Translator: AnubisTL
"The audacity of this little Sunset Glow Sect is astonishing. Aren't they afraid of becoming a laughingstock?"
"Such people appear every year during the grand examination, but it's the first time we've seen someone from a sect make such claims."
"The number one sect in Cloud Prefecture? Pfft, such a small sect wouldn't even rank in the top 100 of the Great Chu Dynasty. Where does their courage to boast come from?"
"That brat Gu Feng is too arrogant. Does he really think his Myriad Tribulations Physique makes him invincible in the same realm? The Blazing Light Sect, Sword Gate, Flower Sect, and Tyrant Body Sect all have prodigies capable of defeating him. What's he so cocky about?"
"Claiming to dominate two examination halls? Isn't he afraid of being laughed to death? Even the Blazing Light Sect, the top sect of the Great Chu Dynasty, focuses its efforts on a single hall and still might not secure the top spot. How dare this little Sunset Glow Sect aim for two halls at once?"
"Boasting isn't a crime. I could also claim my sect could dominate all the halls!"
"..."
Gu Feng's bold declaration sparked intense reactions among the examinees, with mockery and ridicule flooding the discussions. However, most of these comments came from examinees of average backgrounds.
The truly powerful examinees from sects like the Blazing Light Sect, Sword Gate, Flower Sect, and Tyrant Body Sect dismissed it with disdain, not even bothering to purchase the Image Stones from Wind Cloud Pavilion.
In their eyes, Gu Feng and his Sunset Glow Sect were nothing more than clowns seeking attention. Taking them seriously would mean losing.
They spent their days secluded in their residences, meditating and cultivating diligently to prepare for the grand examination in seven days. They were brimming with confidence, not even considering the possibility of failure. For them, anything less than a top ranking was a defeat.
After the first batch of Image Stones sold out, Wind Cloud Pavilion immediately produced 100,000 more copies. However, sales didn't meet expectations.
"Stop the printing. Those who wanted to buy have already done so, and those who aren't interested won't change their minds," the Elder of Wind Cloud Pavilion said calmly, as if he had anticipated this outcome.
Selling a total of 130,000 Image Stones was already a small success, and it had been a while since his team achieved such results.
Of course—
He wasn't satisfied. He summoned Shan Feier and instructed her to interview Gu Feng and the Sunset Glow Sect again.
"Elder, this isn't appropriate. The Sunset Glow Sect is too weak, and further hype won't help. Moreover, it could harm their performance in the upcoming examination!" Shan Feier said hesitantly, clearly reluctant.
"You, you... Do you know why you've never achieved significant results? It's because you're too thin-skinned and too kind-hearted.
Our reports at Wind Cloud Pavilion are never based on hearsay. Everything was said by the Sunset Glow Sect and that young Sect Leader Gu himself, and it wasn't under the influence of alcohol..." the Elder said, frustrated. Such a golden opportunity—if it were given to other members of his elite team, they would likely resort to unscrupulous methods just to secure another interview.
But Shan Feier? With such a great opportunity right in front of her, she didn't want to follow up?
"I understand, but Sect Leader Gu is a decent person. We shouldn't put them under such pressure! He was probably just boasting..." Shan Feier said with a pained expression. In her view, Gu Feng's words that day were just impulsive bragging. He likely never expected it would thrust the Sunset Glow Sect into the spotlight of public scrutiny.
"Do you think I don't know he's just boasting?" The Elder glared at him.
"Come with me, let's find Gu Feng. If he's unwilling to be interviewed again, then forget it. But if he's willing, there's a good chance he'll go viral once more."
Without waiting for Shan Feier's consent, the Elder grabbed her arm and pulled her outside.
...
Bamboo Mountain Inn!
In an elegant private room.
"Third Prince, I truly didn't expect it to be you who arranged our accommodations!" Gu Feng raised the wine cup in front of him, clinked it lightly with the Third Prince's, and downed it in one go.
"Last time at the Sunset Glow Sect, I intended to use my status to suppress my elder brother's guards. However, they showed no respect, which left me feeling embarrassed, so I left without a word. Looking back, it was rather impolite... coughcough." Despite his noble status, the Third Prince was approachable, exuding a scholarly elegance and handsome appearance. Even the faint sickness in his demeanor seemed oddly comforting.
"Third Brother, your health isn't good. Drink less wine!" Chu Youhuan, who was sitting beside him, said with concern as she noticed him coughing again.
