Elderly Martial Saint: Sixty Times the Cultivation Speed ​​at the Start

At noon, the sun was blindingly bright at the Yunlin County Government Office.

Outside the main hall, two rows of yamen runners stood with their hands on their swords, their official boots clattering on the blue bricks, and no one dared to even cough.

In the hall, the Commandant sat upright in a high chair, wearing a blue-patterned official robe with a jade belt around his waist, his brows and eyes exuding an imposing presence without anger.

Yang Shuqing knelt in the center of the hall.

The people of Sanmu Village still call him Yang Da, but once he entered the county town, he had long since abandoned that rustic name.

Yang Shuqing.

These three words were written on the county government's register, in the merit book, and in every step he took to climb up from the mud over the years.

The clerk next to the captain unfolded the reward order, his voice drawn out and loud.

"Yang Shuqing was ordered to investigate the theft of the secret manual from the Wang family in the inner city. He led a team to raid an outer county, killed six martial artists, captured the main culprit alive, and recovered the stolen items. His merits are undeniable."

"A reward of three hundred taels of silver."

"He was promoted one rank and appointed as the deputy chief constable."

"I will also bestow upon you a Yi Jin Ba Gu Dan (a traditional Chinese medicine pill)."

As the last few words were spoken, the eyes of many constables in the hall twitched, and greed appeared in the eyes of many of Lian Tong, who was also a head constable.

Yi Jin Ba Gu Dan (a traditional Chinese medicine formula).

This thing isn't silver.

Money can be spent, gambled on, used to buy alcohol, and even used in a woman's bed.

However, elixirs can change one's fate. Those at the peak of the Qi and Blood levels who take them, if their foundation is not bad, may be able to break through the third level of the Yi Jin Guan (Muscle/Tendon Changing Barrier).

Yang Shuqing lowered his head and his Adam's apple bobbed; he had been stuck at the peak of the Body Refining Realm for far too long.

So long that some of his colleagues got promoted, some died, and some, relying on their family resources, surpassed him and entered the Yi Jin Realm. When they turned to look at him, they didn't even bother to lift their eyelids.

That feeling was similar to being hung from a door frame with a rope around one's neck.

He won't die, but he's also having trouble breathing.

Now it's finally his turn to break through to that realm. In Yunlin County, the third level of Qi and Blood can be considered a watershed moment.

Those below the third level of Qi and Blood can mostly only hold lower-level positions. Only those above the third level can advance further and become senior disciples of renowned martial arts schools or stewards of the three major gangs.

As for the three major families in the inner city, their requirements are even higher. Without a certain level of talent, even someone at the third level of Qi and Blood will not be considered.

The minimum requirement for the martial arts examination in the Great Yu Empire was the Qi and Blood Level 3.

Therefore, this level is a true watershed.

A servant came over carrying a box of pills.

The box was small, with an ebony base, copper clasps around the edges, and a seal from the Commandant's Office affixed to the top.

Yang Shuqing took the object with trembling fingers, then quickly steadied his hands and pressed his forehead to the ground.

"This humble servant thanks the Commandant for his guidance!"

The captain looked at him and said, "Yang Shuqing, you did a good job this time. Being the deputy chief constable is just the beginning. If you work hard in the future, you may find a place for yourself in the inner city."

Inner city.

These two words, once they entered Yang Shuqing's ears, made even his bones feel warm.

He lay on the ground, the wildfire in his chest burning sweetly.

After breaking through the Yi Jin Jing (Muscle/Tendon Changing Technique), what is a constable?

The chief constable, a close attendant of the military commander's office, and even worked for the powerful families in the inner city.

The road ahead will only get wider.

He even thought of Yang Er.

That good-for-nothing younger brother, when he was little, would cry from hunger, grabbing his clothes and calling him "brother."

Later, he went to the city to work, while Yang Er stayed in Sanmu Village, relying on his reputation to act arrogantly.

Yang Shuqing knew that her younger brother was dishonest and foul-mouthed, and that he had done everything from bullying others and seizing land to taking bribes.

But so what? None of the people below are clean.

His younger brother was just a bit greedy, a bit reckless, and didn't know how to behave properly.

When he returned to the village, he told Yang Er the good news. The two brothers then prepared a feast, slaughtered a fat chicken, and sorted out the small businesses in Sanmu Village.

From then on, the Yang family was no longer considered to be of humble origins in the village.

It is the ancestral home of the Yang family, the deputy chief constable of the county government.

After the commendation ceremony, Yang Shuqing withdrew from the main hall.

He hid the elixir box close to his body, pressing his palm against it several times through his official robes.

The texture wasn't hard, but it felt more reassuring than three hundred taels of silver.

Tea was prepared in the side room.

As soon as he stepped inside, he saw the clerk on duty standing by the door, his face deathly pale, clutching a letter in his hand, his sleeves crumpled.

Yang Shuqing frowned. "What is it? Why are you stammering? Did you get your mouth caught in a door?"

