The Great Martial Saint!

The night was deep, and dark clouds obscured the moon.

At the summit of Xuanling Mountain, the residence of Master Hua Dan was bustling with activity. Separated by protective barriers, there was little disturbance, and it didn't affect the outside world in the slightest.

Under normal circumstances, no one would notice that a top-level exchange meeting, which is the most prestigious in the entire country, was being held right here in this mansion.

Martial arts masters are truly capable of suppressing the deepest foundations of any state. Even in large states like Xiaguang State and Beishan State, they are outstanding individuals who have reached the pinnacle of their abilities.

At this moment, on Xuanling Mountain, inside the residence of Master Hua Dan, several martial arts masters who could suppress the foundations of an entire state or even several states were gathered.

Among these celestial beings, there exists a second-realm celestial being who has already built a rainbow bridge, resonating with heaven and earth.

Looking across the vast land of Bi Cang, spanning nearly a million miles, there are only powerful figures capable of suppressing the deepest secrets of the region.

Sects like Hengshan Sect and Wenxin Sword Pavilion only had such figures when they were at their peak.

After the transaction was completed, the attendees became much more animated.

They became more relaxed as they talked.

Even so, the difference in status between them was still extremely obvious during the exchange. There was an invisible ripple between the different levels, clearly demarcated.

Those pseudo-celestial beings who were able to attend this small meeting were all quite remarkable. However, in this setting, the discussions among them were mostly exchanges between people of the same level.

Only a few, like Master Hua Dan, are able to have a conversation with true celestial beings.

Chen Ping'an displayed his Luminous Human cultivation and stood at the very top during the small gathering's exchange.

Sitting at a distance, the Black Rock Old Monster watched the black-robed old monster being discussed among the Celestials, his heart filled with trepidation. Especially the second-realm Celestial from the Whale Sea Sect, whom Cangmingzi had shown great favor to, made him even more shaken.

As a powerful elder of the Hengshan Sect, he knew all too well the significance of being a Second Realm Celestial Being.

The Hengshan Sect is currently quite prosperous, with a Supreme Elder who has reached the threshold of the Second Realm of Celestial Being and is stationed at the sect's gate, as well as another Supreme Elder who has been traveling outside for less than sixty years since reaching the Celestial Being realm. Inside the cave in the back mountain, there is also a Second Realm Ancestor guarding the sect's foundation.

Under these circumstances, Black Rock was naturally very confident. He was already quite powerful among the pseudo-celestials, not to mention his background.

But right now.
Looking at the old monster in black robes with his aged face and deep wrinkles in the distance, he felt an indescribable sense of dread.

His reliance, in the eyes of his opponent, was nothing more than a fellow Daoist with whom he had an equal relationship. Senior Cangmingzi of the Whale Sea Sect had already set an example. Even if the patriarch of the Hengshan Sect were here, his reaction would most likely be no different.

Thinking about it this way, Black Rock Old Monster found it even harder to sit there.

Previously, he hadn't dared to fully commit to the transaction due to his fear of the black-robed old monster. Now, he wanted to leave, but the meeting wasn't over yet. He was merely a pseudo-celestial being; what would it look like if he left prematurely?!
Sometimes, being able to leave early is a symbol of status and privilege.

Not everyone is qualified for this.

Some people leave early, and they take it for granted. But others are seen by others as disrespectful and preferring to be alone.

The usually unrestrained and wild Black Rock Monster rarely felt restrained in this situation.

Unlike Black Rock Monster, Chen Ping'an was quite at ease in this situation. Whether he had gained an advantage over him or sensed his extraordinary nature, Cang Mingzi was rather friendly towards him.

The few celestial beings present formed their own circle, exchanging and sharing introductions and intelligence information.

"Speaking of which, things have really been changing lately. First, Chen Xuanli of the Xuanmen Sect ascended to the Celestial Realm, and now two more prodigies from the Hidden Dragon Realm have broken through this barrier and become Celestial Realm experts." The red-haired old man sighed as he mentioned this, quite moved.

