Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World Chapter 1586 - 816: Someone’s Coming

Just as the thoughts spun rapidly in Gu Sheng’s mind, the heavy stone doors of the hall finally fully opened.

A stream of air, heavier and mixed with ancient dust, a bloody scent, and some kind of strange energy fluctuation, rushed towards them.

"Master, the door is open!"

Gu Yuanyuan’s voice carried excitement and nervousness.

Gu Sheng collected his thoughts, temporarily suppressing his speculations about Venerable Ming River’s conspiracy.

The pressing matter was to explore this Thousand Souls Hall, find the trapped Holy Academy disciples, and also stop the Wuya Sect’s possible sacrificial plan!

"Let’s go."

Gu Sheng took the lead, stepping into the hall’s depths that resembled a giant mouth.

Gu Yuanyuan followed closely behind.

The interior of the hall was extremely vast, towering over a hundred feet, supported by numerous huge black stone pillars.

Carved on the pillars were lifelike reliefs of various ferocious deities and demons, exuding an imposing aura.

The ground was paved with thick black stone slabs, covered with dry, blackened bloodstains and deep scars left from battles.

The air was thick with an overwhelming scent of decay and death, with faint winds echoing in the expansive hall.

"Master, I remember there’s a treasure room on the second floor of this hall!"

While cautiously observing the surroundings, Gu Yuanyuan whispered to Gu Sheng.

"Years ago, when I was sucked into this place and gravely injured, I seemed to be taken near the treasure room by the Nine-Colored Demon Beast. Later, luckily regaining consciousness, I found some scattered Spirit Stones outside the treasure room, supplementing my Spiritual Power, and managed to escape.

However, there was a strong restriction deep inside the treasure room, and I couldn’t approach it back then."

"A treasure room?"

Gu Sheng’s eyes flickered slightly.

"Lead the way."

"Yes!"

Using her vague memories, Gu Yuanyuan led Gu Sheng through the empty main hall, along a dust-laden, cobwebbed passage to the depths of the hall.

There, a massive spiraling stone staircase led to the second floor.

Their footsteps sounded exceptionally clear in the silence as they stepped onto the staircase.

At the end of the staircase was a relatively smaller, tightly closed stone door.

Like the main hall door, this stone door was also covered with Restriction Array Patterns, but they were obviously weaker.

Gu Yuanyuan stepped forward and tried to push, but the stone door didn’t budge.

She looked at Gu Sheng somewhat embarrassed.

"Master, this restriction... I can’t open it."

Gu Sheng stepped forward, pressing his palm against the stone door. A trace of True Yuan exhaled from his palm, pure energy infiltrating into the Array Patterns on the stone door.

The seemingly complex array patterns rapidly disintegrated and collapsed under Gu Sheng’s power.

"It’s done."

Gu Sheng withdrew his hand.

Gu Yuanyuan promptly pushed hard; the stone door gave a heavy creak and slowly opened inward.

A dense mixture of dust and faint Spiritual Energy hit them. Behind the door was a large stone chamber.

In the center of the stone chamber was a pile of Spirit Stones! In the dim light, these Spirit Stones emitted weak but colorful glows, dazzlingly beautiful!

The sheer amount, perhaps not less than hundreds of thousands!

Most were Low-grade Spirit Stones, but not a few Mid-grade Spirit Stones were mixed among them, and there were even a few High-grade Spirit Stones emitting pure Spiritual Energy!

"Here it is!"

Gu Yuanyuan’s eyes lit up, pointing at the pile of Spirit Stones.

"Master, look! I found some scattered Spirit Stones here back then!"

Gu Sheng’s gaze swept over the pile of Spirit Stones, but his brows slightly furrowed.

He stepped forward, casually picking up a Mid-grade Water Attribute Spirit Stone that radiated a faint blue glow.

The Spirit Stone felt warm and rich in Spiritual Energy.

But Gu Sheng keenly detected an extremely weak yet extraordinarily cold, and deathly black impurity mixed in the pure Water Attribute Spiritual Energy!

This impurity clung to the stone like a bone-eating maggot, hidden within; if not for his strong Divine Soul and acute Perception, it would be nearly indiscernible!

He picked up a Fire Attribute Spirit Stone next and discovered a similar cold death qi impurity mixed with the pure Fire Spiritual Power!

"Master, what’s wrong?"

Seeing Gu Sheng’s unusual expression, Gu Yuanyuan asked puzzledly.

Gu Sheng handed her the Spirit Stone.

"Sense carefully, is there anything strange in the Spiritual Energy?"

Gu Yuanyuan took the Spirit Stone, closed her eyes, and concentrated intently. Moments later, she abruptly opened her eyes, showing a shocked and suspicious expression.

"This... this Spiritual Energy seems... not so pure? It seems to contain a very faint, very cold... death qi?"

"Exactly."

Gu Sheng’s voice was slightly grave.

"These Spirit Stones, having been placed in this deathly, grieving-filled Thousand Souls Hall for countless years, especially this treasure room’s depths, are near the core area of that Thousand Souls Sacrifice Array! They’ve long been contaminated by the pervasive Yin Fiend Death Qi here!

Their internal Spiritual Energy appears rich, but in reality, it’s mixed with extremely sinister death evil contamination!"

His gaze sharply focused on Gu Yuanyuan.

"Did you absorb these contaminated Spirit Stones back then?"

Gu Yuanyuan’s face turned pale, nodding slightly.

"Yes... I was gravely injured, on the verge of death, and relied on these Spirit Stones to replenish Spiritual Power to..."

"Immediately discard all Spirit Stones you took from this treasure room!"

Gu Sheng’s tone was firm, allowing no doubt.

"Master?"

Gu Yuanyuan was somewhat confused, also a bit reluctant.

Those Spirit Stones were life-saving items for her, and crucial resources for her previous cultivation.

"Foolish!"

Gu Sheng’s voice carried sternness.

"Do you think these Spirit Stones helping in healing you, aiding your cultivation is a blessing? That Yin Fiend Death Qi impurity had long been absorbed into your body along with the Spiritual Energy, merging into your Qi-Blood, True Yuan, even your Divine Soul! Like chronic poison, lurking and dormant!