A Martial Saint in Chaotic Times: Starting with Grinding Proficiency

Chapter 95 I Want to Try

Looking at the three figures, Xue Min felt as if she had fallen into an ice cave.

Zhao Qingfeng! Duan Fei!

In the patrol battalion's files, these two names meant blood and fire.

As a centurion, she had led teams to wipe out bandits in Black Wind Mountain many times, and she was well aware of the two men's notorious reputation.

Bloodthirsty Saber Zhao Qingfeng, Long-Armed Ape Duan Fei.

Both were renowned experts in the Marrow Cleansing Realm, and were also the chief and deputy chief of the Azure Dragon Stronghold, which ranked first among the Black Wind Twelve Strongholds. It would not be an exaggeration to say that they were the top two figures among the Black Wind Mountain bandit leaders.

How did they get here?

Xue Min's heart sank, and she subconsciously turned her head to look at Zhou Yuan.

"Did you expect this all along?"

Her voice was a little hoarse, but her beautiful eyes were fixed on the high place, her whole body tense and on high alert.

The question Zhou Yuan had just asked her about the comparison of strength in the Marrow Cleansing Realm was now echoing in her mind.

"I had some guesses, but I didn't expect three to come." Zhou Yuan's voice was very calm, as if he were talking about something trivial that had nothing to do with him.

He had indeed anticipated that there must be an ambush here, and there might even be a Marrow Cleansing Realm expert in charge.

But this is a bit too much.

Three marrow cleansing experts, nearly ten tendon-changing experts, and hundreds of other martial artists of considerable strength were present to support the operation.

This situation was several times more terrifying than when Wei Tianhe led his men to ambush and kill him.

you----

Upon hearing this, Xue Min felt a tightness in her chest.

But when she thought about how she had just boasted to Zhou Yuan that she could withstand a hundred moves from a Marrow Cleansing Realm cultivator, she swallowed back her complaints.

The so-called challenge was nothing more than relying on family secret techniques to barely manage to hold their own.

If it really came down to a life-or-death struggle, she had no chance of winning.

What's more, there are three now!

It's still the infamous Zhao Qingfeng and Duan Fei!

Even if the commander of the patrol battalion were to personally come, he might not dare to say that he could win against these two.

Today's situation is the most dangerous she has faced since joining the army.

Unlike Xue Min's solemn expression, Zhou Yuan merely glanced at the high place before focusing his attention on his surroundings.

He wanted to know even more: who was behind this scheme?

Or rather, who were involved?

His eyes searched the crowd and quickly locked onto several men in black whose attire was completely different from that of the bandits.

These people exuded a calm and collected aura, and their positions subtly excluded the bandits, clearly indicating that they were not of the same ilk.

Since they are not bandits, they must be people from Luochuan City.

Wei Tianhe?

The thought flashed through my mind.

It's perfectly reasonable for Wei Tianhe to lure Dong Mo out of the city to kill him, given Dong Mo's Blood Exchange Realm strength.

However, upon closer inspection, Zhou Yuan discovered that the aura of the black-robed man at the Marrow Cleansing Realm was completely different from that of the black-robed man Wei Tianhe had impersonated that day.

To his surprise, there was another figure standing next to the man in black robes, wearing a straw raincoat and a bamboo hat.

The man carried a broadsword on his back, and his figure gradually overlapped with the fleeting figure in the rain outside the Drunken Spring Pavilion that day.

From crippling Wang Tengfei to today's attempt to kill me, this person is still around.

Who exactly is he?

Just as Zhou Yuan was pondering, Xue Min, who was standing next to him, had already forced herself to calm down.

The last trace of shock faded from her face, replaced by the composure befitting a daughter of a military family.

She stepped forward and spoke loudly.

"Boss Zhao, how have you been? I thought you were just a vicious bandit leader, but you were a man of principle. I never expected you'd resort to such underhanded tricks!"

On the high platform, a man wearing a bronze mask in the center merely glanced at her upon hearing this.

"So it's a girl from the Xue family. What a pleasant surprise."

Zhao Qingfeng's voice was devoid of any emotion.

"I, Zhao Qingfeng, the Bloodthirsty Mad Blade, do not need schemes or tricks in my actions."

He paused, and a chilling aura suddenly rose within him.

"However, Zhou Yuan killed my child. Without some means, how could he possibly step out of Luochuan City? And how can I avenge my son!"

As soon as the words fell, a terrifying aura belonging to a Marrow Cleansing Realm expert suddenly erupted, pressing down on the square like a mountain torrent.

His gaze passed through Xue Min, like two poisoned daggers, fixed firmly on Zhou Yuan.

An overwhelming killing intent swept over us.

Zhou Yuan remained calm, looking back at Zhao Qingfeng with little emotion in his heart.

