A Martial Saint in Chaotic Times: Starting with Grinding Proficiency

Zhang Hao.

Zhou Yuan's finger lightly traced across the roster, finally resting on this familiar name.

He remembered this person: a core disciple of the Black Tiger Martial Arts School, and Song Fang's newly engaged fiancé.

Not long ago, this person was a martial artist affiliated with the Chen family. How did he end up on the recruitment roster of the Patrol Division?

Li Tong, who was standing nearby, had a keen eye and immediately guessed Zhou Yuan's doubts.

He took half a step forward and lowered his voice.

"Inspector Zhou, you may not know this, but recently the Wang family and the Chen family have been at odds. The Wang family has specifically challenged the Chen family to a 'fighting match,' and most of the martial artists affiliated with the Chen family have fled for fear of being implicated. Zhang Hao is one of them."

Zhou Yuan understood.

He closed the roster and looked at Li Tong: "The Chen family and the Wang family, what exactly happened? Who did the Wang family send this time?"

Hearing Zhou Yuan address him as "Brother Li," Li Tong's face showed a hint of flattery, but he straightened his posture even more and dared not be negligent in the slightest.

He clasped his hands in a fist and bowed, then began to explain in detail.

"The Wang family is the head of the five major families, with many experts in the family. The weakest of the martial artists affiliated with them are at the Bone Forging Realm, and there are quite a few at the Tendon Changing Realm as well."

"It's said that the Wang family has sent the renowned expert 'Iron-Blooded Eagle Claw' Liu Cang this time!"

Iron-Blooded Eagle Claw, Liu Cang?

Zhou Yuan silently repeated the name to himself.

"How does this person compare to Xu Qingyi?"

Li Tong was taken aback. He hadn't expected Zhou Yuan to compare the two of them, but he quickly realized what was going on.

Since Inspector Zhou personally killed Xu Qingyi, he would naturally take this as a benchmark.

He carefully considered his words and replied in a deep voice, "Xu Qingyi would probably not last more than thirty moves against Liu Cang."

"Xu Qingyi only entered the Yi Jin realm in recent years. Liu Cang, on the other hand, has been in the Yi Jin realm for more than ten years. In his early years, he was a bodyguard who traveled all over the country and had countless lives on his hands. Their combat experience is not even in the same league."

Li Tong paused for a moment, then added, "In our Luochuan County, the only Yi Jin Jing masters who can reliably defeat Liu Cang are probably the 'Three Heroes of Luochuan'."

The Three Heroes of Luochuan?

That's a new term.

Zhou Yuansheng felt a bit curious.

Upon seeing this, Li Tong immediately explained, "These three are all top geniuses among the younger generation in our Luochuan County. They are Xue Min from the Patrol Battalion, Zhao Ziwen from Tianhong Martial Arts School, and Wu Xingtong from the Wu family."

"These three are all in their early twenties and come from martial arts schools, but their cultivation has already reached the peak of the Yi Jin stage. It is said that each of them has the terrifying strength to challenge a master of the Xi Sui stage."

Although Luochuan County is small, it is full of hidden talents.

Zhou Yuan's heart stirred slightly.

These three individuals, capable of challenging the Marrow Cleansing Realm while only at the Yi Jin Realm, likely possess their own astonishing trump cards.

The martial arts competition at the martial arts school seems to be more challenging than I imagined.

However, now is not the time to consider these things.

Zhou Yuan snapped out of his thoughts and focused his attention back on what was in front of him.

"What special methods does this Liu Cang possess?"

"Yes!" Li Tong answered without hesitation. "This person has two major killer moves. The first is the Eagle Claw Kung Fu, which he has practiced for more than ten years, making it easy for him to split stone tablets. The second is his unique secret technique, 'Seeking Flowers in the Mist'."

Seeking flowers through the fog.

Upon hearing this name, Zhou Yuan felt a sense of unease.

If it were a direct confrontation, he possessed the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill and was confident that he would not fear anyone.

But this secret technique was something he had to be wary of.

Li Tong seemed to sense Zhou Yuan's seriousness and shook his head with a wry smile.

"No one knows exactly what this 'Seeking Flowers in the Mist' technique is. Because... everyone who has witnessed this secret skill is already dead."

One sentence chilled the air inside the inspection station.

Zhou Yuan handed the roster back to Li Tong.

"Just pick two clever people from among those who aren't affiliated with the Chen family to fill the positions."

