Chapter 793

Bai Jingyun, while speaking, still carried a trace of choking, appearing very sad.

"When I last saw Fellow Daoist Bai, his body was still quite sturdy. Did something happen?"

Hearing the words in Bai Jingyun's mouth, Song Qingming showed a trace of surprise on his face. After taking the letter that Song Yuanfang took the initiative to hand over, he asked him another question.

Song Yuanfang, who was in charge of family trivial matters, heard this and immediately bowed and replied: "Reporting to Seventh Granduncle, the surroundings of White Lion Ridge have been quite stable recently, and no major events have occurred.

Last year, I did hear from Changze that Fellow Daoist Bai was ill, and I also had him send someone to send some elixirs to visit.

At that time, Changze sent a letter back saying that Fellow Daoist Bai had only caught a cold and there was no major issue, so I didn't pay attention to this matter afterward. It was my negligence on this side."

Song Qingming nodded slightly, opened the letter in his hand, scanned it carefully, and then stood up and said to Song Qingyu on the side: "Fellow Daoist Bai and I were old friends back then, and I'm afraid this will be the last time. I should go and see him.

After I return from White Lion Ridge, I will continue to play this game of chess with you!"

"Hmm! Yuxin will be back in a while, and I was just thinking of asking her to accompany me to Red Flame Workshop to stroll around. Seventh Brother, you go ahead and get busy, don't worry about my little matter."

After greeting Song Qingyu, Song Qingming took Song Yuanfang and Bai Jingyun out together, then went to "Red Flame Workshop" to take the teleportation array to "White Lion Ridge" thousands of miles away.

Just after walking out of the teleportation array, Song Qingming saw Song Changze and several other Song family Elders who were stationed in the market waiting on the side.

"Greetings, Ancestor!"

Song Changze's cultivation had now reached the ninth level of Foundation Establishment and was the one with the highest cultivation among all the Foundation Establishment Elders of the Song family. As long as he polished his cultivation for a few more years, he could prepare to impact the Golden Core realm that all Foundation Establishment cultivators yearned for.

However, forming a Golden Core is not an easy task. Even if Song Changze's talent is good and he broke through to the ninth level of Foundation Establishment early, he still needs complete preparation to have confidence in successfully stepping into the Golden Core Dao.

All these years, besides daily cultivation, Song Changze was also working hard to cultivate the "Guiyuan Technique" passed down by Song Qingming. Although he hadn't cultivated this technique to perfection yet, he could be considered to have achieved some success.

After Song Qingming's spiritual sense swept over Song Changze and the others, he nodded slightly in response and immediately waved his hand to let them get up and stand.

Walking on the streets of the market, Song Qingming looked at the crowd of cultivators coming and going, feeling that "White Lion Workshop" was much more prosperous than a few years ago, and a hint of satisfaction appeared on his face.

Ever since the Song family set up teleportation arrays in the two places, these years "Red Flame Workshop" and "White Lion Ridge" had been connected. The Song family not only reduced the defense pressure on the front line but also relied on this teleportation array to make the exchanges between the two markets much closer.

Many cultivators living around Qinghe and Pingyang counties would organize themselves in groups to go to the surroundings of White Lion Ridge to hunt demon beasts and search for spiritual opportunities.

Under the arrangements of Song Yuanfang, Liu Yuxin, and others, "White Lion Workshop" also began to imitate "Guiyun Workshop" to set up the Flying Cloud Guard, recruiting cultivators to go deep into the Floating Cloud Mountain Range to explore information on various demon beast territories.

Then they compiled all of it into books and distributed tasks to the market through the market law enforcement team, used to help encourage those cultivators from all walks of life who wanted to go deep into the Floating Cloud Mountain Range to hunt demon beasts.

Back when he was still in the Qi Refining stage, Song Qingming had joined the "Flying Cloud Guard" for a period of time during his first experience outside, so he was naturally very familiar with the process of them issuing tasks.

Therefore, when Song Yuanfang and others took the initiative to propose forming an exploration guard belonging to "White Lion Workshop," Song Qingming immediately nodded in approval and took the initiative to give them many suggestions.

After the guard was formed these years, under the strong support of Song Changze and others, more and more cultivators came to "White Lion Workshop" to hunt demons. Not only were the demon beasts around the market cleared out, but the power of human cultivators was also slowly extended northward for more than a thousand miles.

