The Best Offense is a Good Defense!

Han Zheng returned home and immediately summoned the Gluttonous Crucible, preparing to enter it for cultivation.

From the journey back from the Spirit Medicine Manor to now, Han Zheng had opened a few more acupoints, breaking through to two hundred and forty, but he hadn't opened any more meridians.

Although Feng Yuan, the punishment hall master of the Three Harmonies Gang, hadn't reached the Innate Realm, if he turned out to be a Peak Acquired Stage martial artist who had already opened all twelve meridians, the gap in strength between them would be far too wide.

To strike first, he needed real power as his foundation.

The thirty points of Satiety he had kept in reserve were directly fed into the Gluttonous Crucible to begin cultivation.

Li Feng had said Han Zheng's foundation was solid, which meant he could afford to be even more aggressive in his training.

The most direct way to boost strength wasn't opening acupoints—it was breaking through meridians!

For the first twenty-nine days, Han Zheng focused entirely on opening acupoints.

With his deep foundation and the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill as his backing, Han Zheng's cultivation this time was recklessly aggressive.

Inner force surged wildly, blood and qi churned within his body, and at times he even attacked two acupoints simultaneously.

To other martial artists, this behavior was practically suicidal, but Han Zheng's solid foundation could fully withstand the impact.

Such aggressive training yielded remarkable results.

Over those twenty-nine days, he directly opened sixty-five acupoints, averaging more than two per day.

On the remaining day, Han Zheng used it to assault his meridians, breaking through two in a single day.

In truth, other martial artists would also see this as an extreme death wish.

Opening acupoints was manageable—failure at most wasted inner force, and he could try again.

But the consequences of failing to break through a meridian were severe. Most martial artists had to proceed with extreme caution, terrified of any mishap.

Moreover, the excruciating pain of meridian impact wasn't something every martial artist could endure.

After one attempt, they needed a long rest before trying again.

Only Han Zheng, relying on his deep foundation and lack of pain, dared to court death like this.

His Satiety was completely drained. Han Zheng left the Gluttonous Crucible and checked his current stats.

Name: Han Zheng

Cultivation: Houtian Meridian Opening Realm (three hundred and five acupoints opened, ten meridians)

Martial Arts Techniques: Houtian Realm "Iron Elephant Skill" mastered, Houtian Realm "Vajra Fist" mastered.

Innate Realm "Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill" proficiency 17%, Innate Realm "Vajra Demon Subduing Seal" proficiency 10%, Innate Realm "White Ape Through-Arm Fist" proficiency 3%, Houtian Realm "Blood Fiend Saber Art" proficiency 5%.

Current Status: Pain insensitivity, abundant qi and blood.

A Houtian martial artist who had opened ten meridians was already close to the Peak Acquired Stage. The gap in strength existed, but it wasn't overwhelming.

Plus, with several Innate martial arts in his arsenal, Han Zheng was fully capable of overcoming a stronger foe with his weaker strength.

He changed into a deep blue outfit, grabbed the Wild Goose Feather Saber, found a black cloth to cover his face, and slipped into the alleys around the Drunken Flower Pavilion under cover of night, staring unblinkingly at the pavilion's movements.

Time stood still inside the Gluttonous Crucible. From killing Liu San to changing clothes and arriving at the Drunken Flower Pavilion, the entire process took less than a quarter of an hour. Feng Yuan should still be on his way.

Han Zheng didn't know what Feng Yuan looked like, so he had to use the crudest method of elimination, identifying each guest entering the Drunken Flower Pavilion one by one.

The chance of mistaking him was slim.

After all, Black Stone County had only one brothel of this scale; the rest were hidden prostitutes in the slums.

So anyone who could afford to drink and carouse at the Drunken Flower Pavilion was a notable figure in Black Stone County, and those at the Peak Acquired Stage were even rarer, making them easy to spot.

