The Great Martial Saint!

"Why is he here?"

The red-haired old man, holding a small bronze cauldron, showed a hint of surprise on his face.

The wine in the cauldron swayed and rippled, just like his heart at that moment.

"Why are you here instead of staying in Beishan Prefecture?"

The Cloud-Splitting Spear, by Wang Changlie.

The patriarch of the Wang family in Beishan Prefecture, a rogue cultivator, carved out a formidable reputation for himself and his family with only a spear, establishing the Wang family's empire. They are also the only native force within Beishan Prefecture among the five great families that govern Beishan Pass.

The other four great families either come from the territory of Bi Cang Prefecture or have backgrounds with other forces.

The Cloud-Splitting Spear, having reached the Celestial Realm for many years, possesses a similar level of experience and depth to him. However, the Cloud-Splitting Spear excels in offensive combat, its attacks are fierce and its spear techniques are highly versatile.

In comparison, the opponent's record is more impressive.

Although their combat strength has not been fully assessed, it is likely that they are mostly superior to him.

However, if a battle were to break out, given his abilities, he might not be too afraid of his opponent.

Having reached the same level of cultivation as humans, and having accumulated experience over many years, who among them doesn't have some trump cards or protective items?
If it's a life-or-death battle, no one knows the final outcome until the very last moment.

However, since they are all celestial beings, no one would truly risk their lives unless it was a struggle for power or opportunity.

As true high-level cultivators within the dynasty, each of them is extremely precious.

A thousand years of life is not something that can be said to pass in an instant!

Among the celestial beings, there are many rivalries, but most are just minor skirmishes, mainly exchanges of skills. Even if there are some conflicts, they are usually resolved through other means.

True battles fought without fear of death are extremely rare.

but
The red-haired old man's eyes narrowed slightly. He raised the small cauldron in his hand, tilted his head back, and drank it all.

There are always a few evil and heretical people who are fearless of death and act recklessly.

With the Netherworld Secret Realm about to open, these evil demons and heretics are likely to cause trouble again.

and also
The Grand Gathering of Demons and Paths.

I wonder when it will start? If only I could know in advance...
An angry expression flashed across the red-haired old man's face, followed by a hint of reminiscence at the corner of his eye.

"All evil spirits and heretics deserve to die!"

"Oh?" A hint of interest appeared on the man's face. "Another fellow traveler has arrived?"

“Beishan Prefecture, Wang Changlie.” A cold glint flashed in the man’s gray eyes: “He has come. It seems the Black Nether Mountains have been empty lately.”

The gray mist surged, obscuring the man's figure and concealing all his movements.

The Cloud-Splitting Spear, Wang Changlie, was dressed in a long robe with black patterns, a black hair-binding crown on his head, and looked like a middle-aged man, with a hint of murderous intent in his expression.

His aura surged, and his soul trembled, echoing the chilling aura emanating from the other side of the hall, creating a standoff.

However, his expression soon changed slightly, and a hint of apprehension appeared in his eyes.

"Perfecting the first realm?"

As a veteran Celestial Being, he commands the North Mountain Pass and is renowned for his sharp and ruthless nature. Among Celestial Beings of the First Realm, he is considered an absolute powerhouse. Below the Piercing Rainbow Realm, there are few who can inspire his fear.

However, a martial arts master capable of cultivating to the pinnacle of enlightenment would clearly be one of them. Especially a fellow Daoist whose background is unknown and whom they have never met before.

"A mere Xuanling spirit can actually attract such a powerful expert?"

Wang Changlie was surprised, but his aura remained unchanged, instead showing a subtle upward surge towards its peak.

His brows flashed with spiritual light, and within his spiritual platform, a faint light shone. He was fully activating his divine soul power, which reverberated throughout the surrounding space.

He had been stationed at Beishan Pass for many years, often dealing with fellow Daoists from all sides. He was known for his ruthless and fierce demeanor, and for his skill with a gun. Although he was wary of this fellow Daoist who had cultivated to the perfection of the first realm, he would not completely lose his prestige.

Under such circumstances, bearing the name of the Beishan Wang family, he naturally would not easily show signs of weakness.

