It Turns Out the System Gave Too Much

Gu Qingfeng leaped forward, standing before the crowd.

The onlookers couldn’t help but cast sidelong glances at this newcomer who had unexpectedly joined the competition.

Their impression of Gu Qingfeng still lingered on his frenzied performance in the Eternal Dream. Beyond that, they knew little about him.

After all, since joining the Dark Realm, Gu Qingfeng had mostly secluded himself in the Scripture Pavilion, rarely interacting with others.

What surprised them was that this newcomer also possessed a Celestial Anomaly Physique—though no one knew exactly what kind it was.

Wei Guyun and Jue Mingzi reacted differently upon seeing another competitor step forward.

Wei Guyun was brimming with hostility, while Jue Mingzi wore an awkward expression, avoiding direct eye contact with Gu Qingfeng—mainly because, moments earlier, Gu Qingfeng had been the one cursing him the loudest.

Jue Mingzi feared that Gu Qingfeng might hurl a few more harsh words his way, which would truly leave him humiliated.

After a while, no one else stepped forward.

It wasn’t that the Dark Realm had only these few Celestial Anomaly Physiques—there were actually two more. However, one was a woman, and the other already had a Dao Companion.

Said Dao Companion clung tightly to his arm, her eyes fierce yet her smile gentle. She said nothing, but her silent message was clear.

Thus, the final contestants were Gu Qingfeng, Jue Mingzi, and Wei Guyun.

This also highlighted just how rare Celestial Anomaly Physiques were—even in the Dark Realm, a place teeming with powerful figures, only a handful existed.

The Dark Emperor watched the three calmly, her autumn-like eyes as still as an ancient well, as if she had never cared about who her husband would be.

Her sole purpose was to preserve the flame of humanity. As for her own happiness? She had never considered it. Until the crisis of humanity was resolved, everything else was but an illusion.

"How does the Dark Emperor wish to conduct the selection?" Wei Guyun was the first to lose patience and ask.

After a brief pause, the Dark Emperor waved her jade-like hand, summoning a stone tablet covered in intricate patterns before the crowd.

"First, we test for authenticity. This tablet can verify whether your Celestial Anomaly Physiques are genuine, lest anyone attempt to deceive."

Though indifferent to her own happiness, the Dark Emperor was no fool. She wouldn’t just take anyone’s word for it—verification was necessary.

At the sight of the tablet, Wei Guyun wore a look of pride, clearly confident in his claim.

Jue Mingzi remained composed, stroking his graying beard with an air of certainty.

Only Gu Qingfeng, though outwardly calm, felt a pang of unease.

Damn it, where’s the trust between people?

I treat you as my wife, and you can’t even give me that much faith?

Now he could only pray that his Fire God Physique, Wind God Physique, and Indestructible Demon Dragon Physique—three systems-granted constitutions—would prove at least one of them to be a Celestial Anomaly Physique.

If not… well, then Jue Mingzi and Wei Guyun would just have to die.

If I can’t have her, no one else will.

No questions asked—that’s just how domineering he was. If not for the fact that he still couldn’t defeat the Dark Emperor, he would’ve already taken her by force.

From modern films and literature, Gu Qingfeng had seen too many tragic love stories where hesitant, indecisive couples ended up losing everything.

Now that it was his turn, why bother with hesitation? Seize the opportunity first.

Once he had her, let the world burn—he wouldn’t care!

"Who will go first?" the Dark Emperor asked impassively.

"This old man shall." Jue Mingzi strode forward without hesitation.

After being the subject of gossip earlier, he was eager to prove himself, to show the crowd just how formidable his Myriad Phantasm Spirit Physique truly was—and hopefully silence the critics.

Wei Guyun, who had been about to step forward, retracted his foot with a displeased frown.

Gu Qingfeng, however, was fine with it. This way, he could observe how the tablet worked and prepare accordingly.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Jue Mingzi placed his palm lightly on the tablet.

Instantly, the intricate patterns on the stone came alive, swirling like flowing water. Suddenly, a vision emerged from the tablet, spreading across the entire hall in the blink of an eye.

Flowers, trees, mountains, rivers, birds, beasts, fish, insects…

Countless manifestations of nature materialized, vivid and lifelike. The ambient spiritual energy grew restless, filling the space.

For a moment, everyone felt as though they had been transported to a breathtakingly beautiful mountain forest, invigorated and enchanted.

"Truly worthy of the legendary Myriad Phantasm Spirit Physique!" someone exclaimed in admiration.

"They say this physique is the most suited for spellcasting, granting unparalleled affinity with the world. Any spell can be cast effortlessly, with amplified power. I once thought it an exaggeration, but now I see it’s absolutely true."

Hearing the praise, Jue Mingzi couldn’t help but feel a flicker of pride.

Though old, his physique was undoubtedly top-tier.

"Enough," the Dark Emperor said, her expression still unreadable. "Next."

Jue Mingzi withdrew his hand, and the visions dissipated as he returned to his place.

"My turn!" Wei Guyun stepped forward eagerly, like a lovesick youth desperate to impress his beloved.

For a cultivator of his caliber, such behavior was unbecoming—but love had a way of unsettling even the most composed men. When faced with someone they admired, they couldn’t help but yearn to stand out.

Wei Guyun pressed his palm against the tablet—and in an instant, a towering sword aura erupted from it, piercing the heavens!

A crisp shing echoed as the tablet’s vision manifested: a colossal sword of peerless sharpness hovering above, its edge radiating a pressure so intense that onlookers felt as though blades were pressed against their skin.

