419: Chapter 418 Things Have Changed

Qin Changsheng waved his hand gently, and the spiritual seed was taken into his Storage Space.

In the next instant, Qin Changsheng sat cross-legged on the prayer mat and began to plan his future path.

After some deep thought, four clear plans took shape in his mind one by one.

The first priority was to continue searching for the scattered heavenly dao fragments in the world.

Although Qin Changsheng had awakened many Golden Traits.

Only by upgrading Golden Traits to Heavenly Dao Traits would Qin Changsheng's strength receive a significant boost.

Secondly, within this year, he must set off for Beihai Prefecture to bury this Golden spiritual seed deep beneath the Ancestral Hall.

Only then could the Qin Family develop.

The Spiritual Roots in the vicinity of Beihai Prefecture would also receive a significant boost.

The third important matter was to collect Intelligence related to Nascent Soul Formation and search for precious Secret Manuals for Nascent Soul Formation.

Nascent Soul Formation was the first major hurdle on the path of cultivation; ordinary Sect basic Cultivation Techniques could not securely achieve Nascent Soul Formation, and the slightest carelessness would lead to the shattering of the Golden Core and the total loss of cultivation.

He needed to find high-level Nascent Soul Formation Secret Manuals, perfect his Nascent Soul Formation methods, avoid the risks of Heavenly Tribulation and Heart Demon during Nascent Soul Formation, and make full preparations for successfully condensing a Nascent Soul in the future.

Finally, he still needed to continuously expand his Spirit Stone reserves and accumulate a massive amount of Spirit Stones.

Even though he now possessed fifty million Spirit Stones and a Spirit Stone Secret Realm with its own Spiritual Vein, it was still far from enough.

If he wanted to perform Enhancement on more heaven-grade magical tools, he needed a continuous supply of Spirit Stones.

Qin Changsheng waved his hand and summoned the Heavenly Dao Entry Intelligence.

In the next instant, a piece of information appeared on the attribute panel.

【heavenly dao fragment: A special treasure that can upgrade Golden Traits to Heavenly Dao Traits!】

【Holder: Chen Bing】

【Location: Great Wei】

Looking at the content on the attribute panel, a flash of joy crossed Qin Changsheng's face.

He had not expected to receive news about a heavenly dao fragment.

Moreover, this Chen Bing was right within Great Wei.

He could completely head to Great Wei to find Chen Bing after burying the spiritual seed in Beihai Prefecture.

He would see if there was an opportunity to seize the heavenly dao fragment from Chen Bing's hands.

...

Beihai Prefecture.

One day later, Qin Changsheng arrived outside Beihai Prefecture.

Returning to his homeland after more than twenty years, every blade of grass, every tree, every street, and every alley in Beihai Prefecture was no different from when he left; the appearance of the city had not changed in the slightest.

Mortal years flowed by, but the city remained constant. Looking at the familiar scenery of his homeland, a faint sense of emotion swept through Qin Changsheng's heart.

As a Cultivator, time could hardly leave a mark on him; his appearance remained that of his youth, without the slightest sign of aging. Yet, twenty years in the Mortal world was enough to turn a Mortal's black hair to white.

Following the old memories sealed deep in his mind, he walked slowly, and before long, he arrived outside the gates of the courier agency.

The gates of the courier agency were ancient and imposing, and the plaque, despite being weathered by wind and rain, still hung intact, exactly as it had twenty years ago.

In the open space at the entrance, a group of courier agency Disciples were rushing back and forth, moving goods and checking baggage, presenting a busy scene.

Qin Changsheng's gaze swept lightly, and he immediately locked onto the figure at the front of the crowd.

That person's back was slightly hunched, his head of black hair had completely turned into snow-white hair, his face was covered in deep wrinkles, and his whole body was filled with the traces left by time, no longer resembling the high-spirited appearance of his youth.

Even though time was mercilessly driving people to old age, and the person before him was extremely aged, Qin Changsheng still recognized Qin Changan at a glance.

Twenty-plus years of time was but a fleeting moment for a Cultivator, but for a Mortal, it was half a lifetime of vicissitudes.

