The Great Martial Saint!

Chapter 790 Ranking of the Wild Blade, Heavenly Net Saintess (Here to the Azure Sky, to Form a Daoist Couple)

Beihai Chamber of Commerce, Jiuchen Chamber of Commerce.

"Cangming, although you have borrowed external tools to barely make it into the ranks of the Grandmasters of the Wind and Cloud, your natural talent is still some distance away from the top prodigies of the dynasty."

Inside the main hall, an elderly man in a magnificent robe calmly looked at Li Cangming, the pride of the merchant guild, who was wearing Xuanbing scale armor.

"However, this gap objectively exists, and you don't need to shy away from it or be angry about it. Instead of wasting your energy on internal conflicts, you should do your best to find another way and forge your own path."

This latest update to the Hidden Dragon series has already revealed a highly competitive atmosphere.

"Your talent is not comparable to the top prodigies of the dynasty. Instead of forcing yourself, you should go with the flow. There is no need to pursue a pure foundation. As long as your Dao foundation is flawless, you can become a true martial arts master. With an eight-pattern Dao foundation, you can break through the barriers and reach the realm. With the help of the merchant guild's secret treasures and medicines, you should have a good chance of breaking through the barriers and reaching the realm of a master without pursuing a pure Dao foundation."

"In this age of great strife, those who do not reach the level of the divine are ultimately nothing more than ants." The old man sighed softly, his gaze distant, as if recalling something.

"I will remember the words of the Ancestor." Li Cangming's expression was resolute, and his eyes held a commanding glint.

With the opening of the secret realm in the sea imminent, everyone in the merchant guild is busy with preparations. If he can ascend to the Celestial Realm, it will be a great benefit to the guild, not only in terms of strength but also in terms of its prestige and reputation.

If he were to ascend to the Celestial Realm, even if his Dao Foundation were not as strong as those top-tier prodigies, as long as he were a true Martial Celestial Realm expert, it would bring him immeasurable prestige to the Chamber of Commerce.

Among the current generation of hidden dragons, there are only four who have achieved the highest level of martial arts. If he can join them, his prestige will surely be as high as the sun at its zenith, as bright as the rainbow piercing the sky.

Sometimes letting go of obsessions might not be a bad choice. Rather than aiming too high and gazing at something elusive and unattainable, it's better to choose a path that suits you better.

Sometimes, blindly pursuing something can lead to mental blockages, and in the end, what you get may not be as good as what you can have right now.

He possessed the Chamber of Commerce's precious medicines, breakthrough artifacts, and auxiliary spiritual items, giving him an advantage over ordinary martial arts grandmasters. Moreover, the Chamber of Commerce had specially obtained a breakthrough elixir for him—the Shangqing Pill—to protect his mental state.

With the blessing of such spiritual objects, coupled with his natural talent, and without excessively pursuing the foundation of the Dao, the probability of him becoming a Celestial being is indeed not small.

"Who said that one must raise their Grandmaster level to the limit to break through to the next realm! If I reach the next realm ahead of time, it will be a whole new world. In the future, today's Grandmaster competition will be nothing but a game!" Li Cangming's eyes shone brightly, and the ice light on his Xuanbing scale armor flowed and shone brilliantly.

"Cangming, you don't need to get involved in the Chamber of Commerce's affairs for now. Your most important task right now is to focus on breaking through to the next realm. All the spiritual resources you need will be provided by the Chamber of Commerce. What you need to do is truly enter the Celestial Realm before the Star Moon Marriage Selection!" The old man remained silent for a long time before his voice finally rang out in the hall.

The stars and moon are used to find a son-in-law.

Li Cangming's gaze faltered for a moment, then his face revealed a look of ambition: "Yes, I will heed the words of the Ancestor. Cangming will certainly live up to the expectations of the Chamber of Commerce, break through barriers and conquer realms, and ascend to the Martial Arts Celestial Realm before the Chamber of Commerce's exchange!"

The Beihai Business Alliance is a super-large commercial alliance composed of seven core chambers of commerce, thirty-six large chambers of commerce, and a host of peripheral chambers of commerce. It is a behemoth with a formidable reputation throughout the northern border and even the dynasties.

