The Great Martial Saint!

Chapter 578 Snow Mountain Spirit Tea, Promotion and Appointment (Seeking Monthly Tickets~)

On this day, Chen Ping'an was in his room refining a divine weapon.

After these days of refinement, the gray fine net is now halfway complete.

I imagine that in a few more days, I will be able to completely refine this divine weapon.

At that time, Chen Ping'an will be able to free up more energy to begin comprehending the spiritual manual and practicing the secret technique Soul Splitting Thorn.

Just yesterday, Chen Ping'an learned from his subordinates that a special envoy from the Canglong Prefecture Garrison had arrived in Long'an. However, he knew nothing about the envoy's identity, purpose of arrival, or other details.

Within the Zhenfu Division system, the sense of local jurisdiction is quite clear. He is the top official in Beicang, but in Long'an, he seems somewhat like an outsider.

However, Chen Ping'an wasn't particularly concerned about this.

How the situation in Long'an changes has little impact on him. Compared to the situation in Long'an, he is more concerned about the status of his merits.

After exchanging for the Soaring Dragon Movement Technique, Chen Ping'an had not exchanged anything at the Canglong Prefecture Town Administration Office.

Merits like the siege of the Ten Thousand Demons at Sanqi Mountain haven't been touched yet. In addition, not long ago, Wang Lingzhi's siege of the Evil Extreme Path stronghold earned him a considerable share of the credit as the nominal second-in-command.

In addition, there was the merit promised by the State Pacification Office when he came to participate in the exchange between the two states.

All these merits, taken together, brought him very close to exchanging them for the supreme divine skill in the Zhenfu Division's treasury.

Most importantly, during this turmoil in Long'an, he killed several grandmasters.

Among them are two ordinary grandmasters of the evil and demonic paths, Black Mountain, a senior grandmaster of the extreme evil path, the top grandmaster Rotten Bone Granny, and half of the merits of the top grandmaster Blood Spirit Child.

The distribution of the Blood Spirit Child's merits was determined during Chen Ping'an's previous conversation with Du Moyuan. Consistent with the distribution of spoils of war, the two would divide the merits gained this time according to a 50/50 principle.

Compared to a regular encirclement and suppression, the merit of killing a demonic heretic master is already enormous.

Not to mention that Chen Ping'an killed several of them in a row.

These merits, taken together, far exceed the scope of exchanging for an ordinary supreme divine skill.

Even some of the more powerful and formidable divine weapons, Chen Ping'an could get his hands on.

However, Chen Ping'an decided to see what was in the Zhenfu Division's treasury before deciding whether to exchange for divine weapons or cultivation techniques.

In principle, Chen Ping'an would prioritize exchanging for a supreme divine skill. If he didn't have a top-tier divine weapon, a supreme divine skill would undoubtedly be more beneficial to him.

As the central authority of a prefecture, the State Garrison Command possesses an immense collection of treasures and secrets, perhaps even more extravagant than the three great families of Canglong.

Theoretically speaking, as long as Chen Ping'an has enough merits, he can exchange for even the top-tier divine weapons.

Of course, the amount of merit required is extremely exaggerated. Killing two or three grandmasters of evil sects would probably not even be enough.

Generally speaking, those who can exchange their merits for top-tier divine weapons in the State Garrison Command have earned their reputations through years of hard work and dedication. It's not just about hard work; it also requires maintaining a high enough position, demonstrating outstanding performance, and showcasing achievements at every stage of your tenure.

If the goal is to eliminate evil spirits and heretics, then the only option is to target the notorious evil tyrants, bandits, and ruthless criminals listed on the bounty list of Canglong Prefecture.

Especially those top-ranked individuals with high bounties; if you could kill most of them, that should be enough to exchange for a top-tier divine weapon.

However, none of the ruthless bandits and villains on the Canglong Prefecture's bounty list are easy to mess with; even the lowest-ranked one possesses the cultivation of a top-tier Xuan Guang Realm expert.

