Longevity by Grinding Skills

Xu Yunfan adopted a deferential attitude, his words earnest as he assumed an extremely humble posture.

’I’ve humbled myself this much. Surely she can’t still make things difficult for me.’

Zhang Qiaoluo’s gaze landed on Xu Yunfan, sweeping over him from head to toe.

The man before her was handsome and stood tall. His aura was harmonious and restrained, faintly suffused with Thunder Power. He was clearly extraordinary. More importantly, he was someone True Monarch Qing Yuan had recently taken a liking to, and he also seemed to be proficient in Array Dao and Artifact Refining.

Her mind raced. ’Within the Primordial Sect, there really aren’t many disciples like Xu Yunfan who seem normal yet possess genuine talent and skill.’

’If I ever need help with Artifact Refining or array deployment in the future, I’ll have to ask him. Making an enemy of him now would be a bad idea. Besides, since I covered for him, he now owes me a favor. Ultimately, it’s not worth making a huge scene.’

"Hmph."

Zhang Qiaoluo let out a cold snort. The corner of her mouth twitched in a semblance of a response, but the chilling aura that kept everyone at a distance had not fully dissipated.

"I hear Peak Master Xu is a very busy man, swamped with countless tasks the moment he came out of seclusion. It’s quite a feat that you even remembered to come to Chaotic Wind Gorge."

The sarcasm in her tone was still palpable.

’Women!’

"Senior Sister, you’re giving me too much credit!"

Xu Yunfan bowed again. "It is entirely my fault. In the future, if Senior Sister has any task for me, as long as it concerns Array Dao or Artifact Refining, I, Yunfan, will give it my all and would not dare to refuse!"

’That’s what I was waiting to hear.’

’Although Primordial Sect Disciples treat vows and promises like trash, with a statement like that, as long as Xu Yunfan wants to stay in True Monarch Qing Yuan’s good graces, he’ll have to follow through.’

’When you’re trying to make your way in the world, you have to show a little integrity, don’t you?’

’Besides, Xu Yunfan has already given me an out. If I don’t take it...’

’We’re all Primordial Sect Disciples; we mostly know what everyone else is like.’

At his words, the tension in Zhang Qiaoluo’s expression eased slightly.

Xu Yunfan’s Artifact Refining on Divine Sky Peak had earned him some renown within the Sect. His Array Dao Mastery was proven when he refined and killed the Blood Demon and momentarily withstood an attack from the Celestial Realm’s Immortal Gods. If she could foster a good relationship with him, it would be hugely beneficial to ask him to refine a Secret Treasure to conceal Celestial Secrets or to set up an Absolute Array to guard her residence in the future.

At this critical moment, just before they were to join forces against a great enemy, he was being so tactful. There was no need to humiliate him further.

Her stern expression softened by a fraction. She said no more, tacitly accepting Lu Chuan’s attempt to smooth things over.

A flicker of approval showed in Lu Chuan’s eyes before he turned to introduce another figure, one who was exceptionally tall and powerfully built.

𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

The man was built like a small mountain, with knotted muscles and bronze skin. He wore a simple, coarse-cloth tunic, but it did little to hide the immense physical power that radiated from him—a power that seemed capable of toppling mountains and overturning seas with a single gesture.

Just by standing there, he exuded a crushing pressure, as if the very rocks beneath his feet were groaning under his weight.

"This is Senior Brother Sun Yue."

Lu Chuan explained, "He cultivates the Unbreakable Giant Spirit Fighting True Skill and has achieved Dual Mastery of Body and Technique. He is at Late-Stage Foundation Establishment and serves as the vanguard for our Pure Source Peak lineage! His physical strength is in no way inferior to that of a Great Daoist Master at Foundation Establishment Perfection."

"Junior Brother Xu."

Sun Yue’s voice was like grinding stone, deep and powerful.

He grinned, flashing a set of white teeth, and clasped his fist in a return salute. His eyes roamed up and down Xu Yunfan, his gaze purely one of assessment, as if wondering how much of a beating the man could take.

"I heard you had one hell of a fight with the Blood Demon. The wisp of aura that leaked out when you laid that Thunder Array wasn’t weak."

For him to utter those two words was the highest of praise.

He clearly had little interest in Xu Yunfan’s Array Dao; he was far more intrigued by the power Xu Yunfan had displayed when clashing head-on with an Old Demon like the Blood Demon.

