The Great Martial Saint!

hum~
A dazzling light shone around Chen Ping'an, and spiritual patterns, like dark gold tadpoles, swirled and flickered all around him.

Tier 3 Protective Restriction!

Chen Ping'an stared intently for a long time, sensing the intensity with his divine soul.

He had not wasted a single moment of those two weeks. Before taking up his post in Beishan, his mastery of the art of restriction had already reached the near-third level.

His time in Beishan has allowed him to take another step forward, truly entering the third tier.

With his divine soul as a supplementary means, and supported by his realm, he was able to study the restrictions with ease.

Needless to say, he had the forbidden inheritance as a blueprint, so his understanding of it was extremely smooth.

According to Chen Ping'an's own prediction, if he continues to comprehend the current situation, he will not encounter any major bottlenecks or obstacles, at least before reaching the fourth-order restriction.

A fourth-tier restriction is equivalent to a fourth-tier forging or fourth-tier alchemy master. If one is willing, one can easily join a faction and become a respected guest.

As Chen Ping'an's thoughts shifted, he gained more inspiration for his disguise.

After quite some time, the protective light surrounding him gradually faded away.

"The defensive strength is not much. It should be able to withstand the attacks of a senior grandmaster for a long time. If I enhance it with my divine soul, the defensive strength will be raised to another level, and it can withstand the attacks of a top grandmaster. Even a great grandmaster can withstand a single blow."

Chen Ping'an felt a great sense of accomplishment after completing the assessment.

Such power is nothing to him now. It's just a small part of the big picture, but without relying on the power of the control panel, he is quite satisfied with what he has achieved in just a few years through his own research and study.

"I've completed more than half of my training in the Thunderous Blade Technique."

Chen Ping'an's gaze sharpened, and a light screen appeared in front of him.

hum~
Name: Chen Ping'an
Realm: Celestial Realm 2 - Rainbow Penetration Realm (Six Stages)
武学：青阳血炼法小成（13675/15360）颠鸾倒凤·阴阳枢入门（1435/8640）、三分归元真卷小成（0/15360）、无相自在法（残篇）未入门（237/1920）广寒剑法（残篇）大成（0/19200）、狂雷刀法大成（8133/14400）、太虚御风步圆满、七绝禁法圆满、霸刀圆满、万魔铸身诀圆满
Secret Techniques: Soul Suppression Technique, Soul Guiding Technique, Butterfly Dream Bewitching Technique, Illusionary Eye

"My cultivation of the Azure Sun Blood Refinement technique is nearly 90% complete. I still haven't found information on the fourth-tier treasure material, fire-elemental essence. Almost there."
It's time to set off.

Chen Ping'an lowered his gaze for a moment, then his eyes narrowed slightly, and the panel in front of him immediately vanished.

Compared to the Thunderous Blade Technique, the more pressing task now is the Azure Sun Blood Refinement, which involves tempering the bloodline.

The third refinement of Qingyang Blood Refinement is nearing completion, but the fire element essence is still nowhere to be found.

Even though he didn't want to go through all this trouble, he had no choice but to go to Wentian City.

The next day, Chen Ping'an went to his official post as usual. Before he even reached the Beishan Town Garrison, he sensed a streak of light rushing towards him from outside the Great Pass.

"came back?"

Chen Ping'an's heart stirred, and he saw several streaks of light moving in unison among the rolling mountains.

Fang Chengping, Wang Changlie, and others returned from Wenxin Sword Pavilion.

On the same day after the group returned, at dusk, Ying Congyun's carriage, amidst the heavy clouds, entered the Beishan Pass.

Chen Ping'an met the deputy garrison commander of Beishan Pass immediately.

From him, I learned the details and information about this celestial celebration.

"Shen Linyuan, a newly promoted Celestial Being, defeated a veteran Celestial Being from the Hengshan Sect?" Chen Ping'an's eyes shifted, showing slight surprise.

According to Ying Congyun, the Heavenly Ceremony of the Wenxin Sword Pavilion was a grand affair. Representatives from the Bi Cang County Prince's Mansion and various regional overlords had also been sent to attend.

During this celebration, the number of celestial beings who appeared was no less than thirty.

The scale and momentum of this event make it the most exciting event in the Bicang region in the past sixty years.

During the celebration, the newly promoted Celestials, as is customary, sparred to reveal their true abilities. Unexpectedly, this sparring led to a shocking and sensational event.

At the Sword Pavilion, the Supreme Elder Shen Lingyuan displayed his sharp sword intent, debating the Dao with his sword and defeating a Celestial Elder from the Hengshan Sect, causing an uproar throughout the arena.

