"Exactly!"

Xu Yang nodded slightly, covertly sizing up Shi Hu.

Cultivation of True Monarch Initial Stage!

There wasn’t a trace of aura leaking from him, yet he gave off an overwhelming sense of dominance.

He couldn’t help but recall the mighty power he’d borrowed when he fought Stone Jade earlier.

Fighting spirit ablaze—wild and tyrannical!

Shi Hu grinned, "Earlier, I was in seclusion; so the power Stone Jade borrowed wasn’t my full strength. Besides, my own moves are quite different from hers."

"To come out of that forsaken place in Daqian and defeat Stone Jade in that state, you’re already amazing."

"Do you dare fight me?"

Shi Hu made no attempt to hide it; his fighting intent surged, eyes sharp as knives.

Shi Haoting gulped in fear. Growing up, he’d been pummeled by Shi Hu plenty, and this terror came straight from the bones.

"Bro, get him!"

"Beat him up good!"

Shi Haoting huddled in the back, muttering.

Xu Yang grinned wide, "It would be my honor!"

Words mean nothing—they need a real fight!

If he doesn’t win over the top prodigy of this Battle King Aristocratic Family now, he’s going to have endless trouble later on.

"Come—right here!"

Shi Hu’s eyes lit up at once. As his words fell, his aura broke forth like a savage beast, shattering heaven and earth’s limits.

It was like a violent storm and towering waves, sweeping in all directions.

The people in the courtyard sensed the commotion and came filing out.

Seeing this, everyone was shocked.

"Is that Shi Hu?"

"Damn, what terrifying power!"

Jian Chuan’s heart pounded with dread, forcing a bitter smile: "If I faced him, I doubt I’d have any chance at all!"

After all, back in Daqian, he was among the top of his realm.

But here, he had no advantage whatsoever.

"No need to worry, elders," Stone Jade said with a smile. "Shi Hu is hot-tempered, but he knows his limits. They’ll just be having a sparring match."

"Feels like he’s no match for Young Master!"

"Yeah! Young Master is a True Monarch now!"

Yang Yi, Zhao Mushen, and the others whispered in the back.

Stone Jade heard them but didn’t say much else.

In truth, she also believed Shi Hu wasn’t a match.

After all, even if Shi Hu is stronger when acting himself, Xu Yang could defeat her before breaking through. After his breakthrough, it’s not even a question!

But this battle was unavoidable.

At this moment—

Some of the Battle King Family experts were secretly watching.

"Heh, that Shi Hu came knocking right after he returned."

"Told you, old me knew Shi Hu wouldn’t sit idly by."

"Shi Hu’s gotten stronger on this trip back. Who do you think will win?"

"Isn’t it obvious? Xu Yang, of course. He broke through the Five Elements Heaven-Trapping Bowl! Shi Hu can’t do that."

"Well, you never know—maybe he used some unique trick."

"Heh, just watch."

...

"Please."

Xu Yang gazed at Shi Hu and smiled faintly.

"Be careful now."

Shi Hu grinned viciously. In a flash, his presence blazed like a roaring fire—instantly ferocious.

Boom!

The earth beneath his feet shattered inch by inch, fractures spreading a hundred yards in all directions.

A burly shadow, like a straight spear, pierced the skies—arriving in an instant!

The shockwave was like a primordial beast rampaging the deep sea, raising surging waves.

Boom!

Shi Hu threw a punch at Xu Yang.

"The power of that fist isn’t any weaker than Stone Jade’s strongest blow before!"

Xu Yang was inwardly startled, surprised at how big the gap was between Shi Hu’s and Stone Jade’s attacks.

But he was only surprised, nothing more.

"Good! Bring it on!"

Xu Yang laughed to the sky, clenched his fist, and struck.

Bam!

The muffled explosion rumbled like thunder, making all heaven and earth tremble.

The terrifying impact shot out in all directions, thunderous as a tempest.

But as it reached the perimeter, it was quietly restrained and extinguished by some invisible force.

Clearly, a hidden expert was acting behind the scenes.

Both figures retreated at once.

Shi Hu paused, locking eyes on Xu Yang. His fighting spirit burned like an untamed blaze.

"Show me your full strength."

"Bro, don’t hold back—destroy him!"

Shi Haoting, watching the commotion, wasn’t afraid of more chaos.

"Alright."

Xu Yang nodded lightly, and the Asura Blood Saber suddenly appeared in his grip.

