The Great Martial Saint!

Above Beishan Pass, a fierce wind howled, lightning flashed, and the intent of swords shook the heavens.

"Zang Jian...is he dead?"

A celestial being stepped into the air, muttering to himself in disbelief.

Lei Xiaotian stared in astonishment at the domineering figure in mid-air, his expression one of disbelief.

The joy on Gu Yueqianfang's face vanished instantly, turning her deathly pale and frozen in place.

"Killed?"

The short, stout Taoist priest looked surprised, a hint of shock hidden in his eyes.

"Chen Ping'an"

Jiang Ruotong played the clear sound of a jade flute, her eyes, like autumn water, gazing into the distance, lost in thought.

Rumble~
Thunder roared, and the wind and clouds surged.

The raging thunder and divine fury unleashed by the power of the divine soul were far more terrifying than imagined.

The aftershocks of the blade's force caused waves of air to surge and churn the clouds.

Whoosh!
A beam of sword intent shot up from below, pierced through the clouds, and appeared in front of Chen Ping'an.

It's Shen Linyuan.

He glanced at Chen Ping'an expressionlessly, then sheathed the sword from the already shattered corpse.

Throughout the process, he remained silent until the body was collected. He then gave Chen Ping'an a cold look and left.

The whole process took only a few breaths.

Chen Ping'an watched Shen Linyuan leave calmly, without offering any advice or dissuasion.

He looked around, his aura surging like a tide, the divine soul power rippled in mid-air, approaching the realm of Piercing Rainbow, causing the faces of many celestial beings present to change in shock.

His eyes were deep as he glanced at where Gu Yueqianfang was, then his figure flickered and transformed into a streak of light, leaving the place behind.

A great battle came to an end under the astonished gazes of all sides. Its unexpected conclusion cemented the domineering and powerful reputation of the "Mangdao" faction.

In this battle, the youngest martial arts master in the ancient territory, Gu Yue Yan, perished.

The Supreme Elder of the Sword Pavilion, Cangjian, has perished.

He died in an extremely tragic manner, struck down by a savage blade.

In this battle, Mang Dao used a forbidden technique, sacrificing his lifespan to suppress and kill a second-realm Celestial!

The North Mountain was in an uproar!
It spread to all corners of the world at an indescribable speed.

Chen Ping'an, a hidden dragon and a valiant swordsman, breaks through the barrier and achieves the status of a martial arts master.

With unparalleled talent and extraordinary ability, he challenged the young master of Guyue to a life-or-death battle, and killed the hidden sword of the Sword Pavilion!
Numerous forces were shaken, and the power struggles and infighting among the various factions in Beishan came to a sudden halt.

For a moment, the bustling Beishan Pass fell silent, leaving only a clamor.

"Berserk Blade!"

"With the force of wind and clouds, we will achieve the status of a celestial being and suppress the hidden swords of the Sword Pavilion!"

"Gu Yueyan is dead?"

"What? The great-grandson of Da Xiu, the young master of Gu Yue, Gu Yue Yan, is dead?"

"Something happened!"

Some were moved and amazed by "Mang Dao's strike," their expressions filled with panic, unsure of what to do.

"The ancient Yue clan will probably not let this go so easily."

"Let's wait and see how things develop! The sky isn't going to fall!"
"If it really collapses, there are tall people to hold up the sky over the North Mountain."

"."

Amidst the uproar, Chen Ping'an, as usual, officially took up his post at the Zhenfu Division to handle official business.

With the beast tide over and the merits of all parties settled, the matter was reported to the Northern Border Garrison Command. This matter was originally to be handled entirely by Hou Xibai.

At the merit review meeting, Hou Xibai should, as is customary, set the tone and submit the report, performing a one-man show.

But for some reason, the inclinations and atmosphere at the deliberation meeting underwent a strange change.

All the decision-making discussions seemed to revolve around Chen Ping'an.

When it came time to make a decision, Hou Xibai, unusually, asked Chen Ping'an for his opinion.

"What does Lord Chen think of this policy decision?"

Chen Ping'an remained noncommittal, his expression unreadable.

He had no objection to the assessment of meritorious service, but he added a point of view, requesting that all matters concerning Beishan be reported together with those of meritorious service.

He was responsible for writing and explaining the corresponding report.

Upon hearing this, Hou Xibai's eyes shifted, his expression complex. After much deliberation, he finally gritted his teeth and reluctantly agreed.

Such explanations involve the right to interpret them fully, and logically speaking, the top leader of Beishan should be responsible for explaining and setting the tone.

But now that Yu Minglong is seriously injured, given the current situation, this matter should fall on his shoulders.

A few days ago, this matter would not have caused any problems at all.

In the current situation in Beishan, only he, having advanced to the second realm and wielding the power of a transformed demon beast, can maintain order and control the overall situation.

There is no problem with him making the decisions on our behalf.

But now.
Chen Ping'an has been added to the list of candidates.

With the force of wind and clouds, Chen Ping'an, the valiant swordsman, achieved the status of a celestial being, suppressed the hidden swords of the Wenxin Sword Pavilion, and established his supreme prestige.

