The Great Martial Saint!

Chapter 779 Chen's Blade: Only Life and Death Matters (Part 1) (Seeking monthly votes at the beginning of the month)
A few days passed in the blink of an eye.

Within Xuanling City, especially among high-end social circles, the most talked-about news recently is the welcome ceremony for the new Xuanling Garrison Commander, the ruthless swordsman Chen Ping'an.

The Xuanling Garrison Commander, acting on behalf of the state to control Xuanling's interests, is a true giant in Xuanling Heavy City.

Chen Ping'an, the then-garrison commander, took up his post in Xuanling and made his first public appearance in front of various forces, engaging in social interactions. Regardless of what people thought, this matter was undoubtedly one of the more important things that had happened in Xuanling City recently.

Whether Chen Ping'an, the ruthless swordsman, is here to gain experience or just to be a figurehead, he still deserves the respect due to him.

Among them were even representatives from various forces who came to admire the prowess of the rising stars.

Of course, these representatives are mostly small and medium-sized forces within the city. For the truly large forces, who have already entered the arena of competition, their perspectives on this matter tend to be more nuanced.

Some attended the ceremony to verify the rumors, while others wanted to further test the attitude of the Azure Dragon's garrison. Various forces, each with their own schemes and purposes, came to participate in this high-profile welcoming celebration.

"The new garrison commander? I'd like to have a go at him!"

"Someone, prepare the carriage. Let this old man witness the prowess of the then-promising prodigy!"

"A martial arts grandmaster who is not even twenty-eight years old, that's really something to look forward to!"

"Welcome ceremony! Perfect opportunity to meet these old guys and see what they're thinking."

"Chen Ping'an, the 'Wild Blade,' is secondary. The main thing is to see what Shen Huiqing's attitude is. Also, is the power structure of the Azure Dragon Garrison as rumored?"

"He's given us all the respect we deserve. I wonder if he can give us the respect we want!"

"."

It was still early, but many representatives of various factions had already set off ahead of time, heading to the celebration venue to witness the demeanor of the newly appointed garrison commander of the Azure Dragon. Of course, they were also undoubtedly harboring their own schemes, testing each other's reactions, and making early calculations.

hum~
Inside the quiet room of the Xuanling Mountain residence, Chen Ping'an sat cross-legged, his divine soul power rippled, and his body was tinged with a light blue halo, making him appear gentle and radiant.

A sudden tremor of light rippled through the quiet room, and Chen Ping'an slowly opened his eyes.

A golden finger panel instantly appeared in front of them, reflected in the void.

Name: Chen Ping'an
Realm: Celestial Being 1st Realm - Pivotal Light Realm
武学：青阳血炼法小成（0/15360）颠鸾倒凤·阴阳枢入门（225/8640）、广寒剑法（残篇）小成（0/7680）、狂雷刀法入门（0/2160）太虚御风步大成（2005/14400）、七绝禁法圆满、七杀天罡拳圆满、霸刀圆满、万魔铸身诀圆满
Secret Technique: Soul-Guiding Incantation
“2005 points.” Chen Ping’an’s eyes flashed, a hint of joy appearing on his face.

After several days of cultivation, his progress in the Taixu Wind-Riding Step was quite gratifying. As his Celestial Realm became completely stable, his method of cultivating with the power of his divine soul became increasingly proficient. With the assistance of the precious Snow Spirit Leaf, his progress in cultivating the Taixu Wind-Riding Step was even faster than previously expected.

At this rate, it will only take four or five months to complete it.

Chen Ping'an's eyes flickered, and the golden finger panel in front of him disappeared.

hum~
With a flick of his sleeve, the Azure Flame Four Directions Command Flags swirling in all directions vanished, disappearing into his pocket.

In the past few days, apart from practicing the Tai Xu Wind Control Step, he devoted the rest of his energy to refining the Illusion Dream Pearl, studying the Soul Guiding Technique, and researching the inheritance of the restriction.

With the blessing of divine soul power, the refinement of the Dream Pearl is progressing very well; nearly half of the spiritual runes on the second chain have already been activated. At this rate, it will take at most another month to completely break free of the second chain.

