Immortality: Grinding Experience Starting as a Paper Craftsman

Chapter 131 The setting sun is like blood, and old friends return home.

The stone steps of the main peak of Liuyun Sect are very long, totaling 9,999 steps, paved with bluestone, with ancient pines leaning out on both sides, their needles still covered with unmelted snow.

A breeze blew from the mountain valley, carrying a faint, cool scent of pine resin.

Gu Yan walked down the stone steps, his steps appearing unsteady.

With each step he took, he would subconsciously press his left shoulder.

There were thick bandages wrapped around it, and the bloodstains that had seeped out had turned dark brown.

His figure appeared exceptionally frail on the vast mountain path, like a withered leaf that could be swept away by the wind at any moment.

Only after turning a corner and being out of sight of the Flowing Cloud Hall above did Gu Yan straighten his hunched back a little.

He stopped and leaned against an old pine tree trunk, letting out a long breath.

The breath turned into white mist in the cold wind and quickly dissipated.

"Old fox."

Gu Yan lowered his eyes, looking at a withered grass stubbornly growing in the crack of the stone steps, and sneered inwardly.

He remembered very clearly the look in Zhao Wuji's eyes that showed he wanted to kill but dared not make a move.

If I hadn't brought up Li Qingge, this formidable figure, and attributed everything to luck and chaos, I probably would have been forcibly subjected to a soul search today, turning me into an idiot.

We've passed this hurdle.

At least on the surface, he was a surviving hero and a victim of the Flowing Cloud Sect.

Gu Yan reached into his robes and touched the cold storage bag through his clothes.

Inside lay the Crimson Flame Fruit, enough to drive any Foundation Establishment cultivator mad, and the severed finger entangled in the karma of the Nascent Soul stage.

He understood this principle all too well: fortune can be found in danger, and it can also be lost in danger.

Just as Gu Yan was preparing to continue down the mountain, determined to climb back to his comfortable home in Changning County, a muffled bell suddenly rang out from the direction of the reception platform on the side peak.

"Thump—"

The long, drawn-out sound of the bell echoed among the mountains.

This was not an urgent alarm bell signaling an enemy attack, but an order to summon the entire clan.

Immediately afterwards, several streaks of light pierced the sky, descending towards the reception platform with an urgent air.

The outer disciples on the mountain path all stopped in their tracks, their faces showing surprise. Then, as if realizing something, they began to converge in that direction.

"It's an airship! Another airship from Sunset Valley has returned!"

"I heard the losses were heavy this time, and I wonder how many of my senior brothers and sisters will be able to come back alive."

"Go check it out!"

Gu Yan frowned and pulled back the foot that had been stepping out.

The flying boat is back?

The core area of ​​Sunset Valley collapsed, and theoretically most people should be trapped inside.

Those who manage to return at this point are mostly those who escaped by sheer luck from the periphery, or those who fought their way out with overwhelming strength.

He is now a survivor, and if he ignores this and goes down the mountain, he will seem guilty and cold-hearted.

Moreover, he also wanted to know who else had survived besides himself and Li Qingge.

Gu Yan adjusted his breathing, making his face appear even paler, and mingled at the back of the crowd, moving towards the reception platform.

……

On the platform, the atmosphere was heavy, and breathing was rapid.

A huge wooden flying boat was parked diagonally in the center of the square.

This once dazzling magical artifact is now in a state of disrepair.

The ship's hull was broken, most of the runes in the defensive formation had gone out, and the hull was covered with huge claw marks and scorch marks, clearly indicating that it had gone through one desperate breakout after another.

A dozen or so people were scattered across the deck.

Most of these people were dressed in rags, with injuries on their bodies, and their eyes revealed lingering fear and exhaustion.

At the very front, two beautiful figures stood out like cranes among chickens.

On the left is a person wearing a moon-white long dress, the hem of which has been torn off, revealing half of their calf wrapped with blood-stained strips of cloth.

Her face was aloof and ethereal, like an iceberg or a snow lotus, but at this moment her pretty face was as pale as paper, and she held a long sword of cold iron covered with cracks in her hand.

This person is none other than Shen Youwei, a true disciple of the Liuyun Sect.

The person on the right was dressed in a fiery red outfit, and her originally charming peach blossom eyes lost focus.

Her beautiful hair was slightly disheveled, there were obvious scratch marks on her shoulders, and she held a crimson longsword in her hand, the tip of which was still dripping black blood.

That's Su Hongxiu.

Both of them actually made it out alive.

Gu Yan squeezed through the crowd and saw two familiar faces through the gaps, and his heart skipped a beat.

Shen Youwei had given him a sword talisman to save his life, so he was considered to have done her a favor.

As for Su Hongxiu, she even acted as a cover for him at the Dragon Transformation Pool that day, so she can't be considered an enemy.

Being alive is ultimately a good thing.

"Youwei! Hongxiu!"

