The Great Martial Saint!

Chapter 684 Sword Cultivator of Sword Pavilion, Choosing a Daoist Partner (Bonus Chapter for 6000 Monthly Tickets)

Whoosh!
A sharp sword light flew over and quickly landed in front of Chen Ping'an and Gu Qingchan.

The newcomer was tall and imposing, with sharp eyes that gleamed like cold stars and sword light. His thick eyebrows slanted upwards towards his temples, and a dark gold sword pattern adorned his brow. He wore a black sword robe with dark silver thunder patterns embroidered along the edges.

He held a long sword with gold patterns in his hand, and although he had some silver hair, he still retained a youthful spirit.

This is a spirited attitude, full of ambition and vigor, which has nothing to do with age, but is closely related to one's mental outlook.

Some people, though young, exude a sense of dejection in their eyes. Though their faces are young, their entire being is imbued with the air of old age.

Some people, though they are already in their twilight years, possess a spirit and energy that is hard for others to match. When they stand there, they exude a sense of fulfillment, high spirits, and upward mobility.

Without a doubt, the man in front of me was such a person.

Her already captivating face, enhanced by this aura, possessed an indescribable allure.

This is an amazing charm that appeals to women of all ages.

Especially with the added advantage of the other party's identity as a sword cultivator.

"So it's Fellow Daoist Shen."

Gu Qingchan was slightly surprised, not expecting to run into him here.

Fellow Daoist Shen?
Chen Ping'an stood aside, trying to guess the other party's identity.

The opponent's cultivation aura was extremely sharp; just by standing there, he was like a divine sword, making people dare not underestimate him.

His eyes were incredibly sharp, making it difficult to meet their gaze. Even martial arts grandmasters found it hard to look directly into them; the slightest contact would cause a stinging pain in their eyes. This was a suppression from a spiritual level, which instilled fear and trepidation in them.

"Grandmaster level!"

The other party did not deliberately conceal their cultivation level; Chen Ping'an was able to determine their martial arts realm with just one glance.

Since ancient times, sword cultivators have been renowned for their combat prowess, their killing power unmatched among their peers. Since the opponent's cultivation has reached the pinnacle of Grandmaster, their combat strength is naturally not to be underestimated.

"Such a person, even if he has not yet reached the Grandmaster Ranking, has probably already touched this level."

Sword cultivators possess immense combat power, but simply practicing sword techniques does not make one a true sword cultivator. A true sword cultivator is one who has perfected the sword, believing in only the sword in their hand among all the myriad methods of the world.

Even with many choices, the weapon in one's hand will only ever be a sword.

Sword techniques that are merely supplementary to cultivation cannot be considered true swordsmanship. At most, they can only be considered as being proficient in swordsmanship.

Upon realizing this, Chen Ping'an suddenly felt a little ashamed.

"Fairy Qingchan, it's been over ten years since we last met. I never expected to run into you here. What a coincidence." The sword cultivator's expression was calm, but a very subtle hint of joy appeared in his eyes.

"I certainly didn't expect to run into Fellow Daoist Shen." Gu Qingchan smiled slightly, her demeanor impeccable. "Fellow Daoist Shen, are you also here to attend the auction?"

"Indeed." The man's face was gentle, and he stood there like the spine of a sword. "Recently, I've had some insights and am only half a step away from the pass. I originally planned to break through the pass in one go, but after being in seclusion for a long time, I haven't made any progress and have only become a laughing stock. The half-step pass is like an insurmountable chasm, making one unable to give up. Thinking that I have nothing to do lately, I might as well come out for a walk and perhaps gain some different insights. It just so happens that the Xuanling Grand Event is taking place, and I happened to be there. I never expected to meet Fairy Qingchan here."

The man spoke frankly and openly.

"Fellow Daoist Shen, your talent is truly astounding. You are indeed worthy of being the youngest Supreme Elder of the Sword Pavilion." Gu Qingchan lowered her eyes and smiled, praising, "Your talent is truly admirable."

The Sword Pavilion of Inquiry?

