Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World

Chapter 1511: Chapter 778: The Outlook Is Not Optimistic (Part 2)

Gu Sheng narrowed his eyes, his right hand already quietly resting on the hilt of the sword at his waist.

That Martial Artist wore the Nine Heavens Divine Sect’s iconic purple-gold robe, with nine auspicious clouds embroidered on his chest. His face was sinister and gloomy, and murderous intent blazed in his eyes.

”Retreat at once! Otherwise the Nine Heavens Divine Sect will make you live worse than death, and die without release!”

The Martial Artist barked harshly, his voice laced with a shockwave of True Qi that sent nearby gravel clattering down.

”Heh.”

The Mirage King beside Gu Sheng let out a scornful cold laugh, his black robe billowing without wind as a surge of aura far more massive than the other party’s erupted all at once.

”A mere Sect Realm dares act wild before this king?”

Before his voice finished echoing, the Mirage King’s True Qi surged out like a raging tide, instantly shattering the pressure that Sect Realm Martial Artist had imposed.

The Martial Artist was struck as if by lightning, his face turning deathly pale as he spat a mouthful of fresh blood and staggered back several steps.

”You... you’re a King Realm powerhouse?”

The Martial Artist stared at the Mirage King in shock, his eyes filled with disbelief.

The Mirage King stood with his hands behind his back, his voice cold as iron.

”This king is a direct Prince of the Southern Emperor Lineage, here under orders to take Situ Qingfeng away. If you know what’s good for you, get lost!”

Gu Sheng noticed the young girl at his side... Miao Muxue slightly furrowed her brows, her slender jade fingers already hooked around the jade flute at her waist.

Though she said nothing, the resolve in her eyes made it clear she would not back down.

The Sect Realm Martial Artist wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his expression dark as water.

”Situ Qingfeng infiltrated our Divine Sect’s Secret Realm and stole the Supreme Treasure ’Nine Heavens Exquisite Tower’, and even triggered the restriction, causing the Sect Hierarch and three elders to be trapped. The Nine Heavens Divine Sect has issued a kill-on-sight order: alive, we must see the man; dead, we must see the corpse! Anyone who dares shelter him will become a mortal enemy with whom the Nine Heavens Divine Sect will never rest until one side is destroyed!”

”Ridiculous!”

A cold gleam flashed in the Mirage King’s eyes.

”Just with you Nine Heavens Divine Sect, you think you’re fit to be enemies of the Southern Emperor Lineage?”

The atmosphere was taut as a drawn bowstring, and Gu Sheng felt the True Qi within his body involuntarily speed up its circulation.

He quietly observed the surroundings and discovered clear traces of intense fighting on the ground, but saw no sign of Situ Qingfeng.

Just as the Mirage King was about to make a move, a voice ancient to the extreme suddenly sounded between Heaven and Earth.

”Enough.”

Just two simple words, yet they seemed to carry the power of the Heaven and Earth Laws.

Gu Sheng only felt his whole body sink, as if burdened with a mountain; even his fingers were hard to move.

His heart lurched—this was the pressure of a Venerable Realm powerhouse!

The Mirage King’s face changed drastically, the True Qi around him violently surging, yet he still could not break free of this invisible binding.

As for that Sect Realm Martial Artist, he directly dropped to his knees, cold sweat oozing from his forehead.

”Juniors, have you made enough of a ruckus?”

The voice came from all directions, its source impossible to pinpoint.

Enduring the pressure with difficulty, Gu Sheng secretly pressed a Thousand Miles Shifting Talisman into his palm, ready to trigger it at any moment.

”Situ Qingfeng has already hidden himself within an Ancient Ruins, whose remaining power was activated. No one knows where it transmitted him.”

The ancient voice continued.

”Your fighting here is meaningless.”

Gu Sheng’s heart stirred. He tried using a Communication Jade Scroll to contact Situ Qingfeng, but it was like sinking a stone into the sea—there was no response at all.

He looked toward the Mirage King, who gave a slight nod, signaling that this Venerable was not lying.

”Senior.”

The Mirage King said in a deep voice, his tone much more respectful.

”I am under orders to find someone. I must ask you to grant us some convenience.”

”Hmph, remnants of the Southern Emperor dare to bargain?”

The voice suddenly cooled, and the pressure grew even heavier.

”The matter of the Purple Mist Cave Heaven has already spread throughout the Seventy-two Divine Sects. Very soon, large numbers of experts will come to encircle and kill you. Qin Tian and Miao Muxue have already been listed as top-priority hunt targets. If you don’t wish to die, leave at once!”

Gu Sheng’s heart jolted, and he looked at Miao Muxue.

The girl’s face was pale, yet the stubbornness in her eyes had not lessened.

She lightly bit her lower lip and sent a voice transmission.

”Gu, I promised you I would rescue Situ...”

The Mirage King suddenly exploded with all his True Qi, breaking free of part of the binding as he clasped his fists toward the source of the voice.

”Since Senior knows our identities, why not act personally? Could it be... you are constrained by certain rules?”

