The Great Martial Saint!

Chapter 673 Northern Giant, Worldly Affairs (Seeking Monthly Tickets~)

Canglong Prefecture Garrison Command.

"Lord Chen is back?"

"He's back! I just caught a glimpse of him from afar, and he truly is handsome and elegant, with an outstanding presence."

"Lord Chen has returned this time because of the Qiankun Division's impeachment, hasn't he?" someone said in a muffled voice.

“But Lord Chen has rendered meritorious service to Lei Ming.” One of the men in the yamen looked somewhat dejected.

The news of the Qiankun Division's impeachment had already spread throughout the entire Canglong Prefecture's Zhenfu Division.

Alone at the meeting, Lei Ming and his team, with their unparalleled fighting prowess, intimidated the villains and stabilized the situation. Such a figure, however, was impeached by the Qiankun Division, leading to Lei Ming's removal from office and his urgent recall to the city.

How ridiculous this is!

The man in the yamen seemed somewhat silent. Most of the people in the room shared a similar sentiment. They were part of the system, bound by principles of loyalty and faction, but some things could ultimately transcend these and touch their hearts.

Even if this slight touch occurs only in a private setting, it is still incredibly precious in a cold and cruel world.

A long while later, a sound finally came from inside the yamen.

"Lord Chen, Inspector Lei Ming has indeed made outstanding contributions, which are beyond reproach. However, merits and demerits cannot offset each other. Your merits will be rewarded, but your mistakes will also be punished! This has always been the case, so there is no need to be too sentimental. Besides, Lord Chen will also provide compensation."

Everyone in the Zhenfu Division knows that Lord Chen's transfer was influenced by factional strife and was the result of a power struggle. While punishment is impossible this time, he will receive all the compensation he deserves. Lord Chen will be satisfied.

Upon hearing this, the atmosphere inside the government office became much more cheerful.

Zhong Zeyu sat behind the desk of the public housing authority, listening quietly to his colleagues' discussions without saying a word.

Compensation? Perhaps.
But he knew that Lord Chen was a man of character, and given his temperament, this matter was probably not so simple.

Given this situation, I wonder how Lord Chen will break the deadlock?

Zhong Zeyu gazed wistfully out the window, watching the rosy sunset and the lingering golden glow.

In this world, there is always a light that illuminates the unwillingness and resilience in people's hearts.

"Greetings, Lord Ning."

At the Zhenfu Division of Canglong Prefecture, Chen Ping'an met his nominal superior, Ning Zhengyue, the Five Thunder Transformation Master.

Just like before, Ning Zhengyue's face was dignified and his demeanor profound. However, this time when he saw Chen Ping'an, his gaze was somewhat complicated.

"came back."

"Yes, I'm back," Chen Ping'an said calmly.

"I have received your commendation report. It has passed the initial review and will be submitted to the Inspectorate for a second review. If there are no issues, it will be carried out as per usual procedure."

"Thank you very much, sir." Chen Ping'an expressed his heartfelt gratitude.

During the fierce encirclement and suppression, he petitioned for merit for the elite troops, compiled a report, and submitted it to the Canglong Prefecture Garrison through the postal station.

Ning Zhengyue, as the deputy director in charge of daily affairs, took charge of this matter first.

Including the delivery process, not long has passed, yet it has already passed the initial review and deliberation so quickly. Clearly, Ning Zhengyue has put in the effort and care about this matter.

Otherwise, following normal procedures, this commendation report would probably still be lying on Ning Zhengyue's desk at this point in time.

Ning Zhengyue gave Chen Ping'an a deep look but said nothing.

After a while, his voice finally rang out in the office: "Manager Zhang wants to see you!"

Chen Ping'an had thought of the Xuanhuang Absolute Sword on his way to meet Zhang Tianyuan.

He has now displayed power that surpasses that of ordinary Grandmasters, and even killed a Grandmaster in the Thunder Mountain Range. Given this situation, Zhang Tianyuan should meet him, both logically and emotionally.

