Longevity: Comprehending the Heart Method

On a map, about a foot square, a line of small text was written in the bottom-right corner.

”If you want the Flood Dragon Scale, go to Celestial Sinking Valley.”

’There’s a Flood Dragon Scale in Celestial Sinking Valley?’ Song Changsheng’s heart leaped with joy. After searching for so long, he finally had a lead.

But then he frowned and sank into thought. ’Just... where is this Celestial Sinking Valley, and why would it have a Flood Dragon Scale?

’Whatever, I’ll just go ask Brother Xu.’

Xu Yunhe’s residence was right next door. For the past few days, he, like Song Changsheng, had been in seclusion, cultivating. After all, opportunities to be on Celestial Sound Mountain were few and far between.

He was clearly surprised by Song Changsheng’s arrival. ”Brother Song, it’s so late. What brings you here?”

”Brother Xu, you’ve spent years training in the Hundred Thousand Mountains. Have you ever heard of a place called Celestial Sinking Valley?” Song Changsheng asked, handing the map from Bai Zhengchun to Xu Yunhe.

Xu Yunhe took the map and studied it for a moment. It was drawn in great detail, but it was missing the area around Luoxia City.

After a long while, Xu Yunhe sighed. ”I don’t recognize this place. My travels these past years have taken me all over the outer regions of the Hundred Thousand Mountains. If this place is truly within the mountains, it must be deep inside.

”The number of the Demon Race in the Hundred Thousand Mountains was greatly reduced after the last great war, but the area is still fraught with danger. Are you sure you want to go, Brother Song?”

”Of course. The Flood Dragon Scale is crucial for a Cultivation Technique I’m practicing. I’ve been searching for a long time, and now that I finally have a lead, I have to go.”

”In that case, Brother Song, you should find an opportunity to ask Fellow Daoist Zhuang and her people. They’re bound to have records on this. When the time comes, we can go together.”

”I was planning to invite you anyway, Brother Xu,” Song Changsheng said with a smile. ”I don’t have much experience in the Hundred Thousand Mountains.”

In truth, he didn’t quite understand why Bai Zhengchun would give him a map, only to leave him with such a puzzle.

He refused to believe Bai Zhengchun’s actions were meaningless.

’The minds of these big shots are truly difficult to fathom.’

Song Changsheng glanced out the window. The night sky was filled with stars. It clearly wasn’t a good time to go looking for Zhuang Yuechan.

’I’ll go tomorrow.’

After returning from Xu Yunhe’s, Song Changsheng sat cross-legged beside the tortoise egg to cultivate as usual. Moonlight Qi flowed from the guiding Array he had set up beforehand, entering his Baihui Acupoint and causing his entire body to emit a hazy glow from within.

But what Song Changsheng failed to notice was the tortoise egg beside him quivering slightly...

Early the next morning, Song Changsheng brought the map to Zhuang Yuechan’s courtyard.

To his disappointment, however, Zhuang Yuechan was once again wearing her veil.

Ever since he had seen her true face, the veil was an eyesore.

”Fellow Daoist Song, is there something amiss with my attire today?” Zhuang Yuechan’s cheeks couldn’t help but flush as she saw him staring, her mind flashing back to the events of the previous day.

”Not at all, not at all. I came to see you today, Fellow Daoist Zhuang, to ask if you recognize the location on this map.”

As Zhuang Yuechan took the map from Song Changsheng, she frowned slightly. She had seen this map several days ago, but the version she saw had been far more complete.

”Fellow Daoist Song, Celestial Sinking Valley is located deep within the Hundred Thousand Mountains, on the border of the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range. It’s a very remote location. However, during the last major battle, several Masters pursued the Black Dragon Demon King and managed to slice off a piece of its flesh here.

”That piece of flesh fell into Celestial Sinking Valley. So, in theory, if you’re looking for a Flood Dragon Scale, that is indeed an excellent place to start.

”If you can’t find one there, I’m afraid the only other option would be the Black Dragon Demon King’s own lair,” Zhuang Yuechan stated frankly.

”The flesh of the Black Dragon Demon King... even a Purple Mansion Cultivator would be tempted by something like that. And that battle was so long ago. This flesh...” Song Changsheng’s brow furrowed slightly. ’After all this time, I doubt there’s even a scrap left.’

Zhuang Yuechan gave him a radiant smile. ”You worry too much, Fellow Daoist. Only a few Masters know about the Demon King’s flesh, and none of them are interested in it.

”Besides, Celestial Sinking Valley is extremely remote, thousands of meters deep, and perpetually shrouded in mist. Very few people ever go there. Therefore, you needn’t worry about someone having beaten you to it.”

”I see. In that case, could I trouble you to draw a rough map for me, Fellow Daoist? I’ll set out as soon as possible.” Song Changsheng was overjoyed. He had been racking his brain over this Flood Dragon Scale, and now he could finally see a glimmer of hope.

”The Hundred Thousand Mountains are vast and boundless. A tiny error on a map can lead you thousands of miles astray. How about this? I’ll go with you. A sect elder once took me to that area for training.”

Hearing this, Song Changsheng hesitated. ’The Demon Race in the Hundred Thousand Mountains may have suffered heavy losses in the last war, but the deep regions are still treacherous. If anything were to happen to her... wouldn’t Zhan Tianxia and the others kill me?’

Perhaps sensing his hesitation, Zhuang Yuechan smiled. ”Surely you don’t take me for some delicate flower raised in a greenhouse, do you, Fellow Daoist Song?

”I’ve been venturing out from my sect to train since I was fifteen. I’ve been to the Hundred Thousand Mountains many times and have even faced a Beast Tide head-on. My Cultivation may not be on par with yours, but I am more than capable of protecting myself. You have no need for such concerns.

”Besides, if I can’t even handle a little risk, how could I ever hope to protect the great city of Luoxia in the future?”

Although Zhuang Yuechan’s Cultivation was only at the Mid-stage Foundation Establishment, she was more than capable of defeating an ordinary Late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator. And with the treasures bestowed upon her by the sect elders, even a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivator would find it impossible to gain the upper hand against her.

Below the Purple Mansion realm, there were truly few who could pose a threat to her.