Chapter 685: Black-clothed man, an acquaintance

Qinghe County, "Brother Chiyun Workshop."

Since the Song family created this workshop, in just a few decades, "Brother Chiyun Workshop," under the management of the Song family, had already developed into the largest workshop in the northeast of the Wei Kingdom.

However, in the past half year, because of the invasion of beasts from the northern border, most of the cultivators in Qinghe County had already gone to the "Mount Jin Workshop" frontline to resist the beast army.

Added to the fact that quite a few loose cultivators who resided here long-term had left "Brother Chiyun Workshop" in advance to take refuge in the south of the Wei Kingdom, at this time, there were only sparse crowds of people on the streets of the workshop, which was already several times colder compared to the prosperity of the past.

On this day, a young man dressed in black with a somewhat delicate appearance walked slowly along the streets of the workshop. After strolling on the street for a while, he arrived at "Immortal Phoenix Tower," which was operated by the Song family.

"Oh my! Guest, are you here to eat or stay at the inn?"

Just as the black-clothed man walked into the restaurant, a waiter who was wiping tables and chairs in the lobby immediately revealed a smiling face and welcomed him happily.

Because there were fewer and fewer cultivators in the workshop in recent days, the restaurant's business was also becoming more and more bleak. The waiter, who had only entertained two tables of guests all morning, was also very happy in his heart at this moment to see a new guest come in.

"I want to stay at the inn and also eat. You first help me prepare a table of wine and food, and order the signature dishes of your shop. That spiritual fish I ate last time was quite good; remember to order it, and you can look after the rest yourself!"

After the black-clothed man finished speaking, he, who looked somewhat happy, also raised his hand and threw a spirit stone to the waiter beside him.

"Hehe! Many thanks, guest. You are talking about our shop's signature famous dish, Liu Cuiyun Carp, right? Please rest assured, leave it to this little one. You follow me to the second floor to find a seat and rest for a moment, and the dishes will be brought to you in a moment."

Seeing that the black-clothed man was so generous, rewarding him with a spirit stone as soon as he came up, this waiter, whose cultivation was only mid-stage Qi Condensation, was also very surprised, and hurriedly brought him respectfully to the best private room on the second floor.

Not long after, this waiter brought seven or eight fragrant and delicious spiritual foods, entered the private room, placed them one by one in front of the black-clothed man, and carefully introduced each dish on the table.

"Hmm! Not bad, it's still this taste. Sure enough, it's still somewhat different from what is eaten outside!" After tasting the "Liu Cuiyun Carp," the signature famous dish of the restaurant that the waiter had just introduced, the black-clothed man nodded at him with satisfaction.

"Guest, the dishes are all served. If you have no other instructions, then I will not disturb you first. If you have any needs, just call out toward the outside, and I will come over immediately."

Seeing that the black-clothed man was very satisfied with the restaurant's dishes, this waiter responded with a trace of pride on his face, and then prepared to leave the private room.

"Wait a moment! I still have some things I want to ask you." Just as the waiter had just turned around, the black-clothed man, who was savoring the delicious spiritual food, suddenly opened his mouth and called him back again.

Seeing this, the restaurant waiter hurriedly approached, smiled, and nodded: "Hehe! Guest, you have found the right person. This little one has also stayed in this Red Flame Workshop for over ten years. I dare not say I know 100% of the things in the workshop, but eight or nine out of ten I still know.

You want to inquire about what, just speak directly, this little one will absolutely not intentionally deceive you."

"Hmm! I want to ask, do you know where the patriarch of the Song family, Song Qingming, is now?"

"Song Qingming?... Guest, you aren't talking about the Jin Dan Chen Chen Laozu of the Song family of Mount Funiu in our Qinghe County, are you!"

Hearing the black-clothed man say the three words Song Qingming in an understated way, this restaurant waiter was slightly stunned for a moment, only then slowly reacting, and subsequently asked the other party with a face full of surprise to confirm.

The black-clothed man saw this, nodded slightly with a calm face: "Hmm! That is who I am talking about. Recently, isn't your Wei Kingdom fighting with beasts? Is he also at the frontline now?"