Especially at this crucial juncture of his resignation, no matter the circumstances, if we don't step forward and offer him some words of comfort, aren't we afraid of being disheartened?
It should be understood that the northern border is vast and the provinces are densely packed, but not every provincial garrison is home to a hidden genius!

His position in the Canglong Prefecture Garrison Command was a rare honor, even for top-ranking officials like Zhang Tianyuan.

Chen Ping'an had foreseen this matter. Therefore, he was not surprised when Ning Zhengyue spoke.

However, he did not expect that the person he wanted to meet was someone else besides Zhang Tianyuan.

Special Envoy of the Northern Border, Wu Xifu.

Wu Xifu was an elderly man with gray hair, who appeared kind and gentle, and not particularly scheming. However, at the very moment of their first meeting, Chen Ping'an felt a powerful divine soul force sweep over him.

"This power." Chen Ping'an's mind was slightly shaken. In that instant, he felt a divine soul power far superior to that of Leng Ding Qingfan.

If we were to compare quantities, Wu Xifu's spiritual power would be at least twice as much as Leng Dingqingfan's.

The foundations of the two are completely incomparable.

“Ping An, let me introduce you. This is Special Envoy Wu from the Northern Border Garrison. He happened to be in Canglong on some business and heard that you were back, so he wanted to meet you. Special Envoy Wu thinks very highly of you.”

Before Chen Ping'an could even exchange greetings, Zhang Tianyuan took the initiative to introduce the person beside him, appearing to be in an extremely good mood.

"Greetings, Special Envoy Wu, greetings, Lord Chief." Chen Ping'an bowed respectfully with a composed expression.

Are you here in Canglong to handle some matters?
Chen Ping'an pondered to himself, "It must be about Li Wusheng!"

"Haha, Chen Ping'an, nice to meet you for the first time, no need for formalities." Wu Xifu waved his hand casually.

Wu Xifu possessed a peculiar sense of approachability and naturalness, which set him apart from most of the people in the Zhenfu Division.

"Was the journey here smooth?" Zhang Tianyuan asked with a smile, starting with small talk.

"Thanks to your great fortune, everything goes smoothly."

During the conversation, Chen Ping'an sensed an extremely subtle fluctuation of his divine soul.

At the same time that he was talking to Zhang Tianyuan, a strange light appeared in the depths of Wu Xifu's eyes, as if he wanted to see through him completely.

Chen Ping'an seemed oblivious and continued the conversation normally.

Rumor has it that some pseudo-celestial beings who have cultivated secret techniques can see through appearances to the essence of things and determine the most accurate age by observing bone age from the outside.

Zhang Tianyuan's questions were nothing special; they were just normal conversation, inquiring about his situation in Leiming.

Chen Ping'an remained calm and answered each question naturally. During the conversation, he seemed completely at ease.

Seeing Chen Ping'an's composure, Wu Xifu laughed.

"Lord Zhang, on my way to Canglong, I heard countless people talk about your Canglong Prefecture Garrison. It's truly a blessing to have a prodigy holding such an important position."

"Lord Wu, you flatter me. It is all thanks to the Northern Border Garrison Command," Zhang Tianyuan said with a smile, his reply perfectly compliant.

Although he was the powerful deputy director of the Canglong Prefecture Garrison, he was no match for the other party. Wu Xifu was not only of the same rank as him in the Garrison, but also held the position of special envoy, granted by the Garrison with the power of investigation.

Furthermore, although Wu Xifu is not a sword cultivator and is skilled in direct combat, his methods are extremely diverse and his foundation is profound, so he is really no match for his opponent.

Under such circumstances, his attitude was crystal clear.

"Thirty-seventh in the Hidden Dragon rank! Their combat strength surpasses that of a Grandmaster. Meeting them today, they truly have not disappointed this old man!" Wu Xifu said with a smile.

Thirty-seventh in the Hidden Dragon rank?

Chen Ping'an's expression faltered slightly.

Judging from Chen Ping'an's condition, Wu Xifu knew that he was still unaware of his own hidden dragon ranking.

He smiled slightly, raised his hand slightly, and a light screen appeared in front of him.

