The Great Martial Saint!

Chapter 797 Second Realm Celestial Being, Invitation to a Small Gathering (Grey Mist Luo Hou, Reflecting Your Thoughts)
"An opportunity for a master craftsman to forge a piece?"

Inside the private room, the gray-haired man's eyes lit up.

Those who have achieved widespread fame and are ranked among the most renowned craftsmen are all skilled in forging truly precious artifacts.

The cost of inviting such renowned craftsmen and master blacksmiths to work on a project is extremely high.

Moreover, auction bidding is not an ordinary forging process; it involves a customized concept.

Although he possessed great treasures, he always believed that the more treasures one had, the better.

He would naturally not miss such an opportunity.

"Fifty-two thousand Yuan Crystals!" The gray-mist man bid without hesitation.

"A master blacksmith from the Hundred Refinements Pavilion?" The red-haired old man's expression shifted with interest.

The opportunity for custom forging is extremely rare. Although it's not guaranteed that a master craftsman can forge a great treasure just by taking action, with such a skilled and experienced forging master craftsman at the helm, as long as the materials are complete and the conditions are normal, even if a great treasure cannot be forged, a near-great treasure is still extremely easy to forge.

If the materials are of high quality and in excellent condition, the probability of custom-forging a truly precious artifact is not small.

In addition, Bailian Pavilion has a long history of family-inherited skills and its forging techniques are highly regarded.

Even though he had to provide and collect the forging materials himself, he was still very tempted by this opportunity.

Now that he's had this opportunity, he naturally won't miss it.

"Fifty-three thousand Yuan Crystals!" The red-haired old man's voice boomed as he joined the bidding.

"An opportunity to forge a powerful treasure?" Old Monster Black Rock's expression lit up.

Although he possesses profound knowledge and skills, he doesn't actually have any truly powerful protective treasures. The most valuable protective item he has right now is the Crimson Fire Seal that he recently acquired at the Azure Dragon Auction.

The Crimson Fire Seal is a replica of the heirloom Crimson Dragon Seal. Although it is only a replica, it is not considered one of the finest replicas.

However, as a replica of a powerful artifact, its power is still considerable. In battle, it can transform into a small mountain of crimson gold to suppress all directions.

During the suppression, a strange crimson fire raged, scorching the spirit and soul.

A perfect match, his domineering style of overwhelming others with force and physical strength.

"If even a counterfeit treasure is like this, what about a genuine treasure?" Old Monster Black Rock pondered.

Even with the abilities of a pseudo-celestial being, wielding a truly powerful treasure would be somewhat strenuous, but for a top-tier pseudo-celestial being like him, it wasn't impossible.

If he could obtain a powerful treasure to enhance his abilities, his combat strength would rise to another level. He might even be able to unleash the ultimate combat power of a pseudo-celestial being.

Just as he was about to give it a try, a familiar yet unfamiliar bidding sound rang out, completely extinguishing his eagerness.

His voice was low and hoarse, carrying a faint sense of coldness and death.

"Fifty-five thousand Yuan Crystals".

Black Rock Old Monster's expression darkened, and he reluctantly abandoned his unrealistic thoughts.

"Forging Alliance, Hundred Refinements Pavilion".

Inside the VIP box on the top floor, Chen Ping'an's eyes were slightly closed, gleaming with a cold, eerie light.

"Please have a master blacksmith craft a custom forging."

He possesses many valuable treasures, but he would never miss an opportunity to have them custom-forged. Even if he had to provide the materials himself, he wouldn't let such a chance, which came knocking on his door, slip by.

If he could use this to get in touch with the Hundred Refinements Pavilion, or even the higher-ups of the Forging Alliance, it would be a good thing for him.

Forging is one aspect; opening up new channels through this process is also a gain.

"Fifty-eight thousand Yuan Crystals!"

"Fifty-nine thousand!"

"Sixty thousand!"

"."

The bidding was extremely fierce, and the price quickly climbed to over 60,000 yuan per crystal.