"Guest! You must absolutely not inquire about this blindly. The Chen Chen Laozu of the Song family of Mount Funiu is a Jin Dan stage cultivator. Where would his whereabouts be something that we ordinary cultivators could know.

You should be from out of town, right? Let me tell you, Chen Chen Laozu Song, his old man, doesn't really like others inquiring about things related to him. I will treat it as if you hadn't said what you just said.

Otherwise, if the people from the workshop's law enforcement team heard this, it would be terrible. If things go wrong, you might be caught by them to dig mines in Yin Feng Ridge."

Seeing that when the black-clothed man spoke of Chen Chen Laozu Song, his face was still indifferent, this waiter who had just received benefits from the other party hurriedly reminded the other party with good intentions.

"Oh! I was just asking out of curiosity, I didn't mean anything else. Is it that serious?" Hearing the waiter's reminder, the black-clothed man's face changed slightly, and he slowly put down the chopsticks in his hand.

The inn waiter saw that the other party still didn't quite believe it, and hurriedly nodded with a serious face and replied: "Guest, how would I dare to lie to you? It's fortunate that you met me today. If it were someone else with ulterior motives, maybe they would have gone to report you to the law enforcement team by now."

"Oh! Is this something that definitely cannot be asked?"

Seeing that the waiter spoke so seriously, the black-clothed man, somewhat unwilling to give up, took out a low-grade spirit stone from his body and placed it on the table in front of the waiter.

"Guest! This really won't do." Although seeing the shining spirit stone in front of him, the restaurant waiter was very tempted in his heart, but facing the black-clothed man's inquiry, he still shook his head decisively.

"Alright then! I'll change to another question, not asking about his affairs is fine, right!"

Seeing this, the black-clothed man sighed slightly in his mouth, and then asked in a low voice: "Tell me, how is the frontline fighting with the beasts now, and where are the cultivators of your Qinghe County fighting the beasts?"

"Uh! This... this."

"What this and that, don't tell me you can't say this either. If nothing can be asked, then you go out first, don't disturb me here."

Seeing that the waiter was still somewhat hesitant, the black-clothed man's face was immediately somewhat displeased, and he reached out wanting to take back the spirit stone he had just placed on the table.

"Guest, this can be said. This little one just didn't know where to start, so I thought about it for a moment. You must not misunderstand." Seeing that the spirit stone in front of him was about to disappear, the restaurant waiter hurriedly opened his mouth to interrupt the black-clothed man's action.

"Alright then! You speak slowly, I'm not in a hurry to leave."

The black-clothed man nodded with satisfaction upon hearing this, put down the spirit stone, and picked up the bowl and chopsticks on the table.

The shop waiter saw this and immediately opened his mouth to continue: "To speak of this once-in-a-century damn beast turmoil, it has also harmed us ordinary cultivators bitterly.

Ever since the beast army moved south, the Song family has conscripted many cultivators in Qinghe County to go to the frontline Mount Jin Workshop to resist the beast army. It has already been more than half a year..."

This little waiter in "Red Flame Workshop," although he had never been to the frontline battlefield, spoke of the war ahead with a high-spirited and articulate manner, as if he were personally on the scene.

From Song Qingming's first battle killing the "Nine-Pattern Flood Dragon" to Song Qingyu and Huang Siyuan besieging and killing the "Blue Feather Demon King" not long ago.

The "Mount Jin Workshop" cultivators' several great battles with the beasts in the past half year, this "Immortal Phoenix Tower" waiter could all say a thing or two about the methods. Obviously, his news was still very well-informed.

"Guest, this little one has always been in the workshop and has never been to the frontline. Some words are heard from coming and going guests, so there might be some discrepancies. You also don't take it too seriously.

I dare to guarantee that everything I know has already been told to you. Red Flame Workshop here is still some distance from the Mount Jin Workshop frontline after all. What happened over there, we have no way to know immediately."

After speaking in a high-spirited manner for a full stick of incense, the shop waiter only then told the black-clothed man everything about the "Mount Jin Workshop" frontline in the past half year.

However, what he said was only a general situation and did not have much detailed information. After all, being in the rear, the news he could know about the frontline was also relatively limited.