After hearing Gu Qingchan's words, Chen Ping'an guessed her identity.

"It turned out to be him."

As Chen Ping'an was lost in thought, the conversation beside him continued.

"Fairy Qingchan, our meeting is fate, why don't we travel together?" The sword cultivator took the initiative to invite her.

The other party's request was reasonable, and Gu Qingchan could not refuse it.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, the group walked together into the special passageway of the auction hall.

"Fairy Qingchan, who is this?" The sword cultivator asked at the opportune moment as they walked through the passage.

He had seen the man beside Gu Qingchan earlier, but he was busy exchanging pleasantries with Gu Qingchan and hadn't mentioned it.

Now that the pleasantries have been exchanged, asking the question at the right time can help warm up the atmosphere between the two parties.

"This is my son-in-law, Chen Ping'an, a perfect match for the Gu family." Gu Qingchan introduced him, her slender hand slightly raised and her wide sleeves drooping.

"Oh?" The swordsman looked surprised and asked in astonishment, "Could it be the recently renowned prodigy of the Northern Territory, the 'Wild Blade' Chen Ping'an?"

“That’s right.” Gu Qingchan smiled. The name Mangdao was among the Hidden Dragons, and his fame was known throughout the Northern Territory. She was also proud of him: “Ping An, this is Elder Shen of the Wenxin Sword Pavilion. Elder Shen is the youngest Supreme Elder of the Sword Pavilion in the current generation. He was also once among the Hidden Dragons and is a leading figure among the younger generation of sword cultivators in the Northern Territory.”

Chen Ping'an nodded in agreement and greeted Elder Shen at the appropriate time: "Junior Chen Ping'an greets Elder Shen."

"On the journey to Xuanling, we first met Fairy Qingchan, and then the prodigy Qianlong," the sword cultivator said with a smile, "It is truly a fortunate event."

With his cultivation level, he naturally sensed the other party's cultivation level immediately. The mid-stage Jade Balance realm is not bad for ordinary people, but it is nothing special to him, so let's not mention it.

Most masters, unless they are particularly old, possess the art of preserving their youthful appearance. With abundant vitality, their outward appearance naturally appears incredibly young. It's very difficult to discern age solely from appearance; at most, one can only make a rough, basic judgment.

At first, he regarded Chen Ping'an as a member of the clan who followed Gu Qingchan.

However, after several exchanges, it became apparent that their attitudes towards each other were quite different. Hence, the question was asked. Little did I expect that he would turn out to be a renowned and promising young talent.

"The name of Mang Dao is renowned far and wide. Fairy Qingchan, the Gu family has gained a worthy son!" the sword cultivator praised.

As the son-in-law of the Gu family, it wouldn't be presumptuous of Mang Dao to praise him as a prodigy.

Although he was in another state, he had heard about the marriage alliance between the Gu family and the Mangdao family. The Gu family was marrying their most prized daughter to the Mangdao.

At first, I thought the Gu family's move was somewhat risky, but now it seems that the Gu family has great courage and made an extremely wise decision.

Gu Qingchan smiled reservedly and said nothing more.

After offering a few simple compliments to Chen Ping'an, the swordsman didn't say anything more.

He himself was born into a family of promising talents. Although his ranking in the past was not as high as that of Mangdao, as one of the best among his generation of talents, he naturally had his own principles and pride.

The name "Mangdao" surprised him, but it didn't shock him.

After a few brief words, his gaze returned to Gu Qingchan.

"Fairy Qingchan, there is a trade fair in a few days. I wonder if I will have the honor of attending?"

The group chatted briefly as they walked toward the private room in the auction hall.

Along the way, Gu Qingchan and the swordsman mainly talked, while Chen Ping'an followed beside them, barely saying a word.

There are also differences between grandmasters.

With Chen Ping'an's current prestige and status, he is in no way inferior to an ordinary martial arts grandmaster. With his talent and combat strength, even top grandmasters would not dare to underestimate him in the slightest and would treat him with the utmost respect and care.

