A Martial Saint in Chaotic Times: Starting with Grinding Proficiency

Zhu Mengran's words were like a thunderclap, exploding loudly in the joyous martial arts arena.

The clamor and flattery that filled the room came to an abrupt halt in that instant.

Everyone froze, their smiles still lingering, now contorted into a comical expression.

The smile on Zhu Xiaowen's face vanished instantly, replaced by a grim expression.

He suddenly stood up, his powerful aura escaping uncontrollably, and the mahogany chair beneath him turned to dust.

The terrifying pressure from a master at the Marrow Cleansing Realm swept across the entire area like a torrent.

The cups and saucers on the table trembled violently, emitting a mournful buzzing sound.

The two elders at the Marrow Cleansing Realm sitting next to the main seat also changed their expressions, revealing surprise.

Wang Tengfei, a Yi Jin Jing master who was not even twenty years old, was the future hope of Qingyang Martial Arts School. Was he just ruined like that?

Who did it? Who would dare to do such a thing?

Zhou Yuan sat in the corner, his heart also stirred slightly.

He had anticipated that Wang Tengfei's arrogance would eventually invite retaliation, but he never expected the retaliation to come so quickly and so ruthlessly.

Before he could even take action, someone else had already solved the problem for him.

The guests inside were terrified by Zhu Xiaowen's intimidating aura, and dared not even breathe loudly.

After a brief silence, everyone looked at each other, then rose and hastily bowed to Zhu Xiaowen to take their leave.

"Master Zhu, I have urgent matters to attend to at home, so I must take my leave now!"

"Please accept my condolences, Master Zhu. I will visit you again another day!"

In just a short while, the once bustling martial arts arena was completely deserted, leaving only the core disciples of Qingyang Martial Arts School and the mess on the ground.

Zhu Xiaowen's chest heaved violently, clearly indicating that he was extremely angry.

But he was a man who had weathered many storms, and after a few breaths, he forcibly suppressed his surging blood and qi, and restrained his terrifying aura.

"Carry him to the study." His voice was dry and hoarse, carrying a chilling aura.

Han Ming and the others dared not delay and quickly carried a stretcher, following closely behind Zhu Xiaowen.

Inside the study.

Wang Tengfei was carefully placed on the bed.

His eyes were closed, his face was ashen, and his limbs were twisted at an eerie angle, clearly indicating that all his bones were broken.

Zhou Yuan glanced at him and confirmed that although the person's aura was weak, he was still alive.

Zhu Xiaowen stepped forward and placed his hand on Wang Tengfei's pulse. After a moment, he withdrew his hand, as if all his strength had been drained, and slumped into a chair.

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps came from outside the door.

Shen He, the eldest disciple of the martial arts school, pushed open the door and entered. He glanced at Wang Tengfei on the bed, his face full of worry.

"Master, how is my junior brother?"

"His meridians are completely severed, and his dantian is shattered." Zhu Xiaowen slowly closed his eyes, each word seemingly squeezed out from between his teeth, "He's utterly ruined."

Upon hearing this, the air in the study seemed to freeze.

A promising genius at the Yi Jin Jing level was reduced to a cripple, worse than an ordinary person.

Zhu Xiaowen suddenly opened his eyes, a chilling killing intent flashing across his face, and turned to Han Ming.

"Tell me, what exactly happened!"

Han Ming trembled under his gaze and dared not hide anything, recounting the whole story in detail.

"Yesterday...yesterday Junior Brother Wang held a banquet at Wangjiang Tower to celebrate his breakthrough to the Yi Jin Realm, and...he also invited Zhang Lian'er, the top courtesan of Zuichun Tower, to accompany him."

Han Ming spoke haltingly, knowing that his master had always disliked his disciples associating with places of pleasure.

Sure enough, Zhu Xiaowen's brows furrowed into a knot.

"Go on."

"At the dinner table, Junior Brother Wang publicly announced that he would redeem Zhang Lian'er from her servitude. But unexpectedly, Qin Lie from Changsong Martial Arts School suddenly barged in and demanded that Zhang Lian'er come to his room to drink with him."

Changsong Martial Arts School!

Upon hearing this name, Shen He, Zhu Mengran, and the others all tensed up.

Zhou Yuan's heart stirred, recalling the past events that Li Tong had once mentioned.

