Chapter 30: Qingwu Talismans

After finally securing a few days of leisure in the Funiu Mountains, Song Qingming returned to Mujiao Town to visit his family, only to find that a joyous event was unfolding at home.

Song Qingming's fourth brother had started a family a year ago and had just given birth to a son. The family was currently discussing when to hold a half-month celebration for the child when Song Qingming's arrival coincided with the planning. His father, Song Dezhang, decided that there was no better time than the present, and a grand banquet was organized for the very next day.

The banquet lasted for two consecutive days, with a continuous stream of guests. Many relatives and friends from Mujiao Town came to offer congratulations and gifts. Since Song Qingming had become an immortal, the Song family had become a prominent and wealthy household in the western part of Mujiao Town, naturally attracting many people seeking to curry favor.

After the banquet, Song's mother led her daughter-in-law, who was holding the newborn grandson, to a quiet room in the backyard. Seeing Song Qingming sitting composedly in the room reading a book, Song's mother smiled and said, "Third son, your father said you are leaving tomorrow, and we know not when you shall return."

A green light flashed from the book in Song Qingming's hand as he stowed it into his storage bag. After a pause, he replied softly, "I have accepted the clan's task to guard the outer Spirit Mountains. It will be a year before I can return to the mountain. Once I return, I will have two years of free time for cultivation, so I naturally won't make Mother miss me for too long."

His parents had reached the age of enjoying their grandchildren, which was considered quite advanced for mortals. Although they had consumed some low-grade spiritual fruits that Song Qingming had obtained from the mountains—meaning they showed no visible signs of aging—Song Qingming knew in his heart that a mortal's lifespan was at most around sixty years. He could only hope that the two elders would allow him to miss them for a few more years.

"Your father discussed it with me yesterday; he still wishes to ask you for a name for this eldest grandson, so that the child might catch some of your immortal aura. Perhaps this child might even have a chance to ascend to immortality in the future," Song's mother said with a grin, taking the child from her daughter-in-law and presenting him before Song Qingming.

The sister-in-law beside them was a woman from a scholarly family. Since joining the Song family, she had been dutiful in managing the household and filial to her parents-in-law, earning Song's mother's great affection. At this moment, her eyes were filled with anticipation as she watched Song Qingming in thought.

"A few months ago, the clan went to the Floating Cloud Mountain Range, and luck was on our side; even I obtained several opportunities. It just so happens that the child was born upon our return. I think we should call this child Yunshan!"

"Song Yunshan," Song's mother repeated the name. Feeling it was quite good, she nodded and had her daughter-in-law take the child out.

"Third son, I know that you immortals do not like to be tainted by the mundane air of us mortals. You have your own duties to attend to. Thanks to your blessings, our family's life is getting better and better every day. Mother asks nothing more of you; I only wish you could come back to visit often."

Although Song Qingming had been home these past few days, he had mostly stayed in his own room. Aside from a few family members, he had not interacted with anyone else. Song's mother understood that there was a fundamental difference between immortals and mortals; her son ultimately did not belong to this small house.

"I did not wish to go out and see people these past two days simply because I feared people in town might gossip about our family. After all, those on the mountain have secular relatives, and matters from below the mountain inevitably reach the peaks, claiming I am violating clan rules by involving myself too much in secular affairs."

"I quite like this small room left to me by the family. I have set up a formation in this room over the last few days. When I am not here, please do not let anyone enter, lest they trigger the formation and suffer the consequences. Do not worry, Mother, I will certainly return often when I have time."

Song's mother nodded upon hearing this, then sighed and said, "Alas, you have grown up, and your way of handling matters has become much more mature. Yet, Mother always feels that you are not as cheerful as you were when you were a child."

"Mother, people must grow up eventually, must they not?" Song Qingming said with a playful smile. Looking at him, Song's mother felt as though he had returned to his youthful self.