"It's an old ailment. Whether I drink or not, I'll still cough. It's nothing serious!" The Third Prince waved his hand with a smile.
"Why are you just sitting there? Pour the wine!" Gu Feng tapped the table twice, signaling Chu Youhuan to pour wine for the two of them.
Chu Youhuan looked reluctant. "Why should I? Don't you have hands?"
"One is your Third Brother, and the other is your Sect Leader. If you don't pour the wine, should I do it?" Gu Feng retorted.
"Haha, let me do it..." Seeing Chu Youhuan and Gu Feng glaring at each other, the Third Prince stepped in to mediate.
"Let me do it." If it were Gu Feng pouring the wine, she wouldn't have stopped him, but for the Third Prince, it was different.
Chu Youhuan pursed her lips and served the two of them.
The Third Prince gave her a suggestive look, blinking his eyes, which made Chu Youhuan's cheeks flush slightly.
"Sect Leader Gu? I heard about your remarks last night. Things are quite lively outside!" The Third Prince chuckled.
"No one has come knocking on my door yet, so it's not that lively." Gu Feng smiled faintly. He wasn't afraid of the commotion; in fact, he welcomed it.
"Oh? So Sect Leader Gu did this intentionally?" The Third Prince asked in surprise.
"Third Prince, you should know that I have control over the Swamp Fortress. For some reason, it seems not many people are aware of it..." Gu Feng spoke candidly.
"The court has deliberately glossed over the Swamp Fortress. Many have heard of it, but few know the details. So, you're using this opportunity to promote your Swamp Fortress?"
"To be precise, it's a publicity stunt. The more people know about it, the higher its value can be inflated!" Gu Feng didn't hide his intentions in front of the Third Prince.
"Hmm, a smart move." The Third Prince nodded in approval. "The Sunset Glow Sect, combined with your personal stake, holds 59% of the Swamp Fortress. It's a lucrative piece of meat that everyone wants a bite of. By driving up its value to the highest point and selling off a portion of the shares, not only will you earn a substantial amount of Spirit Stones, but you'll also make yourself less conspicuous."
The Third Prince raised his wine cup, clinked it with Gu Feng's, and continued, "Let me share some information with you. The reason you and the Sunset Glow Sect haven't faced retaliation is mainly due to two reasons. First, you brought Sima Juncong into the fold, which left the opposition confused and hesitant to act rashly.
Secondly, there was a split within the opposition. Some members were no longer as stubborn and advocated for allying with the sects to resist the major trend in a different way."
Upon hearing this, Gu Feng immediately realized that Zhu Qingyan's influence might have played a role in this.
Regardless, it was good news.
"Come on, come on, I waited for the Third Prince all night last night. Today, you must make it up to me," Gu Feng laughed heartily.
"I'm truly sorry, my health isn't good, and I tend to sleep a lot. Sometimes I sleep for several days at a time..."
Just as the two were enjoying their drinks, Wu Qi came running up.
"Boss Gu, that cute and clueless little cultivator from the Wind Cloud Pavilion is here again, and she brought her superior..."
"Shan Feier is here again?" Gu Feng was taken aback. "Please, invite her in."
Not long after, Shan Feier entered the private room with an elder from the Wind Cloud Pavilion.
"Sect Leader Gu, I apologize for disturbing you again. This is Elder Wu from the Wind Cloud Pavilion, who specializes in collecting information on prodigies!"
"Wu Mingbao from the Wind Cloud Pavilion greets Sect Leader Gu!" Although Wu Mingbao was a high-level cultivator in the Spirit Nurturing Realm, he was still very respectful towards Gu Feng.
"Elder Wu, it's a pleasure to meet you!" Gu Feng said with a smile.
"Sect Leader Gu, do you have any feedback on the Image Stone we sold this morning?" Wu Mingbao spoke tactfully, first testing Gu Feng's attitude before considering whether there was an opportunity for a second interview.
"To be honest, I'm very dissatisfied!" Gu Feng put down his wine cup and said gravely.
Hearing this, Wu Mingbao's heart skipped a beat, but he still smiled and asked, "What's the issue? We at the Wind Cloud Pavilion will do our best to correct it."
The Wind Cloud Pavilion specialized in information services and often dealt with various factions. Not offending any faction was the foundation of their survival.
"I waited all morning, and no one came to challenge me. How can I be satisfied with that?"
Huh???
