Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World

”What’s wrong?”

Ling Xiao followed his gaze but only saw a tranquil night sky.

”Something’s not right... let’s go!”

Gu Sheng grabbed Ling Xiao’s arm, with so much force that Ling Xiao cried out in pain.

Almost at the instant they turned to run, a sudden change erupted in the clouds above Five Mountains City.

The once clear night sky abruptly revealed a chromatic cloud, dazzling to the point of eeriness.

The cloud layer rotated, forming a gigantic vortex where violent spiritual energy converged.

”What is that?!”

Ling Xiao looked back, so horrified he nearly forgot to run.

Gu Sheng didn’t respond, only pulling him frantically forward.

Behind them came a deafening roar, as if heaven and earth were trembling. The Defensive Array of Five Mountains City crumbled like paper before the storm of spiritual energy, disintegrating in an instant.

”No —” Ling Xiao’s scream was drowned out by the massive noise.

A pale, bony giant hand reached from the vortex, its five fingers splayed wide, blocking out the sky.

The patterns on the palm were clearly visible, each line seemingly drawn with fresh blood.

It pressed down slowly, distorting space with an unsettling tearing sound.

Gu Sheng abruptly halted, turning to face the giant hand directly.

His eyes reflected the terrifying scene, yet his face remained exceptionally calm.

”Can’t you see it?”

He suddenly asked.

Ling Xiao shook his head blankly.

”I only see the glow of five colors... Gu Sheng, what exactly do you see?”

Gu Sheng did not respond. In his vision, the giant hand had already pressed down on Five Mountains City.

The city walls shattered like tofu, houses collapsed in clusters. Countless people fled in despair, but there was nowhere to hide.

Blood gushed forth like a spring, dyeing the entire city red.

Screams rose one after another, only to cease abruptly in an instant.

That hand gave just a mild press, and tens of thousands of lives vanished into thin air.

”Heavenly Dao... curse...”

Gu Sheng murmured, his voice trembling.

Ling Xiao clutched Gu Sheng tightly.

”Gu Sheng! Speak! What on earth happened?”

Gu Sheng pointed to the direction of the city.

”The hand... a giant hand... it destroyed the entire city...”

Ling Xiao looked where he pointed, only to see the colorful glow gradually dissipating, and Five Mountains City... was no more.

The once prosperous city was now only a ruin, even the vitality could not be felt.

”This... this can’t be...”

Ling Xiao’s legs went weak, and he fell to his knees.

Gu Sheng continued to stare into the sky. The giant hand slowly retreated, pausing briefly before disappearing into the vortex.

Gu Sheng had a delusion that the hand... was looking at him.

The vortex closed, the night sky returned to calm, as if nothing had happened.

Only the city turned into ruins was proof that the terror just now was not an illusion.

”We... we have to leave here.”

Gu Sheng finally found his voice, reaching out to pull Ling Xiao.

Ling Xiao, however, seemed nailed to the ground, his eyes vacant.

”All dead... tens of thousands...”

”This is the Heavenly Dao Curse.”

Gu Sheng’s voice was as cold as ice.

”Purple Mist Sacred Land broke their vows, but let the innocent bear the consequences.”

From afar came the sound of breaking the sky, several streaks of light rapidly approaching.

Gu Sheng’s expression changed.

”People from Purple Mist Sacred Land are here! Run!”

Only then did Ling Xiao wake from the dream, stumbling as he stood.

The two of them quickly disappeared into the woods by the road, taking advantage of the night to escape rapidly.

Behind them, the strong ones from Purple Mist Sacred Land hovered over the ruins, trying to find the root of the disaster, doomed to be in vain.

After walking a few miles, confirming safety, they finally slowed their pace.

Ling Xiao’s face remained pale, looking back from time to time.

”Stop looking.”

Gu Sheng said lightly.

”Five Mountains City no longer exists.”

”What kind of power was that...”

Ling Xiao’s voice trembled.

”It destroyed a city in an instant...”

Above Purple Mist Sacred Land, three figures hovered in the air, their robes flapping against the fierce wind.

Standing at the forefront was Changfeng, his Red Gold Embroidery Robe flowing with opulent luster in the sunlight, the Moyu Pendant at his waist swaying gently with his movements.

He held a long knife etched with ancient runes, its blade faintly glowing with dark red light, as if resonating with the unrest in its master’s heart.

”Senior Brother, this is already the third occurrence this month.”

The junior brother Yun He, standing on the left, spoke tensely, his folding fan opening and closing involuntarily in his hand.

”Though Five Mountains City is not a major city, it had a regular population of three million...”

Changfeng did not immediately respond, his deep gaze piercing through the clouds, looking towards the distant city that should have been bustling.

Even from dozens of miles away, the strong scent of blood still drifted with the wind, stimulating their senses.

More unsettling was the oppressive air lingering around—the same as the catastrophe that occurred in Qinglan Sect’s territory half a month ago, only this time the scope and power had magnified several folds beyond.

”Let’s go down and take a look.”

Changfeng said in a deep voice, his form transforming into a golden light diving downward.

When they landed on the ruins of Five Mountains City, even three cultivators accustomed to life and death couldn’t help but gasp.

The entire city seemed to have been crushed by an invisible giant hand, all buildings turned to powder, knee-deep blood pooled on the streets, glistening oddly dark red under the sun.

No corpse was intact, only scattered limbs floated in the blood pit, silently narrating the tragedy of this disaster.

”This... this is definitely not caused by human effort.”

The junior brother Ming He on the right spoke tremblingly, the silver threads on the horsetail whisk in his hand moved without wind.

”There’s no trace of any spell, nor signs of battle, just like...”

”Just like divine punishment.”

Changfeng took over his words, squatting down, using his fingers to touch a drop of blood.