Chapter 603 - 287: Strength and Weakness

Eight thousand blood strength, a full eight thousand blood strength!

Sss—

If it wasn’t for the current situation forbidding it, Fang Yu just wanted to take a sharp intake of cold air.

He had been mingling in Tianyuan Town for so long, and he had only ever seen one ’person’ with blood strength at this level.

That was the Lin Family Patriarch! Lin Yiqiu!

But that man was already dead, and at the time, Lin Yiqiu was merely one layer of... one with over eight thousand blood strength. As for his true power, just how deep it went, Fang Yu couldn’t fathom.

And now, the elder before him, the Yangshen Hall Master, was the second human Fang Yu had come across with eight thousand blood strength.

A true high-level combatant among human forces!

If it wasn’t for the status and position of the other as the Yangshen Hall Master, with that level of blood strength, Fang Yu would probably have mistaken him for a demon if he had met him on the road.

But the thought that even Li Shiquan and Li Shidao, senior members of the Li Family, had their blood replaced by demons.

The Lin Family must be an even greater disaster area.

As for how much of the Yangshen Hall Master was real or fake, Fang Yu somehow couldn’t fully grasp.

But on second thought, his own weakness was in the hands of the high echelons of the Foolish Underworld, so how could the other party possibly be a demon in disguise.

If that were the case, he would have been exposed long ago and wouldn’t have had the chance to get to this point.

Of course, if the other party is into playing some kind of double-agent entertainment, then Fang Yu would just have to admit his defeat. With his intelligence, he fears he would be played to death by the other party.

So it’s better to keep it simple, everything is simple. Eight thousand blood strength is just that, and should indeed be a genuine high-ranking human.

With this thought, Fang Yu imitated Zhuo Xueer’s manner and respectfully saluted.

"Greetings, Lord Hall Master!"

"No need to be overly courteous."

Wu Lvzhu, smiling amiably, stroked his long white beard, continually scrutinizing Fang Yu.

"Not bad, not bad at all. Your qi is enduring, your foundation solid. At first glance, one can tell you’ve worked your way up step-by-step, earnestly."

Ah?

Uh...

This is somewhat embarrassing.

But you, old man, are correct. My Diao Deyi’s martial arts are indeed achieved step by step, all through my own effort, genuinely grassroots!

However... Why would this old man not talk business first but compliment my martial arts instead? What’s the meaning of this?

Fang Yu was internally puzzled, but humbly said out loud,

"All thanks to the resources provided by the Foolish Underworld and the cultivation by the seniors of the Yangshen Hall, if it weren’t for such a comfortable environment, a person born in poverty like me wouldn’t have had the chance to get to this point."

This was somewhat heartfelt from Fang Yu.

The Foolish Underworld’s path of promotion is really a very populist route for the general populace, one with a future in sight.

It just requires something to rely on in the early stages, a way to mix into the Foolish Underworld, and then start a series of promotions.

Ordinary members, ten households, a hundred households, a thousand households, Five Halls membership, reserve deputy captain, deputy captain, captain, and even hall master.

This clear path of promotion, as long as you have enough merit and achieve good results, allows you to move up. It’s just that it becomes more difficult to climb higher later on; it’s simply a one-slot-per-turnip deal.

But it doesn’t matter what background you’re from.

Even a commoner, as long as they have the strength and the merits, will get a chance to advance, which is very hard to come by elsewhere.

The lower limit is high, and so is the upper limit. Compared to the bizarre and twisted cultivation techniques and rules of the Five Great Families, or the slightly inferior, money-consuming path of the Three major martial arts schools, the Foolish Underworld is already the best route for civilians to climb upwards.

Fang Yu felt lucky to have entered the Foolish Underworld from the start. Otherwise, he would have had to struggle in other forces—take the Black Tiger Gang, for example, having made a name for himself after such a long time, only to end up as a dog for the Li Family.

If even your own boss is somebody else’s dog, mixing in such a small force, what kind of future could there be.

"Very good, very good. Never forgetting why you started, humble and diligent."

In the mouth of this Yangshen Hall Master, Fang Yu was almost praised to the skies.

Zhuo Xueer was a bit stunned.

Could the Lord Hall Master really bestow such abundant favor on Diao Deyi?

She knew her father died gloriously in battle for the Yangshen Hall, yet the care she received as the next generation was quite mediocre.

Zhuo Xueer felt it was strange and sensed all the more that Fang Yu’s identity and background were unfathomable.

"Zhuo Xueer, you may step back for now. I need to have a private chat with Diao Deyi. Also, today’s meeting with Diao Deyi must not be mentioned to others."

"Yes!"

She understood the former but was a bit puzzled by the latter.

Nevertheless, she obeyed the order and stepped back.

But with one last glance at Diao Deyi, she only saw bewilderment in his eyes, as if he had no clue about the current situation.

Combined with Uncle Dong’s suspension, Zhuo Xueer harbored a guess in her heart and dared not contemplate further.

Zhuo Xueer stepped back, leaving only Fang Yu and Wu Lvzhu in the pavilion.

"No need to be formal, feel free to sit."

Although Wu Lvzhu was the Yangshen Hall Master, he felt approachable and didn’t impose any distance.

It seemed like Dong Xingzhou had more presence than this Hall Master.

Could it be that the higher the position, the less pretentious they are?

While musing, Fang Yu sat down.

He had some doubts in his mind: what could the exalted Yangshen Hall Master possibly want with him?

But as soon as he sat down, the other party, Wu Lvzhu, made a shocking statement.

"What is your status with the demons now? Have you reached the rank of ’Demon Foot’?"

Swoosh—

Fang Yu’s pupils contracted sharply, shocked internally, yet outwardly, he remained expressionless, as steady as Mount Tai.

That’s what being undercover has trained him for!

What a topic, truly explosive.

True to the reputation of the Yangshen Hall Master.

Fang Yu looked up blankly.