Longevity: Comprehending the Heart Method

"Look, what’s that?"

Someone let out a cry of alarm.

Song Changsheng looked toward the sound, and his scalp immediately went numb.

To his horror, viscous blood began seeping out of the ground from thin air. It pooled beneath Dongtian Xie, rapidly forming a crimson ocean that unleashed an endless, bloody aura, which surged toward him in mid-air.

His once-faltering aura climbed rapidly, and it even seemed poised to surpass its former peak.

Seeing this, Yinn Shang’s face fell. He roared, "This is bad! It’s a Blood Refining Ceremony! Stop him, quickly!"

The moment he spoke, he took an item from his wrist and threw it into the air.

It was a Jade Bracelet forged from precious Purple Demon Jade, a treasure Muu Guibai had bestowed upon him before they set out. It could be used to trap enemies and was originally intended as a backup for the Four Symbols Heaven Imprisoning Array, meant to restrain the Golden Armor.

The Purple Jade Bracelet emitted a magnificent glow, rapidly expanded in the air, and finally transformed into a hazy halo that settled over Dongtian Xie, imprisoning him.

"HEHEHE! You think this is enough to stop me? You ants! To think you’ve actually forced my hand like this. I will forge your Divine Souls into Fierce Ghosts, imprison them within my Evil Ghost Banner, and make you suffer for all eternity without hope of release!"

Dongtian Xie let out a wild, arrogant laugh. With a wave of his hand, the Evil Ghost Banner appeared in his grasp. The endless bloody aura surged into it, making a sickening swallowing sound.

"How is that possible?!" Yinn Shang cried out, watching the menacing Dongtian Xie. ’The treasure Master gave me... it actually failed?’

"Fellow Daoist Yinn, look at his waist."

Hearing Song Changsheng’s words, Yinn Shang looked closely. He saw a jet-black belt wrapped around Dongtian Xie’s waist. The halo from the Jade Bracelet was caught on the belt, seemingly held back by an invisible force and unable to get any closer. That was why it wasn’t working.

At this sight, hope rekindled in Yinn Shang’s eyes. ’If we can destroy that belt, we still have a chance to win this fight!’

At this thought, Yinn Shang suddenly shouted, "Junior Brother!"

"I get it."

Niu Dazhuang grunted in his deep, rumbling voice. A vicious look crossed his face. ’So we’re fighting to the death? Who isn’t ready for that?’

He shouldered his large hammer, charged forward in a few large strides, and brought it smashing down on Dongtian Xie. At that moment, the golden light enveloping his body grew even more brilliant.

"BEGONE!"

Dongtian Xie waved his sleeve. The sea of blood swept out and instantly sent Niu Dazhuang flying.

The faces of everyone present fell. Empowered by this grotesque sea of blood, he was now even stronger than before.

"Hmph, die!"

Dongtian Xie thrust his arms wide. The sea of blood roiled, and a dozen ferocious Blood Flood Dragons immediately shot out, roaring as they charged toward the crowd.

The moment they made contact, two Luoxia City disciples with weaker Cultivations were devoured by the Blood Flood Dragons, Magical Artifacts and all, letting out the most piercing, wretched screams.

The rest weren’t having an easy time either; they could only barely hold their ground against the Blood Flood Dragons.

Only Yinn Shang and Song Changsheng seemed to be holding their own with relative ease.

Song Changsheng completely shielded himself with the Luwu Bell and the Tai Chi Diagram while his mind raced.

’This sea of blood has become Dongtian Xie’s power source. If we can’t destroy it, we have absolutely no chance of victory. But how to destroy it...’

’That’s it! I’ve got it!’ Song Changsheng’s eyes lit up with excitement.

Suddenly, Yinn Shang’s anxious voice sounded in his ear: "Fellow Daoist Song, look out!"

Song Changsheng turned to see a Blood Flood Dragon several times thicker than the others lunging straight for him with its cavernous mouth wide open. Caught completely by surprise, he was swallowed whole.

"Fellow Daoist Song!" Staring at the triumphant Blood Flood Dragon, Yinn Shang’s eyes burned with fury.

"HAHAHA! You bastard! I was willing to spare you, but you insisted on opposing me. Hmph! For that, I’ll grant you the Annihilation of Body and Spirit!"

Dongtian Xie let out a maniacal laugh.

Then, he turned his gaze to Yinn Shang. ’Once I take care of this one, that suicidal brute will be no threat.’

Seeing the rage on Yinn Shang’s face, a flicker of derision crossed Dongtian Xie’s eyes. He sneered, "Don’t worry, you’re next!"

