Selfless Devotion for the Sake of Others: A Tribute to Gu Qingfeng

The second trial.

The group arrived at a mountain forest, where emerald peaks rose sharply, and azure mist piled up like clouds. Streams flowed gently, waterfalls cascaded, and dense trees competed in their splendor, creating a scene as majestic and breathtaking as an ink-wash painting.

"What a beautiful view," a woman in the crowd couldn't help but exclaim.

"I've long heard that the location of the second trial is a wonder of the mortal world. Seeing it today, it truly lives up to its reputation."

"Hmph, the scenery is nice, but it hides deadly dangers."

Just as the crowd was marveling at the sight, the voice of the guardian spirit of the secret realm echoed once more from the void.

"The second trial tests your soul perception. There are a hundred spirit guides hidden throughout this area. These spirit guides are elusive, and only those with formidable souls can sense their locations. Those who obtain a spirit guide may pass through the light gate and proceed to the next trial."

As soon as the guardian spirit finished speaking, the crowd scattered in an instant. Everyone dashed into action, weaving through the mountains and forests in search of the spirit guides.

The participants were already well aware of the second trial's requirements, so they wasted no time and began searching immediately.

After all, there were only a hundred spirit guides, but thousands of people had entered the second trial. This meant that only a hundred could advance, and the majority would be eliminated. No one wanted to be left behind, so there was no time to waste.

Gu Qingfeng watched as the others sprang into action, but he himself was in no hurry. Instead, he wore an expression of keen interest.

"A test of soul power? Heh, I think it's more of a test of strength. Interesting."

Obtaining a spirit guide didn't guarantee immediate passage. One had to carry the spirit guide through the light gate to proceed to the next trial. This created a time gap, and in that gap, many things could happen.

With only a hundred spirit guides, what would those who failed to find one do? Simply give up? Unlikely. They would have no choice but to resort to stealing!

As the saying goes, snatching someone's opportunity is akin to killing their parents. In the process of seizing spirit guides, countless lives would undoubtedly be lost.

This was why Gu Qingfeng believed that while the second trial ostensibly tested soul power, it was more about testing strength. Those without sufficient strength might find a spirit guide but would be unable to keep it.

"Ah, well. Who am I to let others lose their lives so easily? Saving a life is more meritorious than building a seven-tiered pagoda. To prevent you all from beating each other's brains out over these spirit guides, I suppose I'll bear this burden alone. Such is the selfless and altruistic nature of my character."

With that, Gu Qingfeng unleashed his overwhelmingly powerful soul force, which far surpassed even the peak of the Dragon Transformation Realm. In an instant, his soul force enveloped the entire area. Under such a level of soul perception, all hundred spirit guides were laid bare.

The spirit guides possessed a natural concealment ability, hiding themselves extremely well. Those with weaker souls wouldn't even be able to detect them.

But for Gu Qingfeng, this was no issue at all. Under his soul force, the spirit guides stood out as clearly as the moon in the night sky.

At times, he even wondered if the Jade Dragon Secret Realm had been tailor-made for him. Why else would every trial test his specialties?

But upon further reflection, he realized it wasn't that the trials were designed for him—it was simply that he excelled in every aspect, making every trial feel custom-made.

Suddenly, Gu Qingfeng moved. His figure transformed into a blur as he darted into the shadows of the forest.

Shifting Shadows Technique!

Swish, swish, swish!

In the span of a second, over a dozen spirit guides were in his hands.

Gu Qingfeng examined the spirit guides, which were about the size of copper coins. He noticed that they seemed to be made of a combination of soul power and a special type of jade. They were milky white and semi-transparent, with tiny arrays inscribed inside that blocked perception. Additionally, they emitted a unique frequency of soul power.

Sensing this unique frequency, Gu Qingfeng realized that it must be the key to passing through the light gate. With his level of soul power, he could easily mimic this frequency and pass through the gate without needing a spirit guide.

This worked out perfectly. He didn't need to keep any for himself and could sell the extras for a tidy profit.

Swish, swish, swish...

Gu Qingfeng's ghostly figure flickered through the mountain forest at incredible speed. One by one, the spirit guides fell into his hands, while the other prodigies remained completely oblivious to his presence. Some didn't even notice when he brushed past them.

It couldn't be helped—the gap in strength was simply too vast. With his current power, Gu Qingfeng could snap the necks of everyone present in the blink of an eye without anyone noticing, let alone detect his movements.

......

"What's going on!? I clearly sensed a spirit guide here, so why did it disappear in the blink of an eye?"

In the forest, a prodigy from the Zhenwu Sect stared in disbelief at a hollow tree trunk. He had distinctly sensed a spirit guide hidden inside, and he had even seen it as he approached. But just as he reached in to grab it, a gentle breeze swept by, and his hand came up empty.

"This is ridiculous! Did the spirit guide grow legs and run away?"

The Zhenwu Sect prodigy wasn't the only one experiencing such a phenomenon. In various corners of the forest, others were having similar encounters.

Several prodigies had sensed spirit guides, only to find them mysteriously vanish upon arrival. Some even had spirit guides in their hands, but after a light breeze, the guides were gone!

A few breaths later, Gu Qingfeng appeared before the light gate, blocking the entrance.

In front of him lay ninety-nine spirit guides.

The hundredth was in the hands of Li Xiaocui.

Gu Qingfeng stroked his chin thoughtfully. Li Xiaocui was indeed no ordinary person. She had almost immediately found a spirit guide, and just as he was about to snatch it, she had anticipated his move and stored it in her spatial ring. She certainly had some skills.

As he pondered this, Gu Qingfeng pulled out a spatial ring. With his formidable soul power, he effortlessly erased the imprint on the ring, opened it, and retrieved the final spirit guide, placing it alongside the others.

"Give it back!"

Li Xiaocui emerged from the forest with a cold expression, her delicate, fair hand extended toward Gu Qingfeng.

Gu Qingfeng looked at her with feigned confusion. "Give what back?"

"My spatial ring!" Li Xiaocui gritted her teeth, clearly at her wit's end.

Gu Qingfeng glanced down at the ring in his hand and feigned surprise. "Oh, this is yours? I was wondering who would be so careless as to litter in a scenic area. Turns out it was you."

Li Xiaocui's face grew darker by the second.

"Here, take it. Lucky for you, it was picked up by an upstanding, honest citizen like me. Anyone else might not have returned it."

Gu Qingfeng tossed the spatial ring back to Li Xiaocui.

With a grim expression, Li Xiaocui took the ring and checked its contents. Aside from the missing spirit guide, everything else was intact.

She extended her small, fair hand again. "The spirit guide!"

Her dark expression, paired with her doll-like face, made her look like a sulking porcelain doll.