Wang Changlie, standing to the side, was also deeply moved.

Back then, he had to endure countless life-and-death experiences and suffer countless hardships to reach the Heavenly Pass. But those people on the list were all extraordinary; they had already reached this realm in their early twenties or thirties.

Such feelings are truly disorienting.

"The waves of time surge onward, pushing the old waves forward! We are getting old."

"I've heard that there's a hidden genius in Xuanling City named Chen Ping'an, the 'Wild Blade.' He's made it into the top twenty of the Hidden Dragons this time, so he's a rare talent. He might just become a new Celestial One in the future." During the conversation, the red-haired old man seemed to have thought of something and mentioned this matter.

Chen Ping'an hadn't expected that sharing information would lead to a discussion about himself. However, the conversation was only briefly mentioned and not discussed in detail.

However, judging from the appearance of the red-haired old man, he seemed quite interested in him.

"At less than twenty-eight years old, his combat strength is comparable to that of Fengyun. If he is properly trained, his future achievements will be limitless!"

Those top-ranked prodigies are all contemporary geniuses from various holy lands and ancient sects, but Chen Ping'an doesn't seem to have any lineage to inherit yet!

The red-haired old man's words were persuasive, and the others naturally understood the meaning behind them.

"Fellow Daoist Yang, although she has no lineage to inherit, she has already been betrothed to the Gu family through marriage and is already bound to them. Don't even think about it. Do you really want to compete with that old man from the Gu family for her?"

Upon hearing this, an unnatural expression appeared on the red-haired old man's face. It was clear that he was extremely wary of that person from the Gu family.

"How is this stealing someone? This is called a powerful alliance, complementing each other's strengths! That kid cultivates the way of the sword; the one from the Gu family can't teach him anything."

"Oh? Could it be that Fellow Daoist Yang is also proficient in the art of the sword?"

"Over the years, I have accumulated some expertise in swordsmanship. Teaching that little fellow is more than enough."

The red-haired old man said unnaturally.

As he spoke, Chen Ping'an glanced at the red-haired old man but did not say anything.

The others did not engage in further discussion about the red-haired old man's words.

The facts speak for themselves.

If it were an ordinary grandmaster, the red-haired elder, with his insights and experience, might be able to teach him. But if it were to teach a rising star whose combat strength was already close to that of a legendary figure, who had developed his own style in the way of the sword, the red-haired elder's abilities would be far from sufficient.

It would be more accurate to say that a celestial swordsman came to offer guidance.

However, none of the people present were skilled in swordsmanship; at most, they had some knowledge of it, so they had no right to criticize the red-haired elder.

However, the group followed up on the topic and talked about the Gu family patriarch.

"Gu Tianren." When this topic came up, Cangmingzi couldn't help but speak up: "One man, one sword, single-handedly suppressing the Azure Dragon, forcing all sides to dare not touch him. His demeanor is truly admirable!"

These words resonated with many. Even the venerable elder from the Alchemy Alliance, clad in fine robes, deeply agreed. However, he added a final comment.

"It's a pity that even the most valiant hero has fallen on hard times; it's all in the past."

As an elder of the Dan Alliance, he possessed considerable intelligence on the situation, knew of past events, and was aware of the recent probing and friction among various parties. The probing was intensifying, yet the elder of the Gu family had yet to take any action.

The Gu family's interests suffered greatly due to the power struggle in Bi Cang. If Gu Tianren had been as temperamental as he was back then, he probably would have personally gone to the Bi Cang Prince's Mansion with his sword to demand an explanation.

Now that we haven't seen him for so long, it's probably true, as the rumors say, that he's suffering from a hidden injury that has backfired, and his lifespan is nearing its end.

Cangmingzi glanced at him but didn't say anything, and it was unclear what he was thinking.

Wang Changlie sighed slightly, his expression showing a sense of nostalgia for the past.

He had dealings with Gu Tianren, the patriarch of the Gu family. Strictly speaking, the two belonged to different eras, but Gu Tianren achieved great success later in life, and his fame and fortune overlapped to some extent with Gu Tianren's.

