Song Changsheng took out a Three-legged Double-Eared Bronze Cauldron. With a wave of his right hand, the character for "fire" on his palm flashed and vanished. A ball of orange-red flame immediately appeared at the bottom of the cauldron and began to blaze.
He tossed the egg-sized Jade Pendant inside and mused, 'If I'm going to do this, I might as well do it right. But this Jade Pendant is too fragile. I need to add some Hidden White Soil to strengthen it.'
With that, he took out a Jade Bottle, poured in some white powder, and then channeled his Spiritual Power, making the flames burn even more intensely.
The Bronze Cauldron quickly turned red-hot under the scorching tongues of fire. Inside, the Jade Pendant fused with the Hidden White Soil, speckling its emerald-green surface with tiny white dots.
Song Changsheng then added the powders of several more minerals, making the fragile Jade Pendant even sturdier. After about an ancient hour, the completely reforged Jade Pendant was ready.
The next step was to inscribe the Array Patterns. As the saying goes, Arrays and artifacts have been inseparable since ancient times. An outstanding Artifact Refiner must also be accomplished in the art of Arrays.
By the same token, an exceptional Array Master must also study the Path of Artifact Refining, for the two disciplines are inextricably linked.
Special Magical Artifacts require inscribed Arrays to improve their quality. Array Formation, in turn, requires refined Array Foundations and Array Banners. It was always best to be able to craft them oneself.
Because he had spent years comprehending the Daoist Scripture, Song Changsheng's insight far surpassed that of an ordinary person. Therefore, he was not only a Tier One High-Grade Refiner but also a Tier One High-Grade Array Master—a rare dual-discipline talent. That was why Song Changming had come to him.
'Although this Protective Talisman is for a mortal, it's best to focus on defense. I don't want it to cause trouble later and end up harming Song Xi instead.'
After a moment of thought, Song Changsheng gripped the Jade Pendant and began to focus his Spiritual Power, inscribing Array Patterns into its interior.
'It needs to be able to gather Spiritual Power, so it requires a miniature Spirit Gathering Array. It also needs a sensing array that automatically activates to protect its owner upon detecting killing intent.'
'This is my first time setting up such a Chain Array. I'll have to give it my full concentration.'
Song Changsheng's Spiritual Power acted like a carving knife, swiftly inscribing one Array Pattern after another inside the Jade Pendant. Soon, he had carved the two basic Arrays and connected them.
The moment the Array succeeded, Song Changsheng felt a small vortex form inside the Jade Pendant, slowly absorbing the surrounding Spiritual Qi.
"For defense, I'll choose the Spirit Shield Array," Song Changsheng muttered to himself. "A 360-degree defense with no blind spots. That'll be reassuring." He quickly carved the third Array.
He could have stopped there, but he suddenly remembered the Water and Fire Control Technique he had just comprehended. After a moment's hesitation, he picked up the Jade Pendant again and infused a trace of Fire Qi into it.
The Secret Technique gave him extremely fine control over Fire Spiritual Power. This trace of Fire Qi integrated perfectly, and the originally cool Jade Pendant grew warm to the touch.
Looking at the masterpiece in his hand, Song Changsheng chuckled to himself. 'If I had this ability in my past life, I could have mass-produced Warm Jade. I'd have made a fortune.'
He hadn't originally planned to add an offensive capability to the Protective Talisman, but he knew that a purely defensive strategy was bound to fail eventually. This would be Song Xi's last resort.
If Song Xi ever encountered a Cultivator, she could shatter the Jade Pendant to release the Fire Qi hidden within. An unprepared early-stage Qi Cultivator could very well be killed by the surprise attack.
'Phew, I've finally fulfilled my older brother's request,' Song Changsheng murmured, gazing at the evening clouds outside his window. 'I'll take it to him tomorrow.'
He tidied up his things and made some Spirit Rice Porridge to fill his stomach. He was only a Qi Cultivator and couldn't practice long-term Fasting, so he still needed to eat regularly.
Of course, he could use Fasting Pills as a substitute, but those were only supplied to the clan's Foundation Establishment Elders. Others had to use Contribution Points to exchange for them. Since Contribution Points were so precious, almost no one did this.
After finishing the porridge, he saw it was getting late. He strolled to the pond in his backyard to begin his evening cultivation.
The Yin Yang Profound Flower Scripture he practiced was unique. He had to absorb Sun Essence Qi daily at 5:00 AM and 7:00 AM, and absorb Moonlight Qi at 7:00 PM and 9:00 PM.
Sun and Moon Essence—one yin, one yang—combined to form Primordial Qi, which was then stored in his Dantian and Qihai.
Primordial Qi had infinite uses, neutralizing water and fire being just one of them. In all these years, he had only managed to store a single wisp of it...
The next morning, after finishing his cultivation, Song Changsheng left his home and headed for the foot of the mountain.
Within the Song Clan, the residential areas were strictly divided. The Spiritual Qi was densest at the mountain's peak, which served as the seclusion grounds for the Clan Leader or Purple Mansion Cultivators.
However, the Song Clan had not produced a new Purple Mansion Cultivator since their last one, Song Yungui, passed away a century ago. The current highest-ranking member was the Clan Leader, Song Xianming. With his cultivation at Foundation Establishment Great Perfection and his skill as a Tier Three Low-Grade Array Master, he was the clan's anchor.
He was also Song Changsheng's paternal grandfather, which was why people often said Changsheng had inherited his grandfather's talent for Arrays.
The mountainside was home to the clan's upper echelon and certain other members. Song Changsheng was only qualified to live there because of his status as one of the clan's Foundation Establishment Seeds.
