The Great Martial Saint!

Chapter 661 Hidden Clouds Without a Trace, Demanding Punishment (Seeking Monthly Tickets~)

"Any news?"

"Where did Mang Dao go?"

Inside the Thunderous Garrison, Wu Benqing kept inquiring about Chen Ping'an's whereabouts, trying to find out his latest movements.

According to his previous thinking, Chen Ping'an's departure from the city was probably to seek help from various forces.

The situation in Leiming is critical. All parties in Leiming Mountain Range have expressed their support. The situation is dire. Without their help, the Leiming Town Government alone may not be able to support the overall situation.

Especially when neither he nor Gu Luping gets involved.

Therefore, while there seem to be many ways to ensure the safety of a rogue, in reality there is only one.

This speculation was already firmly established in Wu Benqing's mind.

However, according to the latest intelligence gathered, there is no indication that Chen Ping'an, the Brute, has visited any of the various forces outside Thunder City. Furthermore, Chen Ping'an's movements seem to have disappeared from the outskirts as well.

"Where did they go?" Wu Benqing's expression remained calm, but a faint feeling of being out of control arose in his heart.

However, he quickly regained his composure.

The overall situation is settled; Chen Ping'an alone can't cause any trouble.

"Send a message to the Gu family to inquire about their recent situation. With the overall situation at hand, I hope they will work together with one heart and one mind and not have any other intentions."

"Furthermore, keep a close eye on the Gu family's base and report any movements immediately!"

"Also, what about the Qiankun Division?"

"."

Wu Benqing made a series of arrangements.

Only after all these tasks were assigned did he gradually relax.

"Chen Ping'an, whether you're a rising star or a powerful figure in the state, without my support, you won't amount to anything here in Leiming!"

Besides Wu Benqing, many forces both inside and outside Leiming City are paying close attention to the movements of the Leiming Town Pacification Division. Many are also trying to ascertain the situation of the ruthless Chen Ping'an, hoping to obtain precise intelligence.

But whether it was because Chen Ping'an's movements were well hidden or for some other reason, they did not receive any new information for a while.

All that is known is that Chen Ping'an disappeared after leaving the outskirts of Thunder City.

"You've concealed your movements quite well! It's just a pity that, in the end, strategy and tactics come down to strength!"

After several days of review and repeated deliberation, Gu Baixuan's state of mind had long since recovered.

Although Chen Ping'an, the valiant swordsman, was appointed as the Chief Inspector of the Thunderous Garrison, he was newly appointed and his foundation was still weak, with no capable people around him. If there was any foundation, it was the Gu family's power within Thunderous City.

However, after a long period of close investigation, his scouts in the city reported that there was no unusual activity at the Gu family's residence.

The biggest variable is Gu Qingchan, the Ice Soul Needle, who is in seclusion and has not participated in this matter.

Under these circumstances, the only thing Chen Ping'an, the ruthless swordsman, could rely on was his reputation.

A rising star, husband of the Gu family, the youngest tycoon in Canglong Prefecture, a senior leader candidate, and a candidate for deputy leader.
While such a display of power may bring many benefits, its impact is limited within the overall context of the thunderous storm.

At most, it would make others more hesitant and wary when they attacked Chen Ping'an.

Aside from that, there seem to be no other benefits.

According to his calculations, given the current circumstances, Chen Ping'an, the ruthless swordsman, has no way of breaking this thunderous formation!

As for...
Martial arts breakthrough!

A hint of a smile appeared in Gu Baixuan's thin, clear eyes.

Given Lei Ming's current situation, even if Mang Dao's strength greatly improves and he possesses the combat power of a Grandmaster, it will be difficult for him to subdue others by force or suppress them by power.

There is more than one Grandmaster in the Thunder Mountain Range!
Moreover, a Grandmaster!?

How can it be!

