Longevity: Starting from Refining Gu

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"We'll rest here for a few days and then find a way to gather a large army for a head-on clash with Yan Shiyin."

As he spoke, Hao Chengtian stepped into the lava pool, where a massive amount of Fiery Fire Essence surged toward him, healing his wounds.

Chen Qing disabled the Fatian Xiangdi state and supported the unconscious Zhang Can. His lips were pale, and his complexion was ashen, clearly not yet recovered.

Indeed, the injuries caused by Chen Qing were not so easily healed; otherwise, he wouldn't be called Bai Xiu.

Chen Qing wasn't quick to let his guard down and cautioned, "Be careful."

Hao Chengtian became considerably more cautious upon hearing this warning.

As he absorbed the Fiery Fire Essence, he suddenly felt something alive writhing within the lava.

He reached out and found himself grabbing a bright long sword!

Simultaneously, three long swords attacked from behind!

Two swords broke against his back, but the remaining one pierced through, emerging from his chest with its blade.

Gold-red blood instantly gushed from the wound.

Injured so severely, Hao Chengtian flew into a mad rage. He supported himself with both hands, unleashing True Fire Purgatory, setting the four attackers ablaze!

The four screamed but mercilessly continued their assault on Hao Chengtian.

Chen Qing was about to take action when he noticed a red-haired beauty in a red leather outfit, wearing long boots and having shapely thighs, leap down from the volcano's peak into the entrance.

"By the order of the Great Prince, we are here to exterminate the rebels!"

Chen Qing looked coldly at the red-haired woman. "Yan Shiyin planned this from the beginning?"

Ying Xiaoxiao swayed slightly. "Your Earth Tunneling Skill isn't much of a secret."

"Within a radius of several hundred miles, only this place has a Lava Mountain shrouded in mist for ten miles."

"Hao Chengtian needs this kind of environment to heal."

"And you, you easily found such a place."

Chen Qing tied Zhang Can to his back. "How did you isolate my perception?"

Ying Xiaoxiao gestured to the four beside her. "There are only nine of us, all at late Foundation Establishment."

"The Fog Gu is not hard to acquire."

Her waist and skin glowed red in the reflection of the lava. She took the whip from her waist and flicked it toward Chen Qing!

Reacting immediately, Chen Qing executed Dragon Capturing Hand to seize the whip, but its enormous strength sent Chen Qing flying!

Chen Qing twisted midair to avoid injuring Zhang Can, glanced at his hand, and found a new cut etched across it.

The wound burned hot with pain.

He focused his gaze on Ying Xiaoxiao's long whip, a spirit item Gu of force, Mountain-shifter.

This whip had the power to move mountains!

Yan Shiyin really had chosen experts capable of being true rivals to hunt him down.

However, this wasn't Yan Shiyin's plan; it was merely incidental.

Even Yan Shiyin hadn't anticipated Chen Qing holding his ground against Zhang Can to such an extent.

Yan Shiyin's initial idea was that Chen Qing would lose after exchanging a few blows.

Eventually, Zhang Can and Hao Chengtian would both be severely injured, leaving Chen Qing the least wounded. This was the reason for these arrangements.

Chen Qing immediately reactivated Fatian Xiangdi, raising a hand to launch Dragon Capturing Hand at Ying Xiaoxiao.

He managed to grab Ying Xiaoxiao but, as he was about to squeeze and crush her, she surprisingly pried open his fingers and leaped free from his grasp.

"Fatian Xiangdi, worthy of being among the strongest of Divine Skills."

"But, alas, your foundation is too weak. Even with Fatian Xiangdi, you can't fully utilize it."

She swung the emerald long whip in her hand, "Had you my level of strength before using Fatian Xiangdi, I couldn't have stopped you."

Chen Qing was indifferent to Ying Xiaoxiao's psychological tactics. Frankly, he'd only been in this world for three to four years.

Facing these geniuses who've trained for twenty or thirty years is naturally challenging.

He just needed a little more time.

Fortunately, he had moved all his allies to Linglong Divine Palace, so their safety wasn't a concern.

