The Great Martial Saint!

Chapter 857 Cultivation Progress, Hidden Dragon Update (Seeking Monthly Tickets~)

Several days had passed since the Xuanling Grand Banquet, and Bi Cang's special envoy Ji Mingchang and his entourage left Xuanling Heavy City amidst the respectful farewells from all sides.

Also leaving with him was Princess Changkong, grandson of the Azure Prince.

Kuang Lan died tragically, and the response and attitude of the Bicang Prince's Mansion in handling this incident were beyond everyone's expectations.

After announcing that it had had friendly exchanges with Xuanling giant Chen Ping'an on this matter, the impact of this incident came to an end.

The various factions had already made inferences and guesses about the reaction of the Bi Cang County Prince's Mansion. Even at the Xuanling Grand Banquet, the valiant Chen Ping'an displayed an extremely remarkable martial will and profound palm techniques and power.

Many forces still believe that the Prince of Bicang's mansion has come with great force and will not let the matter rest so easily.

But the subsequent reaction was clearly beyond their expectations.

I thought there was still a good show to be staged in Xuanling City, but I never expected that it would be handled so lightly, thus eliminating the impact.

Although the Bicang County Prince's Mansion unilaterally announced that the matter had been properly resolved and that they had retrieved the items left behind by Kuanglan Liedi before his death from Mangdao Chen Ping'an.

But all parties felt that the matter was not so simple.

Despite its complexity, this event, which involved various forces within Xuanling, truly came to a close under these circumstances.

The Bi Cang envoy and his entourage left Xuanling City. However, the city remained bustling with activity, especially regarding the Mangdao warriors' impressive display of power and the prowess of their prodigies, which were the subject of much discussion among the residents.

Among them were voices that mentioned the proud daughter of the Gu family in Canglong Prefecture, believing that the marriage was arranged in the past and was no longer a good match for the current Mangdao.

Compared to Gu Qingcheng from the Gu family, Lan Yingjun, who is also a rising star, is undoubtedly a better match for Mang Dao.

Such opinions, amidst the uproar, once dominated the mainstream.

Unlike Canglong Prefecture, martial arts practitioners in Xuanling Prefecture didn't have much of a bias towards Gu Qingcheng, who had once topped the Canglong Prefecture's rising star list. In fact, it could be said that almost no one truly knew Gu Qingcheng.

Under such circumstances, Gu Qingcheng, the proud daughter of the Gu family, is more of a name to them.

When everything is simply information carried over to a single event, people's judgments become remarkably objective and calm. Nowadays, meticulous data analysis places events together, compares them, and quantifies them across dimensions.

Under these circumstances, Lan Yingjun, the Little Five Poisons prodigy who joined forces with Mang Dao to fight the pseudo-celestial beings, undoubtedly holds a greater advantage.

"Given Mang Dao's current status, the Gu family's current prodigy is indeed somewhat unworthy of him." Inside the elegant garden, someone was in high spirits, commenting on recent events.

“That may be true, but the engagement is still in effect,” someone nearby said, seemingly expressing a different opinion.

The man drank a glass of wine, glanced at the person next to him, and said, "Those were those days, and today is today. Times have changed, and the situation is vastly different now."

"But," the man hesitated, about to speak, when he was interrupted by another person beside him.

"Brother, you are right. Times have changed, circumstances are different, and choices will naturally differ!"

"Absolutely right, absolutely right." Someone echoed, "Although the Gu family's daughter is also exceptionally talented, she is far inferior to the likes of Mang Dao. Although she now possesses the cultivation of a Grandmaster, without the right circumstances, becoming a Grandmaster in martial arts is an extremely difficult hurdle to overcome. On the other hand, Lan Yingjun is already able to fight against a pseudo-Celestial with Mang Dao, and her combat strength is at least at the level of a master who has reached the Wind and Cloud realm."

One day, he may very well ascend to the realm of celestial beings.

