I Grind to Martial Saint

Inside the city gate tower.

Wen Zhiyuan and Li Jin were gazing into the distance.

"According to the intelligence from the scouts up ahead."

"The Wuyun Bandits are less than a hundred li from us now. They’ll arrive in about a day."

Wen Zhiyuan gazed into the distance, his brow tightly furrowed.

This time, the Wuyun Bandits’ advance was truly ferocious.

To be honest, if it weren’t for Han Yuan, the forces Cangshui County could muster would have a very hard time contending with the Wuyun Bandits.

"In this battle, I will wash away the shame of our disastrous defeat at Sheep Head Mountain with blood!"

Li Jin’s eyes held a mixture of fury, grief, humiliation, and resolve.

He had spent half his life in the military, and the battle at Sheep Head Mountain was by far his most devastating defeat.

Many subordinates who had followed him for years lost their lives there, and he couldn’t even bring back their bodies.

At this thought, all the emotions Li Jin had been accumulating threatened to erupt.

But he suppressed them with all his might.

Because Li Jin knew... now was not the time.

"With General Li here, we’ll definitely beat those Wuyun Bandits so bad they piss themselves!"

Wen Zhiyuan declared loudly.

Li Jin calmed his emotions and said softly, "Lord Wen, how are the preparations on your end?"

"Rest assured, General Li... our grain and fodder reserves are ample, and the major blacksmiths in the city are forging arrows day and night."

"When it comes to logistics, we absolutely will not hold you back."

Wen Zhiyuan said in a low, serious voice.

"Good."

"I’m relieved to hear you say that, Lord Wen."

"I just don’t know when Director Han will come out of seclusion."

This was Li Jin’s greatest concern.

The Wuyun Bandits were powerful now. Besides the Black Cloud Spear King, Zhang Bei, they also had many experts from the Black List.

Not to mention the strange and unpredictable Wangling Sect.

If Han Yuan wasn’t here, this battle would be impossible to fight.

"Director Han seems to still be in seclusion. He hasn’t come out."

"If he’s still not out by tomorrow, we plan to call him out."

Wen Zhiyuan said seriously.

"Mm."

"Let’s hope Director Han achieves his breakthrough."

Li Jin nodded.

......

At this moment, outside the main hall of the Observatory.

Zhou Yuanhu, Zhai Mu, Chen Hong, and other important figures were all gathered, waiting anxiously.

"Zhai Mu, you’re the closest with the Director. Why don’t you go into the main hall and check on the situation?"

Zhou Yuanhu said.

"Aren’t you just putting me in a tough spot?"

"The Director himself said not to disturb him unless it’s urgent."

"Besides, the Wuyun Bandits haven’t arrived yet."

Zhai Mu muttered.

"But based on their marching speed, they’ll be here tomorrow."

"It’s better to be prepared for this kind of thing in advance."

Chen Hong couldn’t help but say.

Not only the Government Office and the County Soldiers, but even all the common people of Cangshui County Town were pinning their hopes on Han Yuan.

Even the Huang and Lu Families.

They only contributed money and men out of respect for Han Yuan.

If Han Yuan didn’t appear at a time like this, it was feared that morale would falter.

"Alright, I’ll go in and take a look."

Zhai Mu gritted his teeth, preparing to step into the main hall.

"No need."

A calm voice drifted out from the main hall.

Everyone shuddered and quickly looked toward the entrance.

They saw a powerful figure slowly walk out of the main hall.

"It seems I’m just in time."

Han Yuan said with a smile, seeing so many people.

"Director."

"The Wuyun Bandits are less than a hundred li from the County Town."

Zhou Yuanhu’s expression was anxious.

"Then come with me to the city gate and have a look."

Han Yuan’s expression was full of anticipation.

He had been in seclusion for many days, painstakingly grinding his Martial Arts, all for this very moment.

WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH~~

Even the weakest among them was an Inner Qi expert. Circulating their qi, they leaped and bounded, quickly arriving at the East City Gate.

According to Li Jin’s analysis, it was highly likely the Wuyun Bandits wouldn’t split their forces, but would instead concentrate them in one place, seeking a swift and decisive battle.

The East City Gate was the most probable point of attack, which was why Li Jin had stationed heavy troops here.

Seeing Han Yuan arrive with his men.

Wen Zhiyuan and Li Jin were exceptionally delighted.

"Director Han, General Li and I were just wondering when you would come out of seclusion."

"We didn’t expect you to arrive just now."

Wen Zhiyuan said with a smile, stroking his beard.

Han Yuan’s mere presence was enough to set people at ease.

"I came to check on the situation."

"These Wuyun Bandits should be arriving soon, right?"

Han Yuan said softly.

"Probably tomorrow at noon."

Li Jin said in a low voice.

"Mm... Just in time to settle things with Zhang Bei."

Han Yuan stood atop the gate tower, hands clasped behind his back, gazing in the direction from which the Wuyun Bandits would attack.

Just then.

A drizzle began to fall from the gloomy sky, scattering gently.

"It’s raining again."

Zhang Bei, mounted on a tall, powerful black horse, looked up at the sky and muttered to himself.

His black horse was a rare breed, much taller and stronger than an ordinary steed, capable of galloping a thousand li in a single day.

It was thanks to this black horse that Zhang Bei had managed to escape Nie Jing’s pursuits several times before.

"Leader Zhang."

"Let’s proceed according to the plan."

"The defenders of Cangshui County Town will never expect us to attack tonight."

An old man in a yellow Magic Robe said coldly.

He was the second priest sent by the Wangling Sect to Cangshui County, Priest Zeng.

"Priest Zeng, can we really reach Cangshui County tonight??"

Zhang Bei asked softly.

"Of course, we can."

