Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World Chapter 1297 672: Someone Is Coming (2)

Gu Sheng felt the spiritual power within him gradually expanding. This rate of cultivation was at least three times swifter than when he was outside!

"No wonder everyone yearns to enter Xuanming Divine Mountain for cultivation..."

He mused, growing more perplexed by Daoist Yong'an's motivations for bestowing upon them this invaluable opportunity.

Logically, the Qinghe Holy Land shared no ties with them, making such generosity rather inexplicable.

"Crack—"

Gu Sheng's boots made contact with the soft ground of Xuanming Divine Mountain, emitting a sharp cracking sound, reminiscent of crushing the bones of some unfortunate creature.

A frown creased his brow as he looked down, discovering that the soil was faintly intermingled with minute crystals, emitting an unusual blue luminescence under the pale moonlight.

"This locale is truly unsettling."

Ling Xiao followed close behind, his steps far heavier, completely drowning out the sounds Gu Sheng made.

"Even the very soil appears peculiar."

Without acknowledging Ling Xiao's observation, Gu Sheng pressed onward with heightened caution.

Only intermittent beams of moonlight, piercing through breaks in the clouds, served to illuminate their onward path.

"Let us seek a place to rest,"

Gu Sheng finally broke the silence, his voice pitched very low.

"This mountain offers no peace; traveling by night is excessively perilous."

For once, Ling Xiao offered no retort, merely giving a nod of agreement.

Together, they stumbled forward through the oppressive darkness.

Gu Sheng activated all his senses, remaining acutely aware of any subtle movements in their surroundings.

He detected a palpable sense of being watched from the shadows, a feeling that prickled his skin like a thousand needles.

Abruptly, Gu Sheng halted, his gaze snapping toward the mountain's peak.

"What is it?"

Ling Xiao inquired, his voice tinged with nervousness.

Gu Sheng remained silent, his eyes fixed intently on the inky blackness of the night.

Just as Ling Xiao prepared to question him again, a blinding shaft of white light suddenly rent the clouds asunder.

The entire sky appeared to be torn open, the dark masses of clouds parting to the sides, allowing a torrent of white light to cascade down.

"This... this is..."

Ling Xiao stood dumbfounded.

Wherever the white light touched, the pervasive Yin Qi recoiled.

It was at this moment Gu Sheng comprehended that they were still at the mountain's base, a considerable distance from the true ascent route.

Even more unsettling was the sight of several pairs of eerie green eyes snapping shut as the white light emanated, accompanied by faint, displeased hisses before they transformed into shadowy apparitions and vanished into thin air.

"What were those entities?"

Ling Xiao's voice quivered with apprehension.

Gu Sheng responded with a shake of his head.

"I cannot say for certain, but it is evident they harbored a strong aversion to the white light."

He scanned their surroundings, and his eyes suddenly brightened.

"Look there, a cave!"

Less than a hundred paces away, a cave entrance, partially concealed by the rocky overhang, was discernible.

Exchanging a swift glance, the two cautiously made their way toward it. The cave's opening was not substantial, yet adequate for a person to stoop and enter.

The most fortunate discovery was a weathered stone door at the entrance, which, although ajar, was clearly capable of being closed.

"What luck we have!"

Ling Xiao exclaimed with elation and made to dash inside.

Gu Sheng, however, restrained him.

"Wait!"

He retrieved a stone from the ground and hurled it forcefully into the cave's depths.

The stone produced a distinct sound upon impact, but no other disturbances followed.

Only then did Gu Sheng give a nod of assent.

"It should be secure."

They entered the cave, finding the interior far more expansive than anticipated, measuring approximately three zhang square.

Several naturally formed apertures in the cave ceiling allowed shafts of daylight to penetrate, bathing the entire space in a warm glow.

What brought Gu Sheng the greatest satisfaction were the intricate carvings adorning the inner surface of the stone door, undoubtedly forming some sort of array.

"Could this be... an isolation array?"

Gu Sheng ran his hand over the carvings on the stone door, sensing the faint fluctuations of spiritual power emanating from them.

Ling Xiao also leaned in for a closer inspection.

"It appears to possess defensive capabilities as well. We've stumbled upon a treasure!"

Gu Sheng attempted to budge the stone door, discovering that despite its considerable weight, their combined strength was sufficient to move it.

As the stone door gradually slid shut, the interior illumination did not diminish; rather, it intensified and grew more comfortable due to the array's activation.

"With the cultivation techniques Daoist Yong'an provided, we can now focus on our cultivation without interruption."

Gu Sheng exhaled deeply, settling into a cross-legged position at the cave's center.

Ling Xiao found a suitable spot to sit and produced several jade slips from his robes.

