The Great Martial Saint!

As the Xuanling Auction approaches, the number of cultivators in Xuanling Heavy City is increasing.

This auction was of extremely high standard, arguably the largest auction in Xuanling City in nearly a decade. It not only had the backing of various merchant guilds but also attracted rare resources supplied by forces such as the Hundred Refinement Pavilion and the Alchemy Alliance.

This adds a layer of mystery and suspense to this Xuanling auction.

Independent cultivators from various states, as well as practitioners from families, sects, and other powerful forces, continuously gathered in Xuanling City. Even on the eve of the auction, a large number of cultivators continued to pour into Xuanling City.

Due to the scale of this auction, apart from a few accompanying practitioners who came to broaden their horizons and some just to join in the fun, most of the practitioners who came were wealthy and well-established mid-to-high-level practitioners.

Looking across the various states, it is considered a well-known entity.

With so many practitioners gathered, lively greetings and pleasantries were inevitable. Among these practitioners, there were always one or two busybodies who not only fostered a lively atmosphere among practitioners from all sides but also organized exchange meetings at various levels.

In addition, there was the involvement of the official forces of Xuanling City, and various circles gathered in the period leading up to the auction.

During the conversation, it was inevitable that some current events in Xuanling City would be discussed. As the most popular figure in Xuanling City recently, the prodigy Chen Ping'an, the valiant swordsman, was naturally mentioned.

Such a feat as killing a senior elder of the Hengshan Sect with a single strike, and possessing such combat prowess at such a young age, is truly unbelievable.

The tone of discussion about Chen Ping'an varies greatly across different circles.

In lower and middle-level circles, the discussion is mostly filled with praise and amazement. But at higher levels, the tone of the conversation gradually becomes more polarized. There are many who praise and flatter, but there are also many who question.

While a forceful swordsmanship technique like the "Berserk Blade" is powerful, its methods are far too aggressive. Such recklessness may not lead to a smooth future.

It was also mentioned that Mang Dao was really lucky to have attracted the support of two major forces. Otherwise, how could the matter of killing the deacon elder of Hengshan Sect have been so easily forgotten?
However, such opinions are not the mainstream in the circle; most people still highly recognize Chen Ping'an's talent.

"Is it just good luck? Why don't you have that kind of luck?! Their talent speaks for itself! With that kind of talent, who wouldn't want to support them?! By building good relationships, their future achievements will surely be remarkable!"

"Fellow Daoist, you're just being sour grapes. I can detect a hint of jealousy in your voice. Aggressive methods?! If you were that young and had that kind of strength, you'd probably be even more aggressive than him!"

"The road ahead may not be smooth!? What a joke! The future? The present alone is already overwhelming! How the future unfolds is none of your business!? If you're so free, you should worry about yourself first."

"Mind your own business first! Your own future is uncertain, yet you're meddling in the futures of those hidden dragon prodigies?! Seventeenth on the Hidden Dragon Ranking—what does that mean?! If they don't perish, they're guaranteed to be a top-tier pseudo-celestial being. Even a true martial arts celestial being could potentially become one, as long as they don't encounter major obstacles or face great dangers!"

"Hahaha, clown."

"."

Such remarks naturally made those who had previously questioned the claims, or those who, under the guise of objective and rational analysis, actually engaged in covert attacks, feel extremely ashamed and angry.

However, due to his stance, his previous statements have not changed much.

Besides discussing things that were already widely known, some high-end circles also talked about what had happened in the past few days.

"Have you heard? Ji Changkong, the Prince of Bi Cang, has come to Xuanling."

"I know! I sent my visiting card as soon as I arrived in Xuanling, but Mangdao rejected it outright! Hahaha, that's interesting. It seems there's quite a bit of entanglement between these two!"

"A tangled relationship? They shouldn't have met before!?"

"Fellow Daoist Geng, you've been cultivating for too long and have become oblivious to worldly affairs! Remember the Phoenix Seeking Its Mate song in Canglong Prefecture before?!"

"Now that you mention it, it seems like I've overheard something like that. Back then, we were just two juniors, so I didn't pay much attention. But now that I think about it, it seems like there really was something like that. Ji Changkong wants to marry the Gu family's prodigy, right?"

"Yes! Back then, he personally went to Canglong and performed the 'Phoenix Seeking its Mate' song, hoping to win the heart of Gu Qingcheng, the pride of the Gu family. He failed, and now Gu Qingcheng is Mangdao's fiancée. They are already engaged and will be married soon. How do you think Ji Changkong feels about that?!"

