The Great Martial Saint!

Chapter 629 Footwork Basics, News from the Gu Family (Seeking monthly votes at the beginning of the month~)

With the announcement of the date for Gu Qingcheng's promotion ceremony, the debate within Canglong Prefecture City has become increasingly heated.

Every day, a large number of meddlesome young masters from noble families, scions of powerful clans, gang members, and core members of influential groups argue fiercely about the matter between Chen Ping'an and Gu Qingcheng.

Swords and blades, swordsmen and knivesmen, prodigies and prodigies
The debate centered on the question of who possessed greater talent, Gu Qingcheng or Mang Dao.

The debate rages on whether swordsmen or knife-wielders are more elegant, more powerful in combat, or whose training is more cost-effective.
The debate centered on whether, at the same level of skill, a swordsman or a knife-wielder is stronger.
Given equal levels of understanding, which is easier to master: swordsmanship or saber techniques? If two people possess the same level of swordsmanship and saber techniques, and are at the same cultivation level, who would have the upper hand?
Similar debates filled the streets and alleys, restaurants and taverns of Canglong Prefecture.

Chen Ping'an, the ruthless swordsman, and Gu Qingcheng became frequent topics of conversation.

"The Fairy Maiden's swordsmanship is as pure as the moon, and its execution is like a dream; who could not love it!?"

"The 'Wild Blade' technique is bold, sweeping, and domineering; what man could resist it?"

"A beauty! A beauty!"

"It's all very sweeping and lacks any graceful beauty. When they fight, it's simply unbearable to watch!"

"That's right! How can a swordsman compare to a knife-wielder! That's what we cultivators love most! Besides, wherever Qingcheng is, I'll support her. My Qingcheng!"

"Quickly calm down and have a rational discussion. Putting aside the facts, the swordsman is indeed superior."

"???"

"His swordsmanship is utterly reckless! Reckless!"

"Brother, do you have a problem with us swordsmen?"

"Uh, no, no, I mean, the kind of arbitrary and reckless swordsman, not you, brother."

"Huh!? So you're talking about me!" A muscular guy stepped out from the crowd.

"Misunderstanding, misunderstanding, it's all a misunderstanding! Ah."

"."

Besides the somewhat lighthearted debates, there were also scenes of mindless arguments. Many of Gu Qingcheng's admirers, as staunch supporters, appeared in large groups.

"Top of the rookie rankings, a female swordswoman!"

"The Gu family's prodigy, number one in the Azure Dragon Clan!"

"Grandmaster Yuheng, unparalleled in slaughter!"

"."

The entire Canglong Prefecture City was bustling with activity. The various major powers seemed to share this sentiment, and none of them intervened to guide the activity.

The Gu family, one of the centers of public attention, remained remarkably quiet.

This gave many forces a sense of foreboding, a feeling that a storm was brewing.

However, upon closer examination, most of these matters are merely anecdotes circulating in the public. Even if the Gu family were to step forward, it would be difficult for them to reverse the tide of public opinion on their own.

Unless the Gu family takes strong action and uses ruthless methods to stop public opinion from spreading.

However, under these circumstances, the Gu family is inherently at a disadvantage, which is exactly what the major powers want to see.

The Gu family is the most powerful force in Canglong Prefecture. As a hegemonic force, they control a great deal of resources and have a strong voice.

Now, with the marriage alliance involving the Mangdao clan, and two prodigies from the same family, this is not a scene that anyone wants to see.

Even if they can't actually stop it, it's still good to smear it in the media. If it causes infighting and discord in the process, then they've made an even bigger profit.

Previously, due to the matter of the Prince of Bicang's Mansion, the Xue and Wang families had shown signs of joining forces. Now that the Gu family's influence is growing, the two families are sticking together for mutual support and their alliance is becoming even closer.

However, given the complex web of interests and interests among such powerful families, it is unlikely that they could unite in all aspects.

Such an alliance cannot be achieved simply by the two parties discussing it and issuing a single order.

It's not that the effectiveness is insufficient, but rather that people's hearts are like this.

Driven by self-interest, this is a place that everyone is vying for, and no one can afford to give it up.

You said that for the sake of friendship between the two countries and to consider the overall situation, you should give up this benefit.

But the other party had the same idea.

Why should we have to make sacrifices for the greater good? Can't you do the same?!

Even if such matters can be resolved temporarily, without a long-term mechanism, it is only a matter of time before they fall apart.

