Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World

Chapter 1621: Chapter 823: Return to the Original Owner (Part 2)

A middle-aged shopkeeper in a brocade robe with a shrewd face immediately came forward, a professional enthusiastic smile on his face.

"Young Master Gu, you’ve returned!"

Gu Sheng nodded slightly.

"Where is Xueli?"

"The Pavilion Master is on the underground level."

The shopkeeper respectfully replied and then added.

"Miss Yuanyuan and Miss Qingxuan are cultivating in the Quiet Room on the third floor. Miss Qingtan left yesterday, and she asked me to tell you that the Linlang Pavilion favors are cleared, and she is unburdened and has gone to pursue her own path."

Shen Qingtan has left?

Gu Sheng understood. Given her nature, she indeed wouldn’t stay long.

The clearing of Linlang Pavilion favors is both liberation and a new beginning for her.

"Got it."

Gu Sheng responded and did not immediately head to the underground level to find Tantai Xueling but instead turned his steps towards the stairs leading to the third floor.

The Shadow followed but stopped at the staircase entrance to guard there.

Gu Sheng ascended to the third floor alone.

Here was quieter than downstairs, with Spiritual Energy so dense it nearly turned into liquid.

He followed his perception to stand in front of a Quiet Room door.

The door of the Quiet Room was tightly closed, but the flow of rune light on the door indicated that someone was cultivating inside.

He did not knock but simply stood silently outside waiting.

His powerful Divine Sense subtly entered the Quiet Room like the gentlest wind.

Inside the Quiet Room, Spiritual Energy swirled like mist.

Gu Yuanyuan was sitting cross-legged on a White Jade Meditation Mat, her eyes closed, enveloped by a layer of gentle, primitive True Yuan fluctuations.

She was still cultivating the Basic Cultivation Technique Gu Sheng taught her in the ruins.

Gu Sheng could clearly sense the extremely dense Spiritual Energy in the Quiet Room continuously pouring into Gu Yuanyuan’s body, absorbed and refined at an almost greedy pace by her Basic Cultivation Technique.

Her cultivation had astonishingly surged from entry-level Heavenly Martial Realm to the Peak of Heavenly Martial Realm in just a few days!

She seemed just a step away from breaking through to the Sect Realm!

"This little girl... really knows how to utilize resources."

Gu Sheng’s eyes were filled with understanding.

Gu Yuanyuan didn’t rush to change to a more advanced cultivation technique but chose to cultivate the Basic Technique Gu Sheng taught to perfection in this Spiritual Energy-rich Quiet Room, thereby laying the firmest foundation.

This temperament and insight were indeed impressive.

As if sensing Gu Sheng’s presence, Gu Yuanyuan’s eyelashes trembled slightly, and she slowly opened her eyes while cultivating in the Quiet Room.

When she saw Gu Sheng standing quietly outside the door, her clear eyes instantly burst forth with indescribable joyful light!

"Master!"

She jumped from the meditation mat and rushed to the door, pulling it open.

"Master! You’ve returned!"

Gu Yuanyuan looked up at Gu Sheng, her face glowing with excitement and flushed red.

She was wearing the dazzling "Cloud Rainbow Flowing Light Skirt," her hair in playful little pigtails, and a shiny white jade bracelet on her wrist, her whole person exuding an extraordinary charm.

Yet, her eyes still clung deeply to Gu Sheng with dependence and admiration.

"Hmm."

Gu Sheng looked at the refreshed appearance of his little disciple, his eyes rarely showing gentleness.

"Are you accustomed to here?"

"Yes! Mistress has been very good to me!"

Gu Yuanyuan nodded vigorously, then bashfully lowered her head and murmured.

"It’s just... this dress is too beautiful, and this bracelet... I’m always afraid I’ll break it... and here... it’s too big, too many people..."

She spoke, her voice growing smaller, her little hands subconsciously twisting the skirt’s hem, evidently still a bit unaccustomed to the sudden wealth and attention.

Gu Sheng watched her behavior, understanding her heart.

From a ruin orphan to the distinguished guest of Linyin Pavilion, this huge change indeed requires time to adapt.

"No worries."

Gu Sheng said calmly.

"How’s your cultivation? I see you’ve made quite some progress."

Mentioning cultivation made Gu Yuanyuan’s eyes brighten, instantly filled with energy.

"Master! The Spiritual Energy here is so rich! Much better than where we were! I... I didn’t dare change cultivation techniques, just stuck to what you taught, absorbing incredibly fast! It feels like... like I’m about to break through!"

