Longevity: Comprehending the Heart Method

Chapter 30: Chapter 30: Advancing by Leaps and Bounds

The murmurs of the onlookers finally got to Cheng Xiao. He opened his eyes and saw Song Changsheng working with both hands, two Arrays already nearing completion.

”This... How is this possible?” Cheng Xiao couldn’t believe his eyes.

Every Array Master dreamed of mastering the ability to divide their focus, but almost all of them failed. Cheng Xiao was among those failures.

It had even made Cheng Xiao wonder if such a feat was truly possible.

Clearly, he now had his answer. It was real, but it was being demonstrated by a man he had looked down upon.

In that instant, intense resentment and indignation welled up in Cheng Xiao’s heart. He couldn’t accept it. Why had he, with all his talent, been unable to find a path to this skill, while this guy right in front of him could do it?

This violent emotional turmoil immediately affected him. The third Array, which he had been halfway through inscribing, instantly collapsed. In that moment, Cheng Xiao felt as if something had stabbed him in his Sea of Consciousness, an excruciating pain.

With his Sea of Consciousness in chaos, the Spiritual Power throughout his body spun out of control, rampaging through his Meridians and Qi Sea. Cheng Xiao suddenly let out a cry and sprayed a cloud of blood mist.

His eyes then rolled back in his head, and he stiffly passed out.

Bai Ruofeng was startled and rushed over to help Cheng Xiao up. After a quick examination, he was shocked to find signs that Cheng Xiao was on the verge of having Fallen into Demon.

He couldn’t be bothered with anything else at the moment. He glanced around at the crowd and announced, ”The Hundred Treasures Pavilion forfeits this match.”

After saying this, Bai Ruofeng picked up Cheng Xiao and quickly departed through the crowd.

Everyone was caught completely off guard by this sudden turn of events.

One Cultivator said in disbelief, ”The Hundred Treasures Pavilion just forfeited like that?”

”Didn’t you see Cheng Xiao spit blood? I bet it’s pretty serious. And did you see Bai Ruofeng’s face? He looked like his own son just died.”

”If you ask me, it’s not surprising,” another chimed in. ”He was up against someone who can multitask like that. He was going to lose anyway, so it’s better to just fake passing out and get it over with.”

Instantly, all sorts of speculations sprang up like bamboo shoots after a spring rain. In less than a quarter of an hour, dozens of different versions of the story were already circulating.

A person suddenly had a flash of inspiration and said, ”Since the Earth Fire Sect forfeited, doesn’t that mean we can collect our Spirit Stones? I bet on the Song Clan to win!”

”That’s right, time to settle up!”

In an instant, those who had bet on Song Changsheng to win erupted into a sea of joy, rushing to find the bookies and cash in their Spirit Stones.

Meanwhile, those who had bet on Cheng Xiao to win were shrouded in gloom, each one feeling more disgusted than if they had swallowed a fly.

When Song Changsheng opened his eyes, he was greeted by this chaotic scene. Cheng Xiao was nowhere to be found, leaving only a conspicuous pool of blood.

’What’s going on?’ Song Changsheng was also a bit baffled.

”Nephew, you’ve won! That Cheng Xiao from the Earth Fire Sect passed out halfway through the competition. They forfeited and left a while ago,” Song Luyuan said excitedly in his ear.

”He left?” Song Changsheng couldn’t help but laugh. He had originally considered Cheng Xiao a worthy opponent, even deliberately refining a flawed Magical Artifact to mislead him. It seemed he had overestimated the man.

Looking at the Magical Artifact in his hands, he felt quite satisfied. Due to the short time limit, both he and Cheng Xiao had chosen the simplest Tier One Low-Grade Arrays.

In three ancient hours, Cheng Xiao could inscribe four at most, whereas Song Changsheng had inscribed six in just two ancient hours. The difference between them was self-evident.

Besides his superior skill, the crucial factor behind this disparity was his ability to divide his focus.

He had discovered this ability by chance while cultivating the Water and Fire Manipulation Technique. He had then experimentally tried to integrate it into his array work, and the results had been surprisingly good.

