Chapter 233 - 174: Golden Sun Master

It turned out that not long after Song Changsheng had left for Luoxia City, Song Qingxing had taken Song Qingxi down the mountain to gain experience.

They traveled straight across the entire Moon Viewing Mountain Range and eventually entered Liuyun Marketplace. Along the way, they encountered many Demon Beasts and ran into quite a few Loose Cultivators who tried to rob them, but without exception, all fell to Song Qingxing’s sword.

A small incident also occurred during this time. Song Qingxi discovered Song Qingxing’s bloodthirsty and cruel side; his methods for killing were exceptionally gruesome.

Song Qingxi always remembered what Song Changsheng had told her, and because of it, she had a major falling out with him. Ultimately, thanks to her efforts, Song Qingxing’s methods became considerably gentler.

They only stayed in Liuyun Marketplace for a few days before heading into the Liuyun Mountain Range. Those two kids were incredibly bold—that was the territory of the Qiu Clan and the Earth Fire Sect, after all.

Fortunately, information about them was top secret within the Song Clan and had never been leaked. They had also rarely appeared on Vast Mist Peak over the years, so they hadn’t attracted any attention. Otherwise, those two young shoots would have been nipped in the bud.

Moreover, their luck was quite good; they stumbled upon a predecessor’s cave dwelling. It was the first time down the mountain for both of them, and as the saying goes, "newborn calves don’t fear tigers," so they barged right in.

Luckily, the cave dwelling was quite old, and its master had only been a relatively poor Foundation Establishment Independent Cultivator who hadn’t left behind any powerful measures. Otherwise, with their Cultivation, they would have most likely met their end there.

Even so, their exploration of the cave was fraught with peril. It was only thanks to the protective items Song Changsheng had given them before he left that they managed to escape unscathed.

Although it was dangerous, the rewards were significant. The Tier Two Low-Grade Long Sword in Song Qingxing’s hand and the Paper Kite that Song Qingxi controlled were both obtained from inside.

Speaking of the Paper Kite, Song Changsheng felt a little envious of their luck.

The Song Clan owned two such Paper Kites, and Song Changsheng had even ridden one the first time he left the mountain. It was an incredibly rare transportation Magical Artifact for a Qi Cultivator. Back when he was still in the Qi Cultivation Stage, Song Changsheng had always wanted to get one, but his wish was never granted.

He never expected Song Qingxi to get one on her very first trip. It just goes to show, when your luck arrives, there’s no stopping it.

After they finished exploring the cave dwelling, Song Qingxing wanted to venture deeper into the Liuyun Mountain Range, but fortunately, Song Qingxi stopped him in time.

After returning to Little Cyan Mountain, they went down the mountain for training two more times. Having weathered many trials and tribulations, their practical combat skills improved significantly, and they grew a bit more worldly-wise...

After hearing Song Qingxi’s account, Song Changsheng was quite satisfied. Although they had been a little too bold, the outcome was good.

’Didn’t he himself often say that great rewards require great risks?’

"Not bad. Your performance has exceeded my expectations. I was originally wondering whether I should arrange the coming-of-age trial for you according to the clan’s rules, but now it seems unnecessary. You’ve already met the standard for independence."

Song Changsheng ruffled the young lady’s soft hair, a smile on his face. Their performance had far surpassed that of their peers.

"So, is there a reward?" Song Qingxi asked, holding her small, fair hand out in front of Song Changsheng, a sly glint in her bright eyes.

"What do you want?"

He now had some wealth to his name, so he felt quite confident as he asked.

Song Qingxi cupped her face in her hands as she thought for a moment. "I want a Defensive Spiritual Artifact."

"Alright. When I have some free time, I’ll refine one for you. I guarantee you’ll like it." Song Changsheng smiled faintly. For him, Artifact Refining was a trivial matter.

"Oh, right. On my way up the mountain, I saw everyone discussing a clan tournament. Isn’t that held only once every three years?"

"This was a last-minute decision by the clan. In theory, all eligible members are supposed to participate, but you and Qingxing are a special case. It’s best if you aren’t exposed to the public, so we didn’t notify you."

"Oh, I see." Song Qingxi nodded, her enthusiasm dampened.

Song Changsheng glanced at her and smiled. "What, you want to participate too?"

"Can I?" Song Qingxi’s previously downcast eyes instantly brightened, and her voice became much more cheerful.

"There’s no reason you can’t, if you want to. But you’ll have to be in the junior bracket. With your level of Cultivation, it’ll be a bit like bullying them."

Song Qingxi was only sixteen, a minor among cultivators, so she could only compete against the clan’s junior disciples. Her Qi Refining Seventh Layer Cultivation was in a league of its own. Furthermore, she had gone down the mountain to gain experience several times and had drawn blood on more than one occasion. For her to engage in Magical Combat with clan members who had never left the mountain would be an absolute steamroll.

Not only was her combat experience far richer, but her Cultivation level also completely outclassed theirs. How was that even a competition?

Who would have thought Song Qingxi would nearly jump for joy? Full of anticipation, she exclaimed, "Doesn’t that mean I can get first place? I want to participate!"

Song Changsheng smiled helplessly and didn’t object. Song Qingxing couldn’t be revealed just yet, but it was fine for Song Qingxi. While reaching the Qi Refining Seventh Layer at sixteen was eye-catching, it wasn’t yet so incredible as to incite fear. It would also serve as good motivation for the clan’s younger generation.

"The tournament is in one month. Since you want to participate, prepare well and bring home first place."

"Don’t worry, I definitely won’t lose," Song Qingxi said confidently, waving a small fist.

——————

「Qing Province, Golden Crow Mountain Range.」

As the largest mountain range in the Daqi Cultivation World, the Golden Crow Mountain Range spanned tens of thousands of miles from north to south. Its rolling peaks and overlapping forests stretched out as far as the eye could see.

The headquarters of the Golden Crow Sect was situated on Golden Sun Peak within the Golden Crow Mountain Range. Golden Sun Peak towered thousands of feet into the air, like a sharp sword piercing the heavens.