Chapter Fifty-Eight: Accepting the Challenge

Di Yuan’s words immediately drew a flurry of astonished glances. Though Su Yi had just declared that he had broken through to become a Dou Practitioner, he was, after all, only a first-tier practitioner, while Di Yuan had already reached the sixth tier. The gap in their strengths was far too great. Moreover, Mo Ben had just remarked that Su Yi’s internal Dou Qi was not even half that of a normal first-tier practitioner.

Under such circumstances, Di Yuan issuing a challenge seemed nothing short of bullying the weak. But then again, everyone remembered that, despite just becoming a Dou Practitioner, Su Yi had managed to defeat Ke Yue, a fifth-tier practitioner, for reasons yet unknown. This was precisely what everyone was curious to see. If Su Yi could beat a fifth-tier practitioner, then facing Di Yuan might not necessarily mean certain defeat. Those who had personally witnessed Su Yi’s formidable combat ability, such as Duan Shi, were even more convinced of this; that overwhelming power, he thought, might be more than even Di Yuan could withstand.

Paying no mind to the various gazes cast his way, Di Yuan remained grim-faced. To be honest, hearing that Su Yi had become a Dou Practitioner had shaken him deeply. No matter how steadfast his temperament, faced with such an unorthodox and inexplicable event, he could not help but feel uneasy. Once he regained his composure, a surge of murderous intent toward Su Yi immediately rose within him.

Di Yuan still harbored doubts about Su Yi’s ability to re-form his Dou Qi cyclone, so he wanted to test it for himself. Still, this was only part of his real motive: if Su Yi truly had become a Dou Practitioner, with his innate talent, he might soon catch up. Di Yuan was determined to strangle this budding threat before it could grow.

In Di Yuan’s estimation, though he had been shocked when Su Yi defeated Ao Benyu previously and crippled Ke Yue today, both had evidently faced Su Yi without resorting to Dou Techniques. As for himself, while others thought he was close to becoming a seventh-tier Dou Practitioner, he had actually been hiding part of his strength—already a true seventh-tier, and on the verge of breaking into the eighth. Moreover, he possessed a profound-tier Dou Technique.

Whether one used Dou Techniques or not was one thing; the rank of the Dou Technique was another. Di Yuan was confident that, with his current power, no matter how Su Yi struggled, he could defeat him and finally break his bones, ensuring Su Yi would never rise again.

As these thoughts ran through his mind, Di Yuan fixed his cold gaze on Su Yi, who had remained silent. In a chilly voice, he said, “Well, Su Yi, do you dare to accept the challenge?”

Many in the meeting room were skeptical about the match. Over the past year, Di Yuan’s strength had been clear to all the guards, while Su Yi’s glory days seemed long past. Yet, curiosity overpowered their doubts—they truly wanted Su Yi to accept, for all sorts of reasons, but mostly out of sheer intrigue.

Su Yi was momentarily taken aback by Di Yuan’s abrupt challenge. Then, catching the malice in Di Yuan’s eyes, he gave a cold, inward laugh. At the taunting provocation, a chill flashed in his own eyes as he replied slowly, “Very well, let’s have a match.”

“But,” Su Yi continued, causing Di Yuan to frown slightly, “if you lose, the matter concerning Ke Yue ends here.”

What arrogance. Di Yuan sneered inwardly, his face twitching with a hint of menace. “Of course. But if you lose, you’ll be at my mercy!”

A cold smirk touched Su Yi’s lips as he nodded, agreeing to the terms of the wager.

Lounging lazily in her soft chair, Mei Ya’s eyes flickered with a trace of worry when she heard Su Yi agree, though it was barely perceptible. But seeing Su Yi’s calm and collected demeanor, she smiled. “In that case, let’s move to the Bluestone Training Ground; this is no place for a fight.”

At her suggestion, everyone nodded. Seeing no objections, Mei Ya rose gracefully, stretching her elegant figure—a sight that feasted the eyes of all present. Under a host of admiring gazes, she led the way out of the meeting room.

Mo Ben, as usual, followed slowly behind her. Su Yi and Di Yuan exchanged a glance, each heavy with unspoken menace, then fell in line. The rest, a little excited, followed suit.

But as they emerged from the meeting room, they all froze. Standing at the doorway was a strikingly beautiful young girl. Though still youthful, she had a remarkably mature figure. Wasn’t this Lie Feifei, who had come with Su Yi?

Why was she at the auction house? The question flashed through everyone’s minds. Mei Ya, in the lead, frowned slightly, then smiled coolly and said, “Why, if it isn’t Miss Lie of the Lie family? What brings you here?”

