CHAPTER 713: CHAPTER 380 IS TOO MAGICAL_2

As he lowered his head to look at his reflection in the spring pool, his brows knitted slightly. "Why have I become smaller again?" He discovered that he had turned into a boy of about thirteen years old. Although his face remained handsome, his stature had clearly shrunk considerably.

Gu Sheng was startled inside, "If I consume another golden Holy Fruit, won’t I turn into a baby?" He shook his head and silently celebrated the fact that he’d discovered this issue in time. To avoid such a dire consequence, he began to ponder countermeasures.

Suddenly, inspiration struck him, and a passage from the Daoist Scripture surfaced in his mind. "Only by using an ’artifact’ to suppress oneself can the state of ’eternity’ be achieved..." Gu Sheng murmured to himself, a trace of determination flashing in his eyes. He resolved to try this method to suppress his body and prevent further shrinking.

He took out his cauldron—a Magical Treasure he had obtained through countless trials and tribulations. Gu Sheng took a deep breath, placed the cauldron in front of him, and formed hand seals, beginning to activate his Mana. Things did not go as smoothly as he had imagined. When he attempted to use the cauldron to suppress himself, a tremendous backlash suddenly assaulted him.

"Ah—!" Gu Sheng let out a scream as his entire body was sent flying backward, heavily crashing to the ground. He struggled to get up, with a trace of blood seeping from the corner of his mouth. Yet he did not give up; instead, his conviction became even firmer.

After a full month of effort and experimentation, Gu Sheng finally found the correct approach. He successfully suppressed his body with the cauldron and consumed another golden Holy Fruit. This time, he didn’t get smaller. Instead, he felt the Divine Power within him grow even more abundant.

During this process, he accidentally unearthed the terrifying magical power of nine ancient characters mentioned in the Daoist Scripture. These characters seemed to contain endless Source energy, capable of providing him with an inexhaustible force. Gu Sheng was secretly delighted, realizing the immeasurable value of these nine characters.

At the same time, he discovered that these nine characters bore a striking resemblance to the hundreds of ancient characters inscribed in the mysterious scripture he had retrieved from the bronze ancient coffin. He speculated that there might be a profound connection between the two texts, heightening his curiosity and anticipation toward the mysterious scripture.

After successfully suppressing his body and consuming Divine Medicine, Gu Sheng felt a qualitative leap in his strength. He decided to leave this desolate forbidden ground and seek more opportunities and challenges. Before leaving, he carefully stored the remaining gold Holy Fruits in an exquisite jade box and collected some Divine Spring and Holy Tree branches as mementos.

As he walked out of the desolate forbidden ground, he found that the outside world had undergone tremendous changes. The powerful figures of the Jiang family, the Ji family, and the Shaking Light Sacred Land were all dead! This scene left Gu Sheng shocked to the core. He understood that this world was filled with the unknown and dangers, and he needed to be even more cautious and vigilant.

To avoid unnecessary troubles and conflicts, Gu Sheng decided to go into seclusion for a period of training. He chose a secluded stone mountain and carved out a cave dwelling inside as his cultivation retreat. Here, he could train in peace and steadily enhance his strength.

During his seclusion, Gu Sheng did not idle. He continued to study the nine ancient characters from the Daoist Scripture as well as the mysterious ancient scripture. He hoped to use these texts to find a way to break through the bottleneck in his cultivation. At the same time, he also diligently practiced his Cultivation Techniques and skills, preparing to excel in future battles.

Gu Sheng’s cultivation had already reached the Life Spring Realm within the Wheel Sea domain.

When he activated his Cultivation Technique, a life wheel beneath his navel would manifest visions of mountains, rivers, lakes, seas, birds, beasts, and golden waves rolling.

These phenomena were not only majestic but also overwhelmingly mighty, commanding awe and respect.

His physical body, reformed by the Ancient Sacred Body, had become exceptionally powerful.

While in operation, his entire body glowed golden, with brilliance streaming forth, capable of striking with golden palms and fists of astonishing power.

Beyond his powerful physique, Gu Sheng mastered numerous formidable Cultivation Techniques and skills.

