Chapter 655: A Small Competitive Niche
Mo Yu's words caused an uproar throughout the audience. Immediately, the Black Abyss Army soldiers of the Ancient Clan all cheered in unison. However, the people from the Flame Clan didn't look too pleased. It was the first time they had been so openly belittled.
"Hmph! Mo Yu, don't get too arrogant!" Yan Yi's face darkened, and he spoke coldly.
"I'm confident because I have the strength," Mo Yu said, standing with his hands behind his back and smiling calmly.
"If Brother Mo Yu insists, Yan Gang, you all may as well oblige him," Yan Yi said, releasing a slow breath, his expression dark as he spoke softly.
"Alright!"
At Yan Yi's command, the faces of the Flame Clan's young geniuses turned serious, and with a cold laugh, they stepped forward. Ten of them, their auras suddenly spiking to their peak.
Among them, Yan Gang's aura was the strongest, having reached the level of an advanced half-saint, while the rest were all Nine-Star Dou Zuns!
As the ten of them released their fierce auras, many in the audience changed expressions. Their combined strength made them a formidable force.
"Mo Yu, let us from the Flame Clan test whether the rumors about you are true!" Yan Yi shouted as the group's combined aura surged, and in perfect synchrony, the ten of them rushed forward, spreading out to encircle Mo Yu.
Their expressions grew serious as they quickly formed hand seals, summoning ten massive pillars of scorching flame, each a hundred meters tall. The pillars merged in mid-air, transforming into ten roaring crimson flame dragons.
"Flame Dragon Strike!"
With a loud shout, the flame dragons roared and swooped down toward Mo Yu, their overwhelming heat and power surging like a storm.
Yan Yi and his group weren't fools. Mo Yu's reputation was well-known, and they knew he was strong. That's why they went all out from the start, unleashing their strongest combination move.
The sky lit up with crimson light as the ten fierce flame dragons, roaring with fury, slammed into Mo Yu's body.
Boom!
The explosion caused energy waves to ripple outward, sending dust and debris flying from the solid ground of the plaza.
"Did they hit him?" The crowd watched in astonishment. Mo Yu hadn't seemed to dodge at all.
As the dust settled, Mo Yu's figure reappeared before everyone's eyes. He was still standing tall in his blue robe, completely unharmed.
Even the ground within a meter of him was untouched, contrasting sharply with the rest of the shattered battlefield.
"How is that possible?" Yan Gang and the others paled at the sight. Their combined attack had failed to even make Mo Yu take a step back. A deep sense of helplessness washed over them. It was as if, in Mo Yu's eyes, they were completely insignificant.
"That was decent," Mo Yu said calmly, brushing the dust off his clothes. He didn't even look at Yan Gang and his group as he shifted his gaze to Yan Yi. "Now, it's your turn."
Boom!
Yan Yi's face grew incredibly grim. The casual way Mo Yu brushed off their attack put immense pressure on him. However, as an experienced fighter, Yan Yi wasn't one to hesitate. In the next moment, his body shot forward in a burst of fiery light.
As he moved, flames surged up his arm, and the Nine Refinements True Flame quickly condensed into a long crimson spear in his hand, the flames dancing wildly on the spear's surface.
Bang!
Yan Yi's speed was astonishing. In the blink of an eye, he appeared in front of Mo Yu, thrusting his spear with lightning-fast strikes, each aimed at Mo Yu's vital points.
The spear's tip flickered with a trace of extremely hot red flame. If it hit, even a three- or four-star Dou Saint would find themselves pierced with a gaping wound.
The crowd held their breath as they watched Yan Yi's ferocious assault, unable to imagine how anyone could defend against such rapid and deadly strikes.
"Yan Yi does have some skill," Xiao Yan observed from the sidelines, nodding slightly.
"Even so, it seems that his spear won't be able to touch Cousin Mo Yu," Xun'er remarked, her beautiful eyes flashing. Although Yan Yi's strength was formidable, his attacks couldn't seem to land on Mo Yu.
Not far away, Lei Dong also realized this. Remembering what his father had said earlier, he couldn't help but smile bitterly.
He had thought that Mo Yu's strength might be at the level of a five-star Dou Saint at most, but now it seemed that Mo Yu was already on par with the Thunder Clan's two strongest warriors. The gap between him and Mo Yu was much larger than he had ever imagined.
While the spectators quickly understood the situation, Yan Yi, the one fighting, became increasingly alarmed as the battle progressed. It felt as though no matter how fierce his attacks were, Mo Yu remained unscathed, effortlessly absorbing all his blows.
"Nine Refinements True Flame!"
Yan Yi's face tensed as he gritted his teeth. His spear strikes halted abruptly, and he bit his tongue, spitting out a mouthful of blood. The blood, imbued with crimson flames, merged into the tip of the spear, causing it to blaze even more fiercely.
With a final burst of energy, Yan Yi thrust his spear toward Mo Yu's throat, the Nine Refinements True Flame swirling violently around it.
Sizzle!
But to everyone's shock, the spear stopped just half an inch from Mo Yu's body, unable to move any closer. No matter how much energy Yan Yi poured into it, he couldn't pierce through Mo Yu's defense.
His most powerful attack couldn't even breach Mo Yu's protective aura!
"It's over…" Mo Yu smiled faintly, and with a casual flick of his hand, Yan Yi's spear shattered. In an instant, Mo Yu stepped forward, closing the distance between them in a blur, and gently pressed his palm against Yan Yi's chest.
