Chapter 120: A Bunch of Worthless People

Dozens of Awakened—men and women alike—wore deep blue uniforms with cuffs and hems embroidered in silver thread. Among them were only two Level 6 Awakened; the rest were Level 4 and Level 5, many bearing visible wounds. Despite this, they showed no nervousness when facing the Awakened from South Chu, their expressions filled with arrogance.

The Awakened of the Qi Dynasty had assumed the South Chu forces would climb Danyang Mountain overnight, but when they failed to appear, the Qi forces had fought their way up instead. These wounded soldiers were resting here while simultaneously blocking the path.

"Your Qi Dynasty is far too overbearing!" Yan Hao said coldly.

"Think whatever you like! Stop right there!" The man who had spoken earlier, a Level 6 Awakened, replied with a cold expression.

"And if we insist on going up?" Wei Hong, a Level 6 Awakened from the City Guard, stepped forward and said in a deep voice.

"You can try! I only fear you won't be able to bear the consequences," the other man retorted with a sneer. "What you've already obtained in Wuji City is more than enough for this trip! Don't be greedy!" He glanced at them dismissively. "Let alone you lot, even if Chen Daoling were here, he wouldn't be allowed up."

The South Chu Awakened wore expressions of fury, though the few Level 6s among them hesitated. They had considered this possibility, but making such a decision was difficult. After all, the Qi Dynasty was vast compared to South Chu—their number of Awakened alone was ten times greater. Furthermore, the Qi Dynasty possessed not only the self-proclaimed strongest swordsman but also a Nightmare Master—an extremely rare Level 7 Awakened with Shadow-attribute abilities.

"Tsk, tsk!" Gu Changqing, who had been following at a leisurely pace, stepped forward and mocked, "Aren't you City Guard fellows supposed to be so brave? Going soft already? Experts at civil war, but incompetent against outsiders, I see."

"What did you say?" The City Guard Awakened glared at him in rage.

The Qi Dynasty members, seeing the South Chu Awakened infighting, grew even more disdainful, their eyes filled with ridicule.

The next second, a river of blood surged from Gu Changqing’s hands. Several meters wide and vast, the torrent of blood swept directly toward the Qi Dynasty group. The move caused everyone’s expression to change drastically.

"You’ve got some nerve! It seems you're really looking to die!" One of the Qi Dynasty Level 6 Awakened snorted, drawing his sword and unleashing a slash. The technique was not flashy, but it was fast as lightning; everyone felt a chill as even the river of blood was cleaved in two.

However, as the blood river split, it was controlled by Gu Changqing to swirl around the others, catching dozens of the caught-off-guard Qi Dynasty Awakened within it. Even as they attempted to use their abilities to shield themselves, it was to no avail. Everyone watched as a blood-robed Daoist, identical to Gu Changqing, manifested above the river.

Another figure, a blood-stained elder with a look of agony, wielded a long spear and lunged at a Level 6 Awakened, the spear’s momentum carrying the bitter, murderous aura of a blood-soaked battlefield. This sight made everyone turn pale.

"You really are courting death!" the swordsman's companion hissed, though he was interrupted by the screams of his fellow Qi soldiers. He glanced back instinctively, only to see the Awakened dissolving within the blood river; their flesh melting into gore until only skeletons remained.

A chill ran through everyone present. Even the Awakened of Chongming and the City Guard looked at Gu Changqing with fear. Few had seen him in action, and outside of those on the city walls last night, no one had seen the full display of this blood river.

The two remaining Qi Dynasty Awakened were shocked and furious. They had never imagined the South Chu forces would dare to attack them, let alone with such lethal force. In an instant, dozens of Awakened had dissolved into the sea of blood.

"I dragged myself all the way up here, and you won't let me pass? Who do you think you are?" Gu Changqing sneered. A pair of knuckle-dusters appeared on his hands, the black pupils embedded in them drawing the involuntary gaze of everyone nearby.

Gu Changqing then summoned the Tortoise-Snake Bagua Lamp and launched himself like an arrow at the swordsman, reaching him in a blink. His body shifted from light to heavy; his spiritual energy had reached the ninth layer of Qi Refining, and his blood energy had surged to its limit. This sudden charge, transitioning from nimble to overwhelming, felt like a crashing mountain. He threw a punch that struck like a massive cauldron, an unstoppable force.

The swordsman was terrified, an instinctual warning screaming in his mind that this punch could not be blocked. But, trained by the Master Swordsman, he was a man of singular focus; he could not retreat. He gritted his teeth and slashed. To everyone watching, the slash felt only like a bone-chilling cold.

The punch and the blade collided. Gu Changqing felt a stinging pain in his fist and cursed internally—damn it, he had just replaced his Level 3 spirit gear!

*Boom!*

The swordsman felt a terrifying force travel up his blade, making it impossible to hold his weapon. He and his sword were smashed into a distant boulder, shattering it. He spat blood, his hands trembling uncontrollably, unable to grip his blade even as he struggled to rise. When it clattered to the ground, the onlookers could not believe their eyes. They had recognized him—he was one of the Master Swordsman's disciples, no mediocre combatant even among Level 6s. Yet, he hadn't even survived one punch.

The other Qi Dynasty Level 6 Awakened turned pale, his cold gaze fixed on Gu Changqing. He sneered, "Good! Very good!" He moved to retrieve his fellow disciple.

"Still trying to leave? Do you think I’m playing around?" Gu Changqing sneered, his blood energy rising until he no longer looked like a man, but a terrifying beast. He lunged at the pair. Simultaneously, the blood river swept toward them, with Weng Ping inside it, transformed into a blood-red meteor with his spear.

"Gu Changqing, stop!" Wei Hong shouted, panicked, rushing forward to intervene. If they killed the Master Swordsman's disciples, the trouble would be immense.

"Get lost, you bunch of trash!" Gu Changqing snarled. The Sub-Mother Ghost Swords flew from his sleeves, turning into two streaks of spectral light that slashed toward Wei Hong. He then dove onto the two men, bringing his fist down with a roar.

A flash of blade light appeared behind Gu Changqing—it was Gao Tianwu, trying to force Gu Changqing to defend himself. However, Gao Wenxin slashed at Gao Tianwu’s throat, her face cold with murderous intent: "You’re just like your useless father!"

Gao Tianwu’s face turned pale; he pivoted to clash blades with Gao Wenxin, only to be sent flying several meters back, a thin line of blood appearing on his neck.

"Everyone, stop!" Yan Hao felt his scalp tingle. The other Chongming and City Guard Awakened felt the same.

Gu Changqing had already reached the two men. The Qi Dynasty Awakened looked grim as dozens of palm-sized black swords swirled around him, firing toward Gu Changqing like a torrential storm. The first sword struck the red light of the Bagua Lamp, causing it to shudder; as the rest followed, the red light flickered and vanished. The attacker sneered, seeing the defense broken, but in the next second, a green light shimmered on Gu Changqing's skin as he brought his fist down onto the man's head.

A sickening series of bone-crushing sounds rang out. The Level 6 Awakened’s head was smashed deep into his chest, while Weng Ping’s spear pierced through the disciple of the Master Swordsman. The river of blood surged forward, swallowing them both.