"Haha, this is so interesting. Watching these younger generation bickering really brings back memories of the old days."

“Fellow Daoist Geng, be careful with your words. These two are no juniors; their cultivation levels are now on par with yours and mine. Mang Dao’s combat strength is even above ours!” someone said solemnly.

Upon hearing this, the person next to him paused slightly, a complex expression on their face.

The story of Ji Changkong, the grandson of the Azure Prince, inviting Mang Dao to his residence to discuss his refusal gradually spread throughout the various circles of Xuanling City. By the eve of the auction, it had become a complete legend.

Opinions on this matter varied. Some believed that Mang Dao's claim of seclusion was merely an excuse, and given the previous conflict between the two, Ji Changkong's arrival was likely ill-intentioned. Furthermore, with Kuang Lan Lie Di accompanying him, a direct confrontation would likely put Mang Dao at a disadvantage.

Regardless of its impact on the overall situation, in the past, if they had truly clashed, Mangdao would have found it difficult to replicate the previous situation of Hengshan Sect.

In such circumstances, avoiding visitors is naturally the best cover-up. As for seclusion, that's just an excuse.

Otherwise, why choose this particular moment to go into seclusion, of all times?
The so-called seclusion is merely a assessment of the situation.

Within the same statement, there are also different interpretations. In the mouths of a very few extremists, it is said: "Seclusion? It's just fear!"

"Did you really think that Chen Ping'an, the 'Reckless Blade,' was fearless and invincible, but when faced with a tough opponent, he'd back down and admit defeat?"

Some people tried to smooth things over: "The Bi Cang County Prince's Mansion! The true overlord of the seventeen states of Bi Cang. Who would want to get involved with such a force, even if it's just a possibility?! Besides, look at who's accompanying them this time. Kuang Lan Lie Di, among the Grandmasters of Xuanling City, which one isn't a formidable figure vying for the top spot in combat power? Putting the two of them together, let alone Mang Dao, even all of us here combined would be in trouble!"

"Given that we've already offended the Hengshan Sect, Mang Dao's move is a prudent one. Otherwise, it would have dragged on endlessly and become a mess. Besides, as far as I know, the Black Rock Old Monster of the Hengshan Sect has already reached the Xuanling realm! Sacrificing the proceeds of an auction in exchange for a chance to temporarily avoid the limelight is a worthwhile deal."

"What? Black Rock Monster is here?! Shouldn't Cheng Wanyong and Cheng Juli be in charge of overseeing Xuanling? How did it become Black Rock Monster?"

"do not know."

"Why think so much? The Xuanling Auction is just around the corner. Old Monster Black Rock has always loved excitement, how could he possibly miss this top-level auction?"

"."

At a high-level exchange meeting, various parties were engaged in lively discussions.

However, in addition to similar sentiments, some people also expressed their praise and support for Chen Ping'an's actions.

"Those who understand the times are heroes. Mang Dao's actions, both in advancing and retreating with composure, are truly those of a hero."

"You're all overthinking this. Mang Dao is exceptionally talented and has amazing abilities. It's not surprising that he has some insights. His announcement of going into seclusion is probably not what you think, but rather because he has truly gained something and needs to carefully comprehend it, so he is going into seclusion to cultivate himself."

"That is indeed the case. Mang Dao has been ruthless and decisive throughout his journey. Although Ji Changkong is not to be underestimated, Mang Dao would not be so easily frightened. These speculations are merely your wild guesses!"

"That's right. Otherwise, with the auction just around the corner, given Mang Dao's temperament, he wouldn't be willing to miss it. This auction features many rare treasures and cultivation items. If he can acquire something, it will definitely be of great benefit to Mang Dao's cultivation."

"."

Of course, such praise and support will inevitably be met with rebuttals.

"Seclusion is no excuse. You've really gained something? What a joke! Let's not even talk about how difficult the cultivation of a Grandmaster is. Even if Mang Dao is exceptionally talented, how long has he been improving? In such a short time, how could he possibly have any further insights? If this isn't an excuse, what is it?!"

"Some insights? What is the cultivation of a Grandmaster? How long has Mang Dao been at the advanced level? His current achievements are already unbelievable. Could he possibly go even further and touch the threshold of the Wind and Cloud Realm!?"

