Chapter 181: Mo Yu's Domination, The Label

Chapter 181: Mo Yu's Domination, The Label

"You're too weak."

In the hall, Mo Yu's cold voice echoed, silencing everyone instantly. The crowd stared at him in shock. They hadn't expected that this Xiao family genius, who had been out of the spotlight for so long, would prove to be even more terrifying in combat than Mu Zhan!

Although the earlier clash was brief, it was clear to everyone how dangerous it was.

Mu Zhan was known for his battle talent among the younger generation in the imperial capital. Few of his peers could stand on equal footing with him, especially after two years of military training that had honed his Dou Shi-level skills to their peak.

Yet, in that short exchange, this powerful young warrior was completely defeated!

Though Mu Zhan hadn't fought with his full strength or used any Dou Techniques, it was evident that Mo Yu was also holding back, relying only on his physical strength.

To so easily defeat a peak Dou Shi with just raw power meant Mo Yu was at least a Dou Shi himself, and likely a highly skilled one at that.

"No wonder Mo Yu's combat ability is so terrifying. He might even be on par with the princess..." A cute, noble-dressed young girl in the corner of the hall murmured in shock, covering her mouth in disbelief.

Her words caused a stir among the nearby imperial youths. They knew that this seemingly unremarkable girl was none other than Princess Yaoyue, the empire's little princess and a talented Tier 3 Alchemist at a young age. Her older sister, Princess Yao Ye, was even more formidable, not only powerful but also commanding the imperial capital's elite guard force of 50,000.

Now, hearing the little princess compare Mo Yu to her powerful sister made everyone take notice. Mo Yu had just proven himself to be a force to be reckoned with.

After the initial shock, the princess's clever eyes sparkled with a sly smile. She knew Mu Zhan's battle prowess well; even her older sister could only keep him in check using unique royal techniques.

But just now, Mo Yu had effortlessly suppressed Mu Zhan, a feat that left her both awed and intrigued. As a member of the royal family, she was naturally adept at weighing potential alliances.

With Mo Yu's strength, good looks, and humble origins, she couldn't help but think about the possibility of him marrying into the royal family...

While the princess entertained her thoughts, Liu Ling's lips twitched in displeasure. He had been hoping to see Mo Yu beaten, but instead, Mu Zhan had been quickly and decisively defeated. This outcome left Liu Ling in a foul mood.

"If Mu Zhan had gone all out, who knows how it would've ended," Liu Ling said coolly, though he didn't seem convinced.

The princess, however, simply smiled, not bothering to argue. As a woman, her observations were sharper than Liu Ling's. She sensed that Mo Yu had only shown a fraction of his true strength. Mu Zhan was no match for him.

"Mo Yu, are you alright?" Ya Fei asked, hurrying over with concern. She gently tugged on his sleeve, clearly worried and not wanting him to fight anymore.

"You should be asking him that," Mo Yu replied with a slight smile, glancing at Mu Zhan.

Ya Fei shifted her gaze to the shocked Mu Zhan, who was clutching his injured arm. Even without any special skills, she could tell that Mo Yu had held a clear advantage in their brief encounter.

Realizing this, her eyes sparkled with admiration. Although Mo Yu had already made a name for himself in Wutan City, and despite his destruction of the Mo family, many had doubted the legitimacy of his abilities. But now, with just one move, he had defeated one of the capital's top young warriors, confirming his exceptional talent.

Mo Yu, handsome and powerful, caught the attention of nearly every girl in the hall, their eyes filled with admiration.

Mo Yu, unfazed by the attention, turned to Xiao Yan, who had also hurried over. He gave him a reassuring smile and a nod.

Xiao Yan, noticing the gesture, slowly unclenched his fists. His eyes, however, reflected a hint of shock. In the nearly two years since they last met, Xiao Yan had trained relentlessly, believing he had made incredible progress with Yao Lao's guidance. His growth was something he was proud of, even by imperial standards.

But today, seeing his cousin after so long, Xiao Yan felt a pang of defeat. Mu Zhan, a peak Dou Shi, was a formidable opponent. Even Xiao Yan might struggle against him, possibly even lose. Yet, Mo Yu had defeated him in a single blow.

This realization reignited Xiao Yan's determination. Mo Yu had always been his benchmark, and seeing his cousin grow even stronger only fueled his desire to improve.

