Immortal Venerable of the Beast Race
Chapter 290 - 204 Qingtong Song Family_1

Chapter 290: 204 Qingtong Song Family_1

A Life-Bound Lamp was quite valuable; only high-level Cultivators of the Spirit Control Sect would have a Life-Bound Lamp. Should their bodies die and their paths be extinguished, the Life-Bound Lamp would go out. Ice Silkworm True Person, an Artifact Refiner, had crafted a Life-Bound Lamp for Xu Xin, which was stored in a secret chamber in Ice Silkworm Valley.

"When did this happen?"

Shen Long asked with a frown.

"Half a year ago, I was cultivating at that time and wasn’t aware. Xu Xin’s good friend couldn’t find him after a long search and personally went to the Spirit Control Sect to inquire. It was when I checked the secret chamber that I discovered the Life-Bound Lamp of Senior Brother Xu had gone out."

Chen Bing spoke slowly.

"Did Senior Brother Xu offend any enemies?"

Shen Long continued to inquire.

According to him, before the incident, Senior Brother Xu had a verbal altercation with several Loose Cultivators, and beyond that, we don’t know who else he had conflicts with."

Chen Bing said.

Shen Long asked a few more questions, to which Chen Bing answered truthfully.

"Sister, how about I personally make a trip to Yu Country? Let’s not tell Master about this for now."

Shen Long said.

It wasn’t strange for Foundation Establishment Cultivators of the Spirit Control Sect to travel and perish, and the sect couldn’t possibly send people to investigate every case. Xu Xin died in a foreign land, making the investigation particularly difficult.

"Why not notify the Enforcement Hall and have them send someone to check first?"

Chen Bing suggested.

If a Core Formation Cultivator spoke up, the Enforcement Hall would indeed send someone.

"Yu Country is quite far from Qin Country. By the time they get there, the clues will probably be lost. I have acquaintances in Yu Country; it’s better if I go there personally," Shen Long said solemnly.

"Then that will be tough on you, Junior Brother Shen."

Chen Bing said.

"This is my duty. You go back first! Don’t tell Master yet, wait for my message."

Shen Long said.

Chen Bing nodded and agreed.

"Uncle Shen, let me accompany you on this trip! I can’t assist with big issues, but running errands should be no problem," Qian Dafu volunteered.

After pondering for a moment, Shen Long nodded and said, "Alright, then you can join me on this trip."

He flicked his sleeve, and the Seacrossing Boat flew out, hovering in mid-air, and they stepped onto it.

Qian Dafu took out his Messaging Plate and gave a few instructions to Lin Shan.

Shen Long formed a spell with his hands, and the Seacrossing Boat immediately shone with a blinding blue light, soaring into the high sky and quickly disappearing from sight.

······

In the Skywolf Mountain Range within the Skywolf Tribe.

Golden Wolf Garden, with its pavilions, towers, water mills, and long corridors.

Gu Hong was sitting in a green Stone Pavilion, listening to Li Sanya’s report.

"That traitor possesses the blood of the Human Clan and has likely fled to their territory. I have activated our spies hidden within the Human Clan to keep an eye out for this person, and the moment he is found, they are to execute them immediately," Li Sanya said.

"Ma Erha and the others entered the Myriad Flame Valley in search of treasure, and it was not easy for them to obtain a rare material. We must find him and retrieve that material; our tribe’s fourth-grade Artifact Refiner might be able to craft a Spiritual Treasure. If we can’t obtain it, we must destroy it. It cannot fall into the hands of the Human Cultivators, who are more skilled in Artifact Refining than we are," Gu Hong instructed sternly.

"Yes, Elder Gu."

Li Sanya readily agreed.

Gu Hong seemed to recall something and asked, "What about that item? Any news?"

"Not yet, I’ve arranged for people to pay extra attention," Li Sanya said.

"Once there is news, get that item at all costs," Gu Hong ordered.

Li Sanya agreed with a solemn expression.

······

Yu Country, one of thirty-six countries in the Donghua Cultivation Realm, spanning vast territories, predominantly composed of mountains and hills.

The Green Pine Mountain Range, located in the central region of Yu Country, extends tens of thousands of miles, with peaks vying for beauty and ancient trees reaching to the sky. This is the ancestral land of the Song Family.

The Song Family has a lineage that spans thousands of years and possesses multiple Core Formation Cultivators, holding considerable influence in Yu Country.

In Green Pine Garden, a rosy-cheeked elder in a green robe and a tall, thin man in a golden shirt were sitting in a Stone Pavilion, chatting over tea.

The elder in the green robe took out a Messaging Plate flashing with green light, injected a spell into it, and a respectful male voice arose: "Ancestor Qingyu, there is a Senior named Shen Long requesting a meeting outside."