Even at the level of Grandmaster, the same applies; the importance attached to them will not diminish in the slightest.

just
Before a prodigy and grandmaster like the sword cultivator, he might not have much face. While not completely ignored, when there are urgent matters to attend to, he might not be able to consider his feelings.

Especially when the two sides have not established a relationship.

"A trade fair?" Listening to the two's conversation, Chen Ping'an also kept this information in mind.

Although the special passage leading to the auction room's private rooms was a bit of a distance, Gu Qingchan and Chen Ping'an arrived at their rooms without exchanging more than a few words.

The sword cultivator was the youngest Supreme Elder of the Asking Heart Sword Pavilion in the current era, a potential Martial Dao Celestial, and held an extremely high position. His private room was even one level higher, on par with normal pseudo-Celestials.

Therefore, the group parted ways here.

Before parting, the swordsman smiled and said, "My private room is better, with a better view, and there are only a few people around, so we can look out for each other. Why don't we go together?"

The man's invitation was almost explicit; any ordinary woman, even a female grandmaster, would likely be tempted.

Given the exceptional qualities of male sword cultivators, who are considered potential martial arts masters and backed by a powerful force like the Heart-Questioning Sword Pavilion, they would undoubtedly be the best choice for a Daoist partner for the vast majority of female Grandmasters in the world.

If we could take this a step further, I believe many people would be eager to achieve it.

Even if the final decision is to refuse, it will often be a reluctant refusal, a show of restraint, and a matter of careful consideration before politely declining.

However, Gu Qingchan did not hesitate when faced with the sword cultivator's invitation and directly rejected his suggestion.

"I appreciate your kind offer, Fellow Daoist Shen. However, I prefer quiet, so I will not disturb you any longer."

After speaking, Gu Qingchan gave a slight bow and walked into the private room.

Floating gracefully, with an ethereal and beautiful figure.

Gu Qingchan was elegant and handled things properly, but Chen Ping'an keenly sensed a hint of aloofness in her demeanor.

Seeing Gu Qingchan leave, Chen Ping'an bowed to the man and then they went into the private room together.

The swordsman didn't take it to heart and waved his hand slightly in response.

As the two walked into the private room together, the sword cultivator remained calm, though a slight ripple flickered beneath his sharp eyes.

He first met Gu Qingchan ten years ago when the Canglong Grand Ceremony was held in Canglong Prefecture. He happened to be there as a representative of the Wenxin Sword Pavilion and participated in the celebration.

Back then, he was a top figure among Grandmasters, and his arrival naturally earned him great acclaim. At that time, Gu Qingchan was only a Grandmaster, and although she had the reputation of being a prodigy, her cultivation had stagnated for many years, and she had long lost her former glory.

The two were able to meet because of Gu's family.

As the center of the gathering, his meeting with Gu Qingchan was naturally nothing out of the ordinary. It consisted of simple pleasantries and a few words of encouragement. However, although they only met once, he was quite impressed with Gu Qingchan, especially by her delicate, sweet voice and youthful, beautiful face.

Combined with the other person's unique temperament, there is naturally a mystery to be found.

However, while the impressions were deep, at his current stage, there are countless other things that leave a lasting impression.

Over the long years, a few things will eventually leave an impression on him.

Furthermore, given his circumstances, it's highly unlikely that he would act on emotion.

Therefore, the matter at hand is merely a fleeting thought.

just
In less than ten years, the other party's situation had undergone earth-shattering changes.

First, she broke through to the mid-stage of the Jade Balance Realm, and then she even became a Grandmaster of Martial Arts. If that were all, it would be fine, but such a rapid pace of progress has earned her the reputation of having the potential to become a female ruler.

And indeed, with the talent that Gu Qingchan has shown so far, she is indeed a worthy successor in martial arts.

This rumor spread throughout the seventeen prefectures of Bicang, and naturally it reached his ears as well.

This stirred up his long-dormant thoughts.

Now that he has reached his current status, matters concerning his Daoist partner are naturally not only about him personally, but also about the Heart-Questioning Sword Pavilion.

