I Grind to Martial Saint

The border of Pinglang Province.

This was the boundary line with Tongming County.

After several days of nonstop travel, a dust-covered Han Yuan finally arrived.

He was now walking along a country road.

According to his map, once he followed this road and crossed a small mountain ridge called Cyan Ox Ridge, he would officially be in Tongming County.

It was sunset, and the sun was about to sink behind the great mountains.

An old farmer, shouldering a hoe on his way back from the fields, saw Han Yuan heading toward Cyan Ox Ridge and hurriedly called out, "Young man, you can’t go any further."

"Old sir, why not?"

Han Yuan, who knew nothing of the current situation in Tongming County, stopped and asked softly.

"Let me tell you, Tongming County is in chaos right now! There’s fighting everywhere!"

"Even the few rich landlords from our village were afraid of getting caught in the crossfire. They took their families and fled to the city."

"It’s only old folks like us who can’t bear to leave our few acres of land."

The old farmer shook his head as he spoke.

"Fighting everywhere?"

Han Yuan raised an eyebrow.

"That’s right... I’ve heard it’s not just the Wangling Sect and the Province Army fighting."

"They say even that Murderous Demon King from Qingchuan County, Fang Tai, has gotten involved."

"I heard the Province Army was utterly routed and is now scattered all over Tongming County."

The old farmer seemed to know quite a bit.

"I see."

"My map shows that Liuye County is just over Cyan Ox Ridge. Do you know what the situation is like there, old sir?"

Han Yuan inquired.

"Liuye County was taken by the Wangling Sect long ago."

"I hear the Wangling Sect is grabbing people every day to chant scriptures... No one knows what’s really going on."

"So if you go there, I’m afraid you’ll be captured by the Wangling Sect immediately."

The old farmer warned.

"It’s alright. I have a friend who went missing in Liuye County. I’m going to see if I can get him back."

"Thank you, old sir."

Han Yuan took his leave.

’This young man... why won’t he listen to reason?’

The old farmer watched Han Yuan’s retreating figure and shook his head helplessly.

.....

Not far from Liuye County.

A unit of the Province Army was rapidly approaching.

The man in the lead had a grim face and held a long spear, his armor stained with dark red blood.

His name was Song Guang, and he was one of the Assistant Generals of the Jianghe Province Soldiers.

Ever since Ling Yun had split the Jianghe Province forces, Song Guang had led five hundred men in a desperate breakout from Dragon Pool. After fighting through many obstacles, they had finally shaken off their pursuers and were now retreating toward Pinglang County.

"Assistant General Song, Willow Leaf City is just ahead."

"Should we bypass it or launch a surprise attack?"

His second-in-command stepped forward to ask.

"There’s no need... We still have pursuers hounding us from behind. A surprise attack on Liuye County Town would be too risky."

"We’ll bypass it directly and retreat to Pinglang County via Cyan Ox Ridge."

Song Guang said in a low voice.

After days of running battles, most of his soldiers were exhausted and in desperate need of rest.

"Yes, sir!"

The second-in-command clasped his fist and hurried off to make the arrangements.

Soon, Song Guang’s unit made a wide detour, avoiding Liuye County Town and heading straight for Cyan Ox Ridge.

But right now, Cyan Ox Ridge was fraught with murderous intent.

Several hundred Wangling Sect followers were lying in ambush, waiting for Song Guang to lead his men into their trap so they could wipe them out in one fell swoop!

"What’s the status? Where is Song Guang now?"

A wiry man in a yellow Magic Robe asked coldly.

"Reporting to Sect Leader Cheng... According to our scouts, Song Guang and his men are only a dozen or so li away."

A young follower replied quickly.

"Good! All of you, stay hidden! Don’t you dare let Song Guang spot any flaws in our ambush, or I’ll have your heads!"

"This time, he will meet his end at Cyan Ox Ridge!"

Sect Leader Cheng sneered.