Amidst the speculations circulating in various parts of Leiming, Chen Ping'an, far away in the Leiming Mountains, also departed from the Blood Owl Gang's territory.

The Blood Owl's mission went even more smoothly than Chen Ping'an had expected.

According to his previous plan, it would take a lot of effort to gain basic control of the Blood Owl Gang, even if only in name.

After all, controlling a force is not as simple as defeating a powerful opponent. There are far too many details involved.

Furthermore, if any of the Blood Owl Gang's core leaders have escaped, then his actions will at most only achieve the goal of winning one faction against another. While it may meet the expected objective, it will still fall short of the ideal situation.

However, he was lucky this time; all three top leaders of the Blood Owl Gang were on the main peak of the Blood Owl Gang. After using his Spiritual Assassination Technique to restrain Blood Tiger Hou Hu, he used swift and decisive methods to kill the third gang leader, Owl Tiger.

After the Blood Owl Gang leader, Xiao Long Nu Jing Tao, bowed his head, the overall situation of the Blood Owl Gang was settled.

Martial Arts Grandmaster!
Which one of them wasn't renowned and powerful?

The combat power he displayed left the Blood Owls speechless with awe, unable to muster any will to resist.

Under his intimidation, the situation naturally stabilized.

However, even with this, the overall situation is not yet completely settled.

He killed two top figures of the Blood Owl Gang. Although the crowd was intimidated by his power and temporarily submitted, it was clearly too idealistic to take over the Blood Owl Gang just like that.

Given this tone, the subsequent actions seem perfectly justified.

In the name of the Thunderous Suppression Division, they supported Hou Hu, the Blood Tiger, to take the position. Hou Hu had been operating within the Blood Owl Gang for many years and naturally had his own loyal faction. With the support of the Thunderous Suppression Division and his own intimidation, he could barely maintain his position as the leader of the Blood Owl Gang for a short period of time.

This move represents a compromise reached by both sides amidst intense conflict.

It may not be the best, but it is the most effective.

Under Chen Ping'an's intimidation, the Blood Owls, though unwilling, had no choice but to accept the situation due to reality.

In the process, some bloodshed was inevitable.

Hou Hu's rise to power, though seemingly justified by righteous cause, cannot conceal the bloody fact that he betrayed his cause. Many members of the Blood Owl Gang viewed Hou Hu's actions as opportunistic betrayal and akin to treason.

Some radicals even opposed it on the spot.

Of course, those radicals have long since perished under the sword, their bodies buried in thunder.

This was not done by Chen Ping'an, but by Hou Hu and his trusted followers.

This can be seen as his indirect pledge of allegiance.

Chen Ping'an had spoken with Hou Hu once. It was clear that he was an extremely ambitious person.

Chen Ping'an didn't care what the other person was thinking, but given the current situation, this person could be used by him.

Hou Hu's rise to power was illegitimate, and he needed Chen Ping'an's support. In turn, Chen Ping'an needed Hou Hu to control the Blood Owl's power.

Given the current situation, although Hou Hu has established the tone of controlling the situation, his subordinates, though restrained by his power and not daring to act, probably already have different thoughts in their hearts.

However, Chen Ping'an didn't need to handle these matters. Now that Hou Hu had taken over, he knew what to do next.

If he can't even handle this simple matter, then he's not suited to be the leader of the Blood Owl Gang.

First, stabilize the overall market; the subsequent fine-tuning will be left to Hou Hu himself.

Furthermore, Chen Ping'an also granted Hou Hu an imperial edict in the name of the Leiming Town Pacification Division. Logically speaking, this action of his was certainly irregular.

It has the appearance of acting first and informing later.

However, given the current situation, this approach requires flexibility. It involves not adhering to rigid formalities, prioritizing the overall situation, and striving to resolve the matter with minimal cost.

Judging from Lei Ming's current situation, it wouldn't be difficult for Chen Ping'an to compile a report afterward, submit it to the Canglong Prefecture's Zhenfu Division, and ask for a title under the pretext of incorporating the Blood Owl Gang.

