Longevity: Comprehending the Heart Method

”Twenty-first Uncle.”

Just then, Song Luhuai cried out in alarm. Song Chang’an’s expression tightened. He just remembered that Song Xianyun had taken a direct hit from the Great Demon. The situation was likely grim.

He forced himself up and limped toward the sound of the voice.

By then, quite a few Song Clan Members had already gathered there.

Song Chang’an pushed through the crowd and saw Song Xianyun lying on the ground, his face covered in blood. His right arm was twisted at an unnatural angle, his chest was slightly caved in, and his aura was exceptionally faint.

If his chest hadn’t still been faintly rising and falling, Chang’an would have thought Song Xianyun’s soul had already returned to the heavens.

Song Luzhou placed his index and middle fingers on the man’s wrist, and his expression immediately turned grave.

Just then, Song Xianming, who had just finished a fierce battle with Silver Moon, descended on an Array Banner. Seeing Song Xianyun’s terrible state, he asked in a low voice, ”How are Twenty-first Brother’s injuries?”

Song Luzhou took out a crimson bottle, carefully tipped out a Pill, and fed it into Song Xianyun’s mouth. After helping him refine it, he stood up, pulled Song Xianming aside, and said with difficulty, ”Twenty-first Uncle’s injuries aren’t life-threatening, but his future path of Cultivation is likely...”

Though he didn’t finish his sentence, Song Xianming already understood his meaning. He felt a wave of dizziness and nearly stumbled to the ground.

After a long silence, he finally lifted his bloodshot eyes and asked in a hoarse voice, ”Is there no hope?”

Song Luzhou slowly shook his head. ”Not unless we can find another Green Sky White Jade Pill.”

Hearing this, Song Xianming closed his eyes tightly. He knew the value of a Green Sky White Jade Pill all too well. Even the one he had taken in the past was a stroke of luck, brought back by Song Changsheng.

Song Xianyun was nearly two hundred years old, with little of his lifespan remaining. With his path of Cultivation now severed, this was practically a death sentence.

”Take Xianyun away to rest and recuperate. Whatever he needs, get it directly from the Clan Treasure Vault. Also, tally the casualties as quickly as possible. The Demon Wolves will attack again soon.”

Song Xianming’s figure seemed bleak and desolate, as if he had aged a dozen years in an instant...

The casualty report was tallied quickly. The Song Clan had lost thirty-two members, with nearly forty injured.

Most of these losses were caused when Silver Moon charged the Array. Many didn’t even leave a body behind.

For the Song Clan, whose population was not large, this was undoubtedly a devastating price to pay.

”We can’t go on like this. We have to change our strategy,” Song Luhuai said in a low voice beside the roaring bonfire.

”Do you have any good suggestions, Eleventh Brother?”

”Letting the Demon Wolves enter the Array allows us to kill their forces, but the destruction caused when a Great Demon charges in is simply too terrifying.

If it attacks the clan disciples recklessly, it will be a catastrophe. I suggest we switch the Grand Array to full defense and wait for our opportunity.”

As soon as he said this, everyone’s faces fell. They called it ’waiting for their opportunity,’ but wasn’t it just turtling up and taking a beating?

But it seemed there was no better option at the moment. Song Xianming made the final decision. ”We’ll do it. After two consecutive days of heavy fighting, the clan members need time to recover.”

————

The next day, the dense fog over Vast Mist Peak completely dispersed, replaced by a light, gauzy veil that shrouded the entire mountain.

”Hmph. Cowardly humans. So they’ve decided to turtle up.” A trace of contempt flickered in Silver Moon’s eyes. It then commanded the Demon Wolves to surround the mountain and attack relentlessly day and night for three days, but the Grand Array didn’t even budge.

This result made Silver Moon fly into a rage, but there was nothing it could do.

’It seems I have no choice but to use my final move,’ Silver Moon finally decided.

Over the next few days, Song Luzhou and the others were shocked to discover that the Demon Wolves had stopped their assault. Instead, they sent out small squads to hunt for Blood Food everywhere. Several small Cultivation Families were devastated.

This series of unusual actions made Song Xianming sense a conspiracy. He wanted to investigate, but with his level of Cultivation, he would surely be killed if he left the protection of the Array.

After some thought, he could only choose to prepare for the worst...

