Longevity: Comprehending the Heart Method

This time, no one objected, and Du Huating readily agreed.

These Qi Cultivators were the surviving elite disciples. There had originally been over three hundred of them, but many had died in the preceding battles, and a good number had just fled. Now, only about thirty remained, so they held little appeal.

Song Changsheng nodded, satisfied. ”Now that this matter is settled, it’s time for us to return. We won’t trouble you any further.”

With that, Song Xianyun and the others took the spoils and the Qi Cultivators, transforming into streaks of light as they departed.

Song Changsheng lingered behind, giving Du Huating a meaningful look. ”Elder Du, you’re a reasonable man. Before I go, let me share some good news. You’ll be having a new neighbor soon. Remember to prepare a gift.”

Having said his piece, Song Changsheng transformed into a streak of black and white light and shot off in pursuit of the main group.

Li Siyang and the others were left scratching their heads, confused by Song Changsheng’s final words.

Du Huating frowned in thought for a moment. Suddenly, his expression changed drastically. ”This is bad!” he exclaimed. ”Everyone, follow me! Now!”

The group was bewildered. ’Where could they possibly be going at a time like this?’

Seeing that the others hadn’t yet grasped the situation, Du Huating said through gritted teeth, ”The Marketplace! What are we going to do if that group occupies the Marketplace and refuses to leave?”

At his words, it was as if a bucket of cold water had been thrown over them. Everyone instantly realized the gravity of the situation. Qiu Tianyang stared in the direction Song Changsheng had departed and seethed, ”That brat... what a vicious scheme!”

Led by Du Huating, the group rushed to Liuyun Marketplace. Just as they feared, they found it already enveloped by an array once more.

From within the array, Liu Hongye looked out at them and said coldly, ”What, you want another round?”

”You bastards!” Li Siyang roared. ”Withdraw from Ling Province now, and we can let bygones be bygones! Otherwise, when we break in, we’ll slaughter every last one of you!”

’Now Li Siyang was truly panicking. He had planned on reclaiming his territory once this was all over, leading his surviving clansmen to rest and recuperate.’

But who could have predicted that instead of leaving after their defeat, this group would occupy Liuyun Marketplace? This location was only a few thousand miles from the Li Clan’s original territory. It was a threat far too close for comfort.

Qiu Tianyang and Du Huating’s expressions were also incredibly grim.

Every inch of territory and every resource in the Liuyun Mountain Range was already claimed. The region was barren to begin with, and now, with a powerful new enemy forcing their way in, there simply wasn’t enough to go around.

What was even more infuriating was that they had occupied the Marketplace itself. If they weren’t driven out, Liuyun Marketplace would likely become a thing of the past.

Liuyun Marketplace was the economic pillar of the entire Ling Province!

”Everyone, words are useless. They have yet to secure their foothold. We must join forces and drive them out!”

The moment he finished speaking, Du Huating and the others launched an attack on the array surrounding Liuyun Marketplace.

But a Tier Three Low-Grade Array was no laughing matter.

Liu Hongye and his men had only managed to breach it overnight because they had attacked from the inside, aided by the fact that one of the three Guardian Elders was missing.

The array had never been able to display its full power.

Now, however, things were different. Ever since conquering the Marketplace, Liu Hongye and his group had been trying to gain control of its array, intending to redevelop the area after defeating the Earth Fire Sect.

They just hadn’t expected to be defeated before gaining full control of the array.

Even so, with five Foundation Establishment Cultivators defending it, the Marketplace was as impregnable as a fortress of solid gold.

Unless their opponents used a Tier Three Array-Breaking Talisman or had a Tier Three Array Master, even a Purple Mansion Cultivator would have a hard time breaking through.

Dragging their exhausted bodies, Du Huating and his group assaulted the array for a full day and night. They even used a Tier Three Low-Grade Attack Talisman, but still failed to break through.

In the end, they had no choice but to begrudgingly accept this reality.

But now, the enmity between the two sides was irreconcilable. In the future, whichever side recovered its strength first would surely not spare the other.

Song Changsheng, who had been observing from the shadows all along, broke into a satisfied smile. ’This was the result he had wanted.’ With them at each other’s throats in the Liuyun Mountain Range, the four-clan alliance would naturally be too busy to cause trouble for the Song Clan.

Song Xianming was about to attempt his breakthrough to the Purple Mansion realm. This time, Song Changsheng wanted no unexpected complications.

——————

Compared to the four-clan alliance, which was united in name only, the alliance between the Song and Wang Families was far more reliable. The Wang Clan had always stood firmly by the Song Clan’s side.

