Chapter 738

The territory with a radius of several thousand miles between "Jin Shan Workshop" and "Bai Shiling" was as large as two Pingyang Counties. Now, human cultivators were everywhere in such a large piece of land, and traces of second-tier or higher demon beasts could no longer be seen.

As long as the Song family slowly cleaned up the low-tier demon beasts within the territory in the future and slowly developed, the family territory could directly expand by double, and at least in the short term, they would not have to worry about the lack of spirit mountains within the territory like they did now.

After listening to Song Changze's report, Song Qingming nodded slightly and said:

"Hmm! Since it's almost done, then send a letter to notify the family, let Yuanfang and the others prepare, and in a few days, you go back yourself and transport the first batch of mortals over as soon as possible.

Also, take the opportunity to pick up Xuande and the others, explore all the second-tier spirit mountains, and see where there are mineral veins nearby. This matter must be hurried, lest those people below take advantage of the loopholes."

Song Changze, upon hearing this, immediately bowed and responded: "Patriarch, rest assured, after Xuande and the others come over, I will personally accompany them to take a trip, and there will definitely be no slip-ups."

"Hmm! This matter is left to you to handle. Recently, I will be sitting in this place. If there are any discoveries, inform me in time."

After Song Qingming finished speaking, he was just about to stand up and leave the main hall, but he found that Song Changze, who was standing on the side, had a look of wanting to speak but stopping on his face, as if there was still something left unsaid, so he directly said to him:

"Changze, there are no outsiders here, if there is anything else not made clear, just ask directly!"

Seeing that Song Qingming had seen through his thoughts, Song Changze nodded somewhat awkwardly and said: "Seventh Grand-Uncle, actually this is not my own business, it is Xuanting who sent a letter back a few days ago asking me to help ask for your meaning.

A few days ago, Li Chengyue approached him, having the intention of wanting the spirit vein of Red Moon Ridge, and asked him to help ask if you could hand over this spirit vein to the Li family at that time.

Li Chengyue promised that if the family agreed, the Li family was willing to exchange a Foundation Establishment Pill plus half the shares of Red Flame Workshop for this spirit vein."

After Song Changze finished speaking, his gaze glanced worriedly at Song Qingming's face, and he found that it was indeed as he had thought beforehand; Song Qingming now had a somewhat unpleasant look on his face.

"The family will naturally have a way to distribute the spirit vein matters next. Let Li Chengyue go directly to Yuanfang for this matter. In the future, if there are such things, do not come directly to us to pass the message.

When you go back, tell Xuanting to participate less in the affairs between the Li family and Mount Funiu in the future. The family has the family's rules for doing things and cannot change them arbitrarily because of individuals. Otherwise, if everyone comes to find connections, what will the family's dignity become in the future."

Hearing Song Qingming's reply, Song Changze, who was still somewhat awkward, hurriedly nodded and did not dare to say more. It was not until he watched the family ancestor in front of him walk out of the main hall that he slowly breathed a sigh of relief.

"I already told you, the ancestor doesn't like you participating in other families' affairs, telling you not to help Xuanting with this favor, but you insisted on not listening. Now that you've been scolded, are you comfortable?"

Seeing the trace of regret on Song Changze's face, Liu Yuxin on the side could not help but scold him again, and in her heart, she was also very helpless about Song Changze's behavior just now.

"I also know that the ancestor doesn't like to hear these things, but this is the first time Xuanting has taken the initiative to come to me for help. How could I, as an elder, directly refuse him? I know you are unhappy, but isn't there no other way?

Anyway, whoever says it will be scolded. I can be considered to have carried this matter for Xuanting this time, just treat it as me, this clan uncle, taking care of him once."

Song Changze, who had already felt some regret in his heart, was now also somewhat awkward from being said by his wife, and sighed with self-mockery on his face.

After Song Xuanting established his foundation, under the matchmaking of Song Yuanfang, he married into the Li family of "Emerald Dragon Mountain," taking a younger niece of Li Chengyue as his dao companion. Because of this layer of relationship, he naturally had a closer relationship with the Li family.

This time, following the Song family to send troops to expand the territory, the Li family took a fancy to "Red Moon Ridge" among the dozen or so second-tier spirit veins near "Bai Shiling," so they wanted to inquire about this matter with the Song family in advance through Song Xuanting's relationship, to see if they could take down this second-tier top-quality spirit vein in advance.

