Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World Chapter 1657 - 841: Preparing in Advance (Part 2)

She handed Gu Sheng a communication Jade Talisman with an ancient, simple design.

"This is my Communication Talisman. If... if in the future... you plan to go to Wanling Palace... you can inform me in advance."

Gu Sheng took the Jade Talisman and nodded.

"Take care."

Xiao Mengling gave Gu Sheng a deep look, her eyes complicated and unreadable. In the end she said no more, turned, and walked toward the direction of the Holy Academy. Her figure quickly vanished into the bustling crowd.

Watching Xiao Mengling leave, Situ Qingfeng turned to Gu Sheng.

"Gu, what are your plans next?"

"The Golden-winged Roc Relic Secret Realm opens at the beginning of the seventh month."

Gu Sheng’s gaze grew solemn.

"I must set out within three days and head to the Southern Border."

"Southern Border?"

A sharp light flashed in Situ Qingfeng’s eyes.

"I’ll go with you! First, I know a thing or two about the terrain of the Southern Border and the situation of the Secret Realm, I might be of help. Second, this Secret Realm is of great use to me as well. Even if I miss the opening time, I still want to try my luck, see if I can find clues to repairing my Dao injury!"

Gu Sheng gave him a look and did not refuse.

"Very well."

He then shifted the topic, his brows slightly furrowing.

"It’s just... the fact that Xiao Beixuan didn’t set an ambush on the return route this time is rather unexpected."

"Oh?"

Situ Qingfeng raised a brow.

"Is this man very troublesome?"

"Human King Realm cultivation, bearing Venerable Ming River’s inheritance. His methods are strange and vicious, and he repays every slight."

Gu Sheng spoke briefly and to the point.

"Human King Realm?!"

Situ Qingfeng drew in a breath of cold air, the relaxed expression on his face vanishing instantly.

"Tsk... that is indeed... extremely troublesome! Taking the initiative to cause him trouble... I’ll forget about it!"

He decisively dismissed his earlier intention, then looked at Gu Sheng with a bitter smile.

"Gu, your ability to attract trouble... is truly extraordinary!"

Gu Sheng made no comment, only said coolly.

"Either his injuries are too severe and he is temporarily unable to take revenge, or... he is brewing a harsher killing move. We must increase our strength as quickly as possible."

As they spoke, the two had already arrived before the doors of Linyin Pavilion.

Gu Sheng led Situ Qingfeng straight inside.

The steward within the pavilion saw Gu Sheng and immediately bowed respectfully.

"Third Pavilion Master!"

"Third Pavilion Master?"

Situ Qingfeng looked at Gu Sheng in surprise, his eyes full of astonishment.

He knew Gu Sheng’s ties with Linyin Pavilion were not shallow, but he had not expected him to be the exalted Third Pavilion Master!

Gu Sheng nodded slightly and said to the steward.

"This Senior Situ is my friend. Arrange a top room for him and treat him well."

"Yes!"

The steward answered hurriedly, then seemed to recall something and added.

"Third Pavilion Master, before the Great Pavilion Master left, she left a message for you..."

Gu Sheng’s gaze swept over Situ Qingfeng as he spoke to the steward.

"It’s fine. Senior Situ is one of us. Speak directly."

Only then did the steward say respectfully.

"The Great Pavilion Master said: Miss Yuanyuan and Miss Qingxuan have already been taken by her into a Secret Realm to temper themselves. Their safety is assured; you need not worry. In the Alchemy Room, there are items she left for you.

In addition, the Tantai Family in the Central Province has already sent word: Shen Qingtan, Gu Ningshuang, and Qin Yurou, the three young ladies, have safely arrived and all is well."

Hearing this, Gu Sheng’s heart settled slightly.

Tantai Xueling’s arrangements were as thorough as ever.

"Understood."

Gu Sheng nodded.

"Take Senior Situ to rest."

"Senior Situ, please come with me."

The steward made a respectful inviting gesture toward Situ Qingfeng.

Situ Qingfeng suppressed the many questions in his heart, cupped his hands to Gu Sheng, and then went upstairs with the steward and a maid.

Gu Sheng did not linger, heading straight toward the depths of Linyin Pavilion, to the passage leading to the underground level.

This passage had previously been for the Tantai Sisters’ exclusive use, and was heavily guarded. Now that he was the Third Pavilion Master, it was naturally unobstructed.

Following the familiar stone steps down, he quickly arrived at that familiar Alchemy Room. The Pill Furnace still radiated gentle warmth, and the air was filled with a faint medicinal fragrance.

But Gu Sheng’s gaze was drawn at once to a prominent spot beside the Pill Furnace.

There lay a palm-sized jade token, crystal-clear throughout, as if carved from the purest ice crystal.

