Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World Chapter 1729 - 877: Half-Step Sect Realm (2)

She hesitated for a moment but chose to be honest, considering they were in the same boat now.

"Half-step Sect Realm."

There was a barely noticeable pride in her voice. At her age, reaching half-step Sect Realm made her an outstanding talent in the Southern Border.

Gu Sheng nodded without comment and continued.

"I proposed to take you as my disciple, not on a whim, nor is it as vulgar as you might imagine.

It’s because you... bear a striking resemblance to an old acquaintance."

"Old acquaintance?"

Qidiao Yaoyao’s curiosity was piqued, and she instinctively touched the scar on her face concealed by an Illusion Technique, speculating.

"Could it be... your old acquaintance also had a scar like mine, left by a domineering Daoist Rhythm?"

Gu Sheng shook his head, his gaze seeming to traverse through time, tinged with a hint of reminiscence.

"No.

She resembles you because... she too was a Holy Gu Spirit Body."

"What?!"

Qidiao Yaoyao’s complexion suddenly changed, her golden eyes filled with shock and disbelief! The Holy Gu Spirit Body is an exceedingly rare occurrence, and she had believed she was one of a kind, yet she didn’t expect Gu Sheng’s ’old acquaintance’ to share this constitution!

Gu Sheng withdrew his gaze, giving her a meaningful look.

"The reason will become clear to you in due time."

Qidiao Yaoyao was agitated by his mysterious behavior, unable to press for more, she murmured quietly.

"Hocus-pocus..."

Gu Sheng no longer engaged with her, focusing on their journey. In reality, he had already noticed that Qidiao Yaoyao was younger than he had imagined; she was only fifteen this year.

Though the Holy Gu Spirit Body bestowed upon her unparalleled talent in the Poisonous Insect Path, it was a double-edged sword that slowly eroded her Life Force. The genuine scar on her face and her slightly mature appearance were manifestations of the Spiritual Body’s backlash and Life Force exhaustion.

The two proceeded eastward at great speed through tunneling light but did not use any Transmission Array. During their journey, Qidiao Yaoyao tried multiple times to initiate conversation, only to be dismissed with brief responses from Gu Sheng, causing her to feel quite bored.

By the time the horizon began to brighten, approaching dawn, the two had already reached the border between East Desolation and the Southern Border. The continuous high-speed travel was no small burden for a half-step Sect Realm like Qidiao Yaoyao, and her complexion appeared slightly pale.

She finally couldn’t resist complaining, somewhat dissatisfied.

"Hey! Why didn’t we use a Transmission Array? We tiredly flew here for what? With your wealth, can you not afford the transmission fees?"

Gu Sheng halted his tunneling light, hovering in mid-air, his gaze sweeping over the vast mountains and forests below, his tone calm yet imbued with undeniable authority.

"I have my plans. Moreover, I hope this is the last time you question my decisions, or you might call it... stepping out of bounds."

His gaze fell calmly on Qidiao Yaoyao, yet she felt an invisible pressure.

She opened her mouth, recalling her grandfather’s advice and the hidden dangers within her, ultimately swallowing her dissatisfaction, gritting her teeth, and replying unwillingly.

"...Understood."

Seeing her relent, Gu Sheng gradually spoke.

"Because, the fish... is about to bite the hook."

"Fish? Bite the hook?"

Qidiao Yaoyao was briefly stunned, then suddenly realized, a flash of surprise crossing her golden eyes.

"Do you mean... we flew all this way to... attract those who might ambush us?"

"Correct."

Gu Sheng nodded, his sharp gaze sweeping through the surrounding Void.

"The Longevity Ancestor, that old fox, may not completely believe the news of my death.

Even if he does, aside from him, there are many in the Southern Border and East Desolation watching me in the shadows, wanting my life or coveting the things on me. If we had used a Transmission Array to directly reach the heart of East Desolation, where would these people get the chance to act?"

His words had barely fallen—

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

As if to confirm his words, a dense, piercing sound of something breaking through the air suddenly came from the southern sky! Countless figures emitting various glows and carrying varying strengths and weaknesses in their auras, like sharks smelling blood, rapidly converged on the empty space where the two were!

