91: Chapter 91 The Secret Guard Operation

Liehuo Martial Arts Hall was already at a point of no return; once the arrow was nocked, there was no turning back.

As the first Disciple to consume the "crimson flame demon pill", Constable Lie Ming might have a higher resistance to the medicinal power, making the possibility of him breaking through to the Late Stage of the Second Grade Martial Artist the greatest.

With the fist fighting competition against Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall and Baiyun Martial Arts Hall imminent, more combat power meant a better chance of winning.

Moreover, Constable Lie Ming's deep-seated hatred for Lin Tian was the perfect fuel to push his combat power to the limit.

"You may." Hall Master Lie Fentian nodded slowly, took out a smaller black jade bottle from his bosom, and handed it over. "This is the essence of several 'crimson flame demon pills' I specifically kept; the medicinal power is even stronger than what you took before.

Take it and Cultivate diligently. The fist fighting competition is set for five days from now. During these five days, you will seclude yourself and strive to break through to the Late Stage of the Second Grade Martial Artist.

Remember, this Medicinal Pill is overbearing, so you must proceed step by step and not be too hasty.

Five days later, I want to see a Constable Lie Ming who can crush cities and seize strongholds for my Liehuo Martial Arts Hall on the arena!"

"Thank you, Revered Master! This Disciple will certainly not fail your expectations!" Constable Lie Ming was overjoyed, his hands trembling as he took the jade bottle, as if holding a peerless divine weapon.

The jade bottle felt cold to the touch, as if he could feel the violent power contained within, enough to push him to a higher Realm.

A terrifying gleam erupted in his eyes. With these Medicinal Pills, breaking through to the Late Stage of the Second Grade Martial Artist was almost a certainty!

At that time, what was mere Lin Tian? He seemed to have already seen himself on the arena under the spotlight, stepping on Lin Tian and crushing his bones inch by inch in a hearty scene!

"Go." Hall Master Lie Fentian waved his hand.

Constable Lie Ming did not say more, bowed, turned, and rushed to the most secluded, heavily guarded closed-door cultivation stone cave in the back mountain of the martial arts hall.

He wanted to complete his final Breakthrough there, forging the sharpest blade born solely for revenge.

The responses of the two major martial arts halls spread quickly, and the fist fighting competition was completely finalized. The time was set for five days later, and the location was the large drill ground in the west of the city that could accommodate thousands of people.

For a time, Heishan City was surging with wind and clouds, and everyone's eyes were focused here.

Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall and Baiyun Martial Arts Hall also immediately began intensive preparations to select participants.

The three major martial arts halls would fight, each sending three people, with the best of three rounds winning. The selection of these three people was crucial.

On the side of Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall, there was almost no suspense; the first spot fell on Lin Tian.

Hall Master Chen Qingfeng personally sent someone to deliver the news to the Lin Family Mansion.

"Fist fighting competition? Liehuo Martial Arts Hall?" Lin Tian listened to the message from the Disciple, his eyes narrowed slightly, and then returned to calm.

He was not surprised by this. Liehuo Martial Arts Hall's recent actions had been so arrogant and domineering that the conflict with the two halls could no longer be reconciled. Solving it through a relatively controllable method like a "fist fighting competition" was indeed the best choice at the moment.

As for letting him participate... Lin Tian's mouth curled up imperceptibly.

With his current strength as a Late Stage Second Grade Martial Artist, his Major Achievement in blade technique, his Perfection in movement technique, and his dual Cultivation of the Five Elements Fist, he had absolute confidence to deal with it as long as an old-school Rank 3 Martial Artist like Hall Master Lie Fentian didn't personally take the stage.

Even against other Elders of Liehuo Martial Arts Hall or those Second Grade Martial Artists who relied on Medicinal Pills, he was confident that he could win.

"Reply to the Hall Revered Master, this Disciple understands, and will definitely go when the time comes." Lin Tian said to the messenger Disciple.

After sending the person away, Lin Tian did not disrupt his Cultivation rhythm because of the upcoming arena competition.

On the contrary, he was more focused.

Five days was neither long nor short, and it was a great opportunity to consolidate and improve.

He continued to immerse himself in boring and efficient hard Cultivation. The violent Fist Intent of the Fire Element Fist and the ultimate explosion of the "Wind-Facing Slash" were his current focus.

In the small courtyard, the fist wind whistled, the blade light was cold, and sweat soaked his clothes again and again, only to be steamed dry by his Qi and blood.

"Fire Element Fist proficiency + 1"

"Fire Element Fist proficiency + 1"

"Wind-Facing Slash proficiency + 1"

"Wind-Facing Slash proficiency + 1"

On the System panel, the numbers jumped steadily and firmly.

