The Annoying Fly

The resounding echoes spread throughout the immortal island's cave abode, as dark clouds blotted out the morning sun!

Gu Qingcheng stood atop the clouds, his eyes bloodshot, his hair wildly disheveled. His once-refined and handsome face was now marred by exhaustion, his gaze filled with ruthless fury. A terrifying aura of power enveloped the heavens and earth.

Below, the cave mansions and palaces began to crack, the earth trembling violently. The wrath of a Saint brought devastation—servants scrambled in chaos, immortal beasts fled in panic, as if the apocalypse had descended...

Ripples stirred in the air.

Two graceful figures appeared, their voices ringing out sharply.

"Gu Qingcheng!"

The shout made Gu Qingcheng narrow his eyes. Recognizing the newcomers, he sneered coldly.

"So, you’ve found someone to back you up. No wonder you dare to treat me like this. Hmph! Bai Piaopiao, if you think Su Jie’s support is enough to intimidate this Saint, you sorely underestimate me!"

"Today, if you don’t give me a proper explanation, my Gu Clan will not let this matter rest!"

Despite his disheveled appearance, his once-magnificent robes now in tatters, Gu Qingcheng radiated an unyielding ferocity, shedding all pretense of civility. His eyes brimmed with venomous malice, enough to make anyone wary.

This ancient clan’s Saint, humiliated beyond measure, was determined to reclaim his dignity!

Yet, as his furious figure reflected in the eyes of Bai Piaopiao and Su Jie, it stirred no ripple of fear. The two women exchanged a glance, their gazes laced with faint amusement.

In the past, such thunderous rage might have given them pause. But now, with Yi Feng’s overwhelming strength, if a fight truly broke out, Gu Qingcheng would be in for a rude awakening.

Seeing Gu Qingcheng’s aura surge, his refusal to back down evident, Su Jie took a step forward, standing firm in the air as she spoke solemnly.

"Gu Qingcheng, I advise you to leave now. Otherwise, you’ll regret it."

Gu Qingcheng paused, then burst into arrogant laughter.

"Hahaha!"

"Su Jie! Don’t overestimate yourself! Bai Piaopiao humiliated me first, trapping me in the Great Desolate Seven Extremities Formation for seven days. If this matter escalates, even you alone cannot withstand the wrath of my Gu Clan!"

"I’ve shown you courtesy in the past, but today, in the face of my fury, if you still refuse to recognize your place, can you bear the consequences?"

"Hmm?!"

Gu Qingcheng’s words remained as domineering as ever, bordering on delusional arrogance. He spoke only of his own humiliation, never acknowledging his past harassment and tyranny—a hypocrite to the core, a far cry from the refined gentleman he once pretended to be.

Now, he had completely cast aside his facade of grace.

Su Jie’s eyes flickered with resignation, knowing there was no reasoning with this ancient clan’s spoiled heir.

She glanced at Bai Piaopiao, transmitting a silent message through divine sense.

"You try talking to him. It’s best to end this here."

Understanding her intent, Bai Piaopiao spoke with forced patience, for the sake of peace.

"Gu Qingcheng, this matter began because of me. If you’re still resentful, I’m willing to offer compensation another day. How does that sound?"

For a Saint to offer amends was already a significant concession. Bai Piaopiao’s words were meant to spare Gu Qingcheng’s pride.

Yet, Gu Qingcheng only smirked with a knowing arrogance, growing even more overbearing.

"Hmph! You wretched woman!"

"I showed you unparalleled kindness, granting you affections others could only dream of, and yet you side with that trash! Now you pretend to be conciliatory? You’re just afraid I’ll kill that worthless fool!"

"Now you’re scared? Too late!"

His voice was laced with venom, all traces of his former elegance gone.

Su Jie’s gaze turned frosty, and even Bai Piaopiao’s expression darkened. The two women exchanged another look, abandoning any further attempts at mediation—though the mockery in their eyes only deepened.

Seeing their silence, Gu Qingcheng’s arrogance swelled, his confidence unshaken.

"What’s wrong?"

"Cat got your tongues now that I’ve seen through your schemes?! I attained enlightenment through chess—my strategies surpass all under heaven! How dare you play such petty tricks before me? Ridiculous!"

Bai Piaopiao sneered inwardly.

This ancient clan’s young master was truly narcissistic and delusional, so accustomed to bullying the weak that he believed the world revolved around him. He had no idea there were heights beyond his comprehension.

