Longevity: Starting from Refining Gu

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After Qing Shan finished reciting the declaration, he began the blood sacrifice to Heaven and Earth.

Dark clouds swept in, dropping a celestial knife the length of a zhang, slashing at Qing Shan's body.

Just as Qing Shan was about to slash another time, a Qilin as dark as ink came rushing from the distance, transforming into its human form, Nie Fei threw a thousand-year-old longevity Gu towards Qing Shan.

"After all, you are from Qilin Temple; just slashing yourself once is too disgraceful."

"Qing Shan, remember this, you will always be a disciple of Qilin Temple."

Qing Shan caught the thousand-year-old longevity Gu, feeling deeply moved in his heart.

He immediately began to contract with it, Nie Fei shouted from afar towards Chen Qing: "Your business with the Qilin Temple is yours alone, but we are still brothers."

"If you're heading into the Death Realm, I have no reason not to come."

Chen Qing laughed heroically, "Hahaha, it's good you've come, now another slash!"

Time was as sharp as a knife, and that slash cleaved through the mortal dust like the knife of an old monk severing attachments, and with one slash, all troubles vanished.

What remained was a pure killing intent.

Chen Qing looked up and shouted, "I ask Heaven for another slash!"

The eighth slash fell, Chen Qing's body shone with unparalleled golden brilliance, imposing like a golden body of the Buddha.

Chen Qing felt a tremendous change in his physical body, enhanced more than twice over. At this moment, if he performed Fatian Xiangdi, his single arm might carry the strength of sixteen dragons!

"I ask Heaven for one last slash!"

The ninth slash was as ethereal as it could be, heavenly music resounded, and amidst the falling flowers, that slash suddenly appeared before Chen Qing, aiming to sever his Dao Foundation.

A lifetime's fortune was cleaved with this slash, and with nine slashes, it seemed to sever his mundane ties of nine lifetimes.

As this slash fell, Chen Qing's golden brilliance dissipated, his aura was restrained, and his blood and energy surged through his body like smoke signals sweeping the sky.

Dark golden blood flowed through his meridians, roaring like waves pounding the shore.

On Chen Qing's face, a golden ghost mask also appeared.

Chen Qing activated the Xuanjia Gu, forming armor covered in cloud patterns and the Mountain and River Map across his body.

Yan Sisi and Wushang stood on the city wall, watching from afar as Chen Qing slashed himself. Wushang sighed, "If I didn't need to stay and hold the fort in the mortal world, I'd really want to go to the Death Realm and have a go at killing someone!"

Yan Sisi's eyes dazzled, "If only I could cultivate."

"Wang Yuan, the little monk, has a decent strategic view, but if the war becomes urgent, he also wouldn't have too many clever strategies."

She took out the sword talisman Chen Qing had given her and quietly shattered it while no one noticed.

"When did I ever listen to my brother?"

Looking at this bustling scene, Wushang was internally calm, "Sisi, it's time for us to go."

"Once Big Brother enters the Death Realm, all those rebellious forces and those hidden in the shadows will surely all jump out!"

"In your view, Sisi, where is most critical?"

Yan Sisi said, "At the border of Ye Country and Da Yan, Da Yan will surely seize the opportunity of Big Brother entering the Death Realm to send many Foundation Establishment cultivators for a sneak attack to weaken our strength."

As Wushang and Yan Sisi walked and talked, "If that's the case, then I also should prepare to head to my battlefield."

Arriving before the guard palace, many disciples who were in seclusion at the Dao Origin Land were waiting here.

Wushang smiled, "Brothers and sisters, this time I must rely on you all."

Daoist Mingjing laughed, "The little junior brother now governs Jiuli, so naturally we elder brothers and sisters must lend a hand."

"Now that Jiuhe City has Xuanwu here, there's no need to worry. Even if the kings came personally, Senior Xuanwu could hold them off for a moment."

"Junior brother should prepare for the expedition, Jiuhe City will surely not err."

Wushang was overjoyed, "Then please help our sister-in-law."

"Sisi, gather the troops and horses, we head to Ye Country!"

Before Jiuhe City, dark clouds lingered for a thousand miles, over three thousand Foundation Establishment cultivators of Great Perfection severed a lifetime simultaneously, seeking to enter the cycle of life and death reincarnation through sacrifice, to gain insights into the Great Dao, and to clear the path to immortality.

Within Jiuhe City, the city gates were wide open, Wushang rode a majestic Qilin, leading over a thousand Foundation Establishment cultivators out of the city, heading towards the distance, raising billows of dust.

Wushang, unlike Chen Qing, could not send generals under his command capable of standing on their own to battle while he stayed to guard Jiuhe City.

Chen Qing entered the Death Realm, taking all those generals with him, so what Wushang could do was personally lead the expedition to seek constant victory.

After Chen Qing completed his self-slashing, he watched Wushang's spirited appearance as he set out, "Grown up, indeed, a person who can stand independently now."

"With Sisi following, nothing should go wrong."

He still remembered Xuanping saying that morning she wouldn't come to see him off, lest he be distracted.

Cultivation was always like this, no time for goodbyes, no chance for goodbyes either.

Everyone seized every possible opportunity with all their might, allowing themselves to take another step forward.

Chen Qing glanced at Wei Qingchen, who was rushing towards him, and asked, "How many slashes did you make?"

Wei Qingchen replied, "Thanks to my Lifebound Gu being a spirit Gu, and it being the first spirit Gu I contracted, along with a hundred-year-old longevity Gu and a ten-year longevity Gu, I self-slashed seven times."

Chen Qing said, "So now, your lifespan might just only be a few decades."

At this moment, Wei Qingchen looked quite weathered, the aging was brought by self-slashing his lifespan.

"Eighteen years left."

Chen Qing took a deep breath, knowing Wei Qingchen was fighting hard for this war too.

"Your son seems to be doing quite well at the academy."

Wei Qingchen said, "All thanks to Lord Wen's appreciation."

Chen Qing nodded, "In the future, I'll find him a good position."

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