I Grind to Martial Saint

「A dozen or so seconds later.」

Han Yuan and the others rushed out of the cave and into a mountain forest.

RUMBLE!!

Before they could even turn around to check the situation,

the cave collapsed with a deafening roar. The adjoining mountain wall crumbled along with it, kicking up a sky-full of dust.

”Good heavens... We were almost buried down there.”

Ding Zihu muttered.

”This is still the Spiritual Land, right? Why do I feel like the Spiritual Qi Storm has weakened so much?”

Han Yuan sensed that something seemed different.

”Well, we did spend nearly a month in those underground ruins.”

”The Spiritual Qi Storm is probably about to end, so of course it would weaken.”

Ding Zihu said softly.

”Right...”

”We should head back to where we were before.”

”Otherwise, it’ll be a problem if we’re not there when the Supervisor activates the Guiding Array again,” Dong Feng suggested.

”Yes, let’s get back to the Reception Land first.”

Han Yuan nodded.

Without a moment’s delay, the group hurried toward the Reception Land.

The Spiritual Qi Storm had weakened considerably, now at barely a tenth of its peak strength.

For Han Yuan and the others, this was well within a manageable range and wouldn’t cause any major issues.

A few hours later, they finally returned to the Reception Land and waited quietly for Yu Chengze to activate the Space Transmission Array.

***

「Back in the real world.」

Yu Chengze and Jiang Henian both stood before the stone stele.

”Vice Director Jiang... I sense that the Spiritual Qi Storm inside the Spiritual Land is about to end.”

Yu Chengze looked a bit nervous.

Jiang Henian’s expression was just as grave. He said in a low voice, ”I don’t know how many are still alive.”

A wry smile couldn’t help but appear on Yu Chengze’s face.

He knew all too well the power of the Spiritual Qi Storm.

Unless a Martial Artist broke through their physical limits to reach the Innate realm, or an Abnormal Person broke through their Seven Spirits to reach the Celestial Realm...

...it was impossible to survive within a Spiritual Qi Storm.

That was the reality.

His looking at the Space Transmission Array again was really just for show.

But he couldn’t possibly say that out loud, so he could only nod in agreement.

In the blink of an eye, half a day passed.

Yu Chengze sensed that the Spiritual Qi Storm inside the Spiritual Land had completely dissipated. He said softly, ”Vice Director Jiang, the Spiritual Qi Storm is gone.”

Jiang Henian stared at the ancient stone stele, his voice low. ”Activate the Array. What will be, will be.”

Yu Chengze nodded.

He took out the Light Blue Stone Seal and placed it gently on the stele.

Then, he channeled his Magical Power, activating the Spiritual Land’s isolating Array.

HUMMM~~

A spatial fluctuation rippled outward.

The stele shot out a divine, five-colored radiance that formed a Five-Colored Light Sect.

In truth, Jiang Henian held no hope himself. His mind was already occupied with how to handle the consequences of this incident.

Thus, he didn’t even bother looking at the Five-Colored Light Sect.

But the next moment...

he heard the sound of footsteps.

Jiang Henian’s eyes widened as he looked over.

A strong, bare-chested figure carrying a greatsword on his back slowly walked out of the Five-Colored Light Sect.

”Han Yuan?!”

Before Jiang Henian could even speak, Yu Chengze had already cried out in shock!

But their surprise didn’t end there.

After Han Yuan emerged, Ding Zihu, the Dong Brothers, Cao Ru, Hong Kui, and the others followed him out of the Five-Colored Light Sect.

This left Jiang Henian and Yu Chengze completely bewildered.

If Han Yuan surviving a month in the Spiritual Qi Storm alone was a miracle...

...then with so many people, wasn’t this a few too many miracles?!

But regardless, a look of elation spread across Jiang Henian’s face.

At the very least, Han Yuan and the Dong Brothers had made it out.

The Observatory’s losses were still within a controllable range.

”Han Yuan... How did you survive a month in there?”

Yu Chengze couldn’t help but ask.

”It’s a long, thrilling story... Ever since we were trapped in the Spiritual Land, we’ve been trying to figure out how to resist the Spiritual Qi Storm...”

Han Yuan gave a rough description of what had happened to them in the Spiritual Land over the past month.

