Chapter 115: Chapter 114: Celestial Sword Sect, Celestial Sword Stele

"That’s fine as well. Qingxi is still too young, and leaving the mountain so early isn’t necessarily a good thing for her. Do your best to persuade her.

If you can’t convince her, then just let her be. Everyone has their own path and destiny; we can’t stop it. It’s not a bad thing for the two of them to be able to look after each other," Song Luhuai said, sounding very open-minded.

After all, Song Qingxing had already been allowed to leave the mountain, so one more in Song Qingxi wouldn’t change anything. Letting one go was the same as letting a group go—it rounded out to the same thing.

"I understand."

Song Changsheng nodded, then mounted his Spirit-Slaying Gourd and headed toward Little Cyan Mountain...

’Come to think of it, I haven’t been here since my breakthrough to Foundation Establishment. I wonder how the Spirit Fish and the Cyan Plum Tree are doing.’

’Qingxing should be at Late-stage Qi Refining by now. Although Qingxi’s aptitude is a little poorer, she shouldn’t be too far behind,’ Song Changsheng thought to himself as he looked at Little Cyan Mountain, now close at hand.

Soon, Song Changsheng arrived at the shore of Bright Mirror Lake. Gazing at the rippling water, he landed by the bank and, as usual, steered a small boat toward Lake Heart Island.

Halfway across, a school of Spirit Fish suddenly swarmed the boat. There were about a hundred of them, happily blowing bubbles in the water.

Song Changsheng glanced over and saw a massive Spirit Fish in the middle of the school, staring at him with its large eyes and occasionally blowing a bubble.

This was the very Spirit Fish King that had successfully advanced to Tier Two. Though they hadn’t met in several years, it still hadn’t forgotten Song Changsheng and was greeting him in its own unique way.

A smile touched Song Changsheng’s lips. He took a few stalks of Tier One Spirit Medicine from his Qiankun Bag, crushed them, and tossed them into the lake, quickly causing the school of fish to scramble for them.

Only the Spirit Fish King did not join in. It stared blankly at Song Changsheng for a moment, then with a flick of its tail, it vanished into the emerald green depths of the lake.

After bidding farewell to the school of fish, Song Changsheng continued steering the small boat toward Lake Heart Island. He didn’t conceal his presence, so the two on the island had long since noticed his arrival.

Several years had passed. Song Qingxi had grown much taller and blossomed into a graceful young woman. She wore a cyan, waist-high long dress, her long black hair tied up with a colorful ribbon into a playful bow that seemed to dance in the wind. Paired with the pure smile on her face, she radiated youthful vitality.

Song Changsheng couldn’t help but sigh in his heart. ’A girl truly changes between childhood and womanhood. I wonder how many talented young men she’ll charm in the future.’

Compared to Song Qingxi, Song Qingxing, standing beside her, had shot up even faster. He was now nearly as tall as Song Changsheng himself.

He still wore his usual black martial attire. His figure was tall and straight, and his dark hair was casually draped over his shoulders. With chiseled cheeks, sword-like eyes, and his arms crossed before his chest, a single glance gave the impression that it was not a person standing there, but a long sword radiating an intimidating Sword Qi.

’This kid has made huge progress,’ Song Changsheng thought, his eyes narrowing slightly. ’After he leaves the mountain for some real-world experience and returns, his future will be limitless.’ He could feel a peculiar "presence" brewing within Song Qingxing’s body—one that would surely be world-shaking when unleashed.

Both of their cultivation levels had also improved greatly. Song Qingxi, now fifteen, had reached the Qi Refining Sixth Layer. Song Qingxing, seventeen, was at the Qi Refining Eighth Layer.

At their age, this was exceptionally rare. They were already qualified to leave the mountain for training and experience ahead of schedule!

"Little Uncle—" Song Qingxi cupped her hands around her mouth like a flower and shouted toward Song Changsheng.

A brilliant smile instantly spread across Song Changsheng’s face. He waved to the little girl while speeding up the boat, covering the remaining few hundred meters in the blink of an eye.

After he came ashore, Song Qingxi tried to leap into his arms as she always did, but Song Changsheng stopped her with a raised hand, only patting her little head symbolically.

This made the little girl puff out her cheeks and glare at him.

"I don’t sense any fighting spirit from you today. What’s wrong, don’t you want to challenge me anymore?" Song Changsheng said with a smile, looking at Song Qingxing.

In the past, whenever they hadn’t seen each other for a while, the boy would challenge him. Although he was thoroughly defeated every time, he never once backed down.

But today, he showed no intention of making a move at all. ’Has the sun risen in the west?’

Song Qingxing shot him a cool glance and said impassively, "You’ve already broken through to Foundation Establishment. Wouldn’t challenging you just be asking for trouble? The day I catch up to you in cultivation level, I will issue a formal challenge."

For the Cold Blockhead to say such a thing was quite surprising to Song Changsheng, but it also made him feel gratified. ’This is a form of progress too, isn’t it?’

’However, catching up to my cultivation level will be quite a difficult task.’ A slight smile curved Song Changsheng’s lips as he said calmly, "In that case, you’ll have to work even harder. Otherwise, that day will never come."

Song Qingxing remained unmoved, merely watching him with a calm gaze.

"Little Uncle, you haven’t come to see Xi’Er in so long!" Song Qingxi whined, hugging Song Changsheng’s arm.

Song Changsheng smiled dotingly. "I’ve been too busy lately, so I couldn’t find the time."

"Then as punishment, you have to tell me a story! No, three! Three stories," Song Qingxi said, holding up three slender fingers, a sly glint in her eyes.

"Alright, alright. I’ll tell you as many stories as you want. But I came here today for serious business. Can we take care of that first?"

Hearing this, the little girl’s smiling face immediately fell. She sullenly shook off Song Changsheng’s arm, took a few steps back, and said huffily, "Are you here to persuade us too, just like Twelfth Grandpa?"