Longevity: Comprehending the Heart Method

Song Changsheng dodged left and right, evading all the attacks while his mind raced.

Based on the patterns of the Grand Array’s attacks, he had already identified it as a Tier Two Low-Grade Earth and Wood Qiankun Array. This Array could perfectly blend into the mountain forest, constantly drawing on Earth and Wood Spiritual Power to strengthen itself.

Although this Array was a common type, its strength lay in its earth-and-wood cycle, allowing it to wear down and kill anyone trapped inside through relentless attacks.

But Song Changsheng wasn’t panicked. Though the Array was Tier Two, it meant the Array Master’s Cultivation couldn’t be higher than the Qi Refining realm. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have needed to lay a Grand Array to ambush him.

As long as he wasn’t facing a Foundation Establishment Cultivator directly, he still had a chance of survival with the Tier Two Low-Grade Talisman in his hand.

"Water Dragon Roar."

Song Changsheng spread his arms. Immense Water Spiritual Power gathered at his feet, quickly forming a lifelike Water Dragon behind him that let out a piercing roar.

The vines swarming him from all directions were instantly shattered by the dragon’s roar, but immediately after, countless earthen spikes erupted from the ground.

Song Changsheng frowned slightly. ’This can’t go on. I’ll be worn down and killed in here sooner or later.’

’The only way out now is to break the Array. But this Array’s range is too vast, and its changes are too numerous. How can I possibly find its weakness?’

After all, he was only a Tier One top-grade Array Master. Breaking this Tier Two Array would be extremely difficult.

’I must calm my mind and comprehend the Array Patterns to have any chance of breaking this Array. But the Grand Array’s attacks are relentless. First, I need to ensure I won’t be disturbed.’

’That’s it, the Luwu Bell!’

An idea flashed through Song Changsheng’s mind. He took out the bell-shaped Luwu Bell and whispered, "You’re my only hope now."

With a wave of his arm, the Copper Bell instantly expanded, enveloping Song Changsheng and blocking all attacks from the outside.

A Spiritual Artifact was a Spiritual Artifact, after all. Although Song Changsheng’s Cultivation was insufficient to unleash its full power, its inherent Spiritual Attribute allowed it to cooperate with some simple commands.

Protected by the Luwu Bell, Song Changsheng finally had a chance to properly study the Grand Array.

He drew a simple Array Pattern on his palm and pressed it to the ground. In that instant, all the originally hidden Array Patterns were revealed.

Song Changsheng’s Divine Sense spread out, following the visible Array Patterns to deduce the layout of the rest. This was a challenge, but also an opportunity...

Outside the Grand Array, an old man in the attire of the Earth Fire Sect frowned slightly. He had a clear view of the situation inside. He had thought that killing Song Changsheng was just a matter of time, but he hadn’t expected him to produce such a treasure. This complicated things.

"Get in there, now! Rip that turtle shell off him for me!" the old man said coldly to the surrounding Earth Fire Sect disciples.

"Yes, sir!"

The four Earth Fire Sect disciples acknowledged the order in unison and flew into the Array to attack the Luwu Bell...

On a distant battlefield, Wang Wanzhou wielded the Seven-Colored Glaze Mirror in his left hand and the Fufeng Sword in his right, holding his own against two opponents without being at a disadvantage.

Cheng Yufei and Du Huating had no intention of fighting him to the death; they were merely tying him down, preventing him from leaving the battlefield.

Suddenly, a streak of light shot in from the horizon, striking directly at Cheng Yufei’s face. Cheng Yufei was aghast. "A Soul-Breaking Spike?"

He hastily summoned a small round shield to block his chest, barely deflecting the fatal blow.

A foot-long, pitch-black metal spike vanished from the corner of his eye.

"Song Luyao?" Du Huating’s expression tensed.

The sudden turn of events made the three of them pull back, warily watching the east, where two imposing figures were rapidly approaching.

Wang Wanzhou suddenly burst out laughing. "Your time is up! Now die!"

With that, he charged at the two of them again.

The distant arrivals now revealed themselves to be Third Elder Song Luyao and Fourth Elder Song Luhuai. With furious expressions, they brazenly joined the fray.

The situation instantly shifted from one-versus-two to three-versus-two. Cheng Yufei and his partner were overwhelmed, gradually losing ground.

’Damn it! What are those people from the Qiu Clan doing? They couldn’t even hold them back!’ Cheng Yufei fumed inwardly, a mix of shock and anger brewing. He had anticipated that the Song Clan would notice something, which was why he had instructed the Qiu Clan to intercept them beforehand.

The agreement was to hold them off until sunrise, but he never thought they would be broken through so quickly. Now the situation was truly dire.

Cheng Yufei no longer had any thoughts of killing Song Changsheng. Now, he had to figure out how to escape with his own life at the smallest cost!

————

Inside the Array, Song Changsheng was still unaware that he alone had triggered a fierce battle between several Foundation Establishment Cultivators from four major Foundation Establishment Influences.

His deductions about the Grand Array had reached a critical point.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

Outside the Copper Bell, the relentless attacks from the Grand Array and the few Earth Fire Sect disciples hammered against the Luwu Bell, causing violent tremors.

As the saying goes, a prolonged defense is bound to fail. The Spiritual Light on the Luwu Bell’s surface gradually dimmed, finally collapsing under a wave of attacks and shrinking back to the size of a small bell.

The Earth Fire Sect disciples were overjoyed. Just as they were about to take Song Changsheng’s life, Song Changsheng, who was sitting cross-legged, snapped his eyes open and threw out a yellowed Talisman.

The Talisman rapidly burned in mid-air, transforming into a massive, illusory palm print that descended upon the four Earth Fire Sect disciples.

"A Tier Two Low-Grade Talisman, Giant Spirit Palm?"

The men were scared out of their wits and scrambled to flee, but how could an attack equivalent to the full-power strike of an Early-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator be so easy to dodge?

Two of the Qi Refining Ninth Layer Cultivators were instantly smashed into pulp by the palm print. The remaining two, at Qi Refining Great Perfection, didn’t fare much better. The blow shattered their bones and tendons, an injury that would take them years to recover from.

After the successful strike, Song Changsheng tapped his toes and lunged to the left. A Spiritual Light flared from his right foot as he delivered a whirlwind kick at an unremarkable stone.

That was the Grand Array’s Array Hub!

BANG!

The stone instantly turned to dust. Song Changsheng felt as if the world had suddenly brightened. Dense Array Patterns appeared beneath his feet, only to crumble and disintegrate a moment later.

The Tier Two Low-Grade Earth and Wood Qiankun Array was broken!

PFFT—

The Earth Fire Sect’s Array Master suffered a backlash, spitting out a large mouthful of blood mist as his aura suddenly weakened. He looked at Song Changsheng in disbelief and said, "It turns out... you... you’re a Tier Two Array Master?"

Song Changsheng calmly shook his head. "Before entering the Array, I was merely at Tier One Top Grade. I have you to thank for forcing me to take that next step on the brink of life and death."

"Heh heh heh... no wonder Elder Cheng and the others plotted to eliminate you. Truly... truly a young prodigy. A pity my skills were lacking, and I failed to remove this grave threat for the sect."

The old man’s eyes were filled with bitter resentment as he spoke through gritted teeth.

"You almost succeeded. If it weren’t for the Luwu Bell, I would now be a dead soul in your Array. Go in peace. In your next life, don’t make an enemy of the Song Clan."

Song Changsheng let out a soft sigh. He flicked his finger, sending a beam of Spiritual Force to pierce the old man’s skull. The light instantly vanished from the old man’s eyes...