Breakthrough by Leaps and Bounds! Hong Zhengdao Returns

The Mountain Splitting Axe Technique could break through.

Zhang Lingshan noticed the change on the panel.

But having learned from his previous lesson, he decided not to break through just yet. What if he used up all his Energy Points at once? If he encountered a lethal danger, he would have no energy left to repair himself.

Secondly, he estimated that the Mountain Splitting Axe Technique's breakthrough would definitely cause quite a commotion. It would be safer to wait until he got through the night, returned home, and then made his breakthrough.

As the night deepened, drowsiness descended.

But to avoid any accidents, Zhang Lingshan forced himself to stay awake, taking out the white porcelain bottle every so often and pulling out its wooden stopper.

One sniff, and his spirits soared!

At last, the long night was nearly over.

Zhang Lingshan calculated the time. He took a firestarter from Li Fu's house, then gathered some thatch, firewood, candles, rags, and other things, tying them into a bundle.

Then he rushed out, climbed over the wall, and slipped back into his own house.

He carefully arranged the prepared thatch and other materials, piling the bloodstained dirty clothes and shoes atop Fang Qiuyue's corpse.

Then he opened the firestarter.

Burn!

Burn it all clean!

Just as the fire was about to rise.

Zhang Lingshan immediately climbed back into Li Fu's house.

He practically had to thank Li Fu for creating this haunted house. Otherwise, he would not have had things so convenient.

I wasn't the only one who heard that whistle last night.

Even a fool would know that a fight broke out in the city, so no accident would be surprising.

What's more, Fang Qiuyue escaped!

It's obvious Fang Qiuyue burned the house down. She did it to cover her tracks. Could I, Zhang Lingshan, possibly have burned down my own ancestral home?

Zhang Lingshan ran through the logic and found no flaws in it.

Next, once everyone came out to fight the fire, he only needed to sneak out of Li Fu's house amid the chaos, blend into the crowd, and pretend he had just arrived. No one would suspect a thing.

Even if someone really got to the bottom of it and asked why he had arrived so quickly, he could explain that he had been planning to return to the old house to retrieve something. What a coincidence, wasn't it?

In short, burning it was better than not burning it. If he did not burn it, dealing with the corpse and bloodstains would be difficult. Burning it would destroy the corpse and erase the evidence in one stroke.

"Fire!"

"Quick, put it out!"

The neighbors finally woke up. Dawn had broken at just the right time, and everyone got up to help.

Someone shouted, "Old Zhang's house is on fire! Hurry and notify the Zhang Family!"

"What? My house is on fire? How could my house catch fire!?"

Zhang Lingshan appeared from nowhere, his face full of panic. "Uncles, please help put out the fire! It must have been Li Fu's family. Seeing that I had moved away, they set fire to my house."

"Xiao Shan is back! Quickly!"

The neighbors immediately called out to one another, carrying bucket after bucket of water to fight the blaze.

They worked for a good half day.

Only then did they finally put out the fire.

"The Yamen is here!"

Someone suddenly shouted.

Everyone immediately made way. A middle-aged man with a large frame and prominent cheekbones approached, accompanied by three Yamen Runners.

Zhang Lingshan noticed that the man's steps were steady, his gaze sharp, and his shoulders broad. His blue Yamen Runner robe bulged visibly, revealing how full the muscles beneath it were.

At least peak Copper Hide among the three Skin Grinding realms, and most likely a Flesh Refining expert.

Zhang Lingshan silently analyzed him.

"Who is the owner of this house?"

the middle-aged Yamen Runner asked.

Zhang Lingshan hurried forward. "Greetings, sir. I am Zhang Lingshan, a disciple of the Hong Clan Martial Hall. This is my family's old residence, which has long been unoccupied. It somehow caught fire for no reason. I beg you, sir, to investigate with piercing clarity, seize the true culprit behind this, and uphold justice for this commoner!"

"Mm."

The middle-aged Yamen Runner nodded.

