Longevity: Starting from Refining Gu

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Another ten days passed, and Lu Shenglong and Xuan Mang arrived at Jiuhe City, similarly leading a great army.

Many of the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection cultivators began to converge on Jiuhe City, yet it did not feel crowded.

Jiuhe City was originally constructed to accommodate tens of thousands of Foundation Establishment cultivators.

It wasn't until June thirteenth that Xuan Cuo was the last to arrive.

The You Country he was stationed in was the furthest from the Wu Country.

This speed was already considered quite impressive.

More than three thousand Foundation Establishment Great Perfection cultivators arrived at Jiuhe City, making it livelier than ever before.

The taverns in the city constantly had a stream of cultivators coming and going.

Xuan Cuo had only been in Jiuhe City for a day when Qing Shan once again stood before this grand city.

Reflecting on the last time he came here, it was seven years ago—such a short span yet so much had transformed in his life.

Not only had he completely mastered Cutting the Path to See Me, refined his physical being, and awakened his ancient Sky Blue Bull bloodline.

He had also practiced a great deal of defensive magic to ensure he could assist Chen Qing on the battlefield.

Outside Jiuhe City, numerous mountain peaks had been leveled to clear large open areas.

This was to prepare places for the many Foundation Establishment Great Perfection cultivators to cut off their life span.

Once Chen Qing gave the order, more than three thousand Foundation Establishment cultivators would complete their life span cutting in one night.

At this moment, Qing Ran was the busiest of them all; he needed to tally everyone's battle merits and then retrieve all the treasures they required in exchange.

Seeing Qing Shan return, Chen Qing, together with Xuanping, Wushang, Yan Sisi, and Qing Shan, shared a meal as a reunion, then wrote down a directive.

"Three thousand five hundred sixty-two Foundation Establishment Great Perfections shall cut off their life spans three days from now at midnight."

Upon receiving this order from Chen Qing, everyone started to get busy.

Wei Qingchen began preparations to open the Ghost Gate, which would allow three thousand five hundred sixty-two people to enter the Death Realm's Ghost Gate, demanding a large amount of materials.

Everyone felt the entire atmosphere of Jiuhe City grow solemn.

June seventeenth.

Chen Qing appointed Li Bingwei as the new leader of the Jiuli's Foundation Establishment, with Wushang overseeing in witness of all, providing Chen Qing with an unending source of troops for Death Realm campaigns.

On the morning of June eighteenth, a large number of Foundation Establishment Great Perfections made their way to the prepared grounds, each finding their place to begin preparations.

Zuo Chuan and Ying Wugang left the city together, with Zuo Chuan smiling, saying, "After decades of arduous cultivation, today we finally get the chance to test our blades against the world's heroes."

Ying Wugang lightly punched Zuo Chuan on the chest, "We all have to come back alive."

Breaking through Foundation Establishment to Ghost Face Realm was a breakthrough without thresholds as long as life span sufficed.

Yet the mortality rate in the Ghost Face Realm was the highest in the entire cultivation system, with no exception.

It was the most ruthless realm, where everyone savagely slaughtered others to continue cultivating.

Now, two major powers were determined to enter the Death Realm and reorganize its order.

And they belonged to one of these powers, under the command of Chen Qing.

They led their respective dragon steeds and gave careful final instructions.

As night fell, Chen Qing rode his Green Bull to the city gates, where tens of thousands of cultivators stood upon the city walls and outside, most being in the Qi Refining Realm.

They also wished to witness what could be considered a millennium occurrence of thousands of Foundation Establishment Great Perfection cultivators cutting off their life spans to enter the Death Realm.

Just as Chen Qing walked out of the city gates, the state preceptor of the Wu Country came with an order, "Lord Wen has authored a book and rendered great service to Jiuli, thus may avoid entering the Death Realm. Choose someone from the Wu Country's royal family to replace yourself in the Death Realm!"

The state preceptor sat on a cloud, slightly smiling at Chen Qing.

Chen Qing only glanced once and realized what it meant.

This was an instruction not to comply.

To settle the hearts of his subordinates.

Otherwise, why would it come at a time when he had no time to select someone from the royal family?

Riding his Green Bull, Chen Qing shouted to the nine skies, "Qingxu does not comply!"

The royal family of Lin Country also sent a great cultivator, "Lord Wen has authored a book and rendered great service to Jiuli, thus may avoid entering the Death Realm. Choose one distinguished young individual from Lin Country to replace yourself in the Death Realm!"

Chen Qing shouted loudly once more, "Qingxu does not comply!"