At that time, his refining progress will advance further, and the power of the Dream Pearl will also be amplified.

Previously, the bewitching power of the pearl, activated by his divine soul, was enough to affect even Martial Dao Celestials. If it could be further enhanced, the effect would clearly not disappoint Chen Ping'an.

The study of the Soul Guiding Technique proceeded step by step. However, as the study progressed, Chen Ping'an increasingly felt that this secret technique was incomplete, and quite incomplete at that.

After much study, his progress wasn't great, but it was still far better than standing still. All in all, he was making progress every day.

Comparatively speaking, Chen Ping'an gained more from studying the inheritance of forbidden techniques. He had previously purchased a book on the introductory aspects of forbidden techniques in Hengshanfang, and in recent days, he had compared the two and explored them together, and had also figured out some of the intricacies.

Although there is still a considerable distance to go before I can fully grasp the basics of the research, the process has clearly been shortened considerably with the help of the initial unblocking of restrictions.

The first restriction Chen Ping'an studied was a tracking restriction recorded above. It could be easily marked and used for tracking by borrowing the power of the mark.

Overall, its effect is rather shallow. Even if it is successfully executed, it is easy to be discovered. However, if it can be executed, it will be a milestone for Chen Ping'an's mastery of restrictions.

hum~
With a surge of spiritual power, the isolation barrier within the quiet room instantly dimmed.

"Time." Chen Ping'an slowly stood up, his eyes as calm as a still pool: "It's about time."

The welcoming ceremony for the newly appointed garrison commander, Chen Ping'an, was held in a lakeside mansion.

The mansion was extremely large, with numerous buildings, pavilions, and palaces, creating a magnificent and imposing scene.

Early in the morning, guests arrived one after another, making it a lively and bustling place.

These are all representatives of forces within Xuanling City. As a renowned commercial city in Bi Cang, Xuanling City naturally has numerous forces within its borders. Even though Shen Huiqing had screened the list of invited guests when organizing this ceremony, given the sheer number of participants, quite a few forces were still qualified to attend and celebrate.

"Fellow Daoist Lin, it's been a long time!"

"Haha, Fellow Daoist Li."

"Brother Wang, how have you been? It's been a while since we last met."

"."

Amidst the warm greetings from all sides, the sound of congratulatory gifts being passed around the door could be heard from time to time.

"Jinsha Gate, one thousand-year-old medicinal herb, and ten portions of premium spiritual cinnabar."

"The Xuanling Lin family, one hundred catties of high-grade refined ore."

"."

As the chants continued, more and more representatives entered the ceremony.

"We've arrived!" Among the guests entering the elegant garden, a man dressed in a black robe gazed at the distant scenery.

"Thank you very much, Brother Tie, for the introduction." Standing beside the man was an elderly man with gray hair, a look of gratitude on his face.

"It's no trouble at all, just a small favor." A smile appeared on the black-robed man's face. "Lord Shen should be in the hall ahead. However, right now is the busiest time with guests coming and going, so the introduction can wait until the ceremony begins and Lord Shen has some free time."

"I'll leave it to Brother Tie's arrangements." The old man flattered him, "Brother Tie's connections are truly extraordinary; you've even managed to become acquainted with someone like Lord Shen."

We can't be considered close acquaintances, but we've had the good fortune to meet a few times and we've gotten along fairly well.

The man in black robes waved his hand slightly, a hint of smugness in his eyes.

That day, he spoke at length about Shen Huiqing, which caught her attention. She offered to introduce him to Shen Huiqing for a fee. After careful consideration, he decided to accept the offer.

This acceptance further convinced those around him that his relationship with Shen Huiqing was quite special; otherwise, why would he have acted so rashly?

Introducing someone is no simple matter. It requires not only contacting the other party but also having enough face to gain their approval of the new relationship.

Such matters are numerous, but if one has a strong foundation and extensive connections, one can make good use of them and reap great benefits.

This leads to a series of high-level transactions within certain circles. In important commercial cities, there are specialized circles that introduce alchemists and blacksmiths, taking a cut of the profits during the transaction. Due to personal relationships, the operation must be handled very carefully; not just anyone can do it. Even if there was prior acquaintance, improper handling could gradually weaken the relationship after several interactions, eventually leading to a complete severing of ties.

