Longevity: Comprehending the Heart Method

Besides, hadn’t they all seen the two Purple Mansion Great Cultivators politely express their thanks? If they didn’t follow suit, wouldn’t they be disrespecting those two great figures?

And so, Song Changsheng received all sorts of tokens. For a moment, he could barely hold them all in his two hands.

After this was all done, the crowd made their excuses and left one by one. After all, as the ones who had failed, they felt they couldn’t hold their heads high in front of Song Changsheng and his group.

Once everyone had gone, Yinn Shang looked at the various tokens in Song Changsheng’s hands and couldn’t help but chuckle. "Among these are famous Loose Cultivators, disciples from the Seven Eminent Clans, and even prized pupils of Purple Mansion Cultivators.

Fellow Daoist Song, what you’re holding is an incredible resource. Whether their offers were sincere or reluctant, they will provide you with some assistance in the future.

Once your Song Clan returns to its status as a Purple Mansion Family, they might even proactively use today’s events to build a good relationship with you. If you manage these connections well, it will bring the Song Clan nothing but benefits."

Song Changsheng put away the tokens, bowed solemnly to Yinn Shang, and said with sincerity, "Today, I must thank you, Brother Yin. I am endlessly grateful."

"Hahaha, the Song Clan has always had deep ties with my Luoxia City. Plus, you’re good friends with Dazhuang and Yuechan, and you saved our lives today. By all accounts, it was the least I could do." Noticing the change in how Song Changsheng addressed him, Yinn Shang broke into a bright smile.

Be kind to others and befriend heroes. This was the philosophy Muu Guibai had instilled in Yinn Shang since childhood.

Luoxia City’s ability to stand firm through so many Beast Tides was precisely because it never made enemies and was skilled at making investments in people.

It was no exaggeration to say that almost every famous genius or powerhouse in the Southwest Region had received some favor from Luoxia City. This was especially evident among the Loose Cultivator community.

This was the main reason Luoxia City could summon a large number of Loose Cultivators to its aid in times of crisis.

Otherwise, when news of an impending Beast Tide spread, the people of Luoxia City would have already fled. Who would possibly stay behind?

What Yinn Shang was doing now was also a form of investment, just on a slightly larger scale. After all, the potential Song Changsheng had shown was far beyond that of an ordinary person. More friends meant more paths.

As long as you have enough friends, every path is a smooth road to the top!

"Alright, you two, that’s enough. We’ve been in here for so long, and we still don’t know how Little Junior Sister is doing. We need to get out of here and meet up with her," Niu Dazhuang said in a gruff voice, walking up to them. He had just finished smashing the altar, Blood Pool, and other facilities to bits.

Speaking of Zhuang Yuechan, Song Changsheng suddenly remembered something and frowned. "Why didn’t I see the Vast Sea Ascendant and his disciples earlier?"

"The Vast Sea Ascendant is incredibly powerful. It’s possible he’s already escaped. Why do you ask, Brother Song?"

Song Changsheng’s expression darkened. "Brother Yin, there’s something you don’t know. When I found Fellow Daoist Zhuang, she was gravely injured. Only after asking did I learn that it was because that Hai Dongping coveted her beauty, and she was wounded personally by the Vast Sea Ascendant."

If it weren’t for the treasure she wore, a gift from the Great City Lord, I’m afraid she would have met a terrible fate."

"What? Such a thing happened?!" Yinn Shang’s face instantly turned grim. No matter how good-natured he was, killing intent now stirred in his heart.

Niu Dazhuang was even more direct. He roared, "That son of a bitch! I knew that bastard was no good from the start! If I ever see him again, I’ll smash his goddamn head in!"

"Vast Sea’s strength is extraordinary. We must report this to Master and our uncles in person and let them decide what to do."

Hearing this, Song Changsheng held a moment of silence for the Vast Sea Ascendant in his heart. He already knew about the things that had happened back in Luoxia City.

Putting aside the Great City Lord, who had already become a Golden Core Master, there was the Second City Lord, Zhan Tianxia; the mysterious Third City Lord, who was as elusive as a divine dragon; that Elder Xiao he had met; as well as the Blood Robe Asura, Bai Zhengchun, and the Jade-faced Rakshasa, Shen Qingxiu. Any one of these renowned powerhouses could beat the Vast Sea Ascendant until he was crying for his mother.

’Now, that master and his disciple can forget about making a living in the Southwest.’

Song Changsheng followed the indignant disciples of Luoxia City and found Zhuang Yuechan and Xu Yunhe in a cavern.

