Longevity: Comprehending the Heart Method

"Thank you for your generous gift, Master. I will never forget it!"

Song Changsheng quickly stood and bowed, his words earnest.

Muu Guibai really hadn’t needed to get involved. After all, the City Lord’s Mansion and the auction house had posted their bounties separately, so the matter had nothing to do with him.

Yet, he had taken the initiative to resolve the issue for Song Changsheng before summoning him, saving him a great deal of trouble.

The influence of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator versus that of a Golden Core Master were worlds apart. If he had gone himself, the auction house likely wouldn’t have been so accommodating. It would have even been understandable if they had turned hostile and denied their promise.

After all, so many years had passed, and the person in question had already been found by him and Xu Yunhe. The auction house had more than enough excuses to renege on their debt.

One should never overestimate the integrity of a faction or an individual. Given the value of the Yin Yang Purple Tree Heart, what did a little integrity matter? What could Song Changsheng have possibly done about it?

But with the Great City Lord stepping in, it was a different story. He was not only the host of Luoxia City but also a Golden Core Master. Even the backers behind the auction house wouldn’t want to offend him lightly.

This was tantamount to the Great City Lord using his own prestige to secure a Purple Mansion opportunity for him. How could Song Changsheng not be deeply grateful?

"It is what you deserve," Muu Guibai said with a faint smile before looking at Song Changsheng. "Have you encountered any difficulties in your cultivation recently?"

This was an offer of personal guidance.

A thrill went through Song Changsheng. Personal guidance from a Golden Core Master—what a tremendous opportunity! He quickly brought up several difficult problems he had been facing in his cultivation.

With a smile on his face and a gentle voice, Muu Guibai explained each point one by one, breaking down every problem into its simplest components as if afraid Song Changsheng wouldn’t understand.

Fortunately, Song Changsheng was no mediocrity. He grasped the concepts quickly and was often able to extrapolate, raising a few ideas that even made Muu Guibai’s eyes light up with surprise.

Time flowed by without them noticing. When Song Changsheng finally came to his senses, it was already the morning of the next day. Crystalline dewdrops clung to pink peach blossom petals, making the flowers look exceptionally vibrant.

"Thank you, Master, for the grace of your teachings." Song Changsheng offered a sincere and deep bow.

The favor of receiving personal instruction was extraordinary. According to the traditions of this world, Song Changsheng could now consider himself a disciple of the Great City Lord.

Muu Guibai smiled and nodded, then sighed. "Your aptitude is rare even in the entire Daqi Cultivation World. It’s a shame I didn’t discover you sooner. I have missed out on an unpolished gem."

He had originally intended to just offer some casual guidance, but he hadn’t expected Song Changsheng’s aptitude and talent to be so impressive that even he had to take notice.

Everyone loves a good student, and so he had unwittingly taught Song Changsheng for a full day and night. This was treatment that even his Direct Disciples like Yinn Shang and Zhuang Yuechan rarely received.

This left him feeling both pleasantly surprised and somewhat wistful. If only he had discovered Song Changsheng earlier, perhaps he would have had one more choice for the future. Alas, there are no ’what ifs’ in this world.

Song Changsheng understood the unspoken meaning. He rose again and bowed. "This disciple thanks his teacher for the grace of his instruction!"

Given their current relationship, Song Changsheng was indeed qualified to call himself a disciple of the Great City Lord. This was quite common in the Cultivation Realm, a way for one to raise their own status, but in reality, many such claims went unacknowledged, not even qualifying them as a Named Disciple.

If Song Changsheng were a Loose Cultivator, he would naturally have shamelessly used this to his own advantage. But he was now the Young Clan Leader of the Song Clan, its future leader. His every action represented the clan, so he couldn’t act so rashly and invite ridicule.

That was why he had initially thanked Muu Guibai with the etiquette befitting a junior.

Only after Muu Guibai hinted at his intention to accept him as a disciple did he adopt the etiquette of a disciple in his bow. There was a clear distinction between the two.

As expected, Muu Guibai smiled at his words. He gestured for Song Changsheng to rise. "Very well. From now on, you will be a Named Disciple under me. The cave residence you are currently living in is now yours."

As he spoke, he took out an Identity Token. This Waist Token signified that Muu Guibai acknowledged their relationship, making them master and disciple in name.

This kind of relationship was very superficial. Song Changsheng was not required to formally serve Muu Guibai, nor was Muu Guibai obligated to pass on his core teachings. A few pointers when he was in a good mood would be considered more than enough.

That was why Song Changsheng called him "teacher" rather than "master," just as he had with the late Sunx Chuanming, the clan’s former chief Tributor.

However, what Muu Guibai gave Song Changsheng far exceeded what a typical Named Disciple would receive.

This Waist Token was practically a Life-saving Talisman. If he produced it at a critical moment, anyone would have to show the Great City Lord some deference.

Furthermore, he could use this Waist Token to freely enter and exit Celestial Sound Mountain—a privilege reserved for the formal disciples of the three City Lords and the high-ranking members of the City Lord’s Mansion. And that was not to mention being gifted a cave residence with its own Spiritual Eye, something only a Direct Disciple was entitled to.

Song Changsheng understood clearly. While the main reason was certainly Muu Guibai’s appreciation for his talent, it was more likely because he had saved Yinn Shang and the others in the Griffin Mountain Range.

But to Song Changsheng, it made no difference. He had received tangible benefits, and that was what mattered.

With Luoxia City’s current power, it was in a league of its own in the southwestern region of the Daqi Cultivation World. The Song Clan, located in Ling Province, would inevitably have to act according to Luoxia City’s whims in the future.

Having the status of the Great City Lord’s Named Disciple was entirely beneficial, with no downsides, for both Song Changsheng’s personal development and the future of the Song Clan.