The Martial Saint, starting with daily intelligence.

Upon hearing that Zhong Ming had finally achieved some success in his stance training, Instructor Zhao gave him a few more glances.

"Good fortune may be the foundation of misfortune, and misfortune may be the basis of good fortune."

"Being able to break through using the Blood Moon can be considered your good fortune."

Coach Zhao pondered.

"It is said that in ancient times, the blood moon could indeed help people cultivate. It is rumored that ancient martial arts masters all used the power of the blood moon to refine their bodies."

"On the day of the Blood Moon, our blood boils with excitement, and perhaps it really can help us cultivate."

Instructor Zhao saw that Zhong Ming was looking at him with a serious expression, as if he had taken his words to heart.

He was so frightened that he quickly said...

"Once is never enough, so don't be reckless."

"The environment in ancient times was completely different from that of now. If someone dared to train their body on the day of the Blood Moon, there was a high chance they would suffer a qi deviation and die from boiling blood."

  

Zhong Ming asked.

Where did you see that claim?

"It seems to be from a tattered ancient book, please don't take it seriously."

Seeing that Zhong Ming had this idea, Instructor Zhao continued to advise him.

"The ancient world underwent a great change, which gradually evolved into the current martial arts system. In ancient times, it might have been possible to temper the body with the help of the Blood Moon, but now it is absolutely impossible."

"Moreover, the dragon veins of the Nine Provinces still existed in ancient times, which could offset most of the effects of the Blood Moon and Ghost Moon. The cultivation environment was many times better than ours now, which is why there was a chance of cultivation."

"Now that the dragon veins have been destroyed by foreigners and martial arts are constantly suppressed, if you dare to cultivate on the day of the blood moon, it's not just possible, it's certain that you will suffer a qi deviation."

"Never take this stroke of luck for granted. Remember that, remember that."

"Students, please remember this."

Zhong Ming nodded, indicating that he understood.

Instructor Zhao gave Zhong Ming some casual pointers and then left.

Coach Zhao had already given Zhong Ming repeated advice, and whether Zhong Ming listened or not was his own business. In any case, he had fulfilled his duty.

Zhong Ming was naturally not foolish enough to try it rashly.

The reason he listened so attentively was because his current body refinement level was extremely high.

No corresponding examples can be found in any classical texts.

He wanted to see if Instructor Zhao had any unique insights. He became even more excited after hearing about the ancient body-refining techniques, hoping to glean something from them that would benefit him.

After all, almost all the records from before ancient times have been destroyed, and it seems that some great calamity occurred in between, leading to a break in the continuity of history.

There are very few historical records about ancient times. Some ancient books only mention it briefly, but these are all vague and unclear.

···

Around four o'clock in the afternoon, Zhong Ming left the martial arts school as usual.

This time, however, they didn't take a long detour but went to a place called Yanliu Street in the south of the city.

The inner city did indeed have a curfew at night, but some areas were exempt, including Yanliu Street in the south of the city, the Jiaofangsi and three surrounding streets in the west of the city, and the foreign concessions in the east and north of the city.

The curfew, which may seem to restrict only ordinary people, is actually a form of protection for them.

After all, with the influence of the Blood Moon and Ghost Moon, ordinary people are more likely to get into trouble if they go out late at night.

Yanliu Street in the south of the city was filled with brothels, casinos and other shady businesses, so ordinary people wouldn't come here.

It's very bustling, but also really chaotic.

Gangs often fight each other nearby, or martial arts masters battle here.

The chaos here is only slightly better than outside the city. Anyone who can establish themselves on this street either has their own strength or has powerful backers; otherwise, they're doomed sooner or later.

As long as the chaos didn't extend beyond Yanliu Street, the Tianjin government didn't bother with them, letting them fend for themselves.

Inside the Li family pawnshop on Yanliu Street.

When the servant recognized who it was, he led Zhong Ming to the back room.

"Manager, we have a distinguished guest."

After saying this, he returned to the front hall to sit down.

Zhong Ming sat inside for a short while before Manager Li came in.

"But what important intelligence is it?"

Li Weimin asked directly.

On the surface, it is Li's Pawnshop, but in reality, it is a branch of Tingfenglou, and the other party is one of the station managers of Tingfenglou.

A lot of intelligence from the entire southern district of Tianjin will be gathered here.

As an intelligence organization, Tingfenglou naturally couldn't be like an ordinary gang, widely publicizing its branches and headquarters as if afraid others wouldn't know.

Intelligence organizations need to maintain a certain degree of secrecy.

Zhong Ming only knows the locations of two stations at Tingfenglou. This is one of them. He knows the other one, but has never been there.

As for where the headquarters of Tingfeng Tower is located, only the various station chiefs or important figures in the city probably know.

Every stationmaster is a powerful cultivator at the Qi Refining Realm.

To become a formal member of Tingfeng Tower, one must at least reach the Bone Forging Realm in martial arts.

Zhong Ming has provided Tingfeng Tower with a considerable amount of intelligence, accumulating substantial contributions, yet he remains an external intelligence agent because his strength has not yet reached Tingfeng Tower's standards.

Logically, for such an intelligence organization, the primary consideration should be the ability to gather intelligence, rather than its strength.

The problem is, Zhong Ming wasn't one of the direct descendants that Tingfenglou had cultivated since childhood!

Zhong Ming is a self-taught monk, so it's not unreasonable for Tingfenglou to make some demands, is it?

Zhong Ming learned about this organization a few years ago through the daily intelligence system; otherwise, he would never have known that there was such a force as Tingfenglou.

At least ordinary martial artists and the general public are unaware of this organization.

Coincidentally, Zhong Ming's special ability is related to intelligence, and Tingfenglou is a local intelligence organization. Isn't this a perfect match?

Practice makes perfect, and gradually, Zhong Ming became an external intelligence agent recruited by Tingfeng Tower.

Zhong Ming handed over several intelligence reports that he had prepared in advance.

Li Weimin took the note, unfolded it, and read it.

Then he stared intently at the bell.

"Is the information above accurate?"

"Um."

Zhong Ming nodded.

"I also paid for it."

"Also, my expenses have been quite high lately, so I'd like to apply for this month's funding in advance."

"Is the intelligence truly accurate?"

Li Weimin continued to stare at Zhong Ming, his expression serious.

"Boss, look at what you're saying, would I give you false information?"

"I just want to know if the information is guaranteed to be true!"

"Stationmaster, what you're saying is really hurtful. When have I ever given you false information?"

Zhong Ming looked heartbroken.

Li Weimin then softened his tone slightly.

"I've seen all your hard work, and you've provided me with a lot of important information, so of course I trust you."

"However, you must understand that this matter involves a Refining Spirit expert, and even the Lord of the Tower must treat it with caution."

"If the intelligence is wrong, not only you, but I will also be in trouble, understand?"

Zhong Ming said with a troubled expression.

"Station Boss, I don't even know the person who sold me the information. It's all recorded in the logbook."

"That person took the money and ran away. How can I verify this for you?"

"Besides, this involves a Refining Spirit Realm expert, and I'm not even at the Bone Forging stage. I'm not even qualified to meet them. Isn't this deliberately making things difficult for me?"

Li Weimin sighed.

"Ugh."

"That's enough."

"Indeed, it's not easy to verify this matter. Perhaps only if you personally go out and investigate would there be a chance."