Who Dares Claim Invincibility

A month later.

The desolate Rushing Mountain Gorge, once devoid of human presence, gradually grew lively.

Cultivators poured in from all directions—whether from renowned noble clans, obscure minor sects, or even lone wanderers—all converging here, eager to claim their share of the spoils.

However, there were only slightly over ten thousand Trial Tokens, yet the number of arrivals exceeded a hundred thousand.

It was easy to guess why those without tokens had come.

Battles erupted daily, with most lone wanderers and minor sects fighting tooth and nail, often leaving each other battered and bloody.

Of course, these conflicts mostly took place on the outskirts. The core area had long been occupied by the great noble clans and major sects.

Their territory was like a sacred sanctuary, untouched by the chaos outside. No one dared to approach, much less challenge them for their Trial Tokens.

The major factions gathered around the Hanging Mirror Lake within the gorge, each staking out their own territory. Some sat in meditation, while others engaged in conversation with friendly factions.

All were waiting for the moment the Hanging Sky Secret Realm would open.

Such a grand occasion naturally drew Gu Qingfeng as well.

After a month of refining, the Thirty-Six Genggold Sword Array was finally complete. With this formation in hand, Gu Qingfeng felt like shouting a challenge:

"Among those in the Divine Core Realm, who dares claim invincibility? Who dares speak of being undefeated?"

Though he had arrived, he didn’t venture into the core area. Instead, he lingered on the outskirts, scavenging the fallen.

While other cultivators fought like rabid dogs, he busied himself with mediating disputes—a charitable endeavor he had maintained for three days.

True to the principle that good deeds bring good fortune, he had reaped plentiful rewards, amassing over a dozen Trial Tokens.

Now, with the Hanging Sky Secret Realm about to open and the tokens soon to become worthless, he had begun selling them to "fated individuals."

Just as his business was booming, a sudden commotion erupted in the crowd.

Gu Qingfeng followed the noise and saw that the disturbance came from the north.

From the distance, a procession approached.

They carried a palanquin, moving slowly as if it were an ordinary outing for a wealthy young master—though no ordinary noble would dare venture here for leisure.

As they drew closer, the crowd noticed something strange.

The palanquin bearers all had ghastly pale faces and hollow eyes, devoid of any vitality—as if they were lifeless puppets.

They were zombies!

"The King of Hell travels—mortals, step aside!"

The zombies spoke in unison, their voices so hoarse it sent chills down the spine.

"Zombies carrying a palanquin! It’s the Little Yama King of the Hell’s Gate Sect!" someone exclaimed in shock.

At those words, those standing too close to the zombies scattered like frightened rabbits, desperate to avoid them.

The zombies halted, and the palanquin door opened.

A deathly pale, eerily handsome face emerged. The man wore blood-red robes, and before he even stepped out, a nauseating stench of blood filled the air. To look at him was to gaze upon a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood.

Gu Qingfeng’s eyes gleamed with excitement. "This guy’s aura is drenched in blood and death, and he travels with zombies—could he be some monstrous fiend?"

But when he activated his Truth-Seeking Eyes to inspect him, his enthusiasm deflated.

"Tch. Just a human."

Damn it!

Why was this guy putting on such an evil act? Zombie bearers? Blood-soaked robes? What a poser.

Just as Gu Qingfeng was scrutinizing him, the blood-robed man known as the Little Yama King suddenly turned his gaze in his direction, his sharp eyes locking onto the area.

Gu Qingfeng was slightly surprised. "Impressive perception."

He quickly deactivated his Truth-Seeking Eyes.

The Little Yama King frowned, losing his target in an instant. The area was crowded, making it impossible to pinpoint who had been spying on him.

Just as he was about to investigate further—

Hummm!

A chorus of sword hums suddenly rang out!

"What’s happening?! My sword is trembling!"

"It’s the swords—they’re wailing!"

Countless people stared in shock as their blades vibrated uncontrollably, all pointing in the same direction.

Following their guidance, the crowd turned to see a figure approaching from afar—a young man in plain blue robes, his face unremarkable, save for the thick black cloth wrapped tightly around his eyes.

On his back rested a sword—a divine blade whose overwhelming sword intent could not be contained even within its sheath.

As he walked, invisible sword energy radiated from him. Wherever he passed, stones and plants silently split apart, their severed surfaces smooth as mirrors.

"Black cloth over his eyes—it’s the Sword Maniac from the Sword Sect!"

"To think the Sword Sect would send him this time!"

"They say the Sword Maniac earned his name because of his obsession with the sword. He even gouged out his own eyes to cultivate the legendary Heart Sword technique. Seeing him today, the rumors don’t do him justice!"

Gasps of awe spread through the crowd.

Gu Qingfeng studied the Sword Maniac, his eyes immediately drawn to the sword on his back.

"A Quasi-Saint Weapon!"

Originally a supreme divine weapon, this blade had been nurtured by the Sword Maniac’s sword intent to the threshold of Sainthood—just half a step away from becoming a true Saint Weapon.

Once the Sword Maniac broke through to the Heavenly Human Realm, the sword would undergo a baptism of the Great Dao and fully ascend.

As a connoisseur of fine blades, Gu Qingfeng recognized its extraordinary nature at a glance.

He then noticed that the Sword Maniac wasn’t alone. Behind him followed four others—

The same four whose pictures he had taken earlier!

Now, their faces no longer bore the arrogance of before. Though they appeared calm, a trace of unease flickered in their eyes from time to time.

Gu Qingfeng wasn’t surprised to see them here. Even though he had robbed them of their Trial Tokens, with their strength, obtaining a few more would be child’s play.

After the arrival of the Sword Maniac and the Little Yama King, several other prodigies made their entrance, each causing a stir among the crowd.

Half an hour later—

The world’s spiritual energy suddenly boiled like water in a raging pot!

Splash—!

The Hanging Mirror Lake, around which everyone had gathered, began to churn violently.

In that instant, it felt as though heaven and earth had flipped. A dizzying blur later, the lake on the ground vanished without a trace.

Strangely, though the lake was gone, no crater remained—only a flat expanse of lush grass and blooming flowers, as if the lake had never existed.

Then, the sky dimmed slightly.

Gu Qingfeng looked up and froze.

Hanging in the sky was a mirror-smooth lake—

The very same Hanging Mirror Lake that had just been on the ground!

Its waters were crystal clear, shimmering under the light, with fish swimming freely within.

At that moment, Gu Qingfeng finally understood why it was called the Hanging Mirror Lake.

Because it truly was suspended in the heavens!