The Great Martial Saint!

Chapter 607 Reunion with Qingchan, Promises and Agreements (A long chapter of 10,000 words, please vote with monthly tickets~)

Sitting in the car on the way to the Gu family's house, Chen Ping'an closed his eyes, and scenes flashed through his mind.

His gains in the Thunder Mountains have been recorded and registered as merits. Once the Canglong Prefecture Garrison Command has completed its review, the merits will be awarded.

That day, when he took out the heads of Yu Xihai and others, the shock of Wu Benqing and Gu Luping was visible to the naked eye. Although the two were shrewd and calculating, they quickly concealed their emotions.

But that fleeting emotion couldn't escape Chen Ping'an's eyes.

While the two were somewhat shocked by his combat prowess, their emotions suggested that this wasn't the whole story.

His gaze held a strange undertone, as if some vested interest had been threatened.

"There must be something fishy going on inside!" Chen Ping'an's thoughts shifted, and he began to have some guesses.

Before going to Leiming, he did some research and learned a lot of information. Unraveling the clues, he discerned the underlying power dynamics within the major city of Leiming.

However, Chen Ping'an didn't care too much about this matter. His main purpose in coming to Leiming was to cultivate and develop peacefully; he didn't want to care about or get involved in anything else.

As long as these people behave themselves and don't interfere with his spiritual practice, then everyone will be happy, harmonious, and peaceful.

if not
His knife was certainly not ineffective!
hum~
The light dimmed and eventually disappeared, and Chen Ping'an slowly opened his eyes.

We've arrived at the Gu family's base!
As the leading family in Canglong Prefecture, although Leiming City is not the main base of the Gu family's business, the Gu family's residence here is still extremely magnificent.

In recent years, in particular, with the Gu family's continuous expansion and increased investment of manpower and energy in Leiming City, the Gu family's residence has undergone a round of expansion and renovation.

Towering and magnificent, imposing and profound.

When Chen Ping'an visited Gu Qingchan, he was not stopped in the slightest. With everyone's respectful welcome, he entered the compound without any trouble.

He encountered many stewards and servants along the way, who all bowed and greeted him upon seeing him.

"Hello, uncle!"

Compared to the words of adults, in the Gu family's residence, this address of "son-in-law" undoubtedly felt much more intimate.

These servants and stewards must have undergone special training; otherwise, given their status, they wouldn't dare to speak carelessly and use titles arbitrarily.

Chen Pingan had no objection to this.

The several stewards accompanying Chen Ping'an breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing his condition.

As an elder of the Gu family, Gu Qingchan is undoubtedly the number one figure in the Thunder City's garrison.

She was located deep within the camp. Surrounded and greeted by the crowd, Chen Ping'an arrived smoothly in front of a magnificent building.

Several maids stood before the magnificent building, their faces beautiful and their demeanor dignified. Seeing Chen Ping'an's imposing entourage, they were not intimidated and respectfully bowed.

"Young Master, Elder Yuan has instructed that you may come directly in without prior notice."

Chen Ping'an nodded slightly and stepped into the magnificent building amidst the humble and polite gazes of the crowd.

Led by a maid, Chen Ping'an saw Gu Qingchan, whom he hadn't seen for many days, on the viewing platform of the Qionglou Pavilion.

Gu Qingchan wore an ice-blue flowing fairy dress, surrounded by silk ribbons, with jewels swaying in the breeze, her beauty dazzling. Strictly speaking, Gu Qingchan possessed a cool and aloof temperament, unparalleled elegance, and the majesty of an empress.

However, her baby face evokes a strange illusion, stirring up an inexplicable desire to protect and cherish her.

It is a beauty that combines majesty and innocence, an extreme contrast and allure.

Although it wasn't the first time they had met, Chen Ping'an's heart still stirred slightly.

Looking at Gu Qingchan in front of him, Chen Ping'an felt as if he had returned to that night.

"Fellow Daoist Night Owl, my promotion ceremony is in half a month. Will you be attending?" Gu Qingchan held his hand, her arms filled with the softness of his body.

"town!"

Chen Ping'an was startled, and all his thoughts vanished.

His eyes were clear, without the slightest distraction.

"How long has it been? How can I still have such thoughts?" Chen Ping'an reflected to himself.

From the moment Chen Ping'an entered and saw Gu Qingchan until the distracting thoughts in his mind dissipated, less than half a moment had passed.

