Longevity: Comprehending the Heart Method

Chapter 43: Chapter 43: Cave Abode Inheritance

”Fellow Daoist Song is without a doubt the most deserving,” Xu Yunhe said in agreement, having caught his breath.

Seeing this, Zhu Yiqun shrugged. ”Of course, I have no objections. It’s all thanks to Changsheng that we’ve made it this far. He could have just taken everything for himself.”

With just a few words, the group established that he deserved the principal credit. Song Changsheng, the man in question, saw no reason to be falsely modest and graciously accepted their goodwill.

In front of him were twelve Jade Boxes, five Jade Bottles, three Jade Scrolls, and three Jade Tokens of unknown purpose.

Song Changsheng didn’t agonize over the choice. He simply picked up a Jade Box, a Jade Bottle, and a purple Jade Scroll before stepping aside.

At this point, Zhuang Yuechan spoke up. ”Fellow Daoist Zhu, you organized this venture. You should be next to choose.”

”Heh, if Fellow Daoist Zhuang insists, then this Old Zhu won’t stand on ceremony.” Zhu Yiqun chuckled, stepping forward to take a Jade Box.

Zhuang Yuechan let everyone else go ahead of her. After a few rounds of selections, only one Jade Bottle and the three Jade Tokens remained.

When it was Song Changsheng’s turn to choose again, everyone assumed he would take the Jade Bottle. Unexpectedly, he picked up a blood-red Jade Token instead.

”Changsheng, do you know what this thing does?” Zhu Yiqun asked, his curiosity piqued.

Song Changsheng shook his head. ”I just feel a certain affinity with this item. I don’t know what it does.”

No one pressed the matter. Following the order Zhuang Yuechan had established, they each took another item. Zhu Yiqun and Zhuang Yuechan both took a Jade Token, while the Jade Bottle ended up in Xu Yunhe’s hands.

After the treasures were completely divided, Song Changsheng cupped his hands toward the others. ”Fellow Daoists,” he said, ”if any of you obtained a legacy related to Arrays or Artifact Refining and are willing to part with it, I would like to purchase or trade for it. I will be sure to make you a satisfactory offer.”

Inside the Qiankun Bag, there had been a total of three Jade Scrolls that likely contained legacies. Song Changsheng had only taken one. He had just found a moment to inspect it and discovered it recorded a very exquisite Swordsmanship technique, but it was useless to him.

What he truly wanted was the original owner’s legacy in either Arrays or Artifact Refining.

”I have a legacy here concerning the Artifact Refining Technique.” Xu Yunhe was the first to respond, taking out a Jade Scroll and presenting it to Song Changsheng.

”Thank you, Fellow Daoist Xu. What would you like in return?” Song Changsheng was overjoyed. ’So the master of this dwelling really did leave behind such legacies!’

”Fellow Daoist Song, just take it. It’s of no use in my hands anyway.” Xu Yunhe waved his hand dismissively. For him, a man and his sword were all that mattered.

”You shouldn’t say that. While this item may be useless to you, Fellow Daoist, it is invaluable to me. As it happens, the legacy I received is a Swordsmanship technique. Let’s trade,” Song Changsheng said, taking out the Jade Scroll he had picked.

Xu Yunhe’s heart skipped a beat when he heard it was a Swordsmanship legacy. A Cultivator’s practice has four essential pillars: Dharma, Companions, Wealth, and Land.

Of these, Dharma—a Cultivation Method—is the most crucial. He was merely a Loose Cultivator who had stumbled upon a Sword Cultivator’s legacy and embarked on the path of cultivation by chance.

His cultivation had already begun to stagnate. He wasn’t like Song Changsheng, who had a family to back him, nor was he like the mysterious Zhu Yiqun and Zhuang Yuechan. To him, this Swordsmanship legacy was a true godsend.

”This is indeed something I desperately need. Let us proceed as you suggest, Fellow Daoist.” Xu Yunhe seemed slightly embarrassed, since he had just offered to give his item away for free.

