Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World
Chapter 379 - 213 Opening of the Crimson Cloud Secret Realm!_2

Chapter 379: Chapter 213 Opening of the Crimson Cloud Secret Realm!_2

Wen Mingyan took out a palm-sized pouch and handed it to Gu Sheng: "This item is called the Qiankun Bag, a unique spatial treasure artifact. Inside, it forms its own pocket of space, which can be used to store inanimate objects. The construction is highly intricate, and no one within the Red Cloud Prefecture domain can craft it. These are extremely rare and expensive, purchased from the Imperial City. This particular one was gifted to me by the Sect Master during my wedding to your master’s wife. Take it for now and try to fill this bag with Spirit Stones during this trip!"

"The entrance to the Red Cloud Secret Realm will open in five days. Use these days to prepare yourself, and I’ll personally escort you all when the time comes."

Five days later, all Holy Pill Sect disciples heading to the Red Cloud Secret Realm gathered at the Merit Hall entrance on War God Peak.

The Holy Pill Sect had a quota of one hundred, including Gu Sheng and ten Golden Bone Realm core disciples. The remaining eighty-nine were selected among the Inner Sect disciples.

Lin Miaomiao, Dyson, and Huang Miaoyin had decent battle capabilities themselves, coupled with the body refinement brought by the Thunder Fruit, earning them a place. Only Mo Buwen regrettably failed, losing by one move during the selection due to a lack of foundation.

The entrance to the Red Cloud Secret Realm was located on the westernmost edge of the desolate desert in the Red Cloud Prefecture domain, hundreds of miles away from the Holy Pill Sect. They traveled there mounted on flying beasts.

In the desolate desert on the western edge of the Red Cloud Prefecture domain, there was a massive stone platform, a place that was typically uninhabited but was now crowded with people.

This was the entrance to the Red Cloud Secret Realm.

By the time Wen Mingyan and his group arrived, representatives from other factions had already gathered. Once all the Holy Pill Sect disciples were assembled, elders from the Governor Mansion, two sects, three gates, and the four Powerful Families stepped forward, each placing fifty Spirit Stones in the center of the stone platform.

A total of five hundred Spirit Stones were piled up like a small hill, releasing an intense wave of Spiritual Energy into the air.

The Spirit Stones on the stone platform melted rapidly, transforming into a dense cloud of Spiritual Energy that floated into the sky.

When the Spiritual Energy cloud reached about ten meters high, the stone platform began to tremble slightly. Moments later, a peculiar power emanated from the platform, and the cloud of Spiritual Energy in the air condensed into a vortex.

The vortex expanded gradually, and within fifteen minutes, it took the form of a mirror-like surface about four or five meters in diameter.

Through the ethereal Spiritual Energy, one could glimpse scenes within—it was the entrance to the Red Cloud Secret Realm.

The entrance to the Red Cloud Secret Realm officially opened, and the Governor Mansion steward announced coldly, "Governor Mansion first, then the two sects, three gates, and the four Powerful Families, followed finally by other sects and clans. Anyone causing trouble will have their entry privileges revoked!"

As soon as the steward finished speaking, the Governor Mansion representatives immediately lined up and leapt into the vortex of Spiritual Energy.

The entrance was large enough, so while there was a queue, the progression wasn’t slow. Soon, it was the Holy Pill Sect’s turn.

"The Red Cloud Secret Realm remains open for a total of three months. During this period, focus on seeking Spirit Stones! Avoid recklessly exploring sect ruins. If you miss the exit time, you’ll be trapped inside! Don’t forget my reminders! Stay cautious!"

After a brief instruction, Wen Mingyan let Gu Sheng take the lead to enter.

As he crossed the entrance, Gu Sheng immediately felt a severe disorientation. When he regained consciousness, he found himself lying on a patch of grass.

Gu Sheng quickly sat up, instantly alert, and began surveying his surroundings.

He was in a vast grassland. All he could see was green grass stretching endlessly, with not a single tree or person in sight.

"Ah! Such abundant Spiritual Energy!"

Gu Sheng greedily took a deep breath of the air in the Red Cloud Secret Realm, marveling at its richness.

The world within the Red Cloud Secret Realm was vastly different from the outside. Here, the Spiritual Energy was so dense it was visible to the naked eye. Even though Gu Sheng hadn’t yet cultivated the Guiding Method, he could still feel the benefits of this Spiritual Energy on his body.

