Silence.
Stillness.
A deathly hush.
At this moment, no one in the Trial Grounds spoke. Everyone was either wide-eyed, mouths agape, brows furrowed, dumbfounded in disbelief, or looking around in shock and horror.
Huang Yao surrendering was already surprising enough.
But now, even Li Qiandong and Mu Zibai had surrendered...
If Huang Yao had lost to Gu Qingfeng earlier, could it be that Li Qiandong and even Mu Zibai had also lost to Gu Qingfeng?
Was that possible?
No matter how they thought about it, it seemed impossible!
After all, everyone had witnessed the strength of these three. And what did Gu Qingfeng have besides a robust physical body?
Even if his physical body was strong enough to defeat Li Qiandong and Huang Yao, no one would believe he could defeat Mu Zibai.
Everyone knew Mu Zibai possessed a Color Spirit Root. This kind of root came with a Color Spirit Guard. For an ordinary cultivator, even a True Person who had established their true form would find it extremely difficult to harm him, let alone the fact that Mu Zibai's cultivation and immortal arts were both outstanding.
How could he possibly be defeated?
Looking at the three kneeling figures—Huang Yao, Li Qiandong, and Mu Zibai.
These three were the Chief Disciples of Yunxia Sect.
Yet now they knelt on the ground, terrified, their faces deathly pale, their bodies trembling uncontrollably.
This scene was truly bizarre to everyone present.
Taking a step back, even if the three had been defeated, why would they be this afraid?
To be so frightened by a single angry shout from Gu Qingfeng that they collapsed and knelt... this was simply...
"Well?"
Gu Qingfeng stood on the Trial Platform, hands clasped behind his back, his expression still calm, yet a calm tinged with simmering anger. His voice was no longer as gentle as before, turning sharp, domineering, and forceful as he stared at True Person Feixue and demanded, "Huang Yao doesn't count? Do these two count?"
True Person Feixue's cold, proud face alternated between green and pale, her expression ugly. Beside her, Ouyang Ye stood frozen like a statue, her small mouth slightly open as if unable to believe it.
"You all..." Gu Qingfeng's cold, sharp gaze swept over the Elders on the platform as he questioned, "Does anyone else have any objections?"
Who had objections?
No one had objections.
Three Chief Disciples, even the foremost Chief Disciple Mu Zibai, had been scared into paralysis and surrendered voluntarily. Who could possibly object?
"Gu... Gu Qingfeng."
Perhaps shocked by the scene before him, Elder Rende's voice sounded strange as he said, "Since Mu Zibai and the other two have voluntarily surrendered... in principle, your promotion to Chief Disciple should be without issue. However, this matter is too peculiar. When did you fight them? What were the circumstances of the fight? Was there any external interference? We know none of this..." As soon as Elder Rende spoke, True Person Feixue immediately questioned, "We all know that a mutated constitution caused by a failed Foundation Establishment is indeed strong, but it's only slightly stronger than an ordinary person. To say he could defeat Mu Zibai—I'm the first to disbelieve it."
True Person Guangyuan snorted coldly. "I don't believe it either. He must have relied on some powerful magic treasure, or used some formation trap to harm Mu Zibai."
Li Ziheng said gravely, "Without external interference, how could someone like him hope to defeat Mu Zibai? This matter is definitely suspicious!"
The implication behind the words of Elder Rende and the others was clear: they were hinting that Gu Qingfeng must have relied on external means—perhaps a magic treasure, perhaps a formation trap, etc.—otherwise, he couldn't possibly have defeated Mu Zibai.
"Gu Qingfeng, it's not that we have objections to you specifically. It's just that this matter has too many suspicious aspects. If I were to let you be promoted to Chief Disciple today, I fear it would be unfair and fail to convince the public."
As his words fell, Gu Qingfeng, standing on the Trial Platform, suddenly burst into loud laughter.
"Hahahahahaha...!"
"External interference? Hahaha!"
"Powerful magic treasure? Hahaha!"
"Formation trap? Hahaha!"
"Unfair? Hahaha!"
"Fail to convince the public? Hahaha!"
Gu Qingfeng's laughter was exceedingly unrestrained.
Exceedingly arrogant, exceedingly unruly, exceedingly disdainful.
As his laughter ceased, his eyes, originally narrowed, gradually opened. A faint smile curved his lips as he swept his gaze over the people on the platform. Without speaking, he looked at the remaining nine Chief Disciples below the stage, pointed at them, and said, "You're a Chief Disciple, right? Come up!"
"You're also a Chief Disciple, right? Come up!"
"You! You! And you! All nine remaining Chief Disciples, come up here."
