Chapter 752: Sudden Change in the Mural, Each Taking What They Need (Seeking Monthly Votes)

Song Qingming, who was waiting to the side, heard Bai Yunhua's exclamation and immediately walked quickly toward the mural.

After walking closer, Song Qingming discovered that the landscape on the original mural had now been replaced by another somewhat similar pattern, and the runes on it were also more than half less than before, with only a dozen or so remaining.

"This, could it be that I triggered some restriction inside when I took away the fragment just now, and this mural changed along with it?" Seeing this brand-new mural, a hint of surprise also appeared in Song Qingming's heart.

Before being teleported out just now, Song Qingming had not felt any spiritual power fluctuations inside.

But the moment he put away the fragment, that teleportation also started immediately. It seemed that it was because he took away the fragment that the teleportation restriction was triggered instantly.

Seeing Song Qingming walk over, Bai Yunhua stood to the side and explained with a look of surprise, "Senior, I have been in many times before, and it was always the original picture and runes. This is the first time I have seen this pattern."

"Just now, this junior tried it, and with my magic power, I couldn't activate these runes at all. It is completely different from before."

Glancing at Bai Yunhua and seeing that the other party did not seem to be lying, Song Qingming nodded slightly with a solemn expression, "Fellow Daoist Bai, you step aside first; let me try."

Bai Yunhua heard this and immediately took the initiative to leave the front of the mural, giving up his position to Song Qingming, and stood to the side to watch with an open mind.

After scanning the mural carefully, Song Qingming directly opened his palm and cast a spell to release a spiritual light, covering one of the runes.

Although Song Qingming's understanding of these runes was currently not as good as Bai Yunhua's, as a high-tier formation master, it was not difficult for him to learn how to cast spells to operate these runes.

After covering the rune completely with his own magic power, a burst of spiritual light immediately lit up on the entire rune.

Seeing this, Song Qingming immediately increased his magic power and began to control the rune to rotate its position, attempting to open the switch of the restriction on it. This was also the method Bai Yunhua used before.

As long as the runes above were activated and adjusted to the accurate direction, the corresponding passage on the mural could be opened directly.

Bai Yunhua, who was to the side, saw that Song Qingming had already activated the rune, and a hint of joy also appeared on his face immediately, thinking that Song Qingming should be able to open the passage smoothly next.

But the situation that followed made both of them feel very surprised.

Song Qingming, who had already activated the rune, exerted his greatest magic power, but only moved the position of the rune slightly, and it was difficult to shake it another step.

After trying repeatedly for a good while, seeing that it still didn't work, Song Qingming could only helplessly give up and retract his own magic power.

Afterward, Song Qingming found another rune on the mural and cast a spell to try the steps just now again, but the result was still the same; he couldn't operate the restriction on the rune at all.

Just like this, he spent a full stick of incense time, trying all the dozen or so runes on it one by one, but without exception, there was not a single rune that he had a way to operate.

Seeing this, Song Qingming, whose magic power was already running low, could only helplessly stop the idea of continuing to try.

"Senior Song, although this rune is different from the previous one, I think the method of operation should still be correct. It just seems to be much more difficult than before."

"This is truly strange. I have been here so many times before, and the rune restrictions above have never shown this kind of change. How did it suddenly become so powerful?"

When Bai Yunhua operated the previous rune restrictions, although it also required consuming a lot of magic power, it was far from being as difficult as it is now.

After trying for so long, Song Qingming himself also felt that the restriction on these runes was much more powerful than he had originally imagined.

Although he could shake the rune slightly by casting spells with all his might, it was clearly still somewhat insufficient to operate the restriction and open the passage.

Song Qingming estimated in his heart that to successfully operate the rune restriction above, one would probably need cultivation above the Nascent Soul stage.

Seeing that Bai Yunhua to the side also saw it, Song Qingming nodded slightly, "It seems that the restriction on this rune is indeed much more difficult than before. It is unlikely that we can go in again now."

