Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World

Chapter 793: Chapter 420 A Promise_2

Gu Sheng’s figure had not yet moved forward when he was struck by an invisible force.

He instantly flew backward, crashing heavily into a nearby tree.

"Senior Nangong!"

Gu Sheng called out with some effort.

Nangong Zheng’s expression grew serious.

He was no stranger to the strength of this Demon King.

If he continued to heal Ji Ziyue, he might not be able to fend off the Peacock King’s attacks.

Left with no choice, Nangong Zheng had to stop the healing.

"Ziyue, your injuries are mostly fine now. You’ll need to train diligently from now on."

Nangong Zheng advised.

"Understood, thank you, Senior Nangong."

Ji Ziyue nodded and replied.

Seeing Nangong Zheng’s unwavering care for Ji Ziyue, the Peacock King couldn’t help but ask, "Brother Nangong, what is this about? Why such concern for the Ji family?"

"Nothing special. Just a promise."

As he spoke, Nangong Zheng stood up and brushed the dust off his clothes.

"A promise? What kind of promise?"

The Peacock King asked with a perplexed expression.

"I once made a promise to the Ji family elder to look after the Ji siblings, Ji Ziyue and Ji Haoyue. So, you understand."

Nangong Zheng explained.

"Haha..."

Hearing this, the Peacock King couldn’t help but laugh loudly.

"A promise? What a fine promise."

The Peacock King’s face suddenly turned grim, emanating a cold killing intent.

"Peacock King, why such adamance against the Ji family?"

Nangong Zheng asked in a deep voice.

The Peacock King replied coldly, "Not a single person from the Ji family will escape my wrath."

"Why?"

Nangong Zheng pressed further.

He was clearly surprised by the Peacock King’s resolution, as if there was some deep hatred involved.

"Ask him, or ask her. They’re the ones involved."

The Peacock King gestured toward Gu Sheng and then indicated Ji Ziyue with a nod of his chin.

These words left Nangong Zheng utterly baffled.

He felt as though he had suddenly become a pawn in someone else’s game.

"Gu Sheng, what happened?"

Nangong Zheng asked, slightly furrowing his brows.

"A few months ago..."

Gu Sheng then recounted the story of Ji Haoyue leading the Ji family elder to besiege Yan Ruyu, the descendant of the Demon Emperor.

Yan Ruyu, heir to the Demon Clan—the objective of the hunt was simple.

To completely annihilate the Demon Clan, leaving no trace behind.

And now, as a prominent member of the Demon Clan, the Peacock King was naturally here for merciless retaliation.

"How... how could this have happened?"

Nangong Zheng hesitated for a moment.

Seeing Nangong Zheng’s reaction, the Peacock King laughed maniacally, "Haha... Brother Nangong, are you still planning to stop me?"

Nangong Zheng pondered for a moment, his gaze growing resolute.

"Peacock King, though I understand your seething hatred, Nangong Zheng is bound by the Ji family’s trust to protect their siblings. To remain honorable, I cannot abandon my duty. Today, I must stand in your way."

Nangong Zheng declared firmly.

The Peacock King’s fury intensified upon hearing this.

"Hmph! Nangong Zheng, you’re courting death!"

Before his voice had faded, the Peacock King’s figure flickered.

His seemingly frail frame shot toward Nangong Zheng like a bolt of lightning.

In an instant, immense demonic energy coalesced into two vast black beams, surging directly at Nangong Zheng.

Nangong Zheng’s expression was grim as he sealed with his hands, his body radiating with brilliant light.

Almost simultaneously, layers of golden shields enveloped him tightly.

"Boom!!!"

The two forces clashed mid-air, emitting a deafening roar.

The entire space trembled as sand and stones flew, plunging the world into darkness as if the apocalypse had arrived.

Gu Sheng and Ji Ziyue, watching from the sidelines, felt an overwhelming pressure that made breathing nearly impossible.

"Gu Sheng, are you alright just now?"

Ji Ziyue asked softly.

"I... I’m fine."

Gu Sheng rubbed his chest, feeling a sharp pain.

However, it seemed there wasn’t any real danger to his life.

"Swish!"

Barely had Gu Sheng spoken when a new force generated by the clash of Nangong Zheng and the Peacock King swept toward him.

Unable to dodge, Gu Sheng took a direct hit to the chest.