Ma Hong had heard the name Zhang Lingshan before. When Zhang Lingshan had successfully reached Skin Grinding, the news had reached Ma Hong as well, and he had even considered recruiting him as a Yamen Runner.

For one thing, he truly lacked manpower. For another, he could use the opportunity to establish a connection with Hong Zhengdao.

But the Feng Family Pharmacy had gotten there first, so he had put the matter out of his mind.

He had not expected to meet this Zhang Lingshan today.

Ma Hong sized Zhang Lingshan up and found his aura calm and steady. The skin on the back of his hands was slightly gray, the mark of calluses that had formed.

Especially when he cupped his fist in salute, his finger joints showed rich traces of blood. It was clear that his Red Thread Fist had been practiced to a considerable level.

Ma Hong could not help but be surprised. Zhang Lingshan had only reached Skin Grinding recently, hadn't he? His progress was this fast?

Compared to him, the three dullards under Ma Hong's command were simply useless trash.

"So you are a Hong Clan disciple. Rest assured, I will investigate this properly."

Ma Hong patted Zhang Lingshan on the shoulder, then led his three subordinates into the courtyard.

He took a wooden stick and casually poked through the ashes a few times before saying, "It was probably an accident. Come in and take a look yourself."

Hearing this, Zhang Lingshan immediately stepped forward.

Ma Hong leaned in and lowered his voice. "Didn't you hear that whistle last night? This matter must be connected to yesterday's murderer. Hurry and deal with this place. Don't come back to live here for the time being either, lest you invite trouble."

"Understood, understood. Thank you for your guidance, sir. A small token of my appreciation."

As he spoke, Zhang Lingshan took out some broken silver and slipped it into Ma Hong's hand.

Ma Hong smiled faintly. "You are too polite. If you do not wish to work at the Feng Family Pharmacy later on, you may come work under me."

"You honor me, sir. Certainly, certainly!"

Zhang Lingshan saw Ma Hong out.

When the neighbors saw that Zhang Lingshan could now laugh and chat with a Yamen Runner, the way they looked at him immediately changed.

They did not know what Skin Grinding was, nor could they tell how strong Zhang Lingshan was. They only knew that he could now whisper privately with a Yamen Runner and was no longer on the same level as them.

So they voluntarily came to help clear the ashes and ruins, smiling ingratiatingly as they tried to build ties with Zhang Lingshan.

Zhang Lingshan was happy to let them help, while secretly pushing the unburned bones into the ashes and burying them.

Since Jin City had no night watchmen, every home had a stretch of sandy open ground between the houses and courtyard walls to prevent an accidental fire from spreading to the neighbors. It could also be called an isolation belt.

That kept fires from growing ever fiercer.

Basically, aside from the room Zhang Lingshan had deliberately set ablaze, the other areas had barely burned.

So very quickly.

Everything that needed clearing was buried in the sandy isolation belt.

When everyone added firewood, the flames rose high.

If he had been willing to continue living here, the small side room could still be lived in after some minor repairs.

But Zhang Lingshan had no such plans. He waved his hand and said, "I'll treat everyone to a meal another day."

Then he left without looking back.

That went unexpectedly smoothly.

On the road, Zhang Lingshan felt delighted.

It seemed that all the common folk of Jin City possessed much wisdom for getting by. No one was bored enough to dig to the root of every matter.

Today, not only had he resolved the trouble named Fang Qiuyue, he had also dealt with Li Fu's family of three.

He felt light all over!

It was also just time for the martial hall's meal.

So Zhang Lingshan mooched a meal, then returned home and settled down in his room.

Though he had not slept all night.

His mood was good enough that his excitement outweighed his drowsiness.

So he immediately opened the panel and fiercely pressed his thoughts onto the "+" behind the Mountain Splitting Axe Technique.

Whoosh!

Forty Energy Points were instantly consumed!

A vast force suddenly exploded within his body.

