The Great Martial Saint!

Chapter 688 The Number One in the World, The Path of Sword Cultivation (Seeking Monthly Tickets~)

After the Snow Spirit Leaf transaction was completed, Chen Ping'an had nothing to do for the time being.

The matter of demon beast blood is a secret of his cultivation, so naturally he couldn't trade it under his normal identity.

Chen Ping'an already had a plan in mind.

However, it's important to be careful not to let someone else beat you to it.

Fortunately, although there were quite a few people with Black Rock Old Monster, most of them were only interested in things like flesh, blood, scales, and armor. Some of them were even more ambitious, seemingly plotting to obtain the essence and elixir of the Golden-Patterned Black Tortoise.

Chen Ping'an secretly observed the transaction, not in a hurry, and began to walk around the area.

Those present were all high-ranking figures in the northern states. Besides trading goods, each of them possessed a considerable amount of information.

Through Chen Ping'an's deliberate probing, he managed to gather quite a bit of information.

Most of this intelligence was of low value and incomplete; it was just something they mentioned casually during their transactions. But for Chen Ping'an, it could fill many gaps in his knowledge.

"A demon king has appeared in the Black Nether Mountains?" Chen Ping'an learned of this news from a small group of people.

When a demon beast takes human form, it can be called a Demon King, a martial arts master comparable to the human race.

However, although the Demon King can transform, he can only achieve partial transformation, retaining many of his original characteristics. The specifics depend on his bloodline and the strength he possesses.

To truly become indistinguishable from humans, one would likely need to cultivate to an extremely high level on the path of human transformation.

The Black Nether Mountains are not located within Xuanling Prefecture, but some of them lie within the territory of the seventeen states of Bi Cang. Among them, Beishan Prefecture has the most mountains. Adjacent to the mountains, Beishan Prefecture has a formidable fortress, a sacred place in the hearts of many independent cultivators, and also an excellent place for various forces to train and adventure.

The Black Nether Mountains that the group mentioned are the section that runs through Beishan Prefecture, where demon kings are said to roam.

Compared to the human race, the demon race is weak. Although there are demon kings among the demon race, most of them are hidden deep inside. Even if one occasionally appears, only a portion of the top echelons know about him.

But for it to be known to Grandmasters like this is already quite extraordinary. The fact that it has spread here indicates that the Demon King's appearances have likely happened more than once or twice.

"I wonder what kind of demon king it is?"

"It is not known yet, but it is said to be extremely fast, even those of the same realm would find it difficult to catch up."

"A demon king with exceptional speed, that's all. Let's not talk about that. If the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up."

"That's right, a formidable fortress, there's no risk!"

"."

Chen Ping'an paid attention to the group for a while, but stopped paying attention after they changed the subject to normal conversation.

Besides the pseudo-celestial beings and grandmasters, some younger generations were also involved in the trading. However, the items they traded were of considerably lower quality.

However, most of those who can come here have connections, so even if the items are of poor quality, they won't be too bad.

Chen Ping'an strolled around casually, looking around the wooden house.

"Divination?"

Chen Ping'an's gaze was drawn to a book.

"Fellow Daoist, would you be interested in learning more?" The speaker was a top-tier grandmaster, a young man who looked rather handsome.

"Fellow Daoist, may I ask about this scroll?" Chen Ping'an asked.

Divination and fortune-telling are matters of the literary path, and ordinary martial arts practitioners would not come into contact with them. Chen Ping'an had only heard similar stories before, but he had never actually seen a recorded lineage of such techniques.

"Oh, you mean this item, fellow Daoist? This scroll was left by an elder in my family. My elder studied at the academy in the past, and the family left behind quite a few literary and Daoist artifacts," the young man introduced with a smile, seeming quite approachable.

Most of the people who come here have connections, and even those without connections are quite capable in combat. Normally, people come here to make friends; no one will intentionally make enemies unless absolutely necessary.