Wu Mingbao had expected Gu Feng to scold them for fabricating stories and distorting the truth, but he never anticipated such a response.
As a seasoned information officer, Wu Mingbao keenly sensed that Gu Feng not only didn't reject this kind of hype but actually enjoyed it.
This was fantastic. Gu Feng was definitely the type of cultivator the Wind Cloud Pavilion loved the most.
"Sect Leader Gu, rest assured, for the second interview, we at the Wind Cloud Pavilion will definitely put our heart into producing the Image Stone!" Wu Mingbao immediately assured.
"Feier, what are you waiting for? Prepare to record the footage."
"Oh, oh—" The clueless Shan Feier quickly took out three Image Stones and placed them in three directions, all aimed at Gu Feng.
This time, the experienced Wu Mingbao took the lead in asking questions.
His questions were very targeted, specifically aimed at the top sects, and Gu Feng's answers were equally domineering.
The two went back and forth, and soon half an hour had passed.
Wu Mingbao's expression remained excited throughout, and even after it ended, the flush on his face lingered for a long time.
"Thank you, Sect Leader Gu, for the interview. I wish the Sunset Glow Sect success in the upcoming examination."
Just as he was about to leave, a thoughtful expression appeared on his face, and he couldn't help but ask, "This gentleman... have we met somewhere before?"
He stared at the Third Prince, feeling that he looked very familiar, but he couldn't quite remember where he had seen him before.
"I am Chu Xiu," the Third Prince said with a slight smile.
"The Third Prince? I have met the Third Prince before!" Wu Mingbao's expression froze, and he immediately realized who it was, bowing respectfully to Chu Xiu.
"You are a senior, there's no need for formalities!"
"Since the Third Prince and Sect Leader Gu are friends, do you have high expectations for the Sunset Glow Sect's performance in the grand examination?"
"Of course!"
"What do you think..."
After asking Chu Xiu a few more questions, Wu Mingbao left with Shan Feier, full of energy.
"Good, very good. This time, it's bound to be a sensation."
...
Before evening, follow-up reports about the Sunset Glow Sect appeared in Tranquil Sky City.
"Third Prince Optimistic About Sunset Glow Sect, Believes They Have the Potential to Win the Top Honor!"
This headline, though less exaggerated than the previous one, had a far greater impact.
When ordinary people speak, it's like a clown's antics, but the Third Prince is different. If he is optimistic about the Sunset Glow Sect, then Gu Feng must indeed have some skills.
The sales of the second interview exploded, even boosting the previously stagnant sales of the first interview.
The Sunset Glow Sect and Gu Feng truly caught the attention of the major sects.
"Wow, Gu Feng actually said that our Flower Sect is weak and might not even secure the second place in the Innate Realm examination?"
"Sisters, let's gather a few peak Innate Realm cultivators and go meet this Sunset Glow Sect!"
"Senior Brother Wu, I can't hold it in anymore. They actually said that our Blazing Light Sect has a lot of pressure to secure the second place in the Innate Realm examination. How absurd!"
"..."
This situation occurred in many powerful sects. A group of examinees halted their cultivation and roamed the streets of Tranquil Sky City, searching for disciples of the Sunset Glow Sect.
All of this was thanks to Wu Mingbao's clever questioning and Gu Feng's cooperative responses.
In short, anyone who saw it would be furious.
"Sect Leader, we've been beaten!" At noon the next day, an elderly disciple, clutching his arm, came to find Gu Feng.
"How did it happen? Were you ganged up on?" Gu Feng glanced at him; the injury wasn't severe and wouldn't affect the upcoming examination.
"No... no, I lost in a one-on-one fight." The elderly disciple blushed, feeling embarrassed.
"There's a gap between you and the Spirit Nurturing Realm disciples of other major sects. Losing is normal. Don't you have a clear understanding of your own capabilities?" Gu Feng scolded with a laugh. These old men losing was normal; winning would be a miracle.
"I... I saw that the opponent was at the peak of the Innate Realm and thought I could win, but I lost in just ten moves!"
Gu Feng rolled his eyes. If you can't even beat a peak Innate Realm cultivator, you should be ashamed to come here and complain.
"Get out of here!"
"Ah—, alright."
Throughout the morning, the five hundred elderly Spirit Nurturing Realm disciples of the Sunset Glow Sect were all more or less injured.
The outside world was in an uproar, with the Wind Cloud Pavilion providing full coverage.
