For exclusive access to 500+ advanced chapters and more, visit my Ko-fi page and support the journey:
ko-fi.com/laoyao95
Laoyao with L yeahh..thanks for the support.
or Support me at patreon for 500+ advanced chapters :
patreon.com/YaoIk
**
Outside the grand hall lay a spacious dueling arena with excellent visibility. Surrounding the arena were tiered, circular spectator seats, forming a natural amphitheater that encased the battleground.
Standing in the middle of the arena, Mo Yu's face was calm, but the dou qi within his body slowly began to stir. Waves of powerful energy surged, filling every corner of his body.
At the entrance to the grand hall, a procession of Golden Warhorse Clan elders emerged one after another. Leading the group were naturally Ma Chen, Ma Teng, and Ma Zhen, along with other elders.
Since these three duels would determine whether the First or Second House would inherit the patriachship of the clan, the spectator seats around the arena were already packed with members of the Golden Warhorse Clan.
Even leaders from subordinate and allied factions of the Golden Warhorse Clan had been invited to sit in the front rows to witness this pivotal moment.
As the crowd poured in, whispers spread like ripples in a pond. In less than ten minutes, the area around the dueling arena was packed with Golden Warhorses and human figures alike.
Mo Yu paid no attention to the bustling crowd. His gaze was fixed firmly on the golden-armored man opposite him—Ma Chao.
At this moment, Ma Chao stood with his hands clasped behind his back. His youthful and heroic face bore a faint smile.
As the most talented prodigy of the younger generation in the Golden Warhorse Clan, Ma Chao had heard some rumors about Mo Yu, but they did not concern him. In the face of absolute power, all tricks and schemes were meaningless.
On the spectator seats, many Golden Warhorses began whispering about the confrontation between Mo Yu and Ma Chao.
"Who is that silver-eyed human youth? How dare he challenge Young Master Ma Chao?"
"Are you out of the loop? That human is called Mo Yu, the husband of Miss Yunlu. According to clan rules, Mo Yu can represent the Second House in this competition. The outcome of the duel between Young Master Ma Chao and Mo Yu will likely decide whether the First or Second House becomes the next patriach."
"Oh, so the Second House brought in an outsider. But this name… Mo Yu… it sounds familiar."
"I've been to Golden City. I heard from some humans there that Mo Yu is a rising star in the Western Region. Even the Ten Thousand Sword Pavilion couldn't do anything to him."
…
Hearing these murmurs, three men from the Ten Thousand Sword Pavilion sitting in a corner of the spectator stands grew grim.
As members of the Ten Thousand Sword Pavilion, they hadn't been formally invited by the Golden Warhorse Clan but were allowed to stay as guests out of courtesy.
However, watching Mo Yu in the arena, their expressions were far from pleasant.
"Elder Hei Jian, Elder Qing Jian, should we still capture Mo Yu?" Tang Ying hesitated, recalling Ma Chen's strong defense of Mo Yu.
At this, both Hei Jian and Qing Jian frowned. After a brief pause, Qing Jian asked, "Have you investigated this man's background? Why is he involved with the Golden Warhorse Clan?"
"According to the Lan Clan, he's from the Northwest Continent. His exact background is unclear, but his bodyguard seems to be a Golden Warhorse. However, the clan allegedly has no ice-type experts, according to Ma Zhen," Hei Jian replied cautiously, thinking of Qing Zhi's golden eyes with some apprehension.
"In that case, let's report this to the Pavilion Master and the Master Zhu Jian. We'll act based on their orders. This matter has exceeded our level of authority," Qing Jian said gravely.
Hei Jian and Tang Ying both nodded in agreement.
Meanwhile, in the arena, as Tang Ying and the others conferred, the Grand Elder stepped onto the stage. He glanced at Mo Yu and Ma Chao before speaking in a raspy voice:
"Are you both ready?"
Both men nodded silently.
Seeing this, the Grand Elder nodded slightly. His gaze lingered on Mo Yu for a moment before giving the command:
"Let the duel begin!"
With those words, the Grand Elder's aged figure vanished, reappearing in the spectator stands and leaving the arena to the two contestants.
"Mo Yu, I don't know why Second Uncle let you fight in Yunlu's place, but I will prove with absolute power that it's all for nothing!"
Ma Chao's cold shout rang out as he stepped forward lightly. An overwhelming force of mysterious yellow energy surged from his body. His long hair flowed, his golden armor fluttered, and his imposing aura was breathtaking.
