Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World Chapter 1307 - 677: Capture Them (Part 2)

"If they don’t come in..."

Gu Sheng’s lips stretched into a chilling smile.

"Rest assured, avarice will overpower caution. Ke Yucheng, in particular, won't remain patient for long."

As anticipated, loud disputes soon echoed from the cave’s exterior.

"I’ve had it!"

Ke Yucheng’s voice was sharp and exasperated.

"If you wish to cower, so be it, but I’m going inside alone!"

"Hold on!"

Tang Zhiyuan called out.

"Are you out of your mind? What if it's a trap inside..."

"A trap?"

Ke Yucheng scoffed.

"Against those two weaklings? Tang, since when did you become so timid? Don’t forget our objective in trailing them for so long!"

Tang Zhiyuan fell silent for a beat before relenting.

"...Very well, we’ll enter together. But keep this in mind: if anything feels amiss, we retreat instantly."

"Now that’s the spirit!" Ke Yucheng exclaimed with glee.

"I wager Pan Zhuang and the others have discovered something inside; perhaps they’ve already..."

His words trailed off as his footsteps drew nearer to the cave’s opening.

Within the cave’s depths, a frigid gleam flickered in Gu Sheng’s eyes.

He retreated to a shadowed corner, whispering.

"Prepare yourselves, the prey has taken the bait."

A potent stench of blood permeated the cavern.

Gu Sheng had orchestrated this scene deliberately—he had treated the remnants of Demon Beasts and the bloodstains left by Pan Zhuang's group from their prior conflict in a specific manner, intensifying the scent to make it more overpowering and lingering.

"This aroma..."

Ke Yucheng's voice emanated from the cave's entrance, his excitement barely contained.

"It’s blood! So much blood!"

Tang Zhiyuan’s tone held a sharper edge of caution.

"Proceed with care, this scent of blood is far too fresh..."

Their footsteps gradually advanced deeper into the cave.

Gu Sheng’s Divine Sense extended like an unseen web, relaying their every movement.

He precisely measured the distance, awaiting the opportune moment to spring his trap.

"Look!"

Ke Yucheng suddenly cried out, his voice quivering with anticipation.

"That’s... isn’t that Pan Zhuang’s Jade Pendant!"

Gu Sheng's smile broadened. It was a piece of bait he had deliberately positioned in a prominent spot.

"Don’t touch it!"

Tang Zhiyuan yelled urgently, but his warning came too late. Ke Yucheng had already lunged forward and seized the blood-soaked Jade Pendant.

"Hahaha!"

Ke Yucheng erupted in laughter.

"They’re finished! Pan Zhuang and the rest are surely dead! Tang, our chance is now!"

However, Tang Zhiyuan remained unconvinced.

"Something’s not right... If Pan Zhuang and his companions truly met their end, how could Gu Sheng and Ling Xiao be unharmed?"

"Who cares about that!"

Ke Yucheng interjected irritably.

"Perhaps those two simply got lucky and escaped. With the treasure practically within our grasp, why are you hesitating?"

Tang Zhiyuan surveyed their surroundings, his Divine Sense probing every inch of the rocky walls, yet he found nothing amiss.

This only served to heighten his unease—the silence was profound, unnervingly so.

"Let's venture further inside and investigate." He finally declared.

"But we must remain vigilant."

Ke Yucheng gave a dismissive snort but offered no argument.

The pair pressed onward into the cave’s recesses, the scent of blood intensifying with every step.

From a nearby corner, Gu Sheng’s fingers rhythmically tapped against the stone wall, the cadence mirroring a final countdown.

He glanced at Ling Xiao and signaled for him to remain put.

"Gu Sheng..."

Ling Xiao communicated telepathically.

Gu Sheng offered a reassuring nod before his form dissolved into the encroaching darkness.

Ke Yucheng and Tang Zhiyuan entered a wider chamber within the cave.

Scattered across the floor were fragments of shattered Magic Artifacts, torn clothing, and significant pools of dried blood.

"Look!"

Ke Yucheng pointed towards the mangled carcass of a Demon Beast.

"Pan Zhuang and the others must have fallen fighting this beast!"

Tang Zhiyuan offered no reply, but his pace quickened involuntarily, his breathing growing labored.

The cave's damp, chilly air filled his lungs, yet it failed to quench the burning avarice within his heart.

"The treasures within the Demon Beast’s lair, and that item on Gu Sheng, are now ours!"

Ke Yucheng jogged to catch up with his senior brother, his face mirroring the same intense greed.

