Longevity: Comprehending the Heart Method

With the space sealed off, all communication was cut off, and they were unable to contact the Cultivators inside. For a moment, a chill ran down everyone’s spine.

’To dare plot against so many Cultivators at once... Are they trying to declare war on the entire Daqi Cultivation World?’

”We have to get help from our sects immediately.”

”Hurry to Luoxia City and inform the Great City Lord!”

...

While chaos erupted outside, the Cultivators inside the cavern were still unaware of what had happened. Just as they were standing around, lost and confused, a strange black mist began to spread throughout the caverns.

The Cultivators in the cavern soon discovered in horror that their extended Divine Sense was being rapidly forced back. A Foundation Establishment Cultivator’s range was suppressed to a mere ten-zhang radius, while a Purple Mansion Cultivator’s was suppressed to a hundred zhang.

As for the Qi Cultivators who had followed them inside, they couldn’t release their Divine Sense at all.

Before anyone could figure out what to do, black emblems hidden in various corners began to emit strange, dark ripples.

In that instant, many Cultivators discovered with a jolt of terror that the companions right beside them had inexplicably vanished, their auras and presence gone.

An atmosphere of terror began to spread.

Some scrambled to flee back the way they came, but the cavern’s passages were already affected by the Array. Unwittingly, everyone was being led further and further away from their companions and the exit.

Deep within the cavern, in a subterranean space filled with stalagmites and stalactites, an old man in a tattered black robe curled his lips into a bloodthirsty smile before slowly melting into the black mist.

Before long, screams and the sound of spattering blood echoed one after another from the passages and corners...

”Brother Xu, reach out and grab my waistband.”

The black mist suppressed not only Divine Sense but also vision; it was impossible to see anything, even up close. Fortunately, he’d had the foresight to grab Xu Yunhe’s arm, so the two of them hadn’t been separated.

After Xu Yunhe grabbed his waistband, he took out the Demon-Binding Rope and tied it around both their waists. This way, they wouldn’t have to fear being separated by some unforeseen event.

”Brother Song, can you still sense Fellow Daoist Zhuang’s location?”

Song Changsheng nodded. ”I can.”

But then he frowned. ”But Fellow Daoist Zhuang isn’t with Fellow Daoist Yinn Shang’s group, and she’s moving fast.”

”Maybe they just got separated by accident. Didn’t you say that’s one of the abilities of the Heaven and Earth Lock Void Array?” Xu Yunhe sounded remarkably calm.

”But given her personality, she wouldn’t be moving this fast and aimlessly after being separated.”

Xu Yunhe froze, then blurted out, ”You mean Fellow Daoist Zhuang ran into trouble after she was separated?”

”I’m afraid so. Brother Xu, keep up!” Holding the Tai Chi Diagram, Song Changsheng activated his Eye of Truth and shot off in Zhuang Yuechan’s direction...

In the black-mist-filled cavern, Zhuang Yuechan stumbled forward, one hand on the wall for support. Bright red blood soaked her snow-white veil, looking like delicate plum blossoms scattered across snow.

Waves of excruciating pain threatened her consciousness, leaving her dazed. But she gritted her teeth and shuffled forward, one step at a time, as beads of sweat dripped from her brow.

With her Divine Sense suppressed and the passages warped by the Array, she could only rely on her intuition to search for an exit.

”Heh heh heh... I’m surprised you can still run.”

Suddenly, the black mist in front of her distorted. An old man in a tattered black robe appeared behind her, sneering with his arms crossed.

The color drained from Zhuang Yuechan’s face. Her hand stealthily closed around a ring-shaped Jade Pendant at her waist.

”Just who are you? Do you intend to make an enemy of the entire Daqi Cultivation World?” Zhuang Yuechan demanded sharply.

”Heh heh. You people of the Righteous Dao are so amusing. It was you who forced me into this predicament. I’m simply giving you a taste of your own medicine.

It’s a shame those bastards from the Lieyang Sect aren’t here today. No matter. I’ll just collect a bit of interest!” A grim smile spread across the old man’s face. A dark light materialized in his palm, and he thrust it toward Zhuang Yuechan.

CRACK!