Had he not been away seeking his own fortuitous encounter at the time, he would have certainly gone to witness it for himself.

’So he wants to test my strength with his own?’

’A muscle-head?’

Xu Yunfan formed a quick impression, then immediately dismissed the notion.

’No one who manages to become a Foundation Establishment True Cultivator in the Primordial Sect is a fool.’

’He wasn’t like the Blood Demon, who, after five reincarnations and with his lifespan drawing to a close, had his mind clouded by five lifetimes of corruption, allowing others to use him as a pawn.’

As for the Sun Yue before him, Xu Yunfan refused to believe he was as straightforward and bold as he appeared.

’It’s all a persona.’

"Senior Brother Sun, you flatter me. It was merely a stroke of luck."

Sun Yue’s aura was heavy and tyrannical, much like when Daoist Master Hundred Peaks, Chu Chengnan, had appeared in person. He was clearly walking the path of attaining the Dao through the ultimate physique and power. He was likely even stronger than the Blood Demon back in the day, not weaker.

The final person was stick-thin, dressed in a dusty and unremarkable gray robe.

His features were plain, his face held an almost wooden placidity. Only his eyes were as deep as an abyss, seemingly devoid of all emotion. When he looked at someone, it was with a cold indifference, as if he were inspecting a piece of raw material.

A sheathed longsword of an ancient, peculiar design hung at his waist, its surface dark and lusterless.

"Senior Brother Mo Qisha."

Lu Chuan gestured to the man. "He is a master of the Seven Extremes God Slaying Demon Sword True Gang and has reached the peak of the Late-Stage Foundation Establishment. His blade strikes without a shadow and slays gods unseen. He specializes in severing Vitality and is a counter to Primordial Spirit Escape Techniques."

Mo Qisha neither clasped his fist nor spoke. He simply gave Xu Yunfan a slight nod, his indifferent gaze sweeping past him as if he were just a roadside stone.

The instant his gaze swept past the point between Xu Yunfan’s eyebrows, an incredibly subtle sharpness, one that felt like it could slice through his very Divine Soul Origin, flashed and vanished. Even Xu Yunfan, with his Perfection-level Divine Sky Dao Body, felt a faint chill.

’This is definitely a terrifying figure who specializes in slaughter, in extinguishing all Vitality.’

Xu Yunfan returned the gesture. "Greetings, Senior Brother Mo."

In his mind, his wariness of this man shot to its highest level.

’This man is even more of a tool for killing than Zhang Qiaoluo.’

To ambush and kill Ye Yuan, True Monarch Qing Yuan’s lineage had truly sent out all of its elites.

Two at Foundation Establishment Perfection: Lu Chuan and Zhang Qiaoluo. One at Quasi-Perfection: the Giant Spirit Combat Body Cultivator, Sun Yue. One at the peak of the Late Stage: the Sword Art Daoist Master Mo Qisha, who specialized in assassination and cutting off escape routes. And finally, himself, a Late-Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator whose main role was to control the battlefield with the Array Dao.

With a lineup like this, hunting a Sword Cultivator of the same realm was like a lion hunting a rabbit—absolute overkill, making victory a certainty.

A truly deluxe lineup.

’Ye Yuan, oh Ye Yuan... to be hunted by five Foundation Establishment Daoist Masters, each far stronger than their peers... You can consider it an honor.’

Lu Chuan’s gaze swept over the group, finally settling back on Xu Yunfan. "Everyone is here," he said, his voice grave. "Junior Brother Xu, Senior Sister Zhang cast a tracking spell earlier. Ye Yuan has entered the Wailing Wind Valley region on his patrol. He is not far from our current location.

Set up the array immediately. Turn this entire area into a cage, and ensure all his escape routes are cut off."

He pointed toward the narrowest part of the gorge, where the winds were at their most chaotic and violent.

"It would be best to center your Absolute Array here. Senior Brother Sun, Senior Brother Mo, you two will join me in the main assault.

Senior Sister Zhang, you will be responsible for suppressing his Divine Soul Secret Techniques and his Sword Heart perception. Prevent him from calling for reinforcements or using any hidden trump cards.

Junior Brother Qisha, you will hide at the edge of the Array Formation. If he attempts to detonate his Primordial Spirit or use any technique to sacrifice a part of himself to escape, your sword must be the first to strike, extinguishing any such notion!"

"Understood."

"Right!"

The group assented in low, grave tones.