At this moment, Qin Changan was raising his hand to direct the courier agency Disciples to unload goods in an orderly manner, managing the affairs of the Family courier agency.

In the dark, as if a Sensing connected by blood suddenly tugged at his heart, his body paused, he instinctively stopped his actions, and suddenly turned his head to look in the direction of the street entrance.

The next moment, Qin Changan's gaze fell straight onto Qin Changsheng, who was standing at the street entrance, with a tall and straight posture and an appearance that had not changed in the slightest.

In an instant, Qin Changan's whole body stiffened, his hands and feet froze in place, the wooden ruler in his hand fell to the ground with a clatter, his eyes widened suddenly, and he trembled uncontrollably.

The young man before him wore white clothes unstained by dust, his face was still the same as it was twenty years ago when he left, his elegance unchanged, time leaving no traces, and the familiarity between his brows was engraved into his bone marrow.

"...Brother?" Qin Changan's tone was full of hesitation and trance.

In the living room.

Qin Changsheng sat in the main seat, while Qin Changan accompanied him below.

Qin Changan raised his eyes again and again to look at his elder brother sitting quietly in white beside him, looking at the other's young face that had not changed in the slightest, his heart still difficult to calm down.

Twenty-plus years of things changing and people changing, he was already old and decrepit, but his elder brother was still as young as before; the difference between Immortal and Mortal was vividly reflected at this moment.

Qin Changsheng looked at his younger brother's aged and haggard appearance, sighed softly in his heart, and took the lead in breaking the silence: "In these years, are you and the Family doing well? Is the courier agency running smoothly?"

Hearing his elder brother's inquiry, Qin Changan slowly recovered, his face full of thick sorrow.

He sighed long and hard: "Recently, the courier agency's business has become increasingly difficult to do, and it is almost unable to hold on."

"In the Hei Feng Ridge to the east of Beihai Prefecture, a bandit with formidable strength has recently arrived, occupying the mountain as king in that area and acting recklessly."

"Caravans passing through Hei Feng Ridge and valuable goods escorted by courier agencies, whenever they pass through the mountain range, are all looted by them."

"Our Qin Family courier agency has escorted heavy valuable goods several times, all of which were intercepted midway by this group of bandits, suffering heavy losses; right now, we are almost unable to make ends meet."

An Innate expert was already the Peak combat power of Mortal martial arts, which ordinary Martial Artists could hardly contend with.

Although he was also at the Innate Peak, he was simply no match for that person.

"What is that bandit's name?" Qin Changsheng asked.

"Chen Bing!" Qin Changan said.

Hearing Qin Changan's words, a flash of joy flashed in Qin Changsheng's eyes.

He had not expected to find Chen Bing's whereabouts so easily.

He only needed to make a trip to Hei Feng Ridge to obtain the heavenly dao fragment.

"You don't need to worry; in a few days, I will personally make a trip to Hei Feng Ridge and directly wipe out this group of bandits!"

A simple sentence, yet it carried unquestionable confidence.

Hearing this, Qin Changan's eyes were full of joy.

With his elder brother making a move, the bandits of Hei Feng Ridge were nothing at all.

"By the way, among the younger generation of the Family, has anyone tested to have a Spiritual Root?" Qin Changsheng suddenly asked.

Once this was said, Qin Changan sighed helplessly.

"My several sons and daughters do not have Spiritual Roots."

"As for the grandchildren in the Family, they are currently too young and have not reached the age for Spiritual Root testing."

Speaking of this, Qin Changan raised his eyes to look out the window, his gaze full of confusion and worry.

After all, even he did not have a Spiritual Root, so it was impossible for his descendants to have Spiritual Roots.

"Rest assured, the Qin Family will definitely have descendants with Spiritual Roots."

Qin Changsheng's return to Beihai Prefecture this time was to place the spiritual seed.

He believed that as long as this spiritual seed was buried, even if the Qin Family's younger generation did not produce any descendants with single Spiritual Roots, they would definitely produce descendants with Spiritual Roots.

...

