Longevity: Comprehending the Heart Method

But the purple-robed cultivator didn’t answer, chuckling lightly. ”Fellow Daoist Song, it seems you haven’t answered my question. I was certain I hadn’t revealed any flaws. I wonder how you discovered me?

If you can answer, I can offer you a gift in thanks.”

’He was truly puzzled. His Concealment Technique was his greatest pride; even many cultivators with higher Cultivation Realms than his had trouble finding any flaws. How could Song Xianming, who had just entered the Purple Mansion Stage, have discovered him?’

Song Xianming said calmly, ”Your Concealment Technique is truly masterful, Fellow Daoist. You just weren’t confident enough. I merely employed a few crude tricks.”

Upon hearing this, the purple-robed cultivator instantly understood and couldn’t help but say with some annoyance, ”You were bluffing?”

”Precisely.”

”Heh. You’re a crafty one, Fellow Daoist. I’ve learned my lesson.” The purple-robed cultivator practically spat the words through gritted teeth. It wasn’t that he hadn’t considered this possibility before revealing himself.

But Song Xianming had acted with such conviction that even he was fooled. That was why he revealed himself, only to find he’d been duped after all.

Song Xianming smiled faintly. ’It cost him nothing to call out, so why wouldn’t he?’

’He could fail a hundred times, but a single success would make it all worthwhile.’

”So, Fellow Daoist, what about that gift?” Song Xianming was actually a little curious about the gift the man had mentioned.

The purple-robed cultivator snorted, reached into his sleeve, and tossed the charred fragment he’d found to Song Xianming. ”Here’s a piece of news for you. You killed people from our Thunder King Hall. The Thunder King will not let you off easy.”

Song Xianming caught the fragment, his brow instantly furrowing. ”You’re from Thunder King Hall?”

”I may not be much, but I am the current Inspector of Thunder King Hall. I was ordered by the Thunder King to investigate the destruction of the Ling Province stronghold. I must say, you did an excellent job cleaning up. I’ve been painstakingly investigating here for a year and found nothing.

But you never should have used a Celestial Shaking Thunder. I’ve already reported the truth of what happened here. Soon, you will understand the consequences of provoking the Thunder King.”

The purple-robed cultivator’s tone was flat. It didn’t sound like a threat, but more like he was issuing a notice.

A cold glint flashed in Song Xianming’s eyes. ’At their White Wolf Mountain stronghold, Thunder King Hall penned up the mortals of Ling Province like livestock. It was one thing for such Evil Demons not to lie low and cover their tracks, but to actually dare to come to my door and threaten me?’

’How utterly audacious! I wish I could draw my sword and cut him down right now!’

Still, a doubt lingered in his mind. ’Why would this purple-robed man tell me all this? Is it extreme self-confidence, or is there another reason?’

He couldn’t help but chuckle. ”Since you already know the truth, Fellow Daoist, why didn’t you attack me just now? With your strength, I’m not entirely confident I could have stopped you.

Besides, telling me all this... aren’t you afraid I’ll prepare an ambush? The Song Clan may be weak, but if we fight with our backs to the wall, we can still tear off a chunk of your flesh.”

Hearing this, the purple-robed cultivator burst out laughing. ”What does any of that have to do with me? As an Inspector, my mission is complete. The rest is a matter for the Judgment Envoys.

Of Thunder King Hall’s eight Judgment Envoys, six hold grudges against me. If you can kill one or two of them, Fellow Daoist Song, I would be delighted to see it happen.”

Song Xianming was stunned. He hadn’t expected such an answer. ’If he isn’t lying, then the division of labor in Thunder King Hall is remarkably clear, with different roles handling different responsibilities.’

’Moreover, it seems they aren’t a monolith internally. The conflicts must be significant—so significant that he’s willing to leak information to me, acting as an inside man.’

’Can I use this to my advantage?’

’Of course, this all assumes he’s telling the truth. I’m not foolish enough to believe every word he says.’

’Only a fool would believe him!’

Slipping the fragment into his Storage Bag, Song Xianming said impassively, ”It will be as you wish, Fellow Daoist. I just wonder... who is this Thunder King? Why have I never heard of him?”

”Don’t try to pump me for information. You can be curious about that after you survive your encounter with the Judgment Envoys.

