Translator: AnubisTL
As soon as these words were spoken, not only were most of the audience confused, but even Shu Yuheng was left in a state of bewilderment.
For Sima Juncong to acknowledge someone as his boss was an impossible thing. Even when dealing with princes, he would only address them as brothers. Could it be that after his journey to the northern frontier, his personality had undergone a significant change?
"What are you standing there for? Come with me to welcome the boss!" Sima Juncong nudged Shu Yuheng's shoulder, signaling him to bow his head in greeting.
Shu Yuheng's thoughts raced. Whoever Sima Juncong recognized as his boss must be a prince. Welcoming a prince was only proper and not at all shameful. Thus, he followed Sima Juncong, bowing his head in unison.
"Shout it!"
"Shout what?" Shu Yuheng's mind was still in a daze.
"Shout 'Welcome, Boss!'" Sima Juncong said with a smirk. "Don't be so stiff. Shout it loud, or the boss won't be pleased. I'll shout it with you! Ready? One, two, three!"
"Welcome, Boss!"
"Wel... Welcome, Boss!" Shu Yuheng finally managed to stammer out the words, though his pride made it difficult.
"That's no good. It's not smooth at all. The boss won't come out like this. Practice it a few times in your mind, then follow my rhythm and shout it again!"
"Welcome, Boss!!!"
This time, Shu Yuheng performed better, at least managing to shout the two words smoothly. After shouting, his fair face immediately flushed with shame.
"Too quiet! Again!"
"Welcome, Boss!" This time, the voice was thunderous, shaking the eardrums of everyone present.
The crowd looked on with strange expressions, feeling as though the two were putting on a performance, completely out of sync with the tense atmosphere before the battle.
At the same time, they were curious about who Sima Juncong's boss in the chariot could be.
On the viewing platform, Yan Hanyun and the other big shots exchanged glances, their eyelids twitching. Gu Feng was playing with fire. Humiliating Shu Yuheng like this would likely lead to a fight to the death.
Inside the Hundred Birds Glazed Carriage!
"Hahaha—"
"Hehehe—"
"Giggle—"
Various laughs mingled together as Yan Xixi, Wu Qi, A Fei, and the others were in hysterics, tears streaming down their faces as they doubled over in laughter.
"This is too funny. I've never seen Shu Yuheng like this before."
"There was a time when I actually liked him. Now it seems I must have been blinded by foolishness. Stripped of his status, he's no different from an ordinary person."
"So embarrassing. If it were Boss Gu, he would never have let this happen. He would've slapped Sima Juncong away long ago."
"..."
"You're the best at messing with people!" Chu Youhuan shot a glance at Gu Feng, also laughing uncontrollably.
"Messing with people costs money, though. One 'Welcome, Boss' is worth ten million low-grade spirit stones. That kid Sima Juncong ended up shouting it four times in total, but the effect was worth it!" Gu Feng said with a smirk.
Spending money for happiness—it really is good to be rich!
Buzz—
The door of the chariot above opened, and Gu Feng leaped out, hovering in the air as he looked down at Shu Yuheng with a smile.
Shu Yuheng, who was already confused, became even more bewildered upon seeing Gu Feng.
He never would have imagined that the boss Sima Juncong was referring to was actually Gu Feng, his opponent in this decisive battle.
At that moment, Shu Yuheng finally realized he had been played like a fool.
He suddenly looked up, his eyes narrowing as he stared intently at Gu Feng in the sky. Waves of killing intent surged from the depths of his heart, quickly turning into a torrent that roared with intensity.
The atmosphere on the scene was tense. Those who knew Shu Yuheng were well aware of the bloodthirstiness hidden beneath his seemingly gentle exterior. Normally, that bloodthirstiness would not be revealed to the outside world. However, at this moment, Gu Feng's actions had successfully ignited the beast within him.
"Juncong, when did you find me a little brother?" Gu Feng's voice rang out, filled with a tone of disdain.
