Chapter 91: Senior's Cave Dwelling

After introducing Song Xinhu, the old Clan Leader did not try to keep Song Qingming anymore.

Two days later, Song Qingming extracted some spirit items from the Fourth Elder of the Hidden Gold Pavilion and returned to Qinghe Market again.

Just after returning to the Song family shop, Song Qingming had not had time to hand over the things brought from Funiu Mountain when Fourth Uncle, Song Changqiu, pulled him to the side and said to him with a mysterious face:

"Qingming, you are finally back. An old Daoist priest has been looking for you for several days. Wang Cheng said he has some friendship with you. This guy comes every day to ask when you will be back. It is estimated that he has something urgent to find you for. I asked him, but he refused to tell me and only left an address for me, asking me to tell you to go find him after you come back."

After finishing, Fourth Uncle rummaged through the drawer behind the counter, took out a white cloth strip, and sent it to Song Qingming's hand.

"An old Daoist priest, and has some friendship with him."

Song Qingming took the cloth strip and opened it to take a look. Sure enough, it was just as he expected. The one looking for him was exactly the shrewd old man, Old Daoist Chen.

What urgent matter could this old thing have to find him? Could it be that Fourth Uncle could cheat him in buying and selling things? Song Qingming shook his head with confusion on his face.

After putting the things he brought into the shop first, Song Qingming went out again and came to a guest inn at the other end of Qinghe Market.

Unlike Guiyun Market, which relies on the third-tier spirit vein of Guiyuan Mountain, Qinghe Market does not have a place to open up cave dwellings to rent to cultivators from all walks of life who come here.

Only a few large guest inns operating in the market can provide rental for cultivators who do not live in the market often. Old Daoist Chen has basically lived here in Qinghe Market for these few years.

The spirit vein of Qinghe Market is only second-tier mid-grade. There are two Foundation Establishment and hundreds of Qi Condensation cultivators stationed in the market all year round. Plus the gradual increase of loose cultivators from outside, the spirit vein in the market has gradually become unbearable.

Late-stage Qi Condensation cultivators like Song Qingming occasionally still need to refine some spirit stones so as not to delay their cultivation progress.

Ever since breaking through to the seventh layer of Qi Condensation in Guiyun Market, nearly four years have passed. Although Song Qingming's cultivation has made progress, there is still a distance from breaking through to the eighth layer of Qi Condensation. 【91

After reaching the late stage of Qi Condensation, Song Qingming suddenly felt that his cultivation progress had slowed down significantly. The progress of a late-stage Qi Condensation cultivator is at least twice as difficult as it was during the mid-stage.

Under normal circumstances, for a four-element spiritual root cultivator like Song Qingming, it would take at least ten years to break through a single layer of cultivation at the late stage of Qi Condensation. Even with his current abundance of elixirs and spirit stones, without special high-tier spiritual items, it would take him at least another year or two to break through to the eighth layer of Qi Condensation.

It is precisely because of this slow cultivation progress that he has had more time in the past few years to complete the cultivation of the Wind Abyss Soul-Forging Art in his hands.

After inquiring with the shopkeeper in the store, Song Qingming quickly found the residence of Old Daoist Chen.

Seeing Song Qingming arrive for a visit, Old Daoist Chen excitedly invited him into his room.

"Little Friend Song, you have finally come. I have looked for you several times, but unfortunately, I heard you left Qinghefang some time ago, so I could only leave a message and wait for you here."

Song Qingming smiled slightly and replied, "I had some matters at home and happened to make a trip back. I wonder what urgent matter Old Senior Chen has for me this time."

Old Daoist Chen cautiously cast a sound-insulation barrier around the two of them, then spoke with a solemn expression: "It is like this, Little Friend Song. Some time ago, I inadvertently found a cave dwelling of a predecessor. Unexpectedly, the cave was filled with heavy restrictions. I have tried for many years but have never been able to enter. I invited you here this time to invite you to go with me, hoping to utilize your abilities as a formation master. I hope Little Friend Song can help me out."