"Hmm! No matter, what you said is already enough. You take this spirit stone!"

Hearing the black-clothed man say this, the shop waiter hurriedly stepped forward and reached out to get the spirit stone he had been longing for, smiled, bowed to him, and then actively exited the private room.

After a while, the black-clothed man had eaten and drunk his fill and was just about to get up and leave the private room when the waiter who had left not long ago walked in again somewhat anxiously.

"Guest, I am truly sorry. Just now, the people from the workshop's law enforcement team said that quite a few beasts suddenly came to Mount Yunwu in the east and have already arrived near the workshop. Our restaurant has to close first and go together to resist the beast siege. We cannot entertain you anymore.

The proprietor said, I am truly sorry about this matter. This meal will be treated as our restaurant's treat to you; you don't need to pay any more spirit stones."

"Oh! There is such a good thing, then that is truly taking advantage of you. Then forget it, I won't stay here today." After the black-clothed man finished listening to the words in the waiter's mouth, he responded with a smile and stood up, preparing to leave this place.

"Guest, there are beasts attacking the workshop outside. You must absolutely not go out now. It is better to wait until we have repelled the beasts before leaving, which is more stable.

Please rest assured, there are still two Foundation Establishment seniors in the workshop. Even if the beasts come, they will definitely not be able to break the workshop's mountain-protecting formation. Once the reinforcements from Mount Funiu arrive, we will immediately be able to drive those beasts back into the mountains."

Seeing the black-clothed man get up and walk out, the shop waiter couldn't help but open his mouth to remind him again.

"No matter! I cannot take advantage of you for nothing."

After a somewhat pleasant voice entered his ears, the shop waiter, whose face was still somewhat puzzled, when his gaze glanced outside the door, the black-clothed man from just now had already disappeared, as if he had suddenly disappeared rapidly. The shop waiter saw this and thought it was because he was too nervous about the beast siege just now that his eyes were somewhat blurred. He hurriedly shook his head to make himself sober, only then closing the room door and walking out.

The news of beasts attacking the workshop outside had already spread throughout the workshop. The black-clothed man walking on the street glanced at the mountain-protecting formation that had already been activated in the sky, and then followed the many cultivators who were hurrying on their way, arriving near the workshop's city wall.

Ever since the beast turmoil started, not only the beasts moving south from the northern border, but beasts from all parts of the Floating Cloud Mountain Range would also take the opportunity to come out together to attack the human territory.

Besides needing to deal with the beast army moving south from "Mount Jin Workshop" in the north, the cultivators of Qinghe County also had to deal with the beasts that could attack at any time from "Mount Yunwu" in the east.

Although there were no Jin Dan Demon Kings above third-tier in "Mount Yunwu," there were still quite a few low-tier beasts of first and second tier. Every time there was a beast turmoil, they would also come out from the deep mountains in the east and raid various places in Qinghe County.

Therefore, every time there was a beast turmoil, the cultivators of Qinghe County would also fixedly leave a portion of people to guard the east of Qinghe County to deal with the beast army in "Mount Yunwu" that could invade Qinghe County at any time.

The "Red Flame Workshop" created by the Song family was located just right deep in "Mount Yunwu."

Before the beast turmoil started, this place was already frequently harassed by nearby beasts. In the past half year, it was also not the first time they had encountered beasts coming to attack the workshop.

After the many cultivators in the workshop gathered on the west side of "Red Flame Workshop," two sword lights flew from the middle of the workshop and landed directly on the city wall, revealing a male and a female figure.

These two people were exactly the Foundation Establishment cultivators arranged by the Song family to be responsible for guarding "Red Flame Workshop," Song Changze and Liu Yuxin.

Song Changze, who was in closed-door meditation together with Song Qingyu, had already come out of closed-door meditation a few months ago. His cultivation had already successfully broken through to the seventh layer of Foundation Establishment, becoming a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Liu Yuxin had been guarding "Red Flame Workshop" all these years. With a very business-minded brain, she had also earned quite a few spirit stones relying on the workshop all these years and had never lacked any cultivation resources.

Now, Liu Yuxin's cultivation had also very steadily cultivated to the peak of the sixth layer of Foundation Establishment, and it was not far from breaking through to the late stage of Foundation Establishment.