"It matches up?"

"And who is this person?"

"This aura is sharp, and the spirit is fierce; it seems like I've seen it before?"

"Indeed, there is a sense of déjà vu."

"."

In the auction hall, the auras clashed and the souls trembled. The invisible intimidation caused the pseudo-celestial beings seated in the various private boxes, as well as a few martial arts grandmasters who had touched the threshold of fame, to tremble with fear.

The conflict between celestial beings and humans relies more on the power of the soul. Such a conflict is difficult for ordinary cultivators to detect unless it is intentionally orchestrated by celestial beings.

Especially in the current situation, neither side has used any real means, merely clashing with their aura. Most people in the auction hall are unaware of what has actually happened.

Some perceptive individuals might only sense that the atmosphere in the venue was somewhat stagnant, with an inexplicable strangeness. However, they had no idea why.

The clash between beings at the Celestial level has surpassed most people's imagination. Such beings also transcend the understanding of most cultivators in the world.

It is not some kind of internal energy or spiritual light, but the true power of the soul, the power of the soul that senses the heavens and earth invisibly!
"This Wang Changlie is indeed fierce!" The red-haired old man sensed the situation in the arena with great interest.

Wang Changlie's aura was chilling, containing a fierce and ruthless intent. Facing the cold and deathly silence of the black-robed old man, he was not at all inferior.

Now, in this contest, their auras are evenly matched, creating a stalemate.

"This Cloud-Splitting Spear truly has its unique features," the red-haired elder praised, his understanding of the situation on the field crystal clear: "If that black-robed old monster hadn't had a superior cultivation level, he would probably have lost this match. The Cloud-Splitting Spear's intent is truly a model of the weak defeating the strong!"

"The Cloud-Splitting Spear, Wang Changlie, lives up to his name." The gray-mist man quietly observed the situation on the field.

Wang Changlie has established such a foundation and earned such a prestigious reputation in Beishan Prefecture. Seeing him today, it is clear that he lives up to his name. The intent of that Cloud-Splitting Spear is solemn, fierce, and ruthless. Its sharpness is enough to cover up the difference in their cultivation levels.

He even suspected that if this confrontation continued, the black-robed monster might fall into a downward spiral if he didn't come up with new tricks.

Although he did not participate in the confrontation between the two, he gleaned a great deal from it.

He also made some deductions about the background and origins of this black-robed old monster he had never met before.

The old monster's skills weren't particularly outstanding; they were probably only at the level of a top-tier, supreme divine skill, at most touching the threshold of a true martial arts scroll. There was a huge gap between him and a celestial being like him.

Although his cultivation has reached the perfection of the first realm, it was mostly due to a stroke of luck that he was forcibly pushed up. The possibility of advancing to the Piercing Rainbow Realm is probably not high.

Judging from this, the black-robed old monster must be a rogue cultivator.

Even if they are not from a rogue cultivator background, they are mostly from small families or small forces, and their background should be the greatest foundation of the force.

While powerful rogue cultivators should not be underestimated, the old monster before us should not belong to that category.

Those who can achieve the realm of celestial beings through their own efforts usually possess unique skills. However, limitations in their cultivation methods are a significant drawback in true clashes between celestial beings and celestial beings.

"Combat skills and protective techniques are currently unknown, but the cultivation method itself is a major weakness."

"They should be wandering cultivators from a distant land! We can try to make contact with them later. If it comes to a transaction, we can take the initiative."

The man in the gray mist sat quietly, like a hawk lurking in the shadows, observing the situation.

The intense atmosphere in the venue caused the final item, which should have been fiercely contested, to fall into a moment of silence.

The gray-haired old man, Yuan Wei, stood on the auction platform, and after introducing the final item to be auctioned, he tried to urge the bids several times, but no bids were received.

This situation left him somewhat bewildered.

However, having been immersed in this field for many years, he naturally wouldn't let the atmosphere fall into a stalemate so easily.

His face was ruddy and his voice was loud as he tirelessly introduced the advantages of the final item.

