Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World Chapter 1497 - 771: Dire Situation (2)

"I have learned almost everything I wanted to know."

"You..."

Miao Muqing looked at his back with some unease.

"Come to me again two days before the Purple Mist Cave Heaven opens."

Gu Sheng said without turning his head.

"Before then, unless there’s a major change, don’t disturb me."

Miao Muqing stood up and hesitated for a moment before nodding solemnly.

"Alright."

She turned and walked toward the door, yet stopped in her tracks.

"Gu Sheng... thank you."

Gu Sheng did not respond, merely standing there quietly.

Miao Muqing gently closed the door and left.

After the sound of footsteps faded, Gu Sheng returned to the table and took out three ancient-looking storage rings from his chest, laying them on the table.

The surface of the rings was engraved with intricate patterns, glinting with a dim luster in the candlelight.

"The Southern Emperor’s physical body..."

He murmured to himself, his fingers brushing over one of the rings.

"Things are more interesting than I imagined."

Meanwhile, Miao Muqing walked down the corridor, moonlight spilling over her shoulders.

She raised her hand to her chest and felt the presence of another soul within her.

"Sister, do you really trust him?" Miao Muxue’s voice echoed in her mind.

"We have no choice. Miao Muqing replied in her heart, and moreover... his gaze tells me his hidden strength far exceeds what appears on the surface."

"But..."

"Don’t worry," Miao Muqing soothed, no matter what, I will protect you.

This is my promise to mother.

She stopped in her tracks, gazing at the distant silhouette of Purple Mist Mountain.

The summit was shrouded in mist, as though purple energy was coming from the east.

"In two days..."

She whispered to herself.

"Everything will be revealed."

Returning to her courtyard, Miao Muqing took out a purple sandalwood box from the depths of a cabinet.

Upon opening it, there was a crystal-clear jade pendant, engraved with an ancient "South" character.

"Mother..."

She gently stroked the jade pendant, tears welling in her eyes.

"This time, your daughter will definitely fulfill your last wish."

The jade pendant suddenly emitted a faint glow, seemingly responding to her call.

Gu Sheng sat cross-legged in the quiet room, gently stroking the pages of the yellowed, thread-bound ancient book.

The edges of the pages were slightly curled, indicating they had endured the passage of time.

He slowly opened the book, a faint scent of ink mixed with some ancient spice aroma wafting up.

"Yue Shen Gong, oh Yue Shen Gong, I’ll remember this favor, Gu Sheng."

He murmured as his eyes scanned the elegant writing on the pages.

It was the array insights of Yue Shen Gong’s wife, each stroke filled with the unique delicacy and precision of a woman.

The candle flames in the quiet room flickered, casting a long shadow of Gu Sheng.

He closed his eyes, recalling the scene when Yue Shen Gong handed him this book.

The usually stern Artifact Refining Master had an unusually gentle look in his eyes.

"In times where life and death hang in the balance, you must hold your trump cards in your own hands."

Gu Sheng suddenly opened his eyes, a sharp light flashing in them.

He waved his hand, and dozens of storage rings flew out from his sleeve, suspended in mid-air, emitting various glows.

Most of these storage rings came from the enemies he had slain... ambushers in the Great Wilderness City, pursuers from the Southern Border... each one representing a life-and-death battle.

A cold smile tugged at the corner of Gu Sheng’s mouth as his spiritual power surged like a tide, sweeping over these storage rings one by one.

"Oh?"

He suddenly let out a soft cry, noticing a set of complete array plate materials in one dark-red storage ring.

The array plate was entirely dark golden, its edges engraved with intricate cloud patterns, with an array core in the center yet to be completed.

Gu Sheng took out the array plate and closely examined it in the palm of his hand.

"Mystic Gold as the base, Cloud Pattern guiding the spirit... indeed excellent materials for crafting a transmission array."

He murmured, then proceeded to extract various Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures from other storage rings... Star Sand, Void Stone, Spirit Pattern Jade...

The temperature in the quiet room gradually rose, and fine beads of sweat appeared on Gu Sheng’s forehead.

He formed seals with both hands, threads of spiritual light shooting from his fingertips, weaving a complex network of runes in mid-air.

Those runes moved like living creatures, eventually landing on the array plate, perfectly merging with the existing cloud pattern.