For the state garrison, this situation was an unexpected bonus. They were happy to do this favor without incurring any additional costs.

The only thing to consider is the future tone of the relationship with the Blood Owl Gang.

However, there is no rush.

With Chen Ping'an overseeing the overall situation, he didn't need to concern himself with the details.

Professional tasks should be handled by professionals. Once an order is issued, countless people will naturally consider and refine it.

His task is to take control of the situation and stabilize the overall situation!

After temporarily stabilizing the situation in the Blood Owl Gang, Chen Ping'an left the Blood Owl Gang's territory with the heads of Xiaolong and Xiaohu.

Considering the current situation, Chen Ping'an left alone. He was extremely fast, far beyond what Xiong Sanrang and the others could keep up with.

In addition, the Blood Owl Gang has caused quite a few repercussions that need to be dealt with. Due to limited manpower, he couldn't send a Grandmaster to handle it, so he asked Xiong Sanrang and others to deal with it for the time being.

This matter involves considerable risk.

But risks and opportunities go hand in hand; if this is done well, it will be a great achievement!
The merit they made was enough to promote them by one or even two ranks!

Despite the risks and implications of this matter, they are happy to undertake it for the sake of the potential profits.

Having chosen this path, I have already made the necessary preparations.

He died on the battlefield, his body wrapped in a horse's hide.

Countless people would have longed for such an opportunity but never received it. Now, they've found a great superior, and an opportunity that so many wouldn't even dare to dream of is right in front of them.

If they don't seize such an opportunity, they might regret it for the rest of their lives.

They are not afraid of death, but they are afraid of dying meaninglessly.

Whoosh!
Chen Ping'an moved swiftly through the mountains and forests, his speed so fast that even top-tier grandmasters couldn't keep up with him.

Although there was no one else there, Chen Ping'an still strictly maintained his outward combat strength.

The Zhenfu Division is full of capable people. Although no one witnessed his speed, if someone were to carefully review the events afterward and analyze the situation, they would likely be able to deduce the unreasonableness of his speed by examining the distance and travel time.

Chen Ping'an would never make such obvious mistakes.

Anything that needs to be hidden requires meticulous attention to detail.

Hiding for a while is easy.

However, if it is hidden for a long time, the effort required will remain unknown to outsiders.

Chen Ping'an flew by, constantly reviewing the gains and losses in the process.

In this battle, he demonstrated the power to kill a Grandmaster.

The leader of the Blood Owl Gang, Xiaolong Nujingtang, wasn't particularly outstanding among Grandmasters. But no matter how unremarkable he was, he was still a genuine Grandmaster.

Even if there's an element of luck or external assistance involved in his ability to kill, his overall combat strength must still surpass that of an ordinary Grandmaster.

No matter how hard he tries to cover it up, he can't hide it.

However, while concealing it is impossible, one can appropriately weaken his own combat power.

For example, enhancing the effects of external buffs, strengthening the effects of guardian weapons, and using rare life-saving trump cards.

This matter requires careful consideration.

It shouldn't be too much, but it also shouldn't be too unreasonable.

In this battle, he mainly used the domineering sword technique at the master level, the Taixu Wind Control Step at the beginner level, and the Soaring Dragon Body Technique at the perfect level.

Furthermore, he truly revealed his cultivation level at the mid-stage of the Jade Balance realm.

These are all things that are out in the open, and no matter how much you try to wash them away, with so many onlookers, they can't be erased.

However, there is much room for improvement in terms of external benefits.

What secret medicines he took and what secret techniques he used were unknown to outsiders. Lei Ming and his group might not know, but to the people of the Canglong Prefecture's Zhenfu Division, his mid-stage Jade Balance realm had been cultivated long ago. Given his previous gains, it wasn't surprising that he had acquired some life-saving secret medicines.