However, there was only a small overlap. Later, Gu Tianren's reputation soared, and the fact that he, with his perfected second realm cultivation, had directly confronted a master cultivator of the Hidden Radiance Realm became common knowledge, causing shock and fear from all sides.

Those who had previously amassed interests have all relinquished them and withdrawn from Canglong Prefecture.

Speaking of
Wang Changlie glanced at the Black Rock Monster in the distance out of the corner of his eye.

In the past, the Hengshan Sect and the Gu family fought fiercely over the Xuanling Prefecture mine. However, after that incident, the Hengshan Sect never mentioned the matter again and took the initiative to back down, handing the mine over to the Gu family.

The Gentle Breeze and Bright Moon Sword, the Gu Family Divine Sword, Gu Tianren!

"Though the divine sword may grow old, its sharpness will forever be remembered."

The blue waves of the Cangmingzi River surged, as if inspired by a sudden feeling.

He cultivated to the level of Piercing Rainbow, deserving the title of a senior Celestial Being. But it was precisely because of this that he became increasingly aware of the gap between himself and Gu Shenjian and Gu Tianren in the past.

Although the two were of the same rank, Gu Shenjian could have easily defeated him in the past. It wouldn't have been impossible for him to even kill him.

The skill of swordsmen is renowned. Moreover, someone like Gu Tianren, with his perfected second realm cultivation, directly confronted a master cultivator of the Hidden Radiance Realm.

The difference between the three realms of Heaven and Man and the two realms of Heaven and Man cannot be described in a few words. The further a cultivator in the second realm goes, the clearer this gap becomes.

The Hidden Radiance Realm allows one to live for 1,500 years; such a difference is beyond the comprehension of ordinary people.

The inclusion of the Three Realms of Celestial Beings and the Realm of Hidden Radiance in the list of major cultivators already explains everything.

Gu Tianren, however, fought against the odds with his second-level cultivation and almost succeeded.

Such achievements are truly outstanding and remarkable!
That masterful use of the Qingfeng Mingyue sword technique is still enough to inspire fear in people today.

Even now, despite repeated attempts by various parties to test the waters, no one dares to actually take that step. Even the Prince of Bicang's Mansion has maintained considerable restraint in this matter.

They feared that Gu Tianren's final blow would cause them to pay a heavy price. Such a final backlash was always particularly fierce, and no one dared to easily ignore it.

This is especially true for swordsmen like Gu Tianren, who had already reached the second realm of perfection in his past life.

In fact, if it weren't for the knowledge that Gu Tianren's lifespan was nearing its end and that he was suffering from hidden injuries, even in the current situation, probably no force would have dared to test him.

That battle back then was so shocking that it left an extremely deep mark on the minds of all parties.

Especially with that final sword strike, Gu Tianren almost...
We're almost there.

He accomplished the feat of defeating the Hidden Radiance Realm cultivator with the power of a second-level Celestial Being.

It's just a pity that it was so close.

Gu Tianren ultimately failed.

Having had its arm cut off, it cut off its tail to survive and save its life.

As a celestial being, losing an arm would have some impact, but not to that extent.

But for a swordsman, losing an arm, the arm that holds the sword, is enough to drive one to despair.

The severed arm was completely annihilated in front of Gu Tianren, with no possibility of reconnection remaining.

Since then, Gu Tianren's combat power has greatly diminished. Although his prestige remains, it is clearly no longer at its peak.

After that, Gu Tianren grew old and his old injuries flared up, causing his condition to decline day by day.

This matter could be glimpsed in the exchanges between Bi Cang and Gu Tianren back then. Although the final outcome still set the tone for the tacit agreement that the Gu family would safeguard the interests of Canglong, Gu Tianren's declining condition had already aroused the covetousness of various parties.

However, the battle of yesteryear has instilled fear in all sides. Even though Gu Tianren's condition has declined, no one can guarantee that he, who was able to withstand a powerful cultivator at the Hidden Radiance Realm back then, might not have any other trump cards up his sleeve.