Such forging opportunities are extremely rare even for families and sects at the pseudo-Celestial level. Even if they can't gather enough refined ore and precious materials, the share acquired through this auction can serve as a strategic reserve. Whether traded or given away, it's an excellent choice.

Furthermore, if the opportunity arises, one could even use this to persuade a celestial being to intervene, thus fulfilling a favor.

Faced with such a forging opportunity, all parties vied for it and spared no effort.

"Sixty-seven thousand!"

"Sixty-eight thousand."

"."

"Seventy thousand!" the red-haired old man shouted, revealing his bottom line.

He had already bid on several items, and any higher price would exceed his expectations. While forging opportunities were rare, they didn't guarantee him a valuable treasure. Any higher value would fraught with risk.

"Seventy-two thousand Yuan Crystals." The gray-mist man, sitting cross-legged in the private room, calmly announced his offer.

He hadn't made any moves in previous transactions, despite his immense financial resources and influence. While he wasn't in a rush to seize this opportunity, he would still take advantage of it.

"Seventy-five thousand yuan crystals!" Chen Ping'an raised the price by three thousand yuan crystals in one breath, revealing his determination.

However, it was quickly overshadowed by a bid.

"Seventy-six thousand Yuan Crystals." This was the voice of Wang Changlie, the user of the Rift Cloud Spear.

"Seventy-seven thousand yuan crystals."

"Eighty thousand yuan crystals!" The gray-mist man's voice was calm and collected as he quoted the price, as always.

At this moment, no more than five people were still participating in the bidding. But apart from him, they were all guests seated in the top-floor VIP box, either Celestials or top-tier pseudo-Celestials representing the forces behind them.

In this context, the quote from the private room below seems particularly out of place.

"Eighty-two thousand yuan crystals."

Chen Ping'an closed his eyes slightly, his soul swirling and rippling.

He hadn't expected that there was a celestial being hidden in the auction hall, someone he hadn't discovered before. If the other party hadn't spoken and revealed a trace of their divine soul aura, he probably wouldn't have noticed it at all.

"The Realm of Piercing Rainbows, the Second Realm of Celestial Beings?"

Chen Ping'an's soul underwent a transformation; his spiritual platform flashed, and the quality of his soul, which he had previously sensed, increased by more than double.

"Hmm? They've discovered me?" The gray-mist man's expression changed, a hint of surprise appearing in his eyes: "This old monster, he was actually holding back before!?"

"With such a pure soul, could he be a rogue cultivator who specializes in cultivating the soul?"

The spiritual power probed by the opponent, though not as strong as his, was already close to that of a second-realm Celestial Being. If it were even stronger, it could be considered equivalent to a second-realm Celestial Being.

"His aura is profound, shrouded in gray mist, making it difficult to discern his true form without using his full strength." Chen Ping'an's gaze shifted, a deep blue light swirling within.

His soul is currently in turmoil, and he has already used nearly two-thirds of his strength. If he were to increase his strength further, he would reveal the perfect foundation.

With the addition of the black and white imagery, he was confident that he could discern the other party's background. However, as a second-realm Celestial Being, the other party's methods were unpredictable, and it was hard to guarantee that he wouldn't be investigated in reverse, thus exposing his foundation.

He is using a disguise this time to demonstrate his formidable combat power, but his perfect foundation should not be revealed to the outside world, especially since he has not yet mastered any secret techniques for concealment.

Such a direct approach carries considerable risk. Rather than probing like this, it would be better to wait until after the auction to establish a more in-depth understanding.

Once Chen Ping'an made up his mind, his soul, which had been surging, gradually returned to its original state.

"Fellow Daoist, I am bound by the Seven Forbidden Rules. If it is convenient for you to part with this item, I would be very grateful."

"Seven Forbidden Rules?"

The man in the gray mist narrowed his eyes slightly, a thoughtful expression on his face.

