Chapter 433: Chapter 240: From Death Comes Life_2 "Die!" Liu Honglie’s eyes turned vicious as he grabbed the Ten Thousand Soul Banner and actively swung it down upon Gu Sheng. "Brother Lin, retreat quickly!" Gu Shengsheng grabbed Lin Tianhao by the shoulder and flung him backward while fusing a Spirit Stone with the Demon Suppression Golden Scroll and throwing it toward Liu Honglie. The Spirit Stone was instantly drained the moment it connected with the Demon Suppression Golden Scroll. The previously dim and dull Demon Suppression Golden Scroll radiated an intense golden light and, lifted by a surge of power, soared high into the air, floating mid-sky. The golden light spilled forth, unleashing an even more formidable aura. An overwhelmingly sacred yet suffocating power descended within the golden brilliance. Initially, the golden light’s influence wasn’t widespread, only suppressing Gu Sheng and Zhao Honglie. Within the scroll’s restraints, both of them were instantly pressed to the ground. The golden light from the Demon Suppression Golden Scroll hissed sharply as it met the Demonic Qi around Zhao Honglie, igniting the aura like a blazing fire that rapidly incinerated the malevolent energy surrounding him. Under the emanating golden glow, Zhao Honglie’s expression was one of unbearable agony. Not only was the Demonic Qi around him dissipating rapidly, but his body was visibly shrinking; the cracking sound of bones shattering under pressure resonated chillingly. The golden light showed no favoritism; while Zhao Honglie suffered, so did Gu Sheng. Despite pushing the Mixed Element Body Refining Skill to its limits, Gu Sheng felt as though he was about to be crushed by the formidable pressure. Although Gu Sheng could activate the Demon Suppression Golden Scroll via Spirit Stones, he lacked a means to halt its release. All he could do was wait for the Spirit Stone’s energy to deplete. Earlier, in a bid to decisively defeat Zhao Honglie, Gu Sheng had added four Spirit Stones to the mix. Based on prior experience from confronting Lu Shu, those four Spirit Stones should sustain the scroll’s golden light for at least forty seconds. Though forty seconds seemed brief, it felt like an eternity for both Gu Sheng and Zhao Honglie. Seeing Gu Sheng faring no better than himself, Zhao Honglie couldn’t help but laugh. "Heh! I don’t know how you managed to activate the Demon Suppression Golden Scroll, but from the looks of it, you’ll die under its pressure before I do. How foolish!" Groggy from the immense pressure of the scroll, Gu Sheng’s mind grew increasingly hazy, leaving him unable to perceive Zhao Honglie’s words clearly. Just as Gu Sheng teetered on the brink of death, the Vajra Demon Suppression Bell’s mark on his forehead began to shine. A gentle force coursed through his body, radiating a faint golden glow. Though faint, the golden light emanating from Gu Sheng’s body completely nullified the oppressive energy of the Demon Suppression Golden Scroll, instantly easing his physical strain. Looking down at the faint golden glow on his body, Gu Sheng couldn’t help but smile. "I didn’t expect the Vajra Demon Suppression Bell to be so cheeky—always showing up right when I’m about to die. Honestly, having such a Treasure is more trouble than it’s worth." Zhao Honglie’s massive form rapidly shrank under the overwhelming suppression. In just thirty seconds, his size had halved, and the Demonic Qi around him had burned away entirely. His face twisted in misery as the faint, peculiar markings on his body dimmed, fiercely resisting the scroll’s oppression. "Brother Gu!" Lin Tianhao and the others, though not directly struck by the golden light, were immobilized by the sheer oppressive aura spilling from the scroll. Watching the agonizing expressions of the two combatants, Lin Tianhao grew increasingly anxious. With the Vajra Demon Suppression Bell shielding him, Gu Sheng had yet to regain full mobility but was able to speak effortlessly. "Brother Lin, I’m fine!" "Phew!" Hearing Gu Sheng’s voice, Lin Tianhao finally exhaled a breath of relief. As the forty seconds elapsed, the Spirit Stone’s energy depleted, and the Demon Suppression Golden Scroll’s golden light abruptly vanished, the scroll returning to Gu Sheng’s hand. Deprived of the golden light’s