Longevity: Comprehending the Heart Method

The first to arrive were, naturally, the Wang Clan and the Liuyun Sect. The representative sent by the Wang Clan was Wang Wanzhou, while Sect Leader Liu Hongye of the Liuyun Sect came in person.

Over a decade had passed, and Wang Wanzhou had aged terribly. He was so frail that he trembled as he walked. Seeing this, Song Changsheng hurried forward to support him. ”Grand-uncle, why have you come in person?”

Song Changsheng was deeply grateful to Wang Wanzhou. If not for his help back then, there was no telling where Song Changsheng might be now.

It was precisely for this reason that the Wang Clan Leader, Wang Qingquan, had not come personally, instead sending Wang Wanzhou to leverage the goodwill between their two families.

”Daoist Xianming has broken through to the Purple Mansion realm. Even if it took my last breath, I had to come and see it for myself.” Gazing at the spirited and ambitious Cultivators of the Song Clan, Wang Wanzhou was filled with deep emotion. ’In recent years, the Song Clan has been pressing forward relentlessly. The Wang Clan, by contrast... although our influence has grown, our younger generation doesn’t have a single person capable of shouldering real responsibility.’

”Qinghong, please escort our grand-uncle up the mountain for me.” After exchanging a few pleasantries with Wang Wanzhou, Song Changsheng turned to a little fatty behind him.

With Song Qingxing’s breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Stage, other ”Qing” generation Cultivators like Song Qinghong, Song Qingxia, and Song Qingxi had also begun to distinguish themselves. And it seemed Song Qinghong was on track to become the most prominent among them, second only to Song Qingxing.

Thus, Song Changsheng intended to use this opportunity to let him gain some experience.

Once the pair had ascended the white jade staircase, Song Changsheng turned his gaze to Liu Hongye, a broad smile spreading across his face. ”Sect Leader Liu, I must say, your presence is quite a surprise.”

”You jest, Young Clan Leader. Clan Leader Song’s breakthrough to the Purple Mansion realm is a momentous occasion for all of Ling Province. Though I, Liu, may be an outsider, I feel honored to be a part of it.” Liu Hongye’s posture was one of extreme deference.

He had no choice. The circumstances were beyond his control. From this day forward, the Song Clan would be the sole power in Ling Province. The Liuyun Sect could either submit or be destroyed in defiance. There was no other path.

Song Changsheng chuckled and gestured for a clansman behind him to escort Liu Hongye up the mountain.

Although the Liuyun Sect had a history of opposing the Song Clan, the two sides had never become mortal enemies. Now that Liu Hongye was being sensible, Song Changsheng wouldn’t dwell on the past.

They might prove useful in the future.

The next person to arrive was someone Song Changsheng found rather surprising: Yu Xueqian.

He had once fought her over the matter of killing Chang Tianhua. In the years since, she too had broken through to the Foundation Establishment Stage and was now being groomed by Yu Cheng Mountain as his successor.

Although the Yu Clan currently maintained a high degree of autonomy, they were nominally affiliated with the Martial Spirit Sect, placing them in opposition to the Song Clan. ’What is she doing here?’

”Elder Yu, what brings you here?” Song Changsheng’s tone was cold.

Yu Xueqian’s expression remained unchanged. She bowed slightly and said, ”Forgive my uninvited presence, Young Clan Leader. I am simply here on behalf of my family to congratulate Clan Leader Song on reaching the Purple Mansion realm. I have no other motive and have come bearing a grand gift.”

”Oh?” Song Changsheng’s expression grew thoughtful. ’Interesting. An Elder of the Martial Spirit Sect claiming to represent her family, and with a grand gift, no less.’

After a moment’s thought, Song Changsheng had someone escort her up the mountain. ’Unless she pulls out a Celestial Annihilation Thunder, there’s not much trouble she can cause up there.’

After receiving the local powers from Ling Province, he greeted the Foundation Establishment Influences and Loose Cultivators from neighboring provinces with whom the Song Clan had relations. For a while, he was completely swamped.

Many powers with no prior dealings with the Song Clan also came of their own accord. Naturally, Song Changsheng couldn’t turn them away. As long as there were no issues with their identities, he welcomed them all politely.

”Hahaha! Young Friend Song, I’ve arrived! I wonder, when will I be attending *your* Purple Mansion Grand Ceremony?”

A hearty laugh echoed as an elder in magnificent crimson robes and a small goatee arrived by air, crossing a vast distance in a mere instant.

At this, Song Changsheng excused himself from an elder of a smaller clan and hurried forward, his face breaking into a wide, happy smile. ”Elder Yuann, you honor us with your presence! Please forgive me for not greeting you sooner.”

”Why all the formality? You still haven’t answered my question, young friend,” Yuann Tianshu said, pretending to be displeased.

”I trust that day won’t be too far off. When it arrives, I hope Elder Yuann will still grace us with his presence,” Song Changsheng replied with a slight smile, his voice full of confidence.

”Hahaha! When that time comes, I’ll be sure to prepare a grand gift for you.” Yuann Tianshu laughed heartily; he loved this confidence of Song Changsheng’s.

”Qinghong, this is Elder Yuann of Nine Swords Mountain. See to it that he is well taken care of. There must be no neglect.”

The Little Fatty’s heart pounded in his chest. ’Good heavens,’ he thought, ’that’s a Purple Mansion Great Cultivator! The Young Clan Leader is really something else, being able to chat and laugh so casually with such a powerful figure.’

Before today, a Purple Mansion Cultivator was a legendary figure one could hardly hope to meet. He, at least, had never encountered one.

Hearing the command, he braced himself and stepped forward. ”I understand. Elder, please follow me.”

Immediately after, the Xiang Province Rong Clan and the Lin Province Huansha Sect arrived together.

The visitor from the Rong Clan was their Young Clan Leader, Rong Shaoyuan—an old acquaintance. As the Song Clan had little prior interaction with the Huansha Sect, Song Changsheng didn’t recognize their representative.

He exchanged a few polite pleasantries before having a clansman lead them up the mountain.

The Demon Suppression Hall, the Celestial Sword Sect, and other powers also sent Elders to observe the ceremony, showing the Song Clan a great deal of respect.

Suddenly, another figure soared through the air and arrived, drawing gasps of surprise from the crowd. This was the second Purple Mansion Cultivator to appear today.