Chapter 659: Chapter 353 Sun Realm Fifth Layer Heaven_2 Gu Sheng let out a cold laugh, striking forth with a golden palm to collide fiercely with the Great Wilderness Halberd. A deafening "Boom—" echoed across the battlefield. Gu Sheng’s Ancient Sacred Body exhibited astonishing defensive power, completely neutralizing the force of the Great Wilderness Halberd. The Golden-Winged Roc King was stunned at the sight, unable to believe the unparalleled resilience of Gu Sheng’s mortal body. Despite his relentless onslaughts, each of his attacks was effortlessly defused by Gu Sheng. At that moment, the Golden-Winged Roc King suddenly unleashed his ultimate technique—the "One Hundred Thousand and Eight Thousand Swords." In an instant, countless sword shadows converged and surged forward like a torrential storm, overwhelming Gu Sheng. Each sword shadow carried terrifying strength, as if capable of ripping apart everything in its path. Gu Sheng remained unperturbed. He took a deep breath and activated one of the Nine Secrets—the "Universal Secret." Instantly, his combat strength multiplied, golden energy encircling his body, making him appear like a War God descending upon the battlefield. He swung his sword to meet the endless tide of sword shadows. With each precise strike, he shattered one sword shadow after another. Sword Qi crisscrossed the battlefield, and golden light splattered everywhere, creating a scene of unparalleled grandeur. The Golden-Winged Roc King was struck with fear, his face paling in shock. He hadn’t anticipated that Gu Sheng possessed such a formidable Secret Technique. Though his attacks were ferocious, they seemed utterly powerless before the Universal Secret employed by Gu Sheng. Finally, under Gu Sheng’s ferocious counterattack, the One Hundred Thousand and Eight Thousand Swords of the Golden-Winged Roc King were destroyed one by one. Staggering backward, he looked utterly incredulous. "Ah—" The Golden-Winged Roc King screamed with bitter unconciliation, his body collapsing instantly into a mangled mess on the ground. His eyes brimmed with both rage and unwillingness, but at this moment, he was no longer capable of fighting. Gu Sheng cast a glance at the fallen Golden-Winged Roc King, taking a deep breath. Though victorious, he had expended considerable energy. Retracting the Mystical Sky Sword, he turned and walked away, leaving only a cloud of dust behind. The subordinates of the Golden-Winged Roc King and the Green Dragon King rushed forward to help their lords to their feet. Despite his defeat, the Golden-Winged Roc King’s eyes glimmered with hardened determination. He knew he had encountered a true rival, and he resolved that this setback would mark a pivotal Chapter in his path of cultivation. "Gu Sheng... One day, I will defeat you!" the Golden-Winged Roc King swore through gritted teeth. But by then, Gu Sheng’s silhouette had already disappeared into the horizon, leaving only the faint trace of a golden figure. This climactic battle caused an uproar, not only showcasing Gu Sheng’s immense power but also earning him the respect of the Demon Clan. They recognized that this young human cultivator named Gu Sheng was destined for greatness. The news of Gu Sheng’s battle with the Golden-Winged Roc King spread like wildfire throughout the Human Clan and Demon Clan alike. Within the Yaochi Holy Land, Gu Sheng’s name was spoken with reverence, drawing countless challengers. One day, sunlight broke through the clouds, spilling serenity over the Yaochi Holy Land. But this calm was soon disrupted as a young man named Chen Feng stormed into the Holy Land. His gaze was resolute as he directly sought out Gu Sheng. "Gu Sheng, I am Chen Feng. I am here to challenge you!" Chen Feng’s voice resonated across the skies of the Yaochi Holy Land. Gu Sheng, who was in the midst of cultivating, opened his eyes upon hearing this and furrowed his brows slightly. He was not one to engage in unnecessary conflicts, but since the challenge had already come to him, he could not back down. "Very well. Since you insist on competing, we shall keep it to a friendly match." Gu Sheng stood up and walked toward Chen Feng with measured steps. The two stood face-to-face, and the atmosphere grew instantly tense. Chen Feng’s cultivation had reached the Fifth Layer Heaven of the Sun Realm, and his mastery of the Cold Cicada Skill was extraordinary, capable of freezing any target in an instant. "Gu Sheng, be careful!" Chen Feng shouted coldly as his figure vanished from sight. In the blink of an eye, he appeared before Gu Sheng and struck out with a palm filled with piercing cold. Reacting quickly, Gu Sheng activated his Cultivation Technique, a vision of golden ocean waves appearing behind him. He countered with a golden palm of his own, meeting Chen Feng’s attack head-on. "Boom—" The clash of palms produced an ear-shattering explosion. Gu Sheng, with his Sun Realm Second Layer Heaven