Longevity: Comprehending the Heart Method

The Warrant read:

”Anyone who captures or kills the Evil Cultivator who abducted Xia Wanyun will be rewarded by the City Lord’s Mansion with one hundred thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones. The Luoxia City Auction House will reward them with one Yin Yang Purple Tree Heart and three bottles of Tier Three Purple Marrow Nourishing Essence Pills.”

Song Changsheng gasped. One hundred thousand Spirit Stones was one thing; for a Cultivator capable of slaying a Purple Mansion Evil Cultivator, it wasn’t a significant amount.

But the latter two items were a different story.

The Yin Yang Purple Tree Heart was the heart of a Tier Three Spirit Plant, the Yin-Yang Purple Tree. A single plant took five hundred years to mature. If a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivator used it, their chances of breaking through to the Purple Mansion Realm would increase by thirty percent.

This item was incredibly rare and had always been monopolized by the Major Sects, making it nearly impossible to find on the open market. The Song Clan once possessed one, which had helped Song Yungui successfully break through to the Purple Mansion Realm.

It represented an opportunity to reach the Purple Mansion stage. While Purple Mansion Cultivators themselves had no use for it, they could leave it to their descendants or disciples to help them advance.

Even a lone Cultivator could use it as a bargaining chip to trade with powerful factions. For instance, Chang Wudao would gladly pay a high price for it, and by the same token, so would the Song Clan.

They wouldn’t hesitate for a moment, even if the trade required a Magical Treasure.

Although the Purple Marrow Nourishing Essence Pills were less precious than the Yin Yang Purple Tree Heart, they were still essential Pills for Purple Mansion Cultivators. They could rapidly increase one’s Cultivation. A single bottle was worth tens of thousands of Spirit Stones, and the auction house was offering three of them at once!

Song Changsheng’s breathing grew ragged, but he managed to keep his composure. ’This bounty is not something I can get involved in. Only Purple Mansion Cultivators are qualified to even attempt it.’

This was only the first item on the Warrant. He read on to the second: a bounty for the Purple Mansion Stage Blood Demon who had stolen the Blood Bat Demon King’s cub.

The reward was also incredibly generous. Anyone who could capture or kill the target would receive one hundred fifty thousand Spirit Stones and a Tier Three Low Grade Qiankun Spirit-Slaying Talisman from the City Lord’s Mansion.

Meanwhile, the auction house was offering a Tier Three Middle Grade Magical Artifact and the Blood Bat Demon King’s cub. The value of this reward was no less than the first, showing they were truly pulling out all the stops.

The Blood Bat Demon King’s cub in particular was something that had driven two Golden Core Influences to the point of open hostility. Song Changsheng could already imagine the major powers fighting tooth and nail for it.

But this mission was still beyond his reach. The Blood Demon had managed to escape pursuit from a group of Purple Mansion Cultivators. Its power was not to be underestimated. Even severely injured, it wasn’t something a mere Foundation Establishment Cultivator like him could handle.

And so, he turned his gaze to the final task: Slay the Unnamed Living Puppet.

This one was issued solely by the City Lord’s Mansion. The target had injured three of the Foundation Establishment Cultivators guarding the city gates, which was a blatant provocation against the City Lord’s Mansion. It had to be brought to justice!

The bounty offered by the City Lord’s Mansion was also quite substantial: whoever killed it could enter Luoxia City’s Tier Two Treasure Vault and choose any three treasures.

Song Changsheng’s eyes instantly burned with desire. Luoxia City’s Treasure Vault had only been opened to the public three times, with the Tier Two Treasure Vault accounting for two of those occasions.

According to the lucky few who had been inside, it contained over a thousand Tier Two Treasures, encompassing everything from Magical Artifacts, cultivation inheritances, Talismans, and Pills. Even Spiritual Artifacts were considered nothing special within.

And now, just by killing that Living Puppet, he could enter and choose any three items. The temptation was simply too great. Song Changsheng’s Five Beasts Body Refining Technique required five catalysts, and he had already obtained the Earth Dragon Bead and the White Tiger Fang.

Of the remaining items, the Monkey Heart wouldn’t be difficult to acquire. The Bi Fang Feather and the Flood Dragon Scale, however, were the most troublesome; it was nearly impossible to find them on the open market.

But the Luoxia City Treasure Vault was an opportunity. It was the only place Song Changsheng could think of where he might be able to gather the remaining catalysts!

Beside him, Xu Yunhe’s breathing also grew heavy. As a Loose Cultivator, his resources were limited. He possessed nothing of value besides the sword in his hand. For him, this was a perfect opportunity to build up his foundation.

Song Changsheng and Xu Yunhe exchanged a look. The two close friends instantly reached an understanding. They were going to take on this job.

Although the Living Puppet was at the Tier Two Top Grade, it had sustained heavy damage while leaving the city. Its power had dropped significantly, and it was now estimated to be at the level of a Late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Puppets were different from humans. Once their bodies were damaged, the injuries couldn’t be repaired unless reforged by a Puppet Master. Therefore, they weren’t worried about it recovering its strength.

A puppet at the level of a Late-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator... with their combined strength, they had a very high chance of killing it. And even if things went wrong, they were absolutely confident they could protect themselves.

”Have you heard when the lockdown on Luoxia City will be lifted?” Song Changsheng asked Song Qingluo in a low voice.

”Oh, silly me! That’s what I came to tell you. The City Lord’s Mansion announced that as long as you can prove your identity, you can leave the city, effective from the moment the warrants were posted.” Song Qingluo slapped his forehead and spoke in a rush.

”How long ago were the warrants posted?”

”Three ancient hours...” Song Qingluo lowered his head, looking a bit sheepish.

Song Changsheng and Xu Yunhe looked at each other, both seeing the urgency in the other’s eyes. Three ancient hours. They were already far behind everyone else.

”Brother Yunhe, time is of the essence. Let’s set out now,” Song Changsheng said urgently.

”Exactly.” Xu Yunhe fully agreed. ”Compared to the first two tasks, this one is far simpler. There’s no telling how many people will be vying for it. Any further delay and the opportunity will be lost.”