For ordinary people, they are objects that are unattainable.

These ruthless bandits and villains are not necessarily all from Canglong Prefecture. Some of them have migrated from other prefectures, while others are descendants of evil villains who moved to Canglong Prefecture in earlier years, or disciples of their masters.

Many of these ruthless bandits active in Canglong Prefecture are hiding in the Leiming Mountains area.

The Thunder Mountain Range has a unique geographical advantage, bordering the Xuanling Prefecture and considered a notoriously chaotic area within the Canglong Prefecture. Especially in the areas surrounding Thunder Mountain, it is a melting pot of all sorts of people, with unorthodox and heretical experts appearing from time to time.

Theoretically speaking, if Chen Ping'an wanted to accumulate merits by killing ruthless bandits and villains, going to the Thunder Mountain Range would be the most suitable choice.

However, theory is just theory. Chen Ping'an is stationed in Bei Cang and won't go out unnecessarily unless there's a specific reason. Even a short trip to Thunder Mountain is already a good option; he certainly doesn't have time to stay there and kill villains!
With his mind made up, Chen Ping'an decided to temporarily put the matter of refining the divine weapon on hold. His gaze narrowed slightly, and he began to cultivate the Seven Absolute Divine Skill.

hum~
A spiritual light trembled, and the Seven Absolute Lights flowed, with countless clear veins circulating around Chen Ping'an's body.

+1!

Just as Chen Ping'an was practicing the Seven Absolute Divine Skill, the summons from the Long'an Town Pacification Division arrived at Jinlan Garden.

"Summoned by the Long'an Garrison Command?"

Having received the summons from his subordinates, Chen Ping'an stopped cultivating, got up, and left the room.

"Why summon them now, not earlier or later, but just now when the special envoy is arriving? I'm afraid the person summoned today isn't from Long'an."

Chen Ping'an's eyes flickered slightly as he pondered.

As Chen Ping'an had predicted, the person who summoned him was not from the Long'an Garrison Command, but a special envoy from the Canglong Prefecture Garrison Command.

Eight Desolate Fist, Yao Guang.

In the official residence of the high-ranking officials of the Long'an Garrison Command, Chen Ping'an met the deputy commander who ranked among the top in the Canglong Prefecture Garrison Command.

Yao Guang had a rugged face, high cheekbones, and an imposing aura that commanded respect without anger. He wore a black robe with gold cloud patterns. When he saw Chen Ping'an enter, he smiled and gestured for Chen Ping'an to sit down.

"Peace has arrived."

"Lord Yao." Chen Ping'an bowed respectfully with a solemn expression.

Chen Ping'an had met Yao Guang when he was in the Canglong Prefecture Garrison. Although they were not close, they were not strangers either.

When meeting Chen Ping'an this time, Yao Guang was easygoing and had a smile on his face, appearing to be very approachable.

"Ping An, you have no idea, when I first heard about you, it really shocked me."

Yao Guang then recounted how Chen Ping'an had killed a top-tier grandmaster with his sword.

"It's only been a short time since we last met, and you've already given me a huge surprise! You've only been a Grandmaster for a few months, yet you've achieved this much. Looking across the surrounding states, in my memory, you're the one who stands out."

Yao Guang smiled and gave a thumbs-up, his words brimming with praise. His amiable demeanor and friendly speech quickly bridged the gap between the two.

"Lord Yao is too kind. That old hag was exhausted after the fierce battle. Ping An only managed to get by by chance," Chen Ping An said modestly.

He naturally couldn't readily admit to slaying a top-tier grandmaster. The killing was a fact, but he claimed it was all due to trickery! All luck!
At best, his combat strength is comparable to that of a top-tier grandmaster. His kills rely on Zhou Zhaowu's attrition, the Earth-Splitting Rock Bear's restraint, and then, through the use of secret medicine, he unleashes a burst of attacks using the Overlord Blade Secret Technique.

