Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World

Chapter 1689: Chapter 857: No Need to Waste Any More Effort (Part 2)

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Southern Border, on the way to Golden Wing Ridge.

The Xiaguang City team is still trudging forward. It is late afternoon, and the scorching sun hangs high in the sky like a giant furnace, with blistering sunlight pouring down, making the ground scorching hot.

The air is distorted and steaming due to the high temperature, and as far as the eye can see, the distant scenery seems to be swaying in the water. The trees on either side of the road, with most of their leaves shriveled and yellow, hang listlessly.

Only a few summer cicadas hide in the sparse shade, their feeble chirping adding to the heat.

The new City Lord, Shen Wuguang, has long lost the vigor and enthusiasm he had at departure. His brows furrowed, he keeps wiping the sweat droplets from his forehead with a silk handkerchief, his tone showing clear impatience as he asks Situ Qingfeng beside him once more.

”Young Master Situ, how much further do we have to go? This damned place, why is it so unbearably hot!”

Though Situ Qingfeng also feels the intense heat, he still maintains his composure, gently waving the folding fan in his hand, pointing towards the mountain outlines ahead, faintly visible like a giant bird spreading its wings, explaining.

”Lord Shen, please be patient. We have already crossed most of the no-fly zone; the mountain range ahead is Golden Wing Ridge.

Once we cross that mountain pass, we should be able to leave this cursed no-fly area.”

Shen Wuguang complained.

”Had I known, I should have prepared some sedan chairs! This place is too peculiar; the no-fly zone is one thing, but even the climate is so harsh!”

As he complains, he wipes his sweat and struggles to move forward with the team.

After about an hour, when the team finally crosses that narrow mountain pass, Shen Wuguang feels a sudden lightness, and the invisible force suppressing flying abilities abruptly disappears! He exhales deeply as if granted amnesty.

”Finally out!”

Shen Wuguang stretched his somewhat achy legs and couldn’t help but suggest.

”Young Master Situ, since we can Sky-controlling now, why not bypass that difficult mountain path ahead and fly directly? It would save us some energy and time.”

Situ Qingfeng, however, shakes his head and explains.

”Lord Shen, traveling from here to the Golden Wing Ridge Secret Realm entrance by flying, even if Sky-controlling, would require about the same time as walking through the forest area ahead.

Moreover, there might be other shortcuts in the forest, which is why we didn’t prepare the Flying Boat earlier.”

Upon hearing this, Shen Wuguang feels somewhat displeased but has no choice but to let it go.

However, at that moment, a sound of breaking through the sky suddenly came from the front horizon!

A Flying Boat, glistening with red glowing streams and lavishly designed, is slowing down and gradually stopping in mid-air from another direction.

Immediately, several figures wrapped in blazing tunneling light leaped down from the Flying Boat, rushing towards the direction of the Xiaguang City team like meteors!

The tunneling light dispersed, revealing the figures of several Martial Artists.

They are all wearing fire-red tight outfits, with clothes embroidered with the burning Divine Fire pattern, exuding a scorching and flamboyant aura, they are Martial Artists from one of the Seventy-two Divine Sects — the Heavenly Fire Divine Sect!

Upon seeing them, Shen Wuguang hurriedly tidied up his clothes and quickly approached with a friendly smile, cupping his hands.

”Friends of the Heavenly Fire Divine Sect, pleased to meet you! I am the new City Lord of Xiaguang City, Shen Wuguang.

This is Young Master Situ Qingfeng, the main initiator of this Secret Realm exploration.”

The Heavenly Fire Divine Sect Martial Artists also cupped their hands in return upon hearing this. The leading elder with dark red hair and beard, exuding a scorching aura, looked at Situ Qingfeng and spoke politely.

”So it is Young Master Situ, I’ve heard a lot about you. Thank you for generously willing to share information about the Secret Realm, allowing us the opportunity to explore fortune.”

Situ Qingfeng lightly waved the folding fan in his hand, smiling gracefully in return.

”You are too kind, Elder. The Secret Realm is ownerless, and anyone who sees it has a share; working together, we can discover the true treasures within.”

At this moment, another elder from the Heavenly Fire Divine Sect glanced over the Xiaguang City team, asking with some doubt.

