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

The next day, Huichuntang.

Upon seeing Li Yuan, the old shopkeeper's expression immediately brightened. He hurriedly put down his work and greeted him with clasped hands.

"Uncle Fan, you are a man of great knowledge and experience. I'd like to ask you about a medicinal pill called 'Minor Nourishing Essence Pill.' Have you ever heard of it?" Li Yuan asked directly.

There was no trace of this kind of pill on the shelves of this pharmacy.

"The Lesser Qi-Nourishing Pill," Manager Fan stroked his graying beard, lowering his voice, "is a treasure used by internal energy martial artists to aid their cultivation. It's extremely rare, and only the Divine Hand Valley under the jurisdiction of the Guicang Alliance can refine it. Once such an item becomes available, it's snapped up by those powerful families long ago; how could it possibly end up on the shelves of the pharmacy?"

"So, it's priceless? May I ask, Uncle Fan, what's the approximate market value for this one?" Li Yuan asked curiously.

"You could occasionally find them on the black market before, and if you were lucky, you could get one for a hundred taels of silver. But now, with the martial arts exam just around the corner, the price has naturally gone up, and it'll start at least at five hundred taels of silver."

Li Yuan gasped.

Five hundred taels of silver is enough to rent a small to medium-sized house in the city.

But then he thought about it again. After taking the pill that Master Lin had given him last night, he was full of energy all night long, and his Dragon Form Fist had even faintly touched the threshold of minor success.

【Dragon Form Fist (Beginner): 170/200】

Without the assistance of this Lesser Qi-Nourishing Pill, the cultivation effect would probably be more than ten times worse.

With the martial arts exam just around the corner, time is of the essence.

Seeing that no one was around, Manager Fan leaned closer and whispered, "However, if Inspector Li is truly looking for it, he might as well go to the black market in the west of the city. The auction house there might have it."

"However, the auctions there are not safe. Make sure you disguise yourself before you go, so that no one recognizes you," Manager Fan leaned closer and whispered a reminder.

"Thank you for your guidance, Uncle Fan."

Li Yuan smiled bitterly to himself.

Even if it were true, it wouldn't be something a mere deputy patrol commander like him could afford.

"Uncle Fan, please get me ten bottles of Blood Nourishing Pills first."

Although the efficacy of Yixue Dan is not as good as before, it is still better than nothing.

……

Patrol battalion.

When Li Yuan was taking his shift, he ran into Sun Shoucheng, who had a furrowed brow.

Upon seeing Li Yuan, Fatty Sun's expression suddenly brightened, and his eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

"This...you've broken through to the Dark Force realm?"

"Just lucky," Li Yuan smiled slightly.

"Not bad, not bad, truly a promising young man!" Fatty Sun suppressed his shock and burst into laughter.

After all, a young man with only a second-rate aptitude and an inferior age had less than one in a hundred chance of breaking through to the Dark Force realm. Who would have thought that this kid would actually stumble upon such a slim chance?

What pleased him even more was that a business deal that had been troubling him seemed to have finally come to fruition.

"Perfect timing, I have an important matter for you to handle."

"What is it?"

"Send a few extremely important items to Qianjiabao outside the city."

Li Yuan frowned slightly: "Since it's something important, why doesn't the patrol chief send a regular constable from the yamen to deliver it?"

Sun Shoucheng pondered for a moment, then raised his hand and patted Li Yuan on the shoulder, his tone becoming even more intimate: "In this patrol camp, you are the one I value the most, and I've never treated you like an outsider. I'll tell you this—but you absolutely mustn't tell anyone else."

He sighed and continued, "Our magistrate and the county constable were both promoted by the merchant alliance. Why would they work for the Qian family? Don't be fooled by the calm surface of Linjiang City; beneath the surface, things are already turbulent and turbulent. You've probably heard that the merchant alliance formed by the Qian family and the three powerful clans of Song, Shen, and Xie in the city appears harmonious on the surface, but they've already been fighting fiercely behind the scenes."

