Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World

Chapter 1687: Chapter 856: Reunion_2

At this moment, next to him, stood a young woman around eighteen or nineteen years old, dressed in a light green attire with a short sword at her waist. She appeared charming but had a slightly arrogant air in her expression. She seemed to notice him and, with a hint of displeasure, whispered.

”Hey! Are you that new ’Yun Qing’ Array Master? Why are you so late? Almost missed the hour, aren’t you afraid of the City Lord’s wrath?”

The incarnation looked up, mimicking the slightly aloof yet cautious tone of the man in the portrait, responding neither humbly nor overbearingly.

”I was engrossed in studying the Secret Realm Fragment Map and momentarily lost track of time. The City Lord is eager for talent and will surely understand that I did it to better complete the exploration mission. Moreover, in unraveling the Secret Realm restrictions, it’s not to brag, but there’s probably no one in the team who can surpass me.”

The young woman snorted at his words, but her tone softened slightly, with a hint of reminder.

”Hmph, I hope you do have some skills.

This exploration of the Secret Realm is of great importance to the City Lord, as it concerns whether he can firmly establish himself in the city. My master specifically instructed me to assist the City Lord well; if anything goes wrong and my master blames me, I can’t bear that responsibility.”

The incarnation’s heart stirred; from the woman’s words, he caught several pieces of information.

This woman has a master, and her master seems to have a close relationship with the City Lord, seemingly supporting the new City Lord.

He manipulated the incarnation to follow the conversation.

”Miss, rest assured. On this journey, not only do we have the City Lord’s elite under his command, but we are also accompanied by Elder Yue Xia of the Purple Mist Divine Sect and other experts from the sect. The lineup is formidable. We only need to focus on what we excel at, and if we truly encounter danger, those strong individuals will bear the brunt.”

He paused for a moment, a smile that he believed to be gentle, but was actually somewhat stiff, appeared on the incarnation’s face as he added.

”Besides, with me here, I will do my utmost to ensure the young lady’s safety.”

The young woman was momentarily stunned by the last sentence, then her pretty face blushed slightly, and she couldn’t help but chuckle, rolling her eyes at the incarnation and muttering.

”Who needs your protection! Take care of yourself first!”

After speaking, she turned her head, but there was the faintest hint of a smile at the corners of her mouth.

In a room at the inn, Gu Sheng, who was perceiving this scene through the incarnation, thought to himself.

”There seems to be some personal relationship between this woman and the ’Yun Qing’ incarnation? An unexpected gain, as the previous intelligence did not mention this. Perhaps... it can be utilized.”

...

Meanwhile, far away in the East Desolation, Great Wilderness City.

Outside the heavily guarded and Array-filled secret residence of Xiao Beixuan.

In the hazy night, two phantom-like figures, with incredible movement technique, silently leaped over the walls several feet high, landing lightly in the courtyard. Astonishingly, the alerts and Defensive Arrays placed around the residence showed no reaction, as if these two were transparent.

One of the figures had a slender form, and even in nightwear, her graceful curves were discernible.

Her sharp gaze swept across the courtyard, instantly locking onto a thick stone pillar not far away, where a middle-aged man, Gu Lie, with black iron chains piercing his collarbones, lay weak and dispirited!

”The intelligence was correct, the target is there.”

She whispered to her companion, her voice crisp and calm.

Inside a brightly lit room deep within the residence, Xiao Beixuan had just listened to a subordinate’s report, learning that despite continuous days of brutal interrogation, they had yet to extract any effective information about Gu Sheng’s Cultivation Technique weaknesses or whereabouts from Gu Lie.

He waved a hand, his tone showing a hint of impatience.

”Since we can’t squeeze any useful information, keep him as bait for now; don’t let him die. Gu Sheng seems to care about this ’father’ of his.”

”Yes, master.”

The subordinate bowed and retreated.

In the courtyard, the woman said to her companion.

”According to the internal intelligence, Xiao Beixuan won’t harm the hostage for now, but he’s naturally suspicious, so we must act quickly.”

