The Great Martial Saint!

Chapter 686 An Unexpected Encounter with an Old Acquaintance, Settling a Transaction

"Ok?"

As Chen Ping'an stepped out of the auction hall, his gaze sharpened and fell upon the black-robed man in the distance.

The man was dressed entirely in black robes and had a large build, making it impossible to tell whether he was male or female. However, Chen Ping'an vaguely felt that he was somewhat familiar with him.

"Ping An, what's wrong?" Gu Qingchan, who was standing to the side, noticed Chen Ping An's slight pause.

"It's nothing," Chen Ping'an replied with a faint smile, turning his gaze away from the distance.

"The trade fair is in a few days, so let's stay in Xuanling City for the next few days," Gu Qingchan said calmly, her starry eyes shining.

"Okay." Chen Ping'an nodded in agreement.

Although he had some unexpected gains at this Xuanling auction, he did not manage to acquire the Snow Spirit Leaf he wanted.

Therefore, after a brief discussion with Gu Qingchan, they decided to attend this high-profile trade fair.

Gu Qingchan naturally had no objection to this.

She had already acquired everything she wanted at the auction, so logically, she didn't really need to participate in this trade fair. However, as a member of the Gu family, she naturally still had to look after Chen Ping'an.

Now that the opportunity is right, it's natural to take Chen Ping'an there to try his luck.

It's worth mentioning that at the end of the auction, Shen Linyuan made a special trip to see Gu Qingchan to express his apologies in person. He said that his actions were abrupt and ill-considered, and hoped that Fairy Qingchan would forgive him.

The words spoken were extremely sincere.

To be honest, Chen Ping'an also admired Shen Linyuan. Being publicly humiliated, yet still willing to come and apologize in person—his character was truly admirable.

Shen Linyuan's sincerity was evident, and Gu Qingchan didn't take offense. She said, "I understand Fellow Daoist Shen's good intentions. I shouldn't have acted this way in public, but..."
I already have someone I like, and given the current situation, if I don't step forward, it might cause misunderstandings. Please forgive my rudeness, Fellow Daoist Shen.

Shen Linyuan's expression remained unchanged at first, even with a smile on his face, but when he heard Gu Qingchan's words of affection, his expression changed.

Although it was not obvious, Chen Pingan still noticed it.

"I see." Shen Linyuan smiled frankly: "It was my oversight."

It must be said that, as a sword cultivator, Shen Linyuan's ability to recover his emotions is truly exceptional. In an instant, he adjusted his state and calmly invited Gu Qingchan to attend the trade fair a few days later.

Regarding whether or not to participate, Gu Qingchan and Chen Ping'an had already reached a decision in the private room, so she naturally agreed.

The two talked happily, as if the previous incident had never happened.

If someone else were here, they would probably feel admiration for Shen Linyuan.

Such conduct is in the style of a gentleman.

Sharp as a sword, yet humble as the wind, she easily wins people's hearts.

And that is indeed the case. Shen Linyuan's actions were the correct way to get along.

Neither anger nor cold indifference would be the right response to Gu Qingchan's words.

Firstly, his previous remarks were made on his own initiative, not at Gu Qingchan's request.

Secondly, he had no grounds to be angry at Gu Qingchan's statement that she already had someone she loved.

If that were the case, then it would be a poor choice.

Not only is it immature and irrational, but it also leads to missed opportunities.

As for words of estrangement, that goes without saying.

If there's an intention, why go to such lengths? Distancing and indifference are tactics employed after a show of force, not preludes to an attack.

As a sword cultivator, he was naturally indomitable. This was true of both his cultivation and his Daoist partner.

If you swing your hoe well, there's no corner you can't dig.

Shen Linyuan was full of confidence in this regard.

Although he didn't know who Gu Qingchan's beloved was, in his opinion, the other party had simply seized the initiative.

All he lacks is time. Once he makes up for the lost time, everything else will fall into place.

Many years have passed, and now that he has found a suitable partner, he is not in a hurry.

Take it one step at a time, and proceed gradually.

Inviting him to the trade fair would also allow him to spend more time with Gu Qingchan and get to know her better.

No one else would know what Shen Linyuan was planning. However, Chen Ping'an did notice Shen Linyuan's feelings for Gu Qingchan, but he didn't seem to care too much about it.

Ultimately, it's up to Gu Qingchan herself to decide what to do.

"It turns out to be her!"

A glint of light flashed in Chen Ping'an's eyes, and with his spiritual perception, he finally recognized the identity of the black-robed man in the distance.

"What a coincidence!"

Chen Ping'an smiled slightly and then withdrew his thoughts.

Unexpectedly, during my journey to Xuanling, I encountered an old friend from years ago.

"Just a little bit."

Lan Yingjun walked quickly through the Xuanling Heavy City with her head down. A wide black robe perfectly enveloped her figure. The robe made her appear even more petite, adding to her charming appearance.

Well, if someone could catch a glimpse of this scene.

The black robe was made of a unique material that had the effect of isolating spiritual energy; its deep, ink-like color blocked any prying eyes.

"Just a little bit more."

Lan Yingjun's fair face was full of frustration.

