The Holy Envoy saw this and revealed a trace of disdainful smile on his face.
He lightly swung the torch in his hand, and a searing flame instantly slashed towards the green vines.
"Boom!"
With a loud explosion, the green vines were instantly cut apart by the flames, transforming into countless fragments that drifted down, glowing green like the collapse of auroras in the sky.
Gu Sheng’s heart wrenched with intense pain, nearly causing him to faint, as if countless blades were tearing through his soul.
He spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, his body swaying, almost falling to the ground.
"Gu Sheng!"
Su Ling exclaimed in shock, attempting to run forward to support him but was forced back by a powerful pressure.
"Humph, overestimating your abilities!"
The Holy Envoy snorted coldly, swinging the torch in his hand again and smashing it towards Gu Sheng.
Gu Sheng’s eyes flashed with resolve. He gritted his teeth, urging the spiritual power within his body to prepare to withstand the blow.
Just then, a figure suddenly appeared in front of him—it was his master Wen Mingyan.
"Gu Sheng, retreat!"
Wen Mingyan shouted loudly, forming sealing gestures with both hands. A powerful Sword Qi slashed towards the torch.
At the same time, the Great Elder Lu Junyi also appeared next to Gu Sheng, grabbing his arm and pulling him away from the battlefield.
"Boom!"
The Sword Qi collided with the torch, erupting in a shocking wave of energy.
Gu Sheng was pulled back repeatedly by Lu Junyi, retreating far from the center of the battle.
"Why aren’t you leaving yet? Even stronger opponents are about to arrive!"
Su Ling transmitted her voice anxiously, filled with urgency.
Wen Mingyan and the Great Elder exchanged a glance, both realizing the unfavorable situation.
They quickly took Gu Sheng and withdrew, disappearing into the distant mountain forest.
As Wen Mingyan and the Great Elder Lu Junyi left, only the cold and rigid figure of the Holy Envoy of the Worship Flame Cult remained in the forest.
His gaze was sharp, overlooking the land ravaged by the battle, the cold smile at the corner of his mouth seeming to mock those foolish weaklings.
"Gu Sheng, do you think you can stand against my Worship Flame Cult?"
The Holy Envoy murmured, his voice filled with infinite authority and disdain.
Although Gu Sheng lost this battle, he was defeated with honor, and his name had already spread across the world.
He, together with his master from the Holy Pill Sect, guarded the sect, repelled the Thousand Poison Sect’s assault, counterattacked against the Thousand Poison Sect, and executed Wu Gui, the lead elder of the Thousand Poison Sect—a heroic feat that turned him into a living legend among the people.
Ultimately defeated by the Worship Flame Cult’s Radiant Holy Envoy, this fact prompted endless debates across the lands.
The disciples of the Giant Sword Sect gathered, discussing the event.
"Gu Sheng is truly amazing, being able to kill the lead elder of the Thousand Poison Sect!" a disciple exclaimed in admiration.
"What a pity, he still lost to the Worship Flame Cult’s Radiant Holy Envoy in the end," another disciple lamented.
Finally realizing their own weakness compared to such mighty factions, their arrogance cracked.
"It seems we were truly too arrogant in the past,"
Liu Ruhai sighed deeply, his gaze filled with profound thought.
"Though Gu Sheng lost, his courage and resolve far surpass us, mere critics,"
"We tremble before powerful factions, yet he dared to challenge them." Liu Ruhai continued, his voice solemn.
By now, Gu Sheng had returned to the Holy Pill Sect, his heart heavy with worries about the green vines’ injuries, leaving him no time to tend to anything else.
In haste, he arrived at a secret chamber to treat the green vines.
It was a secluded space Gu Sheng had personally carved out for private cultivation.
He swiftly prepared a spiritual array, within which a massive wooden tub appeared.
Gu Sheng carefully placed the fragments of the green vines into the tub; the once-vibrant green leaves now dimmed and lifeless, as if bereft of vitality.
Taking a deep breath, Gu Sheng held a crystalline porcelain bottle in his hand.
He gently uncorked it, unleashing an intense wave of life energy that instantly filled the chamber, as though awakening its very core.
"Divine Spring, this is the last hope," Gu Sheng murmured as he poured the Divine Spring slowly into the wooden tub.
As the Divine Spring soaked into the fragments, the formerly dim green vines began to brighten, their emerald glow gently returning, as if recovering their vitality.
Yet, the green vines remained deeply dormant, showing no signs of awakening.
Gu Sheng furrowed his brows tightly, knowing full well that the Divine Spring alone was not enough to revive the green vines.

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