In the Giant Elephant Forest, numerous massive mammoths roamed, many with cultivation levels reaching the Sea Floor Realm, and even the Navel Wheel Realm.

"Roaaaar——"

A deafening elephant roar reverberated through the Giant Elephant Forest, accompanied by the sounds of trees snapping. A mammoth, towering like a mountain, stood firm as it swung its long trunk, its crimson eyes locking onto Gu Sheng.

"Hmph, a mammoth at the Sea Floor Realm—just what I was hoping for." Gu Sheng held the low-grade Earth-level treasure, Mystical Sky Sword, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

"Swish——"

With a swift movement, he unleashed the Gale Nine Swords. His figure danced like the wind, erratic and impossible to pin down. A single slash sent out torrents of sword qi, resembling heavenly rivers cascading downward, crashing straight toward the mammoth.

"Slash!"

The mammoth's tough hide was like paper under the sword qi of the Mystical Sky Sword, instantly being sliced open with blood spurting everywhere.

"Excellent sword!" Gu Sheng praised aloud, his movements uninterrupted as he moved on to hunt the next mammoth.

In this vast Giant Elephant Forest, Gu Sheng was like a divine swordsman. Sword qi surged as he moved, carving through hills like tofu, toppling mammoth after mammoth beneath his blade.

"Roaaaar——"

Another mammoth, at the Navel Wheel Realm, let out an earth-shaking roar and charged at Gu Sheng, only to be effortlessly felled by a single flick of his blade.

"The hundredth one." Gu Sheng uttered calmly, shaking off the blood from the Mystical Sky Sword.

At this moment, his Grass Vine Demon Soul began absorbing and refining the vital energy of these mammoths. After absorbing energy from over a hundred mammoths, the Grass Vine Demon Soul underwent another mutation.

"Hiss hiss——"

The originally emerald-green vine gradually turned into a deep blue, its length wildly extending to over ten thousand meters, resembling a massive dragon coiled through the forest.

"Haha, excellent!" Gu Sheng laughed heartily, feeling the Grass Vine Demon Soul grow even stronger.

Just then, an overwhelmingly powerful aura surged from afar. Gu Sheng furrowed his brows, sensing that matters were no longer simple.

"It seems... we have guests." He muttered softly, his figure flickering before vanishing from his spot.

——

"Haha, Gu Sheng, you finally dared to show yourself!" A sinister voice echoed through the forest.

Gu Sheng's silhouette flashed as he appeared atop a towering tree, gazing coldly at the black-clad figures below. "Who are you?" he asked in a frosty tone.

"Hmph, who we are doesn't matter. What matters is that today, you won't leave here alive!" sneered the leader of the black-clad figures.

"Oh? Just you lot?" Gu Sheng scoffed arrogantly, his aura erupting all at once.

The full might of his ninth-layer Navel Wheel Realm cultivation unfurled. Visions of mountains, rivers, lakes, seas, strange beasts, and exotic flowers manifested behind him, golden waves rolling unceasingly, his presence awe-inspiring and overwhelming.

"The Ancient Sacred Body!" The leader of the black-clad figures gasped, a flicker of fear flashing across his eyes.

But since they had come, retreat was no longer an option. The leader waved his hand and commanded, "Attack! Kill him!"

In an instant, over a dozen black-clad figures rushed toward Gu Sheng, moving like ghosts.

"Ha, excellent timing!" Gu Sheng bellowed, drawing the Mystical Sky Sword. Sword qi roared like a rainbow.

Executing a mid-air roll, he evaded several lethal strikes, simultaneously slashing his blade and severing the head of one black-clad figure.

"Ah—" Another black-clad figure screamed in agony, crushed into pulp by Gu Sheng's golden palm.

The battle escalated into a frenzied climax, with Gu Sheng weaving through the mob of black-clad figures. Relying on the Gale Nine Swords and the sheer physical power of his Ancient Sacred Body, each strike dropped another enemy.

But the leader of the black-clad figures was no ordinary foe. In a flash, he appeared behind Gu Sheng, striking with a palm.

"Boom——"

The blow landed squarely on Gu Sheng's back. Yet, as though unscathed, Gu Sheng turned around with a smirk. "Is that all?"

The leader's eyes reflected shock and confusion, but rage and frustration outweighed his fear. "You... how could you be unhurt?"

"Hmph, did you think your sneak attack could harm me?" Gu Sheng sneered, his contempt evident. "Now, it's my turn!"

In a flash, he reappeared before the leader of the black-clad figures, delivering a powerful punch.

"Boom——"

The leader was sent flying several meters, crashing heavily to the ground with blood spewing from his mouth.

"W-who are you... really?" he asked in terror.

"Gu Sheng." Gu Sheng coldly spat out his name and turned to leave.

Among the fallen enemies, Gu Sheng found a token belonging to the Ji family.

It seemed the assassination attempt connected back to his prior slaying of Ji Wanyou, an elder of the Ji family. Even now, the Ji family hadn't abandoned their pursuit of revenge.

"Soldiers will block, water will flood—I'll meet every threat as it comes!" Gu Sheng thought resolutely. The path of cultivation is one of pursuit and counter-pursuit, where only the strongest can stand at the end.

On his way out of the Giant Elephant Forest, Gu Sheng felt the continued effects of his Grass Vine Demon Soul's mutation. It had lengthened and thickened further, emanating an intimidating corrosive aura.

"This Grass Vine Demon Soul is undoubtedly extraordinary," Gu Sheng mused to himself. "From now on, I must wield it with even greater caution."

Several days later, Gu Sheng arrived at a thriving city—Sky Blue City.

"The spiritual energy here is remarkably dense." Gu Sheng remarked inwardly as he sensed the waves of spiritual energy suffusing the air.

He entered a bustling inn to gather news, sitting down shortly before overhearing a neighboring conversation about recent events.

"Did you hear? There's been some turmoil in the Demon Beast Mountain Range outside Sky Blue City recently," a middle-aged man said mysteriously.

"Oh? What kind of turmoil?" another man asked curiously.

"It's said that deep within the mountain range, a mysterious demon beast has appeared, unimaginably powerful, and it's already devoured numerous cultivators," the middle-aged man continued.

"Now, the City Lord Mansion has issued a reward. Whoever slays this demon beast will receive substantial prizes."

Gu Sheng's heart stirred as he listened.

His journey this time had been to seek out formidable opponents to temper himself.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.