This wasn't just a baseless rumor; Li Yuan had heard about it before.

After all, the Qian family is the most powerful, with businesses all over Linjiang City. They can be said to have absolute power. How could the other three families be willing to remain subordinate to them for long?

The fertile land of Linjiang City is only so big; if you take one more bite, I will have one less.

Therefore, those three families had already gathered a large number of merchants to form a business alliance, secretly rivaling the Qian family.

"Since both the county magistrate and the county constable are members of the merchant alliance, they naturally wouldn't be willing to do anything for the Qian family," Sun Shoucheng said.

Li Yuan stared intently at him: "Since everyone in the yamen is from the Merchant Alliance, then, Chief Inspector, you...?"

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Fatty Sun was taken aback, then hurriedly waved his hand. "You've got the wrong idea. I'm not a member of the Qian family! It's just... cough, the reward for this 'escort' trip is just too generous—a whole thousand taels of silver..."

Li Yuan couldn't help but roll his eyes.

Sure enough, Fatty Sun lived up to his reputation for being greedy.

For the sake of a fortune, he was willing to wade barefoot into the murky waters between the merchant alliance and the Qian family.

"Take a few of your men and give them full command. It's only ten miles outside the city; you can make a round trip in a day. After it's done, we'll split the profits fifty-fifty, one thousand taels of silver each..."

As he spoke, Fatty Sun's smile became increasingly exaggerated, as if he were surrounded by piles of gleaming silver ingots.

The reward of five hundred taels of silver was just enough to buy a small Qi-nourishing pill.

"But the area outside the city is not a safe place either..." Li Yuan hesitated.

"Once you return, I will personally report your breakthrough to the Dark Force realm to Magistrate Liu, and then do a little work for you to transfer you to a formal patrol officer position in the yamen. There will be absolutely no problem," Sun Shoucheng tempted him with benefits.

Li Yuan shook his head.

Being a police officer is certainly a secure job, with guaranteed income regardless of drought or flood, and the salary isn't bad either. However, it also means that you're tied to this job and have no freedom whatsoever.

He had had enough of that 9-to-5 grind in his past life.

Sun Shoucheng gritted his teeth and said fiercely, "Fine, fine, I know you look down on that kind of thing. Here's what we'll do: as long as you complete the task perfectly, I'll double your salary to forty taels of silver per month!"

This was the best he could do within his authority.

"Forty taels of silver, even a regular constable in the yamen wouldn't get this much salary..." he muttered under his breath.

"Alright then," Li Yuan reluctantly agreed.

"We'll set off tomorrow!" Sun Shoucheng breathed a sigh of relief, inwardly cursing: Li Yuan, that kid, really is someone who won't get up early for nothing.

……

Green Ox Martial Arts Society.

The courtyard was unusually noisy today, with disciples gathered in small groups, seemingly discussing some momentous event.

"Qian Feng led his men out of the city to wipe out the mountain bandits, but unexpectedly encountered evil spirits halfway there and was severely injured!"

"Are you referring to Qian Feng, the number one martial arts master in Linjiang?"

"It was him."

"Alas, what a tragic end for a hero. I heard that Qian Feng is currently recuperating in Qianjiabao, and his injuries are quite severe; he probably only has a few days left to live..."

"The Qian family's shops and properties in the city have long been coveted by the Merchant Alliance. Now that this pillar has fallen, it's hard to say who will inherit those properties in the future."

"I heard that the Qian family has already started selling off their properties in the city and plans to withdraw entirely back to Qianjiabao."

"It seems that the world in Linjiang City is truly about to change."

Chen Ting, with a somber face, huddled alone in a corner of the courtyard, silently practicing her martial arts without uttering a word.

She hadn't shown up at the martial arts club for several days, and today, when she appeared, her expression was even more gloomy, with a cold look that ignored everyone, as if she harbored a hidden hostility towards everyone around her. She was no longer the arrogant and domineering girl she used to be.

Lu Qing leaned back in the bamboo chair, staring blankly at the clouds drifting across the sky, his face full of dejection, completely devoid of his usual spirited demeanor.

