Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World

Chapter 863: Chapter 455: The Sheepskin Raft

"Sneak into the Northern Territory? What do you mean?"

Gu Sheng asked even more puzzled.

The old man sighed and said to Gu Sheng, "I was originally a cultivator, but my cultivation is not high enough to cross the void. This journey was meant to smuggle into the Northern Territory, but I was still discovered."

Gu Sheng asked in confusion, "If you weren’t discovered, how were you planning to reach the Northern Territory?"

The old man looked around to make sure there was no one else, then whispered, "This is the northernmost part of the Southern Domain. To reach the Northern Territory, one needs to enter a mysterious underground passage. Through that passage, one can enter a dark river, and landing from the dark river, you can reach the Northern Territory."

"Since there’s such a passage, why don’t you go openly and yet choose to smuggle?"

Gu Sheng asked even more puzzled.

"Hehe..."

The old man chuckled bitterly a few times and explained, "The entrance to that dark river is guarded by the cultivators of the Shaking Light Sacred Land. Ordinary people simply cannot approach."

"Ah?"

Gu Sheng was stunned upon hearing this.

Guarded by cultivators from the Shaking Light Sacred Land, if encountered by subordinates of the Shaking Light Saintess, wouldn’t that be disastrous?

But luckily, the only ones frequently seen are the cultivators from the Female Assistants Pavilion of the Shaking Light Sacred Land.

The others are unrecognized.

"What? Do you have a grudge against the Shaking Light Sacred Land?"

The old man asked with a smile.

"No... no..."

Gu Sheng stammered a bit as he spoke.

"Why are you risking such a danger to go to the Northern Territory?"

Gu Sheng leaned closer and continued to ask.

"I’m trying to hide from my enemies."

The old man said.

"What about them?"

Gu Sheng looked at the other mountain people here, "Why were they caught and brought to the Northern Territory?"

"To mine resources from the Northern Territory."

The old man sighed softly and said.

Upon hearing the words ’mine resources’, Gu Sheng suddenly recalled hearing Ji Ziyue mention before that there is a rare mineral called ’Mystical Crystal Stone’ in the Northern Territory, which is greatly beneficial for cultivation.

Low-cultivation cultivators wishing to acquire resources have no choice but to venture into the Northern Territory.

And crossing the Northern Territory is not that easy, is it?

Moreover, if it were really simple, it wouldn’t be up to those with low cultivation!

"So that’s it, the bandit leader brought us here to the Northern Territory to use us as labor."

Gu Sheng nodded, expressing his understanding.

In this world, the scramble for cultivation resources is an eternal theme.

"You’re quite smart, kid."

The old man said with a smile.

"Hehe... not bad."

Gu Sheng scratched his head, suddenly thinking of the boxes transported during the day.

He felt as if they were filled with something important, so he continued to ask, "What’s in the boxes we carried during the day? Treasures?"

"Oh, please!"

The old man rolled his eyes at Gu Sheng, "What treasures, nothing of the sort. Those are just tools for mining resources."

"No way? Those boxes seemed to have special runes on them. Just for some tools, is there a need to make it so mysterious?"

Gu Sheng maintained his curiosity.

The old man smiled slightly, seemingly proud of Gu Sheng’s inquiry.

"You sure are observant, kid. Those runes enhance the protective power of the boxes to prevent damage during transport."

Gu Sheng’s eyes lit up as he listened.

He hadn’t expected these seemingly ordinary boxes to contain such secrets.

"Stop talking and get some rest!"

The angry roar of the guard bandits came from outside the wooden shed.

"Get some rest, we’ve got a lot to do tomorrow."

The old man gently patted Gu Sheng on the shoulder and then found an empty spot to lie down.

Gu Sheng also casually found a place, placing both hands behind his head, semi-reclined as he recalled the old man’s words.

Northern Territory, dark river, tools, Mystical Crystal Stone...

