Longevity: Comprehending the Heart Method

Song Changsheng and his party concealed their presence, retreating nearly a thousand miles away before contacting Bai Zhengchun and the others.

After receiving their message, Bai Zhengchun and the others arrived to rendezvous with them in less than an ancient hour.

After a brief report on the situation, Bai Zhengchun mused for a moment before asking, ”Have you seen any sign of Soulless?”

”We haven’t seen him. After you led the ambush back in Luoxia City, I’m afraid he... won’t be coming,” Song Changsheng said quietly.

’If I were in Soulless’s shoes,’ Song Changsheng thought, ’I would never show my face again after that ambush in Luoxia City.’

That was why he truly believed the Luoxia Faction’s plan was destined to fail.

’Still, whether it fails or not has nothing to do with me. Now that I’m here, I’m definitely taking the Song Clan’s share back with me.’

Bai Zhengchun’s expression remained unchanged. ”He’ll come,” he said calmly. ”Even if not now, he’ll seek you out eventually. When he does, you just need to give him the Celestial Purity Demon-Extinguishing Mirror.”

”Sir, the Celestial Purity Demon-Extinguishing Mirror is the sacred treasure of the Demon Suppression Hall. If we’re going to do this... shouldn’t we inform them first?” Song Changsheng asked hesitantly.

’The Daqi Cultivation World is currently split into three major powers,’ he mused. ’Technically, the Demon Suppression Hall and the Song Clan are both part of the Luoxia Faction. We’re all supposed to be allies. Even if it’s for the sake of subduing demons and defending the Dao, acting without informing them just doesn’t feel right.’

”It doesn’t matter. I’ll talk to Fengg Zhongyi about it after the fact,” Bai Zhengchun said with commanding arrogance. ”But first, we have to get this done.”

Song Changsheng couldn’t help but roll his eyes. ’So it’s ’ask for forgiveness, not permission,’’ he thought.

He had only been asking casually, though. Since Bai Zhengchun had made up his mind, he wouldn’t press the issue. Instead, he asked directly, ”Then what about their guards?”

A cold glint flashed in the depths of Bai Zhengchun’s eyes. ”Tonight, we attack directly,” he said icily. ”Anyone who stands in our way dies!”

His words were invigorating. The group’s morale soared, and they declared in unison, ”As you command!”

...

Night fell, shrouding the Hundred Thousand Mountains in darkness. The long, drawn-out roars of beasts echoed one after another, lending an air of savagery to the vast mountain range.

In contrast, the Blood Demon Sect’s encampment was brightly lit. Nearly a hundred Blood Demon Sect Members were gathered around a pitch-black statue that towered over a hundred feet tall. Led by an old man in a blood-red robe wielding a Flaming Bone Staff, they were muttering a low chant.

Wisps of blood-red Evil Qi seeped from their bodies, coalescing into a crimson cloud.

Suddenly, a tiger’s roar echoed nearby. A Hanging Eye White-Fronted Tiger, standing over ten feet tall at the shoulder, crouched low in a combat stance as it cautiously approached.

The moment it entered the crimson cloud, the Tiger Demon shuddered violently. Its eyes turned scarlet. Then, in a bizarre motion, it rose onto its hind legs, curling its front paws against its chest, just like... a pilgrim.

It approached the pitch-black statue with a pious expression, prostrated itself respectfully, and then became perfectly still.

One of the Blood Demon Sect Members walked up its tail and across its spine to the back of its neck. He reached out and slapped the top of its head. The Tiger Demon’s skull cap was instantly torn open. It let out an agonized howl but remained completely immobile.

At the same time, the old man standing at the base of the statue also fell to his knees, crying out piously, ”My King, your humble servant offers you this Blood Food!”

”My King, your humble servant offers you this Blood Food!”

The elder’s action seemed to trigger a chain reaction. In a great wave, the hundred-odd Blood Demon Sect Members fell to their knees, endlessly repeating his words.

Then, a horrifying scene unfolded. A stream of blood essence, as thick as a pinky finger, suddenly rose from the top of the Tiger Demon’s head. It was drawn by an invisible force into the mouth of the statue.

The Tiger Demon’s body shriveled at a speed visible to the naked eye, until it was nothing but a desiccated corpse that collapsed to the ground with a heavy THUD.

The Tiger Demon’s death was only the beginning. One by one, Pig Demons, Wolf Demons, Fox Demons, and others emerged from the surroundings. Just like the tiger before them, they all prostrated themselves before the statue with crimson eyes, waiting to become Blood Food.

Just as the Blood Demon Cultists were crying out in a frenzy, a streak of light descended with the speed of a thunderclap, and the pitch-black statue’s head instantly exploded, sending shards of rock flying everywhere.

”My King!”

The sudden turn of events stunned every Blood Demon Cultist present. As they watched the statue topple, they let out grief-stricken howls, as if they had just lost their own fathers.

”Who?! Who did this?! Show yourself!” the Blood Robe elder roared, his eyes wide with fury. His hawk-like gaze burned with rage, like a ravenous beast about to pounce.

”I am here. What are you going to do about it?” Clad in white, Bai Zhengchun stood high among the clouds, looking down upon them with an air of absolute, domineering contempt.

At the same moment, the figures of Shen Qingxiu and Li Shidao appeared from two other directions, their bodies surging with tumultuous Spiritual Power.

The Blood Robe elder’s expression changed drastically at this sight. But just as he was about to act, the three of them descended upon him in a coordinated attack.

”Send word to headquarters at once! We’re under attack!” The words had barely left his lips when the elder, filled with blazing fury, charged forward to meet the three of them head-on.

The elder’s shout snapped the other Blood Demon Sect Members out of their stupor. Several of the higher-ranking ones immediately took out Communication Flying Swords to send out a message.

But the flying swords were stopped by an invisible barrier before they had even flown three miles.

Since Bai Zhengchun and his people had chosen to strike, they had naturally come fully prepared. Tonight, not even a mosquito was getting out of here.

”The area’s been sealed off! Fight your way out!” a Blood Demon Sect Steward roared.