However, if a long-term mechanism is to be established, without sufficient pressure, it will only drag on and on, and no result can be achieved in a long time.

Such a trend cannot be changed by a single word or deed, but rather by the persistent efforts of people and the guidance of public opinion.

Without establishing a suitable environment, close cooperation and long-term collaboration will remain mere empty talk. Instead, it will become more of a power struggle and a battle for dominance.

Such is human nature, and it is not a sin.

"Qingyao, the clan elders are taking us to the Gu family's promotion ceremony this time!"

Mu Chenjie looked excited and happy to have found his sister.

Compared to him, his younger sister is still young and in the prime of her youth, striving to break into the rookie rankings. She has no worldly affairs and only needs to cultivate herself.

The Nine Elders had approached him earlier to tell him that he would be taking the two of them to Gu Qingcheng's promotion ceremony. It was a way of showing the younger generation something.

"really?"

Mu Qingyao, dressed in a light green gauze dress, stared wide-eyed at her brother with a smile on her face.

How long has it been since she saw such a carefree smile on her brother's face?

Since the Gu family announced that they would marry Gu Qingcheng to Mangdao, she seems to have never seen her again.

Seeing her brother's appearance today, she was naturally overjoyed.

"Of course it's true, the Ninth Elder told me himself." Mu Chenjie smiled broadly, his handsome face full of anticipation.

"That's great!" Mu Qingyao said happily.

Aside from providing ample emotional support to her brother, her smile was genuine. The top rookie, the pride of the Gu family, the female swordsman, and the Jade Balance Grandmaster—each of these titles held immense appeal for her.

For her, they were all full of fantasies.

She herself had embarked on cultivation, and naturally understood its difficulty and significance. Gu Qingcheng, as a woman, was able to suppress the pride of an entire state, with no one able to surpass her. Now, in the prime of her youth, she had even entered the realm of the Jade Balance Grandmaster. Such achievements were nothing short of legendary for her.

She was filled with anticipation for this promotion ceremony.

She also wanted to see just how beautiful and charming the Gu family's fairy-like daughter was.

Although the Mu family and the Gu family are on good terms, Gu Qingcheng lives a secluded life and rarely appears in public, so she has never met this renowned and talented fairy.

I have met my brother before.

But from that day on, my brother fell deeply in love and could not extricate himself.

"Could love at first sight really exist in this world?" Mu Qingyao was skeptical at the time.

But later
Mu Qingyao seemed to understand a little.

I only understand it vaguely, like looking at flowers through the fog or trying to scoop the moon's reflection from a well; I can't see through it or touch it.

perhaps
If they meet again, she will understand things better.

Looking at her radiant brother in front of her, Mu Qingyao's thoughts drifted, and a hint of anticipation appeared in her clear, spring-like eyes.

Mu Chenjie didn't go to see his sister. At this moment, he was thinking about how to appear in front of Qingcheng.

His eyes were filled with reverence.

"Promotion celebration."

At the Canglong Wang family residence, Wang Siyuan, dressed in white, with a gentle and refined demeanor, gazed at the water, his eyes filled with melancholy.

For Qingcheng's promotion ceremony, his elders in the family will bring him along.

In the past, upon hearing this news, he would have been overjoyed, if not ecstatic.

but now
Everything has changed.

He rose to fame at a young age, making it onto the Azure Dragon Rising Stars list before even reaching adulthood. From then on, he continued his meteoric rise, consistently ranking among the top ten rookies.

It was around that time that a new name, Gu Qingcheng, appeared on the rookie list.

In less than a year, she rose to the top with her outstanding talent, ranking first among rookies.

At that time, he had barely broken into the top three rookies, ranking third.

At that time, he was full of resentment and, for the first time, he became curious about this name.

Why is it that she was able to quickly reach the top of the list after only a short time on it?

Why is she ranked first on the rookie list when she's younger than him?

He was determined to test his skills against the other party and see who was the number one genius in Canglong Prefecture.

Since then, the rookie rankings have changed again and again, but the top spot has remained unchanged.

Gu Qingcheng, the prodigy of the Gu family, with her unparalleled talent, single-handedly suppressed an entire state, making all the other prodigies in the state unable to raise their heads.

He climbed to second place on the rookie leaderboard, but no matter what he did, he couldn't get past the figure ahead of him.