"Yes!" Li Tong respectfully accepted the roster.

Zhou Yuan stood up, straightened his brand-new official robes, and walked out of the patrol office without saying a word.

He was going to the Chen family's house.

……

The inner city, the Chen family.

The once bustling blacksmith shop was now deserted, with only a few old workers listlessly tidying up.

In the study in the back hall, Chen Chongfeng, the head of the Chen family, sat behind his desk, his brows furrowed, writing furiously on a letter.

A short while later, the door was pushed open.

Chen Shaoshang walked in, his usual carefree and unrestrained demeanor completely gone, replaced by a face full of exhaustion and dejection.

"So, he didn't agree, did he?"

Just as Chen Chongfeng finished writing the last stroke, he put down his pen, walked over to his son, and sighed softly.

"I only asked others, not Junior Brother Zhou," Chen Shaoshang said, his voice somewhat somber as he looked at his father.

Upon hearing this, Chen Chongfeng simply shook his head, not exposing his son's stubbornness.

In his view, his son must have gone to see Zhou Yuan, only to be rejected without mercy, and was simply too ashamed to admit it now.

"I told you long ago, stay away from those peasants!"

"These people have no sense of gratitude or righteousness in their bones! They only see immediate, petty gains, and when danger strikes, they're always the first to run!"

Chen Shaoshang opened his mouth, wanting to explain, but was interrupted by Chen Chongfeng raising his hand.

Chen Chongfeng handed the newly written letter to his son.

"This is a handwritten letter I wrote to your uncle. Take it and set off for the city immediately. Your uncle's Huiyuan Money Shop is thriving now. If you go to him, although you won't be as carefree as you are in Luochuan, at least you can be guaranteed a life of wealth and security."

This is arranging a way out for him.

Chen Shaoshang clenched the letter tightly, his knuckles bulging.

"Father, let's think of another way!"

He didn't want to flee Luochuan like a stray dog.

Chen Chongfeng could only shake his head with a wry smile. Just as he was about to offer further advice, the gatekeeper suddenly rushed in looking flustered.

"Master, young master, the second young master of the Wang family... Wang Xuanzhao has arrived!"

Upon hearing this, both Chen Chongfeng and his son's expressions changed drastically.

The Wang family has issued an ultimatum!

The father and son exchanged a glance, suppressing the turmoil in their hearts, and quickly went to the front hall.

A young man dressed in fine clothes walked in. He had a handsome face, walked with ease, and exuded an imposing aura in every gesture.

This person was none other than Wang Xuanzhao, the second young master of the Wang family.

His cultivation level had already reached the Marrow Cleansing Realm!

The Wang family patriarch Wang Moheng, the eldest son Wang Xuangan, and the second son Wang Xuanzhao in front of them.

One family, three marrow cleansing techniques!

This is the source of the Wang family's confidence in maintaining their position as the leading family in Luochuan County.

"Uncle Chen, how have you been?"

With a faint smile, Wang Xuanzhao took the initiative to start a small talk.

Seeing his approach of first being polite and then resorting to force, Chen Chongfeng and his son felt a chill run down their spines.

Sure enough, after a few polite words, Wang Xuanzhao got straight to the point.

"Uncle Chen, let's not beat around the bush. If the Chen family is willing to transfer all of its blacksmith shops to my Wang family now, my Wang family can offer several thousand taels of silver to buy this business."

"you!"

Chen Chongfeng was so angry that he trembled all over. His Chen family owned more than a dozen shops in Luochuan County, and the cost alone was no less than 100,000 taels of silver. The Wang family was going too far!

Chen Shaoshang, his blood boiling, stepped forward and demanded, "The fight hasn't even started yet, why should we hand over our assets?!"

Upon hearing this, Wang Xuanzhao smiled noncommittally, a smile full of contempt.

"Bet on boxing? Your Chen family can't even find a single person willing to step up, so what are you talking about?"

He slowly picked up the teacup and gently blew on it.

"I just wanted to leave the Chen family with a little bit of dignity."

As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Shaoshang's face turned ashen, but he couldn't utter a single word in rebuttal.

Chen Chongfeng, standing to the side, slumped back into his chair, his face ashen.

However, at this moment when the hall was deathly silent and humiliation was spreading.

A slightly casual voice suddenly came from the front door.

"Fifth Senior Brother, Zhou Yuan has come uninvited. I'd like to ask for a cup of tea. Would you be so kind as to welcome me?"

......