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

The night had not yet faded.

The fire in the inner city of Yunlin County still burned red across half the sky at night.

Within the high walls, the once gently lit and filled with the sounds of music is now filled with running, crying, and clashing swords.

After Qi Shujian met Yi Yang on the rooftop and left, he did not forcefully try to uncover Yi Yang's secrets.

But his intuition told him that the old jailer was not simple.

This was one of the more interesting things that happened tonight.

Unfortunately, he had too much to do tonight and couldn't stop his pace. He was determined to use this opportunity of seclusion to wipe out any forces in the city related to the Nine Evil Cults.

What he really wanted to eat was never some small fish and shrimp in the Qi and Blood Realm.

Instead, it aimed to uproot all the corruption in Yunlin County, including the Zhang family, the Wang family, the Red Tiger Gang, and those who wore official robes and received salaries from the Imperial Patrol Office, yet handed knives to powerful families.

None of them will escape tonight's operation.

East intersection of Inner City Street.

Song Tiecheng, deputy director of the Yunlin County Astronomical Survey Office, stood in the middle of the long street, his long staff still dripping blood.

Behind him, three hundred elite Sky Patrolmen, having received orders, lined up in two rows, crossbows cocked, shields pressed forward, completely blocking the eastern exit of the inner city.

Another deputy director, Chen Wuyai, stood outside the window of a teahouse on the second floor of the street, holding a thick stack of names of relevant personnel that he had previously recorded.

The paper was glowing red in the night light.

Every time he called out a name, a squad of guards would rush out from downstairs.

"Zhang Wenli, the manager of the Zhang family's outer warehouse."

"Take it down."

"Wang Chenggui, manager of Wang Family Herbal Medicine Shop."

"Seal the shop and take the people into custody."

"Li Kui, the leader of the North Hall of the Red Tiger Gang."

"Anyone on the list who resists arrest will be shot on the spot."

Director Qi Shujian, who had rushed from the headquarters of the Sky Patrol Bureau, landed on the eaves of a street corner. His dark gold robes were blown by the night wind, and as he landed, he looked like a mountain pressing down in front of the city gate, making those who wanted to resist tremble.

Upon seeing his elder brother arrive, Song Tiecheng, who was overseeing the situation, looked up at him curiously and asked:

"Brother, Zhang Bonian and the leader of the Nine Evil Sects are dead?"

Upon hearing the question, Qi Shujian calmly replied, "Zhang Bonian is dead."

Upon hearing this, Chen Wuyai stopped flipping through the roster, and Song Tiecheng was also stunned for a moment.

"Is that newly appointed leader of the Nine Evil Sect so hard to kill? How did he manage to escape from you, my brother, who has broken through to the next level?"

"I severely injured the leader of the Nine Evil Sect. In the end, he actually used evil magic to temporarily enhance his combat power and fought me for one move before escaping. Moreover, I didn't kill Zhang Bonian either."

Qi Shujian leaped from the eaves, his boots landing on the ground, the dust and tiles pushed aside by his energy: "Someone killed it for me."

Upon hearing this, Chen Wuyai's eyelids twitched. This news truly shocked him, and he asked in confusion, "Who is it? Is there someone in the county town with such strength?"

Qi Shujian didn't answer the question, but instead looked towards the Zhang family's territory and said, "Alright, that matter isn't important. Let's take care of business tonight."

Seeing Qi Shujian's gaze, Song Tiecheng grinned and said happily, "Alright, after waiting for so long, tonight's feast is finally going to have its main course."

It turns out that four days ago, Qi Shujian, the governor of Yunlin County, who had been in seclusion, had successfully broken through and emerged from seclusion, but this news was known only to three people and had not been leaked.

Afterwards, Qi Shujian pretended to be in seclusion and still trying to break through to the Heavenly Rainfall Peak, but this was just bait to lure the outside world.

So the Zhang family, who had been waiting, thought their opportunity had arrived, as did the Nine Evil Cult, which had been eyeing them covetously.

Those who were hiding in the gutter waiting to get a taste of the spoils thought their chance had come, but they didn't expect that Qi Shujian, whose strength had greatly improved, was already sitting at the net's entrance, waiting for the fish to be caught.

