The Great Martial Saint!

"Congratulations, Chief Chen, on assuming your new post! With heavy responsibilities on your shoulders, may you rise to great heights once again!"

Zhang Tianyuan, dressed in a wide, dark yellow robe, offered his congratulations.

Min Xiaolin stood to one side, his expression bold and heroic.

"Peace, the Northern Border Garrison has high hopes for you. Your future will be beyond our reach in the future."

Chen Ping'an smiled without saying a word. In the presence of Min Xiaolin and Zhang Tianyuan, he solemnly received and carefully accepted the appointment order from the Northern Border Garrison Command.

The Northern Garrison Command, through the Heavenly Mechanism and the Clever Man, sent a message to the Canglong Prefecture Garrison Command, promoting Chen Ping'an, the valiant swordsman, to assume his new post.

"In recognition of his merits and achievements, and to select the virtuous and capable, Chen Ping'an, former Deputy Commander of the Canglong Prefecture Garrison and Acting Garrison Commander of Xuanling Prefecture, is a man of exceptional talent, upright character, and both literary and martial prowess. He has successfully quelled the remnants of the Heavenly Lotus Rebellion within the territory of Xuanling Prefecture."
"His meritorious service is outstanding. Now, Beishan Prefecture is prosperous, and a formidable pass has been established. Only a hero can pacify it. Therefore, Chen Ping'an, specially appointed as Imperial Envoy, is hereby appointed to assist in the administration of the various garrisons of Beishan Prefecture. He is hereby appointed as the Deputy Garrison Commander of the Beishan Pass, a promotion and appointment, and granted the title of Deputy Commander with real power. All ceremonial regalia and expenses will be managed and arranged by the Beishan Prefecture Garrison Command!"

The Heavenly Mechanism has issued a transfer order. Chen Ping'an, formerly the Deputy Commander of Canglong Prefecture, is now the de facto Deputy Commander of Beishan Prefecture and the Deputy Garrison Commander of Beishan Pass. After receiving and reviewing the order, the Canglong Prefecture Garrison Command must personally review and forward it to demonstrate the completeness of the process. At the same time, report to the Northern Garrison Command that the matter is settled and the next step is for him to assume his new post.

"Congratulations on your safety."

As they left the central spirit pavilion, Min Xiaolin spoke warmly and offered his congratulations repeatedly.

"To appoint him as the deputy garrison commander of Beishan Pass with the real power of a deputy commander is truly a great honor and a sign of high expectations from the Northern Border Garrison Command. After serving in Beishan Pass for a few years, he will surely rise to even greater heights! His future prospects are likely to be as high as the clouds!"

Min Xiaolin's enthusiasm was not feigned, but genuine.

Before Chen Ping'an intervened, even Min Xiaolin had difficulty receiving appointment orders from the Northern Border Garrison. As the head of the Canglong Prefecture Garrison, he would not normally do so. The only reasonable explanation is that the Northern Border Garrison had high hopes for him and entrusted him with important responsibilities.

That's why, even though he only read part of the transfer order, he was certain that this transfer was no small matter. That's why he was so kind and warm when he met Chen Ping'an.

One reason is Chen Ping'an's current prestige, and another is his new appointment to the important task of the Northern Border Garrison Command.

After seeing the appointment order from the Northern Border Garrison Command along with Chen Ping'an, even though he was mentally prepared for it, his feelings were still complicated and indescribable, and he even felt a little jealous and shocked.

The transfer order was filled with praise and commendation, and there was a great deal of information regarding promotions and awards.

The deputy head of the department holds real power; the deputy head is the first in the hierarchy, second only to the head.

In a typical state, they are among the top-ranking figures, usually working alongside the Grand Master of the Imperial Household Department to assist the Chief of the State Garrison and govern the state.

The position of deputy commander with real power is usually held by a pseudo-celestial being, like the commander of the Canglong Prefecture Garrison, and this is no ordinary pseudo-celestial being. Even among pseudo-celestial beings, he can be considered one of the most powerful.

However, the least noticeable commendation and promotion in this appointment order from the Northern Garrison Command was the granting of the powerful title of Deputy Commander.

Special Envoy Chen Ping'an was appointed as the Imperial Envoy and Assistant Governor of the Northern Mountains.
Unlike Canglong Prefecture, Beishan Prefecture is a large prefecture with a vast territory and the Black Nether Mountain Range. The value of the Beishan Prefecture Garrison Command is far greater than that of the Canglong Prefecture Garrison Command.