Fire Element Fist (Minor Achievement 263 / 300)

Wind-Facing Slash (Minor Achievement 257 / 300)

The two martial arts were not far from the "Proficiency" Realm. Lin Tian was confident that he could push both to the "Proficiency" level within these five days.

At that time, the power of the fist technique would increase, and the blade would be sharper.

Meanwhile, his internal Qi and blood, under the residual medicinal power of the red blood vermilion fruit and the continuous tempering of the Five Elements Stance, were also steadily moving towards the Peak of the Second Grade Martial Artist, vigorous and condensed, with a solid Foundation.

Meanwhile, deep in the Jinyiwei Company Office, in a seemingly ordinary but heavily guarded quiet room.

There was not much furniture in the room, just a bed, a table, and a chair.

Centurion Shen Lian sat on the chair, his face still a little pale, but his eyes were clear and sharp, and his aura was calm and heavy. Where was there any sign of being "seriously injured and dying, unconscious"?

Only a faint, uncomfortable, cold aura lingered around him, as if it were a forced suppression of some kind of injury.

The door was gently pushed open, and Squad Leader Zhao walked in with a medicine bowl, whispering: "My Lord, it is time to take your medicine."

Centurion Shen Lian took the medicine bowl, drank it without looking, and handed back the empty bowl.

The medicinal juice was dark red, emitting a strong, fishy and bitter smell. It was clearly not an ordinary tonic.

"How is the situation outside?" Centurion Shen Lian's voice was calm, with no sign of joy or anger.

Squad Leader Zhao's expression became serious, and he lowered his voice to report: "My Lord, as you expected, someone couldn't wait to jump out.

Hall Master Lie Fentian of Liehuo Martial Arts Hall has been acting frequently recently. He not only forcibly established a so-called 'Little Martial Alliance', forcing many Families and martial arts halls to attach themselves, but also in a short period of time, his subordinates have inexplicably gained nearly ten Second Grade Martial Artists!

Their expansion has caused multiple conflicts with Qingfeng and Baiyun Martial Arts Halls, and both halls are at a disadvantage.

Now, the three parties have agreed to publicly 'fight with fists' at the drill ground in the west of the city in five days to decide the outcome."

"Oh? Liehuo Martial Arts Hall... It really is them." Centurion Shen Lian's eyes flashed with cold light, and a cold arc hooked at the corner of his mouth. "The clue about the 'Demonic Cult stronghold' at Tingtao Villa was too 'coincidental' and too 'smooth' at the beginning.

The Demonic Cult has been enduring for many years, and as soon as it appeared, it was a trap that could severely injure me. If there was no one working from the inside and outside, carefully designing it, I would never believe it.

Now it seems that this Liehuo Martial Arts Hall, even if it is not the nest of the Demonic Cult, must be an important pawn for them in Heishan City.

Those Second Grade Martial Artists who suddenly appeared are probably using the Demonic Cult's tiger-wolf medicine that overdraws life and stimulates potential."

"My Lord is wise." Squad Leader Zhao nodded. "My subordinates have investigated secretly. The aura of those newly promoted Second Grade Martial Artists is floating and restless, and their Foundation is unstable, which is quite consistent with the characteristics of taking 'blood-burning' and 'crimson flame' pills of the Demonic Cult.

It's just... Magistrate Zhou Wenhai seems to have adopted a tacit attitude towards the expansion of Liehuo Martial Arts Hall, and there are even rumors that Hall Master Lie Fentian has sent huge benefits to the county government."

"Magistrate Zhou Wenhai?" Centurion Shen Lian snorted coldly, a trace of undisguised contempt and killing intent flashing in his eyes. "This person is greedy, incompetent, and profit-seeking. It is not surprising that he has been bought or coerced by the Demonic Cult.

However, we cannot touch him yet. Alerting the enemy would be counterproductive."

"Then should we take action now to take down Hall Master Lie Fentian?" Squad Leader Zhao asked.

"No rush." Centurion Shen Lian shook his head slowly, his eyes deep. "Hall Master Lie Fentian is just a pawn placed on the table.

Who is the line behind him connected to? Which Families and people in the city are truly attached, which are forced to be coerced, and which are simply Demonic Cult evildoers in human skin?

We need to use this 'fist fighting competition' and the expansion of Liehuo Martial Arts Hall to make them surface themselves and pull out the grasshoppers on this line one by one!"

He paused, his tone turning cold: "The news of my 'serious injury' was released to lure the snake out of the hole.

