Showdown 2 (Seeking Recommendations, Seeking Reads)

When Xu Tianlong saw his beloved grandson step onto the stage, the corners of his mouth lifted into a smile brimming with confidence.

At that moment, Xia Jinan happened to catch sight of that smile, and a wave of unease rose within him.

Although Xu Haoyu, who had taken the stage, possessed frightening talent, he was ultimately only a Four Star Da Dou Shi. The gap between him and Xia Yuancheng, a Nine Star Da Dou Shi, was enormous.

He comforted himself inwardly:

"Nothing will happen. Once Yuancheng uses his trump card, he can fight a Dou Ling. There is no way a Four Star Da Dou Shi can defeat him."

Meanwhile, atop the arena!

As Xia Yuancheng gradually recovered, his aura surged once more. He crooked a finger at Xu Haoyu and said:

"Come. I'll let you strike first!"

Hearing this, Xu Haoyu did not stand on ceremony. He used Earth Treading Steps, shattering the granite beneath his feet. Borrowing the rebounding force, he shot forward with lightning speed.

With a sharp whistle through the air, Xu Haoyu had already closed to within half a foot of Xia Yuancheng. He thrust out a palm, yet Xia Yuancheng still wore a disdainful expression. Clearly, he had not yet realized the severity of the situation.

He casually threw a punch. But the instant his fist collided with Xu Haoyu's palm, his expression changed drastically.

That immense force made it feel as though Xu Haoyu was not human at all, but a magical beast.

Crack! Crack!

Amid the crisp sounds of breaking bones, Xia Yuancheng was blasted backward. Had he not relied on his abundant Dou Qi to forcibly stabilize himself, he might have fallen straight out of the arena.

When Xia Yuancheng failed to withstand even a single palm strike from Xu Haoyu, cheers immediately erupted all around, all of them praising Xu Haoyu.

Listening to those voices, Xia Yuancheng's face darkened. He used his left hand to grip his right and gave it a slight tug, resetting the dislocated joint. He then moved his arm around. Though it was still somewhat numb, it could still be used in battle.

Xia Yuancheng's gaze turned icy. He became deeply wary of his earlier carelessness. He admitted that he had underestimated Xu Haoyu. There was something very wrong with this brat—his terrifying brute strength meant that he simply could not be fought head-on.

"So the thing you rely on is this freakish strength of yours. Then let me tell you now: the enormous gap between us cannot be bridged by mere physical strength."

As his words fell, Xia Yuancheng took a deep breath and mobilized all his Dou Qi, seemingly surpassing the limits of a Nine Star Da Dou Shi.

He crossed his fists before him and roared. Terrifying Dou Qi gathered, erupted, and churned... A violent killing intent spread forth, sending ripples through the air and stirring the Heaven and Earth Energy into unrest.

"Eight Directions Destruction Fist!"

On the main platform, Xu Yaozu, Xu Tianlong, and all the Xu Family elders changed expressions. The ability to stir Heaven and Earth Energy was the hallmark of a Dou Technique at Earth Rank or above. Eight Directions Destruction Fist was precisely the Xia Family Royal Family's clan-defending ultimate art—an Earth Rank Middle Level fist technique with exceptionally heavy killing intent. Once used, it was meant to kill; on the battlefield, it was a true weapon of mass slaughter.

Even Xu Yaozu felt somewhat fortunate. It was a good thing Xia Yuancheng had not used it earlier. Otherwise, his son Xu Feng might truly have been in danger.

But now, he was still furious, because Xu Haoyu on the stage was likewise a genius of the Xu Family.

Xu Tianlong also frowned.

"So that's how it is. A Nine Star Da Dou Shi at such a young age, and he even has a lethal technique like Eight Directions Destruction Fist. No wonder he dared to come here and cause trouble today."

Xia Jinan put on a hypocritically modest manner as he said:

"Haha, it is also because the Third Prince has lived up to expectations. With such outstanding talent, becoming a Nine Star Da Dou Shi at such a young age, His Majesty naturally would not be stingy with rewards such as this."

His smug attitude drew angry glares from everyone present, but Xia Jinan did not care in the slightest.

Back on the arena, Xu Haoyu felt the immense pressure brought by an Earth-Rank Dou Technique. It was completely different from a Mysterious-Rank Dou Technique, a technique that had reached an entirely higher level.

Being able to mobilize Heaven and Earth Energy meant that the technique's power could surpass the user's own realm, reaching an unimaginable degree.