Facing Li Chengyue's initiative to come and ask, Song Xuanting, hindered by the relationship between the two sides, also found it difficult to refuse, so he promised to help the Li family inquire about this matter.

However, although Song Xuanting was a Foundation Establishment elder of the family, his relationship with the three Jin Dan ancestors of the Song family was relatively average, and he could not find a good opportunity to ask Song Qingming about this matter alone.

And on the side of "Bai Shiling," the ones who were currently close to the several ancestors of the family and could speak were Song Changze and his wife. Therefore, Song Xuanting asked them for help.

Liu Yuxin had married into the Song family for so many years and had long been very familiar with the temperaments of Song Qingming and the others. Knowing that after Song Xuanting approached Song Changze, she wanted to remind him not to intervene in this matter, but she did not expect that Song Changze would still bite the bullet and say it just now.

For this husband of hers who always liked to think for others in his conduct, Liu Yuxin could only smile bitterly in her heart, knowing that he was kind-hearted and always thought for those around him, but such a personality would always make him suffer because of it.

After setting up the mountain-protecting formation, Song Qingming stayed at "Bai Shiling" to sit in command with Song Qingyu, letting Huang Siyuan, who still had many alchemy tasks on her, return to "Mount Funiu" first.

The news that the human cultivator side had won a great victory and captured "Bai Shiling" soon reached the ears of the numerous demon kings near "Golden Feather Mountain."

Although the "White Rhinoceros Demon King" was an outsider demon king and not a direct descendant of Golden Feather Mountain, after settling down at "Bai Shiling," it, like the numerous demon kings around, took the initiative to surrender to Golden Feather Mountain and was assigned under the command of the great demon king, the Giant Elephant Demon King.

After the Bai Lu and Black Armor demon kings failed to support "Bai Shiling," they soon confirmed the news that the "White Rhinoceros Demon King" had been killed by human cultivators.

Originally thinking that the Song family penetrating deep into the Floating Yunshan Range to encircle and kill the "White Rhinoceros Demon King" was just to avenge its previous attack on "Jin Shan Workshop," the two demon kings, after fleeing back to their own lairs, thought that Song Qingming and the others would immediately retreat south to "Jin Shan Workshop" after looting the spirit mountain.

Unexpectedly, after the Song family killed the "White Rhinoceros Demon King," they did not leave, but instead started a major construction on the mountain to build houses, planning to station there for a long time.

Seeing this situation, the two demon kings also knew that the opponent had come to snatch the territory, so they immediately informed their backer, the "Giant Elephant Demon King," of this matter.

Learning that human cultivators had actually penetrated deep into the Floating Yunshan Range to encircle and kill the demon king under his command, the "Giant Elephant Demon King" was also somewhat furious. Not a few days later, he personally brought the two demon kings and killed his way to "Bai Shiling" again.

Although Huang Siyuan had already returned to "Mount Funiu," Song Qingming and Song Qingyu, relying on the mountain-protecting formation, were not afraid at all when facing the three demon kings and even took the initiative to come out and have a great battle with them outside the formation.

The "Giant Elephant Demon King" had already fought with Song Qingming during the demon beast turmoil years ago, and both sides were originally very familiar with each other's divine abilities and cultivation.

However, at that time, Song Qingming's cultivation was still at the sixth layer of Jin Dan, and he could only barely cope with the late-stage Jin Dan "Giant Elephant Demon King," having no way to defeat his opponent.

But decades later, Song Qingming's current cultivation had advanced further to the seventh layer of Jin Dan, and with several more formidable divine abilities and magic treasures on him, when the two fought again, Song Qingming was actually already able to occupy the upper hand in front of his old opponent.

Song Qingyu, facing the Bai Lu and Black Armor demon kings alone, also fought with ease, using one person and one sword to firmly block the two demon kings outside the formation.

The two sides fought a great battle for half a day. Not only did the "Giant Elephant Demon King" and his group not gain any advantage, but toward the end, the "Bai Lu Demon King" almost died at the hands of Song Qingming and the other.

Seeing that they could not defeat the opponent, the "Giant Elephant Demon King," who fled back to the north, took the initiative to come to Golden Feather Mountain, wanting to request the "Brother Molong Demon Emperor" to send troops to help, helping to drive Song Qingming and the others back to the south of "Jin Shan Workshop."

