Chapter 705: Chapter 376: Counterkill_2 Chu Haoran, during this battle, witnessed Gu Sheng’s true strength and admired his senior brother even more. He understood that as long as Gu Sheng was around, he had a solid pillar of support. Gu Sheng looked at Wu Xinyu and the others lying on the ground, feeling little joy in his heart. He knew these people were mere small fry; the real challenges awaited him. However, he feared no challenge; anyone who dared provoke him would soon learn the meaning of regret! The night was as dark as ink, stars sparsely dotted the sky. Within Jade Cauldron Cave Heaven, the faint glow of lights failed to conceal the killing intent permeating the air. Gu Sheng reunited with Chu Haoran. Hearing about the humiliation Chu had suffered in the sect, his brows furrowed in anger. "Little junior brother, rest assured, with me here, you will not suffer indignities again." Gratitude flickered in Chu Haoran’s eyes, though concern prevailed. "Senior brother, you don’t understand. They have the numbers..." "Hmph, numbers? So what?" A sharp glint flashed in Gu Sheng’s eyes; his voice was steadfast and determined. "Today, I’ll show them what true strength is!" He strode boldly toward those who had mocked Chu Haoran. Upon seeing him, Chen Feng and the others sneered, "Ah, isn’t this our useless senior brother? What’s this? Are you here to stand up for your little junior brother?" Gu Sheng smirked coldly, remaining silent, yet his aura abruptly surged. His cultivation, already in the Wheel Sea Secret Realm where he had opened the Bitter Sea, now activated his Cultivation Technique. Phenomena of mountains, rivers, lakes, seas, peculiar creatures, and birds emerged behind him. Golden tides churned, his aura overwhelming, as if threatening to engulf all of Jade Cauldron Cave Heaven. Chen Feng and his companions’ faces changed drastically. They hadn’t expected Gu Sheng’s display of such ability. Chaos ensued as they hurriedly unleashed their weapons, attempting to repel the golden waves. Gu Sheng moved swiftly, leaving them helpless. He seized an individual, using them as a human shield to block incoming attacks. Following that, Gu Sheng fought like a tiger descending the mountain, effortlessly defeating Chen Feng and his group one by one. Watching from the side, Chu Haoran was flabbergasted. He had never seen Gu Sheng this powerful before. He realized his senior brother was no longer the "useless senior brother" people once labeled him. But the matter didn’t end there. Though Chen Feng and his group were defeated, their resentment deepened. Seeking revenge, they enlisted Chen Yu and others to set a trap for Gu Sheng. Learning of this, Gu Sheng remained unruffled. With a flicker of movement, he vanished into the night. Chen Yu and his allies searched fruitlessly and resorted to laying heavy ambushes around Jade Cauldron Cave Heaven, awaiting Gu Sheng’s arrival. Unbeknownst to them, Gu Sheng had secretly discerned their movements. Using spatial leap secret techniques, he traversed distances exceeding a thousand meters, effortlessly bypassing all traps. Reappearing, Gu Sheng stood behind Chen Yu and their faction. Astonished, Chen Yu and his group hadn’t foreseen this. As they frantically turned to attack, it was already too late. Gu Sheng activated his Cultivation Technique, unleashing golden palms and fists, eliminating Chen Yu and their allies one by one. Witnessing this scene, Elder Ma Huayun was deeply stunned. He hadn’t expected this disciple, whom he once looked down on, to showcase such immense strength. Approaching Gu Sheng, Ma Huayun scrutinized him before saying, "Gu Sheng, possessing the Ancient Sacred Body makes you a once-in-a-millennium genius. I urge you to join our Jade Cauldron Cave Heaven." Gu Sheng, however, shook his head in refusal. "Thank you for the elder’s kindness, but I prefer a free and unfettered life, not one constrained by sect rules." Though a hint of disappointment crossed Elder Ma Huayun’s eyes, he didn’t press further, nodding and allowing Gu Sheng to depart. Leaving Jade Cauldron Cave Heaven, Gu Sheng encountered Dyson, Mo Buwen, Linghu Qingwan, and Lin Qingyu outside the mountains. Learning that the Jiang family and Shaking Light Sacred Land were about to enter the Ancient Forbidden Land in search of Holy Medicine, the group decided to follow suit. "Brother Gu, your strength is truly unfathomable!" Dyson exclaimed. "With you in our ranks, we’re guaranteed to reap great rewards from this Ancient Forbidden Land