Chapter 1343
Rising Star, Sect's Northward Migration
"Hey! Where's Grandma?"
Seeing Tao Yu's anxious expression, Song Qingming immediately put away the jade slip in his hand.
"Senior Jin Yue has gone to another place on some business. She asks you to stay at Qingyun Mountain for the time being and not to leave at will."
"What?! Why did my mother-in-law leave me all alone again?!"
".
After giving the order, Song Qingming handed Tao Yu to Huang Siyuan and returned to his mountain cave alone.
For the rest of the time, Song Qingming, captivated by the scroll, hardly went out, focusing entirely on studying the array formation manual given to him by the other party.
The array formation manual that "Granny Jin Yue" obtained was written by a rogue cultivator from Lei Yuanhai who had reached the Nascent Soul stage 60,000 years ago. Its array formation level had reached the mid-grade level 5.
He is also one of the few extraordinary individuals in the cultivation world who, as a rogue cultivator, has elevated his array formation skills to such a level.
Although many ancient texts about magic arrays have survived, many of the rune materials have been lost, and it is now very difficult to find substitutes.
The array manual that Song Qingming obtained in the "Falling Star Sea" Immortal Mansion back then was in this situation.
Lei Yuanhai, this rogue cultivator at the Nascent Soul stage, not only recorded many ancient and lost magic arrays in the classics, but also added a lot of personal insights and substitute rune materials.
It was a rare opportunity to see a classic text that interested him so much, so Song Qingming immersed himself in it completely.
It wasn't until six months later that he walked out of the cave with a confident expression.
".
At the mountaintop, in the "Huixian Pavilion".
Since Song Qingming advanced to the Nascent Soul realm, a separate chair has been added to the head seat in the pavilion, symbolizing his unique status as the sect's patriarch.
Below, Bai Yuxian, Song Qingyu, and more than a dozen other Nascent Soul elders from various sects stood on either side.
"Uncle-Master Song, this is Junior Brother Xiao, who recently formed his Nascent Soul at Guyang Peak."
Junior Brother Xiao emerged from seclusion two months ago and has already assumed the position of Nascent Soul Elder in the sect. I had him accompany me to this sect meeting.
"Disciple Xiao Yue greets Martial Uncle!"
"No need for formalities, get up!"
I had already learned about Junior Nephew Xiao's experience from Qingyu. You were able to successfully form your Nascent Soul through your own efforts, which is truly worthy of being called a rising star of the sect.
Today, I will bestow upon you 100,000 merits.
I hope you will cultivate diligently in the future and contribute more to the development of the sect.
"This disciple thanks you, Uncle-Master!"
More than a hundred years have passed since Song Qingming advanced to the Nascent Soul realm, and the "Free and Unfettered Sect" has undergone considerable changes in recent years.
In addition to the sect leader Bai Yuxian advancing to the half-step Nascent Soul realm, several other new faces have also been promoted to the position of Nascent Soul Elder in the past hundred years.
In order of time of breakthrough to the Nascent Soul stage, they are Lü Mengling, Wei Yunlong, Song Shaoyu, and Xiao Yue.
Lu Mengling, who has the highest cultivation level, is a disciple of Wu Yueqin, a disciple of Bai Yuxian, and can also be considered one of her grand-disciples.
Lu Mengling successfully formed her Nascent Soul seventy years ago and has now cultivated to the second level of the Nascent Soul realm.
Wei Yunlong is Song Qingming's second disciple. He has a unique spiritual root, although he was delayed in his early years due to an injury sustained on the battlefield.
However, with the help of his master Song Qingming, Wei Yunlong attempted to break through to the Nascent Soul realm twice, and finally succeeded in advancing to the Nascent Soul Elder of the sect several decades ago.
Sitting next to Wei Yunlong was Song Shaoyu, Song Qingyu's personal disciple.
Born into a branch of the Song family of "Guyang Mountain", he was accepted as a disciple of Song Qingyu from a young age and followed this Nascent Soul ancestor of the sect to cultivate.
When he and Liu Yue became Daoist partners, Song Qingyu opposed it. It was Li Xuanyi who mediated and facilitated the marriage.
After getting married, Song Shaoyu and Liu Yue had more than a dozen children, and the two had a very good relationship.
A century of mutual affection, coupled with a house full of children and grandchildren.
This made them a model couple on Red Cloud Mountain.
