Gu Sheng looked at the scene before him, his heart filled with shock and admiration. He knew that victory in this battle was already within reach...

"Ah!" Suddenly, Zhao Honglie let out a miserable scream. His chest had been pierced through by the Dugu Nine Swords, and blood sprayed everywhere. His body staggered backward several steps, his face filled with terror and unwillingness.

Linghu Qingwan wouldn't give him any chance to catch his breath. Her figure flashed and once again darted toward Zhao Honglie. "Swish, swish, swish!" Several beams of sword light flashed by, and the black scales on Zhao Honglie's body were sliced off one by one, revealing the bloody flesh underneath.

"No! That's impossible!" Zhao Honglie shouted in terror, but it was already futile. The power of the Dugu Nine Swords was simply too overwhelming. Every flicker of sword light made his heart leap with fear. He finally understood that he was no match for Linghu Qingwan...

"Boom!" With a final loud crash, Zhao Honglie's body fell heavily to the ground and remained motionless. Linghu Qingwan sheathed the Dugu Nine Swords and turned to walk toward Gu Sheng.

"Are you okay?" she asked with concern.

Gu Sheng shook his head. "I'm fine... Thank you for saving me."

Linghu Qingwan smiled faintly. "We're friends, aren't we? Besides, you've helped me so many times too!" Saying that, she reached out and unlocked the iron chains binding Gu Sheng. "Now let's go celebrate our victory together!"

As the two were about to leave, a sudden "Rumble!" reverberated through the air. The entire ground started trembling. A powerful aura descended from the skies, engulfing the entire battlefield.

"Hahaha! Leaving? It won't be that easy!" A sinister voice echoed in the air, chilling everyone to their core. Zhao Honglie, who had just fallen, suddenly stood up once more, and his aura was even more overwhelming than before!

"What's going on?" Gu Sheng asked in astonishment. "Isn't he already dead?"

"I'm not sure… but it seems like he wasn't completely finished off..." Linghu Qingwan said with a furrowed brow. "We need to handle this carefully."

Zhao Honglie's body began to levitate into the air, surrounded by thick black mist that seemed as if it could devour the entire world. "Did you really think you could defeat me so easily? How naive!" he grinned maliciously. "Now, let me show you my true power!"

With those words, he clasped his hands together and began to chant a spell. A continuous "Buzzing" sound filled the air, and the surroundings started to distort. Then, "Boom! Boom!" peals of thunder roared as streaks of black lightning descended from the sky, striking toward Gu Sheng and Linghu Qingwan!

"Watch out!" Linghu Qingwan shouted, grabbing Gu Sheng and quickly dodging the lightning strikes. "We must find a way to counter his magic!"

Gu Sheng nodded. "Let me give it a try!"

He then channeled the Spiritual Power within his body, preparing to launch an attack.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!" Several golden Sword Qi beams shot out from his hands, slicing toward Zhao Honglie!

Zhao Honglie merely sneered contemptuously and waved his hand, scattering the Sword Qi completely.

"Hahaha! Is this all you've got?" he mocked. "Let me show you what real power looks like!"

With that, his figure flashed, transforming into a black shadow that charged toward the two!

His speed was so astounding that it left everyone dumbfounded!

"Not good!" Linghu Qingwan exclaimed as she pulled Gu Sheng backward hurriedly. "We need to work together to defeat him!"

Zhao Honglie's speed was too fast. In an instant, he was right on top of them!

"Whoosh," a sharp sound rang as he reached out his hand, aiming for Linghu Qingwan's neck!

Just as he was about to succeed, "Boom!" a loud noise exploded in the air!

Gu Sheng had stepped in front of Linghu Qingwan, using his body to block Zhao Honglie's attack!

"Pfft!" Gu Sheng spat out blood and was flung backward, crashing heavily to the ground!

"Gu Sheng!" Linghu Qingwan cried out in alarm. She rushed over to help him up. "Are you okay?" she asked, her voice filled with concern.

"I'm fine..." Gu Sheng staggered to his feet, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth. "We can't let him continue running rampant!"

With that, he channeled the Spiritual Power within himself again, preparing to attack!

