Becoming a Saint Starting with the Chasing Wind Leg Technique

The undercurrent is surging.

The atmosphere inside the Chasing Wind Martial Arts School was subtle.

The news of Zhang Wu breaking through to the late stage of the Iron Skin Realm was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples.

On the east side of the training ground, a group of outer disciples gathered, with Zhang Wu, full of vigor, at the center.

He was dressed in brand-new martial arts attire, with a fine steel longsword at his waist—a congratulatory gift specially made for him by Zhang Family Pharmacy.

"Senior Brother Zhang is truly amazing! He only broke through to the mid-stage recently, and he's already advanced another step!"

"I heard that the Zhang family spent a fortune to have Senior Brother Zhang receive guidance day and night from Senior Brother Li Wei so that he could solidify his foundation for a breakthrough!"

"I also spent a lot of money to buy several mysterious crimson pills, pills that can improve the cultivation level of the Iron Skin Realm."

"That's not all! My cousin works at a pharmacy, and he said the Zhang family went all out this time, even bringing out their prized 'century-old blood ginseng'!"

Amidst the murmurs, Zhang Wu stood tall and proud, basking in the adulation of the crowd.

His gaze swept across the crowd, lingering for a moment on Song Jing in the distance, a faint, cold smile playing on his lips.

Song Jing was practicing his martial arts alone, seemingly oblivious to the commotion over there.

"Junior Brother Zhang's breakthrough is indeed a cause for celebration." A gentle voice rang out.

Senior Brother Li Wei walked slowly, followed by Liu Jiankun and Sun Li.

Liu Jiankun immediately chimed in, "Senior Brother is right! With Senior Brother Zhang's breakthrough, our Chasing Wind Martial Arts Academy's chances in the City Lord's Mansion martial arts competition are even greater!"

Sun Li nodded repeatedly, his face beaming with smiles: "Senior Brother Zhang is exceptionally talented and has the support of his family; he is destined for greatness!"

As he spoke, he secretly glanced at Song Jing and breathed a sigh of relief.

These past few days, he's had nightmares every night, dreaming of Song Jing's cold eyes and being chased in the ruins of the western city.

I always wake up in a cold sweat.

But now, with Zhang Wu leading the way and Senior Brother Li Wei in charge, even if Song Jing is powerful, he wouldn't dare to openly attack me, right?

Li Wei walked up to Zhang Wu and smiled, "Junior Brother Zhang's breakthrough is truly a cause for celebration!"

It seems there's still a chance for a breakthrough in the upcoming martial arts competition. My junior brother has now entered the late Iron Skin Realm and possesses the Wind Chasing Leg Technique and the Zhang Family Fist Technique. He might be able to compete with Xiao Miechen.

When Junior Brother Zhang breaks through and enters the Copper Skin Mirror stage, he will also be in the early stage of the Copper Skin Mirror stage.

I will definitely defeat him and bring glory to the Chasing Wind Martial Arts School.

"Perhaps Junior Brother Zhang can also participate in the martial arts examination this year and have a glimmer of hope of joining the sect!"

He paused, then said solemnly, "This year, I hope you can win back the spot."

When Li Wei said this, he clearly didn't take Zhou Xingyun seriously.

Zhang Wu straightened his chest, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said, "Don't worry, Senior Brother! Junior Brother will do his utmost!"

"Okay." Li Wei patted him on the shoulder. "With you saying that, I can rest assured."

He turned and left, and Liu Jiankun and Sun Li quickly followed.

After the three had walked a distance, Liu Jiankun lowered his voice and said, "Senior Brother, do you think Zhang Wu... can he really fight Xiao Miechen?"

Li Wei said calmly, "The difference between the late stage of the Iron Skin Realm and the early stage of the Copper Skin Realm is like a chasm."

But Zhang Wu has the support of his family, and he has no shortage of elixirs and weapons. If he can advance further before the martial arts competition…”

He didn't finish speaking, but his meaning was already very clear.

Liu Jiankun's eyes lit up: "Senior Brother, you mean... the Zhang family will continue to pour resources into this?"

"Zhang Family Pharmacy has been growing bigger and bigger in recent years, and they need someone to hold their own in the martial arts school." Li Wei's gaze was deep. "Zhang Wu is the person they chose."

Sun Li felt a surge of excitement upon hearing this.

