So they were uncle and nephew. Qin Sang had assumed Song Yi was Song Chengxian's son.
"How are they doing now?"
Song Yi said, "My maternal grandmother is looked after by my mother and several elders, and she is still quite hale and hearty. But my uncle passed away many years ago."
Song Chengxian was dead?
The last time they met, Song Chengxian had been a newborn infant. Now, hearing of him again, he had already been dead for years.
Shopkeeper Wu was also advanced in years, visibly declining.
Having gone through the baptism of his journey back to the Great Sui, Qin Sang felt only a quiet sigh in his heart; it was difficult for such news to stir great waves within him.
"My uncle was ambushed in the Yuncang Great Marsh and suffered grievous wounds," Song Yi choked up, his voice catching in his throat. "Shortly after returning home, his condition worsened. I was still young back then. My uncle forced himself up to guide me onto the immortal path, and then he..."
Qin Sang sighed softly. Song Chengxian had possessed poor innate talent. Even though Qin Sang had left him a Foundation Establishment Pill and some cultivation resources, walking the path of cultivation all on his own must have been exceptionally difficult.
The immortal path was cruel like this, and Song Chengxian was far from the only one.
With that in mind, Qin Sang asked, "Who was the culprit? Were they found?"
Wiping away his tears, Song Yi said, "The murderer was slain on the spot by my uncle. That person was also a rogue cultivator, with no one to seek revenge on their behalf, so I was not affected."
Qin Sang nodded and dismissed Song Yi. Turning to Shopkeeper Wu, he asked, "What are your thoughts on this?"
By now, he could roughly guess the shopkeeper's reason for inviting him here.
Shopkeeper Wu stood up, produced a jade slip, and offered it to Qin Sang.
Qin Sang frowned. Looking at the jade slip, he did not reach out to take it. Instead, he fixed his gaze on Shopkeeper Wu's eyes, speaking with a touch of displeasure, "Fellow Daoist Wu, what is the meaning of this?"
Shopkeeper Wu did not withdraw the jade slip.
"The first time Song Yi came here, I recognized him as a member of the Song family. He looks far too much like those two children from the Song family.
"The boy is clever and quick-witted, with a good temperament and three spiritual roots. While his innate talent isn't top-tier, it is nonetheless a true spiritual root, giving him a chance at Foundation Establishment. Otherwise, I wouldn't dare trouble you, Fellow Daoist Qin.
"I have no children of my own, and this boy and I hit it off quite well. All I can do is pass on my life's learning to him and do everything in my power to give him a push forward, so that our time as master and disciple won't have been in vain.
"Fellow Daoist Qin, this jade slip was passed down from my ancestors, gathering the crafting insights of several generations. It may not seem like much in your eyes.
"However, inside this jade slip are the insights left behind by an unknown senior. He was once the disciple of a Golden Core Master from the Xuling Sect, serving as a Daoist attendant by that master's side, and observed the entire process of that Golden Core Master refining a magic treasure.
"Later on, that senior recorded everything he had seen and heard.
"My ancestor acquired this jade slip by chance and used it to begin studying the art of crafting.
"Seeing that you have an interest in artifact crafting, Fellow Daoist Qin, I wonder if the contents of this jade slip might be of any help to you?"
Under Shopkeeper Wu's expectant gaze, Qin Sang pondered for a moment before taking the jade slip. He extended his spiritual sense into it to examine its contents.
The first things that met his gaze were the crafting insights left by Shopkeeper Wu's ancestors. Most of them had had low cultivation, spending their entire lives studying artifact crafting while having no hope on the immortal path.
Qin Sang skimmed through them until he reached the records left by that unknown senior.
After reading it carefully, Qin Sang fell into deep thought.
Though not penned directly by a Golden Core Master, the contents of the jade slip offered an extraordinarily detailed account of the magic treasure refinement process. Even more precious was the fact that the senior's master had provided him with numerous pointers during the refinement, all of which had been recorded verbatim.
Hailing from the Xuling Sect, their understanding of artifact crafting was far more unique and profound than that of other sects.