This laid the foundation for the feat of slaying a top-tier grandmaster!
“Ping An, there’s no need for such modesty. When Zhang Zhang heard about your slaying of a top-tier grandmaster, he was full of praise and said that your trip to Long’an has earned you much recognition. It is a great honor for Ping An, the commander of Canglong Prefecture, to have such a prodigy. It is also an honor for you, Commander, to attend the Bi Cang exchange.” Yao Guang said with a smile.

"Bi Cang Exchange?"

Chen Ping'an's heart stirred.

Without much thought, Chen Ping'an lowered his head slightly, his face filled with gratitude: "The Grand Master's boundless grace is like a spring breeze and gentle rain, nourishing my heart. Chief Zhang's kindness is like a guiding light, illuminating the path ahead. Lord Yao's care is so profound that I am moved to tears. I will forever remember the kindness of all of you. In the future, I will certainly strive to cultivate diligently and advance bravely, to bring glory to the Canglong Prefecture's Zhenfu Division!"

"Good! Good! Good!" Yao Guang said "good" three times in a row, very satisfied with Chen Ping'an's attitude. "I will certainly report this matter to the Headmaster and the Chief Administrator!"

The "Master" Yao Guang referred to was none other than the Chief of the Canglong Prefecture Garrison, the true head of the Garrison. Chief Zhang, on the other hand, was the powerful Deputy Chief of the Canglong Prefecture Garrison, the Xuanhuang Absolute Sword, Zhang Tianyuan.

With the current head absent, Zhang Tianyuan took charge of all affairs of the Canglong Prefecture Garrison, making him a true top-level figure within the prefecture.

His position in the Canglong Prefecture Zhenfu Division was second only to the head of the division, and he was on par with the chief grand master of the offering hall.

The two exchanged a few pleasantries, creating a harmonious atmosphere. Yao Guang also intended to befriend Chen Ping'an. Although he wouldn't completely set aside his status and treat him as an equal, his words flowed like those of a young friend, gentle and warm.

"Ping An, come and try this Snow Spirit Tea." Yao Guang smiled warmly and spoke gently, gesturing for Chen Ping An to taste the tea.

Chen Ping'an leaned forward slightly to express his gratitude.

He picked up the teacup, his gaze falling on the tea leaves. The tea leaves looked as if they were carved from ice and snow, translucent and exquisite. Each leaf seemed to contain the unique coolness and elegance of the Great Snow Mountain, stretching out in the clear orange tea water, like fairies dancing gracefully in the clouds.

Before even tasting it, a delicate fragrance wafts through the air. The fragrance isn't strong, but it carries a subtle, icy chill. The boiling tea is infused with this coolness, creating a truly unique experience.

"Great Snow Mountain, Snow Spirit Tea!" Chen Ping'an focused slightly, half-covered the cup lid, and took a small sip.

The crisp, refreshing sensation, like frost and snow, blossomed on Chen Ping'an's tongue, flowing down his throat like a cold spring, penetrating straight to his heart and soul. It was as if the pure spiritual energy deep within the Great Snow Mountain had not been tainted by the world, making him feel completely comfortable, as if he were drinking celestial dew.

Even after Chen Ping'an put down his teacup, a faint sweetness lingered in his throat, carrying a hint of coolness yet also a touch of warmth, leaving a lingering aftertaste.

"Excellent tea!" Chen Ping'an couldn't help but exclaim, "Lord Yao, this tea is truly extraordinary. Drinking this tea is like drinking celestial nectar!"

Chen Ping'an's words were true; at least half of them came from the heart and were sincere.

Snow Spirit Tea, also known as Snow Mountain Spirit Tea, is produced in the Great Snow Mountain of the Snow God Palace in the Northern Territory.

Chen Ping'an had also heard of the reputation of Xue Ling Tea.

It is extremely valuable and should not be consumed by anyone but the wealthy. I never expected that he would get to taste it today.

