I Grind to Martial Saint

Han Yuan, however, headed in the opposite direction.

Before leaving, he glanced back at Cangshui County one last time, smiled, and then vanished from the main road in a flash.

...

「A few days later.」

「The Spirit Sun Sect.」

"What... Even Elder Yang has gone missing?!"

Hong Pengtian's expression was one of astonishment when he heard the news.

Yang Fanyu was an Innate Grandmaster! How could he not even be able to handle the Director of a mere County-level Celestial Observation Bureau?!

"Sect Leader... he really has gone missing."

"Based on our inquiries over the past several days, the Grand Elder did appear in Cangshui County Town."

"But he later left Cangshui County Town with someone and hasn't been heard from since."

The disciple who had returned from gathering information said with a bitter smile.

"What else is there?!" Hong Pengtian's expression was grim.

"The Director of the Cangshui County Observatory, Han Yuan, and all his close subordinates have also disappeared..."

"Right now, Cangshui County Town is in chaos. No one knows where they went."

The disciple added hastily.

'He must have fled...'

"Find him!"

"We must drag that bastard out!"

Hong Pengtian's voice was incomparably cold and severe.

The disciple was so frightened he trembled, hastily saying, "Yes, Sect Leader!"

After speaking, he quickly retreated!

"Damn it!!!"

Sitting alone in the main hall, Hong Pengtian could no longer contain himself and cursed aloud.

A single, insignificant Cangshui County Town had cost him his great disciple and his Grand Elder.

It was a loss he could not accept.

BAM!!!

The master's chair he was sitting in was smashed to pieces by a vicious slap of his hand.

...

「Jianghe Province City, Celestial Observation Bureau.」

After a period of administration, Tongming County had gradually gotten back on track.

Thus, Zhao Mengtian was finally able to extricate himself from Tongming County and return to the Jianghe Celestial Observation Bureau.

But as soon as he returned, he received bad news.

Han Yuan... had vanished.

"Director, according to intelligence from the Flying Eagle Guard."

"After Grand Elder Yang Fanyu of the Spirit Sun Sect descended the mountain, he appeared in Cangshui County Town."

"He disappeared afterward, and the people from the Spirit Sun Sect are frantically searching for him."

"And Han Yuan completely disappeared after that as well."

"Many of his trusted confidants vanished along with him."

"Even the Martial Arts Pavilion and the Spirit Pill Pavilion were emptied out."

Jiang Henian reported the events that had occurred in Cangshui County over the past few days to Zhao Mengtian.

"It's for the best that he left... We were useless..."

Zhao Mengtian shook his head and sighed.

He had wanted to protect Han Yuan, but he was truly powerless to do so.

"Destroy all information related to Han Yuan," Zhao Mengtian added.

This was the only thing he could do to help Han Yuan.

"Understood."

Jiang Henian understood Zhao Mengtian's meaning.

"But where on earth did this Yang Fanyu go?"

"Could he have really been slaughtered by Han Yuan?"

Zhao Mengtian narrowed his eyes.

"I don't know... Cangshui County is Han Yuan's territory. It would be all too easy for him to erase any traces."

"My guess is that Yang Fanyu is truly dead," Jiang Henian said.

"Killing the Grand Elder of the Spirit Sun Sect while only at the Gang Essence Stage."

"Give him a little more time to grow... who in this world would be his opponent?"

"I'm afraid the ones with the headache now should be the Spirit Sun Sect," Zhao Mengtian said with a cold laugh.

Naturally, he was displeased with the Spirit Sun Sect.

"But that's only if Han Yuan can survive the Spirit Sun Sect's pursuit," Jiang Henian said softly.

"Those Ancient Sects have been detached from the secular world for who knows how many years."

"It would be a cold day in hell before they manage to find Han Yuan," Zhao Mengtian said with a disdainful laugh.

"But in the Martial World... there are also intelligence organizations."

Jiang Henian sounded slightly pessimistic.

"Then let's make a bet," Zhao Mengtian said with a laugh.

"I bet that in less than five years, Han Yuan will break through to the Innate Realm, then go and crush the Spirit Sun Sect. Do you believe it?"

"What are the stakes?" Jiang Henian asked.

"I know you rascal have a jar of hundred-year-old Monkey Wine hidden away."

Zhao Mengtian finally showed his true colors.

"How did you know?"

Jiang Henian was startled.

"As the Director of the Jianghe Celestial Observation Bureau, is there anything I don't know?" Zhao Mengtian laughed heartily.

