Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World Chapter 1267 657: Turn and Run (Part 2)

"What?!"

A collective gasp escaped everyone as they stared, utterly dumbfounded, at the unfolding scene.

Could it be that the Supreme Treasure Sword was actually choosing to defend Gu Sheng of its own volition?

"This is impossible..." Lv Feng whispered to herself, her voice barely audible.

"A Divine Artifact has recognized its master?"

Gu Sheng, too, was caught in a state of shock.

He lowered his gaze to the treasure sword held firmly in his hand, observing the intricate, ancient patterns etched upon its blade, which now pulsed with an otherworldly luminescence.

The disembodied voice echoed once more within his mind.

"A master's command cannot be defied."

A profound understanding dawned upon Gu Sheng at this moment.

With deliberate slowness, he raised his head, his intense gaze sweeping over Wang Xiu Jie, Lv Feng, the contingent from the Dragon Palace, and finally settling with unwavering focus upon the Qinghe Saintess.

"I appreciate your concern," he stated, a faint smile gracing the corners of his lips.

"However, at this juncture..."

A resonant hum emanated from the treasure sword, a clear and sharp blast of Sword Qi that caused the entirety of the Blood River to churn violently in response!

"The ones who ought to be fleeing are them."

"You are being utterly unreasonable!"

The Qinghe Saintess's normally impassive face contorted with rare anger.

"What could possibly be more important than your own life?"

Gu Sheng remained unnervingly still, his hands gripping the sword's hilt with unwavering determination, without even bothering to look up.

"You wouldn't understand."

"I don't understand?" The Holy Daughter let out a disbelieving, almost furious laugh.

"Fine! If that's how you wish it, then simply await your demise at Wang Xiu Jie's hands!"

She began to turn away, yet found herself compelled to cast a backward glance.

"Wang Xiu Jie's Cultivation has already reached the precipice of the Venerable Realm, and he is the direct brother of the Qinghe Saint Heir! Should you fall into his grasp, you won't even be granted the mercy of a swift death!"

Only then did Gu Sheng finally lift his eyes, the sun-and-moon patterns within his pupils radiating a distinct impatience.

"Are you finished speaking?"

"You!"

The Holy Daughter's delicate fingers trembled; never before had anyone dismissed her warnings with such blatant disregard.

She forcefully suppressed the surge of fury bubbling within her chest.

"Arrogant and conceited! Your exploits on the Holy Road have made you forget your own limitations!"

Gu Sheng paid her no heed, his entire consciousness focused on establishing a connection with the Divine Sword.

The palpable pulse emanating from the blade grew steadily more potent.

"Good... very good..."

A confident smirk spread across Gu Sheng's face.

"Just a little closer..."

Far off on the tumultuous battlefield, Wang Xiu Jie exploited a momentary lapse in Lv Feng's defenses. The brilliant golden light of their Battle Array coalesced into an immense, crushing palm, instantly obliterating a Heavenly Palace Realm powerhouse, reducing him to a bloody smear on the ground!

"Ah!" Amidst terrified screams, another formidable figure was caught by the lingering force of the attack; half his body disintegrated, his blood painting the sky a grim crimson.

The momentum of the battle had irrevocably shifted in an instant!

"Who else dares challenge me?!"

Wang Xiu Jie's hair and beard stood on end, his demeanor resembling that of a rampaging demon.

"Leave now while you still can!"

This overwhelming display of ferocity compelled everyone to fall back repeatedly; even Lv Feng's face had drained to a ghastly pallor.

Her injuries were far too grievous; she lacked the residual strength to continue fighting.

"Senior Brother Wang..." the man clad in black reminded him discreetly.

"We are left with only three Spirit Stones."

The corner of Wang Xiu Jie's eye twitched, but he managed to maintain a semblance of composure.

"Maintain the formation and advance slowly towards Gu Sheng."

The Battle Array crept forward, each measured step deliberate and cautious.

Wang Xiu Jie's gaze remained locked onto the figure standing merely ten meters away, a silhouette utterly absorbed in gripping his sword, a covetous gleam in his eyes.

"Ten meters... Once we breach that ten-meter radius..."

At such close proximity, even if Lv Feng were to realize her mistake, it would be far too late to intervene!

Observing this turn of events from a distance, the Qinghe Saintess finally relinquished all hope.

She turned to depart, the hem of her pristine white gown tracing a resolute arc in the air.

"Holy Daughter?" The cultivator from the Dragon Palace followed her, a look of surprise on his face.

"You're not going to watch any longer?"

"There's no point."

The Holy Daughter's voice was chillingly cold, yet an involuntary glance flickered back over her shoulder.

In that fleeting moment, she witnessed Wang Xiu Jie's Battle Array successfully breach the ten-meter barrier surrounding Gu Sheng!

"It's over..."

A tremor ran through the Holy Daughter's heart; she instinctively closed her eyes.

Simultaneously, Wang Xiu Jie could no longer contain himself and erupted into unrestrained, triumphant laughter directed towards the heavens.

"Gu Sheng! Your day of reckoning has arrived!"

"Boom!"

The golden aura of the Battle Array surged outwards; Wang Xiu Jie launched himself forward, his terrifying Venerable Level Cultivation fully unleashed, his palm descending like a deathblow towards Gu Sheng's Heavenly Spirit!

Just as Wang Xiu Jie's five fingers were a mere three inches from Gu Sheng's Heavenly Spirit, he abruptly, and with great effort, reined in his power.

The tempestuous vortex of Spiritual Power whipped Gu Sheng's long hair about, yet failed to inflict the slightest injury upon him.

"Cannot kill him... not yet..."

Bloodshot eyes and bulging veins marked Wang Xiu Jie's appearance.

"I must seize him alive... and then interrogate him at my leisure..."