However, Liu Yue ultimately failed to form a golden core, and Song Shaoyu, having lost his Daoist partner, fell into despair for a long time, almost giving up his own path of cultivation.
Later, with guidance from his master Song Qingyu, Song Shaoyu gradually recovered.
From then on, he devoted himself to the Dao, distanced himself from worldly affairs, and his cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds, successfully advancing to the Nascent Soul realm several decades ago.
Compared to Lü Mengling, Wei Yunlong, and Song Shaoyu, all of them have the support of their sect's patriarch.
The situation of Xiao Yue, who had just advanced to the Nascent Soul realm not long ago, was completely different.
He has basically relied entirely on his own efforts to gradually reach the Nascent Soul realm he is today.
Xiao Yue was born in Guiyunfang, a market town in northern Wei State. His ancestors were just ordinary disciples of the Xiaoyao Sect and had not accumulated any special background.
Having grown up in the market, he started as an apprentice at a general store.
Later, he was found to have dual spiritual roots, which led to him being noticed by a Foundation Establishment disciple of the "Free and Unfettered Sect" and taken into the sect for cultivation.
After joining the sect, Xiao Yue became an inner disciple thanks to his dual spiritual root aptitude, and his cultivation speed far exceeded that of other cultivators of the same level.
However, his master was someone who liked to take on many disciples, but he didn't care much about them. On the contrary, he would exploit them to help him collect resources.
As a result, Xiao Yue, who possessed dual spiritual roots, was still unable to accumulate enough merit points to exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill even when he was over forty years old.
Left with no other choice, he chose to forcibly establish his foundation without taking the "Foundation Building Pill".
Fortunately, Xiao Yue had a solid foundation in cultivation and good spiritual root aptitude, so he managed to pass this test by sheer luck.
After reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, Xiao Yue was freed from his master's control.
However, he had no background in the sect, so he couldn't get the favor and support of the sect elders. He had to accumulate all his cultivation resources little by little on his own.
Although Xiao Yue's spiritual root aptitude was not bad, there were quite a few geniuses with dual spiritual roots like him in a top-tier Nascent Soul sect like the "Free and Unfettered Sect".
Even though Xiao Yue worked very hard, his cultivation speed still couldn't keep up with those disciples who had powerful backgrounds and the support of their teachers and elders. He couldn't see any hope of forming his core.
Until later, by chance...
Xiao Yue, a down-to-earth and honest man, caught the eye of a late-stage Foundation Establishment female cultivator in the sect who had lost her Daoist partner and wanted to recruit him as her son-in-law.
This female cultivator's original Daoist partner was the eldest son of a Golden Core elder surnamed Li in the sect, and she was deeply loved by this elder.
However, he tragically perished on the battlefield during a battle against the "Northern Frontier Demon Clan," leaving behind his widow and a child.
The Golden Core Elder felt somewhat indebted to her and her son, so he allowed her to choose another husband within the sect to marry into their family.
Xiao Yue successfully seized this rare opportunity, married into the family of that Golden Core elder, and gained the elder's approval.
Later, with the help of his Daoist partner and teachers, he cultivated all the way to the peak of Foundation Establishment and condensed a Golden Core.
Compared to the arduous journey before he formed his Golden Core, Xiao Yue's path to enlightenment became much smoother after he successfully became a Golden Core elder in his sect.
Not only did he find many opportunities while traveling, but he also performed brilliantly in the sect's northern expedition against the demon race and the great war against the demonic disaster, earning a great deal of merit.
Therefore, Xiao Yue successfully attracted the attention of sect elders Xu Ziyan and Yao Muling, who provided him with some support.
Half a year ago, Xiao Yue surprised the sect by successfully forming a Nascent Soul with just a bottle of "Cold Jade Spirit Water".
Although Xiao Yue had previously used spiritual items to break through his cultivation level once.
However, successfully forming a Nascent Soul with just one dose of "Cold Jade Spirit Water" is something that has never happened before in the entire "Free and Unfettered Sect".
Even cultivators with celestial spiritual roots like Bai Yuxian and Su Mo have never accomplished this.
It must be said that Xiao Yue's Nascent Soul attainment involved some luck.
But it is mostly due to his own unremitting efforts that he has achieved this success step by step.
His inspiring performance, much like Song Qingming's meteoric rise to prominence, caused quite a stir within the sect.
After all, compared to the three with powerful backgrounds like Lü Mengning, most cultivators in the cultivation world have ordinary origins like Xiao Yue.
