The Great Martial Saint!

Northern border of the Great Qian Dynasty, Xinglan Prefecture, Northern Border Garrison Command.

Inside the Star-Picking Tower, flashes of inspiration and a sudden idea emerge.

"Message from Beishan Prefecture."

"Reports of meritorious service will be submitted, along with an official letter."

A sound kept ringing out in front of the huge cylinder.

Before long, within the Northern Border Garrison Command, amidst a cluster of palaces and pavilions, a golden palace received a message from the Northern Mountain Prefecture.

"The Northern Mountain Beast Tide has confirmed Chen Ping'an's breakthrough to the Celestial Realm, including the killing of another Celestial Realm expert."

A powerful voice rang out, filled with disbelief.

"Gu Yueyan of the Gu Yue Clan, the sword hidden in the Wenxin Sword Pavilion."

The voice was deep and silent, as if it had been pondering for a long time, before a decree, like thunder, suddenly exploded.

"The matter of the meritorious service in Beishan should be reviewed according to procedure. As for the matter of Chen Ping'an breaking through to the Celestial Realm, it should be reported to the Garrison Commander for review as soon as possible. All matters are subject to the Garrison Commander's decision. In addition, the Deputy Commander, the Acting Governor of the Territory, and all directly subordinate agencies are requested to discuss the subsequent impact of Beishan."

Thunder rumbled and echoed in all directions.

A day later, a large-scale deliberation meeting was held at the Northern Border Garrison.

"If a similar incident occurs again, we will follow suit to stabilize the situation at Beishan. Good! Very good! This is the spirit of our Zhenfu Division!"

"The situation is precarious and difficult to control; it's time to change the course of events in Beishan!"

"With the momentum of wind and clouds, he achieved the status of a celestial being; with the appearance of a newly promoted individual, he suppressed and killed those at the second realm. Although he used forbidden techniques, his qualifications are more than enough!"

"That's true, but..."

"Draft."

The Northern Border Garrison Command is a large and complex organization with numerous intertwined factions. Chen Ping'an's report perfectly aligned with the wishes of the hardline faction within the Northern Border Garrison Command. Considering the situation in the Northern Mountains, all reports were deemed reasonable and the garrison commander was greatly pleased.

"This incident has a significant impact. The ancient Yue clan wields immense influence across the four regions, and Chen Ping'an's actions have caused considerable trouble."

"A considerable calamity? A considerable calamity indeed, in my opinion, it is Gu Yue!"

Where is the nearest major repair site to Beishan Pass?

"The closest place to Beishan Pass should be Wentian Town Pacification Office."

"Wen Tiancheng, very well, then so be it."

"The meaning of being promoted to headmaster."

"."

Thus, half a day later, the deliberation meeting concluded, and all the plans were submitted again to the garrison commander.

One day later, the garrison commander approved the decision and set the tone.

He reviewed and approved letters, sent them to various government offices, and had them personally reviewed and approved by the garrison commander.

"can."

"Yu Minglong, the former garrison commander of Beishan, retired due to serious injuries and was transferred. Hou Xibai was formerly the deputy garrison commander of Beishan."

"Chen Ping'an, nicknamed 'Mangdao,' is proposed to be appointed as the deputy garrison commander of Beishan. Also, issue an order to the Wentian Garrison Command."

The instrument rotated, and inspiration emerged, transforming into ripples that spread from distant states.

After reporting his merits and official documents to the Northern Border Garrison through the Heavenly Mechanism, Chen Ping'an's life returned to its usual rhythm.

Cultivation, refining, and research naturally became the main theme of Chen Ping'an's daily life.

Avici Thunder Sound, Yin Bone Flame Technique, Soul Suppression Method, Soul Guiding Technique, Research on Restrictions, Perfection of Restricted Techniques, Three-Part Return to Origin Landing, Research on the Shattered Green Lotus, Refining a Treasure, Nurturing a Secret Treasure
Each and every one of these tasks requires perseverance and a great deal of effort.

As his cultivation level improved and his mind became clearer, Chen Ping'an managed to discover the wonders of the Avici Thunder Sound, and thus gained a basic understanding of the secret arts.

While it may not possess any particular power, it is clearly ready to be used in actual combat.

In addition, he has also figured out a little about the Yin Bone Flame Technique. Using the remnants left on the body of the White Bone Great Cultivator as a guide, he should be able to cultivate the first stage of the Yin Bone Flame Technique, the Bone Fire, Yin Bone Corpse Fire, in no time.

Once Chen Ping'an mastered the Yin Bone Corpse Fire, he would have another means to threaten combat power at the Great Cultivator level.

