Chapter 236 - 234: Astounding the Audience

"Qinghong, your Fourth Uncle has challenged for the Patriarch’s seat, but when it comes down to it, this is all for the sake of the Qian Family’s centuries-old legacy."

Qian Hului clasped his hands behind his back, putting on the righteous air of an elder, and proposed unhurriedly, "However, I am your elder, after all. It wouldn’t be right for me to bully a junior right from the start and take advantage of a young girl like you. Why don’t we let the juniors have a go for this first match to warm up? You and I can settle things in the end. How about it?"

Qian Qinghong watched his act with cold eyes. Of course she knew what this old fox was plotting.

He was simply wary of her true strength and wanted to use his subordinates to test the waters first. Besides, the supporters for both sides were already out in the open.

In Qian Hului’s eyes, Su Yu was just a junior who had recently entered the mid-stage of the Flesh Refining Realm. With the lowest realm, he was undoubtedly the easiest target. If he could use this opportunity to win the first round, he would not only suppress the main branch’s morale but also establish prestige for his own faction.

As expected, before Qian Qinghong could speak, Qian Hului made the final call. "Since this is an internal Qian Family spar, let’s not bother with any clever matchup strategies. We’ll fight three rounds, fair and square—soldier against soldier, general against general."

"Qingba, you go first. Face Friend Su! Remember to hold back; we wouldn’t want to hurt him."

Those were the words Qian Qingba had been waiting for. He sneered and strode into the center of the Martial Arts Arena.

"Brother Su, if you please." Qian Qingba looked at Su Yu, his eyes filled with undisguised contempt. "I heard you made a name for yourself in the Outer City during the Dinglong Association, relying on a fierce and domineering Fist Technique. As it happens, I have painstakingly cultivated the Qian Family’s ancestral Thunder Collapse Fist and Thunder Collapse Step for over a decade. I consider myself to have made some small achievements, and today, I’d like to ask for your guidance."

’I’ve got this all figured out,’ he thought. ’I’m a whole realm higher than Su Yu and I’ve been training in this fist technique and footwork for years. There’s no way I’m weaker than him.’

’Today is the perfect day to defeat Su Yu, ride his fame, and finally get the respect I deserve!’

’Here in the Qian Family, I’ve always been looked down on by Qian Qinghong and the rest of the main branch. I’m sick of it!’

Su Yu gave a faint smile.

The ambition in the other man’s eyes—the desperate desire to use him as a stepping stone to fame—was practically bursting out.

’Looks like I have no choice but to fight.’

Just as he was about to step forward, Dai Xin, who was beside him, reached out a delicate hand, gently tugging his sleeve. She said in a low voice, "Brother Su, don’t go. Qinghong was planning to forfeit this first match anyway."

Qian Qinghong, standing at the very front, also turned around. With a slight frown, she gave Su Yu an extremely subtle shake of her head.

"Don’t worry, Sister Dai. I’m not just trying to be a hero. Leave this fight to me." Su Yu’s tone was gentle but left no room for doubt.

He gently took hold of Dai Xin’s slender, fair wrist, moved it aside, and then calmly walked toward the platform.

As he passed by Qian Qinghong, he saw that she still intended to stop him. Su Yu simply turned his head and gave her a look of firm reassurance.

Meeting that calm gaze, the words of discouragement on the tip of Qian Qinghong’s tongue were instantly swallowed back.

’She suddenly remembered. This man before me is a monster! He escaped from Hong Lei—a warrior at the Perfection of the Muscle Forging Realm—at the bottom of the Black Water River! He got away completely unscathed!’

’Maybe... maybe he really does have what it takes!’

On the other side of the platform, when Qian Qingba saw that Su Yu actually dared to accept the challenge, he was overcome with elation.

’Well, well. Since you’re asking to die, don’t blame me for what comes next!’

He tilted his head slightly and exchanged a subtle glance with Zhao Gaolang at the side of the arena. They had a tacit understanding: if an opportunity arose, they would cripple this man!

"Let’s begin!"

Su Yu took his position on the platform, his tone calm.

The moment his voice fell, the Qi and Blood in Qian Qingba’s body erupted.

BOOM!