He was decisive and domineering, and even the young master of Guyue fell to his blade.

Given this situation, even Hou Xibai wouldn't dare to completely break ties with Chen Ping'an at this point.

"This guy's crazy!"

Hou Xibai forced a smile and made his own assessment.

"Gu Yueyan's identity was extraordinary. He died under Mang Dao's blade. The Gu Yue clan will definitely not let this go."

It might even alarm Da Xiu, who will personally come to Beishan.

Let's avoid his sharp edge and see what his fate will be one day.

Hou Xibai felt secretly relieved and made things convenient for Chen Ping'an in all matters.

He didn't come away empty-handed from this deliberation and review process; he oversaw all the decisions made based on merit. Mangdao shares the right of interpretation.

This situation led to him and Mangdao jointly taking control of Beishan, with power being distributed and everything else being set in motion.

Of the four major figures in Beishan, Yu Minglong is seriously injured and about to be transferred to Rongyang. Ying Congyun is no longer capable and has become a marginal figure. That leaves only him and Chen Ping'an.

Hou Xibai pondered, speculating on the possible reactions of the Guyue clan to the spread of the news.

Several theories were deduced in his mind: if the news of Gu Yueyan's death reached the ears of the Gu Yue clan, whether for the sake of clan reputation, for practical interests, or for the pain of losing a bloodline descendant, the Gu Yue clan would surely be furious.

This is a life-or-death battle. Although it was agreed beforehand, under the overwhelming pressure, the reckless swordsman will definitely not come out on top.

As far as he knew, Gu Yuebo, the elder of the Gu Yue lineage and the pillar of the Gu Yue clan, had a rather bad temper! After the deliberation meeting ended, Chen Ping'an returned to the Fusi office amidst the ambiguous gazes of the crowd and began to write the official letter to be submitted to the Northern Border Fusi along with this merit assessment.

The same thing, interpreted in different ways, can often lead to different results.

Especially those unexpected and unconventional explanations can completely change the situation.

Chen Ping'an didn't need to do that. He only needed to write normally, adding annotations and motives to everything, and the Northern Border Garrison would accept his position and understand his logic.

The Sword Pavilion houses many swords, and Gu Yueyan, the young master of the Ancient Moon Pavilion, is a man of great renown.

The deaths of these two individuals had a significant impact; it was shocking news that would shake the entire region.

But no matter how impressive their momentum, it couldn't compare to the overwhelming power of the Northern Border Garrison.

Just as Chen Ping'an unfolded the official letter, before he could even begin writing it, he received news that Ying Congyun was coming to visit.

Speaking of which, this was the first time Ying Congyun had visited Chen Ping'an's residence in Zhenfu Division.

"Quickly invite Lord Ying in."

The messenger was Geng Yuan from the Beishan Town Pacification Office, whose eyes held an unyielding reverence as he looked at Chen Ping'an.

"Yes, my lord."

Before long, Ying Congyun entered Chen Ping'an's office.

As a tycoon in Beishan, Chen Ping'an's "public housing" is actually a series of suites centered around his business and office work.

The area is vast and exquisitely luxurious. As the deputy garrison commander of Beishan, Ying Congyun's own situation is naturally not much different.

Naturally, I wouldn't feel anything about it.

The two had just met at a recent review meeting, and Ying Congyun's visit this time was naturally to discuss topics that were inconvenient to discuss at the review meeting.

Looking at Chen Ping'an, Ying Congyun's eyes were filled with surprise and doubt, as if he were seeing him for the first time.

Chen Ping'an chuckled softly, raised his hand slightly, and took out a pot of spirit wine to entertain Ying Congyun.

In addition to clearing out some of his inventory, Chen Ping'an also bought some near-fourth-tier spirit wine for social interactions and to entertain friends.

At his current level, he will inevitably have many public interactions and contacts, so he still needs to have the necessary reserves.

"Fellow Daoist Ying, why do you view me in this way?"

In private, he was not reserved at all, addressing Ying Congyun as a fellow Daoist, which brought the two closer.

Ying Congyun's gaze was unfathomable, and he gave a bitter smile.

"Fellow Daoist Chen, you truly terrify me time and again."

"Oh?" Chen Ping'an exclaimed in surprise, raising his hand to pour Ying Congyun a cup of wine: "Fellow Daoist Ying, what makes you say that?"

"He secluded himself for cultivation, and in less than three months, he broke through the barrier and became a Celestial Being. The moment he emerged from seclusion, he was challenged to a life-or-death battle and killed a Celestial Being. Each and every one of these events is enough to make one's heart tremble with fear."

Ying Congyun gave a wry smile: "Fellow Daoist Chen is so domineering and righteous, but it's a real hardship for ordinary people like me."

"Hahaha, Lord Ying is a great figure of the Great Guan Dynasty, a martial arts master, how could he be an ordinary mortal?"

"Compared to Fellow Daoist Chen, I am no ordinary person. Who is?" Ying Congyun's voice was bitter, but his expression was somewhat relaxed.

"At less than twenty-nine years old, he has already reached the Celestial Realm and possesses unparalleled talent, capable of suppressing and killing beings in the Second Realm. Such abilities are probably rare to find anywhere in the world."

