Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World Chapter 1331 - 689: Shut Up (Part 2)

"Good lad!"

Daoist Xiushan slammed his hand on the jade table, which then crumbled into dust as he rose to his feet.

"To sneak into Qinghe Sacred Land and stir up such a fuss? That’s quite the accomplishment!"

A crowd of hundreds of disciples had already assembled outside the pavilion, each wearing an expression of utter disbelief. They had just received word that Gu Sheng, who had been missing for half a year, had caused such a massive disturbance in the rival Sacred Land.

"Master!"

A young woman clad in red dashed into the room.

"Spies from all the other Six Great Holy Lands are currently probing about Senior Brother’s whereabouts!"

Daoist Xiushan narrowed his eyes, and a beam of golden light shot forth from his sleeve. It transformed in the air, becoming a celestial chart, with the star representing Qinghe Sacred Land quivering intensely.

"Issue the decree."

The elder’s voice was filled with a bravado not heard in a long time.

"Let all Tianlan disciples lend their full support to Gu Sheng’s return!"

"Hahaha—" Daoist Xiushan erupted into even more boisterous laughter than before, his voice soaring skyward, clearly audible to the disciples spread across the mountainside.

"Old Yong’an, oh, old Yong’an!"

Daoist Xiushan laughed so hard that tears welled up in his eyes.

"You invested so much effort training the next generation for revenge, only to inadvertently nurture someone from Tianlan Sacred Land! And he’s even half my apprentice!"

It turned out that although Gu Sheng originated from Qinghe Sacred Land, he had formed a connection with Daoist Xiushan during a trial, receiving his personal guidance. Later, through a twist of fate, he developed an unbreakable bond with Tianlan Sacred Land.

"Thrilling! Utterly exhilarating!"

Daoist Xiushan clapped his hands together, his laughter booming.

"Qinghe Sacred Land must be absolutely livid right now!"

After his mirth subsided, his expression grew serious.

"This is not good! Gu Sheng has profoundly humiliated Qinghe Sacred Land; they will not let this matter rest easily."

With this critical thought, Daoist Xiushan immediately stood.

"Prepare the flying boat, I must make haste to the Elder Hall!"

...

Within Tianlan Sacred Land, at the Water Spirit Pavilion atop Holy Heaven Peak.

Gongsun Yue, attired in pristine white, gracefully pushed open the intricately carved wooden door and stepped out. Her complexion was as smooth as fine cream, her eyebrows perfectly arched, resembling an ethereal beauty stepping forth from a painted scroll.

At this moment, her gaze was fixed on the distant horizon, her eyes piercing through the sea of clouds, as if she could perceive Qinghe Sacred Land miles away.

"Brother Sheng..."

She whispered softly, her voice imbued with a deep sense of yearning.

"Yue’er."

A dignified and graceful lady approached her side, gently placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Still thinking about that boy?"

"Mother..."

Gongsun Yue’s cheeks flushed a light shade of red.

"I am merely concerned for his safety. Qinghe Sacred Land will undoubtedly seek retribution."

The Tianlan Saint Mother gave a gentle smile.

"Fear not, that boy is resilient. From being deemed a talentless waste to achieving his current standing, he has always managed to narrowly escape peril."

Speaking of Gu Sheng’s remarkable ascent, the Tianlan Saint Mother’s eyes held a glimmer of admiration.

"I have meticulously reviewed the records of Tianlan Sacred Land, and never has anyone demonstrated such rapid growth. Especially after his return from the Holy Road, he has undergone a complete metamorphosis."

"Brother Sheng will undoubtedly grow even more formidable."

Gongsun Yue’s tone was unwavering.

"Naturally."

The Tianlan Saint Mother nodded.

"It is not just us; the entirety of Tianlan Sacred Land places immense hope in him. Even those who once harbored dislike towards him have now lowered their heads in deference."

Gongsun Yue responded in a quiet tone.

"This is because they now recognize the futility of opposing Brother Sheng."

"Indeed."

The Tianlan Saint Mother gazed into the distance.

"When an individual attains sufficient power, all opposition transforms into admiration. Should Tianlan Sacred Land nurture a force capable of dominating a region, everyone stands to benefit."

...

While all the Sacred Lands were still reeling from the shockwave Gu Sheng had generated, an unforeseen anomaly began to manifest.

Above White Tiger Sacred Land, the sky, which had been clear moments before, suddenly plunged into darkness.

Clouds as black as ink rapidly gathered, swiftly obscuring the entire Sacred Land.

"What is occurring?"

The disciple on duty looked up at the sky, a creeping sense of dread filling his heart.

An oppressive atmosphere descended, making it difficult to draw a breath.

A deafening crash reverberated from the depths of the Holy Land, followed by an immediate surge of panic and disarray.

"Something has gone terribly wrong! The Seventh Elder has lost control and died from a self-inflicted body explosion!"

This news struck like a thunderbolt, leaving everyone utterly stunned. How could the Seventh Elder, a genuine powerhouse at the elder level, suddenly perish?

Before anyone could fully process this shock, calamity befell Cang Mang Sacred Land as well—two formidable cultivators, nearing the elder status, met their demise under mysterious circumstances.

Refining Dragon Sacred Land, Heavenly Immortal Sacred Land, Purple Mist Sacred Land, Qinghe Sacred Land... One after another, each Sacred Land was engulfed by ominous dark clouds, and reports of prominent figures meeting their end continued to spread like wildfire.