Unexpectedly, this time the "Giant Elephant Demon King" took the initiative to come to the door, but was given the cold shoulder at "Golden Feather Mountain," just happening to encounter the "Brother Molong Demon Emperor" in closed-door cultivation, and only saw his trusted aide, the "Gao Jinhu Demon King."

Facing the "Giant Elephant Demon King's" plea for help, the "Gao Jinhu Demon King," who had not received the Demon Emperor's instructions, only comforted him and did not open his mouth to promise to send troops to aid him.

It was not until after sending away the "Giant Elephant Demon King" that the "Gao Jinhu Demon King" turned around and came to a cave on the mountaintop to meet the "Brother Molong Demon Emperor" who was in closed-door cultivation.

"Ancestor, I have already dismissed the Giant Elephant. I heard him say that this time the Song family taking down Bai Shiling does not intend to leave, and they are still setting up formations on the mountain. Do you think we should send troops to drive them back?"

"Drive them back, how to drive them back? Do you think the Xiaoyao Sect would not know about the Song family's move? I'm afraid that by the time you arrive at Bai Shiling, the people from the Xiaoyao Sect would already be waiting there."

Hearing the "Gao Jinhu Demon King's" inquiry, the "Brother Molong Demon Emperor" raised his hand to retract the magic power scattered around his body, and then stood up.

"Last time we were defeated at Guiyun Workshop and suffered heavy losses. The Xiaoyao Sect has now caught its breath and will definitely not let us off easily. If I'm not mistaken, the Song family's dispatch of troops this time should be their first step of probing.

Now our strength does not exceed the Xiaoyao Sect by much. Rashly sending troops will not gain any advantage and will easily fall into the ambush of those cunning human cultivators.

Now is not the best time for us to launch a full-scale war. There is no need to start a war with them in advance for a small Bai Shiling. Let's wait until we find helpers before talking!"

After the defeat last time, the demon race of "Golden Feather Mountain" suffered heavy damage, with more than half of the low-tier demon beasts under their command dead or injured, and even seven or eight Jin Dan demon kings died in battle.

Although they had recruited some demon beasts from the Northern Frontier over the years, their current strength could not be compared with that before the demon beast turmoil, and it would take at least another hundred years to slowly recover.

As a trusted aide of the "Brother Molong Demon Emperor," the Gao Jinhu Demon King was also well aware of the unfavorable situation of "Golden Feather Mountain" now, and he did not question the "Brother Molong Demon Emperor's" choice too much.

However, now that human cultivators had begun to expand northward and had also killed the White Rhinoceros Demon King under the "Giant Elephant Demon King," if "Golden Feather Mountain," as the backer of the nearby demon race, ignored this matter, it seemed somewhat unjustifiable. After hesitating for a moment, the "Gao Jinhu Demon King" still bit the bullet and asked: "Ancestor, then how should we reply to the Giant Elephant? If we just ignore it like this, I'm afraid it will make him feel cold toward us in the future."

The "Brother Molong Demon Emperor," upon hearing this, sighed and said: "At any rate, he is also a late-stage Jin Dan great demon king who has cultivated for thousands of years, yet he can't even beat a small Song family. It's a waste that I handed over the entire Northeast to him. He is truly trash.

Having no ability himself, he only knows how to run here to find us to take the lead. We know how to send troops to support, but the Xiaoyao Sect is not stupid. How could they sit idly by and watch us take action? You can't expect me, this Nascent Soul ancestor, to take action to deal with them.

If that were the case, the Song family would not have had the guts to attack our demon race territory in the north.

It's just losing a third-tier low-quality spirit mountain, it's not like his Giant Spirit Peak is gone, why be so short-sighted.

When you go back, have someone send a magic treasure to Giant Spirit Peak to appease him, and tell the Giant Elephant not to worry. Once we have accumulated enough strength, sooner or later we will definitely fight back to the south. At that time, you can have as many spirit mountains as you want.

Also, tell all the demon kings near the south that the Xiaoyao Sect might have other actions recently, so let them all pay attention and don't let human cultivators take advantage of the loopholes again like this."

"Ancestor is wise, this matter is left to me, rest assured, I will definitely appease the Giant Elephant." Hearing the "Brother Molong Demon Emperor's" explanation, the Gao Jinhu Demon King hurriedly nodded and agreed to this matter.

The Song family's northward expansion and occupation of "Bai Shiling" was only a loss of some territory for the "Giant Elephant Demon King" who was entrenched in the east, and it did not have too much impact on the entire demon race of Golden Feather Mountain.

