The Great Martial Saint!

Chapter 780 Chen's Blade: Life and Death (Part 2) (Seeking monthly votes)
"Which other forces haven't arrived yet?"

Inside the main hall, Chen Ping'an sat high on the head table, questioning Shen Huiqing who was standing to one side.

"My lord, the Hengshan Sect, the Wenxin Sword Pavilion, and the garrisons from various states have not yet arrived. As for the Chamber of Commerce..." Shen Huiqing stood aside and answered Chen Ping'an's question in a low voice.

At this moment, there were only a few guests scattered around the main hall, but Shen Huiqing's actions still attracted their attention.

Seeing this, everyone's eyes flickered, and they had different thoughts.

"Okay." Chen Ping'an nodded slightly and said no more.

He didn't want to pay too much attention to the minor details of the welcoming ceremony. He only focused on the most important aspects.

Shen Huiqing served for a while, and seeing that Chen Ping'an did not have any other tasks to perform, she took her leave.

It's inappropriate for her to be here so early before the welcoming ceremony has even started. As the organizers, it's better to have one or two important figures outside to ensure that the process goes smoothly.

Furthermore, having representatives from major powers present facilitates pleasantries and exchanges. Otherwise, if their statuses are not equal, casual conversation will be difficult. This could at least affect the other party's mood, or even negatively impact the direction of the deliberations.

Although the welcoming celebration was held hastily, it was of extremely high standard and everything was arranged flawlessly.

As time went on, the number of visiting guests also increased.

"Lord Leng of Xuanling Prefecture, here to present a thousand-year-old medicinal herb!"

"Elder Chen of Tianwu Pavilion in Xuanling Prefecture has arrived! Congratulations!"

"Xiaguang Prefecture, Commander Lan, Garrison Commander Lan, have arrived! Congratulations!"

"."

The arrival of Lan Wentai from Xiaguang Prefecture drew considerable attention from those present. Among the five prefectures, Xiaguang Prefecture was the strongest, and Lan Wentai was a martial arts grandmaster who was comparable to, or even briefly rivaled, Fengyun. In terms of combat prowess and reputation, he could easily rank among the top five grandmasters in Xuanling City. If he were in peak condition, he might even have a chance to break into the top three.

Such figures naturally attract much attention.

"Lan Wentai, he's here too? He really takes this seriously!"

"After all, he's a rising star!"

"Although Mang Dao has a considerable reputation, he is still just a junior! No matter how strong his combat power is, he is only barely at the peak. Lan Wentai, why didn't you find a deputy to replace him?"

"A deputy? Don't be ridiculous, he needs a deputy too."

"Shh, keep your voice down, don't cause me any trouble."

"."

Amidst the whispers and murmurs, Lan Wentai strode confidently to the outside of the main hall. While martial arts grandmasters could fly, flying was strictly prohibited within Xuanling City, and this place was a celebration venue; such an act was undoubtedly a provocation.

"Lord Lan, it's been a few days since I last saw you. You seem to have improved quite a bit!" Shen Huiqing greeted him with a smile.

Given Lan Wentai's status, there were only a handful of people present who could speak to him in such a manner. Clearly, Shen Huiqing was one of them. Normally, Shen Huiqing wouldn't act this way, but today was the adults' celebration, and her face naturally showed joy.

Seeing that only Shen Huiqing came out to greet him, a hint of dissatisfaction flashed in the depths of Lan Wentai's eyes. However, it quickly disappeared, and he remained calm, cupping his hands slightly: "Lord Shen is too kind. I have been stuck in a bottleneck for many years, how could I break through it in just a few days?"

As they spoke, he took the initiative to ask, bringing up Chen Ping'an: "Why is it that only Lord Shen is here? Where is Lord Chen? I'd like to come and witness the brilliance of this newly promoted Grandmaster!"

Lan Wentai spoke calmly, but there was always a hint of something indescribable in his words.

Upon hearing this, Shen Huiqing remained expressionless and chuckled softly, "Lord Chen is currently inside the hall, chatting with the guests. Lord Lan can easily find out by moving around a bit."

"Lord Lan, please."

Shen Huiqing's expression was natural and her demeanor was proper, showing no resentment whatsoever, which made Lan Wentai, who was observing closely, slightly stunned.

Putting himself in Shen Huiqing's shoes, if he were the new garrison commander, he might not have the same mindset.

He had known Shen Huiqing for several years and did not consider her to be the kind of person who would submit to others or be content with such a situation. In fact, in a sense, he had always felt that Shen Huiqing was the same kind of person as him.

But given the current situation...
Lan Wentai hesitated slightly.

Why is this?

In a flash, Lan Wentai also entered the main hall and immediately saw the figure sitting high at the head of the table.

As he looked up, the other person was also looking at him.