"A near-fourth-tier spirit boat, capable of crossing seas and soaring through the air, traversing thousands of miles. It can carry up to ten people and includes a secluded meditation area to ensure you can focus on your cultivation during your journey. Furthermore, the spirit boat is inscribed with protective runes to prevent any mishaps and safeguard your escape."

"Why isn't this over yet! Can't a person even participate in the auction?!" Feeling the invisible pressure in the space, Old Monster Black Rock complained incessantly.

He was quite interested in the final item in the auction—the sea-crossing spirit boat—and wanted to participate in the bidding. However, the unspoken atmosphere of the auction hall made him hesitant to make any rash moves.

They were afraid that the slightest movement would attract the attention of that aura, or even lead to targeting.

Having experienced it before, he doesn't want to experience it again.

The other practitioners in the arena, including Qiu Siping from Jian Ge, did not make a move. Clearly, most of them shared similar thoughts.

In the eyes of Grandmasters and Great Grandmasters, these pseudo-celestial beings, though also cultivators of the upper realm, above the Great Grandmaster level, can interact and discuss the Dao with martial arts celestial beings, and are addressed as fellow Daoists.

But only by truly reaching that level can one understand the gap between them. He was somewhat better off, backed by the Hengshan Sect, with ample personal resources and astonishing physical strength, allowing him to barely communicate with the Celestials.

But those weaker pseudo-celestials might be a different story. Although they may be on the same path in name, when they interact with each other, they can at most only qualify as minor friends.

When encountering celestial beings, one should be extremely respectful and fearful.

In such a contest between heaven and man, who would dare to rashly intervene?
If this causes dissatisfaction, how should we deal with it?

In the auction hall, only Yuan Wei's voice echoed in all directions; no cultivators participated in the bidding. This situation puzzled many guests.

What's going on here?
Is it that the items at auction aren't attractive enough? Or...?
Yuan Wei, steeling himself, put on a one-man show on the auction platform, elaborating for quite some time.

Finally, the first bid was heard.

"Thirty thousand yuan worth of crystals!"

Yuan Wei felt a sense of relief and couldn't help but shout out, "Okay, the VIP in VIP room number seventeen has bid 30,000 crystals! And more!"

Before he could finish speaking, a new bid rang out in the room: "Thirty-two thousand yuan crystals."

Thirty-three thousand!

"Thirty-four thousand!"

"."

The price of this third and final item began to climb steadily.

"Finally." Yuan Wei felt a great sense of relief, feeling that he had finally lived up to expectations and prevented the auction from becoming dull. Although he didn't know why the auction had failed to go through, it would have been a stain on his auction record if the items had gone unsold.

"Hoo!" Old Monster Black Rock exhaled with a surge of heat in his blood: "It's over."

The tremors in the air above the venue gradually subsided until they completely subsided.

Clearly, the contest between the two martial arts masters has come to a temporary end.

Black Rock Old Monster breathed a sigh of relief and shouted out his bid: "Forty thousand crystals!"

He had already missed out on the Spirit-Nourishing Elixir. He would absolutely not miss out on this cross-sea spirit vessel.

hum~
A slight tremor of spiritual light appeared, and the light at the spiritual platform shifted. Chen Ping'an remained calm and withdrew the divine soul power that had been spreading outwards.

"This martial arts master seems a bit weak. What's going on?"

"Was it a first encounter where he held back, or..." Chen Ping'an's mind raced as he reviewed the details of their previous clash.

He was extremely satisfied with the opponent's reaction in this clash of auras. Unlike the red-haired old man, the opponent did not immediately withdraw his divine soul, but instead chose to confront him head-on, engaging in a standoff.

Chen Ping'an also intended to prolong the confrontation in order to gather more information and test the opponent's background and skills.

Within his aura, the opponent's chilling and fierce spear intent was quite remarkable. However, his spiritual foundation was far too weak.

Even with the aid of spear intent, it's still not enough in front of him.

If he hadn't deliberately let them win, they probably would have been utterly defeated and routed in the very first encounter.

This kind of spiritual power is even greater than the spiritual power of the silver-haired girl when she was newly ascended to the Celestial Realm and was multitasking, let alone now.