The mysterious yellow energy spread like the earth itself, shrouding the air. Ma Chao's golden eyes gleamed with a piercing light as he stared at Mo Yu. His voice carried a mighty and oppressive tone:
"Are you ready?"
Mo Yu took two light steps forward, the flow of dou qi in his body accelerating sharply. His expression remained calm as he replied, "Go ahead."
Hearing this, Ma Chao laughed aloud. His laughter, amplified by his overwhelming dou qi, resounded like thunder in the air. In an instant, his figure disappeared!
To ordinary Golden Warhorses, Ma Chao seemed to vanish into thin air. But to experts like Mo Yu, a faint golden shadow could be seen streaking toward him with a sharp, piercing sound.
Mo Yu narrowed his eyes slightly. Lightning energy surged beneath his feet as his body shifted abruptly.
"Boom!"
A mysterious yellow fist appeared suddenly and struck Mo Yu's chest with a heavy blow, emitting a dull thud as it passed through his chest.
"A shadow? Such speed—no wonder he's made a name for himself in the Western Region. He's got some skill," Ma Chao muttered, unfazed by his missed attack. With a cold smile, he shattered the shadow and surged forward again.
This time, his palms glowed with xuan light, enlarging slightly until they resembled the hooves of a warhorse.
Nearby, Mo Yu's figure reappeared, inspecting his singed clothing with a raised brow.
Ma Chao truly lived up to his reputation as the strongest prodigy of the Golden Warhorse Clan's younger generation. However, based on the previous exchange, Mo Yu estimated his strength to be around the pinnacle of a one-star Dou Zong.
Such strength was impressive among the younger generation, but for Mo Yu, it wasn't much of a challenge.
As this thought crossed his mind, a flicker of caution flashed in Mo Yu's eyes. He sidestepped swiftly.
"Whoosh!"
A mysterious yellow energy-formed warhorse hoof grazed past his abdomen, its power causing a slight stinging sensation on his skin.
"Skyhorse Battle Hoof!"
Before Mo Yu could retreat further, a cold shout echoed. The hoof abruptly twisted mid-air, turning back like a boomerang to strike again.
The move carried the might of a Dou Zong, leaving even the audience in awe.
"Haha, Young Master Ma Chao is truly our clan's greatest talent in a century. In a few years, he might surpass us old men," some elders and allied leaders said, flattering Ma Zhen.
Hearing this, Ma Zhen smiled proudly and glanced at Ma Teng with a smug expression.
"Father, will Mo Yu…" Ma Yunlu's beautiful face was tense as she looked at the arena with concern.
"Don't worry. That kid defeated Ma Tie in an instant. He's not so easily beaten," Ma Teng replied, his golden eyes narrowing slightly.
Though his expression appeared calm, the tightly clenched fists betrayed that he was far from relaxed.
At this moment, the audience around the arena held their breaths in anticipation. This battle was between Ma Chao, the number one genius of the Golden Warhorse Clan, and Mo Yu, a monstrous talent who had recently risen to fame in the Western Region.
The victor of this duel would determine the next patriarch of the Golden Warhorse Clan!
"Boom!"
A deep, resounding noise echoed as Mo Yu's aura surged dramatically. The oppressive force of his energy, like an endless waterfall, instantly overshadowed Ma Chao.
As his momentum climbed, Mo Yu's right fist clenched tightly, and a hundred thunder patterns emerged on his body. In the blink of an eye, his figure seemed to transform into that of a humanoid beast, as he hurled a ferocious punch at Ma Chao!
"Thunder Body!"
The fist, infused with wild and brutal strength, collided violently with Ma Chao's battle hoof. The impact sent Ma Chao flying backward amidst the astonished cries of the crowd. He twisted in mid-air and managed to land on one knee, his foot pressing against the void.
Lifting his head abruptly, Ma Chao wiped the corner of his mouth, where faint traces of blood lingered. Mo Yu's immense power had clearly caused him a significant loss.
"So, you're a Dou Zong as well. Such an incredible physical strength!"
Ma Chao's face was filled with surprise as he wiped the blood from his lips and stared at Mo Yu's commanding aura.
As his words fell, the audience erupted into a commotion.
"Mo Yu is actually a Dou Zong!" Many Golden Warhorse Clan members gasped in shock as they looked at the silver-eyed young man in the arena.