Chen Ping'an, holding the title of Deputy Commander with real power, was appointed to assist in the administration of various garrison commands in Beishan Prefecture, which was a promotion beyond the usual ranks.

Within the Beishan Prefecture Garrison Command, there is a Chief Commander, but even a Chief Commander cannot be the top leader within Beishan Prefecture.

However, under such circumstances, Chen Ping'an was able to assist in managing the various garrison commands of Beishan Prefecture with the real power of a deputy commander. This situation makes one ponder deeply.

In other words, although Chen Ping'an was only a deputy director in terms of real power, in terms of his assignments, he was on par with the director of the Beishan Prefecture Garrison, second only to the director of the Beishan Prefecture Garrison.

These appointments not only made Min Xiaolin envious, but even Zhang Tianyuan, who had frequent contact with Chen Ping'an, couldn't help but feel extremely envious.

Beishan Prefecture is a large prefecture within the Bicang region. Even if Chen Ping'an's assignment is normal, from a natural perspective, he is still slightly higher than Zhang Tianyuan by half a rank. Now that his assignment is further enhanced by his official title, that slight difference is completely negligible.

Even in terms of authority, he could be said to be one level higher than Zhang Tianyuan, and even compared with Min Xiaolin, the head of the Canglong Prefecture Garrison, he was probably not inferior.

If that were the case, it wouldn't be so bad. The key issue is that there's a few inconspicuous words in the transfer order that are extremely easy to overlook.

It is called holding the staff!
The title "holding the imperial staff" or "being granted the imperial staff" was a privilege of the governor.

It is called "false authority," which allows one to execute without prior approval, and to execute lawbreakers.

Holding the imperial staff, one may execute anyone who threatens the system or affects the safety of the garrison; the garrison commander grants special permission to kill such a person without charge.

Only important officials are allowed to be promoted, and only those with important responsibilities are allowed to be commended. The Northern Border Garrison's favoritism is enough to make others envious.

These three words alone reveal that Chen Ping'an, the ruthless swordsman, has a limitless future.

As everyone knows, Mang Dao is always ruthless and acts without regard for consequences. If he encounters injustice, he will retaliate with swift and decisive action.

The former important town of Beicang, the great city of Leiming, and the current important city of Xuanling are all the same.

These three words relieved him of many worries!

Above the title of "holding the imperial staff" is the title of "holding the imperial staff," but that is a privilege reserved for those who control a region.

For Chen Ping'an, being addressed as "holding the imperial staff" was an expression of immense intimacy, enough to make one's heart tremble.

"The Northern Border Garrison Command has granted you special permission to be called a ceremonial officer, and all ceremonial expenses will be handled and arranged by the Northern Mountain Prefecture Garrison Command. After you take up your post, you will be spared many troubles!" Min Xiaolin sighed softly.

Zhang Tianyuan, standing to the side, reacted similarly, his eyes filled with envy and sighs.

The transfer order was utterly succinct.

All ceremonial expenses were handled and arranged by the Beishan Prefecture Garrison Command.

While it appears to be a matter of having the Northern Mountain Prefecture's Zhenfu Division assist in the resettlement, it is in reality an official stance from the Northern Border Zhenfu Division, which, for Chen Ping'an, is a strong and powerful endorsement.

Even the head of the Beishan Prefecture Garrison Command, upon receiving this order, had to take meticulous care of the arrangements and dare not mistreat the slightest.

If this is the case above, it is even more so below. With the official directives and orders from the Northern Border Garrison Command, any talk of paying lip service while secretly disobeying simply does not exist.

"I'm afraid they're worried that I'll have too many troubles after I take office, so they have no choice but to resort to this drastic measure," Chen Ping'an said with a self-deprecating smile.

The two shook their heads without saying anything, but their eyes said it all.

Of all the appointments and assignments, the most important one was undoubtedly the position of deputy garrison commander of Beishan Pass.

Beishan Pass has a unique geographical advantage, being adjacent to a branch of the Black Nether Mountain Range. Although it is not the capital of Beishan Prefecture, in terms of the social standing of its visitors and the prosperity of its commerce, it is probably the most prosperous in Beishan Prefecture.

Therefore, the garrison commander of Beishan Pass was personally appointed by the head of the Beishan Prefecture Garrison Command, with the assistance of important officials from the Qiankun Commandery of Beishan Prefecture. In addition, there were other positions added and assigned by the two major agencies, each with different degrees of power.

Beishan Pass is a complex and formidable city.

