Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World

Chapter 1427: Chapter 736: Achieved (Part 2)

Only he could hear the response from the Void.

“Let me try, sir.”

A shadow shot out from Gu Sheng’s sleeve, darting towards the crimson barrier like lightning.

The shadow exploded with dazzling brilliance upon contact with the barrier, shaking the entire Wanling Palace.

But moments later, the shadow flew back, landing by Gu Sheng’s feet and transforming into human form.

“Young master, this array… cannot be breached.”

The Shadow knelt on one knee, the voice beneath the mask carrying rare gravity.

“It would take at least three Sect Realm Peak martial artists working together to even have a chance at forcefully breaking it.”

Gu Sheng furrowed his brows, turning to Xiao Xuanze.

“Uncle, does Wanling Palace have any enemies capable of laying such a grand array?”

Xiao Xuanze shook his head.

“There are very few forces capable of activating the Ancient Heaven Sealing Array, and the Zhao family is definitely not among them. Unless…”

He paused.

“Someone is using a third party to do their bidding.”

“Zhao Qianhuan’s sudden betrayal surely has someone orchestrating it behind the scenes.”

Gu Sheng was lost in thought.

“I just don’t know whether their goal is Wanling Palace, or…”

“Are they directly targeting you?”

Xiao Xuanze picked up the conversation, his gaze fixed on Gu Sheng.

Gu Sheng smirked noncommittally.

“We’ll meet force with force, water with earth. Since we can’t leave for now, let’s observe the situation quietly.”

Xiao Xuanze patted Gu Sheng’s shoulder, the force of it causing Gu Sheng to sway slightly.

“Don’t worry, nephew. As long as you’re in Wanling Palace, I will ensure your safety.”

“Thank you, Uncle.”

Gu Sheng bowed with hands folded, yet his eyes carried an imperceptible sharpness.

“I’ll return to my residence for now. Should anything happen, I await your command.”

Leaving the main hall, Gu Sheng walked along the corridor with a figure three steps behind him.

“Have you found out?”

Gu Sheng suddenly spoke, his voice pressed low.

“The Zhao family’s actions this time are indeed unusual.”

The Shadow’s voice was like sandpaper scraping.

“Zhao Qianhuan has always been cautious and wouldn’t recklessly break ties with Wanling Palace.”

Gu Sheng’s fingertips gathered a wisp of azure spiritual power, sketching a complex pattern in his palm.

“Any news from Wuyun City?”

“Currently isolated by the grand array, the Communication Jade Talisman is disabled.”

Gu Sheng snorted lightly, retracting the spiritual power.

“Looks like the opposing side is well-prepared.”

Meanwhile, outside Wanling Palace.

Zhao Qianhuan stood on a high slope, his expression shifting as he looked at the palace clusters encapsulated by the blood-red barrier.

Behind him stood dozens of elite Zhao family members, each with condensed auras, evidently skilled.

“Useless!”

An icy voice suddenly erupted by Zhao Qianhuan’s ear.

“You can’t even handle this small matter!”

Zhao Qianhuan’s body stiffened, quickly turning and bowing.

“Please, don’t be angry, sir. It’s truly…”

“Grandfather has already tried his best!”

A young voice interjected suddenly. Zhao Lingqian stepped forward quickly, blocking Zhao Qianhuan.

“The plan was progressing smoothly, but who would’ve thought that Gu Sheng has a Sect Realm Peak guardian by his side! Grandfather retreated temporarily to preserve the overall situation!”

The air rippled, and a figure shrouded in a black robe slowly emerged.

The black-robed figure was surrounded by black mist, obscuring his face, with only a pair of blood-red eyes glaring at the Zhao family patriarch and grandson.

“Sect Realm Peak?”

The black-robed man’s voice was like metal scraping.

“Since when did Wuyun City’s Gu family have such guardians?”

Zhao Qianhuan’s forehead broke out in cold sweat.

“Sir, Gu Sheng has an extraordinary background. We’ve found that he is not only a direct lineage of Wuyun City’s Gu family, but also closely connected to the Emperor Sect and Linyin Pavilion.”

“Emperor Sect? Linyin Pavilion?”

The black mist around the black-robed man churned violently, betraying his inner turmoil.

“No wonder… no wonder…”

Zhao Lingqian dared to ask.

“Does sir have a grudge against Gu Sheng?”

“Blabbermouth!”

The black-robed man flicked his sleeve, causing Zhao Lingqian to be struck as if by lightning, his body flying backward and crashing heavily onto rocks ten zhang away, spitting blood.

Zhao Qianhuan hastily knelt down.

“Forgive my grandson’s ignorance, my lord!”

The black-robed man snorted coldly.

“Send another Sect Realm cultivator to assist you. Within three days, you must conquer the Wanling Palace and capture Gu Sheng alive!”

He paused, his voice becoming even colder.