In addition, the Xuan Tie Ingot and the Patterned Cloth, these two powerful divine weapons are traceable and not afraid of being exposed.

In summary, he used his mid-stage Jade Balance martial arts realm, along with a powerful and domineering sword technique at the Great Perfection level, and with the help of a secret medicine and the use of a bursting secret technique, to unleash the domineering secret technique, the Overlord Slash, thus securing victory!

Given his level of skill, his record is still remarkable and astonishing, but considering his previous reputation and status as a rising star, along with many other factors, this record becomes reasonable.

After all, he already possessed the ability to kill top-tier grandmasters when he was at the initial stage of the Jade Balance Realm.

Now that his cultivation level and swordsmanship have both improved, killing an ordinary Grandmaster wouldn't be surprising. Furthermore, if things go wrong, the prototype of the precious treasure gifted by the Gu family can be used as an excuse.

The Heavenly Meteor Frost Blade is of excellent quality, and its power surpasses even top-tier divine weapons. With the blessing of such a treasure, a single strike of his secret technique revealed his formidable Grandmaster-level combat strength. What happened?!

Well, as things stand, Chen Ping'an has set his outward combat power at the level of overpowering ordinary Grandmasters. If he were to use the nascent form of a powerful treasure, his combat power could instantly reach the level of a top-tier Grandmaster.

This is the latest display of Chen Ping'an's martial arts combat power since his breakthrough in martial arts realm.

This move was both to resolve the situation caused by thunder and to pave the way for his future promotion.

A senior candidate for the position of chief commander, although a powerful figure in the state, to truly enter the ranks of the top leaders in the state, one still needs to take that crucial step and be promoted to the position of deputy chief commander!
After being promoted to deputy commander, his authority has greatly increased. Whether he wants to investigate intelligence or exchange resources, he will usher in a new stage of change.

Once one becomes the deputy commander and gains real power, one can exchange merits for rewards at the Northern Border Garrison.

If we go a step further, then...
Even the Crimson Gold Gate of the Northern Garrison Command would be open to him!
At that time, there were countless treasures and precious items, and as long as one had enough merit, he could choose whatever he wanted!
Such temptations are undeniably great.

Of course, for Chen Ping'an, what was more important was to obtain more intelligence information, especially regarding the Purple-Eyed Demon Lord.

This matter concerns his possession of the Dream Pearl, and is of utmost importance, requiring close attention.

Furthermore, knowing the details of those past events would make one more adept at handling similar situations.

Exploring secret realms, battling between two sides, encirclement and suppression campaigns, and so on—the outcome of the game depends not only on the assessment of the two sides' combat strength, but also on the dynamic differences in intelligence information.

"Coming!"

Chen Ping'an shifted his position and looked into the distance.

His spirituality spread out and he sensed more than a dozen auras from afar.

As he got closer, the sensation became clearer and clearer.

The sword is hidden in the clouds, and the wind leaves no trace.

Before Feng Wuhen left to deal with the tragedy, Chen Ping'an made an agreement with him that they would meet here once the matter was settled.

It seems that Feng Wuhen has already reached a conclusion.

In a dense forest adjacent to the Thunder Mountain Range, Feng Wuhen closed his eyes and pondered the many events that had occurred recently.

With iron-fisted methods and thunderous deeds, they will deter all forces and eliminate the influence of evil.

He didn't entirely approve of Chen Ping'an's actions, but he had no objection to his heart.

Thunderous decay, everyone looked after themselves, thunderous decay
Someone definitely needs to step forward and change this situation.

At the review meeting, Chen Ping'an's proposed plan was met with opposition from many people, but he stood up and agreed with Chen Ping'an's point of view.

He believed not only in Chen Ping'an, but also in the person behind Chen Ping'an.

Ice Soul Divine Needle, Gu Qingchan!

As Gu Ping'an's husband and the inspector of Lei Ming, the Gu family would definitely step in if Lei Ming were in danger.

