Chapter 661: Mysterious Valley, Yanhu Village (Seeking Monthly Votes)

Following that manager to the second floor, Song Qingming was quickly invited into a separately partitioned private room.

The two had just walked in and sat down when someone immediately brought up two cups of fragrant spirit tea. Xue Jinling chatted with Song Qingming for a few sentences with courtesy, then put down the tea bowl in his hand and asked:

"May I ask, Senior, this time you go to the outer sea, are you looking for people to form a team to hunt monsters together, or are you going to search for some spirit objects?"

"I want to go to Yuxuan Island to find something. Can your treasure ship carry me there?" Song Qingming stated his purpose calmly and directly.

"Yuxuan Island? That is not a good place. Why does Senior want to risk going there to search for spirit objects? Could it be that you are also going to search for the legacy treasures of ancient cultivators?"

Hearing that Song Qingming was going to "Yuxuan Island," Xue Jinling, who had always appeared very steady, immediately showed a look of surprise and could not help but ask another question.

"Mm! I am going to search for a needed spirit object near there. I wonder if your treasure ship can carry me for a ride? If it can, you can just quote a price. If not, then this old man will have to think of another way elsewhere!"

Seeing Xue Jinling's reaction was so great, Song Qingming's face did not change much, clearly having expected it long ago, and he responded to the other party calmly.

Xue Jinling thought for a moment and nodded slightly: "Senior, rest assured, our Nanling Island uses a third-grade mid-quality treasure ship. Even those formidable great monster kings cannot do anything to our treasure ship. Going near Yuxuan Island is certainly no problem."

"However, Senior should also know that it is truly not very safe nearby. Our treasure ship can at most approach within one hundred miles outside Yuxuan Island."

"If Senior feels this is acceptable, then you can leave an address first. When the treasure ship goes to sea next month, I will arrange to notify you in advance!"

"Mm! That will do. Then it is settled. These spirit stones will serve as my deposit for you first!" Seeing that the other party agreed to send him near his destination, Song Qingming nodded slightly and immediately took out a small bag of spirit stones and placed them in front of Xue Jinling.

Seeing Song Qingming was so generous, Xue Jinling immediately accepted the spirit stones happily and guaranteed to Song Qingming, patting his chest, that when the treasure ship went to sea, he would certainly reserve the best guest room on it for him.

Regarding this, Song Qingming's face did not move, and after asking the other party a few more questions about the situation near "Yuxuan Island," he immediately stood up and bid farewell to leave this place.

The "Yuxuan Island" that Song Qingming was going to next was also one of the seven addresses he bought from the Heaven Secret Pavilion that had a connection to Yuxuan Mountain.

However, just as Xue Jinling said, "Yuxuan Island" was much more dangerous compared to the other places Song Qingming had been to. This point had already been reminded to him by Li Mengchen when Song Qingming bought the information, and it had been specially marked for him on the bamboo slip.

Although "Yuxuan Island" is not far from the Donghuang Immortal Continent, it takes about half a month to reach by large treasure ship. However, compared to the cultivators near Nanzhou, this place has always been a relatively mysterious place.

Tens of thousands of years ago, when the ancient True Demons invaded the world and caused chaos, a very intense Immortal-Demon War occurred near "Yuxuan Island," and quite a few formidable high-tier cultivators fell there at that time.

Therefore, until now, quite a few cultivators who have heard these ancient rumors still go near "Yuxuan Island" to try their luck, searching for one or two legacy items left behind by ancient cultivators.

Having heard that Song Qing was going there, and since it was his first time coming to "Nanling Island," Xue Jinling naturally regarded him as a cultivator who also wanted to search for treasures.

However, in the last few thousand years, some changes have begun to appear near "Yuxuan Island." High-tier cultivators often get inexplicably trapped there for several months after arriving nearby before they can escape, and quite a few people have gone missing there.

Some cultivators even saw demonic energy soaring into the sky after arriving nearby, and the entire sea area within a radius of several dozen miles was entangled by a demonic energy, as if a very formidable demon had descended upon the island.