Upon seeing Gu Qingchan, Chen Ping'an, as usual, cupped his hands in a respectful bow and greeted her, "Ping'an greets Senior Gu."

"Chen Ping'an, you have indeed not disappointed me!" Gu Qingchan's eyes were clear and cold, with a hint of admiration: "Ranked fifty-ninth among the Hidden Dragons, you are a first-rate prodigy in all the states of the Northern Territory!"

"You flatter me, senior." Chen Ping'an said modestly, "It was just a bit of luck, I don't deserve such praise from you, senior."

"No need to be modest!" Gu Qingchan's eyes were like a clear spring, her voice delicate, crisp, and sweet, as innocent as a young girl's: "Before me, be yourself! Don't be reserved!"

"Yes, Senior Gu," Chen Ping'an replied in a low voice.

For some reason, some strange images suddenly popped into my mind.

Some wore tattered palace dresses and slumped on the ground; others had dazed eyes and delicate, soft features.
What nonsense are you thinking!
Chen Ping'an mentally scolded himself, quickly interrupting his many thoughts.

Over the years, as his martial arts level has improved, the aftereffects of his initial spiritual fusion have shown no signs of improvement; on the contrary, they seem to be getting worse.

Normally it would be fine, but having not seen Gu Qingchan for a long time, seeing her suddenly today touched his heart and brought a flood of thoughts to mind, inevitably leading to a state of wild imagination.

Such actions are all involuntary; if one is not careful, one's thoughts will wander and one will act spontaneously.

However, Chen Ping'an reacted very quickly. Under the mental shock, the exchange went smoothly without any problems.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, the two brought up the matter of Long'an.

The unrest in Long'an had far-reaching consequences, drawing considerable attention from various factions within both prefectures.

Even those separated by several states are quite concerned about this.

Chen Ping'an happened to be in Long'an and experienced the entire Long'an turmoil. Today, given the opportunity, Gu Qingchan asked him a few questions.

Of course, the conversation was mostly filled with concern and praise, and did not involve much information exchange.

In fact, Chen Ping'an's ranking of fifty-ninth on the Hidden Dragon List is due to the combat prowess he displayed in the Battle of Long'an.

In the battle of Long'an, he killed the evil master Heishan with his sword, and in a desperate move, he took the life of the evil master Fugu Po. He also joined forces with Du Moyuan to suppress and kill the demonic master Xue Ling Tongzi.

His impressive record propelled him into the top sixty of the Hidden Dragon Ranking.

In fact, if it weren't for the chaos in Long'an, his current combat strength would likely have remained hidden for some time. Even if he were to rise in the rankings of the Hidden Dragon Rankings, it's unlikely he would gain many places.

"I have received your letter."

During their conversation, Gu Qingchan's topic turned to the letter Chen Ping'an had sent earlier.

At that time, Chen Ping'an was in Long'an and sent two letters. One was because of the unrest in Long'an, and the other was because of his transfer.

In the second letter, besides mentioning the transfer, Chen Ping'an also mentioned his need to purchase Snow Spirit Leaves.

In addition to sending one to Gu Qingchan, Chen Ping'an also sent a letter to the Canglong Gu family.

In addition, there are
Once Chen Ping'an calmed down, the image of that breathtakingly beautiful, ethereal figure appeared in his mind.

In the past, he also wrote a letter to Gu Qingcheng, mentioning his upcoming transfer to Leiming, and also mentioning...
Invitation to Lei Ming!
By now, Gu Qingcheng should have received his letter.

"My Gu family's Ruyi Treasure Pavilion and the Five Blessings Chamber of Commerce of the Beihai Business Alliance do have some business dealings, but the relationship is not deep and the exchanges are not very close. The production of Snow Spirit Tea is limited, and now that the tea season has passed, it may not be easy to purchase it."

Gu Qingchan's reply was similar to Yao Guang's, both stating that the season for Snow Spirit Tea had passed, and it would be difficult to buy it at this time of year. However, it would be much easier next year; with some effort, it should be possible to procure some.

"However, since Snow Spirit Tea is beneficial to your cultivation, it is naturally better to buy it as soon as possible. If you wait until next year, you will have wasted a lot of time."

Unlike Yao Guang, Gu Qingchan offered many constructive suggestions, including several feasible approaches.

One option is to use the Five Blessings Chamber of Commerce as a channel, with the Gu family negotiating to see if there is any Snow Spirit Tea that hasn't been leaked. If so, they will use their connections and resources to buy it back at a high price.

