Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World

Chapter 1284 - 665: Breaking Finesse with Strength

"Qing Feng, my young friend."

The examiner transmitted his voice.

"No matter what secrets you hold, I shall not inquire for now. But the waters run deep in the Holy Land, take care of yourself."

Gu Sheng’s heart tightened slightly, knowing that this senior might have already noticed some clues.

He nodded calmly, but inwardly remained vigilant.

"Gu Sheng! These scoundrels are too arrogant!"

Ling Xiao’s voice suddenly exploded in his mind, full of suppressed anger.

"Once the limelight passes, I’ll certainly teach them a lesson!"

Gu Sheng glanced over to see Ling Xiao standing not far away, his handsome face slightly twisted with anger.

"Don’t be impulsive."

Gu Sheng replied through transmitted voice.

"Our goal is not them."

"Hmph!"

Ling Xiao snorted coldly.

"Didn’t you hear what they just said? After the competition, they’ll make you regret it! Do they really think we’re easy pickings?"

Gu Sheng remained silent.

He did hear those threats, even sensing a few divine senses filled with killing intent locked onto him.

If it were in the past, he would have already...

"Gu Sheng."

Ling Xiao’s tone suddenly turned serious.

"We endure for the greater cause, but not to be trampled on. If you keep retreating, they’ll only push further."

Gu Sheng’s eyes flickered, a string deep within him gently stirred.

Yes, when did he, Gu Sheng, become so cautious and fearful?

Just then, a cold voice pierced his ear.

"Qing Feng, don’t think that being protected by the examiner means you’re safe. Let’s see who can shield you after the competition ends!"

Following the voice, Gu Sheng saw that burly Holy Land disciple glaring at him as if he were a dead man walking.

"I am unfamiliar with you. Why target me?"

Gu Sheng questioned back through transmitted voice.

"Why?"

The other sneered.

"What makes a nobody like you think you can overshadow our Holy Land? How dare you speak to me with such attitude?"

Gu Sheng’s eyes flashed with a cold light.

So that’s it. It’s merely jealousy and arrogance at play.

"Fine, very well."

Gu Sheng suddenly laughed, a smile that made the burly disciple’s heart inexplicably tremble.

"I’ll remember this."

With that, Gu Sheng ended the transmission and ignored the other party, though the cold glint in his eyes lingered.

Ling Xiao keenly sensed Gu Sheng’s change.

"Have you figured it out?"

"Yes."

Gu Sheng nodded lightly, his tone eerily calm.

"Wait for the third round."

Just three simple words, yet they made Ling Xiao’s eyes light up with intensity.

He knew Gu Sheng too well; when someone who was usually gentle and composed spoke in such a tone, it often meant that someone was going to be in serious trouble.

The examination continued, with cultivators passing through the array test one after another.

Occasionally, someone squeezed into the top ten, causing a round of cheers.

Gu Sheng and Ling Xiao’s rankings remained unshakably firm, no one could threaten them.

"Look! Someone in the East Plaza made it into the top ten again!"

"Only two hundred and eighty breaths."

"Are these people crazy? Each one is faster than the last!"

Discussions abounded among the cultivators in the three plazas.

Those who barely made it into the top ten looked at Gu Sheng and Ling Xiao with apprehension.

"I hope they just excel in arrays..."

"If they’re this strong in real combat, how can we compete?"

"Impossible! How could a Loose Cultivator have so many resources? They must specialize in arrays!"

Gu Sheng took all this in, a sneer in his heart.

He knew all too well what these people were thinking—they hoped he was weak yet feared he might be overwhelmingly strong.

"Gu Sheng."

Ling Xiao suddenly transmitted his voice.

"Look at that blue-robed person in the West Plaza."

Following his direction, Gu Sheng saw a blue-robed youth coldly staring at him.

"The aura of the Blood Evil Sect."

Gu Sheng squinted his eyes.

"It’s faint, but unmistakable."

Ling Xiao spoke meaningfully.

Gu Sheng did not respond, but alarms rang in his mind.

The involvement of the Blood Evil Sect suggested things might be more complicated than expected.

Half a day flew by.

As the last group of cultivators completed their examination, the setting sun had already cast a bloody hue across the three grand plazas.

"The second round of the examination is over!"

The examiner’s loud voice echoed through the sky.

"The top ten have been decided for each of the three plazas."

On the plaza, thirty figures stood scattered.

After two rounds of harsh examinations, the once-crowded scene had faded away, leaving only these elite geniuses of the Cultivation World.

Liang Yu stood in fifth place.

He looked eagerly at the leading Gu Sheng and Ling Xiao but dared not make a sound.

"Rest assured."

Ling Xiao sensed his gaze, turned, and patted Liang Yu’s shoulder with a brilliant smile.

"I said I’d help you enter the Holy Land, and I will."

Just as Liang Yu was about to speak, he noticed Gu Sheng already walking towards the martial arena without looking back, his figure aloof as if separated from everyone by an entire world.

"Qing Feng!

"Liang Yu couldn’t help calling out, only to be held back by Ling Xiao.

"Don’t call out."

Ling Xiao lowered his voice, a complex look flashing in his eyes.

"Right now, it’s inconvenient for him to be too close to us."

Liang Yu frowned in confusion, wanting to ask more when the examiner’s cold voice resounded throughout the venue.

"The third round of the examination begins now!"

Nine figures responded and stepped onto the massive martial arena at the center.

The plaza fell silent instantly, everyone’s gaze fixed on these nine individuals.

They represented the top three of each plaza, and the outcome of this competition would determine the ten Holy Land slots.

Xu Guangzhi walked among the group, his gaze continuously shifting between Gu Sheng and Ling Xiao.

Their performances in the second round were so dazzling that they drew nearly everyone’s attention.

He clenched his fists, his nails deeply embedding into his palms.

What gave these nobodies the right to steal the spotlight that should have been his?