Longevity: Comprehending the Heart Method

In truth, he was getting ahead of himself. The birth of an Artifact Spirit was just like that of a human infant—it, too, needed to grow step by step.

The Artifact Spirit of this Artifact Embryo had only just been born and was still in an ignorant, muddled state, lacking a concept of many things.

Thanks to Little Ninth, the spirit felt an affinity for Song Changsheng. Coupled with its own yearning for freedom, this was why everything had gone so smoothly.

To put it bluntly, it had never seen the world, which allowed Song Changsheng to fool it so easily.

”This is it?” The Artifact Spirit’s voice held a hint of hesitation. It could feel a change happening within itself, but it couldn’t put into words what that change was. It only felt that Song Changsheng had become even more familiar.

”It’s done.” With a wave of his hand, Song Changsheng beckoned the square Artifact Embryo into his palm. It was cool to the touch and surprisingly heavy, and he could feel the powerful energy hidden within.

”Since I already have a Little Ninth, I’ll call you Little Fifth from now on.” Song Changsheng smiled, choosing an incredibly low-effort name.

After placing the Artifact Embryo into his Middle Dantian to be nurtured, Song Changsheng took out several Jade Bottles and filled four of them with Spiritual Liquid from the pool.

This Spiritual Liquid was formed from pure Five Element Spiritual Energy and offered immense benefits for cultivation. It was perfect for Foundation Establishment Cultivators and, being able to continuously regenerate, was incredibly valuable.

Back on the surface, the other three gathered around, asking about the situation below.

Song Changsheng briefly recounted what had happened, then took out the Jade Bottles of Spiritual Liquid and handed them out.

”You lucky bastard. Getting an Innate Treasure for free,” Zhu Yiqun said with a look of mock jealousy.

”A move from the Great City Lord is naturally extraordinary. However, the more you gain now, the more you’ll have to pay in the future. Changsheng, when are you planning to propose? I’d like an invitation to the wedding feast,” Xu Yunhe said, looking at Song Changsheng.

Hearing this, Zhuang Yuechan blushed, but she couldn’t hide the look of anticipation in her eyes.

Song Changsheng walked over to Zhuang Yuechan, took her soft hands, and said with great solemnity, ”The day I break through to the Purple Mansion realm, I will go to Celestial Sound Mountain and ask your master for your hand in marriage.”

The tips of Zhuang Yuechan’s ears turned red, and in a voice barely above a whisper, she said, ”I’ll wait for you.”

”Hey, hey, hey! That’s enough, you two. There are other people here, you know,” Zhu Yiqun said, exasperated.

”Then just don’t look,” Song Changsheng retorted, wrapping his arm around Zhuang Yuechan’s shoulders with righteous confidence.

Seeing the two bickering, Xu Yunhe smiled. ”Alright, you two, settle down. Our work here isn’t finished. Changsheng, what do you need us to do next?”

”The clan should be sending people over soon. Before they arrive, let’s do some reconnaissance and get a clear idea of the situation.”

”Okay, let’s split up. You go with Yuechan, and I’ll go with Brother Zhu. That’ll be more efficient.”

The four quickly agreed, splitting up to scout the area with Five Elements Peak as their starting point.

After about ten days, the four of them finally had a general grasp of the lay of the land.

Because the Allied Army had already swept through the area, the Demon Race’s presence was no longer a significant threat. In that time, they only encountered a few Tier Two Demon Beasts, which they casually dispatched, turning them into meat for the grill and broth for the pot.

The land was rich in resources, with numerous Spirit Plants, Spiritual Springs, and mineral veins. The only issue was that a small portion of it bordered the Demon Race’s territory, separated only by a great river. They would have to guard against future Demon Beast invasions.

Other than that, the place was practically a treasure trove.

Once they understood the situation, Song Changsheng’s group began to develop the summit of Five Elements Peak. They built a few houses and deployed a Mountain Protection Array as they waited for the Song Clan’s reinforcements to arrive.

During this period, Xu Yunhe frequently went out to hunt Demon Beasts, Zhu Yiqun devoted himself to culinary research, Zhuang Yuechan focused on her cultivation, and Song Changsheng entered seclusion to refine the Artifact Embryo.

As the saying goes, jade must be carved to be useful. As good as the Artifact Embryo was, it still needed to be refined to unleash its true power.

Based on the Artifact Embryo’s shape, Song Changsheng decided to refine it into a ”seal.”

He took out his Bronze Cauldron for Artifact Refining, tossed the Artifact Embryo inside, pursed his lips, and spat out a cluster of deep blue flames to heat the cauldron’s base.

Ever since refining the kindling of the Earth Core Cold Flame, Song Changsheng had discovered he could still wield its power, with spitting fire being one manifestation of this ability.

