The Great Martial Saint!

Chapter 630 Elder Xuan Returns, Bi Cang Enters the City (Seeking Monthly Tickets~)

hum~
Inside the room, inspiration sparkled.

Chen Ping'an sat cross-legged, with a white bone claw sheath floating in front of him.

A powerful divine weapon, the White Bone Claw Gauntlet.

"Refining!"

Chen Ping'an held his breath and spoke softly.

As he finished speaking, a faint mark appeared on the white bone claw under the wash of spiritual light.

The mark was simple and rough, appearing and disappearing faintly under the light.

hum~
As the light dimmed and the spiritual light dissipated, the white bone claws fell into Chen Ping'an's hands.

"It's done!"

Chen Ping'an rubbed the claw sheath in his hand, a hint of joy appearing in his eyes.

After several days of refining, the white bone claw armor was finally initially completed.

From this point on, the divine weapons in his hands could be transformed into his own combat power and used for his own purposes.

Next, all that's needed is time to fully refine these divine weapons and unleash their full combat power.

Chen Ping'an glanced at it twice, then waved his hand, and the white bone claw gauntlet in his hand disappeared before his eyes.

"Black iron mask, black iron ingot, white bone claw sheath, patterned square cloth."

Chen Ping'an's eyes flickered as he pondered deeply.

After a moment's thought, Chen Ping'an regained his composure.

hum~
Inside the room, the spiritual light shone again, and Chen Ping'an focused his mind and continued his cultivation.

Before he had been cultivating for long, Chen Ping'an slowly opened his eyes, got up and went outside.

Chen Ping'an stepped out of the courtyard, where someone was already waiting by the moon gate. Upon seeing Chen Ping'an come out, the person immediately reported.

"My lord, an elder of the Gu family has come to visit."

He had only spoken halfway when Chen Ping'an raised his hand to signal him to stop.

The speaker immediately shut his mouth, bowed his head, and felt a chill in his heart.

Yes, Your Excellency's cultivation is extraordinary. Now that you've come out, you must have already known about this matter.

In the main hall of the mansion, Chen Ping'an met with the clan elders of the Gu family who had come to visit.

The person who came was an acquaintance of Chen Ping'an, Elder Yingjia.

On his first visit to the Gu family, Chen Ping'an had met them briefly. Gu Haoqing introduced them, explaining their identities.

Gu Yingjia, an elder of the Gu family.

At that time, besides the other party, there was also the powerful elder of the Mu family, Daoist Mu Sang.

After exchanging pleasantries and greetings, the group had become acquainted.

This time, Gu Yingjia's attitude was much better than before.

His words were mostly respectful.

In terms of social standing, Chen Ping'an is the son-in-law chosen by the Gu family, the eldest daughter of the Gu family, and the future husband of Gu Qingcheng. He is also a junior of Gu Yingjia.

However, in terms of strength and status, Chen Ping'an is now clearly ranked above Gu Yingjia.

Although Gu Yingjia was a senior master in the mid-stage of the Jade Balance realm, he was far inferior to Chen Ping'an.

Their attitude during this meeting is also in line with common sense.

Previously, Gu Yingjia had also been warm and polite to him, but this politeness stemmed mostly from his respect for the young prodigy, rather than from his reverence for strength and status, as it did now.

The two were friends on equal footing, and in some respects, Gu Yingjia even had to take Chen Ping'an as the leader.

With such an atmosphere, the conversation naturally went smoothly.

Chen Ping'an also learned from Gu Yingjia the reason for his visit.

"Elder Xuan is back?"

Chen Ping'an's gaze was calm, but a hint of joy rose in his heart.

Elder Xuan's previous trip was mainly to handle the matter of the Snow Spirit Leaf. Now that he has returned, the outcome is self-evident.

"You're back." Gu Yingjia sat on the large chair in the main hall, his face full of humble smiles: "As soon as Elder Xuan returned, the Elders' Hall asked me to bring the news over."

"I am deeply grateful for your concern for my safety. I would like to thank all the elders and Elder Yingjia." Chen Ping'an said with a warm smile, in a very good mood.

"Lord Chen, you're too kind."

Looking at Chen Ping'an, who was well-mannered and polite, Gu Yingjia felt a sense of doubt.

How did Chen Ping'an, with his gentle and polite demeanor, earn the title of "Rugged Blade"?
Judging solely from his words and actions, Chen Ping'an is by no means associated with the word "reckless".

The thought flashed through his mind, and Gu Yingjia smiled humbly as he chatted amicably with Chen Ping'an.

Considering the uproar in the city, a hint of worry appeared in Gu Yingjia's eyes.

