A punch landed, and the sword shadow instantly vanished.
Chu Tianxiong's body collapsed to the ground, jolting the onlookers back to reality. His chest had caved in, blood poured from his mouth, and he struggled futilely to rise. However, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't move.
In mere moments, he stopped breathing.
Even in death, his eyes were wide open in shock and disbelief, as though he couldn't comprehend how easily he had been defeated.
"Hiss... Chu Tianxiong is dead!"
"Chu Tianxiong, the Thunder Sword master, had been a mid-stage Blood Refining expert for years. He could even rival late-stage masters! Who would've thought he couldn't withstand a single punch from Gu Qingfeng?"
"He killed him with one punch... Gu Qingfeng must have reached the peak of Blood Refining."
Fear rippled through the crowd.
Everyone's gaze fixated on Gu Qingfeng with terror. He had just killed a mid-level Blood Refining expert with one strike, leaving them utterly speechless. In the entire Baishidao, few warriors could even reach the Blood Refining stage. For someone of Chu Tianxiong's caliber, his defeat seemed unfathomable.
But here he lay, lifeless.
Despair crept into the hearts of the remaining Chu family members. With their strongest warrior gone, what hope did they have against the Gu family?
Just then, a commotion erupted outside. The crowd parted, making way for Luo Yu, leader of the Iron Bone Gang, accompanied by his warriors. As Luo Yu arrived, his eyes locked onto Chu Tianxiong's crumpled form, his chest collapsed inward. His pupils shrank in horror.
A Tiegu Gang disciple hurried forward and whispered something into Luo Yu's ear. His expression shifted sharply.
Luo Yu stepped up to Gu Qingfeng, bowing slightly. "I am Luo Yu of the Iron Bone Gang. It is an honor to meet the head of the Gu family."
Before Gu Qingfeng could reply, a member of the Chu family rushed forward, sobbing. "Boss Luo, Gu Qingfeng attacked us for no reason and murdered the head of our family. I beg you to bring us justice!"
"Gang Leader Luo, please avenge us!" cried others from the Chu family, their eyes full of hatred and desperation.
Gu Qingfeng remained unfazed, his gaze cold and indifferent. He turned back to Luo Yu. "Does the Iron Bone Gang plan to assist the Chu family?"
His words carried no respect, his tone sharp. Luo Yu's expression darkened, his polite smile fading. "The Iron Bone Gang doesn't involve itself in martial disputes, but the Chu family is connected to us. You killed Patriarch Chu without reason—this demands an explanation!"
"An explanation?" Gu Qingfeng sneered, his eyes brimming with disdain. "Your Iron Bone Gang dares demand an explanation from me?"
"How dare you disrespect the leader—" one of Luo Yu's men shouted, stepping forward. But before he could finish, a shadow appeared before him, and a powerful gust of wind hit him.
"Boom!"
With a single slap, Gu Qingfeng smashed the man's head into his chest, blood spurting everywhere. He died instantly.
The sudden act of violence stunned the crowd.
Luo Yu's fury erupted. "Gu Qingfeng, how dare you!"
Without finishing his sentence, Luo Yu charged forward. His blood energy surged, transforming into a thick smoke that billowed upward. His right fist, powerful enough to split mountains, shot toward Gu Qingfeng with terrifying force.
Luo Yu's Divine Fist was legendary.
"Well done!" Gu Qingfeng's eyes narrowed, his blood energy flaring, reaching the sky in a wave of fiery power. While Luo Yu's blood energy reached about ten feet high, Gu Qingfeng's stretched five to six times taller, radiating a suffocating heat.
"Impossible!" Luo Yu's face drained of color, shock written all over him. Before he could react, Gu Qingfeng's palm met his fist. The impact sent a scorching force through Luo Yu's body, propelling him back more than ten steps.
"You...Puff!" Luo Yu coughed, blood spurting from his mouth. His face turned pale as the heat spread, burning his internal organs. He had been defeated in a single blow.
The crowd was more shaken by this than by Chu Tianxiong's earlier death.
Luo Yu, the powerful leader of the Iron Bone Gang, had just been bested by Gu Qingfeng in one exchange.
"This is your strength? I'm a little disappointed," Gu Qingfeng shook his head, his voice tinged with regret. He had expected more from Luo Yu, but it seemed that even someone with his reputation wasn't much of a challenge.
Luo Yu's strength was no more than what Gu Qingfeng had possessed a month ago.
Now, having perfected his Fiery Sun Palm and nearing the Bone Refining stage, Gu Qingfeng no longer viewed warriors like Luo Yu as a threat.
"Any last words?" Gu Qingfeng asked, walking toward Luo Yu.
"Ahem... The Iron Bone Gang won't interfere with the Chu family any longer. Please... spare my life," Luo Yu gasped, blood staining his lips. He had no pride left and begged for mercy.
Gu Qingfeng shook his head. "Is that all?"
Without waiting for a reply, Gu Qingfeng struck again, crushing Luo Yu's skull with a single palm. The leader of the Iron Bone Gang was dead.
Turning his gaze toward the remaining Tiegu Gang members and Chu family warriors, Gu Qingfeng smiled—a cold, merciless smile.
"Kill them all. Leave none alive."
At his command, the massacre began.