expedition." Gu Sheng smiled faintly, saying nothing, but determination gleamed in his eyes. He understood that this trek into the Ancient Forbidden Land would pose challenges of unprecedented peril, yet he was resolute in his preparation. A grand procession set forth toward the Ancient Forbidden Land. Excitement and anxiety filled their hearts, as if they could already see the legendary Holy Medicine beckoning them. On the journey, Mo Buwen couldn’t help asking, "Brother Gu, what is the extent of your realm that allowed you to effortlessly defeat Chen Yu and the others?" Gu Sheng responded with a faint smile, "Cultivation is merely a tool. True strength lies in the heart." Linghu Qingwan’s eyes flickered with admiration at his words. "Gu Sheng is right. No matter how lofty one’s cultivation, without a sufficient mindset, it’s impossible to reach true peaks." Lin Qingyu’s gaze carried a subtle change, yet she feigned calmness. In front of Gu Sheng, she appeared slightly uneasy. Laughing and chatting, the group soon arrived at the entrance of the Ancient Forbidden Land. Before them stretched desolate sands, at the center of which lay a massive black hole, seemingly capable of devouring everything. "Is this the entrance to the Ancient Forbidden Land?" Dyson asked, furrowing his brow. "Indeed." Gu Sheng nodded. "It’s fraught with unknown dangers. Proceed with utmost caution." With those words, he stepped into the black hole first. The others, emboldened, followed suit. Stepping into the Ancient Forbidden Land, an overwhelming sense of oppression surged around them. The atmosphere was utterly distinct from the outside world, cloaked in an enigmatic force enveloping the entire domain. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞 "Everyone, be careful!" Gu Sheng cautioned. "The creatures here are extraordinarily formidable. We must remain vigilant at all times." Walking cautiously, they feared angering the native beasts. Suddenly, a deafening roar shattered their surroundings, its intensity making their eardrums throb in pain. "Not good! An Ancient Giant Beast!" Mo Buwen cried out in alarm. A colossal beast rushed at them from ahead, its presence emanating overwhelming power, threatening to swallow them whole. Without hesitation, Gu Sheng charged to intercept. Activating his Cultivation Technique, he clashed against the beast with golden palms. The rest joined the fray, battling the beast in a harrowing confrontation. After an intense struggle, they eventually subdued the beast. Yet, this was merely the first trial of the Ancient Forbidden Land. More challenges awaited. "Boom!" A thunderous explosion erupted from the depths of the Ancient Forbidden Land, shaking its very foundation. High above, mythical beasts clustered like a veil of darkness, blotting out the sky. Their roars created terrifying sound waves, as though tearing through reality itself. Standing atop a mountain pinnacle, Gu Sheng gazed solemnly at this unseen apocalypse. Despite his cultivation reaching the Wheel Sea Secret Realm, having opened the Bitter Sea, a palpable sense of helplessness gnawed at him in the face of this calamity. "Endless skeletons, mountains of corpses, rivers of blood—it has returned..." muttered a seemingly crazed old man beside Gu Sheng. Yet, his eyes shimmered with an inscrutable wisdom, piercing the veils of time. Turning to the man, Gu Sheng frowned. "It? Who is ’it’? What’s the meaning behind all this?" The old man didn’t answer directly but pointed toward the Ancient Forbidden Land’s depths. "Within lies the secret of this world and the destiny awaiting you." Following the man’s gesture, Gu Sheng saw a landscape dominated by chaotic beasts, blood-drenched storms, and infernal despair. An irresistible urge surged in his heart: the need to uncover this enigma and unearth the truth of it all. At that moment, the forces of Shaking Light Sacred Land and the Jiang family arrived in grand formation. Astride Divine Beasts and wielding Spiritual Treasures, their aura was overwhelmingly majestic. As they entered the Ancient Forbidden Land, the roars of mythical creatures escalated violently, seemingly announcing their intrusion into this cursed domain. "Ha, these young ones dare offer themselves up for slaughter?" The old man scoffed, his tone laced with contempt. Alarmed, Gu Sheng asked, "Senior, do they truly stand no chance?" "Chance?" The old man glanced at Gu Sheng and shook his head. "In this accursed land, only genuine powerhouses survive. Them? They fall far short."