Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World

Chapter 357: Chapter 202 Blood Fire Spirit Pill_2

”This is?” Niu Guli poured out the Bloodfire Spirit Pill. Seeing the unfamiliar pill in his hand, a trace of doubt surfaced in his heart.

”You’ve been stuck at the fifth layer of the Bone Refining realm for years. Just one more step, and you can become an official elder! This pill can help you cross that threshold, making you a sixth-layer expert in Bone Refining!”

Niu Guli was immediately shocked upon hearing this. While such pills that forcibly enhanced cultivation were undoubtedly effective, they came with severe side effects. Unless someone felt hopeless about advancing or found themselves at a dead end, they would rarely choose to take such pills lightly.

At just fifty years of age, Niu Guli realistically had another century ahead of him. With his cultivation progress, he had a good chance of reaching the seventh or even eighth layer of Bone Refining in the future. Moreover, at his current pace, he believed he only needed another five to ten years to naturally break through to the sixth layer. There was absolutely no need for him to resort to such a self-limiting pill.

Looking at the pill in his hand, Niu Guli appeared conflicted. ”Great Elder, I have always been loyal to you and have never harbored ill intent. If I have done something wrong, you can say so directly. Even if I were to die, I would like to die understanding why.”

Wu Gui knew this fellow had misunderstood him. He patted Niu Guli’s shoulder and laughed, ”Why are you talking as though I’d harm you? Rest assured, while this pill allows you to advance a small realm, it bears no side effects and won’t affect your future cultivation in the slightest. What, you don’t trust me?”

Holding the Bloodfire Spirit Pill, Niu Guli’s expression grew even more troubled, and he remained silent.

Seeing this, Wu Gui snorted coldly. ”What a waste of my good intentions!” As he spoke, he reached out, intending to retrieve the pill from Niu Guli’s hand.

Niu Guli raised his hand to block Wu Gui, looking at him with a steadfast gaze. ”I trust you wouldn’t harm me! I’ll take it.”

Niu Guli tilted his head back and swallowed the Bloodfire Spirit Pill into his stomach.

Wu Gui fixated his gaze on Niu Guli, his senses fully alert, observing the changes in him.

As the pill entered his stomach, Niu Guli immediately felt a boiling surge of energy coursing through his body. The previously hazy barrier to the sixth layer of Bone Refining now became crystal clear. All the power within him, led by a beam of crimson light, surged toward the barrier of the sixth layer.

”This...”

Feeling the transformation inside his body, Niu Guli was too astonished to speak. His face turned deeply flushed from the boiling power, and his aura fluctuated wildly—an unmistakable sign of an impending breakthrough!

At this moment, Niu Guli dismissed all other thoughts and quickly sat cross-legged, focusing entirely on guiding his energy to pierce through to the sixth layer of Bone Refining.

Half an hour later, Niu Guli’s aura gradually stabilized, and the flush on his face slowly receded.

Suddenly, his once-contained aura erupted outward. A wave of force rippled from the center of his being, prompting Wu Gui to quickly press his hands in the air, tamping the waves down with his own power. In the next instant, the aura of the sixth layer of Bone Refining radiated from Niu Guli!

Niu Guli opened his eyes, which shone brightly, his face glowing with joy. After the breakthrough, he immediately performed a thorough check of his body, discovering to his amazement that the pill had left absolutely no lingering side effects! Upon trying a brief cultivation session, he even found that his speed seemed slightly faster than before!

Overwhelmed, Niu Guli promptly knelt before Wu Gui, his face full of guilt. ”Second Elder! Forgive me! I doubted your words earlier—that was a grave mistake on my part! I deserve punishment!”

Wu Gui helped him to his feet, urgently asking, ”How do you feel? Any unusual sensations?”

Having just achieved a breakthrough, Niu Guli beamed with elation. He circulated his power entirely, releasing the aura of the sixth layer of Bone Refining. ”This feeling of breaking through in one leap is truly exhilarating! Many thanks for your kindness, Second Elder!”

Wu Gui assessed Niu Guli’s aura. Though it felt slightly shallow, it lacked the hollowness typical of cultivation pills with major side effects. Moreover, Niu Guli’s blood and energy brimmed with vitality, showing no signs of bodily harm.

