Longevity: Comprehending the Heart Method

With that, his figure gradually dimmed, vanishing right before Song Changsheng’s eyes.

Song Changsheng was instantly on full alert. Though his opponent only had a Mid-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivation, he felt exceptionally dangerous—like a venomous snake coiled in the shadows, ready to strike a fatal blow at any moment!

SHIICK—

A dagger shimmering with a sinister glow appeared without warning at Song Changsheng’s side, slashing toward his neck.

”Fleeting Shadows.”

Song Changsheng’s figure blurred as he instantly shifted to one side. His hands rapidly formed seals, and a lifelike Water Dragon lunged toward that spot.

Jiaonu’s strike missed, and his figure promptly vanished again. Even with a Divine Sense surpassing that of a Late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, Song Changsheng couldn’t find a trace of him. Stranger still, not even his Ten Thousand Miles Tracking could pinpoint the man’s location by scent.

Song Changsheng didn’t dare to act rashly, his gaze vigilantly scanning the surroundings. The pressure this man exerted on him was no less than that of Liu Yunfeng and his group’s Little Four Symbols Formation.

In a direct confrontation, two of him combined would be no match for Song Changsheng, but he chose to be a venomous snake in the shadows, lying in wait for an opportunity.

By not attacking, he actually placed even greater pressure on Song Changsheng.

’I can’t let this drag on. I have to bait him into attacking.’ Having made up his mind, Song Changsheng suddenly stomped his foot and shot forward like an arrow from a bow, making it look as if he were trying to flee.

At such a moment, his defenses were at their weakest—a perfect opportunity for an assassination.

Song Changsheng deliberately exposed this opening to see if Jiaonu would dare to strike. If he did, Song Changsheng would use overwhelming power to kill him in an instant.

If Jiaonu didn’t attack, then tough luck—Song Changsheng would simply flee. He admitted the man had some impressive stealth skills, but his speed was far inferior. Song Changsheng could leave him in the dust.

Therefore, Jiaonu had to strike!

SWOOSH!

The dagger, shimmering with a sinister glow, appeared at Song Changsheng’s side once more. Both the angle and the timing were perfectly chosen, but Song Changsheng’s Body Technique was superior, allowing him to avoid the fatal blow by a hair’s breadth.

The dagger’s tip was less than an inch from his carotid artery; he could even feel the bone-chilling cold emanating from it. The blade glowed with a faint blue luster, a clear sign it was coated in a deadly poison. If he were even nicked, the consequences for Song Changsheng would be dire.

”Knew you couldn’t resist!” A cold smirk touched Song Changsheng’s lips as he seized his opponent’s wrist, which was so soft it felt boneless.

Jiaonu clearly hadn’t expected Song Changsheng to be so daring as to use his own life as bait. But he calmed himself in an instant, swinging another dagger viciously toward the hand gripping his wrist.

As long as he could conceal his figure again, Song Changsheng would be powerless against him.

Unfortunately, he had still underestimated his opponent’s reaction speed.

Song Changsheng ducked, dodging the blow. Then, with a sharp twist of his own wrist, he instantly wrung Jiaonu’s arm like a dishrag. A moment later, he smashed a fist into Jiaonu’s head. The man’s head exploded like a watermelon, showering Song Changsheng in red and white.

But he had no time to clean himself off. After taking the man’s Qiankun Bag, he fled the scene at top speed, because he had once again caught the scent of danger...

BOOM—

With a tremendous bang, a small hill was blasted to smithereens, and another Qiankun Bag appeared in Song Changsheng’s hand.

A night had passed since he killed Jiaonu. Just now, a Loose Cultivator Swordsman had tracked him down. This man had only an Early-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivation, and Song Changsheng obliterated him in just over ten exchanges.

Yet, Song Changsheng felt no relief. Instead, his heart grew heavier. In less than a day, two Foundation Establishment Independent Cultivators had already tracked him down.

This made it clear that there were a great many people after his head, and he was still thousands of miles from Luoxia City. There was no telling how many hardships and dangers still awaited him.

’You want to claim the reward on my head? We’ll see if you’re qualified,’ Song Changsheng thought, his expression cold and severe as he bandaged a wound on his arm.