Qin Family Ancestral Hall.

In the afternoon, Qin Changsheng came to the Qin Family Ancestral Hall alone.

Stepping into this place again after more than twenty years, the scene before his eyes had not changed in the slightest; every brick, every tile, every blade of grass, and every tree still retained its original appearance from when he left home in his youth. Time seemed to have completely stood still here.

Pushing open the slightly old wooden door, a faint scent of incense rushed towards him.

The Ancestral Hall was clean and tidy, with spirit tablets neatly arranged. In the most conspicuous position in the center, the spirit tablets of Qin Changsheng and Qin Changan's parents were still enshrined, with incense curling, quiet and solemn.

Looking at his parents' spirit tablets, Qin Changsheng shed the aloofness and indifference of a Cultivator.

He walked forward slowly, picked up incense candles, lit them, bowed respectfully to pay his respects, and personally offered a stick of incense to his parents, his heart calm.

After the worship was completed, confirming that there was no one around the Ancestral Hall, Qin Changsheng raised his hand and opened his palm.

That Golden spiritual seed, filled with Dao patterns of vitality, slowly emerged, and faint Spiritual Qi of creation permeated the entire Ancestral Hall.

Qin Changsheng moved to the soil directly beneath the Ancestral Hall, a wisp of gentle spiritual power probed out, easily breaking through the solid ground, and dug a pit of suitable depth.

He gently placed the Golden spiritual seed into the bottom of the pit, covered it with soil, and finally swept it with spiritual power; the ground returned to its original state, showing no traces of being disturbed, completely concealing all traces.

The moment the spiritual seed entered the soil, a trace of imperceptible Golden earth Qi spread along the underground, quietly merging into the entire land of Beihai Prefecture, silently and without anyone noticing.

Qin Changsheng stood up and looked down at the location where the spiritual seed was buried.

He knew that from now on, everything would change completely.

This spiritual seed took root beneath the Ancestral Hall, relying on the incense and blessings of the Qin Family's ancestors for thousands of years, its power would only become stronger.

In the future, within the ten-thousand-mile radius of Beihai Prefecture, countless Mortals without Spiritual Roots would have the opportunity to awaken Spiritual Roots, and the descendants of the Qin Family, who were at the core heartland of the spiritual seed, would be even more uniquely endowed by nature.

The Qin Family's future generations would definitely produce Cultivators with Spiritual Roots, and there might even be a chance for the appearance of rare single-Spiritual Root Prodigies.

After doing all this, Qin Changsheng took one last look at his parents' spirit tablets, turned around, and walked slowly out of the Ancestral Hall.

After planting the spiritual seed, Qin Changsheng did not go to find Chen Bing.

Instead, he stayed in the Qin Family for a few days.

During these few days, he successively met a group of Juniors of the Qin Family, all of whom were Qin Changan's children and grandchildren.

Everyone in the Qin Family knew that this was the eldest uncle who had gone far away to cultivate in the Immortal Sect and possessed heaven-reaching strength. All the Juniors, regardless of age, when they saw Qin Changsheng, all had respectful expressions, bowed their heads, and respectfully stepped forward to salute, not daring to be the slightest bit negligent or presumptuous.

Qin Changsheng's expression was peaceful; occasionally, he would give a few pointers on simple strengthening martial arts methods to help the Juniors in the Family solidify their Foundation. Most of the time, he would sit quietly, accompanying his younger brother in idle conversation, the days being leisurely and stable.

On the afternoon of this day, Qin Changsheng and Qin Changan sat opposite each other at a stone table, slowly sipping tea and chatting.

Just at this moment, a burst of hurried and panicked footsteps came running from the courtyard gate, and a scout from the courier agency, covered in sweat and with disheveled clothes, rushed into the courtyard.

"Chief Courier, something bad has happened! The bandits from Hei Feng Ridge have come down the mountain and want us to take out this month's protection money!"

Hearing this, Qin Changan's hand holding the teacup paused suddenly, his face sank instantly, and his gaze also instinctively looked at Qin Changsheng.

