I Grind to Martial Saint

Tongming County Town, Central Square.

A bizarre temple had been erected here.

It was built entirely of yellow wood, its walls covered in strange and sinister murals, and flanked by many hideous, grotesque Evil Ghost Stone Statues.

From time to time, sounds could be heard—it was impossible to tell if they were cries of sorrow or fits of mad laughter.

The temple’s depths were dim and obscure.

Rows of dim, yellow candles burned slowly, their light flickering over a giant statue in the recesses, making it appear and disappear from view.

The statue was over ten meters tall and dark yellow all over. Its hands were forming an esoteric Dharma Seal as it sat cross-legged on a lotus flower.

In the dim candlelight, its expression seemed to shift between smiling and crying, anger and sorrow. It was exceptionally bizarre.

A strong, bald man in a yellow Magic Robe knelt before the Statue of the Netherworld Saint Mother, piously chanting scriptures.

"High Priest."

"Something has happened in Cangshui County."

A mysterious figure in a black robe stood outside the door, their voice tinged with urgency.

Hearing this, the bald man kowtowed respectfully to the Yellow Springs Saint Mother before rising and walking out of the room.

"What happened?" the bald man asked.

"The Demon Exterminator Han Yuan joined forces with Cangshui General Li Jin and executed Priest Gan."

"The three great families who defected to our side have all had their assets seized."

the black-robed figure said quickly.

"How could this be..."

"Cangshui County Town was supposed to be firmly under our control."

The bald man frowned.

"This is the latest intelligence."

"This failure... it’s mainly because this man, Han Yuan, is too powerful."

"Even Priest Gan was killed by him."

The mysterious figure handed over a letter.

After quickly reading it, the bald man asked, "Does the Sect Leader know about this?"

"He knows... but he said to leave it for you to handle," the black-robed figure said respectfully.

’I can’t delay... I must seize this opportunity. While the Jianghe Province Government Office has most of its attention tied up by us, and Cangshui County is internally vulnerable, we must take it down quickly.’

"Send a message to Priest Zeng. Tell him to convince the Wuyun Bandits to dispatch troops and attack Cangshui County Town as soon as possible."

"We on our end must also increase the pressure to prevent the Jianghe Government Office from providing any aid to Cangshui County."

The bald man had an astonishing grasp of the situation.

Although the once-favorable situation in Cangshui County had become critical due to the unforeseen variable of Han Yuan, the fact remained that after so much turmoil, Cangshui County Town’s strength had been severely depleted.

As long as the Wuyun Bandits from Sheep Head Mountain attacked quickly, there was still a chance to capture it.

’No matter how strong Han Yuan is, he can’t possibly be a match for Zhang Bei and Priest Zeng.’ Besides, ever since killing Nie Jing and defeating the Cangshui County Soldiers, the Wuyun Bandits had absorbed many criminals from Cangshui County’s Black List, making their forces incredibly vast.

’As long as they dispatch troops, taking Cangshui County is practically guaranteed.’

’This game of chess, I haven’t lost yet.’

"Yes!"

The black-robed figure accepted the order and withdrew.

’This Han Yuan is really someone to be reckoned with... Breaking through to the True Qi Realm at just twenty years old... Truly a prodigious talent. The era of great conflict is truly about to begin.’

The strong man gently crumpled the letter, returned to the hall, and knelt before the Statue of the Netherworld Saint Mother to resume chanting scriptures.

....

Jianghe Province City, the Observatory.

A Flying Eagle Guard holding a letter hurried past numerous ancient buildings, arriving before a great hall.

"Vice Director!"

"An urgent report from Cangshui County Town!"

A resonant voice boomed from within.

"Bring it in, quickly!"

The Flying Eagle Guard dared not delay and hurried into the great hall.

A man with heroic features and an extraordinary air sat upright in the center of the hall.

He was the Vice Director of the Jianghe Celestial Observation Bureau, Jiang Henian.