A chilling dread, swift and pervasive, gripped everyone. With even venerated Elder figures succumbing one after another, a profound unease settled upon all.

"What... what manner of power is this?"

"It feels disturbingly akin to the Heavenly Dao itself."

"Could this be a retribution from the Heavenly Dao?"

Even more peculiar was the fact that among the Seven Great Sacred Lands, only Tianlan Sacred Land remained untouched, bathed in clear skies.

"This is exceedingly strange..."

"Could this anomaly be connected to Tianlan Sacred Land?"

The leaders of the remaining Six Great Sacred Lands marshaled all their resources to probe this unsettling development.

They were loath to accept the possibility that Tianlan Sacred Land was involved—if that were the case, the means by which Elder-level cultivators were perishing consecutively would surely defy all natural order.

As their investigations delved deeper, the oppressive atmosphere over the Six Great Sacred Lands intensified, resembling a colossal demonic realm mountain bearing down from above.

"Boom, boom, boom——"

Resounding thunder echoed incessantly, and the aura of the Heavenly Dao emanated a terrifying might, causing even the Saint Masters to feel profoundly unsettled.

"To be brushed by such a presence... invites utter catastrophe..."

The Qinghe Saint Master’s countenance was grim.

"Could this be... the Heavenly Dao Curse?"

...

The Tianlan Saint Master, en route back to his Sacred Land, received news of the drastic shifts occurring within the Six Great Sacred Lands, his brow deeply furrowed.

"The Heavenly Dao Curse..."

He uttered the words softly, a sudden recollection causing his expression to transform dramatically.

"Could it possibly be... Gu Sheng?"

Without delay, he hastened his journey, transforming into a streak of light as he flew towards Tianlan Sacred Land.

If Gu Sheng was indeed implicated, then this calamity engulfing the Six Great Sacred Lands might only be in its nascent stages...

The roiling dark clouds, thick as ink, pressed menacingly upon the heavens of the Six Great Sacred Lands, as if an unseen, colossal hand sought to crush the entirety of the Cultivation World.

Gongsun Wuji, the Tianlan Saint Master, stood atop the Holy Hall, his Imperial Purple Robes billowing fiercely in the wind, his gaze piercing through the distant clouds towards those Sacred Lands now shrouded in palpable darkness.

"Could it be..."

His slender fingers quivered almost imperceptibly, his knuckles turning white with tension.

"Has the Heavenly Dao Curse truly descended?"

Behind him, the Great Elder maintained a respectful, bowed posture, his voice rough with concern.

"Saint Master, we have just received confirmation that another Elder from Xuanming Sacred Land perished while undergoing secluded Cultivation. His demise mirrors the others precisely—bleeding profusely from all seven orifices, his divine soul utterly annihilated."

Gongsun Wuji closed his eyes, memories of a particular rainy night, three years prior, flooding his consciousness.

At that time, Gu Sheng had knelt in the center of the Holy Hall, his body covered in blood, yet his eyes blazed with intensity as he hoarsely warned of the Heavenly Dao Curse's existence.

"Preposterous!"

He had, in his anger, shattered the jade table with a single palm strike.

"A mere cultivator at the Earth Palace Stage, yet you dare to speak of the Heavenly Dao? From this moment forth, I strip you of your title as Saint Heir!"

The memories continued to surge forward.

He recalled the instant the Holy Daughters from all Seven Great Sacred Lands simultaneously renounced their betrothals, and Gu Sheng’s unnervingly calm gaze.

He remembered his own daughter, Gongsun Yue, weeping softly behind a silken curtain; he also recollected the moment Gu Sheng was expelled from the Sacred Land, a fleeting flash of blood-red lightning momentarily illuminating the sky.

"Report——"

A disciple burst in with frantic urgency.

"Urgent dispatch from Heavenly Immortal Sacred Land! Their entire Third Peak has catastrophically collapsed, entombing three Elders!"

Gongsun Wuji’s eyes snapped open, golden light erupting from his pupils.

He suddenly recalled a pivotal decision made half a year ago—his approval for his daughter to sign the Heavenly Dao Marriage Certificate with Gu Sheng.

At that juncture, the Seven Great Sacred Lands had openly ridiculed Tianlan Sacred Land for its perceived foolishness, yet now...

"Saint Master, since the young lady entered into the marriage certificate agreement with Gu Sheng, our Tianlan Sacred Land has indeed remained entirely free from any such disturbances."

The Great Elder added in a hushed tone.

"Even the Holy Mother’s persistent chronic illness..."

"Enough!"

Gongsun Wuji commanded sharply, the tremor in his voice betraying his inner turmoil.

His gaze shifted towards the elegant white jade pavilion situated behind the Holy Hall—Gongsun Yue’s private chambers.

Ever since the marriage alliance was formed with Gu Sheng, his daughter had dedicated herself to secluded Cultivation daily, yet she had not shown any further symptoms of her debilitating Heart Demon illness.

Rumble——

Distant thunder boomed, like the derisive laughter of the Heavenly Dao.

A sudden chill permeated Gongsun Wuji, and the potent aura emanating from the dark clouds was unmistakably directed at the Six Great Holy Lands.

Yet, Tianlan Sacred Land remained in a state of mysterious and profound tranquility.