The second step is for the Gu family to gather information and contact the grandmasters and powerful groups that have already purchased Snow Spirit Tea to see if they are willing to part with some of it.

The third approach is to start with the Zhenfu Division system, using the pretext that the treasury needs to be replenished with exchange materials, and see if some can be transferred from the Northern Zhenfu Division's treasury.

As the violent agency that governs the northern border, the Northern Garrison Command must possess Snow Spirit Tea in its treasury. However, the exact quantity and whether it can be obtained will only be known after further negotiations.

The fourth and final approach involves directly targeting the Snow God Palace. Elder Xuan, a founding member of the Gu family, had a close friend in his youth who later ventured into the Snow God Palace's territory, establishing his own power base and family. After that, they lost contact. It was rumored that his friend's family had become an affiliated force of the Snow God Palace.

Perhaps we could start with his friend.

Hearing Gu Qingchan's suggestions, Chen Ping'an was deeply moved, though he didn't show it.

All four methods require a great deal of energy, and involve taking care of family, spending time, effort, and personal relationships.

Most importantly, the outcome cannot be guaranteed.

The fact that the Gu family went to such lengths for him demonstrates how much they value him.

"You don't need to worry too much about this matter. With all four routes in place, we should achieve good results. I will inform you as soon as I have news." Gu Qingchan's skirt sleeves fell down, like icy blue embellishments.

"Thank you very much, Senior Gu, and thank you to all the elders. I am deeply grateful." Chen Ping'an bowed solemnly.

Gu Qingchan raised her hand slightly, revealing a section of her fair wrist, as smooth and lustrous as white jade.

"There's no need for that. You, I, and all the elders are one family. We share the same fate, and we share the same fate. This is nothing more than a trivial matter."

Snow Spirit Leaf greatly aided Chen Ping'an's cultivation.

If there is a sufficient supply of Snow Spirit Leaves, his breakthrough speed will be greatly improved.

He needs a large quantity, and without the help of distribution channels, even by next year's tea season, he probably won't be able to buy many Snow Spirit Leaves on his own.

During their conversation, Gu Qingchan mentioned not only those methods, but also several places where one is most likely to buy Snow Spirit Tea under normal circumstances.

Of these places, the one with the highest feasibility for Chen Ping'an at present is Xuanling Chongcheng in Xuanling Prefecture.

Xuanling City is the capital of Xuanling Prefecture and also a major commercial city. Unlike Canglong Prefecture, which is isolated by the Canglong Mountains, Xuanling Prefecture is adjacent to several other prefectures and is easily accessible from all directions.

Thanks to the unique geographical advantages of Xuanling Prefecture, coupled with the prefecture's focus on development and management, Xuanling Chongcheng has become a well-known commercial city.

Within the seventeen prefectures under the jurisdiction of the Bicang County Prince's Mansion, it is definitely a top-tier entity.

Its commerce is thriving, far surpassing that of Canglong Prefecture.

Some rare items, unavailable in ordinary large cities, are commonplace in Xuanling Heavy City. Furthermore, due to its established character, Xuanling Heavy City holds auctions from time to time.

Some high-profile auctions are even backed by well-known forces. These include the Bicang Chamber of Commerce under the jurisdiction of the Bicang County Prince's Mansion, the Wenxin Sword Pavilion whose influence extends across more than a dozen states, and the Hengshan Sect, which enjoys a high reputation in the region.

As for powerful figures like the Daqimen and Tianwuge, who roam freely across their respective states, that goes without saying.

In addition, some chambers of commerce from the Beihai Business Alliance would occasionally come over to join in the fun and auction off some rare items.

A confluence of factors has led to a proliferation of treasures within the Xuanling City. As for divine weapons alone, not only are ordinary divine weapons rare, but even powerful ones are not uncommon.

Top-tier divine weapons even appear at some large-scale auctions.

You can buy all sorts of rare and precious materials, high-grade minerals, rare medicines, and rare spiritual items here.

Xuanling City is renowned far and wide, often frequented by powerful figures from other states. Among them are many who stand at the pinnacle of the Grandmaster level, some even approaching or touching the level of the Wind and Cloud Ranking!
Even within the borders of various states, pseudo-celestial beings, rarely seen, occasionally appear in Xuanling City.

Legend has it that celestial beings still exist within the Xuanling City.

Of course, the specifics of this matter are unknown to outsiders.

