Longevity: Comprehending the Heart Method

Intuition is often the most reliable.

Song Changsheng had been uneasy ever since he sat down. He had a nagging feeling that something major was about to happen, yet up until this point, the scene had been perfectly harmonious, the only irregularity being Bai Wuming’s hasty departure.

Judging by Luu Yuming’s calm and composed demeanor, however, it didn’t seem to be anything serious.

Just then, Luu Yuming suddenly stood and announced, "Thank you all, fellow Daoists, for taking time out of your busy schedules to grace our Pill Tasting Conference. However, due to insufficient preparations, we must conclude this year’s conference early.

I have already had my men prepare a small token of our appreciation. Please forgive us for the poor hospitality."

When he finished speaking, everyone present exchanged bewildered glances. Normally, the Pill Tasting Conference lasted for several days. Aside from tasting Pills, the event featured highly entertaining Pill Fighting competitions between the Alchemy Masters of Hundred Herbs Hall.

But now, after only a few ancient hours, Luu Yuming was abruptly declaring it over. It truly caught everyone by surprise.

Recalling Bai Wuming’s hurried departure, a shadow of unease fell over most of the guests.

But Luu Yuming clearly had no intention of explaining. A line of serving maids entered, carrying trays. They placed a bottle of Pills before each group of guests.

Song Changsheng picked it up and examined it, marveling at Hundred Herbs Hall’s extravagance.

The Pill was called the Celestial Spirit Pill, a Tier Three Low-Grade Pill. A person could only take one in their lifetime. A single Pill could grant a Purple Mansion Cultivator three years of Cultivation, or a Foundation Establishment Cultivator ten years. On the open market, a single Pill would cost at least twenty to thirty thousand Spirit Stones. Even if they refined it themselves, the cost of the ingredients wouldn’t be less than ten thousand.

’Why was everyone fighting tooth and nail to attend the Pill Tasting Conference?’

’It was because Hundred Herbs Hall always prepared incredibly generous gifts, but this time, they had far surpassed all previous years.’

’An abnormal event like this surely heralded something sinister!’

The portly Purple Mansion Cultivator from before stood up, bowed with his hands clasped, and said with a serious expression, "Master Luu, if there is anything I can do to help, you need only ask."

"Indeed. I am also willing to do my part."

"And I, Zhang Yan! Master Luu, please don’t hesitate to ask."

Several Purple Mansion Cultivators stood up one after another, all declaring their support. Each of them had, at some point, received a favor from Hundred Herbs Hall. Now that Hundred Herbs Hall was in trouble, they certainly wouldn’t stand idly by.

Watching them declare their support, Luu Yuming was filled with relief and gratification. This was the very network of connections Hundred Herbs Hall had spent millennia building.

’So many Purple Mansion Cultivators are offering their support. No wonder Hundred Herbs Hall has maintained its supreme status in the Daqi Cultivation World despite never having produced a Golden Core Master. Their influence is truly terrifying.’ Watching the scene unfold, Song Changsheng was deeply shaken. This network of connections was a form of power and heritage in itself. By comparison, the Song Clan was lagging far behind.

"Yuechan, I still feel uneasy. I think we should leave as soon as possible," Song Changsheng sent to Zhuang Yuechan via sound transmission.

Zhuang Yuechan’s expression shifted. She gave a slight nod. Song Changsheng’s intuition was always uncannily accurate.

Just then, out of the corner of his eye, Song Changsheng caught a glimpse of a middle-aged Cultivator sitting near the center. The man was pulling a pitch-black sphere from his voluminous sleeve.

A single glance was enough. A suffocating aura of death washed over him. The color drained from Song Changsheng’s face, and he yanked Zhuang Yuechan behind him.

Luu Yuming and the Purple Mansion Great Cultivator with the surname Chen—the first to speak up—reacted even faster than he did.

The moment the pitch-black sphere appeared, Luu Yuming sensed the danger. "Get back!" he roared.

The Chen-surnamed Cultivator was half a beat slower, but when he saw clearly what the middle-aged Cultivator was holding, the color drained from his face. He shrieked at the top of his lungs, "It’s a Celestial Annihilation Thunder! Get away!"

Most of those present were either Purple Mansion Cultivators or elites among the Foundation Establishment realm. The instant Luu Yuming cried out, nearly everyone retreated, pulling out Defense Talismans or Magical Artifacts to shield themselves.

Luu Yuming produced a four-legged Bronze Cauldron. The Chen-surnamed cultivator brought out a Magical Treasure resembling a large sea bowl. Song Changsheng, meanwhile, summoned his Tai Chi Diagram, enveloping himself and Zhuang Yuechan completely. The words "Celestial Annihilation Thunder" were the only thing buzzing in his mind.

"Hahahaha, you’re too late!"

The middle-aged Cultivator let out a maniacal laugh. With a flick of his wrist, he tossed the pitch-black sphere into the air. The ball swelled rapidly, arcs of lightning dancing across its surface as it released an apocalyptic aura.

For a moment, it was as if a black sun had appeared in the sky.

BOOM—

The "sun" exploded. Like a thunderclap on a clear day, a blinding light erupted, engulfing the entire summit of Fire Tripod Mountain. In that instant, everyone was consumed...

When the light from the thunderbolt faded, Fire Tripod Mountain was unrecognizable. The summit was a scene of utter devastation, covered in the marks of the Thunderbolt’s rampage. The air was thick with an acrid, burning smell.

COUGH! COUGH! COUGH!

Song Changsheng and Zhuang Yuechan helped each other struggle to their feet. Because they had noticed it in time and were seated near the back, Song Changsheng had managed to pull Zhuang Yuechan away from the epicenter of the blast. Still, they were caught in the shockwave. If not for the protection of the Tai Chi Diagram, they would have been burned to cinders.

"A Celestial Annihilation Thunder... How could they dare?" Song Changsheng said, his face a mask of disbelief as he looked at his Tai Chi Diagram, its Spiritual Light now slightly dimmed.

The Celestial Annihilation Thunder was a Tier Four Low-Grade, single-use Magical Artifact. It was similar to the Earth God Thunder that Song Changsheng had previously purchased, but the difference in power was like night and day. Even a Golden Core Cultivator wouldn’t dare face it head-on; a Purple Mansion Cultivator’s only option was to flee for their life.