She walked forward with a light step.
Just then, the entrance to the cave closed up, but she paid it no mind.
After some time of silence, Song Jia and Tulan finally stopped their steps, standing in front of a small cave abode with the front door opened, which happens to be where Song Yi paled figure stood.
The air was thick with the scent of earth and dampness, as if the cave had been untouched for centuries.
Stalactites hung from the ceiling, forming intricate patterns that looked like they could come to life at any moment. The sound of dripping water echoed through the cavernous space, creating an eerie melody that seemed to lull her deeper into the cave.
Tulan admired the taste and technique of this 'founding ancestor' as the cave was perfectly carved without a single imperfection to the naked eye, and each line was engraved with defensive and killing formations.
"The formation here is not bad." She praises, and this comment surprised Song Yi who was standing at the door.
Of course, these formations weren't enough to threaten her, the most they could do was stall an ascension cultivator.
"Thank you, lady snow white." He cupped his fist, alarmed by the fact that she could see the formation in the wall, then tried to lower his head before he stopped," No need, having an ill man bow to you is not a good omen."
Song Yi's smile cracked, unable to speak for a moment.
From what he heard from Song Jia, she was a powerful outer gods from a different starry skies.
To which he assumed is a cultivator in the Nascent Soul Realm.
He wanted to subtly use the formation inside the ancestral mountain in order to gain an upperman in the conversation, but unexpectantly, his card was already laid bare in front of this mysterious lady.
"I'm just joking fellow Daoist, who is this founding ancestor of yours? This ancestral mountain is not bad!" In her opinion, this 'founding ancestor' of the song's family must be at least an ascension cultivator!
This was her conservative estimation.
This caused her to take an even more serious approach as this involves greater powers than she had imagined.
If it was just a few golden core cultivators on this planet, then it wouldn't be a problem, but now, behind the surface of that golden core family, it involved an ascension or even higher existence!
Who knows what sort of existence that Ascension cultivator came from?
"Senior, don't joke around, my trivial strength does not qualify to be your fellow Daoist…" He chortles.
As they talk, Song Yi quickly sat Tulan down on a stone chair with some mattress foam, with Song Jia standing by his side.
'Is master aware that the song family has an ascension level backing?' She had to ask Yu Yan this question when she returns.
"Actually, before we get to that, is lady snow white a nascent soul expert?" A glint of anticipation appeared in Song Yi's pupil, awaiting Tulan's reply.
Seeing this, she can somewhat guess the following question, thus, she indifferently replied," You can say so."
It wasn't considered a lie, as she does possess the strength of a nascent soul.
"Great!" He beamed with a smile, wanting to lunge forward to kneel toward Tulan, but his sense and droopy body stopped him.
"Then is… young master a soul formation immortal?" This question, he wasn't sure about, but he still asked, hoping for an answer.
"You can say so." She said, not offering more than a punctual reply, laying her back against the chair.
Hearing this, his heart drummed even more!
A nascent soul servant, and a soul formation immortal wandering in this star stream, this revelation shocked him to the core!
It is rare to find such a powerful outer gods roaming this star stream, let alone star system!
"Then, is it possible that lady snow white is aware of that outer god in outer space?"
Tulan wasn't sure why he brought up that wanderer, but she nodded," By outer gods, you mean that half-step nascent soul?"
"Yes, exactly that outer god. "
"Your ancestor is also an 'outer god'?" She blindly guessed, then mused over his words.
"W-Wait, brother Yi, our ancestor came from outer space?" By their side, Song Jia stammered echoes in the small cave, unable to comprehend the news that struck his ears.
This reaction from Song Jia amused Tulan as she let out a chuckle.
"That's right, our ancestors came from a distant star stream and found earth about twenty thousand years ago! This was recorded in the stele left behind by our ancestor."
Song Yi adjusted his posture, and looked at Tulan, "We call people from outside this star stream 'outer gods'. Being who wanders the star stream and happens to come to this star stream, this is the information left behind by our ancestor, Song F-Fu!" Despite his coughing, he continued speaking.
Song Jia was shocked to hear this.
"What is so strange? Did you think I would fight with those outer gods for no good reason?" Song Yi's hoarse voice projected, smacking a lightbulb on Song Jia's head.
It suddenly dawned on him.
So that's why!
A hundred years ago, his brother, Song Yi, insisted on fighting that one outer god that appeared in space.
He didn't get why, after all, it was not rare to witness an outer god passing by through the star system; this sort of event happens every couple hundred years.
Most outer gods seldom interact with the cultivator on earth, keeping a far distance from them as they continue traveling.
"The reason I'm injured is due to that outer god, and the same reason I fought that outer god is that they were targeting our purple bamboo!" Thinking of that moment, in that battle eighty years ago, a mad, bloodshot expression possesses his delicate pale face.
"Thankfully, this particular outer god isn't too powerful, only half a step into the nascent soul realm. With the combined effort of my fellow cultivators, we were able to give them a headache… However, I fear that without a nascent soul expert, it is possible that they might invade earth altogether in one swoop!" After saying this, Song Yi looked at Tulan's face in an attempt to discern her expression and guess her opinion regarding this matter.
