Daqian Martial Saint

A flash of Spiritual Light passed over her fingertip and probed deep into his brow. Just like before. Only this time, the two of them had switched roles.

The tables had well and truly turned!

Chen Ping’an lay on the ground, not daring to move a muscle. With the help of his Golden Finger Panel, his ability to hide his aura and Realm had reached a perfect state. But he couldn’t reveal the slightest flaw himself, or else, with Gu Qingchan’s keen perception, she would instantly see through his disguise.

’Profound Light High Realm! His Cultivation has reached Perfection, just one step shy of the Grandmaster Realm.’ Gu Qingchan wasn’t satisfied with the result of a single probe. She checked again and again before finally confirming Chen Ping’an’s Martial Arts Realm.

She was intensely curious about the identity of the man who had saved her. She couldn’t overlook any possibility, no matter how remote.

Under such a meticulous examination, it was impossible for even a Grandmaster to hide their Cultivation from her. Since Chen Ping’an’s Cultivation hadn’t entered the Grandmaster Realm, she could rule out her suspicions about him.

That said, Chen Ping’an’s mid-battle breakthrough meant that, at his young age, he now possessed the combat strength of someone on the Dragon and Tiger Chart. His future prospects were promising.

Because of this, his ranking on the Rising Star Chart would probably change again.

However, these were minor matters to Gu Qingchan. To a Top Grandmaster, even the most dazzling, talented rising star was little more than a topic of casual conversation.

’No serious injuries. He must have been knocked out by the aftershock of the battle.’ A glint flashed in Gu Qingchan’s eyes. She pointed a finger from a distance, and a stream of pale blue True Essence flowed into Chen Ping’an’s body.

’Here it comes!’

Feeling the True Essence enter his body, Chen Ping’an tensed inwardly. ’Gu Qingchan is about to wake me up. This is the real test of my acting.’

Chen Ping’an didn’t wake up immediately. Instead, he carefully timed it, rousing himself at just the right moment as the True Essence circulated within him.

The instant he woke, Chen Ping’an shot to his feet. A light surged from the Earth Crocodile Golden Flame Saber, which he had gripped tightly even in his unconscious state.

’Waking up, looking around in a daze, and only then reacting? That would be too fake. For someone who constantly walks the line between life and death, whose last memory was a battle, the first instinct upon waking must be to ensure my own safety. With someone standing right in front of me, the only logical response is a counterattack. No matter what, I have to strike first and create some distance!’

VMMMM—

The light on Chen Ping’an’s saber vibrated. He was just about to strike when he suddenly realized the person standing before him was someone he knew.

”E-Elder Gu...” Chen Ping’an’s expression turned to shock as he forced his attack to a halt.

Chen Ping’an’s entire reaction was a perfect, flawless performance.

Gu Qingchan stood before Chen Ping’an without much of a reaction. To her, even if Chen Ping’an had managed to complete his strike, it wouldn’t have posed much of a threat.

Though her injuries had yet to heal, it would be laughable if she couldn’t even block a hasty strike from Chen Ping’an.

Therefore, Gu Qingchan was utterly unconcerned by Chen Ping’an’s attack. Seeing that he was awake, her gaze was cool as her delicate, crisp voice sounded.

”You’re quite lucky. Your mid-battle breakthrough is what saved your life.”

Hearing this, Chen Ping’an first feigned a look of surprise, then immediately clasped his hands in a fist-and-palm salute and performed a deep bow. ”Ping’an thanks Elder Gu for her immense grace. I will engrave this great kindness in my heart. If not for Elder Gu’s intervention, Ping’an would surely be dead.”

Gu Qingchan hadn’t expected such a display from Chen Ping’an. Truth be told, she had already given up on him at the last moment. Although she had provided some help, Chen Ping’an had mainly saved himself.

However, seeing Chen Ping’an’s solemn and sincere expression, her own face softened slightly.

”There is no need for thanks. If you must thank someone, thank yourself. If not for your flash of insight and your mid-battle breakthrough, you would not have escaped this calamity.”

”Elder Gu, if not for your righteous intervention, even with my breakthrough, Ping’an would have been no match for that Ten Thousand Demon Thief. That I was able to escape with my life is all thanks to your help! This is a kindness Ping’an can never forget. I will cherish it in my heart and reflect on it always,” Chen Ping’an insisted, his hands still clasped, his expression full of sincerity.

Gu Qingchan was inwardly quite satisfied with Chen Ping’an’s reaction.

When cultivating the younger generation, no one wants to raise a petty person who forgets kindness in the face of profit. This boy, Chen Ping’an, valued sentiment and loyalty. It seemed her heavy bet on him had not been in vain.

”You may rise,” Gu Qingchan’s tone was slightly softer, and her expression looked much better than before.

”Thank you, Elder Gu.” Chen Ping’an thanked her loudly before finally rising to his feet.

He noted the change in Gu Qingchan’s tone. ’If you want to get along with your superiors, one key is to constantly acknowledge their kindness, as long as your words have substance. You must not be stingy with expressions of loyalty and gratitude on appropriate occasions. By doing this repeatedly, you can become a trusted confidant.’

Although Chen Ping’an had no intention of becoming Gu Qingchan’s confidant, his public identity required him to cling tightly to her powerful thigh. This recent attempt had yielded gratifying results.

’Little Qing Chan... wrapped around my finger. Handled!’

Chen Ping’an’s expression remained composed as he thought this inwardly.

But for some reason, when the word ”handled” came to mind, a different image suddenly flashed through his head. A beautiful woman, her face flushed crimson, her expression bewitching, her palace dress torn, and a sudden splash of red.

Chen Ping’an’s thoughts began to drift, and the images in his mind gradually turned inappropriate. He quickly reined in his thoughts, focused his mind, and took the initiative to speak.

”Elder Gu, that Ten Thousand Demon Thief from before... did you already kill him?” Chen Ping’an asked, despite already knowing the answer.