Chapter 723: Chapter 385: The Crystal Coffin Under the Cold Pool_2 A night’s effort had turned into nothing but bubbles. At that moment, a light chuckle broke the stillness of the early morning. "Heh heh heh..." Bai Yiyi’s figure appeared within Gu Sheng’s line of sight. A playful smile graced her face, as though she had long foreseen Gu Sheng’s failure. "Young Master Gu, why put yourself through this? Don’t you know this peach blossom forest was meticulously set up by us?" Her tone carried a hint of mockery. Gu Sheng slumped against a peach tree with labored breaths, his heart brimming with a sense of defeat. He knew clearly that there was no escape, and he could only resign himself to her will. "What kind of spell did you use on these peach trees to make them obey you?" Gu Sheng questioned, his face full of anger. Bai Yiyi didn’t respond. Instead, she gently waved her hand. Immediately, several maidservants stepped forward and bound Gu Sheng. She approached him, looking down at him, her tone carrying an undeniable command, "Young Master Gu, you’d better obediently embrace the Devil Emperor’s Heart. Otherwise, this kind of fleeing will only be futile." Gu Sheng raised his head, a flicker of defiance flashing through his eyes. But he knew he had no strength left to change his fate. "Hmph! I object!" Gu Sheng muttered through clenched teeth. "Sigh..." Bai Yiyi let out a soft sigh and then said, "Take good care of Young Master Gu. I need to report this matter to His Highness." When she finished speaking, Gu Sheng was taken back to the thatched hut. Meanwhile, Bai Yiyi made her way out of the peach blossom forest. After being brought back to the hut, Gu Sheng felt a deep melancholy settle over him. He had no idea what lay ahead. After roughly the time it takes to finish a cup of tea, footsteps sounded from outside. "Tie him up. The ritual must happen today!" An elderly woman’s voice came from outside. The ritual... As Gu Sheng pondered, the door to the hut was flung open. Several maidservants barged in and took Gu Sheng outside. The moment he stepped out, Gu Sheng saw Yan Ruyu and Bai Yiyi standing side by side with over a dozen elderly women. A brief scan with Divine Sense confirmed that these elderly women possessed a certain level of Divine Power themselves. "Take him to the Water Tomb!" A white-haired elder commanded. The Water Tomb? Realization dawned instantly on Gu Sheng, sparking a fury that made him want to curse aloud. But before a word could escape, a sealing charm from the lead elder’s hand flew straight onto his mouth. He could no longer speak, no matter how much he tried. Before long, Gu Sheng was escorted to the edge of a frigid pond deep within the peach forest. Staring at the scene before him, Gu Sheng couldn’t hide his astonishment. He hadn’t expected such a bottomless icy pool to lie hidden here. If he had stumbled upon it during his attempted escape the previous night, he might have been frozen stiff. The elderly women gathered around the cold pool, chanting incantations of an unknown spell. Suddenly, under the influence of their spell, the waters of the pool seemed to come alive. *Splash! Splash!* The pool churned violently, throwing up sprays of water. Bound and unable to move, Gu Sheng watched helplessly, his heart a mix of awe and curiosity. Then, abruptly, the pool’s surface stilled. In the next moment, a bright beam of light shot up from the depths of the pool, illuminating the entire peach forest. As the light grew stronger, a colossal crystal coffin slowly rose from the bottom of the pool. Its emergence evoked an overwhelming aura that left everyone present feeling an unprecedented intensity. Upon seeing the coffin, Yan Ruyu immediately knelt, her face full of reverence and devotion. The others followed her lead, kneeling in deference, while Gu Sheng remained standing motionless. It wasn’t until his eyes vaguely discerned the contents of the coffin that he realized it was none other than the legendary Devil Emperor’s Heart! The crystal coffin ascended further onto the water’s surface. The mingling radiance from its glow and the pool’s cold mist formed a surreal spectacle. Although his voice was sealed, waves of emotion surged through Gu Sheng’s heart. He could feel the immense power emanating from the coffin—a force so colossal it seemed to shake the heavens and earth. Silence engulfed the peach forest as the elderly women ceased their spellcasting. Only the sound of Gu Sheng’s heartbeat echoed amidst the stillness, unnervingly vivid. He knew all too well that what awaited him next would likely redefine his destiny. Yan Ruyu rose gracefully, extending her arms outward before bringing her hands together in prayer. Following her lead, the others stood and mirrored her gestures. "Yan Ruyu! Yan Ruyu!" Gu Sheng tried to channel Divine Sense to send a mental transmission. Yet Yan Ruyu appeared unbothered, pretending not to hear as she summoned the Jade Disk. The Jade Disk floated into the air from her hands, radiating bursts of brilliant light. Just as Gu Sheng prepared to attempt another mental transmission, the elderly women moved abruptly, encircling him tightly. Gu Sheng’s heartbeat quickened as the pressure emanating from the gathered elders weighed heavily upon him. Their gazes bore a power that could not be ignored. Realizing this, Gu Sheng withdrew his Divine Sense, bracing himself for what was to come. One of the elders suddenly spoke, her voice tinged with intrigue and praise, "Young man, your Divine Sense is remarkably strong. Even under these circumstances, you can still transmit such clear thoughts." "Hmm?" Gu Sheng froze in surprise. He hadn’t expected to receive a compliment in such a tense moment. On the other side, Yan Ruyu was scarcely affected, maintaining her unwavering focus on the Jade Disk floating above her. The Jade Disk’s light grew increasingly intense, seemingly absorbing the surrounding Spiritual Energy in preparation for a significant ritual. Encircling Gu Sheng, the elderly women’s hands began to glow with distinct colors, clearly indicative of a powerful spell in the making. Under this incomprehensible pressure, Gu Sheng felt powerless, resigned to his predicament. "Ding!" Just then, the Jade Disk emitted a crisp chime. A beam of light shot from the disk, directly striking the crystal coffin. Under the beam’s illumination, the coffin began to open slowly. From within, an ancient and formidable aura began to emanate, instilling a profound sense of awe throughout the gathering. Although bound, Gu Sheng’s sharp Divine Sense caught every nuance of the overwhelming power exuding from the coffin, a force far exceeding his world’s comprehension. He understood well that the awakening of the Devil Emperor’s Heart would unleash unimaginable transformations. The elderly women, their spell completed, directed their concentrated gaze at the crystal coffin. "Your Highness, please step back. We are ready to begin the ritual." One elder spoke softly. Following her words, the assembly of elderly women swiftly formed sealing gestures with both hands, chanting arcane spells that resonated through the air like the murmurs of ancient power. *Whoosh Whoosh Whoosh!* Countless beams of light shot from their fingertips, converging into a dazzling stream directed at Gu Sheng. In that instant, Gu Sheng felt a warm yet colossal force penetrate his bindings. The cascading beams enveloped his body in a vortex of light. "Ah..." A groan escaped his lips involuntarily. His body began to tremble, though not from fear—rather, the overwhelming energy was nearly unbearable for him to contain. Within the vortex, Gu Sheng’s skin started to glow faintly golden, his pores seemingly breathing in the mystical force. As the spell progressed, remarkable phenomena unfolded around him. His skin appeared to crack open, revealing radiant beams of light emanating from within. Yet as the ritual persisted, the fissures sealed themselves, restoring his body to perfection. The elders’ eyes filled with reverence and astonishment, particularly the principal elder, whose gaze held a glimmer of surprise. Looking at Gu Sheng, she marveled, "Your Highness, the power within his body is truly extraordinary. This isn’t merely a testament to robust Divine Power—it is the purest mark of the Sacred Body itself."