Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World Chapter 1655 - 840: This Place Is Not Safe for a Long Stay (2)

A portion surged into her internal organs, devouring the accumulated foul blood and Evil Qi.

Another portion, like a cool stream, gently flowed into her turbulent Sea of Consciousness, soothing the wounds of her Divine Soul!

The entire process was silent yet remarkably efficient!

Visibly, the paper-pale complexion of Xiao Mengling began to rapidly regain its rosy hue, and her weak breath became steady and strong!

Her tightly knit brows slowly relaxed, as if a thousand-pound burden had been lifted.

In just half a cup of tea time, Qin Ling’er withdrew her small hand, her face showing fatigue but more of excitement.

"Done!

The main injuries in her body have been dealt with! What’s left is for her to rest and recover her Primordial Energy!"

Gu Sheng looked at the noticeably improved complexion of Xiao Mengling, secretly amazed. Qin Ling’er’s methods were indeed extraordinary, much faster than ordinary Elixir Pills!

"You did very well."

Gu Sheng rarely gave a compliment.

Qin Ling’er squinted her eyes happily but then let out a small yawn, her body beginning to turn somewhat illusory.

"Mmm... so tired... the Spiritual Energy consumption was too great... Gu Sheng... I’m going back to sleep... once I refine those Heavenly Marrow Spirit Liquid... I’ll return some of the pure Spiritual Energy to you..."

Before her voice faded, her small body turned into countless seven-colored light spots, disappearing into Gu Sheng’s forehead, and she vanished.

Gu Sheng felt the now silent colorful cocoon (Qin Ling’er) in his Sea of Consciousness, and the boundless energy of the Heavenly Marrow Spirit Liquid being refined within the cocoon, feeling a mixture of emotions.

That little girl truly is a... significant variable.

He stayed by Xiao Mengling’s side, quietly waiting.

After about the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, Xiao Mengling’s long eyelashes fluttered slightly, and she slowly opened her eyes.

Her gaze was initially somewhat confused, as if not fully awake.

But when she saw her surroundings clearly, especially noticing Gu Sheng standing beside her, the confusion quickly faded, replaced by caution and... deep perplexity.

"Where... am I?"

Her voice was hoarse, tinged with weakness.

"Was it you... who saved me?"

Gu Sheng looked at her and calmly nodded.

"This place is near the Secret Realm’s Immortal Pool. You were seriously injured by Xiao Beixuan and fell into the Immortal Pool. I brought you out."

Xiao Mengling struggled to sit up, glanced at her still damaged but now dry clothes, and felt her significantly improved injuries, her eyes filled with even more confusion.

"My injuries... how could they be..."

She remembered her injuries were severe, even impacting her Sea of Consciousness, making recovery in a short time impossible.

"Someone helped heal you."

Gu Sheng briefly explained, without mentioning Qin Ling’er.

Xiao Mengling was silent for a moment, seemingly recalling the events before her coma.

After a moment, she looked up, her clear eyes filled with complexity as they focused on Gu Sheng.

"Why... did you save me? We... don’t seem to have any relationship."

Gu Sheng looked into her eyes, which bore some resemblance to Xiao Xuanze’s, and slowly said.

"Your father, Xiao Xuanze, is an old acquaintance of mine. We had a connection back in Wanling Palace. How could I stand by and watch the daughter of an old friend face disaster?"

"Father..."

Xiao Mengling murmured softly, her eyes filled with memories and sorrow.

She seemed to remember something, her gaze falling back on Gu Sheng’s face, her expression turning somewhat... strange.

She appeared to want to say something but found it hard to articulate, a faint blush even tinging her pale cheeks.

Gu Sheng keenly noticed her change in expression and understood.

It seemed she remembered that... so-called engagement.

Gu Sheng observed Xiao Mengling’s hesitant and slightly flushed demeanor, understanding fully.

The engagement set by their elders, never truly acknowledged by the individuals involved, had now become an invisible barrier between the two.

He did not point it out, instead choosing to break the subtle awkwardness with a calm tone.

"If your concern is that engagement set by our elders... you need not be troubled. Once you recover, I can accompany you back to Wanling Palace anytime to dissolve it. There need be no binding ties between us due to this matter."

