Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World Chapter 1298 673: Sword Qi

The sound of footsteps abruptly faded into the distance and vanished with haste.

A moment longer they waited, ensuring the absence of any peril before their tense shoulders relaxed.

"How peculiar, who would venture to such a place at this hour?"

Ling Xiao's brow furrowed.

Gu Sheng merely shook his head.

"Regardless of who it might be, caution is paramount. Xuanming Divine Mountain is a confluence of individuals, both upright and deceitful; one can never foresee the caliber of person one might encounter."

Ling Xiao nodded, a sudden thought striking him.

"Speaking of which, why fares Daoist Yong'an so favorably towards us? Not only did he deign to accept us as disciples, but he has bestowed upon us such abundant boons. I cannot shake the feeling that something is amiss."

Gu Sheng fell into a brief silence, then responded in a low tone.

"I too have pondered this. However, our current strength is insufficient; we can only proceed with utmost care. Let us concentrate on refining our skills in the interim."

Ling Xiao let out a sigh.

"You speak the truth. Yet..."

A sly grin spread across his face.

"It would be foolish not to capitalize on such generosity. Since the elder has provided us with such valuable assets, we shall accept them with open arms!"

Gu Sheng offered a helpless shake of his head, yet he had to concede the merit in Ling Xiao's pragmatic viewpoint. The two resumed their cultivation, and the cave swiftly reclaimed its profound quietude.

...

Meanwhile, beyond the imposing Dragon Suppression Hall of the Qinghe Holy Land.

A youth, his attire in tatters, stumbled forth from the hall, his visage starkly pale.

His exposed flesh bore a tapestry of gruesome wounds, some still weeping droplets of crimson blood.

"Gu... Sheng..."

Ke Yucheng expelled the name through clenched teeth, each syllable imbued with a venomous hatred.

He had endured torment beyond human comprehension for three days and nights within the confines of the Dragon Suppression Hall; the afflictions had not merely ravaged his body but had also gnawed at his very soul. And all of this suffering was a direct consequence of that accursed Gu Sheng!

"Senior Brother Ke, are you unharmed?"

Several disciples, who had been awaiting his exit, hastened to offer their support.

Ke Yucheng brusquely repelled them.

"Begone!"

He managed to suppress his surging rage.

"Where might that Gu Sheng be at this moment?"

A disciple ventured a cautious reply.

"We heard he was accepted as a disciple by Daoist Yong'an and has since departed for Xuanming Divine Mountain for his training."

"What?!"

Ke Yucheng pivoted with shocking swiftness, his eyes blazing crimson.

"By what right does he achieve such status?!"

The assembled disciples were too intimidated to utter a sound.

Ke Yucheng breathed heavily, consumed by fury, only gradually regaining a semblance of composure. Yet, the malevolence in his gaze remained as potent as ever.

"Send word to my cousin."

"Inform him that I have matters of grave importance to discuss."

"Xuanming Divine Mountain presents considerable dangers under the cloak of night. Should any untoward incidents occur, they can easily be attributed to the mountain's perils… Do you grasp my intent?"

A sinister glint flickered within Ke Yucheng's eyes.

Gripping a Jade Talisman tightly, Ke Yucheng's lips curved into a wicked smile.

"Gu Sheng… let's see just how you meet your end this time!"

As night descended upon Qinghe Holy Land, at Three Days Peak.

A swirling mist wove its way through the mountain peaks, the Spiritual Energy coalescing like ethereal threads, eventually forming streams of Spiritual Mist under the influence of the Spirit Gathering Array. These streams gracefully encircled the cultivation cave situated at the summit.

This locale served as the abode for Inner Sect disciples. While it did not boast the same abundance of Spiritual Energy as the Core Disciples' Xuanming Divine Mountain, it offered a concentration several times greater than that found at Luoyun Peak, reserved for Outer Disciples.

Within the secluded chamber of Tang Zhiyuan's retreat, two figures were positioned opposite each other.

"Cousin, I have devised a strategy."

Ke Yucheng's voice dropped to a hushed tone, his eyes sharp and radiating coldness.

"It pertains to Daoist Yong'an's newly accepted disciple."

Tang Zhiyuan's brow furrowed faintly, the Magic Sword he was meticulously polishing pausing for a fleeting moment.

"Are you truly out of your mind? That Gu Sheng is Daoist Yong'an's personal protégé. To lay a hand upon him is to court certain death!"

"Hold your judgment, Cousin."

Ke Yucheng leaned in conspiratorially.

"I have ascertained that Gu Sheng is presently undertaking training within Xuanming Divine Mountain. Darkness envelops the area completely at night, rendering even profound thoughts useless – the ideal opportunity for our endeavor."

"Xuanming Divine Mountain?"

Tang Zhiyuan scoffed, his voice laced with disbelief as he firmly planted the Magic Sword upon the stone table.

"That domain belongs to the Core Disciples; we cannot even gain entry, let alone contemplate any actions there. What are you proposing?"

With unhurried movements, Ke Yucheng retrieved a cyan jade tablet from within his robes. Etched upon its surface was a coiled Azure Dragon, the unmistakable insignia designating an Inner Sect disciple – the Azure Dragon Token.

"The regulations of Qinghe Holy Land stipulate that Inner Sect disciples are permitted access to Xuanming Divine Mountain by utilizing accumulated points."

A sinister smile crept onto Ke Yucheng's lips.

"Although the point cost is tenfold that for Core Disciples. I have amassed seventy points, which should suffice for us to remain within its confines for an entire day."

Tang Zhiyuan narrowed his eyes, his gaze scrutinizing his cousin with palpable suspicion.

"Seventy points? You have toiled for three years to accumulate these, merely to settle a petty disagreement stemming from an arena bout?"

"It extends beyond mere retribution."

Ke Yucheng's eyes gleamed with unadulterated avarice.

"Cousin, haven't you noticed? Gu Sheng and Ling Xiao are far too outstanding, not at all like ordinary Loose Cultivators. Especially Gu Sheng, at the last arena, that mysterious aura... I suspect he has a big secret!"

Silence briefly engulfed the stone chamber, with only the subtle hum of the Spirit Array in operation.

"Are you sure you can succeed at Xuanming Divine Mountain?"

Tang Zhiyuan finally spoke, his voice low.

"There are elders patrolling there."

"Even the elders don't like to stay long on Xuanming Divine Mountain at night."

Ke Yucheng was confident.

"We'll enter during the day to locate Gu Sheng and act when it's dark. Without trace, even if investigated later, Xuanming Divine Mountain is so vast, who knows who did it?"

Tang Zhiyuan stood up, pacing back and forth in the stone chamber, the Magic Sword in his hand gleaming with cold light.

Eventually, he stopped.

"Alright, I'll help you."

Tang Zhiyuan's eyes carried a fierce resolve.

"But if successful, I want the larger share."

Ke Yucheng's smile widened.

"Naturally, Cousin's strength is the greatest, you should take more."

"Specific plan?"

"Tomorrow at Chen Shi, we'll meet at the entrance of Xuanming Divine Mountain."

Ke Yucheng put away the Azure Dragon Token.

"I'll find out Gu Sheng's cultivation area in advance. Remember, no matter what, don't act rashly, wait until darkness to strike."