Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World

”It’s time to leave.”

Gu Sheng scanned his surroundings, finally resting his eyes on the deepest part of the cave where Yang Qi was continuously erupting.

Even from a hundred meters away, he could feel the astonishing energy fluctuations emanating from there.

”That is...”

Gu Sheng squinted, his heart involuntarily racing.

”The source of Yang Qi?”

Curiosity grew wildly, like weeds.

Gu Sheng knew that with his current strength, approaching recklessly would be suicidal. But...

”With this, it should be fine.”

Gu Sheng took out a simple little bell from his bosom, its body covered with mysterious runes, trembling slightly in the Yang Qi.

[Ancient Reincarnation Bell] — This was the supreme treasure he obtained during a secret realm expedition, capable of withstanding extreme environments.

It was precisely relying on this that Gu Sheng could cultivate in the depths of Golden Crow Mountain for so long.

”Let’s risk it!”

Gu Sheng threw the small bell overhead. The bell instantly enlarged, enveloping him entirely within.

Upon stepping into the space within the bell, Gu Sheng felt a coolness permeate his body, significantly alleviating the external heat and pressure.

He cautiously maneuvered the Reincarnation Bell, slowly moving towards the source of the Yang Qi.

With every meter forward, the pressure multiplied.

Even with the protection of the Reincarnation Bell, Gu Sheng could feel the suffocating oppression.

The bell emitted a hum of strain.

”Such terrifying Yang Qi...”

Sweat oozed from Gu Sheng’s forehead.

”No wonder even those old monsters dare not approach lightly.”

Eighty meters... sixty meters... forty meters...

As the distance shortened, the pressure grew increasingly terrifying.

Gu Sheng had to exert all his Spiritual Power to maintain the Reincarnation Bell’s operation.

Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, his internal organs feeling as though clutched by an invisible giant hand.

”Hang in there...”

Gu Sheng gritted his teeth, a fierce determination in his eyes.

”Having come this far, I can’t give up!”

Twenty meters... ten meters...

Finally, just as the Reincarnation Bell was about to collapse, Gu Sheng reached his destination.

Through the bell’s wall, he saw a fist-sized groove and within it, a gemstone so red it was almost purple.

”This is...”

Gu Sheng’s eyes widened, his breath nearly stopping.

The gemstone was no bigger than a thumb, yet exuded an intimidating energy fluctuation.

It floated quietly in the center of the groove, continuously releasing the purest Yang Dao Qi.

The surface of the gemstone was covered with natural patterns, vaguely forming the image of a Golden Crow soaring with outstretched wings.

”The mountain’s treasure!”

This thought flashed through Gu Sheng’s mind, his heart racing uncontrollably.

”This must be the core of Golden Crow Mountain!”

He stared greedily at the gemstone, countless thoughts flashing through his mind.

If he could obtain it... his cultivation would advance by leaps and bounds, perhaps even...

”But this belongs to the Qinghe Holy Land...”

Reason reminded him.

”If discovered...”

Gu Sheng’s expression shifted back and forth.

He recalled his grievances with Qinghe Holy Land, and how his name topped the task board of Dragon Palace...

”Heh...”

Gu Sheng suddenly laughed, a trace of madness in his smile.

”Since it’s already a life-and-death situation, what do I have to fear?”

The closer Gu Sheng got to the source of Yang Qi, the weaker the surrounding pressure became, as if intentionally restrained by some power.

”Strange...”

Gu Sheng muttered, tentatively reaching out a finger. As his fingertip approached three inches from the purple-red gemstone, a surge of heat struck him, causing him to instinctively retract his hand, finding blisters forming on his fingertip.

”Such aggressive Yang Qi!”

Gu Sheng squinted, observing the groove’s structure attentively.

The edge where the gemstone touched the rock revealed intricate patterns, both naturally formed and possibly man-made arrays.

He tried using his fingernail to pry at the edge of the gemstone but couldn’t even find a gap.

”Seems force won’t work.”

Gu Sheng drew a short sword, entirely emerald green, from his waist.

”Let’s try this.”

Green Jade Sword — a Mid-grade Spiritual Artifact he acquired early in his years, its blade infused with Wood Essence Qi, ideal for use in a Fire Attribute environment.

Gu Sheng cautiously inserted the sword tip into the seam between the gemstone and the groove, applying force.

