Chapter 701: Chapter 374: Explosive Cauldron_2 With a series of muffled sounds, the enormous Medicine Tripod’s lid was slowly lifted. After another seven days and nights of refinement, Gu Sheng experienced the cycle of life and death within the tripod. At this moment, he was like a phoenix undergoing nirvana, ready for rebirth. Elder Han’s eyes gleamed with greed and anticipation. He thought he was about to witness the birth of an unparalleled treasure pill. Little did he know, what awaited him was an earth-shattering counterattack. "Whoosh—" A streak of golden light shot out from the Medicine Tripod, traveling at an astonishing speed. Elder Han’s pupils suddenly contracted as he felt an unprecedented sense of crisis. That golden light was none other than Gu Sheng’s Gold Scripture, activated using the ancient texts of the Daoist Scripture. At this moment, it had transformed into an indestructible sword. "Ah!" Elder Han let out a scream as the golden light flashed. His throat had been slit, and blood gushed out, staining his robes. He staggered backward, his eyes filled with terror and disbelief. Gu Sheng stood up from the Medicine Tripod. His gaze was as cold as ice, and his body radiated a formidable aura. Nourished by the spiritual power of Fire Evil and the lotus seed of the Black Jade Divine Lotus, he had not only regained his strength but had also broken through to a higher realm. "You... How can you still be alive?!" Elder Han clutched his throat, struggling to utter a few words. Gu Sheng sneered coldly and said, "You thought your plan was flawless? Unfortunately, you underestimated the power of the Daoist Scripture and the willpower of Gu Sheng!" Elder Han’s face contorted in rage as he attempted to circulate Divine Power to heal his injuries. But how could Gu Sheng allow him the chance to recover? The Gold Scripture transformed once more into a streak of golden light, aimed directly at Elder Han’s sea of bitterness. "No—" Elder Han let out a desperate cry, but it was too late. As the golden light flickered, his sea of bitterness was utterly destroyed, and the Green Wood Sword was reduced to dust. Elder Han, like a kite with a broken string, crashed heavily into the stone wall. Gu Sheng did not stop there. He was acutely aware of the dangers of leaving loose ends, so he controlled the Gold Scripture to strike at Elder Han once more. "Splurt—" The Gold Scripture pierced through Elder Han’s abdomen, shattering his sea of bitterness in an instant. Elder Han’s body was flung several meters away, crashing violently against the wall. Blood spurted uncontrollably from his mouth as his eyes brimmed with resentment and despair. Gu Sheng coldly observed Elder Han’s miserable state without a trace of pity. He walked over to the adjacent medicine cabinet, opened it completely, and took out each rare spiritual medicine. Every single one of these medicines was as valuable as Phoenix Divine Grass, a treasure for cultivators. Elder Han watched helplessly as Gu Sheng took away his prized possessions. His bitterness and resentment reached their peak. Blood gushed from his mouth as his eyes burned with fury. If he could move, he would have swallowed Gu Sheng alive. "Humans must stay calm in the face of events. Who are opportunities reserved for? Naturally, those who are prepared!" Gu Sheng’s lips curled into a devilish smirk as he sneered repeatedly. He placed the spiritual medicines into his pouch without sparing another glance at Elder Han. At this moment, Elder Han posed no threat to him whatsoever. Upon hearing Gu Sheng’s words, Elder Han completely lost it, blood spurting from his mouth like a mountain spring. He stared fixedly at Gu Sheng’s back, as if trying to etch the detestable youth into his very bones. Struggling, he tried to stand up and take Gu Sheng down with him, but his body no longer obeyed his commands. In the end, his arms fell limp, and his head rolled to the ground with a dull thud. His eyes were wide open, clearly unwilling to rest in peace. As for Gu Sheng, he continued gathering treasures from the stone chamber as if nothing had happened. He walked to the corner of the chamber, picked up his glowing Bodhi Seed, and tucked it into his robes. The emerald glow of this Bodhi Seed could help him comprehend higher-level cultivation techniques. Gu Sheng was no longer the helpless youth from before. Through this life-and-death confrontation, not only had he survived, but he had also gained unprecedented strength and treasures. All of this was earned through his own wisdom and