Daqian Martial Saint

Chen Ping’an approached the group, a look of timely reverence on his face. However, he didn’t stand too close, choosing instead to blend in with the surrounding crowd.

The cavern was filled with people, not all gathered in one spot. They were positioned in various places according to their different formations. The cavern was surrounded by numerous winding tunnels, their destinations unknown.

A few people in the crowd glanced at Chen Ping’an and his men, offering a slight nod as a greeting. Chen Ping’an returned a faint smile in response.

“Why was this encirclement so easy?”

“Yeah, we barely faced any real resistance!”

“Be careful, it might be a trap!”

“Right, understood.”

“…”

Low-voiced conversations echoed around him from time to time. After standing with the crowd for a while, Chen Ping’an got a clear picture of the situation. As the vanguard force, led by several Grandmasters, they had swept through all resistance to reach this point. Judging by the layout and furnishings, this underground cavern was the main chamber of the Ten Thousand Demons Sect’s stronghold. Anything beyond this point would likely lead to more secret areas.

After some discussion, they decided to wait for all the encirclement units to converge before taking the next step.

The perimeter was sealed, and they now occupied the most critical central chamber. They weren’t worried about the Ten Thousand Demon Thieves finding a loophole to escape.

Amid the chatter, Chen Ping’an learned the identity of the Sword Master present.

Cloud Concealed Sword, Feng Wuhen.

‘So it’s him!’ Chen Ping’an thought, his interest piqued.

Feng Wuhen, an Honored Guest Elder of the Canglong Province Garrison Command, was at the Mid-stage Jade Balance Realm. His Cloud Concealing Dawn Sword Technique was masterfully executed, allowing him to dominate others in the Same Realm. Ever since he made his mark on the Rising Star Chart as a youth, his fame had spread throughout the Canglong State.

As Chen Ping’an waited with the others, more elite troops from the encirclement emerged from the cavern’s tunnels. Some were injured, clear evidence they had faced a counterattack, but overall, they seemed to be in good shape with minimal losses.

Suddenly, Chen Ping’an’s senses stirred as he felt an aura approaching from the cavern’s southeast side.

‘Another one at the Mid-Jade Balance Stage?’ Chen Ping’an was slightly surprised. Including Gu Qingchan, that made three Grandmasters at the Mid-Jade Balance Stage. With such power, they could probably take on a sub-altar of the Celestial Net Sect within Canglong State. And that wasn’t even counting himself.

‘All this for a mere Ten Thousand Demons Sub-Altar? The Garrison Commandant’s Office is putting on such a grand show?!’

According to the intelligence Chen Ping’an had gathered, while a Ten Thousand Demons Sub-Altar was strong, it was impossible for it to have three Mid-Jade Balance Grandmasters. Generally speaking, having even one was considered impressive.

The Garrison Commandant’s Office had dispatched three Mid-Jade Balance Grandmasters. A three-on-one. ‘It seems they’re determined to utterly annihilate the Demon Sect’s Grandmaster here!’

‘They really are pulling out all the stops for this encirclement! They’re willing to use a sledgehammer to crack a nut just to ensure a foolproof victory and completely wipe out the Ten Thousand Demons Sub-Altar!’

As these thoughts raced through Chen Ping’an’s mind, the figure appeared beside Cloud Concealed Sword Feng Wuhen.

“Breaking Army Saber, Situ Ba!” Chen Ping’an heard a voice nearby, laced with astonishment.

Chen Ping’an’s gaze fell upon him, taking in his appearance. The man had a powerful build, standing as tall and unyielding as a majestic mountain. His features were resolute and profound, and his black hair flowed freely, giving him a wild and untamed air. In his hand, he gripped an incredibly heavy long saber with intricate carvings on its hilt.

Chen Ping’an didn’t stare and quickly averted his gaze. There were records about Breaking Army Saber Situ Ba. Years ago, he had studied under a Major Sect outside the province. After completing his training, he returned to the Canglong State and adventured for several decades before finally accepting an invitation from the State Qiankun Bureau to serve as a Tributor.

The Breaking Army Saber Technique was renowned for its ferocity and Tyrant Dao, every move packed with terrifying power. And when Breaking Army Saber Situ Ba used it in actual combat, his Saber Intent and Saber Momentum merged perfectly, making it even more formidable.

In terms of saber techniques alone, even if Chen Ping’an cultivated his Broken Soul Saber Technique to the Perfection Realm, he would be no match for Breaking Army Saber Situ Ba.

Especially those moves, the Breaking Army Slash and the Dragon-Slaying Saber… Jade Balance Grandmasters had fallen to them, becoming souls lost to his blade.

“Master Situ.” Seeing Breaking Army Saber Situ Ba approach, Cloud Concealed Sword Feng Wuhen cupped his fist in a slight salute.

“Lord Feng.” Breaking Army Saber Situ Ba laughed heartily.