It's nothing more than colluding with forces within the city, working together from the inside and outside, to avenge the murder of his son.

What intrigued him more were the identities of the group of men in black and the mysterious man in the straw raincoat.

"I'll lead the patrol soldiers to hold them off. You immediately take Lü Chong and rush out to report!"

Xue Min felt her blood churning under the pressure of Zhao Qingfeng's aura, but she forced herself to endure it and quickly gave orders to Zhou Yuan.

This is the only safe option at the moment.

"Hmm—" Zhou Yuan pondered, "I want to give it a try—"

"I'm not asking for your opinion, this is an order!"

Xue Min abruptly interrupted him, exuding the authority of a centurion of the patrol battalion.

As the highest-ranking official in the area, she had the authority to command everyone present.

"I know that you were able to reverse the Yi Jin stage when you were in the Bone Forging stage. Now that you have broken through the Yi Jin stage, you may really have the strength to challenge the Marrow Cleansing stage just like me."

"But you must understand that so-called challenges are merely attempts to put up a fight! How can you possibly fight a true master of marrow cleansing head-on?"

Moreover, there are three of them!

"All I can do is rely on the army to fight for our survival!"

Xue Min raised her eyebrows and glared at Zhou Yuan.

If it weren't for Zhou Yuan's considerable strength and his status as a member of the Patrol and Inspection Division, she wouldn't have bothered to say another word.

Military orders are absolute and cannot be questioned.

Zhou Yuan was slightly taken aback.

The woman before me truly possessed the demeanor of a daughter of a military family; she remained calm in the face of danger and acted decisively.

Her assessment seems to be the best solution at present.

However, she miscalculated one thing.

Zhou Yuan today is not just someone who can "challenge" those in the Marrow Cleansing Realm.

"Form ranks!"

Xue Min ignored Zhou Yuan and turned around to shout sternly.

Dozens of armored soldiers behind him moved at the command, quickly forming a tight circular formation to protect Zhou Yuan and the seriously injured Lü Chong in the center.

The patrol battalion was able to suppress the merchant alliance and deter mountain bandits, not only because of its skilled fighters, but also because of the close cooperation among its soldiers.

This was Xue Min's last resort.

"Hmph, if it were a fully-equipped patrol battalion, I'd be a little wary. But these few dozen scrawny bastards think they can stop us?"

Duan Fei, standing to the side, let out a sneer, his face full of disdain.

"Boss, no need for you to do it! I'll lead the brothers to charge ahead and break through this tortoise-shell formation!"

"It'll be a good opportunity to see just how good this Xue family girl is at challenging the Marrow Cleansing Technique!"

After saying that, Duan Fei shouted loudly, grabbed a wrought iron rod, and led a group of bandits to charge towards the army formation.

"Master Du," Zhao Qingfeng said, his eyes never leaving Zhou Yuan, "I trouble you to guard the path down the mountain and not let anyone escape."

"it is good."

The marrow cleansing realm martial artist in black robes responded in a hoarse voice.

He was none other than Du Chong, the owner of Changsong Martial Arts School!

With a wave of his hand, Du Chong led the men in black behind him straight toward the exit of Yanling Fort.

"Zhou Yuan! What are you standing there for! This is a military order; anyone who disobeys will be punished according to military law!"

Seeing that her retreat was blocked, and Zhou Yuan remained unmoved, Xue Min became extremely anxious and shouted loudly.

"Commander Xue, your opponent is me!"

Duan Fei grinned maliciously as he charged forward, his iron cudgel whipping up a fierce gust of wind as he engaged Xue Min in a fierce battle.

Instantly, shouts of battle filled the air.

Zhou Yuan ignored Xue Min's orders and simply observed the battle unfolding before him with a cold eye.

His consciousness sank into his mind, and a virtual panel unfolded before his eyes.

[Realm: Body Tempering Three Stages - Tendon Strengthening]

[Technique: Six Harmonies Stance Exercise (Minor Success)] [Progress: 14/3000]

[Martial Arts Skill: Mountain-Shaking Fist (Fourth Level)] [Progress: 23/3000]

[Martial Skill: Treading Snow Without Leaving a Trace (Third Level)] [Progress: 657/1000]

[Martial Arts Skill: Bone-Melting Palm (Third Level)] [Progress: 765/1000]

[Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill (Second Level)] [Progress: 13/1000]

The second level of the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill requires a force of six thousand jin.

Three Marrow Cleansing treatments should be enough, right?

Just then, an extremely cold killing intent descended without warning.

Zhao Qingfeng appeared before Zhou Yuan without anyone noticing, his eyes, hidden behind the bronze mask, shooting out two extremely venomous beams of cold light.