"I have no idea. He insisted on following and calling you that," Sima Juncong replied with a laugh.
"Huh—where's my opponent? Didn't Shu Yuheng arrive long ago?" Gu Feng continued to taunt Shu Yuheng, even turning his head as if searching for Shu Yuheng's whereabouts.
This behavior was nothing short of blatant disregard and humiliation.
Shu Yuheng's expression remained calm, but his hands, hanging by his sides, clenched slightly, and a glint of killing intent flashed in his eyes.
Gu Feng glanced around and then descended to the ground. Behind him, Chu Youhuan and the others also appeared.
"Since Shu Yuheng hasn't shown up, I'll wait a little longer!" With that, he pulled out a chair from his storage ring, crossed his legs, and sat down leisurely.
From beginning to end, he hadn't even glanced at Shu Yuheng.
"Come over and give me a back rub. Later, I'm going to beat Shu Yuheng to a pulp!"
Chu Youhuan, standing behind him, was momentarily stunned. Sensing the gazes of Wu Qi and the others, she finally realized that Gu Feng was calling for her to give him a back rub.
"Ten million!"
"This is in public. You'll have to pay more—twenty million, not a penny less!"
"Deal!"
After the two whispered and settled on the price, Chu Youhuan began massaging his back, while Gu Feng wore an expression of pure enjoyment.
Scattered laughter broke out on the scene. More or less, everyone knew the reason for the feud between Gu Feng and Shu Yuheng.
Simply put, it was a love rivalry. Shu Yuheng regarded Chu Youhuan as his woman, while Chu Youhuan was very close to Gu Feng. Over time, the two had developed a grudge.
It must be said that Shu Yuheng's opening move had displayed unparalleled strength, capturing the attention of everyone present.
However, Gu Feng's counterattack was equally fierce. With almost no effort, he suppressed Shu Yuheng's momentum and even managed to humiliate him in the process.
Crack, crack, crack—
Shu Youheng's breathing grew heavier as he stared at Chu Youhuan, who looked even more radiant than she had a year ago. A hint of crimson surged in the depths of his eyes.
The woman he considered his exclusive possession was now massaging the shoulders of his opponent, and the two were so intimate. To think that this very duel had been sparked because of her!
The current scene was essentially telling everyone that everything, everything, had been orchestrated by Shu Yuheng himself. It was all his wishful thinking—not even a love rivalry. He was just a pathetic loser, a desperate and enraged simp.
If the killing intent earlier had been like a surging torrent, then at this moment, that torrent had burst its banks, flooding his heart and devouring his rationality.
"Enough!!" he roared, his powerful spiritual power carrying a sky-piercing killing intent that swept toward Gu Feng, shattering the chair beneath him.
"Oh, Shu Yuheng, you've been here all along? My apologies, you were keeping your head down, so I didn't see you!" Gu Feng's tone was flippant, devoid of any apology, filled only with mockery and ridicule.
"Fight!"
"How shall we fight?"
"Life and Death Battle!"
"As you wish!"
After an extremely brief exchange, the two erupted simultaneously!
Their violent auras clashed, producing crackling sounds. Before they could even adjust to their optimal states, they were already fiercely attacking each other.
Boom—
The moment they made contact, a deafening explosion erupted.
Two whirlwinds of spiritual power rose from the arena, intertwining with each other. The green stones of the stage were swept into the air, crushed into powder like pieces of paper.
The two whirlwinds collided for a few breaths before merging. The two figures spun at an unimaginable speed within the massive hurricane, engaging in a fierce battle.
"Damn it, that bastard Shu Yuheng actually knocked me out of the arena!"
Sima Juncong, who had been sent flying by the shockwaves of their battle, scrambled to his feet, cursing under his breath.
"Boss Gu, beat that bastard to death!"
"Crush that arrogant and narrow-minded Shu Yuheng!"
