Longevity: Comprehending the Heart Method

After a moment of playful banter, Zhuang Yuechan suddenly realized her behavior was a bit improper. Recalling what Jiang Qing had just said, her face flushed red. She flusteredly found a place to sit down and changed the subject.

"Since when were you an Honored Guest Elder for the Wanlong Commerce Association?"

This was what confused her the most. Jiang Qing was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, after all, and had been incredibly arrogant earlier. But after Song Changsheng produced a waist token, his attitude completely changed. He became not just respectful, but downright sycophantic.

Given the Song Clan’s standing, it should have been impossible for them to have any dealings with the Wanlong Commerce Association. It wasn’t that she looked down on the Song Clan; it was simply a fact. Even Luoxia City hadn’t been able to establish a connection with the Wanlong Commerce Association before her master broke through to the Golden Core Realm, to say nothing of a complete non-entity like the Song Clan.

Hearing this, Song Changsheng sat down beside her. He placed the VIP Card on the low table and said, "To be honest, I’m still in the dark about it myself. Jiang Qing’s attitude changed so quickly entirely because of this VIP Card."

"When I first got this card, all I knew was that it gave me a thirty-percent discount at any business owned by the Wanlong Commerce Association. I had no idea about this whole Honored Guest Elder business. I’ll have to find her and ask about it when I get the chance."

Zhuang Yuechan took the VIP Card for a look. "Oh," she said, realization dawning on her, "it’s a VIP Card from the Wanlong Commerce Association."

But then she frowned and asked in confusion, "But aren’t Silver VIP Cards only given to Cultivators at or above the Purple Mansion Realm?"

"That’s actually a simple story. Back when I was in Ten Thousand Swords City, I needed to..." Song Changsheng briefly recounted what had happened. When he finished, he noticed that the way Zhuang Yuechan was looking at him was a little odd.

He subconsciously touched his face and asked blankly, "Is there something on my face?"

"Handing out a Silver VIP Card just like that... My, the young miss of the Wanlong Commerce Association is certainly generous. Do you think she’s taken a liking to you? Perhaps she wants to make you a son-in-law of the Peng Family," Zhuang Yuechan remarked nonchalantly, her delicate fingers toying with the card.

For some reason, Song Changsheng suddenly felt a chill run down his spine...

Hundred Herbs Hall had been a fixture in the Daqi Cultivation World for nearly three thousand years. Its strength had always been considered in the upper-middle tier. Despite its immense wealth, it had never once produced a Golden Core Master—a fact that was a source of deep regret for everyone in the organization.

Yet, no one dared to underestimate this ancient Sect. It was home to the largest and most talented group of Alchemists in the entire Daqi Cultivation World and possessed many exclusive Pill Formulas. Even the two great Major Sects found it necessary to remain on good terms with them.

Hundred Herbs Hall also operated with a very low profile, deliberately confining its influence within Meng Province and never expanding outward. It advocated for friendly relations, and the number of Cultivators who had received favors from them was countless.

It was no exaggeration to say that if Hundred Herbs Hall wanted someone dead, it only needed to put out the word, and droves of people would be happy to do its bidding.

And the "Pill Tasting Conference" was one of the ways Hundred Herbs Hall built its network. All the Purple Mansion Level Influences and Loose Cultivators of the Purple Mansion Realm in the Daqi Cultivation World would receive an invitation.

The conference was held once every thirty years, and each one was a major event in the Daqi Cultivation World. Now, as the date of the conference approached, many Cultivators had traveled thousands of miles to Fire Tripod Mountain in Meng Province. For a time, titans gathered, and many forces lurking in the shadows began to stir restlessly.

It was in the midst of this scene that a colossal Flying Ship arrived at the center of this vortex, coming to a stop on the outskirts of a city.

As a crowd of Cultivators looked on, Song Changsheng and Zhuang Yuechan were respectfully escorted off the Flying Ship by Jiang Qing.

"So this is Meng Province. The Cross-Boundary Flying Ship’s speed certainly lives up to its reputation. I heard that if it went all out, it could be twice as fast!" Song Changsheng remarked in awe as he surveyed his surroundings.

’If only I’d had a Cross-Boundary Flying Ship for my journey to the Celestial Sword Sect,’ he thought. ’I wouldn’t have been delayed for so long. Maybe I could have even made it in time for that battle. The outcome for Song Luhuai and Song Luyao might have been different.’

"Why is everyone gathered outside the city instead of going in?" Zhuang Yuechan asked, looking curiously at the crowd below.

"Let’s go down and find out."

The two landed on the ground using Sword Control. Song Changsheng found a middle-aged Cultivator who seemed approachable and asked, "Excuse me, friend. May I ask why everyone is gathered outside the city instead of entering?"

The middle-aged Cultivator eyed them warily. Deciding they didn’t look like villains, he jerked his chin toward the city gate. "Someone died over there. The people from Hundred Herbs Hall are investigating, so everyone’s waiting for the outcome."

"Someone died at the city gate?" Song Changsheng frowned. As a city that Hundred Herbs Hall had operated for over two thousand years, Fire Tripod City was one of the largest in the Daqi Cultivation World. And with the Pill Tasting Conference currently being held, security was incredibly strict. Anyone wishing to enter had to undergo repeated inspections.

’Yet someone died right at the city gate, the most heavily guarded place of all. Who could be so bold?’

The middle-aged Cultivator shook his head. "He didn’t die at the city gate. Someone killed him and then dumped the body here. It happened around 7:00 AM. The Cultivators guarding the gate failed to catch the killer, and now they’re trying to confirm the victim’s identity."

Song Changsheng was shocked. ’So that’s how it is,’ he thought. ’Isn’t this a blatant provocation against Hundred Herbs Hall?’

’Who would have the gall to do something like this right as the Pill Tasting Conference is being held? It’s tantamount to grinding Hundred Herbs Hall’s face into the dirt. Aren’t they afraid of dying a graveless death?’

Suddenly, a commotion broke out up ahead. Song Changsheng tilted his head to listen; it seemed the identity of the deceased had been confirmed.