Chapter 425: Returning to the Clan

Seeing this, Song Qingming did not stand on ceremony with her; he took the spirit beast bag and placed it directly on his waist.

After the three of them circled the spot to confirm that no spiritual items were left behind, they flew away together on their swords toward Yangshan Market.

More than an hour later, seeing that they were getting closer to Yangshan Market, Song Qingming's somewhat nervous expression gradually relaxed. He controlled the flying sword under his feet to come beside the woman in green.

"Fellow Daoist Hu, I wonder how much you know about this Golden Illusion Butterfly? Could you tell me more in detail? Although I was lucky enough to win just now, I was indeed forced into a sorry state by these bugs. I wonder if there is any way to restrain them."

Upon hearing this, the woman in green was slightly stunned for a moment before immediately saying, "Big Brother Song, to tell you the truth, my knowledge of this Golden Illusion Butterfly only exists in a classic. Whether what it says is true or not, I cannot confirm, so just listen to it as a story."

"The Golden Illusion Butterfly is a type of spirit insect that likes to live in places with abundant spiritual energy and relatively humid spirit veins all year round. Although this kind of spirit insect is not easy to cultivate, it has considerable lethality when young. Generally, if a Foundation Establishment cultivator encounters a swarm of these spirit insects, it is indeed quite troublesome."

"However, this kind of spirit insect is very difficult to cultivate. In fact, the reason that guy could keep casting spells to release spirit insects during the battle just now is because the Golden Illusion Butterfly has a unique innate divine ability, the Thousand-Change Phantom Art. You probably didn't notice that although you killed so many spirit insects just now, there were very few corpses on the ground!"

Song Qingming nodded lightly after hearing this, "So that's how it is. No wonder I used spirit talismans to burn several waves of over a hundred Golden Illusion Butterflies at once, and the opponent didn't feel any heartache at all. It turns out that most of them were illusions created by these spirit insects. I was wondering why so many bugs suddenly disappeared from the sky."

"These bugs can deceive the spiritual sense of us Foundation Establishment cultivators with the illusions they release while still in their infancy; it can be seen that they are indeed quite powerful. I don't know what method this person used to cultivate them."

"Although the Golden Illusion Butterfly is powerful, it is indeed very difficult to cultivate. However, Big Brother Song doesn't need to be discouraged. That guy's storage bag is now on you; perhaps it contains the method for cultivating Golden Illusion Butterflies!" the woman in green said with a smile.

"Oh! Then I'll take your word for it."

While speaking, the group finally arrived at the foot of Ancient Yang Mountain. Because Song Qingming still had to return to his cave dwelling in Yangshan Market, he stopped his flying sword and cupped his hands at the two of them.

"Captain Xu, Fellow Daoist Hu, I have some matters to attend to in Yangshan Market, so I won't accompany you up the mountain for now. We shall meet again if fate allows."

"We shall meet again if fate allows."

Watching the sword light disappear before her eyes, Xu Ziyan slowly regained her focus and looked at the woman in green beside her, "Junior Sister, let's go too!"

Just as the two started their journey, the woman in green leaned toward Xu Ziyan and smiled, "This Big Brother Song is really a person who knows how to repay kindness. Along the way, he wasn't moved in the slightest by the Golden Sun Fire Essence on us. It's really rare for Senior Sister to have such a good friend."

"How can it work if one doesn't cultivate diligently and always relies on others? No matter how good our luck is, it's impossible for someone to save us every time."

The woman in green smiled upon hearing this, "Not relying on others—wait until Senior Sister succeeds in Core Formation this time, and I won't have to rely on others anymore. You must not let down my painstaking efforts!"

"You girl, your mouth is really unforgiving. Don't go around flattering me."

After bidding farewell to Xu Ziyan and her companion, Song Qingming returned to the rented cave dwelling in Yangshan Market. After tidying up his personal belongings, he went down the mountain and returned the cave dwelling he had rented.

This time coming to Yangshan Market, although he failed to successfully purchase a Foundation Establishment Pill, the goal of breaking through his own cultivation base had been successfully achieved, so Song Qingming prepared to set off immediately to return to Qinghe County.

Having stayed in Yangshan Market for nearly half a year, Song Qingming was also worried about the situation at home. Now that Song Qingyu had been away for more than a decade without returning, there was only one Foundation Establishment cultivator left in the clan. Song Qingming was also afraid that some changes might occur at home if he stayed away for too long.

Traveling in a hurry, Song Qingming soon rushed back to Mount Funiu.

Upon returning to the family, Song Qingming first walked around the mountain to show his face and stabilize the hearts of the clan members, and shortly after, he summoned several elders in the family council hall to ask about the recent situation of the family.

Fortunately, nothing major had happened in the clan over the past six months, which finally allowed Song Qingming to set his mind at ease.

After all the elders had left, Song Qingming kept his eldest brother, Song Qingshi, who had managed the family for many years, and the fourteenth, Song Qingsi, behind.

"Qingming, you kept me behind—it wouldn't be that you're going on a long journey again shortly after returning, would it?" Hearing Song Qingshi say this, Song Qingming, who was just about to speak, smiled somewhat awkwardly.

"Big Brother is right; I do have to go on a long journey in a few months, but that is not what I want to talk to you two about now."

Song Qingshi said with some surprise, "Oh! If it's not that, what else is there? Just say it quickly, so we two old fellows don't have to keep guessing. Haha! Among our generation, you, Qingming, are the one who likes to keep people in suspense the most."

"That's right, Seventh Brother. Recently, I've been assigned to manage family affairs and have to take time to teach Xintong in the Hidden Gold Pavilion; I'm really too busy to keep up. If you have anything to say, just order it quickly!"

Song Qingming waved his hand lightly, "You used to be able to keep your composure; why are you now just as impatient as the Second Sister?"

"Not impatient, not impatient, please speak!" Song Qingshi spread his hands and responded helplessly to Song Qingming.

"Big Brother, Qingsi, keeping you here this time is mainly to clarify one thing with you: was this magic tool refined by Xinde?" After saying this, Song Qingming took out a blue flying sword with a very ordinary appearance and placed it on his table with a calm expression.

Seeing this somewhat familiar-looking flying sword, the expressions of Song Qingshi and Song Qingsi changed slightly, and they looked at each other.

"Seventh Brother, this magic tool was indeed refined by Xinde before, and I have some impression of it. However, there are some quality issues with this sword, and the family really couldn't take it out to sell, so it remained in his own hands. Why is it in your hands now?" Seeing Song Qingming take out this sword with a seemingly displeased expression, Song Qingsi immediately explained.

After listening, Song Qingming nodded calmly and looked at Song Qingshi, saying softly, "Does Big Brother know about this matter too?"