“Remember, I want him alive!”

Zhao Qianhuan’s forehead touched the ground.

“I obey!”

The black-robed man’s figure began to dissipate, leaving one final sentence.

“Remember, if you fail again, you know the consequences.”

Before the words had even finished, he vanished into black smoke.

Inside the Wanling Palace.

Gu Sheng sat cross-legged in the center of the Quiet Room, with his aura fluctuating unsteadily around him.

His eyes were tightly shut, but a look of determination was evident in his furrowed brows.

The Luminous Pearls embedded in the four walls of the Quiet Room emitted a gentle glow, casting a more resolute light upon his well-defined face.

“The Secret Technique taught by Shadow is indeed extraordinary.”

Gu Sheng thought inwardly, feeling the flow of spiritual power and soul power within him.

He began to follow the instructions of the Secret Technique, attempting to reverse his Qi-blood flow.

Even with just the reversal of Qi-blood, a needle-like pain shot through his meridians, causing cold sweat to instantly bead on his forehead.

“Ugh!”

Gu Sheng grunted, a trickle of blood seeping from the corner of his mouth. But a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes—it seemed his foundation had indeed strengthened!

“Using conventional methods to solidify one’s foundation requires tens of millions of High-grade Spirit Stones and nearly a year of time, yet this Secret Technique is equivalent to several days of arduous cultivation within mere moments!”

Gu Sheng felt a surge of excitement within.

“Though painful, it’s worth a try!”

He hesitated no longer, unleashing his spiritual power and soul power simultaneously, driving more Qi-blood to flow backward through his meridians.

The searing pain attacked, causing Gu Sheng’s muscles to tense and his veins to bulge, but he gritted his teeth and persevered.

“Not enough yet!”

Gu Sheng let out a low growl, beginning to reverse his True Qi.

At the moment his True Qi reversed through his meridians, a golden cauldron’s shadow suddenly appeared behind him! The cauldron’s body was ancient and heavy, with intricate engravings on its surface, exuding an old and mysterious aura.

A brilliant light erupted from the cauldron’s mouth, enveloping Gu Sheng entirely.

“What is this…”

Although Gu Sheng was unaware of the anomaly behind him, he felt the pain in his meridians suddenly lessen, and the speed of reversing his True Qi also became several times smoother.

He had no time to ponder, seizing the opportunity to accelerate the reversal of his meridians. The True Qi pierced through one meridian after another, beginning to attack the first vital point within him.

“The Dantian is the foundation of Martial Arts and also the greatest vital point.”

Gu Sheng came to a realization in his heart.

“Breaking through the Dantian will complete the Secret Technique; if I fail…”

He didn’t continue thinking about it, his eyes filled with a steely determination.

“In my past life, I halted at the Peak of the Heavenly Martial Realm. In this life, if I don’t dare to take risks, how can I break through the chasm?”

“Break!”

Gu Sheng let out a low shout, as the reversed True Qi and Qi-blood charged toward the acupoint of his Dantian.

“Boom—”

It was as if thunder exploded within his body, causing Gu Sheng’s flesh to burst immediately, blood splattering everywhere and dyeing the Quiet Room’s floor dark red.

The intense pain nearly caused him to faint, but the next moment, an immense life force surged out from his Dantian, and the ruptured flesh began to heal at a speed visible to the naked eye.

“Succeeded!”

Gu Sheng felt the changes within his body, overwhelmed with joy.

Although the total amount of True Qi hadn’t increased, each unit was more than twice as concentrated!

Even more astonishing was that his life force was several times stronger than before, and his meridians had also widened significantly.

“Continue!”

Having tasted victory, Gu Sheng hesitated no longer. With a single burst, he channeled his soul power, beginning to assault other acupoints…

Time passed, and it was already dawn on the following day.

“Gu Sheng! Gu Sheng, are you in there?”

A clear female voice came from outside the Quiet Room, accompanied by a gentle knocking.

Hearing no response, the door was quietly pushed open a crack, and a delicate face peeked inside.

Xiao Mengdie blinked her lively eyes, scanning the interior of the Quiet Room.

“Father asked me to call you, why don’t you answer…”

She muttered softly, tiptoeing into the Quiet Room.

The next moment, Xiao Mengdie’s pupils shrank dramatically, her delicate face turning pale in an instant.

“Ah—!”

A sharp scream shattered the morning’s tranquility.

She saw Gu Sheng sitting cross-legged in the center of the Quiet Room, covered in blood, with splatters all over the floor and walls, and a strong smell of blood wafting through the air.

More terrifying was that his flesh was visibly bursting and healing rapidly, as if something was rampaging within him.

“Gu Sheng! What’s happening to you?”

Xiao Mengdie’s voice trembled, her legs nearly giving out.

Awakened by the scream, Gu Sheng slowly opened his eyes.