Song Changze, standing above the city wall, scanned the large-scale army of nearly a thousand beasts rushing over from afar, frowned slightly, and opened his mouth to say to Liu Yuxin beside him: "Why have so many beasts come, and there are also five Foundation Establishment beasts. We had better not rashly go out first. Let's wait until Sixteenth Uncle sends someone over before acting together!"

Hearing Song Changze's words, Liu Yuxin shook her head gently with a solemn face: "Hmm! What you considered is not bad, but waiting for Senior Yuanfang and the others to rush over will take at least an hour. So many low-tier beasts attacking the formation will consume quite a few of our spirit stones.

Now the inventory of spirit stones in the workshop was just transported to the Mount Jin Workshop frontline a few days ago. Now we don't have many spirit stones left to support the operation of the formation. Hiding inside all the time is afraid not a long-term plan. We still have to find a way to contain the beast army."

"Do you have any good strategies?" After hearing Liu Yuxin's analysis, Song Changze was silent for a moment, did not deny the other party's words, and opened his mouth to ask Liu Yuxin again.

"First let all cultivators go up to the city wall to help support the front mountain-protecting formation. We lead the law enforcement team to first detour out from the east side of the workshop. After the battle starts here, take advantage of their lack of preparation to sneak attack them from behind.

As long as we can interrupt one wave of their city attack and disperse the attention of the beast army, we will definitely be able to persist until Senior Yuanfang and the others arrive." Liu Yuxin said her plan seriously with a calm face.

"Let everyone go outside the workshop to contain the beast army, is the method you mentioned a bit too dangerous?"

"Now we are weak. If we want to block the beast army, where is there anything that doesn't take risks at all? If you have a better method, you might as well say it out, we can also refer to it." Liu Yuxin said with a light laugh.

"Now there is no time to think too much, let's do it according to the method you said. In short, everyone must pay attention to safety!"

After making up his mind, Song Changze designated a few late-stage Qi Condensation cultivators of the Song family beside him to help direct the crowd left behind to guard the city, organized the over a hundred cultivators of the law enforcement team responsible for guarding the workshop's safety, and left the workshop first from the east side of the workshop.

Just as Song Changze and the others went out, the beast army had already arrived under the workshop city, and started to desperately attack the "Red Flame Workshop" mountain-protecting formation.

The "Red Flame Workshop" mountain-protecting formation was only second-tier top-quality. Facing the constant siege of nearly a thousand beast armies outside, it soon started to sway somewhat. The many low-tier cultivators above the city wall hurriedly injected their own magic power into the formation to help stabilize the mountain-protecting formation.

At the same time, the law enforcement team cultivators sent by Song Changze and Liu Yuxin had also quietly groped over from the side of the workshop, and soon arrived at the side and rear of the beast army that was attacking the city with all their might.

Just as they were preparing to launch a sneak attack, a black escape light suddenly appeared in front of the beast army, and subsequently, a black-clothed man with a very strange appearance appeared above the beast army.

"Eh! Who is this person?"

Before Song Changze and Liu Yuxin in the distance could figure out what was going on, the spiritual light in the black-clothed man's hand moved, and he swung out several powerful sword lights, directly passing through the body of a late-stage Foundation Establishment beast leading the front of the beast army, chopping it into two pieces with one sword.

Seeing this shocking scene, those low-tier beasts attacking the city were startled and dodged to the side.

Before they could react, several more sword lights shot out from the black-clothed man's hand in mid-air, directly killing two second-tier beasts that were relatively close on the battlefield.

This black-clothed man, with just a casual strike, could easily kill a second-tier beast with not low cultivation. In just a moment, dozens of beasts died tragically in his hands on the battlefield, among which there were also three leading Foundation Establishment beasts.

"This is! A Jin Dan cultivator?" Seeing this somewhat shocking scene in front of him, Song Changze's opened mouth was also somewhat unable to close at this moment, and his face was full of disbelief.

Ever since he came out of closed-door meditation and broke through his cultivation a few months ago, Song Changze, who received the order of the family Chen Chen Laozu, had been guarding "Red Flame Workshop."

