The Great Martial Saint!

Chapter 604 Five Poison Divine Palm, Hidden Dragon in the Storm (Bonus Chapter for 4500 Monthly Tickets)

Xuanling Prefecture, Black Mist Valley.

In the valley, shrouded in a thick fog that never dissipates, there are several wooden cabins and thatched huts, surrounded by a large fence where some medicinal herbs are cultivated.

The herbs are bright red, but I don't know what their effects are.

"Mother, I've made it into the top 100!" A fair-skinned girl with bright, lively eyes rang out in a silvery voice.

"Ying'er, very good." Not far from the girl stood a hunched, white-haired old woman with a smile on her face. The old woman held a pestle in her hand, grinding medicinal herbs: "Ninety-eighth on the Hidden Dragon Ranking—a ranking my mother never imagined a few years ago!"

"The Grandmaster we killed earlier wasn't top-tier in terms of combat power; he only barely reached the threshold of the mid-stage of the Jade Balance realm! If he had been stronger, perhaps he could have ranked higher." The girl muttered, seemingly a little dissatisfied.

"Enough, enough! The tallest tree in the forest is bound to be felled by the wind. It's good to be on the list and at least hide some of your strength!" the white-haired old woman said with a smile, her face crinkling with wrinkles.

Looking at her current state, no one would imagine that she was once a spirited and beautiful woman.

Time is like a carving knife, sculpting the face stroke by stroke, taking away the former beauty and bringing decay and desolation.

Although a pseudo-grandmaster's lifespan is longer than that of a high-level Xuan Guang realm cultivator, it cannot compare to that of a grandmaster!
"I know, Mother." The girl's skirt fluttered, making her look charming and lively.

If anyone else were here, no one would have imagined that the girl in front of them could so easily kill a senior grandmaster.

The old woman looked at the girl and seemed to see herself in her younger days.

At that time, she was full of vigor and left the Five Poisons Sect. She felt that the world was vast and she could go anywhere in the world!
But who could have imagined that in the decades that followed, he would repeatedly face life and death, suffer a cruel assassination attempt, and have his foundation severely damaged, ultimately failing to even reach the Grandmaster realm that he once thought would be so easy.

With her energy depleted and her blood and qi declining, she may die of old age in another twenty years!

Beautiful women often have short lives, but sometimes it's not just beautiful women who have short lives; even the most outstanding people of yesteryear have short lives!

Seeing the old woman's wistful and reminiscing eyes, the young girl gracefully walked up to her and took her hand: "Mother, the matter of the Longevity Fruit has been settled! Once we get the Longevity Fruit, Ying'er will go to Xuanling City to find someone to refine longevity pills. Then, Mother, you can take the pills and extend your life by three or four decades, so you can walk with Ying'er for the rest of your life!"

"Silly child, the Longevity Pill can extend one's life by half a Jiazi (60 years), which is already a high-quality Longevity Pill. How could it extend it by three or four Jiazi?" The old woman held the girl's hand: "Your mother is old now, and fate cannot be defied. My only remaining wish is to accompany you back to the Five Poisons Sect and prove to them that your mother's choice back then was not wrong!"

The old woman held the girl's hand tightly, as if grasping at her lost youth, or perhaps at the unfulfilled wishes of yesteryear.

"Mother." The girl also gripped the old woman's hand tightly, her eyes slightly red.

However, the girl's face soon lit up with a smile: "Mother, when Ying'er makes it onto the Ranking List, I will definitely accompany you back in style. Mother, you must wait for Ying'er. Ying'er is slow-witted; twenty years is not enough. It will take at least a hundred years, two hundred years, to make it onto the Ranking List!"

"Silly child, if you were dull-witted, then there would be no one of exceptional talent in this world!" The old woman smiled kindly. "The most difficult stage is over. From now on, you don't need to be distracted anymore, nor do you need to adapt to those poisonous creatures. You just need to focus on your cultivation and break through to higher realms. Your mother also wants to tell others that my Ying'er is also a monstrous genius who shines brightly in this world!"

"Yes." The girl nodded emphatically.

