A faint spiritual glow shimmered from the flying daggers in his hands, and a look of joy lit up Song Changsheng's face.
"That's right," Song Xianyun said with a smile, gently stroking his beard. "This is a set of low-grade spiritual weapons Slayer Daggers."
"Slayer Daggers? Could this be the same set once wielded by Ancestor Yun Gui?" Song Changsheng asked, eyes wide with disbelief as he looked at the box in his hands.
Song Xianyun nodded firmly.
"Exactly. Given how many Foundation Establishment cultivators we've lost, according to the rules set by your grandfather, every newly advanced Foundation Establishment cultivator is rewarded with a spiritual weapon.
We should've given yours to you long ago, but we haven't found one suitable.
This set was handpicked by your grandfather himself. However, its murderous aura was too intense and might have harmed you, so he had it re-refined.
Though the refining process isn't fully complete, since you're about to leave the mountain, we decided to give them to you early for your protection."
Song Changsheng could barely contain his delight. These were no ordinary weapons a rare set of expendable spiritual weapons. Originally consisting of nine daggers, six had been used over the years, and now only three remained.
Despite being low-grade spiritual weapons, after decades of cultivation, each dagger carried the force to instantly slay an early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator. Against those caught off guard, even later-stage cultivators could be gravely wounded.
These daggers had always been considered a strategic asset of the Song Clan, never once bestowed upon an individual until now. Handing them over to him showed just how much the clan valued him.
Not wasting a second, Song Changsheng stowed them away with great care, as if afraid the elder might change his mind.
"Time is a bit tight," Song Xianyun said with a faint smile, "but with your talent and perception, it should be more than enough."
"It's plenty," Song Changsheng said confidently.
Refining spiritual weapons was normally a long process ranging from a few weeks to even half a year. But Song Changsheng had experience in this already, and with his high aptitude, a month would be more than enough.
However, the generosity of this reward made him suspicious he sensed there was something else behind it.
Sure enough, the next moment, Song Xianyun produced a gold-embossed red invitation and handed it over solemnly.
"What's this?" Song Changsheng asked, puzzled.
Song Xianyun sighed.
"It's an invitation from Luoxia City. Originally, your grandfather was meant to attend personally. But as you know, he's at a crucial point in his recovery, and due to other… complications, he's not the best choice to go right now.
Since you're headed to Luoxia City anyway, it makes the most sense for you to attend in his stead."
Looking at the invitation, Song Changsheng suddenly understood this was likely the real reason his grandfather was sending him to Luoxia City.
"Is something big happening in Luoxia City?" he asked.
Song Xianyun nodded slightly.
"The Grand City Lord of Luoxia is celebrating his four-hundredth birthday. All the details are in the invitation you can read it when you return."
"Understood."
After saying his farewells, Song Changsheng didn't immediately begin refining the spiritual weapons but instead ascended to the peak of Cangmang Peak. He wanted to ask his grandfather face-to-face what was going on here.
Standing before the Hall of Clouds, he called out loudly:
"Grandson Song Changsheng greets Grandfather."
Rumble
As soon as his voice fell, the great doors of the hall creaked open on their own.
To his surprise, no one was inside.
Familiar with the place, he made his way to a secret passage and arrived at Mirror Lake.
There, he saw Song Xianming clad in simple hemp robes, calmly fishing by the lakeside like a humble village elder.
"You've come," Song Xianming said without turning, eyes half-lidded.
Song Changsheng didn't respond. He simply reached out, picked up a dead tree branch from the ground, and sat down beside Song Xianming, mimicking his posture with exaggerated seriousness as he began to "fish."
Song Xianming cast him a sidelong glance and said blandly,
"You don't even have a line. How do you expect to catch fish?"
"Who says I don't?" Song Changsheng replied with a small smile.
Without any visible movement, a thin stream of water rose from the lake's surface and attached itself to the end of the branch just like a transparent fishing line.
A flicker of surprise passed through Song Xianming's eyes.
"This level of water manipulation... In all my years, I've never seen anything like it. Only Nascent Soul cultivators could match you."
"Controlling water is just a small trick," Song Changsheng replied casually. "But you... it seems like you already knew I was coming?"
"Oh? And how would you know that?"
"A hunch."
"You're right," Song Xianming said without denial. "I know you have many questions. I'll give you half an hour to ask whatever you want."
A spark of interest lit up in Song Changsheng's eyes.
"You'll answer any question I ask?"
"You can also turn around and leave now if you'd prefer," Song Xianming said dryly.
"No, no, I'll ask! First question this trip to Luoxia City… the real reason is the Grand City Lord's birthday celebration, isn't it?"
Song Xianming nodded slightly.
"Correct. The Grand City Lord is no ordinary person. In this entire clan, the only ones fit to represent the family are myself and you. If not you, then who?"
The straightforward response caught Song Changsheng a little off guard. Seizing the moment, he quickly followed up,
"I don't mind going, but shouldn't I at least know what history you have with Luoxia City? If I go in blindly and they find out I'm your grandson… what if they try to kill me?"
Song Xianming paused, clearly giving the question serious thought. Then he shook his head.
"Don't worry. There will be people who don't like you, that's inevitable. But your life won't be in danger at worst, you might get roughed up a bit."
"Is this what being a grandfather is supposed to be like?" Song Changsheng said exasperatedly. "Sending your grandson somewhere knowing it might be dangerous?"
"This is for your good," Song Xianming said, his gaze falling on the rippling surface of the lake. "At the Grand City Lord's banquet, anyone who's anyone in Daqi's cultivation world will be their reclusive masters, rising talents, famed sects. This journey will only benefit you. You'll finally get to see the wider world.
Compared to the vast world of human cultivators, this little patch of Lingzhou is just a drop in the ocean."
Song Changsheng remained quiet for a few moments before asking his final question.
"Alright then… last question. That jade pendant you always wear at your waist who is it? Who is 'Wan'?"
His eyes locked with his grandfather's as if trying to extract the truth directly from his soul.
But Song Xianming's expression remained unchanged.
"That's one question too many."
"You said I had half an hour!" Song Changsheng protested.
"I said you could ask what you like," Song Xianming replied shamelessly. "I never promised I'd answer everything."
"So you're refusing to answer?"
"Correct. You can leave now. Focus on refining the Slayer Daggers they might just save your life one day."
Song Changsheng stared at him, momentarily at a loss for words.
As he walked out of the Hall of Clouds, he took a deep breath. He couldn't shake the feeling that the jade pendant and the name "Wan" were deeply connected to Luoxia City.
"'Wan'… is it someone's name? Or does it mean something else…?"
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