According to Wen Mingyan, the entrance to the Red Cloud Secret Realm acted like a random teleportation array, scattering entrants randomly throughout the realm.

Some were fortunate enough to land directly upon abundant Spirit Stone deposits, while others had bad luck, falling into the territory of mystical beasts or sect ruins, resulting in swift death.

Gu Sheng’s current location didn’t show signs of Spirit Stones, but it also lacked mystical beasts or sect ruins. His luck seemed average.

It was said the environment within the Red Cloud Secret Realm changed constantly, varying with each opening. No one could rely on maps—it was entirely up to chance.

Gu Sheng was notoriously bad with directions, let alone in an unfamiliar domain like this one. Resigned, he activated the Shadow Concealment Skill and picked a random direction, wandering in hopes of finding some Spirit Stones.

Gu Sheng’s luck tended to be mediocre. He wandered for a long time but found no trace of Spirit Stones.

After walking for a while, he felt parched and decided to sit down to rest and find water to quench his thirst.

As he bent down at the water’s edge, a massive, dark shadow suddenly burst from the water’s surface, lunging at him with a bloody, jagged maw.

"Oh, damn!"

Gu Sheng jumped to his feet in fright and activated his Wind Riding Boots, retreating over ten meters in an instant.

After creating some distance, he finally got a clear look at what attacked him.

It was a six- to seven-meter-long black worm.

The creature resembled an oversized slug but was far more vicious, with razor-sharp teeth filling its mouth and a formidable aura emanating from its body.

After missing its strike, it raised two antennae atop its head, each tipped with thumb-sized eyes.

The antennae wavered before locking onto Gu Sheng. The worm curled its fat body into a ball, then suddenly spewed out a foul black liquid.

Unfamiliar with the creature, Gu Sheng became extremely cautious and quickly activated his Wind Riding Boots to dodge.

The black liquid splashed onto the ground, producing a hissing sound. In moments, the grass beneath corroded into nothing, releasing an overwhelming stench.

If Wen Mingyan were present, he would have identified it as a Black Water Worm, a mystical beast marked by its bloated and obese appearance but surprising agility, particularly in aquatic environments.

The Black Water Worm had one notable characteristic—it was insatiable and capable of converting any ingested material into pure Spiritual Energy stored in a unique organ called the Spiritual Bag.

The Spiritual Energy within a Black Water Worm’s Spiritual Bag was exceptionally refined, even surpassing the utility of Spirit Stones.

Black Water Worms had a voracious appetite, with a particular preference for living organisms. Spotting Gu Sheng, it put forth its full effort to attack.

After a brief exchange, Gu Sheng had a decent understanding of the creature’s abilities.

This Black Water Worm was roughly equivalent to an average Golden Bone Realm individual. However, due to its unique physical traits, most physical attacks would be absorbed and dispersed by its tide-like musculature unless delivered by a specially-designed weapon. After multiple unsuccessful punches, Gu Sheng finally drew the Water Cold Sword from his waist.

"Heh! You’re just what I need to test the results of my training!"

Gu Sheng slashed swiftly, and with a mere thought, his Sword Aura erupted.

"Screeeeeeech!"

The Sword Aura unleashed devastating offensive power, carving gruesome wounds into the Black Water Worm’s unique muscles. Black blood gushed from its injuries as it emitted ear-piercing shrieks.

Self-preservation was an animal’s instinct, and cowardice in the face of resistance was the very nature of the Black Water Worm.

Sensing Gu Sheng’s strength, it decisively turned to flee back into the water.

The worm’s black blood continued to flow profusely. Should it reenter the water, the water source would undoubtedly be contaminated.

There were no other nearby water sources. If it returned to the water, Gu Sheng would be left parched and suffering.

Seeing this, Gu Sheng activated his Wind Riding Boots at full power, his body turning into a whirlwind. In an instant, he appeared behind the Black Water Worm and landed a powerful kick, sending the worm flying over ten meters.

"Master once said that mystical beasts in the Red Cloud Secret Realm differ from those outside. They have the potential to produce Spirit Pills comparable to Spirit Stones. Since I’ve encountered one, fate has decided—your luck has run dry!"

Gu Sheng slashed again, this time channeling his Sword Aura to concentrate into a single, lethal strike, severing the Black Water Worm’s head.