Translator: AnubisTL
Like an enraged beast, he alternated between the ferocity of a descending lion, the swiftness of a pouncing wolf, the agility of a leaping deer, and the precision of a diving eagle. His hands, feet, elbows, knees, shoulders, hips, even his head and teeth became weapons. Every bone in his body was in motion, maximizing its potential.
The frenzy had officially begun!!
Gu Feng seemed to have gone mad. The once graceful and ethereal Immortal by the River was now a chaotic mess under his feet. His steps appeared unsteady, and the illusions he conjured were disorderly, as if several drunkards were brawling with each other.
Even Jade Lion's Golden Roar had changed in tone, with his "hmph" and "ha" cries blending into a continuous stream.
In the eyes of the onlookers, Gu Feng was fighting recklessly, with many of his moves defying martial principles. Yet, it was precisely these unconventional techniques that forced Shu Yuheng to barely be able to stand his ground, and after a few breaths, he miraculously began to retreat.
This was truly astonishing. Those who knew Shu Yuheng were aware that in battle, he only moved forward, never retreating even half a step.
"He... he retreated. Shu Yuheng actually retreated!"
"It's unbelievable. For someone as proud as Shu Yuheng to choose to retreat, it speaks volumes about the ferocity of Gu Feng's attacks."
"These moves... this style of fighting—Shu Yuheng can't even break free from it?"
"If I recall correctly, this is a Mortal Grade Martial Skill stored in the Outer Sect's Technique Hall, called Ten Thousand Beasts Manual?"
"A Mortal Grade Martial Skill, beating a Spirit Nurturing Realm cultivator? This is unheard of, never seen before!"
"..."
Everyone's eyes were wide open, their mouths slightly agape. When the first streak of crimson flew from Shu Yuheng's body, the entire arena erupted.
Shu Yuheng's defenses had been breached, and he shed the first drop of blood. This was the first time in his recorded battles, and with this feat alone, Gu Feng had surpassed all the disciples in the audience.
Regardless of the outcome, Gu Feng deserved praise.
The more Gu Feng fought, the wilder he became, and the wilder he became, the stronger he grew!
His attack speed continued to increase, and at one point, three figures appeared simultaneously, each illusion wildly assaulting Shu Yuheng.
Shu Yuheng's hair bun was disheveled, a strand of hair torn off, leaving a noticeable bald patch on the back of his head. His nostrils, after being poked hundreds of times, became swollen, with streaks of blood oozing out. His ears were torn, showing tears, and blood dripped from them. His face was marked with bruises, clear palm prints, and terrifying claw marks...
The scene fell into silence. Those Carp Mountain disciples who had once suffered under the Ten Thousand Beasts Manual twitched at the corners of their mouths. They finally understood—it wasn't that they were weak, but that this martial skill was simply indefensible.
On the spectator stand, Yan Yexue glanced at the stunned Chu Youhuan beside her and gently nudged her.
"Did you see it?"
"I saw it. When fighting Gu Feng, you must never let him get close. His style of attack is impossible to defend against without absolute strength to suppress him!" Chu Youhuan replied without turning her head.
"That's not what I meant!" Yan Yexue shook her head.
Chu Youhuan looked at her in surprise. "Then what are you trying to say?"
"When he fought you, he used such a rogue tactic, but when he faced Shu Yuheng, he didn't! This clearly shows that he discriminates in his rogue behavior, and the target matters," Yan Yexue said seriously.
Hearing this, Chu Youhuan's flawless face flushed instantly. "That's not true!" she exclaimed.
Though she said so, her thoughts were different. According to Gu Feng's explanation, it was because she was too strong that he was forced into a chaotic, unorganized attack, unable to avoid certain crucial areas.
Originally, Chu Youhuan didn't doubt this, but now it seemed that Gu Feng was most likely talking nonsense.
"Rogue!" she murmured softly, an unusual emotion spreading in her heart.
Shu Yuheng, retreating in disarray, felt as if hundreds of giant beasts were surrounding him, attacking relentlessly. The speed was too fast, and the angles were too tricky, far beyond his reaction time. He couldn't defend against it.
Before this, he had heard of Gu Feng's Ten Thousand Beasts Manual, but he hadn't paid much attention to it, always believing that Mortal Grade Martial Skills were trash, and no matter how much one practiced, they wouldn't be of much use.
However, now he was tasting the bitter fruit of that belief.
Gu Feng's performance proved one thing: there are no trash Martial Skills, only trash practitioners.
His sense of superiority gradually faded, and his arrogance was reined in.
His eyes sharp, Shu Yuheng endured the attacks while retreating, constantly looking for an opportunity to counterattack. Gu Feng also sensed the change in his opponent and remained vigilant.
Suddenly, Shu Yuheng let out a roar and kicked out diagonally. Gu Feng, as if he had foreseen it, narrowly dodged the attack.
Another series of combos followed, and Shu Yuheng stumbled, nearly knocked to the ground by Gu Feng's onslaught.
"Damn it!"
Shu Yuheng roared again, and a strange light began to emanate from his body. The light condensed on his surface, forming a thin battle armor that effectively dissipated a portion of Gu Feng's force.
