Longevity: Comprehending the Heart Method

Du Huating reached out and brushed the wrinkles from his clothes where Qiu Tianyang had grabbed them. His gaze grew placid again, but Qiu Tianyang didn’t dare to act rashly anymore.

Yu Chengshan watched from the side, a flicker in his eyes...

Late that night, Yu Chengshan summoned the Yu Clan’s other Foundation Establishment Cultivator, Yu Chengzhou. "My brother," he said, "send a message to the Song Clan at once. Tell them the Martial Spirit Sect has suffered heavy casualties, the Lieyang Sect’s reinforcements are long overdue, and morale is on the brink of collapse.

Qiu Tianyang and Du Huating even clashed in public.

I believe the time to break this stalemate is ripe. Tomorrow at midnight, the Yu Clan will sow chaos on Baiyun Peak and seize the chance to open the Mountain Protection Array, hoping we can coordinate with your forces in time."

"Clan Leader, are we really going to do this? If the Song Clan doesn’t trust us, or if they react even a moment too slow, you and I will die with no place for a grave!" Yu Chengzhou said, his voice hesitant.

Yu Chengshan let out a somber sigh. "My brother, do we have any other choice? This is the price for backing the wrong side.

Send the message. Whether the Song Clan believes us or not, we must create the chaos on schedule and open the Mountain Protection Array. If we succeed, the Song Clan won’t treat us unfairly.

If we fail, the Song Clan will still see our sincerity. You and I may die, but our clan will be able to survive. The Song Clan might even look after them more favorably.

But if we do nothing and wait for the Song Clan to breach Baiyun Peak, not only will we die, but our entire clan will undoubtedly be dragged down with us!"

Yu Chengzhou’s heart trembled. He knew Yu Chengshan was right. Those who backed the wrong side have no choices left.

"Alright, I’m going!" Yu Chengzhou gritted his teeth, then turned and vanished into the night...

"Let’s hear it. Can we trust this?" Song Changsheng placed the intelligence from the Yu Clan on the table and looked around at everyone present.

Yu Xueqian scrambled to her feet. "Young Clan Leader, please believe in my clan’s loyalty! On the day of the final assault, the Yu Clan is willing to serve as the vanguard!"

"Young Clan Leader, the Yu Clan has always been duplicitous. I believe this is a trick to lure us into a trap," said Clan Leader Wang Qingquan of the Wang Clan, shooting her a look and speaking bluntly.

The Wang and Yu Clans shared the Wutong Mountain Range. For the Wang Clan to expand further, they had to crush the Yu Clan. This was an excellent opportunity.

"I, however, think it’s worth a shot," Liu Hongye offered a different opinion. "We currently hold an absolute advantage. As long as Yu Chengshan opens the Mountain Protection Array like he says he will, we can just swarm in. How could the Martial Spirit Sect possibly resist?"

"I agree, it’s worth a shot. With the Clan Leader and the Quasi-Celestial Ship here, we don’t need to fear whatever tricks the Martial Spirit Sect might pull," Song Luzhou said with a slight nod.

The discussion didn’t shy away from the Yu Clan members present; or rather, there was no need to.

Yu Xueqian bit her lip, her hands clenched into tight fists beneath the table. Her nails dug into her palms, but she was completely unaware of the pain. She didn’t understand. The Yu Clan had shown the greatest possible sincerity, so why were they still so unwilling to believe them?

Glancing at her, Song Changsheng cleared his throat and said gently, "I have never doubted the sincerity of the Yu Clan. It is decided. Tomorrow night at midnight, we will launch a full-scale assault to support Clan Leader Yu. Does anyone object?"

"Young Clan Leader, my sect is willing to lead the charge!" Liu Hongye piped up again immediately.

The others couldn’t help but curse inwardly. ’How is that old fox so quick?’

They too hurriedly puffed out their chests and pledged their loyalty.

Song Changsheng was naturally pleased to have someone volunteer as cannon fodder. In his heart, the life of every one of his Song Clan Members was precious. Since someone was willing to lead the charge, he had no reason to refuse.

Pressing his hands down to quiet the room, Song Changsheng turned his gaze to Liu Hongye. "Since Sect Leader Liu has volunteered, the Liuyun Sect shall lead the main assault. You will be well-rewarded afterward."

A look of delight crossed Liu Hongye’s face, and he hastily accepted.

Motioning for him to sit, Song Changsheng’s tone shifted. "However, I must remind all of you: after you breach Baiyun Peak, your primary objective is to eliminate the enemy’s living forces.

You are not to seize Spiritual Fields, palaces, or Treasure Vaults. All spoils of war will be collected by my clan afterward, tallied, and then distributed based on merit shown in this battle.

