Chapter 401: Who is the True Rank Seven Magical Beast?
Outside the grand hall lay a spacious martial arts arena with excellent visibility. Surrounding the arena were tiered stands, forming a circular shape, enclosing the battlefield.
Mo Yu stood in the center of the arena, his expression calm. However, inside his body, Dou Qi was slowly surging, filling every corner of his being with a sense of overwhelming power.
At the entrance of the hall, many elders of the Golden Warhorse Clan streamed out, led by Ma Chen, Ma Teng, and Ma Fu, along with other elders. Since this was the final battle to determine whether the main or second family would inherit the position of Clan Leader, the audience seats surrounding the arena were packed with members of the Golden Warhorse Clan.
Even vassals and allied leaders of the Golden Warhorse Clan had been invited to sit in the front row, to witness this crucial moment.
As the crowd gathered, whispers spread like waves throughout the arena. Within just ten minutes, the martial arena was filled with Golden Warhorses and spectators, densely packed around the stands.
Despite the rapidly rising excitement around him, Mo Yu paid no attention. His gaze remained fixed on the golden-armored man across from him—Ma Chao.
At that moment, Ma Chao stood with his hands behind his back, a faint smile on his handsome and heroic face. As the most powerful genius of the younger generation in the Golden Warhorse Clan, Ma Chao had heard some stories about Mo Yu, but these did not concern him. In the face of absolute strength, all tricks and schemes were meaningless.
On the audience stands, many of the Golden Warhorse Clan members whispered as they watched Mo Yu standing opposite Ma Chao.
"Who is that silver-eyed young man? How dare he challenge Young Master Ma Chao?"
"You're behind on your information! That human is named Mo Yu, and he's Miss Yunlu's husband. According to clan rules, he's allowed to represent the second family in the battle of heirs. The outcome of his fight against Ma Chao will likely decide whether the main or second family takes the Clan Leader's seat."
"Oh, so the second family brought in an outsider. But that name… Mo Yu sounds familiar."
"I've been to Golden City, and I've heard some humans say that Mo Yu is a rising genius in the Western Region. Not even the Myriad Sword Pavilion can deal with him."
...
Hearing the whispers around them, Tang Ying and the two elders from the Myriad Sword Pavilion, sitting in one corner of the audience, looked grim. As members of the Myriad Sword Pavilion, even though they hadn't been formally invited, they had been allowed to stay and watch the competition due to respect for the occasion.
But seeing Mo Yu in the arena made all three of them uncomfortable.
"Elder Hei Jian, Elder Qing Jian, do we still capture Mo Yu?" Tang Ying asked hesitantly, recalling Ma Chen's earlier defense of Mo Yu.
Hearing this, Hei Jian and Qing Jian both frowned slightly. After a moment, Elder Qing Jian asked, "Have you fully investigated this man's background? Why is he involved with the Golden Warhorse Clan?"
"According to reports from the Lan family, this man comes from the Northwestern Continent. His exact background is still unclear... However, his bodyguard seems to be a Golden Warhorse. Yet, from what Ma Fu said, there doesn't seem to be any ice-type expert within the Golden Warhorse Clan," Hei Jian said, recalling the mysterious golden eyes of the ice warrior they had encountered.
"Oh, if that's the case, we should report this to the Pavilion Master and the master swordsmith. This matter has gone beyond what we can handle at our level," Elder Qing Jian said gravely.
Hei Jian and Tang Ying both nodded in agreement. Given the involvement of the Golden Warhorse Clan, only the Pavilion Master could resolve the situation.
In the arena, while the three from the Myriad Sword Pavilion were discussing, the Grand Elder arrived and took a look at Mo Yu and Ma Chao. In his aged voice, he asked, "Are you both ready?"
Both Mo Yu and Ma Chao nodded in response.
Seeing this, the Grand Elder nodded slightly, his gaze lingering on Mo Yu for a moment before he gave the signal.
"Since you're ready, let the match begin!"
As soon as his words fell, the Grand Elder's figure vanished and reappeared in the audience, leaving the arena to Mo Yu and Ma Chao.