suppression, Zhao Honglie erupted with ferocity. Terrified that Gu Sheng might pull out more Spirit Stones to reactivate the scroll, Zhao Honglie grabbed the Ten Thousand Soul Banner and flung it over Gu Sheng. While intending to activate the scroll again with Spirit Stones, Gu Sheng found his reaction a beat too slow. As the Ten Thousand Soul Banner enveloped him, his vision blackened. His consciousness became unmoored, and control over his body slipped away. The dense Demonic Qi within the banner surged out, wrapping Gu Sheng into a black cocoon. "Brother Gu!" Lin Tianhao yelled in alarm, lunging at Liu Honglie despite his battered body. Terrified by Gu Sheng’s potential, Liu Honglie was determined to eliminate this threat first and foremost. As Lin Tianhao and the others closed in, Liu Honglie slammed his palm onto the ground. The intricate markings on his skin flared wildly, and the remnants of Demonic Qi scorched by the scroll surged back from his core. The Demonic Qi seeped into the earth, conjuring a thick black curtain that shot upward, isolating Lin Tianhao and his group. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮 The frenzied attacks of Lin Tianhao and his allies caused the black curtain to shudder but failed to breach it. Now shielded, Liu Honglie turned his full attention to the Ten Thousand Soul Banner before him. Rapidly forming a series of Sealing gestures, Liu Honglie channeled his Demonic Qi into the banner. Infused with energy, the Ten Thousand Soul Banner began to wail eerily, as fierce winds howled around it. Within the banner, the Demonic Qi morphed into chains that coiled tightly around Gu Sheng’s body, sinking directly into his flesh. Watching the scene, Liu Honglie began to laugh maniacally. "You may have unique talents, but I’ll refine you into a Demon Puppet! Once you’re mine, I can study how to counteract that purging power!" As Liu Honglie continued to inject Demonic Qi, black flames ignited along the chains, burning Gu Sheng’s skin and blood, turning them a deepening shade of black. Once Gu Sheng’s body was fully blackened, he would be completely transformed into Liu Honglie’s Demon Puppet. Trapped within the Ten Thousand Soul Banner’s void, Gu Sheng’s senses were entirely severed. He felt adrift in an endless void. As the blackness spread over his skin, the Vajra Demon Suppression Bell’s mark on Gu Sheng’s forehead erupted with radiant golden light. The bell’s ethereal projection enveloped Gu Sheng completely. Within the projection, waves of sacred golden light surged forth, incinerating the Demonic Qi within Gu Sheng and obliterating the infernal chains forged to refine him into a Demon Puppet. "Boom!" A deep, resonating chime echoed as though the heavens had spoken. Liu Honglie stiffened, wracked with unbearable pain, and was forced to cease his Sealing technique. Desperately, he hammered his head against the ground repeatedly. Sitting upright suddenly, Gu Sheng clasped his hands before his chest and intoned the Prajñā Heart Sutra in a clear voice. Each verse of Gu Sheng’s chant materialized into physical "卍" runes. As the runes landed upon the Ten Thousand Soul Banner, loud cracking sounds rang out. The banner fractured immediately. With each additional rune, the entire Ten Thousand Soul Banner shattered spectacularly into scattering fragments. "Ahhh!" The moment the banner exploded, a powerful surge pierced Zhao Honglie’s chest, blasting a gaping hole. Blackened blood oozed out as his aura plummeted. The Ten Thousand Soul Banner, refined using the unique Secret Techniques of the Holy Demon Clan, was Liu Honglie’s core treasure. It could grow stronger by continually absorbing souls. Yet, its destruction brought catastrophic backlash upon its master. Amidst the chaos of the banner’s destruction, fear flickered in Zhao Honglie’s eyes. Terror overtook his expression. Unshackled once more, Gu Sheng’s consciousness faltered from his immense depletion while his body, driven by the Vajra Demon Suppression Bell’s power, mechanically recited the Prajñā Heart Sutra. Without the banner, the holy runes descended directly upon Zhao Honglie. Beneath the suppression of the runes, Zhao Honglie transformed almost instantly. His body returned to that of a normal human, and the sinister blackness on his skin rapidly receded.