There were more and more demon-hunting teams in the market, and the spoils of these cultivators hunting demons outside also made the entire "White Lion Workshop" and the surrounding "Red Flame Workshop" and other places more prosperous.

Today's "White Lion Workshop" could be considered the largest market in the north of Wei State after "Guiyun Workshop." Not only was it famous throughout the entire Wei State, but even sects from many surrounding countries also came here to open shops.

Although "White Lion Workshop" was operated in cooperation between the Song family and the Xiaoyao Sect, the Song family still held the most shares in the market and was also the party that benefited the most from the entire market.

These years, the Song family had been developing relatively fast, and there were more and more family cultivators. But after expanding the territory northward, the Song family also had many family industries. So far, the operation of the entire family could be considered relatively stable.

After coming out of the market, Song Qingming refused the accompaniment of Song Changze and the others and only took Song Yuanfang and Bai Jingyun to the Bai family.

Located hundreds of miles southeast of "White Lion Ridge," there was a high mountain standing among the peaks, named: "Jade Screen Mountain."

This mountain was hundreds of feet high, surrounded by clouds and mist, emitting bursts of spiritual light. From a distance, it looked like a holy land of immortal families.

This "Jade Screen Mountain" had a first-tier high-grade spiritual vein, which was originally a place occupied by demon beasts in the Floating Cloud Mountain Range.

Since more than ten years ago, when the Core Formation immortal clan Qinghe Song family expanded its territory northward, "Jade Screen Mountain" was also quickly included in the scope of human cultivator territory and was now the holy land of the Bai family, a cultivation family under the Song family.

Not far from the foot of "Jade Screen Mountain," two cultivators walked together toward the foot of the mountain and soon arrived under a plaque with a stone tablet.

"Huh! This Bai family really had a major event. Even the mountain gate here is not guarded by anyone. Could it be that the Bai family Ancestor has already passed away now!"

After this middle-aged man said a sentence with deep meaning, he patted his waist with one hand and took out a white sound transmission talisman, then cast a spell to send it into the mountain-protecting array in the distance.

Another fat scholar with a somewhat round body sighed and followed:

"Sigh, Senior Bai's lifespan is approaching, and passing away is a matter of time. I don't know if Jade Screen Mountain can still be peaceful after the Bai family Ancestor is gone."

Hearing the worry in the fat scholar's mouth, the middle-aged man hurriedly shook his head and said: "Fellow Daoist Lu, you are thinking a bit too much about this.

I heard long ago that Bai Jingyun of the Bai family has already become a disciple under the Ancestor of Mount Funiu.

Even if Senior Bai is not here in the future, no one in White Lion Ridge will dare to have ideas about the Bai family. Otherwise, if Mount Funiu pursues it afterward, this will be something they can't afford to eat and walk away."

"To tell you the truth, I have also heard some about this matter. It is said that Senior Bai had some friendship with that Ancestor of Mount Funiu when they were young, which is why he made an exception to accept Bai Jingyun.

There are many things in this cultivation world where people leave and tea cools. If Senior Bai is not here, who knows if the Song family will still manage the affairs of Jade Screen Mountain.

Otherwise, if there really was this relationship with the Song family, how could the Bai family specially invite us to discuss the alliance matter.

I think Senior Bai also knows this matter in his heart, knowing that he can't rely on them in the future, which is why he planned ahead and invited our two families to find more retreats for the Bai family."

The middle-aged man heard this, thought for a moment, and nodded slightly: "Brother Lu's words also make some sense. Although Bai Jinghua's cultivation talent is good, it's hard to say whether he can establish Foundation Establishment in the future.

Senior Bai also took care of our two families a lot back then. No matter what, we have to come and see. Now that our few families are all nearby, forming an alliance is also a matter of benefit and no harm.

It's just that, besides Senior Bai, the highest cultivation in the Bai family is only at the seventh level of Qi Refining. I'm afraid they can't continue to be the leader of us. In the future, we still have to rely on Brother Lu to take care of us.

Brother Lu, rest assured, when we form the alliance in a while, I will naturally recommend you to succeed as the leader of the alliance. In the future, our three families will also take your Heavenly Capital Peak as the leader."