"What Fellow Daoist Lin said makes sense. Please don't misunderstand me. I'm not questioning Mang Dao's talent. It's just that the cultivation of a Grandmaster is difficult. Although Mang Dao's talent is monstrous, his progress won't be that fast."

With his talent and charisma, he might one day reach the threshold of greatness, but not now, at least not within the next month or two.

"."

"Gentlemen, let's wait and see if Mang Dao makes any significant progress after leaving the pass."

"Okay, then I'll wait and see!"

"Fellow Daoist Zhuang, don't be misled. Occasional gains in seclusion and cultivation are two different things from combat power reaching the pinnacle. It's true that Mang Dao is in seclusion, but that doesn't mean that his combat power will necessarily increase greatly after he comes out."

"Haha, they've already laid the groundwork before even leaving the pass. What? Losing confidence?"

"you!"

"."

There was lively exchange and much discussion among all parties. Naturally, some friction was inevitable during these discussions.

However, with the grand event approaching, no one dared to cause any trouble. As for those below, they held the Xuanling rules in awe and dared not overstep them in the slightest.

For top-tier cultivators within the Azure Land, the rules of Xuanling Heavy City are nothing, but for ordinary grandmasters and senior grandmasters below them, the rules of Xuanling Heavy City are extremely strict.

The Five Prefectures Pacification Offices and the garrison commanders of various regions—which one of them isn't capable of suppressing its own territory?
Let alone ordinary grandmasters or senior grandmasters, even great grandmasters would not want to provoke them easily.

The combined forces of the Five Provinces Garrison Commands, stationed in Xuanling City, exerted an extremely terrifying sense of oppression on the vast majority of the forces and cultivators attending the meeting.

This sense of oppression proclaims the taboos and majesty of Xuanling City.

Amidst this lively and bustling atmosphere, and with the overall situation stable, the day finally arrived for the Xuanling Auction to begin.

Xuanling Mountain, residence.

In the meditation room, Chen Ping'an sat cross-legged, his brows radiating a brilliant light that illuminated his face like fireflies.

Wow~
The purest and most refined spiritual power, imbued with the essence of black and white, surged within the quiet room, gradually gathering within Chen Ping'an's spiritual platform. The light in his brow dimmed, and he slowly opened his eyes.

hum~
Chen Ping'an's eyes narrowed, and a golden finger panel appeared out of thin air.

Name: Chen Ping'an
Realm: Celestial Being 1st Realm - Pivotal Light Realm
武学：青阳血炼法小成（0/15360）颠鸾倒凤·阴阳枢入门（225/8640）、广寒剑法（残篇）小成（0/7680）、狂雷刀法入门（0/2160）太虚御风步大成（12025/14400）、七绝禁法圆满、七杀天罡拳圆满、霸刀圆满、万魔铸身诀圆满
Secret Technique: Soul-Guiding Incantation
"12025 point."

Chen Ping'an's expression was calm, and his eyes were serene.

After several months of cultivation, he finally mastered the Tai Xu Wind Riding Step, accumulating over 12000 cultivation experience points. At this rate, he will be able to fully master it in another half month.

But for Chen Ping'an, the greatest gain during this period was far from this.

Chen Ping'an slowly lowered his eyes. In the center of his mind, a colorful pearl shone brightly, radiating a dreamlike, multicolored light surrounded by his soul.

The surface of the jewel was imprinted with dazzling spiritual light, like countless flowing, dreamlike stars, subtly distorting the surrounding space. Divine souls swirled around it like turbulent ocean currents, layer upon layer, seemingly echoing the starlight.

After many days of refining, the third chain that had been binding the Dream Pearl in the vast universe completely broke off, increasing the power of the Dream Pearl. At the same time, just as Chen Ping'an had predicted, it also revealed a second divine phenomenon.

"The Dream Pearl, the Second Divine Wonder!"

Chen Ping'an remained calm, but a hint of joy flickered deep in his eyes.

Having mastered the second divine power of the pearl, Chen Ping'an gained another trump card to protect himself, thus improving his ability to fight enemies by at least one level.

Compared to the first divine power of the precious pearl, which is bewitching, this second divine power possesses even greater protective power. While enhancing its ability to survive, it also strengthens its margin for error and improves its methods of combat. Under such circumstances, Chen Ping'an can truly and confidently engage in a battle against a Celestial Being at the second level of the Celestial Realm, specifically the Rainbow Piercing Realm. Even if the battle goes slightly against him, with this divine power, escaping will not be difficult.

