Previously on Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World...
Ling Xiao saves Gu Sheng, but is confronted by Long Yi. Ling Xiao leads Long Yi on a chase, then brutally kills him by pulling out his heart and uses his own body to feed a Taotie Stone Pillar. Long Yi's sect members arrive to find his corpse and flee in terror. Ling Xiao picks up Long Yi's ring and the Ancient Reincarnation Bell, then uses a powerful elixir to heal Gu Sheng, who wakes up three days later. Gu Sheng is surprised Ling Xiao killed Long Yi and thanks him, returning the bell. Ling Xiao warns Gu Sheng about his reckless absorption of spiritual energy, and Gu Sheng reveals a Vermilion Bird Tear Stone.
Ling Xiao ceased speaking. He rose and exited the cave, forming a hand seal to erect an invisible barrier at the opening, thereby preventing the leakage of Qi. Having completed these preparations, he retrieved an item from his spatial ring. This was the cerulean Jade Pendant that had been acquired from Long Yi’s Void Ring. Exquisite cloud patterns were naturally etched onto the pendant’s surface, and it felt warm to the touch, with a liquid-like substance appearing to flow within. "Truly, it is a remarkable treasure," Ling Xiao commented, his eyes alight with joy. He settled into a cross-legged position, commencing the absorption of the pure Qi contained within the Jade Pendant. ... Meanwhile, on the desolate outskirts of Ten Thousand Ghost Ridge. Gong Xuefeng sat immobilized on the ground, struggling to draw breath. Surrounding him, a dozen disciples from the Luotian Sect were similarly disheveled, with some even lying prone on the earth. "We... we actually managed to escape with our lives..." a young cultivator whispered in disbelief. The memory of their harrowing experiences within the basin sent shivers down everyone’s spines. The image of Long Yi's ghastly demise remained etched in their minds, and the Taotie Stone Pillar that had consumed his heart had become a shared terror. "Long Yi's Life Plate..." Gong Xuefeng suddenly recalled something and produced a jade plate from his robe. This was the Life Plate exclusively for core disciples of the Luotian Sect, utilized for tracking each other’s positions. Upon hearing this, the others also retrieved their respective Life Plates. Under normal circumstances, the demise of a Life Plate's owner would cause it to shatter and indicate the location of death. However, Long Yi’s Life Plate had not shattered; instead, it emitted a subtle luminescence. "What... could be happening?" a bewildered female cultivator inquired. "The Life Plate seems to indicate that Long Yi’s... Qi is being absorbed?" Gong Xuefeng’s expression was filled with uncertainty. "Perhaps the Life Plate has fallen into other hands. To achieve such a feat within Ten Thousand Ghost Ridge..." "Gu Sheng!" The thought of Long Yi’s Void Ring, replete with valuable items, and the treasures Gu Sheng himself possessed, flashed through Gong Xuefeng’s mind. If he could just acquire one or two of them... "Inform the sect immediately!" Gong Xuefeng decreed without hesitation. "Just report that Gu Sheng's whereabouts have been ascertained, and that Long Yi... unfortunately met a tragic end." One disciple hesitated. "But we don’t even know where Gu Sheng is..." "The Life Plate will guide us," Gong Xuefeng stated, his grip tightening on the jade plate. "This time, we shall claim those treasures!" .......... "Hahaha!" Ling Xiao’s unrestrained laughter reverberated through the ominous forest of Ten Thousand Ghost Ridge. The cerulean Jade Pendant in his hand had visibly diminished in size, its pure Qi continuously flowing into him. With every trace of Qi absorbed, the faint blackness within his eyes deepened. "Ling Xiao, keep your voice down!" Gu Sheng emerged from the cave, his complexion still pale but his aura having stabilized. He scanned their surroundings with heightened vigilance. "The members of the Luotian Sect might still be lurking nearby." Ling Xiao suppressed his laughter, idly tossing and catching the Life Plate. "What is there to fear? That