The Old Ghost of Redfire quickly stepped forward and said,
"Reporting to the young master, I've tracked down the whereabouts of that Artificer. He's not in the city at the moment; his cultivation abode is located on Craftsman's Peak, about five thousand li from here."
"It's said that he's eccentric by nature and has a volatile temper. If you intend to ask for his help, I fear it won't be easy."
"Rarity breeds value," Song Changsheng replied casually, glancing at him. "There are barely enough artificers in the entire Great Qi cultivation world to count on two hands, and second-tier ones are even rarer. It's only natural for them to have a few quirks."
"Besides, if you hadn't launched your spell at such an odd angle, would I even need to ask for his help?"
"This old servant deserves to die," the Old Ghost immediately bowed in guilt, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
Song Changsheng waved a hand dismissively.
"Enough. I was just making a passing comment."
"You can all go and get some rest now. I'll pay a visit to that artificer tomorrow at the third quarter of the hour of the Dragon."
He shooed the others off to their rooms, then hurriedly laid the sleeping child on the bed. Looking down at his chest, he saw a large patch of dampness.
Song Changsheng couldn't help but chuckle bitterly.
"You little rascal. Not even three hours, and you've ruined two sets of my clothes."
Grumbling all the while, he still carefully unwrapped the soaked swaddling cloth, cleaned the child, then dried him off with a touch of spiritual energy before wrapping him back up again. Lacking any real experience, the whole process was a flurry of trial and error.
Yet despite being flipped this way and that, the baby Ling Yun remained fast asleep, peaceful and undisturbed.
Thinking back, Ling Yun had only cried briefly when he was first discovered. After being fed beast milk, he'd slept soundly without a peep for two or three hours now.
No matter how much noise there was or how he was moved, he didn't stir. This made Song Changsheng feel a little uneasy. Was something wrong?
He carefully examined the child with his spiritual sense but found nothing amiss. He was just… asleep.
That was a relief to Song Changsheng. A quiet baby was a lot easier to handle if Ling Yun started bawling and calling for his mother, Song Changsheng wouldn't know what to do.
After taking care of the little one, Song Changsheng collapsed onto the bed, utterly drained. Today's fierce battle had left him physically and mentally exhausted. It had been a long time since he'd felt so worn out.
Resting for a while, he then pulled out an ancient-looking scroll from his storage pouch. Even in the darkness of the room, the scroll gave off a soft, pure white glow.
He slowly unrolled it, and a Taiji diagram came into view.
"Just what exactly are you?" he murmured with a furrowed brow.
Even holding it this close, Song Changsheng still couldn't discern the grade of the Taiji diagram, nor could he find any trace of formation arrays embedded in it.
As both an array master and an artifact refiner, he'd been surrounded by formations and magical tools since childhood.
Normally, when a refiner creates an artifact, they'll inscribe formation arrays within to enhance its function and power.
These days, it's rare to find magical tools without any formations.
But this Taiji diagram had none.
That was what baffled him the most. Without a defensive array, how could it possibly possess such formidable defensive power?
After pondering for a long time, he could only chalk it up to the materials used.
The scroll's spindle was over three feet long and made of a brown heartwood he couldn't identify. It was far harder than refined iron, gave off a faint, calming fragrance, and wasn't some common material; something rare and valuable. And this was just the spindle.
As for the cloth of the scroll itself, it was about three feet square and appeared to be woven from pure white silken threads, likely some kind of spiritual silkworm silk. It was extremely tough. Even the [Mountain-Flipping Seal] hadn't left the slightest mark on it.
Keep in mind, the red flag the Old Ghost used was a mid-grade spirit artifact, and even it had been torn to shreds by that same technique. Yet the scroll was unharmed.
That alone suggested this Taiji diagram was at least a high-grade spirit artifact.
"Whatever the case, this is a rare treasure. I'll refine it first and figure out the rest later."
Sitting cross-legged on the bed, Song Changsheng pricked his finger and let a drop of crimson blood fall onto the scroll. He then closed his eyes and focused his mind, beginning the process of engraving his spiritual imprint.
...
Meanwhile, Wu Yan had regrouped with his companions and returned to the inn.
Surrounded by his brothers, all chattering with concern and questions, he hesitated for a moment before replying,
"That senior didn't let me get close, so I don't know exactly what happened. All I know is he killed that beast."
"You remember that Ling Clan we passed by earlier?" he added. "They were completely wiped out by that creature. If the senior hadn't removed the parasite from our bodies, we'd all be dead by now."
