Longevity: Comprehending the Heart Method

The tension that had gripped his heart finally eased. He supported himself on a rock as he walked to the edge of the pool and sat down. The clear water reflected his blood-covered face.

Song Changsheng was startled by the sight. He quickly scooped up some water and washed his face thoroughly before starting to think about what had happened.

He only remembered seeing the character for "Dao," and then something had rushed into his Sea of Consciousness, causing him to pass out.

While he was unconscious, he seemed to have had a dream. He dreamt of his so-called master, the Heaven-Supporting Sword Immortal. The man had said a lot to him in the dream, but he could only remember a few fragments, all of which were abstruse and difficult to comprehend.

Based on his experience, Song Changsheng judged that they were some kind of insights related to cultivation. They were simply too profound for him to understand at his current level.

After speaking, the man vanished, and then... he woke up from the dream.

’Master, oh Master, if you’re going to teach me, could you at least be a little clearer? How am I supposed to understand any of that?’ Song Changsheng thought, grumbling inwardly as he splashed more water on his face.

After his silent complaints, he obediently took out a blank Jade Scroll and recorded everything he could remember from the "dream."

Once he finished, he recalled everything he had just done and couldn’t help but break out in a cold sweat.

When a Cultivator breaks through to the Purple Mansion Stage, they must open their Middle Dantian, draw in the Heaven and Earth Purple Qi to forge their Purple Mansion, and completely convert all their Spiritual Power into Mana.

This Purple Qi is an evolution of the Heavenly Dao Rules. The symbols Song Changsheng had seen were, in fact, a direct manifestation of those rules.

With his current Cultivation, he shouldn’t have been able to see them. But thanks to his training in the [Eye of Truth], he possessed the ability to trace things back to their source, allowing him to see the essence behind the phenomenon.

This was a monumental opportunity that countless Great Power Cultivators might never encounter in their entire lives!

But the Celestial Dao is not something one can gaze upon lightly. As a result, Song Changsheng had paid the price, taking a stroll right past King Yama’s gates.

Now that he had pieced things together, Song Changsheng still hadn’t fully grasped the magnitude of the opportunity he’d been given, but he understood one thing clearly: some things were not meant to be looked at. Curiosity really did kill the cat. He would have to take this as a serious lesson for the future.

Song Changsheng didn’t join the clan’s wild celebration. Instead, he returned to his own courtyard. His current disheveled appearance wasn’t suitable for the public eye.

Besides, the old man would need a few days to consolidate his Cultivation after his successful breakthrough. It wasn’t the right time to pay him a visit yet.

The courtyard was empty, without a soul in sight.

He had been in seclusion for the past three years, but he wasn’t completely ignorant of the clan’s affairs.

Song Qingxing was out gaining experience and his whereabouts were unknown. Aside from the brightly burning Soul Lamp in the Soul Lamp Hall that proved he was still alive, the clan had no other news of him.

Some had even begun to speculate that Song Qingxing had deserted the clan, but they were severely reprimanded by the Grand Elder.

Xia Yunxue was probably at the clan’s winery at this time.

Ever since Song Changsheng presented the recipe for [Bamboo Leaf Green] at the last Clan Elder Council meeting, Song Xianyun and the others had followed his idea, putting Xia Yunxue in charge of establishing a large-scale winery.

Xia Yunxue personally brewed the Tier Two Level [Bamboo Leaf Green], while her apprentices brewed a simplified Tier One version. Although its effects were significantly weaker, it was more than enough for Qi Cultivators.

These Spirit Wines had greatly enhanced the clan’s overall strength, and Xia Yunxue spent nearly every day immersed in her work at the winery.

Meanwhile, Song Qingxi, who used to chase butterflies in the fields, had become one of the clan’s few Tier Two Spirit Plant Cultivators last year.

Due to the special affinity she showed for Spirit Plants, she had been assigned to cultivate Spirit Medicines for the clan at the Wood Spirit Vein near the Red Cloud Iron Ore Vein. Aside from returning for a visit once a month, she was rarely home.

Little Lingyun was almost five years old, the age to attend the clan school. Xia Yunxue would drop him off every morning before heading to the winery for her duties, and they would only return in the evening.

