A Martial Saint in Chaotic Times: Starting with Grinding Proficiency

Outside the city, Zhou Yuan merged into the dispersing crowd and headed towards the muddy alley.

The matter of betting on boxing has finally come to an end.

Next, he can devote all his energy to training and prepare for the martial arts competition a month later.

After the two battles with Xu Qingyi and Liu Cang, Zhou Yuan gained a clearer understanding of his own strength.

At the Bone Forging Realm level, he has virtually no rivals.

Even against an ordinary Yi Jin Jing practitioner, the terrifying power of the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill would be enough to crush them.

He has the ability to fight anyone who is not at the Marrow Cleansing Realm.

But this does not mean we can rest easy.

The boost from the Dragon Elephant Prajna Technique is mainly reflected in strength. However, in terms of speed and the robustness of his qi and blood, he is still only a Bone Forging Realm martial artist.

The advantage lies in using absolute power to win quickly. However, once dragged into a war of attrition and exhausted, the situation will become extremely unfavorable for them.

We must break through to the Yi Jin Jing as soon as possible to make up for our shortcomings.

As Zhou Yuan pondered, he unknowingly arrived at the entrance of the muddy alley.

He paused, glancing out of the corner of his eye at the corner next to the alley entrance.

That used to be the Song family's general store. Now the store is closed, the shelves outside are overturned, and the place is a mess, even more devastated than a boxing ring after a fight.

Zhou Yuan recalled the Salt Gang members he had met a few days ago.

It seems the Song family has ultimately offended the wrong people.

He shook his head slightly, didn't linger, and went straight home.

In the courtyard, Zhou Ting had returned from her shift and was busy in the kitchen.

The aroma of the food dispelled the slight stench of blood that clung to Zhou Yuan.

"You're back?" Zhou Ting poked her head out and greeted her with a smile.

Zhou Yuan nodded, walked over, and skillfully sat down under the stove to help tend the fire.

While cooking, Zhou Ting chatted with Zhou Yuan about everyday things, talking about interesting things in the embroidered building and gossiping about the neighbors.

"By the way, brother, did you know? Something happened to the Song family."

Zhou Ting ladled the stir-fried vegetables into a plate, lowering her voice.

"I heard it was that Song Tao from their family who was so arrogant and didn't know his place. He tried to harass Xu Zhanxin's new concubine, and she came to his door to confront him."

"They not only smashed up the shop, but also broke Song Tao's leg and dragged him away."

"The crying and screaming could be heard throughout half the alley; it was horrible."

Zhou Yuan added firewood, the firelight reflecting on his calm face, without saying a word.

Song Tao was just an ordinary citizen before, but he started to bully and monopolize the market because he had a brother-in-law who was at the Bone Forging Realm.

Even if God commits a sin, one can still live.

Do not live by committing sins.

……

The inner city, Wei Mansion.

Inside the study, Wei Tianhe leaned back in a rocking chair, toying with a bright red pill in his hand.

It was the Blood Spirit Pill.

The trip to the Prince's Mansion a few days ago has completely tied the Wei family to the Prince's war chariot.

The number of Blood Spirit Pills sold through the Wei family's channels is not small, and now even if they want to withdraw, they have no choice.

Moreover, Wang Moheng was accompanied by a Yan King envoy at the Blood Exchange Realm. If he dared to utter even a single word of dissent, he would probably be killed on the spot.

That old fox, Wang Moheng!

Wei Tianhe cursed inwardly.

Wang Jiading had long ago colluded with the envoy of the Prince of Yan, and then used the Blood Spirit Pill to set a trap, dragging the other families into the mess.

The methods used were truly vicious!

Although the Great Zhou Dynasty is now in its twilight years, it is still a formidable force, with its elite troops remaining. The Prince of Yan, in raising his army, only dared to use the pretext of "purging the court of corrupt officials," and dared not openly rebel.

That's it, that's it.

Since things have come to this point, there's no other way but to go down this path to the bitter end.

Wei Tianhe picked up the official gazette beside him. He used to pray every day that the Prince of Yan's rebel army would not attack, but now he hoped that they would come to the city gates soon.

Just then, the study door was suddenly pushed open, and a figure rushed in.

The person who arrived was none other than the butler, Wei Hong. He looked flustered and his breathing was disordered.

Wei Tianhe sat up straight, displeased.

"What's the matter that you're so panicked?"

Wei Hong strode forward, his voice trembling.

"Master, we've got a lead on Young Master Rong's matter!"

