A Martial Saint in Chaotic Times: Starting with Grinding Proficiency

In the courtyard of Qingyang Martial Arts School, Zhou Yuan stood still, ready to begin his day's training.

His gaze swept across the room and he saw that Li Dazhuang had already assumed the stance for the Six Harmonies Stance in the corner, but he was different from usual today.

In the past, Li Dazhuang would sweat profusely while practicing Zhan Zhuang (standing meditation), but he exuded a simple and stubborn spirit.

Today, his tall figure stood there, exuding an indescribable heaviness, making the surrounding air feel somewhat oppressive.

Zhou Yuan didn't ask any more questions. He walked to the other side and slowly lowered his waist to stand up.

A sensation of tingling, numbness, and swelling washed over him, and he calmed himself, clearing his mind of all distractions.

After an unknown amount of time, Zhou Yuan finished his practice, stood up, and walked over to Li Dazhuang, who had also finished his standing meditation and was wiping sweat with a cloth.

"Senior Brother Li."

"Junior Brother Zhou," Li Dazhuang responded, forcing a somewhat forced smile.

"Does Senior Brother seem to have something on his mind?"

Li Dazhuang paused, looked around, and seeing that the other disciples were still far away, lowered his voice.

"The martial arts school has a rule that new disciples must master the Six Harmonies Stance Technique to the entry level within three months, which means entering the Skin Refining Realm. Otherwise... they will be expelled from the martial arts school."

His words carried a hint of bitterness.

"I've been at the martial arts gym for two months now."

two months.

Zhou Yuan felt a chill run down his spine.

He had witnessed Li Dazhuang's diligence firsthand.

He always arrives earliest and leaves latest, never slacking off in his standing meditation and boxing practice.

Even so, two months have passed and he still hasn't mastered the basics.

"Junior Brother Zhou, I'm gradually understanding some things." Li Dazhuang patted Zhou Yuan on the shoulder and sighed.

"In this world, hard work alone is not enough."

After saying that, he took the cloth and walked away silently, his back view desolate.

It's not something that can be accomplished just by working hard...

Zhou Yuan stood there, pondering those words.

This may be true for others, but for him, hard work is the foundation of everything.

With a thought, the illusory panel unfolded before his eyes.

[Exercise: Six Harmonies Stance Exercise (Beginner Level)]

[Progress: 80/300]

Martial Arts Skill: Mountain-Shaking Fist (First Level) (Not Yet Mastered)

[Progress: 85/300]

Clear figures are his greatest source of confidence.

He recalled the description of stance training again.

The Six Harmonies Stance Exercise draws inspiration from the four directions of heaven and earth. Through specific postures and breathing, it guides the flow of qi and blood to the skin.

Through repeated cycles of "destruction and regeneration," the membrane becomes incredibly tough.

When the Qi and blood are refined to their peak, and the practice is performed, the skin will develop a bronze luster, which signifies the completion of skin refining.

At that time, ordinary sticks and clubs will be hard to hurt you, and swords and knives will be hard to cut through you.

Thinking of this, Zhou Yuan felt a surge of warmth in his chest.

In such a chaotic world, only such tangible power could allow him and his sister to truly establish themselves.

Time passed slowly.

Although Zhou Yuan's progress in martial arts was slow, every bit of improvement was clearly visible.

[Exercise: Six Harmonies Stance Exercise (Beginner Level)]

[Progress: 82/300]

Martial Arts Skill: Mountain-Shaking Fist (First Level) (Not Yet Mastered)

[Progress: 87/300]

You reap what you sow.

As long as he works hard enough, success will come naturally in the future. This feeling gave him immense peace of mind.

As dusk fell, the martial arts school disciples gradually dispersed.

Zhou Yuan had finished packing and was about to go home when a slight commotion suddenly came from the entrance of the martial arts school.

A simply decorated yet exquisitely crafted carriage stopped in front of the gate. The curtain was lifted, and a woman dressed in white gracefully stepped down.

The girl was about eighteen or nineteen years old, with a beautiful face and graceful figure. As she walked, her skirt swayed, bringing with it a faint, elegant fragrance.

The apprentices who had not yet left the courtyard stopped, and the originally noisy scene instantly quieted down, with everyone's actions revealing a sense of respect.