Among the auction's highlights was a high-grade longevity elixir, and she rushed here specifically for that one.

Mother's foundation was previously damaged, and her lifespan was shorter than that of a pseudo-master of the same realm. She was very close to the end of her lifespan.

She had been searching for information about longevity fruits and longevity pills, but unfortunately, her mother had taken a similar longevity fruit before, so she hadn't made much progress.

Now that such a good opportunity has presented itself, she naturally won't miss it.

To this end, she made ample preparations, not only selling off a large amount of resources but also raising a considerable fortune by bringing out her treasured poisons and secret artifacts.

But unexpectedly, they were still one step behind!

The effects of this high-grade longevity pill were so terrifying that it sold for an astronomical price.

Despite her repeated preparations, she lacked the financial resources and ultimately had no choice but to give up.

Seeing the longevity pill fall into someone else's hands, no matter how unwilling she was, she was powerless to do anything about it.

"Mother's condition is not ideal. The toxins accumulated over the years have backfired in her later years. If she had mastered the cultivation technique, it would be fine, but Mother went astray back then, and I'm afraid it will be difficult to prevent the backlash!"

Suppressing her resentment, Lan Yingjun calmly pondered, "My cultivation of palm techniques is still too slow. Of the five supreme poison palm techniques, I've only mastered three. I need to master the fourth palm technique as soon as possible, break through to the Grandmaster level, elevate my status, and find a good medicine for my mother!"

"It's not just about longevity pills; we also need to find the secret method to rebuild one's foundation!"

Lan Yingjun remained resolute, her hat brim hanging down to cover her face.

After the Xuanling Auction, Chen Ping'an did not return to his residence in Yayuan, but instead went with Gu Qingchan to the Gu family's residence in Xuanling City.

As the leading family in Canglong Prefecture, the Gu family's influence in Xuanling City is not to be underestimated.

Although its influence in other states has diminished considerably in recent years due to suppression by the Prince of Bicang's Mansion, it is still far beyond what ordinary forces can match.

The Gu family has several elders stationed in Xuanling.

Chen Ping'an and Gu Qingchan met one of them, a kind-faced man in a light yellow robe, who was called Elder Rong.

"Peak Grandmaster!"

Chen Ping'an, with his keen intuition, immediately discerned Elder Rong's martial arts realm. Judging from Elder Rong's condition, his cultivation had reached the peak of the Grandmaster realm. However, his aura appeared somewhat weak, likely due to his failed attempt to break through to the next realm years ago, and his foundation was still not fully restored.

Breaking through major passes is a matter of life and death, while breaking through minor passes is better, but it is still not without cost.

Especially the three stages of breaking through the realm, each one more difficult than the last. Judging from Elder Rong's appearance, he must have failed when trying to break through the third stage.

"I have long heard of the name of Mang Dao in Xuanling, and have always wanted to meet him, but unfortunately I have been bound by duty and could not act rashly. Today I am finally able to meet you in person." Elder Rong smiled warmly and was extremely enthusiastic.

The pleasantries and exchanges need no further mention.

After a brief visit, Chen Ping'an left with Gu Qingchan.

The Gu family has specialized businesses and a place to stay in Xuanling City. However, Chen Ping'an had already arranged accommodations and declined Elder Rong's offer.

As for Gu Qingchan, she seemed to have something to do and did not stay at the residence.

After agreeing on a meeting place a few days later, the two said their goodbyes and went their separate ways.

hum~
Inside the elegant garden, a sparkle of light shimmered.

Chen Ping'an sat cross-legged, with a colorful pearl as dreamlike as a starry river floating in front of him.

Command flags fluttered all around, and a barrier had already been used to separate the inside from the outside.

Participating in the Xuanling Auction not only broadened my horizons but also resulted in the acquisition of a spiritual elixir, which was an unexpected bonus.

With the boost from the spiritual elixir, he had gained an extra trump card.

According to his own calculations, his current combat power, when exerting his full strength, is no less than that of a top-tier pseudo-celestial being.

On this basis, with the added assistance of the Spiritual Secret Pill and the Blood Burning Pill, he might be able to go even further and achieve the level of suppressing top-tier pseudo-celestial beings.

Of course, this is just his guess.

Those at the top level of pseudo-celestial beings likely possess numerous similar explosive methods. To attempt to completely turn the tide of battle with a single spiritual pill is unrealistic.

But in any case, having obtained the Spiritual Elixir, his overall foundation has been given a significant boost.

However, when it comes to something like profound heritage, you can never have too much.

Now, whenever he has free time, in addition to his cultivation, he begins to refine the Dream Pearl.

It's not entirely about refining; rather, it involves the infiltration of spiritual energy to accumulate a certain amount before triggering an erosion process, with the intention of refining one of the chains.

If the chains were to break, he might be able to use some of the power of the Dream Pearl.

Although the overall process was relatively slow, it was still progressing in an orderly manner.

Compared to when we had no clue what to do, we have undoubtedly made great progress now.

Besides the Dream Pearl, he also never slacked off in his research on the two monster carvings.

Numerous details were handled meticulously and systematically.

After spending a day practicing in the elegant garden, he began to act according to his plan.

