Chapter 87: Strike to Kill!

Sensing the formidable aura erupting from Auben Yu, many among the crowd couldn’t help but cry out in surprise. So it truly was a seventh-rank Dou Fighter—this was going to be a spectacle!

Under the pressure of Auben Yu’s unleashed aura, the seemingly frail Su Yi looked to everyone like a lone boat caught in a raging sea, in danger of being overturned at any moment. Although Su Yi had previously exhibited two impressive moves, at present, his lack of discernible presence made him seem no different from an ordinary man.

Yet, facing Auben Yu, Su Yi’s expression remained unchanged. Despite Auben Yu’s full display of a seventh-rank Dou Fighter’s aura, to Su Yi, it still fell short of what Di Yuan, another seventh-rank Dou Fighter, had exuded. Even when injured back then, Su Yi had not been overpowered by Di Yuan’s presence—how could he be cowed now, in perfect health?

More importantly, Su Yi’s body was now completely devoid of Dou Qi and no longer subject to suppression by rank. The only things he needed to guard against were the Mystical-Tier Dou Technique and the possible emergence of the Void-Piercing Crossbow.

While Su Yi wore a calm expression, Auben Yu saw it differently. Glaring at Su Yi, who showed not a trace of fear in the face of his might, Auben Yu gritted his teeth. “Let’s see how long you can keep up that façade!”

With a low shout, Auben Yu’s aura tightened, his figure transforming into a blur as he lunged at Su Yi. Drawing near, he twisted his body and, with all the force he could muster, drove his right foot like a drill toward Su Yi’s chest.

The powerful gust from the attack whipped Su Yi’s clothes noisily. Narrowing his eyes at the incoming strike, Su Yi clenched his right fist, leaning forward slightly. In the same instant, he launched a punch, charged with terrifying strength, directly at Auben Yu’s foot.

Perhaps cautious after his earlier setbacks, Auben Yu put his full strength into this kick, expecting to see Su Yi writhing in agony. But in a flash, a surge of overwhelming power shattered the Dou Qi in his leg and invaded through his foot.

That force rampaged upward, like a raging flood, from foot to calf, sweeping all the way to his thigh!

Auben Yu could even hear the sickening sound of shattering bones. His face twisted in disbelief and horror as he spat a mouthful of blood and was flung backward, crashing heavily to the ground.

Shaking his right hand, Su Yi—intent on finishing this quickly—gave Auben Yu a glance before striding toward him. Auben Yu, struggling on the ground, saw Su Yi approach, and terror mingled with venomous hatred flickered in his eyes.

His left hand groped for his storage ring, and in an instant, the Void-Piercing Crossbow appeared in his grasp.

Just as expected! Su Yi sneered inwardly. Already on guard, he darted forward, delivering a powerful kick that sent the crossbow flying, then turned, fixing Auben Yu with a chilling stare.

A shudder ran through Auben Yu under Su Yi’s devilish gaze. With a sudden scream, he swung a fist: “Mountain-Splitting Fist!”

Hearing those words, a fierce glint flashed in Su Yi’s eyes. He too threw a brutal punch, growling, “Let’s see you split mountains now!”

With a resounding boom and Auben Yu’s anguished scream echoing through the arena, Auben Yu was slammed mercilessly into the ground, his left arm shattered and twisted grotesquely!

Su Yi was about to deliver a kick to Auben Yu’s abdomen when, before he could begin, a thunderous roar—filled with murderous fury—shook the air:

“Su Yi, you little wretch, how dare you!”

Before Su Yi could react, a blast of force struck him head-on, sending him staggering back more than a dozen steps. Fighting to suppress the boiling blood in his body and the urge to cough up blood, he forced himself to a stop, glaring in shock and anger at the newcomer.

It was none other than Auben Yu’s father, clan chief of the Auben family, Auben Shan!

Auben Shan now cradled his son, and upon close inspection, was horrified to find Auben Yu’s right leg and left arm completely crushed—beyond hope, even with the most miraculous medicines. His once-proud son was now likely to be crippled for life!

His eyes burned blood-red with wrath and murderous intent. Gently setting down his son, whose face was contorted in agony, Auben Shan slowly rose, shooting Su Yi a savage glare as he spat out each word with venom: “Su Yi, today, I will take your life!”

On the stone platform, Auben Yu lay battered, Su Yi stood tall, and Auben Shan was on the verge of making his move. The entire audience fell silent.

They were stunned, struggling to process what they’d witnessed: Su Yi had sent a seventh-rank Dou Fighter flying with a single punch, then smashed him into the ground with another. Now, Auben Shan appeared, vowing death. The rapid succession of events left everyone reeling—just moments ago, they’d been wondering how many exchanges Su Yi could withstand; in a blink, Auben Yu lay half-dead.

No one had imagined Su Yi could fell Auben Yu in a single blow. As the scene unfolded, mouths hung agape, faces froze in disbelief, and even the most skeptical rubbed their eyes in vain. When Auben Shan made his move, the arena erupted in gasps.

On the VIP terrace, every family head—including Lie Chen—had already risen in shock, the sound of shattered teacups echoing around them. To cripple a seventh-rank Dou Fighter in two punches, with not a trace of Dou Qi, was beyond belief.

