Becoming a Saint Starting with the Chasing Wind Leg Technique

Chapter 122 Struggle

The inner city, the Nie family.

As a medium-sized family that established itself in the inner city through the escort agency business, the Nie family had accumulated a considerable fortune over generations.

The "Wild Wind" banner of the Nie Family Escort Agency is a well-known brand in several surrounding cities.

According to ancestral rules, the security escort agency and family businesses are jointly managed by the eldest and second sons, with profits divided equally, in order to maintain harmony within the family bloodline.

However, this balance, which had been maintained for nearly a century, was completely shattered as the ambition of Nie Yuntian, the head of the first branch of the family, expanded.

On this day, Nie Yuntian summoned the entire clan in the ancestral hall and, in front of the second branch patriarch Nie Yundi and a group of clan elders, made a shocking statement.

"The world is becoming increasingly turbulent, and the escort agency is struggling, with expenses rising daily. My eldest branch works tirelessly to maintain the agency, while the second branch reaps the benefits without contributing. If this continues, it will not only drag down the agency but also the entire Nie family!" Nie Yuntian's voice was cold and hard as his gaze swept over the second branch members, whose expressions had drastically changed. "For the long-term benefit of the family, I propose a division of the family! The escort agency and all family assets will be managed and operated by my eldest branch. As for the second branch, out of consideration for our kinship, they can receive a sum of money and fend for themselves!"

These words caused an uproar in the room.

"Nie Yuntian! How dare you!" Nie Yundi, the second branch of the family, slammed his fist on the table, his face flushed with rage. "The escort agency is our ancestral business! How dare you swallow it up like this? Dividing the family? You're trying to wipe out the lineage of my second branch! I will never allow it!"

"You won't agree?" Nie Yuntian sneered, his eyes looking down at the family. "What have you accomplished all these years? Besides squandering the ancestral property, have you brought any glory to the family? Keeping you around is the biggest burden on the Nie family! My mind is made up today. You have to agree to this division of the family, whether you like it or not!"

"You—you're committing robbery!" Nie Yundi trembled, turning to the clan elders. "Uncles and elders, you must uphold justice!"

The elders exchanged glances. Nie Yuntian was powerful, and his son Nie Feng was a prominent figure among the younger generation in the inner city. Most of them remained silent, not daring to express their opinions easily.

Seeing that no one supported the second branch of the family, Nie Yuntian became even more smug. He softened his tone, but it still carried an undeniable pressure: "Fine, for the sake of our shared lineage, I'll compromise again. We can stay together, but the future profits of the escort agency must be redistributed: my branch will take 80%, and your branch will take 20%. This is the bottom line. If you don't accept it, don't blame me for not showing any mercy!"

Eighty percent! This is blatant robbery! The second son's family members were furious, but dared not speak out.

Nie Yundi's eyes were bloodshot as he stared intently at Nie Yuntian: "Nie Yuntian, you've gone too far! The equal division of ancestral property is a rule established by our ancestors! How dare you arbitrarily alter it!"

"Rules?" Nie Yuntian sneered, standing up with a hint of his Refining Body Realm aura emanating from him. "Rules are rigid, but people are flexible! If you're not satisfied, we'll follow the rules of the martial world! In a duel on the arena, the winner takes all! Your second branch can bring three outside helpers. As long as they can defeat my first branch, let alone an 80% chance, I, Nie Yuntian, will hand over the position of head of this family to you without a second thought! If you lose, you'd better obediently accept that 80% chance and shut up!"

Ask for outside help? Nie Yundi's heart sank. This was clearly a dead end! The eldest branch had Nie Feng, an elite disciple of the Kuangfeng Martial Arts School, whose cultivation had reached the Flesh Refining Realm, and was said to be not far from the middle stage. He was powerful and was hailed as a top genius second only to the "Eight Talents of the Inner City".

What can the second wife use to hire a foreign aid who can surpass Nie Feng?

Among the prominent masters in the inner city, who would be willing to offend the powerful first wife and the promising Nie Feng for the sake of the weak second wife?

If they agree to the duel, they will undoubtedly lose and suffer further humiliation; if they refuse, they will have to accept these terms that are almost predatory, and the second wife will never have a chance to recover.

Seeing Nie Yuntian's smug grin and the arrogant demeanor of the eldest son's brothers, Nie Yundi felt his blood rush to his head and his vision go black.

He knew that the Nie family was truly about to undergo a major upheaval.

"Fine! Fine! Nie Yuntian, since you're going to throw caution to the wind, my second branch will fight to the bitter end!" Nie Yundi roared, as if using all his strength. "A ring it is! Two months from now, at the West City Military Training Ground, let's settle this once and for all!"

"Great!" Nie Yuntian clapped his hands and laughed. "Then it's settled! We'll see who's the real fighter in the ring two months from now! I want to see what kind of scum your second branch can get! Hahahaha!"

After the eldest son's family left, the second son's residence was shrouded in gloom and despair.

Nie Yundi seemed to have aged ten years overnight, sitting in the hall, silent for a long time.

The brothers of the second wife were either resentful, desperate, or sobbing softly.