"What a trash Sunset Glow Sect. I thought they were strong, but their Spirit Nurturing Realm disciples can't even beat peak Innate Realm cultivators. It's simply embarrassing."
"Undoubtedly a bunch of clowns. Their cultivation, boosted by the Innate Realm-Breaking Pill, can't possibly have any real combat power."
"That's not entirely true. A few of them managed to fight evenly with disciples from major sects. Their strength is still considerable."
"With this level of strength, they dare to aim for the top honor. I have to say, they really have guts."
"What about their sect leader? Where's Gu Feng? He's been so arrogant, always hiding under the Third Prince's protection. Does he have any shame?"
"Come out!!"
"..."
That night, several thousand Innate Realm examinees surrounded the Bamboo Mountain Inn where Gu Feng was staying, shouting and cursing incessantly.
Gu Feng remained as steady as Mount Tai, drinking and chatting with Chu Xiu.
This turtle-like behavior only fueled the crowd's anger, but they were helpless. The Third Prince's noble status meant they dared not charge forward and offend him.
And so—
They waited and cursed all night beneath the Bamboo Mountain Inn.
"Come, come, the third round of interviews with the Sunset Glow Sect is here again!"
"Sect Leader Gu, stubborn as a dead duck!"
"Sect Leader Gu stated that his previous remarks were well-founded. Defeating a group of elderly Spirit Nurturing Realm cultivators from the Sunset Glow Sect is nothing to boast about and doesn't affect the outcome of the Innate Realm's second examination!"
"..."
In the latest Image Stone recording, Gu Feng specifically had Wind Cloud Pavilion insert some of A Fei's battle scenes.
Of course, under Gu Feng's instructions, A Fei concealed most of his strength. From the surface, it appeared he was evenly matched with an opponent at the peak of the Innate Realm.
All three battles ended in a draw.
Yet, Gu Feng deliberately had A Fei boast arrogantly in the projection, taunting the candidates.
"I only used a fraction of my strength. The opponent was too weak—I was afraid I'd kill them if I went all out!"
"I didn't sleep well last night, my head is still foggy, so I didn't perform well. The opponent's strength was mediocre."
"I'm hungry, not avoiding the fight. It's lunchtime, I'm going back to eat."
"..."
In the footage, A Fei appeared honest and sincere, his clear eyes radiating a convincing authenticity. However, the more genuine he seemed, the more infuriating it became.
The number of cultivators outside the Bamboo Mountain Inn grew, and by dawn, Gu Feng finally appeared.
With him came two banners.
"Punching the Eastern Three Counties, kicking the Central Five Counties!"
The Eastern Three Counties and the Central Five Counties were the strongest gathering places for sects in the Great Chu Dynasty. With just ten words, Gu Feng had trampled over all the major sects, including the Blazing Light Sect and the Flower Sect.
"Gu Feng, do you dare to challenge us in a fair fight at the same level?"
"Big talk is useless, let's see what you're really made of!"
"..."
Gu Feng stood by the railing on the second floor of the Bamboo Mountain Inn, smiling as he looked down, sipping Spirit Wine leisurely.
"What's your status? I'm a sect leader. If you want to challenge me, have your sect leader come!"
This statement nearly drove the cultivators below mad.
Their sect leaders? The weakest among them was at the peak of the Sea Condensation Realm. Would they stoop to spar with an Innate Realm cultivator? The very idea would be laughable.
"Enough with the nonsense! Just say if you dare or not!" A peak Innate Realm cultivator, red-faced with anger, roared up at him.
"It's not that I don't dare, it's just that our statuses don't match!" Gu Feng shook his head with a smile. "Fighting a bunch of disciples like you would be beneath my dignity!"
Gu Feng's smug demeanor left the candidates below gnashing their teeth in frustration.
Behind the curtain, the Third Prince sipped his wine with a bitter smile. He had witnessed Gu Feng's combat prowess firsthand—he had defeated Shu Yuheng, a Spirit Nurturing Realm cultivator at the second level. In the entire Great Chu Dynasty, there was likely no peak Innate Realm cultivator stronger than him.
Logically, the cultivators should have heard of this. It was unclear why they still acted this way.
"Perhaps they simply don't believe that a cultivator from a minor sect could be so strong. Preconceived notions can be deadly!" Chu Youhuan, sitting across from the Third Prince, said with a laugh.
Putting herself in their shoes, if she heard of an unknown minor sect producing a cultivator capable of surpassing levels, her first thought would also be to question if there was some behind-the-scenes manipulation at play.
