Chapter 1301
Entering the World to Cultivate, Past Events Like Smoke
"Phantom Sea Desert", eastern sand dunes.
A strong wind swept in, stirring up clouds of yellow sand. At the bottom of the sand dune, inside a magic array, a dozen cultivators dressed in the robes of the "Ten Thousand Spirits Sect" were scanning the outside world through the array.
Suddenly, a dark figure appeared in the yellow sand and approached them, instantly attracting the attention of one of them.
"Senior Brother Luo, it seems another demonic beast has arrived. Judging from its appearance, it's of a high rank, possibly a level three demon king."
"What is a Demon King? Everyone be careful, quickly go and inform Uncle Liu."
".
As the shadowy figure slowly approached, a white-haired old man with a dignified face suddenly appeared before everyone, immediately surprising the cultivators present.
"Huh! Why are there other cultivators here? Could they be people sent by the Thundercloud Sect to replace us?"
"Strange, didn't Uncle Liu say we were going to stay here for two years? Only half a year has passed."
".
Just as everyone was looking at the cultivator outside with puzzled expressions, a figure had already arrived at their location.
The newcomer's expression changed as he looked at the person who had suddenly appeared outside the formation.
"This is bad! He's not from the Thundercloud Sect! Activate the formation immediately to notify the sect!"
As soon as the formation was activated, a transparent protective shield appeared above the entire sand dune, and each of the dozen or so cultivators in the formation held an array flag.
A moment later, another white beam of light flew out from the formation, heading straight for the distant horizon.
The light had barely flown out when it was suddenly intercepted by another figure, which then transformed it into a sound transmission talisman in its hand.
"Even a late-stage Golden Core cultivator wouldn't be able to easily stop a sect's communication talisman. Could they be Nascent Soul cultivators?!"
"Everyone be careful, these people are probably after the magic array. We must defend the array."
The many cultivators standing in the great formation were already shocked when they saw this scene from afar.
At this moment, they already knew that the outsiders were quite powerful, and could only place their hopes on the level four formation set up by the sect in front of them.
But the next moment, the sky suddenly transformed into a giant axe, and a powerful pressure instantly enveloped the area for dozens of miles around.
"This, this is impossible!"
".
Wei State, Qinghe County.
At the foot of Funiu Mountain in the northwest corner of Qinghe County, there are more than a dozen ordinary towns surrounding the sacred mountain.
Located at the foot of the mountain on the west side, in a small town called "Mujiao Town", the streets are bustling with people, and the shouts of various vendors can be heard from time to time.
In a noodle shop on one side of the street, the waiter carefully carried two bowls of noodles to the customer.
"Sir, two bowls of bamboo shoot noodles, please enjoy!"
Li Xuanyi picked up the bowl of "Green Bamboo Shoot Immortal Noodles" in her hand, smelled it, and then looked up at Song Qingming beside her with a hint of doubt in her eyes.
"Husband, is this the Green Bamboo Shoot Immortal Noodles you mentioned? It doesn't look special at all."
"Yes! When I was little, there wasn't much food at home. My mother would often go up the mountain to find bamboo shoots to mix with our food. My favorite dish was this green bamboo shoot noodle soup."
I remember my mother saying that these bamboo shoots were planted by immortals on the mountain, and that eating them would grant you immortality.
Unexpectedly, she actually predicted it, and I ended up going up the mountain to become a Taoist practitioner.
Although I don't know if I'll become immortal in the future, I guess I've at least caught a whiff of divine energy!
Before he was ten years old, Song Qingming was just an ordinary person living in "Mujiao Town" at the foot of this mountain.
Although so many years have passed, the old town has changed beyond recognition, and little can be seen of its former appearance.
But the taste of this bowl of "bamboo shoot noodles" is not much different from before, only the person who made it is no longer the one I remember.
"Oh! Since my husband says so, then I'd like to absorb some of the immortal energy as well."
Hearing Song Qingming talk about his childhood while eating noodles, Li Xuanyi smiled and nodded slightly, then picked up her own bowl of noodles as well.
After just one bite of noodles, the taste was extremely ordinary, causing him to frown slightly.
Li Xuanyi's parents were both cultivators, and she had lived on "Yunlong Mountain" since childhood, so she had never tasted the food that mortals eat.