The "Gao Jinhu Demon King" also did not want to intervene in the "Bai Shiling" matter casually in his heart, it was just that since someone came to the door, it was somewhat unjustifiable not to give an explanation.

Regarding the "Brother Molong Demon Emperor's" choice not to intervene in this matter, Song Qingming, who was far away at "Bai Shiling," actually had expectations in his heart long ago, and this was also the biggest reason why he dared to take action against "Bai Shiling."

This time, expanding the territory northward, Song Qingming first went to "Mount Guyang" personally, and after obtaining the sect's support, he felt relieved to gather manpower to attack "Bai Shiling."

After the demon beast turmoil last time, the "Golden Feather Mountain" demon beast army suffered heavy damage after failing to attack "Guiyun Workshop," and more than half of the demon beast army under their command died or were injured before they could all retreat to the Floating Yunshan Range.

After the great battle, the "Golden Feather Mountain" demon beasts now had no advantage compared to the "Xiaoyao Sect" side, and the human cultivator side also wanted to counterattack the demon race to avenge their grievances long ago.

The "Brother Molong Demon Emperor" had insufficient manpower under his command, so he could only recruit a batch of demon beasts with uneven strength from the Northern Frontier to strengthen the defense on the outskirts of Golden Feather Mountain that was already somewhat empty.

Now the demon race of "Golden Feather Mountain" was still in danger itself. As long as the "Brother Molong Demon Emperor's" brain was not stupid, he would not launch a full-scale war with the Xiaoyao Sect for a small "Bai Shiling" at this time.

At most, it was giving some support behind the scenes to see if the "Giant Elephant Demon King" had the ability to recapture the spirit mountain himself, and it was absolutely impossible to send a main demon beast army to come.

After "Bai Shiling" was conquered by Song Qingming and the others, they had already set up a third-tier "mountain-protecting formation." Without five or six mid-stage Jin Dan or higher demon kings taking action at the same time, there was simply no opportunity to recapture this spirit mountain.

Relying solely on the "Giant Elephant Demon King" and the demon beast army under his command, the three Jin Dan cultivators of the Song family were already enough to cope, without needing anyone else to help.

If the "Golden Feather Mountain" demon beast army dared to go south to support on a large scale, the "Xiaoyao Sect" behind the Song family would definitely not sit idly by. At that time, the demon race side would also not be able to get any benefits.

After obtaining the clear instructions from the "Brother Molong Demon Emperor," the "Gao Jinhu Demon King" personally went to Giant Spirit Peak not many days later to properly appease the "Giant Elephant Demon King" who had suffered grievances.

Knowing that the one at Golden Feather Mountain did not want to go to war with the human race now, the "Giant Elephant Demon King," although unwilling in his heart, was also helpless. Without the help of "Golden Feather Mountain," they simply could not drive away Song Qingming and the others, and in the end, he could only helplessly record this account first.

Although he knew in his heart that "Golden Feather Mountain" would most likely not send troops to back up the "Giant Elephant Demon King" and his group, Song Qingming did not relax his vigilance and had always been sitting in command at "Bai Shiling" with Song Qingyu.

Soon, another half a year passed. Just as Song Qingming had thought, there was no movement on the side of Golden Feather Mountain. The "Giant Elephant Demon King," except for going south a few times to probe, also did not dare to penetrate deep and bring people to attack "Bai Shiling" again.

More than half a year passed, and the demon beasts in the numerous spirit mountain territories near "Bai Shiling" had basically been cleaned up. Everyone had worked hard for more than half a year, and now it was time to reward based on merit.

Seeing that "Bai Shiling" had slowly stabilized, Song Qingming finally found time to lead a portion of the family cultivators to return to "Mount Funiu," leaving Song Qingyu and Song Changze and the others to station at "Bai Shiling."

The family had just captured "Bai Shiling" and expanded the territory northward by several thousand miles. Not only did they have to reward based on merit and distribute the territory, but they also had to arrange for cultivators and mortals to go and manage these spirit veins.

In the past half year, Song Yuanfang, who was responsible for this matter in the rear, was also busy to the point of being overwhelmed. As soon as he heard the news of Song Qingming's return to the family, he immediately came to the mountaintop and found him.

"Seventh Grand-Uncle, these are the cultivators that Yuqian and the others have counted to be rewarded after the battle, as well as the distribution of meritorious service for the major Foundation Establishment families. You take a look first. If there are no problems, I will let Changze and the others execute it directly.