"Mo Yu, I don't know why my second uncle let you fight in Yunlu's place, but I'll show you that none of this matters. Absolute strength renders all tricks meaningless!" Ma Chao coldly shouted as he stepped forward. In an instant, a tremendous amount of earth-colored energy surged from his body. His long hair flowed, and his golden armor clanged with a sound that filled the arena, his momentum terrifying.
The earthy energy spread like the ground itself, enveloping the sky above. Ma Chao's golden eyes flashed with a sharp brilliance as he locked his gaze on Mo Yu. His voice, deep and powerful, echoed across the arena.
"Are you ready?"
Mo Yu took two small steps forward, the flow of Dou Qi within him accelerating. His face remained calm as he said, "Let's begin."
Hearing this, Ma Chao burst into laughter, his voice rumbling like thunder across the sky as his figure suddenly disappeared!
To ordinary Golden Warhorses, it seemed as if Ma Chao had vanished in an instant. However, Mo Yu and those with sharp vision could faintly make out a golden shadow charging toward him with a piercing sound of the wind.
Mo Yu's eyes narrowed slightly, and lightning flickered across his feet. His body trembled as he moved.
"Boom!"
A golden fist suddenly materialized and struck Mo Yu's chest, producing a deep thud. It seemed to pass right through his body, but then the image of Mo Yu flickered and disappeared.
"A mere afterimage? Such speed... No wonder you've made such a name for yourself in the Western Regions," Ma Chao muttered coldly. Without missing a beat, he shattered the afterimage, and his hands became enveloped in golden light. As the light gathered, his hands grew larger, resembling the hooves of a warhorse!
From about thirty meters away, Mo Yu's figure reappeared. He glanced down at his slightly scorched robe, raising an eyebrow in surprise.
Ma Chao's strength was indeed impressive for the Golden Warhorse Clan's most powerful younger warrior.
But from that exchange, Mo Yu had already gauged Ma Chao's power. He was roughly at the peak of a one-star Dou Zong.
That kind of strength was impressive among the younger generation, but to Mo Yu, it was far from enough.
With these thoughts flashing through his mind, Mo Yu quickly sensed danger. He instinctively dodged to the left.
"Whoosh!"
Just as Mo Yu moved, a warhorse's hoof made of golden energy swept past where his abdomen had been, grazing his clothes. The powerful energy it carried stung his skin slightly.
"Sky Horse Hoof!"
Before Mo Yu could retreat, Ma Chao's cold voice echoed in the arena. The warhorse hoof suddenly curved, like a deadly return strike, aiming for Mo Yu once more.
As a Dou Zong powerhouse, Ma Chao's strike carried overwhelming force, leaving even the spectators breathless.
"Haha, Young Master Ma Chao truly lives up to being the greatest genius of the Golden Warhorse Clan in a century. In just a few more years, he might even surpass us old folks," a few elders and vassals flattered Ma Fu from the stands after seeing Ma Chao's powerful move.
Hearing this, Ma Fu smiled modestly but cast a smug look at Ma Teng from across the arena.
"Father, do you think Mo Yu…" Ma Yunlu asked, her face full of concern as she watched the fight.
"Don't worry. That kid took down Ma Tie in seconds; he's not that easy to beat," Ma Teng replied, his golden eyes narrowing slightly as he spoke with calm confidence. However, his clenched fists betrayed his unease.
All around the stands, the audience held their breath. The battle between Ma Chao, the Golden Warhorse Clan's top genius, and Mo Yu, the rising star of the Western Regions, would determine the next Clan Leader.
"Boom!"
A low rumble resounded as Mo Yu's aura suddenly erupted. His powerful energy surged like an unstoppable river, instantly surpassing Ma Chao's!
At the height of his aura, Mo Yu clenched his right fist, lightning patterns flickering across his skin. His body moved like a monstrous beast, and with a violent swing, he hurled a devastating punch at Ma Chao.
"Thunder Strike Body!"
The punch collided directly with Ma Chao's warhorse hoof, sending Ma Chao flying through the air. His body twisted in midair before he crashed to the ground, landing on one knee. He looked up, blood faintly dripping from the corner of his mouth. Mo Yu's overwhelming strength had caught him off guard.