With the support of the Zhang family and the care of his eldest brother, Zhang Wu's future is limitless.

If I just cling to this powerful figure, what do I have to fear from Song Jing?

The three of them gradually walked away from each other.

On the other side of the training ground, Song Jing slowly finished his practice.

He glanced at the noisy crowd over Zhang Wu's direction, his brows furrowing slightly.

Late stage of Iron Skin Realm?

He knew Zhang Wu's talent; he was considered top-tier in the martial arts school.

From the mid-stage to the late-stage of the Iron Skin Realm, at a normal cultivation speed, it would take at least half a year of hard work, like Senior Brother Zhou.

But Zhang Wu only spent a month going from the middle to the late stage. Even though he has top-grade aptitude, his cultivation speed shouldn't be that fast!

"Pills... a hundred-year-old blood ginseng... or is this just the Zhang family's excuse?" Song Jing muttered to himself. "These pills are precious, but their medicinal power is overwhelming. They need to be refined over a long period of time after consumption, otherwise one's foundation will be unstable."

Zhang Wu's breakthrough was so fast, either he was exceptionally talented, but even if he was exceptionally talented, it couldn't have been this fast!

Or...?

He thought of the Blood Fiend Pill he had used before.

That blood-red, evil pill, brimming with immense vital energy.

Hopefully not, this is just the worst-case scenario.

A huge weight was pressing on Song Jing's heart.

If Zhang Wuzhen is involved with the Blood Lotus Sect, this matter is of utmost importance.

The Zhang family, senior brother Li Wei, Black Tiger Gang leader Tie Zhan... these intricate relationships likely involve a bottomless web.

What's even more alarming is that both Li Wei and Tie Zhan are powerful individuals on the verge of breaking through to the Flesh Refining Realm.

Once successful, its power is far beyond that of a first-realm martial artist—even a perfected Copper Skin Realm expert is nothing more than a stronger ant in front of a true Flesh Refining Realm expert.

He had heard of an old story from the martial arts world: an elderly man in the Body Refining Realm, whose blood and energy were depleted and who was seriously injured, was ambushed and killed by five perfected Copper Skin Realm cultivators.

As a result, the old man only suffered some superficial injuries, then killed the two men and escaped unscathed.

If this were a fully-fledged Body Refinement Realm cultivator in their prime, facing such an attack, they probably wouldn't even need to flee; they could easily kill all five of them with a little effort.

Thinking about this, Song Jing felt that his strength was still too weak.

He immediately sought out Zhou Xingyun and invited his well-informed second senior brother, Zhuo Bufan. The three of them had a private talk in a secluded place.

"Zhang Wu's breakthrough speed is indeed strange," Zhou Xingyun pondered. "Although he has excellent talent, it is absolutely impossible for him to be this fast."

But most outsiders would only marvel at his extraordinary talent, the nourishment he received from the rare century-old blood ginseng, and the constant guidance from his senior brother… It all sounds quite 'reasonable.'

Zhuo Bufan tapped the table lightly with his knuckles: "Over the years I've been in the Xu family, I've come to know a bit about pharmacology."

A century-old blood ginseng is indeed a highly nourishing substance, enough to propel one's cultivation to new heights.

The Zhang family's use of this most treasured possession on Zhang Wu, while extravagant, is still quite reasonable.

Song Jing's gaze sharpened slightly as he pressed on, "Senior Brother Zhuo, what's been happening with the Black Tiger Gang lately?"

Are there any large-scale mergers or acquisitions?

Zhuo Bufan's expression turned serious: "That is indeed the case. Recently, there have been frequent wars and the market is in a slump. The Black Tiger Gang has been massacring lower-class members under the pretext that the tribute money and food they have collected are insufficient."

These days, they've been aggressively taking over the territories of smaller gangs... using rather drastic methods.

The flickering candlelight inside cast the solemn faces of the three people onto the wall.

The air seemed to freeze.

The vague guess in Song Jing's mind was gradually becoming clearer—Zhang Wu's unusual breakthrough, the Black Tiger Gang's unusual movements, and the Blood Lotus Sect hidden in the darkness... all of this was no coincidence.

"This matter requires careful consideration," he said in a deep voice, which sounded particularly clear in the quiet night.

Outside the window, the night was as dark as ink.

An unseen storm has quietly gathered over the outer city of Tianshui.