Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World

Gu Sheng felt a stir in his heart.

”Who is Shen Qingtan to you?”

”She is my senior disciple sister at the Holy Academy and also my best friend.”

Qin Yurou said, suddenly raising her hand to pull off her cloak, revealing an exquisitely beautiful face.

”My name is Qin Yurou, since Sister Qingtan trusts you, I don’t need to hide.”

Gu Sheng was slightly taken aback. The girl before him was about seventeen or eighteen years old, with eyebrows as picturesque as a painting and skin as fair as snow, starkly contrasted with her previously stern tone.

”Gu Sheng.”

He introduced himself briefly, then asked.

”You seem to have a conflict with Shen Qingyun as well?”

Qin Yurou pouted.

”That guy, relying on his status as the Shen Family’s legitimate son, acts high and mighty in the Holy Academy, often bullying Sister Qingtan. I promised Sister Qingtan that whenever I see him oppress others, I’ll disrupt his plans.”

Gu Sheng nodded thoughtfully. It seems the relationship between the Shen siblings is worse than he imagined.

”Had you not appeared in time today, I might have been in serious trouble.”

Gu Sheng sincerely said.

”I owe you a favor.”

Qin Yurou waved her hand carelessly.

”It was just convenient. Besides, if Sister Qingtan knows I saved you, she’ll surely be happy.”

As she spoke, she suddenly took out a jade bottle from her bosom and tossed it to Gu Sheng.

”These are healing pills, take them.”

Gu Sheng caught the jade bottle, poured out a green pill, and swallowed it without hesitation.

The pill melted upon entering, and a refreshing sensation instantly flowed through his body, alleviating his internal injuries significantly.

”Good medicine!”

Gu Sheng genuinely praised.

Qin Yurou’s lips curled slightly.

”Of course, this was personally refined by Sister Qingtan.”

The atmosphere between them gradually became more amiable.

Gu Sheng continued to regulate his breathing while pondering silently.

Shen Qingyun and Shen Qingtan siblings are at odds, Qin Yurou is on good terms with Shen Qingtan... perhaps there is something here to be leveraged.

Qin Yurou blinked her eyes.

”The method you used to pick the Green Heart Grass was quite special, seemingly able to perceive the exact location of spirit grass?”

Gu Sheng felt a tightness in his heart, but didn’t show any sign on his face.

”Just a little knowledge about medicine-seeking techniques.”

”Is that so?”

Qin Yurou suddenly pulled out a palm-sized golden mouse from her sleeve, which turned in her palm, its nose twitching continuously.

”My little Gold told me there are three immature Green Heart Grass nearby, twenty steps to your left rear.”

”It seems the girl is well prepared.”

Gu Sheng said calmly.

”What instructions does the Holy Academy have for this Secret Realm?”

Qin Yurou put the Treasure Hunting Mouse back into her sleeve, her smile unwavering.

”The matters of the Holy Academy cannot be casually mentioned.”

She shifted the conversation.

”But you, a Yellow Martial Realm martial artist, how did you appear in such a place? Could it be... you also have a Treasure Hunting Mouse?”

Gu Sheng shook his head.

”I’m relying on Secret Techniques.”

”Secret Techniques?”

Qin Yurou’s eyes gleamed with curiosity.

”What secret technique is more effective than a Treasure Hunting Mouse?”

”Family inherited techniques, not suitable for disclosure.”

Gu Sheng’s tone was indifferent, yet in the Sea of Consciousness, he was communicating with the Innate Spirit Embryo.

”This little girl is not simple; her Treasure Hunting Mouse is of high grade.”

Within the Sea of Consciousness, the Innate Spirit Embryo snorted disdainfully.

”Such an ordinary-grade Treasure Hunting Mouse dares to show off before me? If I weren’t afraid of exposure, I could find a pile of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures in minutes!”

Gu Sheng laughed inwardly and said to Qin Yurou.

”Since you have such a rare spirit beast as the Treasure Hunting Mouse, it’s wise to keep it hidden. In a Secret Realm, people’s hearts are unpredictable, and some may harbor greed.”

Qin Yurou’s eyes showed surprise.

”You’re the first to advise me to hide the Treasure Hunting Mouse. Most people either envy it or are jealous, or...”

She made a gesture of snatching.

”I’m more interested in news about the Holy Academy.”

Gu Sheng looked directly into her eyes.

”I’ve heard both Shen Qingtan and Shen Qingyun come from the Holy Academy?”

Qin Yurou’s smile slightly diminished.

”You know them?”

”I’ve heard a little.”

Gu Sheng did not answer directly.

Qin Yurou pondered for a moment.

