Chapter Forty-Nine: Opening the Mystery Box

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Song Changsheng spent some effort dispatching the two severely wounded cultivators at the peak of the Qi Refining stage, and at last, tranquility returned to the land. His assailants had clearly come prepared; apart from some combat essentials like magical tools and talismans, their storage pouches contained almost nothing of value.

After finishing the task, Song Changsheng sat cross-legged on the spot, gulped down several mouthfuls of spirit wine, and began to regulate his breathing. Although the process of breaking the formation had not been long, it had been fraught with peril for him. While comprehending the formation patterns, he had felt an unprecedented pressure. Had it not been for his exceptional perception, which allowed him to break through his own bottleneck in a desperate situation and successfully unravel the second-tier array, he would surely have met his end.

“Since I began cultivating, everything has gone so smoothly that I’ve grown arrogant, thinking myself concealed, when in fact I was already ensnared in another’s scheme. If a Foundation Establishment cultivator had lain in wait to ambush me, I would be dead by now.”

His heart was filled with relief and lingering dread—he had narrowly escaped death yet again. This event would serve as a stern warning. He knew full well how conspicuous his recent rise had been; with the Earthfire Sect eager to eliminate him, he should never have dared leave the city. It was as if he had forgotten what the word “death” meant.

Just then, as Song Changsheng meditated, the horizon began to lighten. Wisps of dawn pierced through the blackness, bathing the nameless mountains and forests in their first rays.

Three streaks of light swept across the sky, and sensing Song Changsheng’s aura, the newcomers finally let out a sigh of relief. Song Changsheng opened his eyes to see Wang Wanzhou’s look of relief, Song Luhuai’s concern, and Song Luyao’s cold indifference.

“Thank you, elders, for going to such lengths on my behalf,” he said, bowing solemnly, already understanding the situation upon seeing them.

“So long as you’re unharmed, that’s all that matters. Next time, be more careful. Your safety must come first,” Song Luhuai said, stroking his beard and smiling reassuringly.

“Hmph, if there is a next time, we might not even find your corpse,” Song Luyao scolded coldly, her brows knitted.

“I will heed your counsel, aunt. I will reflect on my actions and never let this happen again.”

Song Changsheng was keenly aware of his mistake; if only he had informed his elders before acting, he would never have placed himself in such danger. If not for Niu Dazhuang’s timely arrival, Wang Wanzhou’s steadfast honor, and the protection of a spiritual artifact... he would not have survived, no matter how many lives he had.

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“Hmph, utterly foolish,” Song Luyao said coldly, then walked aside to identify the dead Earthfire Sect members.

“Changsheng, don’t take your Ninth Aunt’s words to heart. She’s sharp-tongued but soft-hearted—she cares for you more than anyone,” Song Luhuai said softly, patting Song Changsheng’s shoulder. “When she learned six months ago that Cheng Yufei had arrived in the city, she and I secretly left the mountain, fearing to alert the enemy, so we never approached you directly. Who could have guessed you’d use such means to deceive not only the Earthfire Sect but even our own people? If Du Huating hadn’t secretly left the city, we’d have no idea where you went. We even had a run-in with that old ghost from the Qiu clan on the way, almost missing you. Don’t ever do this again.”

Only then did Song Changsheng realize his family had always been watching over him, and it was only through a series of mishaps that things escalated so far. For a moment, his eyes stung with emotion.

“Well, as long as you’re safe, that’s all that matters. No need to say more,” said Wang Wanzhou, still in high spirits after the battle.

“If nothing is said, more foolishness will follow. I’ve identified the dead man—it’s Chu Suiyang, one of the Earthfire Sect’s three second-tier formation masters. With Du Huating and Cheng Yufei wounded and fled, they have suffered significant losses this time. Senior Wang, now it’s our turn to act. Since the Earthfire Sect refuses peace, let us give them what they want!” Song Luyao’s eyes glinted with cold killing intent.

The Earthfire Sect had provoked them one time too many—if the Song clan did not retaliate, they would become a laughingstock.

“You’re right. The Earthfire Sect is becoming more shameless by the day—they need to be taught a lesson,” Wang Wanzhou said eagerly. His years were numbered; once he was gone, his clan would be hard-pressed to resist the Earthfire Sect. He intended to strike hard while he still could, buying time for his descendants to develop in peace.

Song Changsheng’s heart trembled—a storm was coming…

Upon returning to the city, Song Changsheng remained behind to finish his task. Only after promising not to leave again did Song Luyao and Song Luhuai return home, reassured. Before leaving, Song Luyao gave him a message-sending flying sword, while Song Luhuai left a second-tier low-grade talisman for protection.

After their return, the Grand Elder issued a summons to the eleven vassal families and two monster-hunting squads. Their allies, the Wang and Li clans, mobilized as well, launching attacks on multiple fronts, striking back hard at the Earthfire Sect and seizing several of their resource points. The entire Lingzhou was shaken, and the Earthfire Sect was forced to withdraw for the time being…

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None of this affected Flowing Cloud Market; in fact, the strife between the great powers only made business there more prosperous. Song Changsheng, for his part, had no energy to spare for the ongoing conflict. He was busy consolidating his cultivation. After breaking through as a second-tier low-grade formation master, many of his previous doubts had suddenly cleared away.

Seizing the opportunity, he completed the remnants of a formation pattern he had acquired earlier, gaining insight into a formation called “Heavenly Sun Demon Refinement.” Sharing its origin with the “Profound Sun Celestial Array,” it was even more exquisite in its workings.

By the time he finished, a week had passed.

Only then did Song Changsheng have the chance to take stock of his gains from the cave mansion. Aside from two jade slips containing inherited knowledge and an unnamed jade token, he had also acquired three jade boxes and two jade bottles—their contents were a matter of luck.

“Let’s start with these two jade bottles.”

He picked up a white jade bottle first. As soon as he removed the stopper, a sweet fragrance wafted out. He tipped the bottle, and a thumb-sized pink pill rolled out.

He brought it to his nose and sniffed, his expression growing odd. “This… could it be the legendary ‘Beauty-Preserving Pill’?”

The Beauty-Preserving Pill was reputed to preserve one’s youth and was highly sought after by female cultivators, though rare on the market due to the scarcity of its ingredients.

But it was of little use to him.

“Hmm, I’ll save it for mother. Let’s see what’s in this one.”

Opening the other, a purple jade bottle, he found a single second-tier low-grade “Blazing Sun Pill.” Cultivators with a fire spiritual root could use it to advance their cultivation—perfect for him.

The contents of the two bottles were decent but unremarkable. Now, only the three jade boxes held any hope for a surprise.

He opened the blue jade box that caught his eye, and a dazzling light instantly filled the entire room…