Chapter 1320 - 684: Seeing Ghosts

At this moment, Gu Sheng had already withdrawn seventy percent of his defenses, his whole body like a piece of iron thrown into lava, every inch of flesh enduring unimaginable torment.

But his eyes grew brighter—under such extreme conditions, he could clearly feel subtle changes occurring in his body.

Muscle fibers tore and reorganized under pressure, becoming tougher.

Impurities in the bones were gradually expelled, their density constantly increasing; even the flow of blood became more vigorous, sending more energy throughout his body.

"It’s working!"

Gu Sheng was overjoyed, his resolve to continue only strengthening.

Just as Gu Sheng was immersing himself in the painful yet fulfilling cultivation, a sudden surge of energy fluctuations erupted from the barrier.

"Boom!"

A golden light pierced through the barrier, illuminating most of the depths of Heaven-Burning Valley.

Everyone looked on in astonishment, seeing a golden alms bowl spinning around, emanating a powerful suppressive force.

Beneath the bowl, Ling Xiao’s face was flushed as he made sealing signs with his hands, struggling to move forward step by step.

"Open for me!"

Ling Xiao roared, and the golden bowl’s light intensified, forcibly opening a path through the pressure of the barrier.

"Bang!"

Ling Xiao finally crossed the barrier, staggering a few steps before finding his footing. The golden bowl returned to his body, and he panted heavily, his face brimming with the joy of victory.

"Here comes another foolhardy one."

Hong Yun frowned.

But Mi Yingzong’s eyes lit up.

"Oh, isn’t this the brat who got blasted away just now? Not bad!"

Ling Xiao glanced around, his gaze quickly locking onto Gu Sheng in the corner.

Seeing Gu Sheng’s ghastly state, covered in scabs, he was first startled, then showed a look of admiration.

"This fellow Daoist."

A tall, thin cultivator approached, sizing up Ling Xiao.

"Who is your master?"

Ling Xiao straightened his back, his voice loud and clear.

"My master is Daoist Yong’an!"

"Daoist Yong’an?"

The tall, thin cultivator was taken aback and then glanced in Gu Sheng’s direction.

"Another disciple of Daoist Yong’an?"

Chatter immediately erupted around them.

"What day is it today? Two disciples of Daoist Yong’an venturing into the depths of Heaven-Burning Valley?"

"Wasn’t Daoist Yong’an in seclusion for many years? When did he take in so many disciples?"

"Tsk tsk, no wonder he’s close to Elder Level, the disciples he trains are truly exceptional."

Hearing the commotion, Gu Sheng had no choice but to halt his cultivation and open his eyes to look at Ling Xiao.

Their gazes met, Ling Xiao raised an eyebrow proudly, while Gu Sheng shook his head helplessly.

"Gu Sheng!"

Ling Xiao strode over, but his expression changed upon reaching three zhang away from Gu Sheng.

"This pressure... how can you withstand it?"

He quickly summoned the golden alms bowl to shield himself, feeling somewhat relieved.

Gu Sheng didn’t explain, only muttering softly.

"You shouldn’t have come."

"If you could come, why couldn’t I?"

Ling Xiao pouted defiantly, then lowered his voice.

"Besides, aren’t we fellow disciples?"

Gu Sheng’s mouth twitched.

He had pretended to be a disciple of Daoist Yong’an in a moment of urgency, not expecting Ling Xiao to pull the same trick.

Now, both of them unwittingly became ’fellow disciples.’"

In the distance, Mi Yingzong rubbed his chin, his eyes gleaming.

"Two disciples of Daoist Yong’an? Interesting..."

But Hong Yun wore a sullen expression, lost in thought.

Ling Xiao surveyed the surroundings, finding a spot not far from Gu Sheng to sit cross-legged.

The golden alms bowl floated above his head, casting down rays of golden light that shielded his entire body. This grand display was certainly more impressive than Gu Sheng’s ’modest’ appearance.

"Ling Xiao."

Gu Sheng couldn’t help but communicate telepathically.

"Your golden alms bowl..."

"Amazing, right?"

Ling Xiao blinked proudly.

"This is the Mountain Suppressing Golden Alms Bowl bestowed by my master, a genuine Spiritual Artifact!"

Gu Sheng was speechless.

Ling Xiao’s lies grew more elaborate, even fabricating the treasure’s origin.

However, upon reconsideration, Gu Sheng thought it might deter those with ill intentions, so he kept silent.

Hong Yun slowly opened his eyes, his gaze sharp and piercing, locked onto the spinning golden alms bowl above Ling Xiao’s head.

The bowl’s surface runes circulated, emanating waves of suppression, filtering the violent magma energy into gentle Spiritual Power.

"Daoist Yong’an’s status may be high, but where did he get so many treasures to casually bestow upon his disciples?"

Hong Yun muttered under his breath, his bronze face filled with suspicion.

"These two punks, could they have stolen their identities from somewhere?"

He squinted, scrutinizing the cultivating Gu Sheng and Ling Xiao closely.

Gu Sheng, covered in scabs, looked extremely disheveled.

Ling Xiao, on the other hand, was full of vitality, cultivating smoothly under the protection of the golden alms bowl.

"I’ve never seen these two at the Qinghe Holy Land..."

Hong Yun pondered silently.

"Either they’re newcomers, or they’re recluses who’ve been in seclusion for years."

He resolved, once out of the Heaven-Burning Valley, to thoroughly investigate these two’s backgrounds.

Deep within the magma, Ling Xiao reveled in the pure energy filtered by the golden alms bowl flowing into his body.

The sensation was exhilarating, it felt as if every pore in his body had opened up.

"Refreshing!"

Ling Xiao couldn’t help but exclaim, glancing at Gu Sheng not far away.

"Although the pressure is terrifying, cultivating here for one day is equivalent to an entire month outside!"

Upon seeing Gu Sheng’s condition, however, he couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

"Gu Sheng, you look so miserable! Like you’ve been sliced and diced."

Gu Sheng remained unresponsive, still sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed.

The scabs on his body had dried and cracked, revealing the new skin underneath, which was a peculiar light golden color.

Though he appeared weak from the outside, his breathing was exceptionally steady, each breath causing the surrounding magma to pulse slightly.

Ling Xiao’s laughter gradually ceased.