Demon Slaying, Gaining 60 Years of Cultivation From the Start

However, in Gu Chen's view, it was only to be expected. Not to mention that he had perfected the Astonishing Swan Swordsmanship Skills, the main reason was the sheer gap in cultivation between them—there was simply no comparison.

Thud!

At that moment, Gu Chen withdrew the Red Refinement Blade and closed the gap to Yu Qiushi, unleashing a palm strike at lightning speed, hitting him squarely in the chest.

"Puh!"

Yu Qiushi spat out a mouthful of blood and was sent flying backward. Read exciting tales at m_vl_em_p_yr

"Brother Yu!"

It was then that the members of the Canghai Sect finally reacted, ignoring their own injuries and running towards Yu Qiushi with faces full of shock.

But obviously, their worry was unnecessary, as Gu Chen had not intended to kill; otherwise, he wouldn't have retracted that last thrust.

After all, he wasn't the kind of person who indiscriminately slaughtered the innocent. Gu Chen only killed those who deserved it. Although Yu Qiushi had obstructed him, according to his past exploits and the investigations of the Jing Tian Department, Yu Qiushi's nature wasn't malicious. He had simply been doing what he thought he should, so there was no need for Gu Chen to kill him.

The palm strike Gu Chen had delivered was merely to incapacitate Yu Qiushi to prevent any further interference.

The other martial artists in attendance were also shocked, never having imagined that Yu Qiushi, ranked in the top ten of the Group Star List, could be defeated so swiftly.

They weren't without discernment and knew that to decide the outcome so rapidly, like a bolt of lightning, indicated that Gu Chen's strength vastly outclassed Yu Qiushi's, leaving him without even a sliver of a chance to fight back.

Even Tang Ming, ranked second on the list, and Huo Zhi, ranked third, had faces full of astonishment. When Yu Qiushi had used the Canghai Sword Skill, both of them felt a chill, knowing full well that neither of them had yet to grasp a high-grade martial art.

In other words, facing Yu Qiushi, they were more likely to lose than win.

Yet unexpectedly, Yu Qiushi, with such formidable strength, was so effortlessly defeated by Gu Chen from the Jing Tian Department. His ease reminded them of the battle they had once fought against Qin Mu.

Suddenly, both turned their heads instinctively to look at Qin Mu, seated at the head.

At that moment, Qin Mu raised his eyebrows slightly, a hint of interest flickering in his eyes. Among everyone present, he alone had clearly seen Gu Chen's sword thrust.

Indeed, Gu Chen's display had piqued his interest, albeit just a little.

In terms of cultivation, he had connected fifty-six meridians. As for the martial arts, he had mastered two high-grade martial arts—one at the beginner level and the other at minor completion. From any angle, Yu Qiushi was far from his match.

Had Qin Mu not been so proud and ambitious, aiming to break through the limits of the Meridians-Unblocking Realm, desiring to unlock even more meridians within this realm, he would have reached the External Qi Realm by now.

He believed a fight with Gu Chen wouldn't last beyond ten moves before Gu Chen would be defeated.

Qi Changyun's face was filled with dread. Seeing that Yu Qiushi had been defeated so quickly, he cursed inwardly, considering Yu Qiushi worthless, but on the surface, he feigned a pained expression, ceaselessly channeling his inner energy to Yu Qiushi, stabilizing his injuries to prevent them from worsening.

"Qi Changyun, come and meet your end!"

In a flash, Gu Chen appeared in front of Yu Qiushi, with his Phantom Traceless Step now at minor completion due to the recent opening of leg meridians. His speed had increased manyfold, leaving only an afterimage in the air, his figure already far away.

Startled, Qi Changyun nonetheless refused to accept his doom sitting down. Pushing both palms forward, his internal energy flowed out, striking towards Gu Chen.

Gu Chen's expression remained calm as his mighty internal energy circulated through his meridians, with just a palm strike, he sent Qi Changyun flying backward, blood spurting from his mouth.

"Wait, I have something to say!"

Qi Changyun cried out, but Gu Chen didn't relent, shadowing him closely and striking down with a palm.

With his mind in turmoil from Gu Chen's relentless assault, Qi Changyun caught a glimpse of Qin Mu, sitting off to the side, watching the battle unfold. A spark of inspiration flickered through his panicked mind, and he hatched a plan.

"Young Master Qin, save me, please save me!"

Struggling valiantly yet taking another palm strike from Gu Chen, Qi Changyun staggered toward where Qin Mu sat.

Seeing that two palm strikes hadn't killed Qi Changyun, Gu Chen's brows furrowed, feeling something wasn't right.

Just now, a chilling energy had flickered briefly over Qi Changyun's body.

Qin Mu watched with a cold gaze as Qi Changyun ran towards him, unmoved.

Undaunted, Qi Changyun gritted his teeth and shouted, "Young Master Qin, the people from Jing Tian Department are too overbearing! This is the Sunset Sword Sect martial arts event, which hasn't yet concluded, but they've already caused such disorder. I beg Young Master Qin to stand up for me!"

Upon hearing this, the disciple from the Sunset Sword Sect beside Qin Mu's expression changed as he looked towards Qin Mu. After all, today was supposed to be Sunset Sword Sect's main event, and though it was yet unfinished, Gu Chen had stolen the limelight.

Qin Mu, sitting there, shifted his gaze and looked down at Gu Chen, saying, "Enough, restrain yourself."

His tone was indifferent, more like he was giving orders to a subordinate than mediating a conflict.

Gu Chen acted as though he hadn't heard, delivering another palm strike to Qi Changyun. This time he clearly saw a faint and obscure dark energy flash away upon impact – the power of a demonic spirit.

No wonder Qi Changyun could withstand several strikes from Gu Chen and yet not die. A martial artist of Qi Changyun's ordinary strength in the External Qi Realm would typically last only three strikes before Gu Chen could kill them on the spot.

Seeing that Gu Chen ignored his words as if they were unheard, treating him like air, Qin Mu's brow furrowed and he thundered, "I said, restrain yourself!"

His cold shout carried the weight of his profound cultivation, causing many of the weaker warriors to feel a sharp pain in their heads and their vision to darken momentarily.

Gu Chen, being the closest, should have been the first to be affected, but unfortunately for Qin Mu, he had not yet reached the External Qi Realm; his internal energy couldn't be externally projected, making the intimidation through his voice completely ineffective against Gu Chen.

"Ah—"

Qi Changyun screamed as Gu Chen's strike caused him to bleed from his seven orifices, his entire skeleton nearly bursting.

Seeing Qi Changyun on the verge of death, Qin Mu's face showed a trace of unease, his expression turning stern as he prepared to teach Gu Chen a lesson.

But at that moment, chaos erupted. Around Qi Changyun, countless tendrils of black energy surged forth, enveloping him completely.

A chilling, ghostly sensation began to spread over the summit of Phoenix Crying Mountain.

"Demonic spirits, these are demonic spirits!" cried out a martial artist, and people's faces turned pale with fear.

At that instant, Qi Changyun's expression turned ferocious, resembling that of a vengeful ghost. He glared at Gu Chen with an ominous tone and said, "Damn brat, you've disrupted my plans, forcing me to reveal myself prematurely. I want you dead!"

His voice had changed, his throat corroded by the spirit's power, emitting sounds more beastly than human, sending shivers down the spines of the listeners.