"I suspect that the real culprit who murdered Young Master Rong is Zhou Yuan!"

Upon hearing this, Wei Tianhe's body trembled violently, and the Blood Spirit Pill in his hand rolled to the ground.

He grabbed Wei Hong by the collar.

Explain yourself!

Wei Hong dared not hide anything and told him everything he had observed at the boxing match and all the information he had found about Zhou Yuan afterward.

After listening to Wei Hong's account, Wei Tianhe released his grip and froze on the spot.

He never expected that the one who killed Wei Rong was not Liu Wenju, but this Zhou Yuan. It was truly a blessing from heaven that he found the real killer.

Thinking of this, a terrifying aura of malevolence erupted uncontrollably from his body, causing the tables and chairs in the study to move and creak without any wind.

"Zhou Yuan..."

He pronounced the name slowly and deliberately, his voice filled with endless resentment and murderous intent.

"I want him... to die a gruesome death!"

……

at the same time.

In the inner city, in the backyard of the county government office, in a secluded courtyard.

County Magistrate Liu Wenju, Chief Inspector Xie Hongwu, and an elderly man with silver hair but a ruddy complexion were standing with their heads bowed.

The old man exuded a calm and collected aura; he was none other than Xue Wantong, the commander of the patrol battalion and a powerful expert in the Marrow Cleansing Realm.

These three men, powerful figures who could shake Luochuan County with a stomp of their feet, were now all cautiously looking ahead.

In front of them, a middle-aged man dressed in brocade robes, exuding an imposing presence, stood with his hands behind his back by the pond.

The pavilion stands tall and majestic, exuding a grand and imposing presence.

It was Shen Xuantong, the commander of the Jingye Division.

"Has the number of martial artists who consumed the Blood Spirit Pill been ascertained?"

Shen Xuantong looked at the fish swimming in the pond and spoke calmly.

Upon hearing this, Liu Wenju's back was instantly soaked with cold sweat, and he quickly took out a handkerchief to wipe his forehead.

"As for the actual number under Qi Ning's command... it is still impossible to ascertain. But according to estimates, it should be over a thousand."

Under his rule, over a thousand martial artists had taken such forbidden drugs, and he, as the county magistrate, could not escape blame.

Shen Xuantong paused for a moment.

He turned around and looked at Xie Hongwu beside him.

"Have you found the source of the Blood Spirit Pill?"

Xie Hongwu's heart sank, but he forced a smile and replied, "There are too many sales locations, and the quality is mixed. For the time being... we cannot trace the source."

Even as a master of the Marrow Cleansing Realm, he felt immense pressure in front of the commander of the Jingye Division.

In the long, peaceful night, I oversee the entire realm.

This organization was directly under the Emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty and had the responsibility of supervising all officials. It even had the power to execute officials below the county magistrate level without prior approval.

Every year, the official gazette lists a few unfortunate individuals who are publicly displayed by the Jingye Division.

"Then we won't investigate."

Shen Xuantong's words were calm, yet they caused the temperature in the courtyard to drop suddenly.

"Thirty-six lanes in the outer city and twelve wards in the inner city. The patrol inspectors are responsible for leading the search teams, while the patrol battalion brings up the rear."

"Go door to door and confiscate all the Blood Spirit Pills on the spot!"

A chilling aura of killing intent permeated the air as he spoke.

Xie Hongwu and Xue Wantong were startled and immediately cupped their hands in greeting.

"Yes, sir!"

"My visit to Luochuan County must not be disclosed to anyone," Shen Xuantong added.

The three bowed again in agreement, and then carefully withdrew from the courtyard.

Not long after they left, a graceful figure appeared silently behind Shen Xuantong.

It was Dong Mo.

"Commander, Zhou Yuan has won the boxing match in Qing Shi Lane."

Dong Mo recounted in detail how Zhou Yuan crushed Liu Cang with overwhelming force.

"With a body forged in bone tempering, I will once again crush the body transformed by tendon-strengthening techniques..."

"That's interesting."

After listening, Shen Xuantong finally showed a strong interest in his eyes.

Dong Mo paused for a moment, then recounted the Wei family's reaction at the boxing match and Wei Hong's hasty departure.

"The Wei family has already set their sights on him."

Shen Xuantong did not answer immediately. He turned around and turned his gaze back to the pond.

Several koi carp were leisurely playing in the water, completely unaware that the weather on the surface was changing dramatically.

He reached out and picked up a pinch of fish food from the stone table beside him.

Sprinkle it gently.

......