If they were together, both achieving the highest level of cultivation, joining hands and becoming Daoist partners, it would be a celebrated tale even in the Northern Territory.

“That makes sense! A celestial couple should be a divine pair!” someone agreed.

"Hahahaha. The two of them are bound by Xuanling. At that time, the prestige of Xuanling will probably also rise greatly!" someone said, stroking his beard.

Upon hearing this, several people were stirred and wanted to refute it. Mang Dao and Lan Yingjun met in Xuanling, but their fates may not have intertwined there. According to the prevailing theory, their bond likely began in Beicang.

However, the atmosphere among the crowd was lively and everyone was in high spirits, so it was obviously difficult to refute them.

It's rare to be confused, it's rare to be confused.

The group secretly conferred and chatted with everyone about Gao Le.

However, there were always a few differing opinions during the conversation.

"This is outrageous! If one abandons his wife who has shared his hardships and chooses another as a companion, wouldn't he be no different from a heartless man?" Someone said with displeasure, disagreeing with the words of the crowd.

As soon as the words fell, someone waved a fan and calmly retorted, "Fellow Daoist, your words are puzzling. Mang Dao and the proud daughter of the Gu family are not yet married. How could you abandon your wife?!"

The man was taken aback by the question, but quickly realized what he meant: "A person without integrity cannot stand. Since there is a marriage agreement, we should abide by it."

Someone smiled strangely: "Yes, it must be kept. But the marriage contract didn't say it had to be a Daoist partnership. If Mang Dao were to ascend to heaven someday, wouldn't it be appropriate for him to take a Grandmaster as his concubine?"

"you!"

"Marrying is marriage, so rather than marrying a master of the same realm, it's better to become a celestial being's concubine. That would be a rare opportunity for the Gu family! If they had invested randomly under normal circumstances, would they have achieved such a return today?"

"That's sophistry! The two are engaged, and there's a marriage certificate to prove it. Gu Jia's proud daughter is Mang Dao's lawfully wedded wife, with heaven and earth as witnesses. How could she be reduced to Mang Dao's concubine?!"

"A legal wife? What? You've seen that marriage certificate!?" Someone smiled calmly, stirring up trouble: "In my opinion, she's just a concubine."

"Haha, you're absolutely right, brother."

"A beautiful woman is hard to let down; we should marry her together!"

"Haha, that's only right."

"."

A chorus of voices echoed from the side, and the person who had previously refuted him turned red with anger.

Similar scenes frequently unfold within Xuanling City. The prevailing opinion is that given Mang Dao's current power and status, the past engagement is likely no longer valid.

Some suggested canceling the engagement, others suggested downgrading it to a concubine status, and still others made more extreme comments, saying that marrying her as a concubine would already be a great act of kindness.

As a result, only a very small number of people supported the marriage contract for the time being, believing that once the marriage contract was made, it should be obeyed.

Amidst such a noisy atmosphere, seemingly ordinary remarks actually conceal a deep-seated power struggle among various forces. The corresponding tone of these remarks does not arise out of thin air; it is naturally fueled by behind-the-scenes maneuvering.

Beneath the hustle and bustle of Xuanling City lies a turbulent undercurrent.

Using public opinion as a basis, they employed the most simplistic yet deadly tactic of sowing discord.

It was filled with all sorts of talk, confusing the audience and muddying the waters.

Given Mang Dao's current power, he may already be able to influence the distribution of interests within several states. If such a figure were to fall into the hands of the Gu family, while it might not affect the overall situation in the short term, it could potentially lead to disaster in the long run!
While Xuanling was in turmoil, the elders of the Gu family, far away in Canglong Prefecture, also received an urgent message from Xuanling City. Along with it came intelligence information from various channels.

Upon receiving the information, the Gu family's elders' hall immediately organized a meeting of elders.

Gu Zhengnan, the second oldest member of the Gu family, also participated in this meeting.

