The Great Martial Saint!

Chapter 621 The Trip to the Gu Family, A Sword Prodigy (Seeking Monthly Tickets~)

"Has the Mangdao arrived at Canglong?"

"When did it happen?"

"Why did he arrive so quickly?! He's only been in office at Lei Ming for a short time!"

"Go check where they are now."

"."

Not long after Chen Ping'an left the Canglong Prefecture Garrison, various factions in the prefecture learned of his return to Canglong Prefecture.

Some truly top-tier forces learned of this matter as soon as Chen Ping'an's carriage entered Canglong Prefecture City. However, for second-tier forces, the dissemination and verification of various information required time, resulting in a significant lag in overall intelligence.

Gu Qingcheng's breakthrough and the return of the valiant Chen Ping'an have brought about some changes in the situation in Canglong Prefecture.

With Chen Ping'an's current influence, he wields immense power even in Canglong Prefecture, the central city of a prefecture.

To the truly elite figures, the "Hidden Dragon Prodigies" are merely the prodigies of the younger generation.

But to the vast majority of forces within Canglong Prefecture, Chen Ping'an, the Brute Blade, was far more than just a rising star. He was a powerful figure in the prefecture, wielding influence, fame, and fortune!

He was only half a step away from becoming a core senior executive at the deputy director level!

"The Mangdao is back?"

Inside the Azure Dragon King's residence, Wang Siyuan felt a bitter taste in his mouth, and the figure in his heart became clearer and clearer.

So many days and nights of longing and yearning, yet in the end, we had neither the chance nor the destiny.

"Wild Blade"

At the Xue family residence in Canglong, Xue Zirou gazed at the garden full of flowers, her expression complex, her eyes subtly revealing a different kind of emotion.

Inside the Jinmu Rare Treasures Shop, Mu Chenjie was organizing the account books and handling various matters in an orderly manner.

Over the years, as he has grown older, he has passed the stage of striving for the top spot. As he approaches the end of his time on the list, he has gradually focused his main energy on the family business.

He participated in every link of the family's business industry, gradually exploring and becoming a solid component of the family's vast network of interests.

Through trials and tribulations, one gradually accumulates experience and transforms from the family's contemporary prodigy to a core member of the family. Through continuous practice, one acquires relevant cultivation resources and earns family contribution points by completing family tasks, ultimately growing step by step to the position of family elder.

Before him, generations of clan elders had all lived this way.

From prodigy to backbone member, to mainstay, and then to elder of the clan.
One generation after another, the tradition continues unbroken, generation after generation.

Mu Chenjie, nicknamed "Qingcheng," looked wistful, yet his expression held a hint of anticipation.

Gu Qingcheng, the top rookie and the pride of the Gu family, broke through her cultivation level, causing the emotions he had finally managed to suppress to surge once more.

No amount of restraint during countless days and nights could compare to that one casual expression of longing; just that one time, and it surged forth like a tidal wave, impossible to contain.

For a family like the Gu family, the birth of a Grandmaster is not unusual, but Gu Qingcheng's breakthrough, with her potential to become a rising star, has led to her reaching the Jade Balance Grandmaster realm. Under these circumstances, the Gu family will inevitably hold a promotion ceremony.

The Mu family has always been the biggest supporter of the Gu family. Given the relationship between the two families, as the eldest son of the family and a contemporary prodigy, he is bound to have the opportunity to participate in Qingcheng's promotion ceremony.

At that time, perhaps
He could see his beloved's face again, which would soothe his longing.

The melancholy in Mu Chenjie's expression gradually faded, replaced by an increasingly intense look of anticipation.

"Chen Jie, you're here!" A man entered from outside the door, his face stern and imposing.

"Uncle." Mu Chenjie snapped out of his reverie, saw the person who had arrived, and greeted him respectfully.

The visitor was a senior expert of the Mu family, who was expected to be promoted to a family elder, so Mu Chenjie naturally did not show any disrespect.

"Let's go back to the clan; the Nine Elders are looking for you!"

"Yes." Mu Chenjie didn't dare to ask any more questions, immediately put down what he was doing, and followed the person out of the room.

The Ninth Clan Elder was an elder of his great-great-grandfather, known as the Taoist of Mu Sang, and held extremely high prestige among the elders of the Mu family.

Especially recently, the Nine Clans Elder made further progress, reaching the mid-stage of the Jade Balance realm and entering the ranks of top grandmasters.

Among the many elders of the Mu family, his prestige and status are enough to rank him among the top five.

Under these circumstances, with the Nine Clans Elders looking for him, he naturally dared not utter a single word of nonsense.