Chen Pingan listened quietly, without trying to verify whether what the other party said was true or false.

After a brief moment of thought, he decided to make the deal.

Like martial arts, some rare literary traditions are often imbued with artistic conception. However, this scroll is not particularly rare; it is merely a simple reproduction.

However, compared to ordinary rubbings, it still has some complicated designs and many restrictive measures need to be overcome.

In the end, Chen Ping'an acquired the item from the other party at the price of a quasi-divine weapon.

"These are normal prices!"

Chen Pingan said with a smile.

The tens of thousands of dollars traded at previous auctions had left me somewhat numb.

During the conversation, Chen Ping'an learned the other party's identity. The other party was a steward elder of Tianwu Pavilion, who had come with an elder from his family today.

Tianwu Pavilion is the largest power in Xuanling Prefecture, with a status equivalent to the Gu family in Canglong Prefecture. It houses no fewer than two pseudo-Celestials. Rumor has it that Tianwu Pavilion possesses a profound legacy that, once triggered, could threaten a true Martial Celestial.

These long-standing martial arts forces generally possess considerable foundations; otherwise, they wouldn't have been able to survive for so long.

During the heyday of Tianwu Pavilion, a martial arts master was born. What techniques he left behind remains unknown.

Putting aside its profound foundation, the person openly in charge of the Heavenly Martial Pavilion is a top-tier pseudo-celestial being.

Unlike normal sects, the Tianwu Pavilion has a rather complex family power structure, with many disciples and elders being related by blood.

The young man in front of me is a case in point.

Not wanting to get too involved with someone he barely knew, Chen Ping'an didn't chat much with the other person. After receiving the book, he exchanged a few brief pleasantries and then left.

During the time he was trading, Chen Ping'an noticed that there were fewer people around Black Rock Old Monster.

It seems that Black Rock Old Monster's transaction progress has accelerated considerably.

Since he was at the trade fair, Chen Ping'an didn't look at any books, but focused on some key intelligence and information.

Let's see what those old monsters have in their hands.

Some of the older monsters didn't reveal their treasures during the initial display. However, when it comes to the transaction, if the other party has something they want, some of their previously untold treasures will be revealed.

In his spare time, Chen Ping'an also kept an eye on the situation with Master Hua. Master Hua held a special position; once the transaction was inside, those who wanted to trade had to wait in line outside.

A trade fair is also a microcosm of power and status.

Time passed gradually, and an hour later, the transaction came to an end.

Chen Ping'an noticed that Hua Danshi came out from inside, attracting many people to greet him.

"Master Hua Dan".

"Senior Hua."

"."

"Fellow Daoist Heiyan, may I come in for a chat?" Master Hua invited with a smile.

The Black Rock Monster, who was invited, was somewhat flattered.

Although he has a background with the Hengshan Sect, Elder Hua, as a top-tier alchemist, obviously doesn't have to take this seriously.

They had met many times before, but this was the first time they had been invited so proactively.

"Looking for Old Monster Black Rock?" A glint flashed in Chen Ping'an's eyes.

There's probably only one reason why Master Hua Dan took the initiative to seek out Old Monster Hei Yan.

That is the Golden-Patterned Black Tortoise.

Fifteen minutes later, Old Monster Black Rock emerged from the wooden house. He seemed to be in a good mood, beaming with joy.

I don't know if I received some kind of promise or if I traded for the item I wanted.

After the trading session, there's time for open discussion and information sharing; this part isn't mandatory. However, the vast majority of cultivators present stay behind.

People attend these private meetings not just to trade items, but also to make the most of opportunities to network and build connections.

Compared to previous small-scale exchanges, this information sharing was much more transparent. There was virtually no guard up between them. They only communicated telepathically when discussing key information.

In this way, people can freely learn about it, and if they encounter someone who is interested, they can then approach the person in question for a detailed discussion.