Chen Ping'an talked with Gu Yingjia for a long time in the main hall and learned a lot from him.

For example, the situation in Long'an, the general strategy for suppressing evil forces, and some interesting conversations among the high-ranking officials in the state capital.

At first glance, these things may not seem very useful, but over a long period of time, they can accumulate into experience and foundation.

The essence of profound knowledge and skills cannot be achieved overnight, but rather through conscious accumulation over time.

Some people live for sixty years, accumulating a wealth of experience over those sixty years. Others, however, have accumulated twenty years of experience, which they then use for sixty years.

The difference between the two lies in the long accumulation of knowledge and experience, which cannot be explained in just a few words.

In summary, it all comes down to the mind.

Chen Ping'an did not adhere to formalities or follow the rules, insisting on visiting the Gu family according to the prescribed procedures and the time of the morning.

Fortunately, Gu Yingjia was there, and after a conversation, Chen Ping'an went to the Gu family with Gu Yingjia.

There's no need to elaborate on the formalities exchanged.

Chen Ping'an's status in the Gu family was even higher than that of the eldest son.

Whether it's the title of a rising star, the status of a powerful figure in the state, or the future husband of Gu Qingcheng, Chen Ping'an enjoys all the privileges he deserves in the Gu family.

With Gu Qingcheng's breakthrough, the Gu family has a newly promoted Grandmaster, attracting numerous congratulatory forces, as well as many who wish to establish connections. However, most were turned away and unable to make any progress.

Once this kind of thinking is established, there will likely be many problems later on. It is the right thing to do to abandon this idea as soon as possible.

However, no matter how decisive the Gu family was, they couldn't stop too many opportunistic people from taking shortcuts.

Therefore, a considerable number of people still gathered in front of the Gu family's gate. Because of the Gu family's influence, these people dared not get too close, but this did not prevent them from watching from a distance.

"It's been several days, and I haven't seen many forces manage to get in!"

"Yes! Let's wait a little longer! We can at least pay a visit and share in the joy when the celebration is over!"

"We'll just have to wait."

“Someone’s coming again!”

"I doubt it's going to work out! It's mostly wishful thinking on their part!"

"No! Take another look!"

"Huh!? They went in!"

"How did he get in? What happened?!"

"Looks pretty young! Who's he?!"

"do not know!"

"."

Several representatives from out-of-town forces who came to offer their congratulations were chatting enthusiastically, while only a few local forces were losing interest.

Some people were puzzled and went up to ask, and received these few words in response.

"Who is that person? You don't even recognize Chen Ping'an, the 'Wild Blade'? What are you doing here?!"

"The Gu family's newly appointed grandmaster, Gu Qingcheng's future husband! If he can't get in, who can?!"

"What do you mean it's unfair? Stop trying to take advantage of me."

"What are you doing here if you don't do any homework?!"

"Shut up! If you keep making any more noise, you won't even be able to stay here!"

"."

Chen Ping'an paid no attention to what others said. With everyone's respectful welcome, Chen Ping'an entered the Gu family smoothly and met several elders in the Gu family's elder hall.

"Ping An greets all the elders and wishes them good fortune, peace, and longevity in their martial arts!"

Chen Ping'an bowed respectfully, his smile warm and friendly.

It is not a sign of a lower-ranking person fawning over a higher-ranking person, but rather a sign of a younger person's heartfelt wishes for an elder.

"Ping An, please take a seat." Elder Lan smiled kindly, gesturing for Chen Ping An to sit down. Clearly, Chen Ping An's attitude pleased many of the elders.

They are all shrewd and experienced people; they can still tell whether something is just polite talk or genuine sincerity.

Chen Ping'an did not refuse, bowed respectfully, and then sat down.

There are several more elders in the hall of elders today than on that day. Elder Xuan and Elder Hua are also present.

Chen Pingan had a vague feeling that things might not be so simple today.

Sure enough, after exchanging a few pleasantries, Elder Xuan, who was seated at the head of the table, waved his hand and a beautifully designed jade box appeared in front of him.

"Peace, here's what you wanted."

The jade box floated gently in the air, drifting towards Chen Ping'an.

Chen Ping'an did not hide his joy and gladly accepted the jade box.

Inside the jade box was the rare spiritual item he had been longing for: the Snow Spirit Leaf from the Great Snow Mountain.

"Snow Spirit Leaf!" Chen Ping'an exclaimed in surprise.

His emotions were half feigned and half genuine.

Wearing a Yin-Yang Daoist robe, Elder Xuan stroked his beard and sighed, "The timing is wrong. It took me a lot of effort to get these Snow Spirit Leaves. Unfortunately, the quantity is not large enough to meet my expectations."