"I've never heard of such a title before. Is it because the distance is too far, or because I haven't made a name for myself despite my hard work?"

His gaze shifted slightly, as if he were pondering something, and a mysterious smile appeared on his face.

"So it is Fellow Daoist Qi Jin. I am Luo Hou. Since you are interested, I will give this item to you."

Amidst the tremor in his soul, the voice of the gray-mist man entered Chen Ping'an's ears.

Chen Ping'an's gaze shifted slightly. The opponent's trembling soul, seemingly ordinary, actually concealed profound secrets. The use of the soul was incredibly subtle, concealed by an aura, making it difficult to discern its true nature.

"In that case, I thank you, Fellow Daoist Luo Hou."

Chen Ping'an didn't expect the other party to be so easy to talk to. He only had to say a few words, and the other party actually took the initiative to give way.

Is it an intentional act of cultivating goodwill, or is there another motive? Or perhaps...
Chen Ping'an's emotions shifted, but he didn't dwell on it.

"Rahu?"

His eyes flashed, and he memorized the name.

Although he consulted many celestial and human texts, it was clear that these texts could not possibly cover all the celestial and human beings in the surrounding area.

Celestials have long lifespans and diverse personalities; not all of them reveal themselves to the world. Furthermore, the Celestial realm is so high that their deeds are rarely circulated in the world.

Only by entering a certain circle can one obtain such information.

In the absence of strong competition from Luo Hou, Chen Ping'an ultimately won the bid for the Hundred Refinement Pavilion's master craftsman's custom forging opportunity with a price of 82,000 yuan crystals.

Judging solely by value, the price of this Yuan Crystal is undeniably high.

After all, it's just a one-time opportunity to forge something. Although there are preferential treatments for customization, the quality of the forged product is hard to control.

While there is a possibility of producing valuable treasures, the probability is quite uncertain. Furthermore, the materials and rare resources required for forging must be prepared by oneself, which will cost a considerable amount.

All things considered, even if a powerful artifact could be forged, the price would still be extremely high.

It seems that Luo Hou's willingness to back down so readily was partly due to the potential for building good relationships, but also largely due to the high return on investment.

Forging is less about forging and more about an investment.

If it succeeds, everything will be great; if it fails, then we'll really lose a fortune. The worst part is, there's nowhere to complain.

The initial investment of 82,000 crystals, plus the subsequent preparation of refined minerals, forging materials, water purification minerals, etc., will all cost more than 150,000 crystals.

Such an investment is a considerable expense, even for a seasoned celestial being.

However, Chen Ping'an's considerations did not extend beyond simply forging.

Although he has now advanced to the Celestial Realm, his circle of connections is clearly insufficient. If he can use this opportunity to make contact with the Hundred Refinements Pavilion and the Forging Alliance, and establish connections, then things will become much easier later on.

Furthermore, he cares more about the word "customization" than the forging itself.

Given his current situation, he doesn't lack powerful treasures with normal functions; what he lacks are area-of-effect, covering-type treasures, or powerful, wide-area suppression treasures.

Of course, he could accept items that boosted his speed, but overall, his needs were not as great as the previous two.

After all, the best defense is often suppression. If you can defeat your opponent, there's no need to run away or flee thousands of miles away.

Furthermore, his Taixu Wind Control Step is nearing completion, and once he masters the secret technique Ten Thousand Mile Wind Control, it will be a tremendous boost to his escape speed.

After all, as a supreme divine skill that touches the level of a true skill scroll, even martial arts masters have many who have mastered it.

Normally, only Second-Realm Celestials with substantial accumulated knowledge would truly cultivate and study techniques at the True Skill Scroll level. Most First-Realm Celestials only cultivate Supreme Divine Skills, differing at most in quantity and quality. Furthermore, Celestials possess unique insights into the application of certain secret techniques and skills.

Even a second-realm celestial being who cultivates the true skill scroll cannot be perfect in every aspect.

