Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World

Chapter 114: Chapter 95 Great Success Serpent Breath! Enlightenment of the Truth! _2

Many young people regard Gu Jingang as their life goal.

”Achieving Small Success in the Blood Refining Realm once felt like an unattainable peak for me. But now, I’m on the verge of breaking through to the Blood Refining Realm!”

”When the time comes, with my Perfect Iron Stone Fist, even if I can’t match Gu Jingang, surpassing Gu Dajiang shouldn’t be difficult.”

Thinking of this.

Gu Sheng’s heart felt a bit excited.

The once seemingly unreachable top three experts of Gu’s Manor were being gradually caught up to by Gu Sheng, step by step.

Surpassing Gu Jingang was merely a matter of time.

Recalling the days when he had to chop wood just to earn a mouthful of food, Gu Sheng couldn’t help but feel deeply moved. Who would have thought that the young boy who once chopped wood would unknowingly reach his current heights?

Once he advanced to the Blood Refining Realm.

Gu Sheng’s confidence would grow further. By that time, even if his strength were exposed one day, he wouldn’t need to worry about being captured without resistance. At the very worst, escaping far away would always remain an option.

”Approximately three more medicinal baths, and I’ll reach the pinnacle of flesh and blood!”

”However, the Blood Nourishing Powder is almost gone; there’s only one dose left. Fortunately, tomorrow I’ll be escorting the manor’s procurement team, so I can visit the black market and buy more.”

Previously, the estimate was around forty medicinal baths to reach the flesh-and-blood limit. But adding another two or three was perfectly normal. It wasn’t all that precise and posed no real issue.

Over the past few months.

After becoming a Martial Artist, Gu Sheng also had to shoulder certain responsibilities.

The fields and houses gifted by Gu’s Manor weren’t given for free. Martial Artists were guaranteed their status but were equally expected to contribute.

Escorting the procurement team to town was just one such task, along with bandit suppression, beast repulsion, patrolling, and so on.

Of course.

Escorting the team to town wasn’t without its rewards. Stone-Skin Martial Artists typically received a symbolic two taels of silver, while Iron-Skin Martial Artists earned four. Although Gu Sheng was a Stone-Skin Martial Artist, his exceptional archery skills granted him three taels, which was no small income.

Tomorrow would be his second time escorting the procurement team to town.

...

The next day.

Gu Sheng had been waiting outside the manor early in the morning; he wasn’t one for procrastination.

But others had arrived even earlier — most were manor residents needing to visit the town on various errands. The incident of the ambush had long passed, and everyone was gradually forgetting about it. The number of people going into town had steadily increased, including some familiar faces like hunters he’d shared drinks with.

Gu Sheng nodded at a few people, causing the hunters to immediately reveal excited expressions. They didn’t dare approach Gu Sheng to foster connections but instead turned their backs to boast quietly among their familiar circles.

Their remarks were mostly about knowing a Martial Artist and even drinking together.

Gu Sheng couldn’t help but smile faintly.

Once upon a time, he too was just another member of the manor’s team heading into town, looking at the Martial Artists’ robust and graceful physiques with awe and reverence. But now, he himself had become one of them.

The shift in status made him a bit reflective.

Gradually, Martial Artists arrived one after another, greeting Gu Sheng with smiles.

Although Gu Sheng had declined the proposal to marry the daughter of the manor’s head family, the elders saw that matter as their concern. For most Martial Artists, forming friendly ties with someone like Gu Sheng, a skillful sharpshooter, was still considered worthwhile.

Moreover, during the ambush at Bull Mountain, Gu Sheng had assisted many Martial Artists.

Gu Sheng greeted each martial artist back warmly, showing no trace of arrogance and maintaining a humble demeanor.

”Asheng!”

A joyful voice called from the distance.

Gu Sheng turned to look and saw a sharply dressed figure in a blue outfit sprinting in his direction. It was Gu Xiaojiang, who had an undeniable fondness for blue attire, wearing it nearly all the time except on special occasions.

Gu Sheng smiled and said:

”Why aren’t you training hard at the manor? What brings you to the escort team heading into town?”

Gazing at Gu Xiaojiang before him, Gu Sheng could faintly sense much stronger energy. They hadn’t met for a while, and Gu Xiaojiang’s prowess had clearly advanced greatly. That guy truly had impressive talent.

Gu Xiaojiang pouted and said:

”Training every day requires breaks here and there for proper balance; a mix of toil and rest is the true wisdom in cultivation! Besides, it’s nice to take a trip into town and enjoy the scenery a bit.”

As Gu Sheng was about to reply, he saw Gu Dajiang approaching from afar.

This trip into town was led by him.

Though Gu Dajiang had suffered an injury a couple of years ago, slightly diminishing his strength, he still remained a Blood Refining Realm expert, fully capable of intimidating petty hooligans and criminals.

Gu Sheng respectfully greeted, ”Uncle Dajiang.”

Gu Dajiang smiled with a nod. Although Gu Sheng had declined the arranged marriage to the head family’s daughter, his attitude toward Gu Sheng hadn’t changed in the slightest and remained grateful for Gu Sheng’s actions during the ambush.

”Help Uncle Dajiang talk some sense into this kid. He’s stubborn as heck! Putting too much pressure on himself won’t do; cultivation requires persistence and patience. Charging straight ahead like this will cost him dearly in the long run—it’s possible his realm won’t advance, and he’ll ruin himself instead.”

Gu Xiaojiang immediately retorted:

”Cultivation is like paddling upstream: you either press forward or fall back! If I don’t seize the time now, how can I become strong in the future? Asheng hones himself even harder, and you want him to persuade me?”

Gu Dajiang was momentarily speechless, shaking his head as he left to organize the team.

Gu Sheng understood instantly.

It seemed Gu Xiaojiang had been dragged along by Gu Dajiang to join this trip into town. Half the things he was saying to Gu Sheng were probably a staged act for Gu Dajiang to overhear.

Gu Sheng couldn’t help but shake his head with a chuckle, patting Gu Xiaojiang on the shoulder as he laughed and said:

”Getting out and about is fine once in a while. Besides, it’s been too long since we’ve caught up.”

Gu Xiaojiang nodded and replied:

”If Asheng weren’t coming along, I wouldn’t have wanted to bother!”

The two mounted the horses prepared by the manor and rode quickly toward the front of the caravan.