The Threat from the Celestials

In the crowd, Gu Qingfeng employed a series of spells—Size Manipulation, Invisibility, and Breath Concealment—to stealthily blend in and slip out of the Hanging Heaven Secret Realm.

He dared not leave openly, as most of these prodigies had elders waiting outside to receive them.

It went without saying that these prodigies would report his actions to their elders, and then all hell would break loose.

A united assault!

Moving cautiously through the crowd, Gu Qingfeng took the opportunity to observe the elders of these prodigies. The sight nearly made his heart stop.

One, two, three, four, five...

Damn! Over a dozen Heavenly Human Realm experts!

There were no Heavenly Monarch-level figures, of course—such beings wouldn’t bother coming out just to pick up their juniors.

But the problem was, even Heavenly Humans were beyond his current strength.

At full power, the Golden-Winged Roc only reached the Half-Step Heavenly Human Realm, meaning Gu Qingfeng could handle Half-Step Heavenly Humans with some effort, but a true Heavenly Human? That was a different story. And here, there weren’t just one—but over a dozen!

Better not push his luck. Time to scram!

He resisted using Earth-Treading Golden Light to flee outright. While the technique was blindingly fast, it was also blindingly conspicuous—a radiant golden streak oozing with flair.

Instead, he chose to inch his way out of the crowd.

As he made his escape, the prodigies had already begun tearfully recounting their grievances to their elders.

"Qing'er, seeing you emerge so overjoyed, did you obtain some great fortune in the Hanging Heaven Secret Realm?"

The young woman named Qing'er immediately welled up with tears, her face twisted in grievance. "Master, what fortune? There’s only a great enemy!

That man not only stole my Qiankun Ring but also forced me into hard labor—digging spirit mines and gathering herbs day after day."

"What?! How dare he!"

"But Master, that’s not even the worst part! The worst part is that he treated Wu Xuan, that bitch, differently!"

"Oh? What did Wu Xuan do?"

"That bitch got the easiest job—just giving him massages! Master, tell me, am I less attractive than her?"

Qing'er heaved with rage, though even her furious breaths failed to stir much movement in her chest.

"That damned bastard! Where is he? I’ll hunt him down!"

......

"Yu'er, did you injure your leg in the secret realm? Why are you limping? Here, your uncle has some top-grade healing pills."

"Waaah—!" Yu'er burst into loud sobs. "Uncle, it’s not my leg—it’s my butt!"

"What?! How did you hurt your butt so carelessly?"

"I was beaten! Other female cultivators only got a few dozen strikes, but that man hit me over a hundred times, saying my butt was too big..."

Similar scenes played out everywhere, and soon, all grievances were directed squarely at Gu Qingfeng.

The Heavenly Human experts unleashed their vast divine senses, sweeping the area in search of him—yet found nothing.

With his Half-Step Heavenly Human strength and an array of mystical techniques, evading their detection was child’s play.

Just as he smirked to himself, gradually putting distance between himself and the crowd—

Suddenly, the sky turned blood-red. A figure bathed in crimson light rose high into the air, standing atop the void like a blood moon.

"Thief! Return my young master’s life!"

"It’s the Blood River Sage of the Netherworld Sect!" someone in the crowd gasped.

"What’s going on? Sounds like the Little Yama King was killed?"

Some of the recently emerged prodigies quickly relayed the news of the Little Yama King’s death in the Hanging Heaven Secret Realm to their elders.

The Heavenly Humans’ expressions grew subtly strange, some even smirking in schadenfreude.

The Little Yama King, as the Netherworld Sect’s top prodigy, had long been groomed as the future sect master. Who would’ve thought such a talent would perish just like that?

In comparison, their own disciples only had their Qiankun Rings stolen, endured some forced labor, or got their backsides swollen—at least they were alive. That seemed almost acceptable now.

At the same time, curiosity about Gu Qingfeng swelled in their minds. Just who was this man? Who was his master, to suppress so many prodigies single-handedly?

BOOM—!

A deafening explosion shook the heavens. The clouds churned violently, as if birthing something terrifying.

Then, the sea of clouds seemed to tear apart—revealing an enormous face in the sky, unmistakably the Blood River Sage’s!

Like an enraged deity, it glared down at the mortal world.

Gu Qingfeng watched the Blood River Sage’s overwhelming display with calm amusement. No need to panic—this was just impotent rage. There was no way he’d be found.

The technique even resembled the Golden-Winged Roc’s Heavenly Roc Descent. This must be the legendary Heavenly Human Avatar!

It was said that upon reaching the Heavenly Human Realm, one could harness the power of heaven and earth to manifest such an avatar—truly borrowing the might of the world itself.

As for the Heavenly Monarch Realm? They were like sovereigns of the cosmos, bending reality to their will.

The Heavenly Venerable Realm remained a mystery, and realms beyond were simply beyond his current reach.

But just as Gu Qingfeng observed leisurely—

A chilling aura abruptly locked onto him.

His expression shifted slightly as he glanced warily at the towering Blood River Sage.

"Found you!" The Blood River Sage grinned savagely and swiped his hand downward.

Instantly, a colossal hand materialized in the sky, crushing down like a falling mountain.

Damn it!

How did this old bastard find me?!

Suddenly, Gu Qingfeng remembered what the Sword Sect disciples had mentioned—the Soul Lamp. When a sect member was killed, the lamp would extinguish, leaving a mark on the killer.

Though the Netherworld Sect wasn’t an Imperial Court Immortal Sect, it was still a top-tier faction. Such methods were hardly surprising.

With the colossal hand bearing down, its crushing wind pressure already upon him, Gu Qingfeng had no time to think. He dispelled Size Manipulation, reverting to his true form.

His sudden appearance drew every eye in the vicinity. Even the Heavenly Humans were eager to see the man who had dominated their prodigies.

But Gu Qingfeng paid them no mind. Against a Heavenly Human’s strike, he had to go all out. Even with his Minor Completion Prison-Dragon Elephant Body, he wouldn’t die instantly—but severe injuries were inevitable.

"Swords—come forth!"

With his roar—

Hummm!

A chorus of sword cries erupted behind him, merging into a thunderous resonance.

Then, sword light bloomed—one beam, two, three... a hundred, five hundred, a thousand!

Over a thousand divine swords shimmering with radiant light materialized in the air.

The spectacle left the crowd utterly stunned. Forget the power—just the sheer extravagance alone was overwhelming!

Even Heavenly Humans didn’t possess such ludicrous wealth!