In the capital of Jiuyao Country.
The east and west sides of Tianxing Street were separated by a stark divide between poverty and wealth. Those who came and went along the west side were either high officials and prominent nobles or powerful, wealthy clans. Deep compounds and sprawling courtyards, high walls and vermilion gates, glistening glazed tiles—everything was magnificent and splendid.
The deeper one went, the more ostentatious the wealth became. In the section nearing the imperial palace, there were even estates with gardens spanning dozens of mu, serving as the residences of princes and dukes.
The residence of a Vice Minister of Revenue had only three entry courtyards, appearing extraordinarily shabby amidst these opulent mansions.
After the vice minister retired from office, the residence was sold to a family, and a plaque reading "Song Residence" was hung above the gate.
However, this household was rather mysterious. They rarely stepped outdoors and kept a very low profile, keeping only a handful of servants. On ordinary days, only the servants went out to purchase daily supplies.
Even so, anyone able to dwell in this quarter was by no means simple, so no one caused them trouble without reason.
Qin Sang had not expected Song Ying to care so little for a life of luxury. Even the residence remained the one they had hastily found back then, having undergone only minor repairs. The gold and silver he had left Song Ying back then amounted to a staggering sum—more than enough to ensure glory and wealth for several generations, even without investing in family businesses.
Perhaps, having witnessed the ways of immortals in Wenyue Cultivation Market, her horizons had broadened.
Qin Sang walked up to the Song Residence and knocked on the front gate.
With a creak, the gate was pulled open from inside. A young manservant poked his head out. Seeing Qin Sang and not recognizing him, he asked with some vigilance, "Excuse me, sir, who are you looking for?"
Qin Sang smiled faintly and replied, "I am a friend of your master, surnamed Qin. Please announce to your mistress that an old friend has come down from the mountain to visit an old acquaintance."
The servant cast a suspicious glance at Qin Sang. "Please wait a moment, sir."
Before long, hurried footsteps sounded from within. Song Ying walked out briskly, and upon seeing that it truly was Qin Sang, her face instantly lit up with pleasant surprise. She hurriedly swung the main doors wide open.
"This humble woman greets Young Master... Qin."
Qin Sang looked Song Ying over. Her complexion was vastly better than when they had first met in Wenyue Cultivation Market. With a plumper figure and an air of graceful elegance, she had evidently given birth.
The two chatted as they walked toward the reception hall. Right then, childish babbling came from the inner courtyard. A little boy of only two or three, wearing a small stomach-cover bib, came stumbling out, followed by an anxious wet nurse.
"Mother! Mother!"
The little boy threw himself into Song Ying's arms with a milky voice, looking inquisitively at the unfamiliar Qin Sang.
The wet nurse looked panic-stricken. "Please forgive me, Madam! The young master, he..."
Song Ying shook her head, gesturing for the servants to withdraw. She lovingly picked up the boy, an implicit hope gleaming in her eyes as she said to Qin Sang, "Young Master Qin, this is my child. My husband and I named him Song Chengxian. Chengxian, quickly greet the gentleman."
The more Song Ying urged him, the more tightly the little boy pursed his lips in silence.
Qin Sang chuckled, not minding at all. He knew what Song Ying was hoping for; he had come here today precisely to fulfill his promise.
At Shaohua Mountain, whenever new disciples were recruited, Foundation Establishment disciples each received a recommendation spot to recommend one person into the sect, provided the candidate met the sect's requirements.
Qin Sang's visit was to see the talent of Song Ying's descendant. If the child possessed decent aptitudes, Qin Sang would use his recommendation spot for him. After all, without the Song clan's Sword Intent decree, he would never have reached where he was today, not to mention that he and Song Ying had an agreement from long ago.
Under Song Ying's expectant gaze, Qin Sang took a step forward and placed a finger upon the little boy's arm.
After examining him thoroughly, Qin Sang looked up at Song Ying. He asked her to call the wet nurse to take the child away, then said in a solemn voice, "A four-attribute spiritual root: metal, wood, water, and earth."
Hearing this, Song Ying felt a mix of joy and sorrow, her gaze dimming slightly.
Having lived in Wenyue Cultivation Market and learned about the cultivation world, she understood what a four-attribute spiritual root meant. Even if he walked the path of cultivation, it was virtually impossible to accomplish much. And without the Sword Intent decree, Shaohua Mountain would never accept such a disciple.
