Chapter 1276
: A Significant Gain, A Parting Gathering
"Qingyun Mountain", the second floor of the Alchemy Pavilion.
As a fragrant aroma wafted out, four yellow spiritual pills shot out from the jade cauldron in front of her and landed in Huang Siyuan's hand.
"Four Golden Spirit Pills were successfully made this time. Master, your alchemy skills are now good enough to challenge for the fourth-level mid-grade alchemist."
Upon seeing the four radiant golden pills in Huang Siyuan's hand, Song Siqing and the others standing to the side quickly stepped forward and offered their congratulations.
Upon hearing this, Huang Siyuan smiled and gently shook her head.
"To advance to the level four mid-grade alchemist, one needs not only alchemy skills, but also enough spiritual herbs to try. It is not an easy task."
"Master, rest assured, the Ancestor and the others are participating in the Eastern Phoenix Sword Gathering this time. It is a trade fair that happens once every two hundred years in our Eastern Phoenix Immortal Continent. They will definitely bring back a lot of high-grade spiritual herbs."
"Disciple believes that Master will definitely have a chance to break through to the fourth-level mid-grade alchemist realm this time."
"Yes! I've already spoken to my husband about bringing back more high-grade spiritual herbs. This time, you guys should also have a chance to try and break through the bottleneck in your alchemy skills."
"Thank you, Master and Ancestor!"
Since Huang Siyuan returned to Qingyun Mountain, Song Siqing, whose alchemy skills had been stuck at the mid-level of the third grade, has been affected.
With guidance from the other party over the years, his alchemy skills have successfully broken through to the third-grade upper level, making him one of the most skilled alchemists in the entire "Xiaoyao Sect" besides Huang Siyuan.
Song Shiyun and Song Chengyan, who were originally disciples of Song Qingming and Song Qingyu, also joined the "Qingyun Mountain" Alchemy Pavilion because of their talent in alchemy.
Now, both of them have successfully improved their alchemy skills to the second-level superior grade, and they are not far from advancing to the third-level alchemist.
Upon hearing Huang Siyuan's words, the three of them quickly stepped forward and kowtowed to express their gratitude.
After carefully putting away the four spirit pills, Huang Siyuan said to the others beside her, "Siqing, go and send a message to Junior Sister Xu at Guyang Mountain, and tell her that the Golden Spirit Pill has been refined."
I had promised to save one for her, and I asked Junior Sister Xu to send someone to pick it up.
"Master, rest assured, this disciple will go right away!"
Just as Song Siqing had received his orders and left, Huang Siyuan and Song Shiyun were about to tidy up the alchemy room when a sound transmission talisman flew in from outside.
After glancing at the talisman, a hint of joy flashed in Huang Siyuan's eyes.
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Inside the "Huixian Pavilion" on the mountaintop.
As a streak of light flew by, Huang Siyuan's figure appeared, and a person immediately rushed forward to meet her.
"Ancestor, Master and several uncles have returned and are waiting for you inside!"
"Ok!"
After waving her hand in agreement, Huang Siyuan quickly walked up to the third floor of the attic.
Not far ahead, Song Qingming, Li Xuanyi, Song Qingyu, and the others who had returned were already waiting there.
Upon seeing the other person appear, Song Qingyu quickly stood up and waved to them with a joyful expression.
"Sister-in-law, we brought back a lot of good stuff this time!"
"What good thing makes you so happy? I'd like to see it!"
As soon as Huang Siyuan stepped forward, Song Qingyu immediately took out a "storage bag" that she had prepared beforehand and handed it to her.
When one probes with one's divine sense, one sees hundreds of wooden boxes of various sizes containing all kinds of spiritual medicines.
With just a quick glance, Huang Siyuan was already certain that most of these were high-grade spiritual herbs of level three or above.
Among them, seven or eight jade boxes emitted a very pure and rich aura, and it was estimated that the spiritual medicines inside had reached the fourth level.
"There are so many high-grade spiritual herbs. It seems you have gained a lot from this conference!"
"Qingyu, tell me quickly, what other good things did you get?"
After withdrawing her divine sense, Huang Siyuan's gaze shifted to Song Qingyu, who was sipping tea, with a hint of anticipation on her face.
"I can't compare to Seventh Brother's wealth and power."
This time, just collecting spiritual herbs for my sister-in-law cost me most of my spirit stones; I didn't have any other good stuff to offer.
"Hehe! Someone spent a million spirit stones at the auction to acquire a top-grade magic weapon, and has been showing it off to us for a long time since then."
