Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World

”Confrontation isn’t the way. I have an idea—change appearances, hide our aura, and blend into the Descending Immortal Realm.”

Ling Xiao raised an eyebrow.

”Disguise Skill? The Luoyun City Lord has powerful Divine Sense, ordinary disguise won’t fool him.”

”Not just any ordinary disguise.”

Gu Sheng took out a cyan elixir from his pocket.

”This is the ’Thousand Faces Pill’; after taking it, you can change your bone structure, aura, and even fake your cultivation fluctuations.”

Ling Xiao’s eyes flashed with surprise.

”Where did you get something so good?”

”From the last outing at the Ancient Cultivator’s Cave Mansion.”

Gu Sheng split the elixir into two.

”But before that, we need to solve another issue.”

He turned and walked into the depths of the forest, where Mu Feng and Mu Xi were resting against a large tree.

Mu Xi looked pale, clutching a jade box tightly in her arms.

”Gu!”

Mu Feng quickly stood up.

”Are you alright?”

Gu Sheng shook his head, his gaze falling on Mu Xi.

”Did you bring out the Spirit Root?”

Mu Xi nodded timidly and opened the jade box. Inside lay a spirit grass that was entirely emerald green and shaped like ginseng, emitting a faint glow—it was the Heavenly Life Extension Spirit Root.

Ling Xiao approached for a closer look, furrowing his brow slightly.

”A fifth-grade spirit grass, violent in energy. This girl has a special constitution; ingesting it directly could make her explode.”

Mu Feng’s face turned pale at these words.

”What should we do?”

Gu Sheng pondered for a moment.

”I can try to refine part of its energy and then guide it into her body.”

He looked at Mu Xi.

”The process will be painful, are you sure you want to try?”

Mu Xi bit her lip and nodded firmly.

”I’m not afraid of pain. As long as it cures my illness, I’ll endure any hardship.”

”Alright.”

Gu Sheng sat opposite her cross-legged.

”Let’s begin. Mu Feng, step back a bit, don’t interfere.”

Mu Feng nervously stepped back three paces, hands clenched into fists.

Gu Sheng formed seals with his hands, and a Spirit Barrier enveloped him and Mu Xi.

He carefully extracted the Heavenly Life Extension Spirit Root from the jade box, a golden flame gathering at his fingertips.

”Is this... Pill Fire?”

Ling Xiao was surprised.

”You also know Alchemy?”

”I know a little.”

Gu Sheng focused on controlling the heat, as the Spirit Root slowly melted in the flame, extracting a drop of emerald green liquid.

Mu Xi watched the drop, swallowing involuntarily.

She could feel the immense energy contained within, both desiring and fearing it.

”Open your mouth.”

Gu Sheng commanded.

Mu Xi obediently opened her mouth, and the drop of liquid flew into her mouth. In an instant, her whole face turned red, her body shaking violently.

”Ah—”

A scream was about to escape, but Gu Sheng pressed his palm on her head, channeling Spiritual Power into her body.

”Hold on! Guide the energy along the meridians!”

Gu Sheng commanded sternly, sweat beading on his forehead.

Mu Xi curled up in pain, feeling like thousands of needles were piercing her inside.

She bit her lip hard, blood dripping from the corner of her mouth, but she still didn’t utter a sound.

Mu Feng watched helplessly from the side, heart aching, wanting to step forward several times, but was stopped by Ling Xiao.

”Interrupting now, she will surely die.”

Ling Xiao said coldly.

”Trust Gu Sheng.”

Mu Xi sat cross-legged, her slender body trembling constantly, sweat beads the size of beans on her forehead.

She clenched her teeth tightly, blood seeping from the edge of her lips, yet she stubbornly refused to make a sound of pain.

”Hold on!”

Gu Sheng shouted in a deep voice, forming seals with his hands, strands of Spiritual Power wrapped around Mu Xi, helping guide the violent energy within her.

Mu Feng stood by, his fists clenched so tight they were white, nails digging into his palms.

”Sister...”

His voice trembled, eyes filled with pity and guilt.

Ling Xiao held his shoulder, speaking softly.

”The energy of a fifth-grade spirit grass is not easy to manage. Even if cultivators at the Gathering Core Realm ingest it directly, they risk exploding. For Mu Xi to endure this with Bone Tempering Realm cultivation is a miracle.”

Mu Feng looked even paler at these words.

”I... I almost let my sister take it directly, nearly causing her harm...”

”It’s not the time for self-blame.”

Gu Sheng didn’t turn around, fully concentrating on controlling the flow of Spiritual Power.