"The Hei Yue Zhenren of the Hengshan Sect was utterly defeated on the spot, his Hengshan technique completely shattered. If it weren't for the intervention of the Hongfeng Zhenren, he would probably have been seriously injured that day." Ying Congyun's expression was somewhat solemn, as if he were recalling the scene at that time.

"Seriously injured?"

Chen Ping'an had heard of the Black Mountain True Man of the Hengshan Sect. His external martial arts skills surpassed even those of the Black Rock Old Monster. With the added advantage of his Celestial Realm cultivation, ordinary Celestial Realm cultivators could not break through his defenses.

But now, Ying Congyun says he is seriously injured.

"Hmm." Ying Congyun nodded solemnly, unusually lacking his usual nonchalant demeanor: "That sword strike was incredibly powerful, containing profound artistic intent. If it had continued, Master Heiyue would indeed have been seriously injured."

Chen Ping'an hadn't expected Shen Linyuan to possess such combat power. To be able to defeat Hei Yue Zhenren and nearly severely injure him, Shen Linyuan's combat strength was probably approaching that of a Perfected Celestial Realm cultivator.

Once his realm stabilizes, he will likely be hard to defeat below the Heavenly Human Realm.

"He really is a potential swordsman," Chen Ping'an commented.

Ying Congyun glanced at Chen Ping'an in surprise, not expecting to hear such old-fashioned words from him.

"By the way, where is Lord Hou?"

Upon returning, Chen Ping'an did not see Hou Xibai. Could it be that he is still staying at the Sword Inquiry Pavilion?

"Lord Hou left the banquet early and did not return with us." Ying Congyun shook his head.

"Leaving early?" Chen Ping'an asked, somewhat puzzled.

Logically speaking, judging from Hou Xibai's early departure, he shouldn't have left so early. Could something have happened?
Chen Ping'an had his suspicions, but he didn't dwell on the matter.

After learning some more information from Ying Congyun, he bowed respectfully and prepared to take his leave.

"By the way, Lord Chen, there's something that might be related to you," Ying Congyun called out to Chen Ping'an.

"What's the matter?"

How could the Sword Pavilion of Inquiry, Shen Linyuan's Celestial Celebration, possibly be related to him?
Chen Pingan lowered his eyes and looked at Ying Congyun in front of him.

Then, he heard about this matter, which was related to him, from Ying Congyun.

"During the celebration, after defeating the Heavenly Man of Hengshan Sect, Shen Linyuan publicly declared that he wished to use this gift to ask for the hand in marriage with Gu Qingchan, an elder of the Gu family!"

"Proposing to me in public?! This Shen Linyuan is really persistent."

Inside the public room, Chen Ping'an shook his head slightly, recalling what Ying Congyun had said.

During his time with Xuanling, he sensed Shen Linyuan's affection for Gu Qingchan from Shen Linyuan's attitude and reaction.

For example, in a bamboo grove transaction, if there were no intention, why would someone easily introduce someone?

However, Gu Qingchan had no interest in Shen Linyuan. She responded to everything without any pleasantries, maintaining a considerable distance from the goodwill and affection he showed.

During the celebration, Shen Linyuan sparred with Master Heiyue, and as is customary, there was a prize involved.

Shen Linyuan used this ceremony to propose marriage in public, which had a significant impact.

According to Ying Congyun, this has now spread among the celestial beings and humans.

It seems that it won't be long before it spreads and permeates the community.

Chen Ping'an is the son-in-law of the Gu family, a husband of a beautiful woman. Gu Qingchan is an elder of the Gu family. According to Ying Congyun's understanding, Shen Linyuan's public proposal to marry her is more or less related to Chen Ping'an.

Yes, there is a connection.

However, this relationship was much deeper than Ying Congyun had imagined.

A few days later, it turned out that Shen Linyuan's marriage proposal at the celebration was not a spur-of-the-moment decision. The sincerity of the Wenxin Sword Pavilion was conveyed across several states to the Canglong Gu family.

"You want to marry Qingchan?" In the Gu family's elder hall, Elder Lan looked surprised, caught off guard for a moment.

Shen Linyuan, the youngest Supreme Elder of the Wenxin Sword Pavilion, is interested in Qingchan and intends to become her Daoist partner to discuss cultivation together.

“Shen Linyuan.” Elder Heng, standing to the side, looked thoughtful, recalling the figure he had seen in the past.

He had met Shen Linyuan once before. At the Azure Dragon Grand Ceremony, people from all sides gathered. At that time, Shen Linyuan was only a Grandmaster. He had represented the Gu family to communicate with him.

"A martial arts master who is not even three hundred years old, his brilliance is truly astonishing." Elder Yuan said from the side, his words filled with amazement.

Compared to the prodigies on the Hidden Dragon List and the great talents described in biographies and anecdotes, Shen Linyuan of the Asking Heart Sword Pavilion was someone they had actually met and who appeared in real life.

