Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World

Chapter 1433: Chapter 739: Ancient Relic (2)

Gu Sheng cupped his fists and saluted.

”Thank you for your concern, Mr. Xiao. The injury has begun to heal, and I only need to replenish my True Qi to return to my peak.”

Xiao Xuanze nodded while stroking his beard, and suddenly placed his hand on Gu Sheng’s shoulder, sending a gentle True Qi into his body.

Gu Sheng did not resist, allowing the True Qi to roam and probe within his meridians.

”How strange!”

Xiao Xuanze retracted his hand, his face showing astonishment.

”For an ordinary person, damage to the meridians to this extent would require at least six months of recuperation. But in just three days, new buds have already formed at the broken areas!”

Gu Sheng smiled but said nothing.

He knew it was the combined effect of the ’Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill’ and the nine Grotto Heavens, but he dared not speak of it.

Xiao Xuanze didn’t press further and solemnly said,

”Thanks to you, Gu, for turning the tide; otherwise, my Wanling Palace would have been in peril.

After the eruption of the Origin Fire that day, the remaining enemies were all eliminated by me, not one was left!”

”You overpraise me, Mr. Xiao.”

Gu Sheng shook his head.

”If it weren’t for Shadow sacrificing herself to protect me, I would have been reduced to ashes long ago.”

At the mention of Shadow, Xiao Xuanze’s expression grew solemn.

”Miss Ying is indeed admirable. However...”

He changed his tone.

”Gu, you forcibly urged power beyond the limits of the physical body this time, and the aftermath won’t be minor.”

Gu Sheng smiled bitterly.

”Mr. Xiao, you see everything clearly. To be honest, I was planning to ask if there is a place near Great Wilderness City that can strengthen the physical body?”

Xiao Xuanze’s eyes lit up.

”What a coincidence! Twenty thousand miles to the south is Spirit Flame Mountain, the molten pools there are where an ancient true dragon fell, which is considered a Holy Land for body cultivators!”

”A true dragon fell?”

Gu Sheng’s pupils narrowed slightly. True dragons are divine beasts of the world, and even their remaining essence blood after death contains supreme power.

”Exactly.”

Xiao Xuanze nodded.

”The molten pools erupt with Dragon Breath once every hundred years, and at the bottom lay ’Dragon Blood Crystals’ formed from the true dragon’s essence blood. However...”

His face looked troubled.

”Spirit Flame Mountain is fraught with danger, not only are there exotic beasts from the molten pools, but strong individuals from various major forces vying for the Dragon Blood Crystals...”

Gu Sheng’s eyes ignited with fighting spirit.

”That’s just what I want.”

”Gu Sheng!”

Xiao Mengdie suddenly spoke up.

”Your injuries haven’t healed yet, how can you take such risks?”

She turned to Xiao Xuanze.

”Father, you must dissuade him!”

Xiao Xuanze, however, burst into hearty laughter.

”Mengdie, in the face of a true dragon, everyone is equal. If Gu has such determination, how can I stand in his way?”

He looked at Gu Sheng.

”But there’s indeed no need to rush. Rest and adjust your energy for a day, then set off in your best state. I’ll go to the Scripture Pavilion to find the records related to Spirit Flame Mountain.”

After Xiao Xuanze left, Xiao Mengdie bit her lip standing by the bedside, her eyes full of reluctance and worry.

”Miss Mengdie, do not worry.”

Gu Sheng said softly.

”Once my physical body breaks through, I will return to visit.”

”Who...who’s worried about you!”

Xiao Mengdie’s face turned slightly red, then she spoke seriously.

”I just think you care too little for yourself! Miss Ying risked her life to save you, yet as soon as you wake up, you want to embark on a dangerous adventure...”

Gu Sheng’s expression dimmed.

”Precisely because of that, I have to become stronger.”

He raised his hand; a strand of weak True Qi flowed around his fingertip.

”If not for my weak physical body this time, it wouldn’t have come to this...”

Xiao Mengdie suddenly reached out and held his wrist.

”Promise me, you must return safely.”

The warmth from the maiden’s palm startled Gu Sheng, and he nodded solemnly.

”I will.”

As night fell, Gu Sheng sat cross-legged, attempting to condense a second Sea of Consciousness.

The painful memory of self-detonating his Sea of Consciousness was still vivid, but he had to restore his spiritual power as soon as possible.

At the moment his consciousness sank into the depths of the Sea of Consciousness, he was astonished to find that the second Sea of Consciousness, which should have been in ruins, was even more vast than before the self-detonation!

”This is...”

Gu Sheng viewed his Sea of Consciousness through inner vision, only to see a silver ocean surging, constantly expanding outward at its edges.

The intensity of his spiritual power had astonishingly reached the peak of the Fourth Grade, only a step away from the Fifth Grade.

”The Spiritual Unity Technique of Tantai Xueling...”