This has also caused cultivators in the coastal areas of Nanzhou in recent years to change color at the mention of "Yuxuan Island," and very few bold cultivators dare to go there to search for treasures.

After all, compared to the danger of monsters in the outer sea, this kind of eerie place that might be involved with those high-tier demonic cultivators is even more chilling to many cultivators.

Song Qingming originally did not intend to go to "Yuxuan Island" so early, but because of the relationship of escorting Li Xuanyi back to Nanzhou, since he had already arrived near "Yuxuan Island," he naturally had to go and take a look.

Although this "Yuxuan Island" is rumored to be very dangerous in the mouths of low-tier cultivators nearby, Song Qingming did not care too much in his heart.

In the cultivation world, things rumored among cultivators are nine times out of ten different from the real situation. If there were truly such a formidable demon on the island, I'm afraid no cultivators who had been there would have been able to return alive.

Moreover, "Yuxuan Island" is not too far from the coast of Nanzhou. If there were truly a great demon above the Nascent Soul stage hiding in a place so close, the major cultivation sects near Nanzhou could not have ignored this matter for so many years and allowed such a formidable demon to hide under their noses and cause chaos.

Song Qingming's current cultivation has almost reached the peak of the fifth layer of the Jin Dan stage, and "Jin Feng" also successfully broke through to the second layer of the Jin Dan stage not long ago. His fighting strength among Jin Dan cultivators is not weak.

Plus the few powerful magic treasures on his person, as long as he doesn't encounter those formidable demonic cultivators above the ninth layer of the Jin Dan stage, ordinary opponents would certainly find it difficult to keep him. This point is not something to worry about too much.

However, there are many high-tier monsters in the "Falling Star Sea." Song Qingming naturally still needs to be a bit more careful when going to "Yuxuan Island."

Therefore, although the bamboo slip Li Mengchen gave him had roughly indicated the location of "Yuxuan Island," Song Qingming, for the sake of safety, still chose to spend some spirit stones to take the "Nanling Island" treasure ship to get there.

This can not only prevent him from not being able to find an island to rest on halfway, but also avoid harassment by high-tier monsters, which would be difficult to deal with alone.

In the cultivation world, in places where people live by the sea, it is inconvenient for cultivators to go to sea, so many treasure ships of various sizes have been invented and built.

These "treasure ships," although their sailing speed is not as good as the flying boats controlled by Jin Dan cultivators like Song Qingming, have the advantage of being very safe and capable of long-distance sailing for a long time.

Before coming here, Song Qingming had seen many similar treasure ships in the "East Sea cultivation world," so he had some understanding of them long ago.

"Treasure ships" above the third grade are basically made using the skeletons and fur of high-tier monsters in the sea. After being arranged with corresponding magic arrays by array masters, their defensive capabilities are very outstanding. As long as sufficient spirit stones are prepared, they can sail in the perilous outer sea for a long time.

After making an appointment with the other party, Song Qingming lived on the island for more than half a month and finally received the news sent by Xue Jinling, stepping onto the treasure ship heading to "Yuxuan Island" in the outer sea.

The treasure ship of "Nanling Island" carries quite a few cultivators above the Foundation Establishment stage every time it goes out, going to the outer sea to hunt monsters. There are also some who, like Song Qingming said earlier, are going to the outer sea to search for some precious high-tier spirit objects.

The "treasure ship" headed southeast all the way and soon went deep into the outer sea.

Just as Song Qingming guessed, since there is a third-grade mid-quality "treasure ship" guarding it, the cultivators of the "Nanling Pavilion" who control the treasure ship are also very careful after entering the outer sea, taking a safe route with relatively fewer monsters.

Even so, along the way, the "treasure ship" still suffered harassment from quite a few monsters, and there were even more perilous situations where several monster kings besieged the "treasure ship" at the same time.

