Longevity: Comprehending the Heart Method

”For the esteemed Senior Brother of Luoxia City to personally fight in the very first match... it’s a dishonorable victory.”

”Exactly. If it were Senior Brother Jin Yue, he could’ve defeated him easily.”

Hearing his disciples’ discussion, Master Wuxin of the Celestial Vein Sect’s face turned frosty. He snapped, ”Shut your mouths! A loss is a loss. The Celestial Vein Sect can afford to lose!”

The might of a Golden Core Master erupted, and the Celestial Vein Sect disciples instantly hung their heads, as meek as defeated roosters.

”Yinn Shang, will you continue defending the arena, or will you switch out?”

The minor disturbance on the viewing platform didn’t affect the arena. Luu Yuming looked at Yinn Shang and asked.

According to the rules, Yinn Shang, as the victor, had the right to step down and rest, and could re-enter the fight at any time.

”We’ll switch.” Yinn Shang glanced at the eager Niu Dazhuang, then gracefully floated down from the arena. Although he had defeated Wun Qianqian, he had expended a great deal of energy and wasn’t confident he could win a second match.

”Junior Brother, it’s up to you now. Remember, don’t underestimate the enemy. The longer you can drag this out, the better it is for us.” Yinn Shang gripped Niu Dazhuang’s shoulder, his voice low and serious.

”You can count on Old Niu!” Niu Dazhuang slapped his chest with a thunderous THUMP, took a few great strides onto the arena, and bellowed, ”Niu Dazhuang of Luoxia City! Who wants to die?”

With that, he provocatively beckoned with a finger toward the Celestial Vein Sect.

The members of the Celestial Vein Sect were instantly enraged. Jin Yue’s expression darkened, and he looked to the pale-faced man beside him. ”Junior Brother Chen, you’re up.”

The man nodded and walked slowly onto the arena.

Staring at the opponent who looked like a strong gust of wind could knock him over, Niu Dazhuang picked his nose and sneered, ”What’s wrong? Has the Celestial Vein Sect run out of people? They sent a sickly-looking twig like you to die at Grandmaster Niu’s hands?”

The sickly-looking man didn’t get angry. He offered a cupped-fist salute, his expression blank. ”Chen Guangyu of the Celestial Vein Sect. I await your instruction.”

”Hah! Let’s see how many punches you can take!” Niu Dazhuang sneered and charged at Chen Guangyu. His fists, as large as sandbags, emanated a thick, sanguine aura, a clear sign he was using his full power.

He was always one to talk trash, but in every fight, he gave it his all.

Facing Niu Dazhuang’s ferocious assault, Chen Guangyu neither dodged nor evaded but simply took out a Copper Bell and shook it lightly a few times.

BOOM—

Niu Dazhuang’s fist slammed into an invisible barrier, unable to advance an inch.

”Dammit, what the hell is this?” Niu Dazhuang’s brows knitted. He threw another punch, and the barrier shattered on impact. But before he could celebrate, a new barrier materialized in front of Chen Guangyu.

”Fuck!” Niu Dazhuang’s stubbornness flared. He hammered away with his fists, but the barriers seemed endless, regenerating as fast as he could destroy them.

”Chen Guangyu clearly came prepared. Second Senior Brother is getting carried away,” Li Ru said with a frown.

”Second Senior Brother is much smarter than he looks. The arena is ours right now, so the longer this goes on, the better for us. It might look like a relentless assault, but he’s really just using brute force. And if there’s one thing Second Senior Brother has, it’s strength.”

”Just watch. Before long, Chen Guangyu won’t be able to just stand there anymore. That’s when the opening will appear,” Shen Shishi said with a light chuckle.

”So that’s what he’s doing,” Li Ru said, realization dawning on him.

Events unfolded exactly as Shen Shishi had predicted. Niu Dazhuang, with his boundless, bull-like stamina, wore on. After a good while, it was Chen Guangyu who was actually at a slight disadvantage.

”Everyone says you have more brawn than brains, and I let that preconception fool me. I didn’t expect you to play me like that. Fellow Daoist, be careful. I’m about to get serious!”

Chen Guangyu put away his bell. His hands visibly began to change, turning a ghastly, lustrous white as they withered into a pair of ghostly claws.

”The Bone-Eroding Hand?” A solemn look entered Niu Dazhuang’s eyes. The Bone-Eroding Hand was an ultimate technique of the Celestial Vein Sect, said to be able to corrode even Meteorite Iron. It was the perfect counter to Body Refiners.

The requirements to cultivate this technique were incredibly demanding. He never would have thought that the seemingly fragile Chen Guangyu had actually mastered it.

”You have a good eye, Fellow Daoist.” Chen Guangyu’s face was a blank mask, his ghostly claws emanating wisps of chilling air.

”Dammit! They really sent you just for me, huh?” Niu Dazhuang cursed. With a great shudder, his body erupted in streaks of golden light. He rapidly grew to a height of over ten feet, his entire form looking as if it had been cast from solid Gold.