In addition to the official system, there are also the five great families of Beishan and various other forces, all working together to govern this magnificent city.

Amidst the complex situation, Chen Ping'an's appointment as the deputy garrison commander of Beishan Pass, a position with real power, is likely far more prestigious than that of the assistant governor of Beishan Prefecture.

In fact, based solely on this appointment, Chen Ping'an's status within the Zhenfu Division system is probably enough to be on par with Min Xiaolin, the head of the Zhenfu Division of Canglong Prefecture.

Some assignments are of low rank but carry significant power. Others are of high rank but have little real authority. However, Chen Ping'an's assignment, as per the Northern Border Garrison Command's appointment and transfer order, falls into the category of high-ranking and powerful.

because
Watching Chen Ping'an's departing figure, Min Xiaolin's gaze sharpened.

As far as he knew, the two deputy garrison commanders currently in office at Beishan Pass were both martial arts masters!
Chen Ping'an spent quite a while at the Canglong Prefecture Garrison, mainly exchanging ideas with Min Xiaolin and Zhang Tianyuan. He found the topics they discussed interesting and thus stayed a little longer.

After politely declining their invitations to stay and have a drink, Chen Ping'an left the Canglong Prefecture Garrison Office. Outside, a carriage was already waiting.

"This humble servant, Xiong Sanrang, pays his respects to Your Excellency." The burly man, as large as a door panel, knelt down on the ground as if pushing gold and jade overturning.

“Three times you’ve yielded.” Chen Pingan smiled.

The elite guards standing nearby also knelt down in a row.

"We pay our respects to Your Excellency. May Your Excellency live a thousand years, a thousand years, a thousand thousand years."

"Get up, everyone," Chen Ping'an said softly.

"Yes, my lord."

As they climbed onto the carriage, Xiong Sanrang, with a stern face, lifted the curtain for Chen Ping'an, just as he had done countless times before.

Chen Ping'an glanced at him, and the other man smiled sheepishly, his manner reserved and polite.

This man, who has followed him all the way from the Weishui Town Garrison to the present day, has now reached a bottleneck.

Barring unforeseen circumstances, he will likely never achieve the title of Grandmaster in his lifetime.

Chen Ping'an withdrew his gaze, glanced at the sky, and climbed onto the carriage.

At this moment, the sky darkened, and night had fallen.

This trip back to the city was quite expensive. I'll visit the Gu family again tomorrow morning.

"Back to the courtyard."

"Yes, sir!" Xiong Sanrang said respectfully, then called out loudly.

"Let's go!"

Chen Pingan sat inside the vehicle, looking outside.

"Beishan Pass?"

Chen Pingan smiled, but the smile faded into calm.

During this conversation, he learned a great deal from Min Xiaolin. Combined with the information he had previously gathered, and corroborating it, he now had a fairly concrete and comprehensive understanding of Beishan Prefecture and Beishan Pass.

"The Zhenfu Division, the Qiankun Division, the Five Great Families, and various other forces jointly govern the Great Pass?"
interesting. "

With the official system as the main force, the five major families, various forces assisting and supporting it, the adjacent Black Nether Mountains, the coming and going of powerful rogue cultivators, and the merchant alliances and treasure pavilions inside and outside the territory, it should be a very interesting place.

Beishan Prefecture is a major prefecture within the Bicang region, and it also possesses the unique geographical advantage of the Black Nether Mountain Range branch. The forces guarding it and the garrisoned forces there are many times more numerous than those in ordinary prefectures.

There were also elites from various forces and sects, both within and outside the territory, who came spontaneously to gain experience, as well as a group of independent cultivators. This included merchants from the Merchant Alliance and Treasure Pavilion who came seeking profit.
The layout of Beishan Pass is unique, even in the entire Bicang region.

In terms of prosperity alone, it is no less than Bicang Prefecture City, where the Bicang Prince's Mansion is located.

Compared to the two, Beishan Pass is inferior in two aspects: the level of top-tier experts and its status as a political center. Apart from these, Beishan Pass possesses everything that Bi Cang Prefecture City has, and even more.
Slightly better.

In addition to promoting Chen Ping'an, the Northern Garrison Command's appointment order also mentioned the reward for his previous merits and the support for his outstanding performance.

The corresponding merits have been accumulated and recorded under his name.

Before leaving the Canglong Prefecture Garrison, Chen Ping'an made a special trip to check and discovered that it was an extremely large sum. Clearly, besides the merits from slaying the remnants of the Heavenly Lotus and the pseudo-Celestials, there was also a significant amount of rewards from the Northern Garrison.