Seeing that the other person seemed a little uncomfortable, Song Qingming, sitting opposite, chuckled softly and quickly reassured him:
"The Green Bamboo Shoot Noodles are just for ordinary mortals; they don't contain any spiritual energy and are naturally inferior to the delicacies from the mountains."
If you have too high expectations for this bowl of noodles, you won't be able to taste anything particularly good.
"Oh! So how should we taste it?"
Faced with Li Xuanyi's curious question, Song Qingming did not rush to answer. Instead, he turned to look around and then waved his hand to open the soundproof barrier that the two had set up.
Soon, the noise from all around the shop rushed towards them, completely blending into the place where the two had arrived.
Only then did Li Xuanyi realize what was happening.
"Back when we were training with Junior Brother Liu in Yanhu Village, we ate and drank together. I still remember that scene clearly."
The things at the foot of this mountain, though lacking spiritual energy, possess a touch of earthly warmth and human connection.
"Hmm! So this is the atmosphere of everyday life in the city. The taste is indeed different."
".
After finishing a bowl of bamboo shoot noodles, both of them showed a satisfied expression.
"Sirs, would you like to settle your bill? Two bowls of noodles will only cost ten copper coins!"
Hearing the waiter's question, Li Xuanyi was about to get up to pay the bill when she realized that she didn't have any loose silver coins for ordinary people on her, so she could only look at Song Qingming beside her.
But then he noticed that the other person was also looking at him, clearly indicating that they didn't have any money to pay the bill.
The two had arrived in such a hurry that they seemed not to have thought of these things, and couldn't help but look a little embarrassed.
The waiter standing nearby looked puzzled when he saw that they had searched for a long time but had not found any money.
"Sir, our shop is a small business and we do not offer credit."
"Uh! Who said we owe you money? This is enough for two bowls of noodles."
Seeing that the waiter's words immediately drew strange looks from the others around her, Li Xuanyi reached out and took off the silver hairpin from her hair, placing it on the table.
"this."
".
A moment later, as the two walked down the street, Song Qingming smiled and asked:
"That hairpin cost me over a thousand spirit stones back then. You just used it to pay for two bowls of noodles. Don't you feel bad about it?"
"Since it's the kind of noodles my husband likes, what's the big deal about spending more spirit stones?"
We agreed to focus on worldly cultivation this time, so we can't break the rules and not pay for meals!
Besides, I also got ten taels of silver back, so it wasn't too bad a loss!
When Song Qingming asked her a question, Li Xuanyi remained calm and did not seem upset about losing the silver hairpin. She then took back the silver that the shopkeeper had just returned to her.
The two walked and talked along the street, and soon arrived in front of a tall and magnificent mansion.
Song Qingming glanced at the magnificent mansion in front of him, but did not knock on the door. Instead, he walked around the mansion to the back of a row of houses.
Centuries have passed in the blink of an eye, and many new houses have been built here, no longer resembling what I remember.
The only thing there was a huge stone platform by the roadside, with a group of children playing and frolicking around it.
Upon seeing the stone platform in front of him, Song Qingming immediately smiled knowingly, revealing a relaxed expression.
Upon arriving at the stone platform, the two sat down directly, and Song Qingming felt as if he had rediscovered the feeling from his past memories.
In the earthen-walled courtyard, Song Qingming gazed at the figures before him, his eyes filled with reluctance.
"Qingming, listen carefully."
"From now on, you'll be immortals on the mountain. You can't be as playful as before; you must cultivate diligently and listen to your elders."
"San'er, here are some pickled bamboo shoots that your mother prepared for you. Take them with you. If you need anything or miss home, remember to send a message."
Remember to come back whenever you have time. Don't forget your mother while you're busy cultivating immortality.
"Third brother, you must come back often!"
"Third brother, they all say that once you become an immortal, you can fly to the sky. You have to take me with you next time you come back."
"Alright, all you do is play around. Hurry up and get Qingming up the mountain so he doesn't miss his cultivation."
".
"I've been looking forward to your return every day, and today I'm finally seeing you in person."
"It's only been a year, how come you've lost so much weight? Everyone says the immortals on the mountain eat mango pomelo sago, but I bet that's all a lie!"
"Alright, you dare to talk nonsense about things on the mountain. If someone hears this, who knows what trouble it might cause."
The people in the yamen are really something. Qingming's return is such a big deal, how come no one came to give us a heads-up beforehand?
"Is there no order left?"
