Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World

Chapter 1409: Chapter 728: Fulfilling the Promise (2)

Earlier, his spiritual power briefly ascended to the Eighth Grade, and though it has now fallen to the Fourth Grade, his Sea of Consciousness has been permanently broadened under the "Spiritual Unity" state.

This means that before he reaches the Peak of Seventh Grade, he’ll no longer face bottleneck limitations—such an opportunity would drive any Alchemist mad.

"Let’s first rescue the Great Pavilion Master."

Gu pointed to the jade box.

"We’ll discuss other matters once the crisis is resolved."

Tantai Xueling nodded solemnly, waving her delicate hand to put away the jade box. Before leaving, she suddenly turned around.

"Master..."

The word seemed inappropriate as soon as it left her mouth, her ears tinged slightly red.

"If Gu, in the future, has some free time, could you guide me in the Alchemy Dao?"

"Calling me Master isn’t a problem either."

Gu rarely felt the urge to tease.

"After all, imparting knowledge and mentoring is a bond between a teacher and a disciple."

Tantai Xueling glared at him, then transformed into an ice-blue tunneling light disappearing into the sky.

Gu watched her departure, with a slight smile on his lips.

This Third Pavilion Master seemed cold as ice on the surface but was, in fact, adorably naive.

Drawing back his thoughts, Gu’s expression gradually became serious.

Recently, he was preparing to openly separate from the Emperor Sect, requiring a plan in advance. Although he did not have deep feelings for the Emperor Sect, he had operated within it for years, and some Dark Agents still needed arrangement.

The Transmission Array of the Heaven City in Great Wilderness City, runes flickered.

Gu had just stepped out of the Array when he was surrounded by five Martial Artists in black attires.

They bore the emblem of the Great Wilderness Holy Academy on their chests, their aura ranged from the Peak of Xuanwu Realm to the Early Stage of Earth Martial Realm.

"Who are you?"

The leader asked in a deep voice.

"Linyin Pavilion Great Sacrificial Officer, Gu."

Gu showed the token, upon which the words "Linyin" glimmered brightly in dark gold.

"Please convey the message to the Outer Court Junior Sister Xu."

Their expressions changed. Recently, who in Great Wilderness City hadn’t heard that the newly appointed Linyin Pavilion Great Sacrificial Officer, also the Third Pavilion Master, was a formidable character? Rumor had it that even the genius of the Shen Family suffered a hidden loss.

"Please wait, Officer Gu."

The leader’s attitude was much more respectful, indicating his companions to go and send word.

Gu stood with his hands behind his back, eyes scanning the plaza. As expected, no one from the Lu Family appeared.

Since the news of his becoming the Linyin Pavilion Great Sacrificial Officer spread, those hidden sprites and goblins had restrained themselves quite a bit.

Even a proud inner courtyard prodigy like Shen Qingyun dared not act openly, let alone the Lu Family entrenched in the Outer Court.

About a quarter-hour later, a figure in green hurried over.

Xu Lingsu still donned a simple green robe, but the Protective Gang Qi faintly emanating around her showed that she had broken through to the Xuanwu Realm.

"Senior Brother Gu!"

Xu Lingsu’s eyes flashed with delight, quickly suppressed, and she greeted respectfully. After all, people from the Holy Academy were present.

Gu examined her.

"First Level of Xuanwu Realm? Not bad progress."

Xu Lingsu pursed her lips and smiled.

"I can’t compare to Senior Brother Gu. I heard you..."

She lowered her voice.

"Have become the Third Pavilion Master of Linyin Pavilion?"

Gu was noncommittal.

"Please contact City Lord Xu, I’d like to meet three days later in Great Wilderness City regarding the Emperor Sect."

Xu Lingsu’s expression turned serious, and she nodded solemnly.

"I will send a message right away."

She hesitated for a moment.

"Is Senior Brother Gu planning to..."

"Separate from the Emperor Sect."

Gu said it nonchalantly, which made Xu Lingsu draw a sharp breath.

Leaving a sect is a major taboo on the Mystic Sky Continent.

Seemingly perceiving her concern, Gu added.

"I will walk away openly, not implicate you all."

Xu Lingsu hastily replied.

"That’s not what I mean! It’s just..."

She bit her lip.

"Do you need help? My father still has connections in Great Wilderness City."

Gu felt a warmth in his heart. Though he was accustomed to being alone in his past life, he had several genuine allies in this one.

"No need, everything is in place."

He paused.

"How has Ningshuang been lately?"

"Senior Sister Gu was favored by a Heavenly Martial Realm tutor; they say she has reached the Fifth Level of Xuanwu Realm."

Xu Lingsu’s eyes revealed envy.

"She went out for training with the tutor recently."

Gu nodded slightly.

"During last month’s training, Senior Sister Ningshuang tried to find a chance to visit Senior Brother Gu..."

She whispered to herself, absentmindedly rubbing the jade pendant at her waist with her fingers.

"It’s a pity we didn’t meet in the end."

