Chapter 86: Eruption

Among those watching Su Yi, many were representatives from various families. Though they had all witnessed Su Yi’s bout with Lie Zhi—and his performance had indeed surprised them—few truly understood the extent of his abilities. Thus, whether Su Yi would accept Ao Benyu’s challenge became a matter of great interest. At this moment, countless expectant gazes were fixed upon Su Yi, everyone guessing whether he would agree to the match. With such urgent anticipation, the crowd held its breath, the tension mounting, until it seemed the only sound remaining was the beating of their own hearts.

In the midst of this heavy and taut atmosphere, Su Yi first frowned and glanced at Ao Benyu, then, as if he hadn’t heard anything, turned respectfully to inquire of Lord Chet, “My lord, may I ask to which family the remaining fifth-level fighter belongs?”

The crowd, having waited with bated breath for Su Yi’s response, was instantly struck with excitement as soon as he spoke—only for that excitement to dissipate in an instant, replaced by exasperation. After all that anticipation, Su Yi’s question seemed completely irrelevant, leaving many so frustrated they nearly coughed up blood.

The carefully constructed tension shattered at once. Lord Chet and the others could only offer helpless smiles, not having expected such a response from Su Yi. Even so, since Su Yi had asked, Lord Chet answered, “That fighter, who made it to the finals, is from the Kinna family.”

The Kinna family?!

Though the representatives from all sides were annoyed by Su Yi’s diversion, the substance of his question still caught their interest. In fact, some had wanted to ask the same, but had been interrupted by Ao Benyu’s challenge.

Learning now that the newly emerged fifth-level fighter was from the Kinna family, even with Ao Benyu’s earlier provocation, they could not help but be surprised.

“Quietly producing a young fifth-level fighter—Lord Kinna, you’ve hidden your cards well indeed…” Lie Chen remarked, glancing meaningfully at the master of the Kinna family.

“It was only a breakthrough made a few days ago,” the Kinna master replied with a cough, hastily explaining, “He still needs time to consolidate his foundation…” In recent years, the Tournament of Martial Arts had become a battleground for the various families, both in public and in secret. To achieve a stunning effect, a tacit rule had gradually formed: not to announce the participants ahead of time.

Even though he had managed to take everyone by surprise, the Kinna master did not wish to make enemies and attract unwanted suppression.

Lie Chen smiled at these humble words. “There’s no need for such modesty, Lord Kinna. With a fifth-level fighter wielding that sharp Breaker Sword and the mysterious-grade Whirling Light Sword Technique, even a sixth or seventh-level opponent might not guarantee victory.”

The Kinna master’s heart skipped a beat. With a dry cough, he gazed at Lie Chen and Ao Benshan, saying, “You’re right, Chief Lie. He’s spent the last few days training in swordplay and sword techniques, but his experience is shallow; I fear he cannot yet draw out their full power. By comparison, both Ao Benyu and Lie Que have the ability to challenge those above their rank—my clan’s youth cannot compare.”

Despite these words, many present gained a new perspective on the Kinna family. After all, that treasured sword and high-grade sword technique were no mere ornaments. If the Kinna family produced another truly gifted youth, the future would be difficult to predict.

As the crowd’s attention shifted away from Ao Benyu, leaving him standing alone and unacknowledged atop the stone platform, Mei Ya, seated in the stands, couldn't help but chuckle and shake her head, quietly admiring Su Yi’s cleverness.

But Ao Benshan was in no such mood. Though the Kinna family’s news had startled him, his rage at his son’s public snub was beyond words.

“Su Yi, my son has challenged you, yet you evade and change the subject. Are you afraid? Do you lack the courage?!” Ao Benshan’s voice, cold and tightly controlled, resonated across the arena, the force of his battle aura amplifying his words for all to hear.

Ao Benyu, still standing on the stone platform, wore a face so dark it seemed it would drip water. He had not expected Su Yi to ignore him entirely, turning instead to speak with others. The feeling of being treated as invisible was infuriating.

He now understood what Lie Ren had felt moments before: he had hoped to humiliate Su Yi, only to suffer humiliation himself.

Suppressing his anger at being treated as air, Ao Benyu fixed Su Yi with a frosty glare and said, “Su Yi, if you’re afraid, get down on your knees and apologize! Maybe I’ll consider sparing you!”

A roar broke out among the spectators, the previously cooled atmosphere suddenly heating up again. Some, seeing Su Yi’s hesitation, began to suspect that perhaps Su Yi was indeed a fraud—was he actually useless, incapable of withstanding a single blow?