"Alright, focus on your cultivation! You've already mastered the Five Poisons Earthly Fiend Palm and the Spirit Spider Illusion Poison Palm. Next, you should practice the Crimson Scorpion Burning Heart Palm. Since you were young, your mother has made you adapt to various poisons in advance. Over the years, apart from the Five Poisons Earthly Fiend Palm, I've never let you practice any other palm techniques."

Starting with the framework of the Five Poison Palm, and once the framework is perfected, then returning to cultivate the five most poisonous palm techniques, the path is completely different from the orthodox cultivation path of the Five Poison Divine Sect.

In worldly spiritual practice, the usual approach is to start with the easy and then move to the difficult, practicing what is easy at a lower level and what is difficult at a higher level, progressing step by step. But Mother chose to start with the difficult and then move to the easy, practicing in reverse. When Mother embarked on this path, she did not know how much criticism she received from those old fogies within the sect.

What the sect considers easy is, to outsiders, an impossible task, let alone abandoning the easy for the difficult. With limited experience, weak cultivation, and a low level of understanding, everything is difficult! How can one possibly cultivate in reverse?!
Mother wasted so much time on this path; otherwise, she wouldn't have failed to even reach the Grandmaster level at the end. Mother failed, but you are different. Your talent is dazzling, the most monstrous talent Mother has ever seen in her life. Using the Five Poisons Earthly Fiend Palm as a foundation, you reversed the cultivation of the five most poisonous palm techniques, and then deduced from them to truly master the Five Poisons Divine Palm! You have embarked on a path that no one has ever walked before!
"Once you've mastered the Five Poisons Palm, go back with your mother and let those old fogies see that the path your mother chose was right!" The old woman tidied the girl's hair, her eyes gleaming with an indescribable light.

The girl remained silent, quietly feeling the warmth of her mother's hands. These withered, decaying hands of her mother had once been smooth, flawless, and as lustrous as jade.

"By the way, Ying'er, Chen Ping'an, the 'Wild Blade,' is on the Hidden Dragon List this time." The old woman's eyes flickered as she suddenly remembered something.

In this latest update to the Hidden Dragon Ranking, Chen Ping'an, the valiant swordsman, ranks fifty-ninth, his combat prowess reaching the pinnacle of Grandmaster level!
Qingling Prefecture, the Nangong family.

"The Gu family certainly has good taste!" Inside the Nangong family's ancestral hall, many elders had gathered.

"A rising star, not yet twenty-six years old, is ranked among the top sixty. He has twenty-four years before he falls off the list! Judging from Mang Dao's current momentum, those twenty-four years are more than enough time for him to surpass many ranks!"

"According to Tianji Tower's assessment, before falling off the list, Mangdao might have a chance to break into the top fifteen of the Hidden Dragon List!"

"The top fifteen! According to this year's Hidden Dragon Ranking, those who rank in the top thirty-three are true Grandmasters! Judging from the demeanor of these Hidden Dragon prodigies on the list, even if they have only just entered the Grandmaster realm, they already possess the power of top-tier Grandmasters! The top fifteen, according to the standards of this year's Hidden Dragon Ranking, are basically close to or even at the peak of the Grandmaster realm!"

“A prodigy of this caliber, standing at the pinnacle of the dynasty, is already comparable to the older generation of powerhouses if viewed across the various regions of the state! A Grandmaster at the pinnacle is enough to dominate the state! If they are determined, they can easily establish a powerful force! If they accumulate strength for a few more years, they may be able to be listed among the top forces in the state!”

"Such prodigies would not limit their vision to the borders of a state! The four realms of a dynasty, that is their true domain!"

"Yes! Theoretically speaking, those who can make it onto the Hidden Dragon Ranking basically have a chance to reach the Martial Dao Celestial Realm. However, if they can enter the top twenty of the Hidden Dragon Ranking, the probability of reaching the Martial Dao Celestial Realm will undoubtedly increase greatly! Chen Ping'an, the 'Brawler Blade,' is expected to reach the top fifteen before falling off the list. With such talent, as long as he is not too greedy and focuses on pursuing seven or even eight patterns, the probability of reaching the Martial Dao Celestial Realm is at least 30%!"