Now that the Bloodfire Spirit Pill’s effectiveness had been verified, Wu Gui felt an electrifying surge of excitement. If not for the fact that it was broad daylight and prying eyes were everywhere, he would have summoned the man in black back immediately!

Wu Gui had been stuck at the seventh layer of Bone Refining for many years. As age caught up with him, he increasingly felt powerless. He knew clearly that his martial arts talent would at best allow him to reach the eighth layer. The ninth layer was entirely out of reach. To secure his position, he had long since begun secretly nurturing promising talents within the Sect. With these individuals, even if his cultivation lagged in the future, no one could threaten his authority.

He had thought that his years of meticulous planning would make his influence within the Thousand Poison Sect rival that of the Great Elder’s. However, a recent turn of events had shattered that illusion!

Although many of the Sect’s significant affairs passed through his hands, the higher cultivation levels of the Great Elder and the Sect Master allowed them to easily overturn his decisions!

At this moment, Wu Gui’s yearning for a cultivation breakthrough reached its peak.

”Second Elder, whatever task you previously spoke of, let me know! I will spare no effort to see it done!”

Wu Gui shook his head and smiled. ”There’s no rush for now. When the time is right, I will naturally tell you. For now, return and find an appropriate opportunity to announce your breakthrough. Become an official elder as soon as possible—only then can you better help me.”

Niu Guli seemed to grasp the underlying meaning, his gaze resolute as he nodded firmly. ”Rest assured, Second Elder. Whatever you do, I will follow your orders without hesitation!”

After a pause, he looked at Wu Gui with hopeful eyes. ”Second Elder, that pill just now...”

Wu Gui laughed. ”Work hard! Pills like that will not be lacking in the future.”

Upon hearing this, Niu Guli’s eyes instantly gleamed.

The pleasure of advancing without painstaking cultivation was utterly addicting. Having tasted its sweetness, Niu Guli found it hard to let it go.

”Rest assured, Second Elder. Whatever you need in the future, just give the order!”

After Niu Guli left, Wu Gui was absent-minded the entire day. After handling a few Sect matters, his irritation boiled over, and he finally pushed aside all tasks, retreating to his attic to wait for nightfall.

The passage of time felt like the longest torment. Though only a day had passed, it felt like several years to Wu Gui.

Finally, deep into the night, when all was silent, he took out the Fire Summoning Talisman the man in black had given him the day before.

Wu Gui held the Fire Summoning Talisman over the lamp flame. The talisman instantly emitted thick red smoke, and a strange power dispersed into the heavens and earth. The talisman vanished without leaving even a trace of ash.

Half an hour later, a gentle breeze swept through. The candlelight flickered briefly before settling.

Wu Gui recognized the signs immediately. He stood up respectfully, staring across the room. ”Milord, have you arrived?”

The light shifted on the chair, and the figure of the man in black gradually materialized.

The man in black gazed at Wu Gui with a mocking look in his eyes. ”You’ve made up your mind so quickly?”

Wu Gui’s attitude was now a stark contrast to the night before. Standing before the man in black, he was entirely deferential, meeting even the mocking look with an ingratiating smile.

”I’ve thought it through!”

The man in black nodded and smiled. ”Good! Then how do you plan to proceed now?”

Having prepared his speech earlier, Wu Gui spoke confidently. ”Milord, I have numerous loyal followers within the Sect. However, limited by my cultivation, I cannot fully consolidate my control. If you can help me break through to the ninth layer of Bone Refining and provide your support, I guarantee that neither the Sect Master nor the Great Elder will dare defy me!”

At this, Wu Gui chuckled coldly. ”Heh! And if they dare, we can replace them! With your backing, those two experts are dispensable!”

The man in black took out two porcelain bottles. ”Since you have such ambitions, proceed! These contain two Bloodfire Spirit Pills, enough to push you directly to the ninth layer of Bone Refining.”

By now aware of the pill’s effects, Wu Gui accepted the two porcelain bottles like treasures. He could barely speak from excitement.

The man in black pulled out another Fire Summoning Talisman and handed it to Wu Gui. ”Break through first. Once you do, if you need my assistance, burn this talisman. Be swift—Crimson Cloud Secret Realm is about to open. There is something I need from within. By then, ensure your disciples in Thousand Poison Sect secure it for me!”