He kept chasing, and the value of the rookie rankings kept increasing because of their presence, but she was still number one on the rookie rankings.

It was at that time that he met the other person for the first time.

It was a moonlit night with few stars. She leaned against the railing, gazing at the moon. Her clothes were as white as snow, and she was as serene and cold as the moon. She was breathtakingly beautiful, a beauty that captivated the heart.

Like a fairy descending from the moon palace, untouched by the dust and grime of the mortal world.

With just one glance, he was completely captivated.

At that time, he thought, how wonderful it would be if he could stand by her side!

After that, he could never forget the image of the beautiful woman.

It seemed to have taken root and sprouted in his heart.

Countless times I've dreamt of the lamplight, of a beautiful woman leaning on a pole gazing at the moon, her black hair flowing like a waterfall, standing aloof from the world.

The fireworks were dazzling and mesmerizing.

Countless times I've thought back to that night, if only he had stepped forward.

But such an opportunity will never come again. A song of longing for one's mate severed all his hopes.

The prince of Bi Cang kept his affections hidden, never revealing his feelings.

The only time their names appeared together was on the Azure Dragon Rising Stars list.

He was happy at that time.

There was no one else among them, only the two of them.

He quietly guarded this deeply hidden affection, protecting this hard-won warmth.

But later
Everything has changed!

The appearance of Chen Ping'an, the ruthless swordsman, changed everything.

This name, which he had never paid attention to when it first appeared on the list, ended up being the one that separated him from Qingcheng.

He rose steadily and powerfully from 91st on the rookie list, eventually reaching 2nd place and taking over the position he should have held.

His dream was shattered.

When he awoke from his dream, he finally realized the truth: no matter how hard he tried, he could never possess her beauty even for a moment.

This warmth was destined not to be his.

It belongs to the grandson of the Azure Prince, Ji Changkong.

The appearance of Chen Ping'an, the ruthless swordsman, was merely a catalyst that shattered his pale and laughable dream.

The dream is over, and everything should be clear now.

But just when he thought he understood everything, the reckless Chen Ping'an appeared.
Breaking through in the face of battle, with unparalleled prowess, he achieved the realm of Grandmaster Yuheng on Xiaopan Mountain in Gujia!
then
The Gu family announces that Gu Qingcheng, a contemporary prodigy, is marrying into a powerful alliance with Chen Ping'an, known for his ruthless and cunning nature!
Wang Siyuan felt lost and his emotions were hard to express.

He kept chasing after her, chasing her silhouette, only to realize in the end that he had never truly pursued her.

He thought that the one standing between him and Qingcheng was Princess Changkong, the grandson of the Azure Prince.

Only now does he realize that the one who has always stood between him and Qingcheng is himself!

That timid and hesitant heart, that cautious and hesitant mind, that fear of facing oneself.

If he were, if
If you try a little harder and be a little braver, then the one standing next to Qingcheng should be him.

It was his timidity, his hesitation, his indecisiveness that caused him to miss opportunities; it was his cowardice that led him to hide his affection and miss chances.
Wang Siyuan's expression was broken, as broken as a porcelain doll covered in scars.

A gentle breeze blew by, causing his clothes to flutter like drifting clouds, but silently conveying his inner turmoil and melancholy.

That figure he had chased for so long ultimately came to nothing, just like his lost youth.

"Alluring Beauty"

Amidst the clash of swords and the uproar over the Gu family's celebration in the city, Chen Ping'an remained steadfast, quietly cultivating his skills.

With the coordination and assistance of the Gu family, his leave of absence was greatly extended. Although it affected part of his salary, at his current level, he no longer cared so much about salary.

Those who oversee important matters in a region, and whose monthly share of the profits is the real lion's share.

Furthermore, his true level of attainment far surpasses his public status; his hidden gains are the real benefits.

It has to be said that it feels really good to be able to dominate the system and wield power.

But it was precisely because of this that Chen Ping'an understood more deeply the reasons behind this situation!
Time flies, and ten days have passed in the blink of an eye.

The promotion ceremony for the Gu family is getting closer and closer.

Chen Ping'an has not received any news from the Gu family in recent days.

As previously agreed, it is clear that Gu Qingcheng has not yet emerged from seclusion and is still in closed-door training.

"Is he really avoiding me?!" Chen Ping'an thought to himself.

However, these internal discussions did not affect Chen Ping'an's judgment and thinking.