Furthermore, Gu Sheng possessed the Daoist Scripture Golden Tome and the Bodhi Seed as treasured items.

The Daoist Scripture Golden Tome could be used as a weapon, released like a golden silk ribbon to strike, and also provided robust defensive capabilities; the Bodhi Seed emitted a brilliant green light, aiding him in better comprehending Cultivation Techniques and skills.

One day, as Gu Sheng was training in his cave dwelling, he suddenly felt a stirring within and retrieved his weapon—a Mystical Sky Sword, an Earth-level Low Grade Treasure.

This sword held boundless power, its Sword Qi surging like torrential waves, as though thirsting to drink its enemy’s blood.

He held the Mystical Sky Sword, his figure flashing as he vanished from sight.

In the next moment, he appeared atop the stone mountain, gazing into the distant horizon, lost in contemplation.

"It’s time to venture out for some experience," Gu Sheng mused silently, his eyes gleaming with resolute light.

He understood that only through continual trials and challenges could he grow even stronger.

Thus, he stowed away the Mystical Sky Sword and flew toward the horizon, vanishing into the distance.

"Whoosh—" The wind roared as Gu Sheng’s figure darted through the mountains and forests like a phantom.

His speed was incredible, crossing several kilometers in the blink of an eye.

This was the result of his cultivation of the Carefree Ascension Step, elevating his speed to a whole new level.

Suddenly, he sensed a powerful presence rapidly approaching.

Gu Sheng raised an eyebrow, muttering to himself, "An expert is coming!"

With a flick of his figure, he slipped into a dense patch of forest, concealing his presence.

Soon, a figure descended from the heavens, landing at the spot where Gu Sheng had just been standing.

"Hmph! Boy, do you think you can hide?" A cold voice echoed through the forest, sending chills down the spine.

Gu Sheng tensed inside but did not panic.

He peeked out carefully and realized it was a grim-faced middle-aged man.

The man was clad in black, emanating a chilling aura like a demon emerging from the depths of hell.

"Who are you? Why are you following me?" Gu Sheng asked coldly, while quietly activating his power to prepare for any sudden developments.

"Hahaha!" The black-clad man burst into laughter. "Boy, you’ve taken something you shouldn’t have. Hand it over now while you still can!"

His words dripped with menace and intimidation.

But Gu Sheng, now a far cry from his former self, moved with energy surging at the lift of his hand. Without employing any Cultivation Techniques or Martial Techniques, he threw a punch directly.

"Boom!"

The space warped, gales roared, grass and wood were swept up into chaos, overturning clouds and storms, flashing lightning and rolling thunder—this was the punch of a deity, aimed straight at the target. The golden fist’s shadow collided with the black-clad man the instant he failed to react, pulverizing him into dust, as though he had never existed.

"Buzz—"

As Gu Sheng swallowed the final golden fruit, a sound like the tolling of ancient bells and drums reverberated within him. This was not a sound from the outside world but the resonance created by the turbulent flow of his blood and energy.

Gu Sheng sat cross-legged inside the mysterious cauldron, which seemed to function as a self-contained universe. Mystical auras swirled within it. He felt as if he were soaking in a warm ocean, golden energy threads winding into every corner of his body.

This golden energy did not rush directly into his Wheel Sea as he had initially anticipated. Instead, it nourished his Divine Sense in a wondrous way. In that instant, his perception became unprecedentedly sharp, as though he could pierce through all illusions and discern the essence of things.

"This is... the condensation of Divine Sense!" Gu Sheng was startled, then overcome with boundless joy. He felt his Divine Sense being tempered like steel subjected to countless smelts, continuously refined and purified, ultimately transforming into an indestructible Divine weapon.

With the passage of time, Gu Sheng took one golden fruit each month. Each consumption significantly enhanced his physical constitution: his blood, organs, and bones grew stronger and tougher, akin to a complete transformation. Meanwhile, his Divine Sense continued its intense condensation, shining like a polished gemstone releasing dazzling light.

When Gu Sheng consumed the sixth golden fruit, his Divine Sense had refined to the point of nearly achieving physical form. He could distinctly perceive even the subtlest variations around him, hear the faintest sounds carried by the wind, and see the tiny motes of dust suspended in the air.