The two of them had remembered Song Changsheng’s words and stayed quietly within the Array.

Even after the black mist dissipated, they hadn’t made any rash moves.

When Zhuang Yuechan saw all her fellow disciples, the heart that had been caught in her throat finally settled. She clung to them, asking questions nonstop.

"Brother Song, I knew you could do it," Xu Yunhe said with a laugh, giving Song Changsheng a light punch on the chest.

"This battle was extremely dangerous. If not for the Sword Talisman you gave me, Brother Xu, the outcome would have been uncertain. A share of today’s spoils is yours."

Song Changsheng patted Xu Yunhe’s shoulder and said with sincerity.

"In that case, I’ll reap what I didn’t sow." Xu Yunhe saw Song Changsheng’s earnestness, swallowed the words of refusal he was about to say, and accepted with a smile.

"Brother Song, if you have nothing else to attend to, how about we return to Luoxia City together? Some things are easier to handle there," Yinn Shang said meaningfully, glancing at the turtle egg wrapped in silk cloth behind him.

Song Changsheng immediately understood his meaning. The turtle egg was, after all, formed from the entire Essence and True Spirit of the Great Demon Golden Armor. It would require a vast amount of Spiritual Qi to hatch.

And looking across the entire Southwest Region, where could one find Spiritual Qi comparable to Luoxia City’s Tier Four Spirit Vein?

If he chose to hatch the turtle egg in Luoxia City, he could save a considerable amount of resources and time.

Besides, he had already planned to stay in Luoxia City for a while.

With this in mind, he readily accepted Yinn Shang’s invitation, and they set off on the journey home together...

On the Flying Ship, Song Changsheng and Xu Yunhe sat facing each other. After recounting the general course of the battle, Song Changsheng took out the Storage Bag and belt he had acquired and said:

"The turtle egg involves a promise between me and Golden Armor, so I’ll be shameless and keep it for myself. As for these two items, Brother Xu, take your pick.

I haven’t looked inside the Storage Bag yet. You can examine it before making a decision, Brother Xu."

Hearing this, Xu Yunhe picked up the Storage Bag. Since Dongtian Xie had suffered the Annihilation of Body and Spirit, he easily broke the Restriction on it. After looking inside, he calmly put it down and turned his attention to the black belt made of some unknown material.

"What does this thing do?"

Song Changsheng frowned. "It’s not a Magical Artifact, and there’s no Spiritual Light on its surface. But its material is exceptionally unique, and it even blocked the treasure the Great City Lord gave to Brother Yin. It’s no ordinary item.

But as for its specific function, I have no idea."

"It can even block a treasure bestowed by the Great City Lord?"

At these words, Xu Yunhe’s eyes lit up, and he eagerly picked up the belt. "In that case, I’ll take this."

"Brother Xu, are you sure you want to choose this?" Song Changsheng’s frown deepened.

"What, are you regretting it now, Brother Song?" Xu Yunhe teased.

Song Changsheng shook his head. "Of course not. It’s just that its function is still unknown. If you take it, Brother Xu, I’m afraid it might turn out to be useless."

"Hahaha, no matter. I just like the look of it. This is the one. I need to go study it." With that, Xu Yunhe stood up and walked into the covered cabin of the Flying Ship.

Song Changsheng shook his head with a laugh. He picked up the Storage Bag and looked inside, freezing on the spot. It was filled to the brim with blood-stained Magical Artifacts and various Spiritual Materials, Pills, and more. For a moment, he couldn’t even begin to estimate its value.

After all, he could see several Spiritual Artifacts inside.

Logically, there was no way Dongtian Xie should have possessed such wealth.

But he quickly realized that it must have been looted from the cultivators Dongtian Xie had killed.

They hadn’t found any of the victims’ bodies. They must have all been thrown into the Blood Pool and melted into blood water. Naturally, Dongtian Xie wouldn’t have passed up their Storage Bags.

He had only used the Evil Ghost Banner in Magical Combat because he hadn’t had time to refine these items yet. If he had managed to refine these few Spiritual Artifacts, the outcome of the battle might have been different.

Thinking back to Xu Yunhe’s choice just now, a warmth spread through Song Changsheng’s heart. It was a choice even a fool wouldn’t get wrong, yet he had deliberately chosen incorrectly.

It wasn’t because Xu Yunhe was a fool, but because he was genuinely thinking of Song Changsheng’s best interests...

PS: The last two paragraphs of Chapter 250 have been slightly modified.