"Which of these prodigies who have reached such heights is without ambition? If they don't give it a try, who can be content?"

"That makes sense! I only hope that Mang Dao will have lofty ambitions and not waste his time in this realm! Otherwise, if the Gu family gains the assistance of another martial arts master, this situation will be detrimental to Qingling Prefecture!"

"The Gu family is thriving. First, Gu Qingchan broke through to the next realm, showing promise as a Celestial Being. Then there's Mang Dao, who has climbed into the top sixty of the Hidden Dragon Ranking, displaying exceptional talent! If it weren't for the astonishing foundation of our Nangong family, we would probably have been overshadowed! By the way, has there been any news about Wan'er lately?"

"No news at the moment."

"That's normal. The incomplete cultivation technique that Wan'er is practicing has just been partially completed, and now is the time to study it carefully. The technique is exquisite and cannot be lost."

Thinking of this, an elder of the Nangong family stroked his beard and smiled: "With such a foundation, Wan'er's future achievements will probably surpass even those of the ruthless Chen Ping'an!"

"Hahaha, Heaven blesses my Nangong family, sending down a unicorn!"

"Wan'er's matter is a top family secret and must be kept confidential! Once Wan'er reaches the Grandmaster level, she can use the advantage of her cultivation technique to climb the rankings and enter the top twenty of the Hidden Dragons, astonishing the world!"

"understand!"

"."

The members of the Nangong family were engaged in lively discussion, their conversation quite animated! Normally, with the Gu family's exceptional talent preceding them, they wouldn't be in the mood for such chatter. However, within their family lay a prodigy, a genius who possessed a fragment of a divine manual, which he had now partially completed, promising a bright future. In terms of talent and potential, he surpassed even the ruthless Chen Ping'an.

In addition, there is a legitimate daughter in the family, who is born into wealth and good fortune, and helps the family prosper.

This generation will bring prosperity to the family!

Qingling Prefecture, Bixia Sect.

"Mang Dao! Ranked fifty-ninth on the Hidden Dragon List!"

"At less than twenty-six years old, he possesses the strength of a top-tier grandmaster!"

"Looking across my Bixia Sect, who among the current generation of true disciples can fight me?"

"Our Bixia Sect has a history of two thousand years, and for more than ten generations, not a single person has been able to make it onto the Hidden Dragon List!"

"Starting today, the merit points for sect training missions will be increased by one-third. Disciples are encouraged to practice more and actively participate in the missions."

"Issue the order that a sect competition be held at the end of this year. Those who excel in the competition will receive preferential treatment and resources. Those who enter the top three will be personally guided by the Supreme Elder and enjoy the treatment of true disciples."

"Those who make it onto the Azure Spirit Rising Star Ranking will receive special rewards, with specific rewards tailored to each individual!"

"."

Messages kept emanating from the Bixia Sect's power center, creating wave after wave of excitement within the sect. Many Bixia Sect disciples were eager and ready to try their luck.

Some disciples, however, were used to lying down and complained bitterly about the sect's new policies.

Rewards naturally come with corresponding punishments.

The capable rise, the mediocre fall; this is the principle by which a sect endures and thrives through constant renewal!
Chen Ping'an's breakthrough into the top sixty of the Hidden Dragon Ranking was witnessed not only by the major forces in the surrounding states, but also by his old acquaintances in the two states.

Inside the city, Tong Guan felt a chill run through his body and looked uneasy.

Li Wusheng's face was gloomy, and he remained silent.

Fang Zhengyu's face was ashen, and he was filled with unease.

In the important town of Long'an, Sword Elder's hair was like that of a raging lion, and a hint of regret appeared on his rough face, but it quickly disappeared.

Gu Rencheng laughed heartily, in high spirits.

Du Moyuan, his temples graying, looked at Chen Ping'an's ranking with delight.

Zhou Zhaowu, Zhongli Sheng.
Each person looked at Chen Ping'an's ranking, their thoughts shifting and their emotions varying.