"Trying to steal Boss Gu's woman? He should take a piss and look at himself in the mirror. Calling him a lapdog would be an insult to lapdogs!"
"..."
Wu Qi and the others stood at the edge of the arena, hurling verbal abuse at Shu Yuheng.
On the other side, despite being the top-ranked on the Inner Sanctum Heaven Ranking, Shu Yuheng had no one to defend him verbally. Partly due to his status, he couldn't bring himself to stoop to their level. But more importantly, Shu Yuheng had always been domineering towards the inner sect disciples. The disciples, intimidated by his strength, had long harbored resentment but dared not speak out.
The battle erupted into a frenzy from the very beginning.
So much so that the arena's array formation didn't even have time to activate. By the time they realized it, everyone was shocked to find that the arena had already been destroyed.
"Old Liu, should we still activate the array?" Elder Wu from the Cultivation Method Hall whispered.
"The array in the outer sect's training ground isn't strong to begin with. Activating it wouldn't make a difference," Elder Liu replied, his gaze fixed on the sky above.
"Do you know why no one in the Sunset Glow Sect dares to provoke me? Because everyone who has provoked me is dead! You're no exception!" Shu Yuheng sneered as he unleashed a palm strike.
"Haha, if I die, someone will mourn for me. But you? Not so sure!" Gu Feng chuckled, countering with a heavy punch.
"Die!"
A brilliant palm imprint appeared within the whirlwind, dazzling and radiant. The entire training ground trembled slightly, and a rumbling sound echoed.
Shu Yuheng's seemingly effortless palm strike dispersed the spiritual whirlwind and sent Gu Feng flying hundreds of meters away. Gu Feng tumbled in the air several times before stabilizing himself.
Suppressing his shock, Gu Feng took a deep breath and swung a powerful punch towards the diving Shu Yuheng.
Bang—
When fist and palm collided, there was no deafening roar, only a sound like shattering glass. Then, at the point of contact, a small black dot appeared.
The black dot exploded, sending out circular shockwaves that rapidly expanded beyond the arena, rushing towards the spectator stands. Hundreds of cultivators who couldn't react in time were sent flying, with several sustaining severe injuries, vomiting blood, and nearly dying.
"So... so strong! Both of them are ridiculously powerful!"
"Shu Yuheng's strength is understandable, but how is Gu Feng this strong too?"
"Can someone in the Innate Realm really compete with someone in the Spirit Nurturing Realm? This isn't a myth, it's real!"
"Go to the spectator stands and intercept the shockwaves from their battle!"
Elder Liu directed the Outer Sect Elders to join the defense at the spectator stands, and the Inner Sect Elders were not far behind.
Spiritual Radiance cascaded down, dazzling and brilliant. Both combatants moved with incredible speed, making the spectacle thrilling to watch. At one point, there were even two or three Gu Fengs simultaneously striking at an equal number of Shu Yuhengs!
In the blink of an eye, the two had exchanged hundreds of moves.
Gu Feng, who was initially thought to be at a disadvantage, miraculously displayed strength that rivaled Shu Yuheng's.
"Unbelievable, Gu Feng is actually stronger than me!" the second-ranked on the Heavenly List said with a bitter smile. He had thought that Chu Youhuan, who had successfully condensed her spirit, might threaten his position. Little did he expect that Gu Feng, still in the Innate Realm, would be the one to dethrone him first.
Among experts, even without direct confrontation, one could discern the difference in strength merely by observation.
"Honestly, I really hope Gu Feng wins. If he becomes the sect master, we'll all have a chance to go to the Swamp Fortress in the northern border. The benefits there are enviable!" said the third-ranked on the Heavenly List, a female cultivator who was not a disciple of the Jade Maiden Sect. She licked her alluring red lips and chuckled softly.
"I thought I'd have a chance after Shu Yuheng stumbled, but it turns out, without Shu Yuheng, there's still Gu Feng. Chu Youhuan is a woman I'll never have!" the fourth-ranked on the Heavenly List said with a resigned sigh.