Furthermore, given this extraordinary ability, it would be very difficult for an ordinary second-realm Celestial to harm him. If it were a second-realm Celestial with a slightly weaker foundation, it would be hard to say who would escape in the end.

Today, Chen Ping'an truly possesses the combat strength to rival, and even surpass, a second-tier Celestial Being. If he were to perfect the Tai Xu Wind Control Step and advance another step in his cultivation, the outcome of the battle would likely be completely reversed.

As a technique that touches the threshold of a true martial arts manual, the benefits of mastering the Taixu Wind-Riding Steps to perfection would likely be extremely considerable.

Compared to the ordinary beginner, minor, or even advanced stages of cultivation techniques, this is on a completely different level.

And all of this changed soon after.

Chen Ping'an's knowledge of martial arts celestial beings was not specific enough; the only one he had truly fought against was the newly ascended celestial being in the cave of the Xuanling Mountains.

The key point is that he didn't encounter an ordinary Celestial in that battle, and the result was quite embarrassing.

This created a great deal of uncertainty regarding his combat strength as an ordinary Celestial Being.

Even though he has now taken this crucial step and achieved the status of a Martial Celestial with a perfect Dao foundation, he still dares not underestimate the combat power of a true Celestial.

To the greatest extent possible, we can judge the means and combat power that ordinary celestial beings might possess.

While it's good to assess an opponent's strengths and weaknesses, excessive conservatism can cloud judgment and lead to missed opportunities in crucial power struggles.

Therefore, contact with true martial arts masters is essential. If one can personally experience and exchange ideas with them, or even have a battle with them, it would undoubtedly enrich his material.

Using the opponent's combat strength as a benchmark, one can measure up and down to accurately deduce one's current true level.

wow~
Chen Ping'an rolled up his sleeves and stood up.

"Mystic Spirit Auction".

Chen Ping'an's eyes narrowed, and his bones crackled and popped.

The best way to make contact with celestial beings is to reveal their power.

Only those at the same level can verify and exchange information, and engage in strategic planning and competition.

Crackling~
Inside the quiet room, a series of cracking and popping sounds came from the bones and muscles.

When the explosive sounds of tendons being torn apart and bones being broken subsided, another person appeared in the quiet room.

hum~
In a flash of inspiration, a wide black robe appeared out of thin air.

Whoops!

Cloaked in black, Chen Ping'an completely transformed. Beneath the shadows of the black robe, a face crisscrossed with deep lines was faintly visible, weathered and bearing the marks of time. His eyes gleamed with a chilling, deathly blue light, captivating and bewildering those who beheld him.

Whoosh!
Chen Ping'an's figure flashed and disappeared from the quiet room.

Chen Ping'an concealed himself and left Xuanling Mountain. With his cultivation level, he naturally wouldn't reveal any flaws by deliberately hiding his identity.

Once he blended into the crowd, he dropped his disguise and headed straight for the venue.

The Xuanling Auction House, as the most prestigious auction house in Xuanling City, is located in the heart of the city.

This wasn't Chen Ping'an's first time here. He had previously attended the Xuanling Auction with Gu Qingchan. With that experience, he was familiar with the intricacies and rules, so he naturally wouldn't encounter any problems along the way.

Compared to previous auctions, this one was undoubtedly much more lively, with cultivators of higher cultivation levels coming and going.

Clearly, different auctions of different scales and different levels of auction items attract different types of cultivators to participate in the auctions.

"Mystic Spirit Auction!"

Chen Ping'an followed the crowd to the outside of the auction venue, where there were strict guards protecting the order of the auction venue.

Chen Ping'an had already arranged his seat at the auction under a pseudonym beforehand. Therefore, he was naturally free from any risk during his visit.

He had made considerable preparations for this auction. After selling off his resources and clearing out his assets, he now had a total cash flow of 200,000 crystals.

This cash flow is enough for him to compete recklessly for the vast majority of the final items at auctions. If he exercised restraint, he could even contend for truly priceless treasures.

In addition, there were all sorts of core traded goods neatly arranged, such as the Crimson Compass, the White Bone Secret Technique, and the Withered Tree Everlasting Technique. Rare spiritual items, such as the Wind Spirit Nine-Leaf Grass that had been traded from Madam Biluo not long ago, were also properly placed and stored in various jade boxes and bottles in the Thousand Machine Bag.