"Hello, Senior Sister Zhu!"

"Senior Sister Zhu is back!"

Greetings rose and fell in waves.

It turns out she is Zhu Mengran, the daughter of the museum owner Zhu Xiaowen.

Zhou Yuan followed the crowd, bowing his head and cupping his hands in greeting.

Zhu Mengran nodded slightly to everyone in return.

Her gaze swept over the crowd, lingering briefly on Zhou Yuan's unfamiliar face before shifting away and walking straight into the backyard.

Only after she disappeared did the courtyard regain its vitality.

"Senior Sister Zhu is getting more and more beautiful."

"Yes, Senior Sister Zhu has superb medical skills and a kind heart. Last time I twisted my ankle while practicing boxing, she was the one who helped me massage it."

"That's right. In our martial arts school, Senior Sister Zhu is the most approachable. Unlike Second Senior Sister Jiang Qian, who always gives us the cold shoulder."

The disciples' chatter reached my ears.

Zhou Yuan shook his head slightly, calming himself down.

This Senior Sister Zhu is indeed a cut above Song Fang in appearance, and her temperament is worlds apart.

But at this moment, he had no romantic thoughts whatsoever.

Strengthening our capabilities is the most important thing right now.

On the way home, a strong feeling of hunger came over me.

After practicing martial arts, his appetite increased day by day, becoming several times greater than usual.

He touched the heavy money bag in his arms, which he had obtained from Wang Laizi and his two companions. It contained nearly ten taels of silver, a huge sum of money for him.

Having money in hand brings peace of mind.

Zhou Yuan walked to the beef shop at the alley entrance, where the beef hanging on the shop emitted an enticing aroma.

"Boss, weigh out two pounds of beef."

While waiting, the conversation of two idle men next to me drifted over.

"Have you heard? Wang Laizi from Blackwater Alley, and his two henchmen, are all dead!"

"Hey, good riddance! I've had my eye on those bastards for ages! How did they die?"

"The officials went to check and said that the fighting was over the division of the stolen money, and the two sides killed each other. The yamen runners dragged the bodies to a mass grave to feed the dogs."

"Serves him right! Every scum like him who dies is a blessing!"

Zhou Yuan took the beef wrapped in oil paper from the shopkeeper, paid the money, and the whole process was perfectly normal.

In chaotic times, human life is as cheap as grass.

In the eyes of the government, a scoundrel like Wang Laizi probably wasn't even considered human, so they naturally didn't bother to investigate him.

This is the best outcome for him.

Back home, Zhou Yuan pushed open the door and saw his sister Zhou Ting sitting at the table, her face filled with barely suppressed excitement.

"Yuanzi, you're back! Did you hear?"

"What did you hear?" Zhou Yuan placed the beef on the table, pretending not to know.

"Wang Laizi is dead! That damned bully, and his two lackeys, are all dead!" Zhou Ting's voice was filled with a triumphant joy.

"Is that so?" Zhou Yuan smiled faintly. "People like that don't deserve to die."

"Who says otherwise!" Zhou Ting happily agreed, but then her attention was drawn to the oil paper package on the table.

"This is...beef?"

"Yes, I bought some to help you recover."

Zhou Ting carefully opened the oil paper package and looked at the bright red beef inside. Since her family's decline, she couldn't remember the last time she had tasted meat.

She happily picked up the beef, ready to take it to the kitchen.

But just as she brushed past Zhou Yuan, she suddenly stopped in her tracks.

She turned her head and carefully examined her younger brother.

Yuanzi seems a little different today than before.

Her body still seemed somewhat frail, but the timidity and gloom that had emanated from her had vanished without a trace.

Instead, there is an indescribable and composed demeanor.

That aura made her feel incredibly at ease.

A bold idea flashed through her mind.

Could Wang Laizi's death be related to Yuanzi?

But the next moment, she shook her head vigorously, banishing the thought from her mind.

No, don't think about it.

As long as the siblings are safe and sound, that's all that matters.

"I'll go make dinner right now! Yuanzi, you wait, we're having a good meal tonight!"

A long-lost radiant smile bloomed on Zhou Ting's face. Holding the piece of beef, she limped towards the kitchen, her steps much lighter.

......