Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World

Gu Sheng could feel the spiritual power within him slowly increasing. This cultivation speed was at least three times faster than outside!

”No wonder everyone wants to come to Xuanming Divine Mountain to cultivate...”

Gu Sheng pondered, becoming more puzzled about Daoist Yong’an’s intentions for giving them this opportunity.

Logically, Qinghe Holy Land has no ties with them, so why be so generous?

”Crack—”

Gu Sheng’s boots stepped on the soft soil of Xuanming Divine Mountain, making a crisp cracking sound, as if crushing the bones of some creature.

He furrowed his brow and looked down, only to see the soil faintly mixed with fine crystals, glowing a strange blue under the moonlight.

”This place is truly eerie.”

Ling Xiao followed behind, his footsteps much heavier, completely overshadowing Gu Sheng’s sounds.

”Even the soil seems peculiar.”

Gu Sheng didn’t respond, but continued to move forward more cautiously.

Only the occasional moonlight filtering through gaps in the clouds illuminated their path ahead.

”Let’s find a place to rest.”

Gu Sheng finally spoke, his voice very low.

”This mountain isn’t peaceful, moving at night is too dangerous.”

Ling Xiao, for once, didn’t argue, just nodded.

The two groped forward in the darkness.

Gu Sheng’s five senses were fully alert, vigilant of any movement around them.

He could feel something in the darkness watching them, the feeling like needles on his back.

Suddenly, Gu Sheng stopped and abruptly looked toward the mountain peak.

”What’s wrong?”

Ling Xiao asked nervously.

Gu Sheng didn’t answer, just stared intently at the dark night.

As Ling Xiao was about to ask again, a piercing white light suddenly sliced through the clouds.

The whole sky seemed to split open, the dark clouds receding to the sides, and white light poured down.

”This...this is...”

Ling Xiao was stunned.

Where the white light reached, Yin Qi retreated.

Only then did Gu Sheng realize they were still at the mountain’s foot, far from the real path up.

More chilling was the sight of several pairs of eerie green eyes closing sharply when the white light appeared, accompanied by a few discontented hisses, turning into black shadows and dissipating in the air.

”What were those things?”

Ling Xiao’s voice trembled.

Gu Sheng shook his head.

”Not sure, but they clearly dislike the white light.”

He glanced around and suddenly his eyes lit up.

”Look over there, there’s a cave!”

Less than a hundred steps away, a cave entrance half hidden behind the rock wall loomed faintly.

The two exchanged a glance and cautiously approached. The cave’s entrance wasn’t large, but big enough for a person to stoop and enter.

The most delightful surprise was that the entrance had a mottled stone door, though half open, it was evidently closable.

”Lucky us!”

Ling Xiao exclaimed excitedly and was about to rush in.

Gu Sheng pulled him back.

”Wait!”

He picked up a stone from the ground and threw it into the cave with force.

The stone landed with a crisp sound, but otherwise there was no anomaly.

Only then did Gu Sheng nod.

”It should be safe.”

The two entered the cave and found the interior much more spacious than expected, about three zhang by square.

The cave ceiling had several naturally formed holes, allowing white sunlight to stream in, illuminating the entire space.

What delighted Gu Sheng the most was the intricate patterns engraved on the stone door’s inside, clearly some kind of array.

”Is this...an isolation array?”

Gu Sheng stroked the patterns on the stone door, sensing the spiritual power fluctuations contained within.

Ling Xiao also crowded over to examine.

”Seems like it has defensive functions too. We’ve found treasure!”

Gu Sheng tried pushing the stone door, discovering that although it was heavy, they could move it with their strength.

As the stone door slowly closed, the light inside didn’t dim, but instead became brighter and more comfortable due to the array’s activation.

”With the cultivation techniques Daoist Yong’an gave us, we can now cultivate in peace.”

Gu Sheng exhaled deeply, sitting cross-legged in the cave’s center.

Ling Xiao found a spot to sit, taking out several jade scrolls from his bosom.

”That old man is quite generous, giving us three Heavenly Rank techniques. All good stuff!”

Gu Sheng nodded but didn’t rush to take out the cultivation technique jade scrolls.

After pondering for a moment, he slowly retrieved a longsword from his storage bag.

