Chapter 84: New Family Elder

The last to arrive late was the Great Elder, Song Gubai.

Once he saw Song Gubai's figure, Song Qingming was so surprised that he almost stood up from his chair.

Compared to four years ago, the appearance of this Great Elder of the Song family had aged quite a bit. His hair and beard had all turned gray, and wrinkles were crawling all over his forehead.

As long as a normal cultivator is not near the end of their lifespan, their appearance will absolutely not reveal such an old state. This Great Elder who had worked hard for the Song family for many years had already reached the end of his life.

The Great Elder did not have much lifespan left. Song Qingming calculated carefully in his heart. He was already one hundred and twelve years old this year. Looking at the Great Elder's state, he was afraid that he could no longer easily fight with others.

For an elderly cultivator with little lifespan left, his essence and blood had already decayed severely. Using magic power at will would also affect the little lifespan he had left. In this state, Song Gubai was estimated to be able to persist for at most three to five years. If he consumed his own vitality again, it was highly likely that he would sit and transform prematurely.

Looking at this elder who had taught him since childhood being eroded by time like this, Song Qingming could not help but feel somewhat sad in his heart.

They, these bottom-tier Qi Condensation cultivators, although they are immortals in the mouths of mortals, if they cannot establish Foundation Establishment and make further progress, they will all turn into a handful of yellow earth one day.

In the recent period, Great Elder Song Gubai discovered that his essence and blood began to accelerate in decay, and he also knew that his lifespan was not much left. In the recent months, he had not walked around everywhere and had been adjusting his body in his own cave dwelling. Apart from Clan Leader Song Gushan, other cultivators on the mountain did not know his current state.

After entering the door and seeing everyone looking at him abnormally, Song Gubai supported a smile on his face and said loudly: "Everyone, I am truly sorry, the old man came a bit late."

"Great Elder, please sit down quickly." Second Elder, Song Changfeng, hurriedly stepped forward and helped the Great Elder to his seat.

Although the faces of Song Qingming and the others in the discussion hall changed, no one opened their mouths to inquire. The lifespan of the Great Elder was not a secret in the Song family. They, these people who had cultivated for many years, were naturally very clear about it in their hearts.

If they cannot establish Foundation Establishment and attain the Dao, these people will all have to face this day sooner or later. There is truly no need to be overly compassionate. If everyone blindly opens their mouths to care, it will instead make the Great Elder feel even more sad in his heart.

After the Great Elder took his seat, Clan Leader Song Gushan directly said: "This time, summoning everyone to come is also because there are two important matters that need to be discussed with you."

"The first matter is that Qingze has already decided to join the Xiaoyao Sect. Some of you might already know about this, but I still have to say one more thing. Qingze is, after all, born in our Song family. Even if he joins the Xiaoyao Sect in the future, he is still a person of our Song family. Everyone should not have too much prejudice against him."

After hearing this matter, apart from Song Qingming and Ninth Uncle Song Zhangxin, the faces of the several Song family elders present were all somewhat unpleasant. After all, a person they had cultivated with heart for decades had suddenly taken the initiative to choose to leave the family, so they naturally would not feel good in their hearts.

Ninth Uncle Song Zhangxin rarely participated in family affairs and did not have much concern about this matter either.

Regarding Third Brother Song Qingze's active request to join the Xiaoyao Sect, although Song Qingming was somewhat puzzled, he also understood his choice very well. After all, Song Qingze's talent far exceeded these peers of theirs. If he stayed in a small family like the Song family, the chance of him establishing Foundation Establishment in the future would definitely be very slim.

After choosing to join the Xiaoyao Sect and becoming an inner disciple, it would be completely different. With his talent, he would definitely be able to successfully cultivate to the ninth layer of Qi Condensation within ten years, and he would also have a great chance of obtaining a Foundation Establishment Pill in the Xiaoyao Sect.