However, the magic arrays arranged by the "Nanling Island" cultivators on the ship were also very powerful. Without needing Jin Dan cultivators like Song Qingming to make a move, the many "Nanling Island" cultivators who controlled the treasure ship relied on the arrays on the treasure ship to repel the attacks of these monster kings.

Although it was perilous along the way, Song Qingming did not worry much and successfully arrived at the sea area near "Yuxuan Island."

"Fellow Daoist Song, the treasure ship will return in a month. At that time, we will still wait for you here. However, we can wait for you for at most half a day. If you cannot make it in time, you will have to find a way back yourself. I hope you know this and do not miss the time."

"In addition, I would like to remind you, Fellow Daoist, that this island is indeed a bit dangerous and eerie. It is best for you not to approach that place, so as to avoid encountering any trouble."

After receiving the remaining spirit stones paid by Song Qingming, the Jin Dan cultivator of "Nanling Island" who was in charge of leading the team to sea gave him a kind reminder before Song Qingming left.

Song Qingming, hearing this, nodded slightly to thank the other party, then stepped directly onto the "Phantom Boat," left the treasure ship, and flew straight toward the direction of "Yuxuan Island."

Less than a hundred miles away, it only took about the time of an incense stick for Song Qingming's eyes to light up, and he saw a huge island appear before his eyes.

This "Yuxuan Island" was far larger than Song Qingming had imagined, with a length and width of at least several thousand miles, looking about the same size as the "Tiandan City" Song Qingming had been to before.

After arriving not far from "Yuxuan Island," Song Qingming did not rush to land on the island immediately, but first stayed on a large reef on the north side of the island.

After arranging a concealment array to hide his figure, Song Qingming, hiding on this reef, carefully began to observe this island that was rumored to be somewhat mysterious in the outside world.

The topography of "Yuxuan Island" was about the same as recorded in the bamboo slip Li Mengchen gave him. It was indeed a battlefield left over from the ancient Immortal-Demon War. Even after tens of thousands of years, one could still see traces left behind after the great war on the island.

Today, the spiritual energy on this island is still very rich. Even from more than ten miles away, Song Qingming could feel a trace of spiritual energy. It is estimated that the spirit vein on the island is at least approaching the third-grade top-quality.

If it weren't for the fact that this place is located in the outer sea and it is difficult for cultivators to gain a foothold, with such a high-tier spirit vein on "Yuxuan Island," I'm afraid it should have been occupied by those sects or high-tier loose cultivators long ago.

Hiding on the large reef for more than ten days in a row, the entire "Yuxuan Island" was very calm, and there was no abnormal situation at all. Even the monsters in the sea around the island were very rare.

After hiding for more than ten days in a row, Song Qingming finally could not stay any longer. After putting away the array, he transformed into a streak of light and revealed his figure.

Afterward, after circling around "Yuxuan Island" for a large circle, he chose a place that looked relatively flat and landed. After landing on the island, what surprised Song Qingming was that the island was full of birds singing and flowers smelling, and the spiritual energy was very abundant. On the surface, it looked as if it was no different from the immortal mountains and spirit lands outside, and he did not feel a trace of the terrifying demonic energy that the loose cultivators outside rumored to exist.

However, this was not enough to make Song Qingming let down his guard. For the sake of safety, he still used a round bead magic tool to cover his figure before he began to explore the island bit by bit.

After turning around on the island for a day, although Song Qingming only explored less than one-tenth of the place, what made him a bit strange was that apart from some ordinary wild beasts, not even a single monster appeared before his eyes on this island.

Logically speaking, a place like this that is rarely visited by humans and has abundant spiritual energy should be a gathering place for many monsters. Even if there were no foreign monsters, these wild beasts on the island absorbing spiritual energy for a long time could also possibly mutate into new monsters.

But on the "Yuxuan Island" before his eyes, let alone monsters at the Jin Dan or Foundation Establishment levels, Song Qingming did not even see a single low-tier monster at the Qi Refining stage appear. It must be said that this is indeed somewhat abnormal in the cultivation world.

