Longevity: Comprehending the Heart Method

While Song Changsheng was being overwhelmed on one side, He Tang’s Guardian was suffering in silence on the other. His cultivation was two Small Realms higher than Zhuang Yuechan’s. Logically speaking, shouldn’t dealing with her have been child’s play?

But theory and reality were two different things. Zhuang Yuechan’s status was special, so he didn’t dare go for the kill. On top of that, he was injured and couldn’t unleash his full strength. As a result, he found himself completely overwhelmed by her instead.

Fortunately, He Tang seemed to have gained the upper hand, which brought the Guardian a sliver of comfort.

"Song Changsheng, aren’t you supposed to be so capable? Aren’t you famous throughout the Southwest? Is this all you’ve got?

The Song Clan is just a washed-up family without even a single Purple Mansion Stage expert. What right do you have to attend the Pill Tasting Conference? What gives you the right to stand on equal footing with me?"

He Tang’s expression was savage. He had bottled these feelings up for far too long. He, too, had been a young prodigy, but whenever people spoke of him, they always mentioned his Purple Mansion Stage ancestor. The implication was that everything he possessed was due to his prestigious birth.

Naturally, he couldn’t accept such an assessment. So he trained even harder and his methods grew even more ruthless—all to make a name for himself throughout the world!

Unfortunately, a new generation of talent always rises to replace the old. He eventually became one of those old waves, left to die on the shore as he slowly faded from the public eye.

Everything Song Changsheng had achieved was what he himself had once desperately craved.

But deep down, he despised Song Changsheng. In his eyes, Song Changsheng was nothing but an attention-seeking clown.

Now, all he had to do was take Song Changsheng’s head. With that, he could once again declare to the world that he, He Tang, was not some pampered young master who could only rely on his ancestors’ protection!

"Die!"

He Tang’s eyes blazed with fury. A sickly green dagger had appeared in his hand, and he thrust it violently toward Song Changsheng’s heart.

SHLICK.

The dagger sank into flesh, and fresh blood splattered.

But the scene He Tang had envisioned never came to pass. Just as he stabbed forward, Song Changsheng caught the blade in his right hand. The dagger had done nothing more than pierce his palm.

"Even now, you have to resort to a cheap trick like a sneak attack. Ninth Aunt’s assessment of you was spot on." Song Changsheng’s expression was placid, as if it weren’t his own palm that had been pierced.

And what was Song Luyao’s assessment of He Tang?

"As sinister and ruthless as a venomous snake." That was Song Luyao’s assessment of him, which was why Song Changsheng had been on his guard the entire time. ’Sure enough, she was spot on!’

He Tang’s expression flickered. He tried to pull his hand back, but Song Changsheng held it in a death grip. He had no choice but to swing his left fist at Song Changsheng’s face.

Song Changsheng dodged the punch with a tilt of his head. Then, with a sharp yank, he bent He Tang’s arm down. With a loud CRACK, He Tang’s wrist went limp, and he let out a muffled grunt.

But He Tang was a ruthless man. Ignoring his broken right wrist, he formed a hand seal with his left, unleashing the Flame Burst Technique as a palm strike aimed directly at Song Changsheng’s head.

"Little Divine Technique: Celestial Spirit Shield!"

A Gang Qi Shield materialized around Song Changsheng. He Tang felt as if he had slammed into a steel fortress wall. The rebound force shattered his arm guard and left his entire left arm completely mangled.

Pressing his advantage, Song Changsheng pulled the dagger out of his palm and, with a reverse grip, stabbed it into He Tang’s waist.

’He had wanted to stab He Tang’s heart, but the Profound Celestial Battle Armor had a Heart-Protecting Mirror. Even though the dagger was a Spiritual Artifact, it might not be able to break through. Better to injure a kidney first and weaken his ability to resist.’

He Tang let out a furious roar. A layer of pitch-black light flared to life on his Battle Armor, unleashing a massive shockwave that slammed into Song Changsheng and sent him flying.

Having broken free, He Tang immediately swallowed a blood-red Pill. His face instantly flushed a deep crimson, but his injuries improved dramatically.

Song Changsheng steadied himself and spat a mouthful of bloody saliva. A vicious glint appeared deep in his eyes. ’This pawn is too dangerous to keep alive!’

"Gourd Spirit Slayer!"

He slapped his waist, and the Spirit-Slaying Gourd shot into the air, spinning. An Invisible Blade lanced straight into He Tang’s mind. It tore through the defenses in his Sea of Consciousness as easily as a hot knife through butter, then slashed down upon his fragile Divine Soul.

He Tang felt a searing pain explode in his head, and his mind went blank.

"Little Divine Technique: Mountain-Flipping Seal!"

Song Changsheng rapidly formed a series of hand seals. A large, illusory seal materialized in his palm, images of mountains flowing across its surface. It radiated a majestic, heavy aura as it descended directly upon He Tang.

"Young Master, watch out!"

At the critical moment, the Guardian forcibly broke away from his own fight, throwing his physical body in the path of the attack to shield He Tang.

BOOM—

As He Tang watched in horror, his Guardian exploded into a shower of blood and gore. Shattered flesh, bone fragments, and viscera rained down, drenching him completely.

"Uncle Yangg!!"

He Tang’s eyes were nearly splitting from grief. He felt an agonizing pain in his chest. His father had died young; ever since his Spirit Root was detected at the age of eight, this Guardian had been the one to protect him, to watch over his growth, and to teach him cultivation.

To He Tang, the man had been both a master and a father, the person he relied on most in the world. He couldn’t count the number of secret attacks Uncle Yangg had shielded him from. And now, he had given his very life to protect him one last time.

"You bastard!"

He Tang’s eyes were blood-red. He had no path of retreat. Fire Tripod Mountain was enveloped by the Sect Protection Array; there was nowhere to run. His only chance was to kill Song Changsheng!

Zhuang Yuechan appeared at Song Changsheng’s side. Watching He Tang’s aura climb relentlessly, she frowned. "He’s getting ready to risk it all."

As she spoke, she took out her Jade Zither, preparing to use it to disrupt He Tang’s consciousness.