"Qingyu, why are you being so humble again after just getting back?"
"You little rascal, Qingyu, you actually tried to play tricks on me. Show me what kind of top-grade magic weapon you have."
Before Song Qingyu could finish her modest words, Li Xuanyi interrupted her. Her face changed when her secret was exposed.
Urged on by Huang Siyuan, Song Qingyu stopped hiding it and used magic to take out a flying sword magic weapon from her "storage bag".
A black, sinister wind swirled around the flying sword, its powerful aura immediately drawing the attention of everyone around.
"A top-grade level four flying sword, truly a fine treasure!"
The magical artifact in Song Qingyu's hand is called the "Slaying Wind Sword," a rare, high-grade fourth-level flying sword that she obtained at the "auction" of the Eastern Phoenix Sword Gathering.
In the past hundred years, Song Qingyu has used his supernatural abilities to obtain a lot of monster materials and sect merits in the two "monster turmoil".
In addition, he had accumulated a considerable amount of savings by helping to organize the "Qingyun Mountain" conference in previous years.
During her trip to Donghuang Kingdom to participate in the "Donghuang Sword Tournament," Song Qingyu happened to spot a high-grade fourth-level flying sword at the auction.
He spent nearly a million spirit stones to acquire this magical artifact.
Besides Song Qingyu, Song Qingming, Bai Yuxian, Li Xuanyi, and Zhou Ziyang also made their own purchases at the "auction".
Bai Yuxian purchased a high-grade level 4 spirit pill that would help her cultivation, as well as a mid-grade level 4 magic weapon with decent defensive capabilities, spending over a million spirit stones in the process.
After all, having been in charge of managing many affairs of the sect for many years, and being a high-level array master, Bai Yuxian's wealth was certainly no less than Song Qingyu's.
In addition, Bai Yuxian, on behalf of the sect, also bid for two "Nurture Pills" and many other spiritual items to aid in the formation of the Golden Core.
Li Xuanyi had already spent a considerable amount of her wealth on refining late-stage Nascent Soul puppets in previous years.
Li Xuanyi didn't bring many spirit stones with her to the conference. She only bought herself a mid-grade level four magic weapon and some pills needed for cultivation.
Another thing is that he took a fancy to a set of special magical artifacts that the puppets could use at the auction.
Originally, Li Xuanyi didn't have enough spirit stones and didn't want to participate in the competition.
Later, Song Qingming lent her 200,000 spirit stones, and Li Xuanyi was finally able to acquire this treasure as she wished.
Zhou Ziyang had only recently advanced to the Nascent Soul stage, and with many wives and concubines requiring him to spend spirit stones in various places, his wealth was naturally far less than that of others.
The main purpose of going to the "Eastern Phoenix Sword Gathering" was to broaden my horizons and make more friends.
After several "auctions," Zhou Ziyang only brought back a few low-grade fourth-level spirit talismans and some low-level spirit items of little value.
He was one of the fewest among all the Nascent Soul cultivators.
Song Qingming, who led everyone there, had already reached the half-step Nascent Soul realm in cultivation, and there were not many spiritual objects in the cultivation world that could help him.
Even when attending the "Eastern Phoenix Sword Gathering," a top-tier auction in the cultivation world, the number of spiritual items that would even catch his eye is extremely limited.
However, Song Qingming's purpose in traveling so far to attend the conference was not solely for his own sake.
At the "auction", in addition to acquiring a fourth-grade high-quality spirit talisman, Song Qingming also bid for two "Nurture Pills" and a variety of high-level materials for making talismans and refining puppets.
The many spiritual herbs in Huang Siyuan's possession were also brought back by him at a considerable cost of spirit stones.
During this Eastern Phoenix Sword Tournament, Song Qingming spent nearly three million spirit stones, no less than anyone else present.
Although Song Qingming spent a lot of spirit stones to purchase these materials, he could still get most of them back in the future.
Just like the many spiritual herbs in Huang Siyuan's hands, as long as they are refined into elixirs in the future, they will not only be able to recoup their investment, but also earn a lot of spirit stones.
Furthermore, the high-level spirit talismans and magic arrays drawn by Song Qingming, and the puppets refined by Li Xuanyi, can all bring them a considerable amount of spirit stone income.
It just needs time to settle down before these things can be exchanged for the spirit stones and spirit items needed.
Hearing everyone present talk about what they had gained from their trip to Donghuang Kingdom, Huang Siyuan, who hadn't had the chance to go with them, felt quite excited.