A sound like the boom of muffled summer thunder exploded on the platform. It was the terrifying noise produced when his domineering Qi and Blood instantly surged into his Yongquan Acupoint.

In the next instant, Qian Qingba’s figure blurred where he stood, transforming into a hazy afterimage as he instantly closed the distance to Su Yu.

’Feel my speed, you brat!’

Qian Qingba’s eyes were full of arrogance. ’I’ve always wanted to make a name for myself! I’m the real genius!’

’If I hadn’t been born into a branch of the Qian Family, if I’d had enough resources, there’s no way I’d let a woman like Qian Qinghong hold me down!’

’Take this Thunder Collapse Step. He was incredibly proud of it. He had only practiced for seven or eight years and had already reached the stage of Major Accomplishment!’

’Who could possibly compare to that?’

’And Su Yu? He’s just a country bumpkin who’s only been training for a few years. Sure, he’s talented, but that just means he breaks through realms quickly!’

However, faced with Qian Qingba’s astonishing speed, Su Yu simply remained where he was, calm and still.

Because his Truth-Seeing Eye was already active, he could see the flow of his opponent’s Qi and Blood and knew the attack wasn’t coming from the front.

Sure enough, in the next moment, Qian Qingba feinted, his body instantly vanishing again and reappearing behind Su Yu.

’Scared stiff, are you, kid!’

’Ha! You couldn’t even follow my feint. You’re done for. I’ll cripple you with this one move!’

"Thunder Collapse Fist!"

Qian Qingba’s face was savage as the Qi and Blood of a late-stage Flesh Refining Realm expert gathered in his right fist without reservation. This punch wasn’t meant to be held back; instead, it was aimed with extreme malice, smashing directly toward the vital point on the back of Su Yu’s head!

The back of the head is the body’s most vulnerable point.

If he were to be struck squarely by such a heavy punch imbued with Ming Jin, even with the physique of a mid-stage Flesh Refining Realm cultivator, he would either die or become a bedridden imbecile for life!

Watch out!

Below the platform, Qian Qinghong let out a sharp cry of warning. At the same time, the Qi and Blood in her feet surged; she was preparing to jump in and save him at a moment’s notice.

However, the situation on the platform reversed in an instant.

The Qi and Blood within Su Yu’s body had long been coiled and ready. The moment Qian Qingba struck, Su Yu’s body vanished from its spot.

He had just activated the Seven Fiends Thunder Collapse Step at the Perfection Realm!

The moment this footwork was activated, the disparity became instantly clear. How could the opponent’s Thunder Collapse Step at Major Accomplishment possibly compare?

Qian Qingba’s punch, which concentrated all his Qi and Blood, slammed into empty air with a BANG. A wave of white energy rolled out, and the air crackled.

The power of this strike was clearly astonishing. If an ordinary mid-stage Flesh Refining Realm cultivator were to take such a punch, they would be left half-dead, if not worse!

As his attack missed, the triumphant, savage grin on Qian Qingba’s face instantly froze. His pupils contracted to the size of a pinprick.

’Where is he?!’

"Qingba, behind you! Dodge!"

A roar like a clap of thunder boomed from offstage. The one who shouted the warning was none other than Qian Hului.

Hearing his father’s warning, even though Qian Qingba couldn’t track Su Yu’s movements at all, the instincts honed by years of martial arts training moved faster than his thoughts.

He let out a wild roar, twisted his waist, and pushed his Thunder Collapse Step to its absolute limit, his body flashing to the side like a startled cheetah.

SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!

Qian Qingba’s body frantically zigzagged across the spacious Martial Arts Arena, leaving a series of afterimages in his wake.

But no matter how he fled, that lethal presence, like a maggot feasting on his bones, remained stuck to the back of his neck!

’Impossible!’

’He’s only in the mid-stage of the Flesh Refining Realm! How can his speed be completely overwhelming mine?’

Qian Qingba was drenched in sweat. The more he used the Thunder Collapse Step, the more his heart pounded with terror.

His pride and joy, his speed, was being utterly crushed by his opponent’s seemingly effortless, strolling pace.

At the side of the arena, Qian Qinghong, who had been nervous just moments ago, now had eyes filled with incredible, joyous surprise.