However, Xu Haoyu did not feel despair. Since he began cultivating, he had never once gone all out. The Seven-Colored Dou Crystal in his dantian contained formidable Dou Qi formed from the fusion of seven attributes. If fully unleashed, it should be able to raise the power of a Mysterious-Rank Dou Technique to that of an Earth-Rank Dou Technique. After all, Dou Techniques were still wielded by people, and naturally, the same technique could produce vastly different results in different hands.

"Thousandfold Strike!"

Xu Haoyu drew upon the vast, powerful Dou Qi within the Seven-Colored Dou Crystal. It flowed through his meridians into his palms, where it was compressed into force. The force continuously stacked upon itself.

Layer upon layer, as if without end. The meridians, tendons and bones, and muscles in his palms... had long since been repaired and strengthened by Blood Jade Reconnecting Ointment. Their toughness far surpassed that of the rest of his body, allowing them to bear the terrifying power continuously stacked by Thousandfold Strike.

As the force continued to stack, energy ripples even appeared around Xu Haoyu. Although Thousandfold Strike was not an Earth-Rank Dou Technique, the enormous amount of Dou Qi created through compression and stacking was already enough to forcibly draw upon Heaven and Earth Energy.

Xia Yuancheng's eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief.

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible! Is this also an Earth-Rank Dou Technique?!"

Then, hardening his heart, he stomped both feet against the ground and lunged forward. Borrowing the momentum, he swung both fists, sending fierce gusts scattering in all directions as they gradually formed a wave of air.

Xu Haoyu watched it all calmly. Only after Xia Yuancheng had closed in did he thrust both palms forward.

Fists against palms, Eight Directions Destruction Fist against Thousandfold Strike. The explosion at that instant was deafening. Part of the shockwave spread outward, blasting apart the granite floor. Smoke and dust filled the arena, making it impossible to see what had happened within.

After a long while, when the smoke and dust finally dispersed, everyone could clearly see the situation inside. Xu Haoyu was still standing. He now possessed a Pure Yang Body, and his physical strength was no weaker than that of a magical beast, allowing him to hold the advantage in that clash.

As for Xia Yuancheng, his robes were in tatters, and both sleeves had been completely blown away. His arms were bright red, with blood bursting through his blood vessels and bubbling out.

He was already lying on the ground without moving, his life or death unknown. In that collision comparable to two Earth-Rank Dou Techniques, his body had been unable to bear the strain, and he had suffered grievous injuries from the backlash.

"How is this possible? A Four Star Da Dou Shi defeated a Nine Star Da Dou Shi; a Mysterious-Rank Dou Technique defeated an Earth-Rank Dou Technique. Why did it turn out like this?!"

Xia Jinan rose to his feet, his eyes fixed intensely on Xu Haoyu as though he wanted to see through him completely. A trace of killing intent appeared in his gaze. Such a genius should not exist in this world.

"Hmph!"

Xu Tianlong snorted coldly. A powerful aura locked onto Xia Jinan like a sword hanging above his head, as though the moment it fell, it would sever his head from his body.

"What is there to question? Just because you can't do it, you think no one else can either? My beloved grandson is simply that exceptional. What, do you have a problem with that?"

Xia Jinan instantly broke out in a cold sweat. The hairs on his back stood on end as he truly felt that he might be killed at any moment. Even his strength as a Nine Star Dou Huang could not give him the slightest sense of security.

"I wouldn't dare. It's just too unbelievable. Senior, the Town South King and the Third Prince have already been severely wounded. I'm sure he won't dare underestimate the Xu Family's genius again. Please allow me to take him away to recover."

No response came, but Xia Jinan still flashed away. He quickly reached the arena, picked up Xia Jinan, and, not daring to look back at Xu Haoyu, spread his Dou Qi Wings and soared into the air, swiftly departing.

Only then did deafening cheers erupt from all around. Xu Haoyu's strength made everyone realize that they were about to witness the rise of a powerhouse.

At the head table, Xu Tianlong seemed to mutter to himself:

"Using a Mysterious-Rank Dou Technique against an Earth-Rank Dou Technique is still too much of a disadvantage. It seems I need to pass the Heaven Splitting Divine Palm on to Haoyu as soon as possible..."

Everyone around him, including Xu Yaozu and the other elders, heard those words. Not a single person objected; clearly, they all agreed.