The Martial Saint rose to power starting as a substitute bridegroom.

Li Yuan pondered to himself.

These two have already witnessed his chilling aura; whether it will bring them good fortune or misfortune if word gets out is still unknown.

Moreover, we must eradicate the root of the problem and never leave any future troubles.

The moment Wu San looked up, he met Li Yuan's cold and stern gaze.

His body stiffened abruptly, the fawning expression on his face froze instantly, and the last glimmer of hope in his eyes was extinguished, replaced by a mad, poisonous flame that arose from utter despair.

He knew that this ruthless man would not give him a way out.

"Then... let's die together!"

Wu San's eyes flashed with ferocity. He roared and drew a poisoned short dagger with a dark blue glow from his waist with his left hand.

With his last ounce of strength, he flicked his wrist, and the short thorn, like a scorpion's stinger, stabbed viciously into Li Yuan's calf, which was inches away.

This attack was extremely close and from a tricky angle; an ordinary martial artist would have had no chance of dodging it.

But Li Yuan was prepared, or rather, he never relaxed for a moment.

The instant Wu San's eyes changed, his left foot suddenly rose like a tiger raising its claw, as fast as lightning. Not only did he accurately avoid the sudden attack of the poisonous thorn, but he also stomped down hard in the next moment, the sole of his shoe carrying a thousand pounds of force, heavily stepping on Wu San's wrist holding the thorn.

Click!

The cracking sound of the wrist bone breaking was clearly audible.

"Ah—!" A heart-wrenching scream rang out.

Li Yuan's eyes were as cold as iron. He didn't lift his foot from the other person's wrist. Instead, he twisted it slightly, completely crippling the other person's left hand.

At the same time, he lowered his waist, pulled his right fist to his ribs, and his hidden strength and Yuan Sha cold energy surged and converged again, instantly covering his fist with a layer of faint frost that could be seen with the naked eye.

Without the slightest hesitation, Li Yuan threw a punch.

It was still the same concise and domineering "Hungry Tiger Digs Out the Heart," but this time the distance was closer, the force was more concentrated, and the bone-chilling cold poison was almost solidified.

"puff!"

The punch landed squarely on Wu San's chest.

The sound didn't seem to hit bone; rather, it was like shattering a leather bag filled with ice water.

The screams abruptly stopped.

Wu San's eyes bulged out and his mouth was wide open, but he could no longer make a sound.

My heart felt as if it had been frozen by extreme cold and then shattered by tremendous force in that instant.

Although his chest did not collapse as dramatically as Huang Kui's, a patch of white frost quickly formed on the area where the fist struck him, and the veins beneath the skin took on a deathly bluish-gray hue, which rapidly spread outwards from the center of the fist mark.

After its body convulsed violently twice, it became completely stiff and motionless, its pupils slowly dilating, its life force completely annihilated by the domineering, cold, and malevolent aura.

Li Yuan straightened up, retracted his fist, and slowly exhaled a breath of white air carrying a faint chill.

He used almost the same method to deal with the remaining person, that rascal called Mud Monkey.

After placing the three corpses side by side, Li Yuan calmly began to deliver the final blow.

Fingertips, tinged with a chilling aura, precisely and heavily jabbed at the temples and the gaps between the cervical vertebrae; toes, imbued with hidden force, delivered a powerful, inch-force kick to vital points such as the heart and groin.

Each strike ensures complete destruction of the central nervous system, eliminating any possibility of recovery.

The wounds he delivered all exhibited an unusual, stiff, and cold color.

The butcher shop fell silent instantly, leaving only the heavy stench of blood, the lingering cold mist, and heavy breathing.

Li Yuan slowly withdrew his fist, and the gray-black aura swirling around his fist gradually dissipated.

A sharp pain shot through the wound under his ribs, but the surging internal energy and the icy yet powerful Yuan Sha Qi gave him an unprecedented sense of strength.

He coldly surveyed the chaotic shop and gathered all the money.

The bag was heavy, containing at least three hundred taels of silver ingots.

Indeed, murder and arson bring wealth and power.

Suffering won't change your fate; you can only change it by consuming people.

Huang Kui pulled out a tattered, curled booklet from his collar.

Tai Chi Palm!

The orthodox Taoist lineage.

Throughout the entire Daqian Dynasty, he was renowned for his prestige.

