Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World Chapter 1291 - 670: My God (Part 2)

"Boom!"

An overwhelming pressure, defying his frail appearance, erupted forth.

In that critical moment, Gu Sheng seemed to transcend his mortal form. Spiritual Power coursed around him, his imposing aura causing even the formidable Protective Array of the arena to emanate faint fissures.

"Th-this... what is this..."

Ke Yucheng’s pupils dilated in alarm, his Spirit Sword quivering uncontrollably in his grasp.

He felt as though he was not confronting a human, but rather an ancient, unleashed Fierce Beast.

A glimmer of golden light flashed within Gu Sheng’s eyes, his lips curling into a chilling smirk.

"Ah!"

A pained cry tore from Ke Yucheng’s throat. The Spiritual Power within him surged erratically, behaving uncontrollably, as if countless sharp needles were piercing his meridians.

He expelled a mouthful of crimson blood, and the dark Spiritual Power enveloping his Spirit Sword instantly dissipated.

"Bang!"

The examiner intervened with timely precision. A swift palm strike to Ke Yucheng’s chest sent him hurtling into the arena floor, gouging out a crater more than three meters deep.

"Gu Sheng, are you unharmed?"

The examiner turned, his voice laced with concern, while his gaze darted cautiously around the surroundings.

That sudden, immense pressure had even unsettled him.

Gu Sheng gradually rose, his aura now completely normalized, as if the preceding events had been no more than a phantom spectacle.

He gave a soft, double cough and dabbed at the blood near his mouth.

"Thank you for your concern, examiner. It is merely some superficial injuries. A few days of rest will see me fully recovered."

The examiner fixed Gu Sheng with a prolonged, penetrating gaze before turning his attention back to Ke Yucheng, who lay in the crater, his eyes now burning with intensified anger.

"Ke Yucheng! You dared to attempt murder during the assessment. You will report to the Dragon Suppression Hall forthwith to receive your just punishment!"

"The Dragon Suppression Hall?!"

A collective gasp rippled through the spectators below. That was a place where even esteemed Elders of the Sect faced severe repercussions for the slightest misstep.

Within the pit, Ke Yucheng struggled to stand, his complexion ashen.

Still reeling from the shock, he looked towards Gu Sheng, the lingering terror of that moment etched within his heart.

What amplified his sense of injustice was the fact that he had failed to deliver the killing blow, yet was still destined for the dreaded Dragon Suppression Hall.

"Esteemed examiner, I..."

Ke Yucheng attempted to offer an explanation.

"Silence!"

The examiner commanded sharply.

"Were it not for Gu Sheng’s profound fortune and resilient vitality, he would be nothing more than a corpse by now!"

Ke Yucheng clenched his jaw and lowered his head, but his eyes blazed with unadulterated malice.

A frown creased the examiner’s brow as he directed his attention back to Gu Sheng.

"What precisely transpired? Why did Ke Yucheng falter at the last moment?"

Gu Sheng feigned utter bewilderment.

"This disciple is uncertain as well. Perhaps Senior Brother Ke was suddenly overcome by a pang of conscience?"

The examiner was clearly unconvinced by this response, but seeing Gu Sheng’s reluctance to elaborate, he chose not to press the matter further.

"Go and rest. The Sect will ensure this incident is thoroughly investigated and addressed."

Gu Sheng offered a respectful cupped-fist salute and slowly descended from the arena stage.

His gait appeared unsteady, yet with every step, he subtly adhered to an arcane, rhythmic pattern.

Were an Array Master to observe, they would be astonished to find that the damaged arena Array was mending itself in his wake!

"Gu Sheng!"

Wang Yun was the first to reach him, offering support.

"How are you? Are your injuries severe?"

"It is nothing significant."

Gu Sheng offered a slight smile.

"Only the abrasion on my left arm is somewhat deep. A few days should suffice for recovery."

Liang Yu pushed through the crowd, his expression brimming with curiosity.

"Gu, what exactly is the root of your conflict with Ke Yucheng? Why would he launch such a lethal assault?"

A fleeting glint of coldness crossed Gu Sheng’s eyes before vanishing instantly.

"Perhaps he harbors envy due to my superior handsomeness?"

Laughter erupted from the onlookers, somewhat alleviating the palpable tension.

Only Ling Xiao remained aloof, observing Gu Sheng with a complex expression.

As Gu Sheng’s companion, he possessed a deeper understanding than most of the latent power concealed within this seemingly mild-mannered youth.

Gu Sheng retreated to a secluded corner, assumed a cross-legged posture, and commenced circulating his Qi to facilitate healing.

The injury on his left arm visibly closed at an astonishing rate, a spectacle that prompted several observing examiners to exchange knowing glances.

"This young one... is far from ordinary."

An elder examiner, his whiskers white, commented in a hushed tone.

"That surge of aura just now..."

Another female examiner’s eyes flashed with a sharp, discerning light.

"It is certainly not the manifestation of an average Disciple."

An hour later, the examiner made the official pronouncement.

"The entry-level examination of this year's Qinghe Holy Land is hereby concluded! The ten who have obtained disciple quotas shall stay, all others are to leave at once!"

Before departing, Wang Yuchen shot Gu Sheng a venomous glare, but a single look from Ling Xiao caused him to instinctively shrink his neck.

Ke Yucheng was escorted by two Law Enforcement Disciples towards the Dragon Suppression Hall. As he was being led away, he turned to cast a glance back at Gu Sheng, his lips moving silently as if conveying a message.

Gu Sheng merely offered a subtle smile, a smile that sent a ripple of cold dread through Ke Yucheng's entire body.