"So that's what you were after."

"But if Han Yuan can truly crush the Spirit Sun Sect, what does it matter if I bring out this Monkey Wine?"

Jiang Henian smiled too.

He simply had many worries on his mind.

But in his heart, he also hoped Han Yuan could crush the Spirit Sun Sect.

...

「Nanwu Province.」

This was a large province bordering Jianghe Province.

Located in the southernmost part of the Great Ling Dynasty, it was known as the Ten Thousand Mountains, an area entirely covered in dense mountain forests.

Even during the peak of the Great Ling Dynasty, Nanwu Province was extremely chaotic and difficult to govern.

Because within these Ten Thousand Mountains, the terrain was complex. Many desperate fugitives, with nowhere else to go, would flee here to hide, giving rise to numerous bandits and thieves.

Furthermore, within the mountains themselves lived many tribes of the Alien Race. They were unruly by nature and would not submit to the rule of the Government Office, sometimes even staging rebellions.

Over time, Nanwu Province became a chaotic land where dragons and fish swam together—a place where all sorts of monsters and demons gathered.

And so, after leaving Cangshui County, Han Yuan made his way to Nanwu Province.

Previously, at the Wind and Thunder Temple, Master Xuanye had mentioned to him that within Nanwu Province's Taicang Mountain lived a Daoist named Chunyangzi.

This Daoist had spent his entire life studying the Evil Demon Seed and might have made some discoveries.

He had previously had Zhai Mu send people to search for him, but they had failed.

Han Yuan wanted to take this opportunity to visit Taicang Mountain.

'It doesn't matter where I go, anyway.'

'Besides, a chaotic place like Nanwu Province is quite suitable for my current situation.'

Nanwu Province was not divided into counties or prefectures, but it was still dotted with scattered cities.

Han Yuan's first stop was Qing'an City in Nanwu Province.

Wearing a conical hat and carrying the Dragon Sparrow Cloud-Splitting Saber on his back, he walked into the mountain city.

Compared to cities built on plains, Qing'an City's terrain was uneven, with buildings rising and falling haphazardly. It looked chaotic and was easy to get lost in.

Furthermore, as soon as Han Yuan entered Qing'an City, he felt the dense atmosphere of the Martial World.

The streets were filled with fierce-looking, cold-eyed people of the Martial World, with all sorts of weapons at their waists.

Here, the most common establishments were taverns, weapon shops, and pharmacies.

There was no order here, only the naked law of the jungle.

"KILL!!!"

Not long after Han Yuan had arrived, he saw two Martial World Wanderers who had started fighting for some unknown reason.

After exchanging dozens of blows, one of the Martial World Wanderers had his throat slit, his blood splashing across the long street.

However, the other fellow wasn't much better off, having lost an arm.

But this guy was a tough one; he picked up his own severed arm and walked away without a word.

The nearby Martial World Wanderers seemed to have long grown accustomed to this.

This was Qing'an City, where people died every day.

Martial World feuds, personal grudges, and even public murder and robbery were commonplace.

「A short while later.」

Han Yuan saw two old men approach with a handcart. They first washed the blood from the ground, then rolled the corpse up in a straw mat and carted it away.

'This is the true Martial World.'

Han Yuan reflected with a sigh, then turned and left.

He first found an inn to stay in.

"Sir, what kind of room do you need?" the Shopkeeper said enthusiastically.

"Give me a superior room."

"And bring me some good food and wine."

Han Yuan tossed a silver ingot directly onto the counter.

The moment the Shopkeeper saw the silver, his eyes gleamed with greed, and he hurriedly arranged a seat for Han Yuan.

"Please, sir, have a seat. After you've had your fill of food and drink, I'll show you to your room," the Shopkeeper personally wiped the table for Han Yuan and said with a smile.

"Alright."

"Just remember to get me a good room. You'll be well compensated," Han Yuan said coolly.

"Don't you worry, sir. I'll make sure you're satisfied," the Shopkeeper laughed.

"Alright then, hurry up and bring me a few jars of your best wine," Han Yuan said flatly.

"Right away."

The Shopkeeper hurried into the back room to fetch the wine.

Just then, a few fierce-looking men who had been sitting in a corner stood up, quietly approached Han Yuan's table, and sat down.

"Brother, where are you from?"

A One-Eyed Dragon clapped a hand on Han Yuan's shoulder and asked with a smile.

"I came from the heavens," Han Yuan said flatly.

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