"Thank you, Elder Xuan, and thank you all, elders." Chen Ping'an bowed sincerely.

The number of Snow Spirit Leaves in the jade box far exceeded his expectations, amounting to dozens, nearly a hundred.

As he had previously planned, given the current season, it would be good if the Gu family could procure thirty or forty leaves for him in their haste. Unexpectedly, they sent nearly a hundred leaves.

This number of Snow Spirit Leaves is enough for him to cultivate for three months.

The gains far exceeded expectations.

Indeed, the foundation of a powerful clan like the Gu family should not be underestimated. Suppressing an entire province and ranking as the number one family in Canglong—such honor is something not every force can bear!
"It's alright!" Elder Xuan waved his hand. "If it's beneficial to you, then that's good enough."

Chen Ping'an expressed his gratitude once again.

The atmosphere in the room was extremely harmonious.

Chen Ping'an proactively brought up the issue of the price of Snow Spirit Leaves. Previously, he had written to the Gu family, entrusting them to find Snow Spirit Leaves, with all costs to be borne by him. Now that the Gu family had fulfilled their promise and found the Snow Spirit Leaves, the cost of the Yuan Crystals and resources incurred would naturally be borne by Chen Ping'an.

However, although Chen Ping'an brought up the price, the Gu family elders present clearly had no intention of discussing the price.

He frankly stated that it was nothing more than a small favor and told Chen Ping'an not to take it to heart.

As for the price, since he is Qingcheng's husband, they are all family.

Why should we, as family members, discuss these things?

Wouldn't that create distance?

His words were gentle and his phrasing mild, but he showed no intention of giving anything in return, nor did he express any gratitude.

The emotions conveyed here are like a gentle breeze, extremely comforting.

Chen Ping'an was no exception.

He expressed his gratitude at the opportune moment, repeatedly thanking them.

Although the elders of the Gu family did not show anything on the surface, they were quite pleased with it.

They put a lot of effort into this, and that's exactly what they did.

Chen Ping'an, the valiant swordsman, is exceptionally talented and ranks among the hidden dragons, with the potential to become a martial arts master. It is no exaggeration for them to devote any amount of effort to such a prodigy.

Given Chen Ping'an's current progress in martial arts, as long as he doesn't have any flaws in his character or die halfway through his journey, there's a good chance he'll become a martial arts master.

Even if one moves short in the end, one cannot escape the realm of a pseudo-celestial being!

The so-called "Martial Arts Celestial" may have a false name, but to the vast majority of Grandmasters, what difference is there between them and the "Martial Arts Celestial"?
With the power of the soul, one can enhance a divine weapon and achieve a qualitative crushing victory in battle. Coupled with secret techniques, ninety-nine percent of the world's grandmasters would not even be qualified to entangle with a pseudo-celestial being.

In worldly spiritual practice, the gap widens as one progresses.

Such instances of someone at the sixth level of Qi and Blood challenging an Inner Qi Realm cultivator are probably not uncommon, not only within the state but also in the dozens of small towns under the jurisdiction of the prefecture.

Whether it's combat experience, secret techniques, magical weapons, or powerful spiritual items, if one possesses the necessary skills, any one of these can make up for any difference.

However, if it were to escalate to the third level of inner energy and challenge a cultivator at the Profound Light Realm, such an event would become extremely rare within the county. As for some external aids, one might not be enough if it wasn't powerful enough; two, or even three, might be necessary.

As for challenging a Grandmaster of Jade Balance with the cultivation foundation of a Profound Light High Realm cultivator, such a feat is extremely rare even within the state. Secret techniques, external spiritual objects, combat skills, and experience are all indispensable. Looking across the world, only the top experts on the Dragon and Tiger Ranking could possibly accomplish this.

Once you reach the Grandmaster level, crossing borders becomes virtually impossible!
The further one progresses, the more severe the selection process becomes. Those cultivators who can reach the upper realms are themselves exceptionally talented. The stringent requirements for lower-realm cultivators to challenge them have reached an appalling level.

Even grandmasters on the Wind and Cloud Ranking, if ranked lower, can only barely hold their own, let alone pose a challenge!

After obtaining the Snow Spirit Leaf, Chen Ping'an exchanged a few pleasantries with the elders of the Gu family. He thought the matter was over, but unexpectedly, Elder Xuan changed the subject.