"Senior brother speaks with wisdom! Those two Loose Cultivators are nothing more than fish on a cutting board, awaiting our slaughter!"

From the deepest recesses of the cave, the distinct sound of dripping water echoed, unusually clear in the otherwise profound silence.

The two navigated along the slick stone walls, the flickering torchlight casting distorted shadows that seemed to writhe with their burgeoning desires.

"Wait!"

Tang Zhiyuan suddenly stopped, the torchlight illuminating several bodies strewn haphazardly on the ground.

These were the fallen Core Disciples who had attempted an escape, their faces frozen in expressions of sheer terror.

Ke Yucheng contemptuously kicked one of the corpses, sneering.

"Serves them right! These guys used to be so arrogant, and now they’re nothing but dead dogs!"

Yet Tang Zhiyuan frowned.

"Where are Gu Sheng and Ling Xiao? They should also be here."

"Senior brother, you’re overthinking it."

Ke Yucheng dismissively waved his hand.

"Maybe they escaped through another exit."

"Another exit?"

Tang Zhiyuan’s pupils suddenly contracted, his complexion changed drastically.

"Not good! They plan to escape!"

Tang Zhiyuan clapped his forehead in frustration.

"Damn it! I should’ve acted against them directly earlier!"

Before his words fully landed, he dashed deeper into the cave.

Ke Yucheng hurriedly followed, feeling somewhat dismissive.

In his view, those two insignificant Loose Cultivators, even if they fled, where could they possibly go?

As they passed a massive Demon Beast’s corpse, Tang Zhiyuan’s steps abruptly halted, his expression shifted from greed to shock.

"This... This can’t be..."

Tang Zhiyuan’s voice shook, the torchlight reflecting the beast’s corpse’s vicious wounds.

Ke Yucheng drew closer to look, only to gasp in shock.

The beast was as large as a hill, and even in death, its remaining pressure made his legs weak.

"Half-step Heavenly Palace Realm... No, it could be a Heavenly Palace Realm beast!"

Tang Zhiyuan muttered to himself.

"How could the Core Disciples possibly kill it?"

Ke Yucheng swallowed hard.

"Maybe... they used some sort of trump card?"

Tang Zhiyuan nodded weakly, but the unease in his heart grew stronger.

The two continued forward, but both froze at the corner.

Three bodies were sprawled in front of them, one decapitated, the cut smooth as a mirror, lingering Sword Qi making the surrounding air feel sharp.

"This... This wasn’t the Demon Beast’s doing..."

Ke Yucheng’s voice became shrill.

"It was done by humans!"

Tang Zhiyuan’s face instantly turned pale and he whirled around.

"Run! Something’s wrong here!"

The two ran back in a panic, hearts almost leaping out of their chests.

Passing the Demon Beast’s corpse, Tang Zhiyuan inexplicably stopped, and began inspecting closely.

"Senior brother, why are you still looking? Run!"

Ke Yucheng stamped his feet in urgency.

Tang Zhiyuan seemed not to hear, his fingers trembling as they grazed a sword scar on the beast’s neck.

"The same Sword Qi... the beast was also killed with a single strike!"

This statement poured over Ke Yucheng like a bucket of ice water, sending a chilling sensation from his feet up to his Heavenly Spirit.

"Is... is there someone else?"

Ke Yucheng stammered.

"Gu Sheng and Ling Xiao... do they have allies? Were we... were we lured here?"

Tang Zhiyuan’s eyes held fear, but were soon replaced with cruelty.

"No matter who it is, anyone daring to plot against us will pay! Let’s catch those two Loose Cultivators first!"

As the two prepared to flee the cave, a soft laugh suddenly emanated from the shadows ahead.

"Why are you two in such a rush? Have you discovered something interesting?"

Gu Sheng and Ling Xiao’s figures slowly emerged from the darkness, their faces adorned with meaningful smiles.

Ke Yucheng reacted as if he had seen ghosts, pointing at them and shrieking.

"It’s you! You’re indeed deceitful!"

Tang Zhiyuan quickly regained his composure, a calculated gleam in his eyes.

"Capture them! Even if they have allies, we still have cards to play!"

Ke Yucheng immediately echoed.

"Right! Capture them!"

He covertly clutched the Azure Dragon Token in his sleeve, ready to summon help.

Tang Zhiyuan wasted no words further, an aura of mid-Earth Palace Realm erupted forcefully, small stones in the cave trembled and fell.

He leapt towards Gu Sheng like a fierce tiger, his five fingers forming claws, aiming straight for the throat!