Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World Chapter 1279 - 663: Passing (2)

Two imposing characters, "Luoshan," were illuminated on the Light Screen, beneath which a smaller inscription read, "One stick of incense."

Liang Yu mused, stroking his chin, "Passing the assessment within one stick of incense is quite swift."

Gu Sheng turned to remark, "With such speed, do you think he can crack the top ten?"

Liang Yu responded with a shake of his head, "It seems unlikely. Unless he secures an advantage in the third round, entering Qinghe Holy Land will be exceedingly difficult." He lowered his voice, adding, "Qinghe Holy Land is only offering ten spots this time, with cultivators from all three squares vying for them. Reaching the third round merely provides an opportunity; becoming a disciple ultimately hinges on the final round's competition."

Gu Sheng's eyes lit up. "Ten spots... To secure entry, do we need to achieve a top-three placement?"

"Precisely," Liang Yu confirmed, a flicker of eagerness in his gaze.

"My recommendation is for you two to excel in the array assessment and then represent us in the third round, triumphing over the other squares. This way, you not only guarantee your entry into Qinghe Holy Land but also secure more spots for our fellow cultivators in the subsequent round," Liang Yu proposed.

"Leave it to me!" Ling Xiao declared with a thump on his chest, beaming with confidence.

A sense of relief washed over Liang Yu. "Then I thank you both."

Gu Sheng remained silent, his gaze fixed intently on Liang Yu, scrutinizing him.

Feeling a prickle of unease under Gu Sheng's scrutiny, Liang Yu chuckled awkwardly. "Why the intense stare, fellow cultivator?"

"Nothing," Gu Sheng replied, withdrawing his gaze. "I was merely curious about why you place such trust in us."

Breathing a sigh of relief, Liang Yu laughed. "To be candid, from the moment I first saw you two, I sensed your extraordinary potential."

Gu Sheng no longer paid him mind, his attention returning to the array.

Meanwhile, a third cultivator had already ventured into the black mist, only to be ejected less than half a stick of incense later, appearing even more disheveled than the first.

Witnessing this, Ling Xiao patted Liang Yu's arm. "Don't mind him, Gu Sheng is just like that."

Liang Yu swiftly regained his jovial demeanor. "I understand, I understand! Geniuses always have their peculiarities!"

Simultaneously, assessments were underway across all three squares. Although the second round proceeded at a slower pace than the first, the overall progress remained steady. In under two hours, over sixty percent of the cultivators had attempted the array, with a failure rate exceeding fifty percent. Those who successfully navigated the array cast nervous glances towards the sky, where a colossal Light Screen displayed the current top ten cultivators and their respective times.

Liang Yu intently tracked the shifting rankings, occasionally exclaiming, "The top ten all finished within roughly one stick of incense... Tsk, tsk, that 'Song Zhengming' is truly remarkable; he cleared it in just a quarter of an hour!"

Unable to contain his excitement any longer, Ling Xiao tugged Gu Sheng's sleeve. "When do we get to go? I'm eager to show those Qinghe Holy Land fellows that their so-called talent and pride mean nothing to me!"

Gu Sheng finally broke his concentration, a faint smile gracing his lips. "It’s nearly time. We have gathered sufficient data for reference." Gu Sheng's eyes swept over the half-tested crowd in the square. His strategy was clear: avoid standing out too early, refrain from waiting too long and missing the chance, and entering at the midpoint would be the most prudent course.

"Haha, then I'll go first!" With Gu Sheng's unspoken consent, Ling Xiao eagerly rolled up his sleeves, poised for action.

Gu Sheng seized his wrist, transmitting a secret message. "Remember, keep it around half a stick of incense, don't—"

"Got it, got it!" Ling Xiao impatiently waved him off, his perfunctory response causing Gu Sheng's brow to furrow.

Watching Ling Xiao stride towards the array, Gu Sheng felt a premonition. This Ling Xiao excelled in all aspects save for handling provocation. True to his fears, Ling Xiao's entrance immediately drew the attention of the Qinghe Holy Land disciples. They congregated, openly pointing and sneering.

"Look, the fraud is going up!"

"The one who's always scamming people?"

"I bet he won't last more than three breaths before getting booted!" The pointed laughter echoed resoundingly across the square.

Ling Xiao's steps faltered. "A bunch of frogs at the bottom of a well!" His voice boomed like a bell as he pointed at the Holy Land disciples, unleashing a torrent of insults. "Come down here if you dare and let's have a real fight?"

The entire venue erupted in an uproar. To openly challenge the Holy Land disciples at the Qinghe Holy Land assessment grounds, his audacity was truly staggering! The targeted Holy Land Disciples turned ashen-faced, several of them rising abruptly, their Spiritual Power surging.

Just as a confrontation was about to ignite, a colossal aura descended from the heavens, forcefully separating the two opposing sides.

