The Great Martial Saint!

Chapter 746 Promotion Celebration, Past Karma

Deputy Director of the Canglong Prefecture Garrison, Xuanling Garrison Commander, Grandmaster of Martial Arts, Hidden Dragon Prodigy, and son-in-law of the Gu family.
Any one of his various identities, taken out alone, would be enough to shake a region.

And now, all these identities are embodied in one person.

Chen Ping'an, a powerful figure in the state, is known for his reckless and ruthless nature.

The promotion celebration, jointly organized by the Canglong Prefecture Garrison and the Gu family, was undoubtedly extremely grand and enthusiastic. The scale of the celebration was not affected in the slightest by the rushed preparation time.

For this celebration, countless manpower and resources were mobilized, and countless financial resources were spent.

The Canglong Gu family, the Xue family, the Wang family, the Lieyang Pavilion, the Huichun Hall, the Wuying Blade Sect, and the Leiming Valley family.
All the top powers within Canglong Prefecture offered their congratulations and presented gifts.

"The Xu family of the prefecture city has arrived! They are here to present three hundred catties of precious mineral ore and ten medicinal herbs!"

"Deputy Commander of the State Garrison, Lord Ning, has arrived! Ten portions of Hejin Iron Sand and twenty bottles of premium pills!"

"The Mu family of the prefecture has arrived! Congratulations!"

"."

The celebration was bustling with activity, with guests everywhere. The continuous chanting of ceremonial rites further emphasized the grandeur and atmosphere of the event.

As a top figure in the state, Chen Ping'an's promotion celebration is not something just anyone is qualified to attend.

Those who were able to attend this celebration were all renowned figures in the state.

Its power and scale are far beyond what ordinary people can compare to.

In the past, it was difficult to even meet important figures, but today they can be seen everywhere.

Everyone wore a smile and tried their best to be humble and polite to avoid misunderstandings from others.

On this joyous occasion of Manager Chen's promotion ceremony, why are you wearing such a long face?!

Situ Lin was a little nervous.

He felt even more nervous when he heard the chanting of the ceremony.

These are all top-tier forces within the state!

None of them were families that his small Situ family could afford to offend.

But amidst the tension, he also felt a little excited.

These are forces that he could never normally come into contact with, no matter how hard he tried, but now they have appeared before him in this way.

However, no matter how excited he was, he dared not make any rash moves, lest he do something inappropriate and bring about serious consequences.

He had been waiting here early for Manager Chen's celebration today.

Although the Situ family had put in a lot of effort to prepare this congratulatory gift, their family background was still far inferior to that of other families.

This matter also made him somewhat apprehensive.

As is customary, the gifts they prepared were not inexpensive. While not as extravagant as those from other powerful families, they were still befitting the prestige and status of the Situ family.

But who could have predicted that other forces would go to such lengths to prepare congratulatory gifts?

In comparison, the Situ family paled in comparison.

Although the power levels are different, compared to each other, the Situ family still seems to have put in less effort.

But they...
Already tried my best.

Leaving aside the fact that the Situ family had spent considerable sums of money and resources on bribing officials and running around to renew the contract with Huichuntang, the family had also spent a great deal of money in order to reverse the decline and find a new patron.

Furthermore, they suffered heavy losses due to suppression and malicious bidding from all sides.

Due to various factors, the foundation of the Situ family is no longer what it used to be.

Even so, they still allocated a significant portion of their resources to preparing this congratulatory gift.

Can.
Situ Lin looked at the lavish gifts from one family after another around him and felt somewhat uneasy.

As he expected, when registering his congratulatory gifts to the Situ family, the steward gave him an extra glance.

Whether it was his imagination or the truth, the way the other person looked at him seemed to carry a different meaning.

He went in with a feeling of fear and unease, and not long after he entered, another announcement of the ceremony was made.

"The Mu family of the prefecture has arrived! He Jinyu."

"The Mu family?" Situ Lin's eyes lit up.

Since Huichuntang broke off the contract, the Situ family's prestige has plummeted. In recent days, they have been searching for a powerful patron. Considering various factors, the Mu family is their best option.

However, these days of contact have not yielded very good results.