”Mu Xi is extraordinarily gifted, only suppressed by a strange illness. If she can get past this, her future will be limitless.”

Within Mu Xi’s body, the energy of the Heavenly Life Extension Spirit Root rampaged through her meridians.

Each surge caused her world to turn black with pain. Yet, whenever she was on the verge of collapse, she could always feel a gentle yet powerful force guiding those wild energies, preventing them from going out of control.

”Gu...”

She silently recited in her heart, enduring the severe pain, and with the assistance of that external spiritual power, gradually guided the spirit grass energy into her dantian.

Three hours passed, and Mu Xi’s complexion finally changed from pale to rosy.

A faint green light emerged all around her, her aura soared continuously, even breaking through the peak of the Bone Tempering Realm, climbing straight towards the Gathering Core Realm!

”She’s going to break through!”

Ling Xiao exclaimed.

Gu Sheng suddenly changed the seal to palm, striking Mu Xi’s back with a slap.

”Now’s the time!”

”Boom—”

A muffled sound echoed within Mu Xi’s body, and the spiritual power around her finally coalesced into a green elixir pill shadow in her dantian.

She abruptly opened her eyes, green light swirling within them, her aura a multitude stronger than before!

”Gathering Core Realm!”

Mu Feng cried tears of joy.

”Sister, you did it!”

Mu Xi stared dazedly at her own hands, feeling the surging spiritual power within, and suddenly threw herself into her brother’s arms.

”Brother, my heart doesn’t hurt anymore! It really doesn’t hurt!”

Gu Sheng withdrew his power and adjusted his breath, a smile playing at his lips.

He keenly noticed that the dark gas that had troubled Mu Xi’s heart for years had completely dissipated.

Mu Feng pulled his sister down to the ground.

”Gu, your great kindness will never be forgotten by my sister and me! In the future, whatever the call, we will go through fire and water without hesitation!”

Gu Sheng quickly helped them up.

”It was just a small task, don’t be like this.”

”A small task for Gu, but a grace of rebirth for my sister and me.”

Mu Feng said solemnly.

”I, Mu Feng, swear here and now, I will repay this kindness in this life!”

Ling Xiao chuckled beside them.

”Alright, alright, if you continue thanking, Gu Sheng will feel embarrassed.”

Gu Sheng shook his head and took out a blood-stained ring from his pocket.

”This is the Void Ring found on Young Master Qin. The things inside can serve as repayment.”

Mu Feng was startled.

”How can this be? The Heavenly Life Extension Spirit Root should belong to Gu...”

”I just need a few things from inside.”

Gu Sheng interrupted him, taking out a yellowed map and a black token from the ring, pushing all other items in front of Mu Feng.

”Take these.”

Mu Feng was about to decline when Ling Xiao had already stuffed the items into his hands.

”Don’t be so wishy-washy. We should get going.”

Mu Feng’s eyes warmed, solemnly accepting.

”If that’s the case, I accept with gratitude.”

Gu Sheng glanced at the map and suddenly asked.

”What’s your plan next? Are you still going to the Descending Immortal Realm?”

Mu Feng’s expression turned dark.

”I... I’m afraid we can’t go.”

”Because of the Luoyun City Lord?”

Ling Xiao raised an eyebrow.

Mu Feng nodded.

”Though Young Master Qin is dead, his father will not let it go easily. The Descending Immortal Realm is fraught with dangers, and if we encounter people from the City Lord Mansion...”

”Brother, I am not afraid!”

Mu Xi suddenly spoke.

”My illness is cured, and my cultivation has improved. I can protect myself!”

Mu Feng ruffled his sister’s hair, smiling bitterly.

”Foolish girl, the City Lord Mansion’s power is vast, not something we can contend with.”

Gu Sheng pondered briefly and took out a silver cloak from the Void Ring.

”This Invisibility Cloak can conceal your aura. If you insist on going, you may borrow it temporarily.”

Mu Feng hesitated, eventually shaking his head.

”Thank you for your kindness, Gu, but... my sister has just recovered; I don’t want to take any more risks.”

”A wise choice.”

Ling Xiao nodded approvingly.

”Living ensures a future.”

Gu Sheng did not insist, instead taking out some bottles of elixir pills and two spiritual artifacts from the ring, dividing them among Mu Feng and his sister.

”Take these for protection.”

This time, Mu Feng did not refuse, bowing deeply.

”Great kindness is not thanked with words, it will be repaid someday!”

”Take care.”

Gu Sheng clasped his fists.

”Gu, Ling, goodbye!”

Mu Xi waved with red eyes.

As they watched the sibling pair leave, Ling Xiao suddenly smiled and said.