He had been hunting Song Guang for days but had gained no advantage. In fact, he had lost quite a few of his own men.

This time, he had deliberately pretended to lose the trail, then rushed his subordinates here to Cyan Ox Ridge to set up an ambush.

He had already calculated Song Guang’s likely escape route.

As for Liuye County, he had already coordinated with the local Altar Master.

Tonight, Liuye County Town was heavily guarded. If Song Guang chose to attack it, he would be doomed to fail.

Then, he could lead his own men to reinforce the town and crush Song Guang’s forces completely.

In short, in Sect Leader Cheng’s eyes, Song Guang was already a dead man.

But just then, a figure appeared in his line of sight.

It was a powerfully built man. Between the Conical Hat he wore and the dimming light, his face was impossible to see.

However, he carried a great saber on his back and looked very much like a Blade Master of the Martial World.

’Dammit!’

’Where did this person come from?!’

Sect Leader Cheng cursed inwardly upon seeing the Blade Master.

He couldn’t let his carefully laid plans go up in smoke just like that.

He shot a look at his subordinate, Zhao the Third, signaling for him to take a few men and kill the Blade Master.

Zhao the Third understood immediately. He led several followers to stealthily hide on a nearby slope.

The moment Han Yuan drew near...

...Zhao the Third and his men, acting in perfect unison, leaped out from the slope with steel sabers in hand, slashing viciously down at Han Yuan!

They blocked off all of Han Yuan’s escape routes, intending to hack him into mincemeat.

Seeing this, Sect Leader Cheng couldn’t help but sneer.

He could already picture Han Yuan being hacked to death by a flurry of blades.

’If you must blame someone, blame your own bad luck for showing up at this exact moment.’

But in the next second...

...his eyes widened abruptly.

He didn’t even see how the other man drew his saber. There was just a flash of chilling blade light!

Like bananas, Zhao the Third and his men were sliced in two by that single, chilling flash!

And then, the Conical Hat Blade Master raised his head, and in the direction of Sect Leader Cheng, he flashed a grin, revealing a set of pearly white teeth.

For a moment, Sect Leader Cheng felt his soul about to flee his body.

It was as if he were seeing a savage, tyrannical beast baring its fangs at him!

"Kill him!!!"

"Kill him for me!!!"

At that moment, Sect Leader Cheng, no longer caring about the risk of exposure, shrieked in a panic.

In an instant, all the ambushing Wangling Sect followers leaped out from the slopes, charging madly toward Han Yuan.

Their eyes were filled with a crazed fanaticism. Despite the terror of Han Yuan’s previous strike, they showed not a hint of fear.

Han Yuan knew these men were completely brainwashed. Not bothering to reason with them, he swung his Dragon Sparrow Cloud-Splitting Saber.

SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!

The chilling blade light swept out like a dragon, leaving a storm of blood and gore in its wake—severed hands, severed feet, and severed heads!

No one could stop Han Yuan’s advance.

All who stood before him were shredded by the light of his saber!

Sect Leader Cheng, still on the slope, watched with a trembling body.

He knew that this Conical Hat Blade Master was coming for him.

He didn’t even have the courage to face him, and he turned to flee.

SCREEE—

The next moment...

...Sect Leader Cheng suddenly heard the cry of a vicious bird.

He couldn’t help but look back.

He saw a pitch-black, vicious bird spreading its wings and swooping down on him from mid-air.

Then, a savage gleam of saber light grew larger and larger in his pupils.

SPLURCH—

Sect Leader Cheng was split in two from head to toe by the Dragon Sparrow Cloud-Splitting Saber.

’So the Wangling Sect actually has members who know how to run...’

’You’re a rare one.’

Han Yuan gazed at Sect Leader Cheng’s corpse and shook his head.

"KILL!!!"

The next moment, the fanatical Wangling Sect followers charged at him again, as if possessed.

Han Yuan could only shake his head helplessly, shoulder his Dragon Sparrow Cloud-Splitting Saber, and charge right back into the fray!

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