Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World Chapter 1668 - 847: A Crime Worthy of Ten Thousand Deaths

"Master, Gu Lie’s mouth is very tight; we’ve used all kinds of torture, yet he still keeps silent and hasn’t revealed any effective clues about Gu Sheng’s cultivation technique weaknesses or his whereabouts."

"Subordinate suspects he might truly know little. Should we... perform the Soul Searching Technique on him? Though it may lead to his Divine Soul disintegrating, it might yield some fragmentary information."

"Soul Search?"

Xiao Beixuan slowly opened his eyes, glancing at the subordinate with a hint of displeasure and disdain in his gaze.

"Fool. Gu Lie is nothing more than bait, a tool to distract Gu Sheng’s mind.

He is more useful alive than a worthless corpse. After soul searching, if he turns into an idiot or his soul disperses, how will I catch the big fish? Keeping him alive, living in agony, can truly make Gu Sheng lose his composure."

The rebuked subordinate broke into a cold sweat and quickly lowered his head.

"Subordinate was foolish, master is wise!"

At that moment, another subordinate silently approached, respectfully handing over a newly received Communication Jade Talisman.

Xiao Beixuan swept his Divine Sense over the information in the Jade Talisman, a playful smile appearing on his lips.

"Oh? Gu Sheng left Great Wilderness City, bringing a young man to Southern Border? Seems he couldn’t sit still, wanting to find an opportunity to enhance his strength for the Life and Death Arena in half a month?"

The previously rebuked subordinate immediately volunteered.

"Master, this subordinate wishes to lead a team of elites immediately to Southern Border to ambush this foe, and certainly bring back his head!"

"Ambush? With just you?"

Xiao Beixuan snorted with laughter, shaking his head, his tone unabashedly contemptuous.

"Use your brain! Why was this news spread so quickly? So precisely? Clearly, it’s Linyin Pavilion, or rather Gu Sheng himself, deliberately spreading the word to draw the snake from its lair, to see who would jump out."

He sat upright, picked up a peeled grape from a maid, and placed it into his mouth, speaking leisurely.

"I’ve long anticipated he would play this hand. Rest assured, I’ve already arranged a ’decoy’ with his men to prepare a ’surprise’ for him. How could the real killer move be so easily exposed? You all, keep watching Gu Lie, just don’t let him die."

"Yes! Master has foresight beyond reasoning!"

The two subordinates responded in unison, their reverence for Xiao Beixuan deepening.

...

On the other side, Gu Sheng and Situ Qingfeng did not choose the conventional route to Southern Border.

Relying on the widespread transmission network of Linyin Pavilion, they passed through several large remote Transmission Arrays, crossing an immense distance in just half a day’s time, reaching a small frontier town at the border junction of East Desolation and Southern Border.

This small town appeared quite rundown and remote, with low walls, mostly built with rough stones and wood. Most passersby on the streets wore clothing clearly influenced by Southern Border styling, with darker skin and some adorned with beast teeth and bone decorations.

This place, far from imperial oversight, was not under the direct control of the Divine Sect, a rare city in Southern Border maintaining its own distinctive order, mixing various types.

As they walked down the dusty street, Situ Qingfeng’s gaze swept past a simple notice board near the city gate, his steps suddenly halting, his face turning grim.

"Gu, look!"

Situ Qingfeng pointed to a newly posted warrant on the notice board, his tone filled with indignation.

Gu Sheng looked over and saw the wanted notice clearly depicted his likeness. Although only seventy to eighty percent accurate, it captured his essence well. The warrant was jointly issued by two forces—Southern Border Divine Sect and... East Desolation Southern Emperor City! It listed his "crimes" and offered a large bounty.

Further noted was his cultivation at the Heavenly Martial Realm but carrying a special Magical Treasure capable of unleashing power to kill in the Sect Realm, and warned bounty hunters to be cautious due to his cunning.

"This Southern Emperor City! Simply outrageous!"

Situ Qingfeng said angrily.

"Initially they begged for our help, and after, not only did they burn bridges, now they collude with the Divine Sect to issue a wanted notice! Truly shameless!"

In contrast to Situ Qingfeng’s righteous fury, Gu Sheng’s reaction was much calmer, merely glancing briefly before looking away, as if the person on the notice bore no relation to him. "Expected."

He simply uttered four words, without any further concern, turning to Situ Qingfeng.

"First, let’s find an inn to stay."

Seeing Gu Sheng’s tranquility, Situ Qingfeng had no choice but to suppress his anger and followed along.

They rented two upper rooms in a relatively clean inn in town called "Guest Again."

Entering the room, they closed the doors and windows, setting up a soundproofing barrier before Situ Qingfeng couldn’t hold back any longer and spoke again.

"Gu, I still don’t understand! Our goal in this trip is to secretly obtain the Golden-winged Roc relic, so why do you deliberately have Linyin Pavilion release word and draw Xiao Beixuan’s people to chase us? Doesn’t this add unnecessary risk and variables? If it draws in large forces or stronger opponents, won’t our plan to seize the relic..."

Gu Sheng sat at the table, poured himself a cup of water, but didn’t drink, only watching the ripples with a calm expression.

"Qingfeng, do you think my purpose for this trip is merely the Golden-winged Roc relic?"

Situ Qingfeng was taken aback.

"Isn’t it?"

"It is, but not entirely."

Gu Sheng raised his head, his gaze profound.

"I have other arrangements in Great Wilderness City. Besides the relic, the more important aim of heading south this time is to attract attention, to anchor the gaze of Xiao Beixuan and any force possibly in league with him, like this Southern Border Divine Sect, Wuya Sect, firmly on us and on Southern Border."