Hearing about their ordeal in the Spiritual Land, Jiang Henian and Yu Chengze were stunned.

”There’s an ancient city ruin under the Spiritual Land?!”

Yu Chengze blurted out.

”Yes.”

”We had a narrow escape from death in those ancient city ruins.”

”We risked our lives just to make it out.”

Han Yuan nodded.

”Alright... let’s head back first.”

”We can sort out the details later.”

Jiang Henian said.

And so, Han Yuan and the others first returned to the Observatory to rest.

「Three days later.」 With the investigation more or less complete, everyone began to take their leave.

Jianghe Province City.

Inside a tavern.

”Brother Han, it’s all thanks to you this time.”

”Otherwise, I probably would have lost my life in that Spiritual Land.”

Ding Zihu raised his cup and toasted Han Yuan.

”Enough of that. If you hadn’t found the way out, I’m afraid I’d be resting eternally underground myself.”

”We all just did what we had to do to survive.”

Han Yuan said softly.

”Yes... all to survive.”

”But in this world, just staying alive is the hardest thing to do.”

Ding Zihu lamented.

”With the world in upheaval, life has indeed become increasingly difficult.”

Han Yuan felt the same way.

”Speaking of this upheaval,”

”the palpitations in my heart have been growing more obvious. It might really be coming soon.”

”That City Lord only woke up from his seal because of the world’s upheaval this time.”

Ding Zihu said gravely.

”Ding Zihu.”

”If the world’s upheaval truly arrives,”

”what will happen?”

Han Yuan asked seriously.

Having spent these days together, he knew that Ding Zihu was exceptionally knowledgeable and knew a little bit about everything.

”That, I really don’t know.”

”But those Evil Demon Seeds will definitely start appearing more frequently.”

Ding Zihu shook his head and took out a brand-new book.

”Didn’t you mention before that you were interested in the writing and language of the Chaotic Ancient Era?”

”I wrote this book over the past few days.”

”If you study it carefully, you should be able to understand most of it.”

Ding Zihu said in a low voice.

”Thank you.”

Han Yuan solemnly accepted the new book.

He hadn’t expected the man to be so thoughtful as to write an entire book for him.

”It’s nothing.”

”Consider it repayment for you saving my life.”

Ding Zihu laughed heartily.

”So, where do you plan to go next?”

Han Yuan put the book away.

”I don’t know... I’m the type who likes to wander, with no fixed home.”

Ding Zihu said with a smile.

”I see. I’ll also be setting off today to return to Cangshui County.”

”If you ever pass by, you can come find me in Cangshui County.”

Han Yuan said.

”Deal,” Ding Zihu nodded.

At that moment, various exquisite dishes were brought to the table.

After the two of them feasted, they bid farewell and parted ways.

Han Yuan mounted his horse, rode straight out of Jianghe Province City, and headed toward Cangshui County.

Come to think of it,

it had been several months since he left Cangshui County.

He wondered if anything had happened in Cangshui County during his absence.

***

「In the blink of an eye, another month passed.」

The weather turned cold, and all life began to wither.

Yuan Province, Nanyuan County.

The air grew cool and damp; it was the autumn harvest season once again.

At this time, two figures wearing Conical Hats were walking along the official road.

”I never thought that I, Huang Xian’Er, would one day become a wanted criminal.”

”But this drawing doesn’t look like me at all.”

Huang Xian’Er looked at the wanted poster in her hand, shaking her head with a smile.

”I’m the one who dragged you into this.”

”Miss Huang... why don’t you just go back to Cangshui County.”

Zhang Cang couldn’t help but say.

A few months ago, moved by the plight of the hunter Li Liu’s family, he and Huang Xian’Er had stormed the Qian Family estate. They not only killed its Patriarch but also distributed the Qian Family’s wealth among the poor people of the county town.

The consequence of this action, naturally, was being put on the Government Office’s wanted list.

Moreover, during this time, a constant stream of bounty-hunting Rangers had come looking for trouble.

That was why they now had to keep their faces concealed.

”Going back is so boring.”

”It’s no fun at all.”

Huang Xian’Er said, shaking her head.

”But it’s too dangerous.”

”Once the experts from the Government Office have us in their sights,”

”we might not be a match for them.”

Zhang Cang said earnestly.