Unlike spirituality, the activation of divine soul power is much faster, basically fleeting. A flash of inspiration like spirituality is rarely seen unless it is done intentionally.

"Hidden Dragon Prodigy, ranked thirty-seventh, from Canglong Prefecture, the 'Wild Blade' Chen Ping'an, once..."

As the radiant text appeared, Chen Ping'an saw his ranking for the first time since the latest update of the Hidden Dragon Ranking.

He ranked thirty-seventh on the Hidden Dragon List, several places higher than he had expected. It seemed that the momentum he displayed in the Thunder Mountains was greater than he had anticipated.

With his mid-stage Jade Balance cultivation, he displayed combat power that could overpower a Grandmaster!

Even among the most promising talents, this is already an exceptionally outstanding group.

His fighting prowess was also recognized by the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion in the introduction of the Hidden Dragon List.

Chen Ping'an, the valiant swordsman, is a practitioner of the Overlord Blade style. His swordsmanship is fierce and domineering. He is also a man of remarkable talent and ability, skilled in combat and capable of fighting across borders. He is a ruthless and cunning swordsman.

The Hidden Dragon Ranking is full of geniuses who defy the odds, and some who, with the power of a top grandmaster, fight against a martial arts grandmaster. But there are really not many like him.

According to Tianjilou's speculation, if he were to cultivate to the peak of the Jade Balance mid-stage and then enhance his external abilities, it would be possible for him to even contend with top-tier grandmasters.

Seeing that Chen Ping'an had finished his inspection, Wu Xifu raised his hand, and the light screen in front of him disappeared.

"So? Are you excited after seeing this ranking?"

When asked by Wu Xifu, Chen Ping'an didn't hide anything and admitted that he was indeed excited.

His answer pleased Wu Xifu greatly.

"How about it? Are you interested in taking a position at the Northern Border Garrison?" Wu Xifu looked intently at Chen Ping'an.

Chen Ping'an glanced at Zhang Tianyuan and, seeing that he didn't react much, said carefully, "I am honored by Special Envoy Wu's kindness. Canglong Prefecture is a prefecture in the northern border, and Ping'an serves Canglong, which is also for the benefit of the northern border."

"An interesting little fellow." Chen Ping'an cleverly flattered Wu Xifu, but Wu Xifu didn't seem to care much.

On the other hand, Zhang Tianyuan's face showed a warm smile.

Chen Ping'an saw through Wu Xifu's question clearly. If the Northern Border Garrison truly intended to transfer him, why would they need to ask for his opinion? Asking for his opinion now was most likely just a casual remark.

Even if Wu Xifu wanted to transfer him to the Northern Border, the two were not related, and if he went there rashly now, he would inevitably be labeled as belonging to a faction.

Before he had a clear understanding of the situation within the Northern Garrison, such an action was not a good idea.

Besides, no matter what, as long as he maintains this momentum, being transferred to the Northern Territory is only a matter of time, and there's no need to rush it.

Instead of having such thoughts, it's better to hone your skills and build up your foundation.

Only with formidable strength can he maintain a transcendent state of mind, rather than drifting aimlessly like a boat on the sea.

The group chatted for a while longer. However, they spent most of their time talking with Zhang Tianyuan, while Wu Xifu spoke much less.

As top-tier figures, the two naturally couldn't spend too much time with Chen Ping'an. Given Chen Ping'an's current status, if it weren't for his identity as a rising star, the two might not have been willing to take the time to chat with him.

"Peace and safety, you've had a long journey, go back and rest early. You've had a lot on your mind regarding the thunder, this time you can finally rest after stepping down. Don't worry about it, the Zhenfu Division will handle the matter."

As they parted, Zhang Tianyuan said something meaningful.

"Thank you, Your Excellency. I understand." Chen Ping'an remained calm, cupped his hands, and took his leave.

Then, he bowed to Wu Xifu and left.

"Do you think he listened to what you said?" Watching Chen Ping'an's figure disappear, Wu Xifu withdrew his gaze. Zhang Tianyuan, dressed in a dark gold cloud robe, stood straight as a sword's spine: "Whether he listened or not is ultimately his own business. Enough is enough!"