"If I could make contact with the Mu family's tycoon today, then..." Situ Lin thought to himself.

He deliberately slowed down, wanting to become a familiar face first.

If we could meet at the celebration, we might be able to achieve something different through that connection.

Even if no real connection can be established, there will still be something to talk about, which can be used as a stepping stone.

Of course, necessary benefits cannot be omitted.

At least at the level of the Mu family, there are plenty of powerful individuals who would come knocking on their door seeking protection. In terms of the corresponding exchange of benefits, the Situ family wouldn't seem to have any advantage.

Situ Lin pondered this, intending to make himself known, but even as they passed each other, the other person didn't glance at him once, instead looking straight ahead at the grand celebration hall.

It was as if inside the grand hall sat people revered by all.

This made him feel slightly disappointed, but he quickly cheered up and followed after him.

One failure is nothing; there are always opportunities in the midst of celebration.

Situ Lin's idea was good, but reality is always cruel.

Although the Situ family was among those invited, judging from the arrangement of influence, they were clearly not qualified to sit in the main hall.

His position was merely arranged in a corner of the outer hall.

Throughout the entire celebration, he could only watch quietly from the outside, without finding any good opportunities.

"That's Manager Chen?"

Situ Lin stepped through the crowd and looked into the inner hall at the calm and composed young man.

This was the first time he had met Manager Chen.

He was much younger than he had expected.

Judging by his appearance alone, no one would guess that such a young man would be one of the top figures in the state.

But as he stood there, his aura was as deep as an abyss, giving people a profound and awe-inspiring presence that made them afraid to look him directly in the eye.

Yes.

Martial Arts Grandmaster!
Manager Chen relied not only on his power, but also on his martial arts prowess.

A martial arts grandmaster who was not yet thirty years old, and another martial arts grandmaster died in his hands.

Who could imagine such oppressive power?!

Situ Lin looked on from afar, looking at Chief Chen and the people in the hall.

Each of those faces wore a gentle smile and a rosy complexion.

No one would imagine that the smiling man sitting in this hall was once a stern and famous bigwig.

Looking at Manager Chen and the smiling faces around him, Situ Lin didn't know what he was thinking.

But ultimately, he didn't watch much of it.

In particular, when he saw that familiar face among the guests sitting in the hall, though he looked old, he was extremely vigorous.

That was a top tycoon of Huichuntang. When his Situ family cooperated with Huichuntang, he had the privilege of meeting him on one occasion, along with representatives of other forces.

At that time, he was dignified and serious, and rarely smiled.

But at this moment.
Looking at that smiling face, Situ Lin couldn't help but feel a little dazed.

The celebration was not long, and the ceremony quickly came to a close. With a series of speeches, the celebration officially entered its joyous phase.

Situ Lin had been waiting for this moment for a long time.

The free-flowing conversation and pleasantries provided him with the perfect opportunity to get acquainted and explore the underlying connections.

"Patriarch Wang, hello. I am Situ Lin from the Situ family. We met briefly at the Red Sea Banquet."

"Yes, yes, that's it."

"Ah, I understand, I get it. Please do as you wish."

"Elder Qin, it's me, Situ Lin. Oh, I see. Well then, I'll come to pay my respects again when you have time."

"Elder Mu, it's been a long time; you're still as dashing as ever. This toast is for you."

"Yes, yes, there is such a thing. You see."

"."

After repeated pleasantries and setbacks, even within the outer hall, the Situ family's influence among the invited powers and families was considered inferior.

Many people had heard about the Situ family's predicament. But since it involved top-tier powers, no one was willing to cross that line.

There's a lot more to it than meets the eye!
Furthermore, the Situ family's fortunes have weakened and its influence has diminished, so it would be pointless for them to meddle in such matters rashly.

If you really want something in return, why not wait until another day to make your move and reap even greater rewards?

Rather than taking risks, it's better to capitalize on the opportunity and make a quick buck.

If it were in earlier years, when Situ Ba was still alive, they would have been willing to give him some face. After all, Situ Ba held an important position in the State Garrison and was at the peak of his career. With the momentum he had previously displayed, he was fully capable of making further progress and reaching the realm of a top-tier grandmaster.

