To be frank, all of you here...

Gu Qingfeng calmly observed everything, his heart undisturbed.

He understood human nature well, knowing that while some people had ulterior motives, most simply didn't want to see him win.

Because of jealousy!

They were jealous that he possessed a Spirit Weapon.

Jealous that he could obtain the position of Yellow-rank Demon Eliminator thanks to his Spirit Weapon.

They believed that without his Spirit Weapon, Gu Qingfeng was nothing.

"Enough." He Fenghua stopped the crowd's condemnation.

"Gu Qingfeng, what do you have to say?"

He Fenghua's expression was calm, but his eyes carried a look of contempt from above, as if mocking Gu Qingfeng for previously refusing his offer.

Gu Qingfeng smiled: "You all think I can only win with my Spirit Weapon, but little do you know, I simply didn't want to crush your confidence too much.

After all, when I win with my Spirit Weapon, you can console yourselves by saying you lost to the weapon. But if I win without it, I'm afraid you couldn't handle losing to someone at Qi Gathering Third Level!"

Hearing Gu Qingfeng's arrogant words, everyone's first reaction was that he had gone mad.

Someone at Qi Gathering Ninth Level losing to someone at Qi Gathering Third Level?

Absolutely preposterous!

"Hahaha! Did I hear that right? This kid is saying he can win without his Spirit Weapon?"

"Has defeating a few Qi Gathering Ninth Level practitioners with his Spirit Weapon made him think he could win with his own strength?"

"Without your Spirit Weapon, you're nothing! Such boasting!"

"Ah." Gu Qingfeng suddenly sighed, speaking softly: "I wanted to interact with you all as a normal person, but all I received was coldness and mockery. Fine, I'll stop pretending. Let me be honest - I've long been invincible in the Qi Gathering Realm!"

An eerie silence fell over the scene.

One second, two seconds...

Suddenly, the crowd burst into laughter.

"Hahaha... what did he say? He said he's invincible in the Qi Gathering Realm?"

"I'm dying of laughter, someone at Qi Gathering Third Level actually has the audacity to claim he's invincible?"

"How much have you had to drink?"

"Gu Qingfeng, are you agreeing to fight without your Spirit Weapon?" He Fenghua suddenly questioned.

Gu Qingfeng nodded and said calmly: "Pardon my directness, but everyone here, without exception, is trash! I'll win without the Spirit Weapon all the same!"

All trash!? Win all the same!?

Gu Qingfeng's arrogant words echoed in everyone's minds, triggering a wave of cursing.

How could they not be angry when someone at Qi Gathering Third Level called everyone trash?

Some even shouted for Hu Banqing to teach Gu Qingfeng a harsh lesson.

Seeing the situation getting out of control, the proctor stepped forward to calm the crowd.

"Quiet, everyone quiet, let the duel begin!"

"Brother Hu, beat him! Kill this ignorant piece of trash!"

"Yes! Beat him! Beat him hard!"

Looking at the angry crowd below, Hu Banqing's face broke into a sneer: "Gu Qingfeng, it seems your arrogance has angered everyone."

"Arrogance? I'm merely stating a fact."

A flash of anger crossed Hu Banqing's face. Stating a fact? Wasn't that calling him trash too?

"Fine! Today I'll see what's harder - your mouth or my fists!" Hu Banqing laughed in anger.

"Oh? I heard your specialty was swordplay, why switch to fists?" Gu Qingfeng said calmly.

"For you, I'd hate to dirty my sword. Take this!"

Hu Banqing didn't want to waste more words. His arm suddenly bent backward like a compressed spring, tensed to its limit.

Boom!

He threw his punch, his spring-like arm suddenly straightening, carrying tremendous kinetic energy and creating a sonic boom.

Before the fist arrived, its wind pressure reached first.

This punch carried enough force to split rocks and break stones.

Hu Banqing had clearly become truly angry, determined to beat Gu Qingfeng half to death.

Facing this mighty punch, Gu Qingfeng's lips curled in mockery, and instead of dodging, he thrust out his chest.

Seeking death!

A cold light flashed in Hu Banqing's eyes. He didn't care what trump card made Gu Qingfeng so confident; he only knew that in the Body Tempering Realm, no one could take his punch head-on without defense! No one!

The crowd seemed to already envision Gu Qingfeng being sent flying, blood splattering everywhere.

The next second!

Hu Banqing's fist slammed into Gu Qingfeng's chest!

Bang!

A tremendous sound shocked everyone present!

Following it came the sound of breaking bones and screams!

"Ahhhh!!!"

The piercing scream came from Hu Banqing's mouth.

"My hand! My hand!!!"

This scene directly stunned everyone!

All were dumbfounded, feeling as if they were hallucinating.

That mighty punch - Gu Qingfeng had taken it directly on his chest, yet his body hadn't moved an inch! He was completely unharmed!

In contrast, Hu Banqing was screaming like a dying man, clutching his right hand.

"How is this possible!" He Fenghua suddenly stood up from the judge's seat, looking at the scene in shock.

With his vast experience, he noticed the cyan-golden light emanating from Gu Qingfeng's chest and trembled violently!

He blurted out: "Iron Cloth Shirt mastered to perfection!"

At this moment, He Fenghua felt his common sense being challenged. He naturally knew about the Iron Cloth Shirt technique, as it was a common skill, and he had even practiced it in his youth.

Because of this, he understood the Iron Cloth Shirt too well - it was a thankless hard skill that required decades of bitter practice to master!

And the mark of mastery was that cyan-golden light!

But how old was Gu Qingfeng? Just a teenager - even counting the ten months in his mother's womb, it should have been impossible for him to master the Iron Cloth Shirt to perfection!

Could there really be such a genius at external martial arts in this world?

The crowd below erupted like boiling water!

This scene completely challenged their worldview.

"How is this possible! Gu Qingfeng is only at Qi Gathering Third Level! Third Level! How could he take a punch from someone at Qi Gathering Ninth Level and break their fist!?"

"It must be an illusion."

"Good heavens, who's really at Third Level and who's at Ninth Level? Did we get it backwards?"

Some spectators near the judge's seat heard He Fenghua's words and, seeing the cyan-golden light on Gu Qingfeng's chest, suddenly understood.

"This Gu Qingfeng has actually mastered the Iron Cloth Shirt to perfection, it's unbelievable!"

"What? Iron Cloth Shirt mastered to perfection?!"

"No wonder he could withstand Hu Banqing's punch, it's because he mastered the Iron Cloth Shirt."

"Is the Iron Cloth Shirt that powerful? It allows someone to fight six levels above their rank? I need to practice it when I get back."

"Powerful my foot, I've practiced the Iron Cloth Shirt before, it's just hard work, pure grinding. It's impossible to master without decades of practice."

"Then how did Gu Qingfeng master it?"

"You're asking me? Who should I ask?"

On the stage.

Gu Qingfeng ignored the shocked crowd below and calmly looked at the continuously screaming Hu Banqing, saying softly: "Feeling desperate?"

Hu Banqing's face was pale, cold sweat streaming down as he stammered: "Impossible! Impossible! You're only at Qi Gathering Third Level, how are you so tough!"

"Just mastery of the Iron Cloth Shirt, that's all. Want to learn? I can teach you."

Gu Qingfeng hadn't even used his Vajra Body, because there was no need - the perfected Iron Cloth Shirt alone meant no one in the Qi Gathering Realm could break through his defense.

"Damn you, bastard! I'll kill you!"

Hu Banqing endured the pain and actually drew his sword with his left hand.