Indeed.
The facts were exactly as Gu Qingfeng had said.
Although Chu Jiaohong didn't know exactly what kind of existence he was, she could tell he was connected to the Daoless Age, and she was certain Gu Qingfeng would be interested in the Fragment Crystals of that era. Hence, she had used them as bait.
Originally, she had planned to use Gu Qingfeng's formidable Physical Body to withstand the Seal's power while also taking the opportunity to test his depths.
If Gu Qingfeng's Physical Body was stronger than imagined, she absolutely would not have recklessly emerged; even if she did, she would have fled immediately.
Conversely,
if Gu Qingfeng's Physical Body was not as formidable as imagined, she would not only emerge but also seek revenge for the humiliation he had inflicted upon her in the past.
However,
she had never imagined, despite all her calculations, that this fellow would pretend to be unable to withstand the Seal's power while enduring it—and act so convincingly. At the time, Chu Jiaohong had seen very clearly: Gu Qingfeng's Physical Body was pressed, blurred, and distorted by the Seal's power, nearly on the verge of dispersing.
It had truly almost dispersed.
At that moment, Chu Jiaohong had been cautious, fearing deception, and had deliberately inspected carefully. Gu Qingfeng's Physical Body was extremely weak; not only his skin and pores, but even his bones and meridians were in complete disarray. Because of this, she had felt a twinge of guilt at the time, thinking that after her True Body emerged, she would just Seal him, scare him a bit, and let it go.
Now, Chu Jiaohong finally understood: this fellow had seen through her plan from the very beginning. Not only had he seen through everything, but he had also used despicable means to deceive her. However, what Chu Jiaohong couldn't fathom was that even now, she still didn't understand: at that time, Gu Qingfeng's Physical Body had clearly been a complete mess, truly blurred and distorted, nearly dispersing.
No!
Not just at that time.
Even now, Gu Qingfeng's Physical Body remained in utter chaos.
Yet, his power was still so formidable, more terrifying than imagined!
Just what kind of existence was his Physical Body?
Or perhaps she should ask: just what kind of existence was Gu Qingfeng himself?
She didn't know.
Chu Jiaohong truly didn't know, and at this moment, she had neither the opportunity nor the time to ponder this question.
Because Gu Qingfeng was not only forcing her into continuous retreat but also rendering her utterly incapable of fighting back. If not for her True Body being that of a Tianyao, she would have long been beaten to ashes.
Chu Jiaohong had cultivated for many years—so many that even she couldn't remember. She had also fought many experts, including those with profound cultivation, those with various great fortunes, and those mysterious and unfathomable. But an existence like Gu Qingfeng, she was encountering for the first time. A fighting style like Gu Qingfeng's, she was also experiencing for the first time.
He threw a punch—just a very pure, very casual punch.
But with just such a punch unleashed, no matter how profound or abstruse the divine ability she employed, it would be effortlessly shattered by this single punch. Chu Jiaohong exerted all her strength, yet not only did she fail to shake Gu Qingfeng in the slightest, but she was also beaten into a corner with no way forward, no way back, and no escape—completely and utterly suppressed.
"Big sister, you're a Tianyao cultivated from a Vermilion Bird descendant. Even after being Sealed for so many years, you shouldn't be this weak."
At this moment,
Gu Qingfeng fought with ease—so relaxed it didn't seem like a battle but more like toying with a monkey. He laughed, "Ever since this master woke up, I haven't had a chance to stretch my limbs. Today, I finally run into someone decent. At least show some face and put in a bit more effort."
"Gu!
You go too far!"
Whoosh!
Chu Jiaohong was enraged, utterly furious. She was originally a noble Vermilion Bird descendant, having cultivated into a Tianyao. One could say she had status, background, strength, and position. For many years, whether it was great immortals or great demons, who dared not give her some face? When had she ever suffered such humiliation?
Never!
Absolutely never!
Previously, when Sealed, her spiritual stone statue being teased and humiliated by this Gu fellow was one thing.
Now that the Seal was broken, her True Body was actually being teased and humiliated by this Gu fellow again.
The fury deep within Chu Jiaohong's heart completely erupted. With an angry shout, she leaped up, soaring straight into the sky.
Rolling Demonic Qi surged like raging waves; rainbow light filled the sky like a roaring sea. A majestic aura seemed to pierce through heaven and earth.
Countless crimson Vermilion Birds manifested, filling the sky. These crimson Vermilion Birds emitted sharp shrieks that, upon reaching the ears, caused mental confusion. Even more bizarrely, after these crimson Vermilion Birds were destroyed, they would revive from death, endlessly, inexhaustible, impossible to kill or eradicate, yet they could gradually erode one's spirit.
"Such Great Spirit Might is quite rare. Luckily, this master's spirit isn't weak either, or in just this short while, my Soul would probably have been completely devoured by these things."
"Gu!
Let's see how you withstand my Great Spirit Might! Ver! milion! Bird! Soul! Devourer!"
Chu Jiaohong unleashed her Great Spirit Might. Instantly, the countless crimson Vermilion Birds in the sky madly pounced toward Gu Qingfeng, as if to devour his Soul.
"How to withstand it?
By standing and withstanding it, of course. What other way is there?"
Gu Qingfeng still stood in the desolate ruins. Slowly raising his right arm, he extended his index finger, pointing toward the sky, saying, "Since that's the case, today I'll also let you witness this master's Great Spirit Might."
A raised hand, a pointing finger.
Like a finger extinguishing the sky.
Like the sun falling.
Like dusk arriving.
Like Darkness descending.
Like Death enveloping.
When the sun fell, when dusk arrived, when Darkness descended, when Death enveloped, the countless crimson Vermilion Birds that had been pouncing toward Gu Qingfeng instantly froze.
The heavens?
There were no heavens!
The earth?
There was no earth either.
There was nothing.
Only Darkness, endless Darkness.
Only Death, endless Death.
At this moment, Chu Jiaohong stood dumbfounded in mid-air, her beautiful face pale with fright, her spirit on the verge of collapse, her body trembling, her Soul trembling. She felt as if she had fallen into a void without sky or earth, only Darkness, only Death, endlessly falling. In terror, she asked, "This is...
What kind of Great Spirit Might is this?"
"Some call it the Apocalyptic Judgment. Others call it the Dark Verdict. Still others call it the Silence of Death. And some call it the Avici Hell. But..." Gu Qingfeng took a step, shrinking the earth to an inch, and appeared before Chu Jiaohong. With a faint smile, he said, "I like to call it the Twilight of the Gods."
As his words fell, the rainbow light filling the sky vanished without a trace. The countless Vermilion Birds turned to ashes in an instant, never to revive again. Chu Jiaohong's essence, energy, and spirit seemed to be drained in a flash as she collapsed to the ground, unable to stand up. Fearfully, she asked, "You...
What exactly are you..."
"Me?
Like you, not Human."
"Then what are you?"
"A God."