"You… You're a Dou Zong as well? And your body is incredibly powerful!"
Wiping the blood from his mouth, Ma Chao stared at Mo Yu in shock.
With his words, the audience erupted in disbelief.
"Mo Yu is a Dou Zong too?" many of the Golden Warhorse Clan members exclaimed, astonished by the young silver-eyed man.
Ma Chao, the youngest seven-star warrior the Golden Warhorse Clan had seen in a century, was already considered a rare genius. Yet, Mo Yu, who looked even younger, was also a Dou Zong!
Ma Fu's expression froze, and those who had been ready to flatter him fell silent.
With Mo Yu's power revealed, the battle between the main and second families was far from over.
On the other side, Ma Yunlu sighed in relief, her beautiful eyes filled with admiration as she gazed at Mo Yu.
Even Ma Chen, who had shown little interest in the fight, opened his eyes slightly and looked at Mo Yu. The old man murmured to himself, "Old Snake's judgment is still sharp. He picked a good heir…"
...
"What? This kid has broken through to Dou Zong?" Hei Jian's face darkened as he sensed Mo Yu's aura.
"How is this possible? The intel said he was only a seven-star Dou Huang when he killed Tang Hao. Even with some special methods, he had barely touched the edge of Dou Zong. How did he become a full-fledged Dou Zong in just a few months?" Elder Qing Jian frowned deeply.
The leap from Dou Huang to Dou Zong was a significant barrier that many couldn't cross in a lifetime. Yet, Mo Yu had done it in just a few months, a feat that left everyone stunned.
Of course, they could never have imagined the secret of the Wind Spirit Pearl that aided Mo Yu's rapid advancement.
"Could Mo Yu really be some kind of unparalleled genius?" Tang Ying and the others could only wonder silently.
"We must report this to the Pavilion Master immediately. This boy has immense potential. Since we've already provoked him, it's better to eliminate him now, before he becomes a true threat!" Elder Qing Jian said darkly.
Hearing this, Tang Ying and Hei Jian nodded in agreement.
...
Back in the arena, sensing the immense power radiating from Mo Yu, Ma Chao's expression turned grim. He shouted, "Come again!"
With those words, he stomped the ground with his golden-tinged right foot.
"Boom!"
The hard stone beneath Ma Chao's feet shattered instantly, and his body shot forward like a bolt of lightning, disappearing from sight with a sharp hiss!
The moment Ma Chao disappeared, Mo Yu's silver eyes narrowed. With the power of the Thunder Strike Body fully activated, his body exuded the wild energy of a rank seven magical beast, making him seem terrifyingly powerful.
The spectators were stunned.
Ma Chao was supposed to be the rank seven Golden Warhorse magical beast, while Mo Yu was a human Dou Zong. Yet, in this battle, it felt as if their roles were reversed!
Just as everyone was processing this strange reversal, the battle suddenly intensified.
In an instant, Mo Yu sensed danger. Acting on pure instinct, he unleashed the full power of the Thunder Strike Body and swung his fist toward his rear.
"Boom!"
With a thunderous explosion, Mo Yu's punch collided with Ma Chao's golden warhorse figure, shattering it instantly.
As Ma Chao's attack failed, the ground split open from the force of their collision, leaving a deep crack beneath their feet. Without pausing, Ma Chao stamped the ground again and shot up into the air like a rocket, appearing in front of Mo Yu in the blink of an eye.
"Not bad speed!" Mo Yu remarked, watching the golden figure dart past him. Ma Chao's mastery of his mysterious Dou Techniques made him a terrifying force, especially with his speed and agility.
However, despite Ma Chao's superior movement skills and Dou Techniques, Mo Yu remained unfazed. With the Thunder Strike Body at its peak, his powerful physique made him as strong as a rank seven magical beast. No matter how fast or fiercely Ma Chao attacked, Mo Yu deflected every strike with effortless punches, overpowering his opponent at every turn.
Watching the fight unfold, Ma Yunlu couldn't help but mutter, "Mo Yu is more like a transformed rank seven magical beast than anyone else…"
(End of this chapter)
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