"Immortal Qin..."
Song Ying hesitated, words catching in her throat.
Qin Sang sighed inwardly. He knew Song Ying wished to beg him to take the boy as a disciple, but he could barely ensure his own safety from day to day; how could he have the energy to guide an apprentice?
Yet having made a pact before, Qin Sang pondered for a moment, then retrieved a jade bottle, Gu Yuan's short sword, and the water-heart bamboo prayer mat from his mustard seed bag. Handing them to Song Ying, he said, "Introducing him into Shaohua Mountain is impossible now, but we made a pact beforehand, and I will not break my word. When Song Chengxian grows old enough to understand, aside from the *Blazing Sun Formula*, you may let him choose freely among your family's five cultivation methods. This prayer mat will help calm his mind and enter meditation. If his fortune is profound, he might still achieve something in the future... As for this spirit elixir, it is a Foundation Establishment Pill, a gift from me to him. I have placed a restriction on it; as long as the jade bottle is not opened heedlessly, you need not worry about its medicinal efficacy leaking away."
After breaking through to Foundation Establishment, the usefulness of the water-heart bamboo prayer mat had diminished drastically, serving as little more than nothing, while the short sword was an exceptional piece among medium-grade magic tools, more than sufficient for a low-ranking cultivator to protect himself.
"A Foundation Establishment Pill!"
Song Ying's eyes widened in astonishment as she cried out. Staring in utter disbelief at the jade bottle in her hands, she suddenly remembered hearing her parents and elder brother discussing Foundation Establishment Pills in the past—it looked exactly like this.
At that time, her parents and elder brother had worn expressions of sheer envy.
Having been exposed to cultivators since childhood, Song Ying naturally knew what a peerless treasure a Foundation Establishment Pill was. Even the powerful clans of Wenyue Cultivation Market could not obtain a single Foundation Establishment Pill for their younger generations.
If news of a Foundation Establishment Pill were to spread, the entire market would go mad.
The value of a Foundation Establishment Pill was certainly no less than that of the Sword Intent decree.
Clutching the jade bottle tightly with both hands, Song Ying said with excitement, "Thank you for bestowing this pill, Immortal Qin! Song Ying is eternally grateful. I shall have Chengxian come kowtow to you right away!"
"If fate permits, we shall meet again."
Qin Sang waved his hand, his figure flashing and vanishing from the spot.
Having severed his karma with the Song clan, Qin Sang steered the Sky-Soaring Shuttle straight toward the depths of the Yuncang Great Marsh. Releasing the Spirit-Bearing Bird and the Golden-Eyed Snake, he searched throughout the Yuncang Great Marsh for ten days. He did indeed locate two spirit veins, yet neither possessed even a decent spirit eye suitable for a cave abode, let alone a spirit spring.
Qin Sang had no choice but to release the two spirit beasts to return to Shaohua Mountain on their own, before flying off toward Guyuan Country.
After making arrangements at Huilong Temple, Qin Sang flew back to the deserted island. Sweeping with his spiritual sense, he found no traces of cultivators having intruded into the cave abode, so he opened the grand formation and stepped inside.
He dismantled the formation left behind by the bamboo demon and set up the formation flags of the Xuanming Tortoise Shell Formation. Walking over to the pool in the cave abode, Qin Sang retrieved the jade box containing the Nine-Illusion Heavenly Orchid.
Back then, Zhao Yan had uprooted the Nine-Illusion Heavenly Orchid. The spirit herb's roots had originally been pristine white, but they were now faintly tinged with a withered yellow, and its leaves and petals were curled slightly.
Qin Sang reached out to take the Nine-Illusion Heavenly Orchid from the jade box and dipped its roots into the spirit spring. Then, his palm suddenly sank as the Nine-Illusion Heavenly Orchid dropped into the water of its own accord.
The spirit spring was only a thin layer, so the Nine-Illusion Heavenly Orchid could only spread its roots wide across the pool.
The orchid's leaves immediately unfurled, and its petals regained a touch of moisture and vitality. Qin Sang set down a restriction to prevent its medicinal potency from leaking away. Squatting by the pool and gazing at it repeatedly, a smile of anticipation surfaced on his face.
Chapter 138