"This Snow Spirit Tea is produced in the Great Snow Mountain of Snow God Palace. The annual output is extremely limited, and most of it is supplied to Snow God Palace for its own use."

The amount available on the market is even more limited, pitifully small. If it weren't for my friend working at the Beihai Merchant Alliance, I might not have been able to buy even this much Snow Spirit Tea," Yao Guang sighed.

Yao Guang appeared to sigh, but in reality, he was highlighting the value of Xue Ling Tea. The preciousness of an item is one thing, but making the connoisseur understand its value is equally important.

Just like top-notch and luxurious dishes, they often require expert explanation to enhance the appreciation of the food.

Having been in the business for many years, Yao Guang naturally understood this principle well.

The high value of Xue Ling tea is one aspect, but its rarity is another. Being able to purchase Xue Ling tea from its limited production is also a reflection of one's status, position, and connections.

"Thanks to Lord Yao's great fortune, I am fortunate to have tasted this in peace. It is truly a blessing beyond measure."

Chen Ping'an offered a timely compliment. This Snow Spirit Tea is exceptionally precious, and when sold, it is usually priced according to the number of leaves. He considered it a blessing that he was able to taste it, and without affecting himself, he naturally gave Yao Guang ample face.

After saying that, Chen Ping'an took another sip of Snow Spirit Tea. There were only a few Snow Spirit Tea leaves in his teacup, but the effect of this one sip was extremely remarkable.

Just those two sips were as effective as drinking a jar of autumn dew yesterday.

If one were to drink the entire cup of Snow Spirit Tea in front of them, it would likely have an even greater effect than the many spirit wines they drank yesterday.

Truly remarkable!
Chen Ping'an's face lit up with joy at the opportune moment, and he took another sip in front of Yao Guang.

Chen Ping'an's attitude and reaction greatly pleased Yao Guang, making his offer of Snow Spirit Tea worthwhile.

When you offer someone something nice to treat them to, you should also make sure they appreciate it.

“Ping An, there’s no need for such formalities. My tasting of Snow Spirit Tea today is merely a matter of chance. With your talent, it shouldn’t be difficult for you to drink this Snow Spirit Tea. At most, it will be within the next few years. Besides, the Gu family is very wealthy. If you, as their son-in-law, want to drink it, would they refuse you? Even if they didn’t have it, they would go to great lengths to buy it for you!”

Yao Guang smiled, his expression amiable, and made a joke.

Chen Ping'an understood immediately and said nothing more.

Indeed, sometimes, when someone gives you a gift, a suitable reaction and expression can often shorten the distance between you and the other person.

The words of the ancient texts are indeed true!
Yao Guang's joking gesture also illustrates, from another perspective, the growing closer relationship between him and Chen Ping'an.

This is partly due to Chen Ping'an's future potential—one must be strong to succeed—and partly due to his appropriate manners and humble demeanor, making him someone worth befriending.

The harmonious scene we see today is a result of the interplay of these two factors.

After all, when you're in a different place, if a younger person acts arrogantly and haughtily in front of you, even if they might one day be your equal or even surpass you, you will only deliberately distance yourself and remain indifferent. You might even secretly sabotage them to teach them the importance of respecting their elders.

While prodigies are desirable, those who haven't fully matured may not hold much sway in the presence of truly seasoned veterans.

When they see a promising prodigy, the older generation of experts value nothing more than his character and temperament. If they can befriend him, they will do so as soon as possible; if their personalities clash, they will keep their distance. If their personalities clash, they will deal with the matter at hand; if the opportunity arises, they might not hesitate to secretly plot against him.

Chen Ping'an was well aware of the underlying principles, and naturally possessed a magnanimous and open-minded advantage.

Without compromising one's own interests, one can have many friends and few enemies.

Only in this way can everything go smoothly and martial arts flourish forever!
He suffered no losses in any of these matters. All he had to do was exchange a few words. Chen Ping'an was naturally happy to do something with such low investment and high returns.