"No matter, let's go out first. Being able to find a useful magic treasure today can be considered not having come in vain. Next time I have time, I will come and try again myself!"

Although he knew that this cave dwelling was related to the fragment in his hand and he urgently wanted to find the remaining fragments, facing the mural now, Song Qingming was also somewhat helpless.

After pondering for a moment, he still shook his head helplessly, intending to leave here first and wait until he had time to try again.

Bai Yunhua also said before that the positions of the runes on the mural would change every time he came in. Perhaps if he came again after a period of time, the mural could return to its previous appearance, so Song Qingming would have a chance to operate the runes and open the passage again.

Having cultivated for so many years, Song Qingming also knew that some things could not be too impatient. Since he had no way to enter now, he could only wait until later.

Anyway, this cave dwelling was in "Qinghe County," and the distance to the family spiritual mountain was only a few hundred miles. It was easy for him to come again, so there was no need to rush for a moment.

After thinking it through, Song Qingming turned around immediately, without hesitation, and walked directly toward the exit of the main hall.

Bai Yunhua to the side saw this and followed without saying much.

Even a Golden Core ancestor like Song Qingming had no way, so Bai Yunhua naturally did not want to try again.

For him, bringing Song Qingming to this cave dwelling and helping him obtain a good magic treasure had already fulfilled the agreement.

The remaining passages had long been searched by Bai Yunhua before, and there were no useful things inside. Whether the other party could enter or not had nothing to do with him, so he was naturally willing to go back early.

Not long after, Song Qingming and the other man followed the original path and left the cave dwelling, returning to the water surface.

After coming out, Song Qingming did not rush to leave, but controlled the "Phantom Boat" to take Bai Yunhua around the surroundings, and then returned to the sky above the "Qinghe."

Only then did Song Qingming turn around and say to Bai Yunhua behind him with a serious expression, "Fellow Daoist Bai, to be honest, I am indeed somewhat interested in this cave dwelling."

"After leaving today, you must promise me one thing: do not mention anything related to this cave dwelling to anyone else. You should be able to do this, right!"

Bai Yunhua heard this and immediately nodded respectfully, "Since this junior has already gifted this cave dwelling to you, Senior, it is naturally impossible for me to mention this matter to anyone else."

"Please rest assured, Senior Song. Regarding the cave dwelling, this junior has never mentioned it to anyone before, not even my descendants in the family know about it."

"Hmm! That is good. However, I have always been relatively cautious in my actions and do not want to attract any troublesome things to myself in the future. Do you understand what I mean, Fellow Daoist Bai?"

"This... Senior, please rest assured. This junior is willing to swear by my own soul here that after leaving today, I will absolutely not reveal anything related to this cave dwelling to anyone."

Seeing Song Qingming's gaze staring at him tightly with some unease, Bai Yunhua was slightly stunned, then immediately reacted, and then took the initiative to make a soul oath to keep the secret in front of Song Qingming.

To show his sincerity, Bai Yunhua also took out a soul contract from his body, wrote down the oath, and then took a drop of his own essence blood and dripped it on it, establishing a life-and-death contract with Song Qingming, handing his own life directly into Song Qingming's hands.

Seeing the other party take out a soul contract, Song Qingming was also slightly surprised. It seems that Bai Yunhua had already thought of these things before coming and had prepared for it.

After obtaining the other party's soul contract, Song Qingming nodded with satisfaction, then took Bai Yunhua and transformed into a white escape light, returning directly to "Mount Funiu."

From the time they left to the time they returned, several hours had already passed, and the sunset in the sky had already fallen below the distant mountain peaks.

After returning to "Mount Funiu" and seeing that it was getting late, Song Qingming had Song Yuanfang directly arrange for Bai Yunhua and his grandson to stay, letting them wait until tomorrow to return to "Bai Shiling."

To this, Bai Yunhua did not refuse and nodded in agreement immediately.

After resting for a night, early the next morning, Bai Yunhua took Bai Jingyun and had just walked out, intending to go and bid farewell to Song Yuanfang, when he ran into Song Yuanfang, who had taken the initiative to find him.