However, this is understandable, as he was, after all, a retainer of the Qian family, and now that the Qian family is in decline, it is inevitable that his future will be affected.

Especially since the martial arts exam is only a few days away.

Qi Xiuyuan's expression became quite interesting.

Although he did not participate in the loud discussion, he huddled alone in a corner, whispering with a new junior brother. The two of them would occasionally glance at Lu Qing and sometimes let out a few snickers.

Li Yuan's mind was not on these disturbances.

He went straight back to his corner and began practicing the "Dragon Form Fist" with complete focus.

With the residual medicinal power of the Minor Qi-Nourishing Pill still within his body, his progress in cultivation had a real foundation.

In just one morning, he gained a full 40 points of progress, something he would never have dared to dream of in the past.

【Dragon Form Fist (Beginner): 180/200】

However, by the afternoon, the remaining medicinal power of the Minor Nourishing Pill was completely exhausted, and the progress immediately slowed down.

【Dragon Form Fist (Beginner): 190/200】

All things considered, there are only five days left until the martial arts exam begins.

With sufficient Blood Nourishing Pills as an aid, one can push the Dragon Form Fist all the way to perfection; or cultivate the Dragon Form Fist to minor success and at the same time raise one's realm to the second level of Dark Force.

Li Yuan leaned towards the latter.

But he had no confidence in whether his current strength was enough to deal with the opponents he would face in the martial arts exam.

"Lu Qing, and Li Yuan, you two stay behind for a while before you leave," Lin Chong said slowly as he walked into the courtyard and looked around.

As soon as he finished speaking, all the disciples in the courtyard turned their gazes to Li Yuan.

As is customary, Master Lin would keep Lu Qing behind for special instruction, as he was a true disciple who had already reached the Dark Force realm and was the only hope for the Green Ox Martial Arts Society in this martial arts examination.

But today... there's an extra Li Yuan?

As soon as Master Lin turned and entered the inner hall, the courtyard erupted in chaos.

All because Yang Cheng laughed and shouted, "Junior Brother Li, congratulations! Heaven rewards the diligent, you've finally broken through to the Dark Force realm!"

A word stirred up a thousand waves.

The disciples surged towards Li Yuan like a tidal wave, completely surrounding him.

This was the first time everyone had ever looked at this usually quiet and almost invisible guy up close.

His eyes were filled with disbelief.

In everyone's general impression, Li Yuan was just an ordinary, poor boy, a disciple with mediocre talent. His ability to break through to the Ming Jin level was already considered a stroke of good luck in his life.

If there's anything that's somewhat memorable, it's probably just that his comprehension of martial arts was slightly better than others.

Breaking through to the hidden strength level? How is that possible?

However, the facts are the facts, and after careful examination, no one could harbor the slightest doubt.

Those eyes held a sharp, piercing light, like lightning carrying power;

On his bare arms, the bronze muscles were clearly defined and bulging;

The martial arts aura emanating from him was powerful and profound, and he even seemed to have grown taller by more than half a head recently, probably no less than eight feet tall.

With this kind of weather, there's probably no mistake!

"Congratulations, Junior Brother Li, on breaking through to the Dark Force realm!"

"Senior Brother Li, you're incredibly composed. You've quietly entered the realm of Dark Force..."

……

Chen Ting was slightly taken aback, glanced at it from afar, but her expression remained calm before she continued to bury herself in her cultivation.

He's just an ordinary internal strength martial artist. Her Chen family has plenty of such people, so it's not like she should be rushing to curry favor with him.

Having learned from Lu Qing's experience, she became much more cautious in choosing who to befriend.

Qi Xiuyuan, all smiles, squeezed forward, cupped his hands, and said repeatedly, "Congratulations, Junior Brother Li! Congratulations!"

As the crowd gradually dispersed, Luo Shan gracefully stepped forward, her eyes brimming with undisguised envy: "Junior Brother Li, congratulations."

Li Yuan paused slightly.