In addition, there were some supplies that had not yet been sold, as well as some rather valuable miscellaneous items.

In fact, as his cultivation level improved, the resources and spiritual objects he possessed became increasingly abundant. Both the quantity and variety of these resources underwent a significant change compared to before.

Things are alright now, but if this trend continues, a regular Thousand-Mechanism Bag probably won't be enough for him.

Especially after that, he devised some kind of spirit boat flying chariot. If it were small, it would be fine, but if it were large, just storing such a thing would directly take up most or even all of the space.

If he wants to store other things, he will have to prepare several more Qianji bags.

In normal circumstances, this is fine, but in the event of a fierce battle, every extra item on your person becomes an added burden.

Not only would it require expending energy to distract and protect them, but it would also be easy to lose them in the heat of battle. If he were the final winner, it wouldn't matter; it would just take some effort.

However, if it were like the previous battle at the grotto, the losses would be enormous.

Right now, even if we squeeze in, the divine weapons still take up a lot of space, and it's still enough. But later, when resources become more abundant and the quantity increases, a single Thousand-Mechanism Bag will be a bit of a stretch to store them all.

"There's no rush right now, but this matter is worth keeping an eye on," Chen Ping'an thought to himself, looking at the bustling crowd around him.

Above the Thousand Machine Bag, there are other storage items, which are far superior to the Thousand Machine Bag in terms of both space and reliability.

Rumor has it that there are storage items that can store supplies and gather spirit beasts together, but such items are of immeasurable value.

Even celestial beings would likely find it difficult to bear the price of this item. Besides its monetary value, there is also the rarity of such an item. Even with Chen Ping'an's current status and perspective, he has only heard of it from afar.

Perhaps only those super-large forces with a long history and profound foundation can possess it.

The auction venue was bustling with people, and cultivators from all over the country gathered in front of the magnificent building.

However, as a VIP, Chen Ping'an was entitled to use a special passage.

He is now appearing under a pseudonym, so he has no intention of revealing his true martial arts level.

Sometimes, in the midst of competition, demonstrating sufficient strength and resources can undoubtedly avoid a lot of trouble. Sufficient strength inspires fear, thus saving unnecessary effort and resources.

such as
The premium that is implicitly saved during the auction.

If a celestial being were to intervene, and unless it's truly not a matter of absolute certainty, most people would know which option to choose.

The resulting intimidation will cause many competitors to back down, thus driving down the auction price.

At this moment, a large number of people had gathered in front of the special passage and were entering the auction venue in an orderly manner.

Just as Chen Ping'an was preparing to fly lightly and enter through the special passage,

A streak of black light, surging with powerful momentum and shaking the heavens, roared towards the auction venue from afar.

"Flew over?"

"Isn't flying prohibited in Xuanling City?"

"what happened?"

"."

A gasp of surprise rose from the crowd.

Flying is strictly prohibited in Xuanling City.

But right now, someone is so brazenly flying through the sky. This situation has undoubtedly surprised some cultivators.

However, they soon understood the reason.

"His escape was as swift as a streak of light, leaving one's soul reeling."

"A Celestial Being, a Martial Celestial Being!"

"."

Amid the exclamations, Chen Ping'an slightly raised his eyes and looked towards the distant sky.

Within the black light, a figure could be faintly seen, towering like a mountain, its back blocking out the sun, its body radiating intense and powerful energy.

"Martial Arts Celestial Being?"

Chen Ping'an's expression was playful, a half-smile on his face.

Unexpectedly, I ran into an acquaintance at this crucial moment.

At the auction, everyone stared intently, craning their necks to look up, awaiting the arrival of the owner of the black light.

The black light was extremely fast, and in just a few moments, it traversed a vast space, carrying surging waves as it roared in. Just before the black light was about to land in the passage, an even more astonishing and terrifying force suddenly erupted.

Whoosh!
Chen Ping'an's black robe billowed out, and an extremely terrifying aura rippled outwards from him instantly. His figure flickered, transforming into a streak of light, and disappeared from the spot. Under the cold, eerie blue light, the astonished faces of the surrounding crowd were reflected.

The group of people who had recognized the identity of the person and were marveling at it suddenly froze, their expressions turning cold.

"Martial arts."

Some were deeply shaken, murmuring incoherently, "A celestial being! A true one."
Celestial Beings! (End of Chapter)