”Young Master Situ, Lord Shen, I heard that the Little Princess of the Five Poison Divine Sect is also interested in this Secret Realm exploration. Why haven’t we seen her?”

Situ Qingfeng reacted quickly, showing a perfectly timed wry smile, and explained.

”Elder may not know, according to Senior Yue Xia, the Little Princess of the Five Poison Divine Sect is indeed here, but... she seems to have used some kind of Secret Technique to conceal her form and aura, hiding in the team.

It’s said she had some old grievances with the East Desolation fugitive Gu Sheng. This time, she is here both to explore the Secret Realm and to avoid Gu Sheng from coming for revenge upon hearing the news, hence her concealment as a precaution.”

The Heavenly Fire Divine Sect elder nodded in realization upon hearing this.

”I see. The Five Poison Divine Sect’s use of poison is unpredictable and mysterious, and their Concealment Techniques are unparalleled in the Southern Border; if she intends to hide, she is indeed hard to detect.”

Everyone’s attention seemed drawn to the topic of the Little Princess of Five Poisons.

Yet, at that very moment, another Heavenly Fire Divine Sect elder, who had been silently observing, had his hawk-like gaze suddenly fixed on ”Yun Qing” at the end of the team, who had been modest, stable, and unremarkable!

He furrowed his brow, a flicker of uncertainty appearing in his eyes, and whispered to his companion beside him.

”Strange... that person... his aura seems off. His True Qi level is clearly just the Heavenly Martial Realm, yet why does he feel so elusive and obscure to me? It’s as if separated by a mist, not like a living person, but rather... some kind of special energy aggregation?”

Though his voice was low, everyone present was of considerable cultivation, naturally hearing it clearly.

Situ Qingfeng’s heart tightened abruptly, thinking things might be bad! This Spirit Embryo Incarnation, though the emulated aura is very similar, is ultimately not a true flesh and blood body; under the careful perception of true experts, it might still show flaws!

He reacted swiftly, not waiting for others to investigate further, immediately laughing heartily, stepping forward to seem casually blocking the view between the elder and ”Yun Qing”, his tone bearing some pride and mystery as he explained.

”Elder has good eyes! To tell you the truth, this ’Yun Qing’ gentleman is not a regular aide but was specially arranged by my father, knowing I would explore the Secret Realm. He cultivates a rare cultivation technique, being part of the rare Body Cultivation lineage in the Golden Body Realm, excellent at concealing aura and with an indomitable physical body. Given the unknown dangers of this Secret Realm exploration, his caution and discretion are part of his duty, and I hope everyone understands.”

”Golden Body Realm Body Cultivation?”

Upon hearing this, the Heavenly Fire Divine Sect elder’s skepticism immediately dissipated mostly, replaced by a bit of understanding and reverence. Body Cultivation is rare, and reaching the Golden Body Realm through physical cultivation is even more extraordinary, explaining some oddities.

He nodded.

”I see. I apologize for the offense.

With such a strong protector, Young Master Situ’s journey is ensured to be safe.”

A potential crisis was deftly resolved by Situ Qingfeng. Gu Sheng’s ”Yun Qing” Incarnation remained calm and unremarkable, as if unaffected by the outside world.

However, as the Heavenly Fire Divine Sect elder shifted his gaze, diverting the attention of the gathered ones.

In the depths of the Xiaguang City team, a girl originally curled up in a corner, looking ordinary, even somewhat disheveled, eyes vacant like a puppet, her empty gaze suddenly froze as it swept over ”Yun Qing” Incarnation!

Immediately, her vacant gaze within seconds, as if infused with a soul, abruptly sharpened like a knife, locking onto the ”Yun Qing” Incarnation! An icy, penetrating, yet infinitely venomous intent surged madly in the depths of her eyes!

”It’s him! It cannot be wrong!”

The girl screamed in her heart.

”Although his appearance and aura are disguised, the aura subtly resonating with my Lifebound Gu Worm on him... it’s the residue of the Five Immortals Soul Chasing Gu! This curse aura linked to bloodline and soul, cannot be impersonated by anyone else!”

Her mind flashed the gruesome scene of the sub-altar being blood-washed, with countless sect disciples falling into the pool of blood.