Longevity: Comprehending the Heart Method

At any other time, Song Xianming’s move would have undoubtedly scattered his already limited forces, giving the enemy a chance at mutual destruction.

Song Xianming dared to be so bold only because he had keenly spotted a vulnerability in the Silver Moon Demon Wolf Clan.

The Demon Wolves appeared to be charging forward menacingly, but after battling fiercely in Bian Province for many days, they had suffered heavy losses and were now outwardly strong but inwardly weak.

And under these circumstances, the Silver Moon Demon Wolf Clan had surprisingly chosen to divide their forces, sending the majority to deal with the Martial Spirit Sect and the Liuyun Sect.

Whether it was due to overconfidence or some other reason, this move undoubtedly lessened the pressure on the Song Clan.

If they had concentrated all their forces for one massive assault, Song Xianming might have felt some panic. But as things stood, he was confident he could go toe-to-toe with them.

Although the contingent facing the Song Clan was powerful, their numbers were a critical weakness.

Unless they could resist the temptation of the hundreds of thousands of "Blood Food" in the Mortal Realm, resist the urge to annihilate the dozen-plus Cultivation Families in the Moon Viewing Mountain Range, and tolerate the considerable forces of the Wang Clan and the Yu Clan wreaking havoc in their rear.

Otherwise, they would have to divide their troops. And the moment they did, their strength would be severely diminished.

Not only could the Song Clan withstand their assault, but launching a counterattack was not out of the question.

Alternatively, the Silver Moon Demon Wolves could focus on clipping the Song Clan’s wings first, turning them into an isolated island before gathering their full might for a final assault.

This strategy would indeed foil Song Xianming’s plans and could even turn the tables on him.

Unfortunately for them, the Song Clan would not sit idly by and let that happen. The moment the wolves moved against the Wang Clan or their vassal Cultivation Families, the Song Clan could unite with the Martial Spirit Sect and the Liuyun Sect to crush, or even swallow whole, the other Demon Beast army.

At that point, this contingent of wolves would be trapped like fish in a barrel.

Of course, the Demon Beasts had one other option: a Great Demon could personally lead an elite force to pin down the Song Clan. But that would be playing right into Song Xianming’s hands.

It would seem as though the Song Clan was being contained, but in reality, the Great Demon would be tied down as well. The situation would still be manageable.

Soon, the entire Song Clan mobilized. All members stationed outside the clan’s territory received the order to retreat.

The Wang Clan, the Yu Clan, the Martial Spirit Sect, the Liuyun Sect, and other factions all received messages from the Song Clan.

"What are your thoughts, everyone?"

Inside the Liuyun Sect’s newly constructed great hall, Liu Hongye sat high on the main seat. To his left sat Liu Hongyan and another Liu Clan Elder. To his right sat Grand Elder Xia Aii and two other Elders who came from a Loose Cultivator background.

Though they were gathered in the same hall, the two factions were clearly divided, each representing a different interest group.

In response to Liu Hongye’s question, Xia Aii’s eyelids drooped. He sat there, perfectly composed, as if he had fallen asleep. The other two Elders on his side followed suit, acting as if they hadn’t heard a word.

A flash of anger crossed Liu Hongye’s eyes, but there was nothing he could do.

The Liu Clan had lost many of its members when they fled from the north. They suffered another great loss in the battle of the Liuyun Mountain Range, leaving them with only a handful of people. Even though he had promoted all of them to high positions, he still lacked the power to control the entire Sect.

Furthermore, his family members were proud and arrogant, looking down on the Cultivators who joined later. This often led to conflicts between the two sides.

In contrast, Xia Aii and his group, by virtue of their Loose Cultivator background, quickly banded together with the newer members. In a sudden turn of events, they had become powerful enough to rival Liu Hongye’s authority.

No matter what he did, if he didn’t have Xia Aii’s approval, it was nearly impossible for Liu Hongye to get anything done.

"Grand Elder, you are highly respected and of great moral standing. What are your thoughts on this matter?" Thus, he had no choice but to swallow his pride and ask for the man’s opinion again.

Only then did Xia Aii finally open his eyes. He said faintly, "With the Demon Beast invasion, our Sect cannot simply stand aside, seeing as we’ve established ourselves in Ling Province."

"Since the Song Clan has shouldered the brunt of the responsibility, there’s no harm in us following their plan. As for the disciples within the Sect, I will speak to them. I trust they will put the greater good first."

"In that case, I must thank you for your trouble, Grand Elder!" Liu Hongye’s hand, hidden beneath the table, clenched into a fist, but his face was wreathed in a "sincere" smile.

Only he knew how utterly stifling it was to sit in this position. ’If not for the need to band together for survival, I would have killed this insolent old fool long ago!’

A similar scene played out in the Martial Spirit Sect. After a great deal of wrangling, they finally decided to carry out the plan set forth by the Song Clan.

By contrast, the Yu Clan and the Wang Clan were far more agreeable, as their assigned tasks were the easiest.

And so, the disparate powers of Ling Province, once like a tray of loose sand, finally reached a fragile consensus. They would face the Silver Moon Demon Wolf invasion with their full strength...

Song Xianming stood with his hands clasped behind his back, watching the sun slowly descend. The restless fidgeting of his fingers, however, betrayed his inner turmoil.

"Are you worried about the coming battle, or about Changsheng, Brother?" Song Xianyun asked with a smile as he walked to his side.

"A bit of both," Song Xianming replied. He turned to look at his clan brother, who appeared even older than himself. "Xianyun, tell me... should we use that place?" he asked, his voice laced with hesitation.

"Brother, surely it hasn’t come to that?" Song Xianyun said, startled. He knew exactly what Song Xianming was referring to.

It was an escape route, prepared by the Song Clan’s ancestors for their descendants.

The path was exceptionally well-hidden and led outside the Daqi Cultivation World. It could only be used a single time, and not even Song Xianming knew where it ended.

Throughout the entire Song Clan, only Song Xianming and Song Xianyun knew its exact location and how to use it. Even Song Changsheng, the Young Clan Leader, had not yet been told.