The World is Hard, Martial Arts Must Be Contested

The frost fell heavily, and the leaves withered.

After the shock of bandits entering the city and looting had subsided, small, silver beads of snow began to fall, like tiny pearls.

By the latter half of the second night, the snowflakes gradually grew larger, like catkins and willow flowers, fluttering and dancing down.

Inside the Tiger Martial Arts School, the charcoal fire burned red.

A pot of stewed tofu with scallions on the stove bubbled and hissed, its aroma filling the air.

Beside it, Hu Xuezhi was enjoying a massage and treatment from Tian Youji, who was using his Golden Wind Palm to help heal his injuries. Hu Xuezhi hummed contentedly and sighed comfortably.

"According to the young lady of the Wang family who returned, the mysterious person who saved her was very old, possibly close to sixty.

But with one move, he dealt with three experts, including Ding Ying and two Bone Tempering practitioners. This must be a Blood Transformation Realm expert."

"It's a pity that this person is elusive, like a dragon that shows its head but not its tail. Perhaps he was just a passing chivalrous individual. His strength might even surpass yours and mine. I just wonder how he compares to Lord Lin of the Demon Suppressing Division.

Oh, right, half a day has passed. Why hasn't Lord Lin returned yet?"

Crack!

Tian Youji slapped Hu Xuezhi on the back and said irritably, "How would I know how the Demon Suppressing Division's Golden Sparrow Tiger Guard operates?

I didn't even know the exact time Lord Lin arrived, let alone how he handles his affairs. Perhaps he's observing the Heaven and Earth Incense Cult's stronghold."

As he spoke, Tian Youji frowned, withdrew his hand, and wiped the medicinal liquid off with a towel. He walked to the window and looked outside.

White snow fell from the deep night sky, making even the scene appear listless.

A sense of inexplicable unease welled up in his heart, and he said gravely, "Both of us are injured. Now, we can only place our hopes on Lord Lin of the Demon Suppressing Division. Recover well, secure the city, and strengthen our defenses.

If Lord Lin hasn't returned by tomorrow, I will personally lead a team out of the city to investigate!"

After a night of rain and snow, every household in Linyuan City was draped in a pure white shroud.

The city walls resembled the white spine of a giant serpent, stretching into the distant, hazy twilight.

In the Chu Family Main Residence, Chu Ge lay on his bed, his face flushed. He sat cross-legged, slowly concluding his cultivation.

He had cultivated all night, refining four strands of Exotic Power, and felt his Qi and Blood become even more vigorous.

When visualizing the Tiger Crouching Technique's diagram, his Qi and Blood power could already condense into one-tenth of a tiger's head.

Now, as long as he cultivated his Qi and Blood to the point where it could condense into a complete tiger's head, he would have entered the peak of the Blood Change Realm. He could then attempt Three Flowers Gathering at the Top, ignite his Spirituality, and break through to the Force Condensation Realm.

"Three thousand taels for the essence of the Tiger Crouching Technique. It was worth it."

"This era is a great era for Martial Arts. Perhaps Martial Arts will ultimately unlock the mystery of my transmigration.

In my heart, there is only the pursuit of Martial Arts to the divine! Unorthodox paths are merely protective skills, and other minor paths are merely for entertainment."

Chu Ge gave himself a daily pep talk in his mind. He opened his eyes and glanced at Little Spring Flower and Little Bai Cui, his two warm-bed maids, who were sleeping beside him. His seated body remained motionless, and he said lightly.

"Still sleeping?"

"Ah!"

"Young Master, this servant understands!"

The two maids rubbed their sleepy eyes and immediately got up, bringing hot water, fragrant soup, and a brazier for winter warmth. They served Chu Ge as he dressed and washed.

After breakfast.

Chu Ge decided to go out and check the situation in the city.

Yesterday, bandits had caused trouble, and it had rained and snowed all night. The common people's lives were likely even harder. He wondered if the adult from the Demon Suppressing Division had successfully eliminated the bandit leader.

The snow on the streets was quite thick, making it difficult for carriages to move.

Chu Ge didn't intend to bother with a sedan chair. He called a few servants and headed out onto the street.