Some practitioners who engage in part-time trading of information first release eye-catching and compelling information, then abruptly stop at the crucial details. They do this in exchange for a certain amount of value.

Those present were all top figures from Xuanling Prefecture, and the information they shared demonstrated an extremely broad perspective. Their knowledge extended beyond Xuanling Prefecture, encompassing surrounding prefectures, the seventeen prefectures of Bi Cang, and even the northern border.

"I heard that Hua Ruyue appeared at Xingyun Mountain a few months ago."

"Starfall Mountain? Isn't that very close to my Azure Land!?"

"Yes, who knows, Hua Ruyue might come to my Bicang territory this time."

"If you come, that would be great. I will definitely want to see you in person."

"Who wouldn't want to see him? He's a legendary figure! The number one Grandmaster of the Wind and Cloud!"

During the conversation, some people showed admiration. Even the few pseudo-celestial beings present listened attentively to the relevant information with solemn expressions.

"Hua Ruyue?" Chen Ping'an's heart stirred.

Gu Qingchan stood beside him, her face also showing anticipation.

The number one Grandmaster of Wind and Cloud, Moon Shadow Divine Arrow, Flower Like the Moon!
As a female Grandmaster, she overpowered countless old monsters and was the number one in combat power among those of the same realm. She was an exceptionally beautiful woman in the eyes of many, a flower on a high mountain.

This stunning beauty stems not only from her physical appearance, but from her unparalleled elegance.

Unrivaled in its realm, it stands proudly above the clouds.

Not just unbeatable among those of the same age and in the same realm, but unbeatable across the entire world and across the territories of dynasties!

Whether she is a prodigy on the Hidden Dragon List, an old monster who has lived for hundreds of years, or a hidden powerhouse who has been in seclusion for many years, no one in the Grandmaster realm is her match.

Like the master craftsman Fu Baisheng, with his countless skills and endless killing power, he possessed the ultimate combat strength of a pseudo-celestial being despite being only a Grandmaster. Yet, even so, he could only rank second among the Grandmasters of the Wind and Cloud Realm. In this world, there was only one Grandmaster of the Wind and Cloud Realm: Hua Ruyue, the Moon Shadow Divine Arrow!

The Moon Shadow Divine Arrow, with its power that allowed Hua Ruyue to remain undefeated even when facing a martial arts master, was so formidable that its strength was beyond the reach of most.

But none of these are the most crucial factors.

Most importantly, according to rumors, if Hua Ruyue so desires, she can achieve oneness with the heavens and man at any time and enter the realm of the celestial being.

But she refused.

It is said that Hua Ruyue's cultivation method is extremely special, which is why she has not yet reached the Celestial Realm.

"The number one Grandmaster who can break through at any time."

Chen Ping'an's expression was solemn, his emotions shifting.

He was quite confident in his own combat abilities, but he clearly did not think he would be a match for Hua Ruyue.

What's most terrifying about Hua Ruyue is her relentless, oppressive power, like a shadow of the moon.

Even if a martial arts master were to arrive, they would still avoid his sharp edge to some extent.

Let alone other people.

With Chen Ping'an's current strength, if the Grandmaster Ranking were rearranged, he was confident that he could enter the top five, or even the top three.

But let alone first place, there's not even the slightest confidence in second place.

unless
Chen Ping'an's gaze shifted as he thought of the Xuan Turtle True Blood he hadn't yet obtained.

There are only a few possibilities for him to challenge a martial arts master.

One is to perfect the second refinement of the Azure Sun Blood Refining Technique, which, combined with the current foundation, would grant combat power reaching the Celestial Realm. Another is to undergo another refinement through dual cultivation. The third is to reach the true pinnacle of the Grandmaster Realm, standing before the Celestial Realm barrier, and with the aid of protective treasures, capable of fighting against Celestial Realm beings!

The news about Hua Ruyue excited many people in the room.