At that moment, "Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!" several sharp sounds could be heard!

Long, slender vines emerged from the ground, quickly wrapping around Zhao Honglie's legs!

"Ah!" Zhao Honglie cried out in shock as he was pulled to the ground by the vines!

"What's going on?" he struggled, trying to break free from the vines' hold, but to no avail!

These vines seemed almost alive, tightening their grip more and more, rendering him immobile!

"Hahaha!" Gu Sheng laughed triumphantly. "Did you think you were the only one who could use magic? Try this—my Grass Vine Demon Soul!"

It turned out that these vines were conjured by Gu Sheng's Grass Vine Demon Soul. They could corrode anything they touched, including Zhao Honglie's Holy Demon Body!

"Ah! No!" Zhao Honglie screamed in terror, but it was hopeless. He could only watch helplessly as the vines gradually corroded his body.

"Boom!" With one final loud explosion, Zhao Honglie's body was completely consumed by the vines and disappeared without a trace.

The battlefield once again returned to tranquility.

"Whoosh—" A figure streaked across the sky, landing steadily in the courtyard of Gu Wancheng's manor. Gu Sheng, once a neighbor and now a formidable warrior, had finally returned to his long-lost home.

"Uncle Asheng!" Gu Wan welcomed him excitedly, admiration and gratitude filling his eyes. "You've finally come back!"

Gu Sheng smiled as he looked at Gu Wan, understanding how much this young man had endured to reach where he was today. "Yes, I'm back now. By the looks of it, your cultivation has advanced again."

Gu Wan replied modestly, "It's all thanks to your guidance back then, Uncle Asheng. Without you, I wouldn't be where I am today."

At this moment, Gu Daniu and Li Xiaolian also appeared, having heard the commotion. Looking at the extraordinary man in front of them, their hearts filled with gratitude and admiration.

"Asheng, you're finally back!" Li Xiaolian grabbed Gu Sheng's hand, her eyes welling up with excitement. "You must've endured so much hardship out there these years!"

"Sister-in-law, I'm fine." Gu Sheng reassured her. "But what about you? How have you all been these years?"

"Good, very good!" Gu Daniu interjected. "Ever since you helped arrange this new home for us, our lives have become much more stable. Wan'er has also been working hard at his cultivation and improving fast."

Speaking of that, Gu Daniu sighed emotionally. "Asheng, you've truly been a great benefactor to our family!"

"Brother Daniu, you're being too polite." Gu Sheng waved it off. "You all took care of me a lot when I was young. This is just what I should do."

As everyone chatted, they made their way into the house, where a sumptuous feast had already been prepared in the living room. Gu Daniu continuously raised his cup to toast Gu Sheng, expressing his admiration and gratitude toward this former neighbor turned hero.

"Asheng, a toast to you! Thank you for your immense kindness to my family!" Gu Daniu said passionately, holding up his wine cup.

"Uncle Daniu, you're too kind." Gu Sheng smiled as he returned the toast. "We're all family; it's only natural to look after one another."

During the meal, Li Xiaolian couldn't stop asking Gu Sheng about his experiences and encounters outside. She was brimming with curiosity and longing for the world beyond.

"Asheng, tell us about the outside world," she said eagerly, her eyes fixed on him. "We've stayed here all these years and know nothing about what's out there."

Gu Sheng nodded and began recounting his adventures. He talked about fighting powerful enemies, enduring countless hardships to seek cultivation resources, and breaking through his own limits at the edge of life and death… His stories moved everyone present deeply.

Gu Wan listened quietly to Gu Sheng's tales, determination flickering in his eyes. Though his cultivation had already reached the ninth level of the Marrow Refining Realm and he owned an Earth-level mid-grade Mystical Artifact with which he could barely contend against someone like Zhao Honglie, he still felt insignificant in the face of true powerhouses. He longed to grow stronger!

After the banquet, Gu Sheng chatted with Gu Wan's family for a long time before bidding farewell.

"Whoosh—" A figure streaked across the sky, landing steadily in a royal garden. Gu Sheng, once a prodigy of the Red Cloud Continent, now a seasoned warrior returning from his trials, had been personally invited for a private meeting with Empress Zishuang.

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