Chapter 5: The Mortal World (Please add to collection)

"He’s nothing but a bandit." Song Changsheng, having been tossed out of the main hall, straightened his rumpled robes and muttered in dissatisfaction.

He was secretly annoyed with himself for getting carried away. He knew full well that Fifth Uncle was a penny-pinching miser who would pluck a feather from any passing goose, yet he had still walked right into the trap. He had truly been had this time...

After returning to his courtyard, Song Changsheng wasted no time and began weaving array flags.

The way of arrays requires array bases, array flags, array patterns, and spiritual veins. To set up a permanent array like a clan-protecting formation, all these elements are essential.

Among them, array patterns and array flags can be used individually to form arrays. For instance, engraving an array pattern into a magical tool can grant it special functions and improve its quality.

However, the more common method is combining array flags with array patterns. Arrays set up this way are called temporary arrays, characterized by low costs and rapid deployment.

What Song Changsheng needed to do now was to weave a new set of first-tier array flags.

Setting up a first-tier array requires twelve flags. Depending on the skill of the array master, the resulting formations are classified into four levels: elementary, intermediate, advanced, and peak, corresponding to the cultivation realms of the cultivators.

Song Changsheng was accustomed to having a backup plan. Although he already possessed one set of array flags, he wanted to craft another to keep on hand; after all, it was better to be safe than sorry.

Weaving array flags is delicate work that tests one's patience and energy, and the remaining time slipped away quietly like this...

"Cousin Changsheng, time to go!"

Early the next morning, just as Song Changsheng finished his morning cultivation, a slightly youthful voice rang out by his ear.

He looked toward the sound and saw four people approaching—two elders and two youths. One of the youths was waving at him.

Song Changsheng hurried to meet them and bowed to the two in the lead. "This nephew greets the two clan uncles."

The two were of different heights. The taller one, Song Luding, was over seventy years old, a cultivator at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining, and a deacon of the clan’s Spirit Testing Hall.

The shorter one, Song Luzi, was in his sixties, a ninth-level Qi Refining cultivator, also a deacon of the Spirit Testing Hall.

"No need for such formalities, nephew," Song Luding said with a chuckle, gesturing to the boy and girl beside him. "These are Changjiu and Changying, descendants of your Fourth Granduncle. They are coming with us this time to broaden their horizons."

"Greetings, Cousin Changsheng." The two bowed in return. Song Changying was poised and steady, carrying herself with grace, but Song Changjiu kept glancing at him from the corner of his eye, his gaze filled with curiosity.

As Song Changsheng returned the greeting, he sized them up. Both were fifteen; Song Changying was at the fourth level of Qi Refining, and Song Changjiu at the fifth.

They were quite a bit behind him, but for their age, they were doing well.

"The hour is late, let us depart," Song Luzi said abruptly.

"Indeed, let us make haste," Song Luding agreed. He flicked his sleeve, and a large paper kite appeared before them.

Qi Refining cultivators could not yet fly on swords, so they often used flying shuttles, paper kites, or similar flight-type magical tools for transport.

However, such tools were difficult to refine and required mid-grade spirit stones as fuel.

One mid-grade spirit stone could be exchanged for one hundred low-grade spirit stones; the average person simply couldn't afford to use them.

"Wow, so this is a paper kite! It's my first time seeing one," Song Changjiu acted like a monkey, looking here and touching there, occasionally letting out strange cries.

Song Changying immediately turned her face away, her expression as if to say, 'Don't look at me, I don't know him.'

Watching the restless Song Changjiu, Song Changsheng couldn't help but recall the first time he saw his father perform a spell; he had acted much the same way.

The five of them stepped onto the kite. Song Luding channeled a bit of spiritual power, and the kite flapped its wings, rising from the ground and flying toward the endless dense forest in the distance...

The Great Qi cultivation world is located in the southern part of the entire human-controlled territory. Known in writing as the Nanchuan Wasteland, or the Southern Continent, it has the shortest history among the five major human continents.