The jade token emanated a faint chill. Within it seemed to be sealed a wisp of misty, flowing spiritual power, suffused with a cool moonlight aura.

It was precisely Tantai Xueling’s aura!

Gu Sheng stepped forward and picked up the jade token. It was icy to the touch, yet smooth and warm.

He gently sent a wisp of spiritual power into the jade token.

The token flashed faintly, and Tantai Xueling’s cold, melodious voice, tinged with barely perceptible fatigue, flowed straight into Gu Sheng’s Sea of Consciousness:

"Gu Sheng, may this find you as if we were face to face."

"I must immediately take Yuanyuan and Qingxuan to train in the ’Cloud Sea Secret Realm’. The return date is unknown. This Secret Realm is under Linyin Pavilion’s control; there is no danger. Do not worry."

"What is left in the Alchemy Room is the ’Moonlight Heart Seal’ I condensed with my own spiritual power. This seal contains my Source spiritual power; at a critical moment, it may help you withstand one lethal Divine Soul attack. Use it with caution."

"Also, the Tantai Family in the Central Province has already received the three—Shen Qingtan and the others. All is well. The family will take care of them, so you may set your mind at ease."

"Lastly..."

Tantai Xueling’s voice paused here, as if with some hesitation, then returned to its usual coolness:

"Regarding the ’key’, what Bingtang said is not false. Jin’er, daughter of Venerable Ming River, bearing the Blood Demon Bloodline, is indeed crucial to opening a certain Ancient hidden trove. This matter is greatly entangled and beyond what you can touch at present. If you encounter related clues, you must be cautious and refrain from rash action."

"And... Bingtang is stubborn by nature. If she brings up the marriage contract again... you... may weigh it on your own."

"This journey into the Secret Realm may be as short as a few months, or... unknown. Take care."

At this point, the voice cut off abruptly.

The light within the jade token dimmed along with it, returning to its original crystal clarity.

Gu Sheng held the icy jade token, standing where he was, unmoving for a long time.

Tantai Xueling’s last phrase, "weigh it on your own", echoing in his Sea of Consciousness, carried complex emotions, making his gaze grow somewhat deep and unreadable.

After a moment, he gently put away the jade token and placed it into his close-fitting Storage Ring.

His gaze swept over this familiar Alchemy Room and finally settled upon the crimson Pill Furnace at its center.

"The entanglements of men and women... are not what I desire."

Gu Sheng whispered to himself, the last ripples in his eyes returning to calm.

"What’s pressing now is to increase my strength, to deal with Xiao Beixuan, and... the Golden-winged Roc Secret Realm that is about to open!"

He thought no more, walked to a meditation cushion beside the Pill Furnace, and sat cross-legged.

Closing his eyes, the True Yuan within his body slowly circulated as he began to regulate his breath, making final preparations for the upcoming journey to the Southern Border.

In the Alchemy Room, only the soft hum of the furnace fire remained, along with Gu Sheng’s steady, long breathing.

The instant Gu Sheng’s fingertips touched that Ice Crystal Jade Token, a familiar cool aura instantly wrapped around his spiritual power.

Radiance flowed within the token. It was not a simple message, but rippled outward, and Tantai Xueling’s incomparably beautiful figure was clearly projected into the somewhat dim light of the Alchemy Room. Though only a phantom, it carried a sense of reality that crossed space.

"Gu Sheng." Tantai Xueling’s phantom spoke, her voice still clear and cold, but now bearing a faint, hard-to-detect gravity beyond the earlier message.

"This projection borrows the power of my family’s ’Ten Thousand Miles Projection Crystal’, allowing me to briefly cross the barrier of space to speak with you."

She paused slightly, her gaze seeming to pierce through the phantom and fall upon Gu Sheng himself.

"Yuanyuan and Qingxuan I have already taken to train in the ’Cloud Sea Secret Realm’. This Secret Realm is one of Linyin Pavilion’s foundations; there is no danger, you need not worry. My return date from this journey is uncertain. The East Desolation affairs of Linyin Pavilion will temporarily be under your management."

Gu Sheng’s heart stirred slightly. This identity of "Third Pavilion Master" was, at this moment, truly endowed with real authority.

He nodded.

"Understood."

Tantai Xueling’s phantom continued.

"There is another matter you must know. Recently, several dozen Cloud Boat fleets from the Tianxuan Holy Land in the Central Province have departed, their heading directly toward the East Desolation. Such a large-scale mobilization is no ordinary move. The East Desolation has been silent for many years; this anomaly likely heralds the opening of a grand era.

Yet blessing and calamity go hand in hand—this is a heaven-defying opportunity, and also a boundless slaughter. You dwell in the East Desolation; you must be extra vigilant and make preparations early."

Several dozen Cloud Boats from the Heavenly Profound Sacred Land? Gu Sheng’s brows knit slightly.