Now, it was time to reap the rewards.

All the upper echelons of the Song and Wang Families gathered to distribute the spoils of the battle.

Song Xianyun once again showed no intention of taking the lead, instead entrusting the right to distribute the spoils to Song Changsheng.

This was no simple task. The balance of the distribution was crucial; an improper division could easily shatter the close relationship between the two families.

Song Xianyun would certainly have handled the distribution perfectly, but this was Song Changsheng’s first time. Nevertheless, he felt no pressure. He calmly took out a sheet of beast skin paper and handed it to Wang Qingquan. ”Clan Leader Wang, what do you think of this arrangement?”

Wang Qingquan hadn’t expected this. He curiously took the beast skin paper, and after a quick read, his eyes widened in astonishment.

”Let me have a look.” Wang Wanzhou took the beast skin paper, and his eyes also widened as he read it aloud. ”A thirty percent share of the Spirit Stone Vein, fifty thousand Spirit Stones or equivalent resources, and one-fifth of the total spoils of war.”

”This...” Wang Wanzhou held the beast skin paper, momentarily speechless. The proposed distribution was simply too unreasonable.

Not because Song Changsheng had given them too little—quite the opposite. He was being overly generous.

According to his and Wang Qingquan’s initial estimates, they would have been more than content with a twenty percent share of the Spirit Stone Vein and resources worth fifty thousand Spirit Stones.

After all, they had barely contributed to the effort this time.

They hadn’t expected that Song Changsheng would not only give them an extra ten percent share, but also one-fifth of the spoils of war.

This was no small sum. A ten percent share of the Spirit Stone Vein would increase the Wang Clan’s annual income by ten thousand Spirit Stones. To put that in perspective, the Wang Clan’s entire annual income was only about thirty thousand Spirit Stones to begin with.

And that didn’t even include the one-fifth of the spoils.

Upon returning to Vast Mist Peak, they had already sorted through the possessions of the three slain Foundation Establishment Cultivators. The cultivation resources found weren’t numerous, but they were valued at around one hundred thousand Spirit Stones.

But that was only a fraction of the total spoils. In addition to those resources, there were also numerous Cultivation Technique Manuals, Miracle Pills, and even several Spiritual Artifacts, the total value of which was immeasurable.

Even a one-fifth share would be more than enough for the Wang Clan to digest.

Wang Qingquan immediately stood up. ”Young Clan Leader, I must ask you to reconsider this distribution. The Wang Clan merely went through the motions this time.”

Although Song Xianyun was also inwardly surprised, he didn’t let it show. As he had said before, the decision on this distribution was entirely Song Changsheng’s to make.

”Clan Leader Wang, this is what you deserve. Twenty years ago, when the Lieyang Sect launched a full-scale invasion against my Song Clan, the previous Clan Leader of the Wang Clan led his people to our aid without a moment’s hesitation, giving his clan’s full support. He ultimately fell in battle at the foot of Vast Mist Peak. This is to repay the debt we owe the Wang Clan for their aid back then. Please, Clan Leader Wang, do not refuse,” Song Changsheng said solemnly, giving a cupped-fist salute.

Song Changsheng’s sincere words deeply moved Wang Qingquan. ’Twenty years... and the Song Clan hasn’t forgotten!’

”In that case, the Wang Clan will humbly accept,” Wang Qingquan declared. ”We will certainly not disappoint you, Young Clan Leader!”

...

After Wang Qingquan and his people had left, Song Xianyun walked over to Song Changsheng’s side. ”You handled things very well today,” he said. ”But did you really concede so many benefits to the Wang Clan just to repay that old debt?”

Looking into Song Xianyun’s cloudy eyes, Song Changsheng smiled. ”My motives weren’t quite so simple, Grandfather. This was to further bind the Wang Clan to our side.

You will soon be attempting your breakthrough to the Purple Mansion realm, Grandfather. No one knows what we will face when that happens. We need the Wang Clan as a powerful ally.”

”Indeed. It will be yet another challenge for the clan,” Song Xianyun murmured softly, his hands clasped behind his back.

”Furthermore, I have another idea,” Song Changsheng said with a smile. ”Since Liu Hongye has occupied that territory, Liuyun Marketplace is now a thing of the past. When the time is right, I plan to establish a new marketplace in our Moon Viewing Mountain Range. The clan will have full control over this new marketplace, which means the Wang Clan will be excluded. My decision today was also meant to compensate them for that in advance.”

Song Xianyun’s eyes widened. He hadn’t expected Song Changsheng’s considerations to run so deep...