"No unauthorized duels within the examination grounds."

The elder clad in black robes did not even raise his eyelids, yet his voice reverberated through everyone's ears like muted thunder.

Ling Xiao, devoid of any fear, provocatively tilted his chin upwards.

"I am ready at any time!"

This open defiance sent the plaza into a monumental chaos.

The other contestants began murmuring amongst themselves, all speculating about the audacious young man's origins.

Even Liang Yu, whose usual demeanor was one of mischievous grins, had his eyes go wide, evidently taken aback by Ling Xiao's sheer audacity.

"Brother Qing Feng, your friend..."

Liang Yu swallowed hard, his voice strained.

"Isn't he a bit too reckless?"

Gu Sheng could only press his hand to his forehead in helplessness.

His greatest apprehension had materialized—Ling Xiao, the veritable powder keg, had indeed detonated at the slightest touch.

"You all, open your eyes and pay close attention!"

Ling Xiao addressed the imposing Array, his voice booming resonantly.

"Watch closely as I conquer this Array!"

With those words, he decisively strode into the Array, completely disregarding every piece of advice Gu Sheng had offered.

The instant he stepped into the swirling black mist, Ling Xiao had already resolved to keep his distance from Gu Sheng, should the need arise.

After all, it was Gu Sheng, not himself, who was the target of the Qinghe Holy Land's pursuit.

If his own performance proved sufficiently dazzling, he might even garner an invitation to join the Holy Land...

Within the confines of the Array, the environment abruptly transformed.

A battlefield slick with blood materialized before Ling Xiao's very eyes, with innumerable Sword Shadows hurtling towards him from every conceivable direction—this was the Killing Array's test of combat prowess!

"Is this all you've got?"

Ling Xiao smirked, his muscles instantly going rigid, and a faint golden luminescence began to suffuse his skin.

He neither dodged nor weaved, but instead launched a punch directly into the torrent of Sword Shadows!

"Boom!"

The ferocious gust from his punch obliterated the incoming Sword Shadows with sheer force.

Ling Xiao moved as if no obstacles existed, and in a mere ten breaths, he had successfully navigated the initial stage.

The scenery shifted once more, this time presenting a Maze Array designed to test perception...

Outside the Array, the onlookers could only observe the dramatic churning of the black mist, completely oblivious to the events unfolding within.

The disciples of the Qinghe Holy Land stood with their arms crossed, wearing expressions of mocking anticipation, eagerly awaiting Ling Xiao's inevitable disgrace.

However, they failed to notice that the black-robed elder, who had seemingly been resting his eyes, suddenly opened them, a flicker of astonishment crossing his aged, cloudy pupils.

"Brother Qing Feng, how much longer do you reckon Brother Ling Xiao will take to clear the Array?"

Liang Yu leaned in to whisper to Gu Sheng.

Gu Sheng offered no direct reply.

"What are your thoughts?"

"Certainly not slow!"

Liang Yu declared with unwavering certainty.

Gu Sheng cast him a knowing glance.

"You certainly place a great deal of faith in him."

"Haha, given Brother Ling Xiao's sheer audacity, his actual strength must not be underestimated!"

Liang Yu emitted a dry chuckle, his gaze drifting absently towards the Array.

Gu Sheng remained silent, adding only in a calm tone.

"Once he emerges, you should proceed as well."

Liang Yu appeared momentarily surprised, but then promptly agreed.

"Understood. I shall follow Brother Qing Feng's guidance."

Even as the two were conversing, the Array suddenly began to tremble violently.

The black mist churned as if it were boiling water, and brilliant azure light erupted from within, bathing the entire plaza in its radiance!

"What is happening?!"

"Has someone broken through the Array?"

"How much time has even passed??"

Under the collective astonishment of everyone present, a vibrant and energetic Ling Xiao strode forth from the Array.

The displayed Light Screen proclaimed the name "Ling Xiao" in brilliant luminescence, with the score "Two Hundred Breaths" prominently listed beneath it!

The Holy Land disciples who had been eagerly anticipating his failure now stood with their mouths agape, their expressions as sour as if they had just ingested something foul.

Two hundred breaths! This score was astonishingly close to Mo Qianjun, who currently held the top rank!

"Impossible!"

A disciple from the Holy Land cried out involuntarily.

"How could such a trickster possibly..."

Ling Xiao shot him a chilling glare.

"What? You doubt it? Want to test your grandpa's fist?"

The disciple's face flushed with a mixture of pallor and red, yet he dared not utter a single word in response.

The black-robed elder cast Ling Xiao a significant look and meticulously recorded the score in his register.

"Ling Xiao, two hundred breaths, passed."

Liang Yu was the first to surge forward, his excitement evident as he clapped Ling Xiao heartily on the shoulder.