Seeing this, Song Qingming felt even more nervous in his heart. He took out some "Golden Illusion Butterflies" from his spirit beast bag and arranged them around himself to prevent any danger from approaching him.

Just like this, Song Qingming searched on the island for another five days and finally arrived at the foot of a high mountain located in the middle of the island.

Just after crossing a mountain ridge, Song Qingming sensed that in the valley ahead, a spiritual energy fluctuation different from the surroundings suddenly appeared, and he hurriedly stopped his figure and landed from mid-air.

"This! It seems to be a concealment array."

After directing a few "Golden Illusion Butterflies" around to investigate, Song Qingming immediately judged that the valley ahead seemed to be shrouded by a large array.

Having been on the island for so many days without discovering any abnormalities, seeing a magic array suddenly appear before his eyes, a trace of excitement immediately appeared on Song Qingming's face.

After testing it with the "Golden Illusion Butterflies" and seeing that this great array did not take the initiative to counterattack, Song Qingming then set his mind at ease and flew down the mountain ridge directly to the valley entrance.

After carefully observing outside the great array, seeing that the power of this great array seemed a bit too ordinary, Song Qingming raised a cluster of green spiritual light, subsequently transformed it directly into a green flying sword, and lightly drew a sword in mid-air downward.

Only to see a flash of spiritual light, a burst of white mist suddenly rose before his eyes. After these white mists rolled for a while in front of Song Qingming, they were divided to the two sides, revealing the true face of the valley before Song Qingming.

"This is too perfunctory!"

Seeing that the great array before his eyes was broken so simply, Song Qingming shook his head and muttered to himself, a smile could not help but appear at the corner of his mouth, and then he stepped into the array with large strides.

The valley covered by the magic array seemed to be about the same as it looked from the outside. For the sake of safety, Song Qingming, who had entered the valley, still tried his best to cast spells to hide his figure before slowly walking toward the depths of the valley.

After walking for about five or six miles, Song Qingming suddenly heard a burst of children's laughter coming from ahead. Not long after turning around a mountain bay, two children, a boy and a girl, who were chasing each other, appeared before Song Qingming's eyes.

These two children, the older one should be only seven or eight years old, and the younger one is only about three years old, running stumbling and not very steady.

The two children were full of joy, only caring about chasing and playing, and did not see Song Qingming, who was standing not far away, his eyes fixed on them.

"Fengqi, Fengzhi! Why did you run so far? Your father is looking for you two everywhere at the village entrance and can't find you. He is almost furious. Why don't you hurry back? If he comes to look for you later, you will have a hard time!"

Just as the two children were playing happily in a rice field, a burst of reprimand suddenly came from not far away. Immediately after, a yellow-robed woman of about twenty or thirty years old, carrying a bamboo whip two feet long, ran toward the location of the two in a hurry.

Upon hearing the voice of the yellow-robed woman, the older boy was immediately so scared that he stood in place and dared not run. Seeing the bamboo whip in the woman's hand, he showed even more fear and lowered his head.

The younger girl, facing this aggressive woman, had no fear on her face and kept pulling her brother, wanting him to continue playing with her.

However, the yellow-robed woman was clearly also a bit angry. After coaxing the little girl a few times and seeing that she still refused to leave, she directly picked her up and, regardless of the grievance on her face, took the boy and walked back along the original path into the valley.

"These are mortals!"

Song Qingming, who was hiding his figure in the distance, saw this scene that had just appeared before his eyes, and besides surprise, there was also a bit of incredulity on his face.

On a sea island deep in the outer sea like "Yuxuan Island," which is extremely dangerous, even ordinary cultivators find it difficult to survive in this vicinity for a long time. How could there still be mortals living on this island? Just after the yellow-robed woman took the two children and walked not far away, Song Qingming thought about it and still removed the disguise on his body, flashed directly to a place not far in front of her, and blocked their way.

"Who are you? Why are you here!"