"You look so calm!" Wu Xifu shook his head with a smile. "If I hadn't happened to know the outcome, I would have been fooled by you!"

Zhang Tianyuan smiled without saying a word, his gray-white eyes tinged with a dark yellow hue.

Regarding the matter of the Mangdao, we should have yielded to the prevailing trend and made a temporary compromise to stop the Qiankun Division's pressing advance. However, the fall of Long'an has become a scourge for the Zhenfu Division, and a head-on confrontation will likely only escalate the situation.

The right thing to do is to resolve this matter by turning a major issue into a minor one and a minor one into nothing, thus stopping the fighting altogether.

Sacrificing Mang Dao to secure the overall interests of the Zhenfu Division—this was a reluctant but optimal solution.

As for Mang Dao, he had already prepared to petition for merit and reward him for his achievements, in order to make up for the losses he had suffered due to his loss of power.

With Mang Dao's talent, his downfall is only temporary. After a few years of silence and when the hype dies down, he can make a comeback.

All things considered, it wasn't a loss for Yu Mangdao.

The Zhenfu Division was already preparing for this matter the moment the transfer order was issued.

just
The divine message from the Northern Garrison Command not long ago completely changed Chen Ping'an's fate.

"How lucky!"

Zhang Tianyuan's expression was calm, his gaze distant.

This impeachment process not only completely eliminated the trouble, but also turned misfortune into blessing, taking things a step further!
Such good fortune is truly a blessing from the heavens!

but
Whether it's auspicious or inauspicious depends on a single thought. If it weren't for Mang Dao's extraordinary talent, which allowed him to ascend to the thirty-seventh position of the Hidden Dragon, this matter would likely have been difficult to reverse.

Rather than talking about luck, it's more accurate to say that human determination can overcome fate!
There are no benefactors without a reason. If a benefactor is willing to lend a helping hand, it is usually because of the hard work accumulated over time that suddenly bursts forth, triggering a series of qualitative changes.

Furthermore, it is unknown whether the turn of events is related to the Gu family.

Zhang Tianyuan's gaze was calm, but his emotions were shifting.

Wu Xifu sat to the side, saying nothing. A smile played at the corners of his eyes, and a scene that had been etched in his heart for who knows how long floated into his mind.

Clad in black armor and a red cloak, amidst a sky filled with yellow sand, a lone figure stands before the city, guarding this formidable pass.

The powerful ruler of the Northern Frontier, the matriarch of the Zhe family, Zhe Yunshu.

The daughter of the Zhe family is no less than anyone else!
Zhang Tianyuan and Wu Xifu were lost in thought, each with their own ideas, but they didn't remain silent for long. Their gazes shifted and fell on each other.

"Has there been any result regarding Wusheng's matter?" Zhang Tianyuan asked calmly, a glimmer of light appearing in his greyish-white eyes.

Upon hearing this, Wu Xifu's expression turned slightly serious: "Never."

Previously, the Seven Kill Fist Demon, who had risen to prominence and was among the most influential figures, seemed to have vanished without a trace. Even after utilizing numerous intelligence networks within the Suppression Division, they received no response whatsoever from him.

While this matter could still be understood—after all, he had just made a move, and it was only natural that he should remain silent for a while—his previous investigation had brought it to a standstill.

This Seven Kill Fist Demon seemed to have appeared out of nowhere; no one had ever heard of him before. There was no related information or record.

Analyzing from the perspective of techniques and skills, considering the distance, the only one who has appeared recently and is quite similar seems to be the black-robed old monster who fought with the Heavenly Luo Saintess outside the important town of Long'an.

However, there is a significant difference in combat strength between the two. Although the black-robed old monster is strong, he is only at the bottom of the Wind and Cloud Ranking. On the other hand, this Seven Kill Fist Demon is firmly in the top twenty of the Wind and Cloud Grandmaster Ranking, and his combat strength is in no way inferior to a pseudo-Celestial Being at his peak.

