Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World Chapter 1270 - 659: A Thunderclap Erupts

A cold sweat drenched the elder’s back as he contemplated that unfathomable presence.

Soon, the powerhouses from the Six Great Holy Lands arrived at a shared understanding.

Qinghe’s Fifth Elder took the lead, guiding dozens of experts to search for Gu Sheng’s potential escape route.

Like sharks sensing blood, the forces from other Holy Lands followed closely behind.

"Great Elder..."

A trusted aide transmitted a message.

"If we continue pursuing like this, we might forfeit the optimal chance for a rescue."

The elder’s eyes held a profound depth.

"I have my own arrangements."

He abruptly stopped, turning to the disciples gathered behind him.

"Everyone, heed my command and return to Tianlan Sacred Land at once!"

The assembled group was taken aback. A young disciple inquired urgently.

"But the Holy Master ordered us..."

"Silence!"

The elder rarely raised his voice, but he did so sternly before lowering it.

"Return and inform the Holy Master. Just say… 'Qingyun' has appeared, and a contingency plan is required."

This statement caused every Tianlan disciple to tremble. 'Qingyun' was the highest-level secret code, signaling that the situation had become exceptionally perilous.

"Great Elder, it is far too dangerous for you to go alone!"

The trusted aide’s eyes welled up.

The old man shook his head and retrieved an ancient jade scroll from his chest.

"Deliver this to the Holy Master personally, without fail."

His gaze swept across each young face, his voice softening considerably.

"The future of Tianlan… rests in your hands now."

These words, akin to a farewell, brought several female disciples to tears on the spot.

Yet, under the elder’s stern gaze, everyone could only accept their orders tearfully, turn around, and make haste.

As he watched their receding figures, the elder let out a long, drawn-out sigh. Now, he could afford to take a gamble.

Producing a silver talisman, the old man’s eyes hardened with resolve.

"Gu, you must hold on..."

As the talisman ignited, his figure dissolved into the air.

Gu Sheng and Ling Xiao traversed ancient cities, utterly unconcerned with the worldly hustle or the curious gazes of onlookers.

Their sole desire was to venture further, ideally beyond the gravitational pull of Qinghe Holy Land’s influence.

"Let us pause for a moment."

Gu Sheng suddenly extended his hand, halting Ling Xiao.

They had just passed through the city gates of an ancient metropolis, enveloped by a throng of people.

"What is it?"

Ling Xiao warily surveyed their surroundings.

Gu Sheng did not respond immediately. Instead, he closed his eyes, concentrating intently, attempting to sense something.

After a brief interval, he opened his eyes, his voice barely audible to the two of them.

"We cannot escape."

Ling Xiao was startled. Throughout their flight, he had never witnessed Gu Sheng exhibit such gravity.

"What do you mean?"

Ling Xiao lowered his voice further.

"Did you detect pursuers?"

Gu Sheng shook his head.

"Not specific pursuers… but a sensation."

He gestured towards his chest.

"This unease in my heart is intensifying, as if a sharp blade hangs precariously above us."

A cultivator's intuition frequently proved more dependable than their sight, particularly for someone like Gu Sheng, who had endured numerous trials of life and death.

"Is it because of those old monsters?" Ling Xiao inquired tentatively.

"I heard that the top elites from Xinghong Spirit Domain have all made their appearance..."

Gu Sheng nodded, his gaze sweeping across the pedestrians on the street.

"Under their watchful eyes, our little ruses..." he trailed off, a trace of self-mockery in his laugh.

The invigorating aroma of tea wafted from a distant teahouse; children's laughter echoed from an alley entrance; everything appeared remarkably ordinary.

Suddenly, Ling Xiao slapped his thigh!

"I’ve got it!"

This exclamation nearly caused Gu Sheng to draw his sword, drawing a few curious glances from passersby.

Quickly placing a hand on Ling Xiao’s shoulder, Gu Sheng feigned the joy of an unexpected reunion with a relative.

"Cousin, it’s wonderful to see you!"

Once the curious onlookers dispersed, Gu Sheng gritted his teeth.

"What has gotten into you?"

Ling Xiao’s eyes gleamed with discovery.

"Gu, did you notice? All the cultivators we've encountered on our journey are heading in the same direction!"

Gu Sheng paused, then recalled that this observation was indeed accurate.

They had made inquiries along their route; these individuals were all converging on Qinghe Holy Land for the disciple selection process.

The Seven Great Sacred Lands conducted recruitment drives for new disciples every three years, offering an exceptional avenue for ordinary cultivators to achieve a dramatic advancement.

"So?"

Gu Sheng appeared perplexed.

Ling Xiao leaned closer, his voice dropping to an almost inaudible whisper.

"We should go there too!"

"What?!"

Gu Sheng nearly shouted, quickly covering his outburst with a cough.

"Are you out of your mind? That place is Qinghe Holy Land!"

"The most perilous location often provides the greatest safety."

A sly glint flickered in Ling Xiao’s eyes.

"Our enemies are scouring the entire world for us; they would never anticipate us daring to approach their very stronghold!"

Gu Sheng regarded Ling Xiao as if he were utterly mad.

This notion seemed even more ludicrous than deliberately walking into one's own demise.

What sort of formidable establishment was the Qinghe Holy Land?

It was a treacherous den that even the esteemed Grand Elder Tianlan approached with extreme caution!

"Do you comprehend the sheer might of the Qinghe Saint Master?"

Gu Sheng clenched his jaw, his words laced with desperation.

"This mask is naught but a scrap of cloth before the Saint Master!"

Ling Xiao calmly countered, shaking his head.

"During the selection period, countless cultivators, numbering in the tens of thousands, flock there daily. Does the Saint truly have the time to scrutinize every single individual?"

Noticing Gu Sheng's persistent hesitation, Ling Xiao elaborated on his reasoning.

"Furthermore, our objective is merely to survive the preliminary selection. Once we obtain a temporary disciple token, we gain legitimate access to the outskirts of the Holy Land.

That region presents the greatest challenge for any pursuers attempting to locate us!"

Gu Sheng fell into a contemplative silence.

While his logical mind screamed that the plan was riddled with perilous flaws, a subtle instinct whispered that it might, against all odds, actually work.

"It still carries far too much risk!" he murmured, the doubt evident in his voice.

Ling Xiao's demeanor suddenly shifted, becoming intensely serious.

"Gu, do you place your trust in me?"

Gu Sheng lifted his head, meeting Ling Xiao's gaze, which held a gravity he had never witnessed before.

"I trust you."

He answered without an instant's pause.

"Then let us embrace this gamble."

A grin spread across Ling Xiao's face.

"Since death appears probable regardless of our actions, we might as well choose a path that makes for an exciting tale!"

This peculiar, almost reckless logic left Gu Sheng unsure whether to burst into laughter or tears. Yet, to his surprise, the heavy burden in his heart genuinely felt somewhat lighter.

"Very well."

Gu Sheng drew a deep, steadying breath.

"But we must alter our disguises once more."

He absently touched the cold mask covering his face.

"While this might prove ineffective against the Saint Master, it should suffice to deceive the regular elders."