Longevity: Comprehending the Heart Method

”Zhang Yuheng of the Golden Crow Sect. I have come for your guidance!”

A clear voice echoed across the arena, lingering for a long time and shocking everyone present. The Golden Crow Sect had already claimed one fighting ring, and now they wanted to seize a second?

”They’re trying to eliminate Luoxia City ahead of schedule!” Fengg Zhongyi exclaimed in alarm, nearly tearing out the long beard he had so painstakingly grown.

”The height of shamelessness!” Huaa Ruoxi’s beautiful face was dark with rage, her eyes blazing with fury. She realized she had overestimated the integrity of these so-called Major Sects. They had absolutely no shame.

Zhan Tianxia’s expression darkened. Swallowing his rage, he looked to Bai Zimo at the judges’ panel and said, ”Master Bai, what is the meaning of this?”

In the face of this question, Bai Zimo remained perfectly composed. ”My sect’s disciples are competing for a ring,” he said mildly. ”Is there something you’re confused about, Second City Lord?”

”Doesn’t your sect already have a ring?” Zhan Tianxia felt his anger about to boil over.

”We do,” Bai Zimo said with a nod. Then his tone shifted, and he chuckled. ”But... who ever said a sect could only hold one?”

”You!” Zhan Tianxia raged.

”Tianxia.”

Muu Guibai rose to stop Zhan Tianxia. He looked toward the head referee, Luu Yuming, and asked, ”Master Luu, was there any rule established beforehand stating that a sect cannot occupy two rings?”

Luu Yuming hesitated. If he said no, then the fairness of this competition would undoubtedly be ruined.

But he couldn’t say yes, either, because no such rule had ever been mentioned.

The Golden Crow Sect was simply too shameless. It was the common understanding that while the Celestial Vein Sect and Luoxia City fought for a spot in the finals, the Golden Crow Sect would advance directly. Who could have predicted that, for the sake of owning Tuo Province, the Golden Crow Sect would abandon all pretense of honor?

After a long, conflicted moment, Luu Yuming finally gave Muu Guibai an apologetic shake of his head.

Muu Guibai understood. He nodded silently and sat back down, his face expressionless.

”Senior Brother, are we just going to let this go?” Zhan Tianxia clenched his fists, his face a mask of indignation.

”Strength is the foundation of everything. We are weaker than them, so we have no say in the matter.” Muu Guibai’s expression was calm. He had long suspected this competition wouldn’t go smoothly.

Luoxia City had only just begun its rise; it couldn’t yet challenge the standing of the two Major Sects. As long as their opponents operated within the rules, Luoxia City could only endure the humiliation in silence. They simply didn’t have the power to flip the table.

”We will not always be weak, and the two Major Sects will not always be strong. The future is in our hands.” Muu Guibai’s gaze hardened as he secretly clenched a fist hidden within his sleeve...

”Zhang Yuheng of the Golden Crow Sect versus Yinn Shang of Luoxia City. The match begins now!” High above the ring, Luu Yuming’s weary voice rang out, and the crowd instantly erupted.

”Isn’t the Golden Crow Sect just taking advantage of their situation?” one cultivator asked, filled with righteous indignation.

”Worse than that, it’s utterly shameless! Luoxia City only has two people left who can fight, while all five members of the Golden Crow Sect have been resting and conserving their strength. It’s five against two! They could win just by wearing them down one by one.”

”The Golden Crow Sect and the Celestial Vein Sect are cut from the same cloth. To them, the rules of the competition are a complete joke,” someone sneered.

”Sigh... What a shame for Luoxia City. If they’d made it to the finals, they might have had a chance to take the championship. Now, they’ve got no chance at all.”

The surrounding discussions were exceptionally grating to the ears of the Golden Crow Sect disciples.

Not all of them were so shameless. Some, their faces flushed red, tried to argue with the crowd, only to be shut down within a few exchanges. In the end, they could only pretend not to hear.

Yet their expressions were a clear testament to their own confusion and anger. Not all of them were so shameless; they, too, wanted to face Luoxia City in an honorable battle. But with no power to decide, they were unable to stop Bai Zimo’s bullheadedness.

Among the tens of thousands of spectators, some condemned the move, others looked on with contempt, but some were simply thrilled.

Yinn Shang was Luoxia City’s lead disciple, a competitor worthy of the finals. Zhang Yuheng was the leader of the Golden Crow Sect’s contingent and a finalist-caliber fighter himself.

These two represented the strongest combat power at the Foundation Establishment Stage in the entire Daqi Cultivation World. For them to clash now was like seeing the final battle begin ahead of schedule. How could anyone not be excited?

Unfortunately, the fighting ring was completely sealed off. The two combatants on the stage had no idea what was happening in the spectator stands.

Yinn Shang and Zhang Yuheng stood opposite each other, one holding a flute, the other a sword. Their auras clashed relentlessly, coiling around each other in mid-air, a faint sound like the roar of a tiger and the cry of a dragon hanging between them.

”Get over here and die!” Yinn Shang roared, his gaze on Zhang Yuheng absolutely frigid.

’Even a clay man has a bit of Fire Qi. No matter how good his temper, Yinn Shang couldn’t help but explode at this moment. They had gone through hell and paid such a heavy price to defeat the Celestial Vein Sect, only for the Golden Crow Sect to shamelessly jump in and take advantage. If this could be tolerated, what couldn’t?!’

The smile on Zhang Yuheng’s face froze. His gaze turned sinister as he said coldly, ”Then by all means, I await your instruction!”

SHIIING—

With a flick of his wrist, the Three-foot Cyan Blade flew from his hand, ringing sharply in mid-air. An endless torrent of Sword Qi surged forth, chilling the soul.

Yinn Shang couldn’t be bothered with any more empty words. He raised the verdant Jade Flute to his mouth, his lips barely moving as his long, slender fingers danced over the holes, producing a graceful and flowing melody.

Intricate notes layered and scattered, drifting and flowing.

The instant the music reached his ears, a sense of peace washed over him, and his tense nerves began to relax involuntarily. The powerful aura around Zhang Yuheng started to fade.

Suddenly, the flute’s melody twisted, becoming sharp and forceful, like a chaotic dance of blades. Killing intent flooded the air.