Offense, defense, speed, and spiritual power—each has its strengths and weaknesses. If Chen Ping'an were to master the art of "Ten Thousand Mile Wind Control," with his current foundation, he would have virtually no problems unless he encountered a martial arts master skilled in speed; he might even have an advantage in speed. Even if he encountered someone skilled in speed, while he might not be as fast, his combat strength would be superior!
Even if you run faster, it's for your own escape, not for chasing me.

Chen Ping'an had a clear understanding of this matter, a clear thought process, and a well-defined goal.

Aside from the top geniuses, most people who want to cultivate the true cultivation scroll are at least at the second level of the Celestial Realm, or even higher. If they also happen to possess exceptional speed and agility, the chances are even higher.

Now that he is stationed in Xuanling, it is unlikely that he would encounter such a being in normal interactions.

By the time they meet again, his fighting strength will be vastly different from what it was before.

Tai Xu Wind-Riding Step, Guang Han Sword Technique, Dual Cultivation Technique, Qing Yang Blood Refining Method
These are all things he still needs to cultivate.

Putting everything else aside, with his foundation, if he could perfect the three refinements of the Azure Sun Blood Refining Technique, his bloodline and physique would be exceptional.
He's probably comparable to a Grandmaster of the Hidden Radiance Realm!
Even just entering the third stage of cultivation is enough to improve his physique.

After securing the forging opportunity at the Hundred Refinements Pavilion, two more items appeared: a bottle of extremely rare fourth-tier precious pills and a top-tier pseudo-heavy treasure.

Compared to the forging opportunity, this top-tier pseudo-heavy treasure, which can be seen and touched, is undoubtedly more worthy of attention.

This attracted a lot of people to compete for it.

During the auction of the fake treasure, Chen Ping'an successfully completed the transaction for the item he had won.

After paying the 82,000 Yuan Crystals, he received a special token from the Hundred Refinements Pavilion. The token had intricate patterns, special anti-counterfeiting marks, and flowed with a thick, mysterious light.

With this token as proof, you can go to the Forging Alliance and the Hundred Refinements Pavilion to ask the renowned forging masters in the pavilion to customize a forging.

After the money and goods were exchanged, Chen Ping'an's net worth shrank to 100,000 yuan crystals.

He had previously used the remaining difference to bid for pills that could avoid obstacles and detoxify, as well as detailed explanations of array formations.

After the top-tier fake treasure was auctioned off, another item was sold, and then came the real highlight of the auction.

A compass with array patterns.

A formation plate containing a fourth-order simplified formation.

Even a simplified fourth-order formation carries the true power of heaven and man. In particular, this portable formation plate has attracted the attention of countless people.

However, the starting price for this array plate was far too high. The actual number of people participating in the bidding was not very large.

Ultimately, Luo Hou purchased this fourth-order array plate at a high price.

A top-tier auction in the Xuanling City has come to an end.

As soon as the auction ended, Old Monster Black Rock rushed out and left.

"go!"

He glanced at the private room in the distance with extreme apprehension, not daring to linger for even a moment.

Although fighting is strictly prohibited in Xuanling City to ensure the prosperity of commerce, this rule obviously does not have much binding force on martial arts masters.

"He's quite fast." Chen Ping'an's divine senses were clear, and he saw every move of the Black Rock Old Monster.

The powerful elder of the Hengshan Sect acted like a little black mouse fleeing in panic.

However, he didn't intend to cause trouble for the Black Rock Monster within the Xuanling Heavy City.

His prices are fair, and he treats everyone honestly, young and old.

Having previously acquired the Crimson Fire Crystal Lotus from the Black Rock Monster, a rare and precious medicine, the matter of the previous transaction resulting in a hidden loss can be considered settled.

but
A cold, eerie light flickered in Chen Ping'an's eyes.

The matter of the Azure Dragon auction remains unresolved, and the feud is still unresolved.

Since we're all in the Xuanling region, there's no rush.

As the auction ended, Chen Ping'an, dressed in a black robe, stepped out of the top-floor VIP box.

