The Great Martial Saint!

Chapter 648 A Probing Meeting, Jade Lotus Fruit (Seeking Monthly Tickets~)

"Zhang Tianyuan wants to see me?"

Upon receiving the message from the Canglong Prefecture Garrison, Chen Ping'an looked surprised.

Has the Xuanhuang Absolute Sword returned?
He's leaving tomorrow, what does Zhang Tianyuan mean by contacting him?
Is she starting to suspect him, or simply wants to see him? Or is there some other reason?
But whatever the reason, he must treat this meeting with utmost care.

The return of the Xuanhuang Absolute Sword means that there are now at least two pseudo-celestial martial artists within the Canglong Prefecture's Zhenfu Division.

Even he needed to be extremely cautious and prepared for the challenge given the difference in their martial arts realms.

The Xuanhuang Absolute Sword is extremely famous, renowned for its lethality even back in the Jade Balance Realm. Beneath its blade, all is silent and still.

After achieving the status of a pseudo-celestial being, it is even more so!
However, in the last hundred years, Xuanhuang Juejian has been in charge of the state's military command and busy with official duties, so he has had far fewer such reputations.

But this does not mean that its former power has disappeared.

After that night's battle, Chen Ping'an was at most wary of Shan Xuanhuang Juejian, but not particularly afraid of him.

Even if he couldn't win, with his physically strong physique, he wouldn't die.

At most, it will only deplete some of its resources and cause some injuries.

However, if there are two people, then the meaning changes completely.

If two pseudo-celestial beings cooperated seamlessly, even a martial arts celestial being could be restrained for a long time. Let alone him.

Fortunately, this is only the worst-case scenario.

In reality, Chen Ping'an might not need to take action.

It was just a simple meeting.

Even so, Chen Ping'an still did some preparatory work.

He meticulously reviewed his own assets and made arrangements for their concealment. As for what he had obtained from Li Wusheng, Chen Ping'an originally planned to simply find a place to hide it and not take it with him.

But after thinking it over carefully, he decided to just take it with him.

There are many things that, if done too much, are more likely to reveal flaws.

His attempt to conceal the flaws seemed flawless, but in reality, it indirectly exposed his weakness.

If the other party has any doubts, we can cooperate with each other.

He had barely hidden himself when someone came looking for him.

At that time, the perpetrator will be caught red-handed.

Where could be safer than hiding on his own person?
The matter involves personal secrets, and even superiors wouldn't dare to investigate rashly. If they did investigate, it would already be too late to do anything about it.

For martial arts practitioners, his Thousand-Mechanism Bag and Hundred-Treasure Pouch are the most closely guarded secrets.

They have their own trump cards and secrets; if anyone tries to investigate, it's practically a recipe for disaster.

This is far worse than trespassing!
This is also the fundamental reason why Chen Ping'an has kept the items on his person for so long without worrying about any risks.

Of course, besides forcibly investigating, there are also some sensing methods that can silently detect some items inside the treasure bag or even the Thousand Machine Bag.

Especially items that have been marked or have been contaminated with a scent.

While the Thousand-Mechanism Bag offers higher security than the Hundred-Treasure Bag, it is clearly not perfect and completely unimpeded.

To achieve a higher level of privacy, you'll need more advanced storage solutions.

Chen Ping'an's thorough inspection was precisely to prevent this situation from occurring.

He wasn't particularly worried about anything else; his only concern was the Dream Pearl he possessed.

The Dream Pearl is unlike any other; it's a true treasure. Although its specific function is unknown, it's clear that the Dream Pearl's value far surpasses that of ordinary treasures.

Such treasures would be difficult for even a true martial arts master to resist, let alone a pseudo-celestial being.

If it were truly exposed, it would likely lead to my death.

Although he had taken multiple precautions, who knew whether Zhang Tianyuan had mastered any treasure-hunting techniques or possessed any magical tools or artifacts for sensing treasures?