His achievement has inspired countless disciples like himself.
In the past six months, the legend of this Nascent Soul Ancestor has spread throughout the "Free and Unfettered Sect," and he has become a role model for many lower-level disciples.
Even Song Qingming, the Nascent Soul Ancestor, was moved by his experience and personally rewarded Xiao Yue with 100,000 merits.
This certainly drew envious glances from the other Nascent Soul elders around them.
After Lü Mengling, Wei Yunlong, Song Shaoyu, and Xiao Yue achieved Nascent Soul status, the number of Nascent Soul cultivators in the "Xiaoyao Sect" has reached sixteen.
Although the number of Nascent Soul cultivators has not yet caught up with the three Nascent Soul powerhouses, namely the Heavenly Imperial Sect, the Immortal Origin Sect, and the Demon-Slaying Palace.
However, it has already surpassed many Nascent Soul sects in "Eastern Phoenix Immortal Continent" and is not much different from "Formless Sect" and "Ten Thousand Beast Mountain" which are ranked at the top.
With Song Qingming, the Nascent Soul Ancestor, in charge, the foundation of the "Free and Unfettered Sect" will surely catch up with the other three sects in a few hundred years at most.
Besides the few newly promoted Nascent Soul cultivators in the sect, the cooperation between the sect and the "Four Seas Business Alliance" has also been very smooth in recent years.
In less than a century, many spiritual mountain towns in the northern part of the Floating Cloud Mountains have been rebuilt and are gradually returning to their former appearance.
In particular, the "Eastern Phoenix Sword Tournament" held by the Xiaoyao Sect has attracted many independent cultivators from outside the region to Qingyun Mountain, who want to stay and cultivate here.
In the last six months alone, more than a dozen Nascent Soul cultivators have taken the initiative to approach us with the idea of establishing a sect in the "Floating Cloud Mountain Range".
Although there are still many vacant fourth-level spiritual veins near Qingyun Mountain that have not been developed.
However, most of these Nascent Soul cultivators who came to our door had rather complicated backgrounds, and many of them were even refugees who had fled to Donghuang Immortal Continent from other cultivation worlds.
After careful selection, Bai Yuxian, Song Qingyu, and the others finally decided to keep three Nascent Soul cultivators and agreed to their idea of establishing sects in the Floating Cloud Mountains.
In this way, in addition to the original sects such as "Wanling Sect" and "Star Gate", there were also other sects.
The entire "Floating Cloud Mountain Range" has twelve forces above the Nascent Soul stage, not counting the "Free and Unfettered Sect," which is almost catching up with the cultivation world of the neighboring East Sea.
Hearing Xu Ziyan, who manages the sect's affairs, recount the changes in the sect over the years, Song Qingming was very satisfied.
For the past two hundred years, Song Qingming has been focused on cultivation, often spending decades in seclusion or away from home.
The management of sect affairs was basically handed over to Bai Yuxian, Song Qingyu, Xu Ziyan and others.
Fortunately, they all enjoyed Song Qingming's trust and managed the sect very well, and no major changes have occurred over the years.
Seeing Song Qingming, who was sitting at the head of the table, nod in satisfaction, Xu Ziyan continued:
"Uncle-Master Song, besides the matters I just reported to you, there is another important matter concerning the development of the sect that I would like to ask for your help in making a decision."
"Today, all the people here are elders of the sect. Since this is a major matter concerning the development of the sect, let's just say it out loud and we can discuss it together."
Upon suddenly hearing that Xu Ziyan had something she wanted him to decide, Song Qingming immediately put down his teacup and looked at her with surprise. The other Nascent Soul elders sitting nearby also cast curious glances their way.
"Reporting to Uncle-Master Song, Guyang Mountain now has nearly 100,000 disciples, and all the spiritual mountains in the sect are overburdened, affecting the cultivation of many disciples."
Some time ago, my senior sister Qingyu and I discussed and planned to move our sect to Qingyun Mountain in the north.
This matter concerns the future development of the sect, and we dare not make a decision on our own. We humbly request the assistance of our senior uncles and the sect leader to make the final decision.
Since Song Qingming advanced to the Nascent Soul realm, the development speed of the "Free and Unfettered Sect" has increased once again, and the number of disciples in the sect has also increased day by day.
The "Guyang Mountain" spiritual vein is only at the fourth-level mid-grade realm, which is no longer sufficient to support it.