Song Changsheng put the Magical Artifact away, scanned his surroundings, and cupped his fists. ”Fellow Cultivators,” he announced, ”I will be stationed at the Treasure Hunting Pavilion for the time being. If any of you need anything, feel free to place an order. I will turn no one away.”

He had entered this competition not only to humiliate the Hundred Treasures Pavilion but also to advertise himself. After all, to improve his Artifact Refining Technique, he needed plenty of practice.

And just as he had expected, business boomed over the following period. Song Changqian and the others were so busy they were run off their feet.

The Hundred Treasures Pavilion, in contrast, was not only deserted day after day, but it was also plagued by all sorts of slanderous rumors. It had completely lost face.

——————

”Bai Ruofeng, you have greatly disappointed me.” In a secret chamber within the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, a middle-aged man in a blue robe stood with his hands behind his back, his voice cold.

Bai Ruofeng explained with a terrified expression, ”Elder Cheng, I never expected that Song Changsheng would actually...”

”Enough!” Elder Cheng roared. ”My Xiao was almost ruined because of you, and you still have the gall to make excuses? You didn’t even investigate Song Changsheng’s background properly. What the hell are you good for?”

The middle-aged man was furious. A single competition had nearly caused Cheng Xiao to Fall into Demon. He wished he could just slap Bai Ruofeng to death right then and there.

Bai Ruofeng fell to his knees in terror. ”I would never dare have such intentions,” he stammered.

”Hmph. This Song Changsheng has repeatedly spoiled our sect’s plans. I absolutely cannot let him leave this place alive.” Killing intent filled Elder Cheng’s eyes.

He looked down at Bai Ruofeng on the floor. ”Send someone to watch him. The moment he leaves the Marketplace, report to me immediately.”

”Yes, Elder!” Bai Ruofeng replied, as if relieved of a great burden. He hastily withdrew to make the arrangements...

Song Changsheng was still unaware that an Elder from the Earth Fire Sect had secretly arrived in the Marketplace and was already planning to deal with him.

He was currently holed up in the Artifact Refining Chamber, working day and night to improve his Artifact Refining Technique.

”Finally, the last piece is complete.”

Inside the Artifact Refining Chamber, Song Changsheng let out a long sigh of relief. He could finally take a break.

Nearly half a year had passed since the competition. Buried under a mountain of artifact refining orders, he had undergone a transformation, successfully upgrading his Treasure Gourd to the Tier One Top Grade.

This marked his official debut as the Song Clan’s youngest Tier One Top Grade Artifact Refiner!

Song Changsheng walked out of the Artifact Refining Chamber and handed the finished Magical Artifacts to Song Luyuan. ”Clan Uncle,” he said, ”I’d like to rest for a while. If anyone else wants a Magical Artifact refined, please just push their order back a bit.”

”Ah, you’ve really worked hard during this time. In the half-year you’ve been here, you’ve completed more orders than we used to get in a full year! You absolutely deserve a good rest. Why don’t you take a month off?”

Song Luyuan was now at a point where he would grant any of Song Changsheng’s requests. Never mind a few days of rest; even if Song Changsheng asked for his daughter’s hand... AHEM, AHEM... he wouldn’t so much as bat an eye.

”A month?” Song Changsheng nodded. He had never properly explored the Marketplace, so this was a good opportunity.

Just as he was about to head downstairs, Song Luyuan stopped him and handed him a Qiankun Bag.

Song Changsheng opened it and saw five hundred Spirit Stones neatly stacked inside. He asked in confusion, ”What’s this?”

Song Luyuan replied with surprise, ”This is your payment for all the orders you’ve completed.”

Song Changsheng had a moment of realization. In the Song Clan, completing orders for the clan’s shops earned you a reward. He had always assumed it would be paid in Contribution Points, not directly in Spirit Stones.

Perhaps sensing his confusion, Song Luyuan chuckled. ”For those of us stationed away from the clan year-round, Spirit Stones are more practical. This is your first time in the Marketplace, right? This is the perfect chance for you to go have a proper look around.”

”That was exactly my plan. Thank you, Clan Uncle,” Song Changsheng said. He then calmly accepted the Spirit Stones and headed out into the street.

He had been here for half a year, and it was true that he had never properly explored it...