Longevity: Comprehending the Heart Method

Only when a Spiritual Treasure reached the level of a Law Spiritual Treasure could its Artifact Spirit achieve Transformation, allowing it to move and act independently of its main body.

’Could it be that this unremarkable Bronze Mirror is actually a Law Spiritual Treasure?’

The moment the thought arose, Song Qingxing crushed it. Law Spiritual Treasures were exceedingly rare, powerful enough to anchor the Fortune of a major power. If this was truly a treasure of that caliber, the slightest release of its aura would annihilate all of Kaiyang City. How could it possibly be sitting here so placidly, let alone cooperating with him?

"Nonsense!"

Song Qingxing’s sharp brows bristled with fury. He unleashed a burst of fierce Sword Qi that carved deep gouges into the wall.

The face in the air immediately began to tremble in fear and hurriedly said, "I’m telling the truth! It’s all true! I really am an Artifact Spirit, just... different from ordinary ones."

Watching Wujie’s spineless display, Song Qingxing frowned slightly. ’Is this guy really an Artifact Spirit?’

Afraid that Song Qingxing didn’t believe him, Wujie quickly explained, "I was originally a Human Race Cultivator who had reached the Golden Core Realm. I unfortunately perished during Magical Combat, and only my Divine Soul managed to escape.

Because my Divine Soul was unusually gifted, I was eventually captured by a True Monarch and refined into the Spiritual Treasure, becoming its Artifact Spirit. Although it’s not a Law Spiritual Treasure, I can still manifest a form externally.

Later, that True Monarch was defeated by a Demon Cultivator. During the battle, my main body suffered heavy damage, and I was corrupted by Demonic Qi before being swallowed by a spatial rift.

I wandered the Endless Void for countless years until my power was exhausted and I fell into a deep slumber. When I regained consciousness, I was already here.

All these years, I’ve been drawing on the Spiritual Qi from the underground Spiritual Vein to recover my strength. But I was afraid of being discovered, so I could only draw a tiny bit at a time. That’s why I’ve only recovered a sliver of my power even now."

Wujie spoke with great sincerity and at a rapid pace. Based on his intuition, Song Qingxing judged that he probably wasn’t lying, though he likely hadn’t told the whole truth either.

Song Qingxing’s emotions churned. This Bronze Mirror was actually a Spirit-Connected Treasure—a treasure that not even every Golden Core Master possessed! Even though it was heavily damaged, as long as the Artifact Spirit wasn’t destroyed, its value was still immeasurable.

To put it in simple terms, you couldn’t trade for it even if you sold off the entire Song Clan, people, territory, and all.

What was even more valuable was that this Artifact Spirit had been a Golden Core Cultivator in his past life.

Although Wujie’s behavior was utterly spineless, bearing no resemblance whatsoever to a Golden Core Master, Song Qingxing never doubted this fact.

After all, not just anyone’s Divine Soul could be used as an Artifact Spirit; their Cultivation had to be at least at the Golden Core level.

Although his Cultivation was now gone, he still couldn’t be underestimated.

Taking a deep breath to calm his turbulent heart, Song Qingxing said coldly, "If you were so afraid of being exposed, you shouldn’t have acted against me in the first place."

Wujie gave a bitter laugh. "I didn’t want to. It was truly an accident.

Back then, the Demonic Qi had seeped deep inside me. I tried my best to suppress it, but it would still leak out. This Demonic Qi was very faint; even a mortal could have resisted it.

But a woman’s Primordial Qi is severely depleted during childbirth, drastically weakening her resistance. And as it happened, she placed me right beside her, allowing the Demonic Qi to take advantage of her weakness.

But to this day, I still don’t understand why the Demonic Qi latched onto you instead of your mother."

’If what he’s saying is true, then the incident really was just an accident.’

Song Qingxing narrowed his eyes slightly, not speaking for a moment.

’I can’t be sure if this guy is telling the truth, but it is a fact that he hasn’t harmed anyone all these years.’

After a moment of thought, he decided not to dwell on the issue. He laid the Traceless Sword across his lap and asked, "Do you recognize this sword?"

He could feel that Wujie was terrified of the sword, yet hidden behind that fear seemed to be a hint of joy. This contradiction naturally caught his attention.

Wujie shook his head. "I don’t recognize it, but I can sense that it’s a Demon-Subduing Spiritual Artifact. On the surface, it appears to be Tier Two Low Grade, but I suspect its actual rank is different."

He then added with a touch of excitement, "I can sense that the Demonic Qi in your body has been dispelled. If I’m not mistaken, it must be related to this sword, right?