Under such circumstances, none of the parties dared to act rashly.

Until a few years ago, Gu Tianren stopped attending the Bicang Exchange. Based on the timeline, he was old and nearing the end of his life. Only then did all parties officially begin their probing actions.

After that, rumors spread that Gu Tianren had suffered a backlash from a hidden injury, was nearing the end of his lifespan, and had suffered a significant drop in combat power. Following these rumors, Gu Tianren did not appear for a long time, and all parties began to frequently test him.

Through repeated testing, this matter has become increasingly confirmed. At this point, Gu Tianren's situation is practically an open secret.

He hasn't shown himself for a long time now, probably because he can no longer maintain his cultivation at the second level of the Celestial Realm.

Without the support of cultivation, and lacking the arm to wield the sword, how powerful can a swordsman, no matter how formidable, be?

Moreover, this was an elderly celestial being nearing death, suffering from the backlash of hidden injuries.

It is precisely because of this that all parties dare to keep probing, and there is an increasing trend of more frequent and in-depth exploration.

Fortunately, Gu Tianren still wielded considerable influence, so none of the parties dared to go too far.

At least, this should be the situation until the next Bi Cang exchange.

If Gu Tianren is still not present at the next Bi Cang exchange, then the situation is self-evident.

It seems the interests of the state that the Gu family is currently protecting are likely to be lost.

Cangmingzi's forehead was full, and ripples appeared in his eyes. He sighed softly.

His sigh was not for the Gu family, but for Gu Tianren of yesteryear.

Gu Tianren of yesteryear was an exceptionally brilliant man, renowned throughout the Azure Sea for his perfect cultivation at the Second Realm.

But for the sake of a woman, he took that step, directly confronting a powerful cultivator at the Hidden Radiance Realm.

In the end, not only was he stripped of an arm, but nothing changed.

In retrospect, some say that Gu Tianren was too impulsive back then. Given his abilities at the time, he might have been able to take that step and join the ranks of the Hidden Stars.

With his combat prowess and swordsmanship talent, once he enters this realm, ordinary cultivators would probably be no match for him.

What happened back then could be resolved immediately, with only a slight delay, at most a century, but ultimately it wouldn't hinder anything. So why persist so stubbornly, striving so hard?
perhaps
That's what swordsmen are like.

With a sigh, Cangmingzi gave himself an answer.

During the conversation, Chen Ping'an heard for the first time about the deeds of Gu Tianren, the patriarch of the Gu family. The people present were all martial arts masters, with high enough standing to know about the events of the past.

They can talk to each other and have a more in-depth conversation.

"For the sake of love."

As Chen Ping'an pondered, he recalled the spirit tablet displayed on the altar in the wooden hut where he met the Gu family patriarch that day.

The scene of Chen Ping'an appeared, as if he had returned to that day.

On the altar, there were many items on display. Besides the spirit tablet, the most eye-catching item was a long sword without a scabbard.

The longsword was covered in rust and looked worn and faded.

"In this world, there are no evergreen trees. No matter how heroic and powerful they are, they will eventually pass away," Chen Ping'an sighed with melancholy.

Do you not see how powerful the old Prince of Bicang was in the past, his bloodline divided and he ruled over a region? But now he is bedridden with illness, unable even to get up.

The exchange in the arena lasted for nearly half an hour, during which Chen Ping'an participated and learned a great deal of information.

Wang Changlie hails from Beishan Prefecture and is stationed at Beishan Pass. Naturally, conversations among the crowd inevitably revolve around Beishan Pass and the Black Nether Mountain Range. This includes the previously rampaging Transformed Demon King, and the female Grandmaster, Hua Ruyue, who is determined to slay the Demon King and is considered the most powerful and influential woman in the land.

When Hua Ruyue was mentioned, Wang Changlie recalled that he had met her once before and that she was indeed the number one in the world. Although they had never fought, he could sense her aura. Despite being a Grandmaster, she was by no means inferior to those of the Celestial Realm.

The previous claim that he could overpower even the gods was probably not entirely unfounded.