As the youngest Supreme Elder of the Asking Heart Sword Pavilion in the present era, his Daoist partner, to some extent, also represents the attitude of the Asking Heart Sword Pavilion.

With his current level of skill, he has the potential to become a martial arts master in the future, and ordinary female grandmasters would not even catch his eye.

He is a promising martial arts master, not a pseudo-master with flawed soul, but a true master of martial arts who is in perfect harmony with the divine and has a flawless soul.

He is a celestial warrior who lives for a thousand years and overlooks the rise and fall of the world!

Such a future is naturally beyond the capacity of an ordinary female grandmaster.

But it's clear that Gu Qingchan can bear the weight of his future.

With Gu Qingchan's talent, she is likely to become a Martial Dao Celestial in the future. If they could become Daoist partners and get married, both of them would become Celestials, creating a beautiful story in the Northern Territory.

It is not a story circulating in any state, nor is it a story within the seventeen states of Bi Cang, but a truly famous tale of heaven and man that has resonated throughout the Northern Territory and influenced hundreds of millions of mortals.

In addition, although the Gu family has been suppressed by the Bi Cang Prince's Mansion recently, in terms of foundation and influence, the Gu family is definitely not bad, and is also an excellent ally for the Wenxin Sword Pavilion.

The Gu family can play a tremendous role in providing assistance, but in terms of sheer size, they have little influence over the Wenxin Sword Pavilion's decisions. This marriage alliance is entirely beneficial.

Most importantly, his contact with Gu Qingchan today revealed that his previous impressions were not just unfounded fantasies.

Although today's exchange was simple, it revealed quite a few issues. He and Gu Qingchan were in sync, showing a tacit understanding.

In conclusion, Gu Qingchan is exactly what he wanted.

Even Gu Qingchan's final rejection suited his wishes and earned him a touch of admiration.

That ethereal coolness, the delicate sweetness within its crispness, and the unparalleled elegance within its sweetness, undoubtedly stimulate a person's desire to conquer and protect.

And he was no exception.

This is the best choice for a Daoist partner.

Sword cultivators are indomitable.

Now that he has found a suitable partner, he is naturally not going to give up easily.

The swordsman exuded powerful confidence, took one last look, and then left.

The Xuanling Auction is about to begin.

"How have things been going these past few days?"

Inside the private room, Gu Qingchan sat down at the head of the table, a hint of concern on her face.

"The harvest is meager." Chen Ping'an smiled bitterly. "There's still no news about Snow Spirit Leaves."

"Hmm." Gu Qingchan nodded slightly. She had anticipated this: "We can see at the auction if there are any Snow Spirit Leaves up for auction. If not, we can see if we can find similar enhancement items. Also, we might be able to find some connections with Shen Linyuan."

"Oh?" Chen Ping'an's heart stirred: "Senior means that Elder Shen may have a treasured Snow Spirit Leaf."

Shen Linyuan was the sword cultivator from earlier.

"Shen Linyuan was a Heavenly Talent Seed of the Sword Pavilion in his early years, and now he has been promoted to Supreme Elder, so his status in the Sword Pavilion is definitely not ordinary. It's not surprising that he has a collection of Snow Spirit Leaves. Even if he doesn't, with his connections and background, it shouldn't be difficult for him to get some stock," Gu Qingchan said calmly.

As a super-large power within the seventeen states of Bi Cang, the Supreme Elder of the Sword Pavilion is not a position that anyone can simply choose to hold.

Within the Sword Pavilion of Inquiry, there exist martial arts masters.

Generally speaking, ordinary pseudo-celestial beings are not qualified to serve as the Supreme Elder of the Heart-Questioning Sword Pavilion.

Only those pseudo-celestial beings who have made great contributions to the Sword Pavilion and achieved great merits have the opportunity to serve as Supreme Elders.

Shen Linyuan's ability to rise to the position of Supreme Elder with the realm of a Grandmaster of Martial Arts naturally indicates that his status within the Wenxin Sword Pavilion is extraordinary.