The clerk's lips trembled as he handed over the letter with both hands.

"Yang... Squad Leader Yang, an urgent report from Sanmu Village has been delayed for several days. You've been away on official business, so no one dares to open it."

Yang Shuqing's eyebrows twitched slightly upon hearing the name Sanmu Village. "An urgent report?"

He tore open the sealed letter and unfolded it; the handwriting was crooked, and the ink had blurred in several places.

The person who wrote the letter must have had a trembling hand, and the handwriting was crooked and messy, like a drunkard leaning against a wall.

It is the handwriting of village chief Yang Shuyu.

Yang Shuqing initially only frowned, but Wang Yue led three constables into Qingmu Mountain to eliminate the snakes, and they have not returned to this day.

His fingers tightened. Yang Dongxi and the others were dead, and bloodstains were scattered all over the mountains. Only the old woodcutter Yi Yang survived.

His breathing became heavier.

Next, continue.

Yang Er died at home with his neck cut open, and the Nine Evil Cult's black iron token was found at the scene.

The letter slipped from his hand and floated to the ground.

The side hall was quiet for a few moments. The clerk felt a chill run down his spine and was about to bend down to pick it up.

Whoosh!

Yang Shuqing overturned the tea table.

The hot tea was spilled, the teacup shattered, and shards of porcelain bounced to the scholar's feet.

The clerk took three steps back, his knees buckled, and he almost fell to the ground.

Yang Shuqing stood still, his chest heaving frighteningly.

The veins in his neck were bulging, his eyes were bloodshot, and his teeth were clenched so tightly they ached.

He didn't yell.

But everyone in the side room felt a tingling sensation in their backs.

Some anger doesn't erupt outwards; it seeps into the bones.

Yang Er is dead.

His only brother died.

Their parents died early, and the two brothers went hungry and slept in leaky houses when they were young. Yang Er was timid and would crawl into his bed when there was thunder at night.

How old was Yang Shuqing back then?

He was scared himself, but he patted his younger brother on the back and said, "Don't be afraid, brother's here."

Later, he went to work in the county town. He went from being scolded like a dog by the old constable to taking a knife for someone, to chasing bandits at night until his feet were covered in blood blisters.

What's in it for him? Isn't it just so that both brothers can live a life of luxury?

Yang Er was a scoundrel, he admitted it. But that scoundrel was also his brother, what right did outsiders have to kill him?

Who gave them the guts?

Yang Shuqing bent down and picked up the letter from the ground.

I read it once, then a second and a third time.

With each reading, the murderous intent on his face grew thicker. The clerk knelt on the ground, not daring to raise his head, sweat dripping from his chin onto the floor tiles.

Yang Shuqing turned and stared at him. "How many days has the letter arrived?"

The clerk's teeth chattered. "It arrived... a few days ago. It arrived the day after you left to handle the case..."

Snapped!

He slapped her across the face.

The clerk fell to the side, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, and half of his face swelled up.

Yang Shuqing leaned down to look at him, squeezing out each word through gritted teeth.

"My brother's death is a small matter? Why weren't you notified me urgently?"

The clerk covered his face and knelt down, his head hitting the ground. "I deserve to die, I deserve to die!"

Yang Shuqing didn't make another move. More than ten years of working in the government had taught him that going crazy was the easiest thing to do.

The difficult part is managing to control the situation after someone goes crazy.

He closed his eyes briefly, and when he opened them again, the redness in his eyes hadn't faded; it had simply been pushed deeper.

Wang Yue died, three constables were gone, and Yang Er also died.

Nine evil cult tokens, and the old woodcutter Yi Yang survived.

These words, strung together, are quite chaotic.

Even in the most chaotic situation, there are always loose threads. Grab one, pull it all the way through, and the person hiding behind it will be exposed.

"Zhao Si, Ma Liu."

Two constables hurried in from outside the door.

Zhao Si was in his thirties, with a sturdy build, and was a Refining Skin Realm martial artist trained by Yang Shuqing.

Ma Liu is a bit older, quick on his feet, tight-lipped, and doesn't ask many questions when doing dirty work.

The two men froze when they entered the room and saw the broken porcelain on the floor and the kneeling documents.

"Boss."

Yang Shuqing folded the letter and tucked it into his pocket.

"Prepare two fast horses, and bring swords, ropes, and chains. Let's go now."

Zhao Si was taken aback. "Boss, you've just done a good deed, shouldn't we report it to the Commandant first? And the reward money should be deposited into the treasury, and the Bone-Strengthening Pill should also be..."

Yang Shuqing reached out and pressed his hand to the inside of his chest; the pill box was strapped to his soft armor.

This item cannot be left at the county government office.

It's extremely valuable.

It's so valuable that even brothers can turn against each other, let alone colleagues.

"Have the accountant record the reward money."

"The elixir is with me."

Zhao Si tried to persuade him further: "But if you don't get leave, you can leave the yamen..."

Yang Shuqing looked over.

Zhao Si swallowed the second half.