Murderous intent instantly permeated the sky that had just greeted the dawn!

Seeing hundred Sect Realm Martial Artists and the three figures exuding the pressure of the Human King Realm rushing in with killing intent, Qidiao Yaoyao’s expression changed slightly, instinctively moving closer to Gu Sheng, her tone carrying a hint of barely detectable tension.

"Hey... so many people, plus three King realms... won’t it attract the old monster, Longevity Ancestor, as well?"

Gu Sheng stood with folded hands in the Void, his long robes fluttering gently in the morning wind, his demeanor remaining calm, as if the approaching threat was but a flock of foolish chickens.

His gaze serenely swept over the distant scene, his tone carrying a hint of worldly insight.

"Longevity Ancestor? At this moment, he’s probably busy ’digesting’ the Purple Mist Divine Sect, too preoccupied with his own matters. With the Purple Mist Ancestor’s lifespan nearly at an end, it’s certain that such a divine opportunity to annex the Purple Mist Divine Sect, why would he risk everything for a ’small fish’ like me?"

Speaking, his mind shifted slightly, attempting to sense the strand of Soul Power left in Nangong Yuexia’s Sea of Consciousness.

However, the distance was too great, the sensation had become extremely faint, like a flickering candle in the wind, impossible to grasp, let alone exert influence.

’Enough, it’s just a pawn. Since it’s temporarily beyond control, let it be manipulated by the Longevity Ancestor. When I return to the Southern Border next time, I’ll settle the score then.’ Gu Sheng’s mind swiftly made a decision, temporarily discarding the weak connection.

At this point, the hundred Sect Realm Martial Artists, led by three Human King Realm figures, had already closed in, forming a semicircle to surround the two in the border space. Leading them was a blue-robed elder, whose aura was profound, a formidable Fourth Level of King Realm, his gaze sinisterly locked onto Gu Sheng, his voice as piercing as a Night Owl.

"Gu Sheng! It really is you! The Ancestor truly foresaw everything, knowing you are as cunning as a fox and undoubtedly feigned death to evade! Today, let us send you on your way!"

Just as he uttered these words, the blue-robed elder’s True Qi exploded, akin to a volcanic eruption. He formed Seals with both hands, a massive Dharma Seal emitting a heavy earth-yellow glow, engraved with illusory mountain shadows, instantly manifested, bearing an overwhelming aura of suppression, rushing down towards Gu Sheng! The air beneath the Seal emitted a strained hum!

"Mountain Suppressing Heaven Flipping Seal! Let me suppress you!"

Facing this terrifying blow, powerful enough to crush an ordinary Sect Realm Peak, Gu Sheng remained stationary, not even moving a fraction.

He seemed paralyzed with fear until the immense shadow of the Seal completely enveloped the sky above him, on the verge of descending, he nonchalantly raised his right hand, gently pointing a finger at the massive Seal pressing down.

There was no earth-shattering explosion, no spectacular collision of dazzling lights.

At the moment his fingertip touched the earth-yellow illusory seal—

"Crack... boom!"

That ’Mountain Suppressing Heaven Flipping Seal,’ condensed with the blue-robed elder’s overwhelming True Qi and powerful enough to break mountains, emitted a stressed cracking sound, then crumbled swiftly amidst violent trembling, disintegrating into scattered earth-yellow light points, vanishing without trace!

"Pugh—!"

His Martial Technique forcibly broken, the blue-robed elder, affected by the backlash, was struck heavily, his face pale as a sheet, unable to control the reverse blood spurting from his mouth, his figure reeling backwards in mid-air, staring at Gu Sheng with eyes filled with horror and disbelief!

"Impossible?! You... you’re merely a Sect Realm cultivator! How can you break my King Realm Martial Technique so effortlessly?!"

He exclaimed in shock, his voice trembling.

Gu Sheng flicked his fingers, seemingly discarding a speck of dust, his tone tinged with light sarcasm.

"King Realm Martial Technique? Just a façade."