Longevity: Comprehending the Heart Method

Luoxia City had truly sacrificed far, far too much for Daqi over the years.

Zhan Tianxia suddenly felt a bit dazed. ”Will that day... really come?”

”In ten days, a meeting will be held on Celestial Sound Mountain. This is the list of attendees. Send someone to contact them.”

Taking the thin list, Zhan Tianxia only gave it a cursory glance before his heart leaped in shock. ’They’re really going to stir things up...’

Ten days later, an unprecedented meeting was held on Celestial Sound Mountain. With its details deliberately allowed to spread, spies from every power quickly relayed the information, which instantly swept through the entire Daqi Cultivation World and set off a massive earthquake!

Song Changsheng had long since dispatched numerous spies from the Wind Language Hall to Luoxia City, so he learned the full details of the meeting in the shortest possible time.

The content was actually quite simple. In the near future, the two long-standing Golden Core Influences, the Golden Crow Sect and the Celestial Vein Sect, along with the newly promoted Golden Core Influence of Luoxia City, would take the lead. They would be joined by three powerful Purple Mansion Influences—the Celestial Sword Sect, the Huansha Sect, and the Hundred Herbs Hall—to form an Allied Army and declare war on the Demon Race of the Hundred Thousand Mountains.

And the reason given was exactly what Muu Guibai had said.

No matter the era, expanding one’s territory was always an exciting and pride-inspiring affair.

But Song Changsheng saw something different behind this matter. Although he didn’t know Su Ding’s secret plan, he could deduce that his previous suspicions had been confirmed.

Everyone had been used as a chess piece. The Song Clan was originally meant to be one of the sacrificed pawns, but fortunately, they had managed to survive.

Unfortunately, they had paid a terrible price for it.

However, compared to before, Song Changsheng didn’t feel much anger, only a profound sense of powerlessness.

When you lack strength, you can only be a chess piece, your fate manipulated at will by the Chess Player.

To escape a manipulated destiny, the only way was to become stronger—to become the Chess Player at the board.

The Song Clan could not afford to wallow in grief and indignation. Those were the most useless emotions in the world.

They had to be transformed into strength, to seize as many benefits as possible for the clan in the coming war.

This was something Song Changsheng had already considered.

Although the major powers had formed an Allied Army, they had no intention of hogging the entire cake. Other powers and individuals were free to join in.

After victory, rewards would be distributed based on Merit Points, including but not limited to Spiritual Veins, ore veins, and more.

Of course, if you were confident enough in your own abilities, you could choose to go it alone without the Allied Army. The Hundred Thousand Mountains were vast, and as long as you didn’t oppose the Allied Army, whatever you could conquer was yours.

It was from this point that Song Changsheng saw an opportunity.

Across the entire Daqi Cultivation World, the resources of the Ling, Yang, and Xiang Provinces were the most barren. Ling Province was the worst of all; not only did it have very few rare ore veins, but it didn’t even have a single one that reached the Tier Three Level.

For the Song Clan to develop, it needed far more resources.

And this was a golden opportunity.

Of course, the Song Clan could not withstand any more turmoil, so he couldn’t possibly lead his clansmen to join the Allied Army.

But that didn’t mean they couldn’t pick up the scraps. For the next few years, they could let the Allied Army take the lead and clash head-on with the Demon Beasts. By the time the Demon Beasts were routed, Song Xianming should have successfully broken through.

At that point, the Song Clan could take the opportunity to snatch a few Spirit Mountains on the fringes. As long as they could secure one valuable ore vein, it would be enough for the clan.

But ”to forge iron, one must be strong.” In the next few years, they had to increase the clan’s strength as much as possible. The supplies he had brought back would now have their use.

Not counting those in seclusion, the Song Clan currently had seven Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

Among them, Song Xianyun was at Foundation Establishment Great Perfection; Song Changsheng and Song Luzhou were Late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators; Xia Yunxue and Song Lutong were Mid-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators; and Song Chang’an and Song Changxuan were Early-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

Song Chang’an, Song Changxuan, Song Changsheng, and Song Lutong had all broken through recently and had no chance of advancing again in the short term.

Only Song Luzhou and Xia Yunxue’s cultivation had reached Perfection, and they could attempt a breakthrough.

When Song Changsheng returned from Yuan Province, he had given them each one of the two bottles of Purple Void Pills he had purchased.