Now that the snake has shown its head, it is the perfect time for us to weave the net in secret.

Let the Secret Guards continue to lurk, mix into the 'Little Martial Alliance' of Liehuo Martial Arts Hall, figure out their internal structure, find out the details of those newly promoted Second Grade Martial Artists, and... the specific contact method between Hall Master Lie Fentian and the Demonic Cult, and their next plan.

I still need to continue to be 'injured'. Tell the people outside that my injuries are recurring and I need to recuperate, and no one is allowed to disturb me.

For the fist fighting competition five days later... arrange a few clever Secret Guards to mix into the crowd of spectators and pay close attention to the movements of all parties, especially those who are in close contact with Liehuo Martial Arts Hall or behave abnormally."

"Yes! This subordinate understands!" Squad Leader Zhao's heart tightened, and he quickly agreed.

He finally realized that Centurion Shen Lian's previous ambush and serious injury at the villa, and even the subsequent "unconsciousness," had a considerable part of it being intentionally weak, a confusing formation and bait!

The real killing move and investigation had long been carried out secretly by those silent and ubiquitous Imperial Guard "Secret Guards".

The Imperial Guard is divided into "Bright Guards" and "Secret Guards," which are the two sharp swords of the imperial court for supervising the world and spying on intelligence.

The Bright Guards, such as Lin Tian and Senior Sister Chen Yu, are flamboyant, performing public tasks and deterring small fry.

And the Secret Guards are like poisonous snakes lurking in the shadows. No one knows their identity, no one knows their number, and no one can even be sure if they exist.

They may be a street vendor, a restaurant waiter, an inconspicuous watchman, or even a hypocritical Elder in a certain Family, or an unknown Disciple in a certain martial arts hall...

They are only responsible to the highest officer, Centurion Shen Lian, and perform the most secret and dangerous tasks.

This is the truly terrifying part of the Imperial Guard.

Centurion Shen Lian's layout this time is clearly to take advantage of the rampant Liehuo Martial Arts Hall to uproot the Demonic Cult forces hidden in Heishan City and those who collude with them!

Five days passed quickly amidst the secret competition of various forces and the anticipation of all the people in the city.

The day of the fist fighting competition finally arrived.

Liehuo Martial Arts Hall, back mountain stone cave.

"Boom—!"

A hot, violent, yet obviously empty and restless powerful Qi and blood burst out from the stone cave, shaking the gravel at the entrance to fall.

Constable Lie Ming slowly opened his eyes, with red light flashing in his pupils, and his face was filled with excitement and distortion after his power soared.

He stood up slowly, clenched his fists, and felt the surging power in his body that far exceeded before and was almost overflowing.

Late Stage of the Second Grade Martial Artist! He finally broke through!

"Lin Tian... Today is your death day!" Constable Lie Ming roared in a low voice, his voice full of deep-seated hatred and pleasure.

He seemed to have seen how he would tear Lin Tian to pieces with absolute power on the arena and listen to his dying wails.

He strode out of the stone cave and headed toward the assembly place in the front yard of the martial arts hall, his back dragging a long, evil-filled shadow in the morning light.

Lin Family Mansion, quiet room.

Lin Tian slowly finished his Cultivation, and the faint white energy steaming around his body quickly gathered into his body.

He opened his eyes, his eyes were bright and calm. After five days of hard Cultivation, his internal Qi and blood had stabilized at the Late Stage of the Second Grade Martial Artist, and he had improved a lot.

More importantly—

Mind sank in:

Name: Lin Tian

Cultivation: Second Grade Martial Artist (Late Stage)

Martial Arts:

Fire Element Fist (Proficiency 107 / 500)

Wind-Facing Slash (Proficiency 122 / 500)

Fire Element Fist and Wind-Facing Slash, both stepped into the "Proficiency" Realm!

The fist technique was more violent and hot, with the sound of wind and thunder faintly heard during its operation.

The blade technique was increasingly condensed, and the speed of the blade, the trickiness of the angle, and the violence of the explosion were incomparable to those of the "Minor Achievement" period.

He was confident that if he used "Wind-Facing Slash" with all his strength at this moment, combined with his Perfection movement technique, an ordinary Late Stage Second Grade Martial Artist would probably not be able to block the power of his blade!

Even against a Second Grade Martial Artist at the Peak with a solid Foundation and experienced skills, he was confident that he could win.

"Fist fighting competition..." Lin Tian's mouth curled slightly, revealing a confident arc.

He put on a clean black martial arts suit, carefully hung his long blade on his waist, and pushed open the door.