Longevity: Comprehending the Heart Method

Song Qingxing stared at the burly Cultivator less than a mile away. A sharp, cold glint flashed in his eyes as he silently uttered a single word: ”Kill!”

With that, his figure shot forward.

The burly Cultivator was in a party of three. Two were at Early-stage Foundation Establishment, while he himself was a Mid-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator. This was not an insignificant force, but in the Mist Concealing Mountain Range, they didn’t dare let their guard down for a moment, remaining on high alert.

Suddenly, the burly Cultivator stopped in his tracks, his face wary as he scanned his surroundings.

”Yang Kui, what’s wrong?” Seeing his grave expression, his companion grew tense as well, gripping his Magical Artifact and anxiously scanning their surroundings.

Yang Kui shook his head and whispered, ”I felt a sudden chill for no reason. Something’s not right about this place. Let’s be careful.”

The words had barely left his mouth when the mist beside them began to churn violently, and an indifferent voice drifted into their ears: ”Sword Three.”

Yang Kui only felt something flash past his eyes, like a breeze grazing his neck, bringing with it a slight chill.

He subconsciously reached up to touch his neck. His fingers came away sticky and warm. He brought his hand before his eyes and saw a startling patch of crimson.

The world began to spin before his eyes. The last sound he heard was his companion’s terrified scream, and then his consciousness plunged into eternal silence.

THUMP.

SCHLICK.

Wielding the [Traceless Sword], Song Qingxing moved as if on a leisurely stroll, sending the entire three-man squad to the Yellow Springs without facing any real resistance.

With his current strength, dealing with Early-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators was indeed no challenge.

With practiced ease, he collected the Storage Bags from their bodies before his figure vanished back into the mist.

The commotion from the battle soon attracted other Cultivators who were searching the area, but all they found were three headless corpses.

The onlookers were both shocked and enraged. No one had expected their quarry to dare take the initiative under such circumstances, much less to eliminate three people so cleanly.

”He can’t have gotten far! After him!” the lead Cultivator shouted, immediately taking his men in pursuit.

Several hours later, this group met the same fate as Yang Kui and his companions—they were completely wiped out.

His frequent attacks revealed his position. More and more people began to converge on his location, among them even Purple Mansion Cultivators.

Night fell, swallowing the Mist Concealing Mountain Range. After a full day of bitter fighting, Song Qingxing had inevitably sustained injuries. A ghastly wound on his left arm, deep enough to show bone, was steadily trickling blood.

Song Qingxing tore a strip from his clothes, crushed a topical Pill over the injury, and crudely bandaged it. Only then did he allow himself a moment to catch his breath.

After a brief rest, Song Qingxing was once again on the move, sword in hand, disappearing into the night. For the Human Race Cultivators in the Mist Concealing Mountain Range, this was destined to be a sleepless night...

RUMBLE...

A bolt of lightning tore across the sky, followed by a dull rumble of thunder that rolled in from the distance, its power unsettling the soul.

The oppressive, lead-gray clouds stretched as far as the eye could see, seeming so low you could almost reach out and touch them.

Lightning flashed, wild winds howled, and a torrential downpour cascaded from the heavens.

Song Changsheng strolled through the downpour. Huge raindrops fell from the sky, only to be deflected by an invisible barrier around him, sliding harmlessly away.

He stood at the edge of Luoyue Cliff, the [Supreme Profound Thundercloud Pot] resting in his hand. His clear eyes were fixed calmly on the oppressive thunderclouds.

CRACK.

A bolt of lightning cut through the darkness, instantly spidering across the firmament.

Song Changsheng leaped into the air, using Sword Control to ascend. In mid-air, he raised the [Supreme Profound Thundercloud Pot] high.

BOOM!

In that instant, Song Changsheng felt himself locked on to by countless bolts of Thunderbolt, and the hair all over his body stood on end.

CRACK!

A bolt of lightning struck straight down at him. Song Changsheng didn’t dodge or evade. Instead, the [Supreme Profound Thundercloud Pot] in his hand erupted with brilliant light, swallowing the raging Thunderbolt whole.

Immediately after, more Thunderbolts rained down, but without exception, all were absorbed by the [Supreme Profound Thundercloud Pot]. The small iron pot seemed to contain an infinite Space, refusing nothing.

Several hours later, the winds abated and the rain began to cease. The heavy, leaden clouds gradually dispersed, revealing slivers of sunlight.

Song Changsheng floated gracefully to the ground. He felt the [Supreme Profound Thundercloud Pot] in his hand had grown noticeably heavier, and he couldn’t help but feel a surge of delight.