’The people are gone, but why is the turtle missing too?’ Song Changsheng frowned slightly.

He and Jin Xuan shared a mental connection, so he knew that during his seclusion, Jin Xuan had successfully broken through to Tier Two Low Grade, becoming the clan’s first Tier Two Spirit Beast.

Though it was a Spirit Beast, its strength was comparable to a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. If it wandered around freely, it was bound to cause trouble.

But then Song Changsheng had another thought. ’With Jin Xuan’s lazy personality, it would prefer to lounge in the pool all day. How could it possibly be running around? Someone must have taken it out. But who...’

"Uncle Jin, can you slow down? I’m so sleepy."

On a small path in the woods, a young child rubbed his drowsy eyes and spoke listlessly.

The child was fair and chubby like a porcelain doll. His eyes were as bright as black gems, and his round, plump cheeks made one want to reach out and give them a pinch.

"We have to walk faster precisely because you’re sleepy. Do you want to sleep here instead?" A somewhat childish voice called out from ahead. Surprisingly, it was a large golden turtle, the size of a calf, that was speaking. The voice was a clear mismatch for its massive body.

"I can’t walk anymore. Can you carry me, please?" But the child wasn’t scared at all. Instead, he stretched out a chubby hand, grabbed the large turtle’s tail, and whined.

"Aunt Xue said you have to walk by yourself," the large turtle said helplessly.

"I don’t care! If you don’t carry me, I’m not moving!" Upon hearing this, the child plopped right down on the ground, clearly intending to throw a tantrum.

Suddenly, he felt a large hand wrap around his waist. His line of sight shot upwards, higher even than the large turtle.

Then, a gentle voice came from behind him. "How about I carry you?"

The little guy froze. The voice was so familiar, just like in his dreams.

"Master." Before the little guy could react, Jin Xuan, who was walking ahead, cried out in pleasant surprise.

Song Changsheng placed Little Lingyun on the ground and looked with a smile at Jin Xuan, who was now many times larger than before. "It’s been a few years, and you’ve grown so big. Have you refined your Horizontal Bone already?"

A Demon Beast needs to refine its Horizontal Bone to be able to speak human language, something that usually requires reaching the Tier Three Level. However, Jin Xuan’s bloodline was special, so achieving it a bit early was normal.

"Yes, Master."

"You don’t have to call me Master. We share our fortunes and our fates; we’re like brothers, not a master and servant."

Jin Xuan tilted its head, thought for a moment, and said, "Then I’ll call you Boss."

"Haha, suit yourself," Song Changsheng laughed.

On the ground, Little Lingyun looked up at the tall figure, tears welling in his eyes. His lips trembled as he hugged Song Changsheng’s leg and sobbed, "Daddy."

Song Changsheng’s heart jolted. The little guy who could barely speak clearly three years ago was so big now, and he had never forgotten him.

He truly owed this child so much.

He reached down, picked him up, and wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes with his sleeve. "There, there, don’t cry. Today is a joyous occasion. How about I take you to see your great-grandfather?"

After speaking, Song Changsheng realized his own eyes had grown a little moist.

Wiping his eyes, he then discovered that Lingyun had already fallen fast asleep on his shoulder, tear tracks still visible on his small face.

Song Changsheng couldn’t help but chuckle. "Like this? What is he even going to learn at school?"

Hearing this, Jin Xuan couldn’t help but retort, "Boss, Qingyun is very smart! All the teachers at the academy really like him."

Song Changsheng gave an awkward smile. "That’s good, that’s good."

Just then, a powerful aura erupted from the mountain’s peak, sweeping across all of Vast Mist Peak like a storm. But it vanished just as quickly, leaving no trace behind.

Immediately after, a resonant voice sounded in Song Changsheng’s ear. "Come see me at Ruyun Hall."

Song Changsheng’s heart leaped with joy. It was Song Xianming’s voice. Only a Cultivator at the Purple Mansion Stage or above could transmit their voice over such a great distance using Divine Sense.

Since Song Xianming was summoning him, it meant his Cultivation had been successfully consolidated.

Song Changsheng smiled at Jin Xuan and said, "How about you come with me to pay our respects to the clan’s new Purple Mansion Great Cultivator?"

...