Please, I’m begging you, get rid of the Demonic Qi inside me, too! As long as you help me, I can give you Heart Methods, Divine Techniques, Secret Techniques—anything!"

’So that’s the reason,’ Song Qingxing realized.

He had to admit, the bargaining chips Wujie offered were very tempting. He had been a Golden Core Master in his past life; any single Divine Secret Technique from his arsenal would be of immeasurable value.

For a moment, Song Qingxing found it difficult to decide.

The image of Song Changsheng involuntarily appeared in his mind. ’What would he choose if he were facing this kind of problem?’

Soon, he had his answer.

He looked Wujie straight in the eye and said, "I can try."

Before Wujie could get excited, he continued, "While your actions were unintentional, the fact remains that you nearly caused me to fall to demonhood. Your bargaining chips... are not enough."

Wujie’s expression stiffened. "Then what do you want?" he asked hurriedly. "As long as I have it, I can give it to you."

"I want you!" Song Qingxing said decisively.

"What?" Wujie’s voice changed completely.

"I. Want. You," Song Qingxing repeated, each word deliberate, his tone unshakeable.

"Impossible! You’re just a mere Foundation Establishment Cultivator! I could never acknowledge you as my master. Give up that idea!" Wujie roared in fury.

In his eyes, this was a grave insult. A magnificent Spiritual Treasure, even a heavily damaged one, was not something a mere Foundation Establishment Cultivator had any right to covet.

Song Qingxing’s expression was as calm as still water. He slowly rose to his feet. "Do you think you have any other choice right now? Either submit, or die!"

"You can kill me, but you can’t humiliate me!" Wujie roared.

"If that were really true, you wouldn’t have been willing to become an Artifact Spirit in the first place," Song Qingxing said with a cold smirk, ruthlessly tearing away his final pretense.

Becoming an Artifact Spirit granted one a lifespan far beyond that of a normal person, but it also meant losing one’s freedom and the right to reincarnate. For anyone, this was the ultimate humiliation.

If Wujie truly had no fear of death and couldn’t bear humiliation, he would have self-detonated his Divine Soul when he was captured, not stood here making impassioned speeches.

SHING!

The Traceless Sword was slowly unsheathed.

Song Qingxing pointed the sword at Wujie. "Submit to me, and I will do everything in my power to help you recover. Otherwise, die!" he said, his voice cold and severe.

This was the final ultimatum.

Gazing at the Sword Blade glinting with cold light, Wujie’s mental defenses finally collapsed. Song Qingxing was right—if he had the courage to face death, he wouldn’t have clung so desperately to life all this time.

In the past, he could have indeed looked down on Song Qingxing, for he could have annihilated a Foundation Establishment Cultivator with a flick of his finger.

But now, his power was less than even a strong Qi Cultivator’s. He was in no position to fight Song Qingxing!

Of course, he could also choose to take everyone down with him, making the entire Kaiyang City his funeral pyre.

But it came back to the same thing: he was afraid of death. More than that, he didn’t want to die.

If he died now, he wouldn’t even have a chance at reincarnation.

Looking at Song Qingxing, who was radiating killing intent, Wujie said in a strained voice, "I... am willing to submit..."

——————

After several days of long travel, Song Changsheng and his group finally returned to Luoxia City. With disciples from all the major powers gathering, the city was several times more bustling than usual.

"According to the agreement between my Master and the other Masters, the first Allied Army of the Daqi Cultivation World will be formed within ten days to invade the Hundred Thousand Mountains," Zhuang Yuechan said suddenly, watching the Flying Ships frequently taking off and landing.

Song Changsheng was suddenly filled with emotion. After so many years, the tables had finally turned, with offense and defense reversed. How many could truly understand the hardships they had endured to reach this point?

But Zhuang Yuechan’s mood seemed a little low.

Sensing his concerned gaze, Zhuang Yuechan said, full of worry, "My Master intends to expand the territory of Bian Province. Luoxia City will be one of the main forces in this war, and my martial uncle and senior martial brothers will also be heading to the battlefield."

Hearing this, Song Changsheng’s gaze sharpened. He opened his mouth, but didn’t know what to say.

’It’s war,’ he thought. ’People are bound to die. A large-scale conflict like this is especially perilous; not even a Golden Core Master is guaranteed to escape unscathed.’

His gaze fell upon Zhuang Yuechan. Yinn Shang and Niu Dazhuang were both going to the Hundred Thousand Mountains. In that case, what about her...?

...