Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World Chapter 1327 - 687: Success! (2)

"It's time to depart."

A scan of his surroundings concluded, Gu Sheng's gaze finally settling on the deepest recess of the cave, where Yang Qi was erupting without cease.

Even from a considerable distance, a hundred meters away, he could perceive the astonishing energy undulations originating from that location.

"That is..."

Gu Sheng narrowed his eyes, his heart beginning to pound uncontrollably.

"The origin of the Yang Qi?"

His curiosity surged, escalating like unbridled vegetation.

Gu Sheng was acutely aware that his current power level made a direct approach an act of suicide. Yet...

"This should suffice."

From his bosom, Gu Sheng retrieved a modest bell, its surface adorned with intricate, mysterious runes, which trembled faintly amidst the rampant Yang Qi.

[Ancient Reincarnation Bell] — This supreme artifact was unearthed during an expedition into a secret realm, possessing the remarkable ability to endure extreme environments.

It was precisely this treasure that enabled Gu Sheng to persevere in his cultivation within the core of Golden Crow Mountain for such an extended duration.

"I shall take the gamble!"

Gu Sheng flung the small bell upwards. Instantly, the bell expanded, fully enshrouding him within its protective confines.

Upon entering the bell's internal space, Gu Sheng felt a pervasive coolness envelop his body, effectively mitigating the intense external heat and pressure.

With careful control, he guided the Reincarnation Bell, progressing slowly towards the very source of the Yang Qi.

With each meter traversed, the oppressive force intensified.

Even shielded by the Reincarnation Bell, Gu Sheng could sense the suffocating weight.

The bell let out a straining hum.

"Such formidable Yang Qi..."

Beads of perspiration beaded on Gu Sheng’s forehead.

"No wonder even those ancient behemoths hesitate to draw near."

Eighty meters... sixty meters... forty meters...

As the distance diminished, the palpable pressure escalated to terrifying degrees.

Gu Sheng was compelled to channel all his Spiritual Power to sustain the Reincarnation Bell's operation.

A trickle of blood appeared at the corner of his mouth, his internal organs feeling as if grasped by an unseen, colossal hand.

"Hold on..."

Gu Sheng clenched his jaw, a fierce resolve igniting in his eyes.

"Having come this far, there's no turning back!"

Twenty meters... ten meters...

At long last, just as the Reincarnation Bell teetered on the brink of collapse, Gu Sheng arrived at his objective.

Through the bell's translucent walls, he observed a fist-sized cavity. Within it rested a gemstone of such profound redness it verged on purple.

"This is..."

Gu Sheng's eyes widened, his breathing catching in his throat.

The gemstone, no larger than his thumb, nevertheless radiated an awe-inspiring energy signature.

It hovered serenely at the center of the cavity, continuously emitting the purest Yang Dao Qi.

Natural patterns were etched across the gemstone's surface, faintly depicting the silhouette of a Golden Crow in mid-flight, wings spread wide.

"The treasure of the mountain!"

This thought flashed through Gu Sheng's mind, his heart hammering against his ribs.

"This must be the very core of Golden Crow Mountain!"

He gazed at the gemstone with intense longing, a whirlwind of possibilities racing through his thoughts.

If he could claim it... his cultivation would skyrocket, perhaps even reaching unprecedented heights...

"But this rightfully belongs to the Qinghe Holy Land..."

His rational mind interjected.

"If they discover this..."

Gu Sheng's expression vacillated between desire and apprehension.

He recalled his past conflicts with the Qinghe Holy Land, and how his name was prominently displayed on the Dragon Palace's bounty board...

"Heh..."

A sudden laugh escaped Gu Sheng, a hint of recklessness coloring his smile.

"Since I'm already in a fight for my life, what is there to fear?"

As Gu Sheng drew nearer to the Yang Qi's source, the surrounding pressure seemed to wane, as if deliberately subdued by an unseen force.

"How peculiar..."

Gu Sheng murmured, tentatively extending a finger. As his fingertip neared within three inches of the crimson gemstone, an intense wave of heat struck him, compelling him to reflexively withdraw his hand. Blisters had already begun to form on his fingertip.

"Such aggressive Yang Qi!"

Gu Sheng squinted, examining the cavity's structure with keen interest.

Along the edge where the gemstone met the rock, intricate patterns were visible, appearing to be a combination of natural formations and possibly man-made inscriptions.

He attempted to use his fingernail to lever the gemstone's edge but found no purchase whatsoever.

"It seems brute force won't suffice."

Gu Sheng drew a short sword from his waist, its blade a gleaming emerald green.

"Let's try this."

The Green Jade Sword — a Mid-grade Spiritual Artifact acquired in his earlier years, its blade imbued with Wood Essence Qi, making it exceptionally suited for use within a Fire Attribute environment.

Gu Sheng cautiously inserted the sword's tip into the minute gap between the gemstone and the cavity, applying pressure.

