Longevity: Comprehending the Heart Method

Wang Yuesong slumped into his seat, utterly dejected. His eyes stared blankly at the ceiling as he spoke. ”What else can we do? First, report this to the Sect Leader. Then, order the entire Sect to prepare for battle. And finally... leave it to fate.”

His words sounded somewhat despondent.

But there was nothing to be done.

Wang Yuesong didn’t consider himself a fool, but faced with such an absolute disparity in strength, any struggle was futile.

Hearing this, the other Elders all lowered their heads in sorrow.

Suddenly, a young disciple spoke up cautiously. ”Grand Elder, why not call upon our vassal forces to join the fight? The Sect Leader and the Supreme Elder didn’t mobilize them in the last battle, so their strength is still intact. Perhaps they could help us hold off the Song Clan.”

Hearing this disciple’s utterly naive suggestion, Wang Yuesong couldn’t help but sneer. ”Vassal forces? Hah. Do you think this is still a time when they’ll answer our every call? Right now, those people wish they could eat our flesh and drink our blood. And you want to summon them to fend off the enemy?”

”Hmph!”

”That would be like letting a wolf in the house!”

Wang Yuesong’s voice boomed like thunder in the disciple’s ears, frightening him so badly that he dropped to his knees, trembling like a leaf in the wind.

”Grand Elder, please calm your anger. Yuntao only wanted to help the Sect in its time of need. His method is unworkable, but it did remind me of something. Our Lieyang Sect wasn’t the only one that attacked the Song Clan.”

Huang Liqun said in a low voice, ”We can absolutely ask the Rong Clan of Xiang Province for help. I’m sure they understand the principle that if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold. If we combine our two forces, we might just have a chance to fight the Song Clan.”

”That’s right!” a white-haired elder immediately chimed in. ”The Golden Crow Sect can’t possibly just let the Song Clan run rampant, can they? We are their subordinates, after all. If they just ignore this, aren’t they afraid of alienating everyone?”

”What you’re all saying makes sense, and I’ve already sent people to contact both sides. Neither has responded. I’m afraid...” Wang Yuesong didn’t finish, but everyone understood what he meant. For a moment, they were overcome with grief and indignation.

”’When a wall is falling, everyone gives it a push; when a drum is broken, ten thousand people beat it.’ It’s been this way since ancient times. At the critical moment, we can only rely on ourselves. Even if we die, we won’t let them have an easy time of it!” A grim, cold light flashed in Wang Yuesong’s eyes. He had already resolved to sacrifice himself for the Sect.

Inspired by his passion, everyone in the great hall stood up and declared their resolve. ”We swear to defend the Sect to the death!”

”Good!”

”Pass down the order! The entire Sect is to prepare for battle!”

While the Lieyang Sect was in a state of panic, Song Changsheng and his group had already stormed into Yang Province aboard the Black Star Ship. Everywhere they went, people submitted.

To show their loyalty, they even volunteered to go to the front lines.

”The Bai Clan of Yang Province, Clan Leader Bai Ruohong and his clansmen, respectfully welcome the three Ascendants! The Bai Clan offers three Foundation Establishment Cultivators and three hundred Qi Cultivators, willing to serve as the Ascendants’ vanguard!”

Looking at the ”loyal” Bai Clan Leader before him, Song Changsheng’s expression was as calm as a deep pool. ”Clan Leader Bai can stay,” he said faintly. ”The rest may withdraw. Just stand by and watch me crush the enemy.”

A troubled look appeared on Bai Ruohong’s face, but he didn’t dare defy Song Changsheng. He obediently dismissed his clansmen and boarded the Black Star Ship.

Only after boarding the ship did he realize there were quite a few familiar faces.

”Clan Leader Luo Minghao, Clan Leader Shangguan Yinn, Clan Leader Shen Ruoci, what are you all doing here?” With their identities revealed by Bai Ruohong, the other clan leaders all looked rather awkward.

”Could it be that you all...!” Seeing this, how could Bai Ruohong not understand what they were thinking? He immediately demanded furiously, ”Well, well! Look at you! Have you all forgotten what you said back then?”

”We clearly agreed to unite and resist the Song Clan together! It’s only been a few days, how could you go back on your word? As clan leaders, are your words just farts?”