His body was hurled dozens of meters away.

"Damn... Am I really this unlucky?"

Gu Sheng cursed silently to himself.

Ji Ziyue hurriedly flew over, cradling him in her arms and yelling anxiously, "Gu Sheng! Gu Sheng! Are you okay? Please don’t die! You can’t!"

Gu Sheng felt his body going numb and his mind drifting.

Suddenly, his body was enveloped by a strange force, breaking free from Ji Ziyue’s grasp and levitating in mid-air.

At that moment, his heart began beating fiercely, as if something was about to burst out.

"Gu Sheng! Gu Sheng!"

Ji Ziyue shouted desperately.

Just then, an extraordinary change occurred.

An immense power erupted from within Gu Sheng.

Simultaneously, in the depths of his reservoir of energy, a heart glowing radiantly with golden light rose slowly.

It exuded an immensely powerful aura—this was none other than the Devil Emperor’s Heart.

"What! How... how did it emerge?"

Gu Sheng stared at the heart in terror, completely baffled.

The Devil Emperor’s Heart spun a few times in mid-air before transforming into a streak of light and darting toward the horizon.

The Peacock King and Nangong Zheng were both stunned—they hadn’t expected the Devil Emperor’s Heart to be housed within Gu Sheng.

Shock flashed in the Peacock King’s eyes, soon replaced by delight.

"The Devil Emperor’s Heart! It’s the ultimate treasure of the Demon Clan, and it was hiding in your body all along!"

He immediately abandoned his confrontation with Nangong Zheng, turning sharply to pursue the heart.

Nangong Zheng’s brows furrowed deeply as he observed this.

The importance of the Devil Emperor’s Heart was beyond question—if it ended up in the Peacock King’s hands, the chaos it would bring to the world would be unimaginable.

Without hesitation, he gave chase, blocking the Peacock King’s path.

Meanwhile, Gu Sheng crashed heavily to the ground upon losing the Devil Emperor’s Heart.

He was overcome with an unprecedented sense of emptiness and helplessness.

Ji Ziyue stayed by his side, tending to him.

"The Devil Emperor’s Heart—it’s mine!"

The Peacock King’s face displayed a gleeful smirk.

He then sealed with his hands and began chanting softly.

Soon after, he unleashed his ultimate technique—Star Shining Blue Sky.

As the spell was invoked, the heavens darkened.

Countless stars sparkled in the sky, as though the cosmos itself had been gathered into his hands.

Stars flowed across the skies, direction indistinguishable.

Sand and stones flew, all dimensions blurred into chaos.

It almost seemed as though a new firmament had formed!

Under the guise of this celestial anomaly, the Peacock King’s form flickered unpredictably.

Taking advantage of the distraction, he accelerated like a meteor and flew straight toward the disappearing Devil Emperor’s Heart.

Nangong Zheng, as a mighty cultivator of the Human Clan, was momentarily deceived by the anomaly but soon recalibrated.

He quickly determined the direction in which the Peacock King had vanished.

He understood that this was a trick to confuse him while making a play for the Devil Emperor’s Heart.

Nangong Zheng took a deep breath and turned to Gu Sheng.

"Gu Sheng, take care of Ji Ziyue for now. I must pursue the Peacock King—we cannot let him obtain the Devil Emperor’s Heart."

"Understood, Senior Nangong. Be careful."

Ji Ziyue replied first.

With that, Nangong Zheng transformed into a streak of light, following closely behind the Peacock King.

As the two departed, the celestial anomaly gradually faded, restoring the natural scenery.

Birds chirping, flowers blooming, gentle breezes, insects buzzing...

"Gu Sheng, come. Sit up for now."

Ji Ziyue moved to help Gu Sheng into a sitting position.

Gu Sheng responded and leaned against a nearby tree to rest, with Ji Ziyue’s assistance.

"Haha... What an unexpected joy!"

Just as Gu Sheng had settled, a haughty laughter echoed from nearby.

Gu Sheng and Ji Ziyue immediately grew tense, searching for the source of the voice.

But after scanning the area, they found no one in sight.

"Hey! You two little fledglings, where are you looking? We’re over here."

The voice rang out again.

Gu Sheng looked up and spotted an unknown middle-aged cultivator standing on the clouds, grinning smugly.