Longevity: Comprehending the Heart Method

After returning to the Treasure Hunting Pavilion, Song Changsheng settled back into his routine. He kept his promise and treated Zhu Yiqun to a meal at the Jade Cuisine Workshop. Otherwise, he remained in the Artifact Refining Chamber, quietly honing his Artifact Refining Technique.

Since he didn’t have enough Tier Two materials to practice with, his Artifact Refining Technique improved very slowly. He was still some way from reaching Tier Two Low Grade.

One day, Song Changsheng had just completed a batch of orders and went downstairs for some fresh air. As he did, a strange feeling came over him, and he looked out toward the main street.

His gaze cut through the bustling crowd, landing on a person wearing a silver mask. Song Changsheng’s pupils instantly shrank.

"Fengy Wuming?"

He was startled. But when he looked back, the spot was empty.

’So he’s really here... but why show himself to me on purpose? Is this a warning, or is it...?’ Song Changsheng was deeply puzzled.

’A guy like that is too dangerous. I need to find a way to get rid of him.’

’I was planning to go back and lie low with the clan, to wait until I was stronger before settling this score. I never thought he’d come looking for me so soon. In that case, he can’t blame me for calling for backup.’

After returning to his room, Song Changsheng took out the Communication Flying Sword Song Luyao had left for him. He forced out a drop of Essence Blood to awaken it, whispered a few words, and the flying sword instantly transformed into a streak of light, heading for Vast Mist Peak...

It would take time for help to arrive. For his own safety, he decided to remain in his room and cultivate.

Night fell. Song Changsheng went to the window, faced the Silver Moon, and began to absorb Moonlight Qi.

An hour into his cultivation, he felt a strange, feverish heat spread through him. He didn’t think much of it at first, but the sensation grew more and more intense, until it felt like a fire was burning in his Dantian.

He thought something had gone wrong with his cultivation and hurriedly began reciting the Purifying Heart Spell in his mind. But no matter how many times he repeated it, there wasn’t the slightest improvement.

The intense pain almost made him scream aloud.

The image of the silver mask he had seen during the day flashed through his mind, and he instantly realized he had likely been afflicted with a Gu.

’A Gu Master’s methods are truly impossible to defend against. I fell for his trick after just a single encounter. But don’t get cocky—I’m no pushover!’

With great difficulty, Song Changsheng sat up cross-legged. His hands formed a Magic Technique, and he began circulating the Yin Yang Profound Flower Scripture. He immediately mobilized the Primordial Qi he had stored in his Dantian for years.

This Primordial Qi was formed from the Sun Essence and Moon Radiance Power he absorbed daily and possessed many wondrous uses. Over more than a decade, he had only managed to accumulate a mere strand and a half, making it exceptionally precious. He had always been reluctant to use it.

But in his current situation, he could no longer afford to hold back.

He mobilized all of his Primordial Qi to suppress his already chaotic Dantian and Qihai.

At the same time, his Divine Sense swept through his body, finally discovering a creature like a living maggot in an inconspicuous corner of his Dantian.

It was blood-red all over. One part was rooted deep in Song Changsheng’s Dantian, while the other spewed out some kind of unknown gas.

It was this gas that was causing Song Changsheng such excruciating pain.

’So it really is a Poisonous Insect. How dare it take root in my Dantian! See if I don’t refine you here and now!’

Song Changsheng’s face was contorted in agony. He swiftly circulated his Heart Method, and the Primordial Qi in his Dantian immediately began to separate, reverting to pure Sun Essence Power and Moonlight Power.

He formed the Yin-attributed Moonlight Power into a protective layer to shield his fragile Meridians and acupoints.

Meanwhile, the Yang-attributed Sun Essence Power transformed into a raging fire inside his Dantian. For a moment, Song Changsheng’s Dantian became a great furnace, beginning to refine everything within it.

It was an excruciating process, like being burned alive from the inside out, but Song Changsheng gritted his teeth and endured.

The Poisonous Insect was fragile; it couldn’t possibly survive in such an environment. In its death throes, it attempted to bore through Song Changsheng’s Dantian and Qihai, but the Sun Essence Power, possessing the nature of Supreme Yang and Firmness, was overwhelmingly powerful and instantly refined it.

This method of destroying the Poisonous Insect could only be described as simple and brutal; it would be impossible for anyone else to accomplish.

Who would dare to draw Sun Essence Power into their own Dantian? Wouldn’t that be courting death? By the time the Poisonous Insect died, they would have been turned to ash as well.

It was only because Song Changsheng’s cultivated Heart Method was unique, and he had the Moonlight Power protecting him, that he was able to emerge unharmed.

"Haaa..."

Song Changsheng let out a long breath and then collapsed onto the floor like a boneless heap. In that brief moment, almost all the Spiritual Power in his body had been consumed. He was now weaker than he had ever been...

And at the very instant the Poisonous Insect died, a piercing scream erupted from an inn not far from the Treasure Hunting Pavilion.

Fengy Wuming clutched his chest, his eyes filled with disbelief. "My Fire Poison Gu... it’s dead?" he said, his voice a mixture of shock and fury. "How could he possibly kill my Fire Poison Gu?"

The Fire Poison Gu was one of the five Lifebound Gu he had personally nurtured. Although it was only Tier One, it was troublesome enough to vex many a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. He had originally intended to use it to control Song Changsheng, but instead, Song Changsheng had forcefully refined it to death.

This wasn’t merely the loss of a Poisonous Insect; it meant he had also suffered a severe backlash.

Fengy Wuming couldn’t understand how Song Changsheng had killed his Fire Poison Gu so quickly. That was something a mere Qi Cultivator should never have been able to accomplish!

"COUGH, COUGH... I have to treat my injuries at once." Fengy Wuming quickly took out a Pill and swallowed it, then began to meditate and heal.

While he was occupied with treating his injuries, Song Luyao and her party, summoned by Song Changsheng’s message, arrived at Liuyun Marketplace.

Given the danger posed by a Gu Master, this time, in addition to Song Luyao, Grand Elder Song Xianyun had also come, personally descending from the mountain with treasures in tow, determined to eliminate this threat directly.

Upon arriving, they contacted the cultivators guarding the Marketplace to coordinate their actions.

Wang Wanzhou and the Li Clan were already allies of the Song Clan, and they immediately agreed to cooperate upon hearing the news.

Du Huating had recently clashed with Song Changsheng and Song Luyao and had no intention of cooperating. But the moment he heard a Gu Master was in the Marketplace, his composure vanished, and he immediately agreed to help.

The reputation—or rather, the infamy—of Gu Masters was known throughout the entire Human Race Cultivation World. Faced with a Gu Master who dared to appear so openly, all cultivators would rise up to attack them.

The five Foundation Establishment masters joined forces, setting up an inescapable cordon as they began a massive search of the Marketplace.

Fengy Wuming had used Poisonous Insects to control several puppets in the Marketplace, such as shop assistants, so he received news the moment the search began.

Although his opponents were bearing down on him and his own injuries had yet to heal, Fengy Wuming remained calm. This wasn’t the first time he’d received this kind of attention, and he was confident he could break through the blockade.

He woke his few remaining Lifebound Gu one by one, then quietly waited for an opportunity.

Just then, Song Xianyun’s search brought him to the vicinity of the inn. His Divine Sense spread out, scanning for any suspicious auras.

Suddenly, the inn’s roof exploded outward. Fengy Wuming shot out from the blast. With a flick of his sleeve, a Poisonous Insect flew silently toward Song Xianyun’s heart...