Especially when he saw the "Slaying Wind Sword" in Song Qingyu's hand, he couldn't hide the envious look in his eyes.
Just as Huang Siyuan put away the spiritual medicine in her hand, Song Qingming took out a purple pill furnace from his body and cast a spell to send it to her.
"Siyuan, this treasure is something I obtained from the sword tournament. Take a look and see if it suits your taste!"
"This is... a high-grade level four alchemy furnace!"
Upon seeing the "Purple Gold Furnace" that Song Qingming took out, Huang Siyuan's face immediately showed a look of surprise, as if she could hardly believe that this was a gift for her.
For a moment, they stood there, stunned, a look of confusion on their faces.
"Is this treasure really meant for me?"
"Sister Siyuan, didn't my husband promise to give us a treasure in the bet we made last time?"
Since he's already lost, why are you still being so polite?
Seeing Huang Siyuan's hesitant expression, Li Xuanyi quickly used magic to secretly transmit her voice and winked at her, urging her to accept the treasure.
Seeing this, Song Qingyu, who was standing to the side, also spoke up:
"Don't worry, sister-in-law. This treasure was a gift from the Immortal Origin Sect to the top ten experts of the tournament. It wasn't purchased by Seventh Brother with spirit stones."
Within the sect, only my sister-in-law is a high-level alchemist, and we have no way to utilize the effects of a level four superior alchemy furnace, so keeping it would be a waste of a treasure.
"Since this treasure is in Seventh Brother's hands, it was specially prepared for you."
“Yes! Qingyu is right. Apart from Siyuan, no one else needs the Purple Gold Furnace for the time being, so it would be better if you were in charge of this treasure.”
"Senior Sister Huang, if anyone needs your help with alchemy in the future, please don't refuse."
".
Seeing that Song Qingming, Li Xuanyi, Song Qingyu and others around him were all trying to persuade him to accept the treasure, he realized that the treasure was not his.
Huang Siyuan nodded slightly and took the alchemy furnace into her hands.
The "Purple Gold Furnace" is a high-grade fourth-level alchemy furnace. It is not only a powerful offensive magic weapon, but it can also assist cultivators in refining high-level pills.
These treasures are even more valuable than Song Qingyu's "Slaying Wind Sword".
According to Song Qingming's estimate, the "Purple Gold Furnace" would be worth close to 1.5 million spirit stones at an auction, and would be presented as the grand finale treasure.
Huang Siyuan, who had just been somewhat envious of Song Qingyu, now held this treasure that surpassed even hers, and her eyes were filled with undisguised joy.
She stepped forward excitedly and thanked Song Qingming. "Siyuan, thank you, husband!"
".
After carefully placing the treasure in her hands, Huang Siyuan personally arranged a banquet to welcome everyone.
During the gathering, Bai Jingyun, Song Linyu, and many other disciples on the mountain, upon learning that Song Qingming and the others had returned from Donghuang Kingdom, also rushed over to pay their respects and join in the festivities.
Besides bestowing some gifts upon them, Song Qingming, who was quite pleased with himself, unusually opened an altar to preach and personally instructed his many disciples.
Over the years, he has not only taken on many disciples.
Song Qingyu, Li Xuanyi, Huang Siyuan, and others also left behind many descendants in the sect and the Song family.
Among them, seven people have successfully formed their core: Bai Jingyun, Song Linyu, Wei Yunlong, Song Shaoyu, Chu Ling, Song Siqing, and Song Shiyun.
The remaining individuals, including Liu Yue and Song Chengyan, have also successfully established their foundations.
There were also Song Linrui and Song Yu'an, who were specially transferred from Funiu Mountain by Song Qingming.
Although he hadn't formally become an apprentice, Song Qingming treated these younger members of the family as his own disciples, imparting all his knowledge to them.
To receive personal instruction from Song Qingming, an ancestor who has already reached the half-step Nascent Soul realm, is an opportunity that not just anyone has.
If they can gain even the slightest benefit from it, it could probably save them years of arduous study.
Everyone present was excited, and they all pricked up their ears, afraid of missing a single detail.
Even Zhou Ziyang, a Nascent Soul elder of the sect, unusually stayed behind instead of leaving early, listening with rapt attention and losing track of time.
It wasn't until dawn the next day that Song Qingming announced the end of the sermon, and everyone reluctantly took their leave.
Soon, only five people remained in the entire "Huixian Pavilion": Song Qingming, Bai Yuxian, Song Qingyu, Huang Siyuan, and Li Xuanyi.
