Longevity: Comprehending the Heart Method

Song Changsheng was troubled by doubt, so he barely heard a word of what Song Lutong said next.

Not long after the group returned to Ling Province, Yuann Tianshu arrived at Vast Mist Peak.

Song Changsheng prepared a grand ceremony for him. Before a crowd of esteemed guests, he personally appointed Yuann Tianshu as the Chief Honored Guest Elder of the Song Clan, a position with status equal to that of a Supreme Elder.

The news caused an immediate uproar. No one had expected the Song Clan to make such a major move in just a few short years.

The deterrent power of one Purple Mansion Cultivator versus two is drastically different. Even though Yuann Tianshu was only an Honored Guest, his presence still placed immense pressure on the surrounding powers of Ling Province.

Bearing the brunt of this was the Lieyang Sect. As mortal enemies of the Song Clan, every ounce of strength the Songs gained was a direct threat to them.

And yet, Supreme Elder Hex Tai, the true pilot of the Sect, remained unperturbed, taking no action whatsoever, as if he had completely forgotten their past feud.

This left the Rong Clan of Xiang Province, who had been hoping to profit from a war between the Lieyang Sect and the Song Clan, utterly baffled. They had no idea what game Hex Tai was playing.

The surrounding powers all harbored their own ulterior motives, but Song Changsheng had no time to worry about them. He was currently receiving an envoy from Luoxia City.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t Zhuang Yuechan, the one Song Changsheng had been hoping to see, but rather a refined and amiable middle-aged man.

Upon meeting, the man took the initiative to speak. "I am Li Ru, a disciple of the Second City Lord. Niu Dazhuang is my senior brother. I’ve come on my master’s orders to visit Clan Leader Song and discuss a matter of great importance."

Realization dawned on Song Changsheng. He smiled and cupped his hands in greeting. "Ah, so it’s Senior Brother Li. I wonder what instructions Master Zhan has for me? I will certainly do my utmost to carry them out."

"You’re a straightforward man, Junior Brother, so I won’t beat around the bush. I’ve come about the territory in the Hundred Thousand Mountains."

"Are you referring to Tuo Province?" Song Changsheng asked, looking thoughtful.

Several months prior, the upper echelons of the Golden Crow Sect, the Celestial Vein Sect, and Luoxia City had gathered. They formally named the first territory conquered by the Allied Army in the Hundred Thousand Mountains "Tuo Province," to signify the opening of a new frontier.

This territory stretched from the Luoxia Mountain Range in the north, past Thundering Mountain in the west, to the Honghu Mountain Range in the east, and beyond the Black Water Marsh in the south. Its total area was nearly as large as Bian and Ling Provinces combined.

The Two Sects and One City had spared no effort in their struggle for Tuo Province. Last time, because the Song Clan sided with Luoxia City, the vote ended in a three-way tie, and negotiations fell into a stalemate.

’Did Li Ru come to lobby for our vote again?’

Seeing the confusion in Song Changsheng’s eyes, Li Ru got straight to the point. "The last round of negotiations ended on a sour note. A new one was organized recently, and it was ultimately decided that strength will determine the ownership of Tuo Province!"

"Strength?" Song Changsheng was taken aback. ’Are the Two Sects and One City planning to go to war?’

’Wouldn’t Luoxia City be doomed to certain defeat then?’

Li Ru, unaware of Song Changsheng’s thoughts, nodded. "Correct. After some discussion, the Masters decided to hold a tournament. The victor will gain ownership of Tuo Province."

"So, a tournament," Song Changsheng said, breathing a sigh of relief. If the Two Sects and One City were to go to war, the Song Clan would inevitably be dragged in. A tournament was a much more peaceful solution.

"Only Foundation Establishment Cultivators may compete in this tournament. Each side can send five participants."

The more Song Changsheng listened, the more perplexed he became. ’What does this have to do with the Song Clan?’

Meeting his questioning gaze, Li Ru said frankly, "Compared to the Golden Crow Sect and the Celestial Vein Sect, Luoxia City’s foundation is somewhat weaker. A tournament is actually very disadvantageous for us.

But Tuo Province is simply too important for us to hand over. That is why my master sent me to invite you, Junior Brother, to represent Luoxia City in the competition."

He then added, "The Great City Lord feels the same way."

Song Changsheng was stunned. He’d never imagined Li Ru had come for this. He quickly waved his hands in refusal. "The Great City Lord and the other masters have a wealth of talent under their command. It’s hardly my place to go and make a fool of myself. If I were to jeopardize their grand plan, ten thousand deaths wouldn’t be enough to atone for my failure."

This wasn’t a polite refusal; he genuinely meant it.

Seeing that Song Changsheng wasn’t just being polite, Li Ru couldn’t help but sigh. "Junior Brother, you’re being too self-deprecating. A Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivator in his early thirties... there are few like you in all of Daqi.

My master and the Great City Lord are well aware of your strength. That is why they specifically requested you for this task.

To be perfectly honest, among our city’s Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivators, only a handful stand a chance against the Direct Disciples of the two Major Sects. Our odds of victory are extremely low. If we weren’t desperate, we would never have come to trouble you, Junior Brother."

The tournament requires five people. Luoxia City is a major power with a good number of Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivators, but even within the same realm, there are vast differences in strength.

If we classify the Direct Disciples from the two Major Sects as the top tier, then from Luoxia City, only Yinn Shang, Niu Dazhuang, Xing Zhao, and I would likely qualify.

Ordinarily, Zhuang Yuechan’s talent would be enough for her to qualify, but she’s too young, and her Cultivation Realm is only at Late-stage Foundation Establishment. She doesn’t meet the requirements to compete.

Zhan Tianxia had originally planned to choose the best of our other cultivators just to make up the numbers, but at the last moment, he suddenly thought of you, Song Changsheng. And that brings us to today’s visit.

Li Ru had laid his cards on the table. Any more modesty from Song Changsheng would be out of place.

In his heart, Song Changsheng was more than willing to help. Setting aside the Great City Lord’s high regard for him and his own friendship with Zhuang Yuechan, Luoxia City had just done the Song Clan a massive favor not long ago. Whether considering sentiment or reason, he had no grounds to refuse.

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