Compared to the former, the latter was undoubtedly more moving. "Elder Hua, Elder Xuan, what do you think of this matter?" an elder asked, looking at Elder Hua and Elder Xuan, who were seated at the head of the table.

The matter of Shen Linyuan's marriage proposal to the Supreme Elder of the Wenxin Sword Pavilion, a martial arts master, is no small matter and requires careful consideration.

However, judging from the momentum, this matter seems to be more beneficial than harmful to the Gu family.

If we can use this opportunity to attract strong support, we will surely be able to sweep away the decline and regain some of our former glory.

Furthermore, this matter was also a fortunate one for Qingchan. Gu Qingchan's progress in the cultivation realm, though extraordinary, always left people with a sense of disbelief. But...
That's a martial arts master!

A celestial being and a Daoist partner—how prestigious is that? Not to mention, at this celebration, it is said that Shen Linyuan, a newly ascended celestial being, defeated a veteran celestial being from the Hengshan Sect.

Such combat prowess is remarkable, and given his age, he may well achieve even greater success in the future.

If they can really establish this relationship through this, it would be a good thing for both Qingchan and the Gu family.

but
This is a matter of great importance, and there are many aspects to consider; a decision cannot be made hastily.

A single misstep could make one a victim in the grand scheme of things.

This matter requires further consideration!

With these thoughts in mind, many elders looked on expectantly, hoping for Elder Hua and Elder Xuan's decision and advice.

The patriarch has neglected family affairs for many years, and Elder Zheng Nan has been in seclusion. In the present situation, only Elder Hua and Elder Xuan can make decisions.

But under these circumstances, they heard a different answer from Elder Hua and Elder Xuan.

"This matter is inappropriate." Old Master Hua sat in his seat and gently shook his head.

Although Elder Xuan did not speak, his attitude was the same as Elder Hua's, indicating that he did not approve of the matter.

This surprised the elders present.

Even those who held neutral opinions, such as Elder Lan and Elder Heng, were somewhat curious at this moment about why Elder Hua had said such a thing.

Although the matter has not yet been finalized, it seems that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. While there are aspects that need to be considered, it is not appropriate to make such a decision.

But Hua Lao was always prudent in his actions, and everyone looked on with anticipation for his reply.

Elder Hua pondered for a while, but couldn't come up with a convincing explanation. Although he offered some words, his overall reasoning clearly failed to convince those present.

“Shen Linyuan intends to marry you, and he publicly declared it at the celebration. He clearly intends to use his influence to pressure you. If we refuse without a suitable reason, there may be unforeseen risks,” Elder Lan said worriedly, listening to Elder Hua’s explanation.

Elder Heng, Elder Yuan, and the others also turned their attention to Elder Xuan, hoping he would say something.

However, Elder Xuan, like Elder Hua, knew about Elder Qingchan's matter. There was a prior agreement with Elder Qingchan that he couldn't speak of it casually. Now, with everyone's gaze upon him, he was naturally in a difficult position.

After a moment's thought, he replied that since it concerned Elder Qingchan, his opinion should be taken into consideration.

This meeting of elders, with this as its theme, has come to a temporary close.

Regarding the marriage proposal from Shen Linyuan to the Supreme Elder of the Wenxin Sword Pavilion and the Martial Dao Celestial, the elders of the Gu family had differing opinions. Some opposed it, believing that this was merely a matter of using one enemy to devour another, and that the slightest misstep could jeopardize the family's peace. Although the Bi Cang Prince's Mansion was embroiled in factional infighting and intended to force all sides to take a stand due to the intense struggle for the Prince's throne, ultimately, as long as the patriarch was still alive and did not explicitly choose sides, this matter would at most diminish the Gu family's influence.

However, rashly aligning themselves with the Sword Inquiry Pavilion would be a truly unpredictable danger. The situation of the Sword Inquiry Pavilion is beyond the control of the Gu family.

Shen Linyuan is a celestial being. If he were to single-mindedly guide the Gu family, and with the marriage alliance in place, what would the Gu family do?
If Shen Linyuan were a rogue cultivator from the Celestial Realm, there might be room for negotiation. However, since Shen Linyuan is backed by the Heart-Questioning Sword Pavilion, his marriage proposal is unlikely to be so simple.

Compared to the opposition, the number of elders who support this matter is undoubtedly much greater.

Although proposing marriage involves risks, all things considered, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, making it worth a try. As for Elder Qingchan's words, they can be taken into account, but ultimately, the interests of the family must be taken into account.

If this matter is beneficial to the family, it is worth a try.

Some elders, like Elder Lan, hold a neutral view. The specifics will require further deliberation by the elders' council.

Regardless of their opinions, they were all acting in the name of the family. The vast majority of them, for the sake of the family's interests, were willing to sacrifice themselves without hesitation, even if it meant...
One's own life.