In other words, according to the judgment of the Wenxin Sword Pavilion, Shen Linyuan has a very high probability of achieving the Martial Arts Celestial Realm.

Only in this way can great efforts be made to promote someone beyond the usual ranks.

This move can be described as spending a fortune to buy bones, or it can be seen as creating momentum for it.

In the future, once Shen Linyuan achieves the status of a martial arts master, he will be able to speak of the foresight of the Heart Sword Pavilion.

"You don't need to be anxious about the Snow Spirit Leaf," Gu Qingchan said gently, "There's another trade fair in a few days. If you really don't get anything, you can try your luck there."

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Senior Gu." Chen Ping'an said humbly, bowing with his hands clasped in greeting.

Just now, Shen Linyuan mentioned this trade fair when he spoke with Gu Qingchan.

Unlike ordinary trade fairs, this one was of extremely high standard, belonging to a high-end and discreet trading channel.

The background of the organizers is unclear, but they are said to be extremely powerful and have extensive connections. They are said to have relationships with organizations such as the Xuanling Chamber of Commerce, the Bicang Chamber of Commerce, and the Beihai Chamber of Commerce.

Even in Xuanling City, a major commercial city, such a trade fair is considered to be of extremely high caliber.

Ordinary people wouldn't even have the chance to come into contact with it, let alone participate in it.

Participants must be at least at the level of a martial arts grandmaster. To get in, you either need an introduction or someone willing to guide you.

According to Shen Linyuan, ordinary Grandmasters are not qualified to bring anyone along. Grandmasters certified by the organization can bring one person. Pseudo-Celestials can bring two people.

"The trade fair." Chen Ping'an was in a good mood.

He had been hoping someone could introduce him to these high-end, private trading channels. Now, less than a day later, while attending the Xuanling Auction with Gu Qingchan, he had encountered such a fortunate event.

The fact that Shen Linyuan, the Supreme Elder of the Wenxin Sword Pavilion, was willing to introduce them to this trade fair was like a godsend.

It seems that being in the same industry has its advantages.

If he were alone, even if he were to meet Shen Linyuan, Shen Linyuan might not be willing to introduce him to someone.

The reason why Shen Linyuan is willing to introduce them now is probably largely because of Gu Qingchan.

The other party's behavior was quite obvious; they were also quite friendly towards Gu Qingchan in their conversation.

I wonder what their relationship was before?
A similar thought flashed through Chen Ping'an's mind and quickly disappeared.

His mind was mainly on the trade fair a few days later. Since it was a high-end and private trade fair, he figured the quality of the items being traded wouldn't disappoint him.

Furthermore, these high-end, private trading events are all similar to each other in some ways. Since he attended, as long as he could get to know a few people, he could use those connections to gain access to other smaller trading events.

If you repeat this process, your chances of getting the item you want will greatly increase.

The same applies to Snow Spirit Leaves and other rare resources.

After exchanging a few words, the two fell silent, waiting for the auction to begin.

The private room is fully equipped, and compared to the seats below, it undoubtedly offers better service and more privacy.

Gu Qingchan brewed a pot of tea, lightly touched it with her delicate hand, and served a cup to Chen Ping'an from afar. Then, she lowered her starry eyes, seemingly lost in thought.

"Making tea?"

Looking at the spiritual tea in his hand, Chen Ping'an was slightly taken aback. As he smelled the delicate fragrance of the tea, a scene seemed to appear in his mind.

After thinking for a long time, he couldn't help but chuckle to himself, realizing that he was really getting worse as he got older.

Once he made up his mind, he stopped thinking about it.

hum~
A faint light flickered in his brow, and true essence flowed slowly, circulating throughout his body.

Cultivating in front of Gu Qingchan is somewhat risky, but based on past experience, the overall risk is still manageable.

Having been traveling so far, my cultivation has been delayed considerably. Now that the opportunity has presented itself, it's time to make the most of it.

The private room was completely silent.

Time passed slowly, and the long-awaited Xuanling Auction finally began.

　The update will be a little later tomorrow, around 10:30 AM.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)