Daqian Martial Saint

Chen Ping’an’s return naturally sent shockwaves through White Stone City, causing what could even be described as a tremendous uproar.

The various factions in the city were scared into silence, keeping an extremely low profile. They feared doing anything that might displease the Lord Commander and cause them to follow in the footsteps of those few great families.

Many of the factions, being sensible, sent lavish gifts, such as rare antiques, calligraphy, paintings, jewelry, gold, and silver.

Chen Ping’an did not refuse these, accepting them all with a smile. He then casually bestowed a portion of them upon Shan Qiwang, Cheng Renjing, and others. The constables traveling with him also received a considerable share of the benefits.

’If you want your subordinates to willingly risk their lives for you, you can’t be stingy with these things. You have to give out appropriate rewards!’

Chen Ping’an’s main purpose for returning this time was to pick up Chen Erya. Other than that, there was nothing else of importance. Early the next morning, after having a good long talk with his old subordinates, he prepared to leave White Stone City.

"Sir, you’re leaving today?" Shan Qiwang was slightly surprised by Chen Ping’an’s decision. He had thought that the Lord Commander would stay for some time on this visit. He never imagined he would leave after just one night.

"Yes, I still have matters to attend to in the County City," Chen Ping’an explained simply. "Right, have a carriage prepared."

"Yes, Sir," Shan Qiwang said, bowing his head.

Erya and Peony didn’t have many belongings. As for daily necessities, they could simply buy new ones after reaching Weishui County City. Erya was a little reluctant to part with her things, but after some persuasion from Chen Ping’an, she let it go.

Near noon, a party of some twenty people rode out of White Stone City.

As they left the city, members of the Garrison Commandant’s Office and representatives from the various factions were naturally there to see them off. One of the faction representatives watched Chen Ping’an depart and couldn’t help but heave a huge sigh of relief, feeling as if a great weight had been lifted from his heart.

The psychological pressure Chen Ping’an put on them was immense; heaven knows how tense they truly were! The gang leaders, terrified their underlings might stir up trouble and incur the Lord Commander’s displeasure, had repeatedly imposed strict discipline within their ranks, forbidding anyone from messing around.

Erya and Peony didn’t know the Martial Dao, so it was naturally impossible for them to ride horses like the others.

On the way there, Chen Ping’an and his men had galloped on fast horses. This time, as they departed, two carriages had been added to the procession.

One for passengers, one for luggage.

The carriages were in the middle, with four riders leading the way and six bringing up the rear. Several more riders flanked them as guards. The procession maintained a constant speed as it headed toward Weishui County City.

...

Two days after Chen Ping’an left White Stone City, the three-month period was up, and the Canglong Province Rising Star Chart was updated!

The latest edition of the chart was sold through various channels in cities all across Canglong Province.

The Canglong Province Rising Star Chart recorded the rising prodigies of the entire province! Such a list naturally drew the attention of numerous factions.

"The Rising Star Chart is updated! I wonder what changes there will be this time!"

"The latest edition of the chart is out! Go buy it, quick! If you’re late and it sells out, you’ll have to wait two days to get one!"

"Let me see, which prodigies made the list this time, and which ones fell off!"

"Huh!? The prodigy ranked twenty-eighth on the previous Rising Star Chart, the Soul-Breaking Spear, why is he suddenly gone? He was ranked so high, even if he dropped, there’s no way he would fall off the chart completely! Could it be..."

"The Soul-Breaking Spear is dead? Who did it?!"

"Mang Blade, Chen Ping’an!?"

"..."

The siege of the Celestial Net Church entrance and the death of Soul-Breaking Spear Gu Wu were, of course, widely known within the systems of the Garrison Commandant’s Office and even the Qiankun Bureau. Factions with deep foundations had also mostly heard the news. However, the Canglong Province was vast, and Weishui County City was just one of its thirty-seven counties.

For factions that didn’t regularly follow such news, events happening in a single county wouldn’t necessarily be known in great detail. For those in more distant counties, they might be completely unaware unless they deliberately sought out and gathered the information.

After all, no matter how much of a prodigy Soul-Breaking Spear Gu Wu was, he was still just an ordinary Profound Light Realm cultivator. In a single county, a being like him might have some fame and attract attention. But across several surrounding counties, his influence was negligible.

But the Rising Star Chart was different. Every update set countless nerves on edge. Therefore, this latest update, with the changes in its roster, naturally drew many people’s attention to the death of Soul-Breaking Spear Gu Wu.