Mo Yu, however, was unaware of Xiao Yan's inner thoughts. He simply looked at Mu Zhan and asked, "Do you still want to fight?"

Mu Zhan's face twisted as he heard Mo Yu's question. The fierce look he had worn moments ago was now replaced by shock and disbelief.

As the most talented member of the Mu family's younger generation and a peak Dou Shi who had honed his skills over two years in the military, Mu Zhan had expected to crush Mo Yu, whom he assumed was just another pretty face.

But the brief exchange had shattered that assumption. Mo Yu's strength was monstrous, more akin to that of a powerful magical beast than a human.

Mu Zhan prided himself on his strength, but Mo Yu's power was on a completely different level. The young warrior now realized he had severely underestimated his opponent.

Though arrogant, Mu Zhan wasn't foolish. He knew that while his family was stronger than the Xiao family from Wutan City, Mo Yu's extraordinary talent made backgrounds irrelevant.

After Mo Yu's display of power, many families were likely already considering allying with him. If Mo Yu decided to join the Yun Lan Sect or the imperial court, his potential would be limitless.

With these thoughts in mind, Mu Zhan forced himself to swallow his pride. "You're indeed powerful. I admit defeat for now, but I'll challenge you again in the future."

With that, Mu Zhan turned to leave, unable to bear the humiliation of staying any longer.

As he approached the door, a cold voice suddenly called out, "Stop!"

The hall fell silent again as everyone turned their gaze back to Mo Yu. Was he really going to push Mu Zhan even further? They wondered if Mo Yu was aware that Mu Zhan's family, the Mu family, was one of the empire's three great families.

Mu Zhan's face darkened as he stopped and turned back to face Mo Yu. A fierce look flashed in his eyes once more. "I've already admitted I'm no match for you. But if you intend to humiliate me, know that the Mu family won't stand for it!"

Despite the fear Mo Yu had instilled in him, Mu Zhan wasn't about to back down completely. He might not be able to defeat Mo Yu, but his family still had a powerful Dou Wang elder.

"Hmph. The Mu family may be strong, but it doesn't mean much in the grand scheme of things," Mo Yu said with a cold smile. "I stopped you because I wanted to make something clear. Ya Fei doesn't appreciate being pestered. From now on, stay away from her. If you don't..."

Mo Yu paused, then continued in a tone that brooked no argument, "Not even the Mu family will be able to save you."

As he finished speaking, Mo Yu's silver eyes flashed, and a bolt of lightning shot from his gaze, striking the iron door beside Mu Zhan with blinding speed. The door, made of high-quality steel, instantly melted, leaving a fist-sized hole.

The crowd gasped, watching the scene in stunned silence. The power Mo Yu had just displayed was terrifying. If that lightning had hit Mu Zhan directly, he would have been reduced to nothing but a bloody stain.

The hall was filled with a new level of respect and fear for Mo Yu. The realization dawned on them: Mo Yu was a force to be reckoned with, not just because of his strength, but also because of his ruthless determination.

Mu Zhan, now fully aware of the gap between their abilities, felt his once-proud background crumble before Mo Yu's overwhelming talent.

Facing such a powerful opponent, the Mu family might reconsider making an enemy of Mo Yu, especially if he joined a force like the Yun Lan Sect or the imperial court.

Sweat trickled down Mu Zhan's brow as he weighed his options. "I apologize. I won't bother Miss Ya Fei again."

With that, he turned and left, clearly shaken by the encounter.

The crowd watched in silence, fully understanding Mu Zhan's decision. Given the circumstances, anyone would have made the same choice. Mo Yu had demonstrated beyond doubt that he was not to be trifled with.

Meanwhile, the young women in the hall looked at Mo Yu with admiration, impressed by his strength and his protective stance toward Ya Fei. Many of them wished they could be in her place, standing beside such a powerful man.

Beside him, Ya Fei's cheeks flushed with a deep blush. Mo Yu's declaration had essentially marked her as his, a claim that would not go unnoticed. It meant that from now on, no other man would dare approach her, not even someone like Mu Zhan.

Yet, instead of feeling trapped, Ya Fei found herself oddly content. How many women in the world were protected so fiercely?

She had only wanted Mo Yu to help fend off Mu Zhan's advances, but now she found herself labeled as Mo Yu's woman.

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