Chapter 83

Song Qingming had not learned any advanced breath-concealing techniques, so his cultivation base naturally could not be hidden from the old Clan Leader, Song Gushan, a master at the peak of the ninth level of Qi Refining.

"I just broke through successfully last month. It was also a bit of luck." Song Qingming replied modestly.

Hearing Song Qingming confirm his cultivation base, a look of joy slowly appeared on Song Gushan's face, and then he said: "After you left, I haven't received any news from you for the past few years, and everyone was worried about you. Seeing you return safely today, my heart can finally be put down."

Hearing the genuine concern in the old Clan Leader's words, Song Qingming quickly bowed and said: "Qingming thanks the Clan Leader for his concern."

Next, Song Gushan asked about Song Qingming's situation of going out for training over the past few years. Song Qingming did not hide anything, and told him everything, including his time in the Flying Cloud Guard over the past few years.

Hearing Song Qingming talk about the great battle with the demonic cultivators in the Floating Cloud Mountain Range after he joined the Flying Cloud Guard, Song Gushan, an old cultivator who had been cultivating for nearly a hundred years, was also a bit terrified. It was really not an easy thing for Song Qingming to survive on such a dangerous battlefield.

Half an hour later, Song Qingming finally finished talking about all his experiences over the past few years, and the old Clan Leader, Song Gushan, also took the opportunity to guide his cultivation situation.

Seeing that it was getting late, Song Qingming couldn't keep staying here to disturb the old Clan Leader's cultivation. Seeing that the old Clan Leader had no other instructions, he got up and bid farewell to return to his cave dwelling.

The moonlight was already in the sky, and Song Qingming, who was cultivating in the cave dwelling, suddenly received another sound-transmission talisman.

Song Qingming opened the spiritual talisman to take a look, and his face, which was a bit depressed because his cultivation had been disturbed, changed instantly, and a smile slowly appeared on the corner of his mouth. He ended his cultivation, quickly got up, and left the cave dwelling.

In the Moon-Gazing Pavilion in a corner of Funiu Mountain, Song Qingming, his eldest brother Song Qingshi, and his fourth brother Song Qingshi each held a cup of spiritual wine, chatting happily about Song Qingming's experiences over the past few years.

Song Qingming had been close to these two brothers since he was a child. When they were on Funiu Mountain, they often drank and chatted together, joking about their respective lives.

After his fourth brother, Song Qingshi, drank a cup of spiritual wine, he made a "tsk tsk" sound and said to Song Qingming:

"Seventh, the pot of Golden Flower Spiritual Dew you brought from Guiyun Market really tastes good. It's much better than the spiritual wine Fourth Uncle sent to the mountain. Fortunately, Thirteenth Uncle is still in seclusion. If he were here, this pot probably wouldn't have a few sips left, and it would all have entered his mouth."

Thirteenth Uncle Song Changxiong was also a person who loved spiritual wine. The three brothers of Song Qingming loved this business of pushing cups and changing lamps, and they were all led by this elder.

Song Qingming smiled and said: "It's okay, let's drink with peace of mind. I still have a pot left. After Thirteenth Uncle comes out of seclusion, it will be just right for us to gather again and help him celebrate properly."

"Thirteenth Uncle's seclusion this time, I don't know if he can break through to the late stage of Qi Refining. If it doesn't work, Qingming, you'd better not go to find Thirteenth Uncle first."

After hearing their conversation, the eldest brother, Song Qingshi, who was the most meticulous among the three, reminded Song Qingming appropriately.

Song Qingming nodded, and immediately understood Song Qingshi's intentions.

"Seventh, I didn't expect that in just a few years, you have broken through to the seventh level of Qi Refining. Fourth Brother is really happy for you. Our Qing generation will have to rely on you to shoulder the heavy burden in the future." After Fourth Brother Song Qingshi drank a few cups of spiritual wine, he also began to open his heart in his words.

Song Qingming shook his head and said: "Fourth Brother, you are drunk, right? My cultivation base is just luck. With Third Brother here, how can it be my turn to shoulder the heavy burden?"