“I… I…” Caught off guard by Mei Ya’s greeting, Lie Feifei panicked and could not find her words.

Su Yi, seeing her predicament, coughed awkwardly and, lowering his voice, said to Mei Ya, “Actually, I brought her here… There’s something she needed.”

It wasn’t that Su Yi meant to hide anything from Mei Ya, but with so many ears about, it was best not to let too many people know.

Though she had suspected as much for a moment, Mei Ya still felt a twinge of doubt at Su Yi’s reply. Nearly a year had passed since there had been any connection between the two—why were they suddenly together today? Considering Lie Feifei’s character, could it be that she had learned of Su Yi’s breakthrough and was now eager to make amends? She shook off the thought, suppressing her curiosity, and gave Lie Feifei a look both calm and inexplicably strange before turning to lead the way.

Others, including Di Yuan and Duan Shi, were surprised as well, but quickly moved on, intentionally or not, leaving Su Yi and Lie Feifei at the rear.

Having been momentarily awed by Mei Ya’s dazzling presence, Lie Feifei regained her composure and hurried after Su Yi, asking in a low voice, “Where are you all going? What happened?”

“Nothing much,” Su Yi replied, exhaling as he lazily clasped his hands behind his head, strolling at the rear. “I’m just going to have a match with Di Yuan.”

“A match?” Lie Feifei pondered this, uncertain. “Is this to resolve the issue with Ke Yue?”

“Strictly speaking, it was Di Yuan’s idea,” Su Yi replied coolly.

Lie Feifei looked surprised. “Does he know your true strength?”

“I only told them I’ve just become a Dou Practitioner.”

“What, Su Yi, you’ve become a Dou Practitioner?!” Although she had recently witnessed Su Yi’s strength and had already guessed he could once again cultivate Dou Qi, hearing him admit it outright left her incredulous—hadn’t his Dou Qi cyclone been destroyed?

“Wait… just become a Dou Practitioner?” Lie Feifei was both shocked and puzzled. “But your strength seems far greater than a first-tier practitioner’s. In fact, you feel even stronger than when you were a tenth-tier. How can that be?”

Su Yi glanced at her but did not answer, merely saying, “You’ll understand in time.”

Thwarted, Lie Feifei felt slightly aggrieved, but her confusion soon outweighed her frustration. If Su Yi had said he was an eighth-, ninth-, or even tenth-tier Dou Practitioner, she might have accepted it given his obvious strength. But to claim he’d only just reached the first tier was simply incomprehensible.

Having witnessed Su Yi kill Zhong Yuan with her own eyes, she had already prepared herself for the possibility that he had broken through. She did not know how, but had come to accept it as fact. Yet to hear Su Yi admit to being only a first-tier practitioner shocked her even more than learning he was a Dou Practitioner or had slain a Dou Cultivator.

How could a mere first-tier practitioner kill someone like Zhong Yuan? In that instant, she even wondered if Su Yi had never lost his abilities at all.

But… still a first-tier practitioner? It made no sense! The urge to ask was overwhelming, but seeing Su Yi clearly had no intention of explaining, she stifled her questions.

Paying no mind to Lie Feifei’s bewilderment, Su Yi followed the others. Soon, they arrived at the Bluestone Training Ground, used for matches and practice at the auction house. Around the arena, a crowd of guards and staff had already gathered, drawn by the news.

They watched Su Yi and the others with excited curiosity. The rising hubbub lent the place a lively atmosphere.

Had word really spread so quickly? And how? Su Yi couldn’t help but shake his head in exasperation. Because of his unique condition, he truly didn’t want too many people watching him fight. Explaining his overwhelming strength would be troublesome, and the fewer people who knew about his physique, the safer he would be.

Hmph, perhaps this was all Di Yuan’s doing, Su Yi thought resentfully, glancing at him.

Di Yuan, meeting Su Yi’s gaze, wore a cold expression as he strode onto the bluestone stage. He turned his head to look at Su Yi, his eyes brimming with provocation and killing intent. Su Yi, catching that icy look, responded with a faint, enigmatic smile and ambled onto the stage as well.

Once both were on the platform, the whispering among the onlookers faded. When Mei Ya lightly clapped her jade-like hands, all fell silent. “Su Yi, Di Yuan, this match is to end at the point of victory—no reckless killing. Whoever is forced off the platform loses, as does anyone who concedes. Is everything clear?”

Di Yuan nodded slightly, fixing Su Yi with a shadowed glare. His lips barely moved as he spoke in a voice only the two of them could hear, cruel and cold: “Su Yi, I won’t give you the chance to surrender.”