In several dark corners of the street, multiple groups of people were watching the battle between Zhou Changqing and the steward.
"Uncle, are we not going to make a move?"
"No need to rush. Let's watch first. Since someone is willing to stick their neck out, let them test this kid for us. We'll see if he really has some hidden card."
"But what if he doesn't? If he falls into someone else's hands, I'm worried we won't be able to answer to the Clan Head and the Elders."
"Heh, do you think I'm useless? If the boy is captured, with my strength, it won't take much effort to snatch him back."
"Besides, we're not the only ones watching him. If we move first, we'd be playing right into their hands. They all want to be the oriole that snatches the prize. How could I let them have their way? I'd like to see who the real hunter is."
The observers had varied expressions, but none chose to reveal themselves. They just stared intently at the two fighters, awaiting the final outcome.
As time passed, Steward Liu grew increasingly frustrated. Unable to take down Zhou Changqing, his impatience mounted. He stared intently at the youth's every move, desperately trying to find a weakness to break the stalemate.
Zhou Changqing was equally grave, constantly swinging his broadsword to force his opponent back.
This won't work. The old man is sticking to me like glue. If this drags on, I'll be the first to run out of stamina. I need to find a way to break this situation!
I haven't revealed my Dou Qi yet, only circulating it quietly within my body. The old fool probably hasn't realized my true cultivation level. In that case, maybe I can...
As he parried another of Steward Liu's attacks, Zhou Changqing's mind raced, searching for a strategy. His gaze fell upon the middle-aged man's anxious face. An idea quickly formed, and a ruthless glint flashed in his peach-blossom eyes.
The next time Steward Liu attacked, Zhou Changqing swung his broadsword again.
Only this time, the angle of his strike was slightly off. The blade was not straight, causing the flat of the sword to be slightly angled toward Steward Liu.
In that instant, Steward Liu keenly noticed the change. Eager to find an opening, he couldn't help but feel a surge of joy.
"A perfect chance!"
Without a moment's hesitation, Steward Liu slapped his left hand against the angled flat of the broadsword. Simultaneously, his right hand erupted with a brilliant yellow light as surging Dou Qi flooded the acupoints in his palm. He struck out ferociously at Zhou Changqing!
It was the very same Dou Technique he had failed to execute earlier—the Huang Rank, Low-level technique, Cracking Rock Palm!
Clang!
The broadsword was struck, and the force traveled up the blade to Zhou Changqing's arm, knocking both his hand and the sword aside.
At almost the same moment, the Cracking Rock Palm hurtled toward Zhou Changqing's chest. The attack stirred up a violent gust of wind. The terrifying power, capable of shattering boulders and walls, pulsed within the earthy yellow glow of the Dou Qi, making one feel suffocated.
The many onlookers in the street had different expressions, but in their hearts, they had all signed Zhou Changqing's death warrant. They didn't believe the boy, having lost the advantage of his Precious Weapon, could withstand a full-powered Dou Technique from a Dou Shi with his sub-Dou Zhe strength.
However, they couldn't see the faint smirk playing on Zhou Changqing's lips. Even Steward Liu, standing so close, failed to notice it.
"Gold-Shattering Elbow!"
In a flash, he roared inwardly. The potent Gold-attribute Dou Qi in his Dantian erupted, surging through a specific meridian path and converging on his left arm.
Just as the Cracking Rock Palm was about to land on his chest, Zhou Changqing quickly bent his left arm, his elbow glowing with a metallic golden luster as he struck out!
At the same time, he channeled Dou Qi into his right hand, the one still holding the broadsword, and swung it in a vicious horizontal slash!
Boom!
Elbow and palm collided in an instant.
Earthy yellow and metallic gold Dou Qi intertwined, kicking up a fierce gale that sent dust swirling from the ground. The aftershock spread out in ripples.
Caught off guard by the force of the colliding Dou Techniques, Steward Liu was forced back a step.
Zhou Changqing, however, was pushed back more than three steps by the terrifying power of the Cracking Rock Palm.