She was excited, yet carried a hint of uncertainty.

"You’ve laid a solid foundation."

Gu Sheng affirmed, then said.

"Extend your hand."

Gu Yuanyuan obediently extended her right hand.

Gu Sheng’s fingers were like a sword, lightly touching her wrist’s pulse gate.

A pure and gentle True Yuan entered, instantly coursing through Gu Yuanyuan’s limbs, bones, meridians, and apertures.

He carefully examined her cultivation progress, the degree of True Yuan refinement, and the resilience and width of her meridians.

After a moment, Gu Sheng withdrew his fingers, with satisfaction in his eyes.

"Your foundation is solid, your True Yuan is refined, and your meridian resilience is adequate. A breakthrough to the Sect Realm is imminent. Prepare yourself, I will protect you as your master."

"Really?!"

Gu Yuanyuan widened her eyes in pleasant surprise, then nodded vigorously.

"Yes! Thank you, Master!"

In the Quiet Room on the third floor of Linyin Pavilion, Spiritual Energy lingered.

Gu Yuanyuan was filled with excitement and anticipation upon hearing that her master would protect her breakthrough to the Sect Realm, and her previous restraint had dissipated considerably.

"No need to be reserved."

Gu Sheng looked at her bright eyes, his tone uncharacteristically gentle.

"This place is abundant in Spiritual Energy, making it an excellent opportunity to solidify your foundation. Tomorrow, I will refine a ’Dispersion Pill’ for you, helping you disperse your old skills and reform to the new cultivation technique I have prepared for you. Then, your true journey on the Martial Arts path will begin."

"Dispersion Pill?"

Gu Yuanyuan was a bit puzzled, but more than that, she had absolute trust in her master and nodded vigorously.

"Yes! I’ll listen to Master!"

Gu Sheng nodded slightly, said no more, and turned to leave the Quiet Room.

The Shadow followed silently behind him like the most loyal shadow.

Passing through the complex corridors and array restrictions inside Linyin Pavilion, Gu Sheng arrived at a hidden passage leading to the underground levels.

The guarding here was more rigorous, with an ancient and powerful restriction aura in the air.

The Shadow stopped at the entrance of the passage, standing guard outside.

Gu Sheng proceeded alone down the passage.

The light gradually dimmed, but the Spiritual Energy became increasingly dense and pure.

Finally, he arrived at a large door forged from an unknown metal.

The door was tightly shut, engraved with intricate and profound runes.

Gu Sheng raised his hand, infusing a strand of pure True Yuan into a node on the door.

With a humming sound, the heavy metal door slowly opened inward.

Beyond the door was a vast underground space.

The dome was inlaid with Crystal Stones emitting a gentle glow, illuminating the entire space.

This was not an ordinary warehouse or secret chamber, but more like a meticulously arranged training Holy Land.

In the center was a large White Jade Platform, where Tantai Xueling sat cross-legged, shrouded in a faint moonlight glow, with an ethereal and powerful aura.

In front of her, not far away, suspended the palm-sized, ancient and mysterious Divine Craft Maze Palace.

Upon hearing footsteps, Tantai Xueling slowly opened her eyes, her cold gaze falling on Gu Sheng, like moonlight spilling down.

"You’re back?"

Her voice was calm and steady.

"Yes."

Gu Sheng walked to the White Jade Platform, his gaze fixed on the Divine Craft Maze Palace.

"This palace... do you know its origin? And that note..."

Tantai Xueling’s gaze also turned to the Divine Craft Maze Palace, a complex look flashing in her eyes.

"This palace is named the Divine Craft Maze Palace, its origins are mysterious and heavily involved. As for the note..."

She paused, her voice slightly cold.

"It was left by Tantai Bingtang.

She once attempted to forcibly seize this palace but was expelled by the residual protective will (Yue Shen Gong) within the palace.

That note was her warning, and also... a provocation."

"Tantai Bingtang..."

A cold light flashed in Gu Sheng’s eyes. As expected, it was her! The woman who left a note deep in the ruins, calling herself ’Bingtang’!

"This palace is now in your hands, it can be considered as having returned to its rightful owner."

Tantai Xueling withdrew her gaze, looking at Gu Sheng.

"What do you plan to do with it?"

Gu Sheng did not answer but instead, with a thought, communicated with Yue Shen Gong in his Sea of Consciousness. Then, he raised his hand, aiming a point in mid-air at the Divine Craft Maze Palace!

The Divine Craft Maze Palace suddenly emitted a brilliant light!