"I wonder what the elder wants to see me about?" Mu Chenjie wondered to himself.

"Uncle!"

"I've met my uncle."

"May you be well, son-in-law."

"."

Walking along the corridors and paths of the Gu family mansion, Chen Ping'an was in a good mood. He greeted the servants and maids with a warm smile and a cheerful demeanor.

The maids and servants stood there with their heads bowed, finding the young master's smile exceptionally handsome.

As the most prestigious family in Canglong Prefecture, the Gu family has a distinguished background and profound heritage. Every maid or servant in the Gu family is carefully selected and must be extraordinary.

Needless to say, they were now in the Gu family's back garden, where only third-class maids of considerable rank could move about. This was a far cry from ordinary maids.

The Gu family was very strict in managing their household, with a clear order between elders and juniors, and had its own family traditions.

Even considering only servants and maids, there are many categories, such as maids who serve in the main hall, maids in the outer courtyard, maids in the inner room, personal maids, head maids, maids who share the same room, maids who accompany one's dowry, and so on. If you were to subdivide them further, they would be so numerous and confusing that it would be dazzling.

The heritage of a great clan refers not only to the number of strong individuals, but also to the intricate relationships and traditions within the family.

Of course, among all the foundations, the most important one is naturally related to military strength.

Without the fundamental guarantee of military strength, even immense wealth is difficult to maintain.

With the Gu family's courteous treatment, Chen Ping'an smoothly entered the core headquarters and met several of the Gu family's elders.

Before meeting the elders, many clan elders accompanied them along the way, treating them with great courtesy.

With Chen Ping'an's current influence, his status has long surpassed that of ordinary elders of the Gu family, and he is now comparable to a founding elder.

Although he was the son-in-law of the Gu family and the husband of a younger generation, in terms of status, these elders of the clan had to treat him with respect and courtesy.

In fact, if it weren't for Gu Qingcheng's connection, most of the elders of the Gu family would respectfully address him as Lord Chen when they saw him.

A seasoned candidate for governor and a powerful figure in the state is not just a figure of speech.

Chen Ping'an had visited the Gu family more than once or twice, so he was naturally familiar with the place. This time, when he met the Gu family elders, he was not at all unfamiliar with them and immediately bowed with his hands clasped in greeting.

"Ping An greets all the elders and wishes them a peaceful and healthy life."

"We're all family, no need for formalities," Old Lan said with a smile.

The elders beside him also had kind smiles on their faces.

Given Chen Ping'an's current status and his talent, strictly speaking, he is no less than a Grandmaster. There's no need for him to be so polite when meeting them.

However, Chen Ping'an's humble and respectful attitude greatly satisfied them.

After the opening remarks, the conversation among the group was naturally warm and friendly.

The atmosphere was harmonious, with a strong sense of reminiscing.

The number of Gu family elders present at this meeting was not as large as usual. However, there were still quite a few familiar faces, such as Elder Lan, Elder Heng, Elder Yuan, and Elder Hua.

After a conversation, Chen Ping'an explained his situation in Leiming, saying that he had received great care from Gu Qingchan and that everything was going smoothly in his new post.

In response, the elders mainly offered encouragement and praise.

During the conversation, Elder Hua's gaze shifted slightly and immediately fell on Chen Ping'an.

"Ping An, what's wrong?"

"As expected, I couldn't hide it from Elder Hua." Chen Ping'an gave a wry smile and flattered him, "Elder Hua has a sharp eye, I admire him." Under the curious gazes of the other elders, Chen Ping'an smiled slightly and removed his disguise.

boom!
The atmosphere in the arena was turbulent, and Chen Ping'an's mid-stage Jade Balance cultivation was revealed to everyone without reservation.

"Ping An, you..." Old Lan's eyes lit up with surprise and delight.

"Mid-stage Jade Balance!" Elder Yuan couldn't help but stand up, his face full of amazement.

"When did this happen?" Elder Heng couldn't help but ask, his brows furrowed with curiosity.

The middle-aged Yuheng, not yet twenty-six years old!
What kind of concept is this! ?

They thought that the update of the Hidden Dragon Ranking, with Chen Ping'an of the Wild Blade ranking fifty-ninth, would be a pleasant surprise.

But who would have thought that Chen Ping'an would give them an even bigger surprise!

In the past, Chen Ping'an, with his cultivation at the early stage of the Jade Balance Realm, possessed combat power comparable to that of a top-tier grandmaster. When unleashed, he could rival a top-tier grandmaster.

