Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World Chapter 1177 - 612: Extremely Important Figure (2)

Anger contorted the Second Elder’s face, with a chilling murderous aura exploding from his body.

"What did you say? Qingcheng... she’s dead?"

Murong Qingcheng had been his most cherished granddaughter, boasting exceptional cultivation talent across the entire Sacred Land, forever the Second Elder’s greatest source of pride and the jewel he treasured deepest in his heart.

Learning that his granddaughter had met a tragic end on the enigmatic and perilous Holy Road shattered the Second Elder’s world.

"That’s right, Murong Qingcheng is dead." Tianlan Holy Master gave a slight nod, his expression etched with profound grief.

"Who was it? Who committed this heinous act?"

Rage made the Second Elder’s body quiver faintly.

"I suspect it was Qinghe Holy Land’s Kunpeng Taoist," he spat out each word through clenched teeth.

Only someone with the power to attack Murong Qingcheng on the Holy Road fit the bill, and Kunpeng Taoist topped that list.

Rivalries between Sacred Lands, both overt and covert, raged endlessly, and Kunpeng Taoist had long been a cunning adversary.

Yet Tianlan Holy Master shook his head. "Kunpeng Taoist is dead too. From the reports we’ve gathered, Murong Qingcheng... took her own life."

"Suicide? Impossible!"

The Second Elder bellowed at Tianlan Holy Master. "Qingcheng was always so upbeat and full of life, gifted with top-tier cultivation talent and a promising path ahead. Suicide? No way! Someone forced her into it—someone definitely did!"

In his mind, his granddaughter shone as a vibrant, unyielding force; accepting suicide was utterly beyond him.

Gongsun Yue emerged from the crowd, offering a respectful bow to the Second Elder before she spoke: "Second Elder, please listen to me.

On the Holy Road, Murong Qingcheng plotted with disciples from Qinghe Holy Land and Refining Dragon Holy Land, betraying our Tianlan Sacred Land in the process.

She later fell to Gu Sheng, and Kunpeng Taoist perished at Gu Sheng’s hands too. Overwhelmed by guilt for her crimes, she ended her own life."

"You’re lying!"

The Second Elder jabbed his cane toward Gongsun Yue, roaring, "Why slander Qingcheng like this? How could she ever betray the Sacred Land?"

Unfazed by the Second Elder’s fury, Gongsun Yue met his gaze directly. "Second Elder, everything I’ve said is the truth. Countless witnesses on the Holy Road saw Murong Qingcheng’s deeds. Her treason against the Sacred Land demands no forgiveness."

"Enough, Gongsun Yue."

Tianlan Holy Mother intervened to halt Gongsun Yue. Approaching the Second Elder, she spoke with resignation: "Second Elder, we’ve thoroughly confirmed that Murong Qingcheng betrayed Tianlan Sacred Land on the Holy Road.

Her death is reported as suicide, but if you want to dig deeper, we won’t stand in your way."

Refusing to accept it, the Second Elder shook with wrath, slamming his cane against the floor as he yelled, "No, this can’t be—there’s some secret truth hidden here. You’re all hiding something; someone hurt Qingcheng!"

Wheeling around to Gu Sheng, he thrust his cane at him. "Tell me—what really happened? Did you harm Qingcheng?"

Gu Sheng responded steadily, "Second Elder, every survivor from the Holy Road can vouch for Murong Qingcheng’s betrayal. She allied with outsiders against the Sacred Land; that’s irrefutable."

This ignited a blaze of fury in the Second Elder. "Gu Sheng! Even if Qingcheng erred, it wasn’t your place to judge her."

With those words, the Second Elder unleashed a mighty pressure surging straight at Gu Sheng, aiming to compel the answers he craved.

But just before it reached Gu Sheng, Tianlan Holy Mother released her own overwhelming aura. Like a raging gale, it scattered the Second Elder’s pressure entirely.

Tianlan Holy Mother declared resolutely: "Second Elder, betraying the Sacred Land as Murong Qingcheng did is inexcusable. Out of respect for your long service, we’ve let it rest. Don’t push it.