In the past few days, Beishan Pass has been bustling with activity, but all the various factions have fallen silent.

Faced with such a situation, they remained remarkably silent, their previous rivalry and infighting quickly subsiding as if they had vanished.

With differing thoughts on all sides, a period of silence ensued.

With the death of the young master of Guyue, everyone awaits the overwhelming wrath of the Guyue clan.

Gu Yueyan, the number one prodigy in the ancient land, and the youngest martial arts master in the Gu Yue clan.

The young master of Guyue is the grandson of Daxiu. Even an outsider would know just how important he is.

When news of Gu Yueyan's death reaches the Gu Yue clan, they will surely be enraged.

Chen Ping'an was the instigator of this incident.
It is likely that we will face an extremely severe test.

An ancient power that once dominated the land, a local overlord, unleashed a torrent of furious rage.

All forces remained silent.

In contrast to the silence surrounding Beishan Pass, the various forces outside Beishan Pass were all extremely astonished upon learning of this matter.

"Breaking through the realm with a fierce blade, achieving the status of a celestial being?"

"What?! Mang Dao broke through the pass and ascended to the realm of gods with the force of wind and clouds?!"

"This martial arts prodigy is not even twenty-nine years old!? In the entire history of the Azure Cang region, has there ever been a genius of this caliber?"

"What extraordinary talent!"

"."

The death of Gu Yueyan and Cangjian further solidified Mangdao's unparalleled talent and extraordinary genius.

As time went on, the message gradually spread to more and more distant places.

Such information, involving the grand scheme of things and the level of celestial beings, must be delivered by extraordinary individuals. At the very least, they possess the caliber of a Grandmaster, with many more being pseudo-celestial beings, or even true martial arts celestial beings.

The speed at which such news spread was naturally incomparable to that of ordinary news.

Within a few days, the news spread to the surrounding states through the mouths of some rogue cultivators and pseudo-celestial beings.

Over the next few days, the rumors continued to spread and gradually reached Xuanling City.

"What?! The brute force broke through the realm and killed a celestial being!?" In Xuanling City, all forces were dumbfounded, their hearts filled with extreme shock.

Shen Huiqing, dressed in a plain long dress and handling official business at the Canglong camp, also learned of this matter from the deputy envoy.

"What? Lord Chen?"

Shen Huiqing suddenly stood up, her almond-shaped eyes wide open, all traces of her composure gone. Her mouth was slightly open, and her eyes were filled with astonishment.

"Ascend the pass and break through the realm, with the force of wind and clouds, to achieve the status of a celestial being!"

Those who live in the heavens stand on the clouds and enjoy a lifespan of a thousand years.

Lord Chen
They've become adults!

"Young Master Chen"

Lady Biluo wore a long green dress that accentuated her long, jade-like legs, which were faintly visible beneath the dress.

Her gaze was complex, a mixture of amazement and genuine joy.

As time went by, powerful figures from all walks of life in Thunderclap City, Azure Dragon Prefecture, and Dragon Peace Town learned of this matter.

The "Wild Blade" was so terrifying that even a grandmaster was utterly shocked and his mind was shaken to the extreme.

How old is he?!
"After cultivating for hundreds of years, only in old age do I realize the true value of a prodigy, hahaha."

There was a false celestial being, his temples gray, sorrow rising from his heart.

In Canglong Prefecture, the Wang and Xue families all learned of this matter.

Countless clan elders, senior members, and elders stared in astonishment, their eyes wide open.

In the back garden of the Wang family, a young man in white was admiring the lotus flowers in the pond when he learned of this. He was struck dumb and stood there stunned.

"Everyday People"

The Xue family, Xue Zirou, the Mu family, Mu Qingyao, and Mu Chenjie.
Countless people were shaken and astonished, their expressions telling of the unparalleled power of the Mangdao.

The Azure Dragon protected the family, which greatly excited countless elders. They were amazed and shocked, and petitioned their ancestors for blessings.

Such a brilliant and talented individual deserves to be the son-in-law of the Gu family, ensuring the family's good fortune!

After a long period of astonishment, even some of the elders began to worry.

"The ancient Yuezhi clan."

The death of the young master of Guyue was like a thunderbolt, shaking all corners of the land. Even a celestial being would find it difficult to bear such a karmic consequence.

The Gu family had been deliberating for a long time, and the decision was finally made by Gu Zhengnan, who had recently emerged from seclusion, setting the tone. All the decisions were reported to the Gu family patriarch, who murmured his approval from inside the wooden hut.