In fact, under normal circumstances, he wouldn't have dared to accept this task. He had indeed met Shen Huiqing, but their relationship and familiarity were far from what he described.

With such a relationship, it's difficult to even exchange a few words, let alone make an introduction.

However, the timing was perfect, as it was the welcoming ceremony for the newly appointed garrison commander, Chen Ping'an, with all the right circumstances in place. He also happened to be among the invited guests, which naturally gave him confidence.

Normally, Shen Huiqing wouldn't talk much, and without connections, even getting a glimpse of her was extremely difficult. Shen Huiqing was busy with official duties; how could just anyone want to see her?
Not to mention asking her to save face and take the time to meet a complete stranger.

To make this happen, the amount of favors and connections required would be immense!
This is also the fundamental reason why the elderly man beside him was willing to pay extra.

If you want people to do you a favor or pull strings, how can you expect them to do you anything without offering something substantial?

"On the day of the ceremony, with guests coming and going, Shen Huiqing, though not fond of small talk, would certainly not be cold. Based on their previous interactions, it wouldn't be difficult for him to go up and exchange a few words. Then, he could use this opportunity to introduce his fellow Daoist to him. As for whether it would ultimately work out, that would depend on whether he could seize the opportunity!"
"Anyway, I've done what I needed to do. The rest is none of my business," the man in black robes thought to himself.

He knew his own situation and, during the previous transaction, he hadn't made any absolute statements, only ensuring that his part wouldn't have any problems. As for the outcome, he couldn't guarantee anything.

After all, according to him, they had only met a few times and got along fairly well, but he had never said anything about being acquainted or familiar.

As the black-robed man's thoughts shifted, the two walked past the surrounding scenery and ventured deeper into the area.

The ceremony was of extremely high caliber, with key personnel and officials stationed in the heavily guarded area, exchanging pleasantries and extending a warm welcome.

However, given Shen Huiqing's status, she clearly wouldn't appear at peripheral events. Those she would entertain would be at least truly large-scale forces within Chongcheng, such as the Tianwu Pavilion or the Xuanling Chamber of Commerce—powers of that caliber.

The ceremony was held in several areas. Guests on the periphery were simply offering their congratulations and hadn't yet had the chance to venture deeper into the hallway. However, he was, after all, a grandmaster of martial arts with some renown, so he wasn't relegated to the periphery.

Given his status, although he couldn't enter the main hall, he was qualified to take a seat in the side hall.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, he easily spotted Shen Huiqing standing outside the main hall. She wore a flowing long dress, and her plain face revealed a hint of assertiveness.

A look of amazement appeared on the face of the man in the black robe.

Although it wasn't the first time he had met her, after many days, seeing Shen Huiqing again still gave him that same feeling of amazement.

Her demeanor was completely different from that of ordinary women; her elegance and grace brought a completely different experience.

At his level, appearance is secondary; what attracts him more is Shen Huiqing's unique and charming temperament.

Especially considering her identity and her consistently assertive style, it's hard not to be captivated, giving rise to an unspeakable desire to conquer her, and imagining what it would be like if such a beauty could one day become a Daoist couple.
"So it is!" The man in black robes was secretly pleased as he looked at the woman standing outside the main hall.

Just as he had guessed, Shen Huiqing was indeed standing outside in this atmosphere. His careful planning and choosing of the opportune time to come had not been in vain.

Since he was going to act as an introducer, he naturally wanted to create as many favorable conditions as possible. Especially since he and Shen Huiqing were not actually acquainted, he needed a suitable atmosphere and timing to make his introduction seem less abrupt.

"They've arrived just in time." Looking at the woman in the distance, the man in the black robe felt reassured.

If Shen Huiqing were inside the main hall, as a guest, he wouldn't necessarily be unable to enter, but his seat wouldn't be there, making his entry extremely awkward. If he were to then approach her to exchange pleasantries, it would be even more abrupt.

