A Martial Saint in Chaotic Times: Starting with Grinding Proficiency

Qingyang Martial Arts School, training ground.

After Li Dazhuang left, Zhou Yuan became the first person to arrive at the martial arts school.

He assumed the stance for the Six Harmonies Stance, clearing his mind of all distractions.

Li Dazhuang's departure and Gao Qiang's oppression were like a whip, silently lashing at him from behind.

In this world, if you don't move forward, you fall behind.

"Ha, they're really persistent. Do they really think they're cut out for this?"

"I think that in a while, he'll have to pack his bags and get out of here."

The intermittent chatter of several senior disciples drifted over, tinged with undisguised contempt.

They looked at Zhou Yuan's retreating figure as if they were looking at Li Dazhuang from a few months ago—foolish and stubborn.

Zhou Yuan turned a deaf ear.

In his world, there was only the soreness, numbness, swelling, and pain brought on by the standing meditation, and the numbers constantly jumping on the virtual panel.

The opinions of these people were of no importance to him.

At the other end of the courtyard, Wang Tengfei's figure was particularly eye-catching.

In just a few days, the thin boy from Qingyu Lane had undergone a complete transformation in his demeanor.

The original restraint and timidity vanished, replaced by an upright confidence.

When he practiced standing meditation, his body was as stable as a rock, and his breathing even showed a certain degree of discipline.

As expected of someone with superior physical constitution.

The disciples around him looked at him with a mixture of envy and jealousy.

Jiang Qian and Han Ming, two core disciples from the inner city, also occasionally glanced at him.

It was a discerning eye, like examining goods, but it also contained a subtle hint of appreciation.

A few days later, one afternoon, Wang Tengfei, who was cultivating, suddenly felt a jolt in his body.

His skin visibly developed a faint bronze sheen, and a surge of heat rose from the top of his head.

"This is... the beginner level of skin refining?!"

"My God! How long has he been here? Half a month! He's already mastered the basics in just half a month!"

The entire courtyard erupted in chaos.

Everyone stopped what they were doing and stared at Wang Tengfei in disbelief.

Zhu Xiaowen, the owner of the museum, swept out from the backyard like the wind. He grabbed Wang Tengfei's wrist, closed his eyes to sense for a moment, and then his face broke into an uncontrollable burst of joy.

"Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! He's reached the Skin Refining Realm in just half a month! Our Qingyang Martial Arts School has finally produced a true genius!"

Zhu Xiaowen looked excited and, in front of everyone, took out a small porcelain bottle from his pocket and poured out three pills the size of longan fruits, which emitted a faint medicinal fragrance.

"This is a Body Tempering Pill, which will help you stabilize your cultivation level and accelerate the generation of your Qi and blood! From this day forward, you are a core disciple of my Qingyang Martial Arts School!"

These words shocked everyone present.

Inner disciple!

According to the martial arts school's rules, only those who break through to the Bone Forging Realm are qualified to become core disciples and enjoy preferential treatment from the school's resources. Wang Tengfei, however, was promoted despite only having reached the Skin Refining stage!

Jiang Qian and Han Ming exchanged a glance, both seeing shock in each other's reactions.

This talent is truly astonishing.

Wang Tengfei was stunned by this sudden and enormous surprise. He took the pill, his voice trembling with excitement, "Thank... thank you, Master!"

Zhu Xiaowen personally led him aside and began to carefully instruct him on the essence of the Mountain-Shaking Fist. His patience and concern were treatment that Zhou Yuan and other ordinary disciples had never received.

Zhou Yuan watched this scene quietly, without the slightest ripple in his heart.

With a thought, he brought up his control panel.

[Technique: Six Harmonies Stance Exercise (Beginner)] [Progress: 150/300]

[Martial Arts Skill: Mountain Shaking Fist (Level 1) (Not yet mastered)] [Progress: 160/300]

As long as you work hard enough, breaking through to a higher level is only a matter of time.

This feeling of being in control of his own destiny made him feel far more grounded than any so-called talent.

As evening approached, the disciples gradually dispersed.

Zhou Yuan packed his things and was about to leave when Wang Tengfei walked over quickly.

"Senior Brother Zhou."

His form of address remained the same, but his attitude had subtly changed, becoming less intimate and more polite.

"Tonight... I won't be traveling with you." Wang Tengfei scratched his head, a hint of apology on his face. "Senior Sister Jiang and Senior Brother Han invited me to dinner at Zuiyun Tower in the inner city."

Zhou Yuan nodded calmly: "Okay."

Wang Tengfei seemed to want to say something more, but in the end he only moved his lips and turned to walk towards Jiang Qian and Han Ming, who were waiting on the other side.