The inner city, the Zhang family's territory.

The priceless, magnificent vermilion gate was tightly shut.

Inside the gate, the lights were bright; outside, the clatter of horses from the Sky Patrol could be heard from afar.

Zhang Tingyuan, the current head of the Zhang family, stood on the gate tower. When he saw this scene, his face hardened. He was surrounded by the guards and servants that the Zhang family had raised over the years.

Zhang Tingyuan looked at Qi Shujian, who was riding the exotic horse he had taken on the day he took office, at the head of the Sky Patrol's iron cavalry, and forced himself to speak, "Director Qi, what is the purpose of your army surrounding my Zhang family's residence in the dead of night?"

Upon hearing the question, Qi Shujian, riding a tall horse, raised his eyebrows and angrily rebuked:

"The Zhang family colluded with the Nine Evil Sects and mountain bandits, attempting to storm the South City Prison, disrupt the county town, and even dared to plot to assassinate the Deputy Director of the Sky Patrol Bureau. This is a capital offense deserving execution of the entire family! Zhang Tingyuan, why don't you lead your family of sinners to face justice!"

Zhang Tingyuan dared not admit to the charges against him, and could only angrily retort, "Qi Shujian, you're spouting nonsense! My Zhang family has been loyal to the court for generations, how could we do such a thing!"

Seeing that the Zhang family still wanted to resist, Deputy Director Chen Wuyai took out a file from the side, opened it and read aloud: "Zhang Debiao planted eight spies in the South City Prison within three years, the list is here. Feng Haiyuan entered and exited the Zhang family's villa three times, the Zhang family gatekeeper's statement is here. The Blood Fiend Pill ingredients of the Nine Evils were sold by Zhang family Ruifeng Company, the account book is here."

"Speak," Chen Wuyai said, raising his head and speaking softly, "Clan Chief Zhang, would you like to address each point one by one?"

Seeing that things were about to be exposed, Zhang Tingyuan, the clan leader, swallowed hard, unsure of how to respond.

At this moment, a deep, angry shout suddenly came from inside the Zhang family mansion:

"Qi Shujian, leave yourself some way out. I advise you not to push things to the extreme! My Zhang family is not to be trifled with!"

As soon as the words were spoken, an old man with white hair appeared in the backyard of the Zhang family, taking three steps through the air to reach the gate tower of the mansion. This sight boosted the morale of the Zhang family, while the morale of the patrol guards of the Sky Patrol Division was somewhat low, because the old man's move showed powerful lightness skills, indicating that the opponent's skill was profound and should not be underestimated.

The newcomer was tall and thin, with white eyebrows and beard. He wore an extraordinary gray robe made of brocade, and his aura was frighteningly profound.

He was none other than Zhang Qiheng, the patriarch of the Zhang family who had been in seclusion for many years and the foundation upon which the Zhang family stood in the inner city.

The second level of internal energy is the return of purity and turbidity to their origin.

As soon as this ancestor appeared, the Zhang family members cried out as if they had grasped at a lifeline:

"Ancestor!"

"Ancestor, save my Zhang family!"

Zhang Qiheng, dressed in gray, landed on the gate tower and stared at Qi Shujian, saying, "Regarding the matter mentioned by the deputy director, the Zhang family is willing to hand over several offenders, along with 30,000 taels of silver and 50 boxes of medicinal herbs, but this matter will end here."

Upon hearing the conditions proposed by the other party, Qi Shujian, riding on the exotic horse, showed no reaction, simply asking calmly, "Are you finished?"

Upon seeing this attitude from the other party, Zhang Qiheng, who had always been respected and admired, twitched his face and raised his voice to threaten, "Qi Shujian, my Zhang family has been established for two hundred years, and there are still old friends and relatives in the prefectural city. Do you really dare to wipe out my entire Zhang family today?"

Qi Shujian didn't speak, he just drew his sword.

The moment the longsword was drawn, its cold light smothered the flames on the long street.

"When you colluded with cults, did you never consider whether the Sky Patrol Division would dare to do it?"

