Starting with Xingyi Quan, it swept across the chaotic world.

"What?"

Wang Hong's slightly troubled face showed an expression of disbelief.

Hidden strength?

you?

Wang Hong had some doubts, but when he looked at Lu Li at this moment, he realized that Lu Li's qi and blood were much stronger than usual.

Immediately, Wang Hong threw a tentative punch.

Lu Li neither dodged nor evaded, but calmly met the attack with his palm.

"Boss, do you believe me now?"

It truly is a hidden strength!

Although Wang Hong deliberately held back his strength, it was not something that Ming Jin could easily withstand.

There's no mistake, there's no mistake, Lu Li has truly broken through to the Dark Force realm!

Wang Hong's eyes lit up instantly, filled with delight: "I knew I hadn't misjudged him!"

He was also quite surprised, since it was really difficult for someone with inferior talent to rise to prominence. When he sponsored Lu Li, he didn't have high hopes; he was more interested in Lu Li as a person.

Unexpectedly, in just a few months, Lu Li actually broke through to the Dark Force realm.

He knew perfectly well how much effort it would take for someone of inferior talent to reach this point.

"What a pity..." Wang Hong suddenly sighed.

"What's a pity?" Lu Li asked.

"It's a pity you just broke through, but the martial arts exam waits for no one. If you had broken through a year earlier, perhaps you could have shone brightly in this year's exam." Wang Hong shook his head and then comforted him:

"However, you will definitely achieve something by this time next year."

Lu Li did not refute, but simply smiled.

"Alright, judging from your expression, I guess you're planning to try your luck this year too." Wang Hong could see right through Lu Li's thoughts.

He waved his hand:

"I'll cover your shifts for the next few days. Focus on preparing for the martial arts exam."

Upon hearing this, Lu Li clasped his hands in a fist salute and laughed heartily:

"Thanks, boss."

Soon, Lu Li packed his things and left.

Only Wang Hong remained in the same spot.

"It's a pity you've only just broken through..." Wang Hong sighed heavily. After receiving news of Lu Li's internal strength, he had genuinely considered asking Lu Li for help.

But the thought only lasted for a moment.

Shi Qingyang has been famous for a long time. Wouldn't sending Lu Li there harm Lu Li?

"Now that Xiao Li has broken through, we should be able to get through to my elder brother about providing financial assistance."

Although the Wang family is in a bad situation right now, they still have the resources to support the Dark Force, at worst they will just reduce their share.

As for whether the situation will improve in the future.

"Never mind, there will always be a way." Wang Hong shook his head.

Have you not heard the saying, "Heaven never closes off all paths"?

……

"Your Excellency, Lin'an City is just ahead."

A soldier in heavy armor came before the governor to report.

As the soldier spoke, he inadvertently looked up at the refined yet somewhat weathered middle-aged governor on horseback.

His eyes revealed a hint of admiration.

This governor was originally a civil official who later abandoned his studies to join the army. He achieved remarkable military exploits, but was imprisoned due to the suspicions of the current emperor and those of the ruling government.

Three years in prison, a full three years!

Now His Majesty has reappointed him, not only appointing him as Vice Minister of War, but also bestowing upon him the title of Governor-General of Liangjiang, giving him full control over all military and political power in Jiangsu and Zhejiang.

"Thanks for your hard work."

Zhang Chuanting, clad in dark-patterned iron armor with a plume hanging from his helmet, nodded slightly.

Looking at the distant city walls, his face showed neither joy nor sorrow; he simply ordered the army to continue its march.

The thousands of elite soldiers quickly headed towards Lin'an City, and in no time they arrived at the official road leading directly to Lin'an City.

Such a spectacle naturally attracted the attention of many refugees, and even many tenant farmers stopped what they were doing and looked over from afar.

Their faces were filled with numbness.

Sitting on his horse, Zhang Chuanting glanced around, taking in the expressions of many people, and uttered a voice devoid of emotion:

"The Jiangnan region, a land of fish and rice, has been prosperous since ancient times. How could it have fallen into such a state of decline?"

Commander Li Qi approached and spoke with a serious expression:

"The heavens have been unkind; since His Majesty ascended the throne, there have been nine droughts and nine floods... Even this once prosperous land has ultimately succumbed to..."

Hearing this, Sun Chuanting's expression remained unchanged, but his heart sank.

Many of the elite soldiers around also looked grim.

They came here for provisions...

But given the current situation, it's probably all for naught.

Many soldiers were demoralized, but they still marched toward Lin'an City.

Zhang Chuanting then looked at several plots of land that appeared to be newly turned over and asked:

"It's no longer the busy farming season, so why isn't any grain planted on those plots? They look like they've just been turned over."

Upon hearing this, Li Qi's expression tightened, and he shook his head, saying:

"Well... that's impossible to know."

Having received no answer, Zhang Chuanting remained silent and rode his horse in quiet contemplation.

The small city walls grew larger in view, and soon the three characters "Lin'an City" on the plaque on the city wall became clearly visible.

At this moment, preparations were already underway in Lin'an City.

The county magistrate and the county assistant magistrate arrived together with the heads of the four major families in the inner city, as well as the gentry and landlords of Lin'an City.

"Greetings, Your Excellency!"

The magistrate of Lin'an shouted first, and then the county clerk, the heads of the four major families, and a host of gentry and landlords joined in the shouting:

"Greetings, Your Excellency!"

The posture was extremely humble, completely devoid of the usual haughty air.

Seeing this, Zhang Chuanting nodded silently and rode forward on his horse.

Looking at the middle-aged man in the crowd, dressed in the robes of a seventh-rank official of the Great Yong Dynasty, he asked:

"Are you the magistrate of Lin'an?"

"That's me!" the Lin'an magistrate replied with a fawning smile.

"Your Excellency, you must be tired from your journey!" The magistrate of Lin'an gestured to the group of gentry beside him, then glanced at the inner city.

"Your Excellency, we have prepared the dishes in the inner city..."

"It tastes like home..."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chuanting glanced at the refugees wandering in the city.

He didn't really like red tape and elaborate ceremonies.

Moreover, this is a year of great disaster...

But considering that he was currently in a position to ask for someone's help, he nodded in agreement.

"Then lead the way."

"Alright!" The magistrate of Lin'an nodded, then beckoned the group of gentry to get into the carriage and head towards the inner city.

"The army shall set up camp on the spot," Zhang Chuanting ordered, and then led only a dozen or so men to follow the advance team toward the inner city.

He observed everything along the way.

Although Lin'an City looked very clean and peaceful, most of the men walking on the road were emaciated and pale, which was undeniable.

There was quite a commotion along the way.

Many merchants and vendors were delighted, as this was the first time they had seen the lords of the inner city put away their arrogance.

At present, many people are inquiring about news of this important figure.

Many displaced people in the city looked at the vast procession with numb eyes.

They didn't care about it. To them, today was no different from the past, except that the outer city, which used to be dirty, full of sewage, and stinking, had become clean and tidy.

Just then, a whip suddenly lashed out at a refugee who was looking at the crowd.

Instantly, a bloody welt appeared on the refugee's face.

"You dare look?!" A servant of the Wei family, whose clothes were embroidered with the Wei family name, spoke viciously. "Weren't you ordered not to come out?"

"I'll tell you one more time!"

"Men are kind-hearted and can't bear to see human suffering!"

"Whether you're scavenging for vegetables or begging for food, you fucking wait until nightfall before you come out again!"

"If there's a next time, I'll throw you all into the river to feed the fish!"