A day later, two more Foundation Establishment Cultivators came for him together. Their cultivation was impressive, and they were skilled in a Combined Attack Skill. After a fierce battle, Song Changsheng managed to kill one and repel the other, but he gained two new wounds on his chest, deep enough to expose bone.

He treated the wounds hastily before changing direction and continuing on toward Luoxia City...

Liu Yunfeng read the scout’s report, his knuckles turning white. He never imagined that Song Changsheng, despite being severely wounded by him, could still be so ferocious, killing three Foundation Establishment Independent Cultivators in a row.

”Is this guy a monster?” Liu Yunfeng’s expression was incredibly grim.

”Senior Brother Liu, there’s a message from the Third Elder,” Qii Feiyun said, approaching him.

”Read it.”

”The Third Elder says they’ll be able to catch up in a few days. He wants us to hold Song Changsheng here, no matter the cost.”

”No matter the cost?” Liu Yunfeng’s expression darkened.

He knew this was the Third Elder’s ultimatum.

”Senior Brother Liu, what do we do?” By now, Qii Feiyun was also somewhat intimidated by Song Changsheng. Even with the Little Four Symbols Formation, they hadn’t been able to stop him. Now, with Huang Liqun gravely injured, they had little confidence they could defeat him.

A bitter smile touched Liu Yunfeng’s lips. ”Do we have a choice?”

Qii Feiyun immediately fell silent. That was right. They had no choice...

Over the next two days, Song Changsheng fought several more battles. He took another life and, in turn, received more gruesome wounds.

’These Lieyang Sect people are like stubborn ghosts; they just don’t give up.’ A cold glint flashed in Song Changsheng’s eyes as he tended to his wounds inside a cave. He had ”smelled” the scent of Liu Yunfeng and the others. They would track him here in less than a day.

He now had two choices. One was to give up on healing and continue to flee, but in that case, they would very likely just wear him down and kill him.

The second choice was to risk it all in a single fight, resolving the threat once and for all. Of course, the danger involved would also increase dramatically.

Song Changsheng decisively chose the second option. He was tired of being chased, and a fire of pent-up anger was burning in his heart!

’I still have a Celestial Thunder Shock Tal. If I pair it with a Thunder Attraction Array, its power will surely be taken to another level. With proper preparations, it should be enough to wipe them all out at once!’

Having made up his mind, Song Changsheng immediately set to work. He went to the highest peak in the vicinity, took out his Array Banners, and began to lay out the Thunder Attraction Array.

The Thunder Attraction Array was merely an ordinary Tier Two Low-Grade Array with limited power. Used in a certain way, however, it could produce unexpected results.

Once all his preparations were complete, Song Changsheng sat cross-legged on the mountain peak, quietly waiting for his prey to take the bait.

However, the first to arrive was not Liu Yunfeng and his men, but a somewhat well-known Loose Cultivator. He possessed a Late-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivation, and his strength was no less than Liu Yunfeng’s. Of all the people who had pursued Song Changsheng these past few days, he was the strongest.

Upon seeing the heavily wounded Song Changsheng, a glint of greed appeared in his eyes. One hundred thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones was an enormous fortune, even for him.

’I was trying to catch a big fish, but it seems I’ve hooked a minnow first.’ Song Changsheng frowned as he watched the old man rapidly approach, but his expression soon relaxed. ’It’s fine that he’s here. Don’t I want to solve this problem once and for all?’

He slowly rose to his feet, the movement pulling at his wounds and causing him to grimace in pain. Still, he braced himself and charged forward, engaging the old man in battle.

”Senior Brother Liu, there’s Magical Combat ahead!” Qii Feiyun shouted, pointing forward.

”That must be Song Changsheng. It looks like someone has already engaged him. Let’s go!” A look of delight crossed Liu Yunfeng’s face. An extra person meant their chances of success were that much higher!

The party of three rushed to the battlefield at top speed. After getting a clear look at the two combatants, Liu Yunfeng was overjoyed. He called out in a booming voice, ”Fellow Daoist Qian Ming, we’ve come to lend you a hand!”

Qian Ming and Song Changsheng both turned toward the sound of the voice at the same time, though their thoughts on the matter were completely different.

His main targets had arrived. Song Changsheng immediately disengaged from Qian Ming and retreated swiftly to the hilltop.

’Time to draw the net.’

...