If that's the case, then we're really in trouble.

With this in mind, Chen Ping'an became even more eager to master the Dream Pearl. Given the Dream Pearl's quality, once he mastered it, he could store it within his spiritual platform and nurture it deeply.

With the spiritual light covering it, the spiritual fruit shines brightly. At that time, not only will those whose cultivation level is only one level higher, but even those who are several levels higher will find it extremely difficult to detect and understand it.

As long as he doesn't actively expose himself, his safety can be basically guaranteed.

Many high-level martial arts practitioners possess secret treasures and valuable artifacts through this method.

The only saving grace now is that the Dream Pearl is of a high enough grade and its radiance is concealed. Even if there are some treasure-hunting techniques, it would be difficult to find its trace if the grade is not high enough.

Furthermore, Zhang Tianyuan cultivates the way of the sword, making it unlikely that he would practice unorthodox or secret techniques. If he were like other masters of unorthodox methods or secret arts, then it's truly hard to say.

In short, be adaptable and go with the flow!

Chen Ping'an's eyes narrowed, and he got up and left, heading towards the Canglong Prefecture Garrison.

The main building and halls of the State Garrison Command.

Chen Ping'an met Zhang Tianyuan, the powerful deputy head of the Canglong Prefecture Garrison, who possessed the Xuanhuang Absolute Sword.

The deputy head of the department with real power is different from the deputy head of the department; it belongs to an extremely special sequence.

Theoretically speaking, if the head of the department is absent, the deputy head of the department can exercise the authority of the head of the department.

"This humble servant, Chen Ping'an, greets Your Excellency."

If the principal is not present, and you see the deputy, simply refer to the principal.

This is a principle that Chen Ping'an learned a long time ago, and it is no exception now.

Furthermore, Zhang Tianyuan's title of "Chief" is generally accepted within the high-ranking ranks of the Canglong Prefecture Garrison. However, the actual Chief of the Canglong Prefecture Garrison is distinctly different, and is generally referred to as "Master Chief."

"No need to be polite, just get up."

Upon meeting Chen Ping'an, Zhang Tianyuan's attitude was certainly not bad, though not exactly enthusiastic.

"Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Truly, heroes emerge from among the young! In the battle of Long'an, you have truly brought honor to our company!"

Zhang Tianyuan looked Chen Ping'an over and said "good" three times in a row.

"Your Excellency's praise is too much for me to bear," Chen Ping'an said respectfully in a low voice.

"Of course I'm honored! You deserve the praise from our company!"

Sensing Chen Ping'an's martial will, which was comparable to that of a Grandmaster, Zhang Tianyuan's joy deepened: "I heard that on your way to Canglong, you suppressed and killed the Evil Twins, bringing glory to Canglong. This deserves a reward, a great reward!"

hum~
A flash of ethereal light appeared, and a jade box materialized before Zhang Tianyuan. With a flick of his finger, the jade box moved to Chen Ping'an's side.

"My lord," Chen Ping'an hesitated.

"Take it!" Zhang Tianyuan exuded an imposing aura without anger, possessing the dignified and sharp demeanor of a swordsman.

"Thank you for your generous gift, Your Excellency. I will never forget it!" Chen Ping'an bowed and accepted the jade box in front of him.

After presenting the jade box, Zhang Tianyuan chatted with Chen Ping'an for a few more minutes.

It mainly consisted of ordinary things, along with some words of praise and encouragement.

Let him cultivate diligently, accumulate merits, and strive to be promoted to the position of deputy head.

In response, Chen Ping'an replied respectfully, vowing not to disappoint the Commander's high expectations.

After their conversation, at Zhang Tianyuan's signal, Chen Ping'an respectfully left.

"What a hidden genius!"

Zhang Tianyuan's eyes were grayish-white, and his robe sleeves hung down.

Unexpectedly, Chen Ping'an, the savage swordsman, had been hiding his strength. He had unknowingly entered the mid-stage of the Jade Balance realm, and his martial will was comparable to that of a martial arts grandmaster.