Not good!
Gu Feng keenly sensed that his attacks were no longer causing significant damage to Shu Yuheng. He decisively halted his assault and retreated rapidly.
"Heavenly Sword Kill: Annihilation!"
"Heavenly Sword Kill: Phantom!"
"Heavenly Sword Kill: Tyranny!"
Seizing the moment, Shu Yuheng unleashed three devastating sword techniques in succession!
Three different types of sword energy, each numbering in the hundreds, surged toward Gu Feng, surrounding and attempting to obliterate him.
The sword energy was overwhelmingly powerful, each strike capable of instantly killing a peak Innate Realm cultivator.
The ground was torn apart, dust and debris flying everywhere. The battlefield was a scene of chaos, and the nearby spectator seats were reduced to powder!
The crowd watched in shock, their bodies trembling slightly.
Gu Feng also began to show signs of injury. His robe was torn, and streaks of red blood seeped out.
"Shu Yuheng's Heavenly Sword Kill has reached perfection, and his sword intent is incredibly formidable. Yet, even after three consecutive attacks, he couldn't finish Gu Feng. Gu Feng's defensive capabilities have been underestimated!"
"Strong defense, swift attacks—he's a natural close-combat expert. Shu Yuheng is constantly moving around, clearly afraid of getting too close to Gu Feng."
"Does Gu Feng still have a trump card?"
"..."
Shu Yuheng moved rapidly around Gu Feng, continuously unleashing sword energy, cycling through the four techniques of Heavenly Sword Kill.
"This can't go on like this!"
Gu Feng gritted his teeth and pushed the "Twenty-Four Bridges on a Moonlit Night" to its limit. While throwing punches, he withstood the sword radiance and closed in on Shu Yuheng once again.
"The same move won't work on me!"
Shu Yuheng declared with authority, slashing his sword towards the approaching Gu Feng before swiftly retreating.
However, this time, Shu Yuheng miscalculated. He had expected Gu Feng to dodge when faced with his sharp sword, but instead, Gu Feng threw a punch directly at the purple longsword.
Bang—
The sound of metal clashing pierced everyone's eardrums.
Shu Yuheng focused his gaze and saw that Gu Feng now wore a pair of jet-black, gleaming gloves—a low-grade Mystic Artifact.
Gu Feng's fists moved at high speed, like two fully powered motors, creating a flurry of punches. Even with Shu Yuheng's quick reflexes, he was hit more than a dozen times in an instant, his body sent flying. Mid-air, he twisted his body forcefully, and the sword radiance reappeared.
Gu Feng fearlessly charged forward, continuously throwing punches. The two formed a bizarre standoff, with the impenetrable sword radiance clashing against the equally dense barrage of punches.
After a few breaths, the mountain-like barrage of punches surged in front of Gu Feng, pushing the sword radiance forward relentlessly.
Everyone was stunned by Gu Feng's method of attack. To be precise, Gu Feng wasn't using any Martial Skill but instead relied on the most primitive method—brute force, head-on collision!
He firmly believed that the power of his fists, enhanced by the Mystic Grade gloves, could suppress Shu Yuheng's sword radiance.
"This move feels familiar, like I've seen it somewhere before!"
"He used it against Qiu Ze—a savage yet effective method."
"That's insane! Gu Feng threw dozens of punches in a single breath. Can his arms handle that?"
"Shu Yuheng's sword technique is all about suppression and annihilation, a kind of area-of-effect Martial Skill, which happens to be countered by Gu Feng."
"..."
Not just the ordinary cultivators, but even the Elders couldn't help but marvel.
Gu Feng's understanding of attack was indeed unique. He often used simple, brutal methods to neutralize his opponent's fierce assaults.
Even someone as strong as Shu Yuheng was momentarily helpless, being suppressed all the way.
Of course, such high-frequency output wasn't something just anyone could achieve. It required a formidable physique and vast reserves of Spiritual Power—both indispensable.
In the entire Sunset Glow Sect, only Gu Feng could pull this off. Anyone else attempting this method would only be mimicking clumsily, inviting ridicule.
"Shu Yuheng is getting anxious. He's probably going to unleash a Spirit Nurturing Realm technique!"
"The Heavenly Sword Kill is useless against Gu Feng, and so are his other conventional methods. He really should resort to the Spirit Nurturing Realm!"
"I wonder what kind of spirit he's nurtured. I thought this mystery would be revealed much later, but it seems it's coming sooner than expected!"
"..."
Almost everyone knew what Shu Yuheng's next move would be, including Gu Feng. Pushed to such a corner, Shu Yuheng would undoubtedly unleash his full strength.
Roar—
A phantom emerged from Shu Yuheng's sea of consciousness, accompanied by an endless roar. A chilling aura spread, and the temperature in the entire training ground plummeted. Most disciples simultaneously felt a wave of cold, shivering uncontrollably.
It wasn't a physical shiver but a tremor of the soul, a pressure emanating from the depths of their spirits.
Within that phantom, a pair of strikingly bright pupils appeared. This light was unlike any other in the world—utterly bizarre.