Under these circumstances, three days later, the Gu family's elders' council convened another meeting for deliberation.

This time was different from before; Gu Qingchan attended.

When asked for her opinion, her attitude was clear: there was no need to bring up the matter again.

When asked about the reason, Gu Qingchan's eyes shone brightly, and her voice was clear and melodious, like a tender new bud, fresh and sweet.

"My heart already belongs to someone else; there's no need to mention the matter of a Daoist partner anymore."

As Gu Qingchan spoke in a clear voice, Old Lan sat to the side, watching her sweet expression and the joyful reverence in her eyes, which sparkled brightly. He had already made up his mind.

Previously, it was rumored that Qingchan had a romantic relationship with a black-robed old monster, and there were rumors circulating for a period of time.

Now it seems that this is probably true.

With such clarity, it's clear that Elder Lan already has a preference in mind.

However, not all elders were like Elder Lan, who valued family matters more than their own feelings. Although he did not want to force Gu Qingchan, he still asked her who the person she loved was.

Gu Qingchan's clear eyes shone brightly, her wide sleeves flowing like clouds, but then her gaze dimmed slightly, and she stared intently for a moment without replying.

Elder Hua and Elder Xuan exchanged a glance, each guessing something from the other's eyes.

Remembering the extraordinary items that Elder Qingchan had brought back, which were traded to the family at a low price. This matter...
The two men's thoughts were shifting, but the atmosphere in the room was already agitated.

Some elders were wavering, their resolve wavering, waiting only for Gu Qingchan to reveal the person before tacitly agreeing to support her. But Gu Qingchan remained silent, which made their stance slightly firmer.

Even more determined individuals, those focused on the family's future, stepped forward to persuade Gu Qingchan to consider the bigger picture.

"Qingchan, I know what you're thinking about this, but how can you express your feelings? The family is now in decline, relying entirely on the ancestor's remaining prestige. The family's succession is also facing a shortage of capable successors. As the hope of the family, you should be aware of the family's current situation."

While Shen Linyuan may not be the ideal match, his status as a martial arts master makes him a powerful ally. If this marriage can be arranged, the family's predicament can be resolved immediately. As for the risks involved, we will discuss them further and determine the terms and conditions. Qingchan, for the sake of the family, please…”

Some elders were deeply moved and empathetic. Having experienced a love affair in the first half of her life, she knew how difficult love was to understand, but the family predicament before her was one she had to resolve.

Some elders stood silently to the side, their eyes filled with hope as they looked at Gu Qingchan.

Qingchan has someone she loves. If Qingchan reveals the other person's identity and name, they are willing to support her and even do their best to help the two get married and become Daoist partners.

But Qingchan remained silent, refusing to reveal the man's identity or name.
There may be more to the story.

Whether it's true, as the rumors suggest, that the concubine was willing but the man was indifferent, or that the goddess had a dream but the king was heartless, or whether the relationship was too complicated to explain to outsiders.

All of this means that even with their support, Qingchan will likely find it difficult to find a partner. Given this, it might be better to let it go for the sake of the family.

The room was filled with heated discussions, and just as Elder Hua, Elder Xuan, and others were about to step in to mediate, they heard Gu Qingchan's clear voice.

"Elders, I understand your intentions. For the sake of your families, a marriage alliance would bring you divine favor. But today..."
I also want to tell you that the Gu family's existence and legacy to this day have never relied on any external forces. Those who use today's predicament as leverage or rely on external forces will one day lose their will and become complacent and weak.

Gu Qingchan had bright, clear eyes, a radiant spirit, and a melodious voice.

"Without relying on external forces, I will naturally become a celestial being and, for the sake of my family, create a prosperous and lasting legacy!"

Gu Qingchan's starry eyes sparkled, and suddenly she raised her sleeves, which billowed like clouds, displaying unparalleled elegance and boundless grace.

hum~
A dazzling, icy blue, a scene of divine beauty, descended with a thunderous roar.

Inside the Gu family elders' hall, all was silent.

One of the elders slammed his fist on the table and stood up, his hair and beard bristling, his eyes wide as if they were copper bells.

"Qingchan, you"

A tearing sound ripped through the silence, instantly transforming into ecstatic joy that resonated throughout the heavens.

May the Gu family be blessed!

"Greetings, Your Majesty!"

"."

On the same day that the Gu family deliberated and made their decision, Chen Ping'an, who was far away in Beishan Pass, also received news that Shen Linyuan, the newly promoted Celestial Being and Supreme Elder of the Wenxin Sword Pavilion, was about to arrive in Beishan Pass.

Accompanying him were Elder Cangjian from the Wenxin Sword Pavilion, a second-realm Celestial Being! (End of Chapter)