inquire about the news.

With Ye Qiuyuan's help and guidance, Song Qingming followed him and quickly arrived at the top of the back mountain of Tiandancheng.

Just as the two walked to the place where Huang Siyuan was in seclusion, they saw from afar a middle-aged Daoist wearing a gray Daoist robe standing in front of the cave dwelling where Huang Siyuan was.

Seeing this person's figure, Ye Qiuyuan hurriedly took Song Qingming to step forward quickly and bowed respectfully to the gray-robed Daoist.

"Greetings to the Supreme Elder!"

This gray-robed Daoist was precisely one of the three Supreme Elders of the "Tiandan Alliance," the Daoist Xuantong, and also one of the Nascent Soul Elders who had been guarding Tiandancheng and managing the affairs of the alliance all year round.

Daoist Xuantong's cultivation had already reached the fifth layer of Nascent Soul, and he basically cultivated in seclusion on the back mountain on weekdays. Appearing here today should also have been alarmed by the heaven and earth phenomenon of Huang Siyuan's core formation, so he came out to take a look.

After turning around and scanning Ye Qiuyuan in front of him, Daoist Xuantong nodded slightly and then placed his gaze on Song Qingming on the side.

Just at this instant, Song Qingming felt a powerful spiritual sense suddenly cover every position on his whole body, making his face change, and he instinctively released his own spiritual sense, wanting to resist a little.

However, just as Song Qingming's spiritual sense made contact with this very powerful spiritual sense, the spiritual sense covering his body immediately withdrew on its own, making Song Qingming feel relieved as a whole.

"Eh! Your spiritual sense can actually rival a Jin Dan late-stage cultivator. It seems that you must have practiced some formidable soul-type cultivation technique!"

Hearing Daoist Xuantong's words, Song Qingming hurriedly nodded slightly and responded: "Senior's words are correct. In my early years before forming my core, I had the fate to obtain a soul cultivation technique.

But it is a pity that this technique can only be cultivated to the Jin Dan stage, and the latter part is already incomplete. My comprehension is average, and I cannot deduce the subsequent technique, so I have only cultivated to the current level."

Song Qingming had practiced the "Soul-Devouring Technique" for so many years. Although his spiritual sense could rival an ordinary Jin Dan late-stage cultivator, compared to a Nascent Soul mid-stage cultivator like Daoist Xuantong, there was still a world of difference. Just by confronting him for a moment, his forehead was already full of fine sweat at this moment.

Daoist Xuantong heard this and waved his hand calmly at Song Qingming, saying:

"Although practicing soul cultivation techniques can have quite a few benefits, it is also a very mentally exhausting thing. If it is not someone who needs spiritual sense to assist in practicing special cultivation techniques, there is actually no need to pay too much attention to exercising the soul. It is better to put more effort into one's own cultivation.

High-tier soul cultivation techniques are not many in the cultivation world. Being able to cultivate one's own soul to such a realm at the Jin Dan stage, you can already be considered to have quite a good fortune."

"Many thanks for Senior's guidance, the junior will definitely keep it in mind!" After Song Qingming responded, he stepped forward and bowed again.

Daoist Xuantong nodded slightly, then turned to look at the cave dwelling where Huang Siyuan was in seclusion, and said softly:

"I just took a look. Your Dao companion looks like she is about to successfully condense her core. If there are no accidents next, she should be able to successfully break through to the Jin Dan realm. With me here, you don't need to worry too much. Just go back and wait patiently."

Hearing Daoist Xuantong say this, Song Qingming was immediately extremely excited. He and Ye Qiuyuan nodded with happy faces, and then took the initiative to withdraw from the top of the mountain.

Just arriving at the foot of the mountain, Ye Qiuyuan immediately turned around and bowed to Song Qingming with a full face of smiles to congratulate him:

"Fellow Daoist Song, since Elder Xuantong is so optimistic, your wife's core formation this time must be ten to nine successful. I will congratulate you in advance here."

"Haha! My wife being able to have the fate to step into the Jin Dan realm this time is also thanks to Fellow Daoist Ye's many helps. After my wife comes out of seclusion, our couple must properly reward Fellow Daoist Ye face-to-face."

Ye Qiuyuan heard this and shook his head repeatedly, saying: "Sigh! Your wife has already joined our Tiandan Alliance, we are all our own people, why be so polite? Fellow Daoist Huang is about to successfully form her core, and you two are both young and promising. I might have to rely on you in the future!"

"Fellow Daoist, don't worry about this. Although we haven't known each other for a long time, thanks to your care in Tiandancheng many times, I have already regarded Fellow Daoist Ye as a close friend in my heart.