Gu Zhengnan is usually busy with external affairs. As the representative of the Gu family's interests outside the home, he handles everything from major power struggles to setting the tone for communication.

Compared to the cyclical changes and successions of other aristocratic families, Gu Zhengnan's burden is undoubtedly extremely heavy.

Despite these circumstances, he still made time to participate in the meeting, which shows how much he valued the matter.

"The Grand Banquet of Profound Spirits: The Marriage Contract of a Prodigy and Beauty with Masterful Profound Spirit Palm Techniques Takes an Unexpected Turn."

At the council of elders, in front of all the elders, Elder Hua led everyone in reciting the contents of the letter once again.

Some elders had already read the letters, but their faces still showed shock. Elders who were hearing about it for the first time were even more stunned and incredulous.

"Ping An also knows martial arts?"

"When did this happen? How come I've never heard of it before?"

"He is a guest advisor in the Prince of Bicang's mansion, with powerful and fierce palm strikes and profound skills."

"Five Poisons Earthly Fiend Palm? Lan Yingjun"

"."

Inside the Senate, the elders were astonished and alarmed, and discussions arose among them.

Gu Zhengnan sat at the head of the table, his expression complex.

The memory of our parting is still vivid. His feelings have evolved from indifference to acceptance, then to high praise, and finally to a profound sense of awe.

How much time has passed, and Ping An has already reached such a height!?

"Elder Lan, how is Qingcheng doing?" an elder asked, inquiring about the previous stance.

Mang Dao's exceptional talent made them increasingly worried about the engagement. Especially with feedback from various sources, even the most confident elders couldn't be sure at this moment whether Chen Ping'an would have other ideas.

After all, the choices made by Ping An during their previous visits are obvious to all.

At first, he would often meet with her in private, but after being turned away a few times, he gradually stopped going to see Qingcheng.

In addition, they were always aware that Ping An, as a rising star, was fond of beautiful women and had a refined and elegant lifestyle.

The very moment their engagement was made was accompanied by a banquet with flowers and a painted boat amidst the misty rain.

Under such circumstances, they couldn't be sure what Ping An was thinking. Most importantly, unlike previous romantic affairs, this time the object of her affections was a prodigy on the Hidden Dragon Ranking!
The two traveled together outside Xuanling City, experiencing life and death together, and fighting against the false celestial beings.

A beautiful and talented woman, entrusting her life to another—such temptation, who could resist?!

Furthermore, even if Ping An keeps her promises, wouldn't the other party, who is in a relationship with Ping An, want a formal status?
If they want a formal title, then there is a natural conflict with their previous marriage agreement.

As for the idea of ​​having a brilliant and talented young prodigy reside behind Qingcheng as a concubine, they wouldn't even dare to dream of it.

Although Qingcheng is exceptional, the world is vast and full of wonders. Even if she surpasses Canglong, Canglong Province is but a drop in the ocean compared to the rest of the world.

She possesses exceptional talent and has the potential to reach the Grandmaster level, but her opponent is already a renowned Grandmaster, and given time, may even reach the Celestial Realm!

Given such an existence, even disregarding Ping An's feelings, and considering that Qingcheng was to compete with them, they would have absolutely no confidence.

On the other hand, Ping An repeatedly encountered setbacks while with Qingcheng, but the two were deeply in love and became inseparable. Given their romantic relationship, Ping An didn't need to think too much about how to choose.

Ping An is a man of his word, but when it comes to emotions, who can really say what he truly is?

If Ping An wants to annul the engagement, how should they react?

All relevant matters need to be discussed and verified one by one.

Regardless of the tone, the principle should be to maximize the interests of the family and not affect the relationship between the two parties.

Although not common, annulments of engagements do occur.

Such situations are not uncommon, especially when the difference in status between the two parties is too great.

Similar plots are frequently seen in biographical novels.