”[Nine-Transformation Golden Body]?” Chen Guangyu’s expression turned grave. The chill radiating from his ghostly hands intensified as he took the initiative and lunged at Niu Dazhuang.

”Die!” Niu Dazhuang’s voice boomed like a massive bell. Each step he took was like an Earth Dragon rolling over, shaking the ground. He threw a punch, and the air cracked with a series of sonic booms.

Chen Guangyu’s body was as flexible as a whip. He dodged at an impossible angle, and his right claw struck Niu Dazhuang’s arm with a piercing SCREECH.

”Get off!”

As the brawny arm swept out, Chen Guangyu’s upper torso bent backward at a ninety-degree angle, causing Niu Dazhuang’s attack to hit nothing but air once more.

After a few exchanges, Niu Dazhuang was completely suppressed. Even his pride and joy, the Golden Body, had been breached, and he found himself being chased all over the arena by Chen Guangyu.

Without the protection of his Golden Body, Niu Dazhuang didn’t dare clash head-on with Chen Guangyu. He had no choice but to run around and curse, launching a verbal assault that looked quite ridiculous.

The theatrical scene made it hard for the audience to stifle their laughter, and the Celestial Vein Sect disciples, in particular, couldn’t resist showering him with taunts.

Some, however, noticed there was more to it. Song Changsheng smiled and said, ”Second Senior Brother is both brave and clever. It looks like he’s trapped with nowhere to run, but he’s actually using his Spiritual Power to secretly inscribe Array Patterns. The moment the Array takes form, Chen Guangyu is finished.”

”He’s performing Array Formation?” Song Changsheng’s words drew a wave of astonished looks.

”Correct. Senior Brother Niu’s Spiritual Power is flowing into the arena through the Yongquan acupoints on the soles of his feet, outlining the Array Patterns within. The patterns are hidden beneath the inscriptions on the arena’s surface, making them incredibly difficult to detect. Aside from their Array Master, I doubt anyone in the Celestial Vein Sect can see it.”

As if to prove his point, Niu Dazhuang, who had been running in circles, suddenly stopped. He looked at Chen Guangyu and flashed a wicked grin. ”Now, it’s my turn.”

With a great wave of his hand, eighty-one Array Banners appeared, and a Grand Array took shape with a roar.

One incense stick’s time later, Chen Guangyu was defeated!

The crowd instantly erupted. No one had expected that Luoxia City, the clear underdog, would actually win two matches in a row.

Those who had placed bets on the Celestial Vein Sect to win now all looked as if their mothers had just died.

”Will you continue to defend the arena?” Luu Yuming asked.

”Of course! Who else wants to come die?” Niu Dazhuang roared, brimming with bravado, looking as if he were the most important person under the heavens.

”Yangg Jian of the Celestial Vein Sect accepts your challenge!” A man with an aquiline nose stepped out from the crowd and landed on the arena.

”That Yangg Jian is also an Array Master. Dazhuang could be in trouble.” Yinn Shang frowned. Niu Dazhuang had expended a great deal of stamina and might not be a match for Yangg Jian.

’Song Changsheng thought so, too.’

This time, however, events unfolded contrary to their expectations. Niu Dazhuang won. It was a narrow, hard-fought victory, but a victory nonetheless.

For a moment, the entire venue fell silent. The only sound was the quiet CRUNCH of Master Wuxin inadvertently crushing the teacup in his hand.

”Sen...ior Brother... I... get the job... done... You... can count on me...” Niu Dazhuang leaned against the side of the arena, covered in blood. His aura was faint and his voice was weak, but his face was split by a brilliant smile.

Body Refiners are at their best in desperate situations. They charge forward without hesitation, seeking life through death!

”Amazing work, Senior Brother. Let me heal your injuries.” Song Changsheng helped Niu Dazhuang to the waiting area and placed a hand on him, which began to emit a hazy green light. Niu Dazhuang’s breathing quickly stabilized.

Niu Dazhuang gave him a surprised look and blurted out, ”Your technique is incredible! You have to teach Old Niu someday! Don’t worry, your big bro will make it worth your while.”

”It’s not that I don’t want to teach you, but I came by this ability by chance. I wouldn’t even know how,” Song Changsheng said with a wry smile. ’Only Niu Dazhuang could say something like that.’

”Alright, fine. Hey, hey, why’d you stop? I’m not all better yet!” Niu Dazhuang shot Song Changsheng a dissatisfied glare.

”This is as much as I can do for now. Get some rest. We’ll handle the rest.” Song Changsheng patted his shoulder and returned to the arena.

Li Ru was now on the arena, fighting the last female disciple from the Celestial Vein Sect. After watching for only a moment, Song Changsheng’s brow furrowed.

’Something’s not right.’

...

PS: I originally planned to write these fights in more detail, but I felt like it was getting a bit drawn out, so I condensed things. Please bear with me.