The large and small cultivation families under the Xiaoyao Sect would have an opportunity to select personnel to join the Xiaoyao Sect directly every ten years. After these people entered the Xiaoyao Sect, they would directly become inner disciples of the Xiaoyao Sect, and their chances of establishing Foundation Establishment would be far greater than those outer disciples.

On one side is the clansman who cultivated him, and on the other side is his own path of Dao. How to choose, even if it were Song Qingming, it would be very difficult to make a choice.

However, since Song Qingze chose his own path of Dao, even if he faces the accusations of his clansmen in the future, it is naturally what he should bear.

Seeing that everyone had not opened their mouths to speak, Song Gu then continued to talk about the next matter.

"The second matter is that the family's elders are going to have some changes. Everyone also knows that the Great Elder is a bit old and is not suitable to keep working hard on the mountain. In the future, the Great Elder will no longer participate in family affairs. I have already discussed with the Great Elder that the matters in his hands will be taken over by Changfeng in the future. The family's law enforcement and hunting demons matters will temporarily be handled by Changxin. Also, Qingming has already broken through to the late stage of Qi Condensation. According to family rules, I want him to start serving as a family elder from today. Does everyone have any opinions?"

Regarding this matter, after everyone exchanged glances, they nodded one after another and agreed to the Clan Leader's arrangement.

In fact, when they saw Song Qingming sitting here at the beginning, they had already roughly guessed the Clan Leader's intention. Only Song Qingming, the person involved, did not expect that the Clan Leader would let him serve as a family elder so quickly, and he felt somewhat flustered in his heart.

In fact, Song Gushan's arrangement was also helpless. A few months ago, after Great Elder Song Gubai told him about his physical condition, Song Gushan originally wanted to arrange for Song Changfeng to take over the Great Elder's position and let Song Qingze become an elder to fill Song Changfeng's position.

However, Song Qingze suddenly proposed to join the Xiaoyao Sect, which disrupted Clan Leader Song Gushan's original arrangement.

Song Gushan and Great Elder Song Gubai were of the same generation, only ten years younger than him, and his lifespan was also nearly a hundred years old. Originally, Song Gushan planned to let Second Elder Song Changfeng take over his position as Clan Leader after he sat and transformed, while Song Qingze would serve as an elder like Song Changfeng to polish himself and succeed as Clan Leader in the future.

Now that the Great Elder could no longer continue to manage affairs, and Song Qingze was going to join the Xiaoyao Sect, it suddenly made Clan Leader Song Gushan somewhat headache-inducing. Fortunately, at this time, Song Qingming returned to the family, and his cultivation also broke through to the late stage of Qi Condensation, which finally gave Song Gushan some comfort in his heart.

Seeing Song Qingming looking like he wanted to speak but stopped, Song Gushan smiled and said to him: "Qingming, you don't need to have too much pressure. How about this, you just returned, so temporarily we won't arrange specific matters for you to manage. The family rented another shop in Qinghe Market, and your Fourth Uncle is somewhat busy alone. You go there first to help the family manage it. I will write a letter to Changqiu and let him fully cooperate with you."

Great Elder Song Gubai also followed and said: "This time letting you come out to serve as a family elder is also something the Clan Leader has thought about deeply. We will all grow old eventually. Among the younger generation, there is currently no other suitable person who can serve as an elder. Only you are knowledgeable and experienced, so I can only trouble you for a while."

"Clan Leader, rest assured, Qingming will naturally work hard and not fail the family's heavy trust." Hearing the love and care in the words of the old Clan Leader and the Great Elder, Song Qingming nodded heavily and agreed, and a trace of firmness also appeared in his eyes.

After the Great Elder stepped down, the family had another new elder, Song Qingming. After some training, perhaps he could also be a person like the Great Elder. Even if Song Qingze left, the Song family would not reach the point of not being replaced in time. The other several elders had long felt the Clan Leader's intention to let Song Qingming shoulder the heavy responsibility in the future.

(End of Chapter) ===== CHAPTER 85 =====

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