Qi Shujian finished speaking.

The sword rises.

He displayed the strength of the third level of internal energy, the Heavenly Rain Descending to the Top, which amazed and frightened the surrounding guards. Fortunately, the supervisor was on their side.

A sword light flew out, aiming straight for Zhang Qiheng's head.

That was not the sword energy that an ordinary Inner Qi Realm cultivator could produce. The Inner Qi rose from Qi Shujian's body and then pressed down like the sky. Even though it was night, the area in front of the Zhang family's gate was blindingly bright.

Seeing that the opponent was heading straight for his life, the patriarch Zhang Qiheng roared and pushed out with both palms, causing the Zhang family's secret Azure Luo Qi Wall to rise up layer by layer.

layer.

Two layers.

Seven floors.

Upon witnessing their ancestor's formidable strength, the Zhang family members were initially delighted, but were immediately met with a terrifying scene.

In the next instant, Zhang Qiheng's seven-layered qi barrier, which he had used with all his might, was pierced through by Qi Shujian's sword.

As the sword energy landed, straight grooves appeared in the blue bricks of the long street.

Zhang Qiheng looked down at his chest, where a thin line of blood had appeared, running from his brow down to his abdomen.

He opened his mouth as if to say something, but ultimately couldn't utter a word.

The Zhang family patriarch died.

Zhang Qiheng's qi barrier wasn't entirely ineffective; the sword qi that was originally heading straight for his head was blocked for a moment and its position shifted, but it was still useless and couldn't stop Qi Shujian.

Upon witnessing this scene, the Zhang family elders on the gate tower went limp and lost all will to resist.

Some threw down their knives, some knelt down, and some turned to run away, only to be pinned back to the door by crossbow bolts.

Seeing that the strongest member of the Zhang family was dead, Qi Shujian sheathed his sword and ordered, "Take down the entire main branch of the Zhang family."

"Those who resist, behead them."

Zhang Tingyuan, the clan leader, knelt on the gate tower, trembling all over.

The Zhang family, who once had the power to destroy families in the outer city with a single word, were dragged out of their high walls that very night.

On the other side, the north gate of the city.

The newly appointed leader of the Nine Evils Sect, who had previously escaped from Qi Shujian's clutches, had disheveled hair, and the bloodstains on his chest had dried to a dark brown.

He was originally traveling with Zhang Bonian, intending to take advantage of Qi Shujian's seclusion to storm the inner courtyard of the Sky Patrol Bureau and severely injure Chen Wuyai and Song Tiecheng.

When he pushed open the door, he was met not by the two unprepared people.

It was Qi Shujian's sword energy, poised to strike.

Knowing he had been tricked, he escaped to the north of the city using the Blood Fiend Secret Technique. He wanted to break through the gate here to leave, but Song Tiecheng, who had mastered the first level of internal energy, had already led his men to block his way.

"Trying to leave?"

Song Tiecheng held his long staff horizontally and said, "Did you ask me?"

Seeing someone blocking his way out, the leader of the Nine Evil Sect roared in fury, "Get out of my way!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a surge of bloodthirsty energy erupted from his body, causing the bricks in front of the city gate to crack inch by inch.

Even Song Tiecheng, who was at the Inner Qi Realm, was forced back three steps, but he still gritted his teeth and refused to give in. He knew that tonight's events were a trap set by his elder brother, and he absolutely could not let this big fish escape.

Just as everyone was being suppressed and the Nine Evil Sect's leader was about to break through the defenses, a figure arrived at the city gate from afar at an extremely fast speed, standing with his back turned.

Qi Shujian has arrived.

He landed on the gate tower of Yunlin County, looked down at the leader of the Nine Evil Sect, and said calmly:

"You almost got away."

Upon seeing the person who had previously severely injured him with a sword arrive, the leader of the Nine Evil Sect looked up, his eyes flashing with bloodlust.

Ignoring the madness in the other person's eyes, Qi Shujian continued, "Tonight, Wang Gongqin of your Nine Evils Sect is dead, Feng Haiyuan is dead, and yours will be soon too."

