SWNOVELS contemporary romance
Chapter 171 - 171: 171: Old Friend Has Passed Away
Translator: 549690339
He had already entered the Smoke Array.
From the outside world’s perspective, he seemed to have disappeared into thin air.
As the one who set up the array, He Song naturally wouldn’t be affected by the Smoke Array.
Therefore, after stepping into the Smoke Array, he immediately controlled the Array Disk, expanding its range to cover much more than just the small hill it first encompassed.
Only after integrating a small part of the nearby river into the Smoke Array did He Song stop manipulating it.
At this moment, the Smoke Array completely enveloped the small hill where He Song was, as well as a large area around it, extending even to the nearby river.
He Song’s gaze swept across the area covered by the Smoke Array, calculating tor a moment betore nodding ms nead.
“The Smoke Array covers dozens of acres. If it weren’t for the river on one side and the mountain slope on the other, it could be even larger.”
“I’ll construct the cave mansion on the top of the hill, using the other areas to plant spirit rice and medicinal herbs.”
“In this way, not only will I make use of the spirit Qi gathered by the small Spirit-Gathering Array, but I also won’t waste the area covered by the Smoke Array.”
“The Smoke Array is far stronger than the Illusion Array. Even if a cultivator was to fly by above it, their divine sense would be unable to detect anything.”
“It seems I’ll have to purchase some precious spirit medicine seeds and transform the entire surrounding area into spirit fields.”
After secretly planning everything in his mind, He Song concentrated his thoughts and brought out another Array Disk and five Array Banners, which were required for the small Spirit-Gathering Array.
Ever since He Song had created the small Spirit-Gathering Array’s Formation Disk and Array Banners seven years ago, this was only the second time he had taken them out.
The first time was shortly after he had made the Spirit-Gathering Array, when he had secretly ventured out of the sect to test it.
Since then, He Song had never taken out the Spirit-Gathering Array’s Formation Disc and Array Banners within the Thick Earth Sect or anywhere else.
Until today.
He Song intended to open a cave mansion here.
Of course, a Spirit-Gathering Array that could gather the spirit Qi in the surroundings was necessary to set up inside the cave mansion.
After arranging the Smoke Array and completely hiding the area he was in, He Song naturally began to open his cave mansion.
With a simple motion of his finger, a divine light shot out from He Song’s hand, directly penetrating into the mountain under his feet.
Seeing that the Spirit-Gathering Array’s Formation Disk had been set, He Song changed his hand seals, and the five Array Banners rose into the air, quickly fluttering around.
Following this, He Song’s gaze became solemn, and with a downward press of his finger, the five Array Banners floating in mid-air transformed into streams of light, plunging into the mountain.
From then on, the small Spirit-Gathering Array was laid out.
Feeling the spirit Qi density in the area slowly increasing, He Song nodded slightly, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.
With the Spirit-Gathering Array gathering spirit Qi, the aura in this area would soon become rich.
At that time, his cultivation speed here would definitely be faster than within the Thick Earth Sect.
One must know that He Song would now have a small Spirit-Gathering Array all to himself.
Although there were still several dozen acres of spirit fields that needed nourishment, He Song could also set up another small Spirit-Gathering Array within his cave mansion to supply the spirit fields with Qi.
Perhaps, with the supply of spirit Qi from a small Spirit-Gathering Array, the spirit rice in these fields would become more plentiful, or the medicinal properties of the spirit medicine would improve.
In that case, once He Song started selling spirit medicine or spirit rice, the profits would naturally be much higher.
Now that the small Spirit-Gathering Array had been set up and the area was completely concealed by the Smoke Array, He Song immediately used Object Controlling Skills to create a cave mansion on the small hill beneath his feet.
Although dubbed a cave mansion, it looked more like a mountain cave.
However, due to the cover provided by the mountain and the relatively small entrance, the cave mansion He Song created appeared to be quite concealed.
Unless one was carefully scanning with divine sense or observing closely, most people would likely overlook it unconsciously.
Although it was already hidden within the Smoke Array, He Song’s cautious nature demanded that the cave mansion he constructed also possess a certain degree of concealment.
After opening up the cave mansion, He Song divided it into several areas.
One quiet room for seclusive cultivation, one hall for daily relaxation or entertaining guests, one place for daily skill practice, one place for studying spirit amulets, and one tea room for daily tea drinking.
As for the kitchen and other necessary facilities, He Song also carved them out separately.
One downside of making one’s own cave mansion was that he would have to cook his own spirit rice every day. No one would deliver food during seclusive cultivation, leaving him only the option to consume Inedia Elixir.
Inedia Elixir could only maintain daily consumption, while spirit rice could accelerate cultivation.
Therefore, most cultivators consumed spirit rice daily, only relying on Inedia Elixir to sustain their bodies’ daily needs during seclusive cultivation or other scenarios where spirit rice couldn’t be consumed.
However, He Song didn’t care too much about these things.
Compared to these trifling matters, constantly worrying about his secrets being exposed within the Thick Earth Sect was truly unbearable.
Rather than enduring that anxiety, it was better to move out of the sect and construct a new cave mansion that brought peace of mind.
“The cave mansion has been opened up, now I need to purchase some spirit medicine seeds.”