Nearly half of the disciples in the "Xiaoyao Sect" can only cultivate in "Qingyun Mountain" and many spiritual veins in the north.
Even so, the pressure of insufficient spiritual energy facing the mountain gate continues to increase day by day.
As early as a hundred years ago, when the spiritual vein of Qingyun Mountain had just advanced, many Nascent Soul elders within the sect had already proposed the idea of relocating the mountain.
However, the sect leader, Bai Yuxian, has not expressed her support, which is why this matter has been delayed until now.
Bai Yuxian originally wanted to enhance the spiritual veins of "Guyang Mountain" to alleviate the pressure on the mountain gate.
Even though the spiritual veins have been upgraded to the fourth-grade superior level, "Guyang Mountain" is still overburdened.
Many sect elders, including Xu Ziyan, were watching with growing anxiety.
Previously, when Xu Ziyan and her group approached Song Qingyu to discuss this matter, they received his support.
Xu Ziyan had just brought up the matter in the sect's council, hoping to ask Song Qingming and many sect elders to make a decision together.
Upon hearing Xu Ziyan bring this up in public, Zhou Ziyang, who had long harbored this idea, immediately stood up and said earnestly:
“Uncle-Master Song, relocating the sect is beneficial to the sect’s development and is indeed urgent.”
"What Senior Brother Zhou said is very true. Over the years, the disciples of the sect have been scattered in various places to cultivate. If there is anything that needs to be done to summon everyone, it takes ten days or half a month to send a message from all directions."
This not only delays sect affairs but also wastes everyone's time.
"I also agree with moving the mountain gate; this matter should be done sooner rather than later."
".
Most of the sect elders present, except for the newly promoted Xiao Yue and a few others who remained silent, agreed with Xu Ziyan's idea of "relocating the sect".
Seeing this, Song Qingming looked at Bai Yuxian, who was sitting silently to the side.
"Senior Sister Bai, relocating the mountain gate is a matter of great importance. What are your thoughts?"
"The development of the sect is an inevitable trend and the wish of the ancestors of all generations. How can I, as the sect leader, oppose it?"
However, Guyang Mountain is, after all, the sect's ancestral homeland and cannot be easily damaged or abandoned. Some people need to remain to oversee it, and this matter must be properly arranged.
Previously, Bai Yuxian had always been unwilling to move to Qingyun Mountain, and Song Qingming had never interfered in the matter, leaving her to stay at Guyang Mountain to manage the sect.
However, given the inevitable trend of the sect's development, Bai Yuxian finally gave up her insistence and nodded in agreement in front of everyone.
Seeing this, Song Qingming nodded slightly.
“Yes! What Senior Sister Bai said is also my idea. Guyang Mountain is the old ground of the sect, and in the future, we should also send a Nascent Soul elder of the sect to guard it.”
As for the specific arrangements for relocating the mountain gate, Ziyan, you can first come up with an idea, and I will make the final decision.
"Disciple obeys!"
".
With the sect meeting concluded, Xu Ziyan, who had been prepared, quickly came up with a plan to "relocate the sect," which was approved by Song Qingming.
In the following years, the entire "Xiaoyao Sect" was immediately mobilized.
Many disciples of the sect, as well as the Good Deeds Pavilion, Alchemy Pavilion, Weapon Forging Pavilion, Medicine Garden, Treasury, etc., were all moved to the northern "Qingyun Mountain".
Even the independent cultivators in "Guyangfang" at the foot of the mountain, as well as some affiliated immortal cultivation families nearby, began to relocate upon hearing the news.
In the end, the sect at "Guyang Mountain" had less than 10,000 disciples left.
There were also the "Wind Ape" who were reluctant to leave, and Xiao Yue, who had just formed his Nascent Soul, who chose to stay and guard this old sect site.
Many sect elders, including Bai Yuxian, moved to Qingyun Mountain.
After the sect moved north, the situation in the entire Wei Kingdom suddenly became much more relaxed.
The numerous vassal cultivation families in the surrounding area suddenly saw a surge of development opportunities and began to expand their territories.
In particular, the Song family, the overlords of the northeast of Wei State, swallowed up several surrounding counties in one go, and their territory more than doubled in an instant.
".
"Qingyun Mountain" is a high mountain with beautiful scenery on the west side.
Two figures strode forward and soon arrived at a mountain wall hidden by lush vegetation.
With a gentle wave of his hand, Song Qingming caused the vegetation in front to shift and scatter, revealing a spacious cave behind him.
