Chapter 238 - 236: A New Generation of Talent Emerges

The saber energy surged down like a bursting tidal wave.

The icy, deep-blue blade sliced half an inch into his flesh.

However, the reserves of a Muscle Forging Realm expert were simply too astonishing.

Spurred by the intense pain and the life-or-death crisis, the Qi and Blood within Qian Hului’s body erupted like a volcano.

A massive amount of Qi and Blood surged madly toward his neck. The powerful muscle fibers tightened, forcefully blocking the blade for an instant.

At the same time, his withered, hawk-like hands shot upward, clamping down hard on the descending blade, just barely saving him from being decapitated.

"What a tough body!"

Su Yu’s heart tightened, a trace of shock flashing in his eyes. ’So this is the power of the Muscle Forging Realm?’

’Even after taking a fatal wound to the neck, he can still forcefully lock his blood and save his own life in the blink of an eye.’

’But it’s over for you, you old bastard!’

A vicious glint flared in Su Yu’s eyes. He gripped the emerald-green hilt of the sword buried in the man’s abdomen, ready to flex his muscles and viciously shred Qian Hului’s internal organs.

"Stop!"

Just as the situation reached another critical point, a furious roar, like that of a lion, erupted from below the stage.

The shout carried a terrifying sonic wave that made the ears of everyone present ring.

Several Qian Family disciples closer to the ring even had their eardrums bleed from the shock. Their bodies swayed, and they nearly collapsed to the ground.

Along with the roar, a powerful, almost tangible pressure, like Mount Tai crashing down, instantly locked onto the three people on the ring.

Under this terrifying pressure, both Su Yu’s and Qian Qinghong’s movements involuntarily faltered for a moment.

’What terrifying pressure...’ Qian Qinghong felt as if she were being stared down by a lion with its jaws wide open, making it incredibly difficult to even breathe.

’No wonder Father once said that the Great Elder Qian Lusheng’s cultivation was even a cut above his own as the Patriarch!’

’But this isn’t enough!’

’I have to take this old dog’s life now and save myself the trouble later!’

Qian Qinghong immediately circulated her saber energy to resist the Great Elder’s pressure. At the same time, she put more force into her hands, pressing the blade down hard against Qian Hului’s neck!

"Save me, Great Elder!"

Qian Hului desperately held up the blade, his ten fingers sliced by the saber energy to the point where bone was visible.

Although he had barely blocked the fatal strike, his abdomen had been pierced and severely wounded. He was now a spent force, on the verge of collapse.

BOOM!

At the critical moment, the Great Elder Qian Lusheng’s figure appeared on the ring as if he had teleported.

He used no weapon, simply throwing a punch that slammed viciously into the side of Qian Qinghong’s blade.

The incomparably violent fist energy instantly extinguished the terrifying, deep-blue saber energy. The immense rebounding force tore open the webbing between Qian Qinghong’s thumb and forefinger, sending her long saber flying out of her grasp to land embedded in the stone slabs ten steps away.

’I’m saved!’

A hint of ecstatic joy had just appeared on Qian Hului’s pale face. However, in the next instant...

PFFT!

The emerald-green short sword in Su Yu’s hand viciously twisted half a turn inside Qian Hului’s abdomen!

Its supreme sharpness instantly shredded his intestines!

Qian Hului’s eyes rolled back. A gurgling, wretched scream escaped his throat as he violently spat out a mouthful of blood mixed with chunks of his internal organs. His entire body went limp, collapsing to the ground like a pile of mud.

After doing all this, Su Yu had no intention of lingering in battle.

He decisively pulled out his short sword, instantly activating the Seven Fiends Thunder Collapse Step and retreating several zhang away.

The corner of Qian Lusheng’s eye twitched violently. He turned his head and stared at Su Yu, who had retreated into the distance, a flicker of shock deep within his eyes.

’Is this kid really just in the mid-stage of the Flesh Refining Realm?’

’Why could he still move freely under my pressure? Even the circulation of his Qi and Blood wasn’t impeded in the slightest!’

"Fourth Elder!"

The sudden turn of events on the ring finally snapped the members of the Qian Family’s branch family back to their senses. Seeing Qian Hului severely injured and near death, the branch family’s camp descended into chaos. They all drew their weapons, about to rush onto the ring to rescue him.