As long as Gu Qingchan takes action, the Thunderous Situation can be resolved immediately!

Among the group of people, including Wu Benqing and Gu Luping, Lei Ming didn't have a particularly good understanding of Gu Qingchan's true strength. But in his opinion, Qingchan's strength had probably already reached an extremely terrifying level.

Even the most powerful grandmasters would be no match for Qingchan.

Although there are several Grandmasters in the Thunder Mountain Range, none of them are top-tier Grandmasters.

Therefore, his previous move was less a bet on Chen Ping'an and more a bet on Gu Qingchan behind Chen Ping'an.

If they could work together to handle this matter, he might be able to make contact with Qingchan, perhaps even for a longer period of time.

This was an indescribable temptation for him.

just
Feng Wuhen slightly opened his eyes.

Why hasn't the Gu family made a move after all this time?

What exactly is Chen Ping'an planning?
Feng Wuhen was dressed in a brocade robe and blue shirt, with a long sword hanging at his waist. He had bright eyes and a handsome appearance, and was quite dashing.

Ok?
Feng Wuhen's eyes flickered slightly, and he tilted his head back, gazing into the distance.

"Lord Feng!"

Chen Ping'an shifted his body and, in a few leaps, landed in front of Feng Wuhen.

His arrival naturally attracted the attention of those around him. Upon seeing Chen Ping'an, they lowered their guard and respectfully greeted him, "Greetings, Lord Chen!"

"No need for formalities!" Chen Ping'an waved his hand slightly and said with a smile.

"Did things go smoothly, Lord Chen?" Feng Wuhen asked calmly, staring at Chen Ping'an.

"It went fairly smoothly." Chen Ping'an glossed over the matter without saying more: "Has Lord Feng found any results in his investigation of the previous tragedy?"

When this matter was mentioned, Feng Wuhen's expression became more serious: "This matter is probably related to the Left Path Alliance."

"The Left Path Alliance!?"

Chen Ping'an's expression turned serious, and a glint of shrewdness appeared in his eyes.

“Yes.” Feng Wuhen nodded: “This tragedy seems to be the work of demons, but upon closer investigation, we find that this is not the case. It seems that someone intentionally acted in the manner of demons. As we peel back the layers, many clues point to one force: the Left Path Alliance in the Thunder Mountain Range!”

"Lord Feng," Chen Ping'an said calmly, "would you be willing to come with me to the Left Path Alliance?"

Feng Wuhen was taken aback, not expecting Chen Ping'an to speak in such a way.

After a moment, he said seriously.

"I, Feng, am willing to go with you."

"The Mangdao has appeared outside the Thunder Mountain Range!?"

Wu Benqing looked thoughtful as he looked at the latest news report.

Several days later, he once again learned the latest movements of the ruthless swordsman Chen Ping'an.

He pondered for a moment: "Go and find out where Feng Wuhen was last seen?"

"Yes, sir." A trusted subordinate responded respectfully and quickly withdrew to investigate the specific details.

Wu Benqing didn't have to wait long before information about Feng Wuhen was sent over.

When Wu Benqing took the intelligence and looked at it, the smile on his face changed.

"It's in the same place!"

"Interesting, interesting. It seems this brute has quite a few tricks up his sleeve. It's just a pity."

Wu Benqing's eyes were mocking, and his face showed sarcasm.

"Did Mang Dao appear outside the Thunder Mountain Range and join forces with Feng Wuhen?"

At the same time that Wu Benqing received the detailed intelligence, the Gu family in the outskirts of Leiming also received the latest news about the Mangdao.

"Outside the Thunderous Mountains, they converge at one place. Is this brute planning a trip to Thunderous?"

"It seems so!"

"Did he not dare to go alone, so he called Feng Wuhen?"

"Hahaha, everyone says that Mang Dao is incredibly audacious, but it seems he's nothing special after all! He has the guts to deliver a message, but not the guts to go to Leiming alone."