Although it takes a considerable amount of time to consolidate one's realm after breaking through to the Jade Balance Grandmaster level, given Gu Qingcheng's talent, this period of seclusion is clearly unusual.

Chen Ping'an would never believe that he hadn't practiced any secret techniques.

Given Gu Qingcheng's past combat prowess, even before breaking through to the Grandmaster realm, she was able to rival a Grandmaster in swordsmanship. Now that she has broken through to the Grandmaster realm, gathering spiritual energy and condensing true essence, her combat strength has increased significantly. Even if her skills remain unchanged, her combat strength has probably leaped to the top level of the early stage of the Jade Balance realm.

If one makes further progress, it would not be surprising if one were to reach the mid-stage of the Jade Balance Realm.

Such a surge in combat power is nothing short of extraordinary. Even across the entire seventeen states of Bi Cang, there are very few strong individuals of all ages among them.

Most importantly, Chen Ping'an harbored an even more terrifying suspicion. Compared to this suspicion, comparing himself to the mid-stage of the Jade Balance Realm was nothing but child's play.

Chen Ping'an didn't think much about Gu Qingcheng's matter. As for her avoiding him, it was merely a pastime during his cultivation breaks.

During those ten days, he was either practicing cultivation techniques, refining divine weapons, or studying the carving of demonic beasts.

He successfully completed the initial refinement of the black iron ingot and the patterned cloth. Although the white bone claw armor had not yet been initially refined, it was on the right track for refinement.

The black iron face, with the perseverance of water dripping through stone, steadily and powerfully advanced, undergoing rigorous forging.

After these days of refinement, the Black Iron Mask's concealment ability has improved significantly. Although it hasn't triggered any divine weapon abilities, the improvement compared to before is undoubtedly obvious.

In terms of concealment, he has improved a little. According to Chen Ping'an's judgment, with his current cultivation level, even a pseudo-celestial being would probably not be able to see through his disguise.

Even the most powerful pseudo-celestial beings cannot discern his true nature unless they have prolonged face-to-face contact and only exchange a few glances.

As for the Martial Dao Celestial Being, to be honest, Chen Ping'an didn't have much confidence.

Those who achieve martial arts mastery are in harmony with nature, possessing a clear mind and extraordinary perception. Before fully refining the Black Profound Iron Mask, Chen Ping'an truly lacked absolute confidence.

Even if the Black Profound Iron Mask is fully refined, he still needs to advance his martial arts realm to a higher level and use a more powerful realm to activate it, only then can he possibly deceive the opponent's detailed perception.

However, the Black Iron Mask's unique ability to realistically simulate reality is something to look forward to.

If this hypothesis holds true, perhaps the Black Iron Mask's power is even greater than anticipated. It truly lives up to the Heavenly Maiden's statement that its value is comparable to a priceless treasure.

In addition to his achievements in refining, Chen Ping'an also made considerable progress in cultivating the Qingyang Blood Refining Method and the Taixu Wind Control Step.

Inside the room, Chen Pingan slowly opened his eyes, and a golden finger panel appeared in front of him.

hum~
Name: Chen Ping'an
Realm: Late stage of Jade Balance - Breakthrough to the third stage (Spiritual Pattern Condensation)
武学：青阳血炼法未入门（1143/1920）颠鸾倒凤·阴阳枢入门（0/8640）、太虚御风步入门（121/2160）七杀天罡拳小成（65/3840）、霸刀大成（0/3200）、七绝神功圆满、万魔铸身诀圆满
"The Void Wind-Riding Step, Beginner Level!"

During his ten-day training, Chen Ping'an temporarily set aside his practice of the Seven Killing Heavenly Fist and focused all his energy on the Tai Xu Wind Control Step. A few days ago, he successfully mastered the basic techniques of the Tai Xu Wind Control Step, namely, Wind Stepping.

The Wind-Riding Technique allows one to rely on the wind; once activated, speed increases dramatically.

Although Chen Ping'an did not try it with all his might, he had a very deep understanding of the secret technique Windwalker thanks to the insights and experience granted by the Golden Finger Panel.

With his current cultivation level, activating the Wind-Treading Secret Technique would increase his speed by at least 30%.

Although his speed is currently his weakness, with the boost from his cultivation level, it's not to the point of being a hindrance. Under such circumstances, the effect of a 30% increase in speed is self-evident.