Now that his cultivation has advanced further, reaching the mid-stage of the Jade Balance realm, wouldn't that be...?
A solid top-tier grandmaster! Even more so.
Even if he reaches the threshold of Grandmaster combat power, it's still uncertain!
Such progress is truly astonishing.

Although they had already anticipated Chen Ping'an's talent, they were still amazed when his cultivation aura was so realistically displayed before them.

"Not long ago, after the Hidden Dragon Ranking was updated, Ping An had a sudden enlightenment and accidentally broke through the barrier, entering the mid-stage realm," Chen Ping An said with a faint smile.

"A lucky accident?" Elder Heng's eye twitched, and he almost lost his composure.

The transition from the early to the middle stages of the Jade Balance realm, while not a major hurdle, is certainly not something that ordinary progress can achieve! This represents the dividing line between ordinary grandmasters and senior grandmasters. Any cultivator who wants to break through to a higher realm must plan and prepare thoroughly for many days.
Even so, there is still a possibility of failing to break through to the next level.

But for Chen Ping'an, it was all a complete accident!? Most importantly, he actually succeeded!

Such talent is the envy of all.

"Ping An, you are truly amazing," Old Lan exclaimed sincerely.

"With such talent, he has a great chance of being in the top ten of the Hidden Dragon Ranking, let alone the top twenty!" Elder Hua gave the highest praise.

"The most beautiful tree in the forest will surely be felled by the wind. If possible, I hope that you elders can keep this a secret!" Chen Ping'an said with his hands clasped. "Although this matter may not be able to be kept secret for long, it would be good if it could be kept secret for a little longer."

"That's how it should be."

"no problem."

"."

The elders had no objections and readily agreed.

The Hidden Dragon Ranking has just been updated, so Chen Ping'an doesn't need to rush to reveal his cultivation level. It's better to keep it hidden for now.

However, as Chen Ping'an said, this matter may not be able to be kept secret.

Before the next update of the Hidden Dragon Ranking, whether Chen Ping'an likes it or not, there is a very high probability that his mid-stage Jade Balance cultivation level will be impossible to hide. At that time, his ranking on the Hidden Dragon Ranking will inevitably rise another notch.

After revealing his cultivation level, Chen Ping'an took the opportunity to recount the events of the Evil Twins' ambush and murder.

He explained the specific process in much more detail than he had when he was at the State Garrison Command. However, he made adjustments to key parts. For example, the true combat strength of the Evil Duo was not, as he had actually experienced, overwhelming ordinary Grandmasters or approaching the level of top Grandmasters.

Instead, they adjusted their injuries to the hidden wounds on their bodies. When they joined forces, their combat power reached the threshold of Grandmaster, but they were still some distance away from becoming true Grandmasters.

Only after he was well-prepared and used all his means was he managed to defeat him with great difficulty.

Furthermore, to ensure the truthfulness and feasibility of his claims, he also mentioned that he had already vaguely touched upon the pinnacle of the Overlord Blade technique. He was only one step away from truly comprehending and mastering it.

With the near-mastery of the Overlord Blade and the explosive power of the secret medicine, he managed to kill the Evil Twins, who had hidden injuries, by striking first.

"Approaching mastery?" Elder Yuan's eyes lit up: "Ping An, are you saying that you're almost at mastering the Overlord Blade?"

"That's true." Chen Ping'an nodded in agreement.

Upon hearing this, the elders exchanged glances, and their eyes revealed their astonishment at Chen Ping'an.

How long has it been! ?
How long has it been since I started practicing the Overlord Blade technique?

To have cultivated a flawed and incomplete Overlord Blade Technique to such a degree, such talent is beyond what can be called monstrous.

Chen Ping'an, the valiant swordsman, is not only exceptionally talented, but also possesses astonishing aptitude. His talent in the art of the sword is particularly dazzling and rarely seen in the world.

Such talent
In terms of swordsmanship alone, he's probably almost on par with those prodigies with the Treasure Body!

"A prodigy in the art of the sword!" Elder Hua's gaze sharpened, and his resolve deepened.

He glanced at the elders beside him and noticed that they were all looking at him as well. They exchanged a glance, and Elder Hua saw the same calculations in their eyes as he did.

Chen Ping'an stayed at the Gu family's house for a full half day, until the sun was setting and night was about to fall, before he finally left.

Several elders wanted to keep him for another chat, but Chen Ping'an declined.

Grandmaster-level experts, while not needing to maintain a high frequency of meals, can still find solace and replenish their mental energy with fine spiritual wines and delicacies.