With Director Zhao Mengtian having led his men to Tongming County to suppress the Wangling Sect, all matters, great and small, within the Jianghe Celestial Observation Bureau were now decided by Jiang Henian.

He had already received news that Nie Jing had failed in his bandit suppression mission and perished on Sheep Head Mountain.

Following that, there was word of Du Qiuxu’s disappearance and the Noble Families seizing power over the Observatory.

Unfortunately, with the battle in Tongming County at a stalemate, the Jianghe Celestial Observation Bureau had no men to spare for support.

Jiang Henian had originally planned to deal with the rebellious Noble Families in Cangshui County after the situation in Tongming County was resolved.

He hadn’t expected another urgent message to arrive today.

He took the envelope from the Flying Eagle Guard, broke the wax seal, and pulled out a sheet of paper.

When Jiang Henian finished reading the letter’s contents, he broke out in a cold sweat.

"So everything in Cangshui County... it was all the Wangling Sect’s doing!"

"They used Tongming County to distract us while secretly inciting several Noble Families in Cangshui County to rebel. The Wangling Sect was just one step away from taking Cangshui County."

’Given the current situation in Jianghe Province, if Cangshui County had also fallen, true chaos might have erupted.’

Thankfully, none of that had come to pass.

"This young man, Han Yuan... he’s got some skills."

After reading the letter, Jiang Henian knew.

The most crucial figure in this whole affair was this ordinary Demon Exterminator, Han Yuan.

Without him, Cangshui County would likely have already fallen.

Jiang Henian thought for a moment.

The letter also predicted that the Wuyun Bandits might attack Cangshui County Town soon.

But he truly had no one to send.

Jiang Henian sat down again and began to write on a clean sheet of Xuan paper.

First, he wrote a few words of encouragement for Han Yuan. Then, in light of the great merit Han Yuan had achieved, he awarded him twenty thousand Contribution Points and, breaking with convention, promoted him to be the new Director of the Cangshui County Observatory.

Additionally, he subtly indicated that the battle in Tongming County was at a critical stage and that he was currently unable to send reinforcements.

After the ink was dry, Jiang Henian placed the letter in an envelope and personally sealed it with wax.

"Have this delivered to Cangshui County at once."

The Flying Eagle Guard took the envelope, cupped his fist and said, "As you command."

........

These past few days, Cangshui County had been exceptionally turbulent.

The seizure of the three great families’ assets triggered a number of chain reactions.

Fortunately, the County Government Office and the Observatory were both prepared.

Not only were Government Officials and constables seen patrolling the streets and alleys, but even Demon Exterminators in their Piyao Robes could be occasionally spotted.

With the cooperation of the Huang Family and the Lu Family, they managed to avoid any major trouble.

Bei Le Street.

This street was the headquarters of the Fierce Wolf Gang.

The gang had deep ties to the Li Family.

But on this day, their entire headquarters was surrounded by Demon Exterminators, and Duan Xu led his men to charge straight in.

After a brief clash of battle cries, people were led away one by one.

The common folk on the street were already used to such sights.

For days, the Government Office and the Observatory had been arresting people, cleaning up the remnants of the three great families’ forces.

Every morning in the market square, dozens of heads would roll; it was a veritable bloodbath.

Even the executioners’ Ghost Head Sabers had been broken from use.

But the city’s residents were actually happy to see it happen.

With these gangs being purged by the Government Office, they would face less oppression.

Han Yuan stood on the eaves of a tall building, silently watching it all unfold.

SWOOSH~

Zhao Junshan’s figure quietly appeared beside him.

"Cui Jiushan confessed everything."

"From Zhang Bei gathering his followers for an uprising on Sheep Head Mountain, it’s all been a conspiracy by the Wangling Sect," Zhao Junshan said gravely.

"What about Supervisor Du?" Han Yuan asked.

"Killed by the combined efforts of Cui Jiushan, Bai Muxin, and a priest from the Wangling Sect."

"His body... was burned to ash and thrown into the Cangjiang River," Zhao Junshan said with a sigh.

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