Furthermore, if one is fortunate enough, there is even a slight possibility of reaching the level of a Grandmaster in this lifetime.

But these.
It has ultimately become a thing of the past.

Ashes to ashes, dust to dust!
After Situ Ba's death, although the Situ family still possessed some resources, they were clearly no longer of interest to them. This was especially true after another elder of the clan died in another state.

Situ Shan still has some influence, but he is old and his influence won't last much longer.

Situ Lin tried his best to secure a sliver of hope for his family. But reality, like a cruel, icy rain, brutally shattered his unrealistic expectations.

Although he had made preparations in advance, the matter involved a major family affair, and after several setbacks, Situ Lin couldn't help but feel somewhat disappointed.

Perhaps because of the many pleasantries, most of the people around him knew about the recent situation of the Situ family and seemed unwilling to have too much contact with him, keeping a certain distance between them.

By this time, the entire celebration was nearing its end.

Situ Lin suddenly realized that he had been too eager for quick success and instant benefits. If he continued like this, he might not even be able to borrow a tiger skin to attend the celebration.

In a moment of thought, he prepared to let go of his obsession and continue the pleasantries.

He forced a smile, looked at the middle-aged man in a scholar's robe around him, and was about to offer a toast.

Under these circumstances, a figure emerged from the inner hall.

"This is... Manager Fu?"

"Manager Fu from the Gu family, is there something you need?"

"."

In just a moment, this figure attracted a lot of attention.

As one of the powerful stewards of the Canglong Gu family, Steward Fu has quite a reputation in Canglong Prefecture City, and all the families present have heard of him.

Even a slight move by a dominant force like the Gu family is something they cannot afford to offend.

In this situation, they were even more curious about what Manager Fu was doing out there.

It wasn't just the others who were curious; Situ Lin, too, suppressed his eagerness to exchange pleasantries and gazed intently at the scene.

"Elder Fu."

"Fellow Daoist Fu." "."

Along the way, representatives of various factions greeted him.

Manager Fu's smile remained unchanged, and he nodded politely, but his steps did not change at all.

Almost everyone's eyes were on Manager Fu.

Situ Lin was somewhat surprised as he watched the deputy steward approach. But seeing that the other party was coming in his direction, he couldn't help but smile and extend a friendly gesture.

The Azure Dragon Guards Its Home—what a colossal creature it is!

Such power is something the Situ family absolutely cannot afford to offend.

Otherwise, there would be no need for the other party to agree; a single signal would be enough to bring his current Situ family to ruin.

The middle-aged man in a scholar's robe standing next to Situ Lin, whose face had previously been stern, now showed a rare smile. This was a smile Situ Lin had never seen before.

As the other party drew closer, Situ Lin couldn't help but feel uneasy.

Although Steward Fu is a steward, there are many different stewards. As one of the truly powerful stewards relied upon by the Gu family, Steward Fu is also a genuine master.

"What are you here for?"

Just as Situ Lin was thinking this, Steward Fu stopped in front of him.

"Fellow Daoist Situ, Lord Chen requests your presence."

Manager Fu's smile was gentle, and his words were soft, making people momentarily lose their senses.

Upon hearing this, Situ Lin was stunned and stood there dumbfounded.

Manager Chen is looking for me!?
Situ Shan was not the only one stunned on the spot, but also everyone in the outer hall. Before this, no one would have thought that Steward Fu would come here on behalf of Manager Chen to invite someone.

The middle-aged man in a scholar's robe standing next to Situ Lin froze, his eyes filled with disbelief.

Chief Chen requests your presence!

How can this be! ?
Everyone stared in astonishment, looking at the scene before them in disbelief.

Even after getting up and leaving with Steward Fu, Situ Lin's head was still somewhat fuzzy. It wasn't until he stepped into the inner hall that he suddenly snapped out of it, instantly enveloped by a tremendous sense of joy.

But a moment later, looking at the majestic scene before him, a sense of unease and fear arose in his heart.

Manager Chen, what do you want with him?
Seeing Situ Shan suddenly enter, many people in the room were quite curious.