courage. He understood deeply that only by constantly growing stronger could he survive in this world of predation. With large strides, he left the stone chamber to face new challenges. Standing at the chamber’s entrance, Gu Sheng took one last glance at Elder Han’s lifeless form lying on the ground. His heart was devoid of emotion, filled only with determination and resolve. This life-and-death confrontation taught him that the path of cultivation was fraught with uncertainties and dangers. Only by constantly strengthening himself could he weather the storms ahead. Taking a deep breath, he turned and left the stone chamber. He knew the world beyond was vast, offering more opportunities and challenges. And he would forge ahead, relentlessly pursuing higher realms and greater power. Gu Sheng’s figure gradually disappeared at the stone chamber’s entrance, leaving behind Elder Han’s wide open and unresigned eyes, narrating the tragedy and bitterness of the clash. The path of cultivation was inherently such—a game of survival of the fittest. Gu Sheng demonstrated with his strength and wisdom that he deserved survival and the boundless possibilities of the future. Days later, Gu Sheng found a secluded spot where he prepared to use the spiritual medicines he’d obtained to break through to a higher realm. Sitting cross-legged, he laid the spiritual medicines out before him. These medicines emitted an alluring fragrance, with each containing immense spiritual power. Taking a deep breath, Gu Sheng steadied his mindset and began channeling the cultivation technique from the Daoist Scripture. With his breathing and exhalation, Spiritual Energy began to gather around him, forming visible streams. These streams flowed continuously into his body, nourishing his meridians and Dantian. As time passed, Gu Sheng’s breathing grew long and deep. He felt as though his body was wrapped in a warm energy, soothing and tranquil. This was the power of the medicines, cleansing his meridians and expanding his Dantian. After some time, Gu Sheng suddenly opened his eyes, a gleam of light flashing within. He realized he had broken through his previous realm, stepping into a new phase. His strength had grown immensely, and his awareness had become more acute. Standing up, Gu Sheng stretched his body. He felt bursting strength coursing through him, as if he could pulverize a mountain with one punch. Gu Sheng knew this was the result of his diligent cultivation and the nourishment provided by the medicines. Looking up at the sky, he felt a surge of ambition and resolve. After the life-and-death confrontation with Elder Han, Gu Sheng chose to retreat to a hidden cavern to cultivate. Inside the mountain cavern, Gu Sheng sat with eyes closed as a heavy and mystical aura filled the air. After his struggle with Elder Han, he decided on this secretive location to advance past his bottleneck in cultivation. "Buzz—" As True Qi surged within Gu Sheng, the entire cavern seemed to tremble. An intense radiance exuded from his body, as if dispelling the surrounding darkness. "The time has come!" Gu Sheng thought to himself as he felt his sea of bitterness expand to its limits and vital essence surge like a torrential flood. He knew a pivotal moment was approaching. Taking a deep breath, Gu Sheng activated his cultivation technique. His life’s wheel beneath his navel began to spin, conjuring visions of mountains, rivers, lakes, heavens, birds, and beasts. These phenomena swirled around him, elevating him to appear like an unparalleled celestial. "Rumbling—" As his technique flowed, golden waves within his body surged, unleashing an overwhelming presence. These waves, like gale-force wind and massive waves, were irresistible. "Ah—" Gu Sheng let out a tremendous roar, his entire being enveloped in golden light. His Ancient Sacred Body shone with unparalleled might, radiating light that illuminated the entire cavern. At the same time, the skies outside the cavern began to transform. Clouds gathered, thunder roared, and lightning struck—the heavens seemed to respond to Gu Sheng’s breakthrough. "This is... a celestial phenomenon!" Distant cultivators gazed at the sky in shock, their expressions filled with awe. They realized such phenomena could only be triggered by someone extraordinary undergoing immense growth. "Who could be breaking through the realms with such magnitude?" "Could it be a great master cultivating in seclusion?" The cultivators speculated among themselves, eager to uncover the truth behind the celestial disturbance.