She wasn’t worried about Yi Feng’s safety—he had withstood Su Jie’s full-powered strike. Dealing with Gu Qingcheng, who had already lost to Su Jie, would be child’s play.

No, her concern was that Yi Feng might go too far and kill this spoiled Chess Saint, escalating the situation and bringing trouble upon himself.

How could Gu Qingcheng be so blind to reason?

Bai Piaopiao had seen enough—Gu Qingcheng’s arrogance was incurable. As conflict loomed, her eyes filled with resignation.

"Utterly ungrateful."

Su Jie, too, had no more patience left. She sighed at Bai Piaopiao.

"Enough."

"If he’s so confident, let him challenge Yi Feng. Sometimes, a hard lesson is the only way. We’ve done all we can."

Their voices were soft, but Gu Qingcheng, as a Saint, heard every word.

Watching them feign helplessness, he laughed in sheer disbelief, as if hearing the greatest joke of all.

"Heh..."

"Hahaha!"

"How amusing! Truly amusing! I, Gu Qingcheng, have roamed the realms for millennia, encountering countless so-called prodigies. In terms of talent and cultivation, few have ever caught my attention."

"And now, you hold up some trash as if he’s a peerless expert? Putting on such an act, as if he’s anything special? This is beyond hilarious!"

"Yi Feng, is it? Fine! Let’s see who’s the one who’ll suffer!"

His hair wild, his eyes burning with malice, Gu Qingcheng roared across the heavens!

"Yi Feng! Come out and face your death!!!"

The thunderous shout, infused with the power of the Great Dao, shook the entire cave abode, sending immortal beasts cowering in fear!

In a courtyard below.

Yi Feng stumbled out, dark circles under his eyes. After a night of soul-searching and existential pondering, he had barely managed to sleep at dawn. Now, he was still groggy.

Though he now possessed cultivation, his old slacker habits were hard to break. The sudden disruption to his routine left him disoriented, and the early disturbance only worsened his mood.

Bewildered, he stepped out of the courtyard, his eyes dull with exhaustion—but more striking was the indescribable melancholy weighing on him, as if life itself had lost all meaning. From a distance, he looked like a dazed, hopeless youth, devoid of any imposing presence.

Blinking blankly, he scanned his surroundings.

Had someone called for him? Where were they? Ah, never mind… it probably didn’t matter anymore.

His face was the picture of despair, like a weary old man.

Looking down at that clueless, lifeless expression—the dead-fish eyes even more pitiful than before—Gu Qingcheng scoffed, his disdain growing.

"This is the trash you fear will make me suffer? You must be out of your minds! Trying to scare me off with such nonsense? Pathetic!"

His fury flared as he stood with his hands behind his back, arrogance at its peak.

"For the sake of this insignificant ant, I’ve been reduced to this state. His wretched life is the only fitting compensation for my mercy!"

With that, Gu Qingcheng raised two fingers.

A Saint’s sword materialized from the void—and shot forth like lightning!

With a casual wave of his hand, a sacred artifact was summoned—such was the profound heritage of the ancient clan. Yet, this effortless display did not unsettle Bai Piaopiao or Su Jie in the slightest; they merely sighed inwardly with pity.

Gu Qingcheng truly regarded all beneath his notice, acting with such reckless abandon.

Under the silent gazes of the two women, the sacred sword shot forth like a meteor, its terrifying hum resonating through the air. Though it paled in comparison to Su Jie's strike, its momentum was still awe-inspiring!

Seeing the sword hurtling toward him, Yi Feng grew even more irritated. Having already withstood a blow from Su Jie, he had no patience to entertain some pretty-faced fool. Instinctively, he swung his hand forward!

A single slap sent a surging wave of energy erupting in an instant!

"BOOM!!!"

The terrifying force took shape, howling like a gale as it tore toward the heavens, resembling an endless tidal wave crashing forth!

The overwhelming surge blotted out the sky, and the sacred sword, flying toward it, was like a lone leaf swallowed by the sea!

In the blink of an eye, it was utterly devoured by the raging tide, not a glimmer of light remaining. Yet the torrent showed no signs of stopping, mercilessly engulfing even Gu Qingcheng in an instant!

"ARGHHH—!!!"

A blood-curdling shriek echoed through the cavern!

Bai Piaopiao and Su Jie stood frozen mid-air, their clear eyes trembling uncontrollably.

Too strong…

A mere casual strike had reached such an inconceivable level of power!