Seeing Song Qingming suddenly appear before her eyes, the yellow-robed woman was also shocked in her heart and hurriedly reached out to hold the two children beside her tightly.

Seeing this, Song Qingming hurriedly smiled and bowed to her, explaining: "This one was traveling on the island just now and accidentally stumbled into this valley. May I ask you, what place is this!"

"Oh! You are an Immortal Master from outside. Very few outsiders come in here. Please don't take offense at the impoliteness just now, Immortal Master!"

Upon hearing that Song Qingming was an Immortal Master who had accidentally broken into the valley from outside, the yellow-robed woman immediately reacted that the other party was a person of cultivation, and hurriedly lowered her head to bow to him.

Seeing this, Song Qingming did not stop the other party and asked again: "Have you always lived in this valley, or did you move from outside? Are there any other Immortal Masters here?"

"Reporting to Immortal Master! We live in Yanhu Village ahead and have grown up here since we were young. Apart from our Yanhu Village, there are several other villages in the valley, and everyone has lived here for generations."

"However, we are all ordinary mortals. If you are looking for an Immortal Master, there happens to be one in our village. Do you need me to take you there?"

Seeing Song Qingming, this Immortal Master, the yellow-robed woman's face was very respectful, but there was not much fear, and she answered the question raised by the other party unhurriedly.

"Very well! Then I will trouble you." Hearing that the yellow-robed woman wanted to take him to see the Immortal Master in the village, Song Qingming hurriedly nodded in agreement.

The few walked along the small path in the valley for about two or three miles, and the front suddenly opened up, revealing dozens of acres of fertile fields, and quite a few mortals were working in the fields.

Seeing this scene that looked like a paradise, Song Qingming instantly remembered the scene when he first went down the mountain and guarded the Spirit Origin Mountain for his family.

At that time, the Moon Lake Village on Spirit Origin Mountain was no different from the small village in the valley before his eyes, with mortals farming and weaving, and children playing and making noise.

"Work at sunrise, rest at sunset!"

It's just that time flies, and in a blink of an eye, nearly two hundred years have passed. Today's Song Qingming has already attained the Jin Dan Great Dao and is no longer the little Qi Refining cultivator who only dared to hide in the magic array when facing monsters.

"A-Yu, did you find Feng'er and the others?"

Just as Song Qingming was still recalling the past in his heart, a sturdy man in the distance suddenly ran toward the few of them.

The man who ran over saw the two children beside the yellow-robed woman, and his face also relaxed.

Just as he was about to step forward to help hold the little girl in front of the woman, his gaze suddenly caught Song Qingming standing behind the yellow-robed woman, and his face changed instantly, and he was stunned in place.

Seeing the surprise on her husband's face, the yellow-robed woman hurriedly pointed to Song Qingming and explained: "Wang Qin, this is an Immortal Master from outside. I met him at the valley entrance just now when I was looking for Feng'er and the others."

"He wants to see Immortal Master Zheng in the village. You take him there directly. The sun is almost setting, and I have to go back and cook quickly, otherwise your mother will be nagging again later!"

"Immortal Master from outside?"

"Oh!... You go back first; I will go home immediately after I send the Immortal Master there." Hearing his wife's instructions, the man hurriedly nodded in agreement, for fear of causing dissatisfaction in the woman's heart.

Seeing that this family had such a good relationship, Song Qingming did not open his mouth to disturb them. After nodding slightly to the side, he followed the man and walked toward the village not far away.

Along the way, the mortal villagers around saw Wang Qin bringing a stranger into the village and cast curious gazes. After hearing Wang Qin explain that he was an Immortal Master from outside, they also hurriedly bowed to Song Qingming.

"Immortal Master, Immortal Master Zheng lives in that house ahead. You follow me this way, and we will be there soon!"

After following Wang Qin to the outside of an ordinary courtyard in the village, Song Qingming heard a sound of chopping wood with an axe coming from inside, which immediately made him a bit curious.

"Wang Qin, let him come in by himself. You go back first!" (End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 662 =====