Overwhelming the Princes' Heirs, Shocking the World in One Battle

Before the Qi Capital, all was silent.

Everyone stared at Gu Yuan, their faces filled with astonishment and disbelief.

One against eight.

Who would dare say such a thing at only the sixth rank?

Of the Nine Provinces' princes' heirs, all but the good-for-nothing Mo Jiang were at least sixth rank, and Xiao Chen, the King of Qingzhou's heir, had even broken through to the fifth rank.

Xiao Chen had a cultivation advantage, so it was understandable that he would take on eight opponents alone.

But Gu Yuan himself was only at the sixth rank.

What was facing one fifth-rank and seven sixth-rank opponents if not courting death?

No one thought Gu Yuan would win.

The princes' heirs looked displeased.

First Xiao Chen had wanted to fight eight of them, and now Gu Yuan wanted to do the same. What did they take them for?

Lu Zhaoming's fiery temper flared at once.

"Gu Yuan, take a spear strike from me before you say another word!"

A dazzling cold light blazed as his spear shot out like a dragon.

Lu Zhaoming leaped into the air, the Cold Moon Dragon Spear in hand. His true qi surged around him, transforming into a coiling dragon that charged at Gu Yuan.

"Little brother, stop!" Lu Yunshu cried out.

She had seen at a glance that Gu Yuan was extraordinary and wanted to befriend him.

Now that Lu Zhaoming had attacked without warning, wouldn't Gu Yuan mistakenly think the Lu family was hostile toward him, creating a rift between them?

Lu Yunshu wanted to stop him, but Lu Zhaoming's spear was simply too fast. With no martial skills of her own, she had no chance of intervening.

She vaguely recalled her father once saying while teaching Lu Zhaoming the spear,

"The brighter the cold light of the Cold Moon Dragon Spear, the greater its power. At its peak, none in the same realm can withstand it!"

And now, the cold light around Lu Zhaoming had already reached its peak!

Gu Yuan was in danger!

At that moment, Lu Yunshu had already thought of a hundred ways to apologize and make amends.

Several of the heirs' expressions grew grave.

The cold light pierced to the bone. If they had been in Gu Yuan's place, they feared they would have struggled to withstand the strike!

Approval shone in Xiao Chen's eyes. "To deal with me, he trained the Cold Moon Dragon Spear to such a level. He does have some skill."

Hong Ni smiled faintly and declared, "No one at the sixth rank in the world today can withstand that spear strike."

"Gu Yuan can't stop it!"

Huai'an clutched the edges of her skirt tightly, feeling her heart leap higher and higher, as though it were about to jump out of her throat.

So this is how terrifying a fight between martial artists is...?

Boom!

In the blink of an eye, the Cold Moon Dragon Spear slammed into Gu Yuan.

True essence hummed, kicking up thick clouds of dust.

Huai'an covered her eyes tightly, too afraid to look.

The dust obscured everyone's view.

"It's over." Hong Ni's lips curled upward. "It's time for you to make your move, young lord... Huh?

"Something's wrong!"

Astonishment appeared on Hong Ni's face as she stared fixedly at the center of the dust cloud.

Lü Luo did the same, disbelief written across her face.

Both were at the third rank and were more sensitive to fluctuations in true essence.

The situation within the dust cloud was completely different from what either of them had expected.

In a single breath,

True essence erupted, dispersing all the dust.

When everyone present saw what had happened, they froze.

Gu Yuan had raised his right hand and caught the spear tip firmly between just two fingers. His posture was graceful and his expression composed, without the slightest sign of strain.

Lu Zhaoming, meanwhile, was horrified, pulling repeatedly at the spear in his hands.

But it didn't budge.

Gu Yuan said calmly,

"Good speed."

"Too bad it lacked a bit of force."

As his words fell, terrifying true essence erupted. Lu Zhaoming was sent flying backward and landed at Lu Yunshu's feet along with his spear.

Lu Yunshu was stunned.

Xiao Chen was stunned too.

Hong Ni and Lü Luo were even more shocked!

That exchange had seemed unremarkable, but Gu Yuan's true essence was far more resilient than that of martial artists in the same realm!

That simply wasn't true essence a sixth-rank martial artist should possess.

How had he done it?!

Everyone else was just as astonished and bewildered.

"Xiaoyun, how is Gu Yuan? Is he hurt? Quick, take a look for me."