"Hehe! Easy to say, easy to say. Forming an alliance is also for everyone's interests. As long as you agree, I naturally won't decline. In the future, our two families will advance and retreat together."

Just when they were talking at the foot of the mountain, they suddenly felt a burst of spiritual energy fluctuation coming from the mountain gate ahead, followed by an old man in white clothes wearing Bai family attire walking out quickly.

The middle-aged man and the fat scholar hurriedly stopped their words and bowed to greet them.

"Fellow Daoist Lu, Fellow Daoist Zheng, you two have come from afar, please forgive me for not welcoming you in time!"

"Sigh! Our three families have been of one mind for many years, why be so polite! I don't know if Senior Bai is well, we will go and pay respects first."

Hearing the two people before him ask about their own Ancestor, the Bai family cultivator's face suddenly showed a look of ugliness, and he nodded slightly: "The Ancestor is on the mountain, but he is unwell, I'm afraid it's not convenient to see you now.

This time inviting the two of you to come is to discuss the alliance of the three families. The two Fellow Daoists, come up the mountain with me first. After we discuss it in a while, I will see if I can lead you to see the Ancestor."

"Oh! If it's not convenient for Senior Bai, then it's fine. Let's go up the mountain then!"

Seeing the ugly look on the Bai family cultivator's face, the Lu and Li people who came to visit also flashed a look of deep meaning in their eyes.

Just when the three finished greeting and were about to walk toward the mountain gate, a streak of light suddenly lit up in the distant sky and flew quickly toward the position of "Jade Screen Mountain."

Seeing this scene, the three people all showed a look of surprise. The middle-aged man walking in front hurriedly asked with a smile: "This is... a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Bai Fellow Daoist, there are distinguished guests coming to Jade Screen Mountain today, why didn't you say so earlier? May I ask which Senior is coming to visit?"

Hearing this, the Bai family cultivator hurriedly shook his head and said: "This, the two Fellow Daoists have misunderstood. There has been no major event in my family recently. As for which Senior is coming to visit, I am not very clear either."

Facing the Bai family cultivator's answer, the Lu and Li people each had a change in their faces. Seeing that the person was about to arrive in an instant, they hurriedly followed the Bai family cultivator and stepped forward to greet them.

After a white streak of light flashed, Song Qingming appeared in mid-air with Song Yuanfang and Bai Jingyun, then controlled the "Phantom Boat" and landed slowly.

"Sixth Uncle, I'm back!"

"This... this is Song Ancestor! How did he come?"

Song Qingming, as the Patriarch of the Song family, although rarely appeared in front of low-level cultivators, Song Yuanfang managed many trivial matters of the family and often contacted cultivators of subordinate families. Seeing Song Yuanfang, the Great Elder of the Song family, standing respectfully behind Song Qingming, the three people below immediately reacted that the green-robed man standing in front should be the high and unreachable Song Ancestor they spoke of.

Seeing Song Qingming, a Core Formation cultivator, suddenly appear, the three people standing below were all very shocked, somewhat unable to believe that this high and unreachable Song family Ancestor had actually come to "Jade Screen Mountain" in person.

Ever since forming the Golden Core, those who managed subordinate families in the family were basically Foundation Establishment Elders like Song Yuanfang. Song Qingming basically wouldn't intervene in these trivial matters of the clan all these years.

Except for when a few peers like Huang Shengyue, who had friendship with him back then, passed away, Song Qingming went to send them off, at other times he basically wouldn't appear here at the subordinate families.

Moreover, "Jade Screen Mountain" Bai family was just a small cultivation family established not long ago, and it couldn't compare to a thousand-year-old clan like the Huang family. How could it be worth Song Qingming, this Core Formation Ancestor, attaching such importance to it and coming in person.

Even if Song Yuanfang, this Great Elder of the Song family, came today, it would be giving the Bai family extra face.

Not only were those Lu and Li people shocked to see this scene, but even the Bai family cultivator who saw Song Qingming appear was stunned on the spot, full of surprise.

It wasn't until Bai Jingyun, who had just returned, shouted at him again that he reacted and hurriedly stepped forward to kneel and bow to Song Qingming.

"Junior..., pays respects to the Ancestor!"

