Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World

”Really? Is he crazy? Shen Qingyun has hundreds of martial artists under him!”

”Absolutely true! It’s said that Gu even claimed Shen Qingyun is not worth a single blow, not even fit to carry his shoes!”

The news spread with increasing exaggeration and soon reached Shen Qingyun’s ears.

”Good! Very good!”

Shen Qingyun slapped the stone table beside him into pieces, his handsome face twisted with anger.

”A stray dog dares to challenge me, the Young Master?”

He turned to the hundreds of martial artists behind him and yelled.

”Spread my order, everyone immediately heads to Miling Valley! Whoever brings Gu’s head shall be rewarded with a million high-grade spirit stones!”

”Yes, sir!”

The crowd responded in unison.

The Alliance Hierarch of Great Wilderness licked his lips and smirked.

”Rest assured, Young Sect Master, my Great Wilderness Alliance will certainly claim Gu’s head!”

Shen Qingyun snorted coldly.

”I want to see him beg for mercy myself! Move out!”

Hundreds of martial artists marched towards Miling Valley, killing intent soaring.

Gu stood on the barren land at the extreme north of the secret realm, at his feet were black rocks where not a blade of grass grew, and the towering hall in the distance loomed in the gray sky.

He glanced down at his palm, the spiritual power mark left by Xiao Mengdie was so weak it was almost invisible.

”This woman...”

Gu shook his head with a bitter smile.

”Spreading the challenge news to lure Shen Qingyun to Miling Valley, while she herself runs to a place like this.”

He looked up at the hall with a gleam in his eyes. The dense spiritual energy around seemed almost ready to condense into liquid, with each breath feeling like swallowing a mouthful of spiritual liquid, causing the spiritual power within him to circulate involuntarily.

”The core of the secret realm truly lives up to its name.”

Just as Gu was about to step forward, a slight sound of footsteps suddenly came from behind.

His muscles instantly tensed, his right hand already on the hilt of his sword at his waist.

”Gu, long time no see.”

The familiar voice made Gu slightly stunned, he turned around and saw Situ Qingfeng standing ten steps away, his white robe fluttering in the wind, his handsome face showing some surprise.

”Situ?”

Gu loosened his grip on the sword hilt, frowning slightly.

”What are you doing here?”

Situ Qingfeng stepped forward, looking complexly at the distant hall.

”I should be asking you. This place is secret, even Shen Qingyun doesn’t know about it. How did you find it, Gu?”

Gu pondered for a moment, deciding to speak the truth.

”Xiao Mengdie left a clue.”

”Xiao Mengdie?”

Situ Qingfeng’s expression noticeably paused, with a strange glow in his eyes.

”She... came too?”

”She lured Shen Qingyun to Miling Valley.”

Gu keenly caught Situ Qingfeng’s abnormality.

”Why, do you know her, Situ?”

Situ Qingfeng was silent for a moment, then nodded.

”She is from Xuanyin Pavilion, has some ties with my Situ Family. Back then... when my mother was poisoned by the Lu Family, a senior from Xuanyin Pavilion helped.

Gu said.

”Speaking of which, I have one thing I can’t understand. Shen Qingyun’s cultivation was suppressed after entering the secret realm, indicating your mother’s power far exceeded the Heavenly Martial Realm during her lifetime. But the strongest in the Lu Family, Lu Chongshan, is only at the Heavenly Martial Realm. How could they harm a Peak of Venerable transformed demon?”

Situ Qingfeng’s gaze suddenly became sharp, he stared at Gu for a long time, finally sighed deeply.

”Gu really is astute. Since you ask...”

He turned toward the hall, his voice deep.

”That’s my mother’s burial place.”

Gu didn’t urge, waiting quietly for more.

”The Lu Family... were once my mother’s servants.”

Situ Qingfeng’s voice was filled with suppressed anger.

”After my mother reached the Peak of Venerable Realm, she traveled far and wide seeking breakthrough opportunities. When passing through Great Wilderness City, Lu Chongshan that beast...”

His fists clenched with a grinding sound.

”Sold my mother’s whereabouts to the Great Wilderness Holy Academy!”

”The Great Wilderness Holy Academy?”

Gu’s pupils slightly contracted.

”Are there strong individuals above the Venerable Realm in the Inner Courtyard?”

Situ Qingfeng sneered.

”Indeed. Those so-called Holy Academy strongmen covet the opportunity of the Transformed Demon. Lu Chongshan feigned inviting my mother here to rest, secretly lured the Holy Academy strongmen to besiege... my mother fought bravely but was defeated in the end...”

