The Great Martial Saint!

Chapter 612 Reunion with Qingchan, Past Karma (Seeking monthly votes~)

Inside the mansion, guards and servants patrolled the area.

Whoosh!
In a place unnoticed by anyone, a figure flashed by. The speed of the figure was indescribable; even if an ordinary person saw it, they probably wouldn't catch a glimpse of it.

Without a sound, the figure left the courtyard.

This figure was none other than Chen Ping'an, who had changed his appearance.

At Chen Ping'an's level, even if ordinary people see him, he can manipulate his spiritual energy and confuse their senses so that they are completely unaware of him.

However, at the Grandmaster level, such methods become less effective. Grandmasters possess spiritual perception, and their senses only perceive a portion of the external world.

Whether or not it will succeed depends on the spiritual gap between the two parties.

Normally, ordinary grandmasters cannot obscure the senses and intuition of a grandmaster; they can only serve to conceal it to some extent.

Only top-tier grandmasters, or even supreme grandmasters, can confuse the senses of ordinary grandmasters. However, even seasoned grandmasters are powerless against it.

However, this scenario assumes that the two individuals have met face-to-face and the difference is immediately apparent. Under normal circumstances, even a senior master would find it difficult to detect a Grandmaster's skillful concealment.

Disrupting one's train of thought and confusing one's senses are tactics used only in emergency situations.

With Chen Ping'an's current abilities, even if a Grandmaster were present, it would be difficult for him to detect his presence. As long as they didn't meet face-to-face, it wouldn't be a problem for him to sneak all the way to the Gu family's residence.

Within this Thunder City, there are many Grandmasters, but only a handful are Great Grandmasters. Among these Great Grandmasters, the strongest is none other than Gu Qingchan, an elder of the Gu family.

Previously, when Gu Qingchan first arrived at Leiming, she had also established her prestige by defeating two Grandmasters in a one-against-two battle.

From then on, Gu Qingchan became the strongest person in Thunder City on the surface!
As for whether there are other hidden experts in the shadows, Chen Ping'an didn't know; as of now, he hadn't encountered any.

While there are hidden powerhouses in this world, in reality, there aren't that many.

Even celestial beings who transcend worldly affairs rarely choose to remain secluded or hide away.

As long as one still pursues the path of martial arts, there is a very high probability that one will not leave the circle one belongs to. Even when traveling outside, there will often be exchanges and correspondence between circles.

Under the cover of night, Chen Ping'an's figure moved constantly.

Although speed is his weakness, it is still something that ordinary grandmasters cannot match.

Soon, Chen Ping'an arrived at the Gu family's residence.

Compared to other places, the guards at the Gu family's residence were undoubtedly much stricter.

However, in front of Chen Ping'an, even the most stringent guards were no match for him.

Having already familiarized himself with the routes and layout of the area during his two previous visits, Chen Ping'an's entry this time was naturally seamless.

Given his spiritual foundation, while knowing the route and layout in advance wouldn't be of much help, it would undoubtedly save a lot of time.

"I hope this trip will be a complete success!" Chen Ping'an's black robe billowed as he swiftly traversed the Gu family's territory.

hum~
A pale blue light swirled around her, and the mark between her brows shimmered with spiritual light, making Gu Qingchan's face glow, as if she were not of this world.

After an unknown amount of time, the spiritual light gradually dimmed, and Gu Qingchan slowly opened her eyes, revealing a pair of light blue bright eyes, like starlight in the Milky Way.

Driven by her emotions, she sketched out the image of destiny, and her cultivation progressed by leaps and bounds.

Not long ago, she made another breakthrough and successfully inscribed her fifth spirit rune.

Five spiritual runes, if one were to advance further, would be the Jade Balance Perfection in the traditional sense, qualifying one to attempt a breakthrough.

However, given her background, she is clearly not content with just that.

If she were to break through to the next realm, seven spirit runes would only be the foundation. If possible, she would borrow the power of Senior Night Owl to merge her soul with his, using eight spirit runes as a foundation to step into the third stage of breaking through to the next realm and attempt to break through!

Light gauze curtains, fragrant mist.

Gu Qingchan moved gracefully and sat down on the elaborately decorated bed.

A magnificent palace dress cascaded down like a sunset, its flowing hem resembling a breathtakingly beautiful blooming flower.

