Breaking Limits in Martial Arts: Grinding Your Way to Becoming a Martial Saint in a Chaotic Era

The Huanglong River is the lifeline of Qinghe County, but it is also a sword hanging over everyone's head.

During the years Xu Qing grew up in Heishui Bay, he heard countless legends about this great river.

He stood in the courtyard, gazing at the hazy sky to the south, and the image of the river slowly surfaced in his mind.

The Yellow Dragon River, stretching for three thousand miles, rushes out from the towering mountains of the northwest, like a truly enraged yellow dragon, splitting through thousands of mountains and valleys, roaring all the way eastward to the sea.

The river is dozens of miles wide at its widest point, with green mountains standing opposite each other on both banks. The river water is turbid like mud, carrying silt and gravel from upstream, vast and majestic.

During the dry season, the river is still turbulent, and during the rainy season, the turbulent waves are even more turbulent, capable of uprooting large trees that are as thick as a person's embrace on the bank.

Old fishermen often say that there are three dangers on the Huanglong River: hidden reefs, rapids, and river bandits.

The reefs are hidden at the bottom of the river, invisible and intangible; if a boat hits one, it will leave a hole.

The rapids swirl and pull you downstream at several bends, making it impossible for even the best swimmers to escape.

Not to mention the river bandits, who entrenched themselves on several small islands in the middle of the river, appearing and disappearing without a trace, and the government has tried to eradicate them countless times but has failed to wipe them out completely.

The Huanglong River has numerous tributaries, which spread across the land of Qinghe County like a large net.

One of the tributaries forks to the north, where the current slows and the water narrows, meandering through a reed bed to form a shallow bend. That is Blackwater Bay. The place where Xu Qing grew up is just one of the most inconspicuous corners among the countless tributaries of the Yellow Dragon River.

Another important tributary is the Qingshui River.

Unlike Heishuiwan, Qingshuihe has clear water, a slow flow, and fertile land on both banks, making it the main source of irrigation water for Qinghe County.

The Qinghe Wharf was built on the banks of the Qingshui River, only three miles from the south gate of the county town. Dozens of cargo ships were moored at the wharf all year round, and grain, cloth, medicinal herbs and southern goods were loaded and unloaded here.

The moat of the county town is fed by water diverted from the Qingshui River. A channel of fresh water flows around the town, protecting it and providing sustenance for its inhabitants.

Xu Qing frowned slightly, a vague unease creeping into her heart.

The Wu family's boat was robbed on the Huanglong River. Tens of thousands of taels of silver worth of goods were lost. The people, the boat, and the goods were all gone; the losses were enormous.

The Wu family are affiliated with the county magistrate's faction. Two days ago at the Golden Carp Gathering, the magistrate's faction suffered a major humiliation, and today the Wu family's merchant ship was robbed.

Is it a coincidence?

Xu Qing couldn't quite put her finger on it, but she inexplicably felt that things weren't that simple.

......

That afternoon, Xu Qing was urgently summoned back to the yamen.

Officer Qi was waiting for him in the signing room, with an official document spread out in front of him and a bowl of tea that had gone cold beside him.

Seeing Xu Qing enter, he skipped the pleasantries and went straight to the point: "Have you heard about the Wu family's situation?"

"I've heard about it," Xu Qing nodded.

"The Wu family is getting anxious and is urging the county magistrate to suppress the bandits." Constable Qi rubbed his temples, looking somewhat tired. "I thought Magistrate Lin would make excuses and at least drag things out for a few days. I didn't expect him to agree so readily."

"You agreed?" Xu Qing frowned slightly. The Wu family and the county magistrate were on the opposite side, and he didn't believe the magistrate would do something thankless, at least not so readily.

"I've agreed." Constable Qi leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on Xu Qing's face. "Not only have I agreed, but I've also asked Commandant Lu to send troops. Commandant Lu has already agreed to send two hundred soldiers, who will depart in seven days."

He shook his head: "What's even more amazing is that... the magistrate's third son, Lin Mu, volunteered to personally lead the team to suppress the bandits."

Xu Qing didn't speak.

Officer Qi lowered his voice: "You know Lin Mu, he never does anything without benefit. Suppressing bandits is a difficult and dangerous task, and as the son of a county magistrate, he shouldn't have to go himself, but he insisted on going."

Xu Qing's brows furrowed even more.

Officer Qi glanced at him and sighed, "I won't lie to you. Most of the people in the yamen are going to suppress the bandits this time. That's why I summoned you. You're on temporary assignment in the yamen, and now is the time for you to serve Qinghe County. No one can refuse. I'm going too."

Xu Qing nodded: "I understand."

Officer Qi stood up, walked over to him, and patted him on the shoulder: "When we get to the river, stick close to me. With me here, I'll keep you safe."

When he said this, Constable Qi's voice was very calm, but his confidence was undeniable, like a knife hidden in its sheath, whose sharpness could be known just by looking at the hilt.

After leaving the government office, Xu Qing walked back to the martial arts school. The unease in his heart not only did not subside, but grew heavier and heavier.

He suddenly remembered what Lin Mu had said at Fu Rui Lou: "You chose this path yourself, so don't regret it."