"My Wangling Sect has all sorts of wondrous methods. We can do anything."

"I’ll make some preparations first."

"Once your men have cleared out the scouts along the road, I will begin the ritual."

Priest Zeng revealed a creepy smile.

"Alright."

"Then we’ll do as you say."

Zhang Bei nodded.

If they launched a surprise attack on Cangshui County Town tonight, they might actually have a chance to take it in one fell swoop.

Before long.

The Poison Scholar, Chen Lun, appeared from up ahead and came to Zhang Bei’s side to report.

"Boss, we’ve completely cleared out all the scouts along the way."

Zhang Bei said in a low voice, "Good!"

"Have your men continue clearing the way ahead. Don’t let a single scout get a message back."

Chen Lun nodded, cupped his fist in salute, and left.

"Priest Zeng, you can begin the ritual now."

Zhang Bei said, turning around.

"Then I’ll have to trouble Leader Zhang to have the army halt and then disperse in a circle around me."

Priest Zeng nodded.

Zhang Bei didn’t ask too many questions. He followed the instructions, ordering the army to halt and quickly form a circular formation.

At the center was Priest Zeng.

The priest called over two Protectors, who brought over a funeral urn that was more than a person’s height.

Zhang Bei’s brow furrowed.

’He remembered that Priest Zeng had brought many followers to Sheep Head Mountain before.’

’But those followers had gradually vanished without a trace afterward.’

’At first, he had thought Priest Zeng had sent them away somewhere.’

’Now it seemed... they had all been turned to ash.’

But he had seen far too many of the Wangling Sect’s bizarre and evil methods.

As long as they could take Cangshui County Town, he didn’t care what methods the other party used.

After Priest Zeng opened the urn.

He took out a dagger.

SHNK!

A large amount of blood gushed from his palm, dripping into the funeral urn.

Zhang Bei saw clearly that Priest Zeng’s blood was a dark crimson!

It was like a spark falling into a pool of oil.

When Priest Zeng’s blood dripped in.

The funeral urn seemed to ignite, continuously emitting black smoke.

"Yellow Springs Saint Mother!"

"Carry me across the sea of suffering!"

Priest Zeng let out a roar.

BOOM!!!!

Following Priest Zeng’s roar, the funeral urn violently exploded.

The ashes burst into the air, bizarrely forming the outline of a human face.

Vaguely, the outline resembled the Yellow Springs Saint Mother, seeming to smile yet not smile, to grieve yet not grieve...

The scene was both bizarre and sacred.

Seeing this, some of the more weak-willed Wuyun Bandits began to kowtow to the facial outline of the Yellow Springs Saint Mother.

The next moment.

The face of the Yellow Springs Saint Mother suddenly vanished.

The ashes, mixed with the drizzle, fell upon every one of the Wuyun Bandits.

"AHHHH~~~"

The Wuyun Bandits clutched their heads and howled in pain.

They felt as if countless consciousnesses had entered their minds.

These consciousnesses were incredibly crazed and fanatical, constantly bombarding their minds.

Seeing this, Zhang Bei frowned slightly.

But Priest Zeng explained from the side, "Don’t worry. They are receiving the power of the Yellow Springs Saint Mother."

Soon.

The muscles of the Wuyun Bandits bulged, and their eyes gradually became savage and violent, like wild beasts.

"Leader Zhang, their bodies are now much stronger. They have no reason and feel no pain."

"If we storm Cangshui County now, we will certainly be able to breach it!"

Priest Zeng cackled ominously.

"Are there any side effects?"

Zhang Bei asked another question.

"Once we take Cangshui County Town... we won’t need these men anymore."

Priest Zeng didn’t answer directly.

Zhang Bei nodded lightly.

He abruptly thrust out the Black Dragon Spear in his hand, pointing it in the direction of Cangshui County Town.

"Kill!"

In an instant.

The Wuyun Bandits let out bizarre roars and charged madly toward Cangshui County Town.

After being enhanced by Priest Zeng’s Evil Technique, their speed was much faster, and they felt no fatigue, running endlessly without stopping.

Several hours later.

A dozen or so men collapsed.

They had literally been run to death.

Although their bodies had been enhanced and they felt no fatigue, they still had their limits.

Exceeding that limit meant instant death.

But the Wuyun Bandits showed no fear, continuing their mad charge.

Soon, it was late at night.

The gloomy rain had not yet stopped.

Han Yuan had been standing in the gate tower the whole time.

"Zhai Mu, how long has it been since we heard from the Flying Eagle Guards?"

Han Yuan gazed into the pitch-black distance, his expression a mixture of surprise and suspicion.

"Director."

"Since this afternoon... the Flying Eagle Guards and all the scouts."

"Have all gone missing."

"They were probably cleared out by the Wuyun Bandits beforehand."

Zhai Mu said in a low voice.

’Why would they suddenly make a move?’

Han Yuan’s eyes showed his confusion.

’The Wuyun Bandits were never afraid of revealing their position before, so why would they suddenly clear out the scouts?’

"It’s unclear... Perhaps the Wuyun Bandits are trying to hide something."

"I’ll send a few more men ahead to scout it out."

Zhai Mu also felt they should be more cautious.

"No need."

"I’ll go myself."

"And see what tricks the Wuyun Bandits are up to."

Han Yuan shook his head. ’When things deviate from the norm, there’s always something strange afoot.’

’In this world... some things can’t be explained by common sense.’

’Otherwise, it’s easy to suffer a great loss.’

With that, Han Yuan leaped up, jumped down from the gate tower, and quickly vanished from Zhai Mu’s sight.

Seeing this, Zhai Mu could only give a helpless, wry smile.

He didn’t dare go anywhere; he could only wait right there for Han Yuan to return.

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