I Grind to Martial Saint

The main gate of this gloomy building had long since vanished. Inside, it was pitch-black, making it impossible to see a thing.

Even so, Han Yuan showed no fear. He simply raised his flint and steel and walked inside.

Ding Zihu and the others followed close behind Han Yuan.

Upon entering the City Lord's Mansion, they found themselves in what looked like a dark, overgrown garden.

Vines crawled over every inch of the ground and walls.

The vines themselves were bizarre, like countless bluish-black arms tangled together—a truly horrifying sight.

They were everywhere, leaving the group no choice but to step directly on them.

"It really feels like I'm stepping on flesh and blood..."

Ding Zihu's eyes were filled with terror.

"Ignore it. Don't focus on that."

"Pay close attention to your surroundings, or we might find an extra person with us again for no reason."

Han Yuan said grimly.

Hearing this, the expressions of Hong Kui, Cao Ru, and the others shifted. They began to glance nervously all around them.

After all, they had just narrowly avoided being ambushed.

Han Yuan's gaze fell upon a Stone Hall in the distance.

Flanking the Stone Hall stood two withered, black trees, like a pair of loyal guards.

"AHHHH~~"

Strange, chilling roars echoed from within the Stone Hall.

The closer they got to the chilling roars, the more fear gnawed at their hearts.

Intrusive, chaotic thoughts even began to surface, impossible to suppress.

"This aura... it seems somewhat similar to an Evil Demon Seed."

Han Yuan mused, his eyes fixed on the Stone Hall.

'He'd come into contact with a fair number of Evil Demon Seeds by now.'

'Whether it was the Yellow Springs Saint Mother or the one that had just awakened in Sanling Village.'

'These Evil Demon Seeds possessed different abilities, but they all shared the strange power to corrupt one's mind.'

'The strange fluctuations now emanating from this Stone Hall seemed to be of the same nature.'

"It really does feel similar."

Ding Zihu nodded in agreement.

"Does that mean there might be an Evil Demon Seed hiding inside?"

Sun Jianbai's brow furrowed.

"It's possible."

"The early arrival of the Spiritual Qi Storm might even be connected to whatever is inside this Stone Hall."

Han Yuan speculated.

Hearing this, the group grew even more tense.

Standing before the Stone Hall, they began to prepare to enter.

Ding Zihu, in particular, hung a Momo Eight Trigrams Mirror on his chest, then took out several Spirit Talismans and plastered them onto his body.

The brothers Dong Feng and Dong Yun did much the same.

They held Dharma Artifacts in their hands and had Spirit Talismans stuck to their bodies.

Cao Ru took out a pair of pale purple silken gloves and put them on.

"Those must be the heirloom of your sect's Sect Leader, the Purple Cloud Gloves."

"Legend has it that one of the Abnormal People spent decades harvesting Purple Mist Cloud Qi every day, then wove it with Celestial Silkworm Silk. They're impervious to fire and water, and weapons can barely scratch them!"

A glint of admiration appeared in Sun Jianbai's eyes as he stared at Cao Ru's gloves.

'Those Purple Cloud Gloves could truly be considered a Divine Weapon.'

"These gloves are just an ordinary weapon."

"How could they possibly compare to your Sun Family's Thousand Sun Sword?"

Cao Ru said with a smile.

"Unfortunately, I am no longer the Patriarch. I'm not qualified to wield that sword."

Sun Jianbai shook his head.

At that moment, Han Yuan spoke up. "Since everyone is ready, let's go in."

With that, he entered the Stone Hall, holding his flint and steel, a slightly tense look on his face.

The Stone Hall was desolate. A tangle of chaotic vines covered the floor and walls.

As soon as Han Yuan entered, his gaze bypassed the surroundings and settled on the deepest part of the Stone Hall.

In the very back was a grim, stone chair.

A figure could be faintly seen sitting upon it.

Ding Zihu and the others, who entered after him, also saw the figure, and their faces filled with shock.

Han Yuan slowly approached the figure and raised the flint and steel higher. At last, he could see the figure's face.

It was neither human nor tree. Its entire body was covered in root-like tendrils, its skin a dark, bluish-green. Faintly, one could still make out human facial features.

As the firelight touched it, the figure's eyes snapped open. Its mouth moved, uttering strange words.

Then its whole body twisted as it let out a pained howl.

"Ding Zihu, do you know what it's saying?"

Han Yuan asked urgently.

"I can make out some of it... He's saying... kill him... quickly..."

"That's the gist of it."

Ding Zihu said hastily.

"Kill him?"

