The Great Martial Saint!

Chapter 590 A Thousand Years of Dreams, A Hundred Faces of Life (Part 2)
"Yan'er."

Chen Ping'an's body twitched, and he opened his eyes.

"This is what I am"

The surroundings were dark, with little light visible.

"Husband, are you having another nightmare?" A clear and ethereal voice rang out from the darkness.

At the same time, a warm and delicate body pressed against her.

Chen Ping'an was somewhat dazed, a hint of confusion flashing in his eyes.

He only slowly came back to his senses when the beautiful woman's hand touched his forehead.

"It's a dream."

"My lord, are you alright?" The beauty's voice seemed to contain concern.

"Qu Mei, I'm fine." Chen Ping'an grasped that slender, delicate hand and squeezed her fingers.

At this moment, he finally came to his senses.

His name is Chen Ping'an. He runs a bookstore, and next to him is his childhood sweetheart, Qu Feiyan.

The two fell in love and eventually got married.

"Go to sleep, I'm fine." Chen Ping'an patted his wife's back and closed his eyes.

Although Chen Ping'an runs a bookstore, he has a dream: to become a swordsman wandering the world.

He had a sword, which, although not a particularly valuable item, was still made of fine iron and could be considered a sharp weapon.

Qu Feiyan loved reading and was exceptionally talented, surpassing many men in ability. She was a renowned woman of talent in the surrounding area.

Chen Ping'an started his bookstore business because of Qu Feiyan.

Qu Feiyan's family possesses a rare and priceless copy of a unique book. This copy is divided into two volumes, originally part of a set. However, the Qu family ancestors only received one copy, and never the other.

The bookstore's business was so-so, neither booming nor slow, but still manageable. The students from the surrounding schools were fairly patronizing of Chen Ping'an's business.

It's unclear whether these students are genuinely there to support his business or to visit his beautiful wife at home.

Every day at noon, after delivering his lunch, Qu Feiyan would stay in his shop for a while. Holding a yellowed book, she would lower her eyes and concentrate on studying the meaning of the sentences.

Sunlight filtered through the branches and leaves in front of the door, falling on her and creating a dappled, tranquil scene.

At times like these, Chen Ping'an would sit quietly to the side, watching his wife.

"Life is so good!"

Apart from the strange dreams I have from time to time, I have almost no other worries.

Yes, almost.

If you're not too strapped for cash, you can omit this part entirely.

Days passed by, each one ordinary yet fulfilling.

Until this day, when Chen Ping'an was purchasing goods, he heard about another rare book.

"It's the only copy of the side that Qu Mei is missing!" Chen Ping'an's eyes widened as he listened intently.

Following the clues and asking questions, he finally discovered that the rare book was genuine, but the price was beyond his means.

In a few days it would be their wedding anniversary, and Chen Ping'an was determined to buy this rare book.

Perhaps he should prepare a truly precious gift.

If the gift were this rare copy, he could imagine how excited his wife would be to receive it.

Chen Ping'an pondered all night, then took his sword and went to the Treasure Pavilion in the city.

His sword was very heavy, and every time Chen Ping'an carried it, he felt like a swordsman.

"How much is this sword worth!?"

"Let me see this sword."

The sword flashed as it was drawn, its chilling aura palpable.

"A fine sword, three hundred taels!"

Three hundred taels of silver is a huge sum of money!
Chen Ping'an happily found the previous channel and bought the rare copy.

He went home with the remaining three taels of silver in his pocket.

Chen Ping'an waited patiently for two days, eagerly anticipating their wedding anniversary.

Until this day, he excitedly took out that rare book.

"Qu Mei, what do you think this is?"

His wife looked at the rare book in his hand, but instead of the expected elation, she stood there, somewhat dazed.

"Qu Mei, what's wrong?" Chen Ping'an asked, puzzled.

"You sold the sword?" Qu Feiyan asked with some difficulty.

"Hmm." Chen Ping'an nodded. "I happened to have the opportunity and saw this rare copy. I was thinking of buying it, perhaps you could..."

Chen Ping'an suddenly stopped talking. In his wife's hand, he saw a cultivation manual. The manual's cover was intact, and the cover looked vaguely familiar.

This is the sword technique he studied day and night in front of a treasure pavilion.