"Your... Your Highness, Heir Gu won, and he only used two fingers..."

!!!

Huai'an abruptly opened her eyes, only to see Lu Zhaoming lying on the ground.

I missed it?

Damn it!!!

When we get back, I have to make him do it again!

Gu Yuan swept his gaze over the others and spoke slowly.

"Gentlemen, I suggest you all come at me together. Otherwise, you'll end up just as badly as Young Lord Lu."

"..."

At that moment, no one dared underestimate Gu Yuan again.

When he said he would fight eight of them, he hadn't been boasting. He might actually be able to do it!

He truly was worthy of being the genius the empress had taken a fancy to!

"Heir Gu, Shangguan Ling would like to test your skills."

"Long Ye would like to test your skills."

The six remaining heirs stepped forward together, leaving only Xiao Chen behind.

Gu Yuan glanced at Xiao Chen and asked,

"Won't you join them, Young Lord Xiao?"

Lü Luo focused her true essence into a private message. "Young lord, although Gu Yuan's strength exceeds that of an ordinary sixth-rank martial artist, he is still as fragile as a child before you. He is no match for you."

"Now that he is fighting the heirs of six provincial princes, even if you join forces with the others to defeat him, it will be hard to make a name for yourself.

"It would be better to watch and wait until one side wins, then face the victor. No matter who wins or loses, as long as you defeat the victor, yours will still be the name spoken throughout Great Qi tomorrow."

Xiao Chen nodded and made no move.

Gu Yuan sighed softly.

"What a shame. I was hoping to take on all seven of you by myself..."

Everyone: ...

"Heir Gu, forgive us!"

The six provincial princes' heirs darted forward at once, true essence surging as they attacked Gu Yuan...

Meanwhile.

Atop a building not far away, a stunning figure watched quietly as everything unfolded outside the Qi Capital.

A gentle breeze stirred the hem of her dress, offering a glimpse of the precious black silk stockings on her slender, jade-like feet.

Qi Yueli pressed her lips together, her eyes fixed solely on the heroic young man in silver armor.

After this battle, your name will be known throughout Great Qi.

At the same time, you will truly enter the sights of Great Qi's major powers.

Faced with the countless temptations they offer you, what choice will you make?

Will you choose to remain by my side...?

A faint trace of anticipation rose in Qi Yueli's heart.

Even if there was only a one-in-ten-thousand chance, she still hoped Gu Yuan would choose her.

Even though she knew it was a futile wish, she clung to it all the same...

Gu Yuan, I await your choice.

Her murmur slowly faded.

Qi Yueli turned her gaze toward the Taoist temple at the northernmost end of the Qi Capital, her voice growing cold.

"Orthodox Yang Taoist Order, since you wish to meddle in Great Qi's affairs, you will pay the price!"

Her graceful figure flickered, and Qi Yueli vanished completely.

At that moment.

Outside the Qi Capital.

Six figures flew backward at once and crashed heavily to the ground, just like Lu Zhaoming.

Gu Yuan stood where he was, completely unharmed.

"Gentlemen, thank you for going easy on me."

The crowd was astounded. "Facing six sixth-rank opponents at once, he didn't even move a step!"

"In fewer than ten exchanges, all six heirs were soundly defeated. They didn't even touch the hem of Gu Yuan's clothes."

"Is Gu Yuan really only at the sixth rank?!"

Huai'an's eyes shone, little stars twinkling in them. "Xiaoyun, he's really amazing!"

Xiaoyun pressed her lips together, secretly laughing. "Your Highness, people are watching. You should be more reserved."

"Young Lord Xiao, you're the only one left." Gu Yuan pointed at Xiao Chen, preparing to follow his heart and give him a thorough beating.

Still confident, Xiao Chen stepped forward and said in a ringing voice,

"Gu Yuan, your strength surpassed my expectations."

"Today, you defeated the heirs of seven provincial princes on your own. If you stopped here, you could still make a great name for yourself. Unfortunately, you still weren't satisfied and chose to fight me..."

"In this final battle, you are destined to lose."

"The sixth rank is only the sixth rank, after all. An insurmountable gulf separates it from the fifth."

"Though the strength you just displayed reached the limit of the sixth rank, you still won't be able to touch the hem of my clothes."

Gu Yuan suddenly smiled.

"Who told you I'd just reached my limit?"