At this moment, Wei Guyun seemed to embody the very essence of a transcendent sword immortal—aloof and peerless.

"What an extraordinary Innate Sword Physique!" someone praised.

"Sword cultivators are renowned for their offensive prowess, and with this physique, his edge is truly unmatched!"

Wei Guyun turned, casting a triumphant and challenging glance at Gu Qingfeng and Jue Mingzi, as if declaring his inevitable victory.

Jue Mingzi’s expression turned solemn at the sight of the soaring sword aura.

Gu Qingfeng, however, sighed inwardly.

You two bastards better hope I have a Celestial Anomaly Physique too. Otherwise, today will be your death anniversary.

As for whether he could defeat them—Gu Qingfeng scoffed at the thought. Right now, in the entire Dark Realm, only the Dark Emperor was beyond him. Everyone else was fair game.

The Dark Emperor was simply too overpowered—generational effort had made her unbeatable for now.

"Next," the Dark Emperor’s cool voice rang out once more.

Under the crowd’s gaze, Gu Qingfeng walked slowly toward the tablet and stood before it.

After a brief pause, he steeled himself and placed his hand upon it.

Damn it. If this tablet doesn’t give me face, I’ll destroy it—and then you two.

As Gu Qingfeng's hand touched the stone stele, it suddenly fell into complete silence.

Unlike the flowing runes that had appeared for the previous two individuals, the symbols now seemed lifeless, utterly motionless.

Oh no!

Gu Qingfeng's heart sank.

At that moment, murmurs erupted from the crowd.

"No reaction? Could it be that he doesn’t possess a Heavenly Fate Physique at all?"

"How dare he participate in the selection without one? What a farce!"

"Blinded by lust, I say!"

Just as the Dark Emperor's delicate brows furrowed slightly, her gaze fixed on Gu Qingfeng and the stele, she was about to speak—when suddenly, a shocking transformation occurred!

The stele seemed to malfunction, its strange runes surging wildly in chaotic, erratic patterns, like a computer screen flooded with garbled code.

Gu Qingfeng was equally baffled by the stele's erratic behavior.

What the hell is going on!?

Do I have a Heavenly Fate Physique or not? Give me a straight answer, damn it! Why the theatrics!?

The crowd gasped in astonishment, their eyes glued to the malfunctioning stele, utterly clueless about what was happening.

The next moment—

Boom!

A deafening explosion of flames erupted!

The runes on the stele froze abruptly, replaced by countless fiery phenomena manifesting before their eyes.

Everyone present felt an overwhelming wave of scorching heat sweep through the hall, transforming the entire grand chamber into a sea of surreal flames.

Amidst the sea of fire, a golden lotus bloomed!

Bathed in the inferno, the lotus shimmered brilliantly, like a crimson sun rising in splendor.

"A golden lotus born from flames! What kind of physique is this?!" someone exclaimed.

"Look! There’s something inside the lotus!"

All eyes turned to the golden lotus—including Gu Qingfeng’s, though he was still trying to make sense of the situation. Deep down, however, he had an inkling.

Under the collective gaze, the lotus slowly unfurled its petals, revealing a divine figure composed entirely of flames.

This deity, shrouded in golden fire, vaguely humanoid yet faceless, towered like a colossus, as if holding up the heavens.

With the appearance of the flame deity, the heat in the hall intensified threefold. The air itself seemed to burn, the endless flames roaring with the fury to incinerate all creation.

"This physique resembles the Fire Spirit Physique among the Heavenly Fate Physiques, but its power far surpasses it."

"This isn’t the Fire Spirit Physique—it’s the Fire God Physique, a higher-tier existence!"

"What?! The legendary Fire God Physique—the ultimate mastery over flames, revered as the sovereign of all fire?"

Hearing the crowd’s exclamations, Gu Qingfeng froze. Only now did he realize just how formidable the Fire God Physique he had obtained through the system truly was. Judging by their reactions, it seemed even more powerful than the Myriad Forms Spirit Physique and the Innate Sword Physique.

To be honest, after acquiring the Indestructible Demon Dragon Physique, Gu Qingfeng had long dismissed the Fire God Physique and Wind God Physique as insignificant. After all, what were they? Just control over fire and wind—how could they compare to raw physical strength?

But now, he understood the true might of the Fire God Physique, which he had overlooked all this time.

Take the simplest example: the Innate Sword Physique was powerful, but could it render him immune to all sword attacks? Could it seize control of an enemy’s blade mid-strike?

No. Its only functions were enhancing sword-based talent and amplifying the power of sword techniques.

But the Fire God Physique could!

It granted immunity to all flame-based damage and allowed him to command all fire in the world like a true deity—let alone the obvious boost to fire-based abilities.

Then there was the Myriad Forms Spirit Physique. While it enhanced spellcasting versatility and potency, could it nullify incoming spells or manipulate an opponent’s magic?

Clearly not!

In this light, the superiority of the Fire God Physique became undeniable.

So, it wasn’t that the Fire God Physique was weak—it was just that the system had spoiled him with so many gifts that it had been overshadowed.

Back then, even the transitional Fire Spirit Physique had been considered a Heavenly Fate Physique, while the Fire God Physique was its advanced, rarer counterpart.

If that was the case...

What about the Wind God Physique?

And the Indestructible Demon Dragon Physique?

Gu Qingfeng’s mind reeled. For the first time, he wondered—could the stele’s malfunction have been caused by the sheer number of supreme physiques he possessed?