The Great Martial Saint!

"What? They refused!"

The message arrived from Feiyu. Elder Cangjian, who had just read the message, looked astonished, clearly not expecting this outcome.

In this marriage proposal, Lin Yuan, with his celestial status, is marrying an elder of the Gu family.
He actually refused?

He calmed himself down, glanced at the information below, and his expression immediately turned furious.

"This is outrageous!"

Elder Cangjian's gaze fixed on the last line of text.

Our clan elders have already chosen their partners; this matter...
Don't mention it again!
This Gu family, this Gu family.
How dare you!
Elder Cangjian's hair and beard bristled, his eyes blazing with fury.

Don't let his years of self-cultivation fool you; back then, he was a man of thunderous and resolute character. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to cleave a mountain with a single sword strike.

Compared to the Elder of Cangjian's fury, Shen Linyuan's reaction was much calmer.

"Do you already have someone you love?"

Shen Linyuan's gaze was calm, but the faint clanging of his longsword betrayed his inner thoughts.

"who is it?"

The Gu family's reaction was strong and resolute, which he had not expected.

According to his plan, this marriage proposal would be more beneficial than harmful to the Gu family. Although he intended to use his superior status to force the issue, the Gu family would most likely agree to it.

Unexpectedly, the other party refused, and refused so decisively, leaving no room for negotiation.

All communication was immediately cut off by saying that the matter should not be brought up again, thus eliminating any possibility of further interaction.

"Lin Yuan, you offered your marriage to a celestial being, giving the Gu family ample face. Yet the Gu family openly refused. Such a stance truly shows a lack of appreciation!"

Although Elder Cangjian glared angrily, he did not show any sign of being enraged.

In some situations, anger is an emotion, but corruption is a sign of incompetence.

"Lin Yuan, how do you plan to handle this matter?"

Elder Cangjian looked away. Their sect's chosen one was always methodical and opinionated, and there were some things he didn't need to worry about.

"How should we handle this?"

Shen Linyuan gently raised his eyes and looked at the vast world of the North Mountain.

His expression was calm, but his eyes, like cold stars, held a sharp edge.

Clang!
The sword rang out with a resounding clang, its intent soaring high.

Some things...
It's meant to be done, not just talked about.

Once he has made up his mind, how could he easily change it?
Gu Qingchan

He gazed at the sky and earth of Beishan, and at the distant, continuous mountain ranges, and his mind made up.

"The Gu family refused?"

"How could it be so fast?"

"Do you have any more details?!"

"Our clan elders have already chosen their partners; let this matter rest! How can you be so resolute!?"

"This sounds like Gu Tianren's doing! The Sword Inquiry Pavilion has miscalculated!"

"Under the watchful eyes of everyone, with overwhelming force, forcing the Gu family to make a decision? Hahaha. This Gu Tianren is not one to be manipulated!"

"Isn't this rejection a bit too harsh? Isn't the Gu family's reaction a bit too extreme?! Normally, even a rejection shouldn't be this harsh!"

"It can't be this bad? Back when Shen Linyuan couldn't reach an agreement, and was pressing him with overwhelming force in front of everyone, didn't he think it shouldn't have come to this?! When he proposed to her in public, did he never consider that he was using his influence to pressure her?"

"That's true. But what is the Gu family relying on to respond like this?"

"Rely on? What do you mean by relying on? That's just Gu Tianren's personality. He hasn't changed in all these years."

"No change? In my opinion, no. If it were back then, with the Sword Pavilion in such a state, he would probably have just taken his sword and gone to their door to ask questions. He wouldn't be Gu Tianren if he didn't teach this junior of the Sword Pavilion a lesson! Now, he's too old."

"You make it sound so easy. Do you really think the Sword Inquiry Pavilion is made of clay?"

"Wait a minute, after all this discussion, am I the only one who noticed the blind spot? Our clan elders have someone they belong to, but who is that person they belong to?"

"Who it is? It doesn't matter who it is, what matters is the Gu family's attitude! Do you really think the Gu family will change its family's stance because of the elders' wishes?"

"Although Gu Qingchan is exceptionally talented, she is still only at the Grandmaster level. Shen Linyuan, who is a Celestial, is seeking her hand in marriage. Logically speaking, this should be a good thing. The Gu family's actions are probably more about not wanting to get involved in the affairs of the Heart-Questioning Sword Pavilion. Their decisive reaction likely has a deeper strategic meaning."

"A deeper meaning to the game theory? Could it be that you're simply overthinking it?"

"Alright, alright, let's stop discussing this and think about tomorrow's Cloud Meeting. I heard that Master Gu will also be attending tomorrow."

"Master Gu!"

"Then this small gathering will likely involve fourth-tier precious pills."

"So, Brother Lan, do you have any ideas?"

"We pseudo-celestial beings dare not covet too much; to gain anything is a blessing."

"."

The Gu family's explicit refusal caused a stir in Beishan Pass.

The Gu family's attitude towards this matter was resolute and clear, and the news spread so quickly that it was impossible to stop it.

Even if the Sword Pavilion wanted to intervene, it would be difficult to silence the public opinion.

However, because this matter involves both the divine and the divine, the news did not spread widely and was limited to the upper and middle circles of Beishan Daguan. The lower and middle circles were unaware of this matter.

Even for cultivators in the middle and upper echelons of society, this matter concerns top-level figures and is a secret that they cannot discuss. Even if they do discuss it occasionally, they are extremely restrained.

However, the core decision-makers from all sides mostly viewed the matter with a spectator's mentality. During the discussion, some people recalled the former prowess of the Gu family's patriarch, Gu Tianren.

"It's a pity about Gu Tianren."