Zhuang Yuechan instinctively crushed the Jade Pendant at her waist. An oval shield immediately materialized in front of her.

The dark light struck the shield, sinking into it like a soft membrane. But a moment later, it was flung back with even greater speed.

The old man’s expression changed. He crossed his arms in front of him but was still knocked back several steps by the reflected light.

Seizing the opportunity, Zhuang Yuechan unleashed her last Tier Three Low-Grade Talisman. A brilliant flash of Sword Qi erupted in the cavern, slashing straight for the old man’s head.

RIIIP!

The Sword Qi instantly tore through the old man’s Protective Gang Qi. But he was prepared; with an agile Body Technique, he dodged the blow, receiving only a shallow cut on his shoulder.

Seeing this, a flash of regret crossed Zhuang Yuechan’s face. ’I really thought that would have wounded him.’

The old man glanced at the wound, which was already scabbing over. A vicious glint flashed in his eyes. ’If I weren’t trying to end this quickly,’ he thought, ’I’d make her wish she were dead!’

”Die, you ant!” A phantom of a tiny, pitch-black snake materialized in the old man’s palm.

Zhuang Yuechan closed her eyes, but the expected death never came. The phantom snake, wrapped in a fierce gale, shot past her.

A moment later, a loud explosion echoed from the distance.

”Who’s there?!” The old man glared at the churning mist behind Zhuang Yuechan, a dangerous light glinting in his sinister eyes.

He had planned to finish Zhuang Yuechan, but then he’d sensed two unfamiliar auras nearby. Assuming they were other Cultivators who had fled into this area, he had changed targets, intending to eliminate the two interlopers first.

But to his surprise, they were completely unharmed by his full-powered strike. In that instant, he realized he might be facing a formidable opponent.

The response to his shout was an earthen-yellow object hurtling toward him. It looked like a simple clod of dirt, but the old man sensed a terrifying aura from it that made his hair stand on end.

”Earth God Thunder?!” Recognizing the object, the old man let out a shriek. With a flick of his wide sleeve, a Soul Banner embroidered with the image of a hideous Evil Ghost appeared in his hand to block the attack.

BOOM—

A massive explosion rang out, followed by a blinding flash of lightning.

Just as Zhuang Yuechan was about to be engulfed by the Thunderstorm, she felt a figure rush to her side. An arm wrapped around her waist as a hand unfurled a Tai Chi Diagram that glowed with a pure white light.

By its faint glow, she saw her rescuer’s face.

’How can he be here? Am I hallucinating...?’ The question surfaced in Zhuang Yuechan’s mind before her consciousness was completely consumed, and she fell into darkness.

BOOM—

CRACKLE!

The Thunderstorm slammed into the Tai Chi Diagram, sending a shower of electric arcs sputtering into the air.

A flicker of surprise crossed Song Changsheng’s eyes. He knew the mysterious Tai Chi Diagram’s defense was powerful, but he hadn’t expected it to withstand a direct hit from an Earth God Thunder so easily.

He was no greenhorn. Despite his surprise, he quickly retreated, carrying the unconscious Zhuang Yuechan and using his Fleeting Shadows body technique to leap backward.

The next moment, the cavern collapsed, burying the old man in the heart of the Thunderstorm.

”Brother Xu, take Fellow Daoist Zhuang and go! I’ll cover our retreat!” Song Changsheng said urgently, untying the Demon-Binding Rope and securing Zhuang Yuechan with it.

Xu Yunhe was a decisive man. Knowing that staying would only be a hindrance to Song Changsheng, he took an object from his robes and pressed it into Song Changsheng’s hand. ”This is a Tier Three Low-Grade Sword Talisman. It has one use left. Brother Song, be careful!”

Taking the Sword Talisman, Song Changsheng nodded solemnly. ”You just keep moving forward. I’ll hold him off for a bit and find you soon. If you see any of the array nodes I’ve marked along the way, destroy them.”

”Rest assured.” Xu Yunhe hoisted Zhuang Yuechan onto his back, gave Song Changsheng a deep look, and then swiftly darted away.

Once the two had moved beyond the range of his Divine Sense, a cold, hard expression settled on Song Changsheng’s face. He took out another Earth God Thunder...