I Grind to Martial Saint

The Array Patterns gradually intertwined, shimmering with lightning to form a vast Thunder Array.

BOOM! RUMBLE!

Bolts of lightning crashed down relentlessly upon a lone figure.

Cui Mingsha, shrouded in white Gang Essence, swung a Profound Black Long-Handled Axe, smashing the descending bolts of lightning to pieces.

Seeing this from atop the city wall, Zhang Cang formed a series of hand seals and spat out a mouthful of Essence Blood.

BOOM!!!

A bolt of purple lightning suddenly materialized, crashing down violently toward Cui Mingsha!

"This trick again!"

Cui Mingsha roared, gripping the long handle with both hands and swinging the axe blade violently toward the lightning bolt.

BOOM!!!

A violent electric current surged up the handle into Cui Mingsha’s hands, numbing his entire body and causing him to twitch uncontrollably.

Just then, the Array Patterns on the city wall lit up again, seeming to summon an even more powerful bolt of lightning.

However, Cui Mingsha was a Gang Essence Martial Artist, after all. He quickly regained control of his body. Sensing the imminent danger, his expression changed, and he hastily retreated.

’If I get hit by that, it won’t be just a minor injury.’

"Hmph."

"Let’s see how long you can last."

After leaving this parting threat, Cui Mingsha vanished.

Zhang Cang, atop the gate tower, knew he couldn’t stop Cui Mingsha, so he could only let him leave.

The Thunder Array was built purely for defense; it had no power to trap someone.

"If you keep this up, Cui Mingsha will bleed you dry."

"He’s a Gang Essence Martial Artist with a robust constitution and vigorous vitality. Even if he’s slightly injured, he heals quickly."

"But you’re different. Every time Cui Mingsha attacks, you have to use your Essence Blood to power the Thunder Array."

"If this goes on, you’ll die from exhausting your Essence Blood."

Huang Xian’Er appeared beside Zhang Cang, her face etched with worry.

For days now, Cui Mingsha had come to challenge them once every day.

Each time, he would wait until Zhang Cang had expended his Essence Blood before immediately retreating.

As a result, Zhang Cang grew weaker with each passing day.

"There’s nothing I can do... Without using my Essence Blood, it’s impossible to inflict any real damage on Cui Mingsha."

Zhang Cang gave a bitter smile, took out an Elixir Pill, and swallowed it.

"Zhang Cang, you’ve done everything you can."

"We can’t hold this city. Let’s leave."

A flash of heartache crossed Huang Xian’Er’s eyes.

"I can’t leave..."

Zhang Cang shook his head stubbornly.

He had given Huang Xian’Er this same answer many times before.

"Struggling like this... is it really worth it?"

Huang Xian’Er couldn’t help but ask.

Zhang Cang smiled weakly. "As long as I believe it’s worth it... that’s enough."

Huang Xian’Er fell silent.

She had shared weal and woe with Zhang Cang these past days.

She understood his character.

He was the kind of person who would sacrifice everything for his convictions.

No matter how she tried to persuade him, it would be useless.

’Forget it... If it comes to it, I’ll just die with him.’

’At least we would die on the same day.’

Huang Xian’Er thought to herself.

The two of them stood there quietly in the gate tower.

「In the days that followed.」

Cui Mingsha continued to come and harass Zhang Cang every day.

Each time, Zhang Cang had to pay the price of his own Essence Blood to repel Cui Mingsha.

To maintain the morale of the troops, he never showed any sign of his weakened state.

Only Huang Xian’Er knew.

Zhang Cang was gradually reaching his limit.

His face had become deathly pale, completely devoid of color.

To prevent Cui Mingsha from noticing his condition, he even had Huang Xian’Er apply makeup—rouge to feign a ruddy complexion.

Each time, he would stand in the gate tower, waiting for Cui Mingsha to arrive.

「A month passed in the blink of an eye.」

Before a quiet house.

Zhang Cang stared at his reflection in the Copper Mirror.

His complexion was ghastly pale and his eyes were lifeless. He looked terminally ill, as if he were already at death’s door.

"It’s no use, no matter how much makeup we use...."

"It can’t hide your weakness."

Huang Xian’Er stood to the side, her eyes filled with heartache.

"We’ll conceal what we can."

Zhang Cang seemed to lack even the strength to speak, his voice barely a whisper.

Only Huang Xian’Er could hear him.