However, at his current level, ordinary resources no longer caught his eye. Although the merit treasury of the Canglong Prefecture Garrison Command was quite rich, Chen Ping'an found nothing of interest in it after reviewing it.

There are almost no spiritual objects of the fourth rank, and the portion that is displayed still needs to be transferred from the merit treasury of the Northern Mountain Prefecture's Zhenfu Division.

Not to mention the fourth-tier spiritual items that Chen Ping'an needs.

Just then, Chen Ping'an was about to take up his post at Beishan Pass. He planned to check the resources and exchange merit points after he arrived at Beishan Pass.

Beishan Pass is a first-class fortified city in the Bicang region, almost on par with Bicang Prefecture City. The Fusi (pacification) agency within it, in addition to the merit treasury within Beishan Prefecture, also grants partial access to the merit treasury of the Northern Border Pacification Bureau.

With this promotion, he will also have access to the Northern Garrison's Treasury of Merits and the Crimson Gold Palace for exchange.

Although it's only a partial access to the Crimson Gold Palace, he should be able to exchange for quite a few good items.

The Crimson Gold Palace exchange privileges that he had longed for in the past have now unknowingly arrived before him.

The Crimson Gold Palace is rich in treasures and has countless valuable items. Even a martial arts master could exchange for something suitable within.

Although his current authority is limited, it shouldn't be difficult for him to exchange for a genuine skill scroll.

In addition, there are...
Chen Ping calmly pondered that the number of merits awarded by the Northern Border Garrison Command for this promotion was beyond his imagination, more than ten times that of his peak period.

Its value is probably no less than that of bestowing a great treasure.

It has to be said, the Northern Garrison Command really has a lot of resources!

According to conventional wisdom, bestowing such a merit upon someone who has not yet reached the realm of celestial beings would surely move one to tears of gratitude.

Even now, Chen Ping'an is quite impressed by the actions of the Northern Border Garrison.

After all, even a Celestial Being who has reached the pinnacle of the first realm may not be able to possess a great treasure.

It seems that the tenth place on the Hidden Dragon list, or even the two lists, is more prestigious than he imagined.

If he had displayed even greater value, what treasures would the Northern Garrison have bestowed upon him?
Could this serve as a basis for truly making contact with those Northern giants?

The idea of ​​catching the eye of a northern tycoon was never what Chen Ping'an wanted. What he wanted was to have real contact with them in a practical sense.

This will reshape his perspective on the world, allowing him to acquire more valuable information, broaden his horizons, and accumulate sufficient resources and foundation for reaching the pinnacle in the future.

If you wish to travel ten thousand miles, why not plan ahead? If you want to climb to the summit, why not prepare in advance?
He longed to reach the summit of the mountains and rivers, so how could he not be determined to forge ahead and go forth with courage?
Hidden talents may be dazzling, but in the eyes of true giants, they may not be of much value.

After all, the Hidden Dragon Ranking is held once every fifty years, with each generation every thirty years. In the eyes of those true giants, he has witnessed countless generations of Hidden Dragon prodigies throughout his life.

Of these, how many truly earn their favor and live up to their high expectations? And how many fade into obscurity, disappearing into the crowd?

Even a martial arts master with a lifespan of a thousand years could only encounter so many hidden talents in their lifetime!
If this is true of martial arts masters, what about those great cultivators?!

His lifespan was 1,500 years, and his lifespan intersected with that of a contemporary hidden dragon, a previous generation hidden dragon, and so on.
Among them are many who have already achieved success and fame. From this perspective, looking down on them, the value of the "Hidden Dragon" is still there, but it is definitely not as glamorous as it seems.

Compared to his ranking among the rising stars, the bigwigs of the Northern Garrison probably value his age and experience more!

Among his generation of prodigies, he is undoubtedly among the youngest. In terms of talent and potential, he has the potential to take several more steps forward.

However, if he stops and remains trapped at the Heavenly Pass, the powerful figures of the Northern Garrison Command might not favor him as much as they do now.

This world is ultimately a reality.

We are not related, so why should I help you?

With this resource, why not help someone who is closer to me?

Compared to the prodigies and successors of those ancient clans and major sects in the holy land, his foundation was ultimately too shallow.

Chen Ping'an's thoughts raced, a thousand thoughts arising in a single moment.

But in an instant, his gaze became firm and profound.

"Why rely on these powerful backers? I am my own powerful backer!"

