A person sacrifices himself to become a saint in a chaotic world of martial arts.

Inside the teahouse, an elderly man in a long gown stroked his beard, shook his head, and spoke with a wistful expression, his eyes narrowed:

"I met An Wuyu once in the prefectural government years ago. At that time, he was an inner disciple of the Diancang Sect. He was young and ambitious, and his Frost Sword Technique was quite skilled. His sword was as cold as frost and his aura was chilling."

Later, for reasons unknown, he betrayed his master and committed several serious crimes. The authorities pursued him for years without success, and wanted posters were plastered all over the city walls. Unexpectedly, he ultimately died in our Fenjiang County, at the hands of an unknown young man.

A young man nearby leaned over and asked, his eyes gleaming with curiosity:

"Old sir, do you know who this Lord Su is? Is he from a powerful family who came down to gain experience? I've never heard of him before. How come he's become so famous in just a few months? That's too fast!"

The old man pondered for a moment, then lightly tapped his fingers on the table:

"I heard he's a local, but I don't know his exact origin. It seems he came from some village."

However, the person who was able to kill An Wuyu was no ordinary person; he was a fierce dragon who would not cross the river.

Besides, he's already a high-ranking official; who knows how high he'll climb in the future? He might even be promoted to a high-ranking position.

This time, Fenjiang County has produced a truly remarkable figure; it's the first time in hundreds of years.

In the butcher shop, as he chopped meat, the butcher said to the old lady buying it, "With each swift stroke of the knife, flesh and bone are separated: 'Lord Su, at such a young age, you can already kill a master of the True Qi Realm. Your future is limitless. Our Fenjiang County has finally produced a person of renown.'"

The old woman, carrying the meat, exclaimed in amazement, her mouth agape, "Oh my, what a young hero! Lord Su doesn't look very old, does he? Is he married yet?"

"I heard he's only in his early twenties," the butcher said, chopping off another piece of meat with a good balance of fat and lean. "But what ordinary woman could be worthy of him?"

Even in the county government office, the magistrate was listening to a report from the General Garrison Command.

He sat in his armchair, teacup in hand. Upon hearing the news of An Wuyu's murder, the magistrate paused, teacup lingering at his lips, then clapped his hands and burst into laughter, the sound echoing through the hall.

"Good! Good! This magistrate has been having a headache over this fellow, and I haven't been able to sleep well at night. I didn't expect your Zhenfu Division to solve it, which has finally relieved a great worry for me. That Constable Su deserves a reward! A generous reward! This magistrate will personally recommend him for commendation!"

In the afternoon, the news spread further and further, even reaching several villages outside the city.

Some people were discussing things on the ridges of the fields, their hoes resting on the ground, shading their eyes with their hands as they gazed towards the county town; others were chatting idly under a big tree at the village entrance, a group of people gathered under the shade of the tree, listening to a man who had returned from the city talking animatedly; still others had gone to the city specifically to gather information, changed into clean clothes, and hurried towards the county town.

Fenjiang County hasn't seen such a sensation in a long time, so long that the elderly can't even remember the last time.

In the teahouse, the storyteller slammed his gavel down with a crisp "snap," then cleared his throat:

"Esteemed guests, today I must recount a new story, the tale of Su Bai, the sergeant of the Zhenfu Division of Fenjiang County, who last night single-handedly slew An Wuyu, a master of the True Qi Realm! This battle was truly earth-shattering, blood splattered three feet deep, and the blade flashed like snow!"

A cheer immediately erupted from the audience. Some people slapped the table, some whistled, and some shouted, "Give us a good one!"

As the sun sets and dusk settles, the world begins to fall.

Su Bai stood in the courtyard of the Zhenfu Division, looking at the sunset on the horizon, and took a deep breath.

The courtyard was quiet, with only the rustling of leaves in the wind and the occasional faint voices from the distant streets.

So much happened today. From the life-or-death struggle last night to the city-wide discussion today, it all feels like a dream, hazy and unreal.

He looked down at his hand holding the knife; the wound on the web of his hand had scabbed over and was slightly itchy.

......

This matter still alarmed Ning Yuechan.

She sent someone to summon Su Bai to the courtyard. He was sitting at the stone table, dressed in a blue robe, his brows furrowed with undisguised surprise. She looked up at Su Bai standing before her, her gaze slowly moving from his face to his body, then back again, scrutinizing him several times. Her expression shifted, and her brows furrowed slightly.

"You've reached the fifth realm? And you even killed An Wuyu?"

Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried a sharp, penetrating quality. This matter still greatly surprised her, so much so that she forgot all formalities and asked directly.

After all, others might have such speculations, thinking that Su Bai had been hiding his strength, but she was absolutely certain—Su Bai had definitely been at the second stage of the Body Refining Realm before. She remembered clearly that when she first met Su Bai, his foundation was completely exposed to her, like a pebble in clear water, unable to hide even a trace. That aura, that state of his physique, could not possibly be faked.