"Lord Lan, I have long admired your name. I heard of you when I first arrived here, and it is truly my honor to have you here today."

"Lord Chen, you flatter me." Lan Wentai cupped his hands slightly: "Lord Chen is a prodigy at a young age. He has only been cultivating for ten years, yet he has achieved such success. I am ashamed."

Chen Ping'an smiled but did not answer. Instead, he looked at Shen Huiqing to the side and said, "Huiqing, pour Lord Lan a cup of wine."

"Yes, sir." Shen Huiqing said with a smile. Under the astonished gazes of Lan Wentai and everyone else present, the wine cup was suspended in the air, the wine swirling around, as if she had indeed poured a cup of wine for Lan Wentai.

Is this Shen Huiqing?
"Lord Lan, please." Shen Huiqing gently raised her hand, and a cup of wine floated through the air and landed steadily on Lan Wentai's long table.

Looking at the wine in front of him, Lan Wentai was surprised and confused for a moment.

What exactly happened that made Shen Huiqing so obedient?

Is it possible?
What leverage have they been given?
"Lord Lan, my master has spoken, please don't put me in a difficult position!" Shen Huiqing's beautiful eyes sparkled, and her charming smile made Lan Wentai feel somewhat unfamiliar with her.

Is this really Shen Huiqing?
Look how it's turned out!
Lan Wentai raised his wine glass and glanced at Chen Ping'an, who was seated at the head of the table.

What does he look like?

"Lord Chen, you are too kind. I, Lan, will not accept such hospitality." Lan Wentai, dressed in a brocade robe, downed the wine in his cup in one gulp, suppressing the turmoil in his heart.

The current situation seems different from what he had imagined before he arrived. He has temporarily suppressed his thoughts and is waiting to see how things develop.

"This brute knife"

The people in the room were in turmoil, feeling that the man in front of them was not quite what they had imagined.

Shen Huiqing's attitude and reaction were particularly surprising.

What merits does this new garrison commander possess that would make the usually domineering Shen Huiqing act this way?

Judging from his appearance, there was no sign of forced effort, but rather genuine respect and obedience.

Shen Huiqing. Submission?

What exactly happened?
Amidst the hustle and bustle, guests arrived one after another. By this time, all those who had arrived were truly important guests of Xuanling City.

Such as the garrison commanders of each state, and representatives of some large forces.

However, not every prefecture's garrison commander personally attends the garrison's affairs. In Yanlie Prefecture, for example, the second-in-command, the deputy garrison commander, participates on behalf of the prefecture.

Among the various forces, it's not always the top leader who comes; sometimes it's just the core figures within the force.

However, regardless of the circumstances, it's still plausible. After all, the top leader can't be available all the time, and if the second-in-command is chosen to replace him, all parties can understand.

These guests had different purposes and different feelings, but once they entered the main hall, their thoughts were inevitably affected.

No matter who visited, the newly appointed Xuanling Garrison Commander, Chen Ping'an, the ruthless swordsman, never came out to greet them.

This made many people feel slighted, or perhaps they felt that the newly appointed garrison commander was too arrogant!? He was still inexperienced and yet so arrogant; he was nothing more than a shallow and naive junior.

But then, as people watched the scene unfold, their focus shifted.

Shen Huiqing's respectful, obedient demeanor, in particular, stirred up many people's emotions, making it difficult for them to accept for a moment.

this.
What's wrong?
This is still Shen Huiqing, how could she be so subservient? Especially in front of so many outlying garrison commanders and powerful figures from the capital, she wouldn't act like this, would she?
Looking at Chen Ping'an behind the high platform table, his expression was calm, his eyes like deep pools. Although his words were polite, his demeanor carried an air of indifference and detachment. His words to Shen Huiqing were neither a show of condescension nor an arrogant display of power; there was only endless calmness and indifference.

Often, a simple word would suffice to elicit a detailed report from Shen Huiqing, who spoke softly and gently, her voice always cheerful and smiling. While waiting, they even witnessed the usually assertive Shen Huiqing, with a flick of her sleeve and a delicate hand, personally pouring wine for Chen Ping'an like a maid.

Most importantly, this action was not forced upon the other party, but rather done spontaneously by Shen Huiqing. While pouring the wine, she laughed and chatted happily, clearly content with the occasion.

Shen Huiqing's humble and subservient behavior far exceeded everyone's expectations.

Some of the familiar representatives looked at each other, their feelings a mix of complex and indescribable emotions.

Who exactly is this Chen Ping'an, the brute? Is it really true, as rumored, that a powerful figure from the Northern Territory has taken a liking to him?

Chen Ping'an could naturally sense Shen Huiqing's intention to use this occasion to promote him. Although he felt it was unnecessary, seeing Shen Huiqing enjoying herself, he didn't stop her. By this time, representatives from various forces within Xuanling City had basically all arrived. Including the various state garrison offices, only the representatives of Hengshan Sect and Wenxin Sword Pavilion remained who hadn't yet truly arrived.

