Gu Shengâs hesitation instead provoked Linghu Qingwanâs audacity; she seized the moment of his daze and forcefully kissed him on the lips.
"Ahaha..."
Linghu Qingwan laughed heartily, "Why do I feel like youâre acting like a girl?"
That was truly cutting. Gu Sheng seemed enraged; he retaliated by pinning Linghu Qingwan down and pinched her several times.
He muttered under his breath, "Desire is emptiness, emptiness is desire..."
The Great Prajna Sutra truly lived up to its reputation as the Heart Calming Divine Spell, taming the wildfire in Gu Shengâs heart at a critical moment.
"Our priority right now is hunting!"
Gu Sheng adjusted his clothing and resumed sending out Divine Thought.
At that moment, the Green Vine Demon Soul transmitted a message: "Master, Iâve spotted a demon wolf thatâs reached the First Level of the Marrow Refining Realmâcome assist me..."
Gu Shengâs eyes gleamed sharply; he turned to Linghu Qingwan and said, "Qingwan, stay here. Iâll deal with the demon wolf."
Linghu Qingwan shook her head resolutely, replying firmly, "No, I want to go with you. Only by your side do I feel at ease."
Gu Sheng sighed helplessly and nodded in agreement.
His figure moved like a bolt of lightning, darting toward the direction indicated by the Green Vine Demon Soulâs message.
Linghu Qingwan followed closely behind, the Binding Immortal Vine securely tied to Gu Shengâs back. Their silhouettes dashed swiftly through the dense forest.
Soon, they arrived at the demon wolfâs lair.
It was an enormous demon wolf, its fur a dark gray, glinting fiercely in its murderous eyes.
Crouching amidst a patch of grass, it seemed to be waiting for something.
Gu Sheng and Linghu Qingwan stealthily approached, with Gu Sheng cleverly masking their presence from the wolfâs detection.
Just as they were about to strike, the demon wolf abruptly lifted its head, fixing its ferocious eyes directly on them.
The oppressive aura made breathing difficultâthe entire enchanted forest fell into a deathly silence, with only the rustling of leaves audible.
"Not good, itâs spotted us!" Linghu Qingwan exclaimed softly in alarm.
Gu Sheng, however, remained unfazed. He sneered coldly, his figure bursting forth as he sent a punch hurtling toward the demon wolf.
A golden shadow of his fist appeared, with fierce gales whipping violently, propelling the strike straight toward the demon wolf.
The demon wolf let out a deep growl and leaped up, meeting Gu Shengâs attack head-on.
Its claws shimmered coldly, radiating a bluish light as they slashed fiercely at Gu Shengâs chest.
At the critical moment, a green light shot out from Gu Shengâs sleeve, transforming instantly into a green vine over ten meters long that coiled tightly around the demon wolfâs claws.
"Rippp!"
The vine glowed brilliantly, furiously gnawing and corroding the wolfâs claws, causing it to shriek in agony.
Seizing the opportunity, Gu Sheng landed a heavy punch on the wolfâs abdomen, sending it reeling backward.
His figure flashed, pursuing the wolf as their intense battle commenced.
Linghu Qingwan didnât idle; she unleashed the Binding Immortal Vine, hurling it toward the demon wolf.
The Binding Immortal Vine danced mid-air like a snake, wrapping firmly around the demon wolfâs neck.
Linghu Qingwan gave it a sharp pull, causing the wolf to stagger.
Even though the demon wolf had reached the Marrow Refining Realm, faced with Gu Sheng and the Green Vineâs combined assault, it lacked the strength to resist Linghu Qingwanâs simple tug.
Gu Sheng seized the chance to rain punch after punch upon the demon wolf.
The demon wolf, though ferocious, gradually faltered under their relentless joint attacks.
At this moment, the Green Vine Demon Soul launched a second attack.
It transformed into a beam of green light, burrowing into the demon wolfâs body.
The wolf let out an even bloodier howl, its body convulsing violently.
"Not good, itâs targeting the wolfâs internal organs!" Linghu Qingwan exclaimed in alarm.
Gu Sheng merely smiled; he trusted in the Green Vine Demon Soulâs capabilities, knowing this level of assault was childâs play for it.