His biggest needs have finally come to light after this auction.

Heavenly-grade demon beast blood, True Skill Scroll-level cultivation technique, a treasure for protecting the Dao, and a secret concealment technique.

Of the four requests, the Guardian Treasure has been granted a forging opportunity. He will visit the Hundred Refinement Pavilion one day to explain his requirements and gather the necessary materials. If he can successfully forge it, then the task will be completed.

Incidentally, a steward elder from the Hundred Refinements Pavilion is also attending this auction. Since he is currently in Xuanling, it would be possible to make contact with him.

In addition, although no specific information has been obtained regarding the blood of a top-grade demon beast, a direction has been found.

During the previous transaction, he learned from the other party about the origin of the transformed demon beast scale armor.

“The Five Blessings Chamber of Commerce.” Chen Ping’an’s gaze narrowed slightly as he recalled the unruly, arrogant young man in purple robes at the Azure Dragon Banquet not long ago.

Ling Xiao, the young master of the Five Blessings.

Chen Ping'an had barely stepped out of the private room when his gaze shifted slightly, and he sensed a fluctuation.

"coming."

His expression remained unchanged, his aged face deeply lined with wrinkles.

"Fellow Daoist, please wait."

An elderly man with white hair and beard, looking like a man in his seventies, quickly followed behind Chen Ping'an.

The old man wore a simple long robe and looked unremarkable, but his eyes were incredibly bright.

"Fellow Daoist, I am Hua Danqing, greetings to you."

Although the old man addressed him as a fellow Daoist, his demeanor was extremely respectful.

Seeing Chen Ping'an turn around, he performed a deep bow with utmost care.

Chen Ping'an remembered the old man; to be precise, they had met him before in Xuanling.

Back then, their identities were vastly different, and they had no contact whatsoever.

He stood in the crowd, watching the other person, with a dark red feather fan under his feet, land in the Yunlin Bamboo Sea amidst the awe and friendly gazes of the crowd.

"So it's Master Hua Dan." Chen Ping'an's voice was hoarse, maintaining the demeanor of a martial arts master: "Master Hua Dan, what brings you to my side?"

Hua Danqing, the number one alchemist in Xuanling, a senior alchemy master, is also known as Hua Danshi.

As a master alchemist who has already stepped into the realm of renowned alchemists, Hua Danshi is proficient in the refining techniques of near-fourth-tier spirit pills. His ability to produce near-fourth-tier pills is comparable to that of conventional methods.

Even without considering costs and waste, it's possible to successfully refine a genuine fourth-tier precious pill. Although its quality might be slightly lacking, it would definitely be a worthy asset for martial arts masters to cultivate.

Although Master Hua Dan was only a pseudo-celestial being, his status and position were in no way inferior to those of a true martial arts celestial being.

It can be said that they are capable of mingling in the circle of celestial beings without being affected by the hierarchy of contempt between celestial beings and pseudo-celestial beings.

"I wouldn't dare," Master Hua said with a cupped hand and a smile, appearing humble and polite. "Fellow Daoist has ascended to the Heavenly Realm, you are a senior and highly accomplished person. I, Hua, am foolish and dare not offer any guidance."

Looking at the alchemist Hua Dan in front of him, Chen Ping'an remained calm, momentarily lost in thought.

During the bamboo forest transaction, the two were in the same space, but they didn't exchange a single word. To be precise, he never had the chance to step into that bamboo forest cabin.

Only a handful of people, like Black Rock Monster, are qualified to enter the wooden house to discuss transactions.

This demonstrates the extraordinary status of Master Hua Dan.

But now, circumstances have changed, and it is the other party who has taken the initiative to invite me, and I greet them with humility and courtesy.

Time has passed, but these differences still stir up some emotions.

"strength."

Chen Ping'an's face was aged, deeply lined, and as still as an ancient well.

That slight ripple disappeared in an instant.