Qin Sang's mustard seed bag held the refinement method for the Primordial Concentric Rings, but the finer details required his own contemplation. Studying this jade slip thoroughly would undoubtedly yield immense benefits in the future.
Once he broke through to the Core Formation stage, he would likely receive secret manuals bestowed by Shaohua Mountain as well, but that was a matter for later.
What enticed Qin Sang the most was that these records seemed to offer guidance for the ebony sword as well, especially the remarks directly spoken by that Golden Core Master.
At present, he could understand only a small portion, yet he already sensed faint gains. If he comprehended it thoroughly, the efficiency with which the ebony sword devoured spirit wood would surely increase by a large margin.
With this in mind, Qin Sang opened his eyes, having made up his mind.
He had yet to use his quota for recommending a disciple into the sect.
With Song Yi possessing three spiritual roots, paired with Qin Sang's recommendation, entering Shaohua Mountain was practically a sure thing.
Furthermore, Song Yi was of the Song bloodline.
Shopkeeper Wu had likely approached him with a trial mindset after learning of his past ties to the Song family.
"Once he enters Shaohua Mountain, Song Yi will be a Shaohua Mountain disciple. If a senior takes a liking to him in the future and takes him as a personal disciple, he will have to adopt another master's lineage," Qin Sang reminded Shopkeeper Wu.
Shopkeeper Wu replied candidly, "As long as it's good for him, that is all that matters."
Seeing that Shopkeeper Wu had already thought it through, Qin Sang said no more. He called Song Yi back into the room, took out a jade pendant, and handed it to him. "When Shaohua Mountain opens its gates to recruit disciples next time, bring this token to Shaohua Mountain. If the reception disciples from Daomen Peak question you, answer them truthfully."
Hesitating, Song Yi did not dare accept it right away. He glanced toward Shopkeeper Wu. "Master..."
Shopkeeper Wu urged him anxiously, "Hurry and thank Senior Qin!"
Only then did Song Yi take the jade pendant and bow deeply to Qin Sang.
"No need for formalities."
Qin Sang smiled and helped Song Yi up. "Your master and I interact as peers, so in the future, it will be fitting for you to address me as Martial Uncle Qin. The rules at Shaohua Mountain aren't overly strict, but once you enter the sect, performing certain chores is unavoidable. The steward at Daomen Peak is on good terms with me and should look out for you on my account. However, those are minor matters; you must still rely on your own bitter cultivation. Once your cultivation rises, taking back the Song family's ancestral residence won't be difficult at all."
When Song Ying left Wenyue Cultivation Market, she had voluntarily relinquished all of the Song family's properties in the market, signing a deed to that effect.
Back when Qin Sang had just reached Foundation Establishment, his foundation had been shallow, and Song Chengxian had been too young and not yet on the path of cultivation. Without a proper pretext, it would not have been right to breach the market's rules.
Now, leaving it for Song Yi to resolve on his own would serve as motivation.
Having received Qin Sang's promise, both master and disciple were filled with joy.
Qin Sang chatted with Shopkeeper Wu a bit longer and left several spirit materials for him to refine into magic tools. Just as he prepared to visit Granny Jing, an unexpected piece of news came from Shopkeeper Wu.
"Over twenty years ago, Granny Jing closed her shop and left Wenyue Cultivation Market. No one has seen her for a long time. Without Granny Jing at the helm, the members of the secret shop gathered a few times privately, but contact gradually dwindled. However, Granny Jing's shop is still there. You can leave a voice transmission talisman, Fellow Daoist Qin, so she will see it once she returns."
Qin Sang was surprised. "Do you know what Granny Jing went to do, Fellow Daoist Wu?"
Shopkeeper Wu shook his head. "Granny Jing left no message before departing, so I know nothing of it either."
Bidding farewell to Shopkeeper Wu, Qin Sang arrived before the secret shop. Sure enough, the doors were tightly shut, with no sign of Granny Jing anywhere.
A restrictive ward surrounded the shop for protection.
After a moment's thought, Qin Sang took out a voice transmission talisman, explained the circumstances clearly, and sent it through the restriction before departing from the cultivation market.
Chapter 361