Before Qin Changsheng had time to speak, a burst of chaotic and overbearing footsteps suddenly sounded from outside the courtyard.

"Where have all the people of the Qin Family died? Quickly hand over this month's protection money; if you dare to delay, today we will dismantle your Qin Family courier agency!"

Before the voice had faded, three burly men with fierce looks directly pushed open the Qin Family courtyard gate and strode into the courtyard.

"Brother, these people are the envoys from Hei Feng Ridge!"

"They come here every month to collect protection money!"

"If we don't give them silver, they will make things difficult for the courier agency everywhere!" Qin Changan was a little aggrieved.

The bandit leader in the lead, with a face full of flesh, looked up and sneered, "Stop pretending to drink tea here! Hurry up and let the Qin Family hand over all the protection silver for this month; not a single cent can be less!"

"If you dare to disobey our will, then give the Qin Family Ancestral Hall to us!"

Once this was said, Qin Changsheng's expression changed slightly.

There were many secrets within this Qin Family Ancestral Hall, and he had also set up some Formations.

Ordinary people could not see the secrets of the Ancestral Hall at all.

But now these bandits were demanding the Qin Family Ancestral Hall, they must have come prepared.

"Why do you want my Qin Family Ancestral Hall?" Qin Changsheng asked aloud.

"It is your honor that your Family's Ancestral Hall has been taken a fancy to by my big brother!" The leading bandit shouted loudly.

Hearing the words of this bandit, Qin Changsheng instantly concluded that this Chen Bing was likely a Cultivator.

Otherwise, it would be impossible for him to know the secrets of the Qin Family Ancestral Hall.

Qin Changsheng didn't even make any unnecessary movements to stand up, his expression indifferent, and he casually waved his right hand hanging by his side.

Whoosh—a wisp of crimson nether true fire, difficult for the naked eye to discern, flew out silently. There was no earth-shattering fire phenomenon, no roaring loud sound, it was gentle yet extremely domineering.

The three bandits who were still wildly laughing and wantonly cursing, before they could even feel the scorching temperature, their bodies were instantly engulfed by the true fire.

The next second, the three of them didn't even let out a scream, and they completely dissolved on the spot, without leaving even a trace of ash or a bit of blood Qi, completely disappearing from the courtyard, as if they had never been there at all.

The courtyard immediately returned to silence; the arrogant and domineering bandits were annihilated in an instant, the whole process taking no more than a snap of the fingers.

Qin Changan stood on the side, dumbfounded, frozen in place, his heart incomparably shocked.

"I will make a trip to Hei Feng Ridge." Qin Changsheng's figure flickered, and he flew directly towards the direction of the Hei Feng Ridge bandit den.

...

Hei Feng Ridge, the main hall was brightly lit, and the fragrance of wine permeated the air.

The bandit chief Chen Bing sat in the main seat, with meat and strong wine spread out before him, and was accompanying his subordinates in drinking and making merry.

After three rounds of wine, the straightforward second-in-command put down his wine bowl, looked at Chen Bing in the main seat with a face full of confusion, and finally couldn't help but ask.

"Big Brother, you are an Immortal, how could you take a fancy to the Qin Family Ancestral Hall?"

"Big Brother, I think the Prefecture Governor's Ancestral Hall is good; let's rob the Prefecture Governor's instead!"

Once this was said, the other bandit leaders around also nodded in agreement, each with a look of confusion on their faces.

Everyone present could not understand that their Big Brother was an Immortal with high strength.

Yet he was fixated on an old Ancestral Hall of an ordinary merchant Family, which was truly puzzling.

Hearing everyone's questioning, Chen Bing glared fiercely at his subordinates: "You bunch of boors, short-sighted, what do you know?"

The second-in-command saw this and quickly lowered his posture, leaned forward half a step, and cautiously asked in a low voice: "It is this little brother who is dull, please enlighten me, Big Brother, what is so unique about this Qin Family Ancestral Hall?"

Chen Bing raised his wine bowl and drank it in one gulp, looking towards the direction of the Qin Family: "Because inside that Qin Family Ancestral Hall, a rare treasure is hidden."