Chapter 541: Chapter 294 Turquoise Pool Meritorious Retainers_2 She could only watch helplessly as Gu Sheng struggled in agony. Just then, the power within Gu Sheng erupted suddenly. A brilliant golden light radiated from his body, shooting straight into the sky. In that moment, his figure began to transform—his entire body became gridded, and as golden light flowed around him, he seemed to morph into a golden War God. "This is... the Ancient Sacred Body!" Yan Ruyu exclaimed in shock. She had heard legends of the Ancient Sacred Body but had never witnessed it with her own eyes. Now, seeing Gu Sheng’s transformation, her heart was filled with awe and reverence. Gu Sheng now seemed to be standing in a vast golden ocean, feeling his power climbing higher and higher. He extended his palm and struck a golden Handprint. With a thunderous "boom," the cave before him instantly collapsed, revealing an even broader space. "I did it!" Gu Sheng was overwhelmed with joy. Turning toward Yan Ruyu, excitement and pride shone in his eyes. "Ruyu, look! I did it!" Yan Ruyu watched as the transformation in Gu Sheng’s body gradually faded, returning him to his original appearance. Her heart filled with happiness for Gu Sheng. "Congratulations! You’ve finally realized the power of the Ancient Sacred Body." Gu Sheng smiled faintly. "This is all thanks to you. If it weren’t for your unwavering support and encouragement, I might have given up long ago." Yan Ruyu felt warmth in her heart at his words and gazed deeply at Gu Sheng. "What are your plans next?" Gu Sheng looked ahead with determination. "I want to continue exploring the depths of this secret realm, to see what fates await me. Moreover, the man in this coffin shares the Ancient Sacred Body with me—I must uncover his identity and origins." "Very well! I’ll join you," Yan Ruyu said without hesitation. Sharing a knowing look, the pair moved forward side by side once more. Emerging from the Flowers Valley secret realm, Gu Sheng’s Ancient Sacred Body had become even tougher, with the minuscule grid patterns on his muscles further solidified. He had only decoded a small portion of the Ancient Sacred Body’s Taoist patterns. If he could comprehend more in the future, his physique would undoubtedly grow even stronger. If that happened, wouldn’t he possess an indestructible body, walking unchallenged between heaven and earth? As Gu Sheng reveled in his triumph at Flowers Valley, a jade staff transmission shattered his peace. "The Heavenly Demon Sect’s Young Master Ye Wuheng has captured Yaochi Saint Son. The entire Yaochi Holy Land has mobilized, vowing to annihilate the Heavenly Demon Sect." Gu Sheng immediately decided to rush to the Heavenly Demon Sect. Like the wind, his figure sped through Flowers Valley. Though his face still bore the innocence of youth, his eyes gleamed with resolve and courage. The jade staff’s transmission struck him like cold water on his jubilant heart, extinguishing the fire of his joy in an instant. The Yaochi Saintess—the ethereal, immortal-like maiden—was now trapped and in peril. Using the teleportation array, he reached the Heavenly Demon Sect as quickly as possible. The atmosphere in the Heavenly Demon Sect’s Carefree Pavilion was eerily sinister. Ye Wuheng sat on the throne, his eyes greedily locked onto the Yaochi Saintess trapped in the Heavenly Demon Bottle. Though confined within the bottle, she retained her inherent nobility and purity. The only change was the added sorrow and struggle in her gaze. "Hahaha, Gu Sheng, you dare come here to die!" Ye Wuheng’s sharp senses instantly detected Gu Sheng’s presence. With a loud laugh, his figure vanished from the throne and appeared before Gu Sheng the next moment. Gu Sheng’s expression tightened, but he didn’t flinch. Instead, he pressed forward. His golden fist, imbued with fierce momentum, slammed toward Ye Wuheng’s chest. He poured all his strength into this punch, well aware that he faced a far superior adversary. Though Gu Sheng was fearless, the disparity in cultivation proved difficult to overcome. After just two exchanges, he felt himself losing ground. At this moment, the Heavenly Demon Sect’s elite cultivators