Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World Chapter 1303 - 675: How Is That Possible? (2)

Pan Zhuang let out a self-deprecating laugh and struck his own cheek forcefully. "Truly absurd!" He regained his composure. As a Core Disciple, his cultivation had already ascended to the Early Stage of the Heavenly Palace Realm, far surpassing Gu Sheng, who was merely a recent addition to the Inner Sect. The fleeting unease he felt earlier must have been a figment of his imagination. "Hmph, you will soon comprehend the extent of my might." Pan Zhuang disdainfully uttered these words, tossed his hand with great flourish, and his form vanished into the deeper parts of the forest. At the cave's entrance, Ling Xiao clenched his fist, a fiery anger burning within his eyes. "Gu Sheng, why did you prevent me from acting just now? With our combined strength, defeating Pan Zhuang would have been as simple as flipping a hand!" Gu Sheng's expression remained tranquil, yet his gaze was as profound as an abyss. "Pan Zhuang's power is trivial, but we are currently within the Xuanming Divine Mountain." He tilted his head upwards, looking towards the cave's ceiling. "That Great Power might be observing us. It would be unwise to expose our full capabilities prematurely." Ling Xiao furrowed his brow. "But to simply let him depart like that?" "Let him depart?" Gu Sheng's lips curved into a sneer. "He will soon live to regret his choices." As he spoke, a sudden, thunderous 'boom' echoed from deep within the cave. The entire mountain cavern quivered slightly, with debris dislodging and falling from the ceiling. "It has begun." Gu Sheng's eyes flashed with sharp percep<0xC2><0xAD>tion. "Pan Zhuang's scheme undeniably involves this Demon Beast." Ling Xiao's expression grew tense. "Did he deliberately lure us here to become fodder for the Demon Beast?" Gu Sheng offered no reply, instead stepping further into the cave's interior. "Stay close, do not lag behind." The two proceeded down the damp passageway, the atmosphere growing heavy with an intensifying scent of blood. Upon rounding a bend, their vision suddenly expanded, revealing a colossal underground cavern. In the cavern's center, a gargantuan Demon Beast paced restlessly. Its form resembled a colossal wolf, yet it possessed three eyes and was enveloped in scales of a dark, grayish hue. A row of sharp, bony spikes adorned its back, glinting menacingly. The most arresting feature was a grievous wound on its abdomen, from which dark red blood still seeped. "Early Stage Heavenly Palace Realm, Three-eyed Scale Wolf." Gu Sheng instantly identified the Demon Beast's lineage. "Severely wounded, its remaining strength is likely only three or four-tenths." The Demon Beast, sensing a human presence, abruptly turned. Its three blood-red eyes fixed upon Gu Sheng and Ling Xiao with malevolent intensity. Upon realizing the intruders were not only present but were also scrutinizing it, the beast was consumed by ferocious rage. "Roar—!" A deafening roar erupted, its sound waves imbued with an overwhelming force that surged forward, causing stones on the cave walls to shake and tumble. Gu Sheng remained steadfast, merely waving his hand gently. An invisible barrier materialized, completely repelling the sonic assault. Despite being mentally prepared, Ling Xiao was still propelled backward two steps by the residual shockwave, his expression shifting slightly. "Gu Sheng, this beast is formidable, we should fight together..." Before Ling Xiao could complete his sentence, he observed Gu Sheng striding forward. "There is no need." Gu Sheng's voice was calm. "Step back a little, so the splatter doesn't reach you." The Three-eyed Scale Wolf, witnessing a human dare to approach it alone, was further incensed. It raised its forepaw, its razor-sharp claws extending to a frightening length of three feet, slashing through the air with a piercing whistle, directly aiming for Gu Sheng's head! The sheer force behind this strike was sufficient to pulverize an ordinary cultivator of the Heavenly Palace Realm into paste! Yet, Gu Sheng did not even flinch. At the precise instant the wolf's paw was about to make contact with the top of his head, his form abruptly blurred— "Swish!" A cyan shadow streaked past, and Gu Sheng reappeared directly above the scale wolf's head. In his hand, he now held a longsword, its entire body shimmering like pure jade, the blade emitting a faint, ethereal glow. "In your next life, remember to ascertain your opponent before acting." Gu Sheng spoke with quiet finality, casually bringing the Green Jade Sword down. "Pfft!" A distinct sound of metal piercing flesh echoed through the cavern. The Green Jade Sword sliced through the wolf's defensive spiritual energy, its hardened scales, and its solid skull with effortless ease, akin to cutting through soft tofu. The sword's edge plunged into the center of the wolf's head, continuing its descent until it reached the chest cavity, where it halted. Time seemed to hold its breath for a fleeting moment. "Boom!" The colossal wolf's corpse plummeted to the ground, blood erupting from the wound like a geyser, instantly dyeing the surrounding earth red for several meters. Its three blood-red eyes remained open, but the light within them was extinguished, leaving behind only a rigid visage of disbelief and sheer horror. Ling Xiao stood transfixed, his mouth agape in involuntary astonishment.