After some time, the examiner made his return, his complexion appearing somewhat ashen. It was evident that dealing with Ke Yucheng had exacted a considerable toll on him.

However, upon observing Gu Sheng and the remaining individuals, his gaze softened noticeably.

"Follow me," the examiner instructed curtly.

"I will escort you to have your disciple ranks assessed."

"Disciple ranks?" Liang Yu inquired with palpable excitement.

"Are they categorized as in the legends, like Outer Sect, Inner Sect, and Core Disciples?"

The examiner offered a nod in confirmation.

"Precisely. The disciple hierarchy within Qinghe Holy Land is rigorously defined. The cultivation resources and the status afforded by each rank differ immensely. Your evaluations will consider your innate talent, your potential, and your conduct during today's proceedings collectively."

Liang Yu audibly swallowed."He discreetly observed Su Yongchang, who was proceeding at the vanguard. The azure robe Su Yongchang wore shimmered with faint spiritual light under the morning sun, and each step he took seemed to echo with the very essence of heaven and earth. Brimming with newfound courage, Liang Yu finally managed to speak.

"Senior Su... I—I have a query."

Liang Yu's voice was barely audible, much like the buzz of a mosquito, almost entirely lost to the mountain breeze.

Su Yongchang did not halt his stride. He merely inclined his head slightly, casting a sidelong glance at the earnest young man.

"Proceed," he commanded.

"Regarding... regarding the regulations for determining disciple rank upon entry into the Holy Land..."

Liang Yu's voice trailed off, diminishing with each passing word.

The few disciples hailing from lesser sects, positioned behind him, also tensed their ears, clearly sharing the same apprehension regarding this matter.

Ling Xiao, observing from the periphery, rolled his eyes before striding forward and clapping Liang Yu heartily on the shoulder.

"Why are you acting like a scared little rabbit?"

He then turned towards Su Yongchang with a broad, disarming grin.

"Senior, we cultivators from minor sects and those who walk the path of a Loose Cultivator are only privy to the competition's rules. Once we step foot within the Holy Land, we are left entirely in the dark. Might you perhaps offer us a small hint?"

The corners of Su Yongchang's lips curved upward in a nearly imperceptible manner, though he maintained a stern expression deliberately.

"What is the hurry? You shall know when the time is appropriate."

"Tch!"

Ling Xiao released an exaggerated sigh and subsequently turned his head, engaging in voice transmission with Gu Sheng.

"This venerable elder certainly knows how to keep one guessing. Pray tell, do you reckon we stand a chance of securing a Core Disciple position?"

Gu Sheng met his gaze with a blank expression before transmitting back in kind.

"No clue."

"Hah, how dull."

Ling Xiao curled his lip, yet a flicker of unyielding confidence ignited within his eyes.

"I am absolutely determined to attain the status of a Core Disciple. I have heard that Core Disciples are granted the privilege of cultivating within the Spirit Vein Cave Heaven. The density of Spiritual Energy there, tsk tsk..."

Gu Sheng ceased his vocalizations. His gaze drifted towards the faint silhouette of the distant mountain range.

There, the majestic outline of Qinghe Holy Land was steadily becoming discernible amidst the morning mist.

As their journey progressed, the concentration of Spiritual Energy within the atmosphere intensified progressively.

Liang Yu experienced a sensation as if each breath he drew was akin to consuming a Spirit Pill, his entire being's pores unfurling and relaxing in response.

Unable to resist, he activated his mental cultivation technique, and to his immense delight, discovered that his rate of cultivation had more than tripled compared to his experience at Huatian Sect.

"So this is the grandeur of a Holy Land..."

Liang Yu murmured to himself, his eyes welling up with unshed tears.

He recalled his master's final instructions before his departure—

"Yu'er, should you manage to gain entry into Qinghe Holy Land, then Huatian Sect's legacy spanning a century will be firmly secured."

Suddenly, an ethereal bell resonance echoed from afar, seeming to slice through the fabric of time and space, reaching directly into the deepest core of their souls.

An involuntary hush fell over everyone as they ceased their movement and looked upwards in unison.

Amidst the swirling clouds and mist, they beheld nine majestic Spirit Mountains piercing the heavens like colossal, sharpened swords.

Sumptuous palatial structures adorned the mountainsides, gleaming resplendently with gold and jade, while mystical birds and beasts gracefully traversed the air between them.

A resplendent rainbow bridge, shimmering with seven colors, arced across the sky, intricately connecting the two highest peaks.

Even more awe-inspiring were three inverted mountain peaks that inexplicably floated in mid-air, from whose summits cascading waterfalls poured downwards, only to dissipate into pure Spiritual Energy halfway to the ground.

"Holy..."

Ling Xiao’s jaw dropped, his typically carefree, roguish demeanor momentarily quelled.

A sense of fulfillment washed over Su Yongchang as he observed the astonishment of the new arrivals. He then made a grand gesture with his sleeve.

"Come along. Traversing the Sect Protection Array will consume another half a day's travel."

As they drew nearer, the magnificent landscape of the Holy Land became increasingly distinct.

Liang Yu, his eyes wide, witnessed disciples utilizing Sword Flight, soaring between the peaks like streaks of vibrant rainbows.

Venerable elders, perched upon floating cloud platforms, discoursed on the Dao, their profound voices echoing like distant thunder. Vast expanses, spanning ten thousand acres, revealed fields brimming with fragrant Spiritual Medicine.

His own heart began to race with excitement, envisioning himself as a cultivator within such a celestial realm. He dreamt of the day the Huatian Sect would be revered across the entirety of the land, all due to his own accomplishments.