cultivation, struggled to match Chen Feng and was forced back repeatedly. Seizing the advantage, Chen Feng intensified his assaults, each move emanating bone-chilling cold. Though Gu Sheng’s Ancient Sacred Body granted him astonishing physical durability, the disparity in cultivation left him at a disadvantage, plunging him into a bitter struggle. "Gale Nine Swords!" Gu Sheng shouted, unleashing his sword at Chen Feng. The Sword Qi gleamed like rainbows but was unable to penetrate Chen Feng’s defenses. Chen Feng smirked coldly, amplifying his Cold Cicada Skill. A wave of extreme frost swept toward Gu Sheng, enveloping him in a biting chill that slowed his movements. "So this is the power of the Cold Cicada Skill?" Gu Sheng thought with alarm. Yet, he refused to yield, fiercely circulating his Cultivation Technique in defiance of the icy grip. The gap in cultivation became increasingly apparent, wearing Gu Sheng down. In a fierce exchange, Chen Feng landed a heavy strike on Gu Sheng’s chest, sending him flying like a kite with a broken string. "Gu Sheng!" Su Yao cried out in alarm, rushing toward him but finding her approach blocked by an invisible force field. Falling to the ground, blood trickled from the corner of Gu Sheng’s mouth as he lifted his gaze toward Chen Feng, a glint of defiance and unwillingness in his eyes. Just then, a surge of mysterious power awakened within him—one of the Nine Secrets, the Universal Secret! With the Universal Secret’s activation, Gu Sheng’s combat strength surged explosively. A newfound energy coursed through his body as golden light swirled around him, transforming him once again into a War God-like figure. "Come again!" Gu Sheng roared, charging at Chen Feng with his sword in hand. This time, his Sword Qi was sharper, each strike thundering with unstoppable force. Despite Chen Feng’s formidable cultivation, Gu Sheng’s relentless assault, bolstered by the Universal Secret, overwhelmed him, leaving him scrambling to defend against the unrelenting torrent. Their battle escalated, with Gu Sheng’s Sword Qi and Chen Feng’s frost intertwining in a dazzling display. All of Yaochi Holy Land bore witness to their confrontation, drawing countless disciples to the scene. As the fight wore on, Gu Sheng gradually gained the upper hand. His Sword Qi grew fiercer with every strike, applying immense pressure on Chen Feng. At last, in a ferocious clash, Gu Sheng’s sword struck Chen Feng’s chest, sending him sprawling backward. "Pfft—" Chen Feng hit the ground hard, blood spilling from his lips. He stared at Gu Sheng in disbelief, shock and unwillingness etched across his face. "I lost..." Chen Feng uttered with difficulty before slipping into unconsciousness. Lowering his Mystical Sky Sword, Gu Sheng exhaled deeply. Despite its challenges, he had ultimately turned the tide with the Universal Secret. Glancing at the onlooking crowd, he gave a faint smile before turning to leave, his golden figure receding amid drifting dust. Following his victory over Chen Feng, Gu Sheng entered a period of seclusion. He understood that the path of cultivation was akin to rowing against the current—one must advance, or be swept backward. Thus, with unrelenting focus, he sought to ascend to greater heights. Half a month passed swiftly. Within Yaochi Holy Land, a peculiar aura began emanating from Gu Sheng’s place of retreat. Vast and enigmatic, it seemed to contain the profound mysteries of heaven and earth. "Boom—" With a thunderous roar, the barrier of the Sun Realm Second Layer Heaven within Gu Sheng shattered, and his cultivation surged rapidly, advancing all the way to the Ninth Layer Heaven! Even more astonishingly, he did not stop there but pressed forward, breaching the next major realm—the Wheel Sea Realm. At this moment, Gu Sheng seemed to step into a wondrous world. Deep within his being, a Wheel Sea Realm began to manifest. Initially, it was dark and chaotic, resembling an endless bitter sea. This sea, however, was as unyielding as Xuan Iron, resistant to all change. Undeterred, Gu Sheng’s mind stirred, summoning the powers of the Demon Suppression Golden Scroll and Divine Spring into his Wheel Sea Realm. The golden characters, radiant like stars, relentlessly bombarded the chaotic bitter sea. "Crack, crack—" Under the continuous onslaught of the golden characters, the seemingly indestructible bitter sea began to fracture. The cracks spread like a spiderweb until, at last, it shattered with a resounding crash! As the bitter sea broke apart, streams of golden light pierced through the fissures, converging into a boundless, golden ocean that surged and roared within Gu Sheng’s Wheel Sea Realm. Feeling the transformation within his Wheel Sea Realm, Gu Sheng’s heart swelled with joy and anticipation. He understood that he had stepped into an entirely new realm, one that would unlock new possibilities and greater challenges along his path of cultivation.