Refining an Innate Spiritual Artifact was different from crafting a regular Magical Artifact. No additional materials were needed; one only had to completely fuse its inherent Dao Rhyme with its physical form.

This was easier said than done, however.

Song Changsheng was only a Tier Two top-grade Artifact Refiner, so refining a Magical Treasure was still a bit of a stretch for him.

After half a year of arduous struggle in seclusion, Song Changsheng finally managed to refine the Artifact Embryo into a true Low-Grade Treasure.

Gazing at the sparkling, translucent great seal before him, Song Changsheng was absolutely enamored with it.

Compared to its previous embryonic form, it was now a trapezoidal jade seal, wider at the top and narrower at the bottom. It was cyan-white all over, with its four sides engraved with the images of the Four Great Holy Beasts: the Vermilion Bird, the Black Tortoise, the Cyan Dragon, and the White Tiger.

The handle on top was a lifelike sculpture of a Five Elements Spirit Beast.

This Jade Seal possessed a suppressive power and would have a miraculous effect when used in conjunction with the Little Divine Technique, the Mountain-Flipping Seal.

”Time to give it a name,” Song Changsheng said softly, stroking his chin.

Naming a Magical Treasure couldn’t be as simple and crude as naming an Artifact Spirit. The name had to truly befit the treasure itself.

After pondering for a long moment, a smile crept onto Song Changsheng’s face. ”I’ll call it the Five Elements Creation Seal.”

In the Cultivation Realm, names carried great significance. Song Changsheng had always suspected his own ancestor, Song Taiyi, died young simply because he couldn’t bear the weight of the name ”Taiyi.”

As for this Magical Treasure’s name, the word ”Creation” was not one to be used lightly. However, since the great seal in his hand was born of heaven and earth, using the word ”Creation” was not an overstep.

The moment he spoke, the three words ”Five Elements Creation” automatically appeared on the Jade Seal’s smooth face in the form of Yin Runes, deepening the connection between them.

Though both were Low-Grade Treasures, the power he could unleash with the Five Elements Creation Seal was completely different from that of the Supreme Profound Thundercloud Pot. This was not only due to the presence of Little Fifth, but also because he had frequently nourished it with his Essence Blood during the refinement process.

The Five Elements Creation Seal was connected to his very thoughts, and wielding it felt as natural as moving his own limbs. With this seal in hand, his combat prowess would rise to a whole new level.

”Just this one Spirit Pill left.” Song Changsheng looked at the Five-Colored Demon Pill in his hand, unable to conceal his excitement.

He had already made his plans. Once this matter was concluded, he would go to Luoxia City and ask Elder Xiao Qingwan to refine a Five Elements Heavenly Spirit Pill for him. After that, he would enter seclusion to break through to the Purple Mansion realm.

The moment he broke through to the Purple Mansion realm would be the moment the Song Clan truly began to soar!

He pushed open the wooden door and found that Zhu Yiqun had already prepared a table full of delicacies. The fragrant aroma was enough to make one’s mouth water.

”See? What did I tell you all? I knew he’d come out of seclusion today,” Zhu Yiqun said with a grin, pointing at Song Changsheng.

”Alright, alright, you’re the best, happy now? Changsheng, was your seclusion successful?” Xu Yunhe replied to Zhu Yiqun perfunctorily before turning to Song Changsheng.

Song Changsheng sat down on the left and nodded. ”My gains were immense. I feel like it won’t be long before I can break through to become a Tier Three Low-Grade Artifact Refiner.”

”Tsk. A Tier Three Artifact Refiner... there are barely any of those in the entire Daqi,” Zhu Yiqun mused, smacking his lips.

”Your Array skills must be close to a breakthrough too, right?”

”Mhm. This time, I’m planning to try setting up a Tier Three Low-Grade Space Transmission Array.”

”What the hell, what kind of brain do you have? It’s bad enough that you cultivate so fast, but your talent for the Hundred Skills of Cultivation is also this insane? Is there no justice in this world?” Zhu Yiqun wailed dramatically.

”Weren’t you already a Tier Three Low-Grade Medicinal Chef a long time ago? Why are you envious of me?” Song Changsheng shook his head. ’This damn fatty just loves to put on a show.’

”How is that the same?”

”Alright, that’s enough out of you two,” Zhuang Yuechan said, placing a piece of tiger meat in Song Changsheng’s bowl. ”It’s been so long. Why haven’t Elder Song and the others arrived? I hope nothing has happened to them.”

Song Changsheng frowned slightly, but his expression quickly smoothed over. He stood up and smiled. ”Speak of Cao Cao, and he shall appear.”

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