Fists clenched, Chen Qing shouted to Hao Chengtian, "Don't linger. Yan Shiyin should already be coming with reinforcements!"

Upon hearing this, Hao Chengtian slapped back the four late Foundation Establishment cultivators in front, then leaped onto Chen Qing's shoulder. Chen Qing promptly manipulated the earth's power to flee into the distance.

Barely three miles away, he felt an intense ground tremor throw him out of the mountains.

Glancing back at the Mountain Chasing Whip in Ying Xiaoxiao's hand, Chen Qing felt a mix of anger and helplessness.

Chen Qing leaped from the ground, exhibited Feather Sky Soaring Skills, sprouting wings on his back, and violently flapped them to fly away.

Standing on the mountaintop, Ying Xiaoxiao roared in fury, "Incompetent fools! Four late Foundation Establishment cultivators can't even capture two severely injured mid Foundation Establishment ones!"

"Chase!"

Chen Qing flew several miles farther when Hao Chengtian, on his shoulder, asked, "Where are we headed?"

Chen Qing asked, "Isn't this part of your Taihao Tribe's territory?"

Hao Chengtian felt ashamed, "It seems like our every move is calculated by Yan Shiyin."

"Instead of me leading, why don't you come up with a plan?"

Chen Qing glanced at Hao Chengtian, suddenly understanding why Yan Shiyin could rise so swiftly.

Like Hao Chengtian and the Nine Nether Goddess, who only knew cultivation and not the ways of the world, they would be played to death by Yan Shiyin one by one.

After some reflection, Chen Qing said, "Let's head to Dao Origin Land. I have some connections there!"

Hao Chengtian replied, "Then we should head south!"

Chen Qing immediately flew south, deactivating Fatian Xiangdi to lower their profile and avoid easy detection.

After covering a hundred miles, dawn was breaking, and they sought a hidden place to attend to their wounds, only to spot a Foundation Establishment sword-flying cultivator crossing ahead.

The two quickly descended, and Chen Qing suggested, "Let's separate. Moving together makes too big a target. If pursued, we'll all be captured at once."

Seeing hesitation in Hao Chengtian's eyes, Chen Qing insisted, "I'll go first to distract them. Take care of yourself!"

"Our ties with the Taihao Tribe end here."

Chen Qing watched from afar as the sword-flyer passed overhead. He promptly soared up, executed Fatian Xiangdi, and struck the Foundation Establishment cultivator with a Dragon Capturing Hand, causing him to cough blood.

Undaunted, the injured man laughed, "So you were hiding here! Ha ha ha, the master will soon arrive with troops!"

Chen Qing ignored him, flying away until he finally landed in a secluded forest. Using the Fog Gu to conceal his spiritual presence, he paused to rest.

Seeing Zhang Can's cracked lips, Chen Qing intended to fetch some water, only to hear Zhang Can mumbling, "Can't escape, Qingxu. With this burden, you can't get away."

"My presence holds you back."

Chen Qing felt a flash of anger, "It's not over yet."

Zhang Can said, "I know it was you who injured me, but having fled with me overnight, consider it repaid. Don't carry guilt."

"Kill me and swallow me."

"I've been inside you, and I know you can swallow souls."

"My soul, surely it would be a great nourishment for you?"

Chen Qing slapped the dazed Zhang Can awake, "I said it's not over yet!"

"If I wanted to devour you, I would've done it long ago!"

Zhang Can remarked, "Yan Shiyin is not so formidable; he just seized the initiative."

Chen Qing retorted angrily, "Stop harping on about dying and such!"

"When I was but Foundation Establishment, I could trek a thousand miles with someone on my back. Now, you can at least move; you're better off than she was!"

Zhang Can chuckled, "If I could return to Hidden Sword Mountain, rally all of its Foundation Establishment under your command, why not?"

Chen Qing gave Zhang Can some water to drink, crouched down, and reached out toward the earth, seizing a ghost from its domain.

"You little ghost, tell this Mountain God, what place is this!"

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