I Grind to Martial Saint

Heeding the old man’s words, Han Yuan eagerly left Mingfan Hall, asking the Guiding Attendant to lead him to the Martial Arts Pavilion.

The Observatory’s three tribes and eight halls covered a vast area. Han Yuan followed the attendant for the time it takes an incense stick to burn before arriving in front of a three-story wooden building.

Besides this wooden building, there was also one on each side.

”Sir. This is the Martial Arts Pavilion.”

”The wooden building on the left is the Spirit Medicine Pavilion, and the one on the right is the Divine Weapon Pavilion,”

the attendant explained.

The names were simple and clear; Han Yuan knew their purpose as soon as he heard them.

”Sir, only members of the three tribes can enter this Martial Arts Pavilion.”

”I’ll have to wait here for you,”

the attendant said softly.

”Alright... By the way, are there any rules for the Martial Arts Pavilion?”

Han Yuan asked one more question.

The attendant quickly replied, ”No special rules. Anyone from the three tribes can enter the first floor, which mostly holds Second-Class and Third-Class Martial Arts.”

”Only members of the Demon Extermination Tribe can enter the second and third floors.”

”The techniques stored there are also rarer and more valuable.”

Han Yuan was taken aback. ”There’s a distinction like that?”

”Yes... Because the Demon Extermination Tribe is the most dangerous of the three, it has many special privileges,”

the attendant explained.

”I see,” Han Yuan nodded.

He recalled discussing the so-called three tribes with Duan Xu last night while they were drinking.

The Demon Extermination Tribe was self-explanatory.

The Feiying Tribe was an intelligence organization, with members spread throughout Cangshui County.

As for the Celestial Phenomena Tribe... it was originally for observing celestial phenomena.

It later gradually became the department for recruiting Abnormal People.

These so-called Abnormal People were said to walk a path completely different from that of Martial Artists. They were far rarer, however; even Duan Xu had only seen them a few times. They were very mysterious.

”Well, I’m going in.”

”Thanks for the trouble.”

Han Yuan patted the attendant’s shoulder.

The attendant froze for a moment.

Most people from the Observatory’s three tribes were naturally arrogant and couldn’t be bothered with subordinates like him.

Some of the more ill-tempered ones would even beat and curse them at the drop of a hat, not treating them like human beings at all.

He had worked at the Observatory for five years, and Han Yuan was the first person to thank him for his trouble.

”You’re too kind, Sir. It was no trouble at all,”

the attendant said hurriedly. Then, mustering his courage, he added, ”Sir, my name is Jiang Guanhu.”

”Jiang Guanhu?”

”That’s a good name.”

Han Yuan smiled, turned, and walked into the Martial Arts Pavilion.

Two soldiers in Black Armor stood guard in front of the Martial Arts Pavilion.

They were likely from the Black Death Hall, responsible for patrolling and standing guard within the Observatory.

Only after showing his Demon Extermination Order was Han Yuan allowed to enter.

Inside the Martial Arts Pavilion, countless bookshelves stood tall, filled with an endless variety of martial arts techniques, even organized into detailed categories.

Heart Methods, Hard Skills, Claw Techniques, Fist Techniques, Blade Techniques, Staff Techniques...

The sheer variety was dazzling to Han Yuan.

But he remembered Jiang Guanhu’s words. While these techniques would be considered treasures outside, they weren’t worth wasting this opportunity on.

He originally planned to go straight to the third floor but was stopped at the staircase by a Black Death Guard.

”According to Observatory regulations.”

”Only those with five thousand or more Contribution Points may set foot on the third floor,”

the guard said, his face devoid of expression.

”I’m new here. Aren’t I allowed to choose any First-Class Technique I want?”

Han Yuan frowned.

”There are no First-Class Techniques on the third floor... All First-Class Techniques are on the second floor,”

the guard said coolly.

A thought flashed through Han Yuan’s mind. ’No First-Class Techniques... Could it be the legendary Innate Martial Arts?’

He had heard some rumors about these Innate Martial Arts.

These were Martial Arts even more powerful than First-Class Techniques, but very few had been passed down, and they were also much more difficult to cultivate.

Although it was a pity that he couldn’t see the Innate Martial Arts for himself, Han Yuan dutifully returned to the second floor to search for a suitable Internal Cultivation Method.