Gu Feng felt as if he were being stared at by the gaze of death, his soul trembling while an inexplicable sense of revulsion welled up within him.
This feeling was strange and without reason, as if it were innate.
The shadow gradually solidified, transforming into a massive serpent over ten meters long, its body covered in dark golden scales that gleamed coldly. The python flicked its tongue, and a murderous aura surged forth, its long and sharp fangs exuding a bloodthirsty air.
But the most terrifying aspect was its eyes. Even from a distance, they induced a dizzying, disorienting effect.
"The Light-Concealing Shadow Python, a branch of the Ancient Heaven Devouring Python, possessing a trace of its bloodline!" A senior expert exclaimed in awe, recognizing this creature.
"Legend has it that when the Light-Concealing Shadow Python reaches a certain level of growth, it can devour souls. Even divine beasts would tread carefully in its presence."
"Your strength is too weak. If you stare at the Light-Concealing Shadow Python for too long, it will consume your mind and turn you into a fool!" Liu Wuxiang warned loudly, noticing that several disciples had already lost focus in their eyes.
"Shu Yuheng has hidden his abilities so well! He actually nurtured such a powerful creature!"
"What other means does Gu Feng have to counter such a ferocious creature?"
"Shu Yuheng has won. The battle is over!"
"Gu Feng, find a way to save yourself."
"..."
With the appearance of the Light-Concealing Shadow Python, the battle was effectively over, and the crowd was unanimous in their pessimism.
No one believed that Gu Feng could withstand this attack.
Wu Qi and the others wore grim expressions, while Yan Xixi was already in tears, terrified.
"Gu Feng!!! Shu Yuheng has already reached the second level of Spirit Nurturing. You're no match for him!" Chu Youhuan's face paled as she shouted toward the arena.
"What should we do? Should we intervene?" Elder Wu asked with a troubled expression, turning to Liu Wuxiang.
"Let's wait and see. If Gu Feng shows signs of defeat, we'll step in immediately!" Liu Wuxiang replied gravely.
"You've pushed me to this point, and for that, you should be proud. It's time to end this!" Shu Yuheng's voice rang out.
Sssss——
The Light-Concealing Shadow Python flicked its tongue repeatedly, and the entire training ground seemed to be under the gaze of a demon. The atmosphere was oppressive, and the more timid cultivators had already collapsed to the ground. Even disciples in the Innate Realm were trembling violently.
"Shu Yuheng, if you dare harm Leader Gu, I swear I won't let you off!" Sima Juncong, usually known for his frivolity, threatened with a serious tone.
However, Shu Yuheng remained unmoved. The aura emanating from the Light-Concealing Shadow Python had already enveloped Gu Feng.
He looked at Gu Feng with an expressionless face, as if he were already a dead man.
The eerie aura was incredibly viscous, making it difficult for Gu Feng to move his body. Yet, he remained calm, his gaze fixed intently on the Light-Concealing Shadow Python above him.
"Die!"
Whoosh——
The Light-Concealing Shadow Python's cold light intensified, its body swelling several times in size as it opened its gaping maw and lunged toward Gu Feng.
Wherever it passed, the air, spiritual power, and even sunlight seemed to be devoured.
"Not good! Gu Feng can't block this. We need to act!" Liu Wuxiang sensed the situation and was horrified.
"This is a fair duel. How can we interfere?" Several Inner Sect Elders said sternly, blocking their path.
"Move aside!" Liu Wuxiang roared, and the Inner Sect Elders hesitated, their expressions shifting uncertainly before finally stepping aside.
But that brief delay cost them the best opportunity to intervene.
"Gu Feng————"
"No—"
In an instant, several desperate cries rang out from the spectator stands, and the senior experts also sighed heavily.
Under the intimidation of the Light-Concealing Shadow Python, Gu Feng had no ability to resist and could only quietly await death.
What a pity!
It wasn't that he wasn't strong, nor was it that Shu Yuheng was too strong, but the difference in their realms was too vast. They had reason to believe that if Gu Feng had also advanced to the Spirit Nurturing Realm, he would surely have been able to defeat Shu Yuheng.
A tenth of a breath felt as long as a hundred years.
Everyone watched helplessly as Gu Feng was engulfed.
And then... and then—
The Light-Concealing Shadow Python, which had been imposing just a moment ago, actually let out a mournful cry and retreated. Even Shu Yuheng, who was not far away, began to scream.
What was going on? This didn't fit the scene!
Silence, a deathly silence!
Eerie, unprecedentedly eerie!
In the midst of it all!
The dark aura gradually dissipated, revealing Gu Feng's figure and the silver whip in his hand!
The Soul Shattering Whip!
"Don't scream so loudly. If I were truly facing death, I would surely scream louder than you!" Gu Feng waved the Soul Shattering Whip in his hand and chuckled.
Immediately after, his body shot out like an arrow from a bow!
The Soul Shattering Whip in his hand left afterimages as it indiscriminately lashed out at Shu Yuheng and his Spirit Nurturing Realm!
Stay calm, let the whip do its work first!
(End of the Chapter)
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