Such as Nie Yunlong, Jing Xingyan, Yao Guang, and Lü Yuanzai.
"Your Highness." Li Xiangjun, her heart filled with unspeakable emotions, stood beside the Holy Maiden of Tianluo, not daring to utter a sound.

His Highness has been silent since the very beginning.

Before them was a screen of light emanating from a piece of jade. Li Xiangjun had served His Highness for many years, so she naturally recognized this piece of jade.

The Great Qian Hidden Dragon Ranking records 108 exceptionally talented prodigies within the Great Qian territory!
All the great talents of the Great Qian Dynasty consider it an honor to be listed on the Hidden Dragon List.

Li Xiangjun was a little nervous.

Because the information being displayed on the light screen in front of him is not His Highness's own, but...
Chen Ping'an, the valiant swordsman!

Li Xiangjun, nicknamed "Rangdao," pinched her hand, silently repeating the name in her heart.

After receiving the jade, His Highness did not look at his own ranking, nor at the top-ranked prodigies, but instead focused the light screen on the information page of the brute Chen Ping'an.

From the moment he left until now, His Highness has been staring at the light screen, seemingly lost in thought.

Chen Ping'an, the valiant swordsman.
Your Highness is probably still thinking about the fact that she lost her virginity.

In the incident in Bei Cang, she lost her virginity to the ruthless Chen Ping'an.

Although she had made preparations in advance, they were all rendered useless in the face of the ruthless Chen Ping'an.

By the time she woke up, it was too late!
As His Highness's maid, she should remain chaste and untainted.

Can.
Li Xiangjun bit her lower lip, and a pale look appeared on her lips.

What's done is done, and it's too late. No matter what she does, the matter is settled. She has already been branded with the mark of the ruthless Chen Ping'an and tainted by the filth of the world.

Given Your Highness's status, if you were to find a Daoist partner in the future, she, as your personal maid, would be required to accompany you as part of your dowry.

Every word and action of His Highness represents His Highness's majesty and nobility.

As a maidservant who accompanied the prince in his dowry, she had already lost her virginity before the prince had even married a Daoist partner. This was an unforgivable sin, no matter what.

Her early loss of virginity was tantamount to His Highness losing his dignity.

She lost face in front of her Daoist partner! As a prince, she could not atone for this even if she died a hundred times.

But His Highness is magnanimous and has already forgiven her sins. However, this matter remains a thorn in his side.

Given Your Highness's status, your future Daoist partner will undoubtedly hold a very important position. If they were to learn of this, they would surely be furious, perhaps even taking their anger out on Your Highness and disrupting the harmony of your marriage!

Thinking of this, Li Xiangjun glanced at His Highness cautiously.

However, given Your Highness's character, even if you have a Daoist partner, they should be the ones to accommodate you, and such a thing should not have happened.

Just as Li Xiangjun's emotions were shifting and she was filled with anxiety, the voice of the Heavenly Maiden, as clear as a spring and as ethereal as jade, rang in her ears.

"Xiangjun".

"Your Highness," Li Xiangjun replied respectfully, putting aside her thoughts.

"Chen Ping'an, you had contact with him in Beicang, and with me..." A ripple appeared in the indifferent eyes of the Heavenly Luo Saintess, seemingly containing a strange light: "Tell me about him."

really!

Li Xiangjun felt a pang of despair, as if struck by lightning, her future bleak.

His Highness still remembers the time she lost her virginity.

"Yes, Your Highness."

Li Xiangjun took a deep breath, suppressed her emotions, bowed, and began to recount the story of Chen Ping'an, the valiant swordsman.

The Prince of Bicang's Mansion.

"Mang Dao?" A handsome young man dressed in white smiled slightly. "Qingcheng, you have excellent taste!"

However, if you look closely, you might see a hint of coldness and chill behind that smile.

"Young Master, the banquet is ready, and the guests you invited are already on their way."

A woman with a beautiful face and dressed in dark blue clothes came forward to greet them.