Steward Liu, staggered and disoriented, stared in utter shock at the boy before him.
But before he could speak, a blinding cold light flashed in his eyes.
Swish!
Pfft!
Steward Liu had no time to dodge, nor could he even form his Dou Qi Armor. The razor-sharp edge of the broadsword had already sliced across his neck.
"You... are... a high-level... Dou... Zhe..." Steward Liu croaked out, his eyes wide.
Zhou Changqing didn't reply. Sheathing his sword, he infused his legs with Thunder-attribute Dou Qi, using the circulation path for Thunderous Flash. Accompanied by claps of thunder, his figure flickered away into the distance without a single look back.
Steward Liu just stood there, watching him leave, no longer trying to stop him.
The hatred and greed in his eyes were gone, replaced only by endless regret.
He never imagined that the opening his opponent had shown was a deliberate trap. In his mind, the little bastard wasn't even a Dou Zhe; the only reason he had lasted so long was because of his Precious Weapon.
How could he have known that his opponent was not only a Dou Zhe, but a high-level one at that? And his Dou Qi was so potent it was comparable to a peak Nine-star Dou Zhe. The power of the Dou Technique he used was formidable enough to contend with his own.
He had been fooled by this little bastard! Everyone had been fooled!
If he had known the boy possessed such strength, on top of wielding a Precious Weapon, how could he have been so careless and underestimated him? The very lesson he had taught his little brother-in-law had now come back to haunt him.
How could he accept this!
An overwhelming sense of powerlessness washed over him as his consciousness rapidly faded into darkness. Filled with infinite regret, Steward Liu's body fell backward, stiff as a board.
The street fell into a dead silence...
Every spectator, including those hiding in the shadows, felt their minds go blank the moment they saw Zhou Changqing clash with a Dou Shi's technique and then slit the man's throat with his Precious Weapon. They didn't even notice when Zhou Changqing left.
Thud!
Suddenly, the sound of a body hitting the ground echoed.
The sound wasn't loud, but it shattered the silence on the street, jolting everyone from their stupor.
"Whoa!"
"Holy crap! What did I just see?"
"Is that right? That can't be right!"
"A Dou Zhe! That boy must be a Dou Zhe! I'd never mistake the Dou Qi fluctuations from a Dou Technique!"
"Damn it! He's more than just a Dou Zhe! Based on the power of that technique and the density of his Dou Qi, he's definitely a high-level Dou Zhe!"
"But how is that possible?! He looks to be only fifteen or sixteen! A high-level Dou Zhe at that age? Are you kidding me? Not even Xiao Yan, the so-called number one genius of Wu Tan City back in the day, could do that!"
"Terrifying! Simply terrifying!"
"Is that even the main point? Okay, it's unbelievable, but I'm more focused on the fact that a Dou Zhe just killed a mid-level Dou Shi!"
"It was the Precious Weapon! Damn! A Dou Zhe with a Precious Weapon can actually kill a Dou Shi? The world's turned upside down!"
"I can't take it! The next time the Miteer Auction House sells a Precious Weapon, I'm buying one even if I have to go bankrupt!"
"Ahem, isn't anyone curious about that boy's identity? When did Wu Tan City produce such a super-genius? With that kind of strength at his age, you probably wouldn't even find his equal in the capital, right?"
"Of course I'm curious! Does anyone know? Come on, spill it! Which of the major clans of Wu Tan City is he from?"
"Compared to that, I'm more curious why a Dou Shi was trying to kill this genius..."
Looking at the fallen man in the distance, his body lying in a pool of blood, the crowd erupted into a chaotic clamor. Their faces were all filled with utter shock.
Even those watching from the shadows were still in a state of shock, a flicker of relief and fear in their eyes. The strongest among them were, at most, three stars higher than the man who had just died. If that man could be killed by the boy, then if they had been the ones to attack, they would have stood a significant chance of dying as well.
This made them hesitate, debating whether they should pursue Zhou Changqing and make a move.