An anxious shout came from the air.

The elders responsible for guarding the sect landed on their swords. The one in the lead quickly stepped forward and supported the swaying Shen Youwei, his eyes filled with heartache: "It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back... Where are the others?"

Shen Youwei trembled slightly, and a rare mist welled up in her icy eyes.

She glanced around at the expectant eyes, her lips moved, and her voice was hoarse: "Elder Mo detonated his Golden Core to cover our escape... and he's still inside the valley."

Upon hearing this, the square fell into a deathly silence.

The death of a Golden Core Elder is a major event that the Flowing Cloud Sect has never experienced in decades.

"Where is Lingfeng? Where is my son Lingfeng?!"

A violent aura suddenly surged forth from the direction of the main peak.

Zhao Wuji, with disheveled hair, appeared on the flying boat.

He completely disregarded the injuries on Shen Youwei and Su Hongxiu, his hawk-like eyes fixed on them, his spiritual energy surging like a volcano about to erupt.

"Mo Qianji is dead, but what about Ling Feng? He has the substitute puppet I gave him, and three top-grade magic artifacts. Why hasn't he returned?!"

Zhao Wuji's voice was almost a roar, making the eardrums of the surrounding lower-level disciples ache.

Forced back half a step by the oppressive aura, blood trickled from the corner of her mouth, yet she still stubbornly raised her head and explained, "Elder, the situation was chaotic at the time. We were besieged by the Two-Headed Flame Serpent and a pack of wolves in the Fire Phosphorus Swamp. Senior Brother Zhao... he lured away the Wolf King alone and rushed into the depths of the swamp in order to seize the Crimson Flame Fruit."

"Later, the underground palace collapsed, and the ground cracked open into a bottomless abyss. We fought our way out with our lives, but we really didn't see Senior Brother Zhao."

Although there were some differences in details between Su Hongxiu's words and Gu Yan's words in the main hall, they were surprisingly consistent in general direction.

Zhao Wuji swayed, his face turning ashen.

"Lure the wolf king away? Seize the treasure alone?"

Zhao Wuji muttered to himself, then suddenly raised his head, his eyes bloodshot, and raved, "Nonsense! Ling Feng never takes risks. If someone hadn't framed him, how could he have left the group? Who was it? Was someone stabbing him in the back?"

His gaze was like a knife, sweeping over each of the surviving disciples before finally landing on Gu Yan, who was hiding in a corner of the crowd.

Gu Yan's heart tightened, thinking to himself that this old dog's nose was really sharp.

But he wore an expression of mixed surprise and delight, as if he couldn't see Zhao Wuji's murderous gaze, and stumbled out of the crowd.

"Senior Sister Shen! Senior Sister Su!"

Gu Yan shouted as she wiped away her tears and rushed to the foot of the flying boat. Looking up, her voice choked with emotion, she cried out, "I knew it... good people are always protected by heaven! My two senior sisters are blessed with good fortune and will surely return safely!"

Shen Youwei and Su Hongxiu looked in the direction of the sound and were both stunned when they saw the boy covered in blood and with thick bandages wrapped around his shoulders.

"Gu Changsheng?"

Shen Youwei was somewhat surprised. She remembered this junior brother. Back when Gu Yan was still an outer disciple, he had worked with her to thwart the Blood River Sect's conspiracy.

Unfortunately, after entering the inner sect, he offended someone and was sent to Changning County as the commander of the Demon Suppression Division, which affected his path to immortality.

When Shen Youwei heard that Gu Yan had followed Li Qingge into Sunset Valley, she felt a pang of regret, thinking that they might never see each other again.

Unexpectedly, he was also alive, and even arrived before them.

"How could you..." Su Hongxiu was also taken aback.

Gu Yan sniffed, his face contorted with misery, and sobbed, "Senior Sister, don't even mention it! My life is so miserable. I was in the swamp too, and I almost got eaten by wolves. It was only thanks to the Princess that I was saved, that I escaped with my life. Just now in the main hall, I was crying to the Sect Master and the Grand Elder, saying how tragic our Flowing Cloud Sect is, how brave Senior Brother Zhao was, sacrificing himself for everyone..."

His words, seemingly a lament, were actually a subtle way of telling Su Hongxiu: I've already set the tone; Zhao Lingfeng is a hero, so just go along with it.

Su Hongxiu was an extremely intelligent person, and she quickly understood the hidden meaning in Gu Yan's words.

Although she didn't know exactly what Gu Yan said in the main hall, the statement that "Zhao Lingfeng sacrificed himself for everyone" was undoubtedly the best way to resolve Elder Zhao Wuji's anger towards others.

Otherwise, if Zhao Wuji knew that Zhao Lingfeng died to keep the treasure for himself, and even wanted to take his fellow disciples down with him, this mad dog Zhao Wuji might take his anger out on them.

