Longevity: Comprehending the Heart Method

A burly man wreathed in lightning slowly entered the grand hall, his towering figure seeming to block out the sun itself.

He seemed to have emerged from annihilation itself. The moment he appeared, a terrifying presence descended upon the hall, creating a suffocating pressure. Even Song Changsheng felt a tightness in his chest.

As the man stepped into the hall, sunlight streamed in from behind, finally allowing Song Changsheng to see him clearly.

He had a square, serious-looking face and swarthy skin. His eyes were like lightning, with arcs of electricity surging within them.

He stood at least two meters tall, with a burly frame. His jet-black hair hung loosely, with azure arcs of lightning crackling over it, a mesmerizing yet unsettling sight. The muscles beneath his black bearskin coat bulged, making him look like a great black bear standing upright.

’Very strong.’

That was the first thought that flashed through Song Changsheng’s mind.

Compared to this man, both Dongtian Xie and Yi Wenqing paled in comparison. Even the mysterious Elder Xiao and the senior guarding the Luoxia City Treasure Vault seemed slightly inferior.

The two Purple Mansion Cultivators from the Golden Crow Sect and Celestial Vein Sect on the Dao Discussion Platform also fell far short.

Among all the Purple Mansion Cultivators Song Changsheng had ever seen, perhaps only the inscrutable Great City Lord could best him.

”It hasn’t started? Looks like I’m not late after all.” The man scanned the hall before walking straight onto the Dao Discussion Platform. Dai Zichen and Old Ghost Bai of the Celestial Vein Sect immediately stood and bowed, showing him the utmost respect.

Song Changsheng already had a sneaking suspicion about the man’s identity.

”That’s my Second Martial Uncle, Zhan Tianxia. He originally said he wouldn’t be attending this Dao discussion, which is the only reason I brought you. I have no idea why he suddenly changed his mind,” Zhuang Yuechan transmitted to Song Changsheng via Divine Thought.

’So this is the old man’s rival in love... He never stood a chance, did he?’ Song Changsheng inwardly broke out in a cold sweat for his family. ’It’s a good thing Luoxia City is a Neutral Power. If a powerhouse like this were to storm Vast Mist Peak, even the most formidable Tier Three Array would be completely useless.’

Song Changsheng was, of course, familiar with the name Zhan Tianxia. Despite only having a Late-stage Purple Mansion Cultivation, he had once defeated a Purple Mansion Great Perfection Cultivator in a direct confrontation.

Furthermore, his Thunder Skill was unrivaled in the Daqi Cultivation World, earning him the title of ”Mad Thunder Ascendant.”

He was famous for his bellicose nature even in his youth. After breaking through to the Purple Mansion realm, he began challenging experts everywhere. The number of cultivators in the same realm who could defeat him could be counted on one hand.

In the entire Daqi Cultivation World, aside from the few Golden Core Masters, his combat prowess ranked in the top five. Few were qualified to discuss the Dao with him, making the chance to even listen in incredibly rare.

Replying to Zhuang Yuechan, Song Changsheng smiled. ”The Second City Lord’s might is legendary, and his mastery of Thunder Skill is second to none in the Daqi Cultivation World. His presence elevates this Dao discussion to a whole new level. This is a good thing, so why were you in such a hurry for us to leave?”

Zhuang Yuechan grew flustered and shot back reproachfully, ”And you don’t know why?”

Song Changsheng knew she was referring to the old feud between his family’s patriarch and Zhan Tianxia, but he didn’t see any reason to shy away from it.

’Zhan Tianxia is a senior. Would he really demean himself by taking out the grudges of a past generation on a junior like me?’

”Surely the Second City Lord wouldn’t stoop to picking on a junior like me, would he?” Song Changsheng replied with a smile.

Zhuang Yuechan shook her head, a trace of worry in her eyes. Song Changsheng didn’t know Zhan Tianxia, but she had grown up on Celestial Sound Mountain and knew her martial uncle well. When it came to any other matter, his temperament was such that he would have let it go after all these years.

But this particular affair was a different story.

She knew the whole story behind it, and at this point, it was impossible to say who was right and who was wrong.

On one side was the friend who had saved her; on the other, the martial uncle who had watched her grow up. If something were to happen, she couldn’t properly side with either of them. All she could do was pray that things wouldn’t head in the terrible direction she was imagining.

Leaving immediately would have been the best solution. As long as the two didn’t meet, everything would be fine. But that was no longer an option. For them to leave just as he arrived would be a grave sign of disrespect, handing him the perfect pretext to cause trouble.

’I hope everything goes smoothly.’ Zhuang Yuechan could do nothing to change the situation, so she could only pray.

Seeing Zhuang Yuechan’s reaction, Song Changsheng’s heart sank. He had a bad feeling about this...

After taking his seat, Zhan Tianxia not only failed to restrain his aura, but he intensified it, unleashing his presence even more forcefully. The faces of the several Cultivators nearest to him turned a deathly purple, but they didn’t dare show the slightest hint of discontent.

Finally, Dai Zichen could bear it no longer and spoke up. ”City Lord Zhan, since you’ve arrived, shall we begin? How about I get the ball rolling?”

Old Ghost Bai also sensed that something was off about today’s atmosphere. Forgetting his usual habit of disagreeing with Dai Zichen, he readily concurred, ”An excellent idea. I can see these young ones are getting impatient.”

The two of them acted in concert, hoping to alleviate the oppressive atmosphere.

Unexpectedly, Zhan Tianxia held up a hand to stop them. ”Hold on, you two. The Dao discussion can wait.”

Dai Zichen and Old Ghost Bai exchanged a baffled glance. ’Is he here just to stir up trouble today?’

But Zhan Tianxia paid no mind to their thoughts. He rose to his feet, looked down at the crowd, and said, ”Over the past few days, my fellow Daoists, you have held many discussions, and these juniors have listened to a great deal.”

”But there’s no point in just listening without putting things into practice. That goes against the very reason the Dao Discussion Hall was established. As it happens, someone just gave me an excellent suggestion, and I think it’s a fine idea. Therefore, today’s Dao discussion is temporarily suspended.”