Zhou Yuan watched his retreating figure merge into the two well-dressed core disciples, as if he had entered another world.

this is the truth.

He turned his gaze away and walked towards the entrance of the martial arts school.

Inside the pavilion, Chen Shaoshang was fanning himself with a folding fan, watching this scene unfold.

"Fifth Junior Brother, are you interested in a gathering in the inner city tonight?" Jiang Qian walked over, her attitude towards Chen Shaoshang was obviously much more polite than towards the others.

Chen Shaoshang shook his head and closed his folding fan: "No, I still have some things to take care of at the weapon forging shop."

Jiang Qian didn't press the matter. She changed the subject, "Things haven't been peaceful in the city lately. The Merchant Alliance and Magistrate Liu's patrol battalion are at loggerheads. Has your Chen family's blacksmith shop decided whether you want to join our Merchant Alliance?"

"The weapon forging shop only wants to do business peacefully and has no desire to get involved in these power struggles," Chen Shaoshang replied calmly, then stood up, cupped his hands in greeting, and walked away.

Watching his departing figure, Han Ming leaned close to Jiang Qian and whispered, "This Chen Shaoshang is still so naive. Now that a storm is brewing in Luochuan County, he still thinks he can stay out of it and avoid offending either side? Sooner or later, he'll be torn apart by the storm."

Jiang Qian didn't speak, but seemed to be deep in thought.

As night deepened, the streets of the outer city became sparsely populated, making the atmosphere even more gloomy and cold.

Zhou Yuan walked home alone, his left hand seemingly hanging casually at his side, but in reality, he had already gripped the handle of the wood-chopping knife hidden inside his clothes.

Gao Qiang's retaliation could come at any moment, and he had to be on guard.

The alley was dimly lit, and each step on the bluestone slabs made a clear echo that carried far in the silence.

He kept a vigilant eye on the shadows around him, and any slight movement made his heart tighten.

"Junior Brother Zhou."

A gentle call came from behind.

Zhou Yuan froze, then turned around abruptly, his hand gripping the woodcutter's knife, veins bulging.

He breathed a sigh of relief after seeing who it was.

It is Chen Shaoshang.

Behind Chen Shaoshang were more than a dozen men dressed in matching black outfits.

These people all had a deep and focused aura, and their temples were slightly bulging; they were clearly skilled martial artists.

Behind them were several carriages covered with thick tarpaulins, the outlines of which could be vaguely discerned as weapons.

"Fifth Senior Brother," Zhou Yuan said, bowing slightly.

"The patrol battalion ordered a batch of weapons from my shop, and I was just about to take some men to deliver them," Chen Shaoshang explained with a smile. "I didn't expect to run into you here."

Zhou Yuan was slightly shocked; even the government had to purchase weapons from Chen's weapon forging shop.

"We're going the same way, let's go together," Chen Shaoshang invited.

"it is good."

The two walked side by side, with guards and carriages following at a leisurely pace behind them.

"Junior Brother Zhou has been cultivating even more diligently lately," Chen Shaoshang remarked with apparent emotion.

"We who practice martial arts seek to defy fate and change our destiny; we cannot afford to slack off."

Zhou Yuan smiled calmly in response.

The two seemed to get along well and chatted quite congenially along the way.

Soon, we arrived at the entrance of the mud alley.

Looking at Chen Shaoshang and the entourage behind him, and then thinking about his own dilapidated house with bare walls, Zhou Yuan gave up the idea of ​​inviting the other party in for a visit.

"Fifth Senior Brother, I've arrived."

"Be careful on the road." Chen Shaoshang waved his hand.

Zhou Yuan nodded, turned and walked into the familiar, darker alley.

He arrived at his front door and was about to push it open.

Suddenly, several dark figures sprang out from the shadows beside him and surrounded him.

There were five burly men in total, each with a fierce and menacing appearance, exuding a strong aura of menace.

The leader was a one-eyed man who sized Zhou Yuan up and down, then grinned maliciously, "You're Zhou Yuan?"

Zhou Yuan's heart sank instantly.

The aura emanating from these people was far superior to that of street thugs like Wang Laizi.

"Our gang leader invited Miss Zhou over to enjoy a life of luxury, and you, you ungrateful brat, dared to hit Granny Wang?" another man said viciously.

"Today, let us brothers test the mettle of this martial arts school apprentice!"

Before he could finish speaking, the five men closed in, blocking all his escape routes.

A cold glint flashed in Zhou Yuan's eyes, and he unconsciously tightened his grip on the wood-chopping knife.

Just at this critical moment, a slightly amused voice drifted from the alley entrance.

"Junior Brother Zhou, you didn't invite me to your home for a cup of tea. I've come uninvited; I hope you won't mind?"

......