Longevity: Comprehending the Heart Method

Chapter 31: Chapter 31: Zhu Yiqun

PS: I saw everyone’s feedback on the last Chapter. I’ve now made major revisions. My sincerest apologies.

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After leaving the shop, Song Changsheng ducked into a small alley. When he emerged, he was wearing a cloak that concealed him completely.

He also activated his [Breath Concealment Technique]. This Secret Technique, which came from the Daoist Scripture, could not only hide his aura and Cultivation but also mask his Spiritual Power fluctuations.

Forget Qi Cultivation Stage Cultivators; even a Foundation Establishment Cultivator would be unable to see through his disguise without some special method.

The reason he was being so secretive was mainly that he was well aware of his situation.

Recently, he had not only severely injured Chang Tianhua but had also utterly humiliated the Earth Fire Sect in the artifact refining competition.

Song Changsheng would never believe that the Earth Fire Sect didn’t want him dead.

Although fighting was strictly forbidden in the Marketplace, it was always better to be cautious, just in case.

’The streets really are empty on a normal day. I should head to the central plaza and see if I can find anything.’

He had already learned from Song Luyuan that most Cultivators in the Marketplace did their trading in the central plaza, which was why the main streets were usually deserted.

Sure enough, the central plaza was bustling with activity. Loose Cultivators had set up stalls everywhere, selling a dazzling variety of goods. The air was filled with a constant stream of hawking, giving Song Changsheng the odd feeling of being at a country fair.

He weaved between the various stalls with great interest, discovering a few items worth a second look, such as an inconspicuous Talisman Brush at an old cultivator’s stall.

Although its Spiritual Light was faint, Song Changsheng’s expertise in Artifact Refining allowed him to see its extraordinary quality. It would be a worthwhile purchase for a Talisman Master.

For him, however, it was unnecessary.

Wandering and pausing along the way, he eventually stopped in front of a stall selling ore. The owner, a middle-aged man with sharp, weasel-like features, greeted him enthusiastically the moment he saw him stop.

”Fellow Daoist, take a look, take your pick! This is all rare, raw ore—the kind you don’t see every day.”

Song Changsheng crouched down, his eyes scanning the various ores as he asked nonchalantly, ”Fellow Daoist, how much are you selling these stones for?”

The middle-aged cultivator rubbed his hands together. ”One Spirit Stone. Everything for one Spirit Stone.”

Song Changsheng scoffed. ”Are you trying to swindle a fool, Fellow Daoist? This is all unrefined, raw ore. It’s not worth that price at all.”

”Now, now, Fellow Daoist, don’t say that. I’ve got plenty of Tier Two ores in here. If you find one, you’ll have made a profit.”

The middle-aged cultivator smiled innocently, but Song Changsheng didn’t believe a single word he said.

It was true that there were Tier Two ores among them, but they were all flawed scraps that were impossible to refine. Buying any would be a guaranteed loss.

However, his target wasn’t any of those, but an unremarkable stone in the corner. It looked like a piece of Tier One Kongming Iron.

But Song Changsheng could faintly sense a fluctuation of Water Spiritual Power from within it—a property that Kongming Iron didn’t possess, which piqued his curiosity.

”Three Spirit Stones for five pieces. That’s all your wares are worth,” Song Changsheng said, taking out three Spirit Stones.

”Done and done.” The middle-aged cultivator took the Spirit Stones, his face beaming.

After all, he had scavenged all these ores from abandoned mines. They hadn’t cost him a thing.

Besides the Kongming Iron, Song Changsheng also picked four other metallic ores of decent quality. Even if the Kongming Iron held no surprises, these would ensure he made a small profit.

After stowing the ores away, Song Changsheng continued to wander. He did another lap, spending ten Spirit Stones on a broken Array Foundation from one stall and five Spirit Stones on a jade fragment.

He was nearing the end of the plaza when a gaunt, elderly cultivator suddenly blocked his path and said mysteriously, ”Young friend, I have a map to an ancient ruin right here. This old man can see that you have extraordinary talent and the bearing of a future saint.

For just one hundred Spirit Stones, I will sell this ancestral Treasure Map to you. What do you say?”

As he spoke, he lifted a corner of his Daoist robe to reveal a tattered beast-hide map.

Song Changsheng was momentarily speechless. To think he would run into such a low-level scam.

He didn’t want to bother, but he was curious to see what kind of fake it was. Feigning interest, he said, ”Senior, you’re hyping this up so much. At least let me have a look. Otherwise, how am I supposed to know if you’re telling the truth?”

Seeing that Song Changsheng was taking the bait, the old cultivator readily handed over the map. ”Be my guest, inspect it all you like.”

Song Changsheng took it and saw that this fellow really had a knack for forgery. Setting aside the authenticity of the content, the way the map had been artificially aged was convincing enough to pass for the real thing.

Even with his discerning eye, he could only spot a few subtle flaws. A naive young cultivator, upon seeing such realistic craftsmanship, would probably be half-convinced already.

Just as Song Changsheng was about to ask a few more questions, a familiar voice sounded by his ear. ”You old codger, swindling people here again! Fellow Daoist, everything he sells is fake. Don’t be fooled by him.”

Hearing this, the old cultivator jumped up in agitation. ”Chubby Zhu, what nonsense are you spouting?”

Song Changsheng turned to see a large, chubby man dressed in fine silk standing behind him.

The man looked familiar. He’d seen him when he first arrived at the Marketplace, and the man had wanted to befriend him. ’His name was...’ he recalled, ’Zhu Yiqun?’

He had originally thought the man was a schemer with ill intentions, but now it seemed he actually had a bit of a chivalrous heart.

Many people could see it was a scam, but he was the only one who stepped forward for a complete stranger.

”Fellow Daoist, every word I’ve said is true. Whether you believe me is up to you.” Zhu Yiqun completely ignored the fuming old cultivator and spoke to Song Changsheng with a serious expression.

Song Changsheng nodded in agreement. ”Indeed. The aging technique used on this map is clever, but the beast hide lacks the authentic feel of age and decay.”

The moment the old cultivator heard that, his expression changed drastically. He abandoned his ”ancestral map” and melted into the crowd, disappearing from sight.

Song Changsheng had no intention of giving chase. The ”Brother Zhu” before him was far more interesting.

Seeing this, Zhu Yiqun shook his head with a wry smile. ”So you’d already noticed, Fellow Daoist. It seems I was being a busybody.”

Song Changsheng cupped his hands in a salute. ”Fellow Daoist Zhu, we meet again.”

The chubby man was a bit surprised. ”You know me, Fellow Daoist?”

”We met once outside the Marketplace. I wonder if you still recall?”

Zhu Yiqun immediately understood who Song Changsheng was and couldn’t help but laugh. ”Ah, so it’s you! I’m not sure whether I should call you Fellow Daoist Shenn or Fellow Daoist Song.”

Now it was Song Changsheng’s turn to be stunned.

”There’s no need to be surprised, Fellow Daoist. After all, your great name is known by everyone in this Marketplace. Six months ago, I was here and witnessed your exquisitely brilliant array-carving Dharma.

From that moment on, I knew that Fellow Daoist Shenn was also Fellow Daoist Song. I felt a connection with you back then, Fellow Daoist. I never expected that when we met again today, I would end up showing off my meager skills before an expert.”

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