Of course, it wasn't impossible for Su Bai to truly conceal his cultivation level from her, but the possibility was almost zero. She was always confident in her judgment, especially after meeting and observing him multiple times.

In short, Ning Yuechan was 100% certain that Su Bai was definitely in the Body Refining Realm before.

However, upon seeing him now, he had actually reached the fifth realm? She could even sense the calm and solid aura emanating from Su Bai's body, which was completely different from before, as if he had become a different person.

What speed is that?

From physical strength to divine power, there are three major realms in between: tendon strengthening, bone forging, and qi and blood cultivation. For an ordinary person, completing this path takes at least ten years, and often a lifetime. But how long did it take him? A few months? This completely overturned her understanding of martial arts.

"It is all thanks to your teachings, sir, that I was able to kill An Wuyu," Su Bai said, clasping his hands in a fist salute, leaning slightly forward with a respectful and cautious demeanor. His voice was steady, but a hint of unease flashed deep in his eyes, a fleeting look of guilt.

Ning Yuechan shook her head, her hair fluttering slightly in the wind. She raised her hand and waved it gently, her fingers slender and white: "There's no need for formalities. Perhaps I misjudged you before."

As she spoke, her gaze fell on Su Bai's face, her eyes deepening as if she were re-examining the person before her. Her fingers unconsciously tapped the stone tabletop, producing a soft, rhythmic sound, one tap after another.

Now, Ning Yuechan has finally come to her senses.

Maybe?

Is Su Bai not only someone who had a miraculous encounter, but also a true genius?

I didn't practice martial arts before, perhaps for some other reason, but the tests showed that my physique was too weak to be suitable for it. There are too many people in this world whose lives have been ruined by so-called aptitude. They clearly have talent, but they are kept out by the word "unsuitable".

Later, he had a fortuitous encounter that completely made up for his weakness in one area, filling the last gap in his abilities, and now he has taken off. Like a trapped dragon entering the sea, nothing can stop him anymore.

The reason Ning Yuechan thought this way was actually quite simple.

There are people who level up as quickly as Su Bai, but there are very few in Zhangzhou. She has traveled all over the country for many years, seen countless young talents, and heard countless legends of geniuses, but those who can truly advance three realms in just a few months can be counted on one hand.

Even within the entire Great Qian Dynasty, there aren't many like them. They were all renowned figures in their respective regions, each with a story to tell.

Those who are descendants of top experts, who have been taught by famous teachers since childhood, and who have all kinds of pills, medicinal baths, and top-level cultivation techniques, with resources piled up like mountains, are able to advance as rapidly as Su Bai.

Of course, there is another way to achieve this effect, which is to cultivate some cruel demonic arts, using the essence of living people as a catalyst and taking killing as the way, but Su Bai is clearly not one of them. He does not have that kind of evil aura, his eyes are clear, and his aura is pure, so he cannot be a person of the demonic path.

Therefore, in summary...

Su Bai is a truly top-tier talent.

She looked at Su Bai, her gaze growing softer and more complex. The courtyard was quiet; the wind rustled through the sycamore trees, their broad leaves gently moving. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the two of them, flickering and shimmering with the movement of the leaves.

"Even if you had a miraculous encounter, I won't ask," Ning Yuechan said, her voice softening, carrying a hint of relief and intimacy. "But I hope we can be less formal with each other in the future?"

As she spoke, she leaned forward slightly, rested her elbows on the stone table, and looked directly at Su Bai with a hint of expectation and a smile in her eyes.

Su Bai was taken aback.

He was genuinely a little guilty this time, his heart pounding with anxiety, fearing that Ning Yuechan would press him for details. Given Ning Yuechan's knowledge and experience, he might not be able to give a satisfactory answer if she really asked.

Unexpectedly, Ning Yuechan was so straightforward. Not only did she not ask any further questions, but she also took the initiative to say that she would no longer inquire about it and even suggested that they get closer.

This surprised him and touched him somewhat.

After a moment's thought, Su Bai nodded. He looked up, meeting Ning Yuechan's gaze, his eyes becoming serious and solemn.

"Su Bai understands. Thank you for your guidance and help along the way, sir. From now on, if anything happens, Su Bai will do his utmost to assist you!"

He clasped his hands in a fist and bowed deeply, his voice low and firm, each word seeming to come from the depths of his heart. As he rose, his gaze was intense, meeting Ning Yuechan's eyes without flinching.

Hearing Su Bai's words, Ning Yuechan nodded in satisfaction, a faint smile appearing on her lips, and the fine lines at the corners of her eyes smoothed out.

These words sounded like they came from the heart, sincere and frank, unlike the previous polite but distant remarks. What she wanted was never respect, but sincerity.

"Very good." She said softly, paused, her gaze fell on Su Bai's face, and then changed the subject, "With your strength and achievements, you are more than capable. You can now consider taking over the position I mentioned before."

After she finished speaking, she looked at Su Bai quietly, waiting for his response.