Ma Liu whispered, "Boss, to Sanmu Village?"

"go."

Yang Shuqing stepped out of the side hall, his official boots crunching over the broken porcelain.

"I'd like to see who's so tough as to mess with my brother, Yang Shuqing."

That same evening.

Smoke rose from the rooftops of Sanmu Village, the smell of firewood mingling with the bitterness of wild vegetables, swirling through the village lanes.

The Yi family's courtyard was very quiet.

Under the old locust tree, Yi Yang sat in a rattan chair, a tattered short jacket covering his knees, his face still showing the pale, sickly look of someone recovering from illness.

Jiang Yuexin was cooking porridge in the kitchen, and the pot lid made a soft sound as the steam hit it.

Outsiders would only say that the old man was lucky to survive and was now recuperating despite his disability.

But at night, the courtyard takes on a completely different appearance.

Four days.

For four whole days, Yi Yang pretended to be sick during the day and practiced his martial arts at night.

The six Qi and Blood Pills I bought from Zhao Gang are all empty.

The medicinal smell from the blood-strengthening soup bath lingered in the kitchen for three days. Jiang Yuexin thought he was treating the injuries he had sustained in the mountains, so she frowned and fanned the fire for him, muttering that the bitter medicine smelled unbearable.

Yi Yang didn't explain; explaining too much would only cause trouble.

The old man was good at quietly making things happen.

After night fell, he stood in the corner of the courtyard, his arms loosely clasped and his feet firmly planted on the ground.

The Yi Wood Longevity Stake unfolds.

The residual medicinal power of the Qi and Blood Pill was gradually extracted and traveled along the skin, flesh, and tendons.

A series of crisp, crackling sounds emanated from his body.

Collapse, collapse. The tendons and veins contract, stretch, and integrate.

The physical strength no longer fights individually, but is instead gathered together by an invisible net.

Arms, back, legs, shoulders, and hips.

Every bit of force can be connected into a single line.

The age spots have faded considerably, revealing a resilient, dark color beneath the skin. It's not dazzling, but it's incredibly durable.

Sweat rolled down Yi Yang's forehead, wetting his beard.

Small print jumps in front of my eyes.

【Yi Wood Health Preservation Exercise Level 3: (5940/6000)】

He didn't stop.

The final round of stance training was agonizingly slow.

It felt as if countless tiny insects were crawling inside the meridians, only to be repeatedly crushed by the qi and blood.

If it were a younger martial artist, they would most likely be crying for their mother.

Yi Yang gritted his teeth, too lazy to even hum a sound.

We've weathered sixty years of hardship; this little bit of bitterness is nothing compared to the awfulness of wild vegetable pancakes.

【Yi Wood Health Preservation Exercise Level 3: (6000/6000)】

The character "轰" cannot be used.

But at that moment, a switch was indeed activated within Yi Yang's body.

Qi and blood rise from the chest and abdomen, flowing into the limbs and bones.

The muscles and tendons tighten and then relax, relax and then tighten again.

The strength of the whole person was reorganized.

He raised his hand.

With just a gentle wave forward, the grass in the corner of the yard bowed down in unison, the sound of wind cutting through the air swept past the base of the wall, and the dried gourd hanging on the wall swayed twice before thumping against the wall.

Qi and Blood Triple.

Yi Jin Jing (Muscle/Tendon Changing Realm)

Yi Yang stood still for a long time.

He looked down at his hands, which were still those of an old man, with deep lines, dry skin, and thick knuckles.

But if that hand were to wield a knife, it would become a source of endless slaughter.

Let's look at the panel again. 【Nine Peaks Blade, Minor Mastery: (240/6000)】

I achieved minor mastery of the Nine Peaks Blade yesterday.

With nine turns of the sword technique, he could already move freely on the first four peaks, and he had also grasped the basics of the last five peaks.

If I were to encounter someone like Peng Qing again, I could kill him with a single strike.

Yi Yang slowly exhaled the stale air from his chest, picked up the broken fan beside him, and fanned himself twice.

The fan was torn and let in the wind, but he was in a good mood.

"He's almost sixty."

He muttered to himself, "Finally, I feel a little safer."

Jiang Yuexin peeked out from the kitchen.

"Grandpa, what were you doing in the yard just now? I heard a gourd making a sound."

Yi Yang turned around, his back hunched over a little more, and his face regained its weakness.

"It's windy."

Jiang Yuexin glanced at the motionless locust leaves in the courtyard, then looked at him.

"Grandpa, there's no wind today."

Yi Yang coughed. "That means Hulu is homesick."

Jiang Yuexin puffed out her cheeks in anger.

"Where does a gourd come from?"

"Fujigami."

"You're fooling me again."

Yi Yang slowly walked towards the rattan chair.

"It's only natural for an old man to fool his granddaughter."

Jiang Yuexin brought out the porridge, still wanting to argue.

In the distance outside the courtyard, the sound of horses' hooves pounding the ground could be heard.