Chapter 222 - 168: Taking Charge of the Minor Affairs Hall

Song Changsheng knew Song Xianming wouldn’t speak without reason. And since he was certain he hadn’t overdrawn his Life Force, there was only one other possibility: something was wrong with his Spiritual Power.

He extended his right hand and gathered a wisp of Spiritual Power at his fingertip. The energy appeared as the black and white of Yin and Yang, no different than before. Yet if he sensed it carefully, he could feel a vast, surging vitality within it.

"What... what’s going on?" Song Changsheng was stunned. ’Why does my Spiritual Power contain such rich vitality?’

Song Xianyun reacted, asking, "You don’t know what happened?"

He thought for a moment, then mused, "Have you come into contact with any treasures related to the Law of Life recently?"

"No, I haven’t..." Song Changsheng instinctively refuted, but then he quickly recalled something. ’Wait, I think I have. Wasn’t that unknown plant in the Qiantian Secret Realm one such thing?’

Seeing the change in his expression, Song Xianyun understood. He smiled and said, "In any case, this change probably isn’t a bad thing. After you channeled your Spiritual Power into me just now, I feel much better."

Hearing this, Song Changsheng felt relieved. ’He’s right, this is a good thing.’

"Then let me give you a little more."

But Song Xianyun raised a hand to stop him. "No need. Your Spiritual Power is very effective, but it’s not a panacea. Giving me more won’t have much of an effect.

Sit tight. I have some instructions for you."

"Please, speak. I am all ears," Song Changsheng said respectfully.

"First is the matter of clan affairs. I am currently unable to manage them, and Big Brother has entered seclusion again. All of the clan’s business has fallen on Luzhou and Luyao. I need you to take over the clan’s affairs for a while.

Furthermore, the Green Sky White Jade Pill is more effective than we thought. I should be able to heal my injuries in about a year, and then we can plan for my breakthrough to the Purple Mansion realm. The clan is currently gathering the materials needed to construct a Purple Mansion. This is the clan’s top priority right now.

Also, the people sent by Luke are on their way. It’s hard to say when they’ll arrive at the clan, but when they do, you will receive them personally. You will also be in charge of distributing the Foundation Establishment Pills.

Finally, remember to be wary of the Earth Fire Sect. They’ve been too quiet recently. When things are this abnormal, there must be something afoot. Chang Wudao is ambitious, so we must be on guard..."

Song Xianyun continued to give instructions, covering every last detail. By the time Song Changsheng left the courtyard, two hours had passed.

After a moment of hesitation, he decided to head to the Minor Affairs Hall first. In any case, for the foreseeable future, that place would be his main battlefield. He needed to get a thorough understanding of it first.

Stepping into the Minor Affairs Hall, he saw desks piled high with all sorts of Jade Scrolls. A fat man was buried among them, writing furiously.

"Fifth Uncle."

The fat man looked up, his face breaking into an exceptionally brilliant smile. He hurried forward, grabbed Song Changsheng’s hand, and said emotionally, "You’re back! This is wonderful!"

Song Changsheng felt a chill run down his spine, completely unaccustomed to Song Luzhou’s enthusiasm. He subtly pulled his hand back and asked, "Where’s Ninth Auntie?"

At the mention of Song Luyao, an expression of grief and indignation appeared on Song Luzhou’s face. "Don’t even mention her to me! We were supposed to handle the clan’s affairs together, but I haven’t seen her for a month! She’s dumped all this work on me alone!"

Song Changsheng chuckled to himself at these words. Song Luzhou was the type who would never sit if he could lie down, and never stand if he could sit. Among the clan’s Elders, he was by far the laziest.

Making him handle this mountain of administrative work all by himself was indeed a bit much to ask.

"Ninth Auntie must have her reasons. I just came from seeing Elder Xianyun, and he asked me to help you share some of the burden."

Hearing this, a mischievous smile spread across Song Luzhou’s face. He shoved Song Changsheng down into the main seat and said, "That’s exactly what I was waiting to hear! From now on, this hall is all yours."

With that, Song Luzhou bolted as if his life depended on it, leaving Song Changsheng alone and utterly dumbfounded.