Swordsmanship, Green Plum!
Life is like a dream; as the years pass, we grow old together, relying on each other.

Chen Ping'an felt as if he had experienced one life after another, in which he played various roles.

There is always a young girl by his side, sometimes incredibly charming, sometimes a bit adorably naive.

But no matter what she looks like, there's always an ethereal quality in her eyes and brows.

Sometimes Chen Ping'an was a night watchman, and he always had to sneak out in the dark in the middle of the night. The door to the house was a bit old and creaked every time he went out, which would wake his sleeping wife.

He would always smear some lard on the door hinges.

He eats early but not much, so he doesn't feel hungry in the middle of the night and can always find a piece of sweet cake in his pocket.

Sometimes, when he was a hunter, his wife would sew clothes for him, as the mountain winds were strong and wearing more clothes would keep him warm.

Years of washing and washing have made my wife's once delicate, scallion-like hands rough.

He always held her hand without saying a word.

I don't know if it's a dream within a dream, or if dreams are inherently like this.

He was going out to work on a ship, and she waited for him at home. She used the bracelet she had given him when they became engaged to ask a master for a good luck charm.

“The monks at the temple said that this talisman can ward off disasters and protect you. My husband, I am not by your side, but with this talisman protecting you, I am at ease. You must return safely.”

With red eyes, she placed the talisman into his palm.

He ran all the way, and during a break while boarding the ship, he went to a pawnshop and told them that he had kept the bracelet for him and that he would redeem it when he returned.

Sometimes she suffered from heart disease, and he tried his best, but could not find a cure.

Sometimes he would say he would come back, but in the end, he would never hear from her again.

The promise to stay together forever turned out to be nothing but a dream.

In a corner of the shop, Chen Ping'an saw a cultivation manual.

Iron Shirt.

Chen Ping'an, nicknamed "Iron Shirt," was somewhat bewildered.

Very familiar name.

He bought the manual and returned home.

Looking at his wife's smiling face, he felt completely at ease.

"Husband, you must be tired. Sit down and rest."

His wife is gentle and charming; even though she has been married for many years, her eyes and brows still exude the charm of a young girl.

That ethereal charm, no matter how time passes, cannot be taken away.

Chen Pingan responded with a smile.

Looking at the book in my hands, the sense of familiarity grew stronger and stronger.

He opened the book and carefully read through the records inside.

A sense of familiarity arises spontaneously.

I feel like I already know this technique quite well.

He carefully reviewed the exercise manual again.

The more he looked, the more familiar it seemed.

I feel like I've forgotten something.

But what have we forgotten?

Just then, his wife came out of the kitchen to call him over for dinner.

Chen Ping'an suddenly became somewhat stunned.

He rushed to his wife and put his arm around her shoulder.

His wife was startled.

Looking at his wife's charming face, and the ethereal quality in her eyes, Chen Ping'an felt a strange sense of familiarity well up inside him.

Chen Ping'an's eyes flickered, and he suddenly realized something.

He suddenly opened the Iron Shirt shirt; the words inside were the same as in his memory, but there was an indescribable sense of strangeness about them.

"Feiyan, take a look at the words in here."

Chen Ping'an opened the book and handed it to his wife.

Qu Feiyan took the book, a hint of confusion in her eyes. After looking at a few pages, she pointed to the contents and said uncertainly, "Husband, is the order of these pages wrong?"

"wrong?"

Chen Ping'an's eyes lit up. He moved closer to Qu Feiyan, inhaling her fragrance, and peered inside.

He looked again and suddenly realized that the text was correct, but the order seemed to be wrong, as if it had been confused by something.

He wanted to make a change, but he just couldn't concentrate.

"Feiyan, come in with me."

He pulled his wife along and walked into the room.

Although Qu Feiyan didn't understand her husband's meaning, she still followed him inside.

Chen Ping'an opened the book and began to adjust it word by word.

Qu Feiyan was unfamiliar with the techniques, but she knew the sequence.

Whenever his mind became confused and his consciousness wavered, Qu Feiyan would correct him. The two of them made mistakes, but by complementing each other, they formed a complete Iron Shirt Kung Fu manual.

"Iron Shirt!"

"This is the true Iron Shirt!"

Chen Ping'an excitedly hugged Qu Feiyan until her face was flushed.