Hearing this, a look of grim determination filled Yinn Shang’s eyes. ’Victory is likely impossible at this point,’ he thought, ’but there are still things I can do. For instance, I can pour everything I have into grievously wounding him!’

Two orbs of light materialized beside him. Through their hazy glow, a flute and a xun could be faintly seen.

’These are my two Spiritual Artifacts, both Top-Grade. If I detonate them both at once, that will be more than enough to make Dongtian Xie suffer!’

"Eldest... Brother... don’t..."

In a nearby corner, Niu Dazhuang, who had collapsed on the ground, struggled to lift his head, veins bulging on his forehead. He had already realized what his eldest brother intended to do.

With his back to them, Yinn Shang gave a sad smile. "Dazhuang, my dear junior brothers... Your Senior Brother has failed you. I couldn’t lead you in Subduing Demons and upholding the Righteous Dao.

It won’t be so lonely if we walk the road to the Yellow Springs together. If there’s another life, let’s be brothers again!"

"Eldest Brother!"

The others cried out in sorrow, tears streaming down their faces.

Just then, the Blood Flood Dragon in the air suddenly began to writhe violently. A faint point of light appeared on its abdomen, then gradually grew incandescent before it burst apart with a deafening boom.

A large hole was torn in the Blood Flood Dragon’s belly, and a figure drenched in blood shot out. The moment he appeared, he raised a gourd high in his hand.

The next moment, an eerie blue flame spewed from the gourd’s mouth. It landed in the sea of blood and spread instantly, burning furiously with a series of loud CRACKLES and releasing a thick, nauseating stench.

"It’s Fellow Daoist Song! He’s still alive!"

"That looks like the Earth Core Cold Flame! Wonderful! The sea of blood is receding!"

Everyone let out cries of joy and surprise. They all knew that the sea of blood was Dongtian Xie’s source of power; without it, they still had a chance to win.

Seeing this, Song Changsheng quietly let out a sigh of relief. ’Thank goodness I made it in time.’

At the same time, a wave of fear washed over him in retrospect.

He had just figured out he could use Spiritual Fire to counter Dongtian Xie’s sea of blood when he was ambushed.

After being swallowed by the Blood Flood Dragon, Song Changsheng had been certain his life was over. But at the critical moment, the Jade Pendant he had bought back in Yuan Province transformed into a shield and protected him.

He seized that chance to tear open the Blood Flood Dragon’s belly and escape.

Any later, and Yinn Shang would have sacrificed his life just to wound their foe.

"Damn you, damn you, DAMN YOU!"

Watching the rapidly spreading flames, Dongtian Xie’s eyes were blood-red with absolute fury, but he was utterly powerless.

As the sea of blood was consumed, he could feel his power draining away at an alarming rate, and a profound fear took root in his heart.

"I’LL KILL YOU ALL!"

A vicious glint appeared in Dongtian Xie’s eyes. ’If I can just kill all of them before the sea of blood is completely devoured, I still have a chance to win!’

He furiously brandished the Evil Ghost Banner, preparing for a final, desperate struggle.

But his intent was easily seen through. Without a moment’s hesitation, Yinn Shang summoned his xun and resolutely detonated it in mid-air.

Completely caught by surprise, Dongtian Xie was instantly engulfed by the light of the explosion.

BOOM—

The power unleashed by a self-destructing Top-Grade Spiritual Artifact was immense. When the light faded, half of Dongtian Xie’s body was gone, and the other half was charred black.

The result was spectacular, but it was largely thanks to Song Changsheng’s Spiritual Fire draining most of his power; otherwise, the effect wouldn’t have been nearly as staggering.

Leaning on his Evil Ghost Banner for support, Dongtian Xie struggled to stay on his feet. Thanks to the immense Life Force of a Purple Mansion Cultivator, even such a devastating injury had not been enough to kill him.

But he knew death was inevitable. ’At the very least, this Physical Body is a lost cause.’

At that thought, he suddenly turned his gaze to Song Changsheng. ’It was this bastard who ruined the perfect situation I created.’

"DIE!"

He gathered the last dregs of power in his ruined body, intending to self-destruct.

If he succeeded, everything within a ten-li radius would be razed to the ground!

Seeing that he still intended to fight to the bitter end, Song Changsheng’s expression turned cold. With a slight clench of his fist, he crushed the Sword Talisman Xu Yunhe had given him.

In an instant, a rainbow of Sword Qi flashed. A head soared high into the air...

...