Even if Ping An didn't annul the engagement, but wanted to lower the level of the engagement and treat her as a concubine, what would they do then?

Regarding this matter, the elders of the Gu family spent an entire day discussing it in the ancestral hall. They finally established a series of principles and reached resolutions and discussions on how to handle various aspects of the situation.

In addition, they have also established various rules and regulations regarding the Ping An relationship and are working together to advance it.

As for Qingcheng's side, Elder Lan will take care of it.

Fortunately, after Lan Lao's communication over the past few days, Qingcheng has come to her senses and is willing to take the initiative to get closer to Ping An, have a chat, and cultivate their relationship.

With this promise made, everyone present was naturally a little relieved.

This news is undoubtedly good news for the Gu family.

I don't expect to win back Ping An's heart, but if the two of them develop feelings for each other, then the marriage arrangement can't get much worse than it seems.

"Since everyone has no objections, let's proceed according to the resolution." In the Gu family's elders' hall, Gu Zhengnan made the final decision, setting the tone.

"Good." The elders agreed, setting the tone.

An emergency meeting of elders to discuss Chen Ping'an has come to an end.

In the back garden of the Gu family, within the pavilions and towers, a woman plays the zither; her demeanor is ethereal and aloof, her jade-like hands are white and smooth.

The zither music is melodious, the spring water is pure, the moonlight is gentle, but the long sword on the desk is nowhere to be seen.

hum~
Chen Ping'an's eyes flickered, and the surrounding spiritual light dissipated.

"The secret technique of suppressing the soul has been glimpsed for the first time!"

Chen Ping'an's expression brightened, and a hint of joy appeared on his face.

Although he hasn't devoted himself to cultivation as much as before, he hasn't neglected any aspects of his cultivation these days.

With the help of the near-fourth-tier spirit wine he obtained from Elder Yi, he began to study the Soul-Suppressing Secret Technique. Although it wasn't exactly divine assistance, he was in excellent condition.

Over time, he truly mastered the secret techniques of suppressing the soul.

The Soul-Suppressing Secret Technique, as the name suggests, can suppress the soul. He used the secret technique as a guide, gathering the power of the soul, and like a mountain or boulder, it crashed down.

At best, it can cause dizziness and lightheadedness; at worst, it can shatter the soul and cause mental derangement.

Of course, his current skill level has not yet reached that point; he can only use it roughly as a divine soul technique to fight enemies.

However, given his spiritual foundation, if he were to exert his full strength and activate the Soul Suppression Secret Technique, even a Martial Dao Celestial Being at the second level of perfection would suffer a great loss if caught off guard.

The secret method of suppressing the soul is extremely complex. Besides suppressing the soul like a mountain or a giant rock, it has other wonderful uses. For example, it can be used to inscribe seal script to suppress one's own soul, so that even under the impact of storms and heavy rain, the soul will stand firm and unmoved like a mountain.

The former is a method for attacking and suppressing the soul, while the latter is a method for guarding the spirit.

One can attack and the other can defend, and they can cooperate with each other.

However, Chen Ping'an has only mastered the Soul Suppression Technique so far and has not yet developed a defensive strategy.

Besides these two, the Soul Suppression Technique also contains some secret techniques and minor skills that can be used in actual combat.

Having gained a preliminary understanding of the Soul Suppression Technique, Chen Ping'an's foundation in the Dao of the Divine Soul has also improved considerably. If he can apply it effectively, it can be considered a small step forward in terms of his overall combat strength.

Besides his progress in the Soul-Suppressing Technique, Chen Ping'an has also made significant strides in his research on the Broken Green Lotus. Although he hasn't yet grasped the envisioned connection technique, he has already accumulated corresponding inspiration in his mind. One day, when quantity transforms into quality, he will achieve ultimate sublimation!
Of course, correspondingly, of the several jars of spirit wine traded from Elder Yi, only two remained.

