Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World Chapter 1295 - 671: Xuanming Divine Mountain (2)

The elder turned, his gaze like an unfathomable expanse of stars, locking onto the two individuals.

An intangible pressure washed over Gu Sheng’s entire being, as if an attempt was being made to scrutinize his innermost self.

"Master?"

Su Yongchang inquired tentatively.

"What are your thoughts?"

The elder, still seemingly engrossed in his fishing, did not reply directly. Instead, he continued to probe the duo with his formidable Divine Thought.

A cold sweat beaded on Ling Xiao’s forehead as he mentally communicated with Gu Sheng.

"Blast it, has he discovered something?"

Gu Sheng willed himself to maintain composure.

"Stay calm; my secret technique is designed to be impervious even to Elder Level experts. We should be fine."

Suddenly, the elder emitted a surprised grunt, his body giving a slight, involuntary tremor.

This minor reaction sent Gu Sheng and Ling Xiao’s hearts leaping into their throats.

"Master?"

Su Yongchang also registered the oddity, his voice laced with bewilderment.

The elder remained silent for a spell before finally speaking, his voice resonating as if from a bygone era.

"These two young ones… are not ordinary."

He slowly pivoted, and Gu Sheng and Ling Xiao’s hearts pounded like war drums, awaiting their fate’s decree.

The elder’s piercing gaze swept between them, finally settling upon Gu Sheng.

"You two, little ones, step closer."

The elder instructed without turning his head.

Exchanging a subtle glance, Gu Sheng and Ling Xiao advanced cautiously.

Gu Sheng could feel the moisture of apprehension on his palms.

"Senior."

Gu Sheng offered a respectful bow, while inwardly, he activated the Breath Concealment Technique, meticulously suppressing the ebb and flow of Spiritual Power within him to mimic the level of the Earth Palace Stage.

This particular Cultivation Technique had been bestowed upon him by Master Daoist Xiushan himself, its express purpose being the obfuscation of one’s true Cultivation.

The elder slowly turned, his countenance now visible to Gu Sheng.

His face was a roadmap of wrinkles, reminiscent of parched tree bark, yet his eyes shone with the brilliance of twin stars, possessing an uncanny ability to pierce through a person’s core.

As that profound gaze settled upon him, Gu Sheng felt an icy sensation crawl up his spine, as though every secret he held was being laid bare.

"A solid foundation, refined Spiritual Power, excellent, most excellent."

The elder narrowed his eyes, his attention flicking back and forth between the pair.

"One at the Earth Palace Stage, one at the Half-step Earth Palace Stage. For your respective ages, this is quite uncommon."

Ling Xiao subtly inclined his head, concealing the flicker of astonishment in his eyes.

It was true they had masked their Cultivation levels, yet the elder had discerned their fabricated realms with a single glance—his perception was truly abyssal.

Standing nearby, Su Yongchang beamed, his expression one of evident delight upon hearing the elder’s assessment.

"Uncle, I assured you these two promising saplings were remarkable, surpassing many of our own Core Disciples!"

The elder offered no explicit agreement, instead casually extending a hand. His fingers, like brittle bones, pointed directly at Gu Sheng’s forehead.

Gu Sheng’s instinct screamed for him to retreat, but an unseen force held him pinned. A peculiar energy began to probe his meridians, traversing his entire physical form.

"Hmm?"

The elder’s brow furrowed slightly.

"The pathway of Spiritual Power circulation within you… it possesses a peculiar quality."

Gu Sheng’s heart gave a violent lurch.

The cultivation mental methods practiced in the Tianlan Sacred Land and the Qinghe Sacred Land held subtle divergences. Despite his earnest efforts to conceal it, faint traces of these differences were inevitably exposed under such stringent scrutiny.

"In my youth, I suffered a mishap and fell from a cliff. Fortunately, a traveling Daoist found me and imparted some basic Cultivation Techniques," Gu Sheng quickly concocted a plausible explanation, delivering it with feigned sincerity.

"Perhaps that is the reason for the deviation from conventional cultivation methods."

The elder scrutinized Gu Sheng intently for a prolonged period before finally withdrawing his digit.

"Fortuitous encounters are indeed a facet of cultivation. However…"

His tone took a somber turn.

"When measured against that individual, you fall considerably short."

"Uncle is referring to…"

Su Yongchang’s expression grew intricate.

"Gu Sheng of the Tianlan Sacred Land."

The moment the elder uttered this name, a profound surge of animosity flared in his eyes. His left hand unconsciously drifted to his right arm, where a vacant sleeve danced mockingly in the breeze.

Gu Sheng’s pupils constricted almost imperceptibly; he forced himself to remain outwardly composed.

Ling Xiao discreetly nudged his arm, a silent cue for him to maintain his calm demeanor.

"Gu Sheng?"

Ling Xiao inquired, feigning ignorance.

"Is he exceptionally formidable?"

"An unparalleled prodigy for the ages!"

Su Yongchang responded with a heartfelt sigh.