The two had a very pleasant conversation, and Yao Guang even mentioned some interesting things that happened when he was buying Xue Ling tea.

The Snow Spirit Tea arrived through a special channel of the North Sea Merchant Alliance, a distance unknown from Canglong Prefecture. Its journey was fraught with difficulties, and it nearly fell victim to someone else's scheme to buy it up.

He almost had to give away half of his already meager supply of Snow Spirit Tea.

When this matter was mentioned, Chen Ping'an smiled knowingly.

Good things are something everyone wants. If there's a channel, people will naturally try every means to get in touch.

Yao Guang also mentioned his good friend who works in the Beihai Business Alliance.

Chen Ping'an had read many books and gained some understanding of the Beihai Business Alliance. The Beihai Business Alliance was a force composed of numerous business associations and pavilions, including many well-known ones.

Most of them are local chambers of commerce in Beihai, with the occasional well-known chamber of commerce from the northern region.

Like the Prince of Bicang's Mansion, the Beihai Merchant Alliance is also a well-known behemoth in the Northern Territory.

"I really envy my friend. Not only does he have the North Sea Merchant Alliance to rely on, but he has also become a Daoist couple with a beauty from the Snow God Palace. He is truly living a carefree and unrestrained life."

A hint of envy appeared between Yao Guang's brows.

Snow God Palace is a renowned sect with an extremely prestigious position in the Northern Territory. His friend, who managed to become a Daoist couple with a beautiful fairy from Snow God Palace, is truly a winner in life.

"Lord Yao's might is unparalleled, his name resounds throughout the land, and his fame is known in several states, which is truly enviable."

Chen Pingan smiled and offered a compliment.

The fact that Yao Guangneng mentioned this to him indicates that their conversation had become quite in-depth, going beyond ordinary pleasantries. This also signifies a progress in their relationship, meaning that they had reached a point of familiarity.

Chen Ping'an smiled as he looked at Yao Guang of the Eight Desolations Fist, who was sighing with emotion, and he gained some insights.

To outsiders, Yao Guang, the master of the Eight Desolations Fist, was a renowned figure, a force to be reckoned with in the Azure Dragon Realm. But even at his level, he had his own frustrations, his own objects of envy, and his own objects of longing.

The difference in levels leads to these differences.

What Yao Guang could see, those who envied him might not be able to see. Yao Guang's world was much broader than theirs, but equally, what he saw would make him envious even more!

Just like his good friend!
The people who hold positions in the Beihai Business Alliance are not people that ordinary people can come into contact with in reality.

Not to mention, his Daoist partner was in the Snow God Palace in the Northern Territory.

For the vast majority of cultivators in Canglong, the Northern Snow God Palace was completely outside the scope of their normal lives; it was a legendary existence, something that could only be seen in biographies and historical records.

The only time I ever came into contact with the Snow God Palace was when the Hidden Dragon Ranking was updated and the backgrounds of the prodigies on the list were introduced.

But for Yao Guang, this behemoth was one he had the opportunity to truly come into contact with.

And it is precisely because of this contact that we can better understand the differences.

Only when you see the gap can you feel such genuine envy.

Unlike the imagined envy in the book, envy in the real world is enough to make people feel despair!

The gap in this world is far greater than we imagine!

The more you see, the more you understand. The more you understand, the more you comprehend the true nature of the world.
despair!

According to Yao Guang, his friend and Daoist partner held the position of steward in Frostbite of the Snow God Palace.

The frost and cold of the Snow God Palace are equivalent to the concept of the outer gate, belonging to the outer perimeter of the Snow God Palace.

Even so, his inner disciples held an extraordinary status.

Snow God Palace only recruits geniuses; those who can enter Snow God Palace are all brilliant geniuses who have achieved success at a young age!
Looking across the northern border, across the vast continent, there are many prodigies who consider it an honor to enter the Snow God Palace, making it their life's ambition.