The leader of the Tributors, Zhao Gaolang, had a ferocious expression. His Qi and Blood surged, and like a venomous snake that had spotted its prey, he prepared to leap over the crowd and charge toward Su Yu in the distance to kill him.

However, before he could take a second step, a cold killing intent locked onto the spot between his eyebrows.

It was Qian Qingyan!

Although the eldest brother of the main branch was pale and heavily injured, the iron-blooded, murderous aura of someone who had crawled out of a pile of corpses hadn’t diminished in the slightest.

He had stood up at some point, his long spear aimed at Zhao Gaolang from afar. The tip of the spear trembled slightly, as if it would transform into a long dragon the next second and nail him to the spot!

Zhao Gaolang felt a chill run down his spine and forced himself to a halt, not daring to make another reckless move.

"Qian Hului is so shameless!" Qian Wenhao roared. "He slandered us with accusations of poisoning and attacked first. He’s unworthy of being a Qian Family elder! Brothers, let’s move!"

He led the main branch members to attack!

Seeing that the scene was about to erupt into total chaos, the seven or eight elders of the Elder Council could no longer sit still. They all entered the arena, using their formidable cultivation to forcefully separate the two groups.

"All of you, stop!"

Qian Lusheng bellowed again.

This furious roar carried the wrath of thunder, causing everyone’s Qi and Blood to churn once more. They all retreated with looks of horror on their faces.

At this point, Su Yu also understood. Qian Lusheng must have cultivated a sonic-type ultimate technique to achieve such a stunning effect.

Such Martial Arts were rare; a sudden attack like that in battle could definitely turn the tide if the enemy was unprepared.

Under the suppression of an expert at the Perfection of the Muscle Forging Realm, the vast Martial Arts Arena instantly fell silent.

With a cold expression, Qian Lusheng walked over to Qian Hului’s side, took out a fragrant pill from his robes, and stuffed it into his mouth. He then quickly tapped several points on his body, sealing his Qi and Blood.

Looking at the once ambitious Fourth Elder, now in such a miserable state with his life hanging by a thread, a complex look of disappointment flashed in Qian Lusheng’s eyes.

He turned his head, his gaze sweeping back and forth between Qian Qinghong and Su Yu.

Faced with his intensely pressuring scrutiny, both of them remained calm and composed, as if what they had just done was a trivial matter.

’A new generation of talent rises in every age...’ Qian Lusheng sighed to himself.

Finally, he stood up straight, scanned the entire arena, and announced in a tone that allowed no doubt:

"I hereby announce that in this battle for the Patriarch’s position, Qian Qinghong is the victor! Effective immediately, Qian Qinghong will formally assume the role of Patriarch of my Qian Family!"

As soon as he spoke, the members of the main branch erupted in deafening cheers.

"Great Elder! Qian Qinghong colluded with an outsider to launch a sneak attack on the Fourth Elder! This victory was dishonorable and shouldn’t count!" Zhao Gaolang’s eyes were red with anxiety as he protested unwillingly.

"What? This is the unanimous decision of the Elder Council. Do you, a Tributor with an outside surname, dare to object?"

Qian Lusheng whipped his head around, his lion-like eyes shooting out a bone-chilling killing intent that fixed itself on Zhao Gaolang.

Locked by such terrifying pressure, Zhao Gaolang felt as if he had been plunged into an icy cavern and instantly wilted. He swallowed hard and stammered, "No... no objection."

...

The battle for the Patriarch’s position came to a close. A crisis that could have thrown the Qian Family into turmoil was forcefully suppressed, and the various factions began to disperse.

The main branch’s camp, however, was filled with joy.

Qian Qinghong, all smiles, unabashedly slung an arm around Su Yu’s shoulders, even patting him affectionately.

This scene made Qian Wenhao, standing nearby, stare with his eyes wide as saucers.

"Brother Su, you’ve helped me immensely yet again. I still haven’t repaid you for saving my life at the Black Water River, and now there’s this new debt on top of the old one. I don’t even know how to thank you."

Su Yu gave a dry cough and discreetly removed her fair, jade-like hand from his shoulder, whispering, "Qinghong, mind your decorum. So many people are watching."

’Qian Wenhao is one thing, he’s a rough guy, but look at your older brother’s face! It’s as black as the bottom of a pot!’

"Ahem... Brother Su, I am Qian Qingyan."

Sure enough, Qian Qingyan walked over with a cold expression.

