Ten Years of Slander Went Unquestioned; Turns Out Everyone Under Heaven Was Mediocre—Lion Leopard Falcon Gate, Your Bone Tempering Is No Match for Me!

"Lion Leopard Falcon Gate, Bone Tempering 'experts.'"

Watching Zhang Shi Yao press through the invitation, all polite and deferential, looking every bit like a servant from his own Firewood Market, Xu Heng's forehead veins bulged, and he nearly crushed his back teeth.

Your invitation—

I wouldn't dare accept it!

"Gentlemen, there's no need to attend the feast."

"The Mountain Delicacies Feast our three families have laid out today is right before you. The spread is the finest. If you're willing, we can add three more seats and make some friends. How about it?"

Xu Heng stood by the entrance to the curtained room.

He had just extended an arm, making as if to invite them in.

But Zhang Shi Yao of Tiger Leopard Hall approached with an earnest gaze:

"As expected of the young master of Firewood Market, who handles black-market medicinal herbs, mountain delicacies, and mountain-road trade. You have money and capability!"

"This table of dishes must have cost quite a bit. I can see you spared no expense."

"But we've trained hard in martial arts and grown used to being poor. Eating with brothers and friends feels more natural."

He grabbed Xu Heng's arm, his sleeve shaking. From this close, Xu Heng's ears buzzed; he could seemingly even hear the marrow in his bones trembling.

His breathing immediately grew ragged, every hair standing on end. Beneath his brocade sleeve, the thick tendons on his sturdy arm tightened one by one with crackling pops, as he prepared to forcefully shake free with his strength!

Yet under the pressure of Zhang Shi Yao's huge hand from Tiger Leopard Hall—

no matter how red Xu Heng's face became, he could not budge in the slightest!

"Now that I've met you all, I happen to have many brothers who wish to witness the young master's and the Wind and Cloud Association's deputy hall master's elegance."

"Why not honor us with your presence and come with me?"

He flashed a set of gleaming white teeth and was about to say more.

"Let go!"

A thunderous shout rang out. Lu Yu straightened his back like an arrow drawn against a bowstring, stomping forward to tear Zhang Shi Yao's grip from Xu Heng's arm. Zhang Shi Yao's eyes narrowed.

"Oh?"

"This one—"

"is one of our kind!"

"Young Master Lu from the Fire Kiln?"

"At such a young age, you've broken through the sinews and tempered your bones. What talent!"

"Come, come, come. Follow me. The leaders of our three factions would be delighted to meet a young prodigy like you!"

He laughed heartily, but did not yield even half a step. Instead, his grip tightened!

Xu Heng's eyes bulged on the spot, his teeth clenched tight, sweat pouring like rain as his arm trembled like a sieve!

Bang!

Behind him—

Chen Zhao of Lion Hall threw a shattering punch, blocking Lu Yu outright. Crisp crashes of shattered plates and bowls rang out in succession!

A shard from a broken bowl shot out with a whoosh, flashing like lightning as it nearly sliced Wei Zhi's cheek.

But Ji Xiu happened to reach out and catch it between his fingers.

Wei Zhi narrowed her eyes, a trace of ferocity rising between her delicate brows.

She gave Ji Xiu a light nod. Then loose strands of hair fell by her temples, and the short Embroidered Blade at her waist unconsciously began—

inch by inch—to leave its sheath.

However—

"Miss, once your blade leaves its sheath, the nature of certain matters will change."

Qiu Zhen of the Falcon Gang, slender and silent until now, had somehow appeared in front of Wei Zhi.

As her brows knitted tightly—

he placed two fingers on her scabbard. With a single press, the hilt could not move an inch!

Qiu Zhen smiled faintly, appearing calm and unruffled.

Yet the ten toes of both feet gripped the ground tightly, like an ancient pine standing firm against the storm. An inexhaustible strength rose from his lower stance.

In their hidden contest of strength, he suppressed Wei Zhi, who had only undergone Sinew Tempering, so thoroughly that she remained motionless in her chair.

