Chapter 2: Refining the Amulet (Requesting Votes)

Song Changsheng took out a three-legged, two-eared bronze tripod. With a wave of his right hand, the character "Fire" (火) flashed across his palm and vanished, and a ball of orange-red flame instantly appeared at the base of the tripod, beginning to burn fiercely.

He tossed the egg-sized jade pendant inside and mused, "If I’m going to do this, I must do it to the best of my ability. But the texture of this jade is fragile; I must add some Tibetan White Clay to increase its durability."

With that, he took out a jade bottle, poured in some white powder, and then channeled his spiritual energy to make the flames burn even more vigorously.

The bronze tripod soon turned red under the scorching tongues of fire, and the jade pendant inside fused with the Tibetan White Clay, forming tiny white spots across its emerald-green surface.

Song Changsheng added the powders of several more minerals in succession to make the fragile pendant even sturdier. About an hour later, the pendant, which had been almost entirely reshaped, was fresh out of the forge.

Next was the process of engraving the array patterns. As the saying goes, array formations and artifact crafting have been inseparable since ancient times; an excellent artifact refiner must inevitably have accomplishments in array formations.

By the same token, an outstanding array master also needs to learn the way of artifact refining, for they are intertwined, each containing the other.

Special magical artifacts require engraved arrays to improve their quality. Setting up arrays also requires the crafting of array bases and flags; being able to do it oneself is naturally for the best.

Because he had spent years contemplating Daoist scriptures, Song Changsheng’s comprehension far exceeded that of ordinary people. Thus, he was not only a first-tier high-grade artifact refiner but also a first-tier high-grade array master—a rare dual-cultivator. That was why Song Changming had sought him out.

"Although this amulet is for a mortal to use, it is best to focus on defense to avoid causing trouble later, which would only harm Song Xi."

Song Changsheng pondered for a moment, then gripped the jade pendant and began to concentrate his mental energy, engraving array patterns into the interior of the jade.

"To gather spiritual energy, I need a miniature [Spirit Gathering Array]. I also need a sensory array so that it will automatically activate to protect its master upon sensing killing intent.

"This is my first time setting up such a linked array; it seems I must give it my absolute focus."

Song Changsheng’s mental energy acted like a carving knife, rapidly etching lines of array patterns inside the jade. Soon, he had carved out two basic arrays and linked them together.

The moment the arrays were successfully formed, Song Changsheng felt a small vortex form inside the jade, slowly absorbing the surrounding spiritual energy.

"For the defensive measure, I’ll choose the [Spirit Shield Array]. A 360-degree defense with no blind spots—only then can one be at ease." Song Changsheng muttered to himself, quickly carving the third array.

It should have ended there, but he suddenly thought of the [Water-Fire Control Technique] he had just comprehended. After a moment of hesitation, he picked up the jade pendant and injected a wisp of fire energy into it.

The secret technique allowed him to control fire-type spiritual energy with great precision. This wisp of fire energy fused perfectly, and the originally cold jade pendant began to feel warm.

Looking at the masterpiece in his hand, Song Changsheng chuckled, "If I had this ability in my past life, couldn't I mass-produce warm jade? I’d definitely make a fortune."

He hadn't originally intended to add an offensive measure to the amulet, but thinking that constant defense eventually leads to failure, he decided this would be Song Xi’s final means of self-preservation.

If Song Xi were to encounter a cultivator, she could shatter the jade pendant, which would trigger the hidden fire energy. Caught off guard, even a cultivator at the early stage of Qi Refining could potentially lose their life.

"Phew, finally finished Big Brother's request. I'll send it to him tomorrow," Song Changsheng murmured, looking at the sunset outside the window.

He tidied up his things and made some spiritual rice porridge to fill his stomach. As a Qi Refining cultivator, he couldn't yet achieve long-term *bigu* (abstinence from food) and had to eat regularly.

Of course, he could use [Bigu Pills] instead, but those were only supplied to the Foundation Establishment elders of the clan. If others wanted them, they had to exchange them for contribution points. Since contribution points were precious, no one usually did that.

After finishing the porridge and seeing that the time was right, he paced to the pond in the backyard, preparing to begin his evening cultivation.

The *Yin-Yang Xuanhua Sutra* he practiced was quite special; it required absorbing the essence of the sun during the *Mao* and *Chen* hours (5 AM–9 AM) and the essence of the moon during the *Xu* and *Hai* hours (7 PM–11 PM).

The essence of the sun and moon, one Yin and one Yang, formed the *Hunyuan* (Primordial) energy, which was stored in his Dantian.

The *Hunyuan* energy had infinite wonders; neutralizing water and fire was only one of them. Over these years, he had only managed to store a single mouthful of it...

The next morning, after finishing his cultivation, Song Changsheng went out and headed toward the foot of the mountain.

In the Song clan, residential areas were strictly divided. The spiritual energy at the peak was the most concentrated, serving as the place where the clan leader or Purple Mansion cultivators went into seclusion.

However, since the passing of the Song clan's last Purple Mansion cultivator, Song Yungui, a hundred years ago, no new Purple Mansion cultivators had been born. The highest cultivation level now belonged to the clan leader, Song Xianming, a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator and a third-tier low-grade array master, who was the pillar of the clan.

He was also Song Changsheng’s own grandfather, which was why people often said he had inherited his grandfather’s talent for arrays.

The mountainside was where the clan’s upper echelon and some clansmen lived. Song Changsheng only qualified to live there because of his status as a "Foundation Establishment seed" of the clan.