However, suppressing and killing that rampaging transformed demon king will probably not be so easy.

The one who guarded the North Mountain had been invited to suppress the transformed demon king who was wreaking havoc in the Black Netherworld, but after several attempts, he had failed. That transformed demon king was extremely fast and had an even more acute sense of danger; under such circumstances, even making contact was extremely difficult, let alone suppressing and killing it.

"Without the cultivation of a second-realm Celestial Being and the skill to escape quickly, it would be difficult to catch up with that transformed demon!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Ping'an's heart stirred, and he couldn't help but pay more attention.

"Even a second-realm Celestial Being skilled in escape and speed can catch up with that transformed demon king? The bloodline of the demon race is truly remarkable." From the other party's words, Chen Ping'an knew that although the demon king had been transformed for a long time, it had definitely not yet entered the second realm. According to the demon race, it had not yet overcome that tribulation, and its inner core had not been refined and purified.

According to Wang Changlie, if one is not skilled in movement techniques and speed, even with the cultivation level of the second realm, it would be difficult to catch up with the opponent.

This transformed demon possesses such incredible speed; the bloodline endowment of the demon race is indeed not to be underestimated.

This made Chen Ping'an even more interested in the true bloodline of this transformed demon.

He currently has three main channels for finding Heavenly Grade Bloodline Monsters.

First, Lady Biluo of the Bi Cang Chamber of Commerce used the other party to search for the blood of demonic beasts.

Secondly, according to information obtained at a recent auction, the Five Blessings Merchants Association possesses the scales of a sea demon king, and must have information about the blood of demon beasts.

As for the remaining three, that was the transformed demon beast he had been planning to acquire. He had been paying attention to it since he learned of its rampage in the northern section of the Black Nether Mountains, and had even developed the idea of ​​trying to contact Hua Ruyue.

However, whether Hua Ruyue could suppress and kill this transformed demon beast was still unknown; it was merely a consideration and a hypothetical scenario. If not, Chen Ping'an had even considered going to the Black Nether Mountains in person to kill this fiend once his cultivation had advanced further.

Instead of trading, it's better to do it yourself.

Right now, during the small meeting, Chen Ping'an happened to hear about the transformed demon beast, and he couldn't help but pay more attention to it.

Seeing that the topic was a good fit, he asked the question.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, may I ask what rank of bloodline this transformed demon possesses, and what kind of demon beast it is?"

Chen Ping'an's voice was hoarse, his eyes were deep blue, and a hint of interest appeared on his deeply lined face.

Wang Changlie slightly raised his eyes and looked at the old monster in front of him. The two had clashed at the auction before, but now that they were together, it could be said that they had become friends after their fight.

During their previous exchange, he knew that the old monster in front of him was quite interested in the flesh and blood of a Heavenly-grade demon beast, so it wasn't surprising that he asked about it now.

After a moment's thought, he readily informed him of the result.

"I only saw it from afar and never actually interacted with it. However, if I'm not mistaken, it should be the Golden-crowned Sparrow of the Crested Feather Clan."

"Golden-crowned sparrow?" Chen Ping'an pondered, a look of interest on his face.

The Golden-Crowned Feathered Sparrow is a Heavenly-grade bloodline demon beast, belonging to a class that is extremely adept at flying.

"However, judging from the traces at the scene, this fang should be a mutated species among the feathered sparrows, and it should have consumed some kind of fire-type spiritual item. During the battle, it possessed the supernatural ability to control fire. The Golden-Crowned Feathered Sparrow clan has never been known to have a fire-type, so there is a very high probability that it is a bloodline mutation. Wang also confirmed this with a friend who had previously fought with this fang."

"Bloodline mutation? Fire-based supernatural power?"

Chen Ping'an's eyes flashed with a dark light, and he cupped his hands in a gesture of respect.

"Thank you for clearing up my doubts, Fellow Daoist Wang."

"It's alright." Wang Changlie waved his hand gently.

The old monster in front of me is quite powerful. Although his foundation is a bit shallow, it would be good to make a good connection with him.