The old man stared at the memorial tablet in front of the hall for a long time.

"Gu Yue."

A day later, the Gu family announced that Gu Zhengnan, an elder of the Gu family, had obtained a spiritual object that allowed him to rebuild his foundation, continue his path, and enter the ranks of martial arts masters!

The Grand Ceremony of Heaven and Man will be held soon to celebrate this event.

A celestial being was born into the Gu family, who used their power to support the Mangdao!

The incident caused a stir among all parties.

On the same day, the Gu family made various decisions and held internal deliberations, with some elders mentioning the previous postponement of the engagement.

Both parties tacitly agreed to the matter; the so-called postponement was actually an attempt to cancel the engagement.

But given the current situation...
After much deliberation, one of the elders suggested, "Elder Zheng Nan, do you see any way to resolve the matter of the marriage agreement?"

Although Mang Dao promised that even if the engagement was canceled, his stance would remain unchanged, he was truly unwilling to give up on a prodigy like Mang Dao, a child of exceptional talent.

If he could win her over as the son-in-law of the Gu family, the Gu family would spare no expense.

"I also want to do this, but," Gu Zhengnan sighed, "Mang Dao seems determined. If I try to persuade him again, I'm afraid it will damage our relationship."

"Elder Zheng Nan, given Ping An's current status as a celestial being and her stunning beauty, you are indeed a perfect match, a match made in heaven. However, the path of martial arts is not just about these things. With my Gu family's influence and my stunning cultivation, it would indeed be difficult for Ping An to be my wife and Daoist partner."

"Look, if I, Gu Jia, step back, Qingcheng will not become Ping An's principal wife, but only a secondary wife, enjoying the rights of a common wife. If Ping An finds someone he desires in the future, he can then seek a principal wife. Is that acceptable?"

The elders' proposal did not elicit the expected uproar; even Gu Zhengnan considered it very seriously for a while.

Clearly, everyone had already had this thought, but now, an elder has brought it to the forefront for discussion.

Given Chen Ping'an's current status, he is revered as a martial arts celestial being, destined to live for a thousand years. To make Qingcheng his principal wife and Daoist companion would indeed be an insult to him.

A martial arts master who is not even twenty-nine years old—what kind of weight is that!?

If he doesn't perish, not to mention the great cultivation of heaven and man, reaching the perfect state of penetrating the rainbow is a foregone conclusion.

Even for a cultivator at the Celestial Realm level, it is highly possible, and even the four realms above that can be touched upon.

With such talent, the fact that the Gu family chose the daughter of a grandmaster as his wife and Daoist companion is an extreme underestimation of him, no matter where you look at it.

Although this matter was agreed upon in advance, it changed midway. If the Gu family wants to make amends, it is unreasonable to offer such conditions no matter how you look at it.

“This matter is indeed feasible. Given my relationship with the Gu family, if I were to propose it, Ping An would likely agree immediately. However, the status of a principal wife and Daoist consort is extraordinary, and if possible, the Gu family would not want to give it up.”

As he spoke, Gu Zhengnan glanced at Gu Qingchan to the side. From the moment of deliberation until now, she had been sitting quietly listening, her clear eyes like stars, her beauty unparalleled.

Noticing Gu Zhengnan's gaze, Gu Qingchan's face turned cold, but her heart tightened.

Elder Zheng Nan
What does this mean?

Is it to make me, the Empress?

Gu Qingchan's clear eyes rippled, her emotions shifting.

Martial arts masters possess long lifespans, so a difference of a few decades is indeed insignificant.

The elders present found Gu Zhengnan's words somewhat strange.

Having a proper wife and partner is naturally the best.

It is no longer possible to maintain the current peaceful situation.

Even with her stunning beauty, she has the potential to become a Grandmaster. However, the gap between a Grandmaster and a Martial Arts Master is like an insurmountable chasm. The difference between them is far more than just a small fraction.

No matter how well they match, they just don't go together.

Let alone a martial arts celestial being like Chen Ping'an, with his brilliant talent and limitless potential, even an aging celestial being, if he wanted to remarry and take a proper wife, would either have to be a female grandmaster who had a chance of breaking through to the Grandmaster realm and had a slight possibility of becoming a celestial being, or a pseudo-celestial being.

Training someone from the level of a grandmaster is extremely rare.

As for the position of a peaceful and righteous wife and partner, Gu Jia would naturally want a suitable candidate if he had one.

Being in a good position gives you an advantage; you should definitely take the lead!
The problem is, he's family-oriented and doesn't have a suitable candidate.