It earned its name due to its numerous mountains and hills, as well as its scarcity of cultivation resources.

Among these, border regions like Great Qi were the worst, filled with rolling mountains and hills, yet possessing pitifully few spiritual veins.

At first, the Song clan was small, and Cangmang Peak could accommodate them. But in less than two hundred years, the clan's mortal population swelled to hundreds of thousands, exceeding the capacity of Cangmang Peak.

Moreover, it was inconvenient for immortals and mortals to live together.

Thus, the third clan leader, the Purple Mansion cultivator Song Yungui, oversaw the opening of a living space for the mortal clansmen.

After weighing their options, they chose a small plain four hundred miles from Cangmang Peak. The entire clan spent over a decade transforming it into a habitable zone.

However, human flesh is coveted by demonic cultivators and spirit beasts. To ensure the safety of the clansmen, Song Yungui oversaw the construction of seven cities.

These seven cities were arranged in the pattern of the Big Dipper. Each city sat atop several first-tier spiritual veins, with a second-tier spiritual vein at the center.

They also invited third-tier geomancers and array masters to connect these earth veins, forging them into a massive third-tier low-grade array named: [Seven Stars Locking the Peaks].

Although it lacked a third-tier spiritual vein to support it, the array could still withstand a Purple Mansion cultivator for several hours.

That time was sufficient for the clan to dispatch reinforcements.

Later, when the clan no longer had a Purple Mansion cultivator, the current clan leader, Song Xianming, incorporated the low-grade magical treasure [Black Tortoise Mountain-Suppressing Seal] left behind by ancestor Song Yungui as the array eye to strengthen the defense.

As long as it was operated by a skilled array master, it was enough to stand toe-to-toe with a Purple Mansion cultivator, becoming a symbol of the Song clan's heritage!

——————

The paper kite was fast, and they encountered no troublesome spirit beasts, covering the four hundred miles in half an hour.

"Wow, Cousin, is that the [Demon-Illuminating Mirror]? They say even Purple Mansion-level demonic cultivators have nowhere to hide from it." Song Changjiu was like a country bumpkin entering the city, finding everything novel.

They were high in the air, looking down at the seven cities. At the center point of the seven cities, a massive glass mirror floated in mid-air, emitting a bright light. This was the [Demon-Illuminating Mirror] that Song Changjiu was pointing at.

"That is true. Without it, who knows how many demons and monsters would have infiltrated this place," Song Changsheng nodded.

"Truly amazing." Song Changjiu stared at the mirror in the sky, his eyes seemingly sparkling.

The guy was a live wire and a chatterbox; everyone was already used to his antics.

Song Luding steered the kite directly into the city, landing at a mansion in the center.

The city lord had long been waiting there with his subordinates. Before the kite even touched the ground, a large crowd had already knelt, shouting in unison: "Greetings, Immortal Masters!"

Seeing this scene for the first time, Song Changsheng still felt quite uncomfortable; the way those people looked at them felt strange.

Song Luding said calmly, "Everyone, rise. We are all of the same clan, no need for this. I am Song Luding, the person in charge of this Immortal Ascension Assembly."

The middle-aged city lord stood up and asked cautiously, "Immortal Master, may I ask when the assembly will begin?"

Song Luding glanced back at Song Changsheng and replied, "Three days from now. Go and prepare."

The city lord took his orders and led the others away. Although he wanted to exchange more pleasantries, he knew that too much of a good thing could be counterproductive, so he focused on completing his tasks to leave a good impression.

After they left, Song Luding said to the group, "We have plenty of time, so find yourselves rooms and settle in. However, I must trouble nephew Changsheng to visit the Fifth Elder on our behalf."

Song Changsheng was overjoyed. "This nephew understands!"

……

If any fellow Daoists have suggestions for minor characters or thoughts on the plot, please feel free to leave a comment in the book circle. I will read every one of them. Thank you~

(End of chapter)