With a subtle burst of force, Yan Yi's body was sent flying backward, crashing to the ground in a battered heap.
The fight ended so quickly that the crowd was left dumbfounded. In just a few minutes, Mo Yu had easily defeated both Yan Yi and the other members of the Flame Clan.
For a moment, the audience was silent. Then, the younger generation of the Thunder Clan erupted in cheers, their voices booming like thunder through the square.
Even the Black Abyss Army warriors of the Ancient Clan were caught up in the excitement, cheering loudly.
"Well done, young man. No wonder Lei Ying chose you as his son-in-law. You've got some real skill. I reckon it won't be long before even your father-in-law can't match you," said Yan Jin, the Flame Clan leader, with a wry smile.
Despite Yan Yi's defeat, Yan Jin didn't seem too upset. After all, it was clear to everyone that Mo Yu was far stronger than Yan Yi, so there was no point in dwelling on it.
Mo Yu returned the compliment with a polite nod, recognizing Yan Jin's magnanimity as the leader of a great clan.
"Husband, you're amazing!" Lei Fei'er leaped onto the training ground, her usual composed demeanor replaced by starry-eyed admiration, as if she were a fan swooning over a celebrity.
"Haha, as expected of my brother-in-law. You're truly powerful," Lei Dong said, following Lei Fei'er to the platform, his face full of admiration.
Soon after, Xiao Yan and Xun'er also came forward to congratulate Mo Yu. While Yan Yi's strength wasn't extraordinary, he was still the Young Prince of the Flame Clan. Mo Yu's decisive victory had cemented his reputation among the ancient clans.
"Hehe, so this is the famous Mo Yu, isn't it?" A voice interrupted the celebrations. A middle-aged man appeared, smiling at Mo Yu.
Startled, Mo Yu turned to face the man and was immediately surprised. The man standing before him exuded no detectable aura, as though he didn't exist in the same space. Yet, with his own eyes, Mo Yu could clearly see him standing there. This paradox was both strange and unsettling.
With Mo Yu's current strength, there was only one person in the entire Ancient Clan who could hide his presence so completely.
Indeed, as the man appeared, a smile spread across Xun'er's face. She stepped forward, taking the man's arm and said, "Father, you're here…"
The man's identity was now clear—Gu Yuan, the leader of the Ancient Clan and one of the most powerful figures on the Dou Qi continent.
Mo Yu immediately composed himself, taking Lei Fei'er's hand and stepping forward with a respectful smile. "Young Mo Yu greets the Ancient Clan leader."
"Hehe, no need for formalities, young friend. You're Xun'er and Xiao Yan's cousin, so you may call me Uncle," Gu Yuan replied kindly. "With your talent, it won't be long before you catch up to me. And…"
Gu Yuan paused, giving Mo Yu a meaningful look before continuing, "With your current abilities, even I am not entirely confident I could defeat you."
"What?!"
Everyone, including Xun'er, was stunned by Gu Yuan's words. While the first part of his statement seemed reasonable, the second part was shocking. Gu Yuan, a Nine-Star Dou Saint and one of the strongest beings on the continent, had admitted he wasn't sure he could beat Mo Yu!
"Father doesn't speak lightly. Could Cousin Mo Yu really be that strong?" Xun'er wondered, her eyes flashing with surprise.
She exchanged a glance with Xiao Yan, both of them reflecting on their long-standing bond with Mo Yu. They had known him for decades, and his abilities had always been remarkable, but to hear that he might already rival a Nine-Star Dou Saint was something else entirely.
Of everyone present, the most surprised was Mo Yu himself. He hadn't expected Gu Yuan to reveal his hidden potential so openly.
The leader of the Ancient Clan was truly formidable, a peer of the Soul Heavenly Emperor and Xiao Xuan. His insight was profound.
"Hehe, Uncle Gu Yuan flatters me. I'm nowhere near your level," Mo Yu replied with a humble smile.
Gu Yuan shook his head slightly but didn't press the matter further. He had only sensed a fraction of Mo Yu's true power, but he could tell that the young man possessed abilities that even he might struggle to handle. Mo Yu's growing reputation across the continent only reinforced Gu Yuan's desire to maintain a good relationship with him.
"Haha, Gu Yuan, what do you think? Isn't my son-in-law just as impressive as yours?" A loud voice suddenly boomed through the air. Two figures appeared in the sky above the training ground—Lei Ying and Yan Jin.
Lei Ying laughed heartily as he descended, clearly proud of Mo Yu's performance.
Gu Yuan couldn't help but smile wryly. Lei Ying had always been a battle maniac, even challenging the legendary Xiao Xuan back in the day. Now, it seemed he was even using his son-in-law as a point of competition.
Still, Lei Ying's pride was not unfounded. With Mo Yu's strength, the Thunder Clan was poised to become just as powerful as the Ancient Clan in the future.
Mo Yu, Xiao Yan, Xun'er, and Lei Fei'er all exchanged awkward glances, clearly embarrassed by their elders' antics.
After some friendly exchanges between Lei Ying and Yan Jin, Gu Yuan suddenly smiled faintly. He placed his hands behind his back and looked up into the empty sky. His calm voice rang out like thunder, sending chills down everyone's spine, including Mo Yu.
"Soul Heavenly Emperor, with your status, why sneak around like a thief?"
(End of Chapter)
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