If we're talking about who comes closest in terms of overall conditions, it's only Elder Qingchan. But even Elder Qingchan is far from being a proper wife or Daoist partner.

Unless Qingchan, an elder, ascends the barrier and breaks through the realm, becoming a celestial being, then it would be appropriate.

Can.
One of the elders secretly glanced at Elder Qingchan, his mind wandering.

Faced with everyone's confusion, Gu Zhengnan fortunately added a sentence later.

"Let me think about it some more."

"Elder Zheng Nan, if even a concubine is unacceptable, how about considering this concubine? After all, while Qingcheng is exceptionally talented, the most outstanding among the younger generation of the family, she is still a step below the prodigies on the Hidden Dragon List, let alone a peerless genius like Ping An."

"If I could obtain the title of a concubine, that would be a stroke of good fortune." One of the elders directly considered the worst-case scenario.

"A concubine?"

Some elders looked displeased and instinctively objected.

"Wouldn't that be no different from being a concubine? This is inappropriate!"

"Noble concubine, noble concubine, in reality there is not much difference between her and a maidservant."

However, some elders remained silent and began to seriously consider the matter.

Given her peaceful appearance, as long as she doesn't perish, she will surely become famous throughout the land and renowned throughout the Northern Border. If we could increase the stakes and solidify our relationship, even if she were just a concubine, it would seem worthwhile.

After all, although a noble concubine is nominally a concubine, there is still a difference between her and a mere maidservant.

At least in terms of status and position, it sounds much better.

As the legitimate daughter of the Gu family, becoming the concubine of the rough-and-tumble warrior was already a concession, given their pre-existing marriage agreement. To retreat further and become a concubine would, in retrospect, be a loss of face.

but.
What seems like a loss of face today may be seen as a wise move in the future.

It is true that powerful men have multiple wives and concubines, but their respective ranks are clearly defined.

There are principal wives and consorts, secondary wives and concubines, noble concubines, maids, and maids in the bedroom, as well as nameless and unrecognized casual affairs.

The ranks are clearly defined, so if one could secure a position near Ping An in advance, it wouldn't be such a bad choice.

If Ping An gains momentum in the future, then thanks to today's opportunity, Qingcheng will also have a better future.

Some elders devoted themselves to the sake of their families, while others carefully considered matters to save face.

Even a concubine can still be considered a wife, and when addressed outwardly, she can be called a Daoist companion.

My precious concubine.
Then there really can't be any formal relationship between them.

If possible, she would still like to have a proper Daoist partner. That way, it wouldn't be a disgrace to the bond she formed with him early on, after he had taken a gamble on their relationship.

but.
Previously, Ping An did indeed take the initiative to suggest postponing the engagement, and both parties tacitly agreed that they intended to cancel the engagement.

If the concessions are not significant enough, a person with a calm and composed mind might not agree.

Such an opportunity to speak up is often only available once; if it fails the first time, there will be no further chance to speak up.

After all, marriage is not a business transaction. If the discussion goes too far in terms of interests, it will damage the harmony and dignity of both parties.

Many of the veterans were caught in a dilemma, undecided for a time.

"I'll go talk to Qingcheng first," Elder Lan said calmly, volunteering to go.

"Let's see what she thinks?"

"Yes, Elder Lan's consideration is sound, and it is only right."

Lan Lao's words quickly gained the approval of many elders.

Since all parties are still undecided, let's hear what Qingcheng has to say first.

If Qingcheng agrees, then perhaps they won't have to struggle with this anymore.

Even if she were to remain a concubine, considering the pros and cons, it would still be an excellent outcome for a woman.

Judging from Ping An's future, her future Daoist partner will undoubtedly be a celestial female ruler. Even a female Grandmaster, who is not a high-ranking wife or concubine, would likely fall short without a shared lineage.

Furthermore, Ping An is surrounded by many women, and rumors circulate that he has many romantic relationships with them. Previously, in Xuanling City, there were rumors that a fellow genius on the Hidden Dragon Ranking was his love interest.

Under such circumstances, everyone's sense of crisis is naturally strong.

Previously, he had the Gu family background to rely on, but given Ping An's current situation, the Gu family's fortune and family background can no longer do anything.

All that can be relied upon is the little bit of affection that has been accumulated before.

"If a decision is made on this matter, it should be finalized as soon as possible."

The crowd was filled with strange and conflicted thoughts, and the council of elders came to a close in this odd atmosphere.

As soon as the council of elders concluded, Elder Lan left the council hall to visit Gu Qingcheng.

She should first ask Qingcheng's opinion on this matter. (End of Chapter)