Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World

The dense Spiritual Energy surged into the body like a tide, even with tens of thousands of Martial Artists absorbing simultaneously, the cultivation speed was still far beyond normal days.

Gu Sheng could feel that he was not far from making a breakthrough.

Time passed, and four days flew by in the blink of an eye.

On this night, Gu Sheng’s body suddenly emitted a crisp explosion sound, and the aura around him dramatically surged.

He abruptly opened his eyes, gleaming with brilliance.

”Yellow Martial Realm Ninth Layer!”

Gu Sheng clenched his fist, feeling the surging power within him.

He inspected his Dantian internally, only to see the originally mist-like True Qi already condensed like water, flowing incessantly in his meridians. Just one step away from the Xuanwu Realm.

”Emperor Sect Secret Technique requires Xuanwu Realm to perform...”

Gu Sheng murmured to himself, his gaze landing on the Storage Ring on his finger. This was given by Tantai Xueling when she departed, containing abundant Spirit Stones, sufficient to support his charge to Fifth Grade Xuanwu Realm.

Just as Gu Sheng was contemplating whether to go all out for the breakthrough, a faint sound of footsteps suddenly came from outside the house.

”Someone.”

His spiritual power spread like invisible tentacles, instantly extending to every corner of the room, even able to perceive the crawling of ants within the cracks of the walls with clarity.

However, the faint footsteps outside mysteriously vanished as if into thin air, and within the range of his perception, there was not a single person.

Gu Sheng slowly opened his eyes, his pitch-black pupils filled with vigilance.

His fingers gently tapped the edge of the bed, producing a rhythmic ”tap tap” sound.

”Since you are here, why the need to hide?”

Gu Sheng’s voice was calm as water, yet carried an undeniable sharpness.

”Haha, worthy of Linyin Pavilion’s Great Sacrificial Officer, your perception is truly keen.”

A haughty male voice came from outside the door, followed by the door silently opening, revealing a young man in luxurious attire standing with his arms crossed.

His features were handsome, with an innate nobility between his eyebrows, surrounded by a subtle aura that isolated the entire room from the outside world.

Gu Sheng’s gaze swept across the newcomer, silently evaluating his opponent’s strength. To approach him silently and shield his spiritual power perception, this person’s cultivation was at least on par with his own, possibly even higher.

”I’ve purchased the temporary rights to reside here, yet you intrude upon another’s dwelling; such rudeness.”

Gu Sheng’s tone was indifferent, yet he had silently activated his internal Spiritual Power, ready to respond to any unexpected situation.

The young man in luxurious attire laughed lightly, his eyes mocking.

”Merely a shabby house, and Great Sacrificial Officer Gu is so concerned?”

Gu Sheng’s eyes narrowed slightly, not only did the other know his residence, but also his identity.

He tentatively spoke.

”Shen Qingyun?”

”Indeed.”

Shen Qingyun nodded slightly, a superior smile on his face.

”It seems Gu Sheng also has some understanding of my Shen Family.”

At this moment, the Innate Spirit Embryo within Gu Sheng’s Sea of Consciousness suddenly issued a warning.

”Careful! This person can see through the Sea of Consciousness and detect my existence!”

Gu Sheng’s heart tightened, but he showed nothing on the surface.

He looked directly at Shen Qingyun, straightforwardly asking.

”What brings Mr. Shen here?”

Shen Qingyun seemed somewhat surprised at Gu Sheng’s calm reaction, he raised an eyebrow.

”Gu Sheng is indeed calm, knowing who I am yet remaining so composed. No wonder you dared to kill Lu Chongshan’s grandson.”

Gu Sheng’s expression didn’t change, only repeating his question.

”What is Mr. Shen’s purpose here?”

”Purpose?”

Shen Qingyun sneered, suddenly releasing a powerful pressure.

”What if I said I’m here to exterminate you?”

The air inside the room seemed to congeal, the heavy pressure causing the wooden floorboards to emit a strained ”creak.”

Gu Sheng remained unmoved, not even his sleeve was swayed by this pressure.

”If you truly intended to kill me, Mr. Shen wouldn’t have appeared so flamboyantly.”

Gu Sheng’s tone was indifferent, yet each word was as sharp as a knife.

”The dignified Young Master of the Shen Family to kill an unknown nobody, why so troublesome?”

Shen Qingyun’s eyes showed surprise, then he laughed heartily.