Zhang Lingshan felt as though he were holding an axe, crazily chopping at the air with the first form of the Mountain Splitting Axe Technique.

Every chop made the muscles throughout his body tremble, while his acupoints and meridians filled with a sour, numb, itching sensation, as though countless ants were crawling over him.

Yet he remained tireless, regardless of day or night, cold or heat, using all his strength to chop again and again.

He did not know how much time had passed.

The sweat beneath him had soaked the floor. The chopping from the phantom image projected onto his body, and the muscles throughout him grew at a speed visible to the naked eye.

To Zhang Lingshan's shock, the muscles grew so quickly that they actually stretched his skin until it cracked apart.

Bloody marks crisscrossed his body, a horrifying sight. The pain made him bare his teeth, wishing he could smash his head against the ground and die.

"Xiao Yu, quickly! Prepare a Skin Grinding medicinal bath for me!"

Zhang Lingshan shouted urgently.

Had he known the Mountain Splitting Axe Technique's improvement would be this monstrous, he would have prepared for it long ago.

Who could have imagined that this Cultivation Method could actually refine flesh?

No wonder martial cultivation required Skin Grinding before Flesh Refining. If the skin was not tough enough, muscle growth would rupture it!

This lesson written in blood gave Zhang Lingshan more experience.

Fortunately, it was not a major problem.

The Primal Chaos Righteous Yang Posture at Perfection had transformed his body once, giving him a physique and recovery ability stronger than ordinary people.

Later, he had also broken through to Stone Skin.

These injuries could be treated as though he had overdone his Skin Grinding. A few days of recuperation in medicinal baths would surely restore him.

Thus, over the following days, he soaked in medicinal baths every day while drinking Snow Silver Flower decoction.

Compared to Spirit Root Grass, Snow Silver Flower itself had healing effects. Drinking it not only accumulated energy, but also promoted his body's recovery.

Killing two birds with one stone!

Just as Zhang Lingshan had expected.

In only four days, the injuries on his body had completely healed.

Feeling the vast power within him and the powerful muscles covering his body like mountain mounds, Zhang Lingshan knew that this improvement was another earth-shaking transformation.

He had grown to one meter eighty, his body as sturdy as an ox!

By his estimate, he should be able to lift a six-hundred-jin Stone Lock with one hand!

That was four hundred jin more than the two hundred jin he could lift when he had first reached Skin Grinding.

It could truly be called a breakthrough by leaps and bounds!

This was all due to the special effect of refining flesh ahead of time.

The advantage was that his muscular strength was far greater than that of a Skin Grinding Martial Practitioner.

The disadvantage was that his body had undergone Flesh Refining once without breaking through, so when he tried to break through in the future, he would need a greater stimulus.

In other words, breaking through Flesh Refining would be more difficult for him than for ordinary people.

But that was no problem.

As long as he had enough Energy Points, he had no bottlenecks. Why would difficulty matter?

"These past few days, the medicinal baths and Snow Silver Flowers have used up my loose change. I need to find a way to break that Two Hundred Taels Silver Note. Since several days have passed, spending it directly at the Feng Family Pharmacy should not be a problem."

Zhang Lingshan planned to go out and buy some Medicinal Ingredients, as well as some tasty food and drink, to properly reward his mother and younger sister.

If not for them running around and preparing his medicinal baths, how could he have recovered so easily?

Having family was truly wonderful.

If he had been alone, he would have had to buy medicine and brew it himself even while injured. How arduous would that have been?

So next, Zhang Lingshan bought cooked food, candied fruits, walnuts, dried fruits, and more. Anything he had seen before and wanted to eat but could not bear to buy, he bought it all for his mother and sister to indulge their cravings.

"Brother, did you rob a bank? How much must all this cost?"

Zhang Lingyu was so delighted that she could not close her mouth.

Zhang Lingshan smiled. "I told you long ago that better days were still ahead. Your brother is stronger now, and there will be plenty of ways to make money in the future. I don't need to rob a bank; people will bring the money to me themselves."