band of useless fools couldn't even protect Long Yi; what threat do they pose to me?" Even as he spoke, he lowered his voice. "How is your recovery progressing?" "Almost complete," Gu Sheng replied, stretching slightly. "We must depart swiftly; the Supreme Treasure Sword might have already attracted more powerful individuals." Ling Xiao nodded, returning the Life Plate and Jade Pendant to his spatial ring. "Let’s move. I know a quicker route." The pair departed the cave with haste, venturing deeper into the dense, ancient woodland of Ten Thousand Ghost Ridge. Ling Xiao took the lead, navigating through treacherous jagged rocks and gnarled ancient trees, expertly evading concealed dangers at every turn. Gu Sheng followed, inwardly marveling at the acuity of Ling Xiao’s knowledge of this forbidden zone, which seemed as if he possessed an internal map. On several occasions, they narrowly bypassed deadly mires and unseen spatial distortions. "Turn left!" Ling Xiao suddenly commanded, abruptly altering their course. Gu Sheng obeyed without hesitation. Just as they concealed themselves behind a colossal boulder, a black rift materialized silently about thirty feet ahead, instantly shredding a passing crow into a mist of blood. "A spatial rift..." Cold sweat beaded on Gu Sheng’s forehead. "And it’s invisible too." Ling Xiao gave a slight grin. "You get accustomed to it. This accursed place..." Before he could finish his sentence, his expression shifted abruptly, and he pressed down forcefully on Gu Sheng’s shoulder. "Get down!" Both held their breath, focusing their senses. A moment later, the distant sound of snapping branches reached their ears, followed by deliberately hushed voices in conversation. "...the Life Plate indicates it is close by..." "... tread carefully, that brat managed to kill Long Yi..." "... let’s split up and search..." Gu Sheng mouthed the words silently.
"How could they possibly locate us?"
Ling Xiao knitted his brows, made a gesture for silence, and strained to hear more.
"... The Sect Master's meticulously crafted Life Plate is truly extraordinary...
"... I have it on good authority that the Jade Pendant is...
"... Silence! Do you court death?..."
Upon hearing this, Ling Xiao's pupils constricted instantly, and his hand instinctively went to his chest. A realization dawned on Gu Sheng—the predicament stemmed from those spoils of war they had acquired!
They stealthily began to withdraw, utilizing the surrounding terrain to rapidly increase their distance from the source of the voices.
It was only after they had covered several miles and were certain of their temporary safety that they paused their frantic retreat in a desolate riverbed.
"It's the Life Plate!"
Ling Xiao produced the faintly glowing jade plate.
"The Luotian Sect Master's exclusive secret technique allows the Life Plate to continuously track its location, even after the disciple's demise."
Gu Sheng fixed his gaze upon the Life Plate. "Shall we cast it aside?"
Ling Xiao exhibited clear hesitation. "It still holds thirty percent of its unabsorbed energy...
"Ling Xiao!" Gu Sheng's tone grew more insistent. "Which holds greater value—your life or this energy?"
Ling Xiao let out an unwilling curse but suddenly retrieved the light blue Jade Pendant as well. "Hold on... it might be responsible too! Long Yi was clutching it so tightly just before he breathed his last; perhaps...
Gu Sheng opted not to press him, content to wait in silence for Ling Xiao to make the final decision.
After what felt like an eternity, Ling Xiao decisively hurled both the Life Plate and the Jade Pendant into the distance.
"Let's move!" He snarled, grabbing Gu Sheng's arm and accelerating away in the opposite direction.
"We're not going to escape them!"
Ling Xiao gritted his teeth, his growls growing deeper, veins throbbing on his forehead, and his eyes bloodshot. He could feel the dozen auras of Heavenly Palace Realm cultivators right behind them, like tenacious parasites clinging to his very being; each single aura possessed the power to obliterate them without a trace.