After seeing his mother off, Song Qingming took out his flying sword and carefully pried up a stone floor tile in the room. He dug a small pit, placed the jade box containing the Water Spirit Fruit inside, and slowly replaced the stone tile. He could not use this item just yet, and it would be unwise to carry it on him constantly, so he decided to hide the Water Spirit Fruit in Mujiao Town. This place was within the Funiu Mountain's mountain-protecting formation, making it much safer than hiding it at Spirit Source Mountain.

After staying in the Funiu Mountains for a few days, Song Qingming finally received permission from the Fourth Elder, Song Gucai, to return to Spirit Source Mountain.

Having not returned for over two months, his ninth uncle, Song Changxin, missed him dearly. During Song Qingming's absence, the clan had not arranged for anyone else to assist him at Spirit Source Mountain due to a lack of manpower. To ensure the steady operation of the mineral veins, Song Qingming had been unable to engage in long periods of secluded cultivation.

As soon as Song Qingming returned, Song Changxin tossed him a pile of spiritual talismans and miscellaneous items before immediately entering seclusion to cultivate. Song Qingming quickly resumed his previous routine of guarding and cultivating.

However, this time, Song Qingming had brought back a large amount of spiritual items from the Guiyun Market, meaning his upcoming days would be just as busy.

Half a month ago at the Guiyun Market, Song Qingming had spent several hundred spirit stones in a single day, causing his once-wealthy storage bag to become impoverished again; he now had only a few dozen spirit stones left on him.

On the journey back, Song Qingming had already decided that his next priority would be to find ways to expand his sources of wealth.

After much thought during the journey, Song Qingming chose to first improve his talisman-making skills. After two years of intensive practice, his talisman-making had reached a bottleneck. In the last six months, he had begun attempting to craft mid-grade spiritual talismans, though he had failed every time. This was largely due to the limitations of Caolu Mountain, where the materials required for mid-grade talismans were scarce and could not be purchased in large quantities.

Now that he had exchanged for a significant amount of mid-grade talisman paper at the Guiyun Market, he finally had the confidence to break through to the level of a Mid-grade Talisman Master. As long as he could produce mid-grade talismans in large quantities in the future, he would not have to worry about a lack of spirit stones for a while.

The price of a mid-grade talisman was several times that of a low-grade one. Although the production cost would also increase, as long as he maintained a thirty percent success rate, the profit would be substantial—far beyond what he could achieve by making low-grade talismans every day.

Mid-grade talismans were also much easier to sell on the market than low-grade ones; even at Caolu Mountain, Song Qingming would not have to worry too much about finding buyers.

The Song family's path of talisman-making was quite well-known among the nearby Qi-refining families. The clan had not only produced two high-grade talisman masters but also six mid-grade talisman masters. Even a dedicated cultivator like his ninth uncle, who spent most of his time on cultivation, had managed to raise his talisman-making skills to the mid-grade level in his spare time.

Upon returning to his quarters, Song Qingming first took out the talisman manual he had acquired at the Guiyun Market and began to study it.

This manual was titled *The Azure Crow Talisman Records*, written by a second-level low-grade talisman master known as the Azure Crow Taoist. Although it recorded few types of talismans and had low market value, it contained a detailed record of this rogue cultivator's lifelong experience, including many of his personal insights into the Way of Talismans. For a low-level talisman master like Song Qingming, the experience of a second-level master was quite valuable.

After reading it carefully several times, Song Qingming gained much insight. He then took out the Song family's talisman records to compare them, finding many commonalities. The methods of dexterity used by this senior cultivator, Azure Crow, indeed possessed unique qualities.

While *The Azure Crow Talisman Records* did not contain as many talisman styles as the Song family's records, its detailed explanations of the talisman-making process were of great help to Song Qingming in improving his skills.

Taking out the talisman brushes he had not used for several months and opening the various materials he had collected, Song Qingming began his journey of advancing his path of talismans once more.

(End of Chapter)