If you encounter someone you like and who shares your temperament, enjoying fine food, drinks, and conversation can be a unique and enjoyable experience.

Chen Ping'an was measured and courteous in his actions. Besides his natural talent, his style of conduct also suited the tastes of the Gu family elders. That's why they invited him to stay for dinner and to continue their casual conversation.

However, Chen Ping'an was thinking of Er Ya, and since everything had been taken care of during this trip, he naturally had no intention of staying any longer.

His reasoning was reasonable; he stated that he had come to Canglong specifically for his younger sister. Now that he was returning to Canglong, he should first go home and talk things over.

My younger sister is about to turn 18, and time is precious. I hope all the elders can understand.

The portrayal of Chen Ping'an as a man of loyalty and righteousness greatly pleased the elders of the Gu family. They expressed their understanding and invited him to come again when he had more free time.

Chen Pingan readily agreed.

After several conversations, Chen Ping'an took his leave.

Today's trip to the Gu family, according to Chen Ping'an's initial plan, might allow him to meet Gu Qingcheng.

Let's see if our previous promises and expectations can be fulfilled today.

During the conversation, the elder of the Gu family brought up this matter on his own initiative, which was exactly what he wanted to do.

However, Gu Qingcheng has just broken through to a higher realm and is currently in seclusion to consolidate her cultivation. Therefore, a meeting is not possible.

After Gu Qingcheng emerges from seclusion, she will invite Chen Ping'an to her residence so that the two can have a chat.

Normally, the two are engaged, and although they have elders as witnesses and their marriage is legally binding, it is not appropriate for them to meet in private.

If it involves speech, it could even have a negative impact.

However, Chen Ping'an is a powerful figure in the state, and with his current influence, he could even be considered a regional tycoon. Naturally, there aren't many formalities that can bind him.

Now that Gu Qingcheng has broken through to the Grandmaster realm, and the two of them have both entered the Grandmaster realm, such comments are naturally no longer worth paying attention to.

The words of the master and his wife can be described as those of a Daoist couple.

With their natural talents, they are destined to become a perfect couple in the eyes of everyone.

Enviable, captivating, awe-inspiring, and inspiring
I desire it but cannot obtain it!
Besides mentioning Gu Qingcheng's seclusion, the elders also mentioned that Gu Qingcheng had broken through to the Grandmaster realm and would hold a promotion ceremony.

For the Gu family, while Grandmasters are precious, they are far from being considered a pillar of the clan's foundation. Even when they hold promotion ceremonies, the scale is usually small; they are mostly minor celebrations.

However, Gu Qingcheng is special.

Furthermore, given their connection through Mang Dao, the two of them married one after the other and became top masters in the state, which held extremely unique significance for the Gu family's prestige.

Therefore, this celebration ceremony will be held on a large scale.

The Gu family hopes that Chen Ping'an can participate in the celebration, appear at the ceremony, and publicly offer his blessings to Gu Qingcheng.

As for the celebratory gifts, the Gu family will prepare them in advance, so Chen Ping'an doesn't need to worry about them too much.

This is of great significance to the Gu family, and they hope that Chen Ping'an will carefully consider attending Gu Qingcheng's promotion ceremony.

After a brief consideration, Chen Ping'an readily agreed to the matter.

The Gu family had treated him well and had been of great help to him in many ways. In addition, given his connection with Gu Qingcheng, he would naturally not refuse if possible since the Gu family needed his help.

However, before agreeing, Chen Ping'an objectively explained his situation. He had only taken a month's leave in Lei Ming, and ten days had already passed. If he were to attend the celebration, he feared he wouldn't have enough time.

The elders of the Gu family said this was not a problem. They could handle the rest period, as long as Chen Ping'an could attend the celebration.

In addition, they will make appropriate adjustments to the timing of the celebration to ensure that it does not affect Chen Ping'an's normal official duties.

After a brief discussion, the matter was finalized.

In Chen Ping'an's plans for the state capital, following Er Ya's coming-of-age ceremony, there was another matter to be discussed.

With the matter settled, the atmosphere among the group was naturally extremely harmonious.

During the conversation, the elders of the Gu family also took the opportunity to discuss the current public opinion atmosphere in the city, including the comparison of the talents of Chen Ping'an and Gu Qingcheng, and the dispute over swords.

Several people asked Chen Ping'an what he thought about this.
Chen Ping'an smiled, said nothing more, only that he found it quite interesting.

Being one of the parties involved and appearing at the center of the public opinion storm in the state capital was a completely new experience for Chen Ping'an.

Forehead.
When the "vest" was trending, it didn't count!