"Fellow Daoist Bai, the Chen Chen Laozu invites you to go to the mountaintop."

"Is it the Chen Chen Laozu Song inviting me over?" Hearing from Song Yuanfang that it was Song Qingming looking for him, Bai Yunhua was also somewhat surprised.

Before returning from the "Qinghe Cave Dwelling" yesterday, he had already sworn an oath in person. For a while, he didn't quite understand what Song Qingming had to look for him for at this time.

"That is correct, it is Seventh Uncle-Grandfather looking for you, Fellow Daoist, to talk about some things. Please follow me quickly, Fellow Daoist!"

After confirmation, Bai Yunhua nodded and did not ask more, following Song Yuanfang to the "Hui Xian Pavilion" on the mountaintop, where he met Song Qingming, who had been waiting there for a long time.

"Yuanfang, you take Jingyun to sit below for a while. I want to have a private word with Fellow Daoist Bai."

After greeting each other, Song Qingming had Song Yuanfang take his disciple Bai Jingyun away from the third-floor main hall, and then invited Bai Yunhua to sit to the side.

"I do not know what matter Senior Song has for this junior. If there is anything, please give your instructions directly, Senior."

Seeing that Bai Yunhua before him seemed somewhat nervous, Song Qingming hurriedly waved his hand with a smile to explain, "Fellow Daoist Bai, you misunderstood. I didn't call you here for anything else today; I just have two things to give you."

After speaking, Song Qingming took the two jade boxes prepared on the table to the side and placed them directly into Bai Yunhua's hands. "Fellow Daoist Bai, what is inside is a second-tier mid-grade longevity pill. This pill was refined by my Song family itself and should at least be able to help you increase your lifespan by a few years."

"In addition, there are three thousand spirit stones, which can be considered as the spirit stones I used to purchase that formation from you. Please accept them, Fellow Daoist, and do not be polite with me."

"This... Senior Song, you are too polite. You have already agreed to look after Jingyun in the future. This junior has received no merit and dares not accept rewards. How could I have the nerve to accept your things again? I hope you will not be so polite with me, Senior."

Seeing the several thousand spirit stones and a valuable longevity pill that Song Qingming suddenly took out, a look of surprise immediately appeared on Bai Yunhua's face, and he hurriedly began to decline.

The agreement with Song Qingming before was actually just both sides agreeing to take what they needed. Regardless of whether Song Qingming could find any spiritual objects in the cave dwelling, Bai Yunhua would not suffer any loss in this.

Seeing Song Qingming suddenly want to give him so many spiritual objects, Bai Yunhua was moved, but also felt somewhat embarrassed to accept them directly like this.

"I was able to obtain a handy magic treasure yesterday, and your contribution was not small. It is indeed appropriate to receive some rewards. I have always been clear about gratitude and grudges in my actions and do not like to take advantage of juniors. You just accept the things."

"You have just moved a whole family to Bai Shiling, and you need spirit stones everywhere. These things are useful to you, so don't decline anymore. Being able to persist for a longer period of time is also good for Jingyun."

"Rest assured, Fellow Daoist. These things are purely my personal intention, and they have nothing to do with what I promised you before. I will certainly take care of Jingyun's path in the future."

Seeing Song Qingming say this, Bai Yunhua, who was originally somewhat nervous, relaxed instantly. After declining a few times, he did not insist anymore and accepted the spiritual objects Song Qingming gave him.

After the two exchanged pleasantries, just as Song Qingming was about to stand up to send him off, Bai Yunhua took out a notebook from his body and handed it respectfully directly to Song Qingming.

"This junior has cultivated for so many years and has dealt with many high-tier cultivators like you, Senior. It is truly rare to find someone as kind as you, Senior Song."

"Being able to find you, Senior, to entrust my final affairs this time, this junior has truly found the right person. Even if I live a few years less, I can be at peace."

