In the past few months, Song Qingming has spent most of his time managing Lingyuan Mountain. Even Caolu Mountain, where he used to go every month, he has only been there once in the past three months.
Uncle Nine Song Changxin saw that Song Qingming had become very familiar with managing mortals and mines in the past few years, so he simply handed over all the matters of resettling mortals to him during this period.
The reason why Song Qingming has been so concerned about these things recently is because he knows that it will be almost three years since he came to Lingyuan Mountain. He wants to handle all the affairs here as smoothly as possible before leaving, which will also facilitate the handover with the new family monks stationed there.
Unexpectedly, Song Qingming was almost ready. His ninth uncle Song Changxin called him into the house and told him an unexpected news.
After years of development, the population of Mujiao Town has been growing every year. The family has now accepted thousands of mortals from the Liu family, so they can only build several new villages next to Mujiao Town. Now all the mortals in the family are managed by the fifth aunt Song Changling alone, and she is really too busy to handle it. After the fourth elder and the clan leader discussed it, they decided to transfer Song Changxin to help her first.
In this way, Song Qingming was the only one left in Lingyuan Mountain. Song Changxin also knew that Song Qingming's garrison period was about to expire, so he asked him to discuss something.
"Qingming, I just received a message from the Fourth Elder asking me to return to Funiu Mountain to help Changling manage the mortals under the family's rule. The family is currently short of manpower, and you are already familiar with the situation in Lingyuan Mountain. The Fourth Elder and I have discussed it and decided that it would be better for you to stay here for a while to practice. When I am done with my work, I will come back to take over for you. What do you think?"
Song Changxin felt a little embarrassed while speaking. Although what he said today was all arranged by the family, he was still a little afraid that Song Qingming would directly refuse. After all, as a cultivator, the spiritual veins of Funiu Mountain must be better for choosing a place to practice. Staying in Lingyuan Mountain for a long time would more or less delay the progress of practice.
Song Qingming was a little surprised to hear the news, but he didn't think too much about it. Although it would be better to return to the Funiu Mountain spiritual vein for cultivation, he has no shortage of cultivation speed now. On the contrary, Lingyuan Mountain is more secluded, which is conducive to him hiding these spiritual objects on his body that cannot be seen by others.
He didn't dare to let others know about the incomplete map on his body, the things in Liu Tianlong's storage bag, and the Yuxuan Sutra that he obtained inexplicably.
When he thought about how the Liu family was exterminated just because of a water spirit fruit, the value of the incomplete map on him was far more than that. If he could use it well, it might give him a glimmer of hope for building a foundation in the future. Once those high-level cultivators knew about it, the Song family would definitely follow in the footsteps of the Liu family, and their end might be even worse.
As for the Jade Mysterious Scripture, ever since Song Qingming began practicing it, he'd increasingly felt that its mysteries were far more profound than he'd initially assumed. Since practicing the Jade Mysterious Scripture, Song Qingming had gradually felt his mana become much stronger than before. This technique seemed to have the mysterious effect of forging the spiritual energy within him.
A technique that can have such an effect is naturally not comparable to the Kunyuan Jue that Song Qingming originally practiced. Kunyuan Jue is just an ordinary Qi-refining five-element technique. When facing cultivators of the same level, it is often easily at a disadvantage and can only rely on external objects such as magic weapons and talismans to make up for its own strength.
After practicing the Jade Profound Sutra for more than three months, Song Qingming could already clearly feel that the spiritual power he was emitting had increased a lot compared to before. After practicing the Jade Profound Sutra for such a long time, his magic power would definitely be much stronger than that of cultivators who practiced ordinary techniques. If he was lucky enough to unlock techniques above the foundation-building stage, he might even have greater magical powers.
This made him feel more and more the extraordinary nature of this technique. Fortunately, he had not had time to copy this technique to his family, and no one else in the family knew that he had practiced this technique, otherwise it would be difficult for him to hide it even if he wanted to.