If you doubt it, investigate her death and the betrayal freely—neither the Holy Master nor I will shield anyone."

Tianlan Holy Mother’s unyielding stance stunned the Second Elder. He’d assumed his position would earn some support from the Holy Master and Holy Mother, yet here she backed Gu Sheng fully.

Restraining his outburst, he shot a venomous glare at Gu Sheng before shifting his eyes to Luo Jun and the rest.

"And you? Do you claim the same?"

Threat laced the Second Elder’s voice as his piercing gaze raked over Luo Jun and the others.

Though intimidated by the intense pressure, Luo Jun and his companions nodded affirmatively.

"Well, very well!"

The Second Elder let out a bitter, enraged laugh, convinced some conspiracy lurked beneath, forcing this unified narrative.

Sensing trouble, the Seventh Elder rushed forward to defuse the tension. Clearing his throat, he said: "Let’s not lose our heads... I remember something—Wang Feng... how did he die exactly?"

The Seventh Elder’s mention brought complicated expressions to everyone’s faces; even Tianlan Holy Master looked a bit uneasy.

Gongsun Yue advanced once more. Composing herself, she explained: "Wang Feng... got captured by a mysterious old monster.

He then ventured into Death Valley, overcoming the Mysterious Taoist who guarded the Guardian of the Holy Road’s legacy.

Yet Gu Sheng turned the tables and struck him down. Strictly speaking, Wang Feng didn’t fall directly to Gu Sheng but to that old monster."

Gongsun Yue’s revelations left the crowd stunned. Wang Feng’s capture by an old monster, his Death Valley incursion, and victory over the Mysterious Taoist—each detail hit harder than the last, overwhelming their senses.

Learning Wang Feng’s fate plunged the Seventh Elder into heavy silence.

"How... how did it get so tangled?"

The Second Elder muttered under his breath, pacing the hall anxiously. "Wang Feng might’ve been slain by Gu Sheng, but on closer look, compared to Murong Qingcheng’s devastating betrayal, we can’t pin it all on him."

"Wang Feng got seized and tried to take down Gu Sheng, only to get counter-killed."

Slamming the table hard enough to rattle the teacups, the Seventh Elder exclaimed, "No, this stinks of foul play.

I’m doubting not just Wang Feng and Murong Qingcheng’s deaths, but even Gu Sheng beating Kunpeng Taoist—it all warrants scrutiny, not blind acceptance."

From her quiet spot, Gongsun Yue interjected softly. "Elders, Gu Sheng claimed the Guardian of the Holy Road Master’s legacy."

The Seventh Elder’s hands gripped the table instinctively as he pressed urgently: "Miss Gongsun, is that accurate? Double-check you didn’t get the intel wrong."

Gongsun Yue affirmed sincerely: "Elders, it’s completely true—I got it straight from a trustworthy source by pure chance."

At that moment, Tianlan Holy Master proclaimed: "Everyone, Gu Sheng secured the Guardian of the Holy Road Master’s legacy on his Holy Road trial. Henceforth, our Tianlan Sacred Land will cultivate him as a core disciple.

All personal grudges against Gu Sheng end here and now, never to resurface."

The Second Elder’s lips twitched repeatedly, words on the tip of his tongue, but he could only gape helplessly before falling silent.

Dissatisfaction marred the Seventh Elder’s features, yet he grudgingly nodded.

Tianlan Holy Master appeared to have foreseen their responses.

He announced gravely: "Today, I present to you a vital figure—Tianxuan Divine Girl."

"What you may not realize is that on the Holy Road, Gu Sheng didn’t just slay the infamous Kunpeng Taoist alone—he also battled elites from the Six Great Holy Lands, like Saint Heirs and Holy Daughters."

"Cornered in peril, Gu Sheng was saved when Tianxuan Divine Girl intervened at the clutch moment. With her stunning might, she repelled the Six Great Saint Masters, securing safe passage for Gu Sheng and our Tianlan Sacred Land disciples."