After all, the territory of a dynasty is far beyond the imagination of ordinary people; it is vast and boundless. Let alone ordinary people, even a grandmaster would find it extremely difficult to travel all over the territory of a dynasty in his entire life.

Those present were top figures from Xuanling Prefecture and even the surrounding prefectures, but their usual interactions were limited to the borders of those prefectures. Even when they traveled, they would at most roam within the seventeen prefectures of Bi Cang. Occasionally, pseudo-celestial beings would leave the Bi Cang territory and venture into a wider world, such as to the Pill Alliance, the North Sea, or even the Snow God Palace.

Even so, compared to the entire territory of the dynasty, the path they had taken was still far too small.

Hua Ruyue's fame spread throughout the dynasty, but getting to truly get close to her was not an easy thing.

According to the information on the Power Ranking, with her current talent and ability, if she were to enter the Celestial Realm, she could become a top-tier Celestial Realm fighter!

Before even reaching the Celestial Realm, he had already reserved a spot for a top-tier Celestial Realm combatant.

Such a spirit, looking across the entire dynasty, barring external means, apart from the former emperor's sons and the emperor's daughters from the same era as Emperor Qian, there are probably very few who could possess it!
Having reviewed the rankings over the years, Hua Ruyue's combat power is undoubtedly number one.

All good things must come to an end, and even the most inspiring information sharing will eventually come to a close.

As the sharing session ended, practitioners began to leave one after another.

"See you another day, everyone!"

"Senior, walk slowly!"

"."

Amidst the farewells, Chen Ping'an noticed that Old Monster Black Rock had also departed.

At first, he was worried that the Xuan Turtle True Blood on Black Rock Old Monster's body had already been traded away. However, Black Rock Old Monster's words before parting reassured him quite a bit.

"I will be staying in Xuanling City for the next few days. If any of you are interested, you may continue to trade with me."

As they spoke, the item in front of Old Monster Black Rock vanished in a flash. Chen Ping'an breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that the bottle of Xuan Turtle True Blood was still there.

Although he had already planned to trade away the Xuan Turtle True Blood, the fact that it was still in the hands of the Black Rock Old Monster would undoubtedly save him a lot of trouble.

Judging from the appearance, what Master Hua Dan is interested in is that Essence Pill.

In the short term, the Xuan Turtle's true blood should be in the hands of the Black Rock Monster.

However, delays may lead to complications, so it's best to finalize this matter as soon as possible.

With this thought in mind, Chen Ping'an prepared to leave with Gu Qingchan.

At this moment, Gu Qingchan had just finished exchanging pleasantries with Shen Linyuan and Jin Yong.

Shen Linyuan also gained something from this transaction and seemed to be in a good mood. As for Jin Laoguai, although he hadn't finished trading his resources, he had bought what he wanted, and his smile was much brighter.

"Peace, let's go."

Gu Qingchan's voice was melodious, delicate, and sweet.

Chen Ping'an nodded in agreement, and together with Shen Linyuan and Jin Laoguai, they bowed and left.

Inside the bamboo forest, Shen Linyuan watched Gu Qingchan's departing figure, a hint of appreciation appearing in his eyes.

Jin Yong, with his golden curly hair and dry, yellowish strands, stood beside Shen Linyuan and asked curiously, "Fellow Daoist Shen, it's rare to see you so concerned. Have you really made up your mind?"

Shen Linyuan smiled but didn't say anything.

Old Monster Jin didn't take it to heart: "Speaking of which, is that junior who followed me from the Gu family? He just traded some things with me."

"The Gu family?" Shen Linyuan withdrew his gaze. "You could say that."

"It is or it isn't, what does it even matter?" Old Monster Jin said with dissatisfaction.

Sometimes, expressing emotions appropriately can actually enhance friendships.

Facing Shen Linyuan, who was expected to become a martial arts prodigy, he didn't put on any airs.

Shen Linyuan smiled faintly, "The Gu family's son-in-law, Senior Jin, wouldn't you agree?"