Ma Chao was already regarded as an unparalleled genius, being the youngest seventh-grade powerhouse in a century for the Golden Warhorse Clan. Yet, Mo Yu, seemingly even younger, turned out to be a Dou Zong as well!
For a moment, Ma Zhen's expression stiffened. The neutral forces behind him, who had been preparing to flatter him, hesitated and stopped in their tracks.
Mo Yu's sudden display of strength made it clear that this clash between the first and second houses of the clan was far from over.
On the other side, seeing Mo Yu repel Ma Chao, Ma Yunlu let out a sigh of relief. Her beautiful eyes flickered as she gazed at Mo Yu, thoughts unknown.
Even Ma Chen, who had shown no interest in the duel until now, slowly opened his eyes. The elder's aged gaze fell on Mo Yu, and he murmured, "Old Snake's vision remains sharp. He's picked an extraordinary successor…"
"What? This brat has broken through to Dou Zong!" Hei Jian's expression turned grim as he sensed the aura radiating from Mo Yu.
"How is this possible? According to our information, when he killed Tang Hao, he was only a seven-star Dou Huang. Even if he used some means, he barely had half a foot into Dou Zong. How has he become a full-fledged Dou Zong in just a few months?" Qing Jian frowned deeply.
The gap between Dou Huang and Dou Zong was a chasm most people couldn't cross in a lifetime. Yet Mo Yu had managed to leap from a seven-star Dou Huang to Dou Zong in mere months—an incredible feat.
Of course, they could never have imagined the secret of the Wind Spirit Pearl.
"Could this Mo Yu truly be a once-in-a-lifetime prodigy?" Tang Ying and the other two could only think this to themselves.
"We must report this to the Pavilion Master immediately. This boy's potential is immense. Since we've already provoked him, we should eliminate him as soon as possible, or he will become a disaster!" Qing Jian's expression turned ruthless as he spoke.
Hearing this, Tang Ying and Hei Jian silently nodded in agreement.
Back in the arena, sensing Mo Yu's overwhelming aura, Ma Chao's expression grew more serious than ever. He roared, "Come again!"
As his voice fell, his right foot, radiating profound yellow energy, stomped heavily on the ground.
"Boom!"
With a muffled sound, the hard bluestone beneath Ma Chao's foot shattered instantly. His figure vanished with a sharp swoosh!
The moment Ma Chao disappeared, Mo Yu's silver eyes narrowed slightly. His body, enhanced by the hundred thunder patterns, exuded a savage and overwhelming aura comparable to that of a seventh-grade magical beast, making the onlookers shiver involuntarily.
For a brief moment, the audience froze.
It was clear that Ma Chao, a seventh-grade magical beast Golden Warhorse, was fighting Mo Yu, a human Dou Zong. Yet the dynamics felt reversed, as if Mo Yu were the beast!
As the spectators processed this strange sensation, the situation in the arena changed dramatically.
A sudden sense of danger jolted Mo Yu's mind. Acting on instinct, he pushed his Thunder Body to its peak and swung a powerful strike behind him.
"Boom!"
The strike, accompanied by a deep sonic boom, crashed into a shadowy figure radiating profound yellow energy. The figure shattered instantly upon impact.
Though the shadow dispersed, Ma Chao stabilized his form almost instantly. The ground beneath him cracked as he stepped forward, creating a visible fissure. Before the sound of the explosion could fade, he stomped the ground again and shot upward like a rocket, appearing right in front of Mo Yu!
"Impressive speed!"
Watching the golden shadow flicker briefly before vanishing from sight, Mo Yu raised an eyebrow. While Ma Chao lacked the raw physical strength typical of seventh-grade magical beasts, he had mastered a mysterious Dou Technique that made his speed and destructive force incredibly formidable.
Yet, no matter how outstanding Ma Chao's movement techniques and Dou Techniques were for a one-star Dou Zong, Mo Yu remained calm and unyielding.
The perfected Thunder Body endowed him with an unparalleled physical might, making him resemble a humanoid magical beast. No matter how Ma Chao attacked, Mo Yu's response was always a single, devastating punch that sent the attacks back with unmatched dominance.
Seeing this, even Ma Yunlu couldn't help but mutter, "This Mo Yu is more like a transformed seventh-grade magical beast…"
-------------------------------------------------------
For exclusive access to 500+ advanced chapters and more, visit my Ko-fi page and support the journey:
ko-fi.com/laoyao95
Laoyao with L yeahh..thanks for the support.
or Support me at patreon for 500+ advanced chapters :
patreon.com/YaoIk