Night fell. On the peak of a Spirit Mountain a hundred li from Vast Mist Peak, Silver Moon crouched, waiting for its pack to present their Blood Food.

Soon, a pile of Human Race and Demon Beast corpses was stacked before it.

Opening its great maw, it devoured them in a single gulp. Silver Moon then crouched on the peak and began to refine the meal, the crescent mark on its forehead emitting a demonic glow...

「Seven days later.」

After a voyage of over two months, Song Changsheng finally piloted the Black Star Ship into Ling Province. The moment he crossed the border, he keenly sensed that something was wrong.

He had encountered a large number of Loose Cultivators flocking toward Yang Province, which was extremely unusual.

The Lieyang Sect dominated Yang Province and implemented oppressive policies against Loose Cultivators, so most of them were unwilling to seek opportunities there.

A few dozen heading to Yang Province might be a coincidence, but hundreds or thousands meant something was amiss.

After a moment of thought, he landed and stopped a hurried Loose Cultivator, asking in a gentle tone, ”Fellow Daoist, I see you’re all heading toward Yang Province. Has something happened?”

Seeing Song Changsheng piloting such a massive Flying Ship, the Loose Cultivator immediately understood this was someone he couldn’t afford to offend. He respectfully recounted all the recent events in Ling Province.

His expression grew graver the more he heard. After letting the fleeing Loose Cultivator go, Song Changsheng could no longer suppress his anxiety and piloted the Black Star Ship at high speed toward the Moon Viewing Mountain Range.

The words ”Great Demon” grated on his nerves.

His thoughts couldn’t help but drift back to twenty years ago. On that day, He Tai had led the forces of the Lieyang Sect in a massive invasion. Although they were ultimately repelled, the Song Clan had yet to recover.

’Will the Song Clan be so lucky this time?’

”Faster, faster, faster! A little faster!”

In his desperation, Song Changsheng took out a hundred Middle-Grade Spirit Stones in one go and fed them into the Array Plate, pushing the Black Star Ship’s speed to its absolute limit...

BOOM...

After eight consecutive days of inaction, Silver Moon finally made its move.

Dark, oppressive clouds blanketed the sky. Thunder Serpents writhed and raged within them, brewing a massive storm.

Song Xianming watched with a grave expression as the dark tide of giant wolves surged forward. For some reason, a bad feeling stirred in his heart.

Silver Moon’s enormous body rode a Demon Wind, slowly approaching Vast Mist Peak. Its entire form was shrouded in a hazy light, making it appear dazzling against the ink-black sky.

”Kill!”

With that single command, the several hundred remaining Demon Wolves instantly charged, launching a fierce assault on the same point of the Grand Array.

”Clan Leader, judging by their numbers, they’ve even recalled the forces that were tying down the Wang and Yu Clans. I fear this is the final assault,” Song Luzhou said, his expression heavy.

”I’m afraid so. Take Qinghong, Qingxia, and the others to the back of the mountain immediately. The moment the Array is breached, you must open the passage and retreat!” Song Xianming said grimly, pressing a strangely shaped key into Song Luzhou’s hand.

”Yes...” Song Luzhou accepted the key with a heavy heart.

This had all been decided in advance, so there was no need for further debate. Yet, he couldn’t help but look at Song Xianming and say, ”Clan Leader, please, let Chang’an take them instead.”

”If Chang’an were a Top-Grade Alchemist, I would let him go without hesitation, but he is not. Luzhou, you must remember, this isn’t the clan showing you favoritism. This is the responsibility the clan is entrusting to you.

If Vast Mist Peak falls, you must shoulder the heavy burden of continuing the clan’s lineage. Say no more. Go, now!” Song Xianming placed a hand on Song Luzhou’s shoulder and spoke gently.

”Then... can’t we all leave together?” Song Luzhou’s body was trembling.

Song Xianming revealed a gentle smile. Looking at the menacing horde of Demon Wolves, he said earnestly, ”This is our home. No matter what, someone has to stay behind to fight for that sliver of hope.

I will leave a sign for Changsheng. If it really comes to that, he will find you. Go...”

”Your nephew obeys!” Tears welled in Song Luzhou’s eyes. He knelt and kowtowed three times before finally turning toward the back of the mountain.

After seeing Song Luzhou off, Song Xianming took control of an Array Banner and rose into the air as claps of thunder exploded behind him.

”You beast! Come and fight!”

...