Longevity: Comprehending the Heart Method

Fleeting Shadows

Song Changsheng immediately sidestepped, causing the white-robed man’s lunge to hit nothing but air.

When it came to Body Techniques, his Fleeting Shadows was nothing to scoff at!

”Hah!”

With a sharp cry, the Celestial Measuring Ruler in Song Changsheng’s hand burst forth with a myriad of light beams, smashing down toward the white-robed man.

”CLANG!”

A sword light flashed, and the Celestial Measuring Ruler was knocked flying back. The white-robed man’s figure flickered and vanished once more.

His opponent’s Body Technique was so exquisite that even with his Divine Sense fully extended, Song Changsheng couldn’t track him. It was as if the man had merged with the world itself, capable of reappearing from any direction at any moment.

But Song Changsheng wasn’t one to just wait for death. He sneered, ”Hmph, enough with the hide-and-seek. Let me show you something interesting!”

The Spirit-Slaying Gourd spun as it rose into the air, hovering above Song Changsheng’s head. It spewed out a sheet of azure flame in all directions, instantly enveloping a hundred-yard radius around him in Earth Core Cold Flame.

”WHOOSH!”

Suddenly, the flames at Song Changsheng’s feet stirred. A moment later, a brilliant Sword Light tore through the sea of fire, heading straight for his head.

’Such fierce Sword Intent.’ Song Changsheng’s expression shifted slightly. With a wave of his hand, Yin and Yang Qi coalesced before him into a shield, only for it to be instantly torn asunder.

Fortunately, he managed to block the attack with his Celestial Measuring Ruler.

”SZZT... CRACKLE...”

From within the sea of fire, the white-robed man’s figure slowly emerged. He was shrouded in a nearly transparent film. As if it had met its nemesis, the Earth Core Cold Flame recoiled wherever he passed.

”Not a bad treasure,” Song Changsheng said calmly, his gaze landing on the Jade Pendant at the man’s waist.

With his discerning eye, he could tell at a glance that it was a Top-Grade Spiritual Artifact, the same rank as the Long Sword in the man’s hand.

Not only was his opponent incredibly powerful, but he was also fabulously wealthy.

While Song Changsheng had quite a few Spiritual Artifacts, he didn’t possess a single Top-Grade one. Yet his opponent had already revealed two.

He wasn’t foolish enough to believe this was all his opponent had. The man surely had more aces up his sleeve.

”If this is all you have, then this will be your grave,” the white-robed man said, his tone as cold as ice as he stood with his sword at the ready.

For him, a fight of that intensity was merely a warm-up. Now, he was going to get serious!

”Then bring it on.” Song Changsheng’s gaze was calm as Sword Qi began to swirl around him. ’You’re not the only one who has comprehended Sword Intent!’

”CLANG!”

The white-robed man wasted no more words, lunging straight for Song Changsheng with his sword.

In an instant, the Sword Light was blinding, and the sky filled with rainbow-like arcs of Sword Qi.

”SWISH!”

Unwilling to be outdone, Song Changsheng met the attack head-on. The two men crashed into each other, unleashing a storm of Sword Qi in mid-air that obliterated every cloud within a radius of several miles.

From a distance, one could see two figures, one white and one cyan, clashing endlessly at the heart of the storm, sending out sporadic bursts of Sword Qi.

The two fought for nearly an hour.

The white-robed man’s Sword Qi was fierce and his techniques varied, and the Spiritual Artifacts he wielded were all of exceptional quality.

And while Song Changsheng was slightly inferior in terms of his Cultivation level and Swordsmanship, his combat instincts were superb. As a practitioner of Dual Cultivation of Body and Dharma and with several Spiritual Artifacts at his disposal, he managed to hold his own.

As the battle dragged on, Song Changsheng decided he’d had enough of the stalemate. His hands rapidly formed a seal as he bellowed, ”Mountain-Flipping Seal!”

When the massive, illusory seal—etched with images of splendid mountains and rivers—materialized before him, a flicker of surprise finally appeared in the white-robed man’s eyes.

He hastily summoned a Scale Armor Shield—yet another Top-Grade Spiritual Artifact. Song Changsheng’s eyes went red with envy. ’This guy is loaded!’

”BOOM...”

The great seal slammed against the Scale Armor Shield, and the white-robed man was immediately hit with an indescribable pressure, sending him plummeting downwards.

Fortunately, his own power was considerable. He managed to withstand Song Changsheng’s Little Divine Technique just before being completely overwhelmed. This was the first time anyone had ever taken the Mountain-Flipping Seal head-on and emerged unscathed since Song Changsheng first comprehended it.