At those words, a chill ran through the group.
Tens of thousands of people… annihilated, just like that?
"Alright, enough," Wu Yan said. "I'm exhausted too. Everyone, get some rest. Tomorrow we hit the road again, next stop, the State of Yu."
After seeing that everyone had dispersed, Wu Yan let out a quiet sigh.
"Don't blame me, brothers. Without Senior Song's permission, there are some things… I simply can't tell you."
Wu Yan then pulled out the storage pouch that Song Changsheng had stuffed into his arms. A faint excitement stirred in his chest.
He hadn't taken it out earlier, not because he was unwilling to share with his brothers, but because people's hearts were unpredictable. He had no idea what Song Changsheng had placed inside, so it was better to be cautious.
Taking a deep breath, Wu Yan slowly opened the pouch. With just one glance, his breathing grew rapid.
The reward was simply overwhelming.
There were two second-tier cultivation manuals, both compatible with his Earth and Fire spiritual roots. In addition, several exquisite techniques were included, skills that someone of his lowly background as a wandering cultivator would never have had access to.
Beyond that, there was a mountain's worth of pills, talismans, and magical tools. Though most were only first-tier, for them, it was a vast trove of cultivation resources enough to establish themselves solidly in the State of Yu.
The most valuable item of all was a second-tier array formation inheritance, something you couldn't even buy on the open market, no matter how much gold you had.
After the initial wave of excitement, Wu Yan gradually calmed himself.
He understood that, compared to that infant named Ling Yun, what he had received was merely a drop in the ocean.
His thoughts drifted back to what had happened just an hour ago.
After Song Changsheng agreed to his suggestion of placing the child with the Wang family, Wu Yan had eagerly led him toward the Wang Clan estate.
But just as they arrived at the outskirts, Wu Yan was about to call for the clan head.
Ling Yun, who had been asleep the whole time, suddenly began flailing his arms unconsciously in the air, his little face contorted in terror as if he were having a nightmare. It wasn't until his tiny fingers grabbed hold of Song Changsheng's robe that the fear slowly faded from his expression, and he drifted back into peaceful sleep.
That moment softened Song Changsheng's heart. Without saying a word, he turned and walked away, taking Wu Yan with him.
Wu Yan knew clearly: Song Changsheng couldn't bear to let go of the child. He intended to raise him himself.
If Ling Yun were to test positive for spiritual roots in the future, the resources he'd have access to would far exceed anything a small cultivation family could ever provide. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he'd be set for a meteoric rise.
That was what Wu Yan truly envied.
"A blessing in disguise."
Though misfortune had struck, the child had now gained a far greater opportunity than most could ever dream of.
Wu Yan, too, had once tried to enter a Foundation Establishment sect in his youth. But due to poor aptitude, he was mercilessly turned away, left to struggle in the cultivation world on his own, scraping by, stretching every spirit stone as far as it could go.
Back then, he had envied those clan disciples deeply. As long as they had spiritual roots, even the weakest mixed roots, the clan would still invest in nurturing them.
And even those without roots could live comfortably in the mortal world, without fear of being annihilated like the Ling Clan had been.
"I will make something of myself," Wu Yan swore to himself, clenching the storage pouch tightly.
...
At dawn the next day, as the sky began to pale, Song Changsheng sat wide-eyed, staring at the Taiji diagram floating silently in midair before him, a look of deep frustration on his face.
He had worked at it all night, shed who knows how much of his blood, but still couldn't refine the artifact. It didn't even react.
At times, he even began to doubt whether this was truly a magical artifact at all.
"How could a small clan like the Lings possess something so strange?" he murmured, frowning.
On the way back, Wu Yan had told him everything he had seen and heard. Based on that information, Song Changsheng speculated that the Taiji diagram might very well be the reason why Feng Wuming had chosen to lurk within the Ling Clan.
Feng Wuming might have known something about it… But unfortunately, he had been obliterated down to the soul.
"I wonder what this treasure's limits are," Song Changsheng mused, rubbing his chin.
Even without being refined, it could block a minor divine ability without so much as a scratch. Among cultivators in the Foundation Establishment realm, there were practically no means capable of breaking through its defense.
Even the [Lu Wu Bell] had to take a back seat to this.
"Yiya~"
Just then, little Ling Yun, who had slept through the night, finally opened his eyes.
They were clear and bright like twin black gems, pure and flawless.
Though surrounded by unfamiliar sights and a stranger holding him, the baby didn't cry. Instead, he blinked curiously and reached out his chubby white hands toward Song Changsheng.
