Chapter 553 - 56: Arranging Clan Affairs, the Spirit Pill Is Forged

Hearing this, Song Changsheng’s face darkened. This guy’s words were getting more and more out of line.

Forcing down the urge to beat him to a pulp, he turned his gaze to Zhuang Yuechan.

"My master has arranged a training trial for me. I have to set out in a few days," Zhuang Yuechan said, giving Song Changsheng an apologetic look. They had agreed to go for a stroll through the Black Market after she was done with her business, but now those plans had fallen through again.

Song Changsheng didn’t mind too much, only saying with a hint of regret, "So we’re parting ways again. I plan to return to the clan to take care of some miscellaneous matters, and then I’ll prepare for secluded cultivation."

At these words, everyone fell silent.

Parting was always tinged with sadness.

Life was unpredictable. After this farewell, who knew when the four of them would be able to gather again...

The next morning, they all saw Xu Yunhe off together.

Afterward, Song Changsheng looked at Zhuang Yuechan and said, "I have to go too. You must be extremely careful during your training trial in Gusu."

Zhuang Yuechan nodded lightly. "You too."

The two of them stood to the side, whispering to each other, leaving Zhu Yiqun and Chi Huo Old Ghost to stare blankly at one another.

Just as he was growing bored, Zhu Yiqun’s gaze happened to fall on someone. He couldn’t help but nudge Chi Huo Old Ghost with his elbow. "Hey, is that the intelligence chief you brought back?"

Chi Huo Old Ghost raised his eyes for a look and nodded slightly.

Seeing him confirm it, the Little Fatty’s mind immediately started churning. ’With this guy around, won’t it be much more convenient for me to find rare ingredients in the future? Hmm, I need to find a chance to get closer to him.’

Just as he was thinking this, he saw Shen Yin walking straight toward them.

"Well, look here. Everyone’s present. What are you all looking at?" Shen Yin said with his usual cavalier attitude.

Just as Zhu Yiqun was about to strike up a conversation, Song Changsheng beat him to it. "Did Master Bai release you from your confinement?"

"Heh, he didn’t dare kill me, and he didn’t dare keep me locked up forever. He asked me a few questions and naturally let me go," Shen Yin said with a grin.

Song Changsheng was surprised. ’Does this Shen Yin really have that much influence?’

Shen Yin clearly had no intention of explaining further. He changed the subject, saying, "I’m in a good mood today, so I’ll give you all a piece of intelligence for free. Ask whatever you want. After today, it’s back to market price."

His words stirred something in Song Changsheng, who asked, "Then do you know anything about the Lieyang Sect’s Sect Leader, Zhang Hongguang?"

Shen Yin glanced at him and smiled. "You’ve asked the right person. Zhang Hongguang has been in secret secluded cultivation for many years and has already broken through to the Purple Mansion Stage. It’s been almost half a year now. Even if you hadn’t asked, the secret was bound to get out soon enough."

Song Changsheng’s heart sank. Although he had long suspected it, hearing the confirmation still filled him with a sudden sense of urgency.

Zhuang Yuechan, Zhu Yiqun, and the others also asked for intelligence, but Song Changsheng was no longer in the mood to listen.

That afternoon, he bid farewell to Zhuang Yuechan. He then took Zhu Yiqun and Chi Huo Old Ghost back to Vast Mist Peak via the Moon Viewing Pavilion’s upgraded Space Transmission Array. The moment he arrived, he convened the Elder Council to announce the news.

Due to the massive development project in Zhangye County, the only high-level clan members present at the meeting were Song Xianming, Song Xianyun, Song Luzhou, Xia Yunxue, Song Luyun, and Song Changrong.

Everyone reacted differently upon hearing the news.

Some remained calm and composed, while others showed visible anxiety.

Zhang Hongguang’s breakthrough meant the Lieyang Sect now possessed two Purple Mansion Cultivators, giving them a definitive edge over the Song Clan in terms of high-end combat strength. For the flourishing Song Clan, this was undoubtedly bad news.

However, the Song Clan of today was not the same as it was twenty years ago. Even if the Lieyang Sect launched an all-out attack, they would be hard-pressed to shake them. Still, who knew when the grudge between the Song Clan and the Lieyang Sect would finally be settled.

Song Xianyun said gravely, "The Lieyang Sect deliberately concealed this information, which reveals their wolfish ambitions. Clan Leader, we must be on our guard."

