Translator: Anubis Translations
"What? They're waiting for him here?" Upon learning the purpose of the crowd, Yan Xixi was startled and wanted to turn back to inform Gu Feng.
"Don't move. Don't you see the patrols around here?" Wu Qi, with his ample experience in the martial world, noticed something unusual.
So many people lingering here couldn't be spontaneous; someone must be organizing this behind the scenes.
"What should we do?" Yan Xixi was deeply worried. She had already considered Gu Feng a friend, albeit one-sidedly.
There were thousands of people here. No matter how strong Gu Feng was, he couldn't defeat so many. They could drown him with their saliva alone.
"He doesn't seem like a fool. Seeing so many people, he should run."
"That's right. He doesn't need to participate in the Sunset Glow Sect's assessment. He can wait, but those people can't."
Thinking this, Yan Xixi laughed cheerfully. How could someone as smart as Gu Feng not think of this?
These thousands of people were destined to wait in vain.
Yan Xixi and her companions relaxed and waited quietly, watching the situation unfold.
Through the crowd, she saw a clearing the size of a courtyard, where dozens of young cultivators were seated.
They all looked arrogant, with deep auras. Most were at the ninth level of the Body Tempering Realm, with a few at the eighth level, and none below.
As time passed, their numbers kept increasing, roughly exceeding a hundred.
This lineup would make even a Qi Refining Realm cultivator flee with their tail between their legs.
"Your friend better not show up, or he's dead," Wu Qi said gloomily.
"These people are so bad. They've done wrong and been punished, yet they refuse to repent and instead plan to deal with the righteous enforcer."
Hearing this, Wu Qi's mouth twitched. Women's logic was indeed peculiar, and the double standards were too severe.
Admittedly, the bandits Gu Feng had robbed were all forced into it by him!
It was undeniable that some were true bandits from the start, but many, like himself, were forced into banditry.
If he hadn't been provoked by being robbed, who would willingly lose face and resort to theft?
The source of this farce was undoubtedly Gu Feng.
Considering Gu Feng was Yan Xixi's friend, Wu Qi just pursed his lips and said nothing more.
The evening glow bathed the western sky in a fiery red.
Just as everyone thought the Masked Bandit wouldn't appear, a tall figure wrapped in a headscarf and carrying a large blade appeared before the crowd.
His steps were steady, his gaze firm, unshaken by the daunting scene before him.
As he approached, the crowd naturally parted, though there were thousands present, few dared, were willing, or had the right to act.
"Yo, so many people. Did you find treasure?"
Gu Feng's appearance was comical, resembling a king of beggars. While a ninth-generation elder of the beggar clan might have nine pouches, he had dozens of storage pouches around his waist at a glance.
And this was after he had refined all his spirit stones; otherwise, there would have been even more.
"Masked Bandit, you dare show your face?"
"Claiming to enforce the law while committing robbery is worse than true bandits."
"We're here today to give you a lesson you'll never forget."
"Hand over all the things you've stolen and publicly repent, or else..."
"..."
The clamor of accusations, denunciations, and curses rose and fell.
In the distance, Yan Xixi clenched her hands, her face tense. She never expected Gu Feng to actually appear.
"How could someone so smart be so stubborn?"
She muttered, wanting to go out and help Gu Feng, but was held back by her companions.
"Xixi, you're only at the seventh level of Body Tempering. What can you do?"
"Xixi, don't worry. They probably won't kill him, but he'll suffer some bruises," Wu Qi also whispered in consolation.
Though also a victim, he greatly admired Gu Feng's strength.
Strong people robbing the weak was normal, after all.
Clang—
Gu Feng's large blade plunged deep into the ground, and he stood tall, scanning the surroundings.
"So many of you, all ready to fight?"
Hearing this, the crowd stirred, with some weaker cultivators stepping back.
"Haha, you think too highly of yourself!" A tall, slender cultivator stepped forward with a laugh.
"It's Guo Renkai from Thousand Blade City, at the ninth level of Body Tempering. Rumor has it his physical strength has reached a terrifying fifty thousand pounds, and that was a year ago. He's probably even stronger now!"
Recognizing him, the crowd erupted in chaotic chatter.
Guo Renkai was the top genius of Thousand Blade City. Despite his slender frame, his physical strength was terrifying, capable of unleashing over fifty thousand pounds of force with his fists.
This was a staggering figure. Generally, surpassing forty thousand pounds at the peak of the Body Tempering Realm was considered genius.
Guo Renkai clearly hadn't reached the peak, but with over fifty thousand pounds of strength, he was undoubtedly a formidable prodigy.
"Just you? Probably not enough," Gu Feng glanced at him dismissively and shook his head.
Over the past few days, he had been robbing and training non-stop.
Though his realm hadn't changed, his physical strength had reached an immeasurable level.
Even if it wasn't a hundred thousand pounds, it was close. Fifty thousand pounds was nothing to him.
"Your strength is impressive. You wouldn't mind adding one more, would you?"
A rough voice rang out, and everyone looked at the newcomer in shock.
This man stood nine feet tall, a head taller than most present, with explosive muscles, bulging veins, and a scarred face that added to his intimidating presence.
With each step, he left deep footprints in the rocky, gravelly terrain, the ground trembling under his weight.
"He's Chao Yuan from Northwest City, nicknamed Copper Skin Iron Bones. He follows a brutal path, with physical strength reaching a terrifying sixty thousand pounds. He's roamed the mountains, battling demon beasts, and once even tore apart a Demon Bear with his bare hands..."
"This is Cang Shi from Ironhold City, also at the ninth level of Body Tempering. A former mercenary, in terms of combat experience, no one here can match him..."
"This is—"
Wu Qi introduced them in a low voice, himself stunned by the lineup. Each person stepping forward was a top talent among their peers in Cloud Prefecture.
Some were even stronger than the Outer Sect disciples of the Sunset Glow Sect.
Yan Xixi was terrified, her face pale. No matter how strong Gu Feng was, he was still a Body Tempering Realm cultivator. How could he defeat so many?
Seeing Gu Feng surrounded by a group of fierce individuals, standing alone, Yan Xixi couldn't hold back any longer. She ran over, summoning her courage, and shouted at the hundred-plus people.
"How can you do this? As geniuses, ganging up on one person, what kind of skill is that...? We're all here for the assessment. There's no need for this!"
"Return their things, or you'll die..."
Gu Feng looked at the girl before him in surprise. He never expected someone to stand up for him in such a situation.
Especially someone he had tricked.
"Xixi, I'll pay you back the money I owe. No need to chase me so urgently.
These small fry can't do anything to me!"
Gu Feng placed a hand on her shoulder, smiling as he spoke.
(End of the Chapter)
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