These two forces are on a much higher level than ordinary forces, and they have always acted this way. The people present didn't seem to care.

Previously, they had wondered if there would be any unexpected events during the ceremony, such as internal power struggles within the Azure Dragon base. However, seeing Shen Huiqing's actions, their plans seemed doomed.

This ceremony was primarily a public appearance for the newly appointed garrison commander, Chen Ping'an, allowing him to formally meet everyone in a respectable setting. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, nothing else is likely to happen in this setting.

As time passed, the representative of the Sword Pavilion arrived in the main hall. The representative from the Sword Pavilion was an elderly man with white hair, who was the second-in-command in the Sword Pavilion's headquarters in Xuanling Heavy City.

Compared to other forces, the Wenxin Sword Pavilion reacted most strongly to Chen Ping'an's failure to greet them. Unlike others who remained silent in their dissatisfaction, this elder of the Wenxin Sword Pavilion expressed his attitude directly, which, while not exactly confrontational, certainly conveyed the same sentiment.

"To see a guest but not greet him—is this how Lord Chen treats guests?"

Chen Ping'an glanced at him indifferently, but before he could say anything, news came out from outside the door that the Hengshan Sect had come to offer their congratulations.

"Elder Shi of Hengshan Sect has arrived!"

"Elder Shi?"

"Shi Panyue, why is it him?"

"."

The atmosphere, which had been somewhat somber, became lively as the crowd began to discuss the matter.

Shi Panyue, an elder in charge of the Hengshan Sect, specializes in physical cultivation. He has mastered several external martial arts techniques and even created a unique secret technique. While his combat prowess is not outstanding among top-tier grandmasters, he can only be considered barely top-tier. However, in terms of physical strength and external defense, he is quite unique.

In a direct confrontation, even someone like Lan Wentai, if he were to personally take action, would not be able to defeat him in a short period of time.

Most practitioners of the Yokoyama Sect are like this. They value physique and strength, possessing immense power and resilient bodies. Among those of the same level, they are considered a rather difficult type to deal with.

The Black Rock Monster of the Hengshan Sect is a representative figure of this kind.

As a top-tier pseudo-celestial being, with his terrifying physique, he was even able to directly confront two celestial beings of the same realm to a certain extent. If it weren't for his slightly weaker divine soul power, he would probably truly be considered the pinnacle of pseudo-celestial beings.

Of course, for most people, the key point of the information wasn't that. Shi Panyue was a resident of Xuanling City, and many in the room were quite familiar with him. What was truly intriguing was that, although Shi Panyue was the representative of the Hengshan Sect in Xuanling, he only ranked third in the official decision-making hierarchy within the sect.

He ranked third, which is the so-called third-in-command.

At the welcoming ceremony for the newly appointed Xuanling Garrison Commander, Mangdao Chen Ping'an, the Hengshan Sect's outpost in Xuanling only had one third-in-command present.

The attitudes expressed here are thought-provoking.

This was the first time a third-in-command had appeared as a representative among the guests from various factions. The other factions either had their top leaders, who were the decision-makers, attend in person, or sent their second-in-commands to represent them.

This is the first time such a situation has occurred.

"Shi Panyue?" Upon hearing the news from the Hengshan Sect representative, Shen Huiqing's expression changed instantly. Her eyes flashed with murderous intent, her expression turned cold, and she seemed to exude a domineering aura. She was completely different from the gentle woman who had previously served tea and water to Chen Ping'an.

This scene naturally attracted the attention of some guests.

Distracted by this incident, the elder of the Sword Pavilion stopped his outburst, his face showing displeasure, and sat down behind the long table.

Chen Ping'an's gaze slowly fell on the entrance of the palace.

At the entrance of the hall, a burly man with dark skin and a tall, muscular build, standing like an iron tower, walked in. His broad shoulders resembled two giant doors, and his thick arms seemed capable of easily crushing boulders. His thighs were like two thick pillars, and with each step he took, the ground trembled slightly.

"Hahaha, what a lively scene!" The newcomer's voice was rough and booming, like a giant jar that made the space tremble: "So many esteemed guests, I, Shi, am very polite."

Shi Panyue spoke politely, but as he spoke, a wave of energy surged forth, and a powerful surge of blood and qi emanated from him, revealing the most primal and pure immense power.

Grandmasters, having achieved a certain level of mastery, may not possess the same immense power as Celestials, whose power resides within themselves, but even their simplest gestures are filled with terrifying, boundless strength. Especially at their level, having progressed far beyond the ranks of Grandmasters, even the slightest ripples can stir up waves of energy and create surging tides.

