Gou's Liver Experience in the World of Demons and Demons

"What a beautiful place!"

Tantai Xueli couldn't help but sigh in admiration, her beautiful eyes sparkling with surprise.

She has a natural love for beautiful things, and upon seeing such a fairyland-like scene, she subconsciously reached out to touch a strange flower that was in full bloom beside her, with petals as clear and translucent as seven-colored glass.

"careful!"

Shen Qingtan's reminder rang out almost simultaneously, her voice coming through the bronze mask with a hint of urgency.

However, it was still too late!
Just as Tantai Xueli's fingertips were about to touch the delicate petals—

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh—!"

A sudden change has occurred!

Countless vines, as thick as a baby's arm, dark green in color, and covered with menacing black barbs, suddenly sprouted from the soft grass beneath everyone's feet and from the seemingly harmless flower bushes and vines around them!
These vines, like venomous snakes lying in wait, moved with lightning speed, whistling through the air, sweeping and coiling wildly towards Gu Sheng and his group from all directions! Even before the vines arrived, a chilling and destructive aura, carrying a faint fishy smell, already assaulted their senses!

"retreat!"

Gu Sheng's eyes flashed with a fierce light, and he roared, his ninth-level Grandmaster cultivation erupting instantly. His figure moved with ghostly speed, already blocking Tantai Xueli's path! He was about to sever the attacking vines—

Just then, another unexpected event occurred!
On Tantai Xue Li's fair wrist, the ancient rattan bracelet that she always wore, with a black color and a hint of dark red, suddenly shone brightly as if stimulated by the same energy from the outside world!

"Buzz!"

A beam of dark light shot out from the vine bracelet, and upon landing, it began to grow wildly! It was none other than the Heavenly Demon Vine that had always followed Tantai Xueli in its branched form!

The sapling of the Heavenly Demon Vine grew rapidly in the wind, transforming in the blink of an eye into dozens of equally thick, yet jet-black, tough vines with faint dark red veins flowing through them! These jet-black vines seemed to possess their own consciousness, not only unafraid of the dark green vines with barbs, but also like ferocious beasts that had spotted delicious prey, actively and fiercely coiling back against them!
"Puff puff!"

A series of teeth-grinding, piercing sounds rang out!

The tips of the jet-black demonic vines were even sharper than the barbs of the dark green vines, easily piercing through their skin and embedding themselves deep inside! Then, an even more bizarre scene unfolded.

The dark green vines pierced by the Heavenly Demon Vines seemed to have all their moisture and vitality drained away instantly. They withered, shrank, and collapsed at a speed visible to the naked eye, their color rapidly changing from dark green to withered yellow, and finally turning into rotten wood that could be broken at the slightest touch! On the other hand, the dark red patterns on the surface of those jet-black Heavenly Demon Vines seemed to be even more vivid and bright, and they seemed to have grown slightly stronger!
The whole process was so fast it was breathtaking. From the sudden attack by the dark green vines to the splitting and devouring of the Heavenly Demon Vine, the whole process took less than the time it takes to take a normal breath!

The vines that were attacking Gu Sheng, Gu Ningshuang, and the others from other directions seemed to be startled by this sudden infighting among their own kind, and their offensive noticeably faltered.

Tantai Xueli stared in shock at the vine bracelet on her wrist, its light fading, and then at the few pieces of dark green vine remains on the ground that were rapidly drying and crumbling. Her beautiful eyes were filled with lingering fear and confusion.

Seeing this, Gu Sheng understood.

He raised his hand to signal everyone not to be nervous, his gaze swept over the withered vines on the ground, and then looked around at the dark green vines that had temporarily stopped wriggling but were still menacingly watching, and explained in a calm voice.

"Don't panic. These attacks on us are not real demonic beasts, but a special kind of 'demon plant'."

They possess a certain instinct for attack and the ability to devour flesh and spiritual energy, but their intelligence is extremely low; they only have the instinct for destruction and plunder, and cannot be tamed and controlled like true spiritual plants or demonic pets.

He pointed to the rattan bracelet on Tantai Xueli's wrist.

"And this Heavenly Demon Vine branch on your wrist, although it is also a vine-type demonic plant, its bloodline level is obviously far superior to these wild demonic plants. Just now, it sensed the aggressive aura of its own kind, and launched a counterattack on its own. Moreover, with its higher bloodline rank, it directly plundered the other party's life essence and nutrients, turning them into its own."

This is a form of bloodline suppression and absorption.

As he spoke, Gu Sheng also secretly sensed the dormant Heavenly Demon Vine that was wrapped around the skin of his arm. The vine hadn't reacted at all when the attack occurred.

At this moment, when he tried to communicate with his mental power, he only received a lazy, vague thought that seemed to be sleeping soundly after eating a full meal. It disregarded the "low-level" vines of its kind around it and was too lazy to even wake up.