”Very good. You’ve given me plenty of surprises,” the white-robed man said, the last traces of his grating arrogance finally gone. ”One final sword strike. If you can take it, you are free to go.”

He was finally taking Song Changsheng seriously, treating him as a true rival.

Song Changsheng’s gaze remained cold and he said nothing. This man was indeed the most formidable opponent he had ever faced—not just because of his exceptional personal strength, but also his impressive resources.

The white-robed man paid no mind to Song Changsheng’s silence. He slowly closed his eyes, and in that instant, the world seemed to freeze.

Song Changsheng was suddenly gripped by an immense sense of danger.

A torrent of killing intent coalesced into a single point. The white-robed man slowly swung his sword. It was a strike that seemed to dim the very sun in the sky.

”Little Divine Technique—Nine Heavens Sword Swing.”

An endless killing intent locked onto Song Changsheng, preventing him from using his Body Technique to evade.

This was the first time Song Changsheng had ever faced a Little Divine Technique head-on.

But there was no fear in his eyes. He had his own trump card to play.

A Tai Chi Diagram slowly unfurled before him. It looked incredibly fragile, emitting a soft, white luminescence, as if the slightest touch could shatter it.

”BOOM—!”

The overwhelming Sword Qi crashed against the three-foot-square Tai Chi Diagram, yet it only caused a faint ripple before everything went still.

Throughout the entire exchange, Song Changsheng hadn’t moved an inch. Not even the hem of his robe had stirred.

A peculiar look appeared in the white-robed man’s eyes. It was the first time his attack had ever failed against a peer.

After their exchange, he knew that Song Changsheng’s strength was no less than his own. He had envisioned many ways his opponent might block the attack.

But he never imagined it would be so... effortless.

He was a man of his word. Taking one last, deep look at the Tai Chi Diagram, the white-robed man sheathed his sword. He raised his chin slightly and declared, ”I am Yul Dongyang. You are worthy of being my rival. Your feud with the Vast Alliance is hereby canceled!”

Song Changsheng raised an eyebrow, surprised. ’I didn’t expect this guy to be so principled,’ he thought. ’But this works out for me.’

As much as he coveted Yul Dongyang’s collection of treasures, his opponent was simply too strong. Song Changsheng wasn’t confident he could actually win.

Of course, it wasn’t as if Yul Dongyang could do whatever he wanted to him, either. ’If he really pushed me,’ Song Changsheng thought, ’I still have that ultimate weapon inside me. Worst case, we both go down together.’

Confirming that Yul Dongyang had no intention of attacking again, Song Changsheng took out his Flying Ship and departed swiftly.

After Song Changsheng was long gone, a ripple of emotion flickered in Yul Dongyang’s eyes.

He came from an extraordinary background and possessed exceptional talent. Long ago, he had been designated the future successor of the Vast Alliance. On his journey, he had defeated countless so-called geniuses, never once tasting defeat.

In fact, he had heard of Song Changsheng’s fame several years prior, but back then, Song Changsheng had been too weak to capture his interest.

It wasn’t until recently, when alliance spies reported that Song Changsheng had publicly executed one of their Stewards—and had done so without even showing his face from the beginning to the end of the Magical Combat—that his interest was finally piqued.

And so, he had personally volunteered to come and demand an explanation from Song Changsheng.

He just never expected Song Changsheng’s strength to so far exceed his estimations. Not only was his Body Technique exquisite and his Magic varied, but he had also comprehended Sword Intent and a Little Divine Technique. Furthermore, according to their intelligence, his Physical Power was also incredibly formidable.

Combined with his arsenal of treasures, the man seemed to have no weaknesses whatsoever. For the first time, Yul Dongyang felt he had met a truly difficult opponent.

’He’s only at the Late-stage of Foundation Establishment, yet he fought me to a standstill. If his Cultivation was on par with mine...’ Yul Dongyang’s expression flickered. ’This Song Changsheng... he’s truly a monster.’

”Next time we meet, I will defeat you, fair and square!” Yul Dongyang clenched his fists, his eyes blazing with a fighting spirit he hadn’t felt in a very long time.

————

Thousands of miles away, Song Changsheng was oblivious to Yul Dongyang’s intense inner monologue, but he harbored similar thoughts of his own.

Ever since breaking through to Foundation Establishment, Song Changsheng had slain many powerful foes. He had long since left his peers in the dust, and even the older generation of Foundation Establishment Cultivators could barely contend with him.

But today, he had met a peer who was his equal, and it stirred the fighting spirit in his own heart as well.

To be young is to charge ever forward!

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