The Great Martial Saint!

Chapter 596 News from Long'an, Strange Carvings (Bonus Chapter for 3000 Monthly Tickets)

hum~
A tremor of light, a shifting of ethereal glow.

Surrounded by true essence, Chen Ping'an slowly opened his eyes, and a panel appeared.

Name: Chen Ping'an
Realm: Late Jade Balance - Spirit Pattern Spirit Fruit (Eight Patterns)
武学：七杀天罡拳入门（0/1440）、霸刀大成（0/3200）、七绝神功大成（2758/4800）、万魔铸身诀圆满、游龙身法圆满、金刚不坏神功圆满、龙象霸体诀圆满、三分人劫指圆满
"2758 points!"

More than ten days have passed since Lei Ming and his group arrived.

He continued his cultivation while traveling, which caused him to fall behind in his progress.

In addition, refining the Azure Flame Four Directions Command Flag also consumed a lot of his time.

However, this impact is temporary.

Once he finishes dealing with what he has to do, things will gradually get back on track!

The Snow Spirit Leaves I obtained from Yao Guang have been used up, and my progress in cultivating the Seven Absolute Divine Skill has returned to normal.

Without external interference, it is estimated that it will take another month and a half to perfect the Seven Absolute Divine Skill.

Yesterday, besides practicing the Seven Absolute Divine Skill, Chen Ping'an had some free time to study the golden scroll he obtained from the Purple-Eyed Demon Lord's secret place.

The art of inverted phoenix and yin-yang pivot techniques.

This technique is a true dual cultivation technique!

To truly master this technique, one must begin with dual cultivation, the union of yin and yang, and the joint exploration of the Great Dao.

In ancient times, the phoenix was called a divine bird, possessing five-colored patterns, and its appearance signified peace and tranquility throughout the land.

The one with the phoenix is ​​the male bird.

The phrase "phoenix seeking its mate" means seeking each other for marriage.

And the act of "inverting the dragon and the phoenix" is naturally a practice of dual cultivation!

The golden scroll in Chen Ping'an's hand carries the essence of the "Inverted Phoenix and Yin-Yang Pivot" technique. He had already conducted preliminary research on it yesterday.

However, according to his judgment, to master this technique, one needs to engage in dual cultivation. But he also has a cheat-like interface, so theoretically, as long as he has the inherited intent, he can perfectly master the basics.

The clash between the two is unpredictable, and with his current situation in the black market and his objective yet to be achieved, he is not in a hurry and has decided to play it safe for now.

I'll reflect on this matter after this is resolved!
"That's enough, it's time to go out for a walk!"

Chen Ping'an's brow furrowed slightly, and he slowly stood up from the bed.

Yesterday, he spent most of the day trading on the black market, selling off a lot of resources and also learning about the sale of monster blood.

The Black Spirit Mountain Black Market truly lives up to its reputation as a large-scale black market, with a significantly larger reserve of demon beast blood for sale compared to other black markets. The quality of the blood has also improved considerably.

Some large shops sell mainly medium-grade bloodline monster blood, while the lower-grade bloodline monsters mixed in are mostly fully grown and relatively powerful monsters.

In addition, there are some superior demon beast bloodlines, but the blood reserves are not particularly large.

It has superior demonic beast bloodline and is of a high grade. Normally, it would be sufficient for the first refinement of the Azure Sun Blood Refining Technique.

However, Chen Ping'an's perspective is different here; he's not starting his cultivation from scratch.

If possible, the stronger the demon beast bloodline you choose, the better!
In addition to bloodline rank, the type of monster also needs to be carefully selected.

Even among bloodlines of the same rank, different demonic beasts emphasize different supernatural abilities; some focus on offense, some on defense, and some on escape.

Since Chen Ping'an was using it to temper his physique, he naturally prioritized defense. Furthermore, given the same level of defense, the more concentrated the blood and qi of the demonic beast, the better.

In addition, the difficulty of obtaining the blood of demonic beasts is also something he needs to consider.

After all, body tempering is not something that can be accomplished overnight; it is a continuous process, and the supply of demonic beast blood used for cultivation needs to be guaranteed.

Every detail directly affects the effectiveness of his cultivation of the Azure Sun Blood Refining Technique.