After the two completed their exchange, Zhuang Yuechan, who had been watching from the side, also produced a Jade Scroll. ”It seems your luck is rather poor today, Fellow Daoist Song. I also happen to have an Array legacy.”

Song Changsheng’s face instantly darkened. ’Two of the three Jade Scrolls were exactly what I needed, yet I managed to perfectly avoid both of them. My luck isn’t just bad, it’s absolutely abysmal!’

He gave a bitter smile and cupped his hands toward Zhuang Yuechan. ”And what might Fellow Daoist Zhuang want in return?”

Beneath her veil, Zhuang Yuechan’s red lips curled into a smile. She pointed to the pile of yet-to-be-distributed goods on the floor. ”I want these cultivation resources, and the emerald-green Jade Box you took earlier, Fellow Daoist.”

”Fellow Daoist Zhuang, isn’t that a bit greedy?” Zhu Yiqun interjected. ”I estimate this pile on the floor is worth no less than six thousand Spirit Stones. Changsheng’s share alone would be around fifteen hundred, and you want the Jade Box on top of that? Is your legacy really worth that much?”

Zhu Yiqun’s small eyes stared skeptically at the Jade Scroll in Zhuang Yuechan’s hand.

Zhuang Yuechan wasn’t offended. She simply handed the Jade Scroll to Song Changsheng. ”Fellow Daoist Song can judge its worth for himself. Yuechan has no intention of making an outrageous demand.”

He took the Jade Scroll and pressed it to his forehead. After only a brief scan of its contents, a tempestuous storm raged in Song Changsheng’s heart.

Without a moment’s hesitation, he took out the Jade Box. He hadn’t opened it yet, but whatever was inside, its allure couldn’t possibly compare to the legacy he now held.

”Thank you for parting with this treasure, Fellow Daoist. I am eternally grateful,” Song Changsheng said, solemnly cupping his hands toward Zhuang Yuechan. ’This time, I’ve really taken advantage of her.’

Zhuang Yuechan gave him a complicated look but said nothing.

’There’s definitely something going on between these two.’ Zhu Yiqun’s gaze darted between them, his mind already racing with all sorts of wild and not-so-wild guesses.

Next, the pile of cultivation resources on the ground was divided into four equal shares, with Zhuang Yuechan taking two for herself.

Although Song Changsheng didn’t receive any of those cultivation resources, he had obtained the original owner’s Array Artifact legacy and a Secret Technique. His gains were immense, and he was more than content.

Just as the group was preparing to take stock of their gains from the trip, Song Changsheng’s expression suddenly changed. ”This is bad! Those Blood Demons have used some unknown method—the [Profound Sun Celestial Spirit Array] is about to be breached!”

”What?” The others paled in shock. ’Not even the Refining Demon Array can stop these Blood Demons?’

”Fellow Daoist Song, we need you to take control of the Array and buy us some time. The elders from my sect should be arriving soon,” Zhuang Yuechan said gravely.

”Alright. I’ll do my best.”

The group rushed out together. Once outside the dwelling, they discovered that the sky above was shrouded in a layer of putrid, black blood. The shield of light formed from Yang Qi was being steadily eroded.

”This is the [Blood Demon Yin Sha Formation], a Demon Array that requires special methods to deploy. Damn those Blood Demons!” A fire of rage was burning in Song Changsheng’s chest.

’Connecting all the pieces, he suddenly understood why those Demon Cultivators had ambushed them three years ago. It was all to set up this venomous Demon Array. Everything had been a setup from the start!’

Remembering Song Changjiu, Song Luding, and the others who had fallen in that battle, his anger reached its zenith.

”Fellow Daoist Song, it’s all up to you now,” Zhuang Yuechan said, her expression grave, as her left hand quietly tightened its grip on the Jade Pendant at her waist.

”Array, activate! [Celestial Spirit Wind Fiend]!”

With a great shout from Song Changsheng, the Array began to spin wildly, whipping up gusts of Gang wind that transformed into sharp blades, slashing at the sea of blood blanketing the Grand Array...