Naturally, the Internal Cultivation Methods were just as varied, each possessing unique characteristics once cultivated.

Golden Sharpness Technique: Allows one to condense a core of sharp Inner Qi, making one’s weapons even sharper.

Mountain-Pushing Skill: Cultivates a heavy and stable Inner Breath. At the stage of Great Success, one can even push mountains.

Moon Entwining Technique: Cultivates an Inner Breath as tough as silkworm silk, possessing terrifying piercing power.

.....

Han Yuan browsed for a long time, overwhelmed by the choices and unsure of which to pick.

’I need to calm down and think.’

’First, I should pick a Martial Art that’s difficult to cultivate but extremely powerful once mastered.’

Han Yuan knew his advantage was the Skill Proficiency Panel.

With this Skill Proficiency Panel, he didn’t need to worry about the difficulty of a Cultivation Technique at all. He only needed to cultivate it once.

His options quickly narrowed.

After some careful consideration, Han Yuan finally selected a Heart Method.

Black Whale Oversea Skill!

This Inner Breath Technique was extremely difficult to cultivate. It required the Cultivator to have an extremely strong physique, able to withstand the impact of berserk Qi Power.

If one’s physical body wasn’t tough enough, activating it would easily cause one’s meridians to rupture and internal organs to shatter, resulting in death.

However, once mastered, this Cultivation Technique was also terrifyingly powerful. Its Inner Breath was peerlessly violent, possessing the power to overturn seas.

’I have Copper Skin and Iron Bones. My physique is far tougher than an ordinary person’s, more than enough to withstand the impact of the Black Whale Oversea Skill’s violent Inner Qi.’

’On top of that, I have Divine Power. Combined with the Black Whale Oversea Skill, the power will be even more terrifying.’

Han Yuan felt that nothing was more suitable for him than this Black Whale Oversea Skill.

He took this Internal Cultivation Method and went to the first floor.

But instead of going to the counter to complete the formalities, he began to search around the first floor.

Soon.

He came to the Blade Technique section.

The Thousand Falcons Blade Technique was, after all, just a Third-Class Blade Technique, and he had already cultivated it to the Perfection stage. Han Yuan intended to find a Second-Class Technique to replace it.

A Second-Class Technique required five hundred Contribution Points, which he had just enough of.

’After cultivating the Black Whale Oversea Skill, my Qi Power will become even more terrifying.’

’I could learn a Heavy Saber technique.’

Han Yuan began to search.

Wind Chasing Saber, Torrential Rain Pear Blossom Saber, Fiery Flame Blade Technique...

He looked through these Blade Techniques one by one, but none of them met his requirements.

Just as he was feeling disappointed, he saw a Blade Technique.

Eight Extremes Demon-slaying Saber.

This Blade Technique emphasized extreme explosive power. It was domineering and fierce, which perfectly matched Han Yuan’s requirements.

Han Yuan picked it up without hesitation and walked to the counter.

Soon.

He walked out of the Martial Arts Pavilion with two Martial Arts Secret Manuals, his Contribution Points completely spent.

When Jiang Guanhu saw Han Yuan come out, he hurried over to greet him.

Afterwards, he took Han Yuan on a tour of the Observatory, leaving only after Han Yuan had familiarized himself with the basic layout.

Han Yuan quickly returned to his courtyard.

First, of course, was the Black Whale Oversea Skill.

He opened it and discovered an extremely complex method for breathing and circulating qi and blood; one had to memorize nearly all the body’s major acupoints.

’No wonder so few people cultivate this...’

’Someone with both a strong body and a sharp mind... there probably aren’t many people like that.’

Han Yuan smiled and began to read through the Black Whale Oversea Skill attentively.

「In the following days.」

Han Yuan spent most of his time studying the Black Whale Oversea Skill, not even leaving his courtyard.

He didn’t know many people at the Observatory.

Duan Xu had left a few days ago on a demon extermination mission, and it seemed he would be gone for over a month.

Usually, only Kong Yangyun would come looking for him.

This guy’s own strength wasn’t bad, and his luck was decent. He didn’t run into anyone from the Five Great Noble Families, successfully passed the three rounds, and joined the Observatory as a Demon Exterminator.

Every time he came over, it was basically to spar with Han Yuan.

Han Yuan, of course, no longer held back his strength, beating Kong Yangyun until he was black and blue each time.