’So fast! Brother Su really was hiding his strength... With footwork this amazing, could he have already reached the Perfection Realm?’

Dai Xin’s green eyes sparkled with extraordinary light, fixed unblinkingly on the composed figure on the platform.

’That speed... it’s terrifying. He’s already as fast as I am. Looks like my little brother wouldn’t stand a chance against him.’

In stark contrast to the two women’s delight,

Qian Hului’s face was as dark as water.

’Damn it!’

’I thought this was a guaranteed win to start things off, but it’s turned into a complete mess.’

’What kind of monster is this Su Yu? That speed... it’s clearly the kind of speed one can only achieve at the Perfection Realm of a movement technique.’

’How could someone so young cultivate a martial art to that level?!’

Zhao Gaolang’s sinister, inverted-triangle eyes were locked tightly onto Su Yu, the wariness and killing intent within them almost taking physical form.

’This kid must not be left alive!’

’If we let him keep growing for a few more years, I’m afraid I won’t even be able to withstand a single one of his attacks!’

On the platform, after a brief cat-and-mouse chase, Su Yu’s calm voice rang out.

"Surrender."

Before his voice had even faded, the Trait of Ape Shadow Swift Wind activated within Su Yu.

His right fist shot out like a cannonball, smashing ferociously toward Qian Qingba’s defenseless back.

Although this punch wasn’t enhanced by the Black Stone Body Forging Skill or the Ape Demon’s Baleful Qi, its destructive power had already surpassed the limits of the late-stage of the Flesh Refining Realm!

Qian Qingba felt the powerful fist wind behind him. With an angry roar, he brazenly turned and unleashed his Thunder Collapse Fist.

He had no intention of surrendering. Even now, he believed that Su Yu had only bested him in speed. When it came to explosive power, he was convinced Su Yu was no match for him.

BOOM!

The two fists collided in mid-air with brutal, straightforward force.

At the moment of impact, Qian Qingba felt an overwhelming wave of Ming Jin, like an invisible sledgehammer, instantly shattering the defenses of his entire right arm!

AHHH!!!

Accompanied by a sickening crack of bone, Qian Qingba let out a miserable scream.

He violently retracted his right arm, which was now spasming uncontrollably. His body staggered back seven or eight steps as if hit by a runaway carriage before he finally managed to stabilize himself.

’Impossible...’

’How could that punch be so powerful!’

Qian Qingba’s face turned an ugly shade of purple-red, and beads of cold sweat rolled down his forehead.

The heart-piercing pain from his right arm cruelly tore away his last shred of hope.

He had lost.

Defeated in front of everyone by a young man who was a whole minor realm beneath him!

Qian Qingba could already foresee it: by tomorrow morning, news that Su Yu had defied his realm to defeat a late-stage opponent would spread throughout all of Black Stone City.

And he, Qian Qingba, would not only be exposed as no genius at all, but would be reduced to a mere stepping stone to highlight this peerless prodigy!

After defeating his opponent with a single punch, Su Yu simply and quietly retracted his fist, watching the man opposite him with a calm expression, waiting for him to admit defeat.

Now, on the Qian Family’s home turf, with Qian Hului—a Muscle Forging Realm expert—watching like a tiger, he didn’t take the opportunity to deal a killing blow.

Below the platform, the members of the Qian Family were shocked into a dead silence by this perception-shattering scene, which was then followed by bursts of irrepressible gasps.

"So strong! Su Yu actually knocked back Lord Qingba with a single punch!"

"Unbelievable! Lord Qingba is in the late-stage of the Flesh Refining Realm, and Su Yu is in the mid-stage. Did he just win against someone in a higher realm?"

"I didn’t understand that punch. What was the secret behind it? How could Lord Qingba not take it?"

"Su Yu has set a new record, right? Defeating a stronger enemy from a lower Flesh Refining Realm... Tell me, who in Black Stone City has ever done that?"

Listening to the surrounding discussions and gasps, which felt like knives stabbing into his heart, Qian Qingba’s face, already twisted in pain, was now completely filled with humiliation and venomous resentment.

The veins on his forehead bulged as his sanity crumbled under the extreme shame and anger.

"I’ll kill you!"