"Xiao Bai gege, don't push yourself! Xun Er has a way to handle this!"
Xun Er, thinking Xiao Bai was unaware of her capabilities and had pulled her back to protect her, felt a mix of anxiety and warmth in her heart.
As for Ling Ying, he wasn't worried at all. The clan had stationed him here for his dark attribute's stealth, perfect for running errands. His young miss had instructed him not to reveal himself轻易 in front of that kid. With the trump cards the clan leader had given her, even a Dou Sheng's attack could be withstood for a moment. A mere three-star Dou Shi? She could handle him without breaking a sweat.
"No worries, Xun Er. Stay put and watch your Brother Xiao Bai smash his head in!"
Xiao Bai's eyes locked onto Elder Wang as he reassured Xun Er without turning, then bellowed at the elder, "You're too slow! If you're gonna fight, hurry up! What's with the dawdling?"
With that, he charged at the plump man, throwing a punch straight at his chest.
Elder Wang blinked, stunned that Xiao Bai dared strike first. This kid's got guts! He'd planned to saunter over, letting the boy stew in fear, but that was unnecessary now. He didn't bother blocking—a nine-star Dou Zhe couldn't breach my earth-attribute Dou Qi cloak, let alone Wu Tan City's famous ninth-stage Dou Zhi Qi. He reached to grab Xiao Bai instead.
Boom!
Elder Wang's feet skidded back several meters, plowing the ground. He stared, incredulous, at the spiderweb cracks spreading across his Dou Qi cloak, coughing up a mouthful of blood.
Xiao Bai's gege body is that strong?
Shock flashed in Xun Er's eyes. She was certain that punch carried no Dou Qi—just raw physical power—and it had shattered the Dou Qi cloak of an earth-attribute three-star Dou Shi, renowned for defense.
She knew Xiao Bai trained his body, but to reach this level after five years? Last night he just broke through, hasn't even started practicing techniques, and he's taking on a three-star Dou Shi? I thought he was just saving face!
"Not bad, this kid's body!" Ling Ying muttered, one hand clutching his notebook, the other stroking his chin. "Honing his physique to this degree at the Dou Zhi Qi stage?"
His interest waned quickly, though. Xiao Bai was fifteen—back in the clan, those freaks his age outshone even a Dou Huang like him. This was nothing special.
Jia Lie Nuo gaped, the sight of Xiao Bai conjuring memories of the genius who'd stunned Wu Tan City five years ago.
"How is this possible? How's your body so strong?"
Elder Wang looked up at Xiao Bai, certain no Dou Qi had been used—just pure physical might.
"Heh, don't you know the point of the Dou Zhi Qi stage? Nourishing meridians, strengthening muscles, forging bones. Why else would I linger here?"
Xiao Bai smirked, his tone teasing.
You're full of it! Who spends five years at ninth-stage Dou Zhi Qi and fights a three-star Dou Shi? Why bother breaking through? Everyone just stay there forever, sounds great! Elder Wang cursed inwardly.
Jia Lie Nuo's eyes lit up, though. Does ninth-stage Dou Zhi Qi really do that? Then he remembered he was already a six-star Dou Zhe and cursed himself for not lingering longer—maybe I could've fought Dou Shi too.
"Don't get cocky, kid. I was careless, that's all. You think you'd get the better of me otherwise?"
Elder Wang, catching his breath, stood. He hadn't used a technique earlier—no way that brat would've landed a hit.
"Good! I wasn't going all out either. Come on, let's keep going!"
Xiao Bai, worried the elder might back down, egged him on.
Seeing Xiao Bai raring to continue, Xun Er's worry vanished, replaced by anticipation. She clenched her fists, cheering gleefully, "Go, Xiao Bai gege! Smash his head in!"
Xiao Bai inwardly rolled his eyes. This girl—Telegram Xun, indeed!
"Mountain-Shaking Fist!"
As Elder Wang unleashed a technique, Xiao Bai met him with a raised fist. He was posing as a body cultivator—and body cultivators go hard.
"Heavenly Frost Fist!"
"Cloud-Dispersing Palm!"
"Wind God Kick!"
Xiao Bai shouted technique names that rang like thunder, but his fists carried no trace of Dou Qi.
The two clashed fiercely. Elder Wang's earth-attribute Dou Qi fueled hard-hitting techniques, which Xiao Bai found deeply satisfying. Fire or wind attributes? Heresy. Earth's the real deal! Techniques landed on him, causing minor injuries, but the Yi Wood True Thunder in his body healed them instantly. Each recovery left his physique slightly stronger.
Elder Wang, meanwhile, was frustrated. His Dou Qi was nearly depleted, while his opponent remained infuriatingly vigorous. The kid's punches were heavy, forcing him to burn Dou Qi reinforcing his cloak. If not for earth's defensive prowess, any other three-star Dou Shi would've collapsed by now.
Yet Xiao Bai's body shrugged off his techniques, leaving only his clothes tattered. To an onlooker, it might seem Elder Wang had the upper hand—especially to a certain clueless young master.
"Elder Wang, that's it! Hit him good!" Jia Lie Nuo shouted, face flushed with excitement.
Elder Wang inwardly groaned. This idiot started this mess, and now I'm the one getting pummeled.
Xun Er's expression stayed calm. Unlike that fool, her soul perception saw the truth of the fight.
Ling Ying, mildly impressed by Xiao Bai's physique, found the battle dull. That fat guy's done for.
Sure enough, after trading blows, Elder Wang staggered back, dropping to one knee, blood trickling from his mouth.
"I yield!"
He could feel several broken ribs and an empty dantian. Without his Dou Qi cloak, one more punch might kill him. What should've been a sure win, and I run into a freak.
Xiao Bai stopped at his surrender. The fight had been exhilarating, giving him a clear sense of his body's strength—pure physique can match any low-tier Dou Shi.
"Gotta step up body training. The next thunder's coming soon," he mused. An eight-star Dou Zhe, he was close to Dou Shi. The talisman decree was brutally straightforward: if it doesn't kill you, it'll push you to the brink. Recalling the Yi Wood True Thunder's integration, he shivered. That was mild compared to what was next—whatever thunder came would be far fiercer. He needed to bolster his physique before breaking through, or while he'd survive, the pain would be his to endure.
Pushing the thought aside, he glanced at the pale-faced Elder Wang, opting not to press further.
But Elder Wang could be spared—someone else couldn't. Not killing him, but he needs a lesson.
His gaze turned icy as he walked slowly toward Jia Lie Nuo.
The trembling young master watched the tattered, approaching figure, legs shaking uncontrollably.
Xiao Bai's face was cold, his eyes sharp. Jia Lie Nuo feared the boy might kill him. I'm a young master of one of Wu Tan City's three great clans, still young, with a world of pleasures to enjoy—how can I die here?
"Y-you… what are you doing? M-my second uncle's the Jia Lie Clan leader, a Da Dou Shi! Don't do anything rash!"
Jia Lie Nuo's body quaked, wanting to flee, but his legs gave out, collapsing him to the ground.
"A Da Dou Shi? Oh, I'm so scared. What do I do?"
Xiao Bai loomed over him, leaning slightly, his gaze locked on Jia Lie Nuo's. A faint, warm smile curved his lips as he spoke softly.
Then he raised his foot, pressing it lightly on Jia Lie Nuo's shin.
Crack!
"Aaagh!"
Jia Lie Nuo's pig-like scream echoed through the street outside the restaurant. The crowd gawked at his unnaturally bent leg and the boy with a gentle smile, their blood running cold.
Soft words of fear, yet he casually snaps a leg? Monster!