"Third brother, it's been a long time since I've seen you. These are dumplings that your mother made herself. Try them!"
"Third Brother, you're finally back! Tell me what it's like up on the mountain!"
".
Time flies, and years pass like a flowing river.
In the blink of an eye, eight hundred years have passed like smoke.
These memories, though sealed in his mind for a long time, suddenly surfaced, catching Song Qingming, who had cultivated for many years, off guard, and his eyes reddened.
When he first went up the mountain, his mother knew that her son had embarked on the path of immortality and had a bright future. But the look of reluctance in her eyes when she saw him off was still vivid in Song Qingming's mind, as if it were right before his eyes.
Since his mother left, he has not returned home for years, for fear of being reminded of painful memories.
Now, stepping onto this familiar land again, Song Qingming realized that some memories, once planted, are deeply ingrained in one's bones.
No matter how profound one's spiritual cultivation, it is difficult to completely erase these memories from one's heart.
Whether good or bad, it's all the path he walked on his way here.
".
"This stone slab belongs to my family. You are not allowed to occupy this place and refuse to leave!"
Just as Song Qingming was sitting on the stone platform recalling the scene in his mind, a little girl of about seven or eight years old suddenly stepped forward and interrupted his thoughts.
Seeing the other party's aggressive approach, Li Xuanyi, who was sitting next to her, showed a hint of displeasure on her face.
"Little girl, how can such a big rock be yours if it's left outside? Do you think you can move it back home?"
"You! My mother said she's going to dry beans here later, and she told me to reserve this spot first."
"If you don't leave, I'm going to call for help!"
Seeing that Li Xuanyi was still sitting there and refused to get down, the little girl became anxious and looked at the two of them with displeasure, as if she wanted to drive them away.
However, Li Xuanyi remained unmoved in the face of her verbal threats.
"I'm not leaving. Let's see who you can summon."
"you."
Seeing that the little girl was so angry that she was about to cry, Song Qingming finally pulled Li Xuanyi up, and the two left the vicinity amidst each other's sad gazes.
"This little girl has quite a temper; she even tries to drive away the two of us old ancestors."
"It's rare that she still has a few years of carefree days. Once she goes up the mountain, it will probably be difficult for her to come back."
Having only glanced at the little girl, Song Qingming had already sensed that she possessed spiritual roots.
Given her age, it's estimated that within one or two years at most, once she's discovered by the family's spirit-testing cultivators, she'll be sent to the "Funiu Mountain" family academy for cultivation.
Then he'll be just like Song Qingming back then, rarely able to go home.
She doesn't have much time left to spend with her family, and Song Qingming really didn't want to make her too sad, so he took Li Xuanyi away from the stone platform.
The two continued walking aimlessly along the town's paths, and soon reached the edge of the town.
After glancing around, Song Qingming's gaze quickly fell on an abandoned old house next door, and he led Li Xuanyi inside.
The room was fully equipped with tables, chairs, and benches; although they were a bit old, they had everything one would need.
It looks like someone lived there before and moved out not long ago.
"Xuanyi, this place is quite nice. Why don't we stay here for a while?"
"Okay! Husband, wait a moment, I'll go tidy up."
Seeing that Song Qingming wanted to stay, Li Xuanyi nodded slightly and went straight to tidy up the house.
Although the two were powerful Nascent Soul cultivators, they did not intend to use their magic power at this moment, and managed to tidy up the wooden house with their bare hands.
Afterwards, Li Xuanyi took the silver in her hand and went to town to buy some necessary things, and the two of them moved in quickly.
As night falls, the sounds of frogs croaking and cicadas chirping fill the rice paddies in early summer.
Li Xuanyi lit the candlesticks on the table and returned to the inner room with Song Qingming.
The spiritual energy at the foot of the mountain was far less abundant than that on the mountain, and neither of them had the slightest intention to cultivate. They simply lay down on the newly made wooden bed and quietly looked at each other.
"My husband, it's time to rest early!"
"Ok!"
".
As the night passed and dawn broke, Song Qingming got up early and went outside.
Just as he was about to wander around, he suddenly saw a group of people dressed as yamen runners walking towards him from a distance, their target the old house where Song Qingming and Li Xuanyi lived.
The leading constable appeared to be a martial artist at the Innate Realm.
He kicked open the wooden door to the outer courtyard and led the group in, surrounding Song Qingming and Li Xuanyi, who had just come out.