Also, in the past few months, many cultivation families and incoming loose cultivators have come to ask for the low-tier spirit veins we newly occupied in the north.

There are too many people coming, and the extra spirit veins we have in our hands are just these, far from enough for them to divide, so I can only allocate them by choosing the best.

This is a draft I made regarding the distribution of the new spirit veins. You take a look first to see where changes are needed, and I will deliberate on it later."

Seeing the reward accounts handed over by Song Yuanfang, Song Qingming just glanced at them slightly and nodded to him, agreeing with their arrangements.

The Song family had been promoted to a Jin Dan family for more than a hundred years, and the meritorious service system within the clan had long been very perfect. Song Qingming was still relatively at ease with Song Yuanfang and the others handling this matter.

After returning the meritorious service account book to Song Yuanfang, Song Qingming focused his gaze on the second list of spirit vein distribution in his hand.

This time, besides "Bai Shiling," this third-tier spirit vein, the Song family occupied a total of thirteen second-tier or higher spirit veins and more than eighty first-tier or higher spirit veins.

Some of these spirit veins had been developed by cultivators before and then occupied by demon beasts, and some were naturally grown and had always been occupied by demon beasts and had just been taken down by human cultivators. Without exception, they were all excellent spirit veins with environments relatively suitable for mortals to live in.

Knowing the news that the Song family had expanded so many new spirit veins, all the cultivation families within the Song family's territory began to stir, wanting to use meritorious service or spirit items to exchange for better spirit mountains for their families.

The most aggressive among them was the Li family where Li Chengyue was. The spirit vein of the Li family's "Lotus Mountain" was only second-tier mid-quality. With the rapid development of the family over the years, the spiritual energy on the mountain was already somewhat insufficient.

They wanted to take this opportunity to take down a second-tier top-quality spirit mountain near "Bai Shiling," which could not only solve the problem of the family's insufficient spirit veins but also allow the Li family to follow the Song family and develop northward together.

However, for the "Red Moon Ridge" spirit vein that the Li family wanted to exchange for, besides them, several other Foundation Establishment families also took a fancy to it at the same time, and the competition was very fierce.

Song Yuanfang, after synthesizing their quotes, finally chose to exchange the spirit vein to the Li family, but the asking price was much higher than what they had given before. The Li family spent a full nearly thirty thousand spirit stones to take down this spirit vein.

Besides the cultivation families under the Song family, many loose cultivator forces lacking spirit veins for cultivation, as well as some incoming cultivation families, also came to "Mount Funiu" one after another, spending spirit stones and wanting to exchange for a spirit vein they wanted from the Song family's hands.

Even within the "Xiaoyao Sect," there were several Foundation Establishment cultivators whose paths of cultivation had been cut off who sent letters to ask if the Song family had any extra spirit veins to provide for them to settle their relatives and descendants.

These people were all advanced in age and had long lost the hope of breaking through to Jin Dan, and they had no background in the sect. Once they passed away in the future, their descendants would definitely be squeezed out by others like the Song family's ancestors.

So they thought about whether they could exchange for an industry for their relatives and descendants in advance outside, so that they could have a place to stay in the future and not have to live under others' roofs and look at others' faces.

Facing these forces that wanted to defect to the Song family, Song Qingming was still relatively concerned, and he carefully checked the names one by one, not wanting to see a name he was very familiar with among them, Bai Yunhua.

Seeing this name, Bai Yunhua's figure immediately appeared in Song Qingming's mind.

Recalling that array genius who followed him to "Mount Funiu" to help improve the spirit vein back then, he could not help but sigh in his mouth that time had passed so quickly, and it had been nearly two hundred years since the two of them met until now.

"Yuanfang, this person is an old acquaintance of mine and is also Yuanrong's master. The Rising Sun Peak spirit vein he wants is just a first-tier top-quality spirit vein anyway, so just give it to him directly, don't ask him for spirit stones anymore.

For the others, I took a look and there are no big problems, just follow your current expectations. If there are any changes, inform me by letter.

Remember one point, for those spirit mountains that have been detected to have mineral veins by Xuande and the others, you must tell them in advance that they cannot be mined privately. Whoever doesn't listen will have the spirit vein taken back on the spot."

"Good! Seventh Grand-Uncle, there is one more thing regarding Xuande's recent Foundation Establishment, I want to ask for your opinion again, does the family still want to support him to continue Foundation Establishment?" (End of chapter)