Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World Chapter 1688 - 857: No Need to Waste Any More Effort

"Since it’s useless, let’s keep it as bait for now, there’s no need to waste any more effort."

"Yes."

The subordinate bowed and withdrew.

In the courtyard, that graceful figure swiftly flitted to the front of the stone pillar.

She extended her slender hand, her fingertips surrounded by a strange and restrained energy fluctuation, gently brushing over the black iron chains that bound Gu Lie.

An astonishing scene unfolded! The iron chains, inscribed with sturdy runes and capable of restraining a Sect Realm powerhouse, rapidly turned red and softened as if burned by invisible flames where her fingers touched them, and with a few light snaps, they broke and fell off!

Without the support of the chains, the still-weak Gu Lie plummeted forward.

The woman was prepared, extending her arm to catch Gu Lie’s falling body with a gentle force, preventing him from hitting the ground.

Next, the woman’s figure began to undergo a bizarre transformation! Her body slightly expanded as if inflated, suddenly gaining more than half a foot in height, and her bones emitted faint sounds of adjustment. Simultaneously, her appearance and physique flashed and reshaped like rippling water, swiftly transforming into the exact appearance and physique of Gu Lie! Even the details of dirt and scars on the skin, the graying temples, the faint bloody odor, and the dried bloodstains on the clothing were imitated flawlessly, vivid as life!

"His injuries are severe but mostly external with excessive depletion, his foundation remains intact. Take him back to the Linyin Pavilion’s secret path, Second Miss will arrange for his proper recuperation and recovery."

The woman, now transformed into Gu Lie, spoke in a voice that also became as hoarse and deep as Gu Lie’s, making it incredibly difficult to differentiate unless one was extremely familiar.

Another figure swiftly stepped forward, taking the truly unconscious Gu Lie from her hands.

"Be careful yourself. Xiao Beixuan’s strength is unfathomable, do not act recklessly."

The receiver advised in a low voice.

"Understood, go quickly."

The fake Gu Lie nodded, then picked up the few broken, now spiritually diminished pieces of the chain from the ground, with slightly awkward yet exceptionally precise movements, re-threading them through the holes formed after the chain’s breakage at the collarbone position.

Then she leaned back against the stone pillar, lowering her head to replicate the exact weakened posture of Gu Lie when he was imprisoned, even mimicking the subtle rise and fall of breathing to perfection.

The receiver hesitated no longer, holding the real Gu Lie as he blended into the night’s shadows like a phantom, vanishing entirely in just a few flickers, leaving no trace of his presence.

Almost the moment the receiver disappeared.

Tap, tap, tap...

Steady footsteps echoed from far to near as Xiao Beixuan’s figure strolled out from the depths of the residence.

He seemed to be acting on a whim, or perhaps naturally suspicious, wanting to personally confirm the condition of the "bait".

His gaze swept casually over the courtyard, a powerful yet meticulous spiritual power spreading over every corner of the courtyard like mercury, carefully perceiving the fluctuations of all array nodes, as well as the aura and state of the "Gu Lie" on the stone pillar.

Moments later, the slight frown on his face relaxed, his expression returning to its previous calm and indifference.

All restrictions remained intact, with no traces of having been disturbed, and the weak yet familiar aura on the stone pillar showed no anomalies.

He walked to the stone pillar, looking at the drooping, unconscious "Gu Lie", with an icy smirk on his lips, detecting nothing amiss.

He spoke lightly to the empty courtyard, as if to himself, or perhaps questioning some hidden presence in the shadows.

"Just now... did anyone touch the restriction?"

As his words fell, a weak spatial ripple spread from the shadowed corner of the courtyard, and a vague, mist-like figure quietly emerged, its voice ethereal and indistinguishable by gender.

"Reporting to Master, since your departure, I have been monitoring here, and during that time all restrictions operated normally, and were not disturbed by any external force. The ’Illusionary Phantom’ I arranged also maintained normal operation, showing no abnormalities."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Beixuan shook his head self-derisively, letting out a soft, derisive laugh.

"It seems I overthought things, preparing many ’surprises’ in vain.

Could it be that Gu Sheng truly is cold-blooded and heartless, not caring at all about his own father’s life or death? Truly not having a single thought of rescue?"

He strolled into the center of the courtyard, emitting a mocking cold laugh as he passed by the chain-bound, head-drooping "Gu Lie".

"Master Gu, it seems your beloved son does not care much for you either. The ’generous gift’ I carefully prepared for him, he’s afraid he won’t get the chance to see it, what a pity."

On the stone pillar.

"Gu Lie" let out a low, hate-filled cold laugh, keeping his head down without any verbal response.

Xiao Beixuan took no offense to his reaction, merely considering it the whimper of a defeated dog, without harboring a single doubt.

He walked directly past "Gu Lie", heading toward the depths of the courtyard, contemplating his next steps to force Gu Sheng to reveal himself.

He failed to notice that at the moment he turned his back, a sharp, tangible killing intent briefly flashed in the eyes of the "Gu Lie" on the stone pillar, but it was quickly suppressed and hidden deeply.

"Gu Lie" admonished himself in his heart.

"Calm down! The Master’s plan must be followed! Can’t risk it all for something minor! This Xiao Beixuan... seems not as infallible or overwhelmingly powerful as the rumors suggest; if I struck when he turned back, there’s at least a seventy percent chance I could inflict severe damage or even assassinate him! But... the Master has long-term plans, must have his reasons, I mustn’t be impulsive! Everything should be decided when the Master returns!"