Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World

”Judging by its aura, it’s at least a fifth-grade Spiritual Medicine, which will greatly benefit your breakthrough to the Fifth Layer Heaven of the body realm.”

Gu Sheng’s eyes flashed with a sharp light. The Fifth Layer Heaven of the body realm is a watershed; once broken through, the body’s strength will undergo a qualitative change.

He hesitated no longer and leaped forward, ready to pick the Spirit Grass.

Just as the tip of his foot left the ground, a thunderous roar of an ape suddenly resounded!

”Roar——”

A warning surged in Gu Sheng’s heart, forcing him to twist his body mid-air. He saw a massive black shadow leaping down from the mountain gorge’s cliff, enveloped in a fierce gale, attacking directly!

”Bang!”

In haste, Gu Sheng met the attack with a punch, and the collision of two massive forces produced a deafening explosion.

Gu Sheng felt a numbness in his arm, his entire being jolted back several steps, each step leaving a deep imprint in the hard rock.

The shadow revealed its true form upon landing—a giant ape as tall as three men! Its fur stood like steel needles, its blood-red eyes filled with killing intent, and its stout arms bulging with muscles emitted an oppressive aura.

”Guardian Spirit Beast?”

Gu Sheng’s gaze was heavy. This giant ape’s strength was at least equivalent to a human martial artist at the Sixth Layer Heaven of the body realm, and Demon Beasts naturally had a stronger physique; in the same realm, humans often were not a match.

A golden light flashed between Gu Sheng’s eyebrows, and the spiritual power in his Sea of Consciousness condensed into an invisible spike.

”God-slaying Spear!”

He whispered in his heart, and a semi-transparent ripple shot out from between his eyebrows, blasting straight towards the giant ape’s head three yards away.

The giant ape, standing over two yards tall, its black fur like steel needles standing erect, was pounding its chest with earth-shaking roars.

When the God-slaying Spear entered its brow, the giant ape’s actions abruptly stalled, and its copper bell-sized eyes showed a moment of confusion.

”Good opportunity!”

With a tap of his toes, Gu Sheng’s body flashed like lightning behind the giant ape.

In his hand, the Broken Wind Ancient Sword emitted a green sword aura, drawing a beautiful arc through the air.

”Pfft——”

The sound of the sword blade entering flesh rang out, and the giant ape’s massive head was flung high, black blood gushing like a spring.

The colossal body wobbled twice before crashing to the ground with a tremor that shook the earth slightly.

”Huh...”

Gu Sheng let out a long breath, his chest heaving slightly. The suppression within this Secret Realm was indeed formidable, forcibly holding his Spirit Martial Ninth Layer Heaven strength to the Peak of Spiritual Martial, even reducing his physical strength from Sixth Layer Heaven to the Third Layer Heaven Peak.

However, the gains were significant.

With a thought from Gu Sheng, a phantom of the Nine Dragon Universe Cauldron appeared over his chest, nine golden dragons swirling around the cauldron.

A beam of golden light shot out, enveloping the giant ape’s corpse, drawing it into the cauldron’s space in the blink of an eye.

”The essence blood of this giant ape is rich, and its bones hard, making it excellent material for crafting Elixirs and weapons.”

Gu Sheng murmured, turning his gaze to the ethereal emerald Spirit Grass on the stone platform.

The Spirit Grass was entirely jade-green, its leaves bearing natural silver veins, exuding a faint fragrance.

Gu Sheng carefully picked it, sat cross-legged, and began operating his Cultivation Technique for refinement.

The Nine Dragon Universe Cauldron hovered above his head, letting down strands of golden aura to assist the refinement process.

After two hours, a series of popping sounds suddenly resounded within Gu Sheng, as his muscles, tendons, and bones underwent a transformation under the medicinal power of the Spirit Grass.

”Fifth Layer Heaven of the body realm!”

Gu Sheng opened his eyes.

He clenched his fist, feeling the surging power within him. Although the Secret Realm’s suppression remained, the enhancement from the physical breakthrough was undeniable.

His five senses and six perceptions became extraordinarily acute; he could even hear ants crawling a hundred yards away. His body was light as a swallow, and he had adapted much more to the pervasive suppression of the Secret Realm.

Just then, a faint sound of conversation drifted over on the wind.

”... Young Master Shen said, whoever brings Gu Sheng’s head, will be rewarded with a thousand Spirit Stones...”

”... The Compass shows he’s nearby...”

”... Be careful, that guy is hard to deal with...”

Gu Sheng’s eyes turned cold.

Shen Qingyun! It was indeed his pursuers. It seemed that during their last encounter, the other side had secretly collected a strand of his aura and was now using a special Compass for tracking.

He restrained all his aura, moving close to the mountain wall like a ghost, approaching the source of the voices swiftly and silently.

Rounding a rock wall, he saw a dozen martial artists in various attires marching in formation. The leader held a bronze Compass, on which floated a familiar aura—his own.

”A temporary alliance?”

Gu Sheng’s lips curled into a cold smile.

His figure flickered, and like a phantom, he sneaked up behind the last martial artist in the group.

”Mmph...”

The martial artist only felt a chill in his chest, looking down to see a blood-stained sword tip emerge.

He wanted to shout, but an iron grip covered his mouth, dragging him behind a boulder with incredible speed, the entire process taking less than a breath’s time.

Gu Sheng gently laid the corpse down, his gaze locking onto his next target. It wasn’t until the third martial artist fell silently that someone noticed something was wrong.

”Where’s Old Liu? He’s gone!”

”Brother Zhang is missing too!”

The team immediately erupted into chaos; the remaining members quickly formed ranks, surrounding the Compass holder, warily scanning their surroundings.

”Come out! Sneaking around like that, what kind of hero are you?”

A burly man with a full beard shouted sternly, his long knife gleaming coldly in his hand.

Gu Sheng no longer hid, stepping out from the shadows, the Broken Wind Ancient Sword pointed diagonally to the ground.

”Did Shen Qingyun send you to your deaths?”

”It’s Gu Sheng! Kill him!”

The Compass holder shouted.

Gu Sheng wasted no more words, his figure flickered as he unleashed the ”Light Splitting Shadow Sword.” In an instant, nine phantoms separated from his body, rushing the group from all directions.

”Be careful! Don’t be confused!”

The martial artists shouted, each unleashing their Martial Techniques at the phantoms.

”Boom, boom, boom...”