He very naturally took a step, subtly positioning himself between Su Yu and his sister. He then gave Su Yu a solemn fist-and-palm salute. "It is thanks to Brother Su’s immense help that my younger sister was able to win and secure the position of Patriarch. The Qian Family will remember this favor."

"Brother Qian, you’re too kind. I just happened to be here and lent a hand. Winning this round was all due to Qinghong’s own strength." Su Yu smiled and returned the salute, his conduct impeccable.

Seeing that Su Yu, despite his youth, remained composed in the face of honor and disgrace, without a trace of the frivolousness that comes with taking credit, a deep sense of admiration rose in Qian Qingyan’s eyes.

He had originally thought that the rumors about this number one prodigy of Black Stone City were somewhat exaggerated. But after seeing him today, he realized the rumors weren’t just true—they were far too conservative.

’To move so freely under the nose of a Muscle Forging Realm expert with only a mid-stage Flesh Refining Realm cultivation, and even to land such a fatal killing blow.’

’With time, a monster like this will surely become one of the most prominent figures in Black Stone City.’

"Ahem... Brother Su. Since we’ll all be family from now on, let’s go to the Zhenxiu Building for a few drinks and a proper celebration in a bit." Qian Qingyan’s tone had softened considerably.

Seeing her brother’s approval of Su Yu, Qian Qinghong couldn’t help but let the corners of her mouth curve up slightly. She turned to Dai Xin, who was standing to the side. "Xin’Er, let’s go! You have to come too!"

Dai Xin gave a lazy reply, but her beautiful, pale-green eyes drifted over Su Yu, now and then.

’I didn’t even get a chance to go on stage in today’s sparring match. Su Yu stole all the limelight.’

’He defeated Qian Qingba, who was in the Late-stage of the Flesh Refining Realm, and even became the decisive factor in a battle involving the Muscle Forging Realm!’

’Such terrifying talent and combat prowess are simply unbelievable.’

’It seems my assessment of Brother Su’s potential was still too low.’

Dai Xin licked her rosy lips. Deep within her heart, a long-dormant sense of intense excitement and fighting spirit surged.

As a top-tier genius who had once looked down on all her peers, it had been too long since she had met someone her own age who could put such immense pressure on her.

This, in turn, ignited the competitive spirit in her bones. She made up her mind to compete with Su Yu in terms of Martial Arts talent!

...

「Zhenxiu Building.」

Today, the wealthy Qian Family had booked out two entire floors. Qian Qinghong held a grand banquet here for her guests, lavishly celebrating her official takeover of the Qian Family’s authority.

At the main table, Su Yu and Dai Xin were pulled by Qian Qinghong to sit on her left and right sides.

"Today, I, Qian Qinghong, thanks to everyone’s support, have assumed the position of Patriarch of the Qian Family. In this chaotic era, I will do my utmost to lead the Qian Family through all difficulties and to greater heights!"

Qian Qinghong raised a full bowl of strong liquor, stood up with a valiant and heroic air, tilted back her long, fair neck, and drained it in one go.

Her sharp, ink-black robes, combined with her bold spirit that was no less than any man’s, truly embodied the saying that women can be the equal of men.

Inspired by her, the Qian Family disciples and vassal forces, who had been somewhat apprehensive, all raised their cups, shouted their approval, and drained their strong liquor. With this decisive new Patriarch in charge, the heavy stone in everyone’s hearts was finally lifted.

After three rounds of drinks, the atmosphere grew even more lively.

Aside from Qian Qinghong, the undeniable main character of the event, Su Yu had become the center of attention. Stewards and Qian Family disciples from all sides came forward with cups of wine to offer toasts and chat, trying to get closer to him.

After all, no one dared to show the slightest neglect to a Martial Arts prodigy with a limitless future and heaven-defying combat power.

The lively celebration banquet continued until the sun began to set in the west, and the guests, full of food and drink, began to leave.

Su Yu was about to return to his residence when a Qian Family guard blocked his path.

"Master Su, the Great Elder has sent me. He would like to invite you to the Qian Family estate for a talk."

Su Yu would naturally not refuse an invitation from an expert of the Muscle Forging Realm, so he once again boarded Qian Qinghong’s carriage and headed for the Qian Family estate.

Inside the carriage, Qian Qinghong was already a little drunk and leaned against Su Yu’s chest quite naturally, falling asleep.