He weaved through the ruins, his gaze searching intently for Spiritual Medicine. Suddenly, his eyes lit up—a Jade Serpent Orchid was quietly growing beside a large boulder, emitting a faint fluorescence. Gu Sheng carefully picked it and placed it into his pouch. Soon afterwards, he discovered four other precious Spiritual Medicines, secretly delighting in his heart.

At that moment, he spotted an unusual sight. A cluster of emerald-green light was flickering—it seemed to be some sort of Life Essence. Gu Sheng approached to take a closer look and was instantly awed. Could this be the legendary Life Essence left behind by the Ancient Tree Spirit? Excitement surged through his heart as he hurriedly collected it.

Just then, a deafening roar—"Awoo——"—echoed from the direction of the icy pond. Gu Sheng looked up, only to see an enormous Hou corpse charge forth from the frozen pool, locked in a fierce battle with five prominent figures. It turned out the Hou, once the Demon Emperor's steed, had transformed into a Ling Corpse, serving as the grave's guardian.

The battle was ferocious beyond imagination. Though the five figures were immensely powerful, the Hou corpse was formidable as well. Each of its attacks carried destructive force. The ruins trembled as if something was about to emerge from beneath.

Suddenly, a loud "crack!" resounded—the spatial runes surrounding the ruins were forcibly broken! Countless cultivators swarmed into the ruins, eager to claim their share of treasures.

Gu Sheng saw this and secretly rejoiced. This was his perfect opportunity to leave. His figure flickered and vanished into the ruins.

"Hahaha! Finally free!" Standing atop a mountain outside the ruins, Gu Sheng laughed heartily. "This adventure was incredibly perilous but certainly rewarding!"

He looked down at the Spiritual Medicine and Life Essence in his hands, his heart brimming with joy. Turning away, he walked off, knowing his journey was far from over and he couldn't be tied down by the events here.

Meanwhile, inside the ruins, the battle continued. The fierce clash between the five figures and the Hou corpse had reached a fever pitch.

Every one of their attacks was powerful enough to change the color of the skies and shatter mountains and rivers!

Just then, an even more terrifying aura surged forth from the depths of the icy pond.

"What is that?!" one of the prominent figures exclaimed.

They felt an overwhelming force bearing down on them, as if it might devour the entire ruins!

Gu Sheng, already far from the ruins, could still sense the terrifying aura. He sighed inwardly: "The Demon Emperor's Shadow Graves are indeed extraordinary. Good thing I left in time!"

The Carefree Ascension Step, infused with the secret technique of spatial teleportation, was like a meteor streaking across the night sky.

"Whoosh——"

A streak of light zipped past the edge of the ruins—it was Gu Sheng's silhouette. He departed from that place of bloodshed and deceit, longing only for a peaceful spot to quietly train.

After flying for a long time, an ancient and serene little town came into view. Nestled among rolling green hills and accompanied by babbling streams, it felt like an Immortal Realm upon Earth. Gu Sheng descended slowly and stepped into the seemingly untouched town.

Wooden houses lined both sides of the street, exuding the fragrance of time's passage. Children chased each other playfully along the cobblestone road, while adults lounged under the shade of trees, engaging in leisurely chatter. Everything about this place brought an unprecedented calm to Gu Sheng.

"Grrrr——"

Gu Sheng's stomach suddenly growled, reminding him that he was famished. Scanning the street, a modest yet spotless tavern caught his attention.

"Boss, bring me your specialty dishes!" Gu Sheng stepped boldly into the tavern, calling out with vigor.

Soon, delectable dishes with tempting aromas and flavors were laid out on the table. Gu Sheng ate ravenously, as though it was the finest meal he'd ever had. Only when the food was gone did he realize something troubling—he was completely penniless.

Gu Sheng's face turned embarrassingly red as he checked his pocket, finding not a single copper coin. The tavern's owner, an elderly man with a kindly air and snow-white hair, walked over at that moment.

"Young man, was the meal to your liking?" The old man smiled warmly.

"It was splendid, truly splendid!" Gu Sheng exclaimed sincerely. But then his face clouded over as he stammered, "Only… only I left in such haste today that I forgot to bring money…"

The old man saw through Gu Sheng's predicament and waved his hand magnanimously: "No matter, no matter. You appear to be a cultivator—traveling the world often comes with inconveniences. Think of this meal as my treat."

Hearing this, warmth flooded Gu Sheng's heart. He hurriedly stood and gave a deep bow: "Elder, your kindness I shall never forget. If the opportunity arises in the future, I will repay you manifold!"

With that, he took out a crystalline jade bottle from his storage pouch and offered it to the old man: "This is a bottle of Spiritual Medicine I happened to acquire during my travels. Although not a priceless treasure, it does have the property of extending lifespan. Please accept it."

The old man declined firmly: "Young man, your goodwill I appreciate, but this Spiritual Medicine is far too precious for me to accept. If you truly wish to repay me, help me with some tasks around the tavern as you train."

Seeing the elder's resoluteness, Gu Sheng did not insist further. He nodded decisively and agreed: "Alright! I'll stay and lend a hand with some hard labor."

In the days that followed, Gu Sheng busied himself helping around the tavern. He chopped wood, fetched water, washed dishes, wiped tables… no matter how taxing or dirty the work, he handled it meticulously. During his free moments, he would sit cross-legged and immerse himself in training.

The townsfolk quickly warmed up to this diligent and mysterious young man. Especially the tavern's little girl, Tingting—she loved to linger around Gu Sheng, curiously asking him about cultivation and the wonders of the outside world.

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