appeared, surrounding Gu Sheng completely. Their arrival brought unprecedented pressure to Gu Sheng. In a critical lapse, Ye Wuheng seized an opening in Gu Sheng’s defenses. A tremendous force struck him, and he lost consciousness. When he woke again, he found himself trapped inside the Heavenly Demon Bottle. Darkness surrounded him completely; only he and the Yaochi Saintess were left to rely on one another. "Saintess..." Gu Sheng called out softly, attempting to shake off his restraints only to discover that his powers were nearly unusable within the space. The Yaochi Saintess turned around with great effort at hearing his call. Pain and helplessness marred her face, though her eyes remained as clear as ever. "Young Master Gu..." She whispered, "What do we do now?" Gu Sheng took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. He knew panic would only make their situation worse. "Don’t be scared, Saintess; we’ll figure out a way out," he said firmly, gripping her hand tightly. As time passed, the two began to feel increasingly uncomfortable. The Carefree Smoke in the Heavenly Demon Bottle began corroding their minds, tempting them with irresistible allure. Their eyes grew hazy as though sinking into an endless abyss. Gu Sheng’s heart pounded. He couldn’t succumb to the Carefree Smoke’s influence. Desperately, he activated his cultivation, trying to drive the smoke out of his body. Yet, his efforts seemed futile—his strength was steadily draining away. Then, the Yaochi Saintess let out a faint gasp. Unable to resist the Carefree Smoke’s invasion, she lunged at Gu Sheng. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂 Their bodies pressed tightly together, as though merging into one. A surge of intense longing flooded Gu Sheng’s heart, but he clenched his will tightly—this was not the time to lose control. Embracing the Yaochi Saintess, he tried to use his own energy to fend off the invasive smoke. "Saintess, hold on!" He whispered urgently, "We can’t give in to this." The Yaochi Saintess, hearing his words, seemed to find a sliver of strength. Clutching Gu Sheng’s hand tightly, she nodded resolutely. "I will persevere," she said. The two began silently cultivating together, resisting the smoke’s corruption. Steeled by determination, they seemed immovable despite the challenge. Gradually, their bodies underwent subtle changes. A refreshing aura began to rise from within them, driving away the surrounding Carefree Smoke. The clarity returned to their eyes as if escaping an endless abyss. Sharing a victorious smile, Gu Sheng and the Yaochi Saintess knew they had successfully freed themselves from the smoke’s grip. Yet they didn’t relax, as they remained trapped inside the Heavenly Demon Bottle. "What should we do now?" the Yaochi Saintess asked. After a moment’s thought, Gu Sheng replied, "We must combine our strength and split the Heavenly Demon Bottle." Drawing the Jade Maiden Sword from his back, he handed one to the Yaochi Saintess. With swords in hand, the two silently channeled their powers. Golden radiance surrounded them, illuminating the interior of the Heavenly Demon Bottle. "Combined Sword Harmony!" Gu Sheng shouted as he and the Yaochi Saintess swung their swords simultaneously. Twin Sword Qi intertwined, forming a massive beam of light that struck the bottle walls. A resounding blast echoed, and a crack appeared in the Heavenly Demon Bottle. The crack rapidly expanded, splitting the bottle apart completely. Gu Sheng and the Yaochi Saintess emerged, back in the Carefree Pavilion. Their reappearance stunned everyone, especially the elite cultivators of the Heavenly Demon Sect. The sight of Gu Sheng and the Yaochi Saintess, wielding their swords, filled their eyes with fear and reverence. They realized these two had matured into a threat of unprecedented scale. Gu Sheng and the Yaochi Saintess exchanged knowing smiles, confident they had conquered not only temptation but also their deepest fears. Clenching hands, they silently vowed: No matter the trials ahead, we’ll face them together, and win together! "You... you actually shattered my Heavenly Demon Bottle!" Ye Wuheng stared at them in disbelief, his face filled with shock.