Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World

Ye Jianjia’s face was pale, her legs weak, relying on Gu Sheng to hold her up to keep from falling.

She barely managed to stand straight and noticed many Martial Artists around her had also just exited the Transmission Array, and their cultivation levels were not low.

”These people...”

Ye Jianjia whispered.

”Seem to be heading south.”

Gu Sheng followed her gaze and indeed saw groups of Martial Artists heading south.

He took out the map given by Bai Lingtong and examined it.

”The Secret Realm is at the southernmost part of Huang City, three thousand miles after exiting the Transmission Array.”

Ye Jianjia swallowed.

”Are all these people headed to the Secret Realm?”

Gu Sheng put away the map, his eyes filled with interest.

”It seems this Secret Realm is busier than expected.”

He looked at Ye Jianjia.

”Can you walk?”

Ye Jianjia quickly nodded.

”I’m fine.”

Gu Sheng said no more, leading her toward the south of the city. As they moved farther from the Transmission Array, there were fewer pedestrians on the street, but more and more Martial Artists heading south. Many had powerful auras, indicating they were not ordinary in cultivation.

The setting sun dyed the rolling mountain ranges a blood red.

Gu Sheng stood on a high slope, looking out at the village curling with smoke in the valley ahead, his brows slightly furrowed.

”Senior brother, are we really going in?”

Ye Jianjia stood by his side, her slender fingers nervously twisting her hem.

”Half of the Martial Artists we encountered on the way had auras stronger than ours.”

Gu Sheng retracted his gaze, a faint smile on his lips.

”Precisely because of that, we must go in.”

He patted Ye Jianjia on the shoulder.

”Remember, here, the strength of the Yellow Martial Realm is the best disguise.”

Ye Jianjia blinked, then understood.

”Are you saying...”

”The strong do not care about ants, and ants never suspect their peers might be tigers.”

A glimmer shone in Gu Sheng’s eyes.

”Let’s go and see what mysteries this Secret Realm holds.”

The two suppressed their auras, keeping their cultivation at the mid-stage of the Yellow Martial Realm, and moved toward the village with the crowd. The closer they got to the village, the more Martial Artists they encountered, gathering in groups, each occupying a space, maintaining a wary distance from each other.

”Look over there!”

Ye Jianjia suddenly lowered her voice, pointing to a group of Martial Artists dressed in moon-white robes at the village entrance.

”Is that...the emblem of the Sun and Moon Sect?”

Gu Sheng followed her finger and saw more than a dozen Martial Artists with sun and moon patterns on their chests being respectfully welcomed into the village by several elders.

His eyes slightly narrowed.

”Even a top-tier sect is here. It seems this Secret Realm is more important than we imagined.”

Just as the two were about to follow the crowd into the village, a slim middle-aged man suddenly approached from the side.

The man’s face was ordinary, his clothes plain, looking just like a regular loose cultivator.

”Friends, could we talk for a moment?”

The middle-aged man’s lips barely moved, yet his voice clearly reached Gu Sheng’s ears—it was a Sound Transmission Technique.

Gu Sheng’s eyes showed surprise, then he regained his calm, responding with the same technique.

”Who are you?”

”Situ Qingfeng.”

The moment the middle-aged man announced his name, Gu Sheng’s pupils imperceptibly contracted.

”How can you prove it?”

Gu Sheng asked without a change in expression.

The middle-aged man smiled slightly, making a special gesture with his right hand inside his sleeve—the secret signal agreed upon with Situ Qingfeng in the Desolate Ancient Mountain Range.

Gu Sheng pondered briefly, then signaled Ye Jianjia with his eyes.

”This senior has something to discuss with us. Let’s go with him.”

Although Ye Jianjia was puzzled, she obediently nodded and followed Gu Sheng to leave the main road with the middle-aged man, winding their way to a secluded courtyard on the village’s edge.

As the courtyard door closed, both the middle-aged man and Gu Sheng removed their disguises.

Situ Qingfeng revealed a handsome face with a hint of Evil Qi, while Gu Sheng released the aura of the Xuanwu Realm.

”It’s really you!”

Ye Jianjia exclaimed, then covered her mouth, cautiously eyeing Situ Qingfeng.

”But weren’t you... wanted by the Great Wilderness Holy Academy...”

”Hunted?”

Situ Qingfeng chuckled softly.

”Yes, that’s why I have to disguise myself.”

Gu Sheng stood in front of Ye Jianjia.

”He is my friend.”

