Chen Zhao's question was, in fact, one Han Zheng had previously pondered.
"To tell the truth, I haven't considered that yet, but I should probably venture into the Martial World," Han Zheng thought for a mont and said.
For Han Zheng at the present, what he lacked the most was also cultivation techniques, and what he didn't lack at all was cultivation techniques.
He didn't lack cultivation techniques because the Taotie Furnace could break through and elevate any cultivation technique layer by layer; he wouldn't be stuck at any realm due to the limitations of his techniques.
However, the Taotie Furnace could only enhance techniques, not create them out of thin air. So, in a sense, Han Zheng was still lacking techniques—basic ones.
Previously, when the Cang Mountain Sword Sect ca, if Han Zheng truly managed to catch the Sect's attention, he really would have wanted to join a sect like the Cang Mountain Sword Sect.
Joining a Sect was the simplest way to acquire cultivation techniques. As long as you joined a Sect, even if you were only an outer disciple, you would systematically be taught the techniques.
Then, based on your strength and your contributions to the Sect, you would step by step receive the teachings of higher techniques.
As long as Han Zheng could obtain a Sect's basic cultivation technique, he was confident that with the Taotie Furnace, he could rise smoothly to success.
It was just unfortunate that his natural talent and physical constitution were too poor, and nobody wanted him.
But that wasn't a big issue either.
There were always more opportunities in the Martial World than in Black Stone County; he could acquire techniques through other channels as well.
As for the Demon Cleansing Bureau, Han Zheng was highly cautious.
The Demon Cleansing Bureau was far too dangerous; who knew what mission he might be assigned to.
Moreover, the Demon Cleansing Bureau wasn't sothing you could just join if you wished to; Han Zheng planned to inquire about the state of the Bureau from Zhang Tianyang before he left.
While everyone was casually chatting, Li Sancheng suddenly let out a soft gasp, "Isn't that the Guo Family's caravan? They're certainly slow enough, hauling grain all day long.
And there's Guo Mingyuan, that guy is usually too lazy to be involved in the Guo Family's business. How co he's also leaving the city with the caravan to haul grain this ti?"
On the street, the Guo Family's caravan was entering the city with large carts, surrounded by quite a few guards.
For Black Stone County at the mont, grain was more precious than money; a cart full of grain was practically no different from a cart full of copper coins.
Just then, Guo Mingyuan also spotted Han Zheng and the others, squeezing out a smile and saying, "Brothers, you're eating? These past few days patrolling the city must have been hard work for everyone.
The family business is a bit busy; I'll co to have a drink and al with you guys in a few days."
Without thinking, Li Sancheng nodded. After dropping that line, Guo Mingyuan quickly followed the caravan and disappeared into the long street.
"Has that guy lost his mind?"
It seed like Li Sancheng just then realized it and wore a face as if he had seen a ghost.
Previously, Guo Mingyuan was insufferably arrogant, really soone everyone in the Martial Arts Hall wanted to strike, and he had a good relationship with no one.
Let alone the fact that after he was defeated by Han Zheng, he harbored a deep grudge and bit his teeth whenever he spoke of Han Zheng.
Yet now, he was amiably greeting everyone and even wanted to have a al and drink with them.
They had never even had a al together.
Even at the Martial Arts Hall, he wouldn't eat the rye bread with everyone else but would purposely go out to eat the big fish and at that his family sent.
Han Zheng suddenly stood up, his voice grave, "How many guards did the Guo Family have before? How strong were they?"
Li Sancheng scratched his head, "Before, not many, I think only seven or eight as guards, and they didn't have any real strength. They didn't even qualify as genuine martial artists.
Later, when the price of grain in the county rose, the Guo Family could finally afford to hire more than a dozen guards, but it seems only two or three of them were martial artists in the Postnatal Realm.
The Guo Family is stingy, where would they be willing to hire so many martial artists? They'd hire physically strong laborers as guards, give them a sword or blade to wield, and pay them only a silver or two a month to put on a facade."
Han Zheng took a deep breath, "It's not that Guo Mingyuan has lost his mind, it's that the Guo Family is in trouble!
Just now, those people in the Guo Family's caravan were all deliberately concealing their auras, but I could still sense the strong and abundant Qi Blood Power in them.
I conservatively estimate their strength is all above the middle stage of the Postnatal Realm!
Is it normal for the Guo Family's guards to leave the city and have their strength increase so drastically?
I'm afraid what's co back isn't really the Guo Family's people at all!"
"Sll Fragrance Sect!?"
Chen Zhao's complexion changed abruptly.
Han Zheng nodded and quickly said, "Even if it's not the Sll Fragrance Sect, there's definitely a problem!
You guys go inform the teacher imdiately and gather the Martial Arts Hall disciples to form a defensive formation against the Sll Fragrance Sect. I'll go notify Zhang Tianyang!"
After speaking, Han Zheng dashed straight for the County Governnt.
Within the County Governnt, Zhang Tianyang, seeing Han Zheng return, directly picked up his sword and stood up, his tone even, "Has the Sll Fragrance Sect infiltrated the city?"
Han Zheng was taken aback, "Sir, you already know?"
Zhang Tianyang scoffed, "I don't know, I guessed. I've felt sothing was off all day today, like I was overlooking sothing.
Missing just one step in the ga, we still failed to dig out the hidden operatives of the Sll Fragrance Sect in Black Stone County.