His voice choked for a moment.

”Falling here.”

”As for that traitor Lu Chongshan, for his contribution in leaking secrets, he was taken under the Holy Academy’s wing and appointed as the Great Elder of the Outer Court, thus rooting in Great Wilderness City.”

Situ Qingfeng’s eyes revealed a murderous intent.

”After awakening the Heavenly Demon Spirit Body, I’ve been training in East Desolation, waiting for two things: the seal on my mother’s burial site to open, and for the blood debt with the Lu Family to be repaid!”

Gu Sheng was silent for a moment, then reached out to pat Situ Qingfeng’s shoulder.

”So, you’re lingering here because you can’t enter the hall?”

Situ Qingfeng’s expression turned somber.

”Inside the hall, there are residual souls left by my mother guarding, along with the pressure of the Venerable Realm... with my current strength, I cannot breakthrough.”

”Why does the residual soul block you?”

Gu Sheng asked in confusion.

”I don’t understand either.”

Situ Qingfeng shook his head.

”Logically, since I possess the Heavenly Demon Spirit Body and my mother’s bloodline, I should be able to obtain the legacy smoothly...”

Gu Sheng looked toward the hall, eyes filled with curiosity.

”Situ, do you mind if I accompany you to take a look?”

Situ Qingfeng was stunned for a moment, then nodded straightforwardly.

”If you wish to help, that would be most welcome. However...”

His expression turned serious.

”There remains the pressure of the Peak of Venerable, a moment’s carelessness could be fatal.”

”No matter.”

Gu Sheng smiled.

”The path of cultivation is meant to defy heaven.”

Led by Situ Qingfeng, the two bypassed the main gate and arrived at a concealed entrance on the side of the hall. Before even approaching, a powerful aura rushed at them, Gu Sheng felt his chest hit hard, breath catching.

”Is this... the pressure of the Venerable Realm?”

Gu Sheng struggled to speak as the spiritual power within him frantically circulated to resist.

Situ Qingfeng’s face also turned pale, though slightly better than Gu Sheng’s.

”When mother was alive, she was a Wind Demon, and the pressure contains the Wind Path... be careful, it gets stronger the closer you get.”

Gu Sheng gritted his teeth, taking step after step forward. Each step felt like countless blades cutting his skin, as if a hurricane was blowing against him.

Even more terrifying was the Daoist Rhythm contained within that pressure, hitting deep into the soul, compelling one to kneel instinctively.

”It’s here.”

Situ Qingfeng stood before the hall, his sleeves fluttering despite the lack of wind.

He pointed to the towering ancient structure, his voice low and hoarse.

Runes were intricately carved above the hall entrance, each pattern seemed to embody the laws of nature, flickering faintly in the dim light.

Gu Sheng squinted, feeling an invisible pressure flooding in.

His skin broke out in goosebumps, muscles tensing involuntarily.

”You said within the hall is your mother’s... relic?”

Gu Sheng turned his head to ask, fingers subconsciously stroking the hilt at his waist.

Situ Qingfeng nodded, eyes filled with pain.

”Twenty years ago, during that attack, though mortally wounded, mother still escaped from three equally ranked attackers. She burned the last of her Source Daoist Rhythm to seal the entire Secret Realm, preserving her relic.”

Gu Sheng furrowed his brows.

”Then why didn’t the attackers take the relic? A Half-step Venerable Realm relic is priceless.”

”Because they already got what they wanted.”

Situ Qingfeng’s voice suddenly turned icy, as he lifted a hand to tear open his collar, revealing a sinister scar beneath his collarbone.

”Mother had one wing severed, her Essence Blood taken. It was through that drop of Essence Blood’s legacy that the Lu Family solidified its position in the Great Wilderness Holy Academy.”

Gu Sheng’s pupils contracted slightly.

He had heard of the Lu Family’s rise, but didn’t know of such hidden truths behind it.

”So you want to reclaim your mother’s legacy?”

Gu Sheng asked, simultaneously stepping forward. Instantly, that invisible pressure intensified, as though a thousand-pound burden pressed down on his shoulders.

Situ Qingfeng did not answer immediately, instead watching Gu Sheng’s difficult progress. As Gu Sheng reached three meters from the hall door, his skin had begun to seep tiny Blood Pearls.

”I’ve tried countless times.”

Situ Qingfeng finally spoke, his voice carrying a hint of bitterness.