Chapter 142

Three years ago, when he first came to the Carefree Sect, Song Qingming was only a ninth-level Qi Refining cultivator; he had walked for an entire month on his own two legs just to reach Yangshan Market.

Now, standing on a flying sword high in the sky, Song Qingming looked down at the beautiful scenery beneath his feet and finally understood the thrill that only high-level cultivators in the cultivation world could experience.

When Song Qingming first stepped onto the path of cultivation, his greatest expectation for the immortal journey was not some ethereal immortality, but rather the ability to soar freely through the skies like the high-level cultivators recorded in the classics, seeing all the beauty this world had to offer.

Wandering freely upon a flying sword—this was the immortal path he had wanted most from the very beginning.

The most important step for a Foundation Establishment cultivator to fly on a sword is to attach their physical body to the spiritual light of the refined magic tool; only then can they control the flying sword as they wish.

However, to fly on a sword, it is best to have a flying sword of at least the second rank.

But Song Qingming had just reached Foundation Establishment and was truly penniless; his only second-rank defensive magic tool could not be used as a flying sword.

For this reason, Song Qingming could only temporarily purchase a top-grade first-rank flying sword in Yangshan Market as a substitute. The spiritual light on a first-rank sword is limited, supporting at most one person standing on it, and its speed is not as fast as a second-rank sword. If Song Qingming wants to travel as quickly as Xu Ziyan, he must hurry to acquire a second-rank flying sword in the future.

Regardless, having stepped onto the immortal path at ten years old, more than thirty years had passed, and Song Qingming had finally achieved this long-held wish of his. Touching the remnant map still sewn into his chest, Song Qingming couldn't help but feel a sense of emotion; the journey he had taken to get here today had truly not been easy.

——

In the Song family's council hall on Mount Funiu, Patriarch Song Changfeng was discussing clan affairs with several Song family elders.

Before they could finish, a youth of seventeen or eighteen suddenly rushed in from outside the door.

"Thirteenth Uncle, Thirteenth Uncle—" Seeing that there was more than one person sitting in the council hall, the youth suddenly clamped his mouth shut, unable to say the rest of his words.

"Xinhu, speak quickly. What happened!" Seeing Song Xinhu's panicked expression, the Law Enforcement Elder Song Changxiong, not yet knowing the reason, asked quickly with some displeasure on his face.

Patriarch Song Changfeng also asked the youth softly: "Has Lingyuan Mountain been attacked by demonic beasts again?"

Song Xinhu shook his head and replied: "Seventh Uncle has returned; he has already come up the mountain!"

Song Changfeng smiled, nodded, and said to everyone: "Since Qingming has returned, everyone come with me to welcome him. We shall discuss this matter later; it would be good to hear Qingming's opinion as well."

"It's just Qingming coming back, why be so nervous? You lad have been cultivating for so long, can't you show some backbone?" Song Changxiong sighed and shook his head at the honest-looking Song Xinhu, then followed the others out of the council hall.

Just as they walked out of the council hall, unexpectedly, a streak of sword light suddenly flew across the sky behind the hall, circled once in front of it, and landed steadily.

After putting away his flying sword, Song Qingming walked toward the Song family members with a smile on his face.

"Sword flight... are you... Qingming!" After seeing the person coming from the front clearly, Song Changxiong's eyes suddenly widened, and he couldn't help but shout out loud.

The others, upon seeing Song Qingming, also opened their mouths wide in succession.

"Thirteenth Uncle, it's only been a few years, have you already forgotten me?" Song Qingming walked up to the group and replied to the stunned Song Changxiong with a smile.

Watching Song Qingming, who had become a Foundation Establishment cultivator, Song Changfeng's eyes turned red, and after shedding two long-overdue tears, he slowly said: "It is truly a pity that Fourth Uncle did not live to see this day."

In the Song family graveyard on the back of Mount Funiu, Song Qingming, who had just returned, felt immense sorrow in his heart as he looked at the newly erected tombstone before him.

"Fourth Uncle had been unconscious for half a year, only waking up occasionally. He passed away in his cave dwelling three months ago. Of the older generation, what they talked about most until their deaths was the revitalization of the family. Fortunately, in your hands, the dying wishes of these elders can finally be fulfilled." After finishing, Song Changfeng stepped forward and poured a cup of wine for the old patriarch's tombstone.

Song Qingming had inadvertently missed seeing the old patriarch one last time during this trip to the Carefree Sect. After reaching Foundation Establishment, the reason Song Qingming had been so anxious to return was to see the old patriarch quickly; he hadn't expected to be a step too late.

Ever since the Great Elder passed away, including his own father, Song Qingming had lost several elders who were very important to him one after another.

The old patriarch had painstakingly supported the Song family for decades. In the hearts of younger generations like Song Qingming, he and the Great Elder were the greatest support for the Song family. Now that the older generation of cultivators had basically left, it was time for them to stand up and shield the descendants of the Song family from the wind and rain.

After paying respects to the old patriarch, Song Qingming composed himself and returned to his own cave dwelling.

Just after returning to the cave dwelling on the mountaintop, Song Qingyu and Song Qingsi, whom he hadn't seen for years, came looking for him again.

"Seventh Brother, congratulations on your successful Foundation Establishment." Seeing Song Qingming, who had become a Foundation Establishment cultivator, Song Qingyu's face seemed to show a hint of disappointment.

Song Qingming looked at the two carefully and said: "You have already broken through to the late stage of Qi Refining; you have been quite diligent in your cultivation these past few years. Qingsi, how are your studies in formations going? How many types of formations can you set up now?"

"I can still only barely set up some simple formations, but I have become quite proficient with the Spirit Gathering Formation." Seeing her half-master, Song Qingsi answered somewhat shyly.

Song Qingming nodded and continued: "Is there something you two need from me?"

"Seventh Brother, it's like this: we want to ask you for a favor. This matter is very simple for you..."

"Tell me about it first." Before Song Qingyu could finish, Song Qingming quickly interrupted her, telling her to get straight to the point.

Song Qingyu helplessly stuck out her tongue and continued: "Qingsi and I bought a spirit beast egg at Qinghe Market. We've tried several times, but it hasn't hatched. I heard from Ninth Uncle that this spirit beast egg requires someone with deep magic power to continuously catalyze it with spiritual power to hatch quickly. Seventh Brother, you are already a Foundation Establishment cultivator, so I think you can definitely do it."

After listening, Song Qingming shook his head and said: "Are you two trying to make me your manual laborer? As a dignified Foundation Establishment cultivator, do I not need to cultivate?"

"Seventh Brother, just help us try. For this spirit beast egg, Tenth Sister and I spent over a hundred spirit stones. If it doesn't hatch, we'll have suffered a huge loss."

"Take it out first. I want to see what kind of spirit beast egg could trick you out of so many spirit stones." Seeing Song Qingsi, who had never asked him for anything before, also looking at him with a pleading expression, Song Qingming hesitated for a moment but couldn't bring himself to refuse.