"Old Ironstone man, actually obeying orders?!"
"He’s really going to take the knife punishment? Isn’t that seeking death? What if that guy decides to chop off his head?"
"Just take it head on! That’s a wound opened by Li Shidao! Would Old Ironstone dare to resist?"
"Li Shidao, rumored to be one of the two strongest figures in the Li Family alongside Li Shiquan! The next head of the Li Family is bound to be one of them! With such a figure making the demand, even Old Ironstone wouldn’t dare to disobey!"
"I’ve only heard of Li Shidao before but never seen him, and to think he’s so handsome..."
"Stop dreaming, he’s one of the Li Family’s own. We don’t even have the qualifications to enter their service as maidservants, let alone have any contact with Li Shidao."
As the crowd was buzzing with discussion, Old Ironstone approached step by step.
His gaze was locked onto Fang Yu.
With his many years of life experience, he observed Fang Yu’s condition.
Shoulder wounded, still bleeding.
Surely unable to exert full force.
Bathed in blood from successive battles, nearly exhausted, breathing uneven.
Constantly protecting the Li Family woman behind him, sustaining minor but numerous wounds—a type of attrition.
Most importantly, Old Ironstone felt no killing intent from Fang Yu.
Yes, even though he had threatened the boy before and after, this young man seemed to have no strong animosity towards him.
This was very strange.
But it was undoubtedly good news.
Step!
When Old Ironstone stopped, he was already standing in front of Fang Yu.
He first glanced at Li Shidao and, under the latter’s calm gaze, turned towards Fang Yu with a smile, his expression as benevolent as when they first met.
"It seems I’ve indeed lacked manners in this matter. Since it’s a request from Li Shidao, young friend, I will take your sword strike to dissolve this misunderstanding. I ask you to show mercy."
Saying so, Old Ironstone even patted Fang Yu on the shoulder like an elder.
Fang Yu didn’t speak but turned to look at Green Demon.
With this sword strike, he could give his all, or he could just brush it off, all depending on what Green Demon meant.
After all, Green Demon was now in control of the situation. Fang Yu also had to cooperate. If something went wrong, those with more than thirty thousand in blood – Li Jiuxun – one wouldn’t know if they could be relied upon.
Green Demon did not respond directly but drew out an accessory from his waist and threw it to Fang Yu.
"Don’t have any concerns. Behind you is the entire Li Family!"
The underlying message was naturally to just let loose.
Fang Yu caught the longsword and no longer had any reservations in his heart.
If that was the case...
His skin slowly writhed, and layers of white Bone Armor like fish scales started to creep over his flesh.
Those in the distant crowd might not feel anything amiss.
But Old Ironstone, in that instant, immediately sensed a subtle change in Fang Yu.
The boy, who had posed no threat and exuded a calm aura just now, felt dramatically altered after Li Shidao spoke.
A sensation of harboring some terrifying power, restrained but palpable, emitted from the boy, bringing an inexplicable pressure to him!
This kid, what is he about to do?!
Crack! Crack!
A subtle sound emanated from the boy’s body. Old Ironstone looked closely and saw that the wounds on the young man’s shoulder were covered with layers of white, armor-like material. He was clueless as to what it was.
What kind of Martial Arts is this?!
A startle swept through Old Ironstone’s heart.
With his age, he had seen too many people’s secret techniques and Martial Arts; within Tianyuan Town, there were few he did not recognize.
But he indeed did not recognize the bizarre Martial Arts of the young man before him.
Upon closer inspection, Old Ironstone caught on.
This stuff, it actually had a bit of semblance to the Lin Family’s Acid Blood Technique.
Outwardly there was no connection, but at their core, they were somewhat similar.
A kind of... crude imitation of a new Martial Arts based on the Acid Blood Technique?
The startled Old Ironstone now gradually relaxed.
Understanding the rough outline of the opponent’s Martial Arts, Old Ironstone felt he had made a mountain out of a molehill. It was only due to the psychological pressure from Li Shidao nearby that he felt this kid posed a threat.
In reality, if it was just this kind of crude imitation, it couldn’t possibly possess any special power.
Since time immemorial, many have tried to mimic the Lin Family’s unique Acid Blood Technique, but without exception, all have failed.
Those imitations, if they contained even one-tenth of the Acid Blood Technique’s effectiveness, it would be a blessing from their ancestors.
In reality, most just mimic the external manifestations.
Like this kid now, being able to mimic some inner workings was simply blind luck.
But imitators are always just that, their power is a mere fraction of the original, and their potential capped, with their limit clear at a glance.
This child has taken the wrong path, and at present, he doesn’t pose a threat.
Old Ironstone relaxed, but he didn’t realize that, along with the white Bone Armor gradually covering Fang Yu’s body, the undeniable pressure was growing more and more evident.
What is going on?!
This pressure is abnormal!
It’s getting more and more wrong! Nine-tenths wrong!
As Fang Yu’s aura became stronger and more intense, Old Ironstone looked at Fang Yu with surprise.
No, this kid... this kid is deceiving!
In an instant, Old Ironstone mobilized all his strength, observing Fang Yu’s posture and the path of his energy, intending to take a defensive stance beforehand.
Quietly, several iron stones hidden under his clothes, clinging to his body, moved rapidly along his muscles to strategically important locations, preparing defense in advance.