If I'm not mistaken, those two guys we caught were the scapegoats the Sll Fragrance Sect threw out. Of course, they themselves don't know they're scapegoats."
At critical monts, they were thrown out to blur the lines of sight. I believed them and led my n out of Black Stone County, allowing their plan to proceed unimpeded.
If I hadn't believed them, they could still have bought so ti and then adjusted their plans accordingly.
However, our attempt to flush them out proved effective. The Sll Fragrance Sect taking action now must be a change to their original plan.
Tell , who brought the Sll Fragrance Sect into the city?"
"It was the Guo Family's grain shop in the county. I found that all the guards at the Guo Family grain shop had been replaced with martial artists in the middle stage of the Postnatal realm or higher. Guo Mingyuan's reaction was also sowhat off.
Although I couldn't confirm they were from the Sll Fragrance Sect, they were highly suspect."
"The Guo Family? A grain shop owner dares to collude with the Sll Fragrance Sect?"
At this mont, Zhang Tianyang suddenly froze, then clenched his teeth and spat out three words bitterly: "Lin Wenzheng!"
Han Zheng also reacted violently.
The very person who ca to find Zhang Tianyang today, asking him to halt his patrol of the city and open the gates, was Lin Wenzheng!
He ca to tell Zhang Tianyang that the Guo Family grain shop was in crisis and needed to transport grain out of the city.
But he could have also gone to the Guo Family, telling them about a shortage of grain inside the county, prompting the Guo family to transport grain, and then switched out all their guards!
"Quick! To the city gate!"
Zhang Tianyang grabbed his saber and rushed straight for the East City Gate.
Black Stone County had four gates, typically the East City for entry and the West City for exit, with the other two usually closed. Hence, the East City Gate was the largest, allowing three large carts to enter side by side.
By the ti Zhang Tianyang and Han Zheng got to the East City Gate, they slt a pungent stench of blood before they were even close.
Across the gateway, the corpses of the city guards were strewn about haphazardly.
By now, a white flag had been hoisted atop the city gate tower, imprinted with strange golden runes. At the center were four blood-red characters: "rciful Matron!"
"rciful Matron, salvation to all sentient beings.
With divine art gifted by heaven, the True Spirit as sovereign.
We, the faithful, with sincerity sll the fragrance.
Fearless of life and death, only then transcendence.
Join our sect, the eternal hotown.
Without birth or death, nirvana ninefold bound!"
Accompanied by recurrent chanting, hundreds of disciples dressed in white robes carrying the flag of the rciful Matron and swaggeringly carrying a palanquin, entered the city from the East City Gate.
All across Black Stone County, from the other three gates, arose the sounds of chanting mixed with cries of combat.
At the southern city tower, warning beacons were alight. Not all the Black Stone County soldiers were useless, so had noticed the Sll Fragrance Sect's entry into the city.
But by now, it was too late, and warnings were futile.
More than ten individuals descended from the East City tower - they were the ones who killed the city guards and let the Sll Fragrance Sect into the city.
The one leading them was no other than the County Magistrate of Black Stone County, Lin Wenzheng!
At this mont, Lin Wenzheng's gaze was cold and sinister. Where was the drunkard and gluttonous deanor he had displayed before?
Zhang Tianyang sighed, "County Magistrate Lin, you played your part well.
Since arriving in Black Stone County, I've suspected the three gangs, the Song Family, and the Shen Family.
I've even investigated my forr teacher, Li Jingzhong; the only person I never suspected was you, the County Magistrate of Black Stone County, to be the mole!
I now have only one question: As a county magistrate who lives so comfortably, why would you collude with the Sll Fragrance Sect?
It's conceivable for martial artists to join hands with the Sll Fragrance Sect for power, but what about a civil official like you?
Could it be that upon reaching the ninefold paradise, the rciful Matron will appoint you as an official too?
Now, when the court's officials are worthless, and the emperor's power doesn't extend below the county level, a county magistrate like you can call the wind and summon the rain—living so luxuriously.
Colluding with the Sll Fragrance Sect, engaging in treachery, what are you after?"
Lin Wenzheng, upon hearing this, began to laugh madly, "You're mistaken about one thing; I'm not a mole, I approached the Sll Fragrance Sect on my own to hand over Black Stone County!
If it weren't for the Sll Fragrance Sect's main force being tied up on Huainan Road, they couldn't even spare the power to take over Black Stone County, and this county might have been in their hands a long ti ago.
The Sll Fragrance Sect can't give anything; I simply want to make Great Zhou uncomfortable, to make the court uncomfortable!"
As he spoke, a gleam of contentnt flashed across Lin Wenzheng's eyes.
"Consider , Lin Wenzheng, who studied tirelessly for over thirty years, enduring the hardships of reading by the light of hanging lamps and piercing my thighs with awls to stay awake.
Finally, I went to the Capital City to take the imperial exams and ca out with a second-rank scholar's ranking, thinking that I could rise above the common herd. And the result?
Simply because I had no money to bribe the high officials in the court, I was relegated to a small county like Black Stone County, while those less capable than were able to stay in the Capital City as Capital Officials!
With my talents, I should have been admitted to the Hanlin Academy, not to waste half my life in this small county!
The court is unjust, and my thirty years of painstaking study have been washed away.
They ruined my future, and I intend to destroy this damnable court!"
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