"That old man was quite generous, bestowing upon us three Heavenly Rank techniques. All truly exceptional!"

Gu Sheng concurred with a nod but did not immediately retrieve his own cultivation technique scrolls.

After a moment of contemplation, he deliberately withdrew a longsword from his storage bag.

The sword itself was a striking azure blue, with seven star-like points of light shimmering on its blade. Even within the brightly lit cave, it emanated a subtle, cold radiance.

"Is that..."

Ling Xiao's eyes widened in recognition.

"The sword you acquired at Ten Thousand Ghost Ridge?"

"The Tai Chi Seven Star Sword."

Gu Sheng gently stroked the blade, sensing the ancient power dwelling within.

"Though damaged, it's still a pseudo divine artifact-level treasure."

Ling Xiao clicked his tongue, filled with envy.

"You have some luck. I heard these ancient divine swords possess their own consciousness; did you manage to subdue it?"

Gu Sheng shook his head.

"Just a preliminary recognition."

He channeled the Yin Dao Skill within him, causing the stars etched on the sword to instantly brighten. A chilling yin energy flowed from the hilt, permeating his meridians and merging seamlessly with his spiritual power.

"This sword qi..."

Gu Sheng's eyes lit up with delight.

"It can actually enhance my Yin Dao Skill!"

Ling Xiao curiously leaned in for a closer look.

"Really? I heard the Tai Chi Seven Star Sword is a supreme yang treasure. How does it possess cold yin energy?"

Gu Sheng mused.

"Yin and yang give birth to each other; extremes breed change. This sword, having endured millennia and been buried in an extremely yin place like Ten Thousand Ghost Ridge, has likely undergone some mutation."

He carefully swung it a few times, the sword edge slicing through the air and leaving a faint blue trail.

"I have a premonition that with this sword, my mental method realm will soon break through."

Ling Xiao sighed with envy before returning to his spot to begin cultivating.

Gu Sheng studied the Tai Chi Seven Star Sword a bit longer, eventually storing it away. He then retrieved the cultivation technique jade scroll from Daoist Yong'an.

"Heaven Measuring Saint Fist and Heavenly Sorrow Sword..."

Gu Sheng delved into the jade scroll with his divine thought, the secrets of the two Heavenly Rank Lower Grade martial techniques flooding his mind.

He decided to cultivate the fist skill first. The Heaven Measuring Saint Fist comprises nine layers, with each layer capable of transforming the fist's inherent power.

Following the scroll's instructions, Gu Sheng directed his spiritual power through specific meridians.

Initial progress was slow, but as his comprehension of the technique deepened, his cultivation speed accelerated.

After three hours, Gu Sheng's eyes snapped open, his right fist emitting a faint golden glow.

He punched the cave wall without utilizing his full strength, yet the resulting fist wind still imprinted a shallow fist seal onto the stone.

"Perfect at the First Level?"

Ling Xiao, awakened by the noise, looked at the fist seal in astonishment.

"That was fast! You're truly remarkable!"

Gu Sheng offered a slight smile.

"This fist skill suits me perfectly."

Without further explanation, he picked up the jade scroll for the Heavenly Sorrow Sword.

"Let me try this swordsmanship."

Cultivating the Heavenly Sorrow Sword proved evidently more challenging than the fist skill. This swordsmanship emphasizes 'using sorrow within the sword and embodying the Dao through the sword,' demanding the cultivator infuse their emotions into the sword moves, with each style containing a unique emotional resonance.

Gu Sheng attempted several times but couldn't grasp the knack.

"It seems swordsmanship isn't that straightforward."

Ling Xiao had already attained entry-level proficiency in the Nine Heavens Cloud Stepping technique, moving nimbly around the cave, his figure flickering unpredictably.

Undeterred, Gu Sheng intensified his focus.

He recalled all his experiences over the years—those perilous battles on the brink of life and death, those lost companions, those unavenged grievances... Emotions surged within him, eventually coalescing into a sword intent that erupted from his fingertips.

"Swoosh—"

An invisible wave of sword qi tore through the air, carving a slender mark on the stone wall.

"Success!"

Gu Sheng's eyes gleamed.

"Entry-level First Style: Sad Wind Style!"

Ling Xiao ceased his movements, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

"Your comprehension is truly unparalleled. I practiced for half a day and only managed to get my movement technique to a barely usable level."

Gu Sheng was about to respond when his expression abruptly stiffened. He raised a hand, signaling Ling Xiao to fall silent.

The two held their breath, faintly detecting soft footsteps gently approaching the stone door from the outside.

"Someone is coming."

Gu Sheng conveyed this via secret transmission to Ling Xiao, while silently rising to his feet, poised for battle.