Longevity: Comprehending the Heart Method

He must have tripped by accident, but instead of crying, he gave Song Changsheng a pure, innocent smile.

Looking at those big, watery eyes, Song Changsheng felt all his fatigue melt away. Laughing heartily, he strode forward, scooped up the little tyke, and planted a loud SMACK on his chubby little cheek. "Little Lingyun, it’s rare to see you awake. Did you miss me?"

He knew the Grand Elder had officially named the little fellow Song Qingyun, but he was still in the habit of calling him Lingyun. The name was filled with the high hopes he had for the boy.

The little fellow was already a year and a half old. He reached out with a chubby little hand to tightly grip Song Changsheng’s collar, lisping in a babyish voice, "Dada."

That single sound was enough to melt Song Changsheng’s heart. In two lifetimes, this was the first time he’d truly become a father, and he was overjoyed. A wide grin spread across his face, and he felt so light he could have floated away.

"I can’t believe Yun’Er actually remembers you." Just then, Xia Yunxue walked out from the courtyard, looking somewhat surprised to see the father and son getting along so joyfully.

After all, children that young usually don’t remember things well. Lingyun had always been with her, and he was less than a year old when Song Changsheng left. For him to show no sign of unfamiliarity after so long and even call him ’dada’ was truly bizarre.

"Hahaha, I told you before. This little guy and I are destined to be close."

Song Changsheng lifted the little fellow high into the air, immediately making him giggle and kick his short little legs back and forth.

"Uncle is back." Hearing the commotion from her room, Song Qingxi walked out.

Now nearly twenty, Song Qingxi had blossomed into an even more graceful and elegant young woman. With slender, curved brows, eyes like constellations, and crimson lips that needed no rouge, her tall, willowy figure was the very picture of a city-toppling beauty.

It made Song Changsheng marvel at how much a young woman can change. ’Some lucky fool is really getting a bargain,’ he thought.

"Already at the Qi Refining Ninth Layer? Not bad. It seems your Cultivation hasn’t fallen behind. You have a good chance of reaching Foundation Establishment before you turn thirty." Song Changsheng nodded in satisfaction, then glanced around. "Is Qingxing not home?"

"He’s cultivating at Luoyue Cliff," Song Qingxi replied.

"Alright, I’ll go take a look." Song Changsheng nodded, set Little Lingyun on the ground to play by himself, and then headed for Luoyue Cliff.

Luoyue Cliff, so named because one could watch the moon set from its peak, was a place where he had often cultivated in the past. When Song Changsheng arrived, Song Qingxing was sitting cross-legged in a stone pavilion with his back to him, circulating his Heart Method.

But Song Changsheng quickly and keenly noticed that the Heart Method Song Qingxing was practicing had changed.

He used to practice the Qi Nourishing Technique, passed down from their ancestor Song Taiyi. It was the Song Clan’s only Heart Method suitable for a Sword Cultivator.

However, the way Song Qingxing was circulating his Spiritual Power was clearly not from the Qi Nourishing Technique, nor did it match any of the Song Clan’s known Heart Methods.

Song Changsheng frowned slightly but had no intention of interfering. Song Qingxing was no longer a novice on the path of cultivation; only he himself could know which Heart Method was the best fit for him.

’Isn’t the Heart Method I practice one that I comprehended myself from the Daoist Scripture?’ he thought.

’His sharp edge is restrained, and his aura is profound. It seems his foundation is very solid. Not bad.’

Song Changsheng nodded to himself in approval. As a Sword Cultivator who had comprehended Sword Intent, he knew it was incredibly difficult to restrain one’s edge. Usually, a cultivator’s overt sharpness would only begin to recede upon reaching Late-stage Foundation Establishment, or even Foundation Establishment Great Perfection. Yet Song Qingxing had accomplished it in such a short time, which was a surprise even to him.

He didn’t make a sound to disturb him. After standing there for a moment, he prepared to turn and leave.

"Uncle."

Just as he turned to leave, Song Qingxing called out to him.

Song Changsheng turned back, somewhat surprised. ’Has the sun risen in the west?’ he wondered.

"There is something I wish to discuss with you," Song Qingxing said, ceasing his meditation and rising to his feet. He looked at Song Changsheng with a serious expression.

"What is it?"

"I plan to leave the mountain to train for a period of time."

Song Changsheng fell into thought upon hearing this. Compared to himself, Song Qingxing truly lacked real-world experience. While this had been for his own protection, it was extremely detrimental to his future development.

Thus, he did not refuse. He nodded and said, "Very well. But the clan has a rather important meeting tomorrow that you need to attend. After it’s over, you can leave the mountain whenever you wish."

"Thank you, Uncle." Song Qingxing bowed respectfully.

Song Changsheng almost thought he had misheard. ’Are those words that Song Qingxing is even capable of saying?’

Looking at Song Qingxing’s stern expression, he confirmed that the young man hadn’t been subjected to Possession or secretly replaced. A wave of sentiment washed over him. ’It’s not just young women who change so much; young men do, too.’

’If Song Qingxi has gotten prettier,’ he mused, ’then Song Qingxing has become more human.’

’This is a good thing. I’ll have to have a couple of drinks to celebrate when I get back.’

Then, Song Changsheng casually glanced at the Bronze Mirror at Song Qingxing’s waist and said, "Remember to come home early for dinner tonight. Don’t keep everyone waiting."

With that said, he clasped his hands behind his back and walked away, his feet rustling through the fallen leaves.

After he was a good distance away, Wujie poked his head out of the Bronze Mirror. Floating in mid-air, he asked, "Is that the man you were talking about? How old is he?"

"Not yet thirty."

"Hiss..."

Wujie couldn’t help but suck in a sharp, cold breath.

With his sharp eyes, he could discern a great deal from even a fleeting glance. A Late-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivation was nothing special in his view. Song Qingxing was younger than the man, and his future achievements might not necessarily be inferior.

But he had also seen a faint, intermittent Sword Qi surrounding Song Changsheng, which indicated profound attainments in the Sword Dao. Furthermore, the man’s blood pulsed like a rushing river, accompanied by the faint roars of tigers and leopards—a sign of a powerful physique.