Longevity: Comprehending the Heart Method

He carefully mulled over the problem.

The last time he had killed Hex Tang on Fire Tripod Mountain, the Lieyang Sect’s reaction had been unexpectedly calm—so calm it hadn’t made the slightest ripple.

This was highly unusual. His intuition told him they were likely plotting something in secret.

The more placid the Lieyang Sect’s reaction, the greater their scheme must be—so great that they could temporarily suppress their anger and swallow the insult.

’Even though I don’t know why, would Hex Tai really get involved personally and fight the Song Clan to the death for the Martial Spirit Sect under these circumstances?’

’Could the Martial Spirit Sect possibly be dearer to him than his own great-grandson?’

Song Changsheng thought it unlikely.

Therefore, this information was most likely a smokescreen released by Du Huating to mislead them.

Song Changsheng quickly came to a conclusion about the intelligence.

He then began to ponder the role Yu Cheng Mountain played in all this. Was he cooperating with Du Huating to release this smokescreen?

"Perhaps... the time has come to test his loyalty..." Song Changsheng murmured softly.

Casually crushing the Jade Scroll to dust, Song Changsheng rose to his feet. Within a few strides, he arrived at Ruyun Hall.

Song Xianming was dressed in white robes, fishing rod in hand, by the Suspended Mirror Lakefront. He appeared utterly relaxed, but a closer look would reveal immense Mana surging through his body.

Sometimes, even fishing was a form of cultivation.

"Grandfather, I believe the time has come," Song Changsheng said solemnly, cupping his hands in a salute.

A sharp glint flashed in Song Xianming’s eyes. Without looking up, he said, "Then convene a clan meeting."

At his command, all the Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the clan rushed to the council hall with the utmost speed.

Song Xianming sat at the head of the hall and asked with a solemn expression, "Everyone, how are the preparations?"

"Reporting to the Clan Leader," Song Chang’an said, rising to his feet and delivering his report with meticulous care. "After ten days of aggressive procurement, the clan’s supplies are now more than sufficient."

"As of now, the Hundred Arts Hall has crafted over one hundred Lei Zhenzi and is still working at full capacity to produce more."

"The clansmen’s morale is at an all-time high, and they are ready to fight the enemy to the death at any moment!"

"The Black Star Ship has been recalled from the Marketplace, fully resupplied, and is ready for deployment to the battlefield at any time."

The Elders rose one after another to give their reports, filling the council hall with a grim air of war.

Song Xianming nodded in satisfaction. He stood and looked at the resolute faces filling the hall, his voice heavy. "For a hundred years, to ensure the clan’s survival, we have made too many compromises. We lost the Liuyun Mountain Range, the Wutong Mountain Range, and countless of our own people.

We lost our clan’s former glory and dignity.

We could only retreat into the Moon Viewing Mountain Range, allowing ourselves to be trampled upon, just to cling to a wretched existence!

But now!"

His voice suddenly rose, ringing with passion:

"Now.

The tables have turned!

The clan’s past glory will be restored by our hands.

I hereby command!"

WHOOSH!

Everyone present shot to their feet, their gazes resolute and their expressions fervent.

"Immediately mobilize all Law Enforcement Teams from the Law Enforcement Hall, along with two hundred adult Cultivators from the clan at the Qi Refining Fourth Layer or higher. Distribute war supplies and march on the Liuyun Mountain Range!

Song Changsheng, Song Chang’an, Song Changxuan, Song Luyun, and Song Changrong will deploy with the assault force.

Song Xianyun will remain behind to guard the clan.

Are there any objections?"

"None!" the crowd replied in unison.

Only Song Xianyun’s expression was downcast. If he could, he too would have wanted to charge at the vanguard, not remain in the rear as a mere spectator.

But he knew that Song Xianming had made this arrangement out of concern for his health. He was old, had toiled for many years, and had suffered a grievous injury in the past. If he were to participate in such a great battle, the little lifespan he had left would likely be exhausted completely.

Besides, at present, the only ones in the clan capable of holding down the fort were himself and Song Changsheng.

’I’m old now,’ he thought. ’It’s better to leave the stage for the young ones to perform. The future belongs to them, after all.’

The meeting ended, and everyone departed in a hurry. Launching a war to annihilate a Sect was no simple matter. Mobilizing personnel, allocating supplies, devising strategies... all these tasks required their immediate attention.

Only Song Xianyun remained behind.

Song Xianming looked at his clan brother, who was a few years his junior. He reached out a broad hand, clapped him heavily on the shoulder, and said grimly, "My brother, I’m leaving the clan in your hands."

