Chapter 391

After his eldest brother Song Qingshi left, Song Qingyu did not follow him. Suddenly, she snuck up to Song Qingming, hesitated for a moment, and then, squinting her eyes, asked a question that caught Song Qingming by surprise.

"Seventh Brother, have there been any messages from Sister-in-law in these years? Have you ever thought about going out to look for her?"

Hearing Song Qingyu mention Huang Siyuan, Song Qingming was stunned for a moment. It had been over twenty years since she left Qinghe Market without saying goodbye. Although Song Qingming had tried asking Shi Chun to help inquire about her whereabouts everywhere, he hadn't gained a single bit of information after all these years.

Looking at Song Qingyu, who was waiting somewhat urgently for his answer, Song Qingming's expression shifted, and he sighed: "I have entrusted people to ask, but there has never been any news of her. I suppose she must have already left Weiguo!"

"Since you have thought about looking for her, why have I never heard you mention it? You two have been separated for so long; if you don't go find her, maybe Sister-in-law will forget all about you." Song Qingyu smiled cautiously and probed again.

"Why do you keep bringing her up today for no reason? It's been so many years; if she wanted to come back, she would have returned long ago. In the vast cultivation world, I don't know where she is, or whether she is alive or dead. Without any clues, looking for her is like looking for a needle in a haystack. What meaning could it have?"

Seeing that Song Qingming was already starting to look displeased, Song Qingyu hurriedly put away her smile and said softly: "Then if you knew where Sister-in-law was, would you go find her immediately?"

"Do you have news of her?"

Song Qingming stared intently at Song Qingyu's eyes, somewhat surprised. Ever since he carried her up Mount Funiu, he had watched this girl grow up over the years, so it was naturally easy for him to see that Song Qingyu was likely hiding something.

Half an hour later, Song Qingyu walked out of the cave dwelling with a calm expression. After shaking her head, she summoned a blue flying sword and left Mount Funiu directly.

Song Qingming, still sitting in his cave dwelling, was also full of surprise. He hadn't expected that after searching for Huang Siyuan for years with no success, Song Qingyu would happen to run into her by chance during her travels.

"She actually succeeded in Foundation Establishment. It seems this is fate." After muttering this to himself, he sat alone in the cave dwelling, a dazed smile suddenly spreading across his face.

——

Three days later, on Mount Taiyuan of the Huang family, Song Qingming arrived early according to the time agreed upon with the Huang family.

Hearing that Song Qingming had arrived, Huang Siyuan hurried out to welcome him. Huang Siyuan had been in seclusion within the clan for these years, and Huang Sipo had always been the one appearing in public for the Huang family. Song Qingming hadn't seen her for a long time.

Compared to the bright and beautiful woman of the past, Huang Siyuan's appearance had already begun to show signs of age over these years. Her several attempts at seclusion to break through to the late stage of Foundation Establishment had also been very unsuccessful, and her cultivation base remained at the peak of the sixth level of Foundation Establishment.

"Fellow Daoist Song, why did you come so early today? Ninth Brother went to Mount Wufeng and should be back soon. Please wait here for a moment, Fellow Daoist."

"Oh? Is Fellow Daoist Shengxin going together this time?"

Huang Shengxin, as the head of the Huang family, had long since cultivated to the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage. He had spent these years trying to attempt Core Formation, but in the end, he had never been able to fulfill his wish. He was a cultivator of the same generation as Gao Jinhe, and his lifespan was not long, with at most ten years left. Logically speaking, a cultivator of his age would generally not be willing to go on a long journey.

Seeing Song Qingming's puzzled expression, Huang Siyuan hurriedly explained: "This invitation from Mount Tuoyun was sent directly to Ninth Brother. Since Ancestor Chen has given our Huang family such face, Ninth Brother is afraid that if he doesn't go in person, he will be slighting the old man."

"Oh! I have rarely seen Fellow Daoist Shengxin in recent years. I thought he was still in seclusion cultivating. I didn't think of that; I am ashamed!"

After the two exchanged a few pleasantries, a silver light slowly appeared in the sky and landed directly on Mount Taiyuan. Huang Shengxin, now with a full head of white hair, jumped down from a silver flying boat.

Since the battle at Eagle Nest Ridge, Song Qingming hadn't seen Huang Shengxin for a long time, so he hurriedly stepped forward and bowed.

"Qingming pays his respects to Clan Leader Shengxin!"

Huang Shengxin smiled and returned the bow: "Fellow Daoist Song, I hope you are well. It has been a long time since I last saw you, my old friend. I didn't expect your cultivation to have increased so much, while we old fellows can only mark time in place."

"Fellow Daoist, you flatter me. Although my cultivation has improved over these years, I am only following in the footsteps of my seniors." Facing Huang Shengxin's praise, Song Qingming hurriedly responded with humility.

Ever since Gao Jinhe passed away a few years ago, there had been rumors outside Qinghe County that Huang Shengxin could no longer engage in combat and was not far from the end of his life. Song Qingming hadn't seen Huang Shengxin appear in these years and had even thought it possible that his lifespan was truly running out.

Looking at him today, although the old fellow's appearance had indeed aged quite a bit, his spirit was still well-maintained. He could probably hold on for another twenty years or so, far from the image of being bedridden as the rumors suggested.

After the three exchanged greetings, they soon boarded the flying boat controlled by Huang Shengxin and sped off toward the northwest.

When he went to the Fuyun Mountain Range with the Huang family back then, Song Qingming remembered that this silver flying boat in Huang Shengxin's hands had been damaged by Qing Luan. He hadn't expected that it would be completely repaired by now.

With the speed of the flying boat, the journey for the three to Mount Tuoyun was shortened significantly compared to what Song Qingyu had estimated. In less than half a month, they had arrived at their destination: Mount Tuoyun.

The entire peak of Mount Tuoyun towered into the clouds, much higher than Mount Guiyun. Everywhere on the mountain were all kinds of cave dwellings opened up by cultivators, numbering nearly a thousand at most.

These cave dwellings varied greatly in style and size from top to bottom. The places at the top with the most concentrated spiritual energy were the cave dwellings of the Core Formation Ancestor and Foundation Establishment cultivators, which looked quite spacious. The further down one went, the more casual the cave dwellings became. By the foot of the mountain, they were like ant nests, densely covering the entire mountainside.

Although Mount Tuoyun is adjacent to the Fuyun Mountain Range, Chen Jinliang has occupied Mount Tuoyun for hundreds of years, leading his disciples and followers to clear out most of the nearby demonic beasts. Very few demonic beasts can be seen around the entire Mount Tuoyun.

This Core Formation Ancestor of rogue cultivator origin has always sympathized with cultivators of rogue origin. Rogue cultivators wandering near the Fuyun Mountain Range, as long as they are not heinous villains, can enter Mount Tuoyun to rent cave dwellings and receive the old man's protection. Moreover, compared to living in a large market like Guiyun Market, the spirit stones that rogue cultivators need to pay annually to live on Mount Tuoyun are much less.