Gu Qingchan closed her eyes gently, her butterfly-like eyelashes trembling slightly. Her thoughts drifted, as if she were immersed in a beautiful and ethereal dream.

"It seems I've come at the wrong time!" A deep, hoarse voice echoed in the room.

who! ?
Gu Qingchan suddenly opened her eyes, her gaze filled with icy coldness.

A pale blue mark between his brows, shimmering with spiritual light, shines brightly, ready to unleash a devastating attack at any moment.

She cultivated the Mysterious Maiden's Heart Method, possessing abundant spirituality and unparalleled sensitivity. Even if a supreme grandmaster were to arrive in person, it would be impossible for her to remain completely unaware.

The person who could appear silently in her palace was no ordinary person, and it was no exaggeration to pay them any attention!

If it were an ordinary person, they would have already turned pale by now, but Gu Qingchan's eyes were cold and her expression was calm, with light blue true energy flowing around her.

Her foundation is extraordinary. Now she has five spirit runes engraved on her body and top-tier divine weapons by her side. Her combat power has reached the level of a supreme grandmaster.

But at this moment, faced with the sudden threat, she had no confidence whatsoever.

Just as she was tense and preparing to give it her all, she saw the figure that appeared in front of her.

That familiar scent eased her mind, like a taut string suddenly relaxing. Her cold, unspoken gaze was instantly replaced by joy, filled with an indescribable radiance.

"Senior Night Owl!"

Gu Qingchan's face lit up with joy, and she exclaimed in delight.

After many days, seeing her beloved Senior Night Owl again filled her with immense joy and excitement.

Chen Ping'an, dressed in a black robe, stood in front of Gu Qingchan, thinking to himself, "I never expected Gu Qingchan to have this side to her."

The gleam in her eyes and the inexplicable joy on her face—if this were outside, who would believe that this was Gu Qingchan, an elder of the Gu family and a woman with the majesty of a queen!
Chen Ping'an remained silent, instead sensing Gu Qingchan's cultivation level.

Previously, he was mindful of his own status and knew that if he investigated rashly, Gu Qingchan might discover something. Therefore, he only vaguely sensed that Gu Qingchan's cultivation level had broken through, without delving into the details.

Now, standing here as Night Owl, Chen Ping'an naturally had no fear whatsoever, carefully sensing Gu Qingchan's condition.

Noticing Senior Night Owl's unbridled spiritual probing, Gu Qingchan felt no discomfort whatsoever; on the contrary, she seemed somewhat cooperative.

The sudden appearance of Senior Night Owl filled her with joy and surprise.

Furthermore, Senior Night Owl's level of cultivation also confirmed her previous guess.

Back in the battle of Long'an, it was Senior Night Owl who defeated the Holy Maiden of Tianluo!

"Five spirit runes! How could it be so fast?" Chen Ping'an wondered, feeling strange and puzzled.

Despite the strangeness, Chen Ping'an's expression remained unchanged.

His expression, concealed by the black robe, remained calm, composed, and self-assured.

Could it be that he or she has encountered some kind of extraordinary opportunity?
Chen Ping'an made his own guess.

If it were because the speed of breakthroughs was fast before, that would be understandable. It only took less than two years to go from the middle stage of Yuheng to the late stage of Yuheng.

However, after entering the late stage of Yuheng and becoming a Grandmaster, he was still able to maintain such a speed of progress. Such progress left Chen Ping'an speechless.

Gu Qingchan's cultivation progress seems a bit unreasonable no matter how you look at it.

Even though Gu Qingchan was exceptionally talented before, her cultivation of the Mysterious Maiden's Heart Method was somewhat delayed. Now that the Heart Method is nearing perfection and her cultivation speed has returned to normal, this speed is still far too exaggerated.

Aside from chance, any other reason seems rather dubious.

After some investigation, Chen Ping'an still couldn't figure it out.

However, since I can't figure it out, I might as well stop thinking about it for now.

The world's great wonders.

There are always things that are beyond our comprehension and experience.

He didn't come here this time to investigate Gu Qingchan's cultivation level.

"Your progress is quite good!" Chen Ping'an commented, raising his hand to reveal a treasure pouch that swept out from his black robe.

The treasure pouch contained five hundred yuan crystals, not a penny more, not a penny less, just the right amount.