Therefore, the matter of the Evil Duo is quite reasonable.

In his opinion, Mang Dao's talent was exceptional enough. Given time, he might become a pillar of the Azure Dragon Clan.

If one gains further opportunities and cultivates diligently for a hundred years, breaking through bottlenecks and barriers, one might become a grandmaster and achieve the pseudo-celestial realm!

even
There is also a considerable chance that one can achieve a spiritual connection with the divine and become a true celestial being!
just
The affairs of heaven and man are ethereal and intangible; they cannot be determined by mere innate talent.

Before he broke through to the next level, he felt it was a sure thing.

However, when it came to truly breaking through to the next level, it was a miscalculation; its spirit and soul were flawed, revealing a faint gray light, placing it among the lowest-grade, flawed classes.

In this lifetime, I will never again have the chance to establish the foundation of the Great Dao!
Zhang Tianyuan stood there, his sleeves fluttering, deep in thought and speechless.

"Out."

Chen Ping'an remained calm and composed, his expression unchanged.

This time, Zhang Tianyuan didn't ask him anything important. But his casual tone concealed a probing intent.

When discussing everyday matters, he casually mentioned Li Wusheng, observing Chen Ping'an's emotional changes in light of past events.

Chen Ping'an was very perceptive and noticed all of Zhang Tianyuan's subtle actions.

He remained calm and answered flawlessly in a manner perfectly befitting his public image.

Chen Ping did not deny any rumors about a rift between him and Li Wusheng, speaking of such things with the air of a wild and arrogant young man.

For example, Li Wusheng's visit when his younger sister came of age. Even the previous act of serving Fang Zhengyu and intentionally using his marriage to manipulate the relationship with the Prince of Bicang, which Chen Ping'an also mentioned at the opportune moment. Suspecting that Li Wusheng is behind all this, I urge the Chief Inspector to investigate thoroughly.

Chen Ping'an made no attempt to hide or conceal the previous animosity between them, nor did he conceal his dissatisfaction.

This stance was naturally something Chen Ping'an had planned carefully.

When Zhang Tianyuan mentioned that he intended to mediate between the two, Chen Ping'an also subtly showed his dissatisfaction, but ultimately he followed the opinion of the Chief Administrator, who could reconcile the conflict between the two sides.

These reactions were nothing short of perfect. Most importantly, within this perfection, they retained a raw, untamed spirit, making them exceptionally realistic. Throughout the entire process, the actor portrayed himself as a complete bystander, utterly unaware that Li Wusheng was already dead.

This seemingly casual conversation actually concealed Zhang Tianyuan's calculations.

However, Chen Ping'an's handling of the situation did not completely dispel Zhang Tianyuan's doubts, but overall, they were greatly reduced.

Furthermore, Zhang Tianyuan's actions of sensing strength naturally did not escape Chen Ping'an's notice.

Just like that day, he displayed the willpower level of a mid-stage Jade Balance cultivator, comparable to a Grandmaster of Martial Arts, which Zhang Tianyuan examined.

It has to be said that the disguise and concealment capabilities of the cheat code panel are truly unbeatable.

Even if a pseudo-celestial martial artist were to personally examine him, they would not be able to discern his true origins.

After this incident, it is believed that Zhang Tianyuan's thoughts will be completely dispelled.

After that, the most one could come to the conclusion was that the matter was related to him, but it was impossible to connect the person who made the move to him personally.

Of course, even if there was only a one in ten thousand chance, Chen Ping'an had prepared for the worst.

Many of the responses were designed based on the worst-case scenario, but this meeting seemed to have no flaws and ended smoothly.

To be honest, although Zhang Tianyuan of the Xuanhuang Absolute Sword was keeping his abilities hidden, in Chen Ping'an's opinion, his overall sense of oppression was stronger than that of the old man Qingfan.