What was he doing?
Was he going to challenge the remaining nine Chief Disciples alone?
"What's the matter? Too scared?"
Gu Qingfeng's expression was indifferent as he undid the buttons on his collar. His gaze fell on Li Zheng of the three Li brothers. "I remember you. You're from the Li family, right? You told Huang Yao earlier to go easy on me, saying you had unresolved personal grievances with me. Come, I'll give you that chance now."
"You!"
Li Zheng stood up, his expression also somewhat panicked.
Yes.
Panicked.
He wasn't afraid of Gu Qingfeng, but not being afraid was one thing. Seeing Mu Zibai, Huang Yao, and Li Qiandong scared into kneeling on the spot by Gu Qingfeng's angry shout made him wary in his heart.
After undoing his collar buttons, he rolled up his sleeves. Looking at Li Zheng, he said, "What? Too scared?"
"You think I'm afraid of you?"
Li Zheng took a deep breath, feigning calm, but his heart was in turmoil.
Should he accept the challenge or not?
Mu Zibai kneeling there made him dare not accept.
But if he didn't accept, where would his face be?
Moreover, Li Zheng also found it hard to believe that this person before him could truly defeat Mu Zibai by his own ability.
Weighing his options, he gritted his teeth and shouted, "I'll see just what abilities you have!"
As his words fell, Li Zheng leaped into the air. Knowing Gu Qingfeng was strange, he didn't dare underestimate his opponent. The moment he leaped, he immediately summoned his Color Spirit Guard. Multicolored light erupted wildly around him as he circulated the spiritual power within his body. His arms swung fiercely, and various brilliant lights surged forth like raging waves, incredibly fierce.
This was the martial art Raging Waves, and the Raging Waves Li Zheng unleashed was at the Peak of Seven-Nine Realm, containing a full sixty-three waves of force.
This was his full-power strike.
Gu Qingfeng didn't wait for him to attack. He took a large step forward and kicked out. *Boom!*
Li Zheng's Peak Seven-Nine Realm Raging Waves instantly disintegrated, and along with it, his Color Spirit Guard shattered. Li Zheng didn't even have time to grunt before he was sent flying sideways by that kick, landing on the ground with blood flowing from all seven orifices, unconscious like a dead dog.
One kick.
A very pure kick, without any spiritual power, just pure leg technique.
Li Zheng's full-power Raging Waves disintegrated, his Color Spirit Guard shattered, he bled from all seven orifices, was completely defeated, and fell unconscious.
Silence.
Again, a deathly silence.
This scene was too sudden, too insane, too unbelievable.
No one had imagined that Li Zheng, at the ninth layer of Foundation Establishment, possessing a Color Spirit Guard, the second-ranked Chief Disciple, would be kicked unconscious on the spot by Gu Qingfeng without even putting up a struggle.
Looking at Li Zheng lying on the ground like a dead dog, then at the kneeling Mu Zibai, Huang Yao, and Li Qiandong...
At this moment, everyone finally understood why those three had surrendered, why they were so afraid.
This person was too savage, too ferocious!
The force of a single kick could instantly shatter a Color Spirit Guard. How could that not be terrifying? How could that not inspire fear?
Gu Qingfeng turned around, glaring furiously at the Elders on the platform, and roared.
"Did I rely on external interference?"
"Did I rely on a powerful magic treasure?"
"Did I set up a formation trap?"
Gu Qingfeng fired three questions in succession, leaving everyone on the platform unable to refute, because they had all seen clearly—Gu Qingfeng hadn't used any external means. Not only had he not used any external means, he hadn't even used any spiritual power.
"Convince the public? Does it convince the public now?"
Gu Qingfeng issued another question.
The expressions of the Elders on the platform grew uglier by the moment, rendered speechless by the questions.
Gu Qingfeng's expression was cold and sharp, his gaze domineering and absolute as he looked at the Elders on the platform and roared, "Sitting up there looking all dignified and proper! The young ones scheme and fight, blinded by profit! The old ones flaunt their seniority, stubborn and foolish! No real ability to speak of, yet every one of you is a real piece of work!"
"Outrageous!"
"How dare you!"
"Arrogant fool! What did you say!"
On the high platform, the Elders were furious and humiliated. Even Elder Rende trembled with rage.
"Outrageous? If it weren't for that old codger Huode repeatedly telling me not to cause trouble, I'd have long since slaughtered every last one of you little brats!"
Gu Qingfeng's originally still, dark eyes suddenly churned like a raging tsunami. He pointed at the Elders on the platform and disdainfully roared, "Don't hold back! If anyone's unconvinced, just roll on down here."