Beyond that, the other clansmen lived at the foot of the mountain and on the surrounding spiritual hills. Although not as good as the mountainside, they were still rare and precious places for cultivation.

Song Changming’s small courtyard was located next to a field of spiritual crops. It was early spring, and the green spiritual wheat seedlings were swaying in the wind, as if hosting a grand dance.

A young girl dressed in green, with two pigtails sticking up, was running and playing among the ridges, as lively as a butterfly dancing in the fields.

Song Changsheng arrived at the edge of the field, a soft smile appearing on his face as he waved, "Xi'er, come here."

Song Xi, who was busy catching grasshoppers, turned around at the sound. Upon seeing Song Changsheng standing by the field, a sweet smile appeared on her slightly chubby face, and she immediately opened her arms and sprinted toward him.

Song Changsheng picked up the little girl and laughed, "Xi'er, where is your father?"

"Daddy went out for something." Song Xi’s voice was as crisp and pleasant as a silver bell, making one unable to help but feel fond of her.

"I see. Do you still recognize me?" It was a bit of a coincidence that he came at this time, but since little Song Xi was here, he could just give it to her directly.

"You're Little Uncle," Song Xi called out sweetly.

A doting smile appeared on Song Changsheng’s face. He took out the jade pendant and hung it around Song Xi’s waist, saying, "This is what your father asked me to give you. Make sure you don't lose it, and don't touch it casually, you hear?"

Song Xi nodded her little head, "I know, Little Uncle."

Song Changsheng flipped his hand, and a spiritual fruit rich in energy appeared in his palm. He had specifically gone to the Contribution Hall to exchange for it when he came down the mountain; after a mortal ate it, they would be free from illness for a lifetime.

This was a small gift for his cousin-niece.

While happily gnawing on the fruit, Song Xi acted spoiled in Song Changsheng’s arms, "Little Uncle, tell me a story."

Song Changsheng had only met this little girl a few times, but every time, he would tell her a story. This seemed to have become an unspoken agreement between them.

"Alright, how about Uncle tells you the history of our clan today?" Song Changsheng walked under a large tree and set the little girl down.

Song Xi’s eyes curved like crescent moons, and she quickly sat down beside Song Changsheng.

With a hint of reminiscence in his eyes, Song Changsheng began, "Our Song clan descends from an ancient Golden Core family.

"Our ancestor, Song Taiyi, was expelled from his family due to a crime. After wandering, he arrived at the Wangyue Mountain Range. Relying on his powerful Purple Mansion-stage cultivation, he slew a great demon and occupied the only third-tier spiritual vein in Lingzhou.

"Then, the ancestor founded our clan. With the help of the rich mineral resources of the Wangyue Mountain Range, we developed rapidly and dominated the entire Lingzhou in a short time.

"Later, he cultivated Ancestor Yungui to become a Purple Mansion cultivator, and the clan was at the height of its glory.

"But heaven has unpredictable storms. Less than a hundred years after Ancestor Taiyi passed away, Ancestor Yungui also fell in battle against a great demon. From then on, the clan began to decline and had to give up many interests, sharing Lingzhou with five other Foundation Establishment powers.

"Even so, there were still those who wanted to occupy our home—the overlord of Yangzhou to the east, the Lieyang Sect. They tried every possible way to oppress us.

"To avoid their exploitation, ten years ago, your great-grandfather secretly went into seclusion to break through to the Purple Mansion stage. But a traitor leaked the news, and the Lieyang Sect mobilized their entire force to attack us.

"Just as the clan was on the verge of collapse, your great-grandfather stopped his breakthrough and came out of seclusion to control the clan-protecting array, which was the only reason we managed to repel the Lieyang Sect..."

After finishing, Song Changsheng looked at Song Xi and asked, "Did you remember that?"

Song Xi nodded vigorously, then waved her little fist, saying indignantly, "The Lieyang Sect is so bad! Why did they come to bully us?"

Song Changsheng didn't answer. Instead, he stroked her head and murmured, "You must remember this firmly. Never forget."

No one could forget this history; it was the root of the Song clansmen.

Moreover, in that battle ten years ago, five Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Song clan fell, along with over a hundred other cultivators. Because Song Xianming had to stop his breakthrough, his vitality was damaged, and he had to remain in seclusion year-round to suppress his injuries.

Song Changsheng had witnessed his own father’s blood spray across the sky and had seen many uncles who loved him fall in pools of blood. That scene was something he would never forget for the rest of his life.

After the war, the clan was draped in mourning; every household wore sackcloth and filial piety. This deep hatred was something every Song descendant should keep firmly in mind.

Song Xi needed to remember it even more. If not for that battle, her grandfather wouldn't have died, and her father wouldn't have had to come down the mountain due to a lack of manpower, separating them from each other.

Song Xi seemed to sense something. She sat quietly beside Song Changsheng for a long time before asking with wide eyes, "Why do people fight? Can't everyone just be friends?"

"Friends"—in this world, that was a luxury. Human desire is boundless, and everyone wants to seize more resources.

When the Song clan was glorious, dominating Lingzhou, they had blood feuds with many powers.

So, he couldn't answer this question. Big fish eat little fish; this was the iron law of the cultivation world, regardless of right or wrong.

The two figures, one large and one small, sat under the tree in silence.

But a child is a child after all; emotions come and go quickly. Soon, she became lively again, pulling Song Changsheng to go catch butterflies.

It wasn't until evening, when Song Changming returned, that Song Changsheng bid farewell and left...

(End of chapter)