The Merchant Alliance is filled with powerful figures and experts, each wielding varying degrees of influence within its council. Among these powerful individuals, the Cloud and Thunder Duo are figures that cannot be ignored; they are the most dazzling individuals in the Merchant Alliance.

He is no longer just a powerful figure with deep roots in the Merchant Alliance, but a true pillar of the North Sea Merchant Alliance, supporting the Alliance's prestige and protecting its interests among various parties in the Dynasty.

A towering white jade pillar, a purple-gold beam spanning the sea!
The two rulers, Yunlei and Duijun, are at the peak of their combat power and are giants of the dynasty, each influencing a core business association and a considerable number of large business associations.

Although the Nine Stars Chamber of Commerce is powerful, being one of the seven core chambers of the Chamber of Commerce Alliance, it is somewhat inferior in front of the Twin Lords of Cloud and Thunder. Whether in terms of prestige or influence, it is much weaker.

It can be said that the Business Alliance can do without the Nine Stars Business Association, but it cannot do without the Twin Lords of Cloud and Thunder.

Under these circumstances, as the only daughter of two rulers, she is naturally a shining pearl within the merchant alliance. To be precise, the word "shining pearl" is insufficient to express her nobility.

Instead, it is named after the stars and the moon, as bright as the stars and as clear as the moon, symbolizing its uniqueness and exclusivity.

Within the merchant alliance, she is often referred to as Princess Xingyue. In the North Sea, among the numerous islands that dot the sea like stars, most people also know about Princess Xingyue.

This matter must have been circulated and heard about even within the imperial capital and central government. However, the central government in the capital did not make any statement on it, but rather tacitly acknowledged it through silence.

The Beihai Merchant Alliance, with its two powerful rulers, Yunlei and Dual Lords, is a testament to their might.

However, although many people know the name of Princess Xingyue, few truly understand her, and even fewer have actually seen her.

Princess Xingyue has been kept well hidden by the two rulers since her birth. Although she has a bewitching beauty, she has never appeared on the corresponding list.

The fact that the two rulers are now considering taking a son-in-law has naturally caused a stir within the merchant alliance. Although there has been no explicit statement yet, this inclination has already spread widely in the surrounding areas.

Princess Xingyue was the only daughter of the two kings, and they always cherished her.

If he could seize this opportunity to become the son-in-law of both rulers, his reputation, status, and influence would experience a qualitative leap. Such a leap would be enough to allow most martial arts masters to reach heights that he could never attain in his entire life.

For Li Cangming, the same was true. If he could become the son-in-law of the two rulers and receive the assistance of the Nine Stars Chamber of Commerce, given time, he might be able to take control.
Li Cangming's eyes darted around, burning with a flame called ambition.

The elderly man in the ornate robe looked at the resolute-looking young man with burning eyes, a hint of satisfaction flashing across his face, but it vanished just as quickly. He slowly turned around, as if he could see through the hall and gaze into the distance.

The details of the business alliance's selection of a son-in-law may be unknown to outsiders, but as a veteran of the business alliance, he knew them all too well.

This search for a son-in-law will not only be open to any geographical restrictions, but it is also very likely that the age requirements will be far less stringent than outside speculation suggests.

To stand out from so many people and become the son-in-law of two emperors is no easy feat. And how could it be summarized in just a few words?

"The hidden dragon is renewed."

Li Xiangjun, dressed in a light pink dress, stood outside the Yunge Palace with a calm and composed expression, but a hint of unease was hidden deep in her eyes.

Her pale pink dress swayed in the sea of ​​clouds, outlining her figure, just like her state of mind at that moment.

As the Holy Maiden's confidante and Her Highness's personal bodyguard, there was practically nothing that could make her uneasy. But the matter at hand was undoubtedly one of those rare occurrences.

The Hidden Dragon Ranking is updated, the rankings are changed, and a host of geniuses are emerging. This also means that Your Highness will see that name again on the Hidden Dragon Ranking, the name that she never wanted to mention in front of Your Highness.

Each mention signifies the revival of distant memories, and also means that Her Highness is reminded once again of the person beside her, who is now an impure and defiled woman.

Most importantly, it will remind His Highness that there is someone she was about to kill but didn't, who is still alive and well in the world, active in front of everyone.

How could His Highness allow someone who has violated the chastity of His Highness's maid to live a good life?