"In this battle, I was cursed by that Outer Gods, leaving me in this miserable state."
Song Jia however, was still absorbing all this shocking information that involved the entire world!
He was aware of the outer god's existence due to his status as one of the elders, but he wasn't aware of the fact that they were targeting their song's family purple bamboo nor the fact that their ancestor was an outer god!
When he visited Song Yi, talking about Yu Yan's stream and asked about the purple bamboo, he didn't speak much of it.
That left him stumped. Now the dots are connecting!
No wonder why Song Yi didn't show much reaction, not until now!
Seeing Tulan nod with a relatively indifferent look, he paused, then explained to Song Jia," Actually, this curse from that outer god only affects those who have yet to reach the nascent soul realm. As long as I can reach the nascent soul realm, then the curse naturally disperses."
"Our star stream is a bit isolated, but the cultivation systems of other star streams are relatively homogeneous." He coughs, then elaborates with a slumping back.
"From the record Ancestor Fu left behind, it starts from Qi-Refinining, then foundation establishment to Golden Core. After the golden core, one need to condense their nascent soul with the natural law as the foundation, upon which a cultivator needs to nurture their natural law nascent soul in order to form a true soul, thus reaching the illustrious soul formation realm!" He paused upon letting out the word 'soul formation', revealing a yearning gaze, then continued with a hesitant hand gesture.
"There is a record of a realm above the soul formation realm, and it is the ascension realm! But… Ancestor Fu only briefly mentioned that legendary realm, and went on to record other topics."
Tulan eyes lit up for a moment, before smiling mysteriously. 'Above ascension should be True Yin king, True Yang Emperor, then the Ying-Yang scryer realm!'
"Speaking of realms, our 2nd stage is similar to a foundational establishment cultivator, so is the true core of the 3rd stage, 4th stage loose immortal, and 5th stage earth immortal which is within the golden core realm."
"However, upon reaching the 6th stage, Heaven Immortal, which is the equivalent of a peak golden core, it is impossible to progress further without comprehending the natural law!"
At this point, Song Jia was given off cold sweat, finally sitting down at the table in between Tulan and Song Yi, gasping for breath.
"You should already know, it is almost impossible to break through and reach the nascent soul on this planet." Tulan said, interested in seeing Song Yi's reaction.
"Lady snow white, you are right. It is almost impossible to reach the nascent soul realm on this planet, however, with the purple bamboo on this island, there's a possibility!"
"Oh?" She gestures, making an exaggerated surprised face, forming an O-shape.
"Ancestor Fu left behind a technique that allows one to reach the nascent soul using the purple bamboo as the core material!"
"In fact, Ancestor Fu has another name for this bamboo, he called it the Purple Bane-Lightning Golden Bamboo!" Upon saying this, Song Yi detected a shocking look on Tulan's face.
Meanwhile, Song Jia finally understood the reason why the purple bamboo possesses the power to repel the soul-luring effect of Tulan's heavenly lightning.
Seeing Tulan's expression, Song Yi tilted his head, unable to make sense of her reaction.
…
In the Song family's main courtyard, Song Zi walked around with his fellow brother, Song Fa.
Coincidently, the direction they are walking toward is Song Yin's current location.
They passed through the gates, then went around the garden, before reaching Song Yin.
"Song Yin, what are you doing here?" Song Fa asked, in a matter-of-fact tone.
Upon hearing a familiar voice, Song Yin turned her head, seeing Song Zi appear behind the doorway, this caused her to furrow her brows.
"What does it matter to you as to why I'm here? If not for brother Cang, you wouldn't even be here right now!"
"I know you are up to no good, what do you want?" She impatiently asked, not wanting them to stay any longer.
"It's nothing much. Brother Cang asked us to find out where that young lady you walked with came from!"
As soon as Song Yin heard the news, her voice boomed with anger, "What? Brother Cang asked you to do what?"
Song Zi was taken aback by the sudden change in her expression. Her face was now contorted with a mix of fear and fury, her fists clenched tightly, and her body trembling with rage.
He couldn't help but let out a condescending click of his tongue, "What's the big deal? It's just another small family trying to get in good terms with our Song family."
Hearing this, Song Yin didn't even know where to begin, inhaled a deep breath, then cursed," Get the fuck out of my courtyard before I call Uncle Jia and send you to the depth of the Icy Profound Valley!"
'You could have married a donkey and father wouldn't bat an eye, yet you're trying to chase after senior snow white!?'
'That's not courting death, that's putting a down payment on a coffin when you're alive and kicking like a mad dog!' Song Yin's thoughts raced as she fought to keep her anger in check.
The two brothers looked at each other, unable to make heads or tails of who they were talking to for a moment.
She is usually quite mild, yet, she was cursing at them just because of some girl!
"Tsk!" They begrudgingly left, but before they could take the final step out of Song Yin's view, she yelled in a fiery manner, almost shattering their eardrums in the process," Tell Brother Cang to give up any ideas he has toward that lady!"