Although they have been married for several years, such a passionate encounter during the day is still somewhat embarrassing.

Life is a series of layers, one after another, always forgetting what came before and living only in the present, as if there is no end.

Just like the cycle of reincarnation.

A dream spanning a thousand years, a thousand years like a dream!
Like trying to see flowers through the fog or scoop the moon's reflection in water, it's unclear and unrecognizable. Until...
Chen Pingan opened his eyes and saw his wife in front of him.

What came into view was an ethereal and exquisitely beautiful face, with a shimmering pale purple mark between her brows, as dreamlike as a galaxy, making her seem otherworldly.

The moment Chen Ping'an opened his eyes, the beauty in front of him also slowly woke up, opening her star-like eyes.

The two were so close, exhaling softly, their eyes meeting, as if from another world.

"My husband." Qu Feiyan's clear eyes were red, unable to contain her emotions.

Before her, on a completely unfamiliar face, she felt an unparalleled sense of familiarity; it was the aura of her husband, giving her an incomparable sense of security.

Countless images flashed through Chen Ping'an's mind, countless memories overlapped, and together they outlined an absolutely beautiful face.

At this moment, Chen Ping'an felt a surge of affection, his tenderness blooming like wildflowers covering the mountains and fields.

"Yan'er," Chen Ping'an called softly.

Qu Feiyan's eyes sparkled, unable to contain her emotions.

Chen Ping'an felt a delicate fragrance waft over him and was immediately enveloped in endless tenderness.

The warm fragrance emanating from her breath, like osmanthus and orchid, intoxicates one, making it difficult to extricate oneself from the gentle embrace of a beautiful woman.

The beautiful woman has cascading black hair, smooth and radiant skin, and a delicate body as soft as jade.

Chen Ping'an closed his eyes, enjoying the tenderness on his tongue, just like always.

After an unknown amount of time, Chen Ping'an sniffed the beauty's neck, the delicate fragrance lingering around his nose.

The beautiful woman wore a long black dress, seemingly possessing an innate sense of mystery and nobility.

Chen Ping'an explored gently, but as he explored, he discovered something was amiss.

Only then did he realize that the two of them had actually been lying on the ground from the very beginning.

They are
where?

Chen Ping'an was startled and only then did he notice his surroundings.

A dreamlike mist permeated the surroundings, emanating a faint glow that illuminated the entire space, making it mysterious and magnificent. The ground was paved with an unknown type of black jade, smooth as a mirror.

Through the mirror-like ground, Chen Ping'an saw his own reflection.

"This isn't me!" Scenes, surpassing previous memories, began to surface in Chen Ping'an's mind.

At that moment, Qu Feiyan's delicate body stiffened, and she suddenly woke up.

She pushed away the man who was pressing down on her, and in a flash, she appeared on the other side.

"Old monster!"

Qu Feiyan's cheeks flushed red, a mixture of embarrassment and anger.

She wanted to scold the other person, but suddenly realized that just now...
She was the one who took the initiative.

Qu Feiyan's cheeks were flushed with a captivating blush, and her crystal earrings were bright red. She wished she could disappear into a crack in the ground.

But now is clearly not the time to think about this issue.

As she gradually regained consciousness, she realized what the problem was.

"What despicable tricks did you use?!"

Qu Feiyan's face was cold, her eyes indifferent, and her dreamlike expression was tinged with icy coldness.

"The Holy Maiden of the Heavenly Net!"

Chen Ping'an's eyes were sharp, like two razor-sharp blades, staring directly at the Heavenly Luo Saintess not far in front of him.

In his view, although the Holy Maiden of Tianluo's expression was extremely cold, a trace of shame and anger could still be faintly seen.

"The one who should be asking that question is me!"

boom!
A powerful aura erupted, confronting each other in mid-air and creating ripples.

Just moments ago, the two were inseparable, seemingly wanting to melt into each other's embrace. Now, they were locked in a fierce confrontation, showing signs that a single disagreement could escalate into a swift and decisive confrontation.

Although the atmosphere was tense, it was far less ruthless and merciless than before.

Whether it's Chen Ping'an or the Holy Maiden of Tianluo, whether they want to admit it or not, at this moment, a trace of tenderness and affection still lingers in their hearts.

