Longevity: Comprehending the Heart Method

Chapter 29: Chapter 29: A Stunning Feat

At the center of the Marketplace, where the four main roads intersected, was a large, round square. This was usually a trading spot for Loose Cultivators.

The day Song Changsheng arrived at the Marketplace, he hadn’t seen many people. It wasn’t because the Marketplace was empty, but because most people were gathered here at the time.

The Earth Fire Sect had changed the location, which was something Song Changsheng couldn’t be happier about. After all, he had come with the intention of trampling on the Earth Fire Sect’s pride, so the more people there were, the better.

By the time they arrived, the square was already packed with a crowd, everyone craning their necks in anticipation. Some opportunists had even set up betting pools on the outcome, and many people were placing wagers.

”The people from the Treasure Hunting Pavilion are here.”

The moment Song Changsheng and his companion appeared, they drew the eyes of many people present. After his actions yesterday, Song Changsheng’s name had already spread throughout Liuyun Marketplace.

Everyone was speculating whether he could, just like yesterday, grind the Earth Fire Sect’s face into the dirt.

Song Changsheng stared straight ahead, walking to the center of the square accompanied by Song Luyuan, where he stood still and waited for the other party to arrive.

A pot-bellied man in the crowd squeezed his way to the front. When he saw Song Changsheng, he was stunned for a moment. ”Isn’t that Fellow Daoist Shenn Changsong? Shenn Changsong, Song Changsheng... heh, interesting.”

A look of interest immediately appeared on the fat man’s face.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Bai Ruofeng finally arrived with Cheng Xiao, fashionably late.

”Oh, Shopkeeper Song, I changed the venue without informing you beforehand. I do hope Shopkeeper Song won’t hold it against me,” Bai Ruofeng said with false sincerity as he walked forward.

Song Luyuan also went up to greet him with a fake smile, and they began to exchange meaningless pleasantries. Although in their hearts, both sides wished they could kill the other, they had to maintain a veneer of cordiality.

While the two chief stewards chattered away, Song Changsheng began to observe his opponent.

It was a young Cultivator in his twenties, dressed in white robes. He was remarkably handsome, but his entire being radiated an irritating arrogance.

As Song Changsheng was observing him, Cheng Xiao spoke first. ”So, you’re the one challenging me?”

”I’ve heard your Artifact Refining skills are exquisite, so I have come to seek your guidance,” Song Changsheng replied calmly, completely composed.

”Hah. Very well. How do you want to compete?” Cheng Xiao clasped his hands behind his back, not even deigning to look at Song Changsheng properly. He felt that victory was already in his grasp.

Song Changsheng was indifferent to his attitude. ”Since I am the one seeking guidance, it is naturally for you to decide,” he said lightly.

A flicker of disdain flashed in Cheng Xiao’s eyes. He waved his hand, taking out two Magical Artifacts. ”Fine. Here are two identical Tier One High-Grade magical artifacts. They have no Arrays carved into them yet.

We shall compete to see who can carve more Arrays, and of better quality, within three ancient hours.”

”No problem.” Song Changsheng nodded in agreement. Crafting a Tier One High-Grade artifact from scratch took a great deal of time. This method was undoubtedly much faster and could also reveal a person’s true skill.

”Martial Uncle, when do we start?” Cheng Xiao asked, looking at Bai Ruofeng with some impatience.

”If you are both ready, then you may begin now,” Bai Ruofeng said, exchanging a glance with Song Luyuan.

The two each chose an empty spot and sat down cross-legged. Cheng Xiao tossed over a disc-shaped Magical Artifact, keeping a long sword-shaped one for himself.

Song Changsheng didn’t mind. He caught it and first inspected the Magical Artifact. Clearly, Cheng Xiao hadn’t resorted to such cheap tricks; there was nothing wrong with the artifact.

However, during his inspection, he discovered several subtle flaws in the Magical Artifact. This was clearly an issue with the refiner’s technique.

’There’s still plenty of time. I might as well refine this Magical Artifact a bit more,’ Song Changsheng muttered to himself, glancing at Cheng Xiao, who had already begun carving his Array.

Under the astonished gazes of everyone in the square, an orange-red flame rose before Song Changsheng and enveloped the Magical Artifact.

”What’s he doing? Aren’t they competing to see who can carve the most Arrays?” a Cultivator asked in confusion.

Soon, a knowledgeable Cultivator spoke up. ”He’s refining the Magical Artifact. Doing so can further improve its quality.”

”But that doesn’t seem to have anything to do with the competition.”

The Cultivator hesitated for a moment before finally nodding. ”That’s true.”

For a moment, everyone was baffled by Song Changsheng’s actions. Was this confidence or arrogance?

Cheng Xiao naturally noticed Song Changsheng’s strange behavior. Seeing that he himself had already completed a third of his Array, he couldn’t help but sneer inwardly. ’This Song Changsheng is far too arrogant.’

It was true that refining could improve a Magical Artifact’s quality, but Cheng Xiao had personally crafted both of these items. He was fully confident in his own abilities.

He had already made them as perfect as he possibly could. Even if there were a few minor flaws, refining them once more wouldn’t improve the quality by much. In his eyes, Song Changsheng had his priorities completely backward!

Song Changsheng paid no mind to the surrounding whispers. He had already entered a state of complete absorption.

Time flew by. Nearly one ancient hour had passed before Song Changsheng finally finished refining the Magical Artifact. By then, Cheng Xiao had already completed his first Array.

The vast majority of people present no longer favored Song Changsheng. After all, he had fallen too far behind. Those who had bet on him to win were now regretting it so much they could kick themselves.

If they weren’t wary of Song Luyuan’s presence, they probably would have started cursing Song Changsheng’s parents.

”Two ancient hours left. I need to pick up the pace,” Song Changsheng murmured softly.

The next moment, his Spiritual Power surged into the Magical Artifact like a bursting dam. Under his guidance, his Spiritual Power instantly split in two, and he actually began carving two Arrays at the same time!

Because it was an open-air competition, the entire process of his Array carving was on full display for all to see. It wasn’t obvious when he first started, but as the outlines of the Arrays gradually took shape, someone finally noticed something unusual.

”Heavens, is that Song Changsheng actually carving two different Arrays at the same time? Am I seeing things?” an Independent Artifact Refiner exclaimed.

”What nonsense are you talking about?” His words immediately drew skepticism from those around him. After all, every Array was incredibly complex and delicate, typically requiring a person’s full, undivided attention.

Carving two types of Arrays simultaneously... whether it had ever been done elsewhere was unknown, but in any case, no one had ever heard of such a thing since the founding of Ling Province.

”Huh? It’s true! The outlines of two Arrays have already appeared.”

”Is this Song Changsheng a monster? How is he doing that?”

Facts speak louder than words. More and more people noticed the scene, and a collective gasp went through the crowd. Everyone was stunned by Song Changsheng’s skill.

Bai Ruofeng’s eyes bulged as he stared deathly at Song Changsheng, saying in disbelief, ”The legendary ability to multitask? How is this possible? How can he do this!”

Seeing Bai Ruofeng’s reaction, Song Luyuan quietly took a few steps forward to stand in front of Song Changsheng, fearing the other man might do something desperate.

Song Changsheng was unaware of the commotion he had caused. At this moment, he was completely immersed in his work...