The two exchanged a few pleasantries and then fell silent. Cloud Concealed Sword Feng Wuhen appeared calm and nonchalant; his actions were mostly perfunctory, lacking any real warmth.

Chen Ping’an observed this scene. The Qiankun Bureau had supervisory authority over the Garrison Commandant’s Office, making it implicitly half a rank higher at the same level. ‘Cloud Concealed Sword Feng Wuhen truly lives up to the reputation of a Sword Master. He certainly has a proud backbone.’

After Breaking Army Saber Situ Ba’s arrival, several more waves of elite encirclement troops arrived. Zhong Zeyu also reached the cavern with a small squad of elites.

As the overall coordinator for the western encirclement front, Zhong Zeyu was recognized by many.

“Lord Zhong.”

Seeing him approach, many people greeted him.

Zhong Zeyu returned the greetings one by one. He spotted Chen Ping’an in the crowd immediately and, suppressing the shock that still lingered from before, walked toward him.

“Lord Zhong.” The few people around Chen Ping’an saw Zhong Zeyu coming and greeted him with smiles—a completely different reaction from when Chen Ping’an had first arrived.

“Greetings, my lords.” Zhong Zeyu cupped his fist in return, then walked up to Chen Ping’an and said solemnly, “Lord Chen.”

“Lord Zhong,” Chen Ping’an replied with a smile.

Hmm?

Seeing Zhong Zeyu’s reaction, the expressions of those nearby shifted, a look of surprise on their faces. They sized up Chen Ping’an as if seeing him for the first time.

‘Who is this person? To make Lord Zhong treat him with such gravity?’

‘Lord Chen? Could he be…’

A hundred thoughts raced through the minds of the people nearby as they tried to guess Chen Ping’an’s identity.

After offering his respects, Zhong Zeyu stood before Chen Ping’an, his expression slightly odd. Seeing Chen Ping’an again, the scene he had inadvertently witnessed earlier flashed through his mind once more.

The memory struck his heart like a tidal wave, an unstoppable and tumultuous shock.

It wasn’t that he was overreacting; the scene had been simply too staggering. At the start of the operation, Ice Soul Divine Needle Gu Qingchan had met Chen Ping’an’s gaze from across the distance. Not only was she not annoyed, but she had actually winked at him. He didn’t know if he was imagining it, but he thought he saw a hint of girlish charm and liveliness in her eyes.

Such behavior from Gu Qingchan was completely unlike how a Grandmaster should act toward a junior. It was more like…

Zhong Zeyu didn’t dare to think any further.

Heavens!

‘What is going on?’

Zhong Zeyu felt like his entire worldview was about to shatter.

A Grandmaster! This was a Grandmaster! And not just any Grandmaster, but a Peak Grandmaster with the potential to advance even further in the future!

Those star-like eyes, filled with spirit and playfulness, had given a soft blink in Chen Ping’an’s direction. He still couldn’t forget the image.

‘Why?’

‘Why wasn’t it me!?’

‘ARGH!’

Even with his state of mind, he couldn’t remain indifferent to the favor of a Grandmaster.

A whirlwind of emotions churned within Zhong Zeyu, and he struggled to suppress them.

Chen Ping’an found Zhong Zeyu’s behavior a bit strange and couldn’t help but ask, “Lord Zhong, are you… all right?”

“Ah!” Zhong Zeyu froze for a moment, then snapped back to reality and forced a smile. “It’s… it’s nothing.”

He gave a dry laugh and quickly changed the subject.

“Did Lord Chen’s unit suffer any casualties?”

Although Chen Ping’an found it odd, he had no intention of probing further. He simply shook his head. “We didn’t encounter much resistance on our way here. No casualties.”

“That’s good to hear,” Zhong Zeyu said woodenly, the previous thoughts still swirling in his mind.

As they spoke, he couldn’t help but size up Chen Ping’an a few more times.

‘How many detours in life could a man avoid with favor like that?!’

The more they talked, the more Chen Ping’an felt that Zhong Zeyu’s gaze was strange. After a few more exchanges, he lost the desire to continue the conversation.

“Lord Chen, I’m from the Red Sun Town Guard Department…”

The people nearby suddenly crowded over, bowing and greeting Chen Ping’an, their previous coldness completely gone.

The conversation between Chen Ping’an and Zhong Zeyu had clearly allowed the others to guess his identity.

The rising star of the Canglong Province Garrison Command, the prodigy from the Rising Star Chart, the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Weishui Garrison, Mang Blade Chen Ping’an!

Since they approached him so warmly, Chen Ping’an didn’t embarrass them, exchanging a few pleasantries.

As he was speaking with them, Chen Ping’an’s eyes flashed. He sensed two familiar auras approaching.

Standing in the center, Cloud Concealed Sword Feng Wuhen and Breaking Army Saber Situ Ba both stirred and looked in the same direction.

“Qing Chan.”

A look of delight appeared on Cloud Concealed Sword Feng Wuhen’s face, his smile as warm and pleasant as a spring breeze.