What struck him was not Hua Danshi's attitude, nor his past circumstances, but his newfound understanding of the meaning of strength.

Some things, though you may know them, are quite different from actually experiencing them.

The saying "What you learn from books is never enough" perfectly encapsulates this sentiment.

"Master Hua, please speak frankly." Chen Ping'an's eyes gleamed with a dark light, his voice low and hoarse.

Master Hua's expression changed slightly, and he vaguely felt a sense of pressure.

He didn't dare to exchange too much pleasantries and immediately got straight to the point, stating his purpose.

"Fellow Daoist, you may not know this, but every time there is a grand event in Xuanling, I privately organize an exchange meeting and invite fellow Daoists from all sides to participate. In addition to the exchange of information, there are also private transactions of a higher standard. Fellow Daoist, you are incredibly powerful and wealthy. I would like to shamelessly invite you to participate in this small exchange meeting that I have organized, to add luster to my event."

This small gathering will also be attended by fellow cultivators from the Hundred Refinements Pavilion, the Alchemy Alliance, the Hengshan Sect, and other forces. Among them are some rare resources to be traded, and fellow cultivators may be able to gain something.

Master Hua was quite specific, mentioning some items that might be traded. For example, he himself would offer his treasured elixirs and spiritual items for fellow cultivators to purchase.

This invitation was very sincere, and Chen Ping'an did not refuse it.

"When will the meeting be held?"

"Three days later, at my old residence on Xuanling Mountain." Master Hua was secretly delighted and sincerely invited, "If you have the time, fellow Daoist, please do me the honor of attending."

"Alright. I've got it." Chen Ping'an accepted Master Hua's invitation.

He had originally intended to make connections with the Celestial Circle by attending the Xuanling Auction, and the invitation from Master Hua was like a godsend.

In previous discussions, I also tried not to appear too eager, as if I had never seen the world before.

"Thank you, fellow Daoist." Master Hua bowed respectfully. "This old man awaits your presence."

After some discussion, Chen Ping'an received an invitation to the small exchange meeting from Master Hua. With the matter settled, the two didn't exchange many words. Master Hua seemed to have other matters to attend to; after a few respectful words, they parted ways.

Before leaving, Chen Ping'an sensed a faint aura in the distance, which was the gray-mist man who was highly suspected of having entered the second realm of the Celestial Realm.

"Luo Hou? Will he participate too?"

Chen Ping'an's eyes flashed, and he left.

This Xuanling auction is the largest in ten years. This trading event is sure to be quite lively.

How it will turn out depends on how much influence Master Hua Dan has built up over the years.

Whoosh!
Lan Yingjun wore a wide black robe that concealed her petite figure. She moved swiftly within the Xuanling Heavy City, her movements fluid and unpredictable.

"Mother, Mother, we can't delay any longer."

Her eyes were slightly red, and she pursed her lower lip tightly.

"My mother is getting old and frail, and the hidden injuries are backfiring. She can no longer withstand any more torment."

"When I go back this time, I must persuade my mother no matter what. Although the Five Poisons Earthly Fiend Palm is of great significance, it is not even a fraction as important as my mother."

That person possesses a spiritual artifact capable of reshaping one's foundation. If it can truly be traded for the Five Poisons Earthly Fiend Palm technique, allowing one to continue Mother's path once and for all, then regardless of the cost, it would undoubtedly be worthwhile.

Lan Yingjun's eyes flickered, and she had already made up her mind.

If her mother objects again this time, she will not practice the fourth technique, the Five Poison Palm. Without her mother, what's the point of learning the Five Poison Palm?
Without loved ones, utterly alone in this world, what difference is there between you and a wandering ghost?
Lan Yingjun changed her form and headed towards the outside of Xuanling Heavy City.

She needed to get back to the cabin in the valley as quickly as possible, see her mother, and persuade her.

If it still doesn't work.
So she decided to act like a rebellious child.

Under the weight of time, this ever-sincere young girl finally learned to grow up.

(End of this chapter)