Clearly, after devouring too much flesh and blood of powerful beings in the Eastern Wilderness last time, the Heavenly Demon Vine has entered a deep stage of digestion and evolution, and these "small fry" in the secret realm are of no interest to it at all.

At this moment, Shen Qingtan, Gu Ningshuang, and Yu Rou also stepped forward to examine the withered vines, their expressions somewhat complicated. Shen Qingtan took a deep breath and said...

"Last time we stumbled into this place, we were ambushed by these ghostly things. Caught off guard, if Yu Rou hadn't acted decisively and self-destructed her contracted spirit beast, which was connected to her life, temporarily creating an opening, we would probably have been strangled and devoured long ago."

A hint of regret and lingering fear flashed in Yu Rou's eyes, and she nodded gently.

Gu Sheng understood and looked at Tantai Xueli.

"Xue Li, since your Heavenly Demon Vine branch can suppress and even devour these demonic plants, that makes things easier. Next, try to actively activate the branch and let it scout ahead. If it encounters attacks from other demonic plants, you can directly command it to devour them. This will not only clear obstacles but also replenish the nutrients it needs for growth."

Upon hearing this, Tantai Xueli composed herself and solemnly replied.

"Okay, I see."

She tried to infuse a wisp of spiritual energy into the vine bracelet on her wrist. The dark vine seemed to understand her intention, swayed gently a few times, and then detached itself from her wrist, falling to the ground and transforming into a dark vine about ten feet long and as thick as a child's arm. Like a loyal black snake, it swam a few feet in front of everyone, actively searching for any potential dangers.

Seeing that the dark green vines on the ground showed no signs of sprouting again, everyone breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Gu Sheng's sharp gaze swept over this seemingly peaceful but actually dangerous paradise, and he said in a deep voice.

"We cannot stay here any longer. We don't know how many more of these demonic plants there are. We must find the core of this place as soon as possible, or a way out."

The group nodded, maintaining their vigilant formation, and, guided by the branching Heavenly Demon Vine, continued their exploration deeper into this strange space.

Just as Gu Sheng and his group were cautiously moving forward and seeking opportunities in the secluded paradise of the Void Mystic Realm.

In the distant Eastern Wilderness, in the city of Great Wilderness, one of the core mega-cities of the Eastern Wilderness human race, the atmosphere was heavy and oppressive today.

Especially on the vast Great Wilderness Holy Academy Square, located in the city center, a large number of Holy Academy disciples, instructors, and even representatives of various forces who had rushed over upon hearing the news gathered. All eyes were focused on the ten-zhang-high, wide battle platform built of obsidian in the center of the square.

On the battle platform, the smoke and dust slowly dissipated.

Five figures collapsed limply onto the cold ground, as if their bones had been removed. Their breaths were weak, and blood trickled from the corners of their mouths; they had clearly fainted.

These five people, three men and two women, were all dressed in the distinctive moon-white robes of the Great Wilderness Holy Academy's true disciples. Their auras were refined, and even in their unconscious state, their bodies still retained the unique true essence fluctuations of late-stage Human King Realm experts.

They were none other than some of the most outstanding disciples of the Great Wilderness Holy Academy in the current generation! Among them was even Xia Fuqu, who, after Xiao Beixuan's fall, quickly filled the gap and rose to the top of the True Disciple Ranking based on her own strength and prestige! This woman possessed exceptional talent and a resolute will, and enjoyed extremely high prestige among the younger generation in the Eastern Wilderness, and was regarded as one of the future pillars of the Holy Academy.

However, at this moment, these five prodigies, who could be considered role models for the younger generation in the Eastern Wilderness, were all defeated and fell into a coma in a sorry state.

In the center of the battle arena, the only one standing was a petite yet shapely young girl.

She looked no more than fifteen or sixteen years old, with exquisitely beautiful features, skin as white as snow, a delicate nose and cherry lips, and a pair of almond-shaped eyes as clear as water, yet with an innate indifference that seemed to look down upon all living beings.

She wore a pale purple palace dress adorned with star patterns, her long, black hair cascading down her back, held in place only by a simple jade hairpin, the rest flowing smoothly over her shoulders. Despite her young age and striking beauty, she exuded an aura of nobility and aloofness that commanded respect.

The girl's gaze swept indifferently over the five unconscious people on the ground. There was no trace of triumph or pity in her clear eyes, only a very faint, almost imperceptible... disdain.

Her red lips parted slightly, her voice clear and melodious, like pearls falling onto a jade plate. But what she said made countless disciples of the Great Wilderness Holy Academy below the stage blush with shame and indignation.

"Using only the power of someone who has just entered the King Realm, five people in the late King Realm couldn't even withstand three moves... The so-called geniuses of the Eastern Wilderness are nothing more than this."

Her tone was utterly flat, without any deliberate raising of her voice or obvious arrogance, as if she were merely stating a trivial, self-evident fact. Yet, the more flat her tone was, the more pronounced the disdain in her words became, like an invisible slap across the faces of all the young martial artists who considered themselves geniuses of the Eastern Wilderness.