Han Zheng waited half an hour. Three groups of guests arrived at the Drunken Flower Pavilion, but none were martial artists—just wealthy merchants from Black Stone County.

Among them was Guo Mingyuan's father, who had personally escorted Guo Mingyuan to the martial arts school.

Then a man in blue robes, with a cold expression, a lean build, and two deep frown lines on his face, walked toward the Drunken Flower Pavilion.

The madam at the door, her face caked in white powder and wearing a wide, fake smile, brightened instantly.

"Master Feng, you've arrived! Please, come in. The usual today?"

This man was a big spender at the Drunken Flower Pavilion, visiting twenty-eight out of thirty days a month.

And he only did two things: sleep with the girls and eat. He left right after, paying for the whole night—very proper.

"The usual. No need to warm the wine this time. There's a lot of gang business, so I shouldn't drink."

Han Zheng locked his gaze on the man. This was most likely Feng Yuan!

Surname Feng, and judging by his cultivation, his qi and blood were abundant—definitely Houtian Late Stage or Peak Acquired Stage.

Plus, he mentioned gang business. There were only three gangs in Black Stone County.

If the man left late at night, then he was undoubtedly Feng Yuan.

Watching Feng Yuan enter the Drunken Flower Pavilion, Han Zheng stared fixedly at the door from the alley.

While the man enjoyed warmth and pleasure inside the brothel, Han Zheng shivered in the cold outside—a stark contrast.

After about half an hour, Feng Yuan walked out of the Drunken Flower Pavilion, though a hint of fatigue was evident on his face.

Han Zheng blinked in surprise. That fast?

Excluding meal times, it seemed there wasn't much time left for bed.

Was this Feng Yuan a quick-draw artist?

Pushing these random thoughts aside, Han Zheng suppressed his aura to the extreme, slowed his steps, and hugged the shadows of the alley, trailing behind Feng Yuan, waiting for an opening to strike.

When they reached a narrow, deserted alley, Han Zheng tightened his grip on the Wild Goose Feather Saber's hilt, and a sliver of Killing Intent unconsciously leaked out.

Feng Yuan abruptly stopped, turned to look at the pitch-black alley behind him, and sneered, "A rat from the Black Tiger Gang or the Sky Eagle Gang? Come on out, stop hiding. Trash like you daring to target me—you're just asking to die! If it were Pang Heihu or Qiu Tianying, that might be a different story!"

The three gangs of Black Stone County had been fighting over territory for years, and by now the situation had mostly stabilized. The Three Harmonies Gang was the strongest, forcing the Black Tiger Gang and the Sky Eagle Gang to join forces just to hold their ground. But both gangs harbored their own schemes, so even united, they couldn't overcome the Three Harmonies Gang. At this point, the gang leaders themselves rarely fought anymore; it was all the underlings scrapping below. Feng Yuan was a high-ranking member of the Three Harmonies Gang, second only to the leader. He assumed some ambitious thug from the other two gangs, ignorant of his own limits, wanted to kill him for a shot at glory and fortune.

Han Zheng let out a long breath in the shadows. He had killed Wang Xiong before, slain a Demon, and crossed blades with Song Tianqing and the others. But Feng Yuan was a true martial artist, rich in Jianghu experience, hardened by countless battles, with an unnervingly sharp perception. Just a faint trace of Killing Intent, and the man had caught it.

Since he couldn't hide anymore, he wouldn't bother trying.

The next moment, Han Zheng drew his saber in a flash. In the darkness, a blinding blade-light suddenly erupted, slashing straight at Feng Yuan!

"Peak Acquired Stage!?"

Feng Yuan had thought it was some small fry, but the attacker's momentum was astonishing—even if not quite Peak Acquired Stage, it was close. In the same instant, Feng Yuan's hand moved, and a forearm-length Bright Silver short spear slid from his sleeve. Gripping the spear, he whipped it out with a sharp clang of metal against metal, and a tremendous force sent Han Zheng staggering back.