So it was, apart from the Water Country, almost every other country came, a total of six times, all met with Chen Qing's firm refusals.

"Qingxu does not comply!"

For the last time, Chen Qing shouted, and the crowd erupted with noise.

Chen Qing proclaimed loudly, "I, Qingxu, desire to establish feats for ten thousand generations; those who follow me can become a Mystic Gate!"

"Those who achieve great merits, shall become founders of major sects for ten thousand years!"

"Solidify the Death Realm, dominate the world, become a sovereign of the age!"

"Although many nations have royal decrees, Qingxu does not comply!"

"I am determined to live or die with you all!"

"If I proclaim myself king, as long as the kingdom endures, all of you shall enjoy prolonged wealth and honor!"

At once, Wei Qingchen shouted, "Willing to follow Lord Wen through fire and blood!"

Cries arose all around, "Sworn to follow to the death!"

Chen Qing rode his Green Bull forward, produced a formal document, and began to chant, "Under the Nine Heavens, above the Nine Nether, this disciple reports to Heaven and Earth here!"

"May I experience the mysteries of life and death by entering this cycle!"

"I respectfully inform Heaven and Earth, I am a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection with no hope ahead, requesting Heaven and Earth to cut off my life span and seek the immortal path again!"

Boom!

A black cloud stretched for ten miles around, gathering above Chen Qing's head, where a Heavenly Blade descended upon him, cutting into his body.

Chen Qing felt the transformation within, the first blade did not yet require borrowing life from his Lifebound Gu.

His life's vitality seemed to diminish by half, yet his whole body became more tenacious.

The Ghost Face Realm was the extreme of the physical body, focusing on body refinement.

Once breaking through the Ghost Face Realm, it was difficult to make large breakthroughs in the physical body.

Chen Qing roared angrily to the sky, "Cut again!"

Another blade descended, making Chen Qing's body even more tenacious, as though it were a timeless golden body.

"Cut again!"

Another blade fell, and Chen Qing's body faintly emitted a golden glow.

"Cut again!"

The Heavenly Blade descended, like petals of celestial maidens, ethereal, yet it pinpointed Chen Qing.

Crack!

A life span of a century was severed, Chen Qing's expression unwavering, the golden glow around him intensified.

"Cut again!"

Chen Qing shouted.

The Heavenly Blade fell upon Chen Qing, his whole body radiating a golden light, like a War God in the world.

In the distance, Wei Qingchen and Xuan Mang watched as Chen Qing cut himself, "That's already five blades, is it not?"

"Mm, five blades, four more to go!"

"Lord Wei's mastery is unparalleled, surely able to withstand nine blades."

"No need to worry, most of us can only withstand four blades, the Dragon Cavalry being more profound might withstand two blades."

"Others, likely only one blade."

Xuan Cuo said, "That isn't important, it's just the first entry into the Death Realm being a bit powerful, making cultivation smoother."

"Reaching the Great Perfection of the Ghost Face Realm, the difference won't be too great unless it's a difference in one's Gu."

"In the Death Realm, because it's focused on the limits of the physical body, our Nanli cultivators hold a significant advantage."

Lu Shenglong said, "Once upon a time, I felt the might of the Great Sect at the Da Yan border, that scene of hundreds of flying swords unleashed at once, I still remember it vividly."

"Such might, only the Dragon Cavalry might be qualified for a frontal charge."

Yan Bailiang said, "No worries, Zhang Can and I wish to see the depth of a Great Sect."

"Zhang Can and I have trained our troops, though uneven, it can barely achieve such an effect."

Lu Shenglong asked, "Do we know the landing point after entering the Death Realm?"

Zhang Can shook his head, "Not yet, this all awaits orders from Lord Wei."

"Since the final decision lies in Lord Wei's hands, Da Yan will find it hard to be prepared."

Zhang Can said, "Lord Wei should be able to cut nine blades, with enough merits in the Death Realm, it's possible to make a breakthrough to the pinnacle of the Ghost Face Realm."

Lu Shenglong said, "Lord Wei's foundation needs no mention, but how many blades can you cut?"

Yan Bailiang said, "Master has prepared a Hundred-Year Life Gu for me, plus my Lifebound Gu's life span is long, being a Mystic Turtle."

"So, cutting eight blades is possible."

Lu Shenglong said, "Cutting eight blades, my Lifebound Gu can also manage, but there isn't much life span left."

At that moment, Xuan Mang said, "Look, Qing Shan has started cutting himself too!"

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