A Martial Saint in Chaotic Times: Starting with Grinding Proficiency

The next morning.

After his medicinal bath last night, Zhou Yuan stood in the courtyard, his back bent and body hunched, like a fully drawn bow, intently practicing martial arts.

To speed things up, in addition to the medicinal bath, Zhou Yuan unhesitatingly ate the Spirit Rhinoceros Fruit he had previously obtained from Liu Zhi.

The Spirit Rhinoceros Fruit is also a precious medicine and a specialty of Black Wind Mountain. It can greatly enhance a martial artist's blood and qi and increase their cultivation speed.

However, this substance was not refined by an alchemist, nor was it neutralized with other medicinal materials, making its effects several times more potent than those of the Body Tempering Pill.

If ordinary martial artists were to consume large amounts of this product over a long period, it would inevitably cause irreversible damage to their meridians.

As soon as the Spirit Rhinoceros Fruit entered his stomach, Zhou Yuan felt a cool sensation run down his throat, instantly spreading throughout his body, leaving him feeling incredibly refreshed.

But this refreshing feeling only lasted for a moment.

The next instant, Zhou Yuan felt as if his blood and qi had been thrown into boiling water with scalding oil, and suddenly began to stir.

A surge of violent medicinal power surged through his body, causing a tearing, throbbing pain in his meridians.

Without the slightest hesitation, Zhou Yuan immediately followed the training method of the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill, guiding this violent energy to wash over his muscles and bones again and again.

This is the time when the medicinal effects of the Rhinoceros Fruit are most potent and abundant, and it must not be wasted.

Time slips away, bit by bit.

Two full hours passed before Zhou Yuan slowly opened his eyes and exhaled a long breath.

On a whim, he opened the panel.

Martial Arts Skill: Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill (Beginner: 280/300)

I only need 20 more points of proficiency to break through.

Zhou Yuan's heart stirred slightly, and he decided to stay home for the next few days and break through the Dragon Elephant Prajna Technique in one go.

At that time, he will possess the strength of three thousand jin, and his true combat power will undergo a tremendous change.

Just as Zhou Yuan was pondering to himself, Zhou Ting's voice came from inside the house.

"Ah Yuan, dinner's ready."

"They're here."

Zhou Yuan responded, quickly washed up, and then came to the dining table.

Perhaps it was the return to the boudoir that gave her hope, for Zhou Ting's face was always beaming with a smile she had never seen before.

Now she receives a substantial monthly salary, and the Zhou family's situation has completely improved. There's even a plate of fragrant venison on the table.

"I heard from Chen Juan that meat is the most nourishing food for you martial artists, especially this kind of venison, which can greatly improve your cultivation speed." Zhou Ting picked up a large piece of venison and put it into Zhou Yuan's bowl.

Looking at the glistening venison in front of him, Zhou Yuan's appetite was whetted, and he picked up his chopsticks and began to eat heartily.

Halfway through the meal, Zhou Ting seemed to remember something and said, "Yuanzi, the embroidery shop has been doing well lately. We've received several large orders from the prefecture city. To meet the deadlines, I'll be staying at the embroidery shop for the next few days and will be back in a few days."

Orders from the state capital?

Zhou Yuan nodded, somewhat surprised.

The connections of Liu Rong, the daughter of the county magistrate, are indeed extraordinary. With her in charge, Feiyun Embroidery Pavilion might truly flourish and become a major force.

"By the way, sis."

The next moment, Zhou Yuan seemed to remember something, put down the deer leg in his hand, and said in a deep voice,

"If you encounter a gossipy or disobedient person in the boudoir, just let her be for now and ignore her. Just write down her name and tell me, and I will take care of it for you."

"Don't worry, the sisters in the boudoir get along very well, and Miss Rong takes good care of me. No one will deliberately make things difficult for me," Zhou Ting said with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yuan remained noncommittal.

Having lived two lives, how could he not know that wherever there are people, there will never be true harmony?

It's just that my older sister is too kind-hearted.

Another fifteen minutes passed, and the siblings finished their breakfast.

Zhou Yuan helped his sister into the carriage that was already waiting outside the door, and watched as several members of the Black Tiger Gang escorted the carriage away slowly.

He was preparing to return to the courtyard to continue practicing the Dragon Elephant Prajna Kung Fu when two figures suddenly appeared at the street corner.