Song Qingming saw this and glanced at the few people, waved his hand lightly to signal them to get up, and then let Bai Jingyun lead the way and walked up "Jade Screen Mountain" first.

Until Song Qingming and the three had gone far away, the Lu and Li three people who were still on the spot were able to slowly recover from the shock. They looked at each other, seemingly still unable to believe what had just happened.

"Uh... Fellow Daoist Lu, Fellow Daoist Zheng, let's go up the mountain first too! Two Fellow Daoists, please."

"Ah! Bai Fellow Daoist, please."

Hearing the Bai family cultivator's words, the Lu and Li people who reacted immediately nodded with a smile and responded.

It was just that after walking forward two steps, they took the initiative to stop their steps again and didn't bow and follow until the Bai family cultivator walked in front.

In a cave dwelling on the top of "Jade Screen Mountain," Bai Yunhua, who was already white-haired and withered like wood, was lying on a sickbed, his eyes closed, seemingly only a trace of weak breath still connected to this world.

In a hall outside the sickbed, three Bai family cultivators sat together, their faces all somewhat ugly.

One of them, a middle-aged man with a full beard, got up and paced twice, then turned and asked: "Big Brother, you said Jingyun went to Mount Funiu this time, can he really invite people from the Song family? People from the Lu family and Zheng family will arrive in a while. In case no one from the Song family comes, I'm afraid it will be difficult for us to discuss the alliance with them."

An old man sitting by the stone table sighed and said: "You all know that although Jingyun is a disciple of the Song family Ancestor, he is only a nominal one. How can I have too much certainty about this matter.

Before, the Ancestor specifically instructed not to disturb the Song family.

It wasn't you who came up with this idea, letting Jingyun go to Mount Funiu to report the news. Now, on the contrary, you are asking me."

After the white-clothed old man finished speaking, a trace of displeasure flashed in his eyes, seemingly somewhat dissatisfied with the inquiry just now.

The middle-aged man heard this and was also unhappy: "Big Brother, don't you understand the situation now? Once the Ancestor passes away, do you think the Lu family and Zheng family will still follow our lead like before?

Wanting to keep our current status, how can we do it just by relying on us few? Isn't it because there's no other way that we came up with this bad idea.

If you have any better way, then say it, it's not that we don't listen to you."

"Alright! Fourth, you say less too. You guys aren't tired after arguing for so many days. Big Brother, the matter is already settled, don't think too much, just wait for the result with peace of mind!

When the people from the Lu family and Li family come up in a while, I will go and deal with them first to delay them. Everything will be discussed after Jingyun comes back."

Another old man sitting by the stone table opened his mouth to comfort the two, then took the initiative to get up and walk out.

Just as he walked to the door, a fifteen or sixteen-year-old boy suddenly walked in quickly.

"Big Uncle, Second Brother... he is back. I saw him bringing two people, and they will be here soon."

"Oh! That's great, it must be someone from the Song family. I knew it, that kid Jingyun is smart and won't let us down.

Big Brother, you stay here, Fourth, come out with me to greet them, don't let people think we lost our manners."

Hearing what the boy said, the few people in the hall immediately changed from the sorrow just now and showed a few more joys, walking out of the cave dwelling quickly.

A quarter of an hour later, Song Qingming, who was sitting in front of Bai Yunhua's sickbed, was carefully checking Bai Yunhua with his spiritual sense.

And the few Bai family cultivators just now, together with Bai Jingyun, were standing carefully on the side, lowering their heads and not daring to look at Song Qingming.

Before, they let Bai Jingyun go to Mount Funiu to report the news, originally wanting to try their luck to see if the Song family would send one or two cultivators to visit Bai Yunhua's situation as before.

Borrowing the arrival of the Song family, they wanted to let the surrounding cultivation families know the relationship between the Bai family and "Mount Funiu," used to keep the Bai family's current status from being shaken in a short time.

The few people never expected that this nominal disciple, Bai Jinghua, could invite Song Qingming over, which really gave them a big scare.

Standing in the cave dwelling at this moment, still somewhat trembling, facing Song Qingming, this Core Formation Ancestor, they really didn't dare to step forward to talk and could only lower their heads and accompany on the side.