"Hee! What a braggart."

Zhang Lingyu stuck out her tongue, then grabbed several pieces of dried fruit and kept stuffing them into her mouth.

Zhang Mother did not know whether to laugh or cry. "Careful, don't choke."

Then she earnestly advised Zhang Lingshan, "Even if you have money, you cannot spend it recklessly. I do not ask much of food; as long as it fills my stomach, that is enough. You earned this money through hard work, and you should save some to nourish your own body. Look at how your skin cracked all over before. It was so frightening."

"Mother, rest assured. Only by enduring the bitterest hardships can one rise above all others. We are going to move into the Inner City someday. When that happens, I'll buy you several maids, and you will not have to work so hard."

"Oh my, I don't want anyone waiting on me."

Zhang Mother waved her hands again and again.

Zhang Lingyu burst out laughing. "Mother, you're too funny. The eight characters have not even made the first stroke, and you're already refusing. It costs nothing to imagine it."

"That's true. Then I want one hundred maids to shell walnuts for me." Zhang Mother cast aside her usual unsmiling manner and spoke playfully as well.

"Hahaha!"

The air was filled with cheerful laughter.

The family was brimming with harmony and joy.

Yet something was missing.

Zhang Lingshan thought of his father, and of the younger brother Zhang Lingfeng whom he had never met.

When he said they had never met, he meant that he had not seen him since transmigrating here.

But.

This younger brother was very important to him.

If his younger brother had not been taken away by the Jiang Family of the Inner City, he would never have transmigrated here.

Back then, when the Jiang Family took his younger brother away to serve as their young master's pageboy, they casually tossed out ten taels of silver, essentially buying him by force.

It was precisely because of those ten taels that his father could add another ten taels painstakingly saved by the whole family through frugal living, then ask someone to find the previous owner of this body a carpenter's apprenticeship.

Then the previous owner stole money to learn martial arts, was caught, and in shame, smashed his head to death...

Everything that followed was what Zhang Lingshan had experienced firsthand.

Now that I have money, redeeming my younger brother from the Jiang Family in the Inner City is still nothing more than a fantasy.

A sense of helpless frustration rose in Zhang Lingshan's heart again.

He was still too weak.

With his current strength, status, and standing, he was not even qualified to enter the Inner City. How could he speak of redeeming his younger brother?

If he could not redeem his younger brother, then what about his father?

I still don't know where Golden Light Temple is, but it must be farther away than Red Leaf Temple. I'm afraid there won't be enough time to return to the city before nightfall, so I'll have to spend the night outside. If I want to go to Golden Light Temple, I'll need to travel with an escort agency. Escort agencies often travel outside the city, so they should have maps of the area beyond the walls.

Zhang Lingshan made his plans.

After the New Year, if he got the chance, he would go to Lü Feng's Zhenwei Escort Agency, take on a job, and ask around about Golden Light Temple's location.

If possible, he would make a trip to Golden Light Temple.

Before the New Year, it was temporarily impossible. Everyone wanted to spend a peaceful New Year, and no one would run out of the city recklessly.

If I had strength like Li Ziming's, able to roam freely even in the dead of night without fearing any Weird or Evil Spirit, then I wouldn't need to follow any escort agency. I could leave the city on my own.

As Zhang Lingshan thought, he decided that tomorrow he would go to Wu Zheng and learn the leg techniques that came after the Wind Stabilizing Posture.

After resting and recuperating for the past few days, his body had nearly recovered. He could not slack off any longer.

But plans could not keep up with change.

The next day.

Before Zhang Lingshan had time to go find Wu Zheng, he heard two pieces of news.

The first piece of news: Hong Zhengdao, master of the Hong Clan Martial Hall, had returned!

The second piece of news: Hong Zhengdao had suffered grave injuries. One of his arms was crippled, and his strength had greatly declined!

A 4,000-character chapter. Thanks to "Reader 202020" and "One Shot Shocks the World" for their monthly tickets!

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