"Senior Sister Bai, Qingyu spent a lot of time choosing this cave for you."
This place is quite far from Qingyun Peak. Although the spiritual energy here is not as abundant as there, it is still enough for your current cultivation.
"Take a look first. If there's anything you're not satisfied with, I'll have them arrange something else."
"No need, I prefer a quiet place anyway, and this place is just right for my cultivation."
"But the sect still has many affairs that require my attention. I'll move over after everything is settled." After glancing around the cave, Bai Yuxian immediately nodded.
However, Bai Yuxian still seemed unable to let go of the matter at "Guyang Mountain," and said that she would have to wait a while before she could move there.
Seeing that the other party was fairly satisfied with the cave dwelling, Song Qingming immediately nodded.
"Since you are satisfied, then this matter is settled. As for when to move in, Senior Sister Bai, you can decide for yourself and don't need to worry about others."
"Oh right, these are the top-grade spirit stones that my senior sister gave me last time, and two portions of Jade Purity Spirit Liquid. You can keep them for now."
I'm going to Lei Yuanhai in a few days, and I don't know when I'll be back.
In case any of you happen to need this item, it will save you the trouble of not knowing where to find me and wasting your seclusion time.
After saying that, Song Qingming used magic to take out a storage bag from his body and handed it to Bai Yuxian.
Inside were three spiritual items he had accumulated that could assist him in breaking through to the Nascent Soul realm.
I had previously promised "Granny Jin Yue" that I would go to "Lei Yuan Hai" to help her set up a magic array.
Having learned from his previous experience, Song Qingming was worried that something else might happen this time that would delay him.
After thinking for a while, he decided to leave these things to Bai Yuxian, who was in charge of the sect.
In case he can't return for a while, and someone in the sect needs this item, it won't cause any delay.
Upon hearing what Song Qingming said, Bai Yuxian looked surprised and puzzled as she looked at him.
"With the sect's northward relocation imminent, why are you in such a hurry to leave? Have you encountered some trouble again?"
"Don't worry, senior sister. There's no trouble this time. I just made an appointment with someone to help set up a special magic array."
This matter is a bit complicated. I was worried that something might happen and cause delays, so I made some preparations in advance.
To avoid a repeat of last time, where someone couldn't return immediately, causing you unnecessary trouble.
"So, when are you leaving?"
Seeing that Song Qingming seemed unable to say more, Bai Yuxian didn't press him further, but instead asked when he would leave.
"I still need to prepare some things, so it will probably take at most one or two months!"
Don't worry, I've already told Qingyu and the others that I won't be involved in sect affairs at Qingyun Mountain. You'll have full authority to make decisions.
If anyone from the Eastern Phoenix Kingdom comes looking for me, just tell them I've gone traveling.
"Also, this talisman is one I recently improved. If there's an emergency, you can activate it, and I should be able to receive the message."
Bai Yuxian took the talisman from Song Qingming, nodded slightly, and put it away.
"Don't worry, with me here at Qingyun Mountain, nothing will happen."
"Yes! I believe you."
If there are no other problems here, let's head back!
Just as Song Qingming turned to leave, Bai Yuxian stopped and sat down on a chair beside him.
".
"Recently, I have some questions about cultivation that I would like to ask my husband."
Since you still have a month, I won't go back yet. Anyway, Ziyan and Su Mo are there, so there's no need to rush."
".
Two months later, at the summit of Qingyun Mountain.
"Qingyu, don't neglect your cultivation while I'm away. If anything urgent happens on the mountain, consult with Senior Sister Bai and Ziyan."
After giving Song Qingyu a word of advice, Song Qingming turned his gaze to Li Xuanyi.
"You need to take good care of Xinyuan and Yuling. You can let them handle some things, but under no circumstances should the matter of forming their Nascent Soul be delayed."
"Okay! Don't worry, I've got it."
Husband, please come home early and don't waste time outside.
"Hehe! Senior Sister Li, last time you went out with Seventh Brother, the two of you managed to take so long."
Why can't you let others waste even a little bit of their time now?
"What do you mean by delaying us for so long? My husband and I were last time because..."
"Qingyu, I'll tear your mouth apart!"
Seeing a hint of coldness in Li Xuanyi's eyes, Song Qingyu immediately dodged and fled into the distance.
Only Song Qingming and Huang Siyuan remained, shaking their heads helplessly.
A flash of light, and the surroundings quickly fell silent again. (End of Chapter)