Now he is practicing the Yuxuan Sutra and Kunyuan Jue at the same time. Ordinary Qi-refining cultivators will definitely not be able to see the difference in his skills in front of others. Even his ninth uncle Song Changxin, who is in the late stage of Qi-refining, has not noticed that he has practiced other skills recently.
Thinking of this, Song Qingming hesitated for a moment and then agreed. Even if there was no such reason, facing Song Changxin who had taken good care of him in the past few years, Song Qingming really couldn't refuse.
Seeing that Song Qingming did not refuse, Song Changxin felt relieved and nodded with satisfaction. Among the young cultivators of the Qing generation in his family, except for Song Qingze, a genius with excellent spiritual roots, the others' cultivation was not high. Song Qingming was able to cultivate to the fifth level of Qi Refining at the age of 23. Although he had some opportunities, he was already considered a diligent person.
"Don't worry, I'll talk to the Fourth Elder when I get back this time. I'll give you some more spirit stones and try not to delay your cultivation. While I'm away, you have to take good care of Lingyuan Mountain and don't slack off on the black iron vein."
Song Changxin, the hardworking monk, prefers younger generations in his family who practice diligently, and has always been very concerned about Song Qingming's path of cultivation.
"Uncle Jiu, I will be the only one left here at Lingyuan Mountain for the time being. Qingming's cultivation is still low, and I'm afraid I may not be able to do it." Song Qingming nodded, hesitated for a while, and then slowly expressed his worries.
Song Changxin smiled slightly, took out a red talisman from his storage bag and handed it to Song Qingming, saying solemnly:
"This is a top-grade communication talisman. Keep it safe. If you're attacked by a high-level demon beast, release this talisman. Within an hour, the clan will receive the news and send someone to support you. This talisman was not easy to come by, so don't use it lightly unless absolutely necessary. In a few days, the Fourth Elder should arrange for someone to come and help you. That way, you shouldn't have any problems."
"Since Uncle Jiu has made all the arrangements, I, the nephew, will naturally fulfill my mission." Song Qingming nodded in agreement, and the worry disappeared from his face.
Over the past few years, he has become proficient in operating the Lingyuan Mountain's protective formation. As long as he doesn't encounter those difficult high-level monsters, he is absolutely confident that nothing will go wrong.
Even if a high-level monster attacks, using the communication talisman that Song Changxin just gave him, he only needs to hold on for an hour to wait for family reinforcements, which is not too difficult for him now.
After Song Changxin gave him some instructions that day, he went back to pack his luggage and left Lingyuan Mountain under the setting sun. He was a cultivator in the late Qi Refining stage, so his speed was naturally much faster than Song Qingming's. He could easily return to Funiu Mountain before dark.
After Song Qingming waited alone for a few days, he finally welcomed the family cultivator who came to help him guard the place, his sixth brother Song Qinghe.
Song Qinghe is two years older than Song Qingming. His talent is even worse than Song Qingming's. He is a cultivator with five spiritual roots. Although he practices very hard, his cultivation level is only the fourth level of Qi Refining.
Song Qinghe has a rather dull personality. Apart from practicing in seclusion, he usually helps out in the family's spiritual fields. He is a spiritual plant master and is probably more interested in flowers and plants than people. Although Song Qingming didn't talk much with this sixth brother in the past, he knew that he had a rather honest personality.
Seeing that Song Qingming's cultivation had surpassed his, Song Qinghe felt a little envious of his seventh brother's opportunity. Although he didn't have great spiritual talent and didn't have any great ambitions, he hadn't given up on his own path. Seeing others around him gain such opportunities, he naturally longed for the day when he too would be blessed by heaven.
However, opportunities are naturally difficult to obtain by hiding at home and practicing hard. Song Qingming was able to be blessed by God only after he had experienced many life-threatening situations.
After Song Qinghe arrived at Lingyuan Mountain, Song Qingming arranged him to the mine, responsible for inspecting and supervising the mining of the mineral veins. He himself built a new small house by the Crescent Lake, responsible for guarding the Lingyuan Mountain magic circle and managing the mundane affairs here, and by the way, guiding the martial artists in their skills.