Every mention of him is a reminder to Your Highness that this person deserves to die, must be killed, and must be killed!

Li Xiangjun stood outside the Yunge Palace for a long time before calming herself down and going inside.

Even though she was unwilling and felt a little reluctant, His Highness had already instructed that she should be informed immediately every time the Hidden Dragon Ranking was updated.

And she was forced to mention that person's name once again in front of His Highness.

"Your Highness," Li Xiangjun asked respectfully.

One breath, two breaths, three breaths.
Several breaths passed, but no sound came from His Highness inside the jade chamber.

For some reason, this made her feel a slight sense of relief. The anxiety that had been weighing on her mind earlier began to ease.

It is said that even a night of marriage brings a hundred days of kindness. Although she and Mangdao did not have much affection for each other, they had spent some time together after all.

She might be able to kill him without hesitation once she receives the order. But before the order is given and before everything is settled, she ultimately cannot be ruthless and kill him easily.

If possible, she would like to postpone these days as much as possible. Also, if possible, she would try to minimize His Highness's impression of this matter.

She had already read the latest issue of the Hidden Dragon Ranking. Mang Dao's excellence exceeded her expectations.

At less than twenty-eight years old, he has reached the top twenty of the Hidden Dragon List. His combat strength is comparable to that of the Wind and Cloud Sect, and he can kill a Grandmaster at the pinnacle. With such talent, among his peers, apart from the Holy Maiden, there is probably no one in the Holy Sect who can rival him.

Even the Holy Son back then might not have been much better than him.

With Mang Dao's current combat strength, he still has a sliver of hope if others intervene.

But if His Highness were to make a move, he feared he would have no chance whatsoever.

With Your Highness's power, suppressing Mang Dao would be far too easy. No matter how outstanding Mang Dao is, in front of Your Highness, he is ultimately nothing more than a firefly.

Fireflies may have a faint light, enough to illuminate the night, but they are so insignificant in the face of the bright moon.

If Your Highness makes a move, Mang Dao will surely die.

Fortunately
With His Highness not responding, Li Xiangjun felt a slight sense of relief.

Although I had made up my mind, I still felt a little reluctant until that day came.

However, just as she relaxed, the jade gate in front of her suddenly opened, and a woman in a black dress with her face covered by a black veil appeared in front of her.

"Your Highness."

Li Xiangjun was taken aback, then bowed respectfully and greeted him.

"You've emerged from seclusion."

"What's the matter?"

"Your Highness, the latest Hidden Dragon Ranking has been updated, as you instructed." Before Li Xiangjun could finish speaking, the jade stone in her hand, which contained information about the latest Hidden Dragon Ranking, floated in mid-air, reflecting a screen of light.

Li Xiangjun stared blankly at the light screen in front of her.

At the very top of the light screen, several large characters were prominently displayed.

Hidden Dragon Prodigy, number seventeen, the Brute Blade Chen Ping'an!
Li Xiangjun's heart trembled, and a myriad of emotions welled up within her.

She had followed His Highness for many years and had never seen him so concerned about anything. But this time, for some reason, His Highness was unusually attentive.

Your Highness takes her loss of virginity and humiliation so seriously!
Li Xiangjun stood there blankly, not knowing how long she had been standing there. Her eyes trembled, her emotions shifted, and it was unclear what she was thinking.

After a long while, the ethereal voice of the Heavenly Maiden, as clear as a solitary orchid in a secluded valley, rang in her ears, interrupting her chaotic thoughts.

"Make preparations. Tomorrow, we will leave the Abyss Sea together."

Leave the Abyss?

Li Xiangjun was momentarily distracted, but still immediately and respectfully agreed.

After hesitating for a moment, he finally asked the question hesitantly.

"Your Highness, where are you going?"

If His Highness were going out alone, she would never have asked that question. But since His Highness had taken her along, the meaning was different. Even so, she rarely asked such a question.

This time, I don't know why, I had to ask such a question.

“Azure.”

The voice of the Holy Maiden of Heavenly Net was as ethereal as ever, as light as if it had fallen from the sky, untouched by any worldly noise.

Li Xiangjun's heart skipped a beat, but she ultimately pressed down, bowed her head respectfully, and responded.