In recent days, he had not cared about the loss of spirit wine, focusing instead on studying the secret techniques. However, now that he had grasped the basics, the loss of spirit wine could be reduced somewhat.

"A near-fourth-grade spirit wine already has such effects. If it were a true fourth-grade spirit wine, what benefits would it bring?" Chen Ping'an's eyes shone with golden light, his face filled with anticipation.

With the Soul-Suppressing Technique advancing further, his spiritual foundation naturally deepened. Correspondingly, he was one step closer to improving the Seven Deadly Restrictions Technique.

hum~
Chen Ping'an's eyes flickered, and a golden finger panel appeared in front of him.

Name: Chen Ping'an
Realm: Celestial Realm 2 - Rainbow Realm
武学：青阳血炼法小成（4758/15360）颠鸾倒凤·阴阳枢入门（225/8640）、无相自在法（残篇）未入门（237/1920）广寒剑法（残篇）小成（3275/7680）、狂雷刀法入门（1021/2160）、五毒地煞掌圆满、太虚御风步圆满、七绝禁法圆满、七杀天罡拳圆满、霸刀圆满、万魔铸身诀圆满
Secret Techniques: Soul Suppression Technique, Soul Guiding Technique, Butterfly Dream Bewitching Technique, Illusionary Eye

"3275 points!"

Chen Ping'an's gaze sharpened, and the Golden Finger panel disappeared.

These days, my practice of the Guanghan Sword Technique has been going quite smoothly, and I'm not too far from being halfway there.

In addition, the Qingyang Blood Refining is progressing steadily and is now close to 20% complete.

He may still be a long way from a breakthrough, but with the progress of bloodline tempering, he can clearly feel his physique improving.

Especially in terms of poison resistance, he now even suspects that even a fourth-tier rare poison might not be able to cause him much harm.

Of course, it's impossible to say there's no impact, after all, it's a fourth-tier rare poison. However, with the support of his bloodline, physique, and poison resistance, the threat posed by this level of poison to him has been greatly reduced.

This kind of gain naturally put Chen Ping'an in a very good mood.

Besides, whether it was due to his improved cultivation level or the assistance of the near-fourth-tier spirit wine, he has also taken a step forward in the path of restriction inheritance.

His current skill level is already at the second-tier upper grade.

You can start to explore some simple large-scale restrictions. Although they may not have much power, they can still be considered an improvement in your skills.

"I've just grasped the basics of the Soul-Suppressing Technique, and further study won't require such strenuous effort. I should use the freed-up energy to read some books on the art of poison. And," Chen Ping'an smiled, "those so-called miscellaneous books."

Having previously killed several people, he acquired a considerable number of miscellaneous books, covering various categories. While these were of little use in cultivation, they were invaluable for broadening his experience and perspective.

In addition, browsing through miscellaneous books and letting one's mind wander is also a way to replenish mental energy and accumulate inspiration.

Chen Ping'an smiled and slowly lowered his gaze inside the public housing.

Before long, he reached out and gently lifted his hand, and a book appeared in front of him.

"Travels in Beihai!"

Wow~
As the pages turned, information kept appearing in Chen Ping'an's eyes.

Three days after Chen Ping'an glimpsed the secrets of the Soul-Suppressing Technique, the latest edition of the Great Qian Hidden Dragon Ranking was officially updated.

The moment the rankings were updated, the whole world was astonished and the four realms were shaken!
There are hidden talents who will once again ascend to the realm of gods and men.

A constellation of stars shines brightly in this world, a time of great strife!

Upon seeing the list, some people were shaken and remained silent.

Some people's hands trembled, and they murmured incoherently.

Some people remained silent for a long time, unable to hide their palpitations.

"A constellation of stars shines upon the world, ascending to the heavens and earth; this spectacle is the grandest ever witnessed by a dragon that has been hidden for three thousand years!"

　Guess who made the list, and what Lao Mang's final ranking will be.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)