For several days in a row, he changed his identity and moved around in Xuanling City.

With the help of the Black Iron Mask, he was able to conceal his identity with ease.

With his current level of cultivation, if he activates the fully refined Black Profound Iron Mask, even a pseudo-celestial being would find it extremely difficult to discern his true origins.

Even without using the three available slots for the ultimate divine ability, the Black Iron Mask's disguise effect, in its realistic simulation, should not be underestimated.

"Thank you, Holy Maiden Tianluo!"

Chen Ping'an had already sold off some of his publicly available resources and wealth in Canglong Prefecture. However, besides the resources that could be sold openly, he also had a considerable amount of stolen goods in stock.

Now that the opportunity is right, he naturally wants to sell it off properly.

He presented himself as a Grandmaster at the peak of his cultivation, displaying an incomparably powerful demeanor. He successively transformed into various identities, including a bald, burly man, a withered old man, and a middle-aged swordsman, moving around in various shops and pavilions.

Within a few days, all the corresponding resources were sold out.

He sold everything he had obtained from Li Wusheng, except for the pair of black jade rings and items like the gold-threaded belt.

In addition, he also sold some less rare spiritual items and elixirs.

Besides selling off his assets, he also took the opportunity, using his position of power, to learn about many hidden channels. Although he didn't make full contact with them, he still gained a considerable amount of information.

In addition, he would buy some suitable items whenever he came across them. Although they weren't rare, they were still quite good. They could be used to heal injuries and restore true energy. There were also some external medicinal materials, like the Black Jade Ointment he had bought before.

After all that trouble, his cash flow actually increased after attending the Xuanling Auction.

The amount has officially exceeded 140,000 yuan.

A large portion of these items came from Li Wusheng's treasury. In addition, there were some belongings of the Ghost-Faced Old Man.

At this point, all his wealth and resources had been cleared away, leaving him feeling completely refreshed.

However, he did not choose to sell the legendary longsword from his past.

This divine longsword was the first divine weapon he came into contact with.
Chen Ping'an's thoughts shifted, and the scene of Situ Ba's tragic death during the siege by ten thousand demons in the past flashed through his mind.

"Imprisonment-type divine weapon: Azure Flame Four Directions Command Flag. Offensive-type divine weapon: Heavenly Meteor Frost Star Blade, Hundred Illusions Divine Blade. Suppression-type divine weapon: Mysterious Iron Ingot. Binding-type divine weapon: Floral Square Cloth. Concealing-type divine weapon: Black Mysterious Iron Mask."

"Guardian Treasure, Dream Pearl, Special Item, Azure Lightning Pearl, Demon Beast Carving"

"A small jade sword, a hairpin for her coming-of-age ceremony."

Inside the room, Chen Ping'an was tidying up his belongings.

Based on a comprehensive assessment, what he currently lacks most are defensive divine weapons and buff divine weapons.

However, when it comes to defense, his physique is tough enough and his foundation is solid enough that ordinary divine weapons are useless to him. This applies to both spiritual and physical defense.

The category of buffs can be further subdivided into many types, such as speed buffs, combat power buffs, and spirituality buffs.

Such things are rare and hard to come by. The ultimate wonder of the Azure Flame Four Directions Command Flag and this kind of enhancement are quite similar.

In addition to taking inventory of his belongings, he also systematically organized his own martial arts techniques.

The corresponding system framework is constantly being improved and filled with one's own insights.

The existence of the Golden Finger Panel was like giving him a shortcut without any bottlenecks. But even on this shortcut, he also paid great attention to honing his own foundation.

Many insights must be carefully considered and thoroughly digested. He will also repeatedly ponder the corresponding skills and strategies, looking for any shortcomings.

He developed this habit after he learned his lesson the hard way in the past.

Better safe than sorry, better post-mortem analysis leads to a more thorough understanding of the situation.

A few days passed in the blink of an eye.

Inside the room, Chen Ping'an sat cross-legged, his gaze sharpening, and the Golden Finger Panel appeared before him.

Name: Chen Ping'an
Realm: Late stage of Jade Balance - Breakthrough Three Barriers (Breaking through the Shell Barrier)
武学：青阳血炼法入门（0/5760）颠鸾倒凤·阴阳枢入门（0/8640）、广寒剑法（残篇）入门（2255/2880）太虚御风步小成（0/5760）七杀天罡拳大成（0/9600）、霸刀圆满、七绝神功圆满、万魔铸身诀圆满
"2255 point."

Chen Ping'an's expression was calm, and under the spiritual light, he appeared extremely resolute.

"almost!"

Chen Ping'an lowered his eyes slightly, and the golden finger panel in front of him instantly disappeared.

"It's time to get going!" He slowly got up from the bed.

The trade fair is about to begin.

"Senior Gu." At the agreed location, Chen Ping'an met Gu Qingchan.

Gu Qingchan wore a light blue fairy dress, surrounded by silk ribbons, and adorned with ice ornaments on her head, exuding unparalleled beauty.

"Ping An, come with me." Gu Qingchan said softly, and then led Chen Ping An towards the outside of Xuanling City.

(End of this chapter)