The Sword-Obsessed Who Failed to Show Off

At this moment, Sword Maniac, who was familiar with Gu Qingfeng, couldn't help but ask, "Uncle Gu, isn’t this the Seven Swords Immortal-Slaying Formation task just assigned by the sect leader? Are you really not going to practice it?"

Gu Qingfeng had already begun walking away. Without turning his head, he replied, "Something this simple needs practice? I mastered it at a glance. You all take your time."

With that, he left with effortless grace.

The crowd watched his retreating figure, stunned into silence.

Simple? Mastered at a glance?

They looked down at the formation diagrams in their hands, which seemed as cryptic as celestial scriptures, and wondered if they were even looking at the same thing.

Some suspected Gu Qingfeng was merely putting on a show, but the thought was quickly dismissed when they remembered that this young uncle had twice defeated the Sword Heavenly Emperor in an instant.

All that remained in their eyes was envy and awe.

Sword Maniac stared at Gu Qingfeng’s departing figure, then at the shocked expressions around him. Beneath his black blindfold, his eyes burned with an indescribable longing.

When will I ever be revered like Uncle Gu?

Chu Jingchen narrowed his eyes, a cold glint flashing as he watched Gu Qingfeng leave. Then, he too turned to go.

"Senior Brother Chu, where are you going?"

Without looking back, the green-hatted Chu Jingchen said, "I’ve already grasped the sword formation. You all keep practicing."

His departure sparked another wave of astonishment, leaving the disciples feeling utterly demoralized.

Why is it that while we struggle, others can master it in an instant?

What they didn’t know was that Chu Jingchen was the one truly putting on an act. He had merely memorized the Seven Swords Immortal-Slaying Formation and grasped the basics—mastery would require several nights of secret study.

He was like those top students who fool around in class, making others think they never study, only to burn the midnight oil at home, leaving everyone else in the dust.

Seeing Chu Jingchen also leave with such ease, Sword Maniac grew even more envious. Resolute, he rolled up his formation diagram and prepared to stride off, hoping to leave a similarly impressive impression before retreating to his cave to study all night in secret.

But he had barely taken two steps when Lin Runzhi of the Evil-Warding Peak yanked him back.

"Junior Brother Sword Maniac, where do you think you’re going?"

"I’ve also—"

Before he could finish, Lin Runzhi cut him off. "Also what? Instead of learning from the best, you’re copying them?

"One’s a Sacred Body, the other has four. They can comprehend it at a glance—but you?

"You can’t even see the diagram. What are you, a blind man, trying to compete with them for?

"Come on, let me read it to you."

Sword Maniac’s attempt at posturing had failed spectacularly. His morale shattered, he nearly tore off his blindfold in frustration.

......

Gu Qingfeng hadn’t gone far when he suddenly stopped and said coolly, "Nephew Chu, what’s with the stalking? Shouldn’t you be learning something more productive at your age?"

The moment he spoke, a divine light flashed before him.

As it dissipated, Chu Jingchen’s figure emerged. Calmly meeting Gu Qingfeng’s gaze, he said, "Only at the Earth Yuan Realm, yet you can detect me, a Heaven-Man Realm cultivator. Truly worthy of being a Four Sacred Body."

"Got business with me? If not, move aside. Fei’er’s waiting for me to cultivate together," Gu Qingfeng said impatiently.

At the mention of "Fei’er," Chu Jingchen’s expression darkened—though the green hat atop his head made the anger seem oddly comical.

"Gu Qingfeng, I came to tell you this—what’s mine, I will take back."

Yours? Ling Fei’er? So, the scorned lover’s here for revenge? Gu Qingfeng mused.

What he didn’t realize was that Chu Jingchen wasn’t just referring to Ling Fei’er—but also his glory and status!

Chu Jingchen had once been the Sword Sect’s top genius, the prime candidate to become the Imperial Son and future sect leader.

But with Gu Qingfeng’s arrival, all of that vanished.

His title as the sect’s foremost talent was gone. The Imperial Son position slipped away. Even the sect leadership seemed out of reach. And the woman he loved? She’d left him for Gu Qingfeng.

From the start, Chu Jingchen had harbored deep resentment.

Before his closed-door cultivation, he had been brimming with anticipation—once he broke through to the Heaven-Three Realm, the sect leader might grant him the Imperial Son title, and Ling Fei’er might even throw herself into his arms.

But when he emerged, the times had changed.

The era of Chu Jingchen was over. Now, it was Gu Qingfeng’s era.

The sycophants who once fawned over him now flocked to Gu Qingfeng instead.

Fury burned within him, but with Gu Qingfeng’s status, there was little he could do.

Now, after being gifted a green hat, Chu Jingchen could no longer hold back. He had sought Gu Qingfeng out.

"Dear nephew, what’s this about? Cornering your elder in private, talking about reclaiming what’s yours—are you looking for a fight?"

Truthfully, Gu Qingfeng almost pitied him. The man was already wearing a green hat—wasn’t that tragic enough? Now he was asking for a beating. Tsk tsk, how pathetic.

A mere Heaven-Three Realm cultivator wasn’t even worth his attention. With his perfected Indestructible Sword Body, Gu Qingfeng was invincible among Heaven-Man Realm experts. Beating Chu Jingchen would be like bullying a kindergarten child.

Chu Jingchen sneered. "A mere Earth Yuan Realm isn’t worth my effort."

In truth, he dared not act. Striking the Imperial Son within the Sword Sect would be no different from slapping Dugu Wei himself.

"Come back when you’ve reached the Heaven-Man Realm. I’d hate to be accused of bullying the weak. But by then, I may have already ascended to Heaven-Lord Realm or beyond.

"Four Sacred Bodies or not, cultivation isn’t just about talent. Since I’m ahead now, I’ll stay ahead—until you’re left far behind in the dust.

"The sect leader may see you as a future Heavenly Emperor, but I’ll prove to them all—I am the one destined to reign supreme in this era!"

As he spoke, Chu Jingchen’s eyes blazed with conviction, his aura radiating unshakable confidence.

Even facing a Four Sacred Body, he remained unwavering.

Such confidence was the hallmark of a true powerhouse. No matter how strong the foe, one must possess an indomitable heart. If a Sacred Body was the hard requirement to become a Heavenly Emperor, then an invincible will was just as crucial—if not more so.

Without an indomitable heart, one could never ascend as the unrivaled Heavenly Emperor!

Gu Qingfeng understood now. Chu Jingchen had come not just to posture—but to temper his resolve.

He must have heard the rumors—Four Sacred Body, slayer of the young Sword Heavenly Emperor—and felt shaken.

Any peerless genius would be unsettled by such news. After all, every supreme talent’s ultimate goal was the Heavenly Emperor’s throne.

And on that path, a competitor like Gu Qingfeng was impossible to ignore.