Unexpectedly, Lord Chen personally sent someone to invite an ordinary grandmaster.
"This person is" someone who observes and scrutinizes, trying to grasp the deeper meaning behind it.

Some people are making plans in their minds and will leave it to the next step.

"Lord Chen, Situ Lin has arrived." Steward Fu smiled modestly.

In public, he did not address Chen Ping'an as his son-in-law.

"Okay." Chen Ping'an said calmly, his gaze sweeping over Situ Lin.

"Situ Lin greets Lord Chen." Situ Lin felt uneasy, and seeing the gaze fall upon him, he immediately bowed deeply, showing the utmost respect.

"Get up," Chen Ping'an said calmly. "Do you know why I summoned you here?"

"Your Excellency, Situ Lin is unaware." Situ Lin appeared extremely respectful, and the numerous gazes upon him made him feel immense pressure.

The owner of those gazes knew all too well what they represented.

"Years ago, when the demons of Sanqi Mountain besieged us, the battle was extremely dangerous. My office and Lord Situ went through life and death together. If you think about it carefully, my office and your Situ family have a history. I have called you in today to have a drink with you."

Chen Ping'an sat upright at the head of the table, his expression calm, but there was a hint of reminiscence in his eyes, as if he was recalling something.

"Do you have some past connection with the Situ family?"

Upon hearing this, Situ Lin was taken aback, but quickly realized what was happening and was overwhelmed by the immense joy.

He was in a daze for a moment, then bowed deeply to Chen Ping'an and remained there for a long time.

“On behalf of my great-uncle and the Situ family, Situ Lin thanks Lord Chen.”

Inside the inner hall, everyone's expressions changed, and their thoughts varied.

A sprightly old man sat at the table, his face showing surprise as he looked at the scene in astonishment.

Others remained calm and collected, observing the scene before them, seemingly lost in thought.

"The Situ family, Situ Lin?" Someone looked at Situ Lin's figure and memorized him.

All good things must come to an end. No matter how grand or solemn the celebration, it will eventually come to a close.

"Chief Chen, Lord Chen"

Even after the celebration ended and he returned to the Situ family home, Situ Lin still hadn't recovered.

In the inner hall, in front of a group of powerful figures from the state, he drank a cup of wine with Lord Chen.

Then, after the celebration, he was given a private audience with Lord Chen.

Feeling the weight of the Thousand Machine Bag hanging from his waist, he still has a sense of unreality.

Leaving aside the resources inside the Thousand-Machine Bag, the bag itself is incredibly valuable. Even ordinary grandmasters are not qualified to wear it.

To put it more dramatically, this Thousand Machine Bag alone could serve as a strategic resource for the family, used for storage.

Not to mention the invaluable spiritual resources within.

If used properly, it can completely resolve the family's current crisis.

"Lin'er, how was the celebration?" As soon as Situ Lin returned to the family, he was summoned by Situ Shan.

Looking at the assembled clan elders, Situ Lin took a deep breath, about to explain the details of the celebration.

But then they heard an urgent voice coming from outside the door.

"Elder Zong, Elder Mu from Huichun Hall has come to visit!"

"What!?" Upon hearing this, Situ Shan's expression changed, and he stood up abruptly, saying incredulously, "Elder Mu has arrived?"

The Situ family went to great lengths to try and salvage the situation regarding the termination of the contract with Huichuntang, and they found Elder Mu as a lead to see if there was any hope.

For days, hope has been slim, and the other party's attitude has been lukewarm. Why would they come to visit in person this time?

"Quickly! Quickly! Please come in." The news was so sudden that Situ Shan was somewhat moved: "No, I will go to greet him personally."

Having said that, he looked around and said as he walked, "Gentlemen, please come with me to greet them and do not be impolite."

"Yes, Elder Zong." The people in the hall were overjoyed and responded in unison. They never expected that what they thought was hopeless would take such a turn for the better.

Listening to the commotion in the arena, Situ Lin was momentarily stunned.

"Rejuvenation Hall"

A simple statement that our company has a past relationship with the Situ family brought about a dramatic change in the Situ family's circumstances.

Since Huichuntang, powerful families such as Canglongmu, Xu, and Lieyanglouge have successively sent envoys to visit the Situ family.