’From the way Fifth Uncle put it, all these affairs have been dumped squarely into my lap.’ Looking at the mountain of Jade Scrolls on the desk, Song Changsheng’s mouth began to twitch...

Beneath a clear, blue sky, a massive Flying Ship was crossing a vast distance. A young man with a resolute face stood at the edge, gazing down silently, lost in thought.

After a long moment, a beautiful woman approached him with a fifteen or sixteen-year-old boy in tow. "The Flying Ship has entered the Daqi Cultivation World," she said. "We will be landing in the Golden Crow Sect’s territory."

"The Golden Crow Sect, huh? I heard their strength is comparable to the clan’s," the boy said, a little surprised.

"Which clan are you talking about? If it’s the one we’re from, then its strength certainly surpasses the Golden Crow Sect. But if you mean the one we’re heading to now... it’s a far cry from this behemoth," the man asked with a smile.

"The one we’re from, of course. I’ve never been to the other one you mentioned," the boy said as if it were obvious.

"The one we’re going to now is far weaker than the Golden Crow Sect. There’s no comparison at all," the beautiful woman said, ruffling the boy’s hair.

Hearing this, the boy’s little face fell. "Then why are we coming here?"

The woman smiled gently, a smile that seemed to dim everything else around her. She looked toward the distant horizon and said, as if to herself as much as to the boy, "Because that is where our roots are. That is our true home."

————

「The next morning.」

Song Changsheng stretched his sore arms and slumped into his chair without a care for his image, saying dejectedly, "When will I ever finish all this? Fifth Uncle is so unreliable. He didn’t even get through the scrolls from five days ago."

Song Changsheng had been battling in the Minor Affairs Hall for a full night since his return. The desk was still piled with numerous Jade Scrolls, but he was already exhausted.

He felt that sitting in the Minor Affairs Hall handling administrative work was more tiring than engaging in Magical Combat.

Just then, a figure in black robes appeared in the Minor Affairs Hall. Song Changsheng glanced up and saw it was a scout from the Wind Language Hall.

He respectfully presented a Jade Scroll and said, "Young Clan Leader, an urgent report from the Hall Master."

The Wind Language Hall was the clan’s intelligence agency, single-handedly created by Song Luyao after she stepped back from her primary duties. To make gathering intelligence easier, she had trained many Foreign Cultivators. However, it had gotten a late start and its network wasn’t fully established, so it had never gathered much valuable information.

Hearing that it was an urgent report, Song Changsheng’s interest was piqued. He took it and read it, his expression turning exceptionally grim.

It read: "Golden Crow Sect’s birthday delegation ambushed. Elder Dai Zichen has fallen. A key figure is missing."

"This is a catastrophe," Song Changsheng sighed softly. He could smell a conspiracy.

He had met Dai Zichen a few times. His power was by no means weak, and yet now, he was dead.

He wasn’t just an ordinary Purple Mansion Cultivator; he was the envoy sent by the Golden Crow Sect to congratulate the Great City Lord on his birthday. This was no longer a provocation—this was a declaration of war on the Golden Crow Sect!

The report also mentioned a key figure was missing. It didn’t take a genius to guess it was Xia Qingxue. Her status was even higher than Dai Zichen’s. If anything were to happen to her, Song Changsheng couldn’t imagine how violently the Golden Crow Sect would react.

The Golden Crow Sect would never swallow this insult. A great war was inevitable. Song Changsheng could only pray that the war wouldn’t spread to his clan.

After all, the Song Clan was, in name, a vassal of the Golden Crow Sect. If they were to be conscripted into the war, the Song Clan would have no way to refuse...

「At the border of Yuan Province and Qing Province.」

Xia Qingxue was fleeing for her life, a large group of black-robed pursuers hot on her trail.

She was clearly heavily injured. If not for the special nature of her Flying Ship, she would have been caught long ago.

Xia Qingxue’s eyes were filled with a powerful killing intent. If she weren’t injured, she wouldn’t have given these people a second thought.

The distance between them was closing, and Xia Qingxue’s gaze grew even colder.

Just then, one of the pursuers gave a sinister laugh, took out a pitch-black talisman paper, and activated it. In an instant, a beam of black light shot out and pierced through the Flying Ship, engulfing Xia Qingxue...