"Rest assured. I’ll take care of everything," Song Xianyun said with a smile, repeating the very same words Song Xianming had said when he was gravely injured over twenty years ago and had entrusted the clan to him.

Calm, yet powerful.

"With you here, I am at ease," Song Xianming replied, also smiling. During the twenty years he had spent in seclusion recovering from his injuries, the clan had never once faltered under Song Xianyun’s care.

Just like his personality, every step he took was steady and sure...

In less than an hour, the Song Clan had fully assembled. Nearly three hundred people stood at the foot of Vast Mist Peak, arranged in a small, square formation.

Though their numbers were not great, they represented the most elite of the Song Clan’s forces, and the power they could unleash was not to be underestimated.

The north wind whipped the banners bearing the Song Clan emblem. They stood in silence, the fire of war burning in their eyes, awaiting the final command.

After a moment, a massive Flying Ship slowly emerged. Its hull was pitch-black, resembling a colossal beast in the sky. The barely visible cannon ports glinted with a cold light, like the beast’s fangs.

Song Changsheng stood at the ship’s bow and called out in a clear voice, "Depart!"

Everyone leaped aboard the Black Star Ship. As its Defense Array activated, the Quasi-Celestial Ship transformed into a bolt of black lightning, surging into the clouds and heading straight for the Liuyun Mountain Range.

Song Xianyun stood with his hands clasped behind his back, watching the children of the Song Clan march to war. He remained there long after the Quasi-Celestial Ship had vanished from sight, unwilling to leave.

At the Riverfront of Grace, Song Lutong watched the streak of black light cut across the sky, his eyes filled with envy and longing. He wished for nothing more than to join them.

However, he bore the heavy responsibility of guarding the Marketplace and could not easily leave his post. He could only sigh in silence...

The Song Clan’s speed was incredible. Traveling by Quasi-Celestial Ship, they reached the base of Baiyun Peak in a mere three days, catching everyone in Ling Province completely by surprise.

If the Martial Spirit Sect hadn’t already been prepared, with their Mountain Protection Array kept active, they likely would have been overrun in the first assault.

Even so, the sight sent a cold sweat down the backs of Qiu Tianyang and the others.

Everyone was mobilized, using the Mountain Protection Array as their bulwark to withstand the Song Clan’s furious bombardment.

Watching the defensive barrier tremble violently, the hearts of everyone in the Martial Spirit Sect trembled with it, terrified that the ferocious Song Clan would break through at any moment.

But their fears were unfounded, for now. After all, the Earth Fire Sect had fortified Baiyun Peak for centuries, rendering it impregnable. As long as Song Xianming himself did not act, it would not fall so easily.

The gazes of every Martial Spirit Sect disciple were fixed on the imposing figure hovering in midair, a mixture of fear, unease, and trepidation in their eyes...

He simply stood there, motionless, yet his presence was like a mountain pressing down on them, making it difficult to breathe.

Song Xianming calmly observed the battle below. Song Changsheng and the others were gathered around the Quasi-Celestial Ship, launching a fierce assault on Baiyun Peak’s Mountain Protection Array.

Although their assault was ferocious, the Martial Spirit Sect’s resistance was tenacious. The battle fell into a stalemate, and it seemed unlikely a breakthrough could be made any time soon.

However, Song Xianming had no intention of intervening. He was waiting.

Waiting for Chang Wudao, and for Hex Tai.

Until those two showed their faces, he would not enter the fray.

On Baiyun Peak, Du Huating watched the motionless Song Xianming in the sky, his eyes flickering. He didn’t know if his own ploy had worked or if Song Xianming had some other scheme in mind. All he knew was that the Martial Spirit Sect’s final days had arrived.

After a moment’s hesitation, he called in Liuu Ruowei, who was guarding the door outside.

"Master," Liuu Ruowei said, struggling to maintain her composure.

"Are you afraid?" Du Huating asked softly.

Liuu Ruowei’s body trembled slightly, and she bit her lip without saying a word.

Du Huating shook his head and sighed. "We’re facing a Purple Mansion Great Cultivator and a Quasi-Celestial Ship that has slain a Great Demon. Who wouldn’t be afraid?

There’s no shame in being afraid.

Fear means you’re still alive.

The Sect is at a crossroads between life and death. There are some things I must entrust to you now."

"Please give your orders, Master! This disciple will go through hell and high water and never back down!" Liuu Ruowei declared, kneeling on one knee with a look of shame on her face.

...