Given Chen Ping'an's foundation, if he were to cultivate, he would naturally strive to do his best.

Tomorrow is the black market auction, and as soon as Chen Ping'an came out, he felt that the number of people in the black market today was much greater than yesterday.

Chen Ping'an had spent almost a whole day in the black market yesterday and was quite familiar with the place.

After leaving the inn, they went straight to the treasure shops and began selling the resources they hadn't finished yesterday.

With yesterday's foundation, he's selling off his stock quite quickly today.

Apart from wasting a little time on the price negotiation, the rest of the process was basically not delayed.

In less than half a day, he had sold off all the pills, spiritual items, consumables, and ores that he had secretly needed to dispose of.

The rest were either things he needed or things that could be dealt with openly.

"One thousand two hundred Yuan Crystals! No need for further discussion. If this amount isn't available, I'll turn around and leave!"

Inside a large shop, Chen Ping'an's voice was cold and forceful.

Before him stood a smiling man: "Honorable guest, please do not be hasty. This matter is of great importance, involving a huge amount of Yuan Crystals. We must report this to our master."

The other party offered a solution, and Chen Ping'an didn't react.

I sat quietly in the shop's VIP reception room, waiting for the rest of the story to unfold.

Many resources have been sold off, but the silver moon spear in his hand has yet to find a buyer.

The Silver Moon Spear is a top-tier near-divine weapon, bordering on divine. Even in a large black market, not every shop can afford a weapon of this caliber.

The shop Chen Ping'an found was one of the top establishments in the Black Spirit Mountain black market, second only to the Black Spirit Pavilion of the Black Spirit Sect.

Only shops of this size can handle transactions that can easily reach thousands of yuan.

The amount of thousands of Yuan Crystals may seem small, but in reality, some Xuan Guang Realm families may not even have that much in assets when all their clans' assets are combined!

Chen Ping'an cultivated his way up from humble beginnings, taking each step with care. Today, he has finally reached a point where even a tiny bit of his talent is beyond the comprehension of others.

Indeed, happiness is something that can only be appreciated through comparison!

Compared to the most prominent and powerful forces within the dynasty or even in the northern border, his current wealth is still far from sufficient. However, if placed within a single state, his resources would be enough to make him a prominent figure in that region.

Sometimes, when you feel tired of constantly looking forward, it might be helpful to look back.

Look back at the path you've walked, and look at everything you have.

Looking back and reflecting on it later, you might feel a different kind of sense of accomplishment!
Chen Ping'an didn't have to wait long in the VIP reception room before receiving confirmation from the shop.

Cash on delivery, goods on delivery, payment and goods settled, transaction complete.

During the process, Chen Ping'an sensed being secretly watched.

"Humph!"

He snorted coldly, and a powerful aura exploded out.

The old man in black, hidden in the shadows, couldn't help but groan, his face turning deathly pale.

"The initial stage of Jade Balance has reached completion!"

His eyes widened in horror, filled with utter terror.

Upon hearing from his subordinates that someone had come to trade near-divine weapons and was sticking to a very tight price, he came over to investigate, hoping to gain some extra profit.

Who would have thought that the person who came to make the deal was actually a Grandmaster at the early stage of the Jade Balance realm!

"With such cultivation, why come to my shop instead of auctioning your work?" The old man in black muttered to himself, his face bitter.

Upon hearing his subordinate's report, his first reaction was that the newcomer was not capable enough. Otherwise, with the auction approaching, why bother finding a shop to sell the goods? Wouldn't it have been much smoother to simply consign them for auction at the auction house?

The only explanation is that they are not very capable and are worried about being taken advantage of by their large size or being cheated.

But this time, their judgment was wrong, and they were proven wrong.

"A fake grandmaster!"

Chen Ping'an walked out of the shop, in a rather good mood.

In terms of the density of experts in this black market, it far surpasses the places he had previously experienced.

It can be said to be a place where hidden talents abound!
These phenomena are easy to understand.

After all, ordinary people wouldn't come to the Thunder Mountains to make a living without a reason. Those who come here are either criminals or their ancestors were kidnapped and passed down through generations until they finally settled here.

None of those who survive here are mediocre. Even those who are slightly weaker are incredibly cunning.