"Here are five hundred Yuan Crystals, which I lent to you before!" Chen Ping'an's voice was low and hoarse. With a wave of his hand, the Hundred Treasures Pouch went toward Gu Qingchan.

"Senior." Gu Qingchan's face was delicate, as if she wanted to say something to decline.

However, after hesitating for a moment, he finally accepted the five hundred yuan crystals.

The treasure pouch carries the scent of the late-night snack master.

"Senior, is there something important that brings you here tonight? I have been here for many days and have a deep understanding of Lei Ming. If you need anything, I am willing to do my best to help you."

Gu Qingchan smiled gently, her body soft and graceful, her eyes subtly gleaming with a strange light.

Since their parting in Canglong Prefecture City that day, she had never seen her senior again.

The figure she had been longing for appeared so vividly before her, and she felt she had a thousand words to say.

"I came here on my way through Leiming, remembering what happened before, to settle the karmic debt." Chen Ping'an, his body shrouded in black robes, spoke in a hoarse, low voice, devoid of any emotion.

Hearing this, Gu Qingchan felt somewhat disappointed.

However, her face soon lit up with a bright glow. Her palace dress trailed on the ground, and she moved gracefully to stand before her senior.

"I will remember your kindness for the rest of my life and never forget it. Your affairs are my affairs. What happened before was nothing but a trivial matter. Why should we talk about cause and effect?"

Gu Qingchan's breath was fragrant, and her face was rosy, as if she wanted to express her feelings.

Chen Ping'an stood there, expressionless, and did not respond.

At this moment, Gu Qingchan was only an arm's length away from him. Her figure was slender and graceful, her palace dress was gorgeous, and her delicate fragrance lingered around his nose, giving him a warm feeling.

He truly hadn't expected Gu Qingchan to have this side to her. The woman who had previously been breathtakingly beautiful and elegant was now gazing at him with rosy cheeks and a soft, delicate beauty.

At this moment, all titles such as "this palace" and "this concubine" were absent, just like a naive young girl shyly pouting in front of her lover.

"This woman," Chen Ping'an thought clearly, and naturally wouldn't be deceived by appearances.

He didn't think he had such great charm. Gu Qingchan's ability to become a Grandmaster so quickly and make such remarkable progress was due to her own good fortune.

Those who become great masters are all of clear mind and firm path; how could they be like ordinary men and women, yearning for matters of love?

Even if there is some affection, it is mostly tinged with calculation.

Gu Qingchan's attitude this time is likely due to some other reason.

However, whether Gu Qingchan acted this way or not was of little concern to him. He was here simply to achieve his own goals. If he could use her for something, he would; if not, he would use benefits to persuade her and achieve an interaction.

"This matter is now gone with the wind, Fairy Gu need not worry about it," Chen Ping'an said in a low, hoarse voice.

The two hadn't seen each other for several days, so they exchanged a few words.

Chen Ping'an was in no hurry to reveal the true purpose of his trip.

Firstly, the night is long, and he has plenty of time; there's no need to rush.

Secondly, excessive exposure of demand can easily lead to setbacks and adverse effects.

He doesn't have an omniscient perspective; being in the thick of things, he often can't see them clearly. His numerous deductions are mostly based on his own knowledge as clues, meticulously analyzing and peeling back the layers.

Gu Qingchan seemed to be interested in him, but the Grandmaster was shrewd and calculating; who knew what she was really thinking?

If we could easily trust someone based on appearances, then this world would be far too easy to navigate.

He didn't think of himself as a protagonist in a biographical novel, whose domineering aura would attract countless beauties and admiration.

Even if Gu Qingchan is interested in him, she might not be so easy to talk to if it involves interests.

In this world, those who are obsessed with love are ultimately only a very small minority.

Most of these traits are found in the second, third, and fourth generations who are not planning to take over the family business. They are innocent and carefree, full of curiosity about the world. Because they have only experienced kindness, they also perceive kindness.

Without the hustle and bustle, and by judging others by oneself, there is warmth and brightness.

Those who become grandmasters have all experienced life and death and undergone countless trials. Even those from prominent families and those who have received the true teachings of renowned lineages have seen too much cruelty, the unpredictability of human nature, and the scheming and plotting of others.

To call someone "love-struck" is to be incredibly disrespectful.

It's true that he was kind to Gu Qingchan, but to say that it went to the point of being devoted to her for life is undoubtedly a bit of an exaggeration.

