Chapter 143: Breaking Through the Encirclement

Yu Li’s question immediately drew the attention of everyone present. Having witnessed Su Yi’s shocking performance, no one could still believe that he was just an ordinary person. They became deeply curious and concerned about the true extent of his strength, especially since the combined efforts of Qin Shou and Gong Yan had proven less effective than Su Yi’s solo display. It was clear that Su Yi’s strength was by no means inferior to theirs.

Those who had already held him in high regard were now even more astonished. A six or seven-star fighter at eighteen was impressive enough, but if he were a ten-star fighter at that age, his talent would be truly terrifying. Even the cultivation genius in Lunluo City who had won first place in the Martial Arts Trial was already in his twenties; by comparison, Su Yi clearly had the edge.

As the group speculated, Yu Li’s admission that he was inferior to Su Yi sent a shiver of shock through them. Could it be that this seemingly ordinary youth was actually a powerful Dou cultivator? Was the reason they couldn't sense any Dou Qi on him simply because he was deliberately hiding it?

Nearby, Rou’er stared at Su Yi in disbelief. Could this youth, whom she had mocked for so long as frail and ordinary, actually be a powerful Dou cultivator like her second uncle? Although she found it hard to believe, her uncle had said it himself, so it must be true. Recalling her earlier mockery, the young girl felt a wave of embarrassment, feeling as though she had been a clown performing for her own amusement.

Sensing the varying gazes directed at him, Su Yi shook his head slightly. He looked at them and smiled, saying, "I would certainly like to cultivate Dou Qi, but I am simply unable to do so. I’m sure you all sensed that there were no fluctuations of Dou Qi on me earlier. If I were able to hide my aura even in that situation, that would be... a bit too much, wouldn't it?"

Hearing this explanation, Yu Li and the others felt a sense of relief. Dou cultivators rely on Dou Qi as their primary means of attack; if there were no fluctuations during combat, it meant either having no Dou Qi at all or possessing such terrifying, overwhelming strength that it wasn't needed. They were much more inclined to believe the former, as the alternative was simply too much for their hearts to bear.

"Even so, according to my perception, your attack power earlier was certainly not weaker than mine, was it?" After a moment of contemplation, Yu Li asked with lingering doubt. Although Su Yi possessed no Dou Qi, his level of strength remained an enigma.

Su Yi thought for a moment and decided that some things didn't need to be kept secret. He smiled faintly, "In terms of pure physical strength, I am indeed no weaker than you, Uncle Yu. But that does not mean I could defeat you. After all, using Dou Qi and martial techniques is a completely different matter."

While Yu Li was only a novice Dou cultivator, a real fight would likely result in Su Yi’s defeat. However, it wouldn't be easy for Yu Li to kill him. A significant reason was that the martial techniques Yu Li practiced were of low grade—something Su Yi had realized during their battle. Martial techniques were simply methods of applying Dou Qi; without a high-level technique to sweep everything away, Yu Li had been forced to deal with the walking corpses one by one.

In reality, Yu Li could have tried to charge through the crowd of corpses as Su Yi did, but he lacked the raw physical power. Even with Dou Qi for protection, he didn't possess a technique powerful enough to clear a path without striking, and he had never learned techniques that relied solely on physical impact. Without a proper technique, his effectiveness plummeted. If he had stopped to use his martial arts, his progress would have been hindered.

In short, Su Yi’s method was simply different. Beyond using his hands and feet, he used his entire body as a weapon to charge forward with even greater force. This style was rare among Dou cultivators, and such physical-based techniques were even rarer. If Yu Li were to rely only on his physical body to collide with Su Yi, Su Yi would have a good chance of winning.

Of course, this was based on Yu Li’s current level. If he were a Dou Luo expert, even a slight activation of defensive Dou Qi would be enough to send Su Yi flying upon impact, regardless of whether a technique was used. Before an absolute gap in strength, everything else was secondary.

"Haha, Brother Su Yi, such immense strength must come from some specific training, right?" Gong Yan said, flexing his muscular frame while shaking his sword.

The others nodded in silent agreement. Strength comparable to a ten-star fighter wasn't innate; Gong Yan’s own well-honed muscles were proof of that.

"Brother Yan is right. Although it wasn't exactly my choice, I am indeed walking the path of physical cultivation," Su Yi replied with a nod.

Physical cultivation? Yu Li and the others were stunned for a long time. They recalled a method that had long since vanished into history—a path that felt like a legend to them. Had Su Yi not mentioned it, they might never have thought of it again. It was too distant and unfamiliar. They had never encountered anyone who specialized solely in physical strength rather than Dou Qi. Su Yi was the first.

Curious and eager to learn more, they were about to ask when Su Yi’s expression shifted. He looked toward Qin Shou and shouted, "Brother Qin, watch out behind you!"

The group, having just escaped disaster, had let their guard down. They were caught off guard and slow to react, but a faster walking corpse lunged from the forest, grabbing Qin Shou from behind in a death grip.

Qin Shou struggled violently, but the corpse’s strength was unnaturally high. His face hardened, and he let out a low shout. Dou Qi surged through his body, and with a sudden burst of energy, he expanded his frame.

*Crack! Snap!*

Under the fierce impact of his inner energy, the corpse’s bones shattered and protruded through its flesh. Despite being mangled, the creature refused to let go. With a guttural howl, it opened its yellow, rotting mouth and lunged at Qin Shou’s neck.

Qin Shou’s face turned pale. The venom of a walking corpse was incurable; a single bite meant an inevitable transformation. Even a master might be able to delay the toxins, but with his current strength, he was defenseless.

*Is this how I die?* A thought flashed through his mind, and just as despair began to set in, a fist whistled past his neck and slammed directly into the corpse’s open mouth.

*Bang!*

The punch crushed the corpse’s jaw, sending yellow, mucus-covered teeth flying. The force was so great that the creature’s neck snapped, and its hideous head flew off like a ball.

Qin Shou, stunned, exerted his Dou Qi to break free from the headless corpse. Recognizing his savior, he nodded gratefully, "Su Yi, thank you... are you alright?"

Su Yi, who had shattered the creature’s head, looked at his hand. Seeing no wounds or broken skin, he breathed a sigh of relief and smiled, "No blood drawn. It seems ordinary corpses can't bite through my skin."

Everyone present was shocked. A bite from a walking corpse was lethal, and their jaw strength was notoriously powerful—often considered their most dangerous trait. Seeing Su Yi’s seemingly delicate hand remain unscathed after striking the creature’s teeth, they looked at him with newfound awe; his flesh seemed as hard as cold steel.

Qin Shou, deeply grateful, thanked him profusely, as did the rest of the group. Su Yi’s actions in clearing the path and saving Qin Shou had earned their deep respect. Though they offered gold as a reward, Su Yi politely declined, leading Yu Li to insist that he could always come to them for help in the future.

After a brief conversation, Gong Yan muttered, "Truly unexpected... to think we’d encounter walking corpses here."

At these words, the expressions of everyone present shifted significantly.