Geli, beside her father, covered her mouth in astonishment, eyes wide. Although she’d seen Su Yi injure Liu Xuan before, it had been nothing like the clean, terrifying efficiency of this display.

To defeat an enemy in two blows—could even eighth- or ninth-rank Dou Fighters manage that? Had Su Yi reached the power of a tenth-rank Dou Fighter, or higher? But how could he, without any Dou Qi?

Behind Lie Chen, Lie Feifei, Lie Ren, and Lie Que were equally stunned. The former was somewhat composed, but the latter two were dumbstruck as they watched Su Yi’s effortless victory. Especially Lie Que, already a sixth-rank Dou Fighter himself, struggled to accept that the Su Yi he’d always looked down on possessed such terrifying strength. Had it been him, he might not have survived a single punch.

Lie Chen, too, gazed at the platform in astonishment—not just at Su Yi’s strength, but at his own inability to discern it. As a fifth-grade Douluo, he couldn’t see through the power of an eighteen-year-old youth; this, to Lie Chen, was a shock in itself.

It seemed the rumors from before were true, and Auben Yu’s previous injury—only a damaged right hand—was likely Su Yi showing mercy. Otherwise, he’d have ended up like this long ago.

Lie Chen was not alone in this realization. In that moment, nearly everyone present understood the truth behind the rumors: the youth once dismissed as a cripple by all of Changling City had regained power surpassing all his peers!

Su Yi was no longer the ruined man who’d lost his Dou Qi cyclone and could never cultivate again, but a genius who had risen in a manner that left all in awe.

While some remained puzzled, clinging to the ancient axiom, the more astute had begun to suspect that Su Yi’s strength did not rely on Dou Qi at all, but perhaps on some other force.

Regardless, in the end, power was all that mattered. Perhaps an even brighter star of genius was about to rise—if he could survive this day.

With that thought, the audience’s minds snapped back to reality. Among them, the auction house master, Kina, was somewhat calmer than most, knowing a little about Su Yi.

Glancing at the murderous Auben Shan, Kina thought inwardly: Su Yi, it seems you truly have the strength of a near tenth-rank Dou Fighter, but against Auben Shan, that means nothing. Now that you’ve enraged him with such a ruthless blow, how will you face what’s coming?

At that, Kina’s gaze drifted to Meiya, seated in the auction house, only to be surprised that her expression remained calm, showing neither shock nor anxiety—merely a slight frown. Suspicion nagged at his heart.

Though the auction house had the strength to oppose the Auben family and could protect Su Yi, Auben Shan was now so close—if he struck suddenly, what could Meiya and her companions, without any powerful fighters present, do to save Su Yi?

At this moment, perhaps only the old man among the crowd was as composed as Meiya and Moben. His expression betrayed interest in Su Yi’s strength, but no concern for his plight. Meanwhile, Lie Feifei, worried for Su Yi, glanced at Lord Qiete, the city governor.

Auben Shan was not like Qin San the previous day; as a fourth-grade Douluo, he was far beyond what Su Yi could face. Still, as the host of the tournament, surely Lord Qiete would intervene.

Lord Qiete, shocked by Su Yi’s strength, had not expected Auben Shan to break the rules and intervene. Now, seeing murder in Auben Shan’s eyes, he shouted, “Auben Shan, what are you doing?!”

“What am I doing?” Auben Shan sneered, not looking back, as he advanced on Su Yi with eyes full of malice. “Getting justice for my son, of course. You didn’t expect such swift retribution for your brutal attack, did you? Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you feel every ounce of my son’s pain!”

“It was you who first tried to have me killed—your son is only reaping what you sowed,” Su Yi raged inwardly, subtly edging backward. Just that single blow had shown him the vast gulf between himself and Auben Shan—one he could not bridge.

“Auben Shan, in a match, life and death are left to fate. Besides, your son isn’t dead. Instead of tending his wounds, you seek vengeance against a contestant—this is against the rules!” When Auben Shan refused to heed his warning, Lord Qiete’s face darkened, his tone growing stern.

Auben Shan’s face twisted with rage. “So what? That little bastard was too ruthless. I must make him pay!”

“Indeed, Su Yi’s strike was severe, but you have no right to punish him. If you persist, we will be forced to act,” Lord Qiete said sharply after a pause.

“Haha! Try and stop me if you can!” Auben Shan, having lost his family’s top-five position and watched his beloved son crippled before his eyes, was crazed with fury.

A torrent of Dou Qi erupted from Auben Shan, enveloping him like a blazing fire. Wherever it splattered on the ground, it blasted small pits into the stone.

Feeling the overwhelming pressure, even Su Yi’s face paled; he hadn’t expected to be so suppressed without Dou Qi in his body. The power of a Douluo was truly terrifying!

Sensing Auben Shan’s full release of his fourth-grade Douluo might, an uproar swept through the crowd. Lord Qiete’s pupils shrank as he leapt toward the platform, but Auben Shan moved first. In the next instant, his fist—charged with terrifying Dou Qi—shot toward the immobilized Su Yi’s chest like a bolt of lightning.

Lord Qiete would never make it in time!