It's important to understand that at his current level, every step forward is extremely difficult. Any small assistance, amplified, will lead to a significant difference.

With a speed increase of 30%, Chen Ping'an's movement speed leaped from being a weakness among those in the same realm to being on par with, or even slightly surpassing, those in the same realm.

This "same realm" does not refer to the Grandmaster level, but rather to the Grandmaster of Wind and Cloud!
Most importantly, with Chen Ping'an's martial arts foundation, even if he activates a secret technique, he can sustain it for a very long time.

Theoretically speaking, as long as he is not engaged in a fierce battle or using many powerful and energy-consuming secret techniques, he can present these secret techniques as regular combat power.

The appearance of the Wind-Treading Secret Technique made Chen Ping'an even more eager for the next stages of the Taixu Wind-Riding Step: Flowing Clouds, Wind Riding, and Sea of ​​Clouds.

If he could master the Taixu Wind Control Step to a minor level, with his martial arts realm as a foundation, his speed would undoubtedly increase to an extremely exaggerated degree under the influence of this secret technique.

However, the only drawback is that although he mastered the Taixu Wind Control Step to the basics during this breakthrough, he did not make it to the second stage of the breakthrough in one go.

While the Tai Xu Wind-Riding Steps are of an excellent grade, they are only an introductory aid due to the early stages of cultivation. The benefits gained from the cheat code panel are not as significant as one might imagine.

Furthermore, he broke through to the next realm with nine spiritual runes, demonstrating an incredibly strong foundation. This strong foundation also means that each time he breaks through, the difficulty he faces will far exceed that of other cultivators at the same realm.

The same assistance might allow a martial arts practitioner with the Six Paths Spirit Patterns as their foundation to break through to a higher realm, but he couldn't achieve that level of benefit.

This is why those who can cultivate to this level are all exceptionally talented individuals who have fought their way through countless others, but when faced with a breakthrough, even though they know there are better options, they often try to break through using the foundation of the Six Paths Spiritual Pattern.

Breaking through a realm with six spiritual runes might still offer a chance to overcome the barriers to higher realms, but with a foundation of seven spiritual runes, the chances of success become extremely slim.

As for the eight paths
Most grandmasters probably wouldn't even dare to dream of it.

Not to mention the Nine Paths.

Chen Ping'an was destined to walk an extremely difficult path, a path full of thorns and brambles.

But for him, it was also a hopeful path to heaven.

If it can be accomplished, fighting across borders will not be a mere fantasy or delusion!

With a solid foundation, the gap between different levels of understanding will be compressed to the greatest extent.

This time, he has mastered the Taixu Wind Control Steps to a minor level, but he is still a little short of entering the second stage of the breakthrough.

According to Chen Ping'an's prediction, he would need another boost to push his cultivation level to the second stage of the breakthrough realm.

Having realized this, Chen Ping'an temporarily changed his cultivation approach, focusing his energy on the Tai Xu Wind Control Step instead of the Seven Killings Heavenly Gang Fist.

Compared to the Seven Killings Heavenly Fist, the Void Wind Control Step requires less experience to break through realms. Although it is slightly slower, one aims for minor mastery while the other aims for major mastery, so the overall progress is obviously faster.

In terms of speed of breaking through realms, practicing the Tai Xu Wind Control Step is more cost-effective.

Secondly, compared to killing power, movement speed is currently more beneficial to Chen Ping'an. If his cultivation of the Taixu Wind Control Step can be further improved, his overall suppression ability may even increase.

Even in the face of some emergencies, there is room to escape.

With the added advantages of physical resilience and speed to escape, his margin for error will be increased to an extremely high level.

However, the next challenge is how to transform the Taixu Wind-Riding Step, which can only be displayed openly, into a covert form for use.

The main approaches to overcoming this challenge are twofold: one is to conceal one's martial arts background, using deception and trickery to make it difficult for others to discern the truth; the other is to ensure that no one witnesses the execution, or rather, that anyone who does witness it is already dead.

That's the general idea; the specifics will depend on Chen Ping'an's subsequent resources and methods.

"Continue your cultivation!"

Chen Ping'an didn't have much time to rest before moving on to the next stage of his cultivation.

hum~
Inside the room, a pale blue light shone, and Chen Ping'an closed his eyes again.

Two more days passed.

On this day, an elder of the Gu family came to visit, bringing a message.

(End of this chapter)