Having learned the specific species of this transformed demonic beast from Wang Changlie, Chen Ping'an became even more interested. Of the several options, if given the chance, he preferred the blood of this demonic beast.

Firstly, the Golden-Crowned Feathered Sparrow already possesses a high-grade bloodline as a Heavenly-grade bloodline, and now, with this mutation, its bloodline grade has clearly reached an even higher level.

Secondly, this demonic beast excels at speed, and with its first-level cultivation, it can keep up with ordinary second-level cultivators. This kind of bloodline endowment is exactly what he needs now.

"I hope this fiend can't escape even if it grows wings. Even if it's not killed by other powerful Celestial Realm experts, it's best if it waits until I make my move."

Although he was amazed by Hua Ruyue's spirit as a woman when she went to hunt demons, he was not particularly optimistic about the matter after learning about the specific abilities of the transformed demon beast.

This beast's speed is astonishing. Although Hua Ruyue is the number one martial artist in the world, she is only a grandmaster and may not be able to catch up with it. Even if she could catch up, she might not be a match for this beast.

After all, if they were to fight on equal terms, this beast's strength would be unmatched by ordinary martial arts masters.

The topic of transformed demonic beasts was only briefly mentioned, but when the first name in the world, the female grandmaster Hua Ruyue, was mentioned, many people couldn't help but chat for a few more minutes.

Everyone, including Cangmingzi, the guest elder of the Whale Sea Sect, was quite interested in this legendary figure.

Rumor has it that Hua Ruyue is capable of reaching the Celestial Realm at any time, but for some reason, she has remained stuck at the Grandmaster level, unable to break through. This matter has piqued the curiosity of many.

Although Hua Ruyue is a grandmaster of martial arts, in the eyes of most celestial beings, she is far superior to ordinary celestial beings.

Furthermore, Hua Ruyue, true to her name, possessed a face as beautiful as the moon and flowers, with an unparalleled charm that attracted the admiration of many celestial beings.

In particular, the unique prestige she possessed added a lot of charm, making her irresistible.

Currently, those whose cultivation has not yet reached the Celestial Realm can only conjure up ideas, or even act upon them. But if they were to truly reach the Celestial Realm, it might be too late.

For some celestial beings who haven't yet found a Daoist partner, Hua Ruyue is a sure-fire investment. No matter how much they invest now, once she succeeds, they can earn it back many times over in the future.

That was a truly high-quality stock; to be precise, it was a world-renowned, influential stock, the best of the best.

With such an opportunity before them, which celestial being could resist?!
Even if the possibility is small, isn't there still a possibility?

Besides, if you don't step forward now, are you going to wait until later?! You don't even have a chance now, and if you wait in line, it won't even be your turn!

For most celestial beings, beauty has become largely indifferent, but beauty depends on the individual.

Even a martial arts master like Ru Hua Ru Yue would still be moved by such beauty.

Furthermore, her unparalleled, irresistible charm, her unique and world-renowned reputation, her terrifying talent as a female grandmaster capable of overpowering even the celestial, and her sure-fire investment and resale potential...
With all these factors combined, who wouldn't be confused?

Even the most detached beings still have overlapping social circles, their own needs, and their own purposes, and cannot escape the four words: wealth, companionship, law, and place.

Hearing everyone's praise, Chen Ping'an, who had never met Hua Ruyue, also became a little curious about her.

However, when he heard the red-haired old man sincerely sigh that Hua Ruyue was truly the ideal Daoist partner in the world, Chen Ping'an smiled without saying a word, but thought to himself.

Even if she were a perfect match, could she compare to my beautiful wife?
The group talked about Hua Ruyue for a while, but taking advantage of the red-haired elder Yang Daoyou's sigh, their conversation turned to the news that had recently spread from the North Sea.

Since Cangmingzi of the Whale Sea Sect happened to be present, everyone couldn't help but ask him for some advice.

"Fellow Daoist Cang, is it true that the only daughter of the Twin Sovereigns is seeking a husband?"