Lin Mu volunteered to lead the bandit suppression campaign, but he himself happened to be conscripted...

Xu Qing clenched his fist and quickened his pace.

Whether it's aimed at him or not, he has to go. Since he can't avoid it, he might as well be prepared.

Back at the martial arts school, Xu Qing told Zhao Yan what had happened.

Zhao Yan remained silent for a long time before finally saying, "Be careful in everything. Once we're on the river, far from the emperor's reach, anything can happen."

Xu Qing nodded: "Don't worry, Master, I know what I'm doing."

Zhao Yan looked at him, his gaze lingering on his face for a moment, then suddenly turned and went into the inner room.

He took out a long box from a hidden compartment and handed it to Xu Qing.

"This is a blood ginseng that I obtained in my early years," Zhao Yan said calmly. "I don't have much use for it anymore. Let the kitchen cook it tonight. The river is dangerous; the more strength we have, the more secure we are."

Xu Qing had no idea how much this blood ginseng was worth. He had never seen it before, and he had never even heard of its name.

Judging from Zhao Yan's precious appearance, this blood ginseng was obviously extremely valuable, probably even rarer than tiger bone pills.

He did not refuse, but solemnly accepted the long box, held it with both hands, bowed deeply, and only straightened up after a long while: "Thank you, Master."

"Go ahead." Zhao Yan waved his hand and smiled gently. "Practice hard these next few days."

That evening, the kitchen staff prepared the blood ginseng.

After drinking the ginseng soup, one's qi and blood immediately surged.

The heat didn't explode from the dantian like the Tiger Bone Pill, but rose from the stomach, like a tide, surging outward wave after wave, each wave higher and stronger than the last.

The medicinal effects of blood ginseng are even more potent than those of tiger bone pills. It's not the burning sensation of strong liquor, but the scalding heat of lava, burning from the inside out, as if it's about to set the whole person ablaze.

The surge of heat within my body lasted for a day and a night before gradually subsiding.

Xu Qing's progress in the Three Talents Stakes is soaring like a rocket.

【Three Talents Stance (Minor Success): 184/200】

The progress increased by forty points in one go, which is more than double that of Tiger Bone Pill by ten points.

I'm only sixteen points away from breaking through to the Dark Force level.

Even without elixirs, he could break through to the Dark Force realm within ten days through sheer hard work. With the help of medicinal soups and elixirs, this speed would naturally be even faster.

However, he can no longer take tiger bone pills.

Master said that Ming Jin martial artists cannot take Tiger Bone Pills consecutively. The loss of medicinal efficacy is secondary; improper use could very well damage their foundation, and if that happens, it will be a serious problem.

The interval between two Tiger Bone Pills should be at least seven days.

Xu Qing wasn't in a hurry. There were still seven days until the bandit suppression was over, and he had taken the last Tiger Bone Pill yesterday, so there was enough time.

Even if he doesn't take Tiger Bone Pill, he can still take Qi and Blood Pills and drink herbal soup; he has plenty of time.

......

Time flies, and six days have passed.

For six days, Xu Qing locked himself in the training ground, practicing standing meditation, punching, punching, and standing meditation repeatedly without stopping.

Sweat soaked the blue brick floor again and again, and the footprints became deeper and deeper.

That night, the moon was very bright, as bright as a bronze mirror hanging overhead.

Xu Qing stood on the training ground, sweat pouring down his body, his stance as steady as if nailed to the ground.

His breathing was long and deep, with each inhale and exhale causing his blood and energy to surge like a tidal wave, seemingly about to burst forth. It was like the water behind a dam, rising to the cracks in the dike, ready to overflow at any moment.

【Three Talents Stance (Minor Success): 199/200】

Just a little bit more.

The gate to hidden strength was right before him; he wasn't imagining it, he could truly feel it. He was just one step away from achieving it. He hadn't even taken the Tiger Bone Pill yet; the effects of the Qi and Blood Pill were still present.

Simply refine it, and the task will be completed naturally.

If it were someone else, they would often get stuck at this stage due to bottlenecks.

Countless martial arts practitioners are stuck at the peak of Ming Jin, unable to overcome that hurdle in their entire lives. Even if they manage to break through, there are considerable risks involved, such as reversed Qi and blood flow and disordered meridians. At best, their Qi and blood are damaged; at worst, their meridians are broken. One wrong move and their life is ruined.

But Xu Qing is not afraid.

His golden touch is his source of confidence.

Once the progress bar is full, he can break through without any risk. He doesn't need to worry about failing to pass a level or experiencing any backflow of qi and blood.

As time goes by, one's Qi and blood become increasingly abundant.

Finally, the line of numbers in my mind jumped—

【Three Talents Stance (Mastery): 1/1000】

In that instant, the whole world fell silent.

A warm current rose from the dantian, not the violent heat of Tiger Bone Pill, nor the surging tide of Blood Ginseng, but a gentle, lingering power that seeped from the very bones.

It is not as forceful and outward as Ming Jin, but a more subtle and unpredictable power, as formless as water and as sharp as a needle.

It can penetrate from the most unexpected places and explode in the most vulnerable spot.

The hidden strength has been achieved!