I just don't know why it ended up in the hands of that scoundrel Huang Kui.

But, I can't worry about that anymore.

He tucked it into his arms.

Li Yuan showed no pity. He picked up the corpses of Huang Kui and his two men and dragged them like dead dogs toward the murky stream connected to the back door of the butcher shop.

"Splash...splash..."

Heavy splashes of water echoed one after another, sending up murky spray.

The body sank quickly to the bottom of the river, leaving only a few ripples that gradually spread before the river returned to calm, as if the bloody battle had never happened.

A cold wind swept across the river, carrying the lingering faint fishy smell from the butcher shop and a barely perceptible chill.

Li Yuan stood by the river, wiping the bloodstains from his fist, his eyes deep and unfathomable.

The Sirius Gang was nipped in the bud before it could even rise to power.

……

The next day.

Yingbin Street, entrance to the Sihai Hall.

Five or six burly men knelt on the ground, their faces still showing fear and hesitation.

"Is what you're saying true? Was Huang Kui really beaten to death?"

The burly leader kowtowed deeply, his voice trembling, "It's absolutely true! It's not that we're ungrateful; it's just that Huang Kui treated us like pigs and dogs. Now that he's dead, we've come to abandon our evil ways and embrace the light!"

These burly men were the few remaining members of the Sky Wolf Gang.

Ding Zhen was stunned for a long time. Huang Kui was a genuine master of internal energy, how could he... have been beaten to death? Huang Kui was indeed arrogant and domineering, and had many enemies, but among those enemies, who had such ability?

call--

He gasped sharply, the image of Li Yuan asking him about the Heavenly Wolf Gang's strength and weaknesses flashing through his mind last night. Could it be... him?

One person killed two Ming Jin (explicit force) fighters and then another An Jin (implicit force) fighter?

How is that possible?

His heart skipped a beat.

The other burly men from the Sky Wolf Gang also kowtowed and said, "Yes, Huang Kui is indeed dead. His two henchmen, Wu San and Mud Monkey, were pulled out of the Blackwater River early this morning."

"I don't know which expert they offended, but the corpse was covered in wounds and its bones were broken."

"We hope that Chief Ding will forgive our past grievances and take us in. From now on, we are willing to serve Chief Ding faithfully, obey his every command, and devote our lives to repaying his great kindness!"

Ding Zhen hesitated for a moment, then clapped his hands and laughed loudly: "Excellent, excellent! With your help, our Four Seas Society is truly like a tiger with wings! Please move to the side hall to rest, and I, the leader, will immediately order a banquet to welcome you all!"

The burly men were overjoyed: "Thank you so much, Chief Ding!"

After the group left, Ding Zhen quietly summoned his advisor to his side and whispered, "None of these scum from the Sky Wolf Gang can be spared. Do you understand how to arrange the banquet?"

The advisor looked puzzled: "Why is that? These guys from the Sky Wolf Gang are all decent fighters, and now they're desperate. If our Four Seas Society treats them with courtesy, they'll definitely be loyal to us. It's a sure-fire way to make money."

Ding Zhen's expression was resolute: "Do as I say. Don't you even use your brain? Did Huang Kui offend any ordinary people? If I take these people in and become their backers, won't I end up like Huang Kui one day? At that time, you won't be able to escape either."

The advisor was startled, then suddenly realized: "Master Ding is truly brilliant! If our Four Seas Society can deal with those few scoundrels, we might even win the favor of that great master, and he might secretly help us in the future."

"That's exactly what I mean." Ding Zhen chuckled. "Alright, let's not talk about that anymore. Prepare a generous gift for me; I'm going to visit... an old friend. Hmm, no need, I'll have to prepare the gift myself."

Recalling the visit from his old friend yesterday, Ding Zhen felt a sudden chill for no apparent reason.

……

Green Ox Martial Arts Society.

"During the practical training session, Junior Brother Lu really broke through the encirclement of three Ming Jin disciples and even repelled them?" A group of disciples surrounded Lu Qingtuan, and one of them asked excitedly.

Although breaking through to the Dark Force stage is vastly different from the Bright Force stage, the all-out attack of three Bright Force martial artists is enough to give an Dark Force martial artist a hard time.

Lu Qing smiled and shook his head, as if it were nothing more than a trivial matter: "What is this? Master Qian is truly formidable. Even five disciples with internal energy combined couldn't last ten rounds against Master Qian."

