Longevity: Comprehending the Heart Method

”The first time I heard Young Friend Song’s name was several years ago. You fought a bloody campaign across ten thousand li, slaying several Foundation Establishment Cultivators and making a name for yourself in the Southwest.

Later, when I saw you at the Great City Lord’s birthday banquet, I thought you were a young prodigy, truly worthy of your reputation. I even discussed it with my fellow Daoists.

I just never imagined that today, we old men would find ourselves trapped because of a moment of greed, only to be rescued by you, Young Friend. It truly makes me ashamed.”

An old man in a gray Daoist robe with a Profound Bird Pattern embroidered on the chest and sporting a goatee walked up to Song Changsheng, bowing with cupped hands and a look of shame.

Although Song Changsheng didn’t know the old man’s identity, the man’s profound and unmovable aura told him that this was a Purple Mansion Great Cultivator.

He hurriedly stepped aside, not daring to accept such a bow.

Just then, another middle-aged Cultivator in purple robes also walked up. Without another word, he bowed deeply and said, ”Young Friend, I will never forget the grace you have shown me today.”

Song Changsheng’s brow twitched. He quickly dodged aside again, because this was also a Purple Mansion Great Cultivator.

Just as he was caught between the two great figures, unsure of what to do, Yinn Shang stepped forward at the perfect moment. Beaming, he began to make introductions to Song Changsheng. He first pointed to the goatee-sporting old man and said:

”This is Elder Yuann, Yuann Tianshu. He is the Direct Disciple of the Nine Swords Ascendant, who shook the Daqi region three hundred years ago. He has frequent dealings with our Luoxia City. You should have seen him at the birthday banquet.”

Upon hearing this, Song Changsheng had a moment of realization and quickly offered a salute. ”This junior pays his respects to Elder Yuann.”

”I am ashamed. I have brought dishonor to my master’s name.” Yuann Tianshu gave a wry smile. ’This time, I really capsized in a ditch and lost all my old face.’

Yinn Shang then turned to the other man and said, ”You probably haven’t met this elder before, but you’ve certainly heard his name—Elder Jiang, Jiang Shuming. He is the one and only Tier Three Talisman Master of Hundred Herbs Hall.

The [Bright Celestial Light Talisman] I used earlier was crafted by Elder Jiang.”

A flash of surprise appeared in Song Changsheng’s eyes. ’So that’s who he is.’

As one of the Seven Eminent Clans of the Daqi Cultivation World, Hundred Herbs Hall has a legacy spanning over a thousand years. Although it has no shortage of experts within its ranks, it is not known for its martial prowess.

This is because most Cultivators from Hundred Herbs Hall are Alchemists or Physicians, and they hold a near-monopoly on the Pill and Spirit Plant industries in the northwestern part of the Daqi Cultivation World.

Yet, from such a Purple Mansion Sect famed for its Alchemy, an anomaly emerged: Jiang Shuming. He is the grandson of the previous Hall Master of Hundred Herbs Hall.

However, he is utterly clueless about pharmacology and knows nothing of medicine. His sole passion is the Dao of Talismans, and through sheer dedication, he became one of the few Tier Three Middle Grade Talisman Masters in the Daqi Cultivation World.

Looking back through the thousand-year history of Hundred Herbs Hall, he was truly the first of his kind.

Someone once joked that Jiang Shuming was a peacock that had flown out of a Phoenix’s nest—born into the wrong family.

”So it is Master Jiang in person.” Song Changsheng quickly offered a salute. ’This man is a powerful patron; I have to latch onto him if I get the chance.’

”Young Friend, I am eternally grateful for your help today. Please accept this item.”

Jiang Shuming took a white, gilt-edged Jade Token from his robes and presented it to Song Changsheng.

”May I ask, Elder, what is this...?” Song Changsheng quickly accepted it, asking with some confusion.

”In three months, my Hundred Herbs Hall will be holding a ’Pill Tasting Conference’. If you have the time, Young Friend, you may come and sample a thing or two.

It’s embarrassing to say, but I came here because I’d heard news of the Great Demon Golden Armor. I wanted to find some Alchemy Materials for my good-for-nothing disciple. Who would have thought I’d nearly lose my life and cultivation in the process?”

’The Pill Tasting Conference?’ Song Changsheng’s heart skipped a beat. This was a major event in the Daqi Cultivation World, one that typically only invited the Seven Eminent Clans and Purple Mansion Cultivators. The Song Clan had attended back when they still had a Purple Mansion Cultivator.

But ever since Song Yungui passed away, they had never received an invitation again.

”Thank you, Elder.”

Song Changsheng quickly clutched the Jade Token in his hand. He didn’t care whether Jiang Shuming was breaking the rules by doing this; all he knew was that only an idiot would pass up a free lunch.

Seeing Jiang Shuming offer such a generous gift, Yuann Tianshu suddenly felt a bit awkward. As a mere Loose Cultivator, he didn’t have any great treasures on him—if he did, he wouldn’t have come to hunt a Great Demon in the first place.

But to maintain his image as a lofty senior, he still made a promise: ”Young Friend, if you ever need my help in the future, just come find me at Nine Swords Mountain. I will certainly do everything in my power to assist you!”

This was also an extremely weighty promise. Although Yuann Tianshu looked wretched today, back in Daqi, he was a figure who could dominate an entire region.

Receiving two great gifts in a row, Song Changsheng was inwardly ecstatic. His gaze toward Yinn Shang now held even more gratitude.

He was no fool; he understood that a large part of the reason the two of them were being so generous was because of Yinn Shang.

As the current senior-most disciple of Luoxia City and the foremost figure among the younger generation, it was almost a foregone conclusion that he would one day inherit the Great City Lord’s mantle.

Even with their status, they had to build a good relationship with him in advance.

After all, it is easy to add flowers to a brocade, but difficult to send charcoal in a snowstorm.

After a few more pleasantries, Yuann Tianshu and Jiang Shuming both found excuses to leave. They had truly been in a miserable state today, and it was too embarrassing to face a group of juniors. To protect what was left of their pride, it was better to make an early exit.

After the two great figures left, the remaining group of Foundation Establishment Cultivators also crowded around. They introduced themselves and their affiliations to Song Changsheng, and after exchanging some pleasantries, each made some promises of their own.

Among them, some were sincere, while others were only reluctantly following suit because they saw everyone else doing it.

After all, the Righteous Cultivators of this world were quite protective of their reputations. This was a life-saving debt, and if they showed no gratitude, word would get out, and they would be labeled as ungrateful.