"Thirsty Blood Battle Axe!" Gu Sheng suddenly unleashed his Mystical-level top-grade Treasure, swinging the axe fiercely at Wu Dewang.

Wu Dewang's face paled in shock as he hurriedly raised his sword to block. Gu Sheng's onslaught was relentless, like a raging storm, each strike carrying immense power.

"Ah!" Finally, Wu Dewang was caught off guard and struck in the chest by Gu Sheng, letting out a miserable scream as he was sent flying backward.

"Hmph! Challenging me?" Gu Sheng coldly looked at Wu Dewang lying on the ground, his Thirsty Blood Battle Axe gleaming chillingly in his hand. "Your stuff? It's mine now!"

After speaking, he turned and swam toward the water's surface, intending to retrieve the small copper piece. But just at that moment, a sudden change occurred! The previously calm water surface abruptly surged into towering waves, and a massive shadow rose from the depths!

"What the hell is this?" Gu Sheng exclaimed in alarm. Upon seeing the shadow clearly, it turned out to be a colossal water monster! Its blood-red maw opened wide, lunging straight at Gu Sheng!

"Damn it!" Gu Sheng cursed inwardly, quickly activating his Cultivation Technique to defend himself. However, the water monster's power was overwhelming, and for a moment, he found it difficult to fend off.

"Roar!" The water monster let out an ear-splitting roar, causing the surrounding water surface to tremble violently. Its massive tail swung ferociously, and while Gu Sheng managed to sidestep, he was still rattled by the residual shock, his blood churning.

"This beast possesses incredible power!" Gu Sheng thought in alarm. He knew this couldn't drag on; to claim the copper piece, he had to defeat the water monster. Taking a deep breath, he activated "Gale Nine Swords" and launched an attack at the monster!

Sword light streamed across the surface like mercury, aiming straight for the water monster's vital points! Yet the monster seemed unfazed by the attacks. Its enormous body moved nimbly in the water, effortlessly evading Gu Sheng's strikes. Meanwhile, it frequently opened its massive maw, attempting to swallow him!

The battle raged on for a long time, with both parties locked in a stalemate. Gu Sheng, despite wielding the Ancient Sacred Body and powerful techniques, struggled to subdue the water monster, whose might was extraordinary.

Just then, Wu Dewang, having recovered some strength, revealed a sinister glint in his eye. He began creeping closer to the battlefield between Gu Sheng and the water monster...

"Boom!"

A deafening explosion shook the arena, knocking both Gu Sheng and the water monster several meters away. It turned out that Wu Dewang had seized the opportunity to ambush the water monster! Though this strike didn't gravely injure the beast, it enraged it further, causing it to turn toward Wu Dewang and charge!

"Hahaha! You two can have your fun!" Wu Dewang laughed wildly before turning to flee. Knowing full well he wasn't a match for the water monster, he opted to escape. Seizing the moment, Gu Sheng darted after him, unwilling to let this chance slip to reclaim the copper piece!

The three engaged in a breathtaking chase through the water. The water monster let out ceaseless roars, attacking both Gu Sheng and the fleeing Wu Dewang relentlessly.

Meanwhile, Gu Sheng pursued doggedly, intent on recovering the copper piece; Wu Dewang fled desperately while occasionally sending sneak attacks their way...

The contest endured for ages until, just as things seemed to be reaching their limit, the Grass Vine Demon Soul transformed into a slender thread, bringing the copper piece safely back to Gu Sheng's grasp.

"Phew... it's finally over..." Gu Sheng gasped for breath as he rose to the water's surface, clutching the copper piece tightly in his hand. A triumphant smile crossed his face. "What exactly is this thing useful for?" he wondered silently.

Meanwhile, far off in the distance, Wu Dewang had not retreated entirely. Instead, he hid in the shadows, closely observing Gu Sheng with a glint of malevolence in his eyes, as though scheming something.

"Hmph! Gu Sheng, you think you've won? The real battle has only just begun!" Wu Dewang muttered to himself, his face curling into a sinister grin.

"Rumble rumble..."

At that moment, elsewhere in the ancient tomb, the powerhouses of various factions were still fiercely battling over the Demon Emperor's Coffin. Little did they know, amidst this chaotic skirmish, an even graver conspiracy was quietly coming to fruition.