Buzz!

An awe-inspiring bloodthirsty edge flooded over, swallowing the entire space.

Shi Hu’s heart skipped a beat.

In that instant—

He didn’t hesitate. Tilting his head back, he roared to the sky.

ROAR!

Like an ancient wild beast, the cry shook heaven and earth!

BOOM!

His Periphery Void Space exploded. His entire form swelled violently, and his skin turned the crystalline gray-white stone hue unique to the Battle King House’s Stone Spirit.

"Shizhongtian!"

"Celestial Middle Fist!"

"Celestial Battle Divine Fist!"

BOOM!

Shi Hu vanished in an instant.

The world seemed thunderstruck—trembling madly. Everywhere you looked, terrifying cracks spiderwebbed across the earth, like a world-sized web about to shatter!

Everyone in front of the courtyard felt their scalp tingle and backed away fast.

Jian Chuan and Gu Jun were stunned.

Too strong.

Jian Chuan even felt that even if he broke through to True Monarch Middle Realm, he still wasn’t a match.

Right now, Shi Hu was like a mini version of the Stone Spirit.

The stone world condensed into a single punch.

This punch could shatter the heavens and crack the void!

"So this is the strength of the top prodigy of a true powerhouse clan?"

"Shi Hu is only ranked seventh!"

"Holy shit!"

...

This punch from Shi Hu was a world apart from when Stone Jade displayed it!

Like comparing a child to an adult—no contest at all.

Xu Yang narrowed his eyes. Facing the dreadful punch, he suddenly raised the Asura Blood Saber.

"Chaotic Void Celestial Saber!"

Swish!

Countless saber shadows surged forth—tens of thousands, compressed into just a hundred-yard radius.

It was utter chaos—enough to leave people dizzy just from glancing at it a couple times.

BOOM!

The celestial blade crashed down, swallowing Shi Hu whole.

"Ahhh~~"

A wretched scream suddenly rang out.

The fist light shattered, saber shadows roared down like a tidal wave, gouging the earth with deep ruts.

Shi Hu emerged, making the hidden experts watching gulp in shock.

"Damn, that’s brutal!"

"Shi Hu, this might be the worst he’s fared in years."

"Ugh—can’t bear to look, can’t bear to look!"

...

Shi Hu was bathed in blood, blade wounds dense across his whole body—even his face!

His lips quivered, his fighting spirit extinct, and in a trembling, horrified voice, he said, "Y-Your saber’s chaos actually sealed me so terribly."

"What Secret Technique is this?"

He hadn’t sensed a thing.

By the time he noticed it while it erupted, it was already too late!

That punch was only at seventy percent power.

Even so, he’d been like a stone statue, at the mercy of a thousand chaotic blade shadows shredding him!

"It’s my exclusive trick—my true ace in the hole!"

Xu Yang smiled slightly.

Shi Hu looked miserable, but actually, the wounds weren’t serious. That last strike—Xu Yang had already held back most of his force.

Just flesh wounds!

Stone Jade’s mouth twitched; even knowing Shi Hu would lose, she hadn’t expected it to be this tragic.

Shi Hu forced a bitter smile. He was never a sore loser.

"I concede."

He cupped his fists, gave a sharp shake, and the saber cuts on his body healed at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Xu Yang inwardly praised him. No wonder he was the Shi Family’s top prodigy.

Such grace was truly rare!

Daring to fight, as well as able to lose with dignity!

Upright and bold!

"Thank you for the match!"

"Hahahaha, that was awesome!"

"Shi Hu, even you have days like this?"

"Bro, you should’ve gone even harder! That punk provoked you so much—it was too easy on him."

Shi Haoting cheered, arms flailing with excitement.

Shi Hu shot him a frosty look and grinned at Xu Yang, "Xu Yang, are you responsible for this guy?"

Xu Yang’s mouth twitched. He turned to Stone Jade, "Miss Shi, I have some questions for you. Mind talking inside?"

"Of course."

Stone Jade pressed her lips into a smile and turned to walk into the courtyard.

The others fought to keep a straight face, giving Shi Haoting a pitying look before leaving as well.

"Wait, bro, you can’t just leave me!"

"Didn’t you say you’d cover for me?"

"Bro! My own brother!"

Shi Haoting panicked, yelling in terror.

"Own brother? Then what am I?" Shi Hu cracked his knuckles, walking toward Shi Haoting with a vicious grin.