However, judging from the scale of Xuanling City, the existence of a Celestial Martial Lord within it suggests that this matter is probably not unfounded.

Such enormous benefits, without the presence of a celestial being, might not be able to be protected!

After talking with Gu Qingchan for a long time, Chen Ping'an began to make some plans.

When I have some free time later, I might be able to visit Xuanling City.

Whether it's top-tier divine weapons or anything else, the resources he desires can perhaps be obtained in Xuanling Heavy City.

Besides Xuanling City, Gu Qingchan also mentioned the Azure Dragon Grand Ceremony, which will be held soon.

The Azure Dragon Grand Ceremony, held once every ten years, is a great honor for the Azure Dragon State City. Within the ceremony, there is also the Azure Dragon Auction, an auction that takes place only once a decade. In terms of scale, it may not be inferior to some of the top auctions in Xuanling City.

If Chen Pingan needs any rare or valuable supplies, he might want to try his luck here.

Of course, if it's regular supplies, or even supplies needed by ordinary grandmasters, the Gu family's Ruyi Treasure Pavilion can provide them in advance.

Through his conversation with Gu Qingchan, Chen Ping'an gained a considerable understanding. He had known about such matters before, but not in as much detail as Gu Qingchan had described.

"Thank you for your explanation, Senior Gu." Chen Ping'an smiled and bowed.

"It's alright." Gu Qingchan's demeanor was dignified and aloof, and the icy blue mark between her brows became even more striking.

"By the way, Senior Gu, there's something else I need to discuss with Ping An." Chen Ping An pondered for a moment, then mentioned another purpose of his trip.

Besides bringing back his divine weapon and longsword, he also sold off all the unnecessary supplies that needed to be disposed of secretly during his trip to the black market.

However, he still has a lot of supplies on him that can be openly disposed of through trading and selling.

Like the several Grandmasters he honorably slew in Long'an as Chen Ping'an, the valiant swordsman. And then there were the several demonic heretics he killed during his trip to the Thunder Mountains.

These things on them can all be dealt with openly without much concern.

The Gu family owns Ruyi Pavilion and is its biggest owner. With this connection, Chen Ping'an naturally wouldn't miss out.

Instead of selling off items one by one or dealing with them piecemeal, it's better to package them all together and give them to the customer for a clean transaction.

I believe the Gu family will not disappoint him and will offer a very sincere acquisition price.

"So that's what it is." Gu Qingchan pondered for a moment, "Let's take it out and have a look!"

"Thank you, Senior Gu." Chen Ping'an said, then reached out and, with a flash of spiritual light, many objects floated in front of him.

He had organized these items in advance, placing them in categories.

There are divine weapons and armor, great medicines and spiritual objects, elixirs and books, and other strange and unusual things.

Apart from the divine weapons, most of the supplies are not too expensive, but the sheer quantity makes them an enormous sum overall.

To prevent any oversights, Chen Ping'an did not mix the items from the masked old man with the others. Instead, he meticulously listed the obvious spoils.

The moment the object appeared, a look of surprise flashed in Gu Qingchan's eyes.

She hadn't expected Chen Ping'an to have so many items on him.

However, considering the number of Grandmasters who died at Chen Ping'an's hands, this makes sense.

"I never imagined that you would accumulate such a substantial fortune without me even noticing. At this rate, it probably won't be long before your wealth surpasses mine," Gu Qingchan teased, a rare occurrence for her.

Then, as Gu Qingchan's icy sleeves fell down, the supplies that had been floating in front of Chen Ping'an fell into her inventory.

By the time Chen Ping'an emerged from the Gu family's residence, it was already nearly dark.

He and Gu Qingchan talked at length, discussing not only the sale of supplies but also other matters. These included the latest Hidden Dragon Ranking, the customization of top-tier divine weapons, the bounty for slaying demons and heretics, and the current situation in Leiming. Their conversation covered a wide range of topics.

After Gu Qingchan inventoried the supplies that Chen Ping'an sold, they were eventually valued at over 30,000 crystals.

The majority of them were the Grandmasters he killed in the Thunder Mountains.

Of the divine weapons obtained from them, apart from the Yin Wind Knee Guard which Chen Ping'an kept, the other divine weapons also appeared in this unified package.

In addition, there were some resources and cultivation techniques they possessed, as well as pills and spiritual items that Chen Ping'an could not use.

These were all included in the packaged resources as materials that needed to be cleared out.