"Yes, Your Highness."

Some things are ultimately unavoidable.

Though she was reluctant, as His Highness's maid, she had to fulfill her duty. The scoundrel had insulted her purity, and he deserved to pay the price. As someone close to His Highness, she had lost not only her own innocence, but also His Highness's dignity.

Furthermore, if Mang Dao were still alive, knowing this, the impact would be far more than just on His Highness's dignity. To a certain extent, it would even affect His Highness's innocence.

If Your Highness were to have a Daoist partner in the future, and this matter were to become known to Your Highness's Daoist partner, then the implications would be far more complex than they are now.

The person close to me was insulted and humiliated; the details of this matter are too numerous to recount here. But Your Highness clearly knew this, yet you did not kill him. What is the meaning of this?
Was it out of compassion, or was there another reason? Or perhaps, His Highness authorized and permitted the maid's loss of virginity!

If such matters are not dealt with promptly, and His Highness and his Daoist companion investigate further in the future, the consequences will be far more severe than they are now.

If not handled properly, it could even cause rifts between the two parties, significantly impacting their shared commitment to the cause.

Given His Highness's temperament, she would not easily yield to such questioning from her Daoist partner. If things were to escalate to the point where they were locked in a power struggle and harbored resentment towards each other, then her transgression would be far greater.

This must not be done! We must not let her matter affect His Highness's future relationship with his Daoist partner.

Although Your Highness has not yet chosen a partner, this matter must be planned as soon as possible, otherwise it will be too late.

With this thought in mind, Li Xiangjun's eyes turned cold as she made her decision.

The matter of the madman must be resolved as soon as possible.

To show her loyalty and to completely eliminate any future troubles, she wanted to personally send Mang Dao Chen Ping'an on his way to the afterlife before he died!
"Chen Ping'an, don't blame me. This matter started because of me, and it should end because of me. After you die, I will definitely collect your body, erect a monument, and visit you every year to fulfill our promise."

Li Xiangjun's mind raced, a multitude of thoughts swirling within her in a flash. She bowed her head, rose respectfully, and looked at the prince before her, asking for instructions.

"Your Highness, the journey to Bicang is long. Should we prepare a carriage and send people to accompany us?"

“No need.” The Holy Maiden of Tianluo’s voice was ethereal and her expression serene: “You can accompany me alone.”

After a long period of cultivation, she finally took this step. Her seclusion was over, the affairs of the Holy Sect were settled, and everything was as she wished. Now that things were done here, she naturally wanted to return as quickly as possible to see that treacherous villain she had been constantly thinking about.

"Chen Ping'an"

When I see him, I'll first give him a good beating to avenge the humiliation I suffered years ago. Then...
The Holy Maiden of Tianluo slowly raised her eyes, her gaze trembling like butterfly wings, rippling with waves, like a dreamlike radiance, dazzling and ethereal, captivating and enchanting all who beheld it.

She had already heard about the engagement with the Gu family. Her trip to Bicang was not only to avenge past grievances, but more importantly...
Daoist companion!

Gu Jiaqingcheng and Chen Ping'an, a ruthless swordsman, were united in marriage by the heavens and the earth, becoming a married couple.

Having been destined for each other across three lifetimes, how could she possibly relinquish the position of her Daoist partner to someone else?

Even if you're engaged, it's not allowed!
The only true partner for a ruthless swordsman can be her.

She couldn't let someone else beat her to it.

In a moment of thought, the Holy Maiden of Heavenly Net seemed to be thinking of something, her eyes dreamy as she glanced at the maid beside her.

Standing to the side, Li Xiangjun felt her heart tremble and an indescribable dreamlike descent as the prince suddenly glanced at her.

It took Li Xiangjun a long time to gradually come to her senses. Looking at what was in front of her, she felt as if she were in a dream. She trembled, breathing heavily, her mind racing with a jumble of thoughts.

She had served His Highness for many years and had never seen such a look in his eyes. His Highness's reaction indicated that the impact of this matter was far greater than she had imagined. The events of the past could never be simply forgotten.

His Highness is reminding her.

"Wild Blade!"

They must be killed! There can be no mercy!

On her way to Bicang, upon encountering Mangdao, she volunteered to His Highness to slay him!