After Cangmingzi pondered for a moment, everyone received a clear answer from him.

"Although the Beihai Business Alliance has not released any official information, this matter has already caused quite a stir in Beihai. The alliance has not intervened, suggesting that they have likely been building momentum for this for some time. Furthermore…"

Seeing everyone's curiosity, Cangmingzi didn't keep them in suspense: "It is said that the age limit for this marriage recruitment is extremely lenient, and many outstanding talents of my Whale Sea Sect are very interested in it."

Although there are some promising talents among the current generation of the Whale Sea Sect, their overall ranking is not particularly outstanding. However, in the eyes of the Celestials, all those within the last hundred years can be considered as contemporaries.

If the current generation of potential dragons isn't enough, there are previous generations, the generation before that, and the generation before that.

Among them are many outstanding individuals who have already reached the Celestial Realm. In addition, some geniuses who were not included in the Hidden Dragon Ranking in the past, but were only included in the Hidden Dragon Secondary Ranking, also have the opportunity to reach the Celestial Realm under the blessing of the power of time.

Those who reach the Celestial Realm at the age of thirty are extremely rare, even among the several generations of Hidden Dragons. However, if the age limit is relaxed to fifty, the number of those who reach the Celestial Realm increases significantly.

If it were a hundred or two hundred years, the number of outstanding individuals born during that time would be countless.

Upon hearing Cangmingzi's words, everyone present was happy to support him and give him face.

"Hahaha. Then I wish your sect all the best!"

"The only daughter of two emperors is like a bright pearl in the ocean, a dazzling star in the sea. If a noble and outstanding man can win the heart of this beauty, he will be as elegant as a jade tree, and his path will be without worry."

"The pearl returns to the jade tree, and the path ahead is splendid and boundless."

"."

Most of the celestial beings present were long-established figures. Even those with shorter lifespans had already exceeded seven hundred years.

Even if the age limit for a merchant alliance's recruitment of a son-in-law is broad, it's clearly not someone their age. As the only daughter of two rulers, as beautiful as a star and as radiant as the moon, the only man worthy of her would be the most dashing and romantic figure in the world, not an old man like them.

The celestial beings present were all perfectly clear about this.

Even if the matter of taking a son-in-law seems to weaken that prestige, with such a large family business as the Beihai Merchant Alliance, such weakening probably has no impact at all.

The Merchant Alliance spans the four seas, its wealth far exceeding outsiders' imagination. If the Cloud and Thunder Lords were willing to support him, and given this child's already exceptional talent, his future prospects would be immeasurable!
"Princess Star and Moon"

Chen Ping'an remained calm. He had heard of this name again since the Azure Dragon Banquet.

Compared to the previous few words, today's conversation was clearly much clearer.

It seems that the Beihai Business Alliance's plan to recruit a son-in-law is not just a rumor, but a real event.

Compared to the business alliance's search for a son-in-law, which everyone was interested in, Chen Ping'an was more interested in the Cloud and Thunder Duo of the Beihai Business Alliance.

"The Twin Lords of Cloud and Thunder"

Chen Ping'an's gaze was deep and unfathomable, as if he were lost in thought.

All good things must come to an end; no matter how lively a small gathering may be, it will eventually come to a close.

During this exchange and discussion, and the sharing of information, Chen Ping'an also realized his own shortcomings. Compared to these ancient monsters who had lived for hundreds of years, his experience was far too limited.

Although he improved himself through books, drew inferences from other cases, consulted archives, and broadened his horizons, he still lacked something compared to actual experience.

This exchange and information sharing was not mandatory, and it did not involve any key intelligence bargaining. Therefore, the overall atmosphere was quite free, and he mostly sat quietly without needing to discuss or share anything.

Only in this way could the exchange proceed relatively smoothly.

But if one day he needs to share his experiences and exchange information, his limited knowledge and experience would probably be insufficient to support him.

Even if they forced it, the old monsters present would easily see through it.