"Could he also be a newly promoted Celestial Being? Or perhaps one with a weaker foundation?" Chen Ping'an wondered to himself.

In this confrontation, he deliberately concealed his divine soul, lacking both the black and white realms and a perfect divine soul. He even significantly weakened his already pure divine soul.

Although his foundation is different from that of ordinary people, he has only been cultivating for a short time, and his foundation may not be comparable to those senior celestial beings.

Although he has benefited from the introduction of the Thunder God in his cultivation so far, the benefit is too meager. In reality, he is only slightly better than a newly promoted Celestial Being.

If someone is still hiding their abilities and holding back at such a level, then the opponent's level is probably not very high.

"You've misunderstood. Not every celestial being can compare to the silver-haired girl in the cave. But... her quality is far too poor!"

"If we take this as a standard reference for Celestial Beings, then my current combat power is far stronger than previously predicted. The pure divine soul I reveal to the outside world is less than a third of my true divine soul, not even counting the enhancement from the Black and White Intent. Under such circumstances, I can easily suppress my opponent. If we consider my true divine soul, I can start at the level of a perfected first-stage Celestial Being. If we add the Black and White Intent, under normal combat power, I can contend with a second-stage Celestial Being. Considering those trump cards, an ordinary senior second-stage Celestial Being probably cannot suppress me. Under the Illusionary Dream Pearl, I am now..." Chen Ping'an's eyes slightly opened, revealing a dark glint.

"They might be able to rival those at the peak of the second realm!"

Chen Ping'an was quite excited as he made his plans.

However, given the opponent's shallow foundation, he might not even qualify as an ordinary Celestial Being. If judged by the standards of a newly ascended Celestial Being, his combat strength would likely be slightly weaker. Even so, his current analysis and deductions are considerably stronger than before.

"Not bad, not bad, that's a small gain. However, we also need to consider whether the opponent is hiding something. After all, in the first encounter, no one will truly reveal their hand. In reality, he might be stronger than we've seen so far!"

Chen Ping'an pondered the matter, but his eagerness to try it out only grew stronger.

hum~
His soul was stirred, and his spear intent was like a dragon.

Wang Changlie's expression turned solemn, and he gradually calmed the spirits from all directions.

"In the end, the foundation is still lacking. We are slightly inferior, one move behind, and we are half a step behind."

"If one's cultivation can advance further and reach the perfection of the first realm, with the intent of the Cloud-Splitting Spear and its killing techniques, one can truly stand out among those in the Pivot Light Realm, and even have the confidence to contend with those in the Rainbow Piercing Realm. Even if it's just a stretch, one can still truly rank among the celestial beings in this Azure Cang Realm!"

In the Azure Cang Realm, there aren't many openly recognized Celestial Beings. But only by truly entering the Celestial Being circle can one realize that there are more martial arts Celestial Beings in the Azure Cang Realm than one might imagine.

After all, those who live to be celestial beings enjoy a lifespan of a thousand years.

While it is difficult for even the most gifted individuals to achieve greatness, with the support of generations of outstanding talents and the favorable circumstances of the times, a few such individuals will inevitably emerge.

If the territory is expanded, with a huge population base, over generations, there will eventually be some martial arts masters.

The Bicang region comprises seventeen states, a vast territory. Even Canglong State alone spans tens of thousands of miles and has a population exceeding one billion. Not to mention states like Xiaguang State, Beishan State, and even Bicang State, whose territories are many times larger.

Every day, a large number of cultivators embark on the path of martial arts, achieving profound inner energy and even reaching the level of a grandmaster.

If this timeframe is extended, the emergence of martial arts grandmasters, or even pseudo-celestial beings, would not be surprising at all, given the vastness of the territory.

The possibility of a martial arts master emerging is much smaller, but the sheer number of people and the long timeframe make up for it.

In addition to the martial arts celestials born within the Azure Land, there will also be some celestials who travel from other realms outside the land.

The current situation in Bicang is a result of various factors.

Within the Beishan Pass, five powerful families held sway, but the only true local force was the Wang family.

Other powerful families, to varying degrees, also have the influence of other forces.