Han Zheng's eyes narrowed. The worst-case scenario had come true. Feng Yuan was indeed at the Peak Acquired Stage, one step away from shedding his mortal shell and achieving Xiantian!

From his other sleeve, Feng Yuan shook out another section of the spear shaft, aligned it with the first, and locked it in place with two sharp clicks. A Fine Iron Bright Silver Spear now gleamed in his hands. Pointing the spear tip at Han Zheng, he frowned. "Which gang are you from?"

After years of feuding among the three gangs of Black Stone County, someone at the Peak Acquired Stage would definitely be a high-ranking figure—there was no way he wouldn't recognize them. But this man's build and the nature of his power were utterly unfamiliar.

"The one who wants your life!"

Han Zheng growled in a low voice, Blood Fiend Power spilling out as his Wild Goose Feather Saber swept toward Feng Yuan with a chilling gust. His proficiency in the Blood Fiend Saber Art wasn't high, but it was the only martial art he had worth using. As a demonic technique, its attribute was extreme lethality, and its power came quickly. As long as Han Zheng grasped the method of condensing Killing Intent, the Blood Fiend Saber Art erupted with savage ferocity, a dazzling cascade of blade-light that nearly swallowed Feng Yuan whole.

The Fine Iron Bright Silver Spear danced in Feng Yuan's hands, blossoms of spear-light spinning and clashing against the Wild Goose Feather Saber with ringing explosions. His spear technique wasn't military style but standard Jianghu fare—flashy and intricate, yet still formidable. The spear weighed a good twenty or thirty jin, but he spun it into an impenetrable barrier, halting Han Zheng's saber advance completely.

"Hahaha! So you're not at the Peak Acquired Stage!"

After a dozen exchanges, Feng Yuan had roughly gauged Han Zheng's strength. Though not weak, it clearly fell short of the Peak Acquired Stage. With a sharp roar, he sent the Fine Iron Bright Silver Spear trembling wildly, like a serpent slithering into Han Zheng's blade-light, aiming straight for his throat!

Han Zheng's gaze hardened. His blood and qi surged, pushing the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill to its limit. Instead of retreating, he stepped forward, twisting his body and swinging his arm. His left hand shot out like a white ape thrusting its arm, smashing into the Fine Iron Bright Silver Spear! Flesh and blood met iron in a dull, booming thud. Feng Yuan's spear was knocked off course, but Han Zheng's Wild Goose Feather Saber slid along the shaft, trailing a shower of sparks, straight for Feng Yuan's neck!

"White Ape Through-Arm Fist!"

He recognized it instantly—Li Jingzhong's signature move from the Zhenwei Martial Arts School. But Feng Yuan had no time to wonder why someone from Zhenwei wanted him dead. Blood Fiend Power gathered, and the biting chill sent goosebumps erupting across his skin.

Lifting the spear by its tail, Feng Yuan gathered all his strength and hurled it with a sudden snap!

Inner force erupted in an instant. The Bright Silver Spear sent the Wild Goose Feather Saber flying from Han Zheng's grasp, but it too spun out of control.

Before Feng Yuan could catch his breath, Han Zheng had already crossed his hands, forming a slightly strange fist seal, and slammed it down from above!

A fierce wind howled in. Feng Yuan instinctively crossed his arms before him, but the seal shattered both arms on impact, snapping the bones!

A scream tore from his throat as Han Zheng's second seal descended—Vajra Wrath, subdue demons, slay evil!

Feng Yuan spat a mouthful of blood, his face twisted in sheer terror.

Innate Martial Skill! This man actually wields two Innate Martial Skills!

The thought had barely flashed through his mind when Han Zheng's third seal came crashing down from the air, carrying the ultimate might of the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill.

Bam!

With a dull thud, Feng Yuan's head split open like a watermelon, red and white pulp splattering everywhere.