That simple statement made Ye Jianjia understand immediately, asking no further questions.

Although she is naive, she is not dull and knows that some matters should not be delved into deeply.

Situ Qingfeng gave Gu Sheng an appreciative look, then said seriously.

”I risked coming back just for this Secret Realm.”

”Oh?”

Gu Sheng raised an eyebrow.

”Given your situation, wouldn’t it be better to stay as far away from Great Wilderness City as possible?”

”Because here lies the key to my breakthrough to the Heavenly Martial Realm.”

Situ Qingfeng’s eyes were filled with complexity.

”My Heavenly Demon Spirit Body requires the life essence blood inheritance from my mother to fully awaken, and that drop of essence blood is at the core of this Secret Realm.”

Gu Sheng heard this and pondered.

”So the Lu Family...”

”That’s right.”

Situ Qingfeng sneered.

”They know I would come, so they have set an ambush here long ago.”

Ye Jianjia couldn’t help but interject.

”Then aren’t we walking into a trap?”

”No, it’s quite the opposite.”

Situ Qingfeng shook his head.

”Precisely because everyone believes I would stay far away, appearing here is the most unexpected. Besides...”

He looked at Gu Sheng.

”With Gu’s help, our chances are not small.”

Gu Sheng did not respond immediately but asked.

”How many people has the Lu Family stationed here?”

”On the surface, only a few Outer Court disciples, but secretly...”

Situ Qingfeng lowered his voice.

”Shen Qingyun, a disciple from the Great Wilderness Holy Academy Inner Courtyard, has already accepted the Lu Family’s bounty and is waiting for an opportunity to hunt us down.”

”Shen Qingyun?”

Gu Sheng’s eyes showed a hint of color.

”What is his relationship with Shen Qingtan?”

Situ Qingfeng seemed a bit surprised.

”You know Shen Qingtan? She’s Shen Qingyun’s sister, but their relationship is not harmonious. Shen Qingtan has higher talent but was stripped of her qualification to enter the Inner Courtyard for refusing an arranged marriage by the family.”

Gu Sheng nodded, saying no more.

He recalled that cold and proud woman he encountered in the Desolate Ancient Mountain Range, surprised by her background.

”Returning to the topic.”

Situ Qingfeng’s expression became serious.

”The Outer Courtyard of the Great Wilderness Holy Academy is actually just the ’Land of Raising Gu’ for the Inner Courtyard. Only the strongest who survive the massacres in the Outer Courtyard have the qualifications to enter the Inner Courtyard and become true disciples of the Holy Academy.”

Ye Jianjia gasped.

”So those Outer Court disciples...”

”Are just expendable pawns.”

Situ Qingfeng sneered.

”Inner Courtyard disciples enjoy the best resources and cultivation techniques, while Outer Court disciples can only slaughter each other for those few promotion slots.”

Gu Sheng’s eyes gleamed coldly.

”The law of the cultivation world: survival of the fittest.”

”Shen Qingyun, who stands out in such an environment, is no easy opponent.”

Situ Qingfeng warned.

”He is at least at the peak of the Earth Martial Realm, possibly already at the threshold of the Heavenly Martial Realm.”

Gu Sheng remained silent for a moment, then suddenly asked.

”Why do you trust me so much to share such a secret?”

Situ Qingfeng looked directly into Gu Sheng’s eyes.

”Because I know there’s something in this Secret Realm that will definitely interest you.”

”Oh?”

Gu Sheng became intrigued.

Situ Qingfeng glanced around to ensure no one was watching, then used the Sound Transmission Technique to say.

”At the core area of this Secret Realm is an item that can connect to the Ancient Demon Clan’s Holy Land. Whoever obtains it can command all demons!”

Gu Sheng’s pupils suddenly shrank, his heart involuntarily racing. The Ancient Demon Clan’s Holy Land! A legendary cultivation sanctuary that even Holy Martial Realm experts yearn for, said to contain the secrets of breaking through to higher realms.

”Is this true?”

Gu Sheng’s voice was slightly hoarse.

”Absolutely.”

Situ Qingfeng said solemnly.

”It’s clearly recorded in the legacy memory left by my mother. That’s why the Lu Family will stop at nothing to prevent me from entering the Secret Realm—they want to monopolize this opportunity.”

Gu Sheng quickly weighed the pros and cons in his mind. The token of the Ancient Demon Clan’s Holy Land is indeed worth risking everything.

Moreover, if he could use this opportunity to break through to higher realms, he’d be much better equipped to handle the impending crises.