In the future, if there is anything we can help with, just say the word, and we will naturally do our best." After Song Qingming finished speaking, he bowed back to him again.

"Haha! Fellow Daoist Song is right, although you and I..."

Song Qingming and Ye Qiuyuan were both Jin Dan cultivators with successful cultivation bases, so they naturally could see that both of them had always wanted to befriend each other.

The reason Ye Qiuyuan took the initiative to show favor to Song Qingming today and wanted to draw closer the relationship between the two was naturally because he had just confirmed the news that Huang Siyuan was about to successfully form her core, which made him make this decision.

Song Qingming, on the other hand, had always had the idea of befriending Ye Qiuyuan, a third-tier top-grade alchemist, not only because of Huang Siyuan, but also so that he could get some help he wanted when he or his family lacked the necessary elixirs in the future.

The two, who had already become "close friends" on the spot, stood in place and exchanged a few more polite words before parting happily.

The heaven and earth phenomenon on the back mountain of Tiandancheng lasted for more than half a month before slowly dissipating.

Two months later, Huang Siyuan, who had broken through to the Jin Dan realm and stabilized her cultivation, walked out of the cave dwelling in seclusion and came before Song Qingming and the others who had been waiting for a long time.

"Congratulations to Fellow Daoist Huang for successfully forming your core and becoming one of us. This small gift is a token of my respect, I hope you won't mind!"

Before Song Qingming could speak first, Ye Qiuyuan and the other two accompanying "Tiandan Alliance" Elders on the side bowed to congratulate her together, and then each took out a bottle of elixirs needed for Jin Dan cultivators to cultivate as a congratulatory gift for Huang Siyuan, who had just formed her core.

These were all Elders who happened to be staying in "Tiandancheng." Learning that a new Jin Dan cultivator had appeared in the alliance, they also hurriedly followed to send a congratulatory gift, wanting to befriend Huang Siyuan in advance.

After greeting everyone and getting to know each other, Huang Siyuan did not stand on ceremony with them too much, generously accepted these elixirs, and bowed back to everyone.

Seeing Huang Siyuan accept the gifts of the few, Ye Qiuyuan smiled and said to Song Qingming on the side:

"Fellow Daoist Song, you two have been separated for a long time, you must have a lot to say. We still have to go back to report to Elder Xuantong, so we won't stay here to delay you two."

After speaking, Ye Qiuyuan took the other two accompanying "Tiandan Alliance" Elders, bowed to the two, and left, leaving a space for Song Qingming and Huang Siyuan to talk alone.

Having cultivated bitterly for more than a hundred years and finally successfully stepped into the Jin Dan realm today, Huang Siyuan naturally had a thousand words she wanted to say to Song Qingming in her heart.

But after walking in front of him, the words Huang Siyuan wanted to say for a moment did not know where to start. After a good while, she still looked at the other party with a smile, without saying a word.

Seeing this, Song Qingming hurriedly said happily: "Siyuan, congratulations on finally stepping into the Jin Dan realm. Seeing that you can have today's achievements, I am truly happy for you!"

"Being able to witness the Jin Dan Great Dao today is mostly thanks to my husband's support. Fortunately, Heaven protects me so that I do not live up to your expectations. Otherwise, relying only on my personal aptitude, I fear I would not see this day in this life."

Others might not know, but Huang Siyuan, who had already broken through to the Jin Dan realm, knew very well in her heart.

If it weren't for the many core-formation spiritual items Song Qingming had prepared for her in advance, plus the auxiliary core-formation cultivation technique Song Qingming taught her, even if she had the help of the "Tiandan Alliance" this time, I fear the probability of her breakthrough success would still not have exceeded fifty percent.

Although they were Dao companions who had supported each other for many years, Huang Siyuan had always been following behind Song Qingming for so many years, and her help to his path was far less than what Song Qingming gave her, so she naturally often felt not confident enough in her heart.

But fortunately, Huang Siyuan had now broken through to the Jin Dan realm, which could be considered as having caught up with Song Qingming by a big step. If she could successfully improve her alchemy technique to the third tier, Huang Siyuan's help to Song Qingming or the entire Song family in the future would not be comparable to what it is now.

"Having been in seclusion for so long, you must be feeling a bit stifled. Let me accompany you down the mountain to walk around first!"

Facing Huang Siyuan, whose temperament had completely taken on a new look after breaking through to the Jin Dan realm, Song Qingming could also not hide the excitement in his heart. He took the initiative to step forward and hold her jade hand. The two, like other Dao companions who had been separated for a long time, leaned together and walked down the mountain. (End of chapter)