Master Zhu Xiaowen challenged the Changsong Martial Arts School years ago and defeated the old master with one hand, causing him to die of shame and anger. The two families had long been mortal enemies.

This conflict was indeed not as simple as it seemed.

"Junior Brother Wang was immediately enraged, and the two began to argue." Han Ming swallowed and continued, "Qin Lie made sarcastic remarks, saying that Zhang Lian'er was nothing more than a whore whoever offered the highest price. Junior Brother Wang couldn't stand this and was about to fight on the spot."

"But Qin Lie said that Junior Brother Wang is now affiliated with the Wang family, and he dared not use excessive force for fear of damaging the Wang family's reputation. Unless..."

Han Ming paused, then lowered his voice even further.

"Unless, a death pact is signed."

"Junior Brother Wang is young and impetuous, and he couldn't withstand such provocation, so he agreed on the spot."

"Qin Lie had already entered the Yi Jin realm for many years, and seemed to know the style of Junior Brother Wang's Shaking Mountain Fist very well. After a fierce battle, Junior Brother Wang... Junior Brother Wang was defeated and crippled."

After Han Ming finished speaking, the entire study fell into a deathly silence.

A death warrant!

These three words are like a mountain, weighing heavily on everyone's heart.

According to the martial arts rules of Luochuan County, once a life-or-death contract is signed, one's fate is left to destiny.

Even if someone's martial arts are crippled, or they are killed on the spot, the other party will not bear any responsibility.

"This matter... is difficult to handle." Shen He looked at Wang Tengfei, who was unconscious on the bed, and said in a deep voice.

With a life-or-death agreement in place, even the Wang family wouldn't openly break the rules and damage their reputation just for a mere affiliation.

After all, the Wang family has no shortage of martial artists who want to hang around.

Sitting at the head of the table, Zhu Xiaowen's anger vanished after hearing Han Ming's words, leaving only desolation and defeat.

He had been planning for a long time and finally found a disciple with extraordinary talent. He hoped that the disciple could restore the reputation of Qingyang Martial Arts School in the martial arts competition and that the disciple could protect him in his old age.

But now, everything has vanished.

Zhou Yuan stood to the side, his expression indifferent, and did not express any opinion.

He merely glanced at Wang Tengfei out of the corner of his eye, confirming that the man's dantian was shattered and he had no chance of turning things around.

Just then, a gatekeeper announced from outside the door.

"Master, the Chief Inspector of the Patrol Division, Lord Xie Hongwu, requests an audience!"

Xie Hongwu?

Everyone was taken aback.

This is the head of the Inspection Division, a top expert in the Marrow Cleansing Realm, who has no dealings with the Qingyang Martial Arts School.

Their only connection was that Zhou Yuan worked under him.

In an instant, everyone's eyes were focused on Zhou Yuan.

Zhou Yuan was also completely baffled, having no idea of ​​Xie Hongwu's purpose in coming here.

Zhu Xiaowen quickly composed himself, straightened his robes, regained his composure as the head of the establishment, and led the group briskly toward the main hall.

"Haha, Master Zhu, I've come uninvited, please forgive me!"

Before he arrived, his voice preceded his arrival. Xie Hongwu strode into the hall and greeted Zhu Xiaowen warmly, as if they were old friends of many years.

After exchanging pleasantries, Xie Hongwu's gaze fell on Zhou Yuan.

"Zhou, you've accomplished such a tremendous feat, why haven't you gone back to headquarters to report for credit? I've been searching for you for ages!"

He turned to Zhu Xiaowen, who looked bewildered, and smiled.

"Master Zhu, you've truly trained a fine disciple!"

Zhu Xiaowen was completely dumbfounded.

Zhu Mengran, Shen He, Han Ming, and the others standing beside him also looked puzzled.

Merit? What merit?

How could a chief inspector at the Marrow Cleansing Realm personally come to offer congratulations?

Xie Hongwu was also puzzled by everyone's appearance.

"What? Didn't Zhou Yuan tell you?"

He grinned and dropped a bombshell that shook the entire room.

"Yesterday outside the city, he, at the Bone Forging Realm, single-handedly beheaded Xu Qingyi, the bandit leader of Black Wind Mountain who was at the Tendon Changing Realm!"

"By now, this matter has probably spread throughout the entire city of Luochuan!"

......