Even though Shen Youwei and Su Hongxiu are true disciples with the protection of their master, being targeted by the Grand Elder is ultimately not a good thing.

"yes……"

Su Hongxiu took a deep breath, her face filled with sorrow, and cupped her hands to Zhao Wuji, saying, "Junior Brother Gu is absolutely right. If Senior Brother Zhao hadn't led away the strongest wolf king and the demon snake, none of us would have returned. Senior Brother Zhao... acted with righteousness!"

Shen Youwei disliked lying, but when she saw Zhao Wuji's murderous look, she could only nod silently.

Zhao Wuji stared intently at the three of them.

One was a useless person with five spiritual roots, two were key disciples cultivated by the sect, and one was a heroic son who died without any evidence.

The three of them spoke with one voice, and even though he had many doubts in his heart, he couldn't find a reason to make trouble in front of everyone.

"What...what a noble cause!"

Zhao Wuji, enraged, laughed coldly, his laughter chilling: "I'd like to see whether this is a natural disaster or a man-made calamity! This matter is not over!"

After saying that, he flicked his sleeves, transformed into a streak of light, and soared into the sky, disappearing directly into the depths of the clouds.

The huge weight that had been pressing on everyone's hearts was finally lifted.

Shen Youwei's body went limp, and she almost fell over.

Gu Yan reacted quickly and tried to step forward to help, but several female disciples beat him to it.

He wasn't embarrassed at all; he awkwardly withdrew his hand and stood aside with a simple smile.

"Junior Brother Gu."

Shen Youwei caught her breath and looked at Gu Yan, her usually cold eyes softening slightly: "You used that sword talisman?"

Gu Yan nodded hurriedly, patted his chest, and looked terrified: "I used it! There was some ignorant cultivator who tried to ambush the princess, so I used that sword talisman. Senior sister, you don't know, the sword energy was earth-shattering and ghost-weeping, it instantly killed that thief! Thanks to your life-saving talisman, otherwise I wouldn't be standing here paying my respects to you."

Shen Youwei nodded and didn't ask any further questions.

She just felt that although this junior brother in front of her was of mediocre talent and somewhat slick in his actions, he was grateful for kindness and was indeed quite lucky.

Surviving in that kind of meat grinder-like battlefield is a skill in itself, and one's future achievements are bound to be extraordinary.

"It's good that you're alive."

Shen Youwei said something softly, and then walked towards the Pill Peak surrounded by her fellow disciples.

Su Hongxiu paused as she passed Gu Yan.

Her peach blossom eyes sized up Gu Yan, a hint of inquiry in them.

"Gu Changsheng".

Su Hongxiu parted her red lips slightly and transmitted her voice secretly: "In the Fire Phosphorus Swamp, the man in black who led the wolf pack towards Zhao Lingfeng... his figure is somewhat similar to yours."

Gu Yan's heart skipped a beat, but she kept a straight face, wearing a silly grin, and replied telepathically, "Senior sister is joking. I don't have that ability. I was lying in a mud puddle eating mud back then, and I didn't dare to move."

Su Hongxiu gave him a meaningful look, a cryptic smile playing on her lips, and without saying anything more, turned and left.

Only after everyone had left did Gu Yan's simple smile gradually fade.

He stood there, patting his somewhat stiff cheeks.

Su Hongxiu is a woman with incredibly sharp intuition.

But it doesn't matter; without evidence, it's all just empty talk.

As long as Zhao Lingfeng doesn't return, the fact that the Crimson Flame Fruit is in his hands will remain a dead secret.

Besides, his own clone, the Blood Swordsman, hasn't been idle at all...

"It's time to go."

Gu Yan tightened his collar, feeling the wind on the mountaintop growing colder and colder, chilling him to the bone.

He did not return to the outer disciples' residence, but turned around and quickly left along the stone steps leading down the mountain.

The Flowing Cloud Sect is a place of trouble and danger; staying there even for a moment longer feels like living too long.

Only when he returned to Changning County, to that small county government office that belonged to him, lit an oil lamp, and was accompanied by a room full of paper figures, could he truly get a good night's sleep.

As the sun sets, the afterglow is like blood.

The mountain gate of the Liuyun Sect was stained with a somber crimson.

Gu Yan's shadow stretched long on the mountain path. He walked quickly but steadily.

He slipped his hand into his sleeve, his fingers gently touching a paper horse he had just cut out.

"drive!"

Gu Yan gave a low shout and his footsteps were swift as the wind.

Once you set out, the sea will be wide enough for fish to leap and the sky high enough for birds to fly.

As for the undercurrents within the Flowing Cloud Sect, let those big shots worry about that.

Gu Changsheng only wanted to stay in his little corner of the world and be an ordinary paper craftsman.

Outside the mountain gate, a black crow landed on a withered branch, tilting its head and watching the departing figure, letting out two hoarse cries, as if drawing an imperfect conclusion to this deadly situation in Sunset Valley.