Chapter 84: The Ancient Town of Clear Breeze

Jiuhua Mountain.

After the unforeseen events at the martial arts exchange conference, Duan Qingkuang had no choice but to lead Duan Hong and the other two back. Two days later, the group of four finally returned to the Jiuhua Daoist Temple at the foot of Jiuhua Mountain.

It is worth mentioning that few traditional martial sects like the Jiuhua Sect still maintain their heritage in all of Anqing Province. The main reason for this is the rise of the pill and weapons companies.

Want to train? Sure! Bring money! Want weapons? That too! Bring money! While this model of cultivating martial artists may sound materialistic, under the supervision of the state, it has proven extremely effective. The rise of provincial Martial Bureaus across the nation is the best evidence of this system’s success.

However, this has left traditional martial sects like Jiuhua increasingly marginalized. There’s nothing to be done! Who told you to be poor, or not to serve on the frontlines? Even the Jiuhua Daoist Temple itself is now rather dilapidated. If it weren’t for the local leadership’s initiative to open the mountain’s scenic area to the public in recent years, Duan Hong and his brothers would struggle not just to afford inner armor, but even to purchase the pills essential for daily cultivation.

It’s a rather pitiful state of affairs.

...

“Uncle Qingkuang!”

As the three stepped into the Daoist temple, two young acolytes greeted them respectfully.

Halting, Duan Qingkuang asked, “Where is the Sect Leader?”

“He’s receiving guests from Qingfeng Ancient Town.”

“Oh?” Duan Wuren behind him was surprised. “When did people from Qingfeng Ancient Town arrive?”

After a brief exchange, Duan Qingkuang led the group straight to the main hall.

Qingfeng Ancient Town, like Jiuhua Sect, is a traditional martial sect. The difference is, their situation is even worse; now, only one or two direct disciples per generation persist in martial practice. Thus, Qingfeng Ancient Town and Jiuhua Sect have always been close, bound by a deep sense of shared hardship.

Qingfeng Ancient Town lies in the southeast of Anqing Province, bordering Beijiang Province, not far from Nanye City.

...

Nanye City.

That evening, Zhang Ze received a heap of formal study materials, all meticulously organized by Li Sanqing.

Casually, he had bought a new Fruit-brand computer from the downstairs shop, and now sat cross-legged in the dormitory at the hospital’s staff building, opening one of the video lessons.

“Martial artists—a group who possess powerful physiques and can unleash terrifying strength through specialized techniques.”

As the video began, the figure of a middle-aged man appeared at the center of the training ground.

“Precisely because martial artists possess such formidable bodies, they are able to block the invasion of alien races in the real Starfield space!”

At these words, Zhang Ze frowned, muttering to himself, “Starfield space...”

Clearly, the formidable enemies Wang Chao had mentioned before likely existed within this so-called Starfield space.

Beneath the beautiful expanse of the stars, deadly threats may be lurking.

Yet Zhang Ze couldn’t quite understand. With human society so technologically advanced, what alien invasion could not be repelled? If humanity’s technology was truly inferior to that of aliens, what use could martial artists possibly have? No matter how strong the body, it still has limits. Even Ma Cheng, a Grade-Two martial artist, had his leg blown off by explosives.

Such questions kept surfacing in Zhang Ze’s mind, but he found no reasonable explanation. Only after he joined the Martial Bureau might he find the answers.

...

After mulling over such thoughts for a while, Zhang Ze’s attention returned to the computer screen.

He had to admit, Li Sanqing was reliable. The first video taught Zhang Ze how to practice horse stance, aiming to help him master foundational stances as quickly as possible.

He clicked through several other videos, all of which were tutorials on basic martial skills, and found them quite enlightening.

But it was the last video that piqued his interest.

This time, it wasn’t the middle-aged man, but a woman in her thirties. And the content was entirely different—she was introducing a complete saber technique.

In his previous life, such things existed only in martial arts novels. Anyone who claimed to know saber techniques would have been met with pity, not admiration—the kind of pity reserved for lunatics.

...

With no one around to join him, Zhang Ze could only feast his eyes on the video. He certainly wasn’t about to practice with a kitchen knife.

He opened another file, this one about the common pills used in martial training.

Taking out his spoils from before, Zhang Ze began comparing them.

It wasn’t long before he identified them: among his five pills, there were three Grade-Four Body-Forging Pills, worth around 400,000 each on the market, one Grade-Five Bone-Washing Pill, worth 1.8 million, and one Grade-Five Qi-Nurturing Pill, worth about 2 million.

Altogether, the market value of these five pills was roughly five million.

Having sorted this out, Zhang Ze’s face darkened. The system only gave him 3.77 million in wealth! Outrageous!

Quickly, Zhang Ze composed himself and set his cultivation goals for the coming period.

First, the foundational stances—with the Martial Bureau instructor’s video guidance, he felt confident he’d break through soon. Next, the basic martial skills, which he had to solidify before entering the Bureau in September.

With his plan in place, the image of Cheng Ren surfaced in his mind.

Stealing my thunder? Just wait! When I get into the Bureau, you’ll be the first I beat up!

...

As Zhang Ze contemplated his martial path, Ma Cheng was not idle either.

After Qin Yao fell into a deep sleep, he and Cai Hu went to the café beside the hospital.

A short while later, Zhuang Ning and a detective from the Criminal Investigation Division waved to them and approached.

“Captain Zhuang, is there any news about the cultists who killed my father?” Cai Hu couldn’t wait for them to sit before he blurted out his question.

Zhuang Ning frowned slightly and glanced at her subordinate.

The detective immediately said, “Based on our investigation and the crackdown on the cultists over the past few days, we’ve confirmed the killers are these two men.”

As he finished, he handed over two photographs.

The photos showed two middle-aged men: one with a crew cut, the other in a baggy overcoat. Both had average looks—the type who would blend unnoticed into any crowd.

Glancing at the photos, Ma Cheng asked with a frown, “If you’ve identified these bastards, do you know where they are now?”

Only then did Zhuang Ning speak. “From our investigation, these two have already fled Nanye City. As to their whereabouts, there’s no information yet.”

“Not a single clue?” Cai Hu’s eyes reddened, and his emotions seemed unstable.

After a brief pause, Zhuang Ning continued, “I suspect they’ve headed for Qingfeng Ancient Town, planning to cross the border between Anqing and Beijiang Provinces, making their way south...”