"Quick, ask him why we should kill him!"

Han Yuan ordered grimly.

Mustering his courage, Ding Zihu tried to communicate with the half-human, half-tree monster.

But in the next moment...

...the tree monster roared, its eyes flashing with brutal madness, and the tendrils covering its body shot toward Ding Zihu.

"Help!"

Ding Zihu screamed, hastily activating the Copper Mirror in his hand.

SWISH!!!

A beam of golden light shot out, striking the tendrils directly.

But the tendrils were wreathed in a black mist that actually blocked the golden light.

Seeing this, Ding Zihu was scared out of his wits and screamed, "Han Yuan, save me!"

He didn't need to ask.

Han Yuan had already flashed in front of him. Facing the oncoming tendrils, he brought his Dragon Sparrow Cloud-Splitting Saber down in a furious slash.

CLANG!

Sparks flew as the Dragon Sparrow Cloud-Splitting Saber collided with the tendrils.

Han Yuan felt a terrifying force surge toward him. Even he couldn't fully block it and was forced back several steps.

'Such terrifying power!'

Han Yuan was shocked.

The next moment...

...the bizarre tree-man rose from the stone chair.

They hadn't noticed while it was sitting.

But once the bizarre tree-man stood up, they saw it was nearly three meters tall. Its body was lanky, its limbs abnormally gaunt, yet its savage musculature gave off a sense of imminent, explosive power.

After standing, the bizarre tree-man charged straight at Han Yuan.

The tree-man was incredibly fast, appearing before Han Yuan in an instant. Its bluish-black hand, wrapped in a sinister aura, shot out to grab his neck.

Han Yuan reacted, sweeping his saber in a wide arc with both hands.

The blade struck the bizarre tree-man's midsection.

CLANG!

It had only managed to chip off a piece of its bark!

But Han Yuan had been prepared for this. As he swung his saber, he tilted his head aside, dodging the tree-man's bluish-black hand.

SWISH!

Cao Ru's figure silently appeared from the side.

Wearing the Purple Cloud Gloves wreathed in Purple Mist Cloud Qi, her hands seemed to strike the bizarre tree-man's temple with a deceptively light touch.

THUD!

Han Yuan had experienced Cao Ru's Palm Force before; it could be substantial or illusory, but when she struck with full power, it was truly terrifying.

Yet the bizarre tree-man didn't even move its head. It merely glanced at Cao Ru and swatted a hand at her.

Cao Ru planted her feet firmly and met the blow with her other palm.

The instant their palms collided...

...she coughed up a spray of blood as if struck by lightning and was sent flying backward.

"This thing is too strong!"

"Everyone, attack together! Let's finish it!"

Ding Zihu yelled.

He raised the Eight Trigrams Mirror in his hand and shot a beam of golden light at the bizarre tree-man.

Dong Feng waved a small, green flag.

SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!

A volley of Wind Blades shot out, slicing through the air with terrifying sharpness.

Meanwhile, Dong Yun activated a Fiery Red Steel Ring, which flew toward the bizarre creature, wreathed in flames, to ensnare it.

BANG!

The bizarre tree-man threw a punch, instantly knocking the Fiery Red Steel Ring away.

PTSH!

Dong Yun suffered from the backlash, and blood welled up in his throat.

As for Dong Feng's Wind Blades, they only produced a few dull thuds when they hit the tree-man, chipping off a little bark as if they were merely tickling it.

This time, however, the golden light from Ding Zihu's Eight Trigrams Mirror struck the bizarre tree-man directly in the eye.

SZZT~~

A plume of black smoke rose from the wound.

The bizarre tree-man reeled in pain and was about to charge toward Ding Zihu.

"Die!"

But Han Yuan, brandishing his Dragon Sparrow Cloud-Splitting Saber, was already charging in.

This time, his body billowed with Great Demon Gang Essence. His muscles bulged, and his eyes were cold and savage, making him look like a Demon Lord!

BOOM!

Eight Extremes Thunderstorm Slash!

At the same time, Hong Kui attacked from the left, channeling his Gang Essence and throwing a punch.

RUMBLE!!!

The air roared like crashing waves—a terrifying display of power!

The bizarre tree-man seemed to be taking things more seriously now, lashing out with both hands.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

It fell into a desperate struggle against Han Yuan and Hong Kui.

Soon after, Cao Ru and Sun Jianbai joined the fray.

The four of them surrounded and attacked the bizarre tree-man.

Meanwhile, Ding Zihu, Dong Feng, and Dong Yun stayed on the perimeter, continuously launching attacks with their Magic Techniques.

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