"Senior Sister Bai, you're not in such a hurry to leave this time, are you?"
Why don't you stay for a while? My sister-in-law is free too, we can play a few rounds of jade cards together."
Seeing Song Qingyu looking at her with a hint of expectation, Bai Yuxian remained silent for a moment before standing up.
"I just returned today, and there are still many matters to attend to at the sect, so I won't stay any longer to disturb you."
Another day when I have time, I'll come to Qingyun Mountain again and play with some jade pendants with my fellow disciples.
After saying this, Bai Yuxian didn't wait for Song Qingyu to speak again, so she raised her hand to bid farewell to everyone and turned to leave "Huixian Pavilion".
Although they became Daoist partners, Bai Yuxian did not choose to live on "Qingyun Mountain." Song Qingming did not object and nodded slightly in agreement.
Seeing that Bai Yuxian's figure had disappeared, Song Qingyu walked to Song Qingming's side.
"Seventh Brother, why didn't you help me keep Senior Sister Bai here?"
Now we're short-handed again, so we can't play with jade pendants anymore!
"Senior Sister Bai has many sect affairs on her mind, how can you be so free? You only think about how to have fun whenever you have time."
After replying to the other party, Song Qingming immediately asked with a serious expression, "Qingyu, how is your magical power being refined?"
Are you confident that you can break through the bottleneck by going into seclusion?
"Seventh Brother, the magical power within my body is indeed close to perfection. I estimate that after a period of refinement, I will be able to attempt to break through the bottleneck of the late Nascent Soul stage."
However, reaching the late Nascent Soul stage is truly difficult, and I'm not entirely confident yet. I'll probably have to wait for another opportunity.
Upon hearing Song Qingming inquire about her cultivation progress, Song Qingyu's previously playful expression immediately turned serious.
It has been over seventy years since Song Qingyu broke through to the sixth level of the Nascent Soul realm.
Now, the magical power within his body is nearing its peak and perfection, and he can attempt to break through the bottleneck of the late Nascent Soul stage at any time.
However, the closer Song Qingyu got to the perfection of his magical power, the more he sensed the bottleneck of the late Nascent Soul stage within his body, which was far more severe than when he tried to break through other realms.
If one cannot find a suitable spiritual object to break through to a higher realm, then rashly going into seclusion would likely be futile.
When Song Qingming asked her, Song Qingyu did not hide anything and directly revealed her thoughts.
Upon hearing this, Song Qingming remained calm and handed her a jade box.
"Seventh Brother, what's in here?"
"The Profound Spirit Pill, the one that the Qingyang Holy Sect sent to me, you should keep it safe for now."
Previously, on the sword tournament arena, Song Qingming and Liang Yushan, the Grand Elder of the "Qingyang Holy Sect," made a bet to settle their feud through a martial arts contest.
After Song Qingming defeated Liang Yushan in public, the other party did not break his promise.
Just over half a month later, the Qingyang Holy Sect took the initiative to send him a Xuanling Pill.
However, Liang Yushan did not come in person. Instead, he sent a Nascent Soul elder from his sect to personally hand over the precious elixir to Song Qingming.
Seeing that the other party had not broken their promise, Song Qingming accepted the item, thus settling his grudge with the "Qingyang Holy Sect" in person.
Currently, Li Xuanyi and Huang Siyuan's cultivation levels are still somewhat lacking, while Song Qingyu's cultivation level has already reached the peak of the sixth level of the Nascent Soul stage.
Song Qingming then handed the pill to her.
"Seventh Brother, I'm not confident about breaking through to the next realm yet. You should keep this Profound Spirit Pill for now and give it to me when you need it."
"Qingyu, I'm going to be away for a while, and I don't know when I'll be back."
Keep this elixir safe, just in case you need it and it's too late.
"As for that fourth-grade high-quality demon core from the sect, I've already spoken to Senior Sister Bai about it. If you need it, you can exchange it anytime."
"Seventh Brother, you've just gotten back, why are you in such a hurry to leave? Did something urgent happen?"
Looking at Song Qingyu, who seemed a little anxious, Song Qingming smiled slightly and replied, "Why are you in such a hurry, girl? I didn't say I was leaving tomorrow."
Don't worry, I'm fine. I just need to go out and find a place to cultivate for a while.
I'll have to trouble you to take care of things here.
"Yes! We've got Qingyun Mountain covered, and Senior Sister Bai is also here in the sect, so Seventh Brother can rest assured."
