Jiaxing of Guyang

It could be clearly seen through the blue, translucent light screen:

This Bone-Piercing Nail was actually a Blue Grade martial art. It was now the highest-grade martial art recorded in Meng Qingshan's Martial Arts Illustrated Book.

Moreover, under Sheng Wubing's careful guidance, Meng Qingshan had just broken through to the first layer of this martial art.

The first layer alone had granted Meng Qingshan 3 attribute points.

By comparison, his Eight Directions Palm Technique had only granted 4 attribute points after he cultivated it to the fourth layer. The difference in quality between the two was obvious at a glance.

To produce a rare Blue Grade martial art right off the bat, Meng Qingshan could not help crying out inwardly, Big Brother Bing is awesome! Big Brother Bing is so mighty!

After exiting the Martial Arts Illustrated Book, Meng Qingshan stared at the steadily increasing cultivation value on his Character Panel. Although he was tempted to spend it, he ultimately chose to keep it.

Considering that he would be heading to the Mysterious Encounter site in a few days and might encounter situations requiring him to spend it, he decided to save the cultivation value for now, just in case.

After two grueling days of travel, Meng Qingshan finally arrived at Jiaxing City in Guyang Prefecture.

Jiaxing City lay in the heart of the Central Continent, connecting the north and south. Mountains and rivers crisscrossed its surroundings: the Han River to the north, the Five Ridges to the south, Ling Mountain to the west, and the Dabie Mountains and Luoxiao Mountains to the east, forming natural barriers.

Emperor Sheng had once said, "Jiaxing's terrain has water flowing northward, with the Jianghan region beyond and mountains within. It possesses the solidity of a golden fortress, fertile fields stretching for ten thousand li, and prosperous soldiers and people. If one occupied and held it, it would provide the foundation of an emperor."

From this, it was clear that if the realm were divided among rival warlords, this would be a place that military strategists would fight over.

Meng Qingshan raised his head and looked up. The three characters "Jiaxing City" were strikingly engraved atop the towering city wall.

A deep and broad moat surrounded the city, like a naturally formed, impregnable line of defense.

Above the city gate, copper studs gleamed brilliantly in the sunlight, like dazzling luminous pearls embedded in it.

Meng Qingshan stared for quite some time before taking up the reins and leading that loyal old horse into the bustling city.

The moment he stepped inside, Meng Qingshan suddenly heard hurried hoofbeats ahead, accompanied by a panicked woman's cry: "The horse is spooked! Move aside, move aside..."

He looked up and saw a person and horse charging toward him like a violent gale.

The horse was a tall, magnificent black stallion. For some unknown reason, it had been frightened and seemed to have lost its mind as it raced madly forward.

A woman sat astride it, appearing to be around seventeen or eighteen years old.

She wore a bright red, close-fitting outfit suited for combat, which accentuated her tall and athletic figure.

She had an oval face with exquisitely drawn features, a high nose bridge, and delicate, sensuous red lips. Yet that beautiful face was now filled with panic and alarm.

As the horse jolted, the curves before the Red Clad Girl's chest rose and fell like two leaping jade rabbits. Set against her red clothing, they formed an elegant and captivating outline.

The area before the city gate was crowded. The sudden rampage of the frightened horse sent everyone into a panic, and they fled in all directions.

Yet amid the chaotic crowd, a little beggar was especially conspicuous.

He lay prone on the ground, seemingly with injured legs—or perhaps paralyzed by fear. Facing the charging horse, he was utterly at a loss and could only instinctively clutch his head.

Seeing the beggar lying motionless in the middle of the road, the Red Clad Girl screamed in terror, "Move aside! Move aside!"

As she shouted, she pulled the reins with all her strength. Although she forcibly turned the horse's head aside, its body still charged forward like an arrow loosed from a bow.

Beneath the hooves before her eyes was a human life.

At this critical moment, Meng Qingshan suddenly caught sight of a figure flashing out from the crowd.

That person moved like the wind. In an instant, he reached the beggar and swiftly extended his right hand, firmly seizing the reins.

Despite the mad horse's wild charge and tremendous momentum, that person managed to steady its body with one hand while holding the reins with the other. With both feet rooted deeply into the ground, he miraculously brought the rampaging horse to a halt.

The Red Clad Girl was nimble and sure-footed. Clinging tightly to the horse's back, she did not fall despite its panic.

Once the frightened horse had been subdued, she lightly leaped down. Seeing that the beggar was safe and sound, she finally let out a long sigh of relief. She then clasped her fists toward her savior and thanked him: "Thank you, Young Hero, for your righteous assistance."

That person hurriedly returned the salute and said humbly, "You flatter me, Miss. It was merely a small favor. There's no need to mention it."

Just then, thunderous hoofbeats rang out as a group of riders galloped over. At the head were two heroic young men, both around twenty years old.

When the two young men spotted the Red Clad Girl from afar, they called out loudly, "Ning'er, are you all right?"

The Red Clad Girl turned around, exhaled softly, and answered, "Fortunately, this Young Hero arrived in time to help. Otherwise, the consequences would have been unthinkable."

Hearing this, the two young men hurriedly dismounted and clasped their fists toward their benefactor in thanks. "Guo Xuewen and Guo Xi'wu thank you, Young Hero, for saving her life. May we ask your honored name?"

That person immediately replied, "My surname is Wang, and my name is Ruozhi!"

Meng Qingshan had originally planned to leave, but the instant he heard that name, his footsteps halted. He turned back involuntarily and looked over.