"Father, how could we possibly find outside help to defeat Nie Feng?" Nie Yundi's eldest son, Nie Shuli, asked hoarsely.

He was nearly thirty years old and had only recently broken through to the early stage of the Flesh Refining Realm by sheer luck. He was already a top combatant in the second branch, but he knew very well that the gap between him and Nie Feng was like an insurmountable chasm.

Nie Feng's skills are stronger, his cultivation is deeper, and his combat experience is richer; he is no match for him.

"Yes, Uncle, Nie Feng is incredibly strong. It's said that he's rarely matched among the younger generation in the inner city, except for the 'Eight Talents of the Inner City,' and we—" The other disciples chimed in, their voices filled with despair.

"Perhaps—we could try asking the Commandant's Office to uphold justice?" someone suggested tentatively.

Nie Shuli shook his head with a wry smile: "The Commandant's Office has never interfered in the internal strife within the Nie family. Besides, Nie Yuntian must have already taken care of things. We are just ordinary people with little influence; how could we possibly persuade him?"

Just when everyone was at a loss, Nie Shuli suddenly remembered someone. He hesitated for a moment, then said to his father, "Father, perhaps I—could try to find someone. But—the hope is slim."

"Who?" Nie Yundi raised his head, a faint hope in his eyes.

"Song Jing from the Chasing Wind Martial Arts School," Nie Shuli said. "This man has recently gained fame in the outer city. I heard that he killed two evil cultivators at the Body Refining Realm, and his strength is unfathomable. I have met him a few times."

"Song Jing?" A glint flashed in Nie Yundi's eyes, then dimmed. "This kid does have some reputation, but who is Nie Feng? No matter how strong Song Jing is, can he be stronger than the elite carefully trained by the Kuangfeng Martial Arts Academy? Besides, we have no relation to him. Why would he offend Nie Feng and the eldest son's family for our sake?"

This is precisely the problem.

The second wife is weak and has limited resources to pay.

To get someone like Song Jing to help would not only come at a huge cost, but also risk offending the main branch of the family.

"We have to try, no matter what," Nie Shuli said through gritted teeth. "I'll go find him and sound him out. Even if it doesn't work out, it's better than sitting here and waiting to die."

Nie Shuli did not seek help directly.

He was very thoughtful and wanted to assess Song Jing's capabilities first.

Coincidentally, he heard that Song Jing had recently been in the inner city, seemingly looking for someone to spar with and hone his martial arts skills.

So, through his connections, he extended an invitation to Song Jing to spar.

The location is a secluded private martial arts arena in the inner city.

Song Jing gladly accepted the invitation.

He needed a suitable opponent to test the results of his recent training, especially the partially completed Nine Shadow Steps and the increasingly refined Wildfire Spear Technique.

As the legitimate son of the second branch of the Nie family, Nie Shuli's newly advanced flesh-refining realm serves as a good touchstone.

The two stood facing each other in the training ground.

"Young Master Song, please enlighten me." Nie Shuli cupped his hands, his expression solemn. Although he did not believe that Song Jing could defeat him, the other party's record was outstanding, so he dared not be careless. He immediately used his family's sword technique, the sword light was sharp, and it carried the solid true energy of a martial artist in the Body Refining Realm.

Song Jing did not use any weapons, but only responded with the Wind and Thunder Leg Technique.

Legs moved like whips, swift as thunder, weaving through the flashing blades, occasionally clashing head-on with dull impacts.

Nie Shuli grew increasingly alarmed as the fight progressed. His opponent was clearly only at the Bronze Skin Realm cultivation level.

What he sensed was that the strength was only at the level of the Body Refining Realm, and the vigor of the blood and the strength of the power were actually not inferior to his own!

What's even more terrifying is its speed and agility!

Song Jing's figure was elusive, like a ghost, often dodging deadly attacks at the last possible moment.

What he found even more unbelievable was that the opponent's footwork faintly resembled the secret Nine Shadow Step, a technique not passed down by the Mad Wind Martial Arts School!

Moreover, the blurry afterimage remaining from the differentiation clearly showed that it had already reached a certain level of completion!

"How is this possible?!" Nie Shuli's heart was filled with shock. "The Nine Shadow Steps are incredibly difficult to master! How long has he only had the technique? I heard it's only been a little over a month, and he's already—achieved a minor success?!"

Startled, Nie Shuli pushed his cultivation to its limit, making his swordsmanship even faster.

However, Song Jing seemed to be handling it with ease.

Xiao Cheng's Nine Shadow Steps, combined with his perfected Chasing Wind Leg Technique, achieved a terrifying speed.

Nie Shuli's knife was always a beat too slow.

"Bang!"

Finally, Song Jing spotted an opening, unleashed the Nine Shadow Steps, instantly creating afterimages as his true form cut into the inner circle, delivering a "Thunderclap Kick" to Nie Shuli's hastily defending blade.

"clang!"

Nie Shuli dropped his long sword, staggered back more than ten steps, and fell to the ground with a thud. His blood and qi churned, and he couldn't catch his breath for a long time.

We lost!

I, a mere Body Refining Realm cultivator, was actually defeated by someone at the Bronze Skin Realm!