Otherwise, given their personalities, they would have already been locked in a life-or-death struggle, and there would have been no way they would be in a standoff.

hum~
The Holy Maiden of Heavenly Net was surrounded by a purple glow, and moonlight condensed in her jade-like palms.

She looked at the old monster in front of her with a cold expression, but her heart was filled with complex emotions, and she still felt the warmth of his presence.

Chen Ping'an's sleeves fluttered, his hair was like that of a raging lion, and his brows shone with a spiritual light that guided the flow of true energy throughout his body.

Countless images flashed through his mind: on one hand, the Heavenly Luo Saintess whom he wished he could kill, and on the other hand, Yan'er and Qu Mei, with whom he had spent countless days and nights in love and shared life and death.

especially.
A warm feeling welled up in Chen Ping'an's heart. Under the setting sun, the two embraced, with their two children, who were growing up, laughing in the yard.

Now that I've woken up, I know it was an illusion, but why?
Chen Ping'an was surrounded by a shimmering azure light, and for a moment he was somewhat hesitant.

Neither of them moved, and they remained locked in a battle of wills, facing off against each other.

The Holy Maiden of Tianluo is quite powerful. Although Chen Ping'an has a slight advantage, it is clear that a ruthless clash of wills alone is not enough to suppress her.

"No matter what, let's take it first!"

Chen Ping'an hardened his heart and decided to suppress the Heavenly Luo Saintess first.

Just as he made his decision and was about to unleash his power, a dazzling light suddenly shone in the hall, its dreamlike ripples spreading outwards.

Chen Ping'an and Tianluo Saintess both changed color. Through spiritual connection, they saw at the same time a dreamlike, colorful pearl floating above the hall.

"When?"

Chen Ping'an felt a chill run down his spine.

He hadn't noticed the precious pearl from beginning to end. If it weren't for the sudden burst of brilliant light, he might still be completely unaware of it.

"What kind of treasure is this!?"

With Chen Ping'an's spiritual foundation, even a top-tier divine weapon could not possibly be right under his nose without him noticing.

Divine objects conceal themselves, allowing one to remain completely unaware of their presence; this precious pearl is definitely not ordinary!
"Get it!"

boom!
As the colorful pearl slowly descended, Chen Ping'an's aura surged, sweeping up a blood mist that instantly condensed into an enormous hand, reaching out to grab the pearl.

Faced with this mysterious and unpredictable pearl, Chen Ping'an was extremely eager, but he dared not be careless in the slightest and chose to test it with the blood mist first.

Just as his blood mist hand was about to touch the pearl, it was stopped by a stream of light as bright as moonlight.

She is the Holy Maiden of Heavenly Net!
"The Dream Pearl!" The Holy Maiden of Heavenly Net's eyes lit up with joy, and with a flash of purple light, she headed towards the colorful pearl.

The Purple-Eyed Demon Lord once roamed the world and possessed countless treasures, but no matter what kind of treasure it was, none of them were as valuable as the Dream Pearl before him!

Only then did she understand the reason behind everything that had happened before!

The Dream Pearl possesses unfathomable power, yet its reputation remains obscure. Had she not consulted ancient texts and learned of the Dream Pearl from a few brief words, she might still be completely unaware of its existence.

Everyone knows that the Purple-Eyed Demon Lord is famous for his Purple Extreme Secret Manual and Thousand Illusion Treasure Technique, but few people know that the Purple-Eyed Demon Lord's true treasure is the Illusion Dream Pearl in front of him!
Its power far surpasses that of the Jade Purification Bottle and similar items.

Whoosh!
With a flash of purple light, the Heavenly Maiden's figure moved nimbly, like a startled swan, and she was already close to the colorful pearl in the blink of an eye.

Just as she was about to pick it, she felt her body sink and a burning hot hand appeared at her ankle.

A tremendous force came, and she was pulled down with great force.

"Old monster!"

The Holy Maiden of Heavenly Net had a frosty expression, and the pale purple mark between her brows was fully revealed.

Chen Pingan grabbed Tianluo Saintess's ankle and dragged her down. Using the force, he suddenly burst forward and reached towards the colorful pearl.

The two figures intersected in mid-air, and Chen Ping'an saw a pair of eyes that were frosty and radiant like a dream.

Time seems to freeze at this moment.

Spiritual mysticism!
"Seven Deadly Mind-Bending Techniques!"