It's unclear whether it's due to a lack of cultivation foundation or simply the difference between swordsmen and other cultivators.

It's hard to say who would be stronger if the two of them were to have a truly intense and satisfying fight.
After returning to his own courtyard, Chen Ping'an opened the jade box that Zhang Tianyuan had given him.

Inside the jade box was a jade-patterned lotus fruit, which, as soon as it was opened, exuded pure spiritual energy.

The Jade Lotus Fruit is considered an extremely fine spiritual treasure, and even for a Grandmaster, it is quite rare.

It has the effects of increasing true essence, aiding cultivation, and reducing bottlenecks.

If a senior master takes it, it can greatly shorten the time it takes to accumulate true essence.

If a few more precious medicinal herbs are added and refined into a pill, its effects will only be stronger.

"Not bad!"

The gift Zhang Tianyuan gave was exactly what Chen Ping'an wanted.

It wasn't that it was particularly valuable to him, but rather that it came at just the right time.

With this precious lotus fruit and the help of other resources, it wasn't entirely unexpected that he would later display a cultivation level of the mid-stage of the Jade Balance Realm in a short period of time.

With Zhang Tianyuan's endorsement, the path to breakthroughs in cultivation is now clear.

If he had the cultivation of the mid-stage of Jade Balance, coupled with his previously emphasized talent in combat, and the nascent form of the Heavenly Meteor Frost Star Blade, the level of killing power he could unleash would depend entirely on individual interpretation.

Anyway, suppressing one or two grandmasters isn't particularly outrageous.

what?
You say fighting across borders is too monstrous!
Sorry, but ever since he openly revealed his talent, he has always been considered a prodigy.

In the past, he ranked among the top ten in the Dragon and Tiger Realm solely on his own merits. After breaking through to the Grandmaster Realm on Xiaopan Mountain, he even went so far as to fight against the veteran Grandmaster Wei Yiqi.

Now that the treasure has taken shape, it's not surprising that such a powerful protective artifact could fight against one or two Grandmasters!
On the surface, the path to becoming a Grandmaster has been paved, and Chen Ping'an is in a good mood.

In addition, he has been intentionally displaying a martial arts will comparable to that of a grandmaster, so it is normal that he will take less time to break through the barriers in the future.

After all, with his talent and willpower, he already has plenty of resources and spiritual objects. Breaking through another realm would be fast, but it wouldn't be so fast that it would catch people off guard.

Chen Ping'an didn't think for long before quickly entering a state of cultivation.

He returned from his meeting with Zhang Tianyuan earlier than he had expected. With some time still before the little girl's class ended, he naturally wanted to make the most of it.

Now that we have the Snow Spirit Leaf, our cultivation efficiency has improved considerably. Judging from the current situation, the Azure Sun Blood Refining Technique should be the first to achieve a breakthrough.

Chen Ping'an was filled with anticipation for this body-tempering method inherited from the Qingyang Sect of the Eastern Territory.

What changes will the completion of the first refinement of the Azure Sun Blood Refining Technique bring?
Besides cultivation, Chen Ping'an also didn't slack off in refining divine weapons. He focused on refining the nascent treasures, the Heavenly Meteor Frost Star Blade and the Black Profound Iron Mask, while refining the rest of the items in an orderly manner.

Inside the room, Chen Ping'an sat cross-legged, quietly cultivating.

As the sun set, the little girl returned to the courtyard after school.

"Brother." The little girl was dressed in plain clothes and looked very talented.

"Zhaoheng." Chen Ping'an greeted him with a smile.

Tomorrow is the day he leaves Canglong, so the siblings should have a good chat today.

I don't know when we'll meet again.

Perhaps in two months, or perhaps in six months.

It's worth mentioning that after he improved the supporting resources he prepared for the little girl's cultivation, her cultivation progress actually accelerated somewhat.

It's just unknown how much of the cultivation resources and his supervision each accounted for.

