I Grind to Martial Saint

The man wasn’t holding an umbrella, yet amid the torrential downpour, not a single drop of rain touched him.

”What terrifying Sword Intent... This person’s Swordsmanship must be at an incredibly high level.”

Han Yuan said in a low voice.

”Of course... That’s the Iron Dragon Sword, Zhou Wuji.”

Ding Zihu said.

”And what’s his story?”

Han Yuan narrowed his eyes.

Even though he was still hundreds of meters away from Zhou Wuji, the man’s towering Sword Intent sent a chill down his spine.

”He’s hailed as the second-greatest Swordsman in Great Ling, having lost to the Flying Immortal Sword, Li Yichen, by only half a move.”

”Of course, that was five years ago.”

”It’s hard to say who would win if they fought now.”

Ding Zihu said grimly.

He hadn’t expected the emergence of a Middle Spiritual Land to draw such a formidable figure here.

”Interesting...”

”This should be enough.”

Han Yuan said.

”Just about... I just wonder when they’ll make their move.”

Ding Zihu nodded.

A moment later, Zhou Wuji walked over to Li Gui’s side.

”Sick Scholar, looking at the state you’re in, it seems you have no choice but to risk it all.”

Zhou Wuji said calmly.

Li Gui was indeed in terrible shape.

”COUGH COUGH COUGH... I’ve been used to it for a long time.”

”Ever since I was born. The Physician said I was born with a weak constitution and wouldn’t live past the age of five.”

”But I’m still here, and I’ve outlived many people.”

”This time will be no different. I will continue to live.”

Li Gui said with a smile.

”Then I wish you luck.”

Zhou Wuji said with a nod.

”And you? Do you plan to use this Middle Spiritual Land to attempt a breakthrough?”

Li Gui asked.

”Something like that... Once things are settled here, I’m going to find Li Yichen and challenge him again.”

Zhou Wuji admitted it freely.

”It seems we both have reasons we must go in.”

”COUGH COUGH COUGH... So, how do you plan to break this Array?”

Li Gui asked seriously.

”We wait.”

Zhou Wuji was in no hurry.

”Then we’ll wait.”

Li Gui didn’t ask any more questions.

And just like that, the two Innate Grandmasters ended their conversation and vanished into the streets.

Apparently, they had only come to observe the Mountain King Temple today and had no intention of acting.

The onlookers were naturally a bit disappointed to see the two Innate Grandmasters leave.

After all, they had all been hoping the two Innate Grandmasters would join forces and storm the Mountain King Temple.

Then, they could have followed in their wake and charged in as well.

But with the two of them gone, it was clear there would be no major action today.

The downpour finally stopped late at night, leaving the streets filled with puddles of all sizes.

Suddenly, many masked figures carrying longbows rushed out from the streets and alleys, splashing through the puddles.

The figures stopped in an open area thirty meters from the Mountain King Temple, then nocked their arrows and drew their bows.

Flames erupted one after another.

They lit their arrows and fired them directly at the Mountain King Temple.

In an instant, fire arrows rained down, disappearing into the thick, Dark Cyan Mist.

Wave after wave.

The fire arrows fell ceaselessly.

Yet not a single flame sparked to life within the Mountain King Temple.

Then, as if on command, the masked figures swiftly retreated.

Han Yuan and Ding Zihu were still on the roof, watching the show.

”Looks like some people are getting restless.”

Ding Zihu chuckled.

”Judging by tonight’s fire arrow raid, it seems conventional attacks have no effect on the Mountain King Temple.”

Han Yuan said seriously.

This was within his expectations, however.

After all, the Temple Priest had spent a long time setting up this Array; it wouldn’t be broken so easily.

「The next day.」

Over a dozen carts appeared.

Each cart was piled high with massive boulders, each about a meter in diameter.

A muscular giant, well over two meters tall, began grabbing these boulders and frantically hurling them toward the Mountain King Temple!

The man’s strength was immense. He threw the boulders in high arcs, ensuring the downward impact would be anything but small.

But each boulder he threw vanished as if it were a stone cast into the sea, without a single sound.

This sent a shiver of dread through the onlookers.

Of course, the boulders couldn’t possibly breach the Mountain King Temple’s Grand Array.