The person dispatched was not some peripheral representative, but a real power representative within the organization, thus entering the high-level ranks.

Such a level of status was simply unimaginable for the Situ family.

These events, one after another, left Situ Shan and the other clan elders somewhat bewildered.

It wasn't until nightfall that they learned the truth from Situ Lin.

"Chief Chen?" Situ Shan looked astonished, speechless with shock.

An elder muttered to himself, remaining silent.

A day later, Huichuntang officially announced that it would increase cooperation with the Situ family through multiple channels. Huichuntang has high expectations for this matter, and all matters will be carefully discussed by representatives of both parties.

On the same day, the Zhao family came to apologize and beg for the Situ family's forgiveness. The suppression had vanished without a trace, as if it had never happened.

All sides fell silent, and the Situ family's influence rose again.

hum~
A flash of light appeared, and a long sword floated in mid-air.

Chen Ping'an remained calm, quietly looking at the long sword in front of him.

The divine weapon, the longsword, was the first divine weapon he obtained. It came from the Blood Cave of Ten Thousand Demons in Sanqi Mountain and was left behind by Situ Ba after his death.

Over the years, although he has sold and changed other resources, this divine weapon has always remained with him.

It's like a mark, or like a memory.

"Situ Ba".

Chen Ping'an's eyes were calm as memories of the past floated through his mind.

In the past, Situ Ba died, and he plotted and schemed for the Grey Robe, but in this matter, he was ultimately just a spectator.

I am not indebted, but I feel uneasy.

And to this day
Chen Ping'an looked at the divine weapon longsword in front of him, raised his hand slightly, and the longsword in front of him immediately disappeared.

To this day, this long sword, he might
It can be sold freely now.

Martial arts training is essentially a struggle against fate; whether one succeeds or fails, it is all part of the outcome of life.

Those who embark on spiritual practice will inevitably create their own cause and effect. They sow their own seeds and reap their own fruits.

Whether one's path is smooth or one dies and one's spiritual path is extinguished, one cannot blame others for this matter.

One can say that one's death and spiritual decay are due to the enemy or the failure to save someone in distress, but one can never say that this matter was caused by others.

This is because when it comes to matters of life and death, only oneself can truly control one's destiny.

If I were to perish here, everything else would be trivial; only myself would be the sole cause.

If you can't even shoulder the responsibility for your own life, how can you expect others to take responsibility?

Life is like this, and so is death.

He felt no remorse for Situ Ba's death.

If he were to die one day, and no one else intervened, he would suffer the same fate.

The path to enlightenment is a struggle, a battle against fate, where only oneself can be relied upon. What is the point of attributing cause and effect to others?
It is a favor if others help, not an obligation to fight for it!

However, as an ally, obtaining Situ Ba's possessions can be considered his karma.

Having settled this matter of cause and effect, one must come to an end.

If one obtains something improperly, one will feel ashamed and one's moral compass will be compromised.

Today, having settled this matter of cause and effect, I owe nothing and have no debts, and my heart is entirely devoted to the Way.

hum~
A sudden inspiration struck him, and Chen Ping'an slowly closed his eyes.

A promotion celebration, with various factions offering congratulatory gifts, made Chen Ping'an extremely wealthy, and his previously shrunken fortune saw a significant increase.

The various forces all made extraordinary contributions. However, the gifts presented by the Shadowless Blade Sect and the Thunder Valley family were particularly outstanding.

The nature of this matter is self-evident, considering all the past events.

After the celebration, Chen Ping'an declined all visits, focusing on the essentials and ignoring other matters.

The time for him to take up his post in Xuanling is drawing near.

However, before leaving, Chen Ping'an wanted to see the little girl off. He wanted to personally watch her travel with the students of Tongzhou City to the central government of Bi Cang to participate in the academy's assessment.

Although the results of the preliminary test have not yet been released, Chen Ping'an was extremely confident about whether the little girl could pass the preliminary test.

This confidence, at times, was even greater than his confidence in himself.

Under these circumstances, Chen Ping'an received a message from the elders of the Gu family.

The Gu family patriarch wants to see him.

(End of this chapter)