"That is precisely why I have returned. I have already entrusted the Third City Lord of Luoxia City with refining a Five Spirits Pill for me. It should be ready soon. I will then go into secluded cultivation to attempt my breakthrough. During this time, I must ask Fifth Uncle and Twenty-First Grandpa to manage the clan’s affairs and defend against the Lieyang Sect."

The moment he said this, everyone except Song Xianming, who was already in on the secret, was flabbergasted. How old was Song Changsheng this year? He was already about to break through to the Purple Mansion Stage?

"Sheng’Er, breaking through to the Purple Mansion Stage is no child’s play. Don’t let the Lieyang Sect’s actions influence you," Song Xianyun cautioned sternly.

Clearly, in his view, Song Changsheng’s rush to break through was entirely because of the Lieyang Sect, which was an extremely irrational move.

Who didn’t prepare for decades, even a century, before breaking through to the Purple Mansion Stage? How long had it been since Song Changsheng reached Foundation Establishment Great Perfection? This was just reckless foolishness.

"That’s right, Sheng’er. Don’t joke about your path of cultivation," Xia Yunxue’s expression also grew grim.

Seeing this, Song Changsheng said seriously, "Twenty-First Grandpa, Mother, I am not being influenced by the Lieyang Sect. I have been planning this for a long time and have a fairly high degree of confidence."

"Really?" Xia Yunxue’s expression turned stern.

"Of course. Your son would never joke about his own path of cultivation," Song Changsheng said with a confident smile.

Seeing him say this, the others finally believed that Song Changsheng was serious, but they still found it hard to accept. It was simply because Song Changsheng was far too young.

In the entire history of the Daqi Cultivation World, only five Purple Mansion Cultivators had ever appeared under the age of one hundred. Only one of them was under fifty—a junior of Su Ding Master from the Golden Crow Sect, who broke through at the age of forty-nine.

That was the record for the youngest.

If Song Changsheng succeeded in his breakthrough, he would definitely be no older than forty.

This was a terrifyingly young age. In smaller clans, breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Stage at that age was already considered remarkable.

For a moment, everyone was stunned.

"Ahem." Song Xianming cleared his throat twice. "I knew of this matter long ago. It’s a good thing that Sheng’er is so confident.

You don’t need to worry about the clan. We old bones are still here. Even if the Lieyang Sect acts out of desperation, our Song Clan has nothing to fear."

"Your grandson understands," Song Changsheng said with a smile and a cupped-fist salute. He then continued, "I brought two people back with me this time. One is named Zhu Yiqun, a close friend of mine. He is a Tier Three Low-Grade Medicinal Chef and I have already recruited him as an Honored Guest of the clan. Mother, when you have time, please assign him some tasks so he doesn’t stay idle.

The other is named Chi Huo. He is... my vassal, I suppose. He’s quite powerful and very loyal. For now, let him serve as a clan Tributor.

Also, I gained a great deal from my training trip this time. We can slow down the development in Zhangye County for now and focus our energy on the Lieyang Sect. We will make further plans after my breakthrough."

"Rest assured," Song Luzhou nodded slightly.

Next, Song Changsheng made specific arrangements for some other clan affairs. After the meeting was dismissed, he returned to his small courtyard to check on Song Qingyun.

He was already seven this year and would be able to have his Spirit Root measured next year.

At such an important moment, Song Changsheng should have been by his side, but as the Clan Leader, he had to choose between his large family and his small one.

Although he couldn’t be there, he had checked on him beforehand. Song Qingyun had an excellent constitution and superior comprehension, so his aptitude should be quite good. The main thing was to determine if he possessed a special physique.

He had already made arrangements for this. After Song Qingyun’s Spirit Root was measured, Xia Yunxue would take him to Luoxia City for further testing.

After handling all these trivial matters, Song Changsheng took the Space Transmission Array and returned to Luoxia City alone.

The official story was that because he had won the arena tournament, he had earned the Great City Lord’s admiration, who would be taking him under his wing for a few years of personal instruction to deepen their master-disciple bond.

This was, of course, a pretext to mislead outsiders.

After all, once he entered secluded cultivation, Song Changsheng would not appear for at least several years, which would certainly arouse suspicion and might cause some people to act out of desperation.

But the Great City Lord was notoriously elusive. If Song Changsheng was by his side, it would be perfectly normal for him not to be seen for a few years.

Although he didn’t know how long this story would hold up, Song Changsheng had no better ideas. When the appointed time came, he went to Xiao Qingwan’s place and retrieved the Five Spirits Pill.

...