A Martial Saint in Chaotic Times: Starting with Grinding Proficiency

As the voice faded, everyone in the hall turned to look.

A tall, upright young man dressed in a black official robe was seen walking slowly from the doorway.

His steps were not fast, but they carried an indescribable composure.

"Junior Brother Zhou...?"

Chen Shaoshang was stunned for a moment, almost thinking he had misread it, and he subconsciously went to meet him.

Chen Chongfeng, standing to the side, was even more astonished. He never expected that Zhou Yuan would take the initiative to come to the Chen family at a time when everyone was avoiding them.

Meanwhile, Wang Xuanzhao, the second young master of the Wang family, who always wore a nonchalant smile, slowly put down his teacup and began to scrutinize the uninvited guest with great interest.

"Junior Brother Zhou, what brings you here?" Chen Shaoshang strode up to Zhou Yuan and lowered his voice, "Right now, so many people are trying to avoid us..."

Zhou Yuan smiled and interrupted him.

"I was wondering when my fifth senior brother would come to find me. I waited and waited but you didn't show up, so I had no choice but to come here myself."

Chen Shaoshang opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something more.

But when he met Zhou Yuan's calm and firm gaze, all his words of advice stuck in his throat, and he couldn't utter a single word.

Zhou Yuan's presence already indicated his decision.

"You are Zhou Yuan, the one who has been making headlines in Luochuan City recently, the one who claims to have forged bones and severed tendons?" Wang Xuanzhao's voice rang out, tinged with inquiry.

Zhou Yuan stepped past Chen Shaoshang, took two steps forward, and looked directly at the second young master of the Wang family, neither humble nor arrogant.

"It is I."

Wang Xuanzhao's interest grew even stronger.

"You've come here to stand up for the Chen family and participate in that boxing match?"

"Exactly."

Zhou Yuan answered crisply and decisively.

Seeing Zhou Yuan's expression, a hint of light appeared in Wang Xuanzhao's eyes.

He leaned forward slightly and continued, "These days, the martial artists affiliated with the Chen family all avoid the Wang family like the plague. Why are you standing up for them at this time?"

"I heard that the Chen family initially refused your request to become affiliated with them."

Upon hearing this, Chen Chongfeng's old face instantly turned red, and when he looked at Zhou Yuan, his expression was awkward and hesitant.

Zhou Yuan, however, did not care at all. He met Wang Xuanzhao's scrutiny and spoke clearly, word by word.

"I'm going to fight, for no other reason than..."

"Simply because Chen Shaoshang is my friend."

friend?

Upon hearing this, Wang Xuanzhao was first taken aback, then seemed to have heard the biggest joke in the world.

"For the sake of a friend, you'd be willing to offend the Wang family?"

Before he finished speaking, an invisible aura slowly spread out from his body, as vast as a mountain and as deep as the sea, instantly filling the entire hall!

That was the pressure of a Marrow Cleansing Realm expert!

Zhou Yuan, however, seemed completely oblivious.

The Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill was quietly activated within his body, and his blood and qi surged like a river, easily repelling the oppressive aura.

He straightened his back, facing the pressure head-on, and his voice grew even louder.

"When I, Zhou Yuan, make friends, I only seek those whose thoughts are aligned with mine; I don't consider anything else!"

These words struck like a thunderclap in the hall.

Chen Shaoshang was completely stunned. That sentence... sounded so familiar.

Isn't this exactly what I said back then?

In an instant, all the dejection, frustration, and resentment in his heart vanished.

As he watched Zhou Yuan's retreating figure, he felt a surge of heat coursing through his chest.

My judgment in choosing friends was definitely right!

Chen Chongfeng, standing to the side, was now a mixture of red and green on the face, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

Judging from Zhou Yuan's actions at this moment, he has indeed come uninvited.

At this time, the reason for risking offending the Wang family to help the Chen family was actually just because of the word "friend".

This left Chen Chongfeng, who had spent half his life in the business world, somewhat incredulous, and he fell into a deep silence.

"Well said... just seek clarity of thought!"

Wang Xuanzhao suddenly suppressed his aura and burst into laughter.

The curiosity and amusement on his face gradually turned into genuine appreciation.

In today's chaotic world, all the people, bustling about, are seeking nothing more than profit.

He hadn't heard such remarks for many years.

"Since that's the case..."

Wang Xuanzhao stood up and didn't say anything more.

He looked at Zhou Yuan intently, as if trying to etch the young man's appearance into his memory.