Furthermore, you are not to hide treasures or deliberately cause destruction. If anyone violates these orders, do not blame me for being merciless!

This applies to Song Clan Members as well. The clan rules are absolute. Do not bring disaster upon yourselves!"

The icy words spilling from Song Changsheng’s mouth made everyone present feel a chill run down their spines. They all voiced their agreement in unison.

After the others had left, Song Luzhou looked at Song Xianming, who had been resting with his eyes closed behind Song Changsheng the entire time. He smiled and said, "That boy is really starting to carry himself like a Clan Leader."

"Since when have you become so fond of beating around the bush? Once this matter is concluded, Sheng’Er will naturally take over as Clan Leader," Song Xianming said without looking up.

"What are you talking about? This nephew was merely making a casual comment," Song Luzhou denied, then turned his gaze to the pitch-black night. "Do you think the Lieyang Sect will show up?"

"If they were going to come, they would have arrived by now. I’m afraid something major has happened within the Lieyang Sect." Song Xianming’s eyes narrowed. He could smell danger.

"Then the Martial Spirit Sect is doomed this time. It hasn’t been easy to get here... If only Ninth Sister and Twelfth Brother were still alive."

Unifying Ling Province was an obsession not only for the two brothers Song Xianming and Song Xianyun, but for those three siblings as well. It was just a pity that Song Luyao and Song Luhuai were no longer alive.

"Their spirits in the heavens will surely be watching."

"Yes. They will," Song Luzhou said, nodding emphatically.

——————

The next day, the Song Clan’s forces slowed the frequency of their attacks, giving the Martial Spirit Sect a chance to breathe.

At the stroke of midnight, all was deathly still. The moon was completely shrouded by a thick blanket of clouds.

Suddenly, an earth-shattering BOOM erupted from Baiyun Peak! A large hall had exploded, and a boundless fire immediately began to spread wantonly across the summit.

Everyone was stunned by the sudden turn of events. Believing it to be an enemy attack, they rushed toward the explosion.

But the culprit, Yu Chengshan, had already melted into the night and made his way to the sector defended by the Yu Clan. After the four powers had allied, they had jointly constructed a new Mountain Protection Array, which meant the Yu Clan held partial control over the Grand Array.

With Yu Chengzhou providing cover, Yu Chengshan used his authority to instantly paralyze the defenses in their sector. He then took out a Tier Three Low-Grade Talisman and forcefully blasted open a breach from within.

Only then did the members of the Martial Spirit Sect realize they had fallen for a diversion. Staring at the breach in the Mountain Protection Array, Qiu Tianyang and the others were so furious their eyes looked ready to pop from their sockets.

"YU—CHENG—SHAN! I’LL FUCK YOUR ANCESTORS!" Qiu Tianyang roared, charging over with his men. Everyone knew that if they didn’t repair the breach immediately, the Song Clan would pour through unopposed!

Watching his former allies swarm toward him, Yu Chengshan stood before the breach and bellowed, "My boys! Hold this gap, and we will have performed a great service! Only then can our parents, wives, and children live! Follow me and slay the enemy!"

"KILL! KILL! KILL!"

Although there were few Yu Clan members present, at this moment they erupted with an indomitable aura. Even at an absolute disadvantage, they showed no fear, for they knew that even if they died here today, their Sect Race would be preserved.

They weren’t just defending a breach in an array; they were defending their families back in the Wutong Mountain Range!

Soon, the two sides were locked in a brutal melee.

Such a huge commotion on Baiyun Peak could not be hidden from the Song Clan. Seeing the breach, Liu Hongye, who was already lying in wait with his troops, revealed a bloodthirsty smile. "Charge!"

As his voice fell, hundreds of Liuyun Sect disciples charged toward Baiyun Peak like tigers descending a mountain, led by Foundation Establishment Cultivators like Liu Hongye and Liu Hongyan.

They crossed the dozens of miles in what felt like an instant, pouring directly through the breach.

By now, the Yu Clan had already suffered grievous losses under the siege. Yu Chengzhou had fallen, and Yu Chengshan was severely wounded.

Liu Hongye’s group fended off Qiu Tianyang’s furious counterattack while simultaneously working to widen the breach.

Soon, the figures of the Wang Clan, the rest of the Yu Clan, and the Song Clan appeared in the pitch-black sky.

Just as they were about to charge in and overwhelm the defenders, the opening Yu Chengshan had created suddenly sealed itself shut.

The abrupt change stunned everyone, including the unsuspecting Qiu Tianyang and his men.

Liu Hongye’s heart sank. They had become an isolated force!

...