The next second, every expert charging toward him blanched and retreated at full speed.
Then, as soul power surged violently, nine soul rings rose straight from beneath Gu Qingnian's feet: gold, red, red, red, red, red, red, red, red.
"I was going to give you a chance. But since this is how you want it, it's time to settle accounts!"
Gu Qingnian spoke coldly, then unleashed another burst of aura, lifting his foot and stamping down once more. A wave of azure blue energy erupted outward. In an instant, everyone present felt its crushing pressure, and their expressions changed dramatically.
The several experts closest to Gu Qingnian all grunted, their previously somewhat steady bodies collapsing to the ground.
All the ordinary guards belonging to the White Tiger Duke's Mansion fell unconscious, foaming at the mouth. Those with a little strength but below Soul Ancestor rank crumpled to the ground, unable to get up. Even experts at Soul King rank and above could not escape the pressure, their faces deathly pale.
The nearby spectators fared no better, retreating dozens of meters in an instant. The experts watching from within Star Luo City reacted swiftly, hastily reining in their soul power fluctuations for fear that Gu Qingnian would notice them and mark them as targets.
The guard commander below hurriedly withdrew with his men as well, inwardly rejoicing that he had not antagonized Gu Qingnian earlier while praying for the White Tiger Duke's Mansion.
If Gu Qingnian was telling the truth, then the White Tiger Duke's Mansion would suffer disastrous losses over a single second young master. That would be a heavy price indeed.
Of course, the entire household was unlikely to be wiped out. This was still Star Luo City, after all, and the White Tiger Duke's Mansion was still the