As with the representatives from various parties who came before, regardless of their inner thoughts, their outward attitudes were generally acceptable. Even the elders from the Sword Pavilion before only exchanged verbal sparring and expressed their dissatisfaction, without actually taking any action.

However, Shi Panyue's attitude was clearly somewhat excessive. To be precise, it might not even be Shi Panyue's attitude.

Given the current situation, this probing intent is all too obvious.

"Shi Panyue!" Shen Huiqing's face turned cold, and she snapped, "What do you think this place is?!"

"Ah?" Shi Panyue laughed gruffly, seemingly carefree: "I have just broken through and my power is not under control for a moment. Some fluctuations have dissipated. Lord Shen, please don't take offense."

Despite this, Shi Panyue showed no remorse whatsoever. He sat down behind a long table, seemingly oblivious to everyone else.

His figure was as imposing as a stone gate, occupying most of the table. Only after he sat down did he raise his head to look at the head of the hall: "This must be Lord Chen. It is said that Lord Chen is exceptionally talented and has amazing abilities. Meeting you today, I can confirm that he is indeed extraordinary."

As they spoke, Shi Panyue poured himself a pot of wine: "Oh, by the way, I have been impolite and have not yet met Lord Li Chen. Consider this cup of wine my apology."

As soon as he finished speaking, Shi Panyue drank it all in one gulp, then raised his cup to show his respect: "Lord Chen, please don't be offended. I am just a rough man, I don't understand the intricacies of celebrations, that's just my temper. Please forgive my rudeness."

"A brute?"

Chen Pingan gently raised his eyes, his expression remaining calm.

It seems like I haven't heard that name in a long time. Now, recalling it, I feel quite nostalgic.

"Shi Panyue!" Shen Huiqing's face was as cold as ice, her voice icy. She was nearing her limit of endurance. If it weren't for the grand ceremony, she probably would have already lost her temper.

"Huiqing." Chen Ping'an gently gestured and comforted her, "It's alright, the guest is the guest."

Although Shen Huiqing was indignant, she suppressed her emotions when she saw the adults speak.

This gesture naturally drew the attention of everyone present. Especially the few who arrived later, who looked at Shen Huiqing with astonishment, as if they had discovered a new continent.

Seeing Shen Huiqing's reaction, Shi Panyue was also slightly surprised. However, thinking of the purpose of this trip, the slight thought quickly disappeared.

He slammed his hand on the long table, making the teacups rattle. His expression was rough, and he laughed loudly, "Hahaha, Lord Chen is indeed straightforward, just to my liking!"

"I have been diligently practicing recently and have just made some progress. I am itching to practice. How about after the ceremony, Lord Chen and I have a friendly spar?"

Shi Panyue's laughter was rough and loud, and his large, bell-like eyes stared directly at Chen Ping'an, who sat at the head of the table. His gaze was intense, almost predatory.

Inside the main hall, everyone sat high up, looking at the scene before them, each with their own thoughts.

Regardless, Shi Panyue's actions were undeniably provocative. But whether Shi Panyue's actions were rude or provocative, for Chen Ping'an, this situation was like an arrow on a bowstring, something he had no choice but to release.

Regardless of how things unfold afterward, the current situation resembles a coup d'état, a sudden and unexpected challenge in front of everyone.

Shi Panyue was proficient in external martial arts, so even if the two sides were of equal strength, it was extremely easy for them to engage in a fierce battle.

As the third most influential figure in the Hengshan Sect's headquarters, Shi Panyue would be in an invincible position regardless of victory or defeat in this challenge. However, for Chen Ping'an, the reality was quite different.

The two sides have completely different bargaining chips, and the costs are also very different.

If Chen Ping'an's response to the invitation is slightly wrong, he will be at a loss for words and lose all face.

Inside the main hall, everyone sat in silence, awaiting Chen Ping'an's reply.

Chen Ping'an remained calm, lowering his eyes and keeping silent for a moment.

"What? Is Lord Chen afraid?" Shi Panyue sneered, using a provocation tactic: "Don't worry, Lord Chen, it's just a little sparring, and we'll determine who is better."

"I am a little older than you, and I will not humiliate you. If I cannot defeat you after a hundred moves, then we shall stop here. What do you say?"

Having said that, Shi Panyue's eyes burned like furnaces as he stared intently at her, exerting an invisible pressure.

"I see."

Chen Pingan chuckled softly.

Just when Shi Panyue thought Chen Ping'an was being forced into a corner and had no choice but to agree, he saw Chen Ping'an's gaze lower, his eyes like abysses, unfathomable: "But..."

Chen Ping'an's expression was indifferent, devoid of any emotion.

"Chen's sword never distinguishes between superior and inferior, but only between life and death."

After he finished speaking, the hall fell silent.

(End of this chapter)