This treasure needed to accumulate Thunder Power in advance. Thus, ever since refining it, Song Changsheng had taken it out to channel Thunderbolts during every storm, just as he had today. By now, it had amassed a considerable amount of power.

’Time to prepare for the trip to Luoxia City,’ Song Changsheng murmured to himself.

Song Changsheng returned to his courtyard, bid farewell to his family, and then piloted a Flying Ship toward Luoxia City.

His movements were considered top secret within the Song Clan, so his departure went unnoticed.

Upon arriving at Luoxia City, he didn’t immediately go to pay his respects to the City Lords. Instead, he made his way to the clan’s newly opened general store.

Looking at the plaque inscribed with the three words ”Moon Viewing Pavilion,” Song Changsheng felt a pang of melancholy. The very first time he had come to Luoxia City, he had stayed at the Moon Viewing Pavilion.

A decade had passed in a flash. The Moon Viewing Pavilion was still here, but much had changed, and many faces were gone.

He stepped inside. Business was much better than before, and the clerks were so busy running around that for a moment, no one noticed him.

Song Qingluo was at the front counter, going over the accounts. He caught a glimpse of a familiar figure out of the corner of his eye. Looking up, he saw Song Changsheng watching him with a gentle smile.

”Clan Leader.” A look of delighted surprise appeared on Song Qingluo’s face.

Song Changsheng made a hushing gesture and motioned for him to speak in the back.

Once they were in the back courtyard and Song Changsheng had taken a seat, he looked at the more mature Song Qingluo and smiled with satisfaction. ”To think the little shop boy who used to run errands is now a family Steward, holding down the fort in this city. Tell me, is everything going smoothly?”

Song Qingluo scratched his head, a little embarrassed. ”Everything’s going well. It’s just that without a Communication Altar, communication is rather inconvenient.”

The original Moon Viewing Pavilion had a Communication Altar, which could transmit information-bearing Jade Scrolls back to Vast Mist Peak in a very short amount of time.

Later, the Moon Viewing Pavilion was caught in the crossfire of a battle between Purple Mansion Cultivators, and the Communication Altar didn’t survive.

These Communication Altars were relics left behind by Song Taiyi; each one destroyed was one that could not be replaced. The problem was never solved after the Moon Viewing Pavilion was rebuilt, and it had become a constant source of worry for Song Qingluo.

”I’ve come today precisely to solve that problem,” Song Changsheng said with a slight smile.

”That’s wonderful!” Song Qingluo’s face lit up, but then he asked, puzzled, ”But I thought the clan didn’t have any Communication Altars left?”

Song Changsheng smiled. ”We are indeed out of Communication Altars. However, I’ve brought something even better.”

”Something better? Don’t tell me it’s a Space Transmission Array?” Song Qingluo asked, startled.

”You’re quick.” Song Changsheng gave him a surprised look. ”That’s right, it’s a Space Transmission Array.”

”When we destroyed the Martial Spirit Sect, the Supreme Elder happened to discover a Space Transmission Array. He dismantled it, took it back to study, and finally had a breakthrough a few months ago. This is the first one he’s managed to craft. It will connect directly to Vast Mist Peak. Once it’s installed, forget just sending messages—traveling back and forth will become much more convenient.”

”That’s absolutely wonderful!” Song Qingluo was ecstatic. With a connecting Teleportation Array, the Moon Viewing Pavilion would no longer be so isolated from the clan. If anything happened, reinforcements could arrive in time.

Song Changsheng glanced at him and chuckled. ”Don’t get too excited. This Space Transmission Array is incredibly expensive to make, and this is the only one we have. It hasn’t even been tested. If there are any problems, I’ll have to dismantle it and take it back.”

”Besides, we have to inform the powers that be in Luoxia City. If they don’t agree, we can forget about installing the Teleportation Array.”

But Song Qingluo waved this off nonchalantly. ”With the Supreme Elder’s mastery of Arrays, I’m sure the Teleportation Array itself will be flawless. As for Luoxia City... that shouldn’t be a problem either.”

”You probably haven’t heard, but Luoxia City has a Black Market now, and they use a Space Transmission Array. If they can set one up, then with your relationship with the city, there’s no reason they’d refuse us.”

”A Black Market?” Song Changsheng frowned slightly as a distant memory surfaced.

He remembered how he had met Peng Siying, the young lady of the Wanlong Commerce Association, through the Black Market in Ten Thousand Swords City. He had even been summoned by a powerful figure and had made a five-year agreement.

’A quick mental calculation told him that the five-year mark was already upon him...’

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