Guyang Jiaxing

From the translucent blue light screen, it was clear to see:

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 art compendium.

Furthermore, with Sheng Wubing's meticulous guidance, Meng Qingshan had just broken through to the first level of this martial art.

This first level alone had brought Meng Qingshan a 3-point attribute bonus.

In comparison, his Eight Directions Palm Technique, which had only given him a 4-point attribute bonus upon reaching the fourth level, the difference in superiority and inferiority between the two was clear at a glance, and the winner was decided.

To start off with a rare blue-grade martial art, Meng Qingshan couldn't help but exclaim in his heart, "Brother Bing is mighty, Brother Bing is domineering!"

Exiting the martial art compendium, Meng Qingshan gazed at the increasingly abundant cultivation value on his character panel. Although an impulse to use it surged within him, he ultimately chose to keep it.

Considering that he would be heading to a place of fortuitous encounters in a few days and might encounter situations where he would need to spend it, he decided to save this cultivation for the time being, just in case.

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

Jiaxing City was located in the heartland of the Central Continent, connecting north and south. It was surrounded by mountains and rivers, with the Han River to the north, the Five Ridges to the south, Ling Mountain to the west, and the Dabie Mountains and Luoxiao Mountains forming natural barriers to the east.

Emperor Sheng had once said, "The land of Jiaxing, with its waters flowing north, embracing the Jiang and Han rivers externally, and obstructed by mountains and hills internally, possesses the impregnability of a golden city, vast fertile lands, and prosperous populace. To occupy and possess it would be a foundation for an emperor."

From this, it was evident that if the land were divided among warlords, this would be a strategically vital location.

Meng Qingshan looked up, and the words "Jiaxing City" were prominently engraved on the majestic city walls.

The city was surrounded by a deep and wide moat, like a natural and sturdy defensive line.

Above the city gate, copper nails gleamed in the sunlight, like brilliant pearls embedded on its surface.

Meng Qingshan stared for a long while before gripping the reins and leading his loyal old horse into the bustling city.

As soon as he stepped into the city, Meng Qingshan suddenly heard the urgent sound of horses' hooves approaching, accompanied by a woman's panicked cry: "The horse is spooked, get out of the way, get out of the way..."

He looked up and saw a person and a horse galloping towards him like a gust of wind.

The horse was a tall and magnificent black horse. For some unknown reason, it had been startled and seemed to have lost its mind, galloping forward frantically.

On the horse's back was a woman, about seventeen or eighteen years old.

She was wearing a striking, vibrant red tight-fitting outfit, which made her appear tall and fit.

She had a delicate oval face with picturesque features, a high-bridged nose, and very exquisite, sexy red lips. However, on such a beautiful face, there was now only anxiety and panic.

With the horse's jolting, the curves of the red-clad girl's chest rose and fell like two leaping jade rabbits, outlining an elegant and captivating silhouette against the red attire.

The city gate was crowded with people. The sudden wild gallop of the spooked horse caused everyone to panic and scatter in all directions.

However, amidst this chaotic crowd, a small beggar stood out.

He was lying on the ground, seemingly with injured legs, or perhaps overwhelmed by fear. Facing the galloping horse, he was utterly bewildered and instinctively hugged his head.

Seeing the beggar lying motionless in the middle of the road, the red-clad girl screamed in horror: "Get out of the way, get out of the way!"

She shouted, pulling on the reins with all her might. Although she had forcibly pulled the horse's head to the side, its body still charged forward like an arrow loosed from a bow.

Beneath the horse's hooves lay a human life.

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

The person moved like the wind, reaching the beggar in an instant. He swiftly extended his right hand and firmly grasped the reins.

Despite the mad horse's gallop and immense momentum, the person, with one hand holding the reins and the other steadying the horse's body, had his feet deeply rooted to the ground. He miraculously managed to stabilize the frenzied, spooked horse.

The red-clad girl, agile and nimble, clung tightly to the horse's back and did not fall off due to the startled horse.

Once the spooked horse was subdued, she gracefully leaped off. Seeing that the beggar was unharmed, she finally let out a long sigh of relief and then cupped her fists to thank the savior: "Thank you, young hero, for your righteous intervention."

The person quickly returned the salute, humbly saying, "Miss, you are too kind. It was merely a small effort, nothing to be ashamed of."

Just then, the sound of hooves thundered, and a troop of riders galloped over. Leading them were two heroic young men, about twenty years old.

The two young men, seeing the red-clad girl from afar, called out, "Ning'er, are you alright?"

The red-clad girl turned her head, let out a soft breath, and replied, "Fortunately, this young hero intervened in time, otherwise the consequences would have been unimaginable."

Upon hearing this, the two young men hurriedly dismounted and cupped their fists to thank the benefactor: "Guo Xuewen and Guo Xi'wu express our gratitude for the life-saving grace, young hero. May we ask your honorable name?"

The person immediately said, "My surname is Wang, and my given name is Ruozhi. You may dispense with the honorable title."

Meng Qingshan, who had been intending to leave, stopped in his tracks the moment he heard the name and couldn't help but look back.