As he observed, a day had passed, and many citizens had gradually appeared on the streets, no longer empty as they had been yesterday.

However, many people still wore fear and lingering apprehension on their faces.

The bustling streets, which used to be crowded with traffic, were now devoid of even shouting merchants and hawkers.

Instead, a crowd had gathered at the county yamen, all inquiring about the news of yesterday's bandits.

When they heard that all the bandits had been apprehended and that an adult from the Demon Suppressing Division had come to provide support, cheers erupted from the yamen.

Gradually, people ran around spreading the news, and the city seemed to slowly regain some vitality.

"They haven't announced the execution of the bandit leader yet. Could it be that Lord Lin of the Demon Suppressing Division hasn't dealt with that Iron Token Envoy?"

Chu Ge stood at the entrance of the Fulailai Inn, contemplating. It wasn't convenient to go and ask Tian Youji for specific details immediately.

At least with the presence of that Lord Lin from the Demon Suppressing Division, the city would be stable for a while.

Chu Ge looked around at the diverse crowd. Some of the neighbors' expressions had shifted from initial apprehension to relaxation. He sighed inwardly.

The definition of happiness for ordinary people is truly simple.

Perhaps it's just having a relatively peaceful environment to live a normal life. For most ordinary people in this world, that is already a precious happiness.

"How can evil cults like the Heaven and Earth Incense Cult repeatedly commit crimes in the Great Zhou without being eradicated? It's probably not just a simple matter of a sect's power.

The current leader is only an envoy of the Blood Change Realm, one of the Four Martial Arts Realms known as the Mortal Tier. If one encounters a Force Condensation Realm thug..."

Although the city was temporarily safe, Chu Ge felt an even greater sense of urgency in his heart.

He still needed to continue improving his strength, striving to enter the Force Condensation Realm as soon as possible.

Before that, it was best to keep a low profile and not easily reveal his true identity to avoid trouble.

After all, the Heaven and Earth Incense Cult had more than one stronghold, and above the Iron Token Envoys, there were definitely more powerful experts.

After leaving the inn, Chu Ge went to Baolin Pavilion again and walked through the fishing market.

Unfortunately, Baolin Hall had closed its doors directly since yesterday and had not yet opened today. It was clearly still on edge, thwarting Chu Ge's plan to acquire some old items.

There were many fishmongers selling fish cheaply in the fishing market, but he didn't encounter a single Spirit Fish.

Helplessly, Chu Ge could only choose two baskets of excellent kiln-fired charcoal for the winter from the street.

After informing the charcoal seller of his residence, he turned back to his mansion.

The Exotic Power accumulated in his Dragon Bell was now only ninety-one strands.

This amount, after deducting the daily consumption of one strand of Exotic Power to maintain the Crimson Scale Claws, was barely enough for his cultivation, lasting only about eighteen days.

Not to mention the need to study Shadow Puppets and Shadow Lanterns, and to maintain the Crimson Scale Claws, which also consumed Exotic Power.

Unfortunately, he couldn't acquire any old items or rare treasures to refine Exotic Power anytime soon.

Fortunately, the five people he had dealt with yesterday, Ding Ying and the others, when sacrificed to the Dragon Bell, could convert more than fifty strands of Exotic Power based on their Bone Tempering and Muscle Refining Warrior strength.

This was also a form of replenishment.

At this moment, the bodies of the five people lay quietly within the Dragon Bell.

"Ding Ying: Introduction: (Bone Tempering Realm Martial Cultivator, registered disciple of the Heaven and Earth Incense Cult's outer circle, proficient in the Great Accomplishment Snow Blade Technique, Minor Accomplishment Mandarin Duck Complementary Technique)."

"Zhu Congxun: Introduction: (Bone Tempering Realm Martial Cultivator, registered disciple of the Heaven and Earth Incense Cult's outer circle, proficient in the Minor Accomplishment Breath Holding Technique, Minor Accomplishment Movement Technique, Great Accomplishment Blood Shadow Palm)."

"Mou Yungui, Xiang Cheng, Miao Zong: Introduction: (Muscle Refining Realm Martial Cultivators, minor details)."