"Fellow Daoist Ying flatters me. The dynasty is vast, and heroes of the world emerge in endless succession, like carp crossing a river. My meager talent is nothing to worry about."

"Fellow Daoist Chen, you really are..." Ying Congyun looked at Chen Ping'an for a long time and then sighed.

Ying Congyun came here mainly because of Gu Yueyan and the death of Cangjian.

Given the current situation in Beishan, let alone two people, even the fall of an ordinary Celestial Being would cause a great upheaval. Let alone these two, neither of whom were ordinary Celestial Beings; their deaths at Chen Ping'an's hands would undoubtedly create a cataclysmic upheaval.

Especially Gu Yueyan, the young master of Gu Yue, who died mysteriously, the Gu Yue clan will never let this go.

A storm is brewing!
When the ancient Yue clan was mentioned, and the possibility of retaliation was mentioned, Chen Ping'an suddenly became serious and looked at him solemnly.

"Fellow Daoist Ying, regarding the Netherworld opportunity, Lord Yu was seriously injured. A half-step Great Cultivator launched a sneak attack, suspected to be a member of the Ancient Yue Clan. Is there any concrete evidence to support this claim?"

"Evidence?" Ying Congyun was momentarily stunned, then slowly said, "There are many eyewitnesses to this matter, but as for concrete evidence..." Ying Congyun paused for a moment, "Perhaps only Lord Yu knows."

Unless they are holding back their strength and hiding their methods, all factions have a background that cannot be concealed if they want to unleash their full combat power.

As someone who personally experienced the fight against his opponent, Yu Minglong must have his own feelings.

"Fellow Daoist Ying, is this matter related to the ancient Yue clan?"

Ying Congyun remained silent for a moment, then nodded solemnly.

There must be a connection!

The matters of the netherworld are too straightforward. Perhaps it's too obvious to say that at this level, scheming is useless. Rather than being complicated, it's better to be direct, simple, and efficient.

Anyone with eyes to see can see that Yu Minglong's serious injury is closely related to the Guyue clan.

However, the two parties involved tacitly agreed not to reveal their intentions.

If this matter were brought to light, it would result in a lose-lose situation for both sides. Not only would it completely sever ties with the Guyue clan, but it would also completely eliminate any chance to mitigate the damage, and could even lead to further losses.

This is definitely not a wise choice for someone who has been in and out of the system for many years and has seen it all.

The fact that the Guyue clan dared not do anything was precisely because they had accurately grasped Yu Minglong's psychology.

"You plotted against my important officials and assassinated Lord Yu. Why are you not afraid, Gu Yue clan?" Chen Ping'an stared intently at Ying Congyun.

“Of course,” Ying Congyun was about to answer as a matter of course, but before he could finish speaking, he was completely stunned.

The ancient Yue clan dared to act this way because they were betting that Minglong wouldn't dare to openly sever ties. Is Chen Ping'an acting the same way?
Are you so sure that the ancient Yuezhi clan wouldn't dare to break ties?

"If that's the case, why should I, Chen, be afraid?" Chen Ping'an's expression was calm and composed.

Seeing Chen Ping'an's expression, Ying Congyun felt a sense of surprise and doubt.

That being said,
Gu Yueyan holds a very special position in the Gu Yue clan; he is the young master of Gu Yue and the grandson of Da Xiu.

Does Chen Ping'an really have such confidence?

If it were the ancient Yue clan, what would happen if they broke off all pretense of civility?

The two are not even in the same league.

Just as Ying Congyun was filled with surprise and doubt, Chen Ping'an slowly raised his eyes and said softly in a deep voice.

“Our important officials are stationed in one region and coordinate with all parties. They should fulfill their responsibilities and be respected by all parties. However, the situation has changed, and there are different sentiments in each region. Over time, the thoughts of all parties have changed.”

Everyone says that we, the high-ranking officials of the provincial governor's office, should prioritize the greater good. But who truly understands what that greater good actually means?

"Today, Gu Yueyan is dead. Although no one mentions it, everyone is pondering it. Various parties have asked me if I fear the Gu Yue clan. Today, standing here, I really want to ask them that question." Chen Ping'an suddenly turned his gaze, his expression calm and his voice resolute: "The Gu Yue clan has disrupted the overall situation in my Northern Mountain, oppressed local forces, and assassinated important officials. Do they fear me?!"

Upon hearing this, Ying Congyun was stunned, standing there dumbfounded like a wooden or stone statue.

Looking at the excessively young figure in front of him, he suddenly understood how to truly express the meaning of "youthful spirit."

Yes, may I ask the ancient Yuezhi people, are they afraid of me?

Why are the ancient Yue clan members not afraid of assassinating a high-ranking official of the Fusi?
Is our Zhenfu Division weak and easily bullied, or have we been taking the wrong stance all along?

"Gu Yueyan, Cangjian, Master Gu."

Countless figures, countless scenes, countless thoughts echoed in Ying Congyun's heart, Chen Ping'an's voice resounding like a thunderclap. (End of Chapter)