Although her combat strength is not as good as Mang Dao's, she must express this attitude!
Li Xiangjun's eyes were firm as she made up her mind.

Canglong Prefecture, Gu Family.

The quiet and warm pavilion is elegant and exquisite.

Amidst the melodious piano music, a screen of light appeared.

The light screen shifts and the images change, reflecting a series of messages.

Chen Ping'an, the seventeenth of the Hidden Dragon Prodigies, with his fierce blade, killed Shi Panyue, the elder of the Hengshan Sect, with a single strike at the Lakeside Garden in Xuanling City.
He has mastered the Soul-Severing Blade, the Soaring Dragon Body Technique, and the Overlord Blade. He has also achieved minor mastery of the Void Wind-Riding Step, seemingly having studied the Raging Thunder Blade Technique. His cultivation progress is unknown, but his combat power is at its peak, possessing a might comparable to that of the Wind and Cloud.
Lines of text showcased the achievements and combat prowess of Chen Ping'an, the prodigy known as the "Wild Blade." The Hidden Dragon Ranking highly praised Chen Ping'an's potential, suggesting he had a chance to break into the top eight before reaching the age limit and falling off the list. In previous years, he would have been among the top five or even top three. However, in the current era, his ranking would be slightly lower.

But no matter what, it all speaks to the excellence of Chen Ping'an, the valiant swordsman.

As the music faded, the speed of the light screen's changes gradually slowed down, eventually settling on a single image.

Hidden Dragon First, Heavenly Nine Daoist, Fengling Yin!
Gu Qingcheng sat playing the zither, her wide sleeves cascading down like clouds, her black hair loose over her shoulders, a wooden hairpin swaying gently, exuding a cool yet gentle charm.

This is the everyday life of ordinary people, and the bustling world of mortals.

She gently raised her eyes and glanced at the light screen reflected in mid-air. The light screen changed again, flashing and shimmering, finally revealing the information of Chen Ping'an, the ruthless swordsman.

Gu Qingcheng gazed at him for a long time before finally smiling softly. Her laughter was gentle and quiet, yet it also seemed to carry a different flavor.

Suddenly, a gold hair ribbon appeared in her hand.

It shimmered with golden light, swaying gently in the breeze, graceful and ethereal.

Wow~
She lowered her sleeves slightly, and on the long table, the crisscrossing stars, their light dimming, slowly dissipated.

"Xiyue, I need to go out for a while. You will stay here and stay in my place for a while."

Gu Qingcheng's voice was clear and cold, like jade striking a spring, the cold moonlight reflecting the ups and downs of the world.

“Alright.” Xi Yue held the long sword in her hands and stood to the side, her green dress making her look pretty and serene.

Wow~
Inside the warm pavilion, moonlight and starlight seemed to flow, but when they looked up again, Gu Qingcheng's figure had disappeared.

Along with her, the sword that Xi Yue was holding also disappeared.

Xi Yue glanced at the direction where the starlight and moonlight had disappeared, then turned and sat down at the long table.

Her eyes were clear and cold, as if she possessed a serene and ethereal air, and her fair and delicate hands, as smooth as jade, gently caressed the strings of the zither.

"A hidden dragon vying for destiny?"
He was merely a pioneer for the king.

Inside the warm pavilion, the sound of the zither rose again, melodious and endless, as pure as a clear spring, bathed in the cool moonlight.

As the hidden dragon renews its power, geniuses rise in droves, and celestial beings shine upon the world, which inevitably influences the situation in Xuanling City.

Especially at this juncture, with the Xuanling Top Auction about to take place.

On the same day that Qianlong was updated, the powerful elder of Hengshan Sect, the Black Rock Monster, descended upon Xuanling.

Two days later, Ji Changkong, the grandson of the Prince of Bicang, an outstanding figure of his time, arrived at Xuanling City, accompanied by experts such as Kuanglan Ke and Liedi Sou.

On the same day, Princess Ji Changkong of the Azure Cang Kingdom sent a visiting card, inviting Chen Ping'an, the garrison commander of the Mysterious Spirit, the prodigy of the Hidden Dragon, and the ruthless swordsman, to come and have a chat.

　Tianluo Saintess: How did I become the one who came later?
　　
　
(End of this chapter)