"From an objective point of view, Mang Dao's move is reasonable. Although he is very talented, he is still quite old. At most, he is only at the threshold of Grandmaster. If he goes to Lei Ming alone, he might be left there. At that time, he would really be a joke. With Feng Wuhen's help, the two of them can work together. Even if a Grandmaster of Martial Arts makes a move, they can handle it with ease and escape."

"That's true. However, this brute force still seems ridiculous. He dares to make a rash decision without knowing what his next move will be. Even if the two of them go, what can they change?! Let alone the two of them, even if two Grandmasters went, it would be just wishful thinking to force them to submit."

"That's why I say reckless!"

"There's no plan at all, leaving Lei Ming in a complete mess. He's still young!"

"Gentlemen, we must not be careless. No matter what, Feng Wuhen is still a variable. Yunyin Sword is renowned for its sharp and ruthless nature, and its elegance is hard to describe. Now that it has entered the ranks of top grandmasters, its unleashed power may be able to contend with a grandmaster!"

"That's true! However, judging from the current situation, the outcome is already decided! Once their attempt fails and the Mang Dao returns, it will be difficult to say that they are in a downward spiral!"

"The previous attempt to force Lei Ming and his family to submit under the guise of righteousness was utterly naive."

"That's what you call young people! They propose solutions without understanding the specific situation. And they even fantasize about turning the tide. It's truly laughable!"

"Young man! Young people have lofty ambitions, but who hasn't been a young man before?! When the time comes, he will find that what the elders say is always right!"

"."

While everyone was discussing it, the Zuo Dao Alliance, far away in the Leiming Mountains, received a mountain climbing invitation from Chen Ping'an, the Mang Dao.

"A visiting card for climbing a mountain?"

"Haha, old ghost, the document they sent didn't have the word 'bow' on it, don't make things up!"

"What? You've come here to interrogate me?!"

"Judging from their posture, it doesn't seem like it! They've sent an invitation; they're probably here to talk."

"Ridiculous! Arrogant at first, then obsequious—utterly laughable!"

Such are the times, and who isn't like this! Fame is like a reckless blade, and in the end, one is still just a youth! Alas, youth fades, and this old lady is getting old!

"Heh heh heh, stop lamenting your own fate. That brute is at your door; you'd better prepare a grand gift for him!"

"Old ghost, what do you mean?"

"He can talk whenever he wants and not talk whenever he wants. There's no such logic in this world. If he wants to talk to us, he should first show some sincerity! Old Monster, what do you think?"

"Hahaha, that's exactly right! I've heard that Mang Dao has quite the airs. This time, let's see if his arrogance is greater, or if the power of my Left Path Alliance is stronger!"

"What about you, wife?"

"Tsk tsk tsk, this servant will obey your orders."

"However, it's better to be safe than sorry. Call more people back. How can our Left Path Alliance headquarters be without some experts!"

"Judging by the time, the Grand Elder should be emerging from seclusion soon. Inform him of this matter as soon as possible, and hope that he can come out of seclusion and take charge."

"Isn't that necessary?"

"This Mang Dao is incredibly talented and ranks among the Hidden Dragons. It's hard to say what tricks he might have up his sleeve. It's always good to be on guard."

"Do you think you can cause any trouble in our headquarters?" someone said with disdain.

"Exactly! What do you say, old man?!"

Under the dim green light, a green-skinned old man was illuminated, his image flickering in and out of focus.

Green-skinned Old Ghost, Thunder Mountain Range, below Grandmaster level, number one in the unorthodox path!

With unorthodox and secret techniques, he is capable of contending with a Grandmaster!
"Just wait and see the show." A voice like the howling of a night bird rang out, and the eerie green lights flickered, exuding a cold and sinister atmosphere.

Three days later, Mang Dao arrived at the door.

(End of this chapter)