One Against All

"Gu Qingfeng, are you courting death?" Wang Yan roared in fury.

Gu Qingfeng sneered disdainfully, "Old beast, who do you think you are? I'm standing right here—dare to lay a finger on me if you can!"

Seeing Gu Qingfeng's smug confidence behind the protective mountain formation, Wang Yan's rage only intensified.

"Come out if you have the guts!"

"Come in if you have the guts!"

"Argh! You infuriate me! Once I breach these gates, I'll tear your soul apart and grind your bones to dust!"

"Tsk tsk tsk, how familiar that sounds. Your dead son spouted the same nonsense. And what happened? I beat him to his knees, begging and calling me 'grandfather.' But if I were his grandfather, wouldn’t that make you my beastly son? That wasn’t surrender—it was an insult! So, in a fit of rage, I ended him."

"AAAAH! I will kill you!" Wang Yan was nearly driven to madness.

Blinded by fury, he struck out—a colossal blood-red palm descended from the sky, aiming to crush Gu Qingfeng.

Yet, it was all thunder and no rain.

The moment the bloody palm touched the Sword Sect’s protective formation, golden light flared, and the attack dissolved into nothingness.

Wang Yan’s fury burned hotter. He was about to order an all-out assault when Duan Changsheng stopped him.

"Brother Wang, this brat is sharp-tongued—he’s deliberately provoking you. The Sword Sect is already surrounded, with no chance of escape. We can afford to take our time. A full-scale attack would cost us dearly. Even if we break through, what strength would we have left? That’s exactly what he wants."

Wang Yan, after all, was a sect leader, a Heaven Monarch-level expert. Had Gu Qingfeng not taunted him with his dead son, he wouldn’t have lost his composure.

Now, with Duan Changsheng’s reminder, he calmed down.

"You’re right, Brother Duan. Who would’ve thought such a young man could be so cunning? I nearly fell for his trap."

"Good that you see reason. Let’s stick to our original plan—apply pressure and stir up dissent within the Sword Sect. I refuse to believe every last one of them is willing to die for a single man!" Duan Changsheng’s eyes gleamed coldly.

"Hey, you two old mutts, whispering like lovers—are you fighting or not? If you want to canoodle, go home!"

Wang Yan’s barely restrained fury nearly erupted again. Duan Changsheng’s expression darkened as he snapped,

"Enough of your insolence, brat! This war is your doing. If you have any courage, step out of the Sword Sect and face the consequences alone. Don’t drag your sect down with you.

"If you’re a coward, then keep hiding behind your gates. But once we break through, the entire Sword Sect will burn for your arrogance!"

His words struck a chord. Many Sword Sect disciples turned their gazes to Gu Qingfeng.

Most of them envied him and had no desire to die in his place. Now, hearing the enemy’s demand, they secretly hoped Gu Qingfeng would surrender himself to spare them.

Dugu Wei, fearing Gu Qingfeng might act rashly, whispered urgently, "Junior Brother Gu, don’t fall for their taunts. The Sword Sect will protect you."

Gu Qingfeng gave him a reassuring glance before smirking at the sea of enemies.

"If I were a coward, how could you even exist?"

Duan Changsheng’s gaze turned icy. "All you can do is run your mouth—"

But his words froze mid-sentence.

In fact, everyone—Wang Yan, the enemy forces, even the Sword Sect disciples—stared in shock.

Because Gu Qingfeng had done the unthinkable.

He had stepped out.

In a flash of light, Gu Qingfeng vanished from behind the formation and reappeared outside it, as if teleporting.

Dugu Wei was the first to react, his face paling. "Junior Brother Gu! Get back here!"

Ling Fei'er, Nangong Xue, and others who were close to him cried out in panic.

"How is this possible? The mountain-protecting formation is active—how did Junior Brother Gu leave?" Dugu Wei demanded.

A senior in charge of the formation stammered, "I-I don’t know! Once activated, no one should be able to enter or exit!"

"Quick, open the formation and bring him back!"

"Sect Leader, we can’t! If we open it now, the enemy will storm in!"

Dugu Wei hesitated. Opening the formation for one man would endanger the entire sect. The mountain-protecting formation was a massive construct—activating or deactivating it took time, and that delay could be fatal.

But if they didn’t act, what would become of Gu Qingfeng?

Ignoring the panicked cries, Gu Qingfeng stood tall, gazing down at the endless sea of enemies with unshaken arrogance, as if they were mere ants.

He had used the Heaven-Sending Formation to escape. With this array, no barrier could hold him.

The Heaven-Sending Formation was among the most supreme of the Sealing Heaven Forbidden Arrays. The Sword Sect’s protective formation, though intricate, was nothing before it—Gu Qingfeng could bypass it at will, borrowing the power of the Heavenly Dao to traverse space freely.

"Well, well. It seems I underestimated you, boy. You truly have courage," Duan Changsheng said, a hint of admiration in his voice.

Even among the enemy ranks, many now regarded Gu Qingfeng with newfound respect. Not many would dare face an army millions strong alone.

If even the enemy felt this way, the Sword Sect disciples were even more moved.

Their gazes toward Gu Qingfeng were complex—shock, admiration, disbelief.

They stared at his solitary figure, standing unwavering before the endless horde.

Lonely, yet heroic.

One man, shielding them all.

A hero.

The word flashed through their minds.

Female disciples like Ling Fei'er had tears in their eyes, their hearts aching to follow him.

Those who had wanted to hand him over now bowed their heads in shame, humbled by his bravery.

"I’ve come out. What are you fools waiting for? Too scared to move?" Gu Qingfeng clasped his hands behind his back, his voice dripping with disdain.

Wang Yan’s killing intent erupted. "You want to play the hero? Then die like one!"

Before the words faded, the sky turned blood-red. A monstrous crimson palm descended, aiming to crush Gu Qingfeng where he stood.