This was the quietest of all the congratulatory messages, yet it was also the one that warmed his heart the most.

He stepped forward and asked in a low voice, "Senior Sister Luo, how is your attempt to enter the gate going?"

Rosanne blushed, shook her head with a wry smile, and sighed softly, "It's still the same old story. It was just that last little bit more. I thought it would be quick, but who would have thought that such a tiny difference would be like an insurmountable chasm."

She was silent for a moment, then her voice grew even softer.

"My family's situation can't support me for much longer. If I still can't get through by the end of this month... I'm afraid I'll have to go back."

Li Yuan lowered his head, a sudden pang of sadness gripping his heart.

He had almost unconsciously come to see Rosanne as a version of himself without any special abilities.

"Senior Sister Luo, keep going! I believe in you, you can do it!"

Rosanne smiled, a smile tinged with warmth and a hint of sadness: "Yes, I will."

……

As dusk fell, the disciples gradually dispersed.

Lu Qing, Li Yuan, and Yang Cheng remained in the inner hall and waited quietly.

Lin Chong slowly walked out of the inner room and looked around at the three people: "Is everyone here?"

"Master."

He picked up his teacup and took a small sip before slowly speaking: "I have two things to tell you three before I leave you here today."

"First of all. The situation in Linjiang City is becoming increasingly murky every day. Demons have appeared, powerful clans are fighting each other, and it's clear that great chaos is imminent. You all must be extremely careful in everything you do, and do not be swayed by external disturbances. More importantly, you must absolutely avoid confronting the demons head-on." Lin Chong's expression was solemn. "I know a little about Qian Feng's strength. Even he was severely injured by the demons this time, and his life is still uncertain. If you rashly confront the demons, there is absolutely no chance of survival."

He feared that one of his hot-blooded disciples might act rashly and try to gain fame by killing demons, only to end up with no trace of his body.

After a pause, Lin Chong continued, "The second thing is that all three of you have a chance to pass the martial arts exam. Once you pass, you will have the opportunity to go to a martial arts sect for further study. If you want to go far on the path of martial arts, joining a sect is the only right way. The inheritance in Linjiang City is ultimately limited."

The three nodded in agreement, each feeling a sense of longing.

"Therefore, in these last few days, do not let your mind wander to other things. Last-minute cramming may still be useful."

Lin Chong gazed at the disciples in front of him, silently weighing the options in his mind.

Yang Cheng had followed me the longest, and his aptitude was quite good. He had a solid foundation, and his skills and techniques were all quite good, but he was not top-notch in any aspect.

In addition, his cultivation has stagnated for a long time, and he has inevitably become somewhat disheartened. Now, his mind is probably not entirely focused on martial arts.

Lu Qing's talent is nothing short of heaven-defying, and he was personally trained by me, move by move.

Lin Chong knew his strength better than anyone else. He was the most spiritual among them, and had already reached the second level of Dark Force. He was the most likely to stand out in the martial arts exam, and was even very likely to get a pretty good ranking.

Thinking of this, Lin Chong stroked his beard, and a smile unconsciously appeared on his lips.

When her gaze swept over Li Yuan, the smile inevitably dimmed slightly, and she let out a soft sigh.

This child is honest, reliable, and calm; he is indeed quite good.

However, he had only been practicing the Dark Force technique for a short time, and his foundation was not yet stable. He had almost no chance of standing out in the martial arts exam, where there were many experts.

However, it's good to gain some experience.

Given time and with my careful guidance, I might achieve something in the next martial arts exam.

"Alright, everyone go back and rest." Lin Chong waved his hand.

The three men clasped their hands in farewell. As Li Yuan walked down the steps, he suddenly heard a soft call from behind.

"Junior Brother Li."

It was Lu Qing who called out to Li Yuan.

"Senior Brother Lu, is there something you need?" Li Yuan stopped and turned around.

"I just learned that you, Senior Brother, have also broken through to the Dark Force realm. I should at least congratulate you in person." Lu Qing smiled and quickened his pace to catch up.