Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World

The elder turned around, his eyes like a deep starry sky, staring directly at the two.

Gu Sheng felt an invisible force sweep over his entire body, as if trying to see through him thoroughly inside and out.

”Master?”

Su Yongchang asked tentatively.

”What do you think?”

The fishing elder didn’t answer immediately but continued probing the two with his Divine Thought.

Ling Xiao’s forehead was covered in cold sweat; he transmitted his thoughts to Gu Sheng.

”Damn, did he discover something?”

Gu Sheng forced himself to stay calm.

”Don’t panic, my secret technique is difficult for even an Elder Level expert to break through, there shouldn’t be a problem.”

The fishing elder suddenly let out a surprised ”Hmm,” his body slightly jolting.

This small reaction made Gu Sheng and Ling Xiao’s hearts jump to their throats.

”Master?”

Su Yongchang also noticed the anomaly, his tone containing confusion.

The fishing elder was silent for a moment, finally speaking slowly, his voice as if coming from ancient times.

”These two little ones... are not simple.”

He slowly turned around, Gu Sheng and Ling Xiao’s hearts beating like drums, awaiting the verdict of fate.

The elder’s gaze shifted between them, finally fixing on Gu Sheng.

”You two little ones, come closer.”

The elder spoke without turning his head.

Gu Sheng and Ling Xiao exchanged glances and stepped forward slowly.

Gu Sheng could feel the slight sweat on his palms.

”Senior.”

Gu Sheng respectfully saluted, while secretly activating the Breath Concealment Technique, suppressing the fluctuation of Spiritual Power within him to an Earth Palace Stage level.

This Cultivation Technique was personally taught by Master Daoist Xiushan, specifically for concealing true Cultivation.

The elder slowly turned, revealing his face to Gu Sheng.

Wrinkles intertwined like dry bark, yet his eyes were bright as stars, seemingly able to penetrate people’s hearts.

When that gaze fell on him, Gu Sheng felt a chill rise from his spine, as if all his secrets were laid bare.

”Solid foundation, condensed Spiritual Power, good, good.”

The elder squinted, his gaze sweeping back and forth between them.

”One Earth Palace Stage, one half-step Earth Palace Stage, given your age, quite rare.”

Ling Xiao slightly bowed his head, hiding the surprise in his eyes.

They indeed suppressed their Cultivation, but the elder could see through their disguised realm with a glance—his insight was truly terrifying.

Standing to the side, Su Yongchang showed a joyful expression upon hearing this.

”Uncle, I told you these two saplings are good, better than most of our Core Disciples!”

The elder was noncommittal, merely suddenly extending his hand, his bone-thin fingers pointing at Gu Sheng’s brow.

Gu Sheng instinctively wanted to retreat but found himself immobile, an unusual force probing into his meridians, roaming his entire body.

”Hmm?”

The elder frowned.

”The trajectory of Spiritual Power flow within you... is somewhat special.”

Gu Sheng’s heart skipped a beat.

The cultivation mental method of the Tianlan Sacred Land and Qinghe Sacred Land had subtle differences, and although he had tried to conceal it, inevitable traces appeared under such close investigation.

”In my youth, I fell off a cliff, fortunately saved by a wandering Daoist who taught me some rudimentary Cultivation Techniques.”

Gu Sheng quickly came up with an idea and spoke sincerely.

”Perhaps that’s why it differs from orthodox cultivation methods.”

The elder stared at Gu Sheng for a long while, finally retracting his finger.

”Chance encounters are also part of cultivation. However...”

He shifted his tone.

”Compared to that person, you are far behind.”

”Uncle is referring to...”

Su Yongchang’s expression became complex.

”Gu Sheng from Tianlan Sacred Land.”

When the elder mentioned this name, his eyes bore a deep hatred, his left hand unconsciously stroking his right arm—where an empty sleeve fluttered lightly in the wind.

Gu Sheng’s pupils contracted slightly; he forced himself to stay calm.

Ling Xiao subtly nudged his arm, signaling him to stay composed.

”Gu Sheng?”

Ling Xiao feigned curiosity.

”Is he very powerful?”

”An unparalleled genius through the ages!”

Su Yongchang sighed.

”Not yet twenty, it’s said he’s already reached Great Perfection in the Earth Palace Stage and could break through to the Heavenly Palace at any moment. No one in Tianlan Sacred Land for a thousand years has surpassed him.”

The elder sneered coldly.

”A genius? Hmph! Just a ruthless junior!”