But for there to be no reaction at all was simply too eerie.

When the muscular giant had thrown the last of the boulders, he was exhausted and drenched in sweat.

Seeing that all his effort had produced no result, even the giant grew fearful. Without even stopping to catch his breath, he turned and fled.

And the Mountain King Temple remained utterly silent from start to finish.

”Looks like the Mountain King Temple plans to stay in its shell until the very end.”

Ding Zihu muttered.

He and Han Yuan hadn’t left the rooftop since they first came up, keeping a constant watch on the Mountain King Temple.

After all, the situation was a powder keg, ready to explode at any moment.

No one knew when the final assault on the Mountain King Temple would begin.

If they missed it, it would be too late by the time they heard the news and rushed over.

”The Mountain King Temple has no other choice.”

”Their only option now is to defend to the death until the Middle Spiritual Land emerges.”

Han Yuan said softly.

”I wonder when those two will make their move.”

Ding Zihu said, his voice full of anticipation.

”It shouldn’t be much longer.”

”They’ll definitely make their move before the Spiritual Land emerges.”

Han Yuan said.

The rumor that the Mountain King Temple intended to resurrect the dead Mountain King had long since spread far and wide.

Even if there was no way to verify the rumor, if it were true, and the Mountain King Temple actually managed to resurrect the Mountain King using the emerging Spiritual Land, then even Li Gui and Zhou Wuji combined would likely be no match for him.

Therefore, to prevent that from happening, they had to act before the Spiritual Land emerged.

”Then we’ll just have to wait and see.”

Ding Zihu nodded.

「Another eight days passed.」

Over those days, people had tried all sorts of methods to test the defenses.

But none had managed to cause the slightest ripple from within the Mountain King Temple.

Eventually, everyone gave up trying.

All anyone could do was wait.

The atmosphere grew incredibly tense.

It felt like the calm before a storm.

「That evening.」

The sky was set ablaze by the sunset.

But this sunset didn’t burn with fiery red; it blazed with a wild, violet flame.

The entirety of Ping’an Town was bathed in a purple glow.

The scene was fantastical, an unearthly and magnificent sight.

”Well, I’ll be... I’ve never seen anything like it.”

”It’s magnificent!”

Ding Zihu couldn’t help but marvel at the sight.

Even Han Yuan narrowed his eyes.

’This phenomenon is certainly beautiful. But this sky full of Purple Mist is also a sign. The Middle Spiritual Land must be about to emerge.’

”It seems the show is about to begin.”

Han Yuan said softly.

”Tonight?” Ding Zihu realized.

”Looks like it.” Han Yuan nodded.

”In that case, I’d better fill my stomach first.”

”I won’t have any energy for the fight otherwise.”

Ding Zihu said quietly.

”Meow! I want some too!”

The Orange Cat had been waiting alongside Han Yuan all these days.

It couldn’t help but cry out upon hearing Ding Zihu’s words.

So, Ding Zihu and the Orange Cat sat there on the roof, eating.

Han Yuan, meanwhile, kept his gaze fixed on the Mountain King Temple.

Normally, a sunset is a fleeting phenomenon.

But tonight, the Purple Mist burned for a long, long time, showing no signs of fading.

THUD THUD THUD...

Suddenly, Han Yuan heard the sound of countless footsteps.

Scores of burly, masked men holding torches rushed out from every street and alley.

There were at least one or two thousand of them.

Zhou Shentai, the Fat Monk, the Poisonous Widow, and the others all appeared.

Seeing these Thief Kings from the Ten Thousand Mountains appear, the Rangers and Loose People gathered around the Mountain King Temple grew both excited and tense.

They knew.

The moment they had been waiting for had finally arrived.

The Thief Kings said nothing, simply waiting in silence.

A short while later.

A sickly Li Gui ambled over, coughing as he went.

Zhou Wuji, his eyes still covered, leaped through the air and landed directly before the crowd.

The two Innate Grandmasters seemed to have reached an agreement with the Thief Kings.

As soon as they appeared, Zhou Shentai and the others bowed in deference.

”Enough... COUGH COUGH COUGH... The Middle Spiritual Land is about to emerge. We can’t delay any longer.”

Li Gui said.

”We are at your service, Seniors.”

Zhou Shentai said, cupping his fist.