After checking Bai Yunhua, Song Qingming gradually showed a few more doubts on his face, turned to the few Bai family cultivators not far away, and asked: "When Jingyun became a disciple, I once bestowed a second-tier high-grade longevity elixir to Fellow Daoist Bai. Have you ever seen this item?"

Bai Yunhua was a cultivator of the same age as Song Qingming. Although his lifespan was now reaching its limit, Song Qingming had bestowed Bai Yunhua a second-tier longevity elixir back then. Reasonably speaking, it should have been able to extend his lifespan by at least five years.

Suddenly hearing the news that Bai Yunhua was failing at "Mount Funiu" before, Song Qingming felt somewhat strange in his heart, so he came over to check it in person.

Through his spiritual sense probe just now, Song Qingming felt that there was no vitality left in Bai Yunhua's body, and his face was also gray and white, which was clearly a sign that his lifespan had been exhausted.

Detecting that Bai Yunhua had not taken the longevity spirit item also made Song Qingming feel more curious about the whereabouts of the second-tier "Longevity Elixir" he had bestowed back then, and he looked at the few Bai family people on the side with cold eyes.

"Second-tier high-grade longevity elixir? This... this, reporting to the Ancestor, we have never heard of this item."

"Yes! Ancestor, please examine. After the Ancestor came back that year, he didn't mention any longevity elixir to us, and the Ancestor's relics are all here, there is no second-tier high-grade spirit elixir."

Facing Song Qingming's inquiry, the few Bai family cultivators standing on the side hurriedly knelt on the ground to explain, and also turned out all the things left by Bai Yuhua's storage bag.

Before long, with a clatter, the few people poured out all the things in Bai Yunhua's storage bag and carefully brought them before Song Qingming.

Song Qingming glanced at it lightly and found that these were all ordinary spirit items that were not worth much, and only a few second-tier low-grade spirit talismans and magic tools of average quality had some value; there was no "Longevity Elixir" at all.

Seeing this situation, Song Qingming turned to look at the crowd again, his tone cold:

"This elixir was bestowed by me to Fellow Daoist Bai back then, but Fellow Daoist Bai did not take the longevity spirit item, and now this elixir is also nowhere to be found. There should be an explanation for this."

"To tell you the truth, this second-tier high-grade longevity elixir was refined by my Song family. As long as this item is still on Jade Screen Mountain, I will definitely have a way to find it."

"If any of you took it, or know the whereabouts of this elixir, as long as you say it now, I can give Fellow Daoist Bai some face and let bygones be bygones with you."

When Song Qingming bestowed the longevity elixir to Bai Yunhua back then, it was nothing more than wanting him to live a few more years so he could give Bai Jingyun some more guidance.

Never expected that this longevity spirit elixir was not taken by Bai Yunhua, which caused his passing time to be advanced by a few years. Now that his vitality had dissipated, there was no way to save him.

Bai Yunhua had cultivated for a lifetime, and being able to pass away in his own home was not a very sad thing.

It's just that clearly he had a second-tier high-grade "Longevity Elixir" in his hand, but he didn't have time to take and refine it, which indeed made Song Qingming somewhat unable to understand where this elixir of not low value had gone.

Seeing that Song Qingming's face was already somewhat displeased, the few Bai family cultivators present hurriedly knelt and begged for mercy, all claiming that they had never seen or heard that their own Ancestor still had such a precious second-tier high-grade elixir in his hand.

Seeing that these Bai family people before him had already been scared out of their wits and didn't look like they were talking nonsense, Song Qingming's doubts increased again, and he asked again: "Since you didn't take it, then has Fellow Daoist Bai been anywhere these years, or encountered any trouble? Do you know?"

"Reporting to the Ancestor, since moving to Jade Screen Mountain, the Ancestor rarely went out. These years, except for the surroundings of Jade Screen Mountain, we indeed haven't seen him go far."

"Oh! This is really strange. A good second-tier high-grade elixir, it shouldn't just disappear into thin air!"

"Since you can't find it yourselves, then I will send someone over to help you find it carefully!"

"Master, I seem to know where the elixir is!"

Just when Song Qingming was about to turn and leave the cave dwelling, Bai Jingyun, who had been standing on the side without speaking, suddenly opened his mouth. (End of chapter)