"Frost, Jade Snow, Mysterious Ice."

Chen Ping'an's thoughts shifted, and he thought of the Snow God Palace prodigies on the Hidden Dragon Ranking.

Snow Goddess Palace, Mystic Ice Saintess, Mystic Moon Li.

Legend has it that the Holy Maiden of the Mysterious Ice, Xuan Yue Li, possessed extraordinary innate characteristics and a unique physique, making her combat power far surpass that of others of the same level. When she reached the Grandmaster realm, she possessed the power of a supreme Grandmaster.

Now, she has reached the pinnacle of this realm and is ranked among the Grandmasters of the Great Qian Dynasty!
It is said that in three years at most, she will be able to break through this barrier, achieve oneness with heaven and man, and reach the realm of martial arts mastery!
At that time, the Snow God Palace will have another celestial female ruler!
“The world is full of extraordinary talents. Although I have a panel to rely on, after six years of cultivation, I still cannot suppress my peers and shine brightly in this era!”

Chen Ping'an thought to himself, and sighed.

Leaving aside the world, among the world-renowned geniuses of the Northern Territory, there are two who have earned his attention.

One is Xuan Yue Li, the Holy Maiden of Xuanbing, and the other is Li Cangming of the Beihai Merchant Alliance.

Compared to the latter, the former is stronger in combat. For Chen Ping'an, it's not just a matter of valuing it, but also of being wary of it.

Xuan Yue Li possesses exceptional combat prowess and astonishing talent. She excels in cross-border battles with ease, and even when facing fellow grandmasters, she often displays overwhelming power.

For Chen Ping'an, what made him wary was not only Xuan Yue Li's combat strength, but also the protective treasure she possessed.

With a history spanning nearly ten thousand years, the Snow God Palace is undoubtedly a first-rate power in the world when it comes to its foundation.

Ultimately, it still lacks foundational knowledge and experience.

Chen Ping'an took a sip of Snow Spirit Tea and sighed inwardly.

However, the slight melancholy quickly disappeared, replaced by an extremely resilient martial arts spirit.

"Six years of cultivation is enough to make me stand shoulder to shoulder with such a prodigy. One day I will surely suppress this world and become invincible!"

Chen Ping'an was filled with lofty ambitions and made a firm resolution.

"The path to invincibility begins with suppressing my contemporaries. In three more years, I will surely become invincible among my peers, shine brightly in this world, and earn the title of the greatest genius of the Great Qian Dynasty!"

Amidst the shifting emotions in his mind, Chen Ping'an downed the remaining Snow Spirit Tea in his cup in one gulp. He didn't waste the Snow Spirit Tea leaves either, chewing them up and swallowing them down his throat.

Seeing that Chen Ping'an had finished drinking tea, Yao Guang did not share any more of his experiences.

His expression turned serious, and a scroll of appointment appeared in his hand with a flash of light.

"Chen Ping'an, guard Beicang Garrison, obey orders!"

Chen Ping'an was taken aback, then slowly stood up and clasped his hands in a fist salute.

"The humble position is here."

"Chen Ping'an, the valiant general guarding Beicang, remained calm in the face of danger, as majestic as a mountain. During the turmoil in Long'an, he slew a top grandmaster and turned the tide. His merits and virtues are commendable."

Following review by the Canglong Prefecture Garrison Command and a resolution by the Northern Border Garrison Command, Chen Ping'an, the "Mangdao" (a type of halberd), is hereby promoted to Chief Inspector of the Leiming Garrison Command, entering the Canglong Prefecture Garrison Command's supervisory system, and granted the title of Senior Commander Candidate, and is placed under preliminary evaluation for the Deputy Commander level. His benefits are also elevated by half a rank to recognize his merits and encourage his ambition.

He has been transferred to Leiming to ensure peace and stability in the region! This promotion is a special commendation!

After Yao Guang solemnly read the order, a smile appeared on his face: "Lord Chen, receive the command!"

(End of this chapter)