It would be far better if the other party happened to be standing outside the main hall, and he could take advantage of his status as a guest to step forward and have a discussion, which would be much more natural.

If Shen Huiqing weren't outside, he might have had to give up this opportunity. Even if Shen Huiqing appeared outside after he took his seat, it would be extremely abrupt for him to get up and come out, making his motives too obvious, which wouldn't be as appropriate as the current atmosphere.

Now that the timing and location are both favorable, this exchange should proceed without any obstacles.

The man in black robes, his mind in turmoil, walked steadily toward the distant main hall.

"Brother Tie, is that Lord Shen Huiqing?"

Looking at the woman in the distance, the elderly man with gray hair also felt a surge of excitement. His focus wasn't so much on Shen Huiqing's beauty, but rather on her identity. If he could successfully make her acquaintance, it would greatly benefit his future endeavors.

“That’s right.” The man in black robes transmitted his voice softly, “Lord Shen is currently quite free. In my opinion, why not go up and exchange a few pleasantries now, and perhaps introduce him to you?”

"Thank you very much, Brother Tie." The old man was overjoyed upon hearing this, his face beaming with delight.

He had some doubts before, but now it seems that Brother Tie's connections are really strong. The celebration has not even officially started yet, but he has already begun to facilitate this matter.

The man in black robes estimated the time and walked forward step by step. As he drew nearer, his expression softened, a smile appeared on his face, and his gaze became warm, as if he wanted to leave a good impression before engaging in conversation.

Shen Huiqing stood in front of the main hall, clearly having already noticed them. At first, her expression was somewhat indifferent, maintaining her outward manners, but suddenly, as if she had seen something, her eyebrows lifted slightly, her eyes brightened, and she smiled, her skirt swaying, as she stepped forward to greet them.

Um! ?

The man in the black robe felt a jolt in his heart, his heart pounding like a drum, instantly filled with intense excitement.

Just then, his gaze softened and he looked over. Their eyes met in mid-air, and Shen Huiqing smiled, her skirt swaying as she came forward to greet him.

This sight startled him, filling him with unexpected joy.

Could it be that.
He was overwhelmed with emotion, his thoughts racing, speculating on possibilities he had never considered before.

Although Shen Huiqing did not explicitly say it during their previous brief meetings, they had indeed hit it off very well.
Otherwise, what would happen if we met again now?

Reason told the man in the black robe that this was unlikely.

But given the current situation, it seems there is no other reason.

Many thoughts were contained in a single thought.

The elderly man with gray hair standing to the side had obviously witnessed the whole process, especially Shen Huiqing's change from indifference to a smile, and then to personally welcoming him. All of this indicated that the railway friend beside him was no ordinary person.

Given Shen Huiqing's status, even if representatives from those top-tier forces were to arrive, she might not be obliged to personally greet them. Given the current situation, Tie Daoyou's relationship with him is likely far deeper than he imagined.

This is far from the mere "barely compatible" level that railway enthusiasts described!
Previously, I felt that this matter might not be settled, but now it seems that with the railway friends involved, this matter is probably a sure thing!
The elderly man with gray hair was overjoyed, feeling as if a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

Unfortunately, his excitement didn't last long before it was abruptly extinguished and dissipated.

"Welcome, Your Excellency." Shen Huiqing gracefully bowed, her long dress trailing on the ground.

The man in black robes was startled and turned his head sharply. He saw a figure appear outside the palace, with a profound demeanor and a tall, upright figure, like an evergreen pine tree, standing between heaven and earth.

"No need for formalities, please rise," the man said calmly, his voice gentle and his expression indifferent.

"Yes, sir." Shen Huiqing smiled and stood up respectfully.

"grown ups?"

The man in black robes stared blankly at the familiar figure before him, feeling a bit dizzy.

Shen Huiqing's direct superior, the newly appointed garrison commander, a rising star.
Chen Ping'an, the valiant swordsman!
"It's not that I said
Has it been sidelined?! What is it now?

Looking at the scene before him, the elderly man with gray hair was also somewhat bewildered.

Respectfully welcoming the worshippers, with smiles on their faces, this is...
Empty! ?
(End of this chapter)