The head jailer of Qingfan Prison in Canglong Prefecture was not an ordinary person among the pseudo-celestial beings. Those who could rival him were not just ordinary Grandmasters of the Wind and Cloud Realm.

In the battle under the night sky of Canglong Prefecture, although the opponent did not reveal too many of his techniques, it was clear that his combat strength was not to be underestimated. He highly suspected that the information on the current Ranking of Heroes was not comprehensive, and that the true strength of the Seven Kill Fist Demon was likely much stronger than what he had outwardly displayed.

From this perspective, the two should not be the same person.

A closer look at the information reveals some overlap in their techniques and skills. However, a significant difference exists in their combat abilities.

It's a mix of truth and deception, making it difficult to discern the real from the fake.

However, as an investigator, he cannot relax from either perspective; he needs to make progress simultaneously and conduct a detailed investigation.

In addition, there are speculations about the identity of the Seven Kill Fist Demon. According to Qingfan, an old man who witnessed the battle, the Seven Kill Fist Demon may have some connection with the Tianluo Sect.

Zhang Tianyuan also acknowledged this point.

However, from another perspective, this Seven Kill Fist Demon could not possibly be the black-robed old monster outside the important town of Long'an. Otherwise, under such circumstances, there would be absolutely no point in him fighting against the Heavenly Luo Saintess.

Even if they don't offer assistance, they shouldn't side with the Zhenfu Division and obstruct the process.

Theoretically, this should be the case. However, we cannot so arbitrarily rule it out.

What if there's some information or intelligence behind this that they're unaware of?
Furthermore, if we consider the Seven Kill Fist Demon as a low-profile, reclusive powerhouse, and think about it independently, then what was his motive for targeting Li Wusheng?

Was it instigated by someone, or did it spontaneously, or something else entirely?
There are many doubts and a great deal of confusion, making it difficult to determine the situation in a short time.

With limited sources of information, even if he is quite skilled in this area, it will be difficult for him to make significant progress in a short period of time.

Furthermore, the entire process lasted extremely short. Even though Old Man Qingfan experienced the opponent's attacks, it only involved a few moves.

The tracking restriction that was deliberately left on the other party was also detected and erased by the other party.

From this perspective, the other party is definitely an extremely experienced and seasoned criminal, handling many details properly without leaving any loopholes.

This has brought their investigation to a certain stalemate.

"These are turbulent times!" Zhang Tianyuan sighed softly.

The impact of the Long'an turmoil has not yet been completely eliminated, and the encirclement and suppression campaign has not yet achieved complete success.

The Evil Dao Master has fled, the Ten Thousand Demons Sect Master is seemingly invisible, the Heavenly Lotus Sect's Ascending Dragon Path is lying low, and the Heavenly Net Sect is eyeing them covetously.
The situation is completely different from what it was a few years ago.

Despite having a slight advantage and a clear edge in the situation, he couldn't help but feel uneasy.

The side that guards the area is always at a greater disadvantage than the side that destroys it.

Wu Xifu didn't speak. He walked to the window and looked out into the distance.

"The Prince of Bicang's Mansion"

The current situation in the several provinces of Canglong is such that, apart from a number of other factors, it is also closely related to the struggle for the throne with the Prince of Bicang County.

The Prince of Bicang's Mansion is located in the seventeen states of Bicang, and its influence extends to dozens of states.

Their internal factional infighting is causing considerable disruption to the surrounding situation. Even the Northern Border Garrison is paying close attention, monitoring the situation in real time.

Some experts were tied up in this matter, which made it difficult to provide sufficient reinforcements.

It can be said that as long as the infighting within the Bicang Prince's Mansion continues and the overall situation remains unresolved, the Northern Border Garrison's influence across the seventeen prefectures of Bicang will not be able to fully dedicate its energy to this matter. At least a large portion of its resources will be tied up in this affair.

This gave those evil and heretical sects an opportunity to take advantage of the situation.

It is said that those evil spirits and heretics also saw this, and that's why they seized this opportunity to try and test us.

Now, they have launched a strong counterattack, preventing these evil forces from taking advantage of their desires, but this is not good news for them either.