Xiao Mengling stiffened slightly upon hearing this.

She looked up, her clear eyes filled with surprise, quickly turning into deeper complexity.

To dissolve the engagement...

He spoke of it so easily. Did he find the engagement insignificant, or... did he simply not care?

Her heart was filled with mixed feelings, relief at one moment, indescribable loss and confusion at another.

She remained silent for a moment before simply nodding slightly, her voice barely audible.

"...Thank you, Master Gu."

Gu Sheng did not dwell further on the matter, instead asking:

"Though Xiao Beixuan was seriously injured and fled, he’s known for holding grudges and has cunning means. This place is not safe to stay long. Do you have a way to contact Miss Fu Qu? Her injuries are severe and she requires immediate help."

Xiao Mengling steadied herself, pushing aside her chaotic thoughts, and took out a small Communication Jade Talisman from her bosom.

She attempted to infuse True Yuan into it, but the talisman only glowed faintly before dimming, with no response.

"Can’t reach her..."

Xiao Mengling’s brows furrowed slightly, worry filling her eyes.

"Senior Sister Xia’s Communication Jade Talisman... it seems to have failed. It’s possible her injuries are too severe to activate it, or... it was damaged in battle."

"Troublesome."

Gu Sheng’s brows furrowed slightly. Xia Fuqu was severely injured and unconscious; who knows where she was teleported to by Space Shifting. Without timely treatment, the consequences were dire.

Just then, a slight groan came from nearby.

Gu Sheng and Xiao Mengling turned to look. They saw Situ Qingfeng, placed aside by Gu Sheng and unconscious all along, his eyelids just beginning to quiver and slowly open.

His gaze was initially scattered and bewildered, as though he had been asleep for centuries.

He instinctively moved his eyes, surveying the unfamiliar surroundings—broken Light Screen, the mess on the ground, distant Immortal Pool’s misty vapors...

Finally, his gaze fell on Gu Sheng and Xiao Mengling.

"Where... am I?"

Situ Qingfeng’s voice was hoarse and dry, carrying deep fatigue and confusion.

"Who... are you?"

"Senior Situ, you’ve awakened."

Gu Sheng stepped forward, speaking solemnly.

"This place is the secret realm space opened by the Holy Master of Wuya Holy Land. You were transported here from the Southern Border’s Holy Institute by an Ancient Transmission Array, arriving in East Desolation."

"Transmission Array? Southern Border... East Desolation?"

Situ Qingfeng’s eyes were filled with bewilderment, then he suddenly remembered something and struggled to sit up.

"Holy Institute... what happened to the Holy Institute?! Venerable Ming River’s scheme..."

"The Holy Institute is temporarily safe."

Gu Sheng held his shoulder, signaling him to remain calm.

"You’ve been transported here, nearly a month has passed. Venerable Ming River’s scheme has been temporarily suppressed, but the threat still remains."

"Almost... a month?!"

Situ Qingfeng’s body stiffened, his eyes bursting with disbelief!

He abruptly looked at Gu Sheng.

"Are you saying... it’s been a month?!"

"Yes."

Gu Sheng nodded.

"It’s now the end of June."

"End of June... end of June..."

Situ Qingfeng muttered to himself, his face turning extremely pale.

"No! Early July! The Secret Realm of the Golden-winged Roc’s Relic! It’s my only hope to heal my Source Dao Injury! Missing this opening, the next one... at least three hundred years!"

He struggled to rise, but his body was too weak, lacking any strength.

His eyes were filled with urgency.

"No! I must return to the Southern Border immediately! I can’t miss it!"

Gu Sheng observed his anxious state and spoke calmly.

"Your injuries have not yet healed; forcing yourself to travel might mean running out of energy before reaching the Southern Border. Besides, this place is millions of miles from the Southern Border, even with a long-distance Transmission Array, it can’t be reached overnight.

You must decide whether to leave immediately for the Southern Border or stay here to heal first and consider your options."

Upon hearing this, Situ Qingfeng seemed as though doused in cold water, instantly calming down.

Feeling the exhausted True Yuan and the vaguely aching Dao Foundation within him, a bitter smile appeared on his face.