An alternate account is an alternate account, and the real person is the real person.

The experience was rare and quite novel for Chen Ping'an, which he naturally found very interesting.

To everyone's surprise, Chen Ping'an gave this answer.

Judging from his expression, there was no hint of sarcasm; he genuinely thought so.

The group exchanged glances, expressing their approval of Chen Ping'an's magnanimous character.

Who said that Chen Ping'an, the ruthless swordsman, lacked the right temperament?!

Amidst a clamor of thousands, he remained calm and unperturbed; even in the midst of a whirlpool, he stood firm.

Amidst the turmoil that engulfs the city, I raise my sword to the sky.

Not only was he not annoyed, but he also became quite interested.

What a mindset this is!

The Gu family members naturally had no idea; this was due to Chen Ping'an's detached attitude.

Having reached his current level of understanding, he wouldn't take the words of a mere junior to heart. In fact, he could treat them as a joke and let them go.

However, if someone mentions it in front of him, that's a different story. It's not about the event itself, but about the provocative attitude.

When the weak provoke the strong, the outcome is self-evident.

Biographical records have documented too many similar stories, and in the end, countless predecessors paved the way for them with blood and tears.

Regarding the comments, the Gu family originally intended to offer some words of comfort, telling Chen Ping'an to calm down and not to take them to heart.

However, given Chen Ping'an's situation, their words of comfort suddenly became meaningless.

The wide-ranging impact of these remarks is undoubtedly due to the instigation of others behind the scenes.

The Gu family was keenly aware of the public opinion in the city. However, they were not in a hurry to intervene.

The people and forces behind this have ulterior motives; they want to use this to create antagonism and sow discord. They've also been throwing mud at people. Whether you support Gu Qingcheng or Chen Ping'an, it will all become tools in their hands.

The idea is good, but they may not have thought of it, or they may have thought of it but didn't care.

Everything has two sides; even black and red are still red.

What is a powerful weapon today could become a hidden asset if the situation reverses in the future!
The Gu family had prepared a comprehensive plan for this matter from the very beginning.

Once this matter is fully publicized and the emotions are properly stirred up, that will be the time for Gu Jia to take the plunge!

If the plan goes smoothly, Gu Jia's reputation will surely rise to another level!
The number one family in Canglong Prefecture has more than just a title!
The matter of public opinion and subsequent plans were briefly mentioned by several elders to Chen Ping'an, but he did not pay much attention to it.

Public opinion is a minor matter; what he cares about is the fundamentals of spiritual practice.

During the conversation, he also received some good news.

That concerns the Snow Spirit Leaf; the Gu family has made progress. Although the quantity isn't large, it's still a step forward. Elder Gu is currently handling this matter, and good news should arrive soon.

Snow Spirit Leaves are extremely precious, and it would be incredibly difficult for even a Grandmaster to obtain them. However, the fact that the Gu family was willing to send Elder Xuan to handle this matter was truly beyond Chen Ping'an's expectations.

Although it wasn't explicitly stated, Chen Ping'an sensed the importance the Gu family placed on him.

As a representative of a faction within the Gu family, Elder Xuan holds a very important position. It is unimaginable that he would go to such lengths for a junior like him under normal circumstances.

Even though Chen Ping'an is exceptionally talented and has a bright future, the fact that the Gu family has gone to such lengths demonstrates their sincerity.

Chen Ping'an didn't say much about these things, but he kept them in mind.

In addition to Xue Lingye, the Gu family also stated that they would assist with the arrangements for Chen Ping'an's younger sister's coming-of-age ceremony. They added that if there was anything needed, she should simply let them know.

The Gu family has a deep-rooted background and has been operating in Canglong Prefecture for many years. If we could get their help to organize a coming-of-age ceremony, it would be a trivial matter.

Chen Ping'an, needing to balance his cultivation, was destined to have little spare energy to handle trivial matters. Although Xiong Sanrang and the others could participate, they were unfamiliar with the area and had limited networks, making it no easy task for them to manage.

The elders of the Gu family's statement saved Chen Ping'an a lot of trouble.

Chen Ping'an sat in the carriage and soon arrived at his own courtyard.

It's not quite a small courtyard, but wherever Er Ya is, in Chen Ping'an's eyes, it's still the same small courtyard from back then.

Warm and simple, just like I remember it.

After Chen Ping'an left, the Gu family elders held a high-level meeting to address a previous proposal.

After more than half an hour, the council of elders concluded its deliberations, and the relevant proposals were submitted to the patriarch for a decision!

(End of this chapter)