"Senior, these are some of my insights from studying ancient runes for many years. This junior does not know if they can be of use to you, but please accept them, Senior, as a small token of my filial piety."

"Oh! Since that is the case, then I will accept them first."

Hearing Bai Yunhua say that the notebook he took out was related to those ancient runes, a hint of interest appeared in Song Qingming's eyes, and he directly took the notebook from his hand.

Bai Yunhua had studied these ancient runes for many years and was currently still much stronger than Song Qingming in this regard.

Now, in that "Qinghe Cave Dwelling," one would encounter these special ancient runes in many places. If one could understand them more, it would certainly be of no small use to Song Qingming when entering the cave dwelling in the future.

Seeing Song Qingming accept his gift generously, Bai Yunhua also felt much more at ease. Afterward, he bowed to Song Qingming to bid farewell and happily took Bai Jingyun back to "Bai Shiling."

After sending off Bai Yunhua and his grandson, Song Yuanfang returned alone to the third floor of the "Hui Xian Pavilion" and came to Song Qingming's side, who was enjoying the scenery outside the window.

"Seventh Uncle-Grandfather, Fellow Daoist Bai and the others have left!"

After turning around and nodding slightly to Song Yuanfang, Song Qingming ordered calmly, "Yuanfang, send a message to Qingyu and have her send people to watch the Bai family secretly."

"From now on, no matter who goes to the Bai family, or where Bai Yunhua goes when he goes out, you must record it and send it back to the family every month directly to me."

"Remember, this matter must be handled secretly by reliable people. Do not let Bai Yunhua easily see any clues. If there is any abnormal situation, you are not allowed to alarm him; report it to me immediately."

As the great steward of the Song family, Song Yuanfang had been able to help Song Qingming manage the family for many years and was naturally a very shrewd person.

From the beginning when Bai Yunhua came to visit "Mount Funiu" with his grandson and requested to see Song Qingming alone, to the secret talk between the two and Song Qingming suddenly announcing that he would accept Bai Jingyun as a disciple.

Song Yuanfang actually found it not difficult to see that Bai Yunhua and his Chen Chen Laozu must have reached some agreement to exchange for Song Qingming's care for his descendants.

It is just that what exactly Bai Yunhua used to move Song Qingming, Song Yuanfang currently did not know very clearly.

Although Song Yuanfang was also very curious about this matter these days, he knew very well that Song Qingming disliked others asking or inquiring about his affairs the most. Since Song Qingming did not take the initiative to say, he naturally would not ask more.

Hearing Song Qingming's sudden order, although there was a hint of surprise on Song Yuanfang's face, he did not show too much doubt and nodded directly, "Seventh Uncle-Grandfather, rest assured, Yuanfang understands. I will go and send a message to Aunt-Grandmother and Changze and the others in a moment!"

"Hmm! There is one more thing you must handle immediately."

After Song Qingming spoke, he waved his hand and took out a map depicting "Qinghe County," spread it out in front of Song Yuanfang, and then pointed to a place on it and continued, "I want to build a cave dwelling here for cultivation. You arrange it as soon as possible. First, cultivate a spiritual vein in this place. The grade doesn't need to be too high; a second-tier low-grade spiritual vein will do."

"Then notify everyone that no cultivators or mortals are allowed to approach within thirty miles of the surroundings, so as not to disturb my cultivation."

"If there are other cultivation family industries nearby, let them move away. However, remember that you must compensate them well; do not let this affect the family's reputation."

"It is only a second-tier low-grade spiritual vein. This spiritual energy is probably not enough for Seventh Uncle-Grandfather's daily cultivation needs. Should we directly cultivate a third-tier spiritual vein?"

Seeing that Song Qingming wanted to cultivate a second-tier low-grade spiritual vein on the barren mountain he pointed to for cultivation, a look of confusion appeared on Song Yuanfang's face, and he confirmed softly.

Hearing Song Yuanfang's reminder, Song Qingming nodded with a smile, "The reason I want to cultivate over there is just to absorb some water-attribute spiritual energy in the Qinghe River."