Within the Beishan Pass, there are the residences of forces such as the Bi Cang County Prince's Mansion, Hengshan Sect, and Wenxin Sword Pavilion, as well as the influence of forces such as the Alchemy Alliance and the Forging Alliance. Furthermore, there is the Zhenfu Division and Qiankun Division controlling the system.

Judging from what's on the surface, there are far more than ten martial arts masters in charge!

Although the situation at Beishan Pass is unique, there are also deeper reasons behind it.

Martial arts masters often remain hidden behind the scenes, but that depends on the environment and their level of expertise.

If they are the ones who orchestrate things behind the scenes, then their interactions with others are naturally on the same level.

Looking across the vast land of Bi Cang, Martial Dao Celestials are truly at the top level. However, even among the top, there are distinctions of rank. For example, those who have achieved the Second Realm Celestial, the Piercing Rainbow Realm, are the pinnacle beings who wield power and influence in the grand power struggle.

Such beings are few and far between, even in a powerful institution like the Prince of Bicang's Mansion. Each one enjoys an extremely high status and privileged treatment.

Looking across the Bicang Prince's Mansion, among all the factions, those who have such figures on their side are all powerful factions, and those they admire are all popular candidates for the throne.

People like Dong Qing, Xuan Mo, and Shu Lan are exemplary figures in this regard.

It is worth mentioning that Ji Shulan is the only woman among all the popular candidates, and also the only one among the candidates who has truly achieved the peak of the second realm of Celestial Being.

It is said that Ji Shulan has been cultivating for less than 500 years, and is expected to make further progress, truly touching the great cultivation barrier, entering the Hidden Radiance Realm, living for 1,500 years, and obtaining the rightful succession of the Prince!

Under such circumstances, she was exceptionally listed as a candidate for the throne, despite being a woman, and was one of the most likely to seize the throne.

If Ji Shulan succeeds, she will be an extremely rare princess among the bloodline enfeoffment in the Northern Territory.

These titles for princesses are not honorifics based on bloodline, but rather genuine appellations of the throne.

Nowadays, Ji Shulan is often addressed as a princess, but such a princess is vastly different from a title officially recognized by the royal family.

"Alright, congratulations to the fellow Daoist in Box 9, this sea-crossing spirit boat belongs to you." On the auction platform, the gray-haired elder Yuan Wei announced the result with great enthusiasm.

"Oh?" Chen Ping'an closed his eyes slightly, sensing with his soul, and looked at the Black Rock Old Monster in the No. 9 private room, whose expression was excited.

"Got it!" Old Monster Black Rock smiled. After a fierce bidding war, he finally won the bid for the sea-crossing spirit boat.

"With this spirit boat, it will be much more convenient for future explorations, travel, patrols, and support missions."

Black Rock Old Monster pondered in his heart, a look of joy on his face.

I was initially worried that the old monster might target me and try to suppress me, but thankfully the outcome was smooth and there were no problems.

"This operation cost me a considerable amount of my resources. Including the previous one when Canglong intervened, I've used up almost everything I could. Looks like I'll be busy again soon."

"Contact my fellow cultivators to see if they have any training plans in the near future. This old monster is tough and resilient; we can team up!"

Black Rock Monster's lips curled slightly, revealing an extremely strange smile on his face, which was as black as rock.

"This old monster is quite wealthy."

Chen Ping'an watched intently, observing the situation of the Black Rock Monster inside the private room.

With his spiritual power, if he wanted to investigate, he could completely deceive the Black Rock Monster's senses.

However, out of consideration for the other two Celestials in the arena, he did not unleash his full power to cover a wide area.

If he were to exert his full strength, he might give it a try, but doing so would expose the secret of his perfect divine soul.

This transaction is primarily about networking, not about making enemies. Some things don't need to be blown out of proportion.

However, if they really become enemies, he won't have too much of a psychological burden to take action now that he's using a pseudonym.

When the time is right, strike decisively and swiftly to test its strength.

After the third final item was sold and its owner was determined, the bidding for the next final item quickly commenced.

