Longevity: Comprehending the Heart Method

”Daoist Changrong, the two of us have been ordered here to help guard Moon Viewing Marketplace. We await your command!”

Inside the Garrison Mansion of Moon Viewing Marketplace, Zhang Huaidao and Qii Yuanli cupped their hands toward Song Changrong and spoke, their voices full of vigor.

”Now that you two daoists are here, I feel much more at ease. Please, have a seat.” Song Changrong was overjoyed. He had been worrying about being short-handed, and now reinforcements had arrived just in time.

The main battlefield for this war was Vast Mist Peak, while Moon Viewing Marketplace’s role was to pin down enemy forces.

For that reason, Song Luzhou had only left Song Changrong, Song Qingqing, and Song Changxue to pilot the Quasi-Celestial Ship, along with fifty Qi Cultivators to maintain order and stability in the Marketplace.

Under normal circumstances, this would have been fine. But in times of war, Song Changrong and the others had to pilot the Quasi-Celestial Ship against the enemy. This left the Marketplace’s defenses looking rather thin.

After all, many Loose Cultivators were still lingering in the Marketplace, and there was no telling if some with treacherous intentions were mixed among them. It would be a serious problem if they took the opportunity to cause chaos, so sufficient forces had to be left behind to maintain stability.

It was because Song Luzhou had considered this that he sent Zhang Huaidao and Qii Yuanli over.

The two had originally been Loose Cultivators. A few years ago, they presented a jar of [Dragon Blood Mud] to Song Changsheng and pledged their allegiance.

Song Changsheng had designated two plots of land for them in the Liuyun Mountain Range to serve as the foundation for their new clans.

Over the years, both men had taken many wives and concubines. They had fathered numerous children, but because not much time had passed, none of them had yet matured. Thus, when they answered the Song Clan’s summons, they both came alone.

For Song Changrong, however, their arrival was a godsend.

With one at Mid-stage Foundation Establishment and the other at Late-stage Foundation Establishment, they were more than enough to maintain stability in the Marketplace, freeing Song Changrong from his worries.

When Song Changrong explained his plan to them, the two readily accepted their assignments without the slightest hesitation.

Although the Lieyang Sect and the Rong Clan were coming on strong, the two men firmly believed that the Song Clan would win this war. They had faith in the clan’s strength and potential—which was the main reason they had chosen to pledge their allegiance in the first place!

As long as the Song Clan could overcome this hurdle, its rise would be meteoric. And by backing this great tree, they too would one day enjoy its shade.

And many others shared their sentiment.

Just as they were arriving at Moon Viewing Marketplace, the contingents from the Yu Clan, the Wang Clan, and the Liuyun Sect reached the foot of Vast Mist Peak.

Judging by the size of their contingents, it was clear they had not taken the Song Clan’s summons lightly.

For this battle, the Wang Clan was personally led by Clan Leader Wang Qingquan. Accompanying him were Foundation Establishment Cultivators such as Young Clan Leader Wang Qianqian and Wang Qianmo, who had broken through several years ago with the help of the [Stalactite Spiritual Liquid] from the Wutong Secret Realm.

In addition, they brought over two hundred Qi Cultivators, all of whom were clan elites with cultivation at Mid-stage Qi Refining or higher.

Only the elderly Wang Wanzhou remained to guard their home, meaning the clan had practically emptied its nest for this war.

The Liuyun Sect was not to be outdone. Sect Leader Liu Hongye personally led the contingent, accompanied by Foundation Establishment Cultivators Liu Yiye, Chen Hongxia, and Zhang Bihai, as well as over three hundred Qi Cultivators. While not all of them were elites, the sect clearly wasn’t cutting corners; only his younger clan brother, Liu Hongyan, was left to guard their headquarters.

Compared to the other two, the Yu Clan’s contingent seemed rather thin. Their only Foundation Establishment Cultivator was the Clan Leader, Yu Xueqian, and they had fewer than one hundred and fifty Qi Cultivators.

It was a lamentable state for a great clan that had once ranked among the top three in Ling Province.

One could only blame Yu Chengshan and Yu Chengzhou for backing the wrong side; otherwise, the Yu Clan’s strength today wouldn’t be much less than the Liuyun Sect’s.

Then again, it was also thanks to those two switching sides at a critical moment that the Yu Clan was given a chance to survive, while the Martial Spirit Sect of that same era had already been reduced to dust.

This just went to show that making the wrong choice wasn’t what was truly frightening; what was truly frightening was stubbornly staying on the wrong path until the very end.

But returning to the matter at hand, with the arrival of these reinforcements, the Song Clan’s strength swelled, and the defenses of Vast Mist Peak became all the more solid.

Song Luzhou personally received them and invited them to join the pre-battle council.

As this was the final meeting before the battle, more than twenty Foundation Establishment Cultivators were in attendance. Song Xianming and Yuann Tianshu also made an appearance to observe.

”Luzhou, let’s begin.” Seeing that everyone had arrived, Song Xianyun said with a light cough.

Song Luzhou nodded. He stood and cupped his hands toward Wang Qingquan and the others. ”Time is short, so I will dispense with the formalities. Thank you, fellow Daoists, for lending us your aid. After this battle, the Song Clan will be sure to reward you generously.

”Next, I will assign your defensive posts. If anyone has any objections, please feel free to voice them.

”Sect Leader Liu.”

”I am here.” Liu Hongye rose, his expression solemn.

”Our clan’s Supreme Elder has improved the Song Clan’s Clan Protection Array, which is now divided into two parts: a core and an outer perimeter.

”The core, centered on Vast Mist Peak, is protected by the Tier Three Middle Grade [Thousand Illusionary Maze Array].

”The outer perimeter is formed by Spirit Plant Mountain, Spirit Embroidery Mountain, and Jade Bamboo Mountain—all located outside Vast Mist Peak—and is defended by the Tier Three Low Grade [Three Mountains Linked Array].

”The two arrays, one internal and one external, are balanced for both offense and defense. Even a Purple Mansion Cultivator would suffer a grievous blow trying to break through them.

”However, the [Three Mountains Linked Array] has three Array Hubs, each of which must be guarded by a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivator.

”I must ask you, Sect Leader, to lead the daoists of the Liuyun Sect in defending Spirit Plant Mountain, which faces the front of Vast Mist Peak. This is the Token that controls the Array; you must keep it safe.”

As he spoke, Song Luzhou retrieved a Jade Token from his robes and solemnly placed it in Liu Hongye’s hands.

He then turned to Wang Qingquan, producing another Jade Token. ”Then Spirit Embroidery Mountain, on the right flank, shall be defended by the Wang Clan,” he said with a smile.