, Day 1

Flying Eagle Martial Arts School, Training Ground.

That concludes today's lessons.

As usual, Zhong Xuan finished his sword talk right on time.

The number of students coming to listen to his lectures has now increased dramatically from a few to dozens, forming three rows in the training ground, no less than those of the regular instructors.

After the apprentices respectfully thanked their master, Zhong Xuan went to the connecting corridor next to the martial arts arena.

Zheng Yue was seen enjoying the cool air under the pavilion.

"That Chen He has decent comprehension, and he also has the Sparrow Bone skill. It wouldn't be bad to take him on as an ordinary disciple."

Zhong Xuan had not forgotten Zheng Yue's purpose in teaching him the Nine Strikes of the Flying Eagle.

So they've been keeping an eye on potential candidates in secret.

Chen He, who performed well when he visited the Benhu Martial Arts School that day, would be a good fit.

"No rush, let's wait a bit longer."

Zheng Yue smiled.

Upon seeing this.

Zhong Xuan then dropped the matter.

Taking on apprentices should be a serious matter.

In most martial arts schools, without ten years of hard work, the master will not pass on the real skills. Very few people are taught breathing techniques directly like him.

Zhong Xuan: "Brother Zheng, why haven't I seen you much these days?"

Zheng Yue rubbed his temples:

"Even though I'm already over seventy, I'm still destined to work hard."

I went to Yongning Prefecture.

Zhong Xuan was somewhat surprised; no wonder he hadn't seen Zheng Yue these past few days: "What matter requires you to go through all this trouble to come to the manor, brother?"

"It's the Black Witch Cult."

"The Black Witch Cult has nine Grand Priests, and the one who stole the treasure from the Rong'an Marquis's mansion is none other than the Black Water Grand Priest, one of the nine Grand Priests. The Yongning Prefect led troops to besiege and suppress them, and Baisha County naturally had to contribute as well. My junior brother is at a crucial time in his seclusion, so only this old man can go."

Blackwater Grand Master...

Zhong Xuan silently repeated the name in his heart.

These four words are so powerful they could stop a baby from crying.

Legend has it that the Blackwater Grand Master lived in symbiosis with a giant snake, feeding on the flesh and blood of living people.

He once committed the heinous act of slaughtering an entire village for food.

That's utterly insane.

In this light, it's no wonder that the Qing Kingdom designated the Black Witch Cult as a heretical sect.

Zheng Yue continued, "A disciple of the Blackwater Grand Master infiltrated our Baihe County a month ago. Magistrate Zhou received a tip and went to ambush and kill him, but unexpectedly, the man escaped."

"Red-tailed wolf?"

"Indeed, that person knows the art of beast taming and is in harmony with a red-tailed wolf."

"Although the red-tailed wolf was fierce, it was severely injured by me, Zhang Lie, Qian Hu and I. If it weren't for someone coming to its aid, the three of us would have killed it."

Zheng Yue said in a deep voice:

"This siege of the Blackwater Grand Master will likely follow the same pattern; I fear..."

There are ghosts.

Although Zheng Yue didn't finish his sentence, Zhong Xuan had already guessed the second half.

Zhong Xuan himself had experienced the most prosperous period of the Black Witch Cult's missionary work.

At that time, there were quite a few officials in Yongning Prefecture who believed in black witchcraft and false religion.

Not to mention that the previous one was the Great Shaman.

These people are either already dead from old age, or if they are still alive, many of them must already hold high positions.

The Black Witch Cult is too deeply rooted; it would be impossible to eradicate it in less than several decades.

Zhong Xuan asked the question that had been lingering in his mind:

"What exactly did the Blackwater Grand Master take from the Rong'an Marquis's residence?"

Zheng Yue glanced at Zhong Xuan: "Brother Zhong, you think too highly of me. My bone-strengthening martial arts are not bad in our Baisha County, but in Yongning Prefecture I'm just a slightly stronger soldier. How would I know such secrets?"

That's true...

