Longevity: Comprehending the Heart Method

The incident was just a minor interlude for Song Changsheng, and he didn’t dwell on it. After having the Clan Elder cancel the mission, he returned to his small courtyard.

At this point, all the essential elements for cultivating Array Carved on Body were in place. It was time to put the theory into practice.

He had spent the intervening time thoroughly analyzing this technique. He optimized and supplemented several parts that seemed illogical, making the technique more feasible.

Although the process remained incredibly perilous, there was at least a hope of success.

’The cultivation process for this technique is long. To be on the safe side, I should go to Ruyun Hall to cultivate. I can ask Grandfather to be my Guardian.’

Song Xianming was currently in seclusion and shouldn’t be disturbed, but this was a matter of life and death. He had to consider every angle.

Taking all his materials, Song Changsheng climbed to the mountain peak. Outside the main hall, he called out loudly, "Grandfather, your grandson comes to pay his respects!"

Inside Ruyun Hall, Song Xianming slowly opened his eyes. With a quick calculation using the fingers of a hand hidden in his sleeve, he realized he had been in seclusion for over six months.

’That boy has never disturbed me during my seclusion. Has he encountered some momentous and difficult decision?’

With a wave of his sleeve, the grand doors immediately swung open.

Song Changsheng stepped inside and walked straight to Song Xianming, saying respectfully, "Grandfather."

"What brings you here?" Song Xianming asked amiably.

He presented a Jade Scroll with both hands. "Grandfather, I acquired a peculiar technique down the mountain. All preparations are now complete. But it is an untrodden path, which is why I’ve come to trouble you."

Song Xianming understood. After taking the Jade Scroll and reading its contents, he was stunned by Hee Yunxuan’s audacity. His first thought was ’Impossible.’

But after reading it carefully, he discovered that while the technique was insane, it wasn’t just some wild fantasy—it was entirely feasible.

Even with his own mastery of the Array Dao, he couldn’t help but feel sincere admiration for Hee Yunxuan. The man was worthy of the title Array Dao Master.

But, just as Song Changsheng had said, this was all theory; no one had yet put it into practice. The first person to attempt it would be like someone testing a new medicine, forced to assume enormous risk.

He looked gravely at Song Changsheng. "Are you certain you want to cultivate this technique?"

Song Changsheng gave a slight nod and said solemnly, "I’ve made up my mind. It’s either success or death!"

"Does your mother know about this?"

Song Changsheng hesitated for a moment, then shook his head. "No. I don’t want her to worry."

"Sigh... She ought to know. This technique is incomparably dangerous. While one might not call it a one-in-ten chance of survival, it’s not far off. If anything goes wrong during your cultivation, you’ll be separated from the living forever. That’s not fair to her," Song Xianming sighed mournfully.

"If I told my mother, she would definitely not agree." Song Changsheng knew full well it was unfair to her, but he knew even better that she would never allow him to take such a risk.

In her eyes, him living a healthy and happy life was more important than anything, even if it meant he remained a mortal.

But Song Changsheng himself refused to resign himself to a mundane existence. He would rather become one of the trillions of bleached bones on the road to eternal life than waste his years away, ultimately watching himself be slowly buried in the earth.

This gamble today was just to ensure he could go farther in the future.

As Song Xianming looked at the resolute Song Changsheng, his consciousness seemed to blur. A figure from his memories gradually merged with the boy before him. He reached out, touched his grandson’s face, and said with a desolate air:

"You... oh, you. I always thought you were completely different from your father, but in the end, you’re just like him. Both stubborn mules. Once you’ve made up your minds, not even eight True Dragons could pull you back."

"Since you’ve already decided, then go on and do it. Your grandfather will watch over you, waiting for the day you emerge successful from your seclusion."

Looking at the aged Song Xianming, Song Changsheng felt his eyes sting. He dropped to his knees, kowtowed solemnly, and said, "Thank you, Grandfather, for granting me this chance!"

"Sigh." Song Xianming stood up and walked out of the Seclusion Chamber without a backward glance. With a light wave of his sleeve, the grand doors slowly closed, leaving Song Changsheng alone inside...

When the last sliver of light was devoured, Song Changsheng stood up. He took out the necessary materials and laid them out one by one.

He then placed his Qiankun Bag on a nearby shelf. Gazing at a Beauty Pill he had not yet delivered, Song Changsheng murmured softly, "Mother, please forgive your unfilial son."

After carefully placing the Pill in a safe spot, he took a final, large gulp of Spirit Wine. A look of grim determination appeared in his eyes, and he began to cultivate Array Carved on Body.

First, he took out the Bronze Cauldron and refined more than ten kinds of Spirit Medicines into a liquid state.

The first step of carving the array required him to refine the liquid from the Spirit Medicines into his own body. This was a Body Refining Technique used by Body Cultivators to rapidly enhance the strength of the Physical Body.

While this method was not life-threatening, the process would be excruciatingly painful. Furthermore, once started, it could not be stopped. Even Body Cultivators rarely dared to use this technique.

Not only did Song Changsheng have to use it, but he had to use it a full nine times. Because he was not a Body Cultivator, this was the only way to quickly elevate his physique to a level of toughness comparable to a Magical Artifact.

Only by achieving such strength could his physique bear the Array Patterns and serve as the Array Foundation for the Grand Array.

BUBBLE BUBBLE...

Refining the Spirit Medicines into a medicinal liquid was not difficult and was quickly completed. In a moment, the entire Seclusion Chamber filled with the sweet fragrance of the Spirit Medicines.

Song Changsheng poured the medicinal liquid into a prepared vat. After mixing in a specific ratio of Spiritual Spring Water, the liquid for the first round of Body Refining was ready.

Completely naked, he stepped into the mixture and began to absorb the medicinal liquid.

At first, it was fine. He only felt a pleasant warmth spreading throughout his body. But as time passed, his skin began to itch, as if countless ants were crawling all over him.

He endured it with all his might, but what followed were waves of piercing pain. He finally let out a bloodcurdling scream, his entire body shaking like a leaf.

But he had no intention of backing down. On the contrary, he sped up his absorption of the liquid. An even more intense pain washed over him like a tidal wave. Clenching his jaw, he stubbornly endured.

One ancient hour later, the medicinal liquid was completely absorbed. Song Changsheng leaned against the side of the vat, utterly exhausted. He could feel every muscle in his body twitching rhythmically, the strength of each fiber gradually increasing with the contractions.

The results were remarkably significant, but the process was anything but pleasant.

Once he regained the ability to move, he only took a moment to regulate his breath before he began refining the second batch of Spirit Medicines.

This time, he added less water, making the proportion of medicinal liquid greater. The variety was also richer, totaling twenty different kinds.

He submerged himself in the medicinal liquid once more, and the familiar pain immediately returned, but this time, it was far more intense than before.

After finishing the absorption this time, Song Changsheng had to lie down for a full day before he could move again.

He did not back down. He continued to refine the Spirit Medicines, this time increasing the number to twenty-five different kinds...