She flashed forward, appearing before the stone pillar like an instant teleportation. Extending her delicate hand, her fingertips were enveloped in a subtle, peculiar light that seemed capable of dissolving all things, gently brushing against the black iron chains binding Gu Lie.

The chains engraved with Sealing Runes, incomparably sturdy, emitted a soft ”zizi” sound as if they had met their nemesis. The runes instantly dimmed and disintegrated, and the chains fell off!

Without the support of the chains, the long-weak and comatose Gu Lie slumped forward.

Prepared in advance, the woman cradled him, a gentle force supporting Gu Lie, preventing him from falling to the ground.

The other figure quickly stepped forward, taking over the unconscious Gu Lie.

Meanwhile, the woman stood still, forming Sealing gestures with her hands, her body radiating waves like ripples on water.

Her body and appearance began to change rapidly, bones making faint cracking sounds, skin color, hair, and even gaze transforming!

In just two or three breaths, she transformed into an exact replica of Gu Lie, complete with his build! Even the ferocious wounds on his body, coagulated blood, disheveled, blood-stained hair, and that languid, weak aura were imitated to perfect mimicry, down to the point of exuding the same bloody scent as if it emanated from her.

”Hurry and take him away, back to the secret passage of Linyin Pavilion.”

The woman, now transformed into Gu Lie, spoke, her voice hoarse and weak, indistinguishable from the real Gu Lie.

”Though his injuries are severe, they are mostly superficial and from overexertion, not affecting his fundamental well-being. The Second Miss will have elixirs prepared for his good recuperation.”

The companion holding the real Gu Lie nodded, advising.

”Be careful yourself, Xiao Beixuan’s power is unfathomable, refrain from acting rashly and revealing your identity.”

”Don’t worry, I have my own measure.”

The fake Gu Lie replied, then picked up the now useless chain from the ground. With some clumsiness yet precise mimicry, she ”threaded” her collarbone through the chain’s hole, then leaned against the stone pillar, lowering her head, assuming almost the exact pose as when Gu Lie was imprisoned, even mimicking the weak rhythm of breathing.

The companion didn’t hesitate further. Holding the true Gu Lie, he integrated into the night, disappearing in a few flickers, away into the shadows of the residence, as if he had never appeared.

Just less than ten breaths after they disappeared.

Tap, tap, tap...

The sound of footsteps approached from afar.

Xiao Beixuan’s figure emerged from the depths of the residence, seemingly on a whim, wanting to personally check the state of the ”bait.”

His gaze swept casually across the courtyard, his spiritual power spread like mercury over the ground, instantly covering the entire courtyard, sensing every Array node’s fluctuation and the aura of ”Gu Lie” on the stone pillar.

A moment later, his slightly furrowed brows relaxed, returning to his usual calm demeanor.

All restrictions were intact, and there was nothing unusual about the weak yet familiar aura on the stone pillar.

He walked to the stone pillar, looking at the drooping, comatose ”Gu Lie,” a cold smile curled on his lips, noticing nothing amiss.

He spoke to the empty courtyard, as if talking to himself, or perhaps addressing some hidden presence.

”Just now... was there any disturbance to the restriction?”

Outside Xiao Beixuan’s secret residence, the night remained deep. Two figures blending into the shadows, with some mysterious method, bypassed layer upon layer of Array defenses, slipping into the courtyard undetected, without triggering any alarms.

In the courtyard’s center, on that thick stone pillar, Gu Lie, pierced by black iron chains through his collarbones, though weak from days of respite, had, with the tenacious Life Force of a King Realm powerhouse, managed to recover some Primordial Energy.

Though still weak, his complexion was no longer as pale as gold paper, and some of the shallower wounds on his body began showing signs of slow healing.

Inside the residence, Xiao Beixuan had just listened to a subordinate’s report, confirming that they indeed couldn’t extract more effective information about Gu Sheng from Gu Lie. He waved a hand, his tone indifferent.