However, looking at the other side, there have also been significant changes at the peony cultivation site. It seems the improved supporting cultivation resources should account for a considerable portion of the resources available.

His improved cultivation resources were all designed to enhance effectiveness, but this came at the cost of a difference of one or even several times the original value. Such an extravagant cultivation method was something that most families couldn't afford.

Fortunately, Chen Ping'an only needed to supply the little girl and Shaoyao, whose martial arts level was not high. With his wealth and resources, he could easily afford it.

After finishing their meal, the brother and sister sat in the courtyard and chatted idly. Peony stood by, quietly watching the two siblings under the moonlight.

That night, the two didn't talk much, but their conversation was warm and tender, filled with a sense of peace and tranquility.

Chen Pingan thought a lot about the little girl.

With the little girl's strength, she couldn't withstand even the slightest disturbance. Previously, Canglong Prefecture City was still relatively safe. But as his own cultivation level increases, the situation he faces becomes increasingly complex, and Canglong Prefecture City may no longer be a safe place.

If he could assassinate Li Wusheng in the dead of night, dealing with the little girl would be even easier if he had an equal opponent in the future.

"The matter of the academy should be implemented as soon as possible!"

Chen Ping'an's eyes flashed, realizing he couldn't wait any longer.

He had previously thought that if the girl didn't respond the first time, he could wait another three years. But now it seems he can't wait that long.

The little girl must pass the next academy exam!

Once the little girl goes to the academy, everything will be safe!

When the young girl came of age, various forces presented her with many literary and artistic gifts, including scrolls, classics, inkstones, and wolf-hair brushes.

These things should be enough for the little girl to study for a while.

In addition, before his departure, he asked the Gu family to help the little girl collect more information about the academy's examinations so that she could be familiar with them in advance and be mentally prepared.

The Gu family readily agreed to this, and readily accepted the offer.

Watching the swaying shadows of the trees and the beautiful, gentle young girl, Chen Ping'an smiled silently, enjoying the moment.

For a better future, for better protection, he needs to act with even greater urgency.

Their status gradually rises, their strength grows, and they become better and better!

Early the next morning, after bidding a reluctant farewell to the little girl and peony, Chen Ping'an boarded the carriage and left Canglong Prefecture City.

Since it wasn't official business, no one from the Canglong Prefecture Garrison came to see him off. During this period, the Canglong Prefecture Garrison was outwardly relaxed but inwardly under immense pressure, leaving little time for leisurely greetings and formalities.

After Chen Ping'an left the city, Liang Xiaoxian, who had been closely monitoring his movements, naturally learned of the matter immediately.

"Mang Dao is gone?" Liang Xiaoxian's eyes narrowed slightly. Recalling the recent rumors, her expression changed: "Chase after him!"

"What's wrong, Miss Liang?" The old man with the split earth looked very relaxed, his belly exposed, lying comfortably on a rock to the side.

"Spending the night at the Gu family's residence, with divine weapons as a congratulatory gift, it seems that Mang Dao's intentions regarding the previous recruitment were not pure." Liang Xiaoxian said hurriedly, ignoring the two's reactions, she put on her bamboo hat and went out first.

The Earth-Splitter glanced at the Mad Wave Guest beside him, and seeing the other man stand up from the stone bench, he straightened up and followed him.

"What a troublesome little guy!"

Outside Canglong Prefecture, the carriage moved slowly. Chen Ping'an sat on the carriage, his eyes calm and his expression undisturbed.

"Before returning to Thunderclap, there is one last thing to do!"

Chen Ping'an calmed his mind and slowly closed his eyes.

hum~
A flash of light appeared, and a bluish radiance flowed.

The ethereal imagery of the cultivation technique slowly emerged.

"The Great Void is the beginning of the limitless, the origin of chaos."

Those who ride the wind move with the tide, detached from worldly concerns.

"Riding the wind through the void is to integrate the principles of heaven and earth, and to borrow the power of nature."

+1!

(End of this chapter)