"Fighting across borders is something few cultivators in the world can do. But Ping An, you've risen against the odds all the way. You fought against overwhelming odds in the Inner Qi Realm, reached the Dragon-Tiger Realm in the Profound Light Realm, and even in the early Jade Balance Realm, you fought across borders and possessed the strength of the middle Jade Balance Realm. Now you've even entered the middle Jade Balance Realm, and even the Evil Twins are no match for you!"
Such combat prowess has likely already reached the threshold of the Grandmaster realm, and may even have slightly surpassed it. Such talent is truly astonishing!

Crossing borders is incredibly difficult for others, but it's not a difficult thing for you.

However, although it's not a difficult task, I, Gu Jia, also want to do something to add to the good things.

As the saying goes, a hero is matched with a beauty, and a treasure is given to a proud man.

Today, I want to give you something!

Elder Xuan's eyes were bright and piercing, fixed on Chen Ping'an.

The other elders in the room, with smiling faces and warm eyes, all looked over.

Chen Ping'an's expression brightened, and he became solemn.

Chen Ping'an stayed at the Gu family's residence for half a day. Before leaving, he shared a cup of spiritual wine with the elders of the Gu family.

The Gu family has a rich collection of treasures, and their spirit wine is naturally crisp and refreshing, with an unforgettable aftertaste.

Even with Chen Ping'an's current cultivation level, he felt a slight benefit from the spiritual wine.

After a shared drink, the elders of the Gu family, each with their own important matters to attend to, naturally could not stay with him for long. After finishing their business, many elders also left early.

But before leaving, he mostly smiled at Chen Ping'an.

The atmosphere here is incredibly warm and inviting.

"Esteemed elders, I take my leave in peace." Chen Ping'an said solemnly, bowing with his hands clasped.

When Chen Ping'an came out of the Gu family, he already had two more items on him.

One item is the Snow Spirit Leaf from the Great Snow Mountain, an aid in cultivation. The other is a treasured possession of the Gu family, a protective item given to him.

This item is extremely valuable, far exceeding the value of ordinary treasures.

When Chen Ping'an received the gift, he was quite impressed, marveling at the Gu family's generosity and boldness.

The gratitude I feel is beyond words.

Just as Chen Ping'an left the Gu family and returned to his courtyard residence, an uninvited group of guests arrived in Canglong Prefecture.

"Miss Liang, you said we were coming, why are you being so secretive?"

Inside a carriage that drove into Canglong Prefecture, a dark-skinned old man, with his chest bare, complained.

Sitting opposite him was a woman with a graceful figure, her thighs were plump and straight, and were faintly visible under her skirt.

“Our relationship with the Gu family isn’t exactly harmonious. We’ve already been here once before. This time, let’s keep a low profile and avoid any misunderstandings,” Liang Xiaoxian said, her eyes bright and clear, as she reassured the old man.

“Once we get into the city and meet that kid, the Gu family will find out anyway. Why are we going through all this trouble?” The old man expressed his dissatisfaction: “Sitting in this carriage is not comfortable at all.”

"Alright, old man, that's enough." Kuang Lanke spoke up from the side. He was tall and slender with a thin face, and wore a long black robe, giving him a somewhat refined and scholarly air.

"We entered the city discreetly, not expecting to be able to keep it from the Gu family. We came quietly, just to make a statement. At this critical juncture, we don't want to cause any trouble. As long as we can maintain appearances and everyone understands without saying a word, it's better for everyone."

The old man who split the earth understood the principle that Kuanglanke spoke of. But understanding it is one thing, and doing it is another.

However, since Kuanglanke had already spoken, he muttered a few words and then said nothing more.

Liang Xiaoxian glanced at the two of them, then turned her gaze to the outside of the carriage.

Outside, the city streets were bustling with commerce, and pedestrians came and went in an endless stream, presenting a prosperous scene.

The struggle for the throne of the Prince of the County is raging, with factions clashing and interests intertwined. All seventeen prefectures of Bicang are more or less involved in this great power struggle.

Before everything settles down and the situation becomes clear, those involved are not in control of their own destiny; all they can do is give it their all and spare no effort.

There are not many pure lands like Canglong Prefecture that remain independent from the outside world!
Liang Xiaoxian withdrew her gaze and looked at the two people in the carriage, recalling her godfather's instructions before she left.

If things are impossible, then
She came determined to succeed, and she certainly didn't want to leave disappointed.

If possible, she would not want to give up.

just
When that time comes, she will inevitably disregard everything for the sake of her faction's interests.

Liang Xiaoxian's bright eyes flickered slightly, dismissing the idea of ​​such a possibility.

"Chen Ping'an"

She was calculating in her mind, weighing the bargaining chips she had in hand.

"Those who understand the times are wise; I hope you..."
Don't make a mistake for yourself!

(End of this chapter)