Faced with Song Qingming's entrustment, Song Qingyu immediately nodded seriously, accepting the important task with full confidence.
Song Qingyu's cultivation has now reached the peak of the sixth level of the Nascent Soul stage. In addition, she recently obtained a high-grade fourth-level magic weapon, so her supernatural abilities are not much weaker than those of a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator.
Li Xuanyi possesses a late-stage Nascent Soul puppet, and in terms of combat strength, she is not much inferior to Song Qingyu.
With the two of them working together, they could even put up a fight against a master at the ninth level of the Nascent Soul stage.
Besides Song Qingyu and Li Xuanyi, there are also Huang Siyuan, "Ice and Fire Dragon", Zhou Ziyang, Song Yuanhao and Song Qingming's avatar on "Qingyun Mountain", a total of seven Nascent Soul cultivators.
In addition, there was the fourth-grade high-level protective array set up by Song Qingming, as well as tens of thousands of low-level cultivators on the mountain.
Even if the main force of the "Heavenly Fox Clan" marches south, it will not be easy for them to break through Qingyun Mountain.
Moreover, Bai Yuxian and others are providing support from the rear, and can send reinforcements to the north at any time through the "teleportation array" set up by the sect.
The defenses of Qingyun Mountain are now impregnable.
After explaining things to Song Qingyu, Song Qingming was not in a hurry to leave "Qingyun Mountain".
After returning to his cave dwelling and finishing his business, he sent a message to Huang Siyuan and Li Xuanyi informing them of his impending departure.
Since Song Qingming and Bai Yuxian held their celebration, Huang Siyuan and Li Xuanyi have never objected to it, nor have they shown any dissatisfaction with their senior sister in person.
Every time Bai Yuxian came to Qingyun Mountain, they were very enthusiastic and never treated her as an outsider.
However, in recent years, Li Xuanyi and Huang Siyuan have both deliberately distanced themselves from Song Qingming.
Since Huang Siyuan's alchemy skills made rapid progress, she has devoted herself to alchemy for many years and rarely returned to her mountain cave.
Even if they needed to speak with Song Qingming, they would send their disciples to deliver the message.
In the past, Li Xuanyi would pester her Daoist partner to cultivate whenever she had free time, but in recent years she has also started to frequently go into seclusion to cultivate, and rarely takes the initiative to go to Song Qingming.
Although Song Qingming was somewhat unaccustomed to this, he did not make a point of explaining anything.
However, I will be away for a long time and I don't know when I will be able to come back.
Before leaving, I should spend some more time with the two of them.
Upon hearing Song Qingming's suggestion to go out for cultivation, Huang Siyuan and Li Xuanyi were both quite surprised and immediately dropped what they were doing to come over.
At first, Li Xuanyi and the other woman wanted to leave with Song Qingming, but Song Qingming, who had already made up his mind, refused their idea.
"Don't worry, the place I'm going to isn't far, and there won't be any danger."
If the cultivation goes smoothly, I will return sooner, at most twenty or thirty years.
"Twenty or thirty years, and I won't see my husband for so long again!"
Although Li Xuanyi didn't insist on persuading the other party to take her along, her tone still betrayed some discomfort.
Huang Siyuan also looked slightly disappointed.
I never imagined that Song Qingming would be leaving again for such a long time after just returning.
Seeing that Li Xuanyi was unhappy and her mood was getting lower and lower, Song Qingming immediately stepped forward and took her hand.
"Don't worry, I don't have much to do lately, so I'm just spending some time with you. I'll leave when you get annoyed."
"You'll stay with me, but not with Sister Siyuan?"
Seeing Li Xuanyi look to the side, Song Qingming smiled slightly and reached out his other hand to pull Huang Siyuan, who hadn't yet reacted.
Previously, the three of them each had their own cave dwellings and cultivated separately on weekdays.
Now, for the sake of convenience, they simply live together in Huang Siyuan's cave.
In just a few days, Li Xuanyi, who had become somewhat "aloof," regained her former fiery attitude.
He actively pestered Song Qingming, offering guidance on cultivation.
After all, who knows when I will return after this departure? There's no point in being reserved right now.
Even Huang Siyuan, who was initially a little unaccustomed to it, was eventually persuaded and joined in.
Several months later, Huang Siyuan finally left her cave to go down the mountain to refine pills, and Li Xuanyi also returned to her own cave to cultivate in seclusion, satisfied.
The following night, around midnight, a streak of light silently passed through the protective array of Qingyun Mountain and sped southward. (End of Chapter)