"Crack!"

The sharp cracking sound echoed with unusual clarity in the otherwise silent cavern.

The Green Jade Sword fractured into two pieces, the tip clattering to the ground, while the gemstone remained stubbornly in place.

"Blast it!"

A crestfallen Gu Sheng gazed at the fractured sword, recalling the significant expenditure invested in its acquisition.

However, a second thought surfaced: if the coveted gemstone could be secured, the sacrifice of ten Green Jade Swords would be a worthy trade.

A sudden recollection prompted him to swipe his right hand across the ring adorning his left. Instantly, an ancient-looking longsword materialized in his grasp.

The sword's surface was muted, bearing faint etchings of seven stars, though three remained indistinct.

"Tai Chi Seven Star Sword..."

Gu Sheng tenderly caressed the blade, sensing the latent power slumbering within.

"Though marred, it remains an unparalleled Divine Artifact."

This blade represented one of his most potent hidden assets, a tool to be employed only in dire straits.

Yet, faced with the current urgency, Gu Sheng clenched his jaw, directing the sword's point towards the seam of the groove.

"Open for me!"

As Gu Sheng unleashed his full Spiritual Power, the Tai Chi Seven Star Sword emitted a low thrum, and the four intact star patterns on its blade began to illuminate in sequence.

With a gentle sizzle, the sword tip surprisingly breached the seam.

"It's working!"

Overjoyed, Gu Sheng applied a sudden surge of force to his wrist.

"Crack, crack..."

Faint cracking sounds emanated from the groove's edge, and hairline fractures, resembling a spiderweb, radiated outwards from the sword's tip.

At last, the gemstone began to dislodge.

Gu Sheng's eyes blazed with eagerness, his muscles coiled as the four stars on the Tai Chi Seven Star Sword pulsed with brilliant light.

"Lift!"

With a fierce battle cry, the gemstone was finally wrenched free from its setting.

At that precise instant, the deepest reaches of Golden Crow Mountain trembled profoundly, as if a delicate balance had been irrevocably shattered.

Without a second's delay, Gu Sheng lunged to seize the gemstone, now suspended in mid-air.

"Ah!"

A searing agony nearly forced him to relinquish his grip. The gemstone felt akin to a white-hot branding iron, and even Gu Sheng's rigorously tempered physique struggled to endure its intensity.

Gritting his teeth against the pain, he swiftly stowed the gemstone within his Void Ring.

In the following moment, the ring's exterior began to glow red and warp, its internal dimensions becoming perilously unstable.

"Not good!"

Gu Sheng's countenance contorted in alarm as he hastily retrieved the gemstone. Within the Void Ring, chaos had already erupted, with several magical treasures near the periphery showing visible signs of melting.

"This..."

Beads of sweat cascaded down Gu Sheng's forehead. His hand, scorched by the gemstone, released the acrid scent of burnt flesh into the air.

He needed an immediate solution, lest the gemstone's potent heat consume him before his predicament was even discovered.

Suddenly, Gu Sheng's gaze fell upon the Ancient Reincarnation Bell resting nearby. This bell, known to withstand the formidable Yang Qi emanating from the depths of Golden Crow Mountain, might offer a solution...

Wasting no time, Gu Sheng swiftly unsealed the bell and deposited the gemstone inside, promptly sealing it once more.

The bell quivered minutely, its inscribed runes flowing across its surface, miraculously containing the majority of the escaping Yang Qi.

"It's working!"

Gu Sheng breathed a sigh of relief, only to be confronted by a new quandary: how to transport the bell, now containing the gemstone?

He attempted to retract the Reincarnation Bell into his ring, but discovered the gemstone's presence within obstructed the process.

With no alternative, Gu Sheng hoisted the bell, standing nearly as tall as himself, onto his shoulders and began the arduous task of retracing his steps.

The moment the gemstone was removed from its original resting place, the Yang Qi within Golden Crow Mountain's depths had devolved into utter chaos.

The once-steady stream of Yang Qi now fluctuated violently between intense surges and alarming lulls, while the crimson patterns adorning the cave walls flickered with unpredictable irregularity.

"I must depart swiftly!"

An internal alarm sounded in Gu Sheng's mind.

He quickened his pace, shouldering the cumbersome Reincarnation Bell as he navigated the confined passageways.

Periodically, he paused, attempting to store the Reincarnation Bell within his ring.

Finally, as the oppressive energy subsided to a manageable level, the Reincarnation Bell, gemstone secured within, successfully entered the Void Ring.

"Done!"

Gu Sheng's elation was immense, but fleeting.

He acutely registered that the Yang Qi concentration across the entirety of Golden Crow Mountain was diminishing at an alarming velocity.

"Damn, this alteration is far too conspicuous; it will be discovered soon!"

Gu Sheng’s form blurred into motion, a streak of lightning as he sprinted back along his original ingress route.