"Consolidate!"

Gu Sheng gave a low shout, and the final rune fell.

The array plate immediately burst into brilliance, a silver-white beam of light shot up, forming a miniature spatial vortex at the top of the quiet room, lasting about the span of three breaths before slowly dissipating.

"It’s done!"

Joy flashed in Gu Sheng’s eyes, but he soon furrowed his brows.

"But the transmission distance is only about a hundred miles, and it takes three breaths to activate... in front of a true expert, this is enough time to die ten times."

He pondered for a moment and reopened the array insights book, finding the notes on the "Instant Transmission Array."

"So it is... I need to add Void Stone powder to the array core, using space power to offset the activation delay..."

For the next two days, Gu Sheng remained indoors, fully immersed in improving the transmission array.

Occasional minor explosions and spiritual light flickered from the quiet room, but they were all isolated by the soundproof array he had set up in advance.

When the seventh improved array plate was finally crafted, Gu Sheng showed a satisfied smile.

This array plate, only the size of a palm, reduced activation time to one breath and increased the transmission distance to three hundred miles.

"Though still not comparable to the great powers who can tear through the void at will, it should suffice as a life-saving measure."

Gu Sheng murmured, placing the array plate into a hidden pocket in his sleeve.

He glanced at the remaining five array plates on the table, contemplated for a moment, and hid them in various concealed places such as the soles of his boots, his belt, and collar.

"Miao Muqing’s backup..."

Gu Sheng sneered.

"That woman’s mind is full of schemes, who knows what she has up her sleeve. Having a few extra trump cards never hurts."

After completing these tasks, Gu Sheng finally let out a long breath and adjusted his breathing in meditation.

As his breathing gradually steadied, he felt the surging power within him... the ninth layer of the physical realm had completely stabilized, the explosive strength contained in his muscles and bones gave him a feeling as if he could shatter a mountain with a punch.

"The Southern Emperor’s Longevity Dao is indeed profound..."

Gu Sheng inspected himself internally, seeing the golden True Qi flowing through his meridians, each strand brimming with vigorous Life Force.

"However, Ye Qinglan’s God-breaking Path and Ling Qingyan’s Thousand Illusions Path each have their own merits. Were it not for the Nine Dragon Universe Cauldron..."

Thinking of that mysterious great cauldron, Gu Sheng’s heart surged with heat.

It was precisely this cauldron that allowed him to directly refine the Southern Emperor Dao Yun, bypassing the decades or even centuries that others would need for comprehension.

Outside the window, the sky above Xiaguang City gradually brightened.

Gu Sheng walked to the window, opened a crack, and looked out.

The streets were sparsely populated, but his keen perception allowed him to sense that at least a dozen powerful presences were moving in the shadows.

"Sect Realm experts..."

Gu Sheng narrowed his eyes.

"And not just one or two. It seems the allure of the Purple Mist Cave Heaven is greater than expected."

In the past two days, Xiaguang City has appeared calm on the surface, yet undercurrents ran deep.

The guards at the city gates had doubled; all martial artists were prohibited from leaving the city.

Gu Sheng had observed in secret that those who attempted to force their way out vanished without a trace, without exception.

"Knock knock knock."

A faint knocking sound interrupted Gu Sheng’s train of thought.

"Who is it?"

He asked cautiously, his hand already resting on the hilt of his sword at his waist.

"It’s me, Ye Yiyi."

A clear female voice came from outside the door, but Gu Sheng immediately recognized it as the voice Nangong Yingying was using in disguise.

Gu Sheng opened the door and saw "Ye Yiyi" standing outside, clad in a simple white long dress, her face delicate and charming, yet there was a maturity in her eyes that did not match her appearance.

"Senior Sister Miao has already led people to the transmission array."

Nangong Yingying whispered.

"Come with me, we’ll disguise ourselves as her entourage to enter the Purple Mist Cave Heaven."

Gu Sheng nodded, quickly packing the necessary items.

"What about the others?"

"They are acting separately."

Nangong Yingying’s eyes carried a complicated look.

"Once inside the cave heaven, we’ll meet at the Creation Immortal Pool. Remember, no matter what happens, don’t trust anyone... including me."

The moment the white light dissipated, Gu Sheng sensed that something was amiss.