Chen Ping'an's eyes lit up with a dark light, and the two locked eyes for a brief moment.

The Heavenly Net Saintess possessed remarkable spiritual techniques, but Chen Ping'an's foundation was solid and incomparably powerful, allowing him to quickly break through the layers of illusions. On the contrary, the Heavenly Net Saintess's eyes became somewhat dazed, and her face showed a bewildered expression, as if she were immersed in some kind of illusion.

Whoosh!
Chen Ping'an flashed forward, taking the lead and grabbing the colorful pearl that was slowly falling in mid-air.

The Wave Pearl is not large in size, but it is extremely heavy.

The instant Chen Ping'an grabbed it, he felt his body sink. It was as if an immense force had suddenly exploded forth!

"town!"

Boom!
Golden light appeared, while black mist swirled around it.

Chen Ping'an unleashed tremendous power, forcefully taking the colorful pearl into his hand.

"got it!"

Just as Chen Ping'an took the pearl, the Heavenly Luo Saintess, who was slightly beneath him, had recovered. Her jade-like, crystal-clear hands shot out in unison, striking towards Chen Ping'an's chest.

"court death!"

Chen Ping'an roared, unleashing tremendous power.

His thighs were like whips, and he used the Seven Deadly Techniques to deliver a vicious lash towards the Heavenly Net Saintess with the moves of the Soul-Severing Leg Technique.

Just as the two were about to strike, the colorful pearls in Chen Ping'an's hands suddenly lit up with a dazzling light, shining on the two of them from the left and right.

"Not good!" Chen Ping'an's expression changed, and he raised a protective light shield, trying to block the dazzling light from the outside.

But the light seemed to shine directly on him without any obstruction.

On the other side, the Heavenly Luo Saintess's cold face also changed color instantly.

Just now, influenced by the Dream Pearl, she experienced a long life, a journey both real and dreamlike. If she were to be reflected again, wouldn't that...
The Holy Maiden of Heavenly Net looked at the old monster in front of her, feeling utterly ashamed and indignant!

Time seemed to stand still, and countless images flashed before her eyes—some tender, some joyful, and others that made her blush and her ears burn.

Whether it was true or false, it was all incredibly clear in her memory.

How could she be like this in a dream?!
If such a situation were to occur again, then...
At the same time that the dazzling light shone upon her, the Holy Maiden of Tianluo could no longer maintain her inner peace; her heart was filled with turmoil and unease.

At the same time, their attacks landed on each other simultaneously.

Bang!Bang!
Almost simultaneously, a loud bang rang out, and Chen Ping'an and the Holy Maiden of Tianluo were sent flying out from the left and right sides at the same time.

A blast of air exploded, and a cloud of blood surged forth.

Holding the colorful pearl, Chen Ping'an steadied himself in mid-air.

But the next moment, a look of astonishment appeared on his face.

He wasn't the only one taken aback; the Heavenly Maiden, who had been sent flying to the other side by his whip kick, was also stunned.

The Heavenly Maiden's black hair was disheveled, making her look slightly embarrassed. Her slender legs were faintly visible through her skirt, adding a touch of hazy beauty to her ethereal and dreamlike appearance.

The two looked at each other, and both could see deep astonishment on each other's faces.
incredible.

"This is."

The monthly pass lottery has started, so please vote and participate!

Please vote for me!

I'm thinking of doing a monthly pass bonus update plan for July, and I'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions. Writing on the lake is a bit of a struggle; I just can't seem to pick up the pace. If I didn't have to worry about revisions, I could write very quickly, but I'm a bit of a perfectionist. It's tough!
Hu Shang also wants to update faster, after all, every word he writes is money. Writing an extra chapter can earn him hundreds of yuan, and if there's a chance to make that kind of money, who wouldn't want to earn it?

But I still prioritize my own principles, and try to write each chapter according to my own ideas as much as possible, without rushing.

It's impossible to please everyone; I can only try my best to suit everyone's tastes. Thinking about something and actually doing it are two different things, so the core rhythm of this book will still follow my own ideas.

As for an extra chapter, one chapter for 2000 monthly votes? One chapter for the sect leader if there are tips?
How about this, fellow Daoists?

Or 1500 monthly votes, one update?
(End of this chapter)