The air fell silent for a moment, then the voice carried a hint of helplessness.

”A clever junior. You’re right, this old man truly is not at liberty to strike directly. But if you insist on staying, once people from the Seventy-two Divine Sects arrive, this old man will not be able to protect you.”

Gu Sheng’s mind raced. This Venerable was clearly closely tied to the Nine Heavens Divine Sect, yet due to some constraint could not move against them directly.

He looked toward the Mirage King.

”Your Highness, can we investigate that Ancient Ruins?”

After obtaining Miao Muxue’s consent, the Mirage King forced himself against the pressure and walked toward the depths of the burial ground.

He returned a short while later, his expression grim.

”There are indeed residual spatial fluctuations. Situ Qingfeng has indeed been transmitted away, but the direction is impossible to determine.”

”There is not much time left.”

The ancient voice rang out again, and the pressure suddenly dispersed.

”This old man has said all he can. You’re on your own now.”

As the voice faded, everyone instantly felt their bodies lighten and their mobility return.

The Sect Realm Martial Artist cast them a venomous glare, but did not dare strike again; he turned and swiftly departed.

Miao Muxue hurried to Gu Sheng’s side, her expression complicated.

”Gu, we... what should we do?”

Gu Sheng surveyed the surroundings; in the distant sky, several streaks of light were already shooting their way.

He spoke decisively.

”We go! That Venerable has no reason to deceive us. If we wait until people from the Seventy-two Divine Sects arrive, leaving will be difficult.”

”At most three hours, and the pursuers from the Seventy-two Divine Sects will be here.”

The Mirage King’s voice sounded especially grave in the wind, his wide sleeves snapping in the air as his gaze swept over those behind him.

”With just one King Realm—me—I cannot protect you all.”

Gu Sheng stood at the prow of the Flying Boat, gripping a Communication Jade Talisman tightly in his hand, his knuckles turning white from the force.

It had already been three days straight, and Situ Qingfeng’s Jade Talisman had yet to respond.

He put the Jade Talisman back into his robe, then turned to look at the girl at his side.

”We must return to Southern Emperor City first.”

Resolve shone in the girl’s eyes as her slender fingers traced a rune in the air, and the Flying Boat’s speed suddenly surged.

”Father will shield us.”

Gu Sheng nodded, but his gaze involuntarily dropped to the faintly glowing Jade Bottle at his waist.

Within it, Miao Muqing’s soul was being nurtured by his Lifebound Magical Treasure...

”Xuanming Pearl.”

Ever since he rescued her in the Purple Mist Cave Heaven, this bead had been closely linked to his Divine Soul.

”Young Master Gu, you needn’t worry. Elder Sister, she...”

The girl seemed to sense Gu Sheng’s concern. Her gentle voice suddenly trailed off, her eyes complex.

The Flying Boat cut through the clouds, and the majestic outline of Southern Emperor City was already faintly visible in the distance.

Just then, several hundred streaks of tunneling light shot up from within the city, streaming toward them like a meteor shower.

”It’s the Southern Emperor Guards!”

The Mirage King’s expression relaxed slightly, but immediately turned solemn again.

”It seems His Majesty the Southern Emperor has already received word.”

The leading tunneling light reached the front of the Flying Boat in the blink of an eye. The radiance dispersed, revealing a middle-aged man clad in a Purple Gold Dragon Robe.

His features were imposing, his eyes sharp as lightning, and an aura of suffocating pressure radiated from him.

”Father!”

The girl immediately bowed in salute.

Gu Sheng’s heart jolted... so this was the current Southern Emperor—a true Venerable Realm powerhouse! He forcibly suppressed the surging of his Qi-Blood, straightened his back, and met the Southern Emperor’s gaze without flinching.

A hint of surprise flashed in the Southern Emperor’s eyes.

A mere Earth Martial Realm junior could actually remain composed under his pressure? What astonished him even more was that there was something within Gu Sheng’s gaze that reminded him of an old acquaintance he had met many years ago...

”Gu Sheng?”

The Southern Emperor spoke, his voice like a great bell or a mighty drum, causing the surrounding clouds to ripple.

”I am indeed Gu Sheng.”

Gu Sheng cupped his fists in salute, neither servile nor overbearing.

The Southern Emperor’s gaze swept over everyone, finally resting on the Jade Bottle at Gu Sheng’s waist, pain flickering in his eyes.

”Muqing, she...”

”Miss Miao’s soul is currently being preserved by my Lifebound Magical Treasure.”

Gu Sheng stated bluntly.

”But her condition is far from optimistic.”

The Southern Emperor fell silent for a moment, then suddenly raised his hand and waved. A beam of golden light enveloped them all.

”We will discuss this back in the palace.”

The next instant, the world spun, and they found themselves standing within a resplendent, gold-and-jade hall.

The Southern Emperor sat high upon the Dragon Throne, his gaze like a blazing torch fixed on Gu Sheng.

”Regarding the matter of the Purple Mist Cave Heaven, this emperor must thank you for your assistance, little friend.”

The Southern Emperor spoke slowly.