Gu Sheng suddenly understood.

At that time, Tantai Xueling forcefully resonated with his Sea of Consciousness using her Eighth Grade spiritual strength, inadvertently broadening his mental limits. It was like a river becoming wider naturally after being flushed by floodwaters.

”Misfortune is where fortune rests.”

Gu Sheng’s lips curled into a slight smile.

He composed himself and began to mend the final cracks in his Sea of Consciousness.

Under the control of his consciousness, the silver spiritual power wove into a net, meticulously repairing the slight damages one by one.

When the first ray of morning light pierced through the window screen, Gu Sheng suddenly opened his eyes, the silver light in his pupils blossomed and swiftly faded.

He rose to his full height, feeling refreshed and clear-headed, even the sharp pain in his meridians was significantly alleviated.

”It’s time to set off.”

He adjusted his garment.

As Gu Sheng stepped out of the Wanling Palace’s main hall, the sunset’s glow cast a blood-red sheen on the broken palace walls, illuminating the fractured pillars and collapsed temples.

The air was filled with a subtle burnt-earth scent, starkly contrasting with the memories of the Wanling Palace’s rich spiritual energy and the swirling Immortal Cranes.

”Senior Gu!”

A young disciple hurried past, holding several broken bricks. Upon seeing Gu Sheng, he immediately stopped and bowed deeply.

His forehead was still bandaged, and his sleeves were covered in dust, but there was a grateful light in his eyes.

Gu Sheng nodded slightly.

”How is your injury?”

”Thanks to Senior, it’s no longer a problem.”

The young disciple’s voice was somewhat choked.

”If not for Senior’s intervention, we might have...”

Gu Sheng patted his shoulder.

”The Wanling Palace has deep foundations, rebuilding is merely a matter of time. Go on, don’t keep the elders waiting.”

The young disciple nodded emphatically and quickly departed with the bricks.

Gu Sheng watched his departing figure, his gaze sweeping over the busy scene around him—a dozen disciples were clearing the ruins and transporting building materials, while several elders directed from a distance.

Though desolate, vitality was sprouting anew amidst the ruins.

”Gu.”

A gentle voice sounded from behind.

Gu Sheng turned around and saw Xiao Xuanze standing at the main hall entrance, his azure robe fluttering in the breeze.

The Wanling Palace Master still appeared somewhat pale, but his demeanor remained unfazed and composed.

”Mr. Xiao.”

Gu Sheng clasped his hands in greeting.

”Has your injury improved?”

Xiao Xuanze managed a bitter smile.

”I can’t compare to Gu’s rapid recovery. In just one day, you’ve returned to your peak, even advancing your spiritual power. Such talent is truly enviable.”

Gu Sheng’s lips curled into a slight smile.

”Just luck. The Blood Demon’s dying counterattack with spiritual shock helped clear an obstruction in my Sea of Consciousness.”

”Are you sure there are no hidden dangers?”

Xiao Xuanze’s brows furrowed, his eyes filled with concern.

”The Blood Demon’s power is unpredictable and insidious. If there’s any discomfort, the Wanling Palace will certainly spare no effort to assist.”

Gu Sheng’s eyes glimmered with mischief.

”Mr. Xiao is hoping I leave a hidden danger, so you can extort a few bottles of Elixir Pills from the Wanling Palace?”

”Hahaha—cough cough!”

Xiao Xuanze laughed, triggering his internal injury. He quickly pressed his chest but couldn’t hide his amusement.

”Gu, your tongue is sharper than your sword. Never mind, as long as you’re fine, I can be at ease.”

The two walked side by side on the small path paved with rubble.

In the distance, a few disciples were repairing a collapsed pavilion. Upon seeing the duo pass by, they paused their tasks to offer greetings.

Xiao Xuanze suddenly stopped, extracting a yellowed parchment from his Storage Ring.

”This is what I promised you.”

Gu Sheng took the parchment and slowly unfolded it. The surface was yellowed and brittle, the ink blurred due to age, barely revealing the mountain contours and a few markings.

”The map of the Spirit Flame Mountain Secret Realm?”

Gu Sheng’s fingertips gently traced the blurred lines.

”Seems to have some years on it.”

”An ancient item from three hundred years ago.”

Xiao Xuanze sighed.

”Back then, my master explored that Secret Realm and drew this map upon returning. Alas, after long years of erosion and the Secret Realm’s entrance seemingly relocating on its own, its exact location can no longer be determined.”

Gu Sheng examined the blurred markings on the map carefully, his gaze lingering at a certain spot.

”No matter, I have my own ways to find the entrance.”

Xiao Xuanze hesitated to speak further, eventually just letting out a light sigh.

”The Spirit Flame Mountain Secret Realm is extremely dangerous; even Earth Martial Realm experts enter at the risk of death. Are you determined to go?”

Gu Sheng put away the map, his gaze casting towards the gradually darkening horizon.