"Master Qian?" the man asked in surprise. "Which Master Qian?"

"How many more martial arts masters are there? Of course, it's Qian Feng, the number one in Linjiang City and the leading figure of the younger generation in the Qian family," another person chimed in.

"Was Master Qian also at the instruction class?" The man was even more surprised.

"Not bad," Lu Qing said calmly. "He even personally gave me a few pointers on some moves."

Upon hearing this, everyone felt a pang of regret for not attending the instruction class and missing the opportunity to befriend Master Qian, as if they had missed a tremendous chance.

Lu Qing took out an exquisite silver waist token from his pocket; its silver light shimmered and gleamed.

"Junior Brother Lu, what is this?" someone asked in surprise.

A sharp-eyed disciple recognized it at a glance: "That's the nameplate of the 'Elite Gathering' organized by Master Qian! I've seen it on Wu Nian'an, the number one disciple of Huwei Martial Arts School, and Ye Xingci, the number one disciple of Qingfeng Martial Arts School."

The crowd erupted in uproar.

Everyone present had heard of the Elite Gathering; it was an organization founded by Qian Feng, which invited only the most promising martial arts elites from across the city to join.

Every member of this organization shone brightly in the martial arts examination that year and passed with flying colors.

These disciples have bright futures, so Qian Feng didn't hesitate to get to know them in advance and build good relationships.

And now, Lu Qing has also received this honor.

Although he had become a retainer of the Qian family, that was a different matter.

The Qian family has many retainers, but the elite group has very few members.

This means that Qian Feng is very optimistic that Lu Qing will stand out in this year's martial arts exam, obtain the title of martial arts master, and even join the Guicang Alliance to become his junior brother.

The crowd gazed at the gleaming waist badge with envy, and gasps of surprise filled the air.

Qi Xiuyuan smiled broadly, stepped forward, and cupped his hands in greeting, saying, "Junior Brother Lu, it's been a while since we last got together. How about I treat you tonight at Juedelou for a good drink?"

Upon hearing this, the previously lively scene suddenly cooled down.

Everyone wanted to see how Lu Qing would react.

The news of the previous breakup within the small circle had already spread like wildfire among the disciples, and Chen Ting has not appeared in the Qingniu Martial Arts Society since.

Lu Qing snorted coldly, treating him as if he were air, ignoring him completely, and went to chat and laugh with the disciples next to him.

At that moment, Qi Xiuyuan felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave, and his whole body froze on the spot.

From then on, Qi Xiuyuan had no face left in the Green Ox Martial Arts Society.

This time, there was no way to back down.

He clenched his fist tightly, then futilely released it.

Even though his heart was shattered into eight pieces, he still forced a smile and tried to blend into the laughter of the crowd.

Lu Qing is now a completely different person, and with Qian Feng's appreciation, his future is limitless.

What is he, a mere member of the Qi family? Besides, he is not valued in the Qi family.

He deeply felt that the distance between himself and Lu Qing was like an insurmountable chasm, which could no longer be crossed.

"Lu Qing, come in with me." Lin Chong stepped out from the inner hall and called out to the courtyard, then his face hardened. "The rest of you, continue practicing your skills. What kind of behavior is this, making such a racket!"

"Yes, Master Lin." Lu Qing smiled and walked briskly towards the inner hall.

Everyone understood that Master Lin was about to give Junior Brother Lu extra tutoring again.

Li Yuan quietly walked back to his position, calmed down, and continued to ponder the moves and fighting style.

Master Lin is currently preoccupied with other matters, so it seems that I will have to wait a while before I can report my breakthrough to the Dark Force realm.

He took out the book "Tai Chi Palm" from his pocket and began to read it.

The homepage did not contain any ordinary martial arts manuals, but only a yin-yang symbol: a black fish with white eyes and a white fish with black pupils, their heads and tails connected, flowing slowly.

The palm techniques are revealed starting from the second page.

At the very end of the book are nine ink marks, some thick, some thin, some fast, some slow, like clouds and smoke, like flowing water, like the moon shining on a cold pool.

He closed the book and shut his eyes for a moment.

When she opened her eyes again, a gentle, pearly gleam appeared in her eyes.