"Ning'er, you've worked hard." The young man's smile was warm, making people unconsciously want to get closer to him.

The woman had a somewhat aloof air about her, but the young man's words caused a slight change in her expression.

The woman remained silent, and the young man paid no attention. He put away the jade in his hand, flicked his sleeves, and walked out of the pavilion with an elegant demeanor, exuding the air of a noble young master.

The woman's face didn't show much emotion, but a hint of longing appeared in her eyes.

The woman's attire seemed somewhat similar to that of a maid, but upon closer inspection, subtle details revealed that she was quite different from those maids.

She wore a waist belt, a dark wristband, and dark patterns on her cuffs. She carried a short dagger and had a strange gemstone set in her hairpin.

"Princess, my little princess, don't run away, this old servant can't catch up."

In the back garden of the Prince of Bicang's mansion, amidst the rockeries and flowing water, an old man wearing a tall hat was jogging along while shouting at the top of his lungs.

The old man had a slightly flat nose and his eyes were narrowed to slits, giving him a kind and approachable air.

A bright apricot yellow hue filled the space in front of the old man, brimming with vitality and joy.

As her dress fluttered and her silk ribbons swayed, a clear, bell-like laugh would occasionally ring out.

The old man jogged along, chasing after the young princess, wiping the sweat from his forehead from time to time.

The back garden of the Prince of Bicang's mansion was extremely large; after running for a long time, I still hadn't reached the edge.

Along the way, they frequently encountered maids who, upon seeing the two, would bow their heads, stop, and greet them politely.

"The county lord."

"Old Yi!"

"Changes in the top ten of the Hidden Dragons?" The Earth-Splitting Old Man lay half-reclined on a large rock, looking at the Mad Wave Guest beside him: "Whose ranking has changed?"

"Hmm." Kuanglanke's expression was somewhat solemn: "It wasn't just one person, there were two!"

"Two?" The Earth-Splitting Old Man, who had been half-lying down, straightened up and grinned, asking, "Who are they? Ruan Yushu, Dugu Yiren, or perhaps that one from the Snow God Palace?"

“Neither.” Kuanglan Ke shook his head and said the names of the two people.

"What?" The old man's expression stiffened. "Where did this expert come from! He climbed so high right after appearing on the list!"

Although the Hidden Dragon Prodigies are from the younger generation, those ranked ahead of them are still stronger than these older masters in terms of combat power! Even they often pay attention to the candidates on the Hidden Dragon Ranking.

"See for yourself." Kuang Lanke stood still, his brow lit up, and a piece of jade flew over.

Just as the old man with the split earth took the jade and was about to examine it, he saw two figures running towards him from a distance.

"Little Princess! Yi Lao!"

His expression tightened, and he immediately stood up from the large rock.

"Yes, Godfather! Xiaoxian understands." Liang Xiaoxian lowered her head and walked backward. Her legs were straight and round, and the plump outline of her body could be faintly seen under her skirt as she walked.

Only after reaching the door and closing it did Liang Xiaoxian turn around and leave.

Regarding the matter of the Mangdao, the adoptive father gave the latest instructions.

The Hidden Dragon Ranking has been updated, and Chen Ping'an's momentum is far beyond expectations. We can add more bargaining chips to win over Chen Ping'an.

The previous custom-made powerful divine weapon has been adjusted to a custom-made top-tier divine weapon, and the corresponding treatment and specifications have been doubled.

At the same time, some of the restrictions can be lifted, so there's no need for Mang Dao to break off the engagement, and they can tacitly accept the Gu family's attitude. As long as Mang Dao joins their faction, they can also help mediate any unpleasantness he experiences with Ji Changkong due to the engagement.

These conditions are extremely favorable!

They are determined to win them over!

Chen Ping'an's rise to the top of the Hidden Dragon Ranking caused a slight stir in the Northern Territory. Many top forces also turned their attention to him. However, due to the significant changes in this year's Hidden Dragon Ranking, most of the attention from these top forces was drawn to other matters.

"In this round of the Hidden Dragon Ranking, two prodigies at the bottom were eliminated and fell into the Hidden Dragon Sub-Ranking. The competition is truly fierce!"

