Longevity: Starting from Refining Gu

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It was time to leave.

Lu Xian shouted desperately, "Fight to the death!"

Yu Chengfeng, taking the lead, roared, "Fight to the death!"

Over two hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators shouted in unison, "Fight to the death!"

Yet, amidst these shouts, more than a dozen Foundation Establishment cultivators quietly stepped back half a step without those in front noticing.

Lu Xian saw this but couldn't say anything, as speaking out would disrupt the morale of those ahead.

He turned his head, drew his sword, and led the group out of the city gate. Chen Qing, having just finished a conversation with Yan Shiyin, returned.

Lu Xian said, "Young Master, Protector, you must leave quickly; we will stay here to hold back the enemy forces!"

Hao Chengtian nodded slightly, "Then I leave it to you, Lu Xian. Rest assured, when we regroup, we will definitely avenge you!"

Lu Xian laughed to the sky, reaching into his arms to pull out a bronze ghost mask, "Only Jiguang is eternal!"

"My lord, we will wait for you in the Death Realm."

After speaking, he was the first to draw his sword and charge out.

Behind him, thirteen Foundation Establishment cultivators pulled out bronze ghost masks and placed them on their faces, "My lord, we will wait for you in the Death Realm!"

Chen Qing stood somewhat dazed, watching the scene unfold, suddenly understanding that the words were not addressed to Hao Chengtian, but to himself.

His heart grew heavier for a moment.

Chen Qing turned his head and walked briskly into the city, intending to escape.

Hao Chengtian hurriedly followed, occasionally glancing back at those wearing bronze ghost masks, who were already pierced by several swords but still fighting desperately.

The members of the Taihao Tribe finally followed, engaging in battle with the six hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators. The flash of swords filled the air like a storm; the area before the city gate became a blood-soaked battlefield, akin to a meat grinder.

Decades of cultivation, those who once surpassed their peers outstandingly, met their gloomy end here.

Yan Shiyin wove through the crowd with her blade, starting a slaughter like a fierce tiger; with every downward strike, a bloody head rolled.

Killing a Foundation Establishment cultivator was as easy as slaughtering a dog for him.

Hao Chengtian suddenly realized that Yan Shiyin was the first in Wu Country to understand what chaos truly meant, and she comprehended it well.

Competing for power during the chaos was never about challenge or single combat, but rather the silent destruction of vibrant lives under the butcher's knife.

He couldn't bear to watch anymore, quickly catching up to Chen Qing, the two of them spanning a hundred feet in a single stride.

Even after running ten miles past the city gate, the terrifying shouts at the Taihao Tribe's great city gate were still audible.

"In the realm of cultivation, how did it descend to this state just from the Master of Mortal World entering the Death Realm?"

Even the mighty Taihao Tribe wasn't spared.

Chen Qing wasn't one for unnecessary words, asking, "Hao Chengtian, which way should we go now?"

Hao Chengtian wasn't offended by Chen Qing calling him by his name. With all the Taihao Tribe's Foundation Establishment cultivators likely gone under his command, he had no right to call himself Young Master anymore.

"To the Fengri Tribe, they are the loyalists of our Taihao Tribe. We might borrow troops from them and inform them to have our tribe members hide in the mountains for a while."

"To avoid any unfortunate incidents!"

Chen Qing nodded, "Lead the way; I'll treat Zhang Can's injuries."

With a wave of his hand, Chen Qing gathered a mass of life energy from the earth, sending it into Zhang Can's body. The two of them hurried forward and reached the Fengri Tribe in just six hours.

Deep in the night, the Fengri Tribe lay quiet, stirring doubts in Chen Qing's heart. As he extended his powerful senses to probe the situation, they were blocked by the Fengri Tribe's formation.

With no other option, they continued to approach, though Chen Qing's mind was already on high alert, ready to employ Fatian Xiangdi at any moment.

As they drew near the Fengri Tribe, they saw a white banner hanging at the gate, with bold letters inscribed:

[Hao Chengtian, Qingxu, died under this gate!]

Barely having finished reading the line, they noticed hundreds of torches lighting up around the mountain where the Fengri Tribe resided.

A man, holding a long golden-scaled spear, rode slowly down the bloodied staircase of the Fengri Tribe. He seemed in his thirties, with a vicious face that could supposedly devour three children at once.

