Chapter 619 - 90: Su Ye, Grand Ceremony

CRACKLE!

A purple thunderbolt, like an unstoppable spear, pierced through Song Changsheng’s chest. The electric current spread through his entire body, instantly causing the veins on his forehead to bulge and his eyes to fill with blood.

"Argh—"

A roar, suppressed to its absolute limit, escaped from Song Changsheng’s throat. The Purple Mansion Melting Furnace inside him thundered, forcing all the stray Thunder Power out of his body. Still, a horrifying hole remained in his chest. The flesh around the wound was carbonized, and one could faintly see his pulsing organs.

Before long, the thick, leaden clouds slowly dispersed, revealing the azure sky once more. The howling gales also ceased at that moment.

The aura that had made Song Changsheng’s heart palpitate also vanished.

Song Changsheng looked down at the large hole in his chest, gave a bitter smile, and collapsed to the ground, panting heavily.

The might of the Celestial Thunder was not to be underestimated. Even with his ample preparations, Song Changsheng was still seriously injured.

In truth, no matter how thoroughly Song Changsheng had prepared, he was destined to bleed today. This was a punishment from the Celestial Dao, not something that could be so easily avoided.

This was just a minor wound, a warning at best.

If there were a next time, it likely wouldn’t be as simple as a hole in the chest. It would cost him half his life, at least.

Once is acceptable, twice is the limit, but a third time is out of the question. The Celestial Dao can be both compassionate and merciless.

Unless he absolutely had to, Song Changsheng never wanted to go through that a second time...

While Song Changsheng was facing the Celestial Thunder Tribulation, far away on Vast Mist Peak, Song Qingyun—under the watchful eyes of Zhu Yiqun, Song Luyun, and Song Qingxing—successfully dissipated all his Cultivation and replaced his Cultivation Heart Method with the Great Dream Illusion Celestial Technique.

With a compatible Heart Method, Song Qingyun immediately displayed his extraordinary aptitude. He progressed at lightning speed, completing his re-cultivation in just one day and advancing toward the Qi Refining Second Layer.

And the most infuriating part was that Song Qingyun didn’t need to meditate to cultivate. He didn’t even need to circulate his Heart Method. All he had to do was find a comfortable spot and lie down.

Zhu Yiqun was green with envy watching him. He originally thought that getting stronger just by eating was the most comfortable cultivation method possible. He never expected that there’s always a higher mountain to climb, always someone stronger.

’The Song Clan is really about to take off,’ Zhu Yiqun mused, suddenly feeling that bumming around here, eating and waiting for death, was actually pretty great.

Suddenly, a Steward from the Minor Affairs Hall approached, bowed to him, and said respectfully, "Zhu Tributor, the Clan Leader’s Purple Mansion Grand Ceremony is imminent. The Minor Affairs Elder hopes that you might personally prepare a few dishes to entertain the Ascendants attending the ceremony."

"I know, I know." Zhu Yiqun waved his hand dismissively. His position in the Song Clan was that of a chef. He had already accepted his reality...

As time went on, the atmosphere throughout the Song Clan grew more and more festive, and the invited guests began to arrive one after another.

Song Luzhou and Xia Yunxue were waiting at the foot of Vast Mist Peak early on.

The first to arrive were from Luoxia City, led by Shen Qingxiu. The accompanying junior disciples included Li Ru, Shen Shishi, and others.

Song Changsheng, having just recovered from his injuries, personally went down the mountain to greet them. As soon as they met, Shen Qingxiu brought him terrible news: Xing Zhao, who had entered seclusion before him, had failed his breakthrough to the Purple Mansion realm not long ago and had perished, his Dao vanishing.

Hearing this news, Song Changsheng was stunned speechless on the spot.

He had always been quite fond of this Third Senior Brother of his. He never imagined that after not seeing him for just a few years, the next news he heard would be of his passing.

"The world is unpredictable. This was Xing Zhao’s fate," Shen Qingxiu said with a soft sigh.

"Sigh... After things are settled here, I will go pay my respects to Third Senior Brother. Master Shen, Senior Brother Li, Senior Sister Shen, please." Song Changsheng gestured for them to head up the mountain. The atmosphere on the way was somewhat somber.

Although he had already experienced life and death so many times, Song Changsheng still couldn’t see through the matter of mortality.

He knew that in the long years to come, there would be more and more cases like Xing Zhao’s. Watching familiar faces fall one by one behind him until no one was left—this was the price one had to pay for chasing immortality.

After settling them in, Song Changsheng pulled Li Ru aside and asked, "Senior Brother Li, is there any news of Yuechan?"

Because of Zhuang Yuechan’s brave actions during the tournament in Dingyuan City, their relationship was already an open secret.

Hearing this, Li Ru smiled and said, "It’s been so many years. You must miss her a lot, right?"

Rest assured, although this is Junior Sister Yuechan’s first time training in the Gusu Cultivation Realm, she has many protective treasures from our master, so her safety is guaranteed.

She will return as soon as she breaks through her bottleneck. When that time comes, I’ll be sure to have her come see you right away so you two lovebirds can have a proper reunion."

Song Changsheng couldn’t help but blush, and he cupped his hands, saying, "I’ll be troubling you then, Senior Brother."

"It’s a small matter. I also hope you and Junior Sister Yuechan can make it official. When that happens, our relationship will become even closer."

"Clan Leader, Elder Xia of the Golden Crow Sect has arrived," Song Qingqian said as he walked over, his expression peculiar.

"Elder Xia of the Golden Crow Sect?" Song Changsheng was taken aback.

’Doesn’t the Golden Crow Sect only have three Elders: Su, Chen, and Bai? Since when was there an Elder Xia?’

"Hahaha, Junior Song, have you forgotten that Su Ding Master has a Direct Disciple? You’ve crossed paths with her more than once," Li Ru said with a laugh, jogging Song Changsheng’s memory.

’So it’s her.’ A beautiful figure, colder than black ice, immediately appeared in Song Changsheng’s mind.

In terms of seniority, she truly deserved the title of "Elder." After all, Su Ding Master was a living fossil of the Daqi Cultivation World. Of the Cultivators from his era, all had passed away except for those whose Cultivation surpassed his own.