Cultivation: I Have a Skill Level Panel

"And what if I refuse?"

Gu Yun’s expression was calm as he swirled the fragrant wine in his cup.

A mocking smile touched the corners of his lips as he spoke.

"Refuse?!"

"You fucking dare to refuse?!"

The scar-faced, burly brute slammed his hand on the table and roared, his demeanor menacing.

The surrounding patrons were startled and all turned to look.

"Well, well, if it isn’t the infamous trio of bullies from Dongling City."

"Looks like that handsome young master is out of luck. He’s been targeted by that brute, Wang Ji."

"I heard Wang Ji has... certain preferences."

"Countless handsome mortal youths have fallen into his clutches."

The patrons of the tavern murmured amongst themselves.

"But Wang Ji’s strength is nothing to scoff at. I heard he’s already reached the Spiritual Martial Realm Sixth Layer."

"Even disciples from ordinary families are no match for him."

"Let alone this frail, handsome young master who doesn’t even have a cultivator’s aura."

The crowd in the tavern looked on, ready to enjoy the show, some with jeers on their lips.

"Brat, it’s your lucky day that I’ve taken an interest in you."

"Don’t be ungrateful!"

The scar-faced brute leaned his massive hands on the table, roaring at Gu Yun.

At this,

Gu Yun remained completely unfazed, as if the man were just farting in the wind. He calmly drank the fragrant wine in his hand, then let out a sigh of satisfaction.

"Ah, that hits the spot."

Hearing Gu Yun’s words, the scar-faced brute thought he had submitted to his might. He laughed arrogantly. "Heh heh, so you do know what’s good for you."

"Get lost."

Gu Yun’s voice was suddenly soft,

but an aura as deep as an abyssal sea instantly spread out from him. The very air vibrated as if struck by a flood, and the entire tavern began to tremble violently.

The scar-faced man and his two lackeys felt the aura of a titanic beast erupt before their eyes. In the next moment, they were struck by an incomparably tyrannical repulsive force.

A terrifying power pulverized their bodies from the inside out, sending them flying from the tavern like cannonballs to smash brutally onto the ground outside.

The three of them died instantly.

Terror was etched onto their dead faces, their eyes wide with disbelief and utter regret.

Then, Gu Yun’s figure vanished, transforming into a streak of light that shot toward Nanming City.

"Holy shit, what did I just see?"

"My gods, that... that young master is actually a True Martial Powerhouse!"

"We were blind not to recognize a master! To think a True Martial Powerhouse was right before our eyes."

"That’s just too powerful! He just released a sliver of his aura and those three bullies were instantly obliterated!"

Everyone in the tavern was in a state of shock. Some wore expressions of sheer awe, while others were simply dumbfounded, unable to believe what they had just witnessed.

...

At that moment,

in the Gu Family estate in Nanming City, within the Great Yan Dynasty,

several figures stood within a magnificent hall, facing a dignified, middle-aged man seated on the main chair.

"Patriarch,

"I never thought the Wang Family and the Xu Family would dare to join forces against us."

"Are they not afraid that our Gu Family’s Qilin Child will return and annihilate them with a mere wave of his hand?"

a long-bearded, white-haired elder at the Spiritual Martial Ninth Layer said to the patriarch.

"Guo He, I’m afraid it’s not that simple."

"If it were just the Xu and Wang Families, they would never have the courage to make a move against us!"

"Furthermore, based on the clues we’ve gathered,"

"there’s a sinister and terrifying hidden power backing them. They are our true enemy!"

The patriarch, Gu Taisheng, said in a grave voice from his seat.

"Patriarch, rest assured. I sent a message to my son several days ago. I believe he will arrive any day now."

An elder at the Spiritual Martial Realm Ninth Layer, dressed in a brocade robe and with a rather plump face, spoke up.

Hearing this, Gu Taisheng looked toward the elder, a faint smile gracing his lips.

"Ding Jin, excellent!"

"We can only wait for the Gu Family’s Qilin to arrive. Only then can we break this deadlock."

The spirits of everyone in the hall lifted at the mention of Gu Yun.

As an Inner Sect Disciple of the Profound Celestial Sect, Gu Yun was already the Gu Family’s greatest pillar of support.

He was the Gu Family’s true prodigy. According to news from a family disciple in the Profound Celestial Sect’s Outer Sect,

even several years ago, Gu Yun had already defeated a veteran Inner Sect Disciple, demonstrating strength comparable to the True Martial Realm Fourth Layer.

Such strength far surpassed that of their patriarch, Gu Taisheng, making Gu Yun the undisputed strongest expert in the Gu Family.

As elders of the Gu Family, they all shared in his glory!

Moreover, thanks to Gu Yun’s rising prestige over the years,

the Gu Family had become the strongest of the three great families in Nanming City, a dominance that extended to all their business ventures.

But now, the Wang and Xu Families had allied to suppress them. They would be fools to believe there wasn’t something strange going on.

"Reporting!"

"It’s terrible news!"

A Gu Family disciple rushed to the entrance of the hall, his face pale with anxiety as he yelled.

"Hmm?!

What’s with all the panic? Show some decorum!

Speak clearly. What has happened?" one of the elders demanded.

The disciple before them said nervously, "A message just came through the Communication Talisman! Outside Nanming City, the supply convoy escorted by Elder Huamin is under attack!"

Upon hearing this,

"Damn it!"

"It must be the Wang and Xu Families! They’re behind this!"

"What’s the exact location?"

a rather stout, hot-tempered elder demanded angrily, turning to the disciple.

"Outside Nanming City, in the Baiyue Mountain Forest!"

From his seat, Gu Taisheng immediately gave a grave command. "Guo He, Zheng Qiang, the two of you will take a group of family elites and go provide support at once!"

"Yes, Patriarch!" the two replied in unison, cupping their fists respectfully.

「Meanwhile」

Somewhere in the Baiyue Mountain Forest, an explosion rang out.

"Gu Huamin!"

"Die!"

A middle-aged cultivator at the Spiritual Martial Ninth Layer, clad in black, wore a sinister expression. He condensed Spiritual Qi into a punch that shot through the air like a pouncing tiger, blasting violently toward Gu Huamin.

Gu Huamin, a plain-faced middle-aged cultivator in a white robe, showed no change in expression.

"Wang Chong, it’s too early to say who will be the victor!"

A majestic surge of Spiritual Qi erupted from his body. He raised his hand, clenched his fingers into a fist, and poured Spiritual Qi into it. The fist whistled through the air, shattering the space before it.

It shot straight for Wang Chong!

BOOM!

The two fists, both infused with Spiritual Qi, collided. A terrifying explosion erupted at the point of impact, and a tyrannical shockwave blasted outward in all directions.

It flattened the surrounding trees with a great RUSTLE, and the aftershocks made the very ground tremble.

The two men then shot back, putting distance between them.

A cold glint then flashed in Gu Huamin’s eyes as the full might of his Spiritual Martial Realm Ninth Layer cultivation erupted.

His fingers blurred, forming a hand seal.

"Great Fire Python Technique!"

In an instant, flames surged to life in the space around him, their intense heat distorting the very air.

The flames coalesced into dozens of Fire Pythons that seared through the air, forming a deadly, constricting net as they descended upon Wang Chong with overwhelming force!

Seeing the dozens of terrifyingly hot Fire Pythons surging toward him,

Wang Chong let out a cold snort, his expression savage.

"Petty parlor tricks!"

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