"Where did you two come from? Why are you staying here? Quickly state your identities."
"Oh! We just arrived from out of town and just want to stay here for a few days."
"You're from out of town. Mujiao Town isn't a place where outsiders can just come and go as they please. If you want to stay here, you have to register your identity at the government office first, don't you know that?"
"Come with me to the yamen (government office). Each of you must first pay two taels of silver to register your identity."
"Sorry, we are not familiar with the rules here. We apologize for troubling you."
Seeing the aggressive demeanor of the newcomers, Li Xuanyi, who was standing to the side, quickly stepped forward to offer some words of advice and voluntarily handed over the silver.
Upon seeing the silver, the leading constable's attitude immediately improved, and he put on a smiling face.
"Since you're sensible enough, I won't take you back this time. Remember, Mujiao Town is not like Noodles. You outsiders had better behave yourselves here."
Also, the west side is dominated by the Song family patriarchs, so you'd better not go there unless you have to.
Otherwise, if you offend the Song family, don't blame me for not warning you."
".
"By the way, what's your name?"
"Song San!"
"Song, you're also surnamed Song?"
"Yes! I just happen to have the surname Song. I'm not from here; I came from outside."
After successfully obtaining the silver, the constables quickly left, leaving only Song Qingming and Li Xuanyi looking at each other in the courtyard.
"Your family has quite a few rules. Just for staying here for a few days, I have to register my identity, which has cost me so much money."
"My husband, if this continues, we'll both starve to death here without any money."
"Don't worry, I'll make money."
In the blink of an eye, several months have passed.
A small teahouse has appeared somewhere along the busy path south of Mujiao Town.
Dressed in simple, coarse clothes, Li Xuanyi stood behind the counter and became the proprietress.
Having changed into ordinary clothes, Song Qingming was busy sitting to the side boiling water to prepare tea.
"Hey buddy, a bowl of tea, please!"
"coming!"
At the sound of a shout, Song Qingming immediately brought the teapot to the wooden table and then skillfully placed the large bowl in front of the other person.
Unlike many cultivators in the immortal cultivation world, ordinary mortals don't have many requirements for tea; as long as it quenches their thirst and fills their stomachs, that's enough.
Place a few loose tea leaves into a bowl, fill it with hot water, and a large bowl of tea is ready.
The guest sniffed the faint aroma of tea in the air, then asked Song Qingming:
"Hey buddy, I heard that you can exchange a story for a bowl of tea here, is that true?"
"Hmm! As long as the story you tell is one I've never heard before, you can have a free bowl of tea without paying."
Seeing that the visitor still seemed somewhat disbelieving, Song Qingming quickly pointed to a painting hanging on the wall.
The sign clearly reads "Good story, no tea fee" in large, eye-catching characters.
"Alright! Since it's true, I actually have a story to tell you!"
"Please speak!"
As Song Qingming retrieved paper and pen from the side, the old man slowly began to tell the story he had prepared, immediately drawing the attention of the surrounding guests who listened intently.
As the captivating story unfolded, cheers erupted from the surrounding guests from time to time, attracting the attention of passersby.
Even the children who were wandering around, when they saw someone telling stories, gathered around and squatted on one side of the teahouse, reluctant to leave.
Fifteen minutes later, as the story came to an end, Song Qingming put away his pen and paper with satisfaction.
The old man, looking pleased, put down his teacup and left with a smile.
"Thank you for the tea, boss. I'll come again next time, and there will be more stories to tell."
"See you next time!"
After seeing the other person off, Song Qingming smiled and returned to the counter, tossed the story he had just memorized into the bamboo tube next to him, and then busied himself brewing tea.
Seeing this, Li Xuanyi smiled and came to Song Qingming's side.
"Husband, your idea is better."
In the past two weeks, business at the shop has been several times better than before, and many people have even come from other places specifically to hear the stories.
After deciding to settle down, the two opened this teahouse at Li Xuanyi's suggestion in order to integrate into the local environment as soon as possible.
However, the area around "Mujiao Town" is inhabited by ordinary people, which is quite different from their previous business practices in the market.
At first, there weren't many people in the store.
Seeing that their newly opened teahouse was doing poorly, Song Qingming came up with a plan: to attract customers by having people from the surrounding area come to the teahouse to tell stories. (End of Chapter)