Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World

”It’s nothing, I’m just thinking about how to leave safely.”

Mu Xi’s face changed.

”Is someone targeting us?”

”Yes, the one on the second floor wearing the gold-embroidered robe.”

Mu Feng whispered.

”He was targeting me during the auction earlier, now I’m afraid...”

Mu Xi bit her lower lip, a look of determination in her eyes.

”Brother, why don’t we return the Spirit Grass? Survival is more important.”

”No way!”

Mu Feng cut off his sister’s words.

”This is a treasure I found with great difficulty to heal your Spirit Root, we can’t give it up.”

In his mind, Gu Sheng’s sound transmission flashed.

”Don’t worry, someone has promised to help us.”

The auction was nearing its end, and the cultivators in the hall began to leave one after another.

Mu Feng noticed Zhao Pengzu and Dong Wei standing on either side of the exit, occasionally glancing in their direction.

”Mr. Mu.”

Gu Sheng’s voice once again echoed in Mu Feng’s mind.

”When the auction ends, don’t rush to leave.

Ling Xiao will cause some chaos, take the opportunity to exit through the side door.”

Mu Feng gave an almost imperceptible nod.

”The last auction item — a seventh-grade Spiritual Artifact ’Cold Frost Sword,’ starting price...”

The auctioneer’s voice was suddenly interrupted by a screeching metallic sound. Everyone turned towards the sound to see Ling Xiao standing in the center of the hall, a longsword in his hands emitting a tooth-grinding hum.

”Sorry, the Spiritual Artifact went out of control.”

Ling Xiao apologized with a cupped fist, but the humming grew louder and more intense, causing many cultivators to frown and cover their ears.

Taking this opportunity, Gu Sheng quietly approached Mu Feng.

”Come with me.”

Mu Feng grabbed his sister, and the three of them swiftly moved towards the side door amidst the chaos. As they passed a pillar, Gu Sheng suddenly took out two talismans from his sleeve.

”Invisibility Talisman, it lasts for half an hour.”

He handed the talismans to the Mu siblings.

”Stick it on yourselves, and don’t make a sound.”

Mu Feng didn’t hesitate to comply, and Mu Xi quickly did the same. In an instant, their figures vanished from Gu Sheng’s sight.

”Go straight out and don’t look back.”

Gu Sheng’s voice came from the void.

”I’ll be waiting for you at the ’Drunken Immortal Inn’ in the east of the city.”

Mu Feng felt his sister tugging at his sleeve and cautiously led her towards the side door. As they passed by Zhao Pengzu, he could even hear the heavy sound of his breathing.

”Strange, where did those siblings go?”

Zhao Pengzu suddenly looked around warily.

Dong Wei also frowned.

”They were just sitting in that corner over there...”

The two exchanged a glance, their faces turning pale simultaneously.

”Damn it! They’re gone!”

”Where did they go? They were just here a moment ago!”

Zhao Pengzu’s forehead was drenched in cold sweat, his fingers gripping the railing tightly, knuckles turning white.

Dong Wei’s face was ghostly pale, his lips trembling.

”It’s over, it’s over, Young Master Qin said we mustn’t let them out of our sight for even a moment...”

The two stood on the third-floor corridor of the Sky Cloud Pavilion, overlooking the bustling auction hall below, but their gaze was locked on the seats where Gu Sheng and Ling Xiao were previously seated — now empty, with only a half-finished cup of Spiritual Tea giving off wisps of steam.

”Find them! Quickly find them!”

Zhao Pengzu’s voice quivered.

”If they get away, Young Master Qin will skin us alive!”

Dong Wei suddenly grabbed his companion’s arm.

”Wait! Look over there!”

Following his direction, Zhao Pengzu saw on the other side of the auction hall that the Mu siblings were still sitting safely in their seats, with Mu Feng whispering something to his sister.

”Thank goodness... at least those two are still here.”

Zhao Pengzu let out a long breath of relief and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

”You go inform Young Master Qin, I’ll keep watching the Mu siblings.”

Dong Wei nodded, fumbling out a jade-green Sound Transmission Jade Pendant from his robes. The pendant glowed faintly with spiritual light. As he was about to inject spiritual power, a long, bony hand suddenly pressed down on the jade pendant.

”Are you two looking for that young couple?”

The low, pleasant voice made both of them tense. Looking up, a man in a dark robe stood beside them.

The man’s face was ordinary, except for his startlingly bright eyes, with a faint smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

”Who... who are you?”

Dong Wei retreated half a step warily.

The man chuckled lightly.

”No need to be nervous. I saw the two of them hurriedly heading to the fourth floor, seemed like they were going to meet someone.”

”Fourth floor?”

Zhao Pengzu frowned.

”Isn’t the fourth floor of the Sky Cloud Pavilion only accessible to VIPs?”

”Believe me or not, it’s up to you.”

The man shrugged.

”Just thought I’d let you know. Judging by your expressions, if you lose them, you’ll have a hard time explaining yourselves, won’t you?”

Dong Wei and Zhao Pengzu exchanged a glance.

They were well aware of Young Master Qin’s ruthless methods; the last fellow disciple who failed was now languishing in the City Lord Mansion’s dungeon, wishing for death.

”Let’s go!”

Zhao Pengzu gritted his teeth.

”Let’s check the fourth floor first!”

The two hurried away, failing to notice the sneer flashing in the man’s eyes behind them.

The fourth floor of the Sky Cloud Pavilion was much quieter than below, with winding, shadowy corridors illuminated by spirit lamps casting fragmented shadows.

Turning a corner, faint footsteps suddenly approached ahead.

”There they are!”

Dong Wei quickened his pace, lowering his voice.

Suddenly, the footsteps disappeared. The two arrived at a secluded corner, the surroundings eerily silent.

”Strange, it clearly...”

Zhao Pengzu’s words were cut off by a sharp pain at the back of his head.

In the last moment before darkness swallowed him, he heard that familiar voice with a laugh say.

”Thanks for leading the way.”

Meanwhile, the atmosphere in the main auction hall reached a climax.

”Earth Rank Low Grade Spirit Sword ’Cold Frost,’ starting bid five hundred thousand High-grade Spirit Stones!”

The auctioneer’s booming voice echoed throughout the entire venue.

Cultivators on the second floor raised their paddles one after another, and the price quickly climbed to eight hundred thousand. Earth Rank Spiritual Artifacts are extremely rare in the Cultivation World, even a Tribulation Crossing Realm expert would find it hard to possess one.