Most people wouldn't bother to verify the rumors, so they simply accepted them as such.
"Do you think he will make a move?" the Third Prince asked with a slight smile.
"Not only will he make a move, but he'll also accept challenges for money!" Chu Youhuan retorted with a pout.
Gu Feng's grand display might have been to promote his Swamp Fortress, but it certainly wasn't just that.
After all, making money was his main business.
Sure enough, as the two were conversing, Gu Feng's voice rang out.
"Your status isn't high enough, but since you've stood here all night, your sincerity is truly touching. I'll give you a chance to challenge me, but not for free.
After all, I command 100,000 cultivators, and my time is precious. I can't be compared to you small-time cultivators.
The Innate Realm Peak Challenge—100,000 Mid-Grade Spirit Stones per match, plus forfeiting your right to enter the exam if you lose. The more, the merrier!
Let me make this clear: if there are fewer than 1,000 matches, I won't step into the arena!"
"Pfft—"
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone felt like they were about to vomit blood.
100,000 Mid-Grade Spirit Stones per match? Why don't you just rob us!
And you want 1,000 matches right off the bat? Can you even handle that many?
"Come, come, everyone, make way! The Innate Realm Peak Challenge is now open for registration!"
"Pay your Spirit Stones here and receive your challenge number!"
Just as everyone was reeling from the shock, over a dozen disciples from the Sunset Glow Sect emerged from the Bamboo Mountain Inn.
They set up a table in front of the inn, ready to distribute challenge numbers.
To ensure enthusiasm, they even took down two banners and hung them on either side of the table to provoke the candidates.
"Damn it, move aside! I'm Xue Kai from the Blazing Fire Sect, and I'm going to crush that little brat Gu Feng!"
Xue Kai came from a prominent family, but even he didn't have that many Spirit Stones. He had long disliked Gu Feng and had urgently gathered the Spirit Stones to push through the crowd and register.
"Step aside, you paupers! Ma Tianxu from the Sword Gate is here to challenge!"
Ma Tianxu, with an ancient sword on his back, walked up to the registration table with an arrogant demeanor and uttered two words: "One sword!"
He casually tossed a Storage Ring onto the table and stood to the side, exuding a sharp, sword-like aura.
"The Flower Sect is here to join the fun!"
"The Tyrant Body Sect won't fall behind!"
"..."
In just the time it takes to burn an incense stick, the top 100 sects of the Great Chu Dynasty had all made their appearances.
The disciples gathered in front of the Bamboo Mountain Inn were so intimidated by the spectacle that their souls trembled, and they instinctively cleared a space for the group of Innate Realm Peak prodigies.
Yet, even so, they still couldn't fill the 1,000 slots.
Thus, those Heaven's Chosen called upon their fellow disciples to pool together Spirit Stones and challenge Gu Feng.
In their eyes, the Spirit Stones were merely a formality, as Gu Feng was likely to be defeated in the first round.
In Tranquil Sky City, knowing the opponent's background, they weren't afraid that Gu Feng would abscond with the Spirit Stones.
To put it bluntly, even if the Crown Prince himself were to arrive, he wouldn't dare to do such a thing.
Disciples continuously reported to Gu Feng about the sign-up situation.
Gu Feng was momentarily stunned. As expected of a major sect, the disciples were quite wealthy. In just one hour, they had managed to gather a hundred million Mid-Grade Spirit Stones, which, when converted to Low-grade Spirit Stones, amounted to ten billion!
Such an astonishing sum would take even the second-ranked Unwavering Sect in Cloud Prefecture at least ten days to half a month to gather.
"I was wrong. These aren't disciples; they're a herd of fat sheep!" Gu Feng exclaimed in amazement.
"Sect Leader Gu, I wish you a triumphant return!" the Third Prince said with a smile, raising his cup.
"Hahaha, I'll finish this within the day and be back for dinner!" Gu Feng laughed boldly. Before leaving, he casually caressed Chu Youhuan's cheek.
Arriving at the foot of Bamboo Mountain Inn, Gu Feng glanced at the crowd. "There's not enough space here. Let's take this outside the city!"
"Let's go then, as if we're afraid you'll run away!"
"Everyone, you won't get a chance. I'll end this in ten moves!" Xue Kai, who had secured the first challenge right, declared arrogantly, striding with an air of indifference as he followed Gu Feng out of the city.
(End of the Chapter)
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