"This bastard, how is he so strong? It's only been a year, and he's already surpassed me?" Dou Xiaojian, who had always harbored animosity toward Gu Feng, gritted his teeth and muttered.
High above in the clouds, two figures stood in confrontation.
"Who do you think will win?" Qu Yanran asked, initiating a conversation with the little loli Gong Xian'er for the first time.
"The outcome is obvious. I'm not here to see who wins, but because you're here, that's why I came," Gong Xian'er said, her words carrying a philosophical tone.
"Then let's go!" Qu Yanran transformed into a Divine Rainbow and shot into the sky. Before leaving, she tossed a Storage Ring downward, containing the over three million Low-grade Spirit Stones she owed Gu Feng.
"Giggle, what an interesting woman. Settling karma like this is almost like child's play!" Gong Xian'er giggled and followed closely behind.
Clang—
When a purple longsword appeared in Shu Yuheng's hand, everyone was stunned. Known for his dominance and never having drawn his weapon even against the second-ranked on the Heavenly List, he had now resorted to using it!
"Heavenly Sword Art. Slaughter!"
Shu Yuheng's expression was solemn, like a lone warrior standing amidst mountains of corpses and seas of blood. He swung his sword with unwavering conviction, striking at enemies coming from all directions.
In an instant, sword shadows filled the sky, and the aura of slaughter sent chills down everyone's spine.
Fist shadows collided as multiple Gu Fengs in the air furiously punched at the omnipresent sword shadows.
The ground was marked with straight sword scars, each one unfathomably deep, exuding an eerie aura.
The Elders on the spectator stands scrambled to intercept the sword rays, sweating profusely as they rushed back and forth. Eventually, many of the top figures also joined in voluntarily.
"I've said it before, your Sunset Glow Sect's Outer Sect has made so much money. Can't you invest in a few powerful Array Formations?" Gu Santong complained.
"So strong! Just the residual sword rays are enough to make my arm go numb!" Yan Yexue continued to intercept the sword rays, but her gaze was fixed on the intense battle above.
For the first time in her life, she was awestruck by the strength of an Innate Realm cultivator.
Gu Feng was simply too strong, so strong that it defied belief, almost like something out of a myth.
"You didn't lose unjustly!"
"Humph, I will definitely defeat him in the next match!" Chu Youhuan said indignantly, her tone stubborn.
She gazed at the tall figure in the sky, her eyes shimmering with a mix of emotions, including annoyance. "This rogue is actually so powerful."
Gu Feng threw punch after punch, strolling across the heavens, his black hair dancing in the wind, his body radiating brilliance. With steady steps, he resembled a divine king resisting a flood. His figure grew majestic, his plain robes fluttering, and an invincible aura gradually rose around him.
"Boom—"
Suddenly, he let out a roar and unleashed a magnificent punch forward. The punch's shadow was dazzling, accompanied by the faint sound of a dragon's roar. Wherever it passed, sword rays exploded one after another!
Facing Gu Feng, who charged forward with an invincible momentum, Shu Yuheng swung his sword once more while simultaneously striking out with his left palm.
Gu Feng dodged the sword rays but was struck heavily by the palm. Yet, he seemed unfazed, a strange smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.
Shu Yuheng's expression froze as he saw a white shadow flash past Gu Feng's brow. Immediately, his eardrums buzzed, and his mind momentarily blanked—Gu Feng had unleashed the "Jade Lion's Golden Roar."
"Roar—"
The roar, like that of an ancient beast, exploded a patch of air. The entire audience instinctively covered their ears.
On the spectator stand, Chu Youhuan's eyelids twitched. She was all too familiar with this set of attacks from Gu Feng—it had caused her defeat more than once.
"Finally, I've caught you," Gu Feng murmured.
The "Ten Thousand Beasts Manual" activated!
(End of the Chapter)
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