This world is ultimately cold and realistic.

Aside from those who are soulmates in life and death, where else can one find so much kindness and so much willingness to sacrifice everything?

Biographies can be embellished because the protagonists of destiny are always the ones destined to stand until the end. Everything surrounding them is a great fortune of heaven and earth that helps them grow.

But ordinary people don't have that much good fortune. Unity, friendliness, and mutual help are the minority; mutual strife and calculation are the norm.

Sometimes, the absence of infighting and scheming isn't due to good luck, but rather because one's position hasn't yet risen to the point where scheming is necessary.

If the desired goal can be achieved through more direct language and violence, why bother with scheming?

Or perhaps, one's own interests are not strong enough to warrant others' elaborate schemes.

Of course, truth, goodness, and beauty still exist in the world! However, as we journey through life, the shining points of humanity become all the more precious.

Biographies can embellish, make things seem plausible, and provide support, but they cannot embellish reality!
Judging from Chen Ping'an's own experience, since he rose from humble beginnings, he has come into contact with a great many people and things.

But those who can truly live in harmony without cunning or scheming are few and far between.

Looking at the women he's been in contact with, aside from Er Ya, upon careful consideration, there's probably only Wan Jun.

But there was only one Wan Jun.

The bonds of friendship built from humble beginnings are far superior to those formed after one has gained power!
Apart from Wan Jun, even Gu Qingcheng, with whom he was already engaged, he had no idea what she was plotting or whether she had ulterior motives towards him.

A marriage contract is a marriage contract, and experiences are experiences. Without the experience of sharing life and death and relying on each other, it is difficult to build an extremely strong emotional bond.

Without sharing hardships and facing life and death together, even if they get married in the future, it will be difficult to establish a close and platonic relationship.

Things like always thinking of others are probably just empty words.

Everyone has their own plans and needs. Without complete trust and love, how can anyone be so considerate?
Even the Heavenly Luo Saintess, with whom he shared a thousand-year dream and a shared injury mechanism, dared not harbor any such hopes.

However, it's not true that I'm always thinking of him; it's definitely true that I'm taking good care of his health.

Perhaps, in other people's eyes, this is what it means to be considerate in every way?
Chen Ping'an's thoughts were somewhat scattered.

He exchanged a few words with Gu Qingchan, and his voice was no longer as cold and hard as before; there was a hint of harmony in their conversation.

Gu Qingchan was quite pleased with this.

Chen Pingan couldn't figure out Gu Qingchan's psychology, nor did he speculate too much.

During the conversation, Gu Qingchan asked about the mysterious expert who fought against the Heavenly Luo Saintess in the Battle of Long'an. Was he a senior?

"It is indeed me."

Chen Pingan did not deny it and agreed directly.

Since it's a transaction, we naturally need to demonstrate our strength to avoid any unfounded thoughts or intentions that Qidian shouldn't have.

Although he trusts Gu Qingchan, it is clear that he does not trust her completely.

As for how far this trust can grow, that depends on how the two of them interact from now on.

"Truly a senior!" Gu Qingchan's eyes lit up with joy, her heart fluttering with the promise of spring.

She had suspected this for a long time, and was quite certain of it before. But no matter how certain she was, it was never as convincing as an admission from the person involved.

In the battle of Long'an, the Holy Maiden of Tianluo displayed unparalleled combat power, severely injuring Nie Yunlong, the guardian of Long'an. She fought against many opponents and suppressed several Grandmasters, seemingly aiming to replicate the battle of Beicang, where she fought against seven opponents and killed two Grandmasters.

If it weren't for Nie Yunlong, the garrison commander of Long'an, providing timely rescue, those seven grandmasters would probably have perished there.

And she
He was one of those seven grandmasters.

At that time, black veils filled the sky and ribbons fluttered. The figure of the Heavenly Maiden was like an incomparable celestial being, leaving an indelible impression on her heart and becoming a wisp of shadow on her path of cultivation.

Even though a long time has passed, this matter remains unforgettable in her heart.

Normally it would be fine, but whenever a pass was breached, the details of the battle would resurface in her mind.

The Heavenly Saintess, her face veiled in black gauze, her purple eyes sparkling like stars, wore a long black dress, her figure graceful and her curves exquisite, like a meticulously carved piece of black jade.