Characters like the Bone-Rotting Granny, the Blood Spirit Child, and Black Mountain also mostly have their supplies found here.

It is worth mentioning that Chen Ping'an also sold several of his Treasure Pouches and Thousand-Mechanism Bags in this transaction.

The Thousand-Mechanism Bag and the Hundred-Treasure Bag, as storage items, also possess considerable value. The Thousand-Mechanism Bag, in particular, is extremely valuable, and ordinary grandmasters may not have the financial means to wear it.

It's not that we can't afford it, it's just that there's no need for it. For an ordinary grandmaster, it's better to carry several treasure pouches than to buy a Thousand Machine Bag, as that would be more cost-effective.

Only when one reaches the level of a senior master will they start to pay attention to upgrading their storage items, from the Hundred Treasure Pouch to the Thousand Machine Bag.

Chen Ping'an has killed quite a few Grandmasters, so keeping so many Thousand Machine Bags and Hundred Treasure Bags is useless. It would be better to sell some of them and exchange them for disposable Yuan Crystals.

The valuation of over 30,000 crystals is not only due to the high value of the supplies packed by Chen Ping'an, but also inseparable from Gu Qingchan's sincere evaluation.

Otherwise, if the same goods were put on the market and sold piecemeal, the final price would likely be several times lower.

Chen Ping'an kept this in mind but didn't say much about it.

Some things are better left unsaid; just remember them. Instead of saying them, just do them!

After selling all these supplies, Chen Ping'an is now completely broke.

The only items left to sell were the divine weapon longsword that had already been sold once, the tattered illusion mask on the old man's body, and a few other resources. All things considered, their total value wasn't particularly high.

Aside from these, Chen Ping'an's other resources were all things he needed. For example, the Azure Flame Four Directions Command Flag, the Hundred Illusions Divine Blade, the Seven Luminaries Finger Gloves, the Mysterious Light Treasure Mirror, the Yin Wind Knee Guards, the Gray Fine Net, and the Green Bamboo Tube for combat.

There was also a black iron mask used to conceal one's identity.

To be honest, he hasn't had time to properly refine these newly acquired divine weapons yet, and he needs to refine them properly as soon as possible.

Besides these divine weapons, the rest were rare resources he had lured—no, traded—from the Heavenly Luo Saintess, such as Millennium Stone Milk and Bursting Yuan True Pill.

In addition, there were two monster carvings, some pills for warding off poison and healing wounds, and some books and miscellaneous items.

"Comfortable!"

Chen Ping'an sat on the vehicle, in a good mood.

It feels great to see the supplies handled so cleanly!

With the transaction of these supplies, the number of Yuan Crystals he could control officially exceeded 80,000!

However, to be precise, he currently has less than 80,000 Yuan Crystals.

Because the transaction involved such a large sum of money, Gu Qingchan only paid him half of the amount in Yuan Crystals upfront. The remaining Yuan Crystals would have to wait some time.

After all, this was just a base of operations for the Gu family in Thunder City, and their cash flow was far less abundant than it was in Azure Dragon Prefecture. Of course, it wasn't that they couldn't afford to pay such a sum of Yuan Crystals at their base in Thunder City. It was just that extracting such a large amount of Yuan Crystals for a transaction would affect the Gu family's businesses and assets in Thunder City.

Based on this, Gu Qingchan made separate payments only after negotiating with Chen Ping'an.

"This little rich girl isn't good enough either!" A smile appeared on Chen Ping'an's face.

He still remembers the look of surprise on Gu Qingchan's fair and smooth face after the supplies were inventoried.

Clearly, even though she was mentally prepared, Gu Qingchan hadn't expected the amount of goods Chen Ping'an was trading for to be so enormous. There were four divine weapons alone!

An amount exceeding 30,000 crystals is more than the wealth of an average grandmaster.

Of course, what Gu Qingchan didn't know was that Chen Ping'an had a cash flow of not 30,000, but 80,000!

A full 80,000 in cash flow!
It's about cash flow, not net worth!
If Gu Qingchan knew how wealthy and powerful Chen Ping'an was, the look of surprise on her face would have been even more obvious, rather than fleeting like before.

Of course, if Gu Qingchan really knew that Chen Ping'an had so much cash flow, she would probably have some doubts about his identity.

even
It's possible that people will revisit the image of the legendary Night Owl.

Of course, this was just wishful thinking. In reality, Gu Qingchan had no idea about Chen Ping'an's true wealth and background.