Jin Yong's eyes flickered as he asked, "Who is it?" He seemed to have thought of something.

"Hidden Dragon, Proud Prodigy, Ruthless Blade Chen Ping'an".

"What?" Old Monster Jin was slightly taken aback: "It was him!"

Rumor has it that Chen Ping'an, the "Reckless Blade," is arrogant and impulsive. But the man just now was so humble and polite; he hadn't really considered that possibility.

Besides, isn't Mangdao supposed to be in Canglong Town? How come he has time to come out?
Jin Yong didn't quite understand it.

However, there are many things I can't understand. Although the Hidden Dragon Prodigy is remarkable, let bygones be bygones.

The Hidden Dragons are a rare breed, emerging every fifty years, a generation every thirty.

Although he lived for hundreds of years and did not come into contact with many promising talents, he had heard of far more than ten generations of them.

It's a bit of a pity to miss it, but it's not so bad.

If the other person grows and matures, there will always be opportunities to make friends. If they don't grow and mature, then making friends with them beforehand is meaningless.

As a strong figure among pseudo-celestial beings, Jin Yong still possesses this confidence.

After all, while there are many hidden talents, not every one of them can ascend to the level of a martial arts master.

Jin Laoguai's gaze shifted, but he quickly regained his composure. He looked at Shen Linyuan beside him and said with a smile, "Fellow Daoist Shen, now that the trade fair is over, you have some free time. Why don't you come over to my place for a few drinks?"

"Thank you for the invitation, Senior Jin, but I will not go. If things go smoothly, we can have a drink together another day."

"What's the rush?" Old Jin asked with a laugh. "I don't even have time to drink a cup of wine."

"I, Shen, am preparing to return to my sect." Shen Linyuan's gaze was calm, but a sharp sword light was hidden within it.

"Fellow Daoist Shen, what is this?" Old Monster Jin's eyes sharpened, and his expression became extremely solemn.

Shen Linyuan laughed heartily and turned around: "After so much procrastination, it's time to take this step!"

Old Monster Jin was taken aback, then cupped his hands and bowed deeply: "I wish Fellow Daoist Shen all his wishes come true and that his martial arts will flourish forever."

In this statement, Jin Yong no longer referred to himself as "this old man," but instead expressed his hopes and expectations.

In this situation, although his feelings were complicated, he knew at this moment that once Shen Linyuan succeeded, his status would be completely different when he emerged from seclusion.

At this moment, he couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. Fortunately, he had met Shen Daoyou in the past, otherwise, he might not have been able to have such a situation today.

If Shen Linyuan truly succeeds, and he comes out of seclusion to drink and chat with him, once this matter becomes known, his status will be completely different.

Having a close friend who is a martial arts celestial being is extremely rare, even among pseudo-celestial beings.

The difference between a pseudo-celestial being and a celestial being may seem like just one word, but in reality, they are worlds apart.

They appear to be peers, but in reality, the former's path has ended, and he has no future. The latter...
Brilliant light, everlasting martial arts!

"The unity of heaven and man, the martial arts of heaven and man." Jin Yong's expression was complicated, and his brows were full of melancholy.

"Harmony between humanity and nature, the unity of humanity and nature!"

Shen Linyuan walked deep into the bamboo forest, each step firm and resolute.

His aura continued to rise, like the sharp, resounding cry of a sword, about to be drawn from its sheath.

He had been waiting for this day for a very, very long time.

Bearing the expectations of the sect and the fruits of countless years of hard work, he is finally about to take this step.

As for
Gu Qingchan.

Slow planning is too complicated; sword cultivators are decisive and resolute, forging ahead without hesitation.

Once he achieves the status of a martial arts master, with overwhelming power, he will reveal his true intentions directly, displaying his supreme status as a master.
I'm asking for the hand in marriage with Gu Qingchan, the matriarch of the Gu family!
(End of this chapter)