”Crack!”

The crisp breaking sound was especially piercing in the silent cave.

The Green Jade Sword snapped in two, with the tip clattering to the ground, while the gemstone remained unmoved.

”Damn it!”

Gu Sheng looked sorrowfully at the broken sword, knowing how much he had spent acquiring it.

But then he reconsidered — if he could get this gemstone, losing ten Green Jade Swords would be worth it.

Suddenly, he remembered something and brushed his right hand over the ring on his left hand, making an ancient-looking longsword appear in his hand.

The sword’s body was dull, with faint patterns of seven stars, though three were indistinct.

”Tai Chi Seven Star Sword...”

Gu Sheng gently stroked the blade, sensing the dormant power within.

”Though damaged, it remains a supreme Divine Artifact.”

This sword was one of his greatest trump cards, not to be used unless absolutely necessary.

But with the situation urgent, Gu Sheng gritted his teeth, aiming the sword tip at the groove’s seam.

”Open for me!”

Gu Sheng fully activated his Spiritual Power, the Tai Chi Seven Star Sword emitted a low hum, and the four intact star patterns on its blade lit up sequentially.

With a soft hiss, the sword tip actually penetrated the seam.

”It’s working!”

Gu Sheng was delighted, exerting sudden force on his wrist.

”Crack, crack...”

Fine cracking sounds emanated from the groove’s edge, with cobweb-like cracks spreading outward from the sword tip.

Finally, the gemstone began to loosen.

Gu Sheng’s eyes blazed with excitement, his muscles tensing, as the four stars on the Tai Chi Seven Star Sword shone brightly.

”Lift!”

With a fierce shout, the gemstone was finally pried away from the groove.

At that moment, the depths of Golden Crow Mountain suddenly shook, as if some equilibrium had been disrupted.

Without hesitating, Gu Sheng quickly reached for the gemstone floating in mid-air.

”Ah!”

The searing pain nearly made him let go.

The gemstone felt like a burning branding iron, and even Gu Sheng’s body, honed to its utmost, struggled to withstand it.

Enduring the pain, he swiftly slipped the gemstone into the Void Ring.

The next moment, the ring’s surface began to redden and soften, its internal space becoming unstable.

”Not good!”

Gu Sheng’s expression changed drastically, urgently retrieving the gemstone. Inside the Void Ring, it was already chaotic, with a few magical treasures stored at the edges showing signs of melting.

”This...”

Sweat dripped from Gu Sheng’s forehead, his hand sizzled from the gemstone, the smell of scorched flesh permeated the air.

He had to quickly come up with a solution, or he’d be cooked by the gemstone before anyone discovered him.

Suddenly, Gu Sheng’s gaze landed on the Ancient Reincarnation Bell beside him. This bell could withstand the terrifying Yang Qi in Golden Crow Mountain’s depths, perhaps...

Without wasting time, Gu Sheng swiftly opened and placed the gemstone into the Reincarnation Bell, then quickly closed it.

The bell trembled slightly, its surface runes flowed, surprisingly containing most of the Yang Qi from leaking out.

”It’s working!”

Gu Sheng exhaled in relief, but immediately faced a new problem — how to take the bell with the gemstone inside?

He attempted to shrink the Reincarnation Bell back, only to find the gemstone inside hindered the change.

With no other choice, Gu Sheng hefted the half-man-tall bell onto his shoulders, struggling to retrace his steps.

As the gemstone left its original position, the Yang Qi in the depths of Golden Crow Mountain became chaotic.

The once stable Yang Qi stream varied between violent and weak, with the red patterns on the cave walls flickering unpredictably.

”I must leave quickly!”

An alarm rang in Gu Sheng’s mind.

He hurried his pace, lugging the Reincarnation Bell through the narrow passages.

Every so often, he’d stop to try and store the Reincarnation Bell into the ring.

Finally, when the pressure eased to a certain extent, the Reincarnation Bell with the gemstone successfully entered the Void Ring.

”Done!”

Gu Sheng was overjoyed, but the joy vanished swiftly.

He keenly noticed the Yang Qi concentration throughout Golden Crow Mountain was plummeting at an alarming rate.

”Damn, this change is too obvious, it’ll soon be discovered!”

Gu Sheng’s figure moved like lightning, racing back along his original path.