A Martial Saint in Chaotic Times: Starting with Grinding Proficiency

Muddy Alley, the old Zhou family residence.

It was late at night, and the bright moonlight shone like mercury spilling onto the ground.

Following the instructions on the medicinal bath recipe, Zhou Yuan placed packets of herbs into the warm water in sequence.

"Splash!"

Then, with a splash, Zhou Yuan sank into the bathtub.

He has been in this world for quite some time, but he has only taken a bath a handful of times.

The medical skills in this world are ultimately backward. Before practicing martial arts, if an ordinary person catches a cold while taking a bath, they are likely to die.

Therefore, bathing was usually a luxury enjoyed only by the wealthy.

As soon as Zhou Yuan entered the bathtub, he felt a wave of comfort as the warm water soothed his skin and washed away the fatigue of the past few days.

But a moment later, a strong tingling sensation came from every inch of skin.

He could clearly feel streams of pure medicinal power surging into his body through his pores, nourishing the blood and qi of his limbs and bones.

Zhou Yuan dared not delay and immediately began practicing the Six Harmonies Stance Exercise according to the instructions on the medicinal bath prescription.

As the technique was activated, his blood and qi immediately surged along a specific path.

Unlike in the past, the speed of blood and qi circulation this time is several times faster than before, and the total amount of blood and qi is also increasing at a visible rate.

Approximately three hours had passed.

The steam in the bathtub had long since evaporated, and the precious medicinal herbs that had been added had all turned into withered dregs, their essence completely absorbed.

Zhou Yuan slowly opened his eyes, a glint of light flashing in them.

With a thought, a virtual panel unfolded before him.

[Exercise: Six Harmonies Stance Exercise (Mastered)]

[Progress: 104/1000]

In just three hours, the progress of the Six Harmonies Stance Exercise increased by four points!

Zhou Yuan was overjoyed.

Based on the previous cultivation speed, a day of arduous cultivation could at most increase the progress by five or six points.

Now, combined with this medicinal bath, his cultivation speed has increased by nearly three times.

The herbal bath recipe given by the owner was indeed extraordinary!

Moreover, this medicinal bath seems to be a perfect match for the Liuhe Zhuang Gong (Six Harmonies Stance Exercise), as if the two are a complete tradition.

Zhou Yuan suppressed the urge to take another medicinal bath.

The herbal bath recipe specifically reminds that there must be a seven-day interval between two herbal baths to allow the body time to fully absorb the medicinal effects.

If one is too eager for quick results, one will accumulate toxins in the body, damaging the foundation of cultivation, which is a losing proposition.

However, he did not feel any frustration.

This medicinal bath has greatly accelerated his cultivation progress.

With this in mind, Zhou Yuan didn't pause at all. He went straight to the courtyard and began practicing the movement technique "Treading Snow Without a Trace," which he couldn't use at the martial arts hall during the day.

And that vicious poisonous skill, "Bone-Melting Palm".

Thanks to the remaining medicinal power in his body, his cultivation speed was still far beyond what he used to be.

Five days passed in the blink of an eye.

These past few days, Zhou Yuan has been immersed in the pleasure of cultivation almost all the time, without ever stepping out of his house.

"Bang!"

In the Zhou family courtyard, Zhou Yuan let out a low shout.

He slapped the millstone-sized stone in the yard several times in succession. The sound of his palms touching the stone surface was not very loud.

After about ten breaths, the hard stone mill emitted a buzzing sound.

Then, under Zhou Yuan's calm gaze, it silently turned into a pile of fine powder.

The first level of the Bone-Melting Palm technique has been mastered.

Zhou Yuan's gaze sharpened slightly, and he understood.

The secret of the Bone-Melting Palm lies in the fact that its chilling palm power does not defeat the enemy in one strike, but rather accumulates quietly within the opponent's body.

It erupts suddenly when no one is prepared, and is extremely insidious.

"It seems that this skill can be surprisingly effective at crucial moments."

Zhou Yuan's expression shifted, and he opened the panel again.

[Realm: Body Tempering Stage Two - Bone Forging]

[Exercise: Six Harmonies Stance Exercise (Mastered)]

[Progress: 170/1000]

[Martial Arts Skill: Mountain-Shaking Fist (Third Level)]

[Progress: 180/1000]

[Martial Arts Skill: Treading Snow Without Leaving a Trace (Second Level)]

[Progress: 5/500]

[Martial Arts Skill: Bone-Melting Palm (Second Level)]

[Progress: 20/500]

In just five days, his skills and martial arts techniques have made great progress.

In particular, "Treading Snow Without a Trace" and "Bone-Melting Palm" both broke through to the second level in such a short period of time.

Is it because the medicinal bath is too potent, or are these two martial arts simply simple and easy to learn?

Zhou Yuan didn't think about it any further; as long as his strength could improve, that was a good thing.

The next moment, his thoughts instantly shifted to another person.

"Zhao Dacheng, today is your death day."

Zhou Yuan's eyes surged with murderous intent, which he no longer concealed.

This man first colluded with Goldman Sachs to lure him out of Luochuan City, and then he even conspired with mountain bandits to take his life.

This person is truly hateful!

Thinking of this, Zhou Yuan walked to the corner of the courtyard, picked up the woodcutter's knife that had accompanied him in killing many enemies, and carefully put it into his pocket.

Today, this blade will drink blood once more.

He briefly greeted his sister Zhou Ting, grabbed two still-warm meat buns from the kitchen, and then pushed open the door, heading straight for the abandoned temple outside the city where they had agreed to meet.

……

Meanwhile, at Black Wind Mountain, in Green Dragon Village.

Inside a dimly lit stone chamber, a burly man with a bronze mask on his face and bulging muscles was sitting cross-legged in meditation.

He exuded a terrifying aura of cultivation, and the air around him was slightly distorted as he exhaled and exhaled.

He was clearly a top expert at the Marrow Cleansing Realm.

Before long, a scholar with light steps and an effeminate face stepped into the stone chamber.

Upon seeing the masked, burly man, he immediately stiffened, bowed, clasped his hands, and respectfully greeted him.

The masked man suddenly opened his eyes and made a deep, muffled sound through the mask.

"Liu Zhi has been in Luochuan County for some time and hasn't returned yet. Just in case, go and meet him."

Upon hearing this, the effeminate scholar dared not be negligent in the slightest, clasped his hands in agreement, and then bowed and withdrew.

A moment later, the effeminate scholar left the stone chamber completely.

However, not long after he left, a figure appeared in the room without warning, like a ghost.

She was a woman in a purple dress, with a graceful figure and stunning beauty.

She looked to be around thirty years old, and every move she made exuded a mature and charming allure.

However, the cultivation fluctuations emanating from her body were far more terrifying than those of the masked man; the invisible pressure had already surpassed the realm of Body Tempering.

Upon seeing the woman in the purple dress arrive, the masked man, who had previously been incredibly domineering, dared not be arrogant in the slightest. He immediately stood up and respectfully clasped his hands in greeting.

"Greetings, Your Excellency."

The woman in the purple dress didn't look at him, but spoke calmly.

"Have you prepared all the herbs and medicinal ingredients I asked you to collect?"

"Reporting to Your Excellency, all preparations are complete," the masked man replied hastily.

The woman in the purple dress nodded, a meaningful smile playing on her lips.

"Then let's send it to the Wang family through the same channels as before."

"According to the plan, the Blood Spirit Pill should be refined by now."

......