Calculating the time, they should be coming out of seclusion soon.

Just then, a Steward on duty outside the Minor Affairs Hall walked in, bowed, and said, ”Young Clan Leader, Song Qingluo is outside requesting an audience.”

Song Changsheng paused, then said with a hint of delight, ”When did that kid get back? Let him in.”

He was extremely fond of this junior. Although his aptitude wasn’t outstanding, he was diligent, clever, and had good comprehension. With proper nurturing, he could still become a valuable talent.

Soon, a thin young man walked in. Before Song Changsheng could speak, he raised a Jade Scroll over his head with both hands, fell to his knees with a THUD, and said between sobs, ”Qingluo pays his respects to the Young Clan Leader.”

”What is the meaning of this? Get up and speak.” Looking at the Jade Scroll in his hands, Song Changsheng’s heart skipped a beat as an ominous premonition filled him.

”This is the intelligence that Song Xiantu, the Steward stationed in Luoxia City, ordered me to bring back to the clan. I ask the Young Clan Leader to inspect it!” Song Qingluo held the Jade Scroll high.

He never forgot the words Song Xiantu had entrusted to him: he had to personally deliver the Jade Scroll into Song Changsheng’s hands.

Song Changsheng quickly took it and pressed the Jade Scroll to his forehead.

”I, this old man, greet the Young Clan Leader again. Today, the Beast Tide descends upon the city, and my heart is filled with constant unease. I fear my time is short. As I bear the clan’s mission, I will naturally defend my post for the clan to the very last moment.

”However, among all my descendants, only Qingluo has stepped onto the Immortal Path. He is still young, and though he cultivates diligently, his natural aptitude is dull.

”He is the one I worry about most. If I should meet an untimely end, I boldly ask the Young Clan Leader to look after him, for the sake of my sacrifice for the clan. I would be endlessly grateful!”

After reading the contents, Song Changsheng shot to his feet and stared at Song Qingluo. ”What happened to the Clan Elder and Sunx Tributor?”

Tears were already streaming down Song Qingluo’s face. He kowtowed and sobbed, ”My great-grandfather, Sunx Tributor, and all eight members of the Moon Viewing Pavilion... are all dead.”

BOOM

The news struck him like a bolt from the blue. He staggered and nearly collapsed back into his chair.

”When did this happen? Why did no one ever tell me?” Song Changsheng raised his head, looking like an enraged lion.

Since his return from the Celestial Sword Sect, although Song Changsheng had been overwhelmed with clan affairs, he had always paid the utmost attention to any intelligence from Luoxia City. Yet, not a single casualty report had ever reached his hands.

This wasn’t normal. Setting aside Song Xiantu, Sunx Chuanming was the clan’s chief Tributor, with a status comparable to a Clan Elder. Who would dare conceal the news of his death?

Just then, Song Luzhou walked in. He looked at Song Qingluo kneeling on the floor with a trace of guilt in his eyes, then turned to Song Changsheng and sighed. ”This was Luyao’s idea.

”Luyao knew that Sunx Tributor had been a great mentor to you. But at the time, Luoxia City was under heavy siege. Telling you would have been pointless and might even have affected you, so she concealed the matter.”

Song Changsheng froze, and then a bitter smile spread across his face. ’That’s right... within the clan, the only person capable of hiding something from me was Song Luyao, the one in charge of clan intelligence.’

Now that Song Luyao had already sacrificed herself for the clan, what more could he say?

Calming his emotions, he helped Song Qingluo up and patted his back. ”Rest assured, I will personally go to Luoxia City to bring back the remains of our clansmen and the Tributor.”

Hearing this, Song Qingluo was moved, but he still cupped his hands and advised, ”Young Clan Leader, the entire clan’s Fortune now rests in your hands. The fires of war in Bian Province have not yet been extinguished. Please, reconsider.”

”Indeed, Changsheng. You carry the entire clan on your shoulders. If you’re worried, I will go myself.” Song Luzhou also tried to persuade him.

Song Changsheng shook his head firmly. ”Officially, they died for the clan. Personally, Sunx Tributor was my teacher.

”No matter what, I must make this trip myself. Besides, Luoxia City will be the Allied Army’s bridgehead for their campaign into the Hundred Thousand Mountains. I should go and see if I can secure any advantages for the clan.

”None of you need to persuade me any further. My mind is made up.”

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