"Under the age of twenty, it is rumored he has already attained Great Perfection within the Earth Palace Stage, poised to ascend to the Heavenly Palace at any moment. For a millennia, no one within the Tianlan Sacred Land has matched his ascent."

The elder let out a chilling, derisive scoff.

"A genius? Hmph! Merely a heartless whelp!"

Abruptly, he ripped open his right sleeve, revealing a gruesome, severed arm stump. The wound’s edge gleamed unnaturally smooth, like polished glass, yet it pulsed with an eerie, cerulean luminescence, writhing as if alive, cruelly thwarting any possibility of natural healing.

"This... is..." Ling Xiao gasped in surprise.

"A sword wound," the elder gritted out, his voice strained.

"The Qingming Sword Qi belonged to Gu Sheng of Tianlan! Fifty years ago, when the Ancient Secret Realm was unveiled, I ran into him at the Xuanming Cold Pond. We had a brutal fight over a Nine Revolutions Soul Reviving Grass. That wretch acted humble, but he was actually cunning, feigning defeat to draw me into his scheme, and then..." He made a swift slicing motion with his left hand. Gu Sheng's brow furrowed. He recollected the conflict within the secret realm from half a century ago, but in his memory, it was the elder who initiated the ambush, compelling him to retaliate in self-defense. Now, hearing the elder's version, the narrative had been completely inverted.

"Even more detestable is his master, Daoist Xiushan!" the elder continued, his eyes burning with intense rage. "That sanctimonious old man pretended to act as a mediator, but secretly poisoned me while I was recovering, damaging my foundation and destroying any chance I had of reaching the Heavenly Palace realm for the rest of my life!" Gu Sheng clenched his fists. His master, Xiushan, was always gentle and never harbored grudges; how could he possibly poison someone? This was undeniably a setup!

"Therefore..." The elder suddenly leaned in close to Gu Sheng, a terrifying gleam flashing from his single eye. "Remember these two names—Gu Sheng of Tianlan, and Daoist Xiushan! If the opportunity ever presents itself, kill them for me! And if I am already dead by then, lay their heads before my grave!" Gu Sheng's throat felt tight. To kill himself, and the master who treated him like family? This outrageous demand left him momentarily speechless.

Seeing their silence, Su Yongchang mistakenly believed they were intimidated and quickly interjected, "Uncle-Master, they are still young. Please..."

"What? Scared?" the elder furiously cut him off. "Once you join Qinghe Sacred Land, you should already be aware of our enmity with Tianlan! Furthermore..." He flashed a sinister grin. Noticing the situation escalating negatively, Ling Xiao swiftly bowed.

"Rest assured, senior. If I am given the chance, I will give my utmost effort!" Only then did the elder nod in satisfaction before turning his gaze to Gu Sheng.

"And you?" Gu Sheng swallowed the strange feeling in his chest and cupped his fists. "I will remember."

"Good! Good!" The elder suddenly let out a laugh, though it was utterly devoid of mirth. "From this day forward, you are my personal disciples! Su Yongchang, escort them to Xuanming Divine Mountain." He looked at Gu Sheng with a significant expression.

As they departed the riverside and walked along the winding mountain path, Su Yongchang whispered, "Uncle-Master has a peculiar temper, but accepting you both as disciples is an exceptionally rare fortune. Even with one arm gone, his strength is still ranked among the top three within the Sacred Land."

"Is... is Gu Sheng truly that formidable?" Ling Xiao inquired curiously. Su Yongchang's expression turned serious.

"Twenty years ago, Tianlan and Qinghe engaged in a fierce battle in Meteor Valley. Gu Sheng alone confronted three elders from our Sacred Land, seriously wounding two and killing one. Since then, the two Sacred Lands have abided by an agreement not to involve cultivators of the Heavenly Palace realm, maintaining a facade of peace." Gu Sheng remained quiet, the memory of that battle vivid in his mind; it was Qinghe that first ambushed Tianlan's convoy, forcing him into a furious response. It appeared the Qinghe Sacred Land held Tianlan responsible for all conflicts, with a deep-seated hatred.

Dark clouds, like pools of ink, gathered over Xuanming Divine Mountain, resembling an ancient, ferocious beast lurking there, consuming the spiritual energy of the heavens and earth. Amidst the dense clouds, peculiar purple lightning flickered intermittently, only to vanish quickly, leaving observers bewildered.

"Is this Xuanming Divine Mountain?" Ling Xiao gazed up at the towering peaks, his eyes alight with excitement. "It truly lives up to its name!" Gu Sheng stood beside him, his brow slightly furrowed. He sensed the pervasive ancient aura in the atmosphere, as though chilling winds from millennia past were brushing against him, causing him to unconsciously stiffen. His gaze swept over the barely discernible cave entrances at the mountain's base; each emitted a faint spiritual luminescence, growing brighter as they ascended.

"Listen carefully, both of you," Su Yongchang turned, his austere gaze sweeping across their faces. "Xuanming Divine Mountain is unlike ordinary places of cultivation. The cultivators here are exceptionally powerful, including saint heirs and holy daughters currently in seclusion."