In recent times, because of the beast turmoil, there were fewer and fewer cultivators in the workshop. He was also somewhat unable to understand how there could still be a Jin Dan cultivator suddenly appear here at this time to help them deal with the invading beast army.

"What are you all standing there for? It's a perfect opportunity, why don't you hurry over and help!"

Just as Song Changze and the others were still somewhat stunned, Liu Yuxin hurriedly reminded them loudly, and subsequently the crowd who reacted killed toward the beast army that was already somewhat chaotic below the workshop.

At the same time, the many Qi Condensation cultivators left behind in the workshop also discovered the abnormal situation outside.

Seeing the beast army that was still attacking the workshop aggressively just now, at this moment facing the powerful attack of a Jin Dan cultivator, they had already started to panic and retreat backward.

The many "Red Flame Workshop" cultivators who did not want to miss this rare opportunity to make contributions immediately rushed out from the formation and pursued those beast armies that were constantly retreating.

That "Immortal Phoenix Tower" waiter mixed in the workshop army, at this moment seeing the black-clothed man showing off his power in the sky, also felt an inexplicable familiarity, but once he thought that the person who ate before was clearly only a Qi Condensation stage cultivator, he shook his head gently again.

"It's not very likely to be him, it must be that I saw it wrong!"

With the help of the black-clothed cultivator, this Jin Dan powerhouse who appeared suddenly, everyone in "Red Flame Workshop" almost did not spend much effort and soon repelled the attack of the beast army.

Until the remaining beast remnants were chased by the many cultivators of "Red Flame Workshop" back into the depths of "Mount Yunwu," Song Changze and the others still found it somewhat difficult to believe that this battle, which was originally somewhat dangerous, had ended so easily and quickly.

After repelling the beast army, Song Changze and Liu Yuxin turned around and arrived in front of the black-clothed man who had just helped them repel the beast army, and bowed respectfully.

"Juniors Song Changze, Liu Yuxin, have met Senior. Many thanks to Senior for just now taking action to help and helping us repel the beast army."

The black-clothed man scanned the two people in front of him calmly, then placed his gaze on Song Changze beside him, nodded slightly at him and asked:

"Are you a person of the Song family of Mount Funiu?"

"What Senior said is correct, the junior is indeed a person of the Song family of Mount Funiu, guarding Red Flame Workshop under the orders of the Chen Chen Laozu. Today, thanks to Senior's great kindness, if Senior does not dislike it, why not return to the workshop with us, so that I can fulfill the duties of a host."

"No need! This matter is just a small effort!" Hearing Song Changze's invitation, the black-clothed man did not even think and immediately opened his mouth to refuse his good intentions.

Just as Song Changze's face was slightly embarrassed, the black-clothed man said to him in a low voice again: "I am already acquainted with your family's Chen Chen Laozu. Coming to Qinghe County this time is also to find him for some matters. If you have time now, why not take me to the Mount Jin Workshop frontline!"

"So Senior is acquainted with our family's Chen Chen Laozu. I hope Senior will forgive the junior for being rude just now. Mount Jin Workshop is only two thousand miles away from here. If Senior wants to go now, the junior is willing to serve!"

Hearing that the black-clothed man was acquainted with his own family's Chen Chen Laozu, the originally somewhat nervous expression on Song Changze's face immediately relaxed, and he immediately smiled and agreed to the other party's request.

The three Old Ancestors of the Song family all had experiences of traveling abroad after forming a core.

Especially after Huang Siyuan joined the "Heavenly Pill Alliance," she often went to the "East Sea Cultivation World" because of this, and got to know quite a few Jin Dan cultivators in the "Heavenly Pill Alliance." In these years, occasionally there would be fellow daoists passing by Mount Funiu who would specially visit her.

Hearing the black-clothed man's words, Song Changze thought in his heart that the other party was looking for Huang Siyuan, so he didn't ask much. After giving instructions to Liu Yuxin beside him, he actively walked onto a third-tier mid-quality flying boat that the black-clothed man had just taken out.

This high-tier flying boat, which looked somewhat exquisite, quickly left the original place under the control of the black-clothed man, turned into a green light, and flew rapidly toward the north. (End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 686 =====