His belly was round, cloaked in black armor, which added to his imposing aura.

"I, Chou Ying of the Mystic Gate Army, have awaited your arrival by orders of Lord Yan Shiyin!"

He galloped down the mountain, his fat shaking wildly, "Hao Chengtian, Qingxu, if you surrender now, I will allow you a whole corpse to be left behind!"

Hao Chengtian scrutinized Chou Ying angrily, "Your Pixiu tribe was once mighty, yet you sided with the unremarkable Yan Shiyin from a regular great tribe?"

Chou Ying laughed heartily, "I was an ordinary Foundation Establishment willing to die for the Pixiu Tribe!"

"It was the lord who showed me the way, granting me the opportunity to cultivate to the Mystic Gate Realm!"

"I despise heirs from great tribes like you. Why should only you have the chance to reach the Mystic Gate Realm while we perish?"

"Where in the world is that fair?"

"The lord told us that we should be our own masters and never be dogs to the great tribes!"

"We are merely followers of the Miao God!"

"With the lord, everyone has an opportunity to cultivate to the Mystic Gate Realm!"

Chen Qing suddenly understood why Yan Shiyin rose to power so swiftly. The entry of the Master of Mortal World into the Death Realm was merely a catalyst.

The true reason lay in the deeply entrenched power and unyielding resources of various large factions, setting a rigid cultivation ceiling for ordinary cultivators at Foundation Establishment.

Cultivators, above all, possess a heart of resistance.

This world has never been short of commoners ascending to power.

Indeed, Yan Shiyin was a hero among men!

But what exactly were the Inverted Castle and Miao God planning?

Chen Qing considered understanding God's thoughts an unsurmountable task.

What was the Inverted Castle pondering?

Would it let Wu Country slaughter itself?

Chen Qing suddenly felt that all factions had gone berserk. Were they truly only vying for control of the Death Realm?

At that moment, Chen Qing didn't see himself as the pivotal factor that might alter the world's fate.

At most, he was simply the one who opened the door to the void.

Hao Chengtian looked at the blood flowing down the steps, forming a stream.

"You slaughtered the entire Fengri Tribe?"

Chou Ying shook his head, "No, that's not it!"

He gestured at the fifteen Foundation Establishment cultivators encircling them from behind, "These are virtuous individuals who can distinguish right from wrong and have joined us!"

With over a hundred torches, Chen Qing observed the surroundings, realizing over a hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators had them surrounded completely.

Should a battle erupt, Chen Qing believed he could escape unscathed even if outmatched.

Yet, he had no time for that now!

Given Yan Shiyin's power, she likely already seized the Taihao Tribe's great city and was leading the army here.

Hao Chengtian shouted in anger, "Aren't you afraid of incurring the Inverted Castle's ire as flames of war engulf Wu Country?"

Chou Ying chuckled, "Yan Shiyin serves the Great Prince; we follow the royal decree, not you rebels!"

Hao Chengtian suddenly realized the truth. So that was it.

The Great Prince was likely a mere puppet for Yan Shiyin.

Had the royal house truly tolerated all this, or were they planning something else?

But none of that was for him to ponder now.

Chen Qing yelled loudly, "Break out!"

He took out a Spiritual Pearl, placing it in his mouth, and immediately displayed Fatian Xiangdi, grabbing Zhang Can with his left hand while using the Dragon Capturing Hand to strike at Chou Ying with his right!

Chou Ying lifted his spear and charged ferociously on horseback, thrusting it toward Chen Qing's massive hand!

The terrifying force pressed down, causing Chou Ying's fat to quiver tremendously, somehow dissipating the force that could crush a small mountain!

Vaulting through the air, he thrust his spear toward Chen Qing, casting a Pixiu illusion that aimed to take a bite out of him.

Sensing danger, Chen Qing realized this Pixiu's ability was akin to his Snake Butterfly, likely another type of Gu!

Swiftly, he waved his left sleeve, capturing the Pixiu illusion within, then slapped down at Chou Ying again!

The strike sent Chou Ying flying, his mount turning to pulp under him. Yet, Chou Ying's quivering fat let him endure the massive force unscathed.

Chen Qing's face changed slightly, "You know my methods, so you specifically placed someone who counters me here!"

Chou Ying laughed heartily, "Now that you know, won't you quickly surrender?"

"With your skill, if you join the lord, you'll surpass even me!"

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