At last, a fine sheen of sweat emerged along the woman's neck. Unable to break free, a helpless look crossed her face, and she could only curl her lovely lips into a mocking smile.

"Fine skill."

Qiu Zhen chuckled and said, "You flatter me." Seeing the sweat on her neck, he started to pull up his sleeve as if to wipe it away.

"Miss, don't tire yourself. Let me help you."

Before he could finish, an icy chill suddenly ran down his spine, cold enough to pierce bone.

He whirled around.

Facing him was the black-clad youth, whose gaze seemed almost tangible as it fixed on his chest and throat. Qiu Zhen could not help laughing.

"You—"

Bang!

But before he could say another word—

Ji Xiu had already shot forward like a cannonball fired from its barrel, the sinews in his long legs taut as bowstrings as he launched himself!

Seeing a massive black shadow rushing toward him, Qiu Zhen froze.

"These three young masters and miss are, at the very least, at the peak of Sinew Tempering and on the threshold of Bone Tempering. You, a little brat who can't even temper his sinews properly and only climbed up through flattery—"

As he spoke, one hand still pressed Wei Zhi's scabbard while the other clenched into a fist. He was about to use the fierce force of sinews and bones resounding together to teach this brat a lesson.

In an instant, their fists collided!

I only entered the Tempering Bones Realm not long ago. I've merely tempered the Spinal Column Great Dragon, and it has not yet spread through my limbs to forge Steel Tendons Iron Bone. Nor has my force entered the marrow. But this brat—

He's only at Sinew Tempering. What gives him the right to trade punches with me?

Yet!

In the instant their forces collided—

vigorous as dragons and tigers, an endless torrent of dense blood and vitality seemed to form a Wild Flood Dragon, crashing toward him inch by inch!

Qiu Zhen's bones creaked, and his expression changed drastically!

He no longer suppressed Wei Zhi. His other hand smashed through the air as well!

Bang bang bang bang bang!

A string of explosive blasts erupted as flesh and sinew collided.

The two figures exchanged fists and palms for only a few breaths!

Yet Qiu Zhen, the Falcon Gang's Bone Tempering expert, had already been beaten until his face flushed red, staggering back again and again!

One step, two steps, three steps!

Drip. Drip.

He stared at his pair of tempered iron fists. Blood was now streaming from them, and his eyeballs had begun twitching.

Hadn't the Wind and Cloud Association's Medicine Hall Master said this man had not even completed Sinew Tempering?

How could his polished flesh and great tendons be like those of a ferocious tiger, leopard, or flood dragon, so vastly superior to his own!

Even after Bone Tempering, when his entire body had transformed and his strength and blood-force had doubled, he—

His expression stiffened. His thoughts flashed like sparks off flint, and he had barely begun to think further when—

a twisting pain exploded in his abdomen. Looking down, he saw—

that while he had been distracted, the youth had already driven a fist into his chest!

The blow split open the flesh of his chest, blood gushing forth.

Even several of his newly tempered bones had shattered!

Clutching his chest, he collapsed limply despite his Steel Tendons Iron Bone.

Watching this scene—

Wei Zhi covered her small mouth, her beautiful eyes wide with shock. The jade bracelet on her wrist jingled. She had unconsciously drawn her Embroidered Blade—

yet before she could even swing it, it was already over.

"Ji Xiu, you...?"

Her startled face had only just appeared when—

Ji Xiu strode forward.

Just as Zhang Shi Yao released Xu Heng, whose arm had been squeezed half-numb, and pressed down on Lu Yu together with Chen Zhao of Lion Hall, smashing a fist into Lu Yu's shoulder blade and turning his face pale—

Ji Xiu flung back his wide sleeve.

The flesh and sinews beneath had transformed, seeming to gleam with gold and jade!

At that glimpse, Wei Zhi's beautiful eyes contracted sharply in utter shock.

"This is...!"

Smack!

The next moment—

Ji Xiu's palm had firmly landed on Zhang Shi Yao's shoulder.

"We're not attending this feast today. I said so."

"I'm taking them with me. You—"

"want to stop me?"