”They are biological siblings, but since joining the Holy Academy, they have been at odds. Recently, their rivalry intensified due to competing for the top three positions in the Inner Courtyard.”

”Why is Shen Qingyun helping the Lu Family?”

Gu Sheng inquired.

”Recruiting manpower, of course.”

Qin Yurou pouted.

”Those three Heavenly Martial Realm experts from the Lu Family are quite an asset anywhere.

If Shen Qingyun can gain their support, he would have a better chance in the Inner Courtyard competition.”

Gu Sheng nodded thoughtfully. It seems Shen Qingyun’s collaboration with the Lu Family had deeper connections.

”I can’t say more, the Holy Academy has its rules.”

Qin Yurou suddenly lifted her head, the treasure hunting mouse in her sleeve squeaked.

”Ah, Little Gold has found a new target, I have to go!”

Before Gu Sheng could respond, she had already leapt to the treetop and vanished into the depths of the forest in a few swift movements.

”That girl left decisively.”

Gu Sheng stared in the direction she had disappeared, his brow slightly furrowed.

In the Sea of Consciousness, the Innate Spirit Embryo suddenly spoke.

”She lied just now.”

”Hmm?”

”She hadn’t just discovered you.”

The Innate Spirit Embryo’s tone was certain.

”When you were refining that Spirit Grass, she was already here. She hid in the shadows observing when you battled with those martial artists.”

Gu Sheng replied.

”So she deliberately waited until Shen Qingyun appeared to reveal herself and assist?”

”Most likely.”

The Innate Spirit Embryo sneered.

”Holy Academy disciples surely aren’t simple; they know how to earn favors even at a young age.”

Gu Sheng pondered for a moment.

”She might be sent by Shen Qingtan, targeting Shen Qingyun specifically. We should not get involved in the Holy Academy’s internal conflicts for now.”

”What’s there to fear? With me here, who cares about the Holy Academy...”

The Innate Spirit Embryo dismissed the concern.

”Getting involved in a major power’s conflict when one’s strength is insufficient is asking for death.”

Gu Sheng interrupted it.

”The urgent task is to enhance our cultivation. Since this Secret Realm is abundant with Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, we should utilize the time to search.”

In the time that followed, Gu Sheng searched everywhere in the Secret Realm. The Innate Spirit Embryo’s perception far surpassed that of the treasure hunting mouse, often discovering deeply hidden Spiritual Medicine.

”Northeast direction, three hundred steps away, there’s a century-old Fire Ganoderma!”

The Innate Spirit Embryo suddenly shouted.

Gu Sheng immediately headed towards the indicated direction. However, when he arrived, he saw Qin Yurou bending down to pick the entirely crimson Lingzhi.

”It’s you again?”

Qin Yurou looked up, her eyes filled with surprise.

”Your ’Secret Technique’ is quite impressive.”

Gu Sheng shrugged helplessly.

”Seems we were a step too late.”

This kind of situation occurred several times over the next day.

Whenever the Innate Spirit Embryo sensed a treasure and Gu Sheng rushed over, he would see Qin Yurou almost nine times out of ten. However, she didn’t seem to take it all; sometimes she left some lesser Spiritual Medicine behind.

”Is that girl doing it on purpose?”

The Innate Spirit Embryo was fuming in the Sea of Consciousness.

”Always getting there before us!”

Gu Sheng, however, was not anxious.

”She left us a lot. After one day, we’ve secured over a dozen Spirit Grasses, which is enough.”

Thanks to these Spirit Grasses, Gu Sheng’s cultivation steadily improved.

As night fell, he sat cross-legged in a cave, True Qi circulating his body, showing signs of breakthrough.

”At the peak of the Yellow Martial Realm.”

Gu Sheng opened his eyes, feeling the surging True Qi within him.

”Only a step away from the Xuanwu Realm.”

”If it weren’t for that girl’s interference, you might have already broken through.”

The Innate Spirit Embryo grumbled.

Gu Sheng shook his head.

”The path of cultivation should not be rushed. Today’s harvest has exceeded expectations.”

The next midday, while Gu Sheng was searching in a valley, he suddenly heard familiar footsteps behind him.

”Gu Sheng!”

Qin Yurou’s voice carried urgency.

Gu Sheng turned and saw Qin Yurou walking quickly, her face lacking its usual smile, replaced with gravity.

”What happened?”

Gu Sheng asked alertly.

Qin Yurou took a deep breath.

”Shen Qingyun has allied with seven forces including the Great Wilderness Alliance and Iron Sword Sect, gathering over three hundred martial artists, searching for you in the Secret Realm.”

Gu Sheng frowned deeply.

”Is the information reliable?”

”Little Black saw it firsthand.”

Qin Yurou pointed to the sky.