Standing beside her, Gu Sheng nodded slightly, his black attire accentuating a tall figure, his brows no longer holding the youthful greenness of his time in the Emperor Sect, replaced by a contained sharpness.

"Gu, you now..."

Xu Lingsu hesitated with the words on her lips, her fair complexion showing embarrassment.

"Forget it, I shouldn’t ask this."

Gu Sheng glanced at her, the corners of his lips slightly raised.

"But feel free to say."

"I’m just curious about your current cultivation level."

Xu Lingsu lightly bit her lip, then smiled self-deprecatingly.

"However, the resources of the Great Wilderness Holy Academy are far beyond the Emperor Sect, so my question is truly redundant."

Gu Sheng didn’t answer immediately, raising his hand to wave, a solid blue Gang Qi instantly enveloped him, even creating a slight hum in the air.

The thickness of the Gang Qi caused Xu Lingsu’s robe, three zhang away, to flutter without wind.

"Seventh Level of the Xuanwu Realm."

Gu Sheng’s voice was calm.

"Within ten days, I can reach the Eighth Level."

Xu Lingsu’s pupils shrank suddenly, instinctively activating her own Gang Qi, only able to form a thin, cicada-wing-like pale white halo on the surface of her body, like a firefly compared to the bright moon against Gu Sheng’s Protective Gang Qi.

"This..."

Her complexion changed slightly, her fingertips trembling unconsciously.

Three months ago, when they first met, she was at the Seventh Level of the Yellow Martial Realm, and Gu Sheng was merely at the Spirit Martial Realm; now, having just managed to break through to the First Level of the Xuanwu Realm, the other party had left her far behind.

Gu Sheng withdrew his Gang Qi, speaking lightly.

"My situation is special. Junior Sister Xu, there’s no need for comparison."

"Father was right, you’re truly extraordinary."

Xu Lingsu shook her head with a bitter smile, then spoke seriously.

"Did you come to see me for something this time?"

"To fulfill a promise."

Gu Sheng said concisely.

Xu Lingsu’s eyes lit up, recalling the conditions Gu Sheng had attached when he asked her father to cooperate with the Emperor Sect.

She took out a Green Jade Ring from her Storage Ring.

"I need Fourth Grade Strengthening Gang Pills and Fifth Grade Spirit Awakening Pills."

She was straightforward.

"The former can increase the speed of cultivating Protective Gang Qi, while the latter can enhance spiritual power. The materials are all here."

Gu Sheng took the ring, sweeping it with his Divine Sense to understand immediately.

He nodded.

"Three days later, at the usual place."

Before the words sank in, he had already turned away towards the nearby Transmission Array.

Xu Lingsu watched the direction he left, unable to gather her thoughts for a long time.

"Three or four months, from Spirit Martial Realm to Seventh Level of the Xuanwu Realm..."

She murmured to herself.

"Father was right, I really don’t count as any kind of genius."

"Do you know Gu Sheng?"

A cool female voice suddenly came from behind, startling Xu Lingsu into a full-body tremor.

She turned sharply, only to see a girl clad in red soft armor and wearing an iron mask had unknowingly stood three steps away.

The badge on the girl’s chest shimmered with a dark golden light in the sun—representing the mark of an Inner Courtyard disciple from the Great Wilderness Holy Academy!

Xu Lingsu promptly saluted.

"Salutations, Senior Sister!"

"No need for ceremony."

The girl raised her hand, revealing her eyes beneath the iron mask.

"Do you know Gu Sheng?"

"Replying to Senior Sister, we knew each other before the assessment, with some interactions."

Xu Lingsu answered cautiously.

An Inner Courtyard disciple is lofty in the eyes of an Outer Courtyard disciple, let alone this unfathomable Senior Sister.

The girl—Shen Qingtan nodded slightly.

"I need a proxy in the academy to relay messages. If you are willing to tell about Gu Sheng, the position is yours."

Xu Lingsu caught her breath. Becoming an Inner Courtyard disciple’s proxy is a huge opportunity for any Outer Courtyard disciple, meaning more cultivation resources and a chance to enter the Inner Courtyard.

She pressed her excitement down, cautiously asking.

"May I know what relation Senior Sister has with Junior Brother Gu..."

"Not enemies."

Shen Qingtan’s tone was flat.

"We’ve cooperated a few times. The Tongming Treasure Mirror Fragment was brought to the Holy Academy by him."

Hearing this, Xu Lingsu breathed a sigh of relief.

She thought for a moment, making a gesture of invitation.

"If Senior Sister doesn’t mind, could we speak somewhere private?"

Shen Qingtan nodded, and the two headed towards the pavilion at the edge of the square. Xu Lingsu didn’t notice, under the shade of a distant tree, a shadow silently withdrew.

Meanwhile, Gu Sheng had already arrived in Huang City via Transmission Array.

Compared to Heaven City, Huang City is more bustling, the streets teeming with people, various shops lined up in sequence.

Gu Sheng had just stepped out of the Transmission Array when his brow twitched—a qi mechanism had locked onto him!