It wasn’t just the common folk who thought this—even members of the great families found themselves wondering. Among them, Geli, standing beside Lord Chet, grew even more doubtful. Frowning slightly, she wondered if Su Yi’s earlier victory over Lie Zhi had merely been luck.

If that was the case, she was eager to see how Su Yi would extricate himself from this predicament. With this thought, she folded her slender arms, lifted her chin, and watched Su Yi with a faint, mocking smile.

The other young heirs from the families also regarded Su Yi with increasing disdain. Lie Que shot Su Yi a scornful look—if you want to accept, accept; if not, refuse. Playing games and dodging the question only made him look more contemptible.

Standing beside Lie Que, Lie Feifei and Lie Ren did not display such expressions, though they did look at Su Yi with some confusion.

Su Yi, unconcerned by the rising clamor, paid little attention to the words from Ao Benshan and Ao Benyu. After a moment’s thought, he ignored Ao Benyu entirely.

Lifting his head, Su Yi smiled calmly at Ao Benshan and said, “It’s not that I’m afraid. I’m just worried that if Ao Benyu loses, the Ao Ben family will miss out on a top-five spot in the tournament. Wouldn’t that be rather humiliating?”

“Hmph, acting as if victory is already in your grasp! Su Yi, talk is cheap—if you’re capable, accept the challenge and fight!” Ao Benshan sneered coldly.

“If you insist so much, Clan Chief Ao Benshan, then why not?” A dangerous smile finally curled at Su Yi’s lips, and he nodded to Mei Ya, saying, “I’ll go.”

Mei Ya nodded, her smile bright. “Go on. So far, you’re the only one who makes these matches interesting.”

Su Yi smiled faintly, then suddenly stamped his feet. With a loud crack, propelled by the force, he soared into the air, landing firmly atop the stone platform with a thunderous boom.

Su Yi’s dramatic entrance shocked many in the audience. The more discerning immediately realized that such a feat required at least the strength of a fourth-level fighter. Could Su Yi truly have become a fighter—perhaps even a fourth-level one?

How was that possible?!

In the VIP seats, the perpetually indifferent old man now revealed a trace of interest, while the other great families looked on in stunned disbelief.

What surprised them was not Su Yi’s method of entering the arena, but that he had not emitted any trace of battle aura. Without such energy, how had he accomplished that?

Looking at the cracked footprints Su Yi had left, Lord Chet’s eyes flashed with surprise. He turned to Ao Benshan and said, “Clan Chief Ao Benshan, there’s something unusual about this young Su Yi. This match may not go as expected…”

“I think you’re overthinking it,” Ao Benshan replied with a cold smile, glancing at the footprints too. “No matter how strange he is, the fact remains—he has no battle aura. I don’t know what trick he’s playing, but could he possibly have the power to defeat a seventh-level fighter?”

At this, many nodded in silent agreement. They knew Ao Benyu’s strength—he had been able to challenge those above his rank even at the fifth level. Now, as a seventh-level fighter, he was even stronger. Though his injured right hand might hinder him a bit, he would still have no trouble against other seventh or even eighth-level fighters. Without battle aura, how could Su Yi possibly win? Even if, by some miracle, he had managed to gather battle energy within the year, could he really have reached the seventh level so quickly?

If that were the case, the clan chiefs here would have noticed long ago. After all, among the youth of Changling City, none could hide such strength from their elders’ watchful eyes.

Mei Ya, hearing Ao Benshan’s words, merely smiled coldly to herself and said nothing, while the Kinna master also fixed his eyes on Su Yi atop the platform, as though hoping to discern some secret.

Seeing Su Yi leap onto the platform, Ao Benyu was startled. But after sensing no trace of battle aura, he sneered, “Still playing tricks, are you? That won’t save you today! I didn’t say this earlier because of the tournament rules, but I’ve been wanting to tell you: Su Yi, I’ll make sure to treat you well—by shattering every bone in your body!”

“I thought you had something important to say,” Su Yi replied, studying Ao Benyu’s right hand with clear disinterest. “Has your right hand healed? I distinctly recall shattering every bone in it…”

“Su Yi, you’re courting death!” The words struck a nerve. Fury twisted Ao Benyu’s face, and a powerful seventh-level battle aura erupted from him!

Martial Peak, Chapter 86: The Outburst—End of Update!