Longevity: Comprehending the Heart Method

The journey to Luoxia City was a long one, and Song Changsheng couldn’t trust just anyone with the task. However, the clan only had three Foundation Establishment Great Perfection cultivators. As the newly appointed Clan Leader, Song Changsheng couldn’t leave his post so easily.

Song Xianyun was getting on in years, and Song Changsheng couldn’t bear to have him exert himself for the clan again. Meanwhile, Song Luzhou had to enter seclusion to refine Foundation Establishment Pills, so he was also unavailable.

Next in line were two Late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, but one of them, Xia Yunxue, had just been appointed the new Hundred Arts Elder and was bogged down with duties, making her unavailable as well.

After much consideration, that left only Song Lutong, who had some free time. The Moon Viewing Marketplace was very close to Vast Mist Peak, so if anything happened, support could be dispatched quickly. His absence for a short period wouldn’t be an issue.

Song Lutong was a Body Refiner and a notoriously capable fighter, so a trip to Luoxia City would be no problem for him. However, Song Changsheng had serious doubts about the blockhead’s intelligence and temper. It would be best to have Song Luyun accompany him.

Neither of them had any objections to the arrangement. Song Lutong, in particular, was practically sick with boredom at the Moon Viewing Marketplace. Hearing he could get out and about, he grew so excited he nearly leaped to his feet, agreeing hastily for fear that Song Changsheng might change his mind.

”Clan Leader, what should we do with the mortals left behind by the Martial Spirit Sect?” a Steward from the Minor Affairs Hall suddenly asked, standing up.

The question gave Song Changsheng a headache.

Although the Martial Spirit Sect had been annihilated, they had left behind over 1.2 million mortals. These people were a complex and numerous group, belonging to the Li Clan, the Qiu Clan, and the Earth Fire Sect.

In this world, population was the cornerstone of development. The more powerful a Sect, the larger the population under its protection. While this wasn’t an absolute rule, it held true for at least ninety-nine percent of all factions.

Luoxia City, for instance, protected a population of nearly ten million within the Luoxia Mountain Range. These people were the foundation of the city’s growth and power; nearly all of its tens of thousands of disciples came from this populace.

If the Song Clan could absorb this group, the population under their protection would exceed two million, and the number of newborns with Spirit Roots would at least double.

With greater numbers came a higher probability of producing geniuses, ultimately creating a virtuous cycle.

The problem was, the Song Clan and these people were bitter enemies. Resistance was fierce, and it would take the Song Clan at least a century to fully assimilate them.

And during that time, would you dare to use any cultivators that emerged from their ranks? Not even the boldest person would take that risk!

They couldn’t absorb them, but they couldn’t kill them, nor could they simply abandon them. It was truly a hot potato.

Rubbing his throbbing temples, Song Changsheng looked at the Steward and asked, ”What did the Wang Clan and the Liuyun Sect have to say?”

”Reporting to the Clan Leader, they’ve all expressed willingness to take some, but only between one hundred and two hundred thousand people each. That’s not even half,” the Steward said helplessly.

”Here’s what you’ll do. Inform the Liuyun Sect, the Yu Clan, and the Wang Clan that they will each take two hundred thousand people. Our clan will also take two hundred thousand, specifically from the mortals who belonged to the Earth Fire Sect.

Break up the remaining four hundred thousand and distribute them among our subordinate factions. Whether they take ten thousand or three thousand, it’s better than letting them fend for themselves.” After careful deliberation, Song Changsheng could only settle on this method.

Compared to the mortals protected by the Li and Qiu Clans, Song Changsheng was more inclined to accept those from the Earth Fire Sect.

The mortals under the Earth Fire Sect came from various backgrounds, unlike the people of the Li and Qiu Clans, who were all kindred of a single lineage. This made the former easier to assimilate by comparison.

Hearing this, the Steward’s face fell. ”Clan Leader, two hundred thousand is no small number. We still haven’t finished assimilating the one hundred thousand we rescued from the Thunder King Hall at White Wolf Mountain. Now another two hundred thousand... this... this is too much.”

Song Changsheng sighed. He knew the Steward was telling the truth and not just making excuses.

He thought for a moment, then said, ”Alright, how about this: we’ll build two new cities in the Mortal Realm. Name one ’Guihua’ and the other ’Mingshun.’ Place one hundred thousand people in each city.

Marriage between the two cities is forbidden, and their birth rates will be restricted. Erase all traces of the Earth Fire Sect and strictly prohibit any private discussion of it. No Immortal Ascension Conference will be held there for fifty years. Furthermore, encourage the women of the two cities to marry out, and support our own clan members in going there to take concubines.”

Song Changsheng was planning a multi-pronged approach. In the past, the Song Clan had practiced birth control, leading to a somewhat imbalanced male-to-female ratio. With more men than women, they had always practiced monogamy and forbidden concubinage.

But now, Song Changsheng decided to lift this restriction. Unmarried Song Clan Members could marry women from the two cities, and even those with families could go there to take concubines, openly ”plundering” the cities of their women.

Over time, the number of bachelors in the two cities would grow, while the number of newborns would dwindle. Eventually, their family lines would die out. It was, in essence, a slow death.

But this was the greatest mercy Song Changsheng could offer them. They would not have to worry about food, clothing, or sickness; all they had to do was live out their days in comfort and die of old age.

Of course, Song Changsheng could have chosen more drastic measures, but the mortals were innocent. There was no need to be so utterly ruthless.

The Steward who had raised the question accepted the order and sat down. Song Changsheng then turned his gaze to Song Changxiu and said, ”Changxiu, it has been over three years since we lifted the birth restrictions in the clan’s Mortal Realm. How is that progressing?”

Compared to these outsiders, the Song Clan’s own kin were the true foundation supporting its development, so Song Changsheng had always paid close attention to this matter.

”Reporting to the Clan Leader, the Garrison Mansions in the Mortal Realm have been actively encouraging childbirth. In the last three years, the number of newborns has increased severalfold compared to the past. A family with three children is now the norm, and there will be even more in the future.”

Hearing this, Song Changsheng nodded in satisfaction. At this rate of growth, the number of Song Clan cultivators should increase significantly in a few years.