He fought the urge to bash Gu Sheng's skull in immediately, his reason overriding his fury.

Once they were clear of Ten Thousand Ghost Ridge, he had countless methods to inflict such misery upon Gu Sheng that he'd beg for death!

From a distance, the Qinghe Saintess witnessed Wang Xiu Jie retracting his power, letting out a breath of relief, only to see Lv Feng suddenly launch an attack!

"Stop him!"

Despite being drenched in his own blood, Lv Feng grit his teeth and charged forward.

"We absolutely cannot allow Wang Xiu Jie to succeed!"

At this urgent cry, the wavering Cultivators, who had been observing, looked on with bloodshot eyes, unleashing a barrage of killing moves toward the Void barrier.

Even the Dragon Palace could no longer hold back, transforming into a streak of flowing light and joining the fray.

"Heh..." Wang Xiu Jie scoffed. As his sleeves unfurled, the Void aura intensified.

"A mass of ants!"

Tendrils of energy rippled across the barrier's edge, swallowing all incoming attacks like rocks into a vast ocean.

Subtly, the barrier's edges sharpened, appearing as though they might cleave space itself and vanish into another dimension.

"Senior Brother Wang!"

The man in black bellowed from outside the barrier.

"Take us with you!"

The other followers also reacted, scrambling towards the barrier and striking it.

"Senior Brother! Don't abandon us!"

Wang Xiu Jie didn't even spare them a glance, his words delivered with a flat tone.

"If you manage to survive Ten Thousand Ghost Ridge, I shall naturally bestow rewards upon you."

Though the words sounded pleasant, they were utterly devoid of sincerity.

His ultimate trump card, the Void Escape, could ferry at most two individuals. Moreover... how could he possibly share the secrets Gu Sheng possessed with anyone else?

"Wang Xiu Jie! You ungrateful cur!"

The man in black finally grasped the situation, his eyes blazing with wrath.

"Form the array! Break through this damnable shell!"

The remaining Battle Array shimmered with golden light once more, but this time, its power was redirected, striking the barrier.

The other Cultivators unleashed their attacks simultaneously, creating a cacophony of explosions.

Wang Xiu Jie remained indifferent, his entire focus fixed upon Gu Sheng.

His palm finally descended, poised to seize Gu Sheng—

"It worked."

Gu Sheng uttered these three simple words. Though his voice was not loud, it caused every hair on Wang Xiu Jie's body to stand on end!

"What?"

Wang Xiu Jie's movement faltered.

"What do you mean, 'it worked'?"

Gu Sheng slowly lifted his head. His eyes, containing both the sun and moon, held nothing but mockery, as if he were observing a mere performing clown.

That single look sent a chill down Wang Xiu Jie's spine, a profound sense of dread instantly eclipsing his rationality.

He no longer concerned himself with capturing Gu Sheng alive; his palm surged with overwhelming Spiritual Power.

"Die!"

But by then, it was already too late—

Gu Sheng casually raised his right hand, and the Supreme Treasure Sword, which pierced the heavens, was effortlessly drawn forth by him!

The moment the sword left the sky, the entirety of the Blood River trembled!

"This sword."

Gu Sheng's tone was as placid as if he were discussing the weather.

"I shall return it to you."

"Zheng!"

As the Ancient Divine Sword was unsheathed, Wang Xiu Jie's pupils contracted sharply. However, a sinister grin returned to his face in the next instant.

"A mere Heavenly Palace Realm cultivator dares to..."

Before he could finish, the sword's edge was already upon him!

Wang Xiu Jie had anticipated this. His left hand formed a seal, and azure Void Heavenly Fire ignited, coalescing into a formidable barrier before him.

Concurrently, Spiritual Power surged from his right hand, intending to deflect the treasured sword.

"Boom!"

Lv Feng and the others' assaults coincided perfectly, striking the Void barrier and erupting in a shower of flames.

The attacks launched via the Battle Array by Wang Xiu Jie's subordinates were also halted at the barrier's exterior.

"Hahaha!"

Wang Xiu Jie erupted in maniacal laughter.

"A collection of trash!"

Smugly, he turned his gaze towards Gu Sheng—only to observe a peculiar curve forming at the corner of the latter's lips.

"Hm?"

A tremor ran through Wang Xiu Jie's heart. Before he could react, the seemingly ordinary Ancient Divine Sword suddenly blazed with incandescent light!

"Wong——"

The sword hummed, spectral images of the sun and moon swirling along its blade. A Sword Qi, capable of tearing apart heaven and earth, was unleashed!

"Crack!"

The barrier of the void was obliterated. The protective Spiritual Power of Wang Xiu Jie disintegrated in less than a single breath, as if it were mere paper.

"No... This is impossible!"

Wang Xiu Jie's eyes widened in sheer terror as his right arm was cleanly severed from his shoulder, a geyser of blood erupting from the wound.

"Aaaah!!"

Before the scream could even fully escape his lips, the Sword Qi continued its brutal trajectory, slicing downwards from the very top of his head!

The gruesome sound of flesh and bone rending echoed horrifically.

Wang Xiu Jie's body was bisected precisely down its midline, his internal organs cascading into the Blood River with a sickening thud.

An expression of utter disbelief was etched onto his contorted face, frozen even in the throes of death.

All eyes were fixed, wide with shock, as Wang Xiu Jie's halved corpse slowly descended to the riverbed.

A powerhouse at the Venerable Level... was ended just like that?

"Next."

Gu Sheng nonchalantly flicked the Blood Pearls from his sword, his voice barely audible, as if speaking to himself.

"It is your turn."

"Run! We must run now!"

Lv Feng was the first to break from his stupor, his voice trembling with panic. The experts who had been projecting such might mere moments before were now utterly terrified, turning tail to flee without a second's hesitation!