He suddenly tore open his right sleeve, revealing a horrifying severed arm wound — the surface was smooth as a mirror but surrounded by an eerie blue glow, wriggling like a living being, preventing the wound from healing.

”This is...”

Ling Xiao gasped.

”Sword wound.”

The elder gritted his teeth.

”Gu Sheng’s Qingming Sword Qi from Tianlan! Fifty years ago, when the Ancient Secret Realm opened, I encountered him at the Xuanming Cold Pond. We fought fiercely over a Nine Revolutions Soul Reviving Grass. That scoundrel seemed modest but was actually deep-thinking, pretending to be defeated to lure me into a trap, then...”

He made a slashing gesture with his left hand.

Gu Sheng furrowed his eyebrows.

He remembered the secret realm struggle from fifty years ago, but clearly, the elder was the one who first ambushed, forcing him to counter-attack in self-defense. Now hearing it, things have been completely turned upside down.

”Even more hateful is his master, Daoist Xiushan!”

The elder continued, eyes blazing with fury.

”That old hypocrite pretended to mediate, secretly poisoned me while healing, causing damage to my foundation, ruining any hope of reaching the Heavenly Palace realm for life!”

Gu Sheng clenched his fists. Master Xiushan was gentle and never bore grudges; how could he poison someone? This was clearly a setup!

”Therefore.”

The elder suddenly pressed close to Gu Sheng, a terrifying gleam shooting from his single eye.

”Remember these two names — Gu Sheng of Tianlan, Daoist Xiushan! If the opportunity arises, behead them for me! If I’m dead by then, place them before my grave!”

Gu Sheng’s throat tightened.

Kill himself? And kill the master who treated him like a son? This absurd demand left him momentarily speechless.

Seeing them silent, Su Yongchang thought they were frightened and quickly intervened.

”Uncle-master, they’re still young, please...”

”What? Afraid?”

The elder fiercely interrupted.

”Once you enter Qinghe Sacred Land, you should know our mortal enemies with Tianlan! Moreover...”

He smiled sinisterly.

Seeing the situation turning sour, Ling Xiao quickly bowed.

”Rest assured, senior, if given the chance, I’ll give my all!”

Only then did the elder nod satisfactorily and turned to Gu Sheng.

”And you?”

Gu Sheng forced down the absurd feeling in his heart and cupped his fists.

”I’ll remember.”

”Good! Good!”

The elder suddenly laughed, yet the laughter was completely devoid of joy.

”From today, you are my closed-door disciples! Su Yongchang, take them to Xuanming Divine Mountain.”

He looked at Gu Sheng meaningfully.

Leaving the riverside, walking on the winding mountain path, Su Yongchang whispered.

”Uncle-master’s temper is strange, but accepting you as disciples is a rare stroke of luck.

Even with one arm missing, his strength remains among the top three in the Sacred Land.”

”That... is Gu Sheng really that fearsome?”

Ling Xiao curiously asked.

Su Yongchang’s expression turned solemn.

”Twenty years ago, Tianlan and Qinghe fought fiercely in Meteor Valley. Gu Sheng alone faced three elders from our Sacred Land, seriously injuring two and killing one. Since then, the two Sacred Lands have agreed not to engage Heavenly Palace realm cultivators, maintaining superficial peace.”

Gu Sheng remained silent.

That battle was vivid in his memory; Qinghe first ambushed Tianlan’s convoy, forcing him to react furiously.

It seems Qinghe Sacred Land blames Tianlan for all conflicts; hatred runs deep.

Dark clouds, like ink, rolled over Xuanming Divine Mountain, as though an ancient fierce beast was perched there, swallowing spiritual energy between heaven and earth.

Amidst the thick clouds, peculiar purple lightning occasionally flashed, yet quickly disappeared, leaving one baffled.

”Is this Xuanming Divine Mountain?”

Ling Xiao gazed up at the towering peaks, eyes sparkling with excitement.

”Truly lives up to its reputation!”

Gu Sheng stood by, frowning slightly.

He felt the pervasive ancient aura in the air, as if the chilling winds from ages past hit him, making him unconsciously tense.

His gaze swept across the barely visible cave entrances at the mountain’s base, each entrance emitting a faint spiritual light, growing more radiant as they lead upward.

”Listen carefully, both of you.”

Su Yongchang turned around, sweeping an austere gaze across their faces.

”Xuanming Divine Mountain is unlike the ordinary places of cultivation, the cultivators here are mighty, even including Saint Heirs and Holy Daughters in seclusion.”