"Yes, the competition for the Hidden Dragon title has always been fierce! Of the two eliminated prodigies, one spot was taken by a strong contender from the Hidden Dragon's secondary ranking. And the other..." The speaker's face showed some shock, and his eyes revealed surprise.

"Ninth among the Hidden Dragons, Cloud Cottage Swordsman, Li Wangchen!"

"From complete obscurity to reaching the ninth rank of Hidden Dragon, such talent is truly astonishing!"

"Indeed! To slice down a mountain with a single strike—such combat prowess makes Li Wangchen a peerless genius and the number one swordsman in this world!"

"That's right! Even a Grandmaster like Fengyun wouldn't dare to face such combat power head-on. Among the contemporary prodigies, he is undoubtedly number one in swordsmanship!"

"."

Li Wangchen, the swordsman of Yunlu!
The fact that he went from being completely unknown to entering the top ten of the Hidden Dragon List caused a great stir throughout the four regions of the Great Qian Dynasty.

Countless forces have extended olive branches, hoping to win over such a prodigy! Even the Holy Land of the Sword Dao has dispatched an elder envoy to sincerely recruit him.

Legend has it that Li Wangchen has cultivated a true martial arts manual that points directly to the Great Dao of Heaven and Man!

With unparalleled talent, he cultivated it to the highest level!

In an instant, Li Wangchen's name swept across the four realms of the Great Qian Dynasty, causing a stir in all directions.

Snow Goddess Palace.

Within the Xuanbing True Palace, a figure could be seen appearing and disappearing.

"Li'er, you have mastered the Profound Ice Intent and are only half a step away from the Celestial Realm! Seclusion is useless; you might as well go out for a walk and comprehend the world!"
Li'er, remember this: among your peers, others are merely passersby on your journey. The one you truly must contend with from beginning to end is only one person.

Tianjiu Daozi, Fengling Yin! "

"Yes, Master." Beneath the ice platform of the True Palace, there was a barefoot girl with a slender figure and silver hair that cascaded down like moonlight.

Among his contemporaries, only by suppressing the current generation can he be called the number one hidden dragon!

The number one spot is not held by Jiang Wuyai, Dugu Yiren, Ruan Yushu, or Lu Mengyao!

Beihai Business Alliance.

"Cangming, you are the hope of our Nine Stars Chamber of Commerce. Do not let the outside world blind you. Li Wangchen has entered the top ten of the Hidden Dragons. You must not lose your composure because of this!"
The path of martial arts is about contending with the heavens and borrowing the power of the earth. Your opponent isn't him! It's yourself! Do you understand?

“Ancestor, Cangming understands.” A strange young man dressed in black ice scale armor knelt down in the main hall.

Blood Prison Gate, Blood Sea Demon Palace.

Bang!
Countless waves surged and churned, creating numerous whirlpools.

Above the vortex stood a young man in a blood-red robe with golden patterns, his face cold and sinister.

"Hidden Dragon Tenth! How could it be Hidden Dragon Tenth!"

The latest Hidden Dragon Ranking has been updated, and his ranking has dropped two places. Not only has he been surpassed by the Heavenly Luo Saintess, but there is also a new figure ahead of him, Li Wangchen, who appeared out of nowhere.

"Qu Feiyan!"

Yin Shangjin's expression was sinister, his pupils glowing with a strange blood-red light, and a phantom image appeared behind him, seemingly the shadow of a blood demon.

"Our Blood Prison Sect has already extended a betrothal gift to the Heavenly Net Sect, offering the right to explore the Netherworld Secret Realm as a token of our alliance, and we hereby request the hand in marriage to the current Holy Maiden!"

"Qu Feiyan! Soon, you will be my Daoist partner! Hahahaha."

Yin Shangjin's arrogant laughter echoed within the Blood Sea Demon Palace, causing ripples to spread across the surrounding blood.

Amidst the changing winds and upheavals, Chen Ping'an's carriage finally arrived in Thunder City.

(End of this chapter)