Zhou Yuan turned around and saw that it was two garrison soldiers from the patrol office who had come.

"What business do you two have?" Zhou Yuan frowned almost imperceptibly when he saw the soldiers arrive.

"Reporting to Chief Zhou." The leading garrison soldier quickly bowed and saluted. "Chief Li said that the patrol battalion has something urgent to discuss with him and would like to switch shifts with you in advance. Please go to the patrol office now."

Patrol Battalion?

Zhou Yuan felt a slight stirring in his heart; it really wasn't his turn to be on duty today.

What urgent matter could the patrol battalion have to discuss with Li Tong?

Although he was curious, he locked the courtyard gate and followed the two soldiers to the North City Patrol Office.

Upon arriving at the patrol station, Li Tong had been waiting for a long time. Seeing Zhou Yuan arrive, he immediately came forward to greet him.

"Brother Zhou Yuan, I'm so sorry to have called you here so early."

"Brother Li, you're too kind. What's the urgent matter?" Zhou Yuan waved his hand.

"Hey, it's the patrol battalion again." Li Tong lowered his voice. "They're going to publicly execute a group of important prisoners tomorrow, and they're short-handed, so they transferred me over to help with the escort."

"What kind of criminal?" Zhou Yuan asked casually.

"Who else could it be but Zhao Shanshui, the young master of Qinglong Village in Black Wind Mountain, whom we captured a few days ago."

Zhao Shanshui!

Zhou Yuan felt a chill run down his spine, instantly recalling the sinister young man who had conspired with Wei Rong and Gao Sheng at Wangjiang Tower.

Judging from his actions that day, he was quite cautious.

He was also quite puzzled by how easily he was captured by the patrol battalion.

Zhou Yuan's mind raced, but he remained outwardly calm.

Li Tong chatted with Zhou Yuan for a few more minutes before hurrying off to the patrol camp.

Zhou Yuan watched Li Tong leave without giving it any further thought, and found a quiet corner of the training ground to continue his cultivation.

The breakthrough in the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill will happen in the next two days.

……

The next day, as dawn broke.

Northwest corner of the outer city of Luochuan.

This place is the highest point in Luochuan City, and the patrol battalion is stationed here.

The massive camp was built against the mountain, stretching for miles, with banners fluttering in the wind, making it quite a magnificent sight.

At this moment, a group of people were escorting several prison carts, slowly exiting from the camp gate.

Inside the lead prison cart was none other than Zhao Shanshui, the young master of Black Wind Mountain.

Zhao Shanshui, dressed in prison clothes and with heavy shackles on his hands and feet, looked gloomy. He couldn't understand how his first time down the mountain had ended up like this.

He believed that his actions that night were flawless, so how did the patrol battalion know his whereabouts?

Dozens of guards from the patrol battalion stood solemnly around the prison cart, holding long spears and protecting it in the center.

Leading the procession was a middle-aged general clad in heavy armor, exuding a composed aura; he was none other than Xue Renjie, a centurion of the patrol battalion.

Beside him were two squad leaders at the Bone Forging Realm.

Li Tong, on the other hand, followed at the very back of the group, along with several colleagues at the Skin Refining Realm, responsible for covering the rear.

Xue Renjie glanced back at Zhao Shanshui in the prison cart, a thought stirring in his heart.

The higher-ups attached great importance to this matter and specifically instructed that it be strictly guarded, so even he, a centurion at the Yi Jin realm, had no choice but to personally escort it.

However, with him personally overseeing the operation, there shouldn't be any unexpected problems on this mission.

The convoy drove slowly along the long street in the early morning. The surroundings were deserted, with only a few early risers and vendors.

A large red lantern hung at a wonton stall on the street, swaying slightly in the morning breeze and emitting a faint light.

Suddenly, a strong wind arose.

A sudden gust of wind swept up from the ground, blowing up fallen leaves and dust that stung people's eyes.

Even the big red lantern was swept away by the strong wind and blown to who knows where.

Xue Renjie frowned and raised his hand to shield himself from the sandstorm.

As the wind subsided, he lowered his arm, only to suddenly notice that a person had appeared beside the wonton stall not far ahead.

It was a scholar dressed in blue robes, sitting at the table, leisurely observing the patrol team with great interest.

What's most striking are his long, slender hands.

At that moment, several thin, cicada-wing-like throwing knives were deftly flying between his fingers.

......