With all the resources sold off, only the divine weapon longsword consigned to auction remains!
With nothing to worry about, Chen Ping'an began to focus on learning about the blood of demonic beasts.

His focused investigation yielded little information about the demon beast blood, but he did hear news from Long'an.

"This is going to be interesting!"

"Yes, the leader of the Evil Path is seriously injured, the vice leader of the Myriad Demons Sect has fallen, the Supreme Elder of the Ascending Dragon Path has been captured alive, and five elders of the Heavenly Lotus Sect have been killed. These evil heretics are going to cause chaos!"

"The Garrison Command's move was truly ruthless! The Long'an Rebellion can be considered over!"

"It's over? You're overthinking it!" "What do you mean!?"

"."

The two spoke in extremely low voices, but it was clear that Chen Ping'an could hear them.

"The Long'an Rebellion?"

Chen Ping'an's heart stirred.

Counting the time, it's been a month since he left Long'an. And almost three months have passed since the chaos in Long'an.

The incident has escalated, and it's time for it to be circulated!

When he left, the special envoys from the two prefectures' garrison had already arrived in Long'an and begun to carry out in-depth reforms and handle the follow-up matters in order to reduce the adverse effects of the Long'an Rebellion.

just
Isn't this outcome a bit too extreme?
The Evil Path, the Myriad Demons Sect, the Ascending Dragon Path, and the Heavenly Lotus Sect.
These are all long-established heretical sects active in Canglong Prefecture, with a long history and profound foundation. They are not comparable to ordinary third-rate forces.

The Evil Path's influence is widespread, extending beyond Canglong Prefecture to several surrounding prefectures. While the Evil Path's leader may not be the strongest within the Evil Path, even if he is not a Martial Dao Celestial, he is probably a pseudo-Celestial.

His combat power is definitely several levels stronger than that of an ordinary Grandmaster!

Yet this very being was severely injured.

There's also the Rising Dragon Path, whose power level is inferior to the Evil Extreme Path, but its Supreme Elder is probably not someone to be trifled with. But they were captured alive just like that?
The Ten Thousand Demons Sect, a local demonic sect, had operated in Canglong Prefecture for many years, possessing an extremely complex network of relationships. But even under such circumstances, how could the sect's vice-leader have fallen?

In addition, there is the Heavenly Lotus Sect.
Such methods were swift and decisive; according to Chen Ping'an's understanding, they were definitely not something the State Border Garrison Command could accomplish.

If the State Border Garrison Command had this capability, why would it have waited until now?

Clearly, this involves a higher level!

"It was the Two Border Garrison Command that made the move!"

Chen Ping'an's emotions shifted, and he was deeply shaken.

The dynastic machine, even when only partially revealed, is enough to send chills down one's spine.

He had dealt with the Ten Thousand Demons Sect and the Evil Extreme Path, and knew all too well how difficult they were to deal with. This wasn't just due to their strength, but also their extensive networks and intelligence.

Yet, even such deeply entrenched evil forces proved utterly powerless against the intervention of the Two Realms Pacification Division.

Most importantly, Chen Ping'an, being within the system, knew about these matters, yet they might not have even garnered the highest level of attention from the Two Border Garrison Command.

The dynasty's foundation is immeasurable!

"So, among all the evil sects involved in the Long'an turmoil, only the Tianluo Sect hasn't yet suffered retaliation from the Zhenfu Division?"

"Yes, that seems to be the case so far. The Tianluo Sect has lost some of its peripheral members, but they haven't managed to catch any of the real big fish."

"As expected of a behemoth within the dynasty's territory, the difference in quality is immediately apparent!"

"Isn't what you're saying easy to misunderstand? People who don't know the situation might think you're some kind of evil heretic!"

"Oh, is that so? Hahaha. But we've been doing shady stuff for so long, we're not exactly good people, are we?"

"Hush! Silence!"

"It's alright! With our true energy blocking us, who can hear us?"

"Better safe than sorry. Let's get back to business!"

"Alright, let's go take a look today, touch it, and see if we can get some benefits this time."

"Let's go."

"."

Although Chen Ping'an was some distance away from them, his spiritual connection allowed him to hear their conversation with perfect clarity.

Seeing the two leave, Chen Ping'an stopped spying. As for the shady ways of making money they mentioned, he had no interest in them.

