I Grind to Martial Saint

Night fell.

Tongming County Town, Yellow Springs Saint Mother Temple.

Over a dozen dim, yellow lamps burned steadily, illuminating a statue with a benevolent and merciful expression.

Two figures were kneeling before the statue.

One of them, a burly man with a large, shaved head, was the High Priest, Wu Guangtian.

The other was a long-haired man with a feminine face, his lips painted with rouge.

"This time, I don’t know which bastard came up with this scheme."

"With Fang Tai dead, all the county towns in Tongming County have fallen. Our excellent position is completely gone."

Wu Guangtian sighed.

"To be honest, this is all because of that Demon Exterminator named Han Yuan."

The long-haired man spoke in an effeminate, biting tone.

He was the Patriarch of the Wangling Sect, Wei Wuning.

Just a moment ago, they had finally discovered who had killed Fang Tai.

"I was careless about this matter."

"This Han Yuan is the Director of the Observatory in Cangshui County. He’s thwarted our grand plans before."

"A while ago, I received news from Cangshui County that Han Yuan was going to duel a Gang Essence Realm Martial Artist. I thought it was a great opportunity, a chance to take Cangshui County."

"I never expected Han Yuan to be the one who killed that Gang Essence Martial Artist and had the last laugh."

"I’ve had people watching his movements, but he always stayed inside the Observatory and rarely appeared. The intel we gathered said Han Yuan was in seclusion."

"I never thought it was a feint. The bastard secretly infiltrated Tongming County, killed Fang Tai, and ruined our favorable situation."

Wu Guangtian analyzed the biggest reason for their failure.

If they had been able to track Han Yuan’s movements, perhaps the situation would be completely different.

"There’s no point in talking about this now."

"We still need to solve the current crisis in Tongming County Town first."

"How is that other matter progressing?"

Wei Wuning asked coolly.

"Rest assured, Sect Leader. Everything is proceeding in secret. No one will notice."

Wu Guangtian said in a deep voice.

"The original plan is too slow. Starting tonight, double the pace."

"They’re all going to die anyway... It makes no difference whether they die sooner or later."

Wei Wuning gazed piously at the Statue of the Yellow Springs Saint Mother.

The Jianghe Province Soldiers hadn’t attacked yet.

But he knew in his heart that the enemy wouldn’t delay for long.

They would launch their final assault within the next few days.

Therefore, he had to use any means necessary.

Wu Guangtian’s devotion to the Yellow Springs Saint Mother was just as fanatical. He said without hesitation, "Rest assured, Sect Leader. I know what to do."

Just then, a Priest rushed to the front of the temple and said in a low voice, "Sect Leader, High Priest, the Jianghe Province Soldiers are attacking the East City Gate!"

Wu Guangtian’s expression changed slightly. "So soon?"

Wei Wuning, however, was quite calm. "It should just be a probing attack... To be safe, I’ll go take a look."

"Elder Wu, you do what you need to do."

Wu Guangtian nodded.

The two of them quickly left the temple and went their separate ways.

By the time Wei Wuning reached the top of the city wall, the Jianghe Province Soldiers had already retreated.

’As expected.’

Wei Wuning was not surprised in the slightest.

Just as he was about to leave, another Priest came to report, "Sect Leader, there seems to be unusual movement from the Jianghe Province Soldiers at the South City Gate."

’Trying to play these games with me...’

Wei Wuning didn’t want to go.

But he was a cautious person. He was afraid the first attack was a feint and this assault on the South City Gate was the real one, so he went anyway.

But when he arrived at the South City Gate, there wasn’t even a shadow of a Jianghe Province Soldier.

"So you like to play games... I’ll play with you all night, then."

Wei Wuning smiled. He decided to stay at the South City Gate and not leave.

.....

Meanwhile, a figure slipped past the tight security at the West City Gate, sneaking into Tongming County Town.

This person was, of course, Han Yuan.

Tonight’s feints were actually meant to draw the Wangling Sect’s attention, creating an opportunity for Han Yuan to enter Tongming County Town smoothly.

After reaching the main street, however, Han Yuan frowned.

’Why isn’t anyone in Tongming County Town chanting the Wangling Sect’s scriptures?’

He knew from his time in Liuye County that he had seen with his own eyes how the Wangling Sect forced the common people to chant their scriptures.

The population of Tongming County Town, even after some turmoil, should still be two to three million.

How could the Wangling Sect not force these people to chant?

’Could it be because of our siege?’

For a moment, Han Yuan couldn’t figure it out.

Just then, he suddenly heard a sound.

Han Yuan quickly found a corner to hide in.

TING-A-LING-LING~~~

The crisp sound of a Copper Bell echoed from a distance.

Han Yuan watched from his hiding spot in the corner.

He saw a man in a yellow Magic Robe shaking a Copper Bell in his hand, continuously chanting some obscure Spell.

Behind him followed many figures.

When the sound of the Copper Bell and the Spell mixed together, it created a drowsy, disorienting feeling.

However, with Han Yuan’s mental fortitude, he quickly broke free from the sensation.

But an ordinary person would not be able to.

The people following the Yellow Robe Mage were like walking corpses. They walked with a strange gait, only able to follow the sound of the Copper Bell, having lost all ability to think.

’What are they doing...’

Han Yuan narrowed his eyes.

After a moment’s thought, he decided to blend into the group, mimicking their dazed and soulless appearance.

He was currently in disguise, appearing as a man with a sallow complexion, so there was no risk of being exposed.

As it turned out, the group of walking corpses didn’t notice someone had blended in with them.

And the Yellow Robe Mage was even less likely to notice.

There were at least several hundred people following him; it was impossible for him to remember every single face.

Just like that, Han Yuan followed along, hidden within the crowd.

Before long, they arrived in front of a bizarrely styled, crimson-colored temple.

The temple was surrounded by so many Wangling Sect followers that it seemed not even a fly could get through.

Two enormous statues of vicious demons stood before the entrance.

One had yellow skin and red hair, the other gray skin and blue hair.

Set against the silent, dark night, they appeared all the more ferocious and sinister.

It was as if they could come to life and devour people at any moment.

Even the Yellow Robe Mage bowed to each of the two demon statues before leading the people into the Yellow Springs Saint Mother Temple.

Beyond the threshold lay a spacious, gloomy plaza.

Several thousand people were kneeling on the ground, all of them with vacant, lifeless expressions.

Two rows of tightly packed Wangling Sect followers stood holding torches, their faces expressionless.

Once everyone had entered the temple, the Yellow Robe Mage led them to a remote corner, shook his Copper Bell, and shouted coldly, "Kneel!"

Instantly, the people began to kneel one after another, their heads bowed low, not daring to look up.

Han Yuan followed suit, and no one noticed anything unusual about him.

Several more groups arrived after that, until the entire plaza was packed to the brim.

"This is enough... Let’s hurry up and start the sacrificial ceremony."

"We still have to bring in a few more batches tonight."

The burly Wu Guangtian walked out from the depths of the temple. He gazed at the thousands of bewitched commoners, his eyes filled with indifference.

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