"Hmph, so what if you're a Purple-clothed? I refuse to believe you can break through my giant sword!"
Although he had already realized that his opponent's barrier power far surpassed his own, Elder Yue still refused to admit defeat. Gritting his teeth, he poured every last ounce of his barrier energy into the grand formation.
In an instant, the blue giant sword that had been nine meters long rapidly expanded, reaching over a dozen meters in height. Its imposing aura multiplied several times over.
Yet despite this dramatic change, Mr. Gu showed not the slightest trace of fear. On the contrary, the smile at the corners of his lips only grew more mocking.
"Rise!"
Suddenly, Mr. Gu let out a sharp cry. The purple grand formation standing before him began to spin at furious speed, countless runes swirling within it to form a bizarre and dazzling pattern. As blinding light radiated outward, a powerful aura erupted from within.
"BOOM!"
Just as Elder Yue's blue giant sword was about to reach Mr. Gu, a thunderous explosion rang out from the purple barrier. At the same time, a massive purple hand shot out from within, fingers spread wide, reaching to seize the giant sword.
The hand was enormous — like something out of a titan's body — and its speed was terrifying, its momentum overwhelming. It seized the blue giant sword in one grip, and with a mere clench of its fingers, a deafening crack sounded as the sword shattered into countless fragments.
"Pfft!" The moment the giant sword crumbled, Elder Yue's expression changed drastically. He opened his mouth and a huge mouthful of blood sprayed out, soaking the front of his robes. His legs then went weak and he collapsed limply to the ground. Had members of the Li family not rushed forward to catch him in time, he would have fallen flat on his face.
"ROOAAARR!"
But just as Elder Yue suffered his crushing defeat, a furious roar erupted from the purple grand formation. After the roar, the enormous hand that had already appeared began to expand at an alarming rate, and before the eyes of everyone present, a colossal monster stepped out.
The monster was purple and semi-transparent, formed entirely from barrier energy. It had a humanoid shape but a beastly face, standing dozens of meters tall with an overwhelming aura and formidable strength. Though born of barrier arts, it seemed vividly alive, as though it possessed genuine intelligence — sending chills through many of the onlookers.
"Incredible! To push barrier arts to this level!" The sight of the massive creature drew gasps of astonishment from the crowd, and all were awed by Mr. Gu's Spirit Realm mastery.
"Old friend, it seems the task of opening this place will fall to my Ma family's Mr. Gu," the Ma family patriarch said with a pleased smile, his face and words brimming with smug satisfaction.
"Ha ha, wonderful, wonderful! For you to have found such a talented Spirit World Master shows just how much trouble you went to for this undertaking. You've truly worked hard, brother."
The Li family patriarch, rather than looking displeased about the crushing loss, actually burst into hearty laughter. As he spoke, he walked alongside the Ma family patriarch toward Mr. Gu, intending to hand over the stone box.
On the surface, the Li family patriarch appeared utterly unbothered by the humiliating defeat, but the other members of the Li family wore expressions of deep shame. Those who had been strutting with arrogance moments ago now looked utterly dejected.
This clash had not merely represented Elder Yue's defeat — it was the Li family's defeat. Every person bearing the Li name felt the sting of lost face.
"Mr. Gu, your skills are truly impressive. However, I have also studied the Spirit Realm arts. I wonder if I might challenge you to a spar." Just when the Li family members believed everything was settled, a clear, resonant voice suddenly rang out from within the Li family's ranks.
"Who?" At the sound of that voice, nearly everyone present couldn't help but change expression, quickly turning their eyes toward its source.
And when they saw who it was, their faces shifted once more — because standing before them, stepping calmly out of the Li family crowd, was a strikingly handsome middle-aged man. This was none other than Chu Feng in his disguise as Wu Qing.
"Wu Qing, what do you think you're doing? Are you looking for death? Get back here right now and stop embarrassing us!"
"Idiot! Has this guy lost his mind trying to steal the spotlight? Doesn't he know who he's up against? Even Elder Yue couldn't beat Mr. Gu, and he dares to step forward?"
"Ugh, this time our Li family is really going to lose all dignity."
When they realized it was Chu Feng making the challenge, many members of the Li family were utterly exasperated. Some even sent secret voice transmissions, telling Chu Feng to get lost and stop embarrassing the family.
In fact, it wasn't just the outsiders who were concerned — even Li Chan and the Li family patriarch, who knew Chu Feng reasonably well, were frowning deeply. They simply couldn't believe that Chu Feng, at only the Heaven Martial eighth level, could possibly defeat a Purple-clothed Spirit World Master at the ninth level.
"This young friend is quite bold. May I ask your name?" Mr. Gu looked Chu Feng up and down with a contemptuous gaze and smiled faintly.
"I am Wu Qing," Chu Feng replied calmly.
"So it's young friend Wu Qing. Wu Qing, do you truly wish to compete with me in Spirit Realm arts?" Mr. Gu asked with heavy sarcasm.
"Unless you're afraid?" Chu Feng shot back coldly.
"Ha ha! Afraid? Do you really think I'm afraid of you?"
"Since you insist, I'll humor you. However, the gap between our strengths is enormous. If I were to strike with full force, I'm afraid I would seriously injure you."
"So I won't attack you. If you want to claim victory, all you need to do is use your strongest Spirit Realm technique to strike this Spirit Realm giant. If you can make it tremble even once, I'll count it as your win." Mr. Gu smiled down at Chu Feng, his eyes practically dripping with disdain.
"Oh? Do you mean it? If I can make that thing of yours tremble even once, you'll admit I've won?" Chu Feng asked, raising his voice.
"Of course. I, Gu, have always kept my word. Young friend Wu Qing, please don't think I'm looking down on you. I'm doing this entirely for your safety — I have no choice," Mr. Gu said, spreading his hands as if he truly had no other option.
"Then I really must thank you for your generosity," Chu Feng said with a smile. Then his expression turned ice-cold in an instant. He extended both arms parallel to the ground and began to swing them rapidly. Layer upon layer of bizarre runes poured forth from his hands and sank into the surrounding air.
Chu Feng's speed was staggering — too fast to follow his hand signs or make out his movements. All anyone could see were the countless afterimages of his arms flickering before him.
Under these conditions, centered on Chu Feng, the area around him began to transform. At first there was only a low, rumbling sound. Then the ground started to tremble faintly. And finally, countless fragments of rock tore free from the earth and rose slowly into the air, while the very space around him began to twist and warp.