”Good! Good one, Gu Sheng! No wonder you’ve earned Tantai Pavilion Master’s favor.”

His pressure receded, his tone turning meaningful.

”True, I indeed have my concerns. Tantai Mingyue is not someone to mess with, at least before the Secret Realm opens, I don’t wish to fall out with her.”

Gu Sheng was enlightened; Shen Qingyun feared the influence behind Linyin Pavilion. Yet he didn’t relax his vigilance; if the opponent came looking, there must be a motive.

”So?”

Gu Sheng asked again.

Shen Qingyun walked to the window, turning away from Gu Sheng as he spoke.

”Four days ago, when you met with Situ Qingfeng, what did you discuss?”

Gu Sheng’s heart tightened; his meeting with Situ Qingfeng was extremely secretive, yet Shen Qingyun managed to trace his actions. But his expression remained calm.

”Personal matters, not for outsiders to discuss.”

”Personal matters?”

Shen Qingyun turned around, his eyes carrying coldness.

”Just what personal matters could exist between a Linyin Pavilion Great Sacrificial Officer and a wanted criminal from the Lu Family?”

Gu Sheng remained silent, simply watching Shen Qingyun quietly, waiting for his next words.

Seeing Gu Sheng’s silence, Shen Qingyun snorted coldly.

”Let’s be direct. I want Situ Qingfeng’s life, and you, you want to live.”

”Oh?”

Gu Sheng finally showed interest.

”What does Mr. Shen mean?”

”Very simple.”

Shen Qingyun stepped closer, lowering his voice to say.

”Trade Situ Qingfeng’s life for your own. The Lu Family’s bounty on you is substantial; if you can bring me Situ Qingfeng’s head, I promise you safety in the Secret Realm, as well as the Lu Family’s reward.”

Gu Sheng listened, then suddenly laughed.

That smile carried unabashed ridicule.

”Mr. Shen has quite the plan, solving trouble without lifting a finger and profiting from it.”

Shen Qingyun’s face darkened.

”What do you mean?”

”I mean.”

Gu Sheng stood up, meeting Shen Qingyun’s gaze.

”I refuse.”

The room’s temperature seemed to drop to freezing instantly.

Shen Qingyun’s eyes surged with killing intent, and spiritual power around him began to react violently.

”Gu Sheng, you better know your place!”

Gu Sheng remained fearless, even stepping forward.

”Shen Qingyun, if you truly have the guts to kill me, you can act now. If not, stop putting on an act.”

He paused, his tone turning cold.

”Furthermore, I warn you, if you attack me in the Secret Realm, the dead will only be you.”

”Arrogant!”

Shen Qingyun shouted angrily, raising his right hand, a dazzling white light gathering in his palm.

Gu Sheng remained unmoved, simply staring coldly at him.

The confrontation lasted a moment, and finally, Shen Qingyun did not make a move.

He forced down his anger.

”Good, very good! Gu Sheng, you have courage!”

He retracted his spiritual power, gritting his teeth.

”Out of respect for Tantai Mingyue, I’ll spare you today. But in the Secret Realm, no one can protect you!”

Gu Sheng remained unfazed.

”Finished? Then please leave, I need to return to cultivation.”

Shen Qingyun’s expression fluctuated before finally snorting coldly.

”You’re given a chance, whether you seize it is up to you. Hope you don’t regret today’s choice.”

With that, his figure gradually dissolved into the air like foam, along with the aura that isolated the room.

Once sure Shen Qingyun had truly left, Gu Sheng slowly exhaled a breath.

His back was drenched with cold sweat; the earlier confrontation seemed casual but was fraught with peril.

”This person is even trickier than anticipated.”

Gu Sheng mused internally.

”Not only did he uncover mine and Situ Qingfeng’s identities, but the aura surrounding him...”

He frowned in thought.

”It feels familiar from somewhere, yet I can’t recall at the moment.”

The Innate Spirit Embryo within his Sea of Consciousness also issued a warning.

”This person’s cultivation is unfathomable, also possessing secret techniques able to peer into others’ Sea of Consciousness. If I hadn’t concealed myself in time, I might have been discovered.”

Gu Sheng nodded.

”Looks like I’ll have to be extra cautious on this Secret Realm trip.”

In the following days, Gu Sheng stayed vigilant, but Shen Qingyun did not reappear. The number of Martial Artists in the village grew, and various forces prepared for the imminent opening of the Secret Realm.