Bai Ruohong immediately launched into a spittle-flying tirade, berating them until their old faces flushed red with shame.

But Shangguan Yinn quickly caught on and glared at Bai Ruohong. ”So our words are farts? Then what about you? Why are you here? I distinctly heard you offer up three hundred men. Heh, how generous. Clan Leader Bai is truly holding nothing back.”

”That’s right, my words are farts! So what? Anyone with eyes can see that the Lieyang Sect and the Rong Clan are just grasshoppers in autumn—they won’t be hopping for much longer. In the future, this entire land of the Three Southern Provinces will have to rely on the protection of the Song Clan’s Ascendants.”

”If we don’t show our loyalty and earn merits now, are we supposed to just stand around like idiots waiting for the Song Clan to settle accounts?” Bai Ruohong’s shameless, roguish nature was on full display, leaving everyone speechless.

Everyone exchanged glances and ultimately decided to drop the topic. After all, they were all cut from the same cloth; there was no need to waste any more breath.

The few of them huddled together. The Luo Clan Leader, Luo Minghao, asked in a low voice, ”What do you think those old foxes, Gan Xingyuan, Li Zhengdao, and Chu Nanfeng, will do?”

Shen Ruoci snorted coldly and said with disdain, ”Do you really think they have the courage to move against the Song Clan?”

”Three Purple Mansion Great Cultivators and a Quasi-Celestial Ship... that’s a force that can’t be ignored in the entire Daqi Cultivation World. With their pitiful strength, trying to stop them would be like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.”

”I reckon we’ll be seeing them soon enough.”

...

「One hour later.」

The clan leaders of the seven great Foundation Establishment Families of Yang Province were all gathered on the Black Star Ship. The atmosphere was a bit awkward.

Each of them had originally thought they would be the first to surrender, but it turned out there was always a higher mountain. The seven great families who had once sworn a blood oath in a secret room, vowing to resist the Song Clan together, had all chosen to backstab their allies at the same time.

For a bunch of traitors gathered together, the fact that they hadn’t started fighting on the spot was already a sign of great harmony.

The group huddled together for a deep discussion. Before long, enigmatic smiles appeared on their faces as a feeling of ’great minds think alike’ welled up within them.

Watching them whispering to each other below, Song Xianming turned to Song Changsheng and asked, ”So this was your goal in not suppressing the news?”

Song Changsheng nodded slightly. ”These people may be vassals of the Lieyang Sect, but they didn’t participate in the great battle. If we can win them over, we should.”

”The reason I didn’t stop those spies from sending out news was because I wanted these people to know that the Lieyang Sect is doomed this time. If they continue to be obstinate, the only fate awaiting them is the destruction of their homes and the extermination of their clans!”

”As long as they have a brain in their heads, they should know what choice to make.”

”Such is human nature. If Hex Tai were still alive, these people would never have submitted so easily.” Yuann Tianshu chuckled, his gaze toward Song Changsheng growing even more appreciative.

”In that case, why not accept their help? You know, the overall strength of Yang Province is much greater than Ling Province. The Chu Family alone is even stronger than the Earth Fire Sect was. If you could make use of them, they would be a considerable force.”

Hearing this, Song Changsheng smiled faintly. ”Grandpa, there’s no need to test your grandson with such a simple question, is there?”

”First, our family has a feud with the Lieyang Sect that is as deep as the heavens. Since this is revenge, it cannot be carried out by the hands of others.”

”Second, this battle is to establish our family’s might. We must rely on our own strength to win quickly and cleanly. Only then can we truly intimidate these people and make them submit willingly. Otherwise, Yang Province will be difficult to pacify.”

”So that’s why you had the clan leaders of these families stay behind?” Yuann Tianshu hadn’t considered this before. Only after hearing Song Changsheng’s explanation did he understand the deeper meaning.

”Correct. I want them to witness the annihilation of the Lieyang Sect with their own eyes. That will make them understand that the Song Clan is no longer the weak family that anyone can bully!” Song Changsheng clenched his fist, a grim, cold light flashing in his eyes.

As they spoke, the Black Star Ship had already arrived at the Lieyang Sect’s headquarters—Celestial Yang Mountain.

Song Changsheng flew out, his voice like a clap of thunder as he bellowed, ”Zhang Hongguang, get out here!”

...