The sword was entirely azure blue, with seven star-like glows sparkling on its blade, even in this brightly lit cave, it still emitted a faint cold glow.

”This is...”

Ling Xiao’s eyes widened.

”The sword you took at Ten Thousand Ghost Ridge?”

”Tai Chi Seven Star Sword.”

Gu Sheng lightly stroked the blade, feeling the ancient power contained within.

”Though damaged, it’s still a pseudo divine artifact-level treasure.”

Ling Xiao clicked his tongue enviously.

”You have some luck. I heard these ancient divine swords have their own consciousness, did you subdue it?”

Gu Sheng shook his head.

”Just a preliminary recognition.”

He channeled Yin Dao Skill within him, the stars on the sword instantly brightened, a cold yin energy flowed from the hilt into his meridians, perfectly merging with his spiritual power.

”This sword qi...”

Gu Sheng’s eyes showed delight.

”It can actually enhance my Yin Dao Skill!”

Ling Xiao curiously approached to observe.

”Really? I heard the Tai Chi Seven Star Sword is a supreme yang treasure, how does it have cold yin energy?”

Gu Sheng pondered.

”Yin and yang give birth to each other, extremes breed change. This sword, having undergone millennia and buried in such an extremely yin place as Ten Thousand Ghost Ridge, likely undergone some mutation.”

Carefully, he waved it a few times, the sword edge slicing through the air leaving a faint blue trail.

”I have a premonition that with this sword, my mental method realm will soon break through.”

Ling Xiao sighed enviously, returning to his spot to start cultivating.

Gu Sheng studied the Tai Chi Seven Star Sword a bit longer, eventually storing it away and taking out the cultivation technique jade scroll from Daoist Yong’an.

”Heaven Measuring Saint Fist and Heavenly Sorrow Sword...”

Gu Sheng explored the jade scroll with divine thought, information about the two Heavenly Rank Lower Grade martial techniques flooding into his mind.

He chose to cultivate the fist skill first. Heaven Measuring Saint Fist has nine layers, each layer able to transform the fist’s power.

Following the scroll’s guidance, Gu Sheng directed his spiritual power through specific meridians.

The initial progress was slow, but as his understanding of the technique deepened, the cultivation speed quickened.

After three hours, Gu Sheng suddenly opened his eyes, his right fist glowing faintly gold.

He punched at the cave wall without exerting full force, yet the fist wind still left a shallow fist seal on the stone wall.

”Perfect at First Level?”

Ling Xiao awoke from the noise, looking at the fist seal in surprise.

”That was quick! You’re really something!”

Gu Sheng smiled slightly.

”This fist skill suits me very well.”

He didn’t say more, instead taking the jade scroll for Heavenly Sorrow Sword.

”Let me try swordsmanship.”

Cultivating Heavenly Sorrow Sword was evidently harder than the fist skill. This swordsmanship emphasizes ’using sorrow in sword and embodying the Dao with sword’, requiring the cultivator to infuse their emotions into the sword moves, each style containing unique emotional power.

Gu Sheng tried several times without finding the knack.

”Seems swordsmanship isn’t that easy.”

Ling Xiao had already cultivated Nine Heavens Cloud Stepping entry-level, moving nimbly around the cave, his figure flickering unpredictably.

Gu Sheng didn’t get discouraged, instead focusing with greater dedication.

He recalled all he had experienced over the years—those battles on the brink of life and death, those lost companions, those unavenged vengeance... Emotions surged through him, eventually morphing into a sword intent that burst from his fingertips.

”Swoosh—”

An invisible sword qi sliced through the air, leaving a slender mark on the stone wall.

”Succeeded!”

Gu Sheng’s eyes gleamed.

”First Style Sad Wind Style entry-level!”

Ling Xiao stopped, wiping the sweat off his forehead.

”Your comprehension really is unmatched. I practiced for half a day and only got my movement technique to a barely usable level.”

Gu Sheng was about to reply when his expression suddenly stiffened, raising his hand to signal Ling Xiao to silence.

The two held their breath, faintly hearing light footsteps gently approaching the stone door from outside.

”Someone’s coming.”

Gu Sheng conveyed via secret transmission to Ling Xiao, while quietly standing up, ready for battle.