Oh, and a word of advice. While I may dislike those cold-blooded butchers, the Judgment Envoys rarely fail. Good luck!”

With that, the purple-robed cultivator transformed into a streak of lightning and vanished into the distance.

Several times, Song Xianming fought the urge to stop him, but ultimately let him go. ’After all, I have no confidence I could capture him, and more importantly, now is not the time to be making enemies.’

”Judgment Envoys, is it? Come if you dare.” A cold gleam flashed in Song Xianming’s eyes as he stared in the direction the purple-robed cultivator had fled. He would never just wait to be slaughtered!

Song Xianming turned and returned to Baiyun Peak. At that moment, the meeting in the Minor Affairs Hall was reaching a fever pitch. With their own vital interests at stake, no one was willing to concede easily.

The foundation of their argument was their certainty that the Song Clan didn’t want to inherit an empty Ling Province.

Simply put, they were betting the Song Clan wouldn’t slaughter them all.

One after another, they pleaded poverty or bemoaned their tragic circumstances. In the end, it all boiled down to a single goal: they wanted a share of the Spirit Stone Veins.

In the end, they wore down Song Changsheng’s patience. He cut straight to the point. ”I’ll give you two choices. First, you can renounce your spots in the Wutong Secret Realm, and in return, I will give each of your families a ten percent share of the Spirit Stone Vein.

Or, you can renounce any share of the Spirit Stone Vein, and I will grant each of your families three spots for the Wutong Secret Realm as per the old arrangement, which opens once every ten years.”

At his words, everyone fell into indecision. Song Changsheng’s stance was clear: they had to choose one or the other.

It was a difficult choice; they were reluctant to give up either option.

Although the Wutong Secret Realm only opened once a decade, it contained opportunities to reach the Foundation Establishment stage, as well as many rare Spirit Medicines. In the long run, its value surpassed that of the Spirit Stone Vein.

Just as they were wrestling with the decision, Song Xianming, radiating a baleful aura, landed at the hall’s entrance. He swept past them, returned to the head seat, and stared down at them coldly. In that instant, their minds cleared, and they remembered who was in charge now.

Yu Xueqian immediately stood up and declared, ”Young Clan Leader, the Yu Clan is willing to renounce its spots in the Secret Realm.”

Wang Qingquan, who had been about to speak, froze for a second. ’The Wang Clan has always been the first to declare its position. How have we been beaten to the punch so many times lately?’

Seeing Liu Hongye stir, he immediately shot to his feet. ”The Wang Clan as well.”

”The Liuyun Sect agrees.”

All three parties had, without prior agreement, chosen the share of the Spirit Stone Vein.

The chance to reach Foundation Establishment in the Wutong Secret Realm was tempting, but they had all suddenly realized something: even if they were allotted spots, how could they possibly compete with the Song Clan inside?

As for Spirit Medicine, the Li Clan was already annihilated. The Song Clan would now completely control Ling Province’s Spirit Medicine trade. Even if they brought Spirit Medicine out of the Secret Realm, it would be difficult to sell it for the high prices they once commanded.

Compared to that, it was better to pursue something more tangible, like a share of the Spirit Stone Vein.

That was True Gold and Silver.

It might only be a few thousand Spirit Stones per year, but it was a slow, steady, and far more stable income.

When the balance of a region is broken, a great reshuffling of power and resources is inevitable. Rather than provoke the lion that was the Song Clan, it was better to be decisive and preserve what little face they all had left.

Seeing this, Song Changsheng nodded in satisfaction. Compared to the value of an entire Secret Realm, a thirty percent share of the Spirit Stone revenue was a small price to pay. It was an excellent deal.

Of course, he could have chosen to take everything. Liu Hongye and the others likely wouldn’t have dared to object.

But that wasn’t what Song Changsheng wanted. He certainly intended to limit the growth of these vassal forces, but he had no plans to stomp them into the gutter.

Vassals were not enemies. They were the wings upon which the Song Clan would ride the winds and soar.

This recent battle had shown that the existence of such vassals was essential.

To completely stifle their growth would be to clip his own clan’s wings. Song Changsheng would never do something so foolish.

But he couldn’t let them grow unchecked either, or they could become a threat from within.

Finding the right balance was a measure Song Changsheng would have to carefully weigh...

...