A sudden chill came over him as a hand pressed down on his right shoulder. Zhang Shi Yao of Tiger Leopard Hall frowned.

Why was this technique exactly like the one he had used on the young master of Firewood Market?

He glanced sideways and saw Qiu Zhen's condition, causing his heart to tighten.

Then, without betraying any emotion, he raised his other hand slightly toward his right shoulder.

"You have fine methods, sir, but—"

His entire arm suddenly rippled. Thick tendons twisted like braided rope, while the bones hidden within were hard as iron and stone. He prepared to force Ji Xiu's palm away with brute strength and remain immovable as a mountain!

His other hand meanwhile quietly reached out, intending to seize Ji Xiu's wrist.

However—

when a faint golden radiance emerged over Ji Xiu's palm, and with the slightest exertion, translucent jade-colored meridians began faintly showing through—

Zhang Shi Yao's other hand stopped in midair when it was only four or five inches from his neck.

At that moment—

he felt the palm on half his shoulder suddenly grow heavier. He nearly had the illusion that—

if this man still had more strength left in those flesh and sinews,

then with a moment's carelessness, the sinews and bones on this side of his body would be crippled.

At this thought, sweat trickled down Zhang Shi Yao's forehead.

"I won't stop you."

"It was merely an invitation. If the guests won't go, then they won't go."

Ji Xiu smiled. All the strength in his five fingers poured down, seeming capable of piercing tendons and breaking bones. With just a little more force—

"Remember to pay for the damages."

"They're only trying to make a living running a business. It isn't easy for them either."

"You!"

Chen Zhao of Lion Hall exploded with rage at the sight.

The pale-faced Lu Yu made as if to stop him.

"Stop!"

Zhang Shi Yao craned his neck and suddenly raised his other hand, forcefully waving it to block his fellow practitioner.

At the same time, his legs bent as he endured the pain, lips pressed tight, sweat pouring like rain.

"Fine!"

Only when his vision dimmed and he nearly blacked out did he suddenly feel the pressure on his right shoulder loosen, restoring his freedom. He immediately began gasping for air.

After recovering for quite some time—

Zhang Shi Yao of Tiger Leopard Hall came back to his senses and discovered that, aside from the wreckage everywhere—

the young masters and miss from the Wind and Cloud Association, along with that "Medicine Hall Master," had already left.

"Brother Yao, that man...?"

Chen Zhao of Lion Hall looked horrified, as if he had witnessed something impossible.

Nearby, the trembling Qiu Zhen leaned against the wall, blood still pouring from his fists and chest.

Zhang Shi Yao looked at the clear palm print on his right shoulder. Even his sinews and bones had been squeezed purple and deformed.

After remaining silent for a long while, he said:

"Fortunately, we should be glad this is Anning County, under everyone's watchful eyes, rather than out on the Five Hundred Li Mountain Road."

Chen Zhao shuddered.

"Otherwise—"

"we'd already be buried by now."

"Gold Muscle Jade Tendons, Gold Muscle Jade Tendons..."

Zhang Shi Yao muttered for a while, then suddenly shook his head and laughed bitterly.

"The Medicine Hall Master? That stablehand brat from the Wind and Cloud Association who rose through flattery and fawning?"

"Pah!"

"One who fails to recognize a hero's true face is no wonder to be blindly arrogant, dreaming of taking the Three Seats of 'Anning's foremost power'!"

"As if they deserve it!?"

"Don't worry."

"Report this man's circumstances to our three leaders. Once the Three Seats of the Wind and Cloud Association come to demand an explanation for this stifled grievance, we can still make them understand."

"Whose fist was truly the bigger one!"

"Overall, the objective had been achieved."

Zhang Shi Yao suddenly hardened his stance.

But after looking at his own shoulder, then at Qiu Zhen's condition, he hissed:

"Still, I really had to swallow this loss."

"If the three leaders took a liking to that kid, then even if Anning's Wind and Cloud Branch fell, he still wouldn't."

"Alas."

A bitter smile inevitably surfaced on his face.

Let me recommend a book by a good buddy. Although his results are so-so, I still hope he can make one final leap!