The rest of the Song Clan Members lived at the foot of the mountain and on several surrounding Spirit Mountains. Though not as ideal as the mountainside, these were still rare and valuable lands for cultivation.
Song Changming's small courtyard sat beside a Spiritual Field. It was early spring, and the vibrant green Spiritual Wheat Seedlings rippled in the wind as if they were at a grand ball.
A little girl in a green dress with two high pigtails was running and playing among the field's furrows. She was as lively as a butterfly fluttering through the crops.
Song Changsheng walked to the edge of the field. A gentle smile touched his lips as he waved. "Xi'er, come here."
Song Xi, who was busy catching grasshoppers, turned at the sound of his voice. Upon seeing Song Changsheng at the edge of the field, a sweet smile broke out on her chubby cheeks, and she immediately spread her arms and came running.
Song Changsheng scooped the little girl up into his arms and smiled. "Xi'er, where's your father?"
"Daddy had to go out," Song Xi said, her voice as crisp and pleasant as a silver bell. It was impossible not to adore her.
"Oh, is that so? Do you still remember me?" 'My timing is a bit off,' he thought, 'but since little Song Xi is here, I can just give it to her directly.'
"You're my little uncle," Song Xi called out sweetly.
A doting smile spread across Song Changsheng's face. He took out the Jade Pendant and hung it from Song Xi's waist. "Your dad asked me to give this to you. You must not lose it, and don't play with it, understand?"
Song Xi nodded her little head. "I know, little uncle."
With a flip of his hand, a Spirit Fruit brimming with Spiritual Qi appeared. He had specially exchanged for it at the Contribution Hall on his way down the mountain. If a mortal ate it, they would be free from illness for the rest of their life.
This was a small gift for his niece.
While happily munching on the fruit, Song Xi cuddled in Song Changsheng's arms and wheedled, "Little uncle, tell me a story."
Song Changsheng had only seen the girl a few times, but he told her a story on each occasion. It seemed to have become an unspoken tradition between them.
"Alright. How about your uncle tells you about our family's history today?" Song Changsheng said, walking over to a large tree and setting the little girl down.
Song Xi's eyes curved into crescents as she quickly sat down beside Song Changsheng.
A hint of reminiscence flickered in Song Changsheng's eyes. "Our Song Family is descended from an ancient Golden Core Family."
"Our ancestor, Song Taiyi, was expelled from that family for a crime. After much wandering, he arrived in the Moon Viewing Mountain Range. Relying on his powerful Purple Mansion Stage cultivation, he slew a Great Demon and seized this land—the only Tier Three Spirit Vein in all of Ling Province."
"Then, our ancestor founded the Song Clan. He used the rich mineral resources of the Moon Viewing Mountain Range to develop rapidly, and in a short time, we came to dominate the entire Ling Province."
"Later, he even nurtured Yungui Ancestor into becoming a Purple Mansion Cultivator. For a time, the clan's prestige was unparalleled."
"But fortunes are fickle. Less than a century after Taiyi Ancestor passed away, Yungui Ancestor also fell in battle against a Great Demon. From that day forward, the clan began to decline. We were forced to give up many of our interests and share Ling Province with five other Foundation Establishment Influences."
"Even so, there were still those who coveted our home—namely, the Lieyang Sect, the overlords of Yang Province to the east. They used every method they could think of to oppress us."
"To escape their exploitation, your great-grandfather went into seclusion ten years ago to attempt a breakthrough to the Purple Mansion stage. But a traitor leaked the news, and the Lieyang Sect attacked us with their full force."
"Just as the clan was on the verge of being annihilated, your great-grandfather aborted his breakthrough. He came out of seclusion to take control of the Clan Protection Array and managed to repel the Lieyang Sect..."
When he finished, Song Changsheng looked at Song Xi. "Did you remember all that?"
Song Xi nodded emphatically. She then shook her fist and said indignantly, "The Lieyang Sect is so mean! Why do they have to come and bully us?"
Song Changsheng didn't answer, instead stroking her head and murmuring, "You must remember this. You must never forget."
'No one can be allowed to forget this history. It is the very root of the Song Clan.'
In that battle ten years ago, the Song Clan had lost five Foundation Establishment experts and over a hundred other Cultivators. Because Song Xianming had aborted his breakthrough, his Primordial Qi had been damaged, forcing him into year-round seclusion to suppress his injuries.
Song Changsheng had personally witnessed his own father's blood staining the sky, had watched as many of the uncles who doted on him fell in pools of their own blood. It was a scene he would never forget.
After the battle, the entire clan was in mourning, every household draped in white. It was a deep-seated hatred that every child of the Song Clan was expected to remember.
And Song Xi, most of all, had to remember. If not for that battle, her grandfather would not be dead, and her own father wouldn't have been forced to leave the mountain due to a lack of manpower, living separated from his daughter.
Song Xi seemed to sense something in his tone and sat quietly beside him. After a long silence, she looked up with wide eyes and asked, "Why do people have to fight? Can't everyone just be friends?"
'Friends.' In this world, that was a luxury. Human desire was a bottomless pit; everyone wanted to seize more resources for themselves.
Back in its glory days, when the Song Clan dominated Ling Province, they had made blood enemies of many other factions.
So he couldn't answer her question. The big fish eat the small fish. That was the iron law of the Cultivation Realm, a reality beyond right and wrong.
The two figures, one large and one small, sat under the tree in silence.
But a child is a child, and their moods are fleeting. She soon perked up again, pulling Song Changsheng along to catch butterflies.
Song Changsheng didn't take his leave until evening, after Song Changming had returned.