At his current status, ordinary wealth is no longer of interest to him.

"I never imagined that the situation would change so dramatically in just one month!"

Chen Ping'an sighed, finished the tea on the table, and left without lingering.

However, the actions of the Two Border Garrison Commanders cast a shadow over his mind.

"Qu Feiyan, I hope you're smart enough not to fall into their trap and get surrounded!"

Chen Ping'an spent half a day examining the blood of demonic beasts, but without any particularly good results. Currently, the highest quality demonic beast blood available for sale is of superior quality.

It fell far short of Chen Ping'an's expectations.

"Fine, I'll try my luck at the stalls." Chen Ping'an pondered for a moment, then changed his mind.

Normally, the best items on the black market are mostly found in those treasure shops. But over time, unexpected things can happen.

There are also some good items sold in the stall area.

These valuable items can be roughly divided into two types. One type involves stall owners who know the value of their goods and would lose too much money selling them directly to the treasure pavilion shops, so they simply sell them themselves to avoid going through middlemen and making a profit.

However, this kind of operation is riskier, and it is very likely that you will not only fail to gain any benefits, but also lose your life.

Those who choose to set up their own stalls and sell their wares are usually quite skilled. Unless their wares are mediocre, the chances of them being targeted are extremely high.

The black market is no place for kindness; anyone who can operate here has at least two lives on their hands.
In another scenario, it's purely a case of finding a bargain; the stall owner themselves may not even know they're selling something good. Whether you can actually buy it depends entirely on the buyer's luck and fortune.

The saying "treasures are obtained by those who are destined to find them" has some truth to it.

Since Chen Ping'an couldn't find what he wanted in the shop's treasure pavilion, he could only try his luck here.

The stall area had a large flow of people, and because the mountain road was not wide, it was even more lively than the shop area.

To be honest, the stalls in the black market weren't that different from those in a normal commercial city.

The passersby were more cautious, and some even tried to hide their true intentions.

Most of the stall owners are silent, and it's rare to see them hawking their wares in public.

Some transactions are best kept private; shouting them out is like asking for trouble!

As Chen Ping'an walked along, looking at the scattered items on the stalls on both sides, he felt a sense of nostalgia for his first visit to the black market.

Back then, when he went to the black market, in Nanquan Lane, it was to sell his martial arts manuals to settle the debt owed by the Tiger Head Gang.

At that time, he was inexperienced and weak. Although he had embarked on martial arts cultivation, he had only reached the first level of Qi and Blood perfection.

The only skill he possesses is the Iron Shirt Technique, which gives him an advantage over ordinary people. However, against a truly formidable opponent, the outcome remains uncertain.

The transaction was fraught with peril, and returning home was even more nerve-wracking, lest someone follow them.

He still vividly remembers that experience.

"This is how far we've come."
"We've been through so much."

Who would have thought that the kid from the black market would rise to such heights!

Chen Ping'an walked around the stall area, stopping frequently to see if there was anything he could use.

Originally, using spiritual means to investigate wouldn't have required so much trouble.

However, to be on the safe side, Chen Ping'an should verify it himself.

After all, divine things are inherently concealed, and some things, even when explored by spiritual beings, may not be entirely reliable.

Most of the items sold at the stalls were not of high quality.

You can find things like ginseng, lingzhi, and deer antler here.

These medicinal herbs are rare tonics for ordinary cultivators. But for those at a higher level, they seem rather ordinary.

Besides these medicinal herbs, there are also some good items, such as precious artifacts, ores, and elixirs.

A few people often stop at these stalls, chatting with the stall owners to see if they can make a deal at a lower price.

"Ok?"

Chen Ping'an's gaze sharpened, and he locked onto an item in front of a stall.

This is a simple wooden box containing a fine-quality Scrophularia ningpoensis root, displayed on the stall.

But what caught Chen Ping'an's attention was not the spiral-patterned Scrophularia, but the carved ornament hanging on the wooden box clasp.

It is square, about the size of a thumb, and carved with a strange beast head.

Strange carvings!

Chen Ping'an stopped in front of the stall and realized that the stall owner was an acquaintance he had met on the street.

"Old Taoist, how much is this Rhizoma Scrophulariae?"

(End of this chapter)