Chen Ping'an's eyes shone brightly, his gaze sharp and piercing.

With youthful vigor, one can ride the wind and conquer the vast sea of ​​clouds!
If we can now overcome our lofty ambitions, we will witness the world's eternal prosperity!
"Greetings, Your Excellency. May Your Excellency be well."

Outside the mansion, Guan Dongxiang, wielding a large sword and wearing golden horse, bowed respectfully.

Behind him were a group of guards and servants, all of whom were from Chen Ping'an's household.

"Get up, everyone." Chen Ping'an said calmly as he stepped off the vehicle.

"Yes, my lord."

The crowd shouted in unison, their voices creating a powerful surge, their blood and qi roaring.

These were all private guards recruited by Guan Dongxiang, supported by the State Garrison Command as a form of preferential treatment for Chen Ping'an, who was at the deputy commander level.

According to the Zhenfu Division system, a deputy commander-level leader can be equipped with thirty private guards, and if he is stationed outside, the number can be increased to forty.

Now, standing before Chen Ping'an are these forty private guards.

Their cultivation level is quite good. If Chen Ping'an had seen this kind of spectacle before taking up his post in Wufeng Mountain City, he would probably have been overjoyed.

With this support, there's no need to worry about the future.

But now.
He merely glanced at it calmly.

This world is always so realistic.

Money, for example, always flows to those who have no shortage of resources. The same applies to power and status!

In a flash, Chen Ping'an's gaze fell on Guan Dongxiang.

This swordsman from the north, who had suffered a crushing defeat at his hands years ago, had promised to serve him for ten years.

If you count the time, three years have already passed.

This swordsman from the north is among the top talents, and at his level, he could potentially challenge for the title of Grandmaster at any moment.

However, for someone like Guan Dongxiang, whose cultivation was honed on the brink of life and death, it would be very difficult to break through his cultivation level now that he is confined to one place and living a comfortable life, without the help of resources and spiritual objects!
"Welcome back to your residence, sir."

Amidst congratulations and bows, Chen Ping'an entered his residence in Canglong Prefecture.

Chen Ping'an actually prefers to call it a courtyard rather than a mansion.

The scene in the courtyard is just as it was before, but unfortunately, everything has changed.

Looking at the familiar scene, Chen Ping'an felt a pang of nostalgia.

"I wonder how Er Ya is doing these days?"

The young girl has now blossomed into a beautiful young woman, and after her coming-of-age ceremony, she was given the courtesy name Zhaoheng.

But in private, Chen Ping'an still likes to call her "little girl".

This reminds him of the time when they depended on each other for survival, and it seems that nothing has changed.

The brother and sister remained the same as before.

In recent days, he has read many books about the Yin-Yang Academy in the Southern Territory. The Southern Territory is vast; not to mention the state borders, the area alone is countless.

The Yin-Yang Academy holds a transcendent position within the academy. Although he has already reached a certain level of status, it is likely that he is not powerful enough to influence the academy in this way.

If he wanted to use this to help Er Ya and bolster the little girl's family background, then he...
Chen Ping'an's gaze sharpened, and boundless ambitions surfaced in his heart.

Walking under the jujube tree in the courtyard, Chen Ping'an quietly watched for a long time. By the stone table, he seemed to see a brother and sister eating pastries and admiring the bright moon in the sky.

Amidst laughter and joy, there is the warmth of home.

Chen Ping'an watched for a long time, then sat down on the stone bench, looked at the bright moon, and suddenly laughed out loud.

Some companionship doesn't necessarily mean being physically present, but rather that even when we are far apart, we still think of each other.

No one is anyone's subordinate; we are all working together towards our respective goals.

Until one day we meet again, each of us admiring the scenery atop the mountain.

hum~
Beneath the jujube tree, a spiritual light shone forth, its profound meaning enveloping the surroundings.

After some reflection, Chen Ping'an found an opportunity to merge the Bewitching Spirit Technique with the Seven Forbidden Techniques.

hum~
As the light faded, Chen Ping'an slowly opened his eyes, his gaze shimmering with an ethereal glow.

"Seven-Character Quatrain: Bewitching the Mind"

Chen Ping'an spoke slowly, the dark light in his eyes gradually fading until it turned into a deep gaze.

Since breaking through to the Celestial Realm, the Seven Absolute Forbidden Techniques have been further perfected, advancing the cultivation method's rank and reaching the True Cultivation Treasure Scroll.

The secret technique bewitches the heart, adding another layer of depth! (End of Chapter)