He understood Gu Sheng possessed considerable strength, yet its sheer magnitude—slaying a Heavenly Palace Realm Demon Beast with a solitary sword stroke, even a wounded one—was utterly astounding!

"Let's proceed to ascertain what it was protecting."

Gu Sheng casually dislodged the Blood Pearl from his sword, as if he had effortlessly crushed a mere insect.

The duo traversed the fallen wolf's remains, venturing further into the cavern's recesses.

Deep within the cave, the purplish-red Holy Infant Grass quivered faintly within Gu Sheng's grasp, emitting a bone-chilling Yin Qi that seemed almost sentient.

This frigid Yin Qi penetrated the skin like a myriad of tiny needles, yet it elicited a pleased smirk from Gu Sheng's lips.

"This Yin Qi... its potency is thrice what the whispers suggested."

Gu Sheng's fingers tightened, securely enfolding the Spirit Grass within his palm.

"It appears there's a genuine prospect of advancing the Nine Dragon Heaven and Earth Technique to its Second Level."

Ling Xiao, seized by a sense of tedium, nudged the deceased Demon Beast's carcass with his foot. The colossal form had already succumbed to stiffness, its dark crimson blood saturating the vicinity for ten meters, exuding a potent, unpleasant odor.

"At the very least, this expedition was not undertaken in vain."

Ling Xiao grumbled, his gaze meandering over the scattered Spiritual Artifacts littering the area.

"Though these are naught but worthless remnants, we at least procured what you sought."

Gu Sheng offered a slight nod, meticulously depositing the Holy Infant Grass into a specially crafted jade box he carried.

The exterior of this jade container was adorned with complex runic carvings. The moment it was sealed, the oppressive Yin Qi was completely contained.

"Pan Zhuang and the others should be arriving shortly."

Gu Sheng suddenly announced, his gaze fixed towards the cave's opening.

Upon hearing this, a mischievous glint sparked within Ling Xiao's eyes.

"That band of ineffectual individuals has lingered outside for an extended period; they likely presume we've been torn to shreds by this fiend, correct?"

"Their anticipation will soon curdle into disappointment."

Gu Sheng assumed a cross-legged posture, resting his hands upon his knees, as the Spiritual Power within his being commenced a slow circulation along the established pathways of the Nine Dragon Heaven and Earth Technique.

"Let us take a brief respite and make ready to receive our awaited visitors."

Ling Xiao let out a soft chuckle, settling himself upon the Demon Beast's corpse and retrieving a wine gourd from his hip, indulging in a draught.

"I am genuinely eager to witness the expressions gracing those fellows' faces upon beholding this tableau."

Beyond the cave's mouth, Pan Zhuang and his contingent of five advanced with considerable caution.

The ground underfoot grew progressively more yielding, succumbing with each step and emitting a disquieting, pulpy sound.

"Is this... blood?"

Jin Xianyun suddenly exclaimed, lifting her foot to reveal its sole coated in a thick, dark crimson fluid.

Yu Tianyi knelt, dabbing a finger into the liquid and bringing it towards his nose, his countenance instantly shifting.

"It is the blood of a Demon Beast! And... it is still fresh!"

Pan Zhuang's heart lurched, and he accelerated his pace abruptly.

"Proceed with haste! Something is amiss!"

The group of five abandoned any pretense of stealth, propelling themselves towards the cave's depths at maximum velocity.

As they pressed onward, the bloodstains coalesced, forming a veritable mire, each footfall sending crimson spatterings upwards.

The very earth seemed to emit a disturbing, viscous 'squelch,' rendering each step akin to treading upon putrid flesh.

Pan Zhuang's brow furrowed ever deeper, the torchlight casting an unsteady glow in the humid atmosphere, distorting their silhouettes against the cave walls.

"This feels decidedly wrong..."

Pan Zhuang murmured, a peculiar sensation from his boot causing him to halt.

Yu Tianyi nearly collided with him from behind.

"What troubles you?"

Pan Zhuang remained silent, instead slowly lowering the torch.

Under the amber illumination, the ground, which ought to have been a somber earthy brown, was now a peculiar, dark crimson, the viscous fluid shimmering with an unsettling sheen.

"Is this... blood?"

Jin Xianyun’s voice trembled slightly, and she instinctively took a half-step back, the edges of her embroidered footwear already saturated by the dark red ooze.

Pan Zhuang crouched, dipping his digits into the substance and drawing them to his nose.

The acrid, metallic aroma assaulted his senses, causing his expression to contort dramatically.

"It is blood! And it is the blood of a Demon Beast!"

"How can this possibly be?"

Yu Tianyi sputtered, his disbelief palpable.

"What manner of Demon Beast could yield such a quantity of blood? Unless..."

"Unless it was the Seven-tiered Blood Pattern Python, the guardian of the Holy Infant Grass."

Pan Zhuang’s voice was arid, his eyes wide with apprehension.

"But who could have possibly felled it?"

A sinister gust of wind swept from the cavern's interior, causing the torch to flutter erratically, nearly extinguishing its flame.