"Two days... You’ll be dead within two days."

Huang Xian’Er said grimly.

She knew Zhang Cang had long since reached the end of his rope.

He had only managed to last this long thanks to his terrifying willpower.

But no amount of willpower could replenish the body’s depleted reserves.

"No... I can hold on longer," Zhang Cang said, shaking his head and closing his eyes.

Huang Xian’Er picked up the rouge and began to apply his makeup.

She did her best to give him some color, to make him look less frail.

Once she was finished,

Zhang Cang rose and headed for the gate tower.

Before long, Cui Mingsha arrived alone, brandishing his long-handled Giant Axe.

"Zhang Cang."

"You can stop pretending."

"For a Three Souls Abnormal Person to constantly deplete his Essence Blood and still last this long..."

"To be honest, I’m actually a little impressed."

Cui Mingsha’s voice boomed.

He wasn’t a fool; he knew Zhang Cang had been putting up a front.

"Then you’re bound to be disappointed, Director Cui."

"I can hold out for a long while yet."

Zhang Cang said with a forced, casual laugh.

"Zhang Cang... I’ll give you a chance."

"Surrender now, and I’ll let you live."

Cui Mingsha was reluctant to let such a talent go to waste.

If he could make use of Zhang Cang’s mastery of Array Technique, it would be a powerful weapon in his arsenal.

"Director Cui, we are not on the same path."

Zhang Cang shook his head.

During his time in Yuan Province, he had learned exactly what kind of man Cui Mingsha was.

For example, the previous Prefect of Nanyuan County had been one of Cui Mingsha’s men, responsible for amassing wealth for him.

That was why, even when Nanyuan County was suffering a drought, the Prefect had conspired with local magnates to hoard grain for personal profit. This caused countless commoners to starve, their bodies left to rot in the fields. It was this injustice that Zhang Cang could no longer stomach, leading him to incite the people to rebellion.

"A pity."

Cui Mingsha shook his head.

He knew that with a man as resolute as Zhang Cang, saying any more would be a waste of breath.

The next moment, he shot toward Nanyuan County Town.

Zhang Cang channeled his Magical Power, activating the Thunder Array.

BOOM! RUMBLE!

Several bolts of lightning crashed down.

Having fought Zhang Cang so many times, Cui Mingsha was long accustomed to his tactics.

He immediately channeled his Gang Essence and swung his Profound Black Long-Handled Axe, shattering the bolts of lightning.

After a brief exchange, Zhang Cang had no choice but to once again use his Essence Blood to enhance the power of the Thunder Array.

BOOM!!!

A bolt of purple lightning crashed down!

Cui Mingsha blocked it. His body trembled as the electric current coursed through him.

But he just grinned. "Zhang Cang, you must be at the end of your rope now."

With that, Cui Mingsha showed no intention of prolonging the fight and vanished.

Zhang Cang’s brow furrowed.

He had just deliberately revealed his weakened state, thinking Cui Mingsha would seize the opportunity to strike.

He never expected the man to show no interest, retreating with such decisiveness.

’It seems he’s really seen right through me.’

Zhang Cang gave a helpless smile.

Then, the world began to spin.

Zhang Cang collapsed, fainting right there in the gate tower.

"Zhang Cang!!!"

Huang Xian’Er appeared at Zhang Cang’s side in a flash. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw he had only fainted.

But then, more figures began to approach.

Huang Xian’Er knew in her heart that Zhang Cang’s condition could no longer be concealed.

「At that moment.」

In a military camp several miles from Nanyuan County,

"Director Cui, that Zhang Cang must be at the end of his rope. Why didn’t you finish him off just now?"

A general of the Province Soldiers asked, confused.

"There’s no hurry. We’ve dragged this out for so long, what’s another day or two?"

"Zhang Cang is a dead man walking. If I were to fight him now, I’d be falling right into his trap."

"He wants to risk it all to drag me down to Hell with him."

"But I refuse to take the bait. I’m just going to wear him down slowly until he dies."

Cui Mingsha said nonchalantly.

He was a veteran of the Martial World; he naturally understood such things.

After hearing this, the general came to a sudden realization. "So Director Cui had already seen through all of this! Zhang Cang would probably cough up blood from pure anger if he knew."

"Alright, get ready."

"We’ll make our move within the next two days!"

Cui Mingsha said grimly.

"Understood!"

The general replied, cupping his fist.

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