"Boom!"

A thunderous sound erupted as one of the elders from Shaking Light Sacred Land was struck back several steps by a strong expert from Infinite Mountain. Their conflict had reached its peak, with both sides deploying their full strength to overcome one another.

"Hmph! Shaking Light Sacred Land wants to fight for the Demon Emperor's Coffin too? Pure wishful thinking!" sneered the Infinite Mountain expert.

"Hmph! We at Shaking Light Sacred Land aren't pushovers! Today, this Demon Emperor's Coffin will be ours!" The elder from Shaking Light Sacred Land snorted coldly and rushed forward again. Their battle reignited with ferocity.

Just as the intensity peaked, a mysterious shadow stealthily inched closer to the hovering Demon Emperor's Coffin. The shadow moved swiftly and silently, approaching the coffin unnoticed amidst the fray.

"Is that... Black Wind Elder from Destruction Hall?" Someone with keen eyes recognized the shadow, exclaiming in shock.

Black Wind Elder reached out with a pitch-black hand, which flexed like the agile arm of a monkey, weaving past other experts' attacks to grasp a corner of the coffin firmly. A cunning smile flickered on his face before his entire body surged with power, tearing through the spatial plane and vanishing with the coffin.

"Damn it!"

"Black Wind, you wretched thief!"

The experts realized what had happened and erupted in furious cries. But by then, Black Wind Elder and the coffin had already disappeared, leaving behind a slowly closing spatial black hole. They could only glare in rage as he escaped.

"We can't let him get away!" The elder of Shaking Light Sacred Land voiced his resolute determination, darting into the spatial black hole without hesitation.

"Quick, follow him!" The experts from Heavenly Dao Sect, the Ji family, and other factions swiftly reacted, charging into the black hole. In an instant, the entire space quivered violently, resembling a frayed sack swaying in the autumn winds.

Seeing this, Gu Sheng, along with disciples from various factions, could only watch helplessly from afar, powerless to join the extraordinary battle.

"So this is the power of the elites?" Gu Sheng exclaimed, a mix of admiration and resolve in his eyes. "Someday, I too will reach that realm!"

Meanwhile, inside the spatial black hole, an even fiercer struggle ensued. Black Wind Elder had escaped into an uncharted spatial rift with the coffin, but the pursuers followed closely.

"Where do you think you're going, Black Wind scoundrel!" shouted the elder from Shaking Light Sacred Land. Holy Light radiated from his hand, forming a blade of light aimed ruthlessly at Black Wind Elder's back.

Black Wind Elder dodged hastily, letting out a sinister laugh. "Old man Holy Light, you think you can catch me?"

"Dishonorable thief, today is the day you surrender the coffin or die trying!" bellowed the strong expert from Heavenly Dao Sect, joining the fray.

One after another, the faction leaders attacked Black Wind Elder, intent on reclaiming the coffin. Though immensely powerful, Black Wind Elder's cunning enabled him to evade lethal strikes time and time again in the chaotic melee.

The battle raged endlessly, with the stalemate intensifying. Suddenly, the stable spatial rift began to tremble violently, as though on the verge of collapse.

"Not good! The space is breaking apart!" someone cried out in alarm.

The expressions of everyone shifted drastically. They ceased their attacks and attempted to escape, but the rift collapsed too swiftly, leaving them helpless as it continued to close with terrifying certainty.

"Hahaha! You all can die here with me as your witness!" Black Wind Elder laughed maniacally. With a gesture, he slipped the coffin into his storage ring before vanishing from sight.

Though the experts could do nothing to stop Black Wind Elder's escape, they were now stuck in the crumbling rift, deprived of escape themselves.

A chilling wave of fear and despair swept over them. Outside the rift, Gu Sheng and the younger generation of disciples waited anxiously, unaware of the unfolding tragedy within.

Outside

"What's happening inside?" Gu Sheng furrowed his brows, staring intently at the spatial black hole. "Why aren't the elders coming out yet?"

"I don't know! Could something have gone wrong?" Shaking Light Saintess asked, worry evident in her tone.

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