Although prodigies often moved on and off the Rising Star Chart, the top ranks were generally quite stable. Thus, the disappearance of Soul-Breaking Spear Gu Wu this time was particularly conspicuous.

...

Li Pingjiang, wearing a bamboo hat, appeared on the streets of White Stone City. He held a booklet in his hand that recorded the hundred rising prodigies of Canglong Province—it was the newly released edition of the Rising Star Chart.

"Ranked twenty-first on the Rising Star Chart: Mang Blade, Chen Ping’an!"

Li Pingjiang stared at the bustling street, recalling the contents of the chart he had just read.

’Chen Ping’an: Third Stage of Inner Qi, Celestial Rain Descending Realm Perfection. He cultivates several superior cultivation methods... He once displayed Flying Star Swordsmanship at the Perfection Realm during a Weishui Mu Family banquet. In addition to Swordsmanship, he is skilled in Sword Skill. While serving as the Commander-in-Chief of White Stone City, he used his Sword Skill to suppress several Inner Qi Realm experts, displaying that it, too, had reached the Perfection Realm. As both his Swordsmanship and Sword Skill have reached Perfection, he can be called a Dual Master of Blade and Sword.

’Beyond blade and sword, he also cultivates Leg and Palm Techniques. His cultivation technique’s characteristics show traces of Golden Bell Shield, Iron Cloth Shirt, and Thirteen Grand Protectors’ Horizontal Training.

’His study of Martial Arts is varied and comprehensive, making him extremely difficult to deal with.

’During the siege of the Celestial Net Church entrance at Five Peaks Mountain, he displayed immense combat strength. The blade-light he projected showed that his power had crossed the threshold into the Profound Light Realm. Afterward, he even slew the Celestial Net Sect prodigy, Soul-Breaking Spear Gu Wu.

’Due to a lack of intelligence from the scene, the specific details are unknown. However, based on meticulous analysis of existing information, it is suspected that while Soul-Breaking Spear Gu Wu was entangled with a Two-Seal Qiankun Guard from the Qiankun Bureau, Chen Ping’an forcefully used a Burst Secret Technique to brazenly kill him.

’Based on a comprehensive evaluation of the intelligence, he is ranked twenty-first on the Rising Star Chart!

’This person acts without restraint. Based on his methods and cultivation technique, he is called Mang Blade!

’Furthermore, because he cultivates Horizontal Training in Hard Skills and the Great Vajra Palm, he can also be called Mang Vajra.’

"Mang Vajra? Killing Gu Wu with a Secret Technique? So you managed to get away again!"

Li Pingjiang gripped the booklet, his knuckles turning white as he squeezed, leaving a slight crease on it.

After learning of Chen Ping’an’s movements at the Five Peaks Mountain Residence, he had rushed here all the way. He had thought that this time, Chen Ping’an would not be able to escape his grasp. But he never imagined that by the time he arrived, he would be a step too late again.

Chen Ping’an had already left White Stone City!

’He went to Weishui County City...’

A glint flashed in Li Pingjiang’s eyes as he gazed at the distant walls of White Stone City.

Making a move inside the County City and making a move elsewhere carried risks that were on completely different orders of magnitude.

The Five Peaks Mountain Residence and White Stone City were one thing. With his strength, he could handle those places with ease.

But Weishui County City was the heart of the county, home to countless experts. Although he could be considered at the Half-Step Peak, he had no absolute certainty that he could kill Chen Ping’an within Weishui County City and still escape unscathed.

He couldn’t kill Chen Ping’an inside the County City, but he could lay an ambush along the road in advance and kill him the moment he left the city.

But this was far easier said than done. The sect’s church at Five Peaks Mountain had been annihilated, and their intelligence network in the surrounding area had suffered a devastating blow. Lacking solid intelligence support, trying to pull this off would be a complete gamble.

Based on his last two experiences, if he rushed over now after hearing the news, it was very likely he would come up empty-handed again. At that point, he would just be exhausting himself, being led around by the nose.

’Rather than trying my luck, it would be better to...’

Li Pingjiang’s gaze hardened as he made his decision.

’As the saying goes, a thing should not happen a third time! This time, I won’t go to Weishui County City. I’ll go straight back to the Five Peaks Mountain Residence and wait for you! Chen Ping’an, you’re the Outer Trade Road Patrol Envoy. I refuse to believe you won’t come back!’

’When you return, that will be the day you die!’

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