Although he is exceptionally talented, his age limits many things that are indeed difficult to resolve in a short time. Some things are destined to require the slow settling of time and the gradual accumulation of years before they can be naturally resolved.

He can speed up the process, but he cannot create something from nothing.

Compared to these seasoned veterans who travel far and wide, there are many things he needs to accumulate experience over time.

When discussing the local customs and culture of a place, he might be able to read about it in books, but the overall feeling would never be as profound as someone who has personally experienced it.

If we were to discuss this in detail, there would inevitably be errors and omissions.

This incident served as a wake-up call for Chen Ping'an.

No matter how well something is concealed on the surface, if you look closely and investigate thoroughly, you will inevitably find some errors or omissions.

However, this matter is not entirely unsolvable.

Besides creating a persona of someone who is in seclusion, devoted to spiritual practice, and ignorant of worldly affairs, there are better solutions.

Chen Ping'an's eyes flickered, his thoughts racing.

A persona can only last for a short time. If you want your persona to last, you need to address the problem at its root.

Extraordinary people do extraordinary things. Some experiences can be personal, or they can be learned from others.

"Soul-Guiding Incantation"

Chen Ping'an's eyes flashed with a dark light, and he stood up from the pavilion.

By this time, the meeting was drawing to a close and it was time to leave. However, those present lingered, and the others dared not leave early.

Chen Ping'an was the first to stand up and say goodbye, maintaining his established persona.

"It's been many years since I've had such a lively gathering. Fellow Daoists, farewell."

Chen Ping'an's voice was hoarse, cold, and deathly, carrying a sense of decay.

However, the people present remained calm and took their leave.

"Fellow Daoist Qi Jin, until we meet again."

"Fellow Daoist, though mountains may not move, water may flow; we shall meet again if fate allows."

"."

The group bid each other farewell, with Master Hua beaming and full of energy. He cupped his hands and said, "Thank you for your support, fellow Daoist. If you have time in the future, let's meet again."

“Fellow Daoist, we have had a very pleasant conversation today. If you come to the North Sea in the future, you can bring this item and come to Whale Sea to find me.”

Cangmingzi's forehead was full and round. As he spoke, the water rippled and a blue token appeared out of thin air.

"Thank you, fellow Taoist."

Chen Ping'an remained calm, revealing no emotion. He accepted the token and returned the greeting.

Looking at the scene before him, the old man in the splendid robe felt a pang of regret, but he quickly dispelled it completely.

"However, he just happened to have some good fortune and made some good connections through the transaction. But he is just a rogue cultivator and can't amount to much."

As an elder of the Pill Alliance, he knew that although the other party was a Celestial Being of the same level, he had no need to rely on anything and was naturally without desires. Since the other party had no intention of currying favor, he had no interest in deliberately befriending him.

"What a pity about that Shangqing Pill." The old man in the gorgeous robe sighed, a ripple of emotion stirring in his heart, but it was quickly smoothed out.

"They're finally gone!"

Only after watching the black-robed old monster roll up his sleeves and leave did the Black Rock Old Monster truly relax.

He wasn't really in the mood for the conversation, and just casually agreed to a few things, like why Madam Biluo of the Bicang Chamber of Commerce wasn't present today.

Most of his thoughts were on that old monster.

Now that the other party is gone, he is naturally relaxed and at ease.

"In any case, I've entered the Celestial Circle." He looked around at the elegant scenery and felt a sense of satisfaction.

"After tonight, we should also deal with the mess left by Xiao Cao. I wonder if Chen Ping'an has come out of seclusion yet?"

Black Rock Old Monster was planning in his mind to take advantage of the lingering atmosphere of the small meeting and have a long and fruitful discussion with the attendees.

With the departure of the celestial beings, the remaining pseudo-celestial beings truly unleashed their power.

"Master Hua, I wonder when the next alchemy session will be held? I would like to request one in advance." A pseudo-celestial being approached him with great enthusiasm.

Master Hua stroked his long beard, gazing at the mysterious night sky. The smile on his face seemed even more intense than before.

The short meeting ultimately came to a successful conclusion.

(End of this chapter)