"Therefore, there is no need to waste too many spirit stones. Having a second-tier low-grade spiritual vein to let me rest my feet is enough. There is no need to be too particular about other things."

"Handle this matter as soon as possible. Do not spread the word outside, so as not to let too many people know and go to disturb my cultivation."

"Yuanfang understands, Seventh Uncle-Grandfather, rest assured, I will go and arrange it immediately."

After watching Song Yuanfang leave, Song Qingming's gaze moved to the map on the side, locking onto the location he had been pointing to just now, which was the "Qinghe Cave Dwelling" that Bai Yunhua had taken him to yesterday.

After returning from the cave dwelling yesterday, Song Qingming had been pondering how he should cover up that cave dwelling, which was very important to him, in the future.

Although the location of the "Qinghe Cave Dwelling" was very hidden, in the past thousand years, perhaps only Bai Yunhua had found it with the guidance of the formation disk in his hand.

However, there are many coincidences in the world. Since Bai Yunhua could find it, he could not rule out that others might have this opportunity in the future.

After thinking about it for a long time, Song Qingming still decided to let the family cultivate a spiritual vein nearby the cave dwelling immediately to control the territory around it first.

To avoid having cultivators or mortals approach there next and discover that cave dwelling by mistake, which would bring him some unnecessary trouble.

After receiving Song Qingming's instruction, Song Yuanfang also acted immediately and soon arranged for family cultivators to go to the barren mountain designated by Song Qingming to start setting up formations to cultivate the spiritual vein.

The location of that barren mountain was relatively remote, and there were no spiritual veins for cultivators to stay within a range of several dozen miles around. Only some mortals who lived by the river would approach the vicinity when going out fishing or hunting.

Song Yuanfang did not spend much effort to have the nearby cultivation families move all the mortals around to other places.

It only took a few months to rebuild the original barren mountain, which was rarely visited, into a second-tier low-grade spiritual vein that could provide for cultivators' daily cultivation and residence.

After rebuilding this spiritual vein, Song Yuanfang arranged for more than a dozen family cultivators to go there to garrison and guard, forbidding surrounding cultivators and mortals from approaching.

In recent years, the Song family had developed rapidly, and there were more and more industries outside, and they had already cultivated many spiritual veins in "Qinghe County."

Regarding the Song family's sudden action of cultivating a spiritual vein near Qinghe, other cultivation families in "Qinghe County" had long been accustomed to it and did not have much reaction, thinking that the Song family had found some spiritual mine nearby again.

The Gao family, which was closest to this spiritual vein, heard about this and specially found an opportunity to run to "Mount Funiu" to inquire, wanting to see if they could find an opportunity to cooperate with the Song family.

As a result, after this matter was known by Song Yuanfang, seeing that a subordinate cultivation family dared to inquire about matters that the family Chen Chen Laozu had personally explained, Song Yuanfang also got angry on the spot.

Not only did he directly deduct the Gao family's dividends in the "Red Flame Market" for three years, but he also sent people to "Mount Lianhua" to severely reprimand the Gao family head, Gao Changjin.

This scared everyone in the entire Gao family, and Gao Changjin hurriedly ran to "Mount Funiu" in person to admit his mistake before winning Song Yuanfang's forgiveness and not continuing to pursue the Gao family's fault.

Since then, not only the nearby Gao family, but almost all the cultivation families in the entire "Qinghe County" no longer dared to inquire about matters related to this spiritual vein at will.

After the family had cultivated the spiritual vein, Song Qingming immediately went there.

During the day, he occasionally cultivated above the Qinghe River, and at night, Song Qingming took advantage of the night to enter the cave dwelling directly and began to study how to open the rune passage on the mural.

However, what made him somewhat disappointed was that after a few months, the runes on the mural still had no changes, and Song Qingming still had not found a way to reopen the passage.

It was not until half a year later that a letter from "Mount Guyang" arrived, which made Song Qingming temporarily give up studying these and return to "Mount Funiu." (End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 753 =====