In this intense battle, Gu Sheng’s Grass Vine Demon Soul suddenly flew out and was swallowed whole by the Taotie.
"Not good!" Gu Sheng exclaimed inwardly, but his face did not show panic. He knew the Grass Vine Demon Soul possessed powerful life force; even inside the Taotie’s belly, it could still unleash astonishing power.
Sure enough, it didn’t take long before the Taotie let out a horrific scream. Its abdomen began to swell as if something inside was growing wildly.
"Aoo——" The Taotie writhed in agony, trying to expel what was in its belly. But it was already too late—the Grass Vine Demon Soul inside had transformed into green lotuses, sprouting furiously. These lotuses rapidly corroded the Taotie’s internal organs, causing it unbearable pain.
Taking the opportunity, Gu Sheng launched a fierce attack. The Seven-colored Jade Maiden Sword in his hand radiated dazzling light, and streaks of Sword Qi slashed toward the Taotie. Under Gu Sheng’s ferocious assault, the Taotie’s injuries became increasingly severe until, unable to endure, it collapsed to the ground.
"Don’t kill me... I know a secret..." The Taotie struggled to say, "I can take you to a mysterious place... where you can find what you desire..."
Gu Sheng raised an eyebrow and crouched before the Taotie: "What secret are you talking about?"
"I know of a secret passage... that leads to the Holy Demon Body World..." The Taotie managed to utter this before falling unconscious.
"The Holy Demon Body World?" A glimmer of light flashed in Gu Sheng’s eyes. "This could be an opportunity..."
He turned to Ji Yewei: "Would you be willing to explore this mysterious world with me?"
"Of course!" Ji Yewei answered without hesitation. "Let’s go together!"
Thus, guided by the Taotie, Gu Sheng and Ji Yewei arrived at the entrance to a hidden underground passage. They followed the passage, venturing deeper, until they finally reached a mysterious world—the Holy Demon Body World.
"I killed your Ji family elder. Don’t you hate me for that?" Breaking the silence, Gu Sheng spoke as they traveled.
"I don’t hate you. Elder Wanyou never listened to reason, broke her promises, and plunged our Ji family into disgraceful betrayal. Her death at your hands was deserved!"
After a pause, Ji Yewei added, "You acted in self-defense, with no other choice."
In this world of survival of the fittest, the weak falling to the strong was all too common.
Ji Yewei had already done her duty by burying Ji Wanyou’s body.
"So this is the Holy Demon Body World, huh?" Gu Sheng scanned the surroundings. A blackened world unfurled before them—with black soil, black rocks, and even black trees. Everything seemed buried underground for millennia, exuding an aura of mystery and antiquity.
Ji Yewei also looked around curiously, marveling at the strange world. She couldn’t help but exclaim, "This is incredible, like stepping into a magical dreamland."
Gu Sheng nodded but remained vigilant. He knew that in this unknown world, danger and opportunity went hand in hand; he could not afford to drop his guard.
As the two progressed cautiously, a strange aura suddenly approached. Gu Sheng instinctively grabbed Ji Yewei’s hand, pulling her behind a large stone to hide.
Several peculiar-looking creatures passed before their eyes, their bodies emitting powerful energy—clearly members of the Holy Demon Clan.
Exchanging glances, Gu Sheng and Ji Yewei both understood that to learn about this world, they would need information from these Holy Demon Clan members.
Quietly, they followed the creatures and ambushed them, swiftly subduing several.
"Who are you? Why have you intruded upon our world?" The restrained Holy Demon Clan members asked in fear.
Instead of answering, Gu Sheng and Ji Yewei began interrogating them about this world. After a round of questioning, they finally learned some basic information about it.
But with Gu Sheng and Ji Yewei joining, the tide began to turn. The duo demonstrated stunning combat prowess and leadership, successfully repelling the Holy Demon Clan’s assault and gradually reclaiming lost ground. Under their lead, the Human Clan’s soldiers gained confidence and morale.
"Holy Demon Mountain-Splitting Fist!" A Holy Demon Clan strongman roared, throwing a punch at Gu Sheng.
Gu Sheng sneered, meeting the attack with his own golden fist. The clash of immense powers caused a deafening boom, ultimately knocking the Holy Demon Clan strongman back with Gu Sheng’s single strike.
"Such formidable power!" The Holy Demon Clan strongman exclaimed.
"Your Holy Demon Clan is nothing impressive!" Gu Sheng responded coldly.
With Gu Sheng and Ji Yewei’s arrival, the war between the Human Clan and the Holy Demon Clan reached a stalemate.
Their return was like a shot of adrenaline for the Human Clan. The once precarious battle lines now seemed far more stable.
"Sect Leader, shouldn’t we join the fight too?" At the Fiery Faith Sect, a disciple asked Su Xian.
Standing atop the sect’s high tower, Su Xian gazed out at the war-ravaged Red Cloud Continent. After taking a deep breath, she declared, "The time has come. Now that Gu Sheng has returned, we, the Fiery Faith Sect, cannot stand idle. Spread the word—we march to battle immediately!"
Meanwhile, Thousand Poison Sect’s Sect Leader Gu Jingang summoned his disciples, announcing their participation in this war that would decide the Human Clan’s fate.
In the Liang palace, Princess Zishuang engaged in a private conversation with Gu Sheng.
"Gu Sheng, now that you’ve returned, I feel much more assured," Yun Zishuang said. "What should be our next move to counterattack?"

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