It must be said that the gray-haired old man, Yuan Wei, was very dedicated, explaining each item in great detail.

For the vast majority of guests attending the event, the items at this stage of the auction were beyond their means. However, even if they couldn't participate in the bidding, it didn't diminish their enthusiasm for the event.

Such treasures are rarely seen under normal circumstances; only at this grand event is such an opportunity presented. Naturally, they don't want to miss such a momentous occasion. Whether it's broadening their horizons, increasing their experience, or providing topics for conversation, this is an excellent opportunity.

The next few items auctioned were not of much use to Chen Ping'an.

Examples include near-fourth-tier puppets with pseudo-celestial power, high-grade precious ores capable of forging powerful treasures, and high-grade spiritual objects that enhance cultivation.

Among them, the high-level spiritual object that improved cultivation attracted the attention of two celestial beings and pseudo-celestial beings from all sides, and was ultimately won by the celestial being who had fought against him.

Chen Ping'an's cultivation did not rely on such spiritual objects, so he had no interest in them. However, a later auction item caught his attention.

The scales and claws of the transformed demon king.

"Alright, thank you all for your support. Next up for auction is a set of Demon King Scales from the North Sea, along with Demon King Claws. Now, let's bring out our auction item: the Demon King Scales."

Before everyone's eyes, a huge, empty-shell-like scale armor appeared on the light screen. The scales, as deep as the ocean, gleamed with a profound, cold light and had a strange tactile feel.

The North Sea is a vast expanse of water, dotted with islands. Compared to human cultivators, there are far more demonic beasts and aquatic creatures occupying its boundless territory.

Compared to other regions, the North Sea has a much higher probability of encountering demonic beasts. The quality of their bloodlines is also far more diverse than on land.

The scales of this transformed demon beast originated from the North Sea, possessing a profound depth reminiscent of the deep sea.

Chen Ping'an wasn't focused on the scales themselves; he was focused on the information behind them.

How could the scales of a transformed demon beast fall into the hands of a human under normal circumstances? This situation probably foreshadows the demise of the transformed demon beast.

The scales on the armor were intricately decorated, but the broken parts of the scales were still faintly visible, all telling a story.

The fall of a transformed demon king represents the blood of demon beasts, the true blood of transformed beings!

"Which merchant guild supplied this scale armor? Do they happen to have the blood of a transformed demon king on their hands?" Chen Ping'an immediately became interested.

He used this channel to explore the possibility of purchasing the blood of demonic beasts.

Several Beihai Chambers of Commerce participated in this auction, including Wufu Chamber of Commerce and Yuxue Chamber of Commerce.

Which chamber of commerce could it be?
Chen Ping'an remained calm, deep in thought.

Meanwhile, amidst his thoughts, the bidding in the arena was extremely fierce. In particular, some pseudo-celestial beings representing power were sparing no effort in their bidding.

The scales of this transformed demon beast also attracted the attention of the red-haired elder.

After a fierce bidding war, the scales and claws of the transformed demon beast were finally sold to the red-haired elder for a high price.

Under these circumstances, a new item was presented to the public.

"The next item up for auction is a one-time opportunity to have a custom-forged piece made by a master craftsman from the Hundred Refinements Pavilion of the Forging Alliance!" On the high platform, the gray-haired elder Yuan Wei spoke with great enthusiasm, building up the atmosphere: "As everyone knows, divine weapons are difficult to forge, and precious treasures are hard to come by. Each master craftsman possesses the skill to forge such treasures."

With a history spanning five thousand years, the Hundred Refinements Pavilion is a true family business, a gathering of master craftsmen, and a place for custom forging. Such an opportunity would be impossible to come by under normal circumstances.
Fellow Daoists, as you all know, let alone famous craftsmen and grand masters, even just asking a senior blacksmith to forge a piece requires going to great lengths to curry favor and incurring huge costs.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity; I urge all fellow Daoists and seniors to seize it.

"Alright, let's begin the auction. One custom forging opportunity from the Hundred Refinement Pavilion of the Forging Alliance, crafted by a master craftsman! Starting bid: 50,000 gold crystals!" (End of Chapter)