Tai Chi Palm (Beginner): 0/200

"So that's how it is..." he murmured to himself. "Tai Chi originates from Wuji, is the mechanism of movement and stillness, and is the mother of Yin and Yang. It does not win by force, but by intention; it does not break through with rigidity, but by yielding."

After swallowing a blood-nourishing pill, he stood up.

The setting sun casts its glow, and the shadows of the trees sway gently.

Li Yuan slowly pushed his palms out from his chest, the movement extremely slow, as if pushing a mountain.

Halfway through the palm strike, he suddenly flipped his wrist, turning the push into a pull, and with a slight turn of his body, he created a barely perceptible vortex of airflow.

The wonder of Tai Chi Palm lies in the fact that it does not set fixed moves, but only transmits nine kinds of "energy intentions": Peng, Lu, Ji, An, Cai, Lie, Zhou, Kao, plus the word "emptiness".

The nine ink marks are deeply imprinted in my mind.

At this moment, he unleashed his palm strikes, which were initially somewhat awkward, but after a moment of enlightenment, they flowed smoothly like clouds and water.

The left palm had just risen when the right palm arrived; the initial momentum had not yet subsided, but the follow-up force had already been generated, continuous and unbroken, just like the yin and yang fish in the book that are connected end to end.

Suddenly, he crossed his palms, and his body floated back three feet like a willow catkin.

It turned out that a late-fallen leaf had mistakenly entered his palm. Without thinking, he used a "sweeping" force to neutralize it, and with a flick of his wrist, the leaf "whooshed" into the tree trunk like a hidden weapon, penetrating deep into the wood.

The power of Tai Chi Palm is terrifying!

Using the force of this movement, he turned his body further, drawing a perfect circle with both palms in front of his chest, and then stood up.

Tai Chi Palm (Beginner): 10/200

Li Yuan felt a surge of joy and opened the booklet again, reading through the small annotations in the blank space on the title page once more.

"Tai Chi Palm is a basic introductory martial art of the Zhengyi School. Only with a solid foundation in the corresponding technique, 'Tai Chi Qiankun Jue,' can one achieve harmonious flow of Qi and blood within the body and unleash its full power..."

It turns out that the power of plucking leaves and sending flowers flying is not the full power of Tai Chi Palm.

If there is a corresponding foundation in the cultivation technique, the power is simply unimaginable.

But where can we find the "Tai Chi Qiankun Jue"?

The Zhengyi Sect is a legendary, secluded sect that has been unknown to the world for hundreds of years. I have no chance of having such an opportunity.

Even so, once this palm technique is mastered to perfection, its power is already terrifying.

But Li Yuan clearly felt that his energy expenditure had increased.

If we compare Qi and blood to a container, this container will continuously grow larger as one's cultivation level increases.

This results in the "quantity" that was originally enough to fill a container becoming "unsaturated" in a larger container.

Therefore, the nourishing effects of the Blood-Nourishing Pill are not sufficient to sustain the body in the long run compared to the energy expenditure from practicing martial arts.

We need to find higher-level elixirs or tonics.

……

Night gradually deepened.

Lin Chong walked out of the inner hall with a hunched back.

Although he was a master of internal energy transformation, he could not withstand the erosion of time. At this age, the decline of his qi and blood was a natural consequence.

Especially in the last two years, he has increasingly felt powerless.

However, with the martial arts exam imminent, he dared not relax or be careless in instructing Lu Qing, personally demonstrating every move and punching with all his might.

Therefore, after a busy day, one often suffers from back pain and exhaustion.

After all, Lu Qing was the only hope of the Green Ox Martial Arts Society, and his only hope in this life.

After finishing his daily instruction, he would close his eyes and rest for a while in the inner hall before returning to the front courtyard.

As dusk fell, he spotted a figure still standing in the martial arts arena.

"Who's still practicing there?" he wondered to himself.

As I got closer, I could see it clearly, and in an instant, my eyes were opened.

The young man in the arena was practicing the Tiger Form Fist. His fists whistled and whipped around, not only bringing out the essence of the fist technique to the fullest, but also causing his blood and qi to surge and make a deep sound like a rushing river.

Each punch brought with it a deep, booming sound as it tore through the air, and the force of the blows stirred up dust and sand everywhere.

You can't go wrong!

Lin Chong's eyes widened suddenly, his heart filled with unconcealed shock.

This is definitely—hidden power!