Although Chen Ping'an did not receive all the Yuan Crystals in this transaction, he still handed over all the supplies to Gu Qingchan out of trust.

With the transaction settled, Chen Ping'an took the opportunity to bring up the matter of customizing a divine weapon.

Although he possesses many divine weapons, he doesn't openly display any of them. Or rather, he lacks a suitable divine weapon to protect him.

Items like the Yin Wind Knee Pads, the previously harvested green bamboo tubes, and the gray fine net can all be brought out openly.

However, given his identity as a swordsman, he did not possess a suitable sword-type weapon for primary combat.

Given the circumstances and his current wealth and influence, it would be somewhat unreasonable for him not to mention this matter.

Chen Ping'an had already mentioned the matter of customizing divine weapons in his previous letters.

Gu Qingchan didn't seem surprised; this was reasonable and a normal demand.

During this conversation, Chen Ping'an refined the grade and function of the customized divine weapon. The requirement was also upgraded from the original high-quality, powerful divine weapon to a top-tier divine weapon.

Gu Qingchan acknowledged this, stating that the Gu family was currently coordinating the matter internally and believed that a positive outcome would likely be reached soon.

Chen Pingan expressed his gratitude.

With the Azure Flame Four Directions Command Flag, his need for top-tier divine weapons was somewhat alleviated. Especially the divine weapons that were publicly displayed; with his current combat power, one powerful divine weapon would actually be enough.

However, if he had a top-tier divine weapon to openly protect him, that could appropriately enhance his apparent combat power.

For example, with his mid-stage Jade Balance cultivation, he used secret techniques and the power of top-tier divine weapons to unleash combat power at the threshold of a Grandmaster or even the standard Grandmaster level.

This matter won't seem so shocking anymore!
After all, he was already a prodigy, and if he had external assistance, it wouldn't be surprising if his combat power exceeded expectations.

The obvious approach to dealing with the divine weapon could be approached from the perspectives of the Gu family, trade channels, and the Zhenfu Division. But for the covert approach, he needed to change his strategy.

Perhaps the once-a-decade Azure Dragon Festival, along with the top-tier auction in Xuanling City, would be a good channel.

With his current combat strength, he already looks down on most divine weapons except for top-tier ones. Especially after going to great lengths to acquire one, if he ends up with a powerful divine weapon, even a high-quality one, he'll still feel it's lacking.

While powerful, high-quality weapons offer him some assistance, the overall help is minimal, better than nothing.

Only top-tier divine weapons can provide him with significant assistance.

As for the treasure
Not to mention that.

However, this is something that can only be obtained by chance, and it is not something that can be auctioned off simply by having money!
Even if there are exceptionally large, top-tier auctions featuring priceless treasures, such competition is beyond the reach of ordinary grandmasters.

Those qualified to participate in the competition are at least Grandmasters of the Wind and Cloud Realm, or at the Pseudo-Celestial Realm level. If others rashly participate, not only is it questionable whether they have the financial resources, but even if they did, they might have the means to buy the items but not the life to enjoy them!
Without a powerful force or strong backing, recklessly vying for such a treasure would be tantamount to courting death!
Chen Ping'an doesn't have any powerful background; all he can rely on is his own strength!

"It'll be soon! It'll be soon!" Chen Ping'an's thoughts shifted, but his expression remained calm.

Once he advances further in his cultivation level, he will have enough confidence to compete for such a valuable treasure!
Through his conversation with Gu Qingchan, he gained a deeper understanding of the situation and the ecosystem of interests in Leiming City.

However, while he was aware of the matter, he had no interest in getting involved.

Now that he has been transferred to Leiming and is among the Leiming giants, as long as his interests are not diminished, he doesn't care much about other things.

Serving in the Zhenfu Division system not only grants power and a legitimate title, but also entails substantial benefits from the corresponding salary and commission.

These profits are closely related to his position and the power he wields.

As he now sits in Leiming as the Chief Inspector, even if he doesn't get involved in matters of interest or make any promises, others won't let him remain aloof; they will try every means to tie him to the chariot of interests!

This matter has nothing to do with political stance, but rather with the security of the system.

Those who can survive in an ecosystem of self-interest, even if they harbor lone courage, will blend in with the world.

Chen Ping'an had no intention of taking any stance; he came to Leiming simply to cultivate properly. If conditions permitted and he had the time, he would also take care of a few practical matters.

