Longevity: Comprehending the Heart Method

Song Qingxing was decisive, and his move abrupt. Not only were Song Changsheng and the others unprepared, but even Song Qingxi was caught completely off guard.

Despite this, when Song Changsheng asked, Song Qingxi’s response was crisp and clear, without a hint of hesitation. ”I am willing.”

Joy visibly spread across Song Qingxing’s face. He felt incredibly happy, but he didn’t know how to express it.

Song Changsheng nodded, gratified. ”Good. Excellent. Since Xi’Er is willing, I have no reason to stand in the way. On behalf of my elder brother, I approve this marriage.”

With that, Song Changsheng walked forward and took the hand of a bashful Song Qingxi. He led her to Song Qingxing and placed her hand in his. Looking at Song Qingxing, he spoke with heartfelt gravity:

”I was the one who personally brought you up the mountain, and I watched you grow up. I know the kind of person you are, and I trust you. But there are some things that must be said upfront.

Before my elder brother left, he entrusted Xi’Er to my care. In my heart, she is like my own daughter. Today, I am placing her in your hands. You must love her for a lifetime, protect her for an eternity, and cherish all that she is.

If you dare betray her, don’t blame me for being ruthless.”

”I will take your teachings to heart, Uncle. If I ever break my vow, may I be struck by five bolts of lightning and have my body ground to dust.”

BOOM—

The moment Song Qingxing finished speaking, a clap of thunder suddenly boomed across the clear sky, the sound echoing for a long, long time.

”A Heart Demon Oath... To think he’s so infatuated that he’d dare wager his entire path of cultivation. Fellow Daoist Song,” Yuann Tianshu said, glancing at Song Xianming, ”aren’t you afraid of losing such a promising talent?”

”Our children will have their own fortunes. We old timers shouldn’t meddle too much,” Song Xianming said with a pleasant smile, lightly stroking his beard. ”If that day ever comes, they will have to bear the consequences themselves.”

Hearing this, Yuann Tianshu couldn’t help but roll his eyes. ”Tch. If your own precious grandson wasn’t so successful, I doubt you’d have the nerve to say that.”

”Hahaha, you’ve hit the nail on the head, Brother Yuann! The confidence I have comes from my dear grandson. With him around, the Song Clan is guaranteed to prosper for at least another four hundred years!”

Song Xianming let out a hearty laugh. He then clasped his hands behind his back and ambled off, soon vanishing from everyone’s view.

Yuann Tianshu shook his head slightly, glanced in the direction where Song Qingxia was in seclusion, and then also turned to leave.

Meanwhile, Song Changsheng turned back to Song Qingxi. ”Xi’Er, the same goes for you. Dao companions are not like mortal husband and wife. The road ahead of you is very long.

You must understand, accept, and support one another. On the path to eternal life, you must never abandon each other. Rely on each other in life and death!”

Endless tenderness filled Song Qingxi’s eyes. She squeezed Song Qingxing’s broad hand and said with deep emotion, ”With your hand in mine, I will never fail you. If I break this vow, may ten thousand ants devour my heart, and may I suffer the Annihilation of Body and Spirit!”

BOOM—

Another clap of thunder boomed. Song Qingxi had also made a Heart Demon Oath.

This meant that if either of them were to go back on their promises in the future, they would be plagued by a Heart Demon, their Dao Heart forever tainted!

Unless they reached a realm where they could defy the Heavenly Dao Laws, this oath would bind them for eternity.

”Childhood sweethearts, innocent and pure, finally getting their happy ending. Ah, to be young again,” Song Luzhou sighed wistfully. He then departed with Song Chang’an and Song Luyun.

After everyone else had left, Song Changsheng cleared his throat twice and lowered his voice. ”Although I’ve agreed to you two becoming Dao companions, there’s something I need to warn you about.

A Cultivator’s Yang Yuan and Yin Yuan are extremely important when breaking through to the Purple Mansion realm. Before then... it would be best for you to exercise some restraint. Ahem. You understand what I mean, don’t you?”

He was being discreet, but neither of them was a child. They understood his meaning instantly.

Song Qingxi’s face instantly turned bright red. As a young, unmarried woman, she found such topics a bit overwhelming.

A rare hint of embarrassment even appeared on Song Qingxing’s face.

”Ahem, as long as you understand. Xi’Er has just had her breakthrough, so she needs to solidify her gains. Go and consolidate your Cultivation first. Everything else can wait.”

Song Changsheng nodded and then hastily departed. Discussing such things with two members of the younger generation was quite awkward for him as well...

「In the blink of an eye, three months flew by.」

During this period, the remaining five people also achieved their breakthroughs one after another.

Song Qingxia, as expected, became the third person in this group to successfully become a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. The entire process was smooth sailing, without a single hitch.

After her, however, Song Qingchi and Song Changling both failed their breakthroughs. Although their lives were saved, their Primordial Qi was severely damaged, and it would be two or three years before they could even get out of bed.

The fourth to succeed was Song Qinghong. This rising Array prodigy, the best the Song Clan had seen since Song Changsheng, nearly fell at the Physical Body Barrier. He had to grit his teeth and force his way through, but he made it out safely in the end.

The most surprising success was Song Qinghua, who also managed to break through.

In other words, of the seven who went into seclusion, five succeeded: Song Qingxi, Song Qingshi, Song Qingxia, Song Qinghong, and Song Qinghua. Only Song Qingchi and Song Changling failed. This marked the Song Clan’s highest breakthrough success rate in five hundred years.

With this, the number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the Song Clan surged to eighteen. Including Song Yushi and Song Yulong, the total reached twenty. This number was finally beginning to befit the Song Clan’s status as a Purple Mansion Family.