The leader of the Nine Evil Sect roared, "Qi Shujian!"

Knowing there was no way out, he ignited his bloodlust, raising his aura to the peak of the second level of internal energy, and his whole body turned into a blur as he rushed out of the city.

Qi Shujian drew his sword and casually swung it out.

A simple and unadorned sword strike.

The sword energy pierced through the altar master's abdomen, instantly shattering his dantian and causing excruciating pain throughout his body.

The dying leader of the Nine Evil Sect was knocked to the ground. He crawled forward two steps with difficulty, his fingers gripping the threshold of the city gate, his nails cracked.

Freedom was within his grasp outside the city, but he could never cross it again.

Qi Shujian, who had just landed on the city gate, stood behind him and said:

"Those who abandon their pawns should be prepared to abandon them."

The sword fell.

The nine leaders of the evil cult were executed.

All those who were watching from the shadows inside and outside the city gates, upon seeing this scene, quickly withdrew their heads and dared not continue to watch.

Subsequently, with the intervention of the Sky Patrol Division, the Wang family's secret vault was also breached on the same night.

Deputy Director Song Tiecheng personally led a team and kicked open the door of the Wangjia West Street Pharmacy.

Inside were boxes of silver ingots, blood pills, crossbow bolts, and blood-patterned medicinal herbs used by the Nine Evil Sect.

Startled, the Wang family patriarch rushed over, still forcing a smile, and said, "Deputy Director Song, it's a misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding."

Song Tiecheng kicked him to the ground, grabbed his head, pressed it against the wall, and asked fiercely:

"Misunderstand?"

He grabbed an account book and slapped it against the face of the Wang family patriarch, saying sarcastically as he did so, "This misunderstanding of yours is enough to make you regret it three times over."

The Wang family patriarch, a cultivator at the sixth level of Qi and Blood, was forced to his knees, his face pressed to the ground, completely losing his aristocratic demeanor. Yet, he dared not make a single move.

Same night.

The Red Tiger Gang's headquarters was surrounded by the Sky Patrol Division. Qin Ju, the deputy chief of the Sky Patrol Division, broke down the door with a gun, while Tang Ji brought a knife to hold them off.

Several high-ranking members of the gang, all at the fifth level of Qi and Blood, still tried to resist, shouting, "What happens in the martial world should be left to the martial world; this has nothing to do with us."

Qin Ju pierced the hall master's chest with a single spear thrust, cursing, "You're talking about the martial world with the Sky Patrol Division? Did you get your brain caught in a door?"

Seeing the situation was not good, the leader of the Red Tiger Gang, who was hiding deep inside, escaped by climbing over the wall in the backyard. He was not pursued because the manpower of the Sky Patrol Division at the Inner Qi level was limited, with only three people, and they were simply too busy to handle the situation.

After the gang leader fled, the main headquarters was destroyed and the branches were sealed off.

From that night onward, the Red Tiger Gang, one of the three major gangs in Yunlin County, ceased to exist.

Tonight, no one in the city—whether it's martial arts schools, merchants, or gangs—is sleeping peacefully.

At daybreak, the streets of Yunlin County were packed with people. Tea stalls were closed, but the alleyways were crowded with people.

"Have you heard? The Zhang family patriarch is dead!"

"The leader of the Nine Evil Sects was also beheaded by Director Qi right at the north gate of the city."

"The Red Tiger Gang is gone; even their signboard has been taken down."

"Several of the Wang family's shops were sealed off, and all the shopkeepers were arrested."

The news was discussed quietly among the crowd; some were too afraid to speak loudly, while others had burning desire in their eyes.

Those high-walled courtyards, those aristocratic residences that normally wouldn't even let ordinary people near their thresholds, are now covered with seals from the Sky Patrol Bureau, and a row of richly dressed people are kneeling at the entrance.

So they can kneel too; so they can be afraid too.

It turns out that even so-called century-old families, when a knife is held to their necks, are no more robust than ordinary people in the outer city.

As the morning sun shines into Yunlin County, the blood on the streets has not yet been washed away.

The embers are still flying around the street corner, but everything has changed.