Chapter 31

Du Ping and his four companions hurriedly took off their gear and sat down around the campfire with their backpacks.

The members of the Blood Red Mercenary Group took out some food and drinks from their backpacks and placed them on the ground. Du Ping picked up two pieces of leopard meat and a pot of wine and passed them over.

"Little brother, this is the food we prepared. Try it!" Du Ping appeared very generous.

Lin Xuan smiled and accepted it, then asked internally if the wine was poisonous.

Wine Master grumbled, "Xuanzi is quite cautious. Don't worry, it's not poisonous, but the wine is much worse than mine!"

Hearing that it wasn't poisonous, Lin Xuan felt relieved. When traveling outside, one must be careful. He passed a piece of leopard meat to Tang Yu and nodded slightly.

Tang Yu then accepted it. She opened her cherry lips and took a small bite, eating quietly, unlike her usual lively and active self.

Lin Xuan also tore off a piece of meat and ate it with a large gulp of strong wine.

"Good wine!" Lin Xuan mumbled.

"Haha! Little brother, you're really straightforward!" Du Ping and the others laughed heartily. They were naturally straightforward men, and seeing Lin Xuan act the same way, they felt a strong liking for him.

"Judging by your attire, you two must be disciples of the Xuantian Sect, right? Why are you in this forest?" Du Ping asked, "Is it because of the recent news?"

Lin Xuan nodded, "I heard that strange stones have appeared in the Devil Pit. I want to see them for myself." He wasn't lying; almost everyone knew about this news, so there was no need to lie.

"What about you, Brother Du? Are you also going to the Devil Pit?"

"Haha, to be honest, we brothers also want to join the fun and see if there are any opportunities," Du Ping scratched the back of his head and said with a smile.

"However, this trip to the Devil Pit will be quite lively. Even if we don't get any treasures, meeting some young experts won't be a waste of the trip!" said a young man with short hair.

"Oh, I wonder who these young experts are?" Lin Xuan was intrigued.

"In the world of martial arts, we do know more than you sect disciples," Du Ping said, "Older Brother, tell this little brother all about it!"

The young man with short hair was the second-in-command of the Blood Red Mercenary Group, named Qin Xiu.

"Those going to the Devil Pit this time are mostly young people," Qin Xiu took a sip of wine and continued, "According to our information, many forces are heading there, but the most famous are a few."

"First, there's Tang Yi from your Xuantian Sect's Combat Team. He has reached the peak of the Eighth Stage of the Condensation Pulse Realm. His Twin Jade Palms are invincible, and he also has hidden weapons that can penetrate any defense. He is definitely one of the top combatants."

Upon hearing this, Tang Yu's eyes narrowed into a crescent moon shape, and she let out a proud hum, like a proud little fox.

Seeing Tang Yu's expression, Lin Xuan knew that Tang Yi must be her brother. He smiled and tore off a piece of wild boar meat for her.

"Then there's Ye Shi from the Green Robe Association. She is not only as beautiful as a celestial being but has also reached the Eighth Stage of the Condensation Pulse Realm. Her jade flute is more powerful than any treasure!"

"As for the Divine Might Group, their main force seems to be on a mission outside. We don't know who they will send this time."

"Mission outside?" Lin Xuan raised an eyebrow. If he remembered correctly, Zhang Qian, the brother of Zhang Bin, was on a mission outside. Thinking of this, he took a deep breath. He needed to improve his cultivation quickly; Zhang Qian might return at any time, and he didn't want to be caught off guard.

Qin Xiu continued, "Besides the Xuantian Sect, the Zixia Sect also has experts coming. One is Ding Hao, known as the Little Swift Saber of Yunzhou. His saber techniques are faster than lightning!"

"Another is Liu Qing, a martial arts fanatic who seeks duels with experts. His strength is unfathomable."

"The rest are smaller groups, like mercenary teams like ours, and some families from Leyang City will likely send representatives."

Lin Xuan sighed inwardly. He hadn't expected so many young experts to come, which made it even harder for him to steal the brown stone.

Seemingly sensing Lin Xuan's thoughts, Wine Master's voice rang out, "Xuanzi, if you find another spirit root, I'll teach you a divine skill. I won't go back on my word!"

"Divine skill!" Lin Xuan's heart raced, "That's something only those at the highest realms can cultivate!"

"Are you sure it's a divine skill?" Lin Xuan asked skeptically, "Didn't you say your techniques are too advanced for me to learn?"

"What kind of expression is that? How dare you doubt me! Back in the day, I could influence the weather of the entire continent with a single sneeze, and you dare to doubt me!" Wine Master was displeased, "You can learn this divine skill once you reach the Sixth Stage of the Condensation Pulse Realm. I won't lie to you!"

"Rest assured, I'll do my best to get you a stone." Lin Xuan was indeed tempted by Wine Master's offer. A divine skill was something that even those with strength couldn't necessarily cultivate.

Wealth and honor come with risks. His time was running out. The family conference would be held in two years, and he had to defeat the disciples within the clan. He knew that the disciples of the Sword Pool Mansion were even more talented than those of the Xuantian Sect.

He had to improve his cultivation quickly to return to his family!

The group chatted for a long time, until midnight, when they finally sat down to meditate and rest.

The night sky was lit by a crescent moon.

Lin Xuan didn't sleep but quietly cultivated the Longevity Technique. After hearing about so many young experts today, he felt immense pressure.

A green aura flowed rapidly through his body, and a faint green light shone on his skin. The four spirit meridians within him were like surging rivers, carrying powerful energy throughout his body.

Gradually, he seemed to merge with the surrounding environment, clearly sensing everything nearby, including the flowers, trees, and distant birds and beasts.

This feeling was extraordinary, something that martial artists at the Condensation Pulse Realm couldn't experience. The only explanation was the effect of the Longevity Technique.

Daring to name it "Longevity," it must be extraordinary. After all, the ultimate goal of martial artists is immortality, though this goal is too distant for many to achieve in their lifetimes.

However, as cultivation increases, so does the lifespan of martial artists. Under this irresistible temptation, martial arts became popular on the Spirit Martial Continent. Once one reaches the Spirit Sea Realm and becomes a Spirit Master, their lifespan increases by two hundred years, which is twice that of ordinary people. How could martial artists not be driven mad?

Moreover, the higher the cultivation, the higher the status and power. High-level cultivators can easily control the lives of lower-level cultivators, and this survival of the fittest also drives everyone to cultivate desperately.

"There's a spiritual energy fluctuation ahead." Lin Xuan sensed the change and exited his cultivation state. He opened his eyes and cautiously looked around.

Whoosh!

A black arrow suddenly shot out from the forest, leaving a black trail in the air, heading straight for Du Ping of the Blood Red Mercenary Group.