She is the contemporary Holy Maiden of the Tianluo Sect, hailed as a once-in-three-thousand-years prodigy of the sect, ranked eighth among the Hidden Dragons, and possesses unparalleled talent and brilliance.

After the battle of Beicang, he broke through the pass and achieved the Grandmaster realm. In the Thunder Mountain Range, he seriously injured Feng Yuanxiang, the Grand Elder of the Canglong Prefecture's Zhenfu Division, who wielded the Yin-Yang Two Elements Sword, displaying near-peak combat power.

In the battle of Long'an, he seriously injured Nie Yunlong, the garrison commander of Long'an, avenging his previous grudge and displaying his prowess as a prodigy.

Such a person became a shadow in her heart.

It's hard to imagine that anyone could defeat such a person, in a fair and square manner.

Can.
Senior Night Owl did it.

A single punch can shatter a mountain; a single battle can shake the heavens and earth!

If it weren't for the update of the Grandmaster Ranking, which requires defeating those on the list, given the combat power Senior Night Owl displayed in Long'an, he would probably have already made it onto the Grandmaster Ranking.

To become a true and legendary grandmaster!
Gu Qingchan couldn't contain her emotions, and the gloom in her heart vanished.

With her heartstrings tied to love, she sketched out the destined image of Senior Night Owl, using love to enter the path of cultivation, and embarked on a perilous journey of cultivating both body and spirit.

From the day her destiny was formed, Senior Night Owl was her destined one, her soulmate in life and death.

Daoist partners are one. When Senior Night Owl suppressed the Heavenly Luo Saintess, it was as if she had avenged her previous grudge by suppressing the Heavenly Luo Saintess together.

The previous gloom has naturally dissipated, and the future holds a vast expanse of green mountains and clear waters, with boundless beauty.

"That Ruyi Linglong Ring is in your possession, senior." Gu Qingchan suppressed the excitement in her heart, her cheeks flushed with a charming blush, and her eyes shone with a mesmerizing light.

In the previous battle, she was defeated by the Holy Maiden of Tianluo, and the Ruyi Linglong Ring also fell into the hands of the Holy Maiden of Tianluo.

Rumors about the Battle of Long'an circulated, though not widely, but she still learned of them.

The Heavenly Maiden is at a disadvantage in battle, and one of her divine weapons has been lost and fallen into the hands of a mysterious powerful figure.

“Not bad,” Chen Pingan replied in a low voice.

"Senior, Qingchan has a request. This Ruyi Linglong Ring once belonged to Qingchan. Could you please part with it? Qingchan is willing to exchange it for something else." Gu Qingchan's cheeks were flushed, as if she were shy.

If there were other people present, they would never believe that the Ice Soul Divine Needle, which resembles a goddess descending to earth and possesses a cool and aloof demeanor, would have such an appearance.

Unfortunately, this magnificent scene can only be witnessed by one person in the entire world.

"It's here!" Chen Ping'an thought to himself, knowing that the real show of the night was finally about to begin.

"Since that's the case, then I won't hesitate to do you a favor, but I don't know..." Chen Ping'an's voice was low and slow, like a heavy hammer, each word resounding in the palace.

Beneath his black robe, he slowly raised his head, revealing a decaying face, withered and emaciated like tree bark, deeply furrowed. A pair of murky eyes fell upon Gu Qingchan's beautiful face, scanning it intently as if they were tangible: "Does Fairy Gu possess anything I require?"

Feeling the unbridled gazes before her, Gu Qingchan felt a slight sense of panic.

But her initial panic quickly turned into anticipation. She tilted her head back slightly, revealing her jade-like neck, fair and lustrous, utterly enchanting.

"As long as Qingchan has it, Senior can take whatever she wants."

Inside the palace, the dim light illuminated Gu Qingchan's face, making it appear delicate and rosy, as soft and beautiful as rosy clouds. She wore a light blue palace dress, inlaid with shimmering pearls and gemstones, carrying the depth of the starry sky and a touch of indescribable dreaminess.

Gu Qingchan's bright eyes were like stars, adorned with dreams, seemingly holding the most beautiful emotions in the world. Her eyes held a hint of shyness, as well as a touch of determination.

A hint of anticipation lingered beneath her shy demeanor.

That night was as beautiful as a dream.

(End of this chapter)