From its former powerful and influential position to its current state of chaos caused by evil forces, regardless of the outcome, this is a typical example of declining influence and control.

In particular, although the subsequent series of actions achieved considerable success, they did not yield the expected results.

Among the many evil forces causing chaos, the Evil Extreme Path suffered the greatest losses, but it failed to achieve complete success and annihilate the evil sects in one fell swoop, allowing the Lord of the Evil Extreme Path to escape.

Furthermore, most other evil sects are similar, and in terms of their achievements, they are far inferior to the extreme evil sects.

Most importantly, the Tianluo Sect, despite their efforts, failed to even scratch the surface of the enemy's defenses.

Now, the only way to break the deadlock and make a breakthrough is to start with the Heavenly Net Saintess.

If we could capture the Heavenly Luo Saintess alive, the blow to the Heavenly Luo Sect would be absolutely enormous.

By focusing on key points, the negative impact can be eliminated in one fell swoop, and the situation can be overturned.

Unfortunately.
Wu Xifu's gaze shifted.

Although they mobilized manpower and laid a large net, they had no confidence whatsoever in capturing the Heavenly Maiden alive.

"Do your best and leave the rest to fate!"

Wu Xifu's gaze sharpened, and he suddenly turned around.

"Brother Zhang, let's pay another visit to Senior Tianren."

"You mean..." Zhang Tianyuan's expression changed slightly as he understood Wu Xifu's meaning.

As a special envoy from the Northern Frontier, Wu Xifu had previously paid a visit to the Gu family patriarch upon his arrival in Canglong. However, he was turned away during his initial visit.

Under these circumstances, the significance of visiting again now is self-evident.

As the powerful deputy head of the Canglong Prefecture Garrison, Zhang Tianyuan possessed a magnificent main building, located deep within the Canglong Prefecture Garrison.

Chen Ping'an walked out of his public housing, encountering quite a few people along the way.

People reacted differently to his appearance. As he came out from the direction of Zhang Tianyuan's residence, some looked curious, some were suspicious, and some were indifferent.

These emotions were not obvious, but Chen Ping'an was very perceptive, and these emotional changes naturally did not escape his notice.

Clearly, after these days of fermentation, the news of Qiankun Division's impeachment of Chen Ping'an had already spread throughout Canglong Prefecture's Zhenfu Division.

Although the Canglong Prefecture Garrison Command has not yet issued a clear announcement, Chen Ping'an's return to Canglong and his resignation from Lei Ming's post is undoubtedly a very clear signal.

Clearly, the Canglong Prefecture Garrison Command has made its choice in the face of this impeachment.

Chen Ping'an, the powerful figure of the Canglong Prefecture's Zhenfu Division who has enjoyed smooth sailing all the way, may be about to face a period of darkness.

While everyone harbored such thoughts, upon seeing Chen Ping'an, they still respectfully bowed and greeted him as "Lord Chen."

The details of this situation are self-evident.

Chen Ping'an walked out of the Canglong Prefecture Garrison Office, where a carriage was already waiting. He boarded the carriage and headed towards the Gu family.

Upon returning to the city, as the son-in-law of the Gu family, he naturally wanted to pay a visit to the Gu family. In addition...
Chen Ping'an's gaze softened, and a flawless face appeared in his mind.

A dreamlike galaxy, amidst the hustle and bustle of the world, stands with a serene and ethereal beauty by the Moon Reflection Lake.

Moon-colored skirt, dark hair, wooden hairpin
The misty rain is dazzling, the Milky Way is reflected, and the gentle moonlight is like a goddess descending to earth to enjoy the mortal world and experience the tribulations of life.

A beautiful woman smiled, a smile that could topple cities, and a smile that touched his heart.

That fleeting tenderness was so genuine.

A kiss under the moon, a kiss that could topple a city!

After being separated for so long, he also wanted to see that stunningly beautiful woman.

The carriage traveled along the bustling streets of Canglong Prefecture, amidst the hustle and bustle of the world, like a long journey that, after experiencing the vicissitudes of life, finally reached its peak.

(End of this chapter)