Besides these topics, Chen Ping'an also saw the latest Hidden Dragon Ranking on Gu Qingchan's page.

He had come to Leiming without having seen the complete version of the Hidden Dragon Ranking, and he only heard about the rankings from others.

As the jade materialized, rankings of the hidden prodigies appeared before Chen Ping'an's eyes.

Unsurprisingly, the top spot on the Hidden Dragon Ranking remains unchanged: Tian Jiu Dao Zi, Feng Ling Yin.

The top-ranked individuals on the list remained largely unchanged: Jiang Wuyai, the Sword Master of the Void; Dugu Yiren, the Holy Maiden of the Five Poisons; Xuan Yueli, the Holy Maiden of the Profound Ice; Lu Mengyao, the Secret Transmission of the Medicine King; and Ruan Yushu, the Great Sage's Legacy.
These individuals possess special physical attributes, making them far more powerful than their peers and allowing them to consistently rank among the top on the Hidden Dragon List.

Compared to the previous update of the Hidden Dragon Ranking, the combat strength of these individuals has not changed significantly. Furthermore, no further combat achievements have been disclosed in the Hidden Dragon Ranking information.

It might seem like they're standing still, not moving an inch. But given their level of cultivation, that's absolutely impossible!
Such prodigies progress by leaps and bounds, improving every single day, and reaching a new level each day.

There will absolutely be no situation where one stagnates. Even if one's cultivation level is stuck at a bottleneck, external means and protective items can be added from time to time.

The fact that there were no changes in combat power on the Hidden Dragon Ranking simply means that they haven't encountered opponents who fought at full strength. Many of them have been holding back some of their combat power.

Just as Chen Ping'an demonstrated!
However, given their circumstances, it's unlikely they would be as secretive as Chen Ping'an.

The top-ranked individuals may possess hidden skills, but these are likely just trump cards or trump cards, rather than their usual combat abilities and martial arts prowess.

In addition, Chen Ping'an noticed that the ranking of Tianluo Saintess's hidden dragons had changed.

He moved up one place from ninth to eighth in the Hidden Dragon rankings, replacing Yin Shangjin, the former young master of the Blood Prison Gate.

The ninth position of the Heavenly Luo Saintess was taken by an unknown, monstrous genius.

Yin Shangjin's position also dropped from eighth to tenth in the Hidden Dragons.

The changes in these three individuals represent all the changes among the top ten prodigies on the Hidden Dragon Ranking.

"The rankings of the top ten on the Hidden Dragon List are really quite stable."

In the battle of Long'an, under the influence of Yuexi Ling Palm and Ziqi Tianluo, Tianluo Saintess displayed unparalleled combat power that reached the level of Fengyun Grandmaster, overpowering a group of senior experts.

Even so, it only moved her up one place in the rankings, placing her eighth in the Hidden Dragons.

The combat strength of the top eight prodigies in the Hidden Dragon competition is self-evident.

Chen Ping'an even suspected that several of them could have moved up in the rankings of the Grandmaster Rankings. It was just that they hadn't demonstrated any combat prowess, which was why there hadn't been any updates.

These prodigies must all aspire to greatness, and they don't care much about the mere ranking of Grandmaster.

Previously, their inclusion on the list was mostly due to their status as sacred sites of sects, in order to boost their prestige!
Of course, this is just Chen Ping'an's conjecture. The world is vast, and there are bound to be some geniuses with very different personalities and temperaments who may have different ideas.

Chen Ping'an paid more attention to the Heavenly Luo Saintess.

Compared to the other prodigies at the forefront of the Hidden Dragon Sect, the Holy Maiden of Heavenly Luo had never cultivated any True Skill Scrolls.

If it weren't for the existence of genuine skill scrolls, it wouldn't be so bad, but given the Tianluo Sect's foundation, this is clearly not very plausible.

"The Uncultivated True Skill Scroll, Purple-Eyed Demon Lord, the Demon Lord's Secret Treasure."

Recalling their encounter not long ago in the Demon Lord's secret realm, Chen Ping'an's changing gaze gave him a vague idea of ​​the other party's thoughts.

"This Qu Feiyan probably has a grand plan in mind!"

While Chen Ping'an was looking at the rankings of the Heavenly Luo Saintess Qianlong, Gu Qingchan obviously noticed them as well.