Unexpectedly, as soon as Song Qingming said this, Song Qingshi and Song Qingshi, who were just smiling, suddenly stiffened and put down the wine cups in their hands.

Song Qingming saw that the atmosphere was wrong, and his face was instantly full of confusion. He didn't know which sentence he had said wrong just now.

"Seventh, you may not know it just after you came back. Your Third Brother has already decided to join the Carefree Sect. It is estimated that he will leave Funiu Mountain in at most a month or two. Just now I heard you say that the Clan Leader summoned you today, and we thought you already knew about this."

Eldest Brother Song Qingshi saw that Song Qingming didn't seem to know about this, and hurriedly explained a few words, which solved the confusion in Song Qingming's heart.

"Seventh, from now on, he is no longer our Third Brother. It's a waste of our respect for him for so many years. People like him only care about their own Dao path, and they have never had us brothers in their eyes." Fourth Brother Song Qingshi said with some indignation.

Song Qingshi sighed and said: "Fourth, Qingming just came back, so say less. Moreover, even the Clan Leader has agreed to this matter. This is Qingze's own choice, and no matter what you say, you can't change this matter."

Third Brother Song Qingze wanted to join the Carefree Sect. Suddenly hearing this shocking news, even Song Qingming, whose mentality was already very stable, showed a look of surprise.

Since Song Qingming was sent to Funiu Mountain, Third Brother Song Qingze had always been a role model for their generation of cultivators, and the family elders had always been cultivating him as the future Clan Leader.

For more than twenty years, the resources the Song family invested in him were far from what brothers like Song Qingming could compare to. Whether it was the cultivation technique or the resources needed for the breakthrough, they were all prepared very properly for him.

The family's unsparing help made Song Qingze cultivate to the late stage of Qi Refining at a young age. For so many years, his Dao path had been very smooth.

The family spared no effort to cultivate him, but he unexpectedly made the decision to join the Carefree Sect. It was no wonder that Song Qingshi, who had always regarded Song Qingze as a role model, suddenly changed his attitude towards him like this.

Although there were waves in Song Qingming's heart, he thought about it and didn't say anything, just picked up the wine cup in his hand and greeted the two brothers to continue drinking.

Song Qingshi also hurriedly changed the subject, and the three of them didn't return to their respective cave dwellings until the morning sun rose.

Not many days later, Song Qingming heard the news of Thirteenth Uncle coming out of seclusion. It's just a pity that although Thirteenth Uncle's cultivation foundation was already very stable, he didn't have spiritual items like middle-grade spirit stones to assist in the breakthrough, so this breakthrough still failed.

Song Qingming was also afraid that Thirteenth Uncle would feel a bit embarrassed after seeing his cultivation base, so he didn't choose to go and disturb him now.

It had only been ten days since he returned to Funiu Mountain, and Song Qingming received news from the Fourth Elder again, asking him to go to the family meeting hall. Song Qingming hurriedly walked out of the cave dwelling.

Just as he walked into the meeting hall, Song Qingming saw the old Clan Leader and the Fourth Elder sitting in the meeting hall.

He thought it was just the Fourth Elder looking for him for something, but he didn't expect that the Clan Leader was also here, so Song Qingming felt a bit puzzled in his heart.

"In a while, several elders will come here to discuss matters. You have already broken through to the late stage of Qi Refining, and you are already qualified to discuss family matters. You might as well stay here and listen for a while."

Seeing that Song Qingming was the first to arrive here, Song Gushan beckoned to him and pointed to a chair not far from his side, signaling Song Qingming to sit down first.

Seeing this situation, Song Qingming didn't think much, walked over directly, and sat on the chair pointed to by Song Gushan.

Not long after, Second Elder Song Changfeng and Third Elder Song Gulan also came to the meeting hall. What made Song Qingming very surprised was that Ninth Uncle Song Changxin, who rarely participated in family meetings, also rarely came here this time.

(End of chapter)