"Shen Long? Please invite him to the guest reception hall, I’ll be there shortly."

Song Qingyu instructed.

"Yes, Ancestor Qingyu."

The man agreed.

"Uncle Six, what’s the background of this person? Why do you value him so highly?"

The man in the golden shirt asked, puzzled.

"Taoist Friend Shen can craft superior elixirs, and he hails from the Spirit Control Sect. Now you understand, don’t you?"

Song Qingyu said.

The Song family had no alchemists capable of crafting superior elixirs, nor any Nascent Soul Cultivators.

"When did you meet Taoist Friend Shen? You’ve never mentioned him before."

The man in the golden shirt asked, not understanding.

"Years ago, I went to hunt a third-order Flood Dragon in Jiang Country, where I met quite a few cultivators, and Taoist Friend Shen was one of them. Shuheng, you should come with me to meet Taoist Friend Shen. It’s good to get acquainted."

Song Qingyu explained.

"Yes, Uncle Six."

Song Shuheng replied.

They arrived at the guest reception hall, and not long after, Shen Long followed by a green-robed young man walked in.

"It’s been a long time, Taoist Friend Song."

Shen Long greeted him.

The Song family had a certain influence in Yu Country, and if the Song family was willing to help, it would make a lot of things easier for Shen Long.

"After many years apart, Taoist Friend Shen has advanced to the Middle Stage. Congratulations!"

Song Qingyu congratulated him. Pointing to Song Shuheng, he introduced, "Taoist Friend Shen, this is my nephew Song Shuheng."

"I’ve heard Uncle Six mention Taoist Friend Shen many times, and today I finally get to meet you in person."

Song Shuheng said politely.

Shen Long sat down, and a green-robed attendant walked in, placed three cups of fragrant tea, and then withdrew.

Song Qingyu, while drinking tea, made casual conversation with Shen Long.

After chatting over a cup of tea, Shen Long said, "By the way, Taoist Friend Song, I heard that your family is skilled in cultivating Spiritual Medicine. I’d like to purchase some spiritual herbs of five to six hundred years with two bottles of Beast Nurturing Pills. What do you think?"

He took out two cyan porcelain bottles and handed them to Song Qingyu.

Song Qingyu opened the bottle cap and poured into his palm, where several Beast Nurturing Pills rolled out, each pill bearing nine Pill Patterns.

"Superior elixirs!"

A look of surprise flashed through Song Qingyu’s eyes.

It seemed like a trade, but in fact, the Song family was making a big profit. Superior elixirs were rarely sold on the market and were mostly kept for personal use.

Offering unsolicited favors, Shen Long must have an ulterior motive.

Song Shuheng’s eyes blazed with desire; with the superior Beast Nurturing Pills, his Spirit Beast might be able to advance a minor realm.

"Taoist Friend Shen, speak frankly!"

Song Qingyu said, getting straight to the point.

"My senior brother was traveling in Yu Country. He’s a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, he stayed in the Golden Ginseng Marketplace for some time, and he got murdered when he left the marketplace. I’d like to ask your Song family for help in the investigation. If the murderer is found, you will be handsomely rewarded."

Shen Long promised.

Song Qingyu’s expression softened and he said, "That’s not a big issue. Can you provide more clues? Like who he had a grudge against."

Shen Long took out a green jade slip and handed it to Song Qingyu, saying, "This contains information about several Loose Cultivators who held a grudge against my senior brother; I’ll trouble Taoist Friend Song."

He had already visited the Golden Ginseng Marketplace. With such a heavy flow of people, the disappearance of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator wouldn’t draw much attention, and it would be better handled by the Song family.

Qian Dafu was gathering information elsewhere, investigating whether there were any evil cultivators about.

After a scan with his Divine Sense, Song Qingyu nodded, passed the jade slip to Song Shuheng, and ordered, "Shuheng, personally see to this. Send someone to check for any presence of evil cultivators. Reward those who provide information handsomely, but make sure to inquire discreetly, without drawing undue attention."

"Understood, Uncle Six."

Song Shuheng replied, took the jade slip, and left to carry out the order.

"Taoist Friend Shen, it won’t be possible to clear this up in a short while. For now, you should stay with our Song family. If there’s any clue, I’ll notify you immediately."

Song Qingyu said.

"Then I’ll be imposing."

Shen Long agreed.

"Not at all, Taoist Friend Shen. If you don’t mind, then it’s alright."

Song Qingyu laughed heartily, seeing a rare opportunity to build a closer relationship with Shen Long, he naturally wanted to seize it well.

And so, Shen Long stayed at the Song family residence.