"Qu Feiyan, the current Holy Maiden of the Tianluo Sect, is hailed as the sect's greatest prodigy in nearly three thousand years! In the battle of Long'an, she severely injured Nie Yunlong and suppressed several Grandmasters in a one-against-many fight, displaying astonishing combat power that touched the level of the Wind and Cloud Grandmasters. If it weren't for the appearance of a mysterious expert, the consequences would have been unimaginable." When mentioning this, a layer of mist seemed to appear in Gu Qingchan's bright, star-like eyes, like the shimmering waves of spring water, revealing a hint of tenderness.

The battle in Bei Cang left Tianluo Saintess as a haunting shadow for her. The battle in Long An, however, saw Senior Night Owl not only defeat Tianluo Saintess but also erase the shadow from her heart, becoming a lifelong healer for her.

Chen Ping'an noticed the change in Gu Qingchan's thoughts. The beautiful woman in the palace dress, who was originally full of coldness and majesty, seemed to have become more gentle and soft at this moment.

However, Gu Qingchan quickly realized her lapse in composure, her gaze clear and cold, regaining her original aloof and dignified demeanor.

"Chen Ping'an, you were in Long'an at the time, so you must have witnessed the splendor of that battle!"

Chen Ping'an didn't know what Gu Qingchan meant by bringing this up. He smiled wryly and said cautiously, "At the time, I was fighting a fierce battle with the evil master Heishan and didn't witness the splendor of this battle. However, I heard my colleagues mention it afterward. It was incredibly exciting and shocking."

"What was their assessment?" Gu Qingchan asked, looking into Chen Ping'an's eyes.

"The Heavenly Luo Saintess, with her monstrous beauty, fought against the older generation of powerful figures. Her talent and wisdom are truly moving!" Chen Ping'an felt a chill in his heart, thinking that Gu Qingchan was testing him again.

"So, what's your opinion?"

"Ping An shares this view," Chen Ping An replied in a conventional manner.

After hearing Chen Ping'an's answer, Gu Qingchan seemed somewhat unhappy. Although she did not show any obvious reaction, the emotions in her eyes reflected her inner changes.

"How could you have such a thought? If it weren't for that mysterious powerhouse, the situation in Long'an would be unpredictable, and how many more people would have perished at the hands of evil demons and heretics? Having received such a great favor from that mysterious powerhouse, when evaluating him, you only focus on Qu Feiyan and the prodigy with extraordinary talent, but not on that powerhouse!? What kind of logic is that!?"

Chen Ping'an finally understood; it turned out that Gu Qingchan was standing up for that mysterious powerful figure.

"Senior is right. Ping An is too attached to appearances." Chen Ping An did not argue and bowed his head in agreement.

Seeing Chen Ping'an's reaction, Gu Qingchan's expression softened slightly: "However, this matter cannot be blamed on you. Qu Feiyan is a prodigy, standing at the pinnacle of the dynasty's geniuses. As a contemporary, it is only right that you pay more attention to her. I hope that one day you can also reach that level. Even if there is a gap in the end, you must strive to achieve it and make great progress!"
Talented individuals vie for supremacy, and hidden dragons contend for destiny; in this great era, you too deserve a place!

"Yes, Ping An will certainly live up to your expectations!"

"Cultivate diligently! Never be arrogant or complacent. If one day you can touch Qu Feiyan's back, then I will be satisfied and can grant you a gift or do you a favor!" Gu Qingchan was dressed in an ice-blue flowing fairy dress, which made her look like a goddess descended from the heavens, surrounded by a cool and ethereal aura.

Her skin was as smooth as ice and her bones as white as jade; she was dazzling and radiant.

"I will do my utmost to improve this matter!" Chen Ping'an respectfully agreed.

Recalling Gu Qingchan's previous words, a smile appeared on Chen Ping'an's face.

Unexpectedly, this visit also yielded a promise in return.

Touching Qu Feiyan's back?

His current achievements are nothing compared to Qu Feiyan's shadow. Just recently, the two had a good time together.

Although the result was somewhat unexpected, the process was genuine.

What does it matter if it's a back view or not? What part of Qu Feiyan's body hasn't he touched?

Chen Pingan thought to himself with a touch of wicked humor.

However, he quickly regained his composure, smiled and shook his head, his thoughts returning to the cultivation of the True Skill Scroll.

Is there something you need me to do?
Gu Qingchan, you really dare to make that promise!

Rolling around~
The carriage moved slowly toward the Thunderous Garrison.

(End of this chapter)