Zhong Xuan smiled.

Then Zheng Yue added, "However, I heard a rumor during my trip to Yongning Prefecture that the treasure seems to be the remains of a powerful figure from the Black Witch Cult."

Zhong Xuan's pupils contracted slightly.

The look of surprise flashed by in an instant, and even Zheng Yue, who was standing right next to him, did not notice anything unusual.

"Could that dragon bone be it?!"

A divine object?

Big demon bone!

There are hardly any coincidences in the world.

Although he didn't know what had happened during that time, the dragon bone he obtained was very likely a magical artifact from the Black Witch Cult.

"Luckily, I had already thrown it out."

Zhong Xuan secretly rejoiced.

The Black Witch Cult uses bizarre methods; if one is greedy, one might be targeted by the Black Witch Cult and bring disaster upon oneself.

"Ma Lei..."

Zhong Xuan narrowed his eyes slightly.

It now seems that Ma Lei's unusual reaction was no accident; he must have secretly sided with the Black Witch Cult.

"This matter must not be known to anyone."

Every husband is not guilty, and he is guilty of his crime.

Within Baisha County alone, there are dozens of Bone-Refining Martial Artists coveting the Black Witch Cult's treasures, and I've even heard that a powerful expert at the third level of the Great Refinement stage has made a move.

Although he has absorbed the demonic energy into his bones, some old monster might find out and refine him into a human pill.

My feelings are not complicated.

If you do not take what Heaven offers, you will suffer the consequences.

Zhong Xuan was simply pondering.

How can this secret be buried completely?

I chatted with Zheng Yue for a while longer.

Zhong Xuan then walked out of the shop, intending to return to Xiahe Village, when he saw the young Chen He walking up to him.

"What's up?"

Zhong Xuan asked with a smile, he had a fairly good impression of this apprentice.

Chen He seemed to be making a choice: "Zhong, do you know someone named Ma Lei?"

Zhong Xuan asked in surprise, "Why do you ask that?"

Chen He gritted his teeth: "Zhong Zhidian, he offered ten taels of silver to try and find out information about you from me."

......

......

In a cave nestled among the mountains outside Xiahe Village.

"Did the jade react?"

A glint of light flashed in the eyes of Mosha, the young boy from the Black Witch Cult.

"Yes, but I am of low strength and constrained by many factors, so I am unable to determine my target."

Ma Lei stood respectfully with his body bowed.

"Great, excellent!"

Mosa couldn't suppress the smile playing on her lips.

What he feared most was being cut open by some wild beast and taken to some deep mountain forest, which would be like finding a needle in a haystack. Now that the jade has reacted, things are much simpler.

"It's alright. Go find Shi Yuanbai. You can arrange the people and resources. If you handle this matter well, I will give you a superior breathing technique."

Hear the breathing method.

Ma Lei was overjoyed.

That was a crucial step for him to become a Bone-Training Martial Artist.

"I will do my utmost!"

Ma Lei bowed in greeting.

Mo Sha pursed his lips slightly, making his already thin lips appear even more stern, and his eyes flashed with a dangerous light: "If you do things properly, I will give you more benefits. If you dare to have other intentions... I will exterminate your entire clan of Xiahe Village."

Ma Lei lowered his head even further, inwardly cursing him as a madman.

After a month of getting to know each other.

He knew very well that the Black Witch Cult members were a bunch of lawless lunatics.

They kill people at the drop of a hat.

What about advocating for nature and survival of the fittest?

He was no different from that mad warrior who had fallen into demonic ways.

Fortunately, the young man from the Black Witch Cult was extremely generous.

Ma Lei slowly retreated, his figure gradually swallowed by the darkness of the cave, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.

......

......

The other end.

After his physical constitution was altered, Zhong Xuan, who possessed dual forms, practiced even more diligently.

Progress has been extremely rapid.

Seven days later.

One night, Zhong Xuan, who was sitting cross-legged and practicing breathing exercises, suddenly opened his eyes.

A breakthrough is imminent!