“Billy, be careful. This old man is not simple; he should be a genuine Perceiving Dao Realm expert!” Purple Spirit continued.
“That strong?” Billy focused his consciousness inward.
“Yes!” Purple Spirit responded. “But don’t worry too much. If it comes to a fight, he might not be my match!”
“Can he detect your presence?” Billy asked.
“He’s too weak to detect me!” Purple Spirit replied.
Billy felt that Purple Spirit was becoming increasingly arrogant.
“Why do you insist on taking my brother as your disciple?” Billy asked the old man, John Doe.
He could tell that the old man had no ill intentions towards them, so his tone wasn’t too harsh.
“His body is special; he’s a good material for martial arts. Accepting me as his master will benefit him,” John Doe replied.
“You old codger, this is coercion!” Stout shouted. “I warn you, if you don’t let me go, you’ll regret it!”
“Shut up!” The woman in yellow scolded. “Don’t be ungrateful. Do you know how many people in Akabuchi City want to be Master John Doe’s disciple?”
“I mean no harm to him. You can go back now. Let him come find you in two or three months,” John Doe ignored Stout and continued to address Billy.
“We don’t know each other. It’s hard for me to leave my brother here alone,” Billy said calmly.
“You have no choice, do you?” John Doe responded in the same calm tone.
“Not necessarily,” Billy shrugged.
“Arrogant!” The woman in yellow sneered. “Do you know what level Master John Doe is?”
“If I’m not mistaken, the senior should be a Perceiving Dao Realm expert?” Billy looked at John Doe.
“Do you think you and your people can fight me?” John Doe smiled faintly at Billy. “Or do you have some other trump card?”
“We can try,” Billy smiled back.
“Interesting,” John Doe chuckled. “How about this? If you can take one of my strikes, I’ll let you take your brother away. How about that?”
“Agreed,” Billy nodded.
“Follow me,” John Doe said as he rose into the air.
Billy didn’t hesitate and followed closely behind.
“Young man, be careful!” John Doe said to Billy as they reached mid-air.
“Alright!” Billy replied.
As soon as they finished speaking, Billy felt the surrounding space twist, giving him a suffocating feeling. At the same time, several violent forces pressed against him from all directions, as if trying to crush him into a pulp. However, with Purple Spirit’s presence, Billy quickly adapted.
Next, a sword of spiritual power tore through the void and shot towards Billy with unstoppable force. Billy sensed that the opponent hadn’t used full strength, only about eighty to ninety percent, roughly comparable to a half-step Perceiving Dao Realm’s power. So he didn’t let Purple Spirit intervene. He gripped his fierce blade and met the attack with his ‘Cracked Sky’ technique.
A thunderous explosion shook the void, and a mushroom cloud of energy surged into the sky. The center of the energy wave showed cracks in the void, but they quickly healed.
After the explosion, Billy spat out a mouthful of blood and was thrown a thousand meters away. Although ‘Cracked Sky’ was powerful, with his current cultivation level, he could only contend with late-stage Entering Dao Realm opponents, still a bit short of half-step Perceiving Dao Realm. However, despite the severe injury, it was not a big deal for him; his bloodline power would heal him quickly.
“Hmm?” Seeing Billy still standing in mid-air, John Doe’s pupils contracted in shock. A seventh-rank Otherworldly Realm young man could withstand eighty to ninety percent of his power? Unbelievable!
After a brief pause, seemingly recalling something, John Doe’s pupils contracted again as he turned to Billy. “The technique you used just now was ‘Cracked Sky’ from Canyon View Institute?”
“Senior has sharp eyes!” Billy was slightly surprised that John Doe recognized ‘Cracked Sky’ at a glance.
“Are you from Canyon View Institute?” John Doe continued to ask.
“Only half,” Billy smiled.
“What do you mean?” John Doe was puzzled.
“I haven’t formally joined Canyon View Institute, but I learned this technique there,” Billy explained.
“Do you know Xavier Bailey?” John Doe asked again.
“Elder Xavier took me to learn this technique at Sword Hill,” Billy nodded.
“I see,” John Doe understood. “If Xavier Bailey allowed an outsider to learn this technique, it means your character is commendable.”
“You’re too kind, senior,” Billy smiled.
Soon, they both landed back on the ground.
“Boss, are you alright?” Casey and others approached.
“I’m fine,” Billy waved his hand.
“Alright, I admit defeat. Take your people and leave,” John Doe said to Billy.
“Now you see? I told you he’s no match for my Boss!” Stout smirked. “My Boss went easy on you because of your age; otherwise…”
“Stout, bow to your master!” Billy interrupted Stout before he could finish.
“Cough… Boss, I don’t want to take this old guy as my master!” Stout protested.
“Master John Doe is doing this for your own good!” Billy replied. “We’ll likely stay in Akabuchi City for a while; you can come find us anytime.”
Although he didn’t know who John Doe really was, he could tell that the old man had no ill intentions towards Stout. This was a great opportunity for Stout!
“I don’t want to…” Stout shook his head vigorously.
“Feeling itchy?” Billy said sternly.
Stout pouted.
“Stout, Boss is doing this for your own good. Others would kill for such an opportunity!” Casey added.
“But I really don’t want to…” Stout insisted.
“If you don’t agree, I’ll arrange for someone to send you back to Secret Essences Sect right away. Don’t follow us anymore,” Billy glared at him.
“No way!” Stout shouted. “I’ll agree!”
Azure Dragon and others almost laughed out loud at his expression.
“Old man, I’m telling you now: I’ll stay here for three months at most. After that, we go our separate ways,” Stout turned to John Doe.
“You fat fool! No one is forcing you to stay; we don’t need you!” The woman in yellow gritted her teeth in anger at Stout’s annoying expression. “Get off the mountain right now; we don’t want you!”
“Boss, did you hear that? It’s not that I don’t want to stay; they don’t want me!” Stout said and started to leave.
“Casey, send Stout back to Secret Essences Sect,” Billy ordered.
“Master, please accept my bow!” Hearing Billy’s words, Stout immediately bowed to John Doe.
Casey and others choked on their laughter.