Before he knew it, Gu Sheng fell asleep thinking.

The next day, Gu Sheng woke up early.

After a night of recovery, his leg had improved significantly.

"Everyone out! Prepare your things!"

Scolding voices came from outside.

Then, Gu Sheng and the mountain people walked out together.

Immediately, a pungent smell of sheep hit them full force.

"Uh..."

Gu Sheng, a bit speechless, pinched his nose.

He noticed a large number of sheepskins placed outside.

These sheepskins were clearly gathered in a hurry; some were already rotting, emitting a nauseating stench.

Two cultivators and several bandits approached, shouting, "Everyone, come take a sheepskin!"

The mountain people lined up, orderly beginning to collect.

Suddenly, one cultivator coldly said, "Listen up! These sheepskins are for you to make sheepskin rafts. If you don’t do it well, expect to die in the dark river!"

"Uh..."

Upon hearing this, everyone showed a worried look.

Everyone knew the dangers of the dark river.

It was dark, with no food.

Without a suitable raft, survival was nearly impossible.

Gu Sheng followed the old man and collected a sheepskin.

Though he’d never made a sheepskin raft before, the old man knew how, so Gu Sheng watched the old man’s actions closely, and then started himself.

Gu Sheng managed to skillfully skin the sheepskin whole, soaking it in water to make it softer.

Then he tightened both the head and tail to form an air bladder.

Gu Sheng’s movements were very skilled, and in no time, a sheepskin raft was completed.

He inflated the sheepskin raft to ensure it could float on water.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Gu Sheng tapped his sheepskin raft lightly, with a slightly smug look.

The old man, seeing Gu Sheng’s quick success with the raft, was full of surprise.

"Young man, have you done this before?"

"No, it’s my first time trying."

Gu Sheng shook his head and laughed.

"You truly have a gift."

The old man praised.

Gu Sheng smiled a little, "Thank you, sir, for the compliment."

The other mountain people, seeing Gu Sheng’s speed and quality in making the sheepskin raft, also began to seek his advice.

Gu Sheng did not hold back, patiently guiding them.

After a period of effort, everyone finished making their sheepskin rafts.

Some rafts did not look perfect, but at least they could serve the purpose of survival in the dark river.

The two cultivators and several bandits checked everyone’s sheepskin rafts. After ensuring there were no major issues, they nodded: "Alright, now let’s move."

Everyone carried their sheepskin rafts and followed the two cultivators forward.

After roughly half a day, they reached the entrance to a cave.

Gu Sheng focused his gaze and saw the bandit leader waiting there with some subordinates.

Additionally, Gu Sheng noticed that at the cave entrance stood indeed a dozen cultivators from the Shaking Light Sacred Land.

"What! It’s her!"

Gu Sheng was suddenly taken aback.

Among those dozen cultivators was Yao Qing, the personal maid of the Shaking Light Saintess!

Although Gu Sheng wasn’t familiar with Yao Qing, they had met before.

If Yao Qing recognized him, it would be catastrophic!

Gu Sheng looked back to see dozens of bandits following.

Now, having lost all divine power, he couldn’t fight, and there was no way to escape, which was truly distressing!

"Hey! Why are you just standing there! Move forward!"

While Gu Sheng was worrying, one of the bandits overseeing the group coldly reprimanded.

Gu Sheng had no choice but to tilt his head, hobble with an awkward expression forward.

"Get your rafts ready, don’t fall behind!"

"Line up! You, yes you! Walk faster!"

Other bandits echoed the reminders.

Thus, Gu Sheng came before the cultivators of the Shaking Light Sacred Land.

Gu Sheng pretended to be a limping, tilting-head mountain person, moving awkwardly.

He didn’t dare look anywhere else, fearing he would be recognized.

"One step... two steps..."

Gu Sheng watched as he was about to enter the entrance, secretly relieved.

At that moment, Yao Qing’s voice suddenly rang out: "You! Stop!"