"A predecessor's cave dwelling! I wonder where this cave is, and is it far from here?" Hearing Old Daoist Chen's words, Song Qingming was somewhat surprised.

He had thought Old Daoist Chen was looking for him to discuss some business; he did not expect this old fellow wanted to pull him into exploring a predecessor's cave dwelling.

In the more than 100,000-year history of the cultivation world, many high-cultivation predecessor rogue cultivators would build a hidden cave dwelling for themselves in some inaccessible places. Finding such a cave in the wild depends entirely on a cultivator's own fortune.

The owners of such cave dwellings would set up powerful protective restrictions. Exploring such a perilous ancient predecessor's cave, while potentially yielding unexpected gains, could also be a place of no return.

"This cave is actually not too far from Qinghefang; it is in the Cloud Mist Mountain to the east. A round trip takes at most a month. I have been there several times, and there are no powerful demonic beasts nearby.

Little Friend, rest assured, this time I have also invited another late-stage Qi Condensation fellow Daoist to go with us. As long as you can help break the restrictions there, whatever appears after entering the cave, we will count you in for a share." Seeing Song Qingming's hesitant appearance, Old Daoist Chen said with a look of joy on his face.

"Is there any other reason why you found me for this matter, Senior?"

Hearing this, Old Daoist Chen paused and then said: "Little Friend Song also knows that I am not a local cultivator, and there are not many people I can trust here. Having known you for several years, I can still trust your character.

Plus, I have seen before that your formation strength is indeed not bad. With your supernatural powers, the hope of breaking the restrictions of that cave is very high, which is why I came directly to you."

"Old Senior Chen, I am truly sorry. I have no interest in the cave dwelling left by a predecessor. There are quite a few formation masters in the market; you might as well look for someone else. Please rest assured regarding my side; I am definitely not a loose-lipped person, and this matter will surely rot in my stomach."

After pondering for a while, Song Qingming still did not want to go explore some predecessor's cave with Old Daoist Chen. Now that he was not short of spirit stones, there was really no need to take this risk. He cupped his hands at Old Daoist Chen and turned to leave the inn.

Song Qingming's sudden refusal caught Old Daoist Chen off guard, leaving him stunned on the spot.

Seeing Song Qingming about to leave, Old Daoist Chen hesitated for a moment and then said to him: "Little Friend Song, didn't you keep asking me some time ago if there was a subsequent part to the cultivation art I sold you? If you are willing to go with me this time, it is estimated that there is a very high possibility of obtaining the follow-up art you want."

Hearing Old Daoist Chen mention the follow-up art to the Wind Abyss Soul-Forging Art that he had been thinking about day and night, Song Qingming stopped his footsteps involuntarily, turned around, and asked:

"Could it be that the cultivation art Old Senior Chen obtained back then came from this predecessor's cave dwelling?"

Seeing Song Qingming moved by his words, Old Daoist Chen continued excitedly: "Little Friend Song guessed correctly. This art is what I found inside that cave. It's just that back then I only entered the outer perimeter of the cave and only obtained some classics and arts, including the one in your hands. If we can successfully open the restrictions inside the cave, it is indeed possible for you to get your wish. I can take the initiative to promise you that as long as we find the follow-up to the Wind Abyss Soul-Forging Art, I can give it to you first. As for other treasures in the cave, as I said before, I can also give you a share."

Hearing this, Song Qingming still did not agree immediately, but thought for a while before saying: "Old Senior Chen, let me consider this matter, shall I? Senior, wait for me here for one day, and I will definitely give you an answer tomorrow."

"Fine! I will wait here for you for one day. If you really don't want to go then, I will go find others to try and see if there are any other suitable candidates who understand formations." Old Daoist Chen said with a very understanding smile.

(End of chapter)