I Grind to Martial Saint

Dapeng Mountain.

The mountain was steep and craggy, covered in vast, dense forests teeming with beasts and monsters.

The sun was setting.

A lone figure quietly arrived at the foot of Dapeng Mountain.

After killing Ye Song and Cui Bao, Han Yuan had taken a long, circuitous route. Only after confirming he had no pursuers did he approach Dapeng Mountain.

Upon entering the mountain, he quickly found the marks left by Duan Xu.

Following these marks, Han Yuan moved rapidly into the mountain’s depths.

Of course, he destroyed each mark as soon as he found it.

Before long, he reached a mountain stream.

"Who’s there?!"

Han Yuan hadn’t bothered to hide the sound of his footsteps, and someone had detected his approach.

"It’s me," Han Yuan said flatly.

Hearing Han Yuan’s voice, Duan Xu quickly led his men out from a dense thicket.

"Han Yuan, are you alright?"

Seeing Han Yuan, Duan Xu breathed a sigh of relief.

"I’m fine."

"I killed them both."

Han Yuan said it as if it were nothing.

Hearing this, all the Demon Exterminators, including Duan Xu, looked at him in utter shock.

Those were two True Qi Realm Martial Artists.

Even in Cangshui County Town, they were first-rate experts.

But listening to Han Yuan, it sounded as simple as slaughtering pigs and sheep.

What’s more... ’Han Yuan’s Cultivation hasn’t even broken through to the True Qi Realm yet, has it?’

But after the shock, a glimmer of hope ignited in their hearts.

Duan Xu also recovered some of his composure.

He asked, "Han Yuan, where do we go from here?"

This question brought all the Demon Exterminators back to reality.

They knew that the Bai and Cui Families had joined forces. With Director Nie Jing and Supervisor Du Qiuxu dead, Han Yuan alone was no match for two great Noble Families.

Their only path, it seemed, was to flee to the provincial capital and seek help from the Jianghe Celestial Observation Bureau.

"We’re not leaving. We’ll stay right here."

"Give me some time... and I will lead you back to storm Cangshui County Town," Han Yuan said in a low voice.

"Of course... if you want to leave for Jianghe Province City, or wander the Martial World from now on... I won’t stand in your way," Han Yuan added.

With his temperament, he would never choose to flee Cangshui County with his tail between his legs.

’A real man should fight his way back!’

’Settle the score with every last one of his enemies!’

After he said this, the dozen or so Demon Exterminators fell silent, contemplating his words.

Only Duan Xu grinned and said, "I was the one who brought you into the Observatory. Of course I can’t leave."

"This time, I’ll go with you to take back Cangshui County Town!"

Demon Exterminators were all men who lived on the edge, licking blood from their blades; they certainly didn’t lack courage.

Immediately, one of the Demon Exterminators spoke up, "Count me in! The worst that can happen is death!"

"Count me in too... Son of a bitch, I’m going to avenge Supervisor Du!"

"Anyone who runs is a bastard!"

In an instant, all the Demon Exterminators had sided with Han Yuan.

Han Yuan nodded. "Very good... Then we’ll lie low here for a while. When the time is right, we will storm Cangshui County Town!"

Duan Xu and the others all nodded in agreement.

Afterward, they went into the dense forest, cleared a space, and lit a bonfire.

Duan Xu had already caught a few rabbits and pheasants. They roasted them simply to fill their stomachs, and then the group began to take turns standing watch.

Han Yuan, however, sat cross-legged on the ground, continuously practicing his Cultivation of the Innate Great Demon Skill.

His so-called "waiting for the right time" naturally meant waiting for the day he broke through to the True Qi Realm.

Only by breaking through to the True Qi Realm would he have what it takes to fight his way back into Cangshui County Town.

’Bai Muxin... Cui Jiushan...’

’You just wait for me.’

Rage burned within Han Yuan’s heart.

But it was precisely this rage that made his Cultivation of the Innate Great Demon Skill... seem to progress much faster than before.

’Demons... are beings of extremity...’

’My emotions are unstable right now... but that actually aligns with the state of mind required for the Innate Great Demon Skill.’

’But if I succumb to this extreme will, I’m afraid I’ll truly be unable to pull myself back and will fall into the demonic path.’

Han Yuan mused internally.

But he quickly cast the thought aside.

He had extreme confidence in himself, believing he could control any emotion and would never succumb.

So, instead of waiting for his mind to calm before cultivating, he harnessed his anger and continued to practice the Innate Great Demon Skill.

「In the days that followed.」

Han Yuan and his men lay low in the depths of Dapeng Mountain.

They hid their tracks, rarely leaving the dense forest except to hunt for food.

Because this was deep within Dapeng Mountain, home to many ferocious beasts, ordinary Hunters and Medicine Gatherers never ventured this far. Thus, no one discovered their whereabouts.

「Five days later.」

Duan Xu disguised himself and snuck into Cangshui County Town to gather information.

He didn’t return to Dapeng Mountain until evening, when he reported his findings to Han Yuan.

"These past few days... Cangshui County has been strangely quiet."

"The Bai and Cui Families have taken control of the Observatory. Only a few old men from the Celestial Phenomena Tribe are left defending the Martial Arts Pavilion, the Spirit Pill Pavilion, and other places."

"The Li Family also seems to have been won over by the Bai and Cui Families... they’re growing closer and closer."

"As for the Huang and Lu Families... those two are still holding back, apparently observing the situation in the city," Duan Xu said grimly.

"The Li Family... Then we’ll count them in as well."

"We’ll settle the score with them all later," Han Yuan said flatly.

Duan Xu continued, "Aside from that... the Government Office has also gone quiet."

"Prefect Wen Zhiyuan is hiding in the Government Office all day, too afraid to show his face. The office is now run by officials the Bai and Cui Families planted there."

Han Yuan laughed when he heard this. "This Wen Zhiyuan really knows how to save his own skin."

"The guy’s been an official for years; of course he knows how," Duan Xu said, laughing himself.

"Right... one more thing. The Observatory has now listed you as a wanted criminal on the Cangshui County Black List," Duan Xu added.

"Oh? What’s my rank?"

Han Yuan’s eyes lit up, seemingly very interested in his ranking.

"Currently, you’re ranked second."

"Just below the Black Cloud Spear King, Zhang Bei," Duan Xu said.

"How am I only second?"

"They have no respect for me at all," Han Yuan grumbled.

He thought he would be number one.

He never expected to only be second.

"Well, Zhang Bei did kill our Director... otherwise, Bai Muxin and Cui Jiushan would have definitely put you at the top of the list," Duan Xu said helplessly.

"Let’s not talk about that for now... There’s something else I need you to do," Han Yuan said in a low voice.

"Name it."

Duan Xu’s expression turned serious.

Han Yuan whispered a few words in his ear.

After listening, Duan Xu said grimly, "I’ll get it done right away."

With that, he called over all the Demon Exterminators and quickly led them down the mountain.

In an instant, only Han Yuan was left.

"I need to hurry up, too," Han Yuan muttered to himself.

The Skill Proficiency Panel quietly appeared before his eyes.

Innate Great Demon Skill: Uninitiated (278/300)

He was only twenty-two proficiency points away from breaking through to the First Layer of the Innate Great Demon Skill.

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