“Also, the skill of amulet making needs to be obtained. If too much time passes, someone might misunderstand and think I have a talent for array tao, which would be troublesome.”
“I wonder if that Senior Brother Song Zhen from back then is still around. He did say that if I couldn’t learn, I could exchange it for one of the Hundred Skills of Cultivation Truth for free.” (From Chapter 129)
After the completion of the cave mansion.
After pondering for a moment, He Song quickly stepped out of the Smoke Array and headed towards the distance.
He needed to go to a nearby Immortal Pavilion to buy some spirit medicine seeds, and then return to the Book Collection Pavilion of the Thick Earth Sect to find a senior brother named Song Zhen and exchange the Amulet Tao Introductory Insights from him.
In this way, He Song’s future path in Amulet Tao would naturally have a new goal.
Soon.
He Song arrived at the nearest Immortal Pavilion from his newly opened cave mansion.
Colorful Cloud Immortal Pavilion.
This place had a unique terrain, with colorful clouds constantly appearing in the sky.
Thus, it was named the Colorful Cloud Immortal Pavilion.
He Song had never been here before. This time, he entered the pavilion to buy spirit medicine seeds while wearing a black robe and changing his appearance and body shape.
After finding the Spiritual Medicine Pavilion in the Colorful Cloud Immortal Pavilion and buying some popular spirit grass seeds that didn’t require a long time to grow, He Song turned and left, heading towards the Thick Earth Sect’s mountain gate.
A few hours later.
Upon returning to the Thick Earth Sect, He Song didn’t go back to his original residence but went straight to the Book Collection Pavilion of the Thick Earth Sect.
However, just as he stepped into the Book Collection Pavilion, a figure quickly appeared beside him.
“I am Yang Yan, and I greet this Senior Brother. Is there anything I can help you with?”
As the figure appeared, the man’s voice also reached He Song’s ears. Upon hearing this, He Song looked towards the source of the sound.
A young man appeared before his eyes.
Looking at the young man, he still seemed to have a trace of immaturity in his eyes, indicating that he must have lived in a secluded place for a long time.
At this moment, the young man was standing by He Song’s side, looking at He Song with a smile on his face.
Seeing this, He Song shook his head and didn’t answer his question. Instead, he asked,
“I am He Song, and I greet Junior Brother Yang. How long have you been here, Junior Brother Yang? Have you ever seen a Senior Brother named Song Zhen here?”
He Song hadn’t seen Song Zhen at first glance and already had some speculations in his heart.
Back when he had just joined the Thick Earth Sect, Song Zhen was already a Qi Refining great perfection cultivator.
Now, more than a decade had passed.
His own cultivation had broken through from the seventh- tier of Qi Refining back then to the present ninth-tier of Qi Refining.
Presumably, Song Zhen’s cultivation wouldn’t have remained stagnant either.
If Song Zhen hadn’t successfully established his foundation, he must have been sent out of the mountain gate by now.
If Song Zhen had already achieved Foundation Establishment… he should have been sent to the war between the Thick Earth Sect and the Seven Star Sect, right?
The war between the Seven Star Sect and the Thick Earth Sect.
It had been going on for two years.
In these two years, He Song’s life hadn’t changed much.
But occasionally, news from the front lines would give him some understanding of the war between the Thick Earth Sect and the Seven Star Sect.
Although the Thick Earth Sect and the Seven Star Sect had comparable numbers of Foundation Establishment cultivators, the Thick Earth Sect had a slightly greater number, but there was no overwhelming advantage.
Therefore, in order to avoid massive casualties among the Foundation
Establishment masters,
Both sides maintained a certain degree of restraint in the war over the past two years, and almost all of those participating were Qi Refining stage cultivators.
Foundation Establishment experts rarely entered the battlefield.
In such a situation, allocating more Foundation Establishment experts from other places to join the battlefield might give them a numerical advantage.
This was also the reason He Song was certain that if Song Zhen had achieved Foundation Establishment, he would definitely be sent to the frontline.
However, all of this was speculation now.
To find out whether Song Zhen had achieved Foundation Establishment or not, and where he had been sent,
He could only ask Yang Yan, who was standing in front of him. “Senior Brother Song Zhen?”
“Ten years ago, Senior Brother Song Zhen failed his attempt to achieve Foundation Establishment. After recovering from his injuries, he was assigned to the Mountain Immortal City to handle affairs.”
“Senior Brother He, you are one step too late.”
“Three months ago, Senior Brother Song Zhen was ambushed outside the Mountain Immortal City and lost his life…”
Upon He Song’s inquiry, a trace of sadness flashed in Yang Yan’s eyes as he slowly informed He Song of what he knew.
Outer disciples of the Thick Earth Sect, if they failed to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm by the age of sixty, they would be sent to the Immortal City.
It was normal for Song Zhen to be sent to the Mountain Immortal City after failing to achieve Foundation Establishment.
He Song wasn’t surprised when he heard the first part of Yang Yan’s description.
But.
When he heard that Song Zhen had died outside the Mountain Immortal City three months ago, a trace of regret couldn’t help but flash in his eyes.
Song Zhen.
The very same Senior Brother Song Zhen who had warmly helped him choose skills when they first met.
In He Song’s heart, he still had some impression of him..
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