"Three days later, in Qing Shi Lane, you will bear the consequences of your actions."

After saying that, he turned and left without looking at the Chen father and son again, and went straight out the door.

……

In Luochuan City, there was an ordinary teahouse.

In an inconspicuous corner on the second floor, a middle-aged man with a composed demeanor was slowly sipping his tea while listening to the conversations of the other tea drinkers.

"Have you heard? There's been a change in the Chen family's boxing match!"

"What variable? Could it be that the Chen family can hire some kind of expert?"

"A master has been brought in! And a truly remarkable one at that!"

Who is it?

"Zhou Yuan! That's the rising star from Luochuan who used the Bone Forging Technique to sever the Tendon Changing Technique!"

The moment the name was uttered, a collective gasp filled the air.

Someone asked curiously, "Zhou Yuan is a very popular figure now, with a limitless future. Why would he get involved in this mess? That's the Wang family, the most powerful family in Luochuan!"

Clearly, no one could understand Zhou Yuan's reason for taking action on behalf of the Chen family.

At this moment, a well-informed tea drinker, who looked like a storyteller, smugly began to keep the matter a secret.

"To explain this, we have to start with the relationship between Zhou Yuan and the young master of the Chen family."

People around immediately gathered around, their faces full of curiosity.

The man cleared his throat and continued, "It is said that when Zhou Yuan was still weak, Chen Shaoshang helped him a lot. At that time, some people asked, 'You are the young master of the Chen family, why do you value a martial artist from a humble background so much?'"

"Guess what Chen Shaoshang said?"

He said, "When I make friends, I only seek those who share my thoughts; I don't consider anything else!"

"For this, Chen Shaoshang was severely reprimanded by his father."

"Now, the Chen family has suffered a great calamity, and the martial artists who once clung to them have all left. Zhou Yuan, however, has arrived uninvited at this time. Under the coercion of the second young master of the Wang family, he also said, 'When I, Zhou Yuan, make friends, I only seek those who share my thoughts, and I don't care about anything else!'"

Upon hearing this, the entire room fell silent.

Everyone was moved by this deep friendship and the shared understanding between the two people, and for a moment, they even felt a sense of admiration for the two strangers.

"Just seeking clarity of thought...that's quite interesting."

In the corner, the middle-aged man downed his cup of hot tea in one gulp and muttered to himself.

This person was none other than Shen Xuantong, the commander of the Jingye Division.

As he listened to the discussions around him, he couldn't help but recall the scene he witnessed at Wangjiang Tower that day, where he had seen Zhou Yuanqian cleanly and efficiently kill Gao Sheng and Wei Rong.

At the time, he felt that this young thug was somewhat interesting, but he didn't think much of it.

Until a few days ago, he heard that this person had actually used bone-forging and tendon-severing techniques, which made him pay more attention to him.

However, until today, he suddenly had a different opinion of Zhou Yuan.

Just as Shen Xuantong was lost in his memories, a soft, feminine figure appeared silently behind him.

It was Dong Mo.

"Commander, news has come from the department that the Blood Spirit Pill does indeed contain the forbidden drug Datura flower."

Dong Mo's voice was very low.

"Moreover, if taken continuously, it can lead to a strong dependence on the pill, even... addiction. Those who sell the pill may indirectly control the martial artists who take it through this substance."

Shen Xuantong frowned slightly.

This Blood Spirit Pill is indeed extraordinary.

Most importantly, this pill can actually control martial artists, so it seems that the person behind it must have some big ambitions.

This little Luochuan is really going to be in chaos.

Then Dong Mo handed over another letter, which read "To be opened by the Commander."

Shen Xuantong opened the letter, glanced at it, and his expression changed slightly.

Seeing this, Dong Mo became curious about what was inside.

"War is imminent, and the Jingye Division needs to recruit new members."

Shen Xuantong said in a deep voice.

Recruiting new people?

Dong Mo was initially delighted, as the Jingye Division had been short-staffed for a long time, and this was undoubtedly great news.

Shen Xuantong put down the letter and looked out the window.

"Go and investigate Zhou Yuan's background. Compile all his information and give it to me."

Zhou Yuan? That taxi driver?

Dong Mo was taken aback, and instantly understood what was going on.

"What the commander means is, regarding this round of slots..."

Shen Xuantong did not answer his question, but instead took out a black iron token from his pocket and handed it over.

"Also, give this to County Magistrate Liu Wenju."

"Now that the situation has come to this, it's time for us to take action."

......