"Clap clap clap..."

A series of crisp applause suddenly rang out, approaching from afar, neither hurried nor slow.

A graceful and elegant figure, as if walking on water, stepped onto invisible steps and descended from the depths of the Holy Academy, landing on the edge of the battle platform in an instant. The newcomer was a beautiful woman in her thirties, still charming and elegant, dressed in palace attire; she was none other than Fan Mingli, the current head of the Great Wilderness Holy Academy.

Her gaze swept over the five unconscious disciples on the ground, a hint of pity flashing in her eyes, but she quickly regained her composure and looked at the girl in the purple dress. A flawless, dignified smile appeared on her face, and her voice was gentle yet carried an undeniable authority.

"The Holy Maiden of the Celestial Star has graced my Eastern Wilderness Great Wilderness City with her presence, and has guided my Holy Academy disciples with her unparalleled beauty. I, the head of the academy, would like to express my gratitude."

With a gentle wave of her hand, a soft yet immense force lifted the five unconscious people and carried them steadily down from the platform, where the elders of the Holy Academy immediately took over their treatment.

Fan Mingli then turned her gaze to the girl in the purple dress, who was known as the "Saintess of the Heavenly Stars," her tone remaining calm.

"These five are the most outstanding disciples of our Holy Academy this generation, and the academy has devoted a great deal of effort to them. However, I am well aware that compared to the true geniuses, saintesses, and saints of the Central Continent, they are still far behind. I hope the saintess will not laugh at them."

Tianxing Saintess remained indifferent, as if she hadn't taken Fan Mingli's polite words to heart, and spoke directly.

"The Eastern Wilderness is a remote and barbarian land with scarce spiritual energy and incomplete traditions. My master ordered me to travel through the Five Regions to broaden my horizons, and this was my first stop. Now it seems that it has no value and is just a waste of time. I would rather return to the Central Plains to cultivate in seclusion."

These words were even more blunt and unceremonious, practically belittling the entire Eastern Wilderness to the dust. Many hot-blooded disciples of the Holy Academy in the square practically spit fire in their eyes, their fists clenched so tightly they cracked.

However, intimidated by the unfathomable strength of the other party and the colossal Central Plains represented by the title "Saintess of Heavenly Star"—the Heavenly Star Holy Land—no one dared to utter a rebuttal and could only swallow their humiliation.

Fan Mingli's smile faded slightly, but she was very shrewd and did not get angry. She just sighed softly and said it as if it were unintentional.

"While the Holy Maiden's words are somewhat biased, they do reflect the fact that the martial arts of the Eastern Wilderness are weak. However, the Eastern Wilderness is not without its talents. At least, in my Great Wilderness City, there once emerged a peerless genius who even amazed this academy master. If he were here, perhaps... he could satisfy the Holy Maiden somewhat."

"Oh?"

The Heavenly Star Saintess raised her slender eyebrows slightly, and a faint interest finally flashed in her eyes, like a small pebble thrown into a calm lake.

"Who is he? What are his achievements?"

Fan Mingli gazed into the distance, as if looking in a certain direction, and spoke slowly.

"His name is Gu Sheng. Not long after entering the sect realm, he defeated a powerful enemy at the peak of the Human King realm in the wilderness outside the city, despite being of a higher level. The strangeness of his combat power, the excellence of his talent, and the tenacity of his will are unprecedented in my life. If we talk about combat power at the same level... I personally believe that the Holy Maiden may... not be able to match him."

"Gu Sheng?"

The Celestial Saintess frowned slightly, seemingly searching her memory for the name, before a sneer, undisguised, curled at the corner of her lips.

"Never heard of it. A mere cultivator who has just entered the Sect Realm and slain a Human King? That sounds impressive. But in the end, he's just an ant in the Sect Realm. No matter how strong an ant is, he's still an ant. How can a true genius be presumptuous enough to be called a mere Sect Realm cultivator?"

Her tone was full of disdain for the "Supreme Realm" realm, as if in her eyes, those who had not yet reached the Human King Realm were not worthy of being included in the discussion of geniuses.

However, before she could finish speaking—

"boom--!!!"

A raging pillar of fire, over tens of feet in diameter and hundreds of feet in height, composed entirely of crimson-gold flames, shot into the sky without warning from somewhere on the edge of the battle platform! The intense heat instantly engulfed the entire plaza, distorting and crackling the air. Some disciples who were nearby even felt their hair curl and their skin burning!

The pillar of fire appeared too suddenly, its power too terrifying, and the destructive flames it contained caused the Heavenly Star Saintess on the high platform to change her expression drastically! Her petite figure reacted extremely quickly.

Almost the instant the pillar of fire appeared, it transformed into a pale purple starlight, retreating dozens of feet in an instant, landing at the other end of the battle platform. Starlight swirled around it, forming a dazzling protective shield. Its eyes, filled with suspicion and wariness, gazed in the direction from which the pillar of fire had risen. (End of Chapter)