Longevity: Comprehending the Heart Method

Looking at the dense sea of bobbing heads before him, Song Changsheng knew his guess was right. There was never a shortage of rubberneckers, no matter where you went.

Although the vast majority of them didn’t have the qualifications to enter, that didn’t stop them from coming to watch the spectacle. After all, such a grand event was a rare sight even in Luoxia City.

”The city’s been packed with people lately, all here to celebrate the Great City Lord’s birthday. This auction house sure knows how to pick a time for an auction,” Song Qingluo mumbled, gazing at the sea of people ahead.

”Heh, merchants chase profits. They certainly wouldn’t pass up such a good opportunity. Besides, they’re clearly very powerful. Neither Tier Three Talismans nor Magical Treasures are things an ordinary person can just produce.”

Song Changsheng had once sent people to investigate this auction house, but the results came back completely blank. It seemed like a local power, but anyone with a discerning eye knew that a behemoth must be backing it.

”Setting aside the final auction item that no one knows anything about, that Magical Treasure alone will probably attract countless Purple Mansion Great Cultivators. I wonder if the one from the Lieyang Sect will come.” A dark glint flashed in Song Changsheng’s eyes.

Just as he was thinking this, it was his turn.

He subtly revealed his Foundation Establishment Stage cultivation, and the Attendant at the door immediately became reverent, respectfully welcoming him inside. As Song Changsheng’s little follower, Song Qingluo was also allowed to pass.

Originally, Song Changsheng had planned to give him ten thousand Spirit Stones to get in, but it seemed that wouldn’t be necessary now.

The auction house had four floors. The first was the most spacious, filled with densely packed seats. A rough estimate suggested it could hold several thousand people, and it was already half full.

Although Foundation Establishment Cultivators were not uncommon in Luoxia City, they were still considered ”honored guests.” Thus, the Attendant led Song Changsheng to a private room on the second floor. Not only did it shield them from prying eyes, but it also came with fruits, pastries, and young female attendants.

More importantly, it had a better view, directly facing the auction stage.

Not having to squeeze in with the chaotic crowd was certainly a good thing. Song Changsheng signaled for the female attendant to wait outside, then quietly awaited the start of the auction.

He had arrived relatively early; there was still more than one ancient hour until the start.

”Young Clan Leader, how many Purple Mansion Great Cultivators do you think will come today?” Song Qingluo asked, his gaze fervent as he ate a fruit rich in Spiritual Qi.

Song Changsheng couldn’t help but smile. ”If you want to know, why don’t you just go up and see?”

The second floor was for Foundation Establishment Cultivators, so the third floor was naturally for Purple Mansion Great Cultivators. Perhaps there was a Purple Mansion Great Cultivator right above him at this very moment.

Although he was teasing Song Qingluo, he couldn’t help but feel curious himself. ’I wonder if that Elder Casual will come,’ he thought. ’Is she a Loose Cultivator, or from one of the two major Sects or the Seven Eminent Clans?’

The entire Daqi Cultivation World was divided into nineteen provinces, with two great hegemons occupying the west and east, known as the Western and Eastern Sects.

In the west was the Golden Core Sect, the Golden Crow Sect, a native power of Daqi. Legend said it possessed the bloodline of the Daqi Kingdom’s Royal Family.

Occupying the east was the Celestial Vein Sect, also a Golden Core Sect with several Golden Core Cultivators. Compared to the ”pure-blooded” Golden Crow Sect, the Celestial Vein Sect were true outsiders, having arrived in exile several thousand years ago.

But its strength and foundation were remarkable, and for all these years it had rivaled the Golden Crow Sect, jointly ruling over Daqi.

Both Ling Province and Bian Province were in the Southwest of Daqi and were vassals of the Golden Crow Sect, but they were only nominally subject to its rule. There was no actual relationship of leadership between them.

Beneath these two hegemons were Daqi’s seven Purple Mansion Influences, respectfully known as the Seven Eminent Clans: Luoxia City, the Celestial Sword Sect, the Huansha Sect, Hundred Herbs Hall, the Demon Suppression Hall, the Lieyang Sect, and the Rong Clan. Each was presided over by a Purple Mansion Great Cultivator, and the most powerful among them was Luoxia City.

The Song Clan was once one of them, but unfortunately, Song Yungui had no successor, and Song Xianming had to give up. Otherwise, the Seven Eminent Clans would have been the Eight.

Between the two major Sects, the Seven Eminent Clans, and the Loose Cultivators, there were quite a few Purple Mansion Cultivators in the Daqi Cultivation World. On the surface, there were at least close to forty, with the two major Sects accounting for the majority.

Therefore, guessing the identity of that ”Elder Casual” was truly no easy task.

Just then, the floor below suddenly erupted in clamor, like a drop of cold water hitting a pan of hot oil.

Song Changsheng looked down curiously and immediately understood the reason for the crowd’s gasps. It was a Purple Mansion Great Cultivator. He had a burly build and an imposing aura, and his tiger-like eyes dared anyone to meet his gaze.

Just by standing there, he exuded a majestic presence, as if he were unstoppable by ten thousand men.

He wore a long, black robe embroidered with a lifelike, wing-spreading Golden Crow. This was a Magic Robe that only an Elder of the Golden Crow Sect could wear, indicating the newcomer was an Elder of the Golden Crow Sect.

But he wasn’t the cause of the commotion. Beside the Purple Mansion Cultivator stood a woman. She was dressed in a silver-white Immortal Robe, its fabric fluttering as if a breeze was passing by her.

The Immortal Robe was inlaid with exquisite silver threads that shimmered with a faint luminescence, like a field of tiny stars. A silver-white ribbon was tied around her waist, dancing in the wind.

She had eyes like ink-wash paintings, as cold as ice, seeming to peer into one’s very soul and daring anyone to look directly at them. Her face was like a finely carved piece of jade, and her skin was as white as snow, without a single flaw.

She was tall and slender with graceful lines, a perfect fusion of power and gentleness. Her bearing was noble, her steps light, like a Fairy descended to the mortal world.

For a moment, the sound of people swallowing filled the entire hall. All eyes were fixed on her, so much so that she completely overshadowed the Purple Mansion Cultivator beside her.

Even with Song Changsheng’s composure, he couldn’t help but be stunned for a moment upon seeing that incomparably beautiful face. In all his years, she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.

His self-control was still quite good, and after a brief daze, he quickly recovered. Song Qingluo, on the other hand, was a mess. It was as if his very soul had been captivated by her.

”Ahem, ahem.” Song Changsheng coughed lightly, startling Song Qingluo back to his senses. The latter immediately blushed and stammered, ”That... that Fairy is really beautiful.”

Song Changsheng couldn’t help but roll his eyes. No matter how beautiful she was, she was not someone they could ever get close to. It was enough to just feast their eyes; some things were better not even to be thought of.

’The kid’s probably smitten,’ Song Changsheng sighed to himself. ’What a pity. We’re not from the same world as her at all.’

With a Purple Mansion Cultivator as her guard, her status in the Golden Crow Sect must be extremely high. She was likely the descendant or disciple of some Golden Core Master.

In their eyes, the Song Clan was barely bigger than a grasshopper, so he didn’t have a single improper thought. There was no other reason than the fact that the gap between them was simply too vast.

The crowd’s gazes didn’t cause the Fairy to stop. Song Changsheng even saw a hint of disgust in her eyes as her pace quickened slightly...

ps: Another Chapter will be out later. I’ve been making some plot adjustments recently, so the update will be a little late. (ó﹏ò｡)