Smiling, Song Changsheng picked him up and said gently,
"You woke up without crying or fussing, definitely not like a regular kid. Perfect. Your new grandma has been wanting a grandson for years. From now on, you'll take my surname, your name will be Song Lingyun."
"Yiya ya!"
The little one gave a bright, radiant smile, almost as if he understood.
"Hungry, huh? Let's get you something to eat. This here is top-tier milk from a first-rank Golden-Spotted Leopard. I've never even tasted it myself," Song Changsheng chuckled as he pulled out a jar of beast milk. With a small movement of his finger, a thread of the milky liquid flowed into the baby's mouth.
Before long, more than half the jar of beast milk had been emptied.
After eating his fill, the little fellow blinked sleepily and soon dozed off again, letting out soft snores.
Frowning, Song Changsheng glanced at the jar in his hand and thought to himself, "Why does he fall asleep right after eating? Could there be something wrong with this beast milk?"
He poured the remaining bit into his mouth. Aside from a faint gamey taste, he didn't notice anything unusual.
"How strange... I'll have Uncle Wu take a look when we get back."
Song Luzhou wasn't just the Song Clan's most accomplished alchemist; he was also its most skilled physician. After all, alchemy and medicine had always been closely connected. If there truly was something wrong with little Lingyun's body, it wouldn't escape his keen eyes.
Once the little one was settled, daylight had already broken. Song Changsheng reached out and pushed open the door, calling the group together to head out in search of the renowned artisan.
Looking at the little fellow nestled in Song Changsheng's arms, Song Qingxi asked curiously, "Uncle, is he coming with us too?"
"Of course. I've decided to adopt him. From now on, you'll be his big sister." Song Changsheng casually handed little Lingyun over to her and then strolled downstairs without a care, ignoring the girl's resentful gaze.
Under the lead of Old Ghost Redfire, the group set out for the artisan's residence...
"Young Master, this is Craftsman's Peak. Master Lu resides here," the guide said.
Upon hearing this, Song Changsheng retracted his flying sword and landed on the ground. He clasped his hands toward the mountain and called out, "Song Changsheng of the Song Clan from Lingzhou seeks an audience with Master Lu. I respectfully request your presence."
His calm and composed voice, infused with spiritual energy, echoed through the mountains and startled countless birds into flight.
After a short while, a youth in a bright yellow brocade robe rode out from the forest on a large azure ox. He gave a slight bow to Song Changsheng and said, "Greetings, Senior Song. May I ask what business brings you here to see my master?"
"I accidentally damaged the power core of a second-tier flying boat and have come to seek Master Lu's expertise. Would you be kind enough to inform him?"
Since he was asking for a favor, Song Changsheng remained very courteous.
The young man seemed a bit flustered by the formality and quickly bowed his head. "Senior Song flatters me."
A trace of awkwardness then appeared on his face. "My master could certainly help you with that, but he has been troubled lately and is not seeing guests. Perhaps you could return another day."
Before Song Changsheng could reply, Old Ghost Redfire had already lost his patience. A terrifying aura burst from him, his face fierce as he growled, "Such arrogance! My young master comes to visit, and you treat him so dismissively? Let me storm the mountain and see how many heads this Lu fellow has!"
Old Ghost Redfire lived on the edge of the blade, exuding an aura of death and bloodshed. The youth riding the ox had never experienced such intimidation and immediately turned pale.
Just as he felt he might suffocate, Song Changsheng frowned and said, "Redfire, that's enough."
Sensing the displeasure in Song Changsheng's tone, Old Ghost Redfire immediately withdrew his aura and stepped back in silence, bowing his head.
After calming things down, Song Changsheng turned to the young man and asked, "May I ask what's troubling Master Lu? Is there perhaps something I can help with?"
The youth gasped for air a few times and, after a nervous glance at Old Ghost Redfire, respectfully replied, "To answer you, Senior... my junior sister was injured by evildoers. We've invited many physicians and alchemists, but none have been able to heal her. It has become my master's greatest concern."
Song Changsheng's expression shifted slightly. He cupped his hands and said, "In that case, perhaps I could give it a try."
The youth's eyes lit up at once. "You have a way, Senior?"
"I can't promise anything," Song Changsheng replied calmly. "But I have some confidence and will do my best."
The youth didn't doubt him and said joyfully, "If that's so, please follow me up the mountain. If you can heal my junior sister, my master will surely reward you handsomely!"
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