He continued his barrage of punches, pummeling the demon wolf until it lay on the ground, lifeless.
Gu Sheng approached to inspect the corpse, discovering that its internal organs had been thoroughly devoured by the Green Vine Demon Soul.
"The Green Vine Demon Soulâs powers are truly impressive!" Linghu Qingwan marveled.
Gu Sheng smiled faintly, storing the massive wolf in his spatial ring, then reclaimed the Green Vine Demon Soul. Turning to Linghu Qingwan, he said, "This is only the beginning; even more powerful beasts await us ahead."
Linghu Qingwan nodded, her eyes shimmering with resolve and trust. "I believe in you, Gu Sheng."
The duo exchanged smiles and ventured deeper into the enchanted forest in search of even greater trials...
The evening descended, and the depths of the enchanted forest resembled an infinite vortex of darkness, swallowing all traces of light.
Gu Sheng and Linghu Qingwan stood side by side amidst piles of demon beast carcasses, each radiating a faint scent of blood.
A calm determination marked Gu Shengâs brow as he looked down at the beasts he and the Green Vine had slain, his heart oddly placid.
Linghu Qingwan bit her lower lip, her eyes sparkling with curiosity and anticipation.
"The Green Vine appears to have entered a new phase; ordinary beast flesh and essence are no longer sufficient for it," Gu Sheng remarked steadily.
Linghu Qingwan nodded thoughtfully, lifting her gaze to meet Gu Shengâs inquiringly.
"What should we do next? Continue deeper into the forest to find stronger beasts?" she asked.
Gu Sheng shook his head, his gaze profound:
"No, ordinary beasts no longer ignite the Green Vineâs interest. We must seek treasures infused with the essence of heaven and earth."
Linghu Qingwanâs eyes lit up in realization as she softly queried, "Where can we find such treasures?"
Gu Shengâs lips curled into a confident smile, his eyes gleaming:
"The forest depths must hold many secrets yet uncovered. If we keep going, we will find what we seek."
Linghu Qingwanâs gaze was luminous with trust and reverence as she nodded firmly.
Exchanging a smile, they turned and continued onward, forging deeper into the enchantments of the forest...
They passed through layers of dense woodland and traversed treacherous peaks, eventually reaching the forestâs core region.
Here, the aura of demon beasts grew thicker, and the energy of heavenly treasures more intense.
Gu Sheng spread his Divine Thought, carefully sensing their surroundings.
Suddenly, within his perception, he caught an unusual disturbance. A gleam of joy flashed in his eyes as he turned to Linghu Qingwan:
"Qingwan, Iâve found itâthereâs something valuable over there!"
Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she followed closely behind Gu Sheng toward the source of the anomaly.
After a brisk journey, they arrived at a secluded valley.
Mists of spiritual energy surrounded the valley, and a glowing Spirit Grass stood quietly at its heart.
Gu Shengâs eyes brightened. He approached carefully, plucking the Spirit Grass with precision.
A surge of concentrated energy emanated from the grass, invigorating both of their spirits.
Linghu Qingwanâs eyes gleamed as she regarded the Spirit Grass in Gu Shengâs hand:
"Is this a heavenly treasure? Its aura is incredible!"
Gu Sheng nodded and stowed the grass into his spatial ring before turning to Linghu Qingwan:
"This is only the beginningâweâll find more treasures. The Green Vineâs evolution is imminent!"
Linghu Qingwanâs expression softened into resolve and anticipation. She clasped Gu Shengâs hand tightly as they ventured further, searching for more heavenly treasures...
Over three days, they slew three Marrow Refining Realm demon beasts and harvested three Gathering Spirit Grass plants.
The Green Vine absorbed them all, extending its length from twelve to fifteen meters.
In their companionship, Linghu Qingwan was far more proactive than Gu Sheng.
During their wilderness camping, the two had begun sharing a bed, only a delicate barrier remaining between them.
Gu Sheng already considered Linghu Qingwan his own, and the Giant Sword Sect akin to his future in-laws.
Though life appeared peaceful on the surface, an overwhelming crisis loomed over the Holy Pill Sect.
The sect had anticipated this and made preparations in advance.