Moreover, the opponent did not use any weapons!

Nie Shuli sat on the ground, staring blankly at the composed Song Jing, his face filled with shock, bewilderment, and a hint of indescribable excitement.

"Brother Nie, you flatter me." Song Jing came over and reached out to help him up.

"Young Master Song—" Nie Shuli's voice was hoarse, "You—your Nine Shadow Steps have actually reached a minor level of mastery? And that leg technique just now—"

Song Jing nodded: "I've been lucky enough to gain some insight. The Nine Shadow Steps are indeed profound."

A stroke of luck? Nie Shuli smiled bitterly to himself. After the initial shock, a thought surged into his mind: perhaps there really would be a turning point in the arena a month or two later!

The young man before me possesses combat strength far exceeding that of an ordinary early-stage Body Refinement Realm cultivator! Perhaps, he truly can fight Nie Feng?

Thinking of this, Nie Shuli's heart pounded. He looked at Song Jing, took a deep breath, and solemnly clasped his hands in a fist and palm salute: "Young Master Song, your skill is superb, I admire you! To be honest, besides sparring, I have another important matter to ask of you today."

He recounted the whole story of the internal strife within the Nie family, the coercion of the eldest branch, the desperation of the second branch, and their agreement to a duel in the arena two months later.

Finally, he said earnestly, "Young Master Song, I know this is a difficult task. Nie Feng is incredibly powerful and has a powerful background."

My second branch is weak and cannot offer a reward that will satisfy you, young hero—but the lives, honor, and disgrace of dozens of people in my second branch all depend on this.

I muster my courage and earnestly request that, young hero, you lend a hand to my second branch of the family two months from now!

Regardless of success or failure, my entire second branch of the family will forever be grateful! Of course, young hero, you may refuse; I will have no complaints whatsoever!

After saying that, he lowered his head deeply, feeling uneasy.

After listening, Song Jing remained silent for a moment.

He really didn't want to get involved in the family feud, especially since his opponent was an inner-city genius.

But Nie Shuli's honesty and despair stirred his compassion. Moreover, the other party was a member of Nie Shuli's clan, so they had some connection.

More importantly, he needs a strong opponent to hone his skills!

Nie Feng is undoubtedly an excellent target.

There are risks, but also opportunities. If we can win the battle, we can not only repay the favor, but also perhaps gain assistance.

Seeing Song Jing hesitate, Nie Shuli's heart sank lower and lower. Was it really too much to ask?

Just when he was almost in despair, Song Jing spoke up, his voice calm: "Brother Nie, I am aware of this matter. I will be there in two months."

Nie Shuli looked up abruptly, incredulous: "Young Master Song! You—you agreed?!"

"Hmm." Song Jing nodded. "However, I have a condition."

"Young hero, please speak! If the second branch can do it, we will not refuse!" Nie Shuli's voice trembled with excitement.

"I need further guidance on mastering the Wildfire Spear Technique," Song Jing said. "Also, I've heard that the Nie family possesses a unique weapon-tempering material called Star-Patterned Iron Essence," which can significantly enhance a weapon's toughness and explosive power. If I succeed in the attack, I hope to obtain both of these items."

Upon hearing this, Nie Shuli was first taken aback, then overjoyed! The fact that he had a request meant that he was truly willing to help and was confident in his ability to do so!

"No problem!" Nie Shuli said without hesitation. "My second uncle, Nie Zhu, is a master of spear techniques and can certainly give you valuable guidance, young hero! As for the Star Pattern Iron Essence," he paused slightly, then gritted his teeth and said, "this item is extremely rare. My entire Nie family only has a few taels in stock."

However, if you can help my second branch win the arena and preserve our foundation, I guarantee in the name of the young master of the second branch that I will obtain a spear for you to refine!

When this item is incorporated into a weapon, it greatly increases its toughness, making it more resilient to violent blood energy and boosting its burst damage several times over—far surpassing ordinary high-grade blood weapons!

Increase weapon explosive power several times over and enhance resilience!

This is exactly what Song Jing needs right now!

His Wildfire Spear Technique is fierce and violent, putting a great strain on the spear. If he were to use this item to temper it, he would undoubtedly be able to unleash the full power of his spear technique and even compete with the expensive weapons of those inner city prodigies!

If his weapon can match that of the scions of prominent families, then he will have a better chance of entering the Pingtian Gate in this martial arts competition!

Song Jing thought that if he had the support of pills after February, he would definitely be able to break through to the Flesh Refining Realm before the Martial Arts Competition. Even without pills, he could still break through to the Flesh Refining Path Realm.

If he breaks through to the Flesh Refining Realm, he should have no problem defeating Nie Feng with his superior blood weapon.

A glint flashed in his eyes, and without further hesitation, he extended his hand: "In that case, we'll meet in the arena two months from now. I'll fight for the second branch of the family then."

Nie Shuli gripped Song Jing's hand tightly, trembling with emotion: "Thank you so much, young hero! Words cannot express my gratitude! If you need anything within the next two months, please don't hesitate to ask! My second branch will do everything in our power!"