The same thing can have vastly different scope of discussion and reach depending on different social circles and perspectives.

Amidst the uproar, Chen Ping'an learned of the matter from Ying Congyun.

"Um!?"

Chen Ping'an has been staying at home these past few days, and if Ying Congyun hadn't told him, he really wouldn't have known about this.

"How could you respond so quickly? If you calculate the timeline, it hasn't even been a month, right?"

"The Gu family's reaction this time was really unexpected." Ying Congyun obviously did not expect the Gu family to respond so fiercely, leaving no room for maneuver.

Such responses do not seem like rejections, but rather imply a desire to distance oneself.

The response was so swift, as if they were afraid that a slow response would cause some unnecessary misunderstandings.

"This matter was probably decided by Gu Tianren."

Ying Congyun guessed.

After all, this matter has a huge impact; if not handled properly, it could affect the fate of the Gu family. Only Gu Tianren has the courage and decisiveness to make such a decision.

"That should be the case," Chen Ping'an agreed, but he still had some doubts.

He wasn't surprised that the Gu family refused. What was surprising was their intense reaction.

Is it because of the power struggle in Bi Cang, or...
Chen Ping'an secretly guessed, and the image of Gu Qingchan appeared in his mind.

Her palace dress was ice-blue, adorned with jewels and jade, her face was delicate, and her voice was sweet and clear.
Amidst unparalleled elegance, yet retaining a delicate freshness, the exquisite touch beneath her cascading black hair offers a supremely soft and warm experience.
As Chen Ping'an's emotions shifted, he couldn't help but think deeper into the matter.

During that period, he truly enjoyed the process and his cultivation progressed rapidly.

Speaking of
Since parting ways with Canglong, his progress in dual cultivation techniques has essentially stagnated. This kind of technique, a secret treasure of the Demon Lord, is quite remarkable even among the True Cultivation Scrolls.

If one can break through the current realm and enter a new stage, then
In the enchanting moment, Chen Ping'an's mind gradually cleared, and he spoke with Ying Congyun with a smile.

"I just don't know if the Gu family's response that Gu Qingchan has someone she loves is just an excuse, or if there really is someone she loves? If it's the latter, then Shen Linyuan's reaction will be quite interesting." During the conversation, Ying Congyun couldn't help but make a few teasing remarks to try and get closer to her.

"It should be the latter. The Gu family wouldn't risk the reputation of an elder statesman."

Chen Ping'an took a sip of the spirit wine and said this.

“That’s true.” Ying Congyun nodded slightly. “Speaking of which, I have never met Gu Qingchan. I’ve heard that she is exceptionally beautiful and has the appearance of a celestial being. Fellow Daoist Chen, as the son-in-law of the Gu family, you should have met Gu Qingchan. What do you think?”

"Peerless in beauty and radiant as a star!" Chen Ping'an commented sincerely.

“Yes, Shen Linyuan is a true disciple of the Sword Pavilion and has very high standards. It is only natural that he would be attracted to him and become his Daoist partner.” Ying Congyun nodded in agreement, then looked at Chen Ping’an with a surprised expression.

"Judging from what Fellow Daoist Chen is saying, your relationship with Gu Qingchan is quite good?"

"It's okay."

Chen Ping'an nodded calmly, without blushing or skipping a beat.

"They were very close friends."

Yes.

intersect
Very sincere.

As the son-in-law of the Gu family, Chen Ping'an has a close relationship with them. The Gu family's response this time is more or less related to Chen Ping'an. When Ying Congyun brought up the matter, they couldn't help but chat for a while.

However, after the discussion was clarified, Ying Congyun did not bring up the matter further.

Tomorrow is the Cloud Gathering, and since the topic of the Heart-Seeking Sword Pavilion came up, the conversation naturally shifted to tomorrow's gathering.

The gathering in the clouds was organized by the Supreme Elder of the Sword Pavilion and the Elder of the Hidden Sword Pavilion, with the endorsement of the Green Wood Workshop. The topic of their conversation naturally revolved around this matter.

Regarding tomorrow's meeting, Chen Ping'an had certain expectations for the items to be traded. During their exchange, they mostly learned about information related to the trading of spiritual items.

Ying Congyun has been based in Beishan Daguan for many years, with extensive connections and a wide circle of friends. He has a lot of information and is much more well-informed than Chen Ping'an.

This exchange has been very beneficial.

"At tomorrow's trade fair, there will be fourth-tier Rejuvenation Pills and Divine Soul Secret Pills?" Chen Ping'an looked at Ying Congyun with apparent interest.

"That's right. Master Gu, a fourth-tier alchemy master, has confirmed his participation in tomorrow's trade fair. Some of the pills to be traded have already circulated through various channels, and I happen to know about a portion of them." Ying Congyun chuckled and took a sip of wine. "What? Fellow Daoist Chen is also interested in fourth-tier precious pills?"

"The Returning Yuanbao Pill, the Divine Soul Secret Pill! Its creation is wondrous, its effects extraordinary. If one could obtain it, it would be a valuable asset for one's foundation. Its fame is widespread, and I, Chen, naturally yearn for it. However..."
"Precious pills are rare, even celestial beings find them hard to come by. I, Chen, am merely a Grandmaster, so I can only dream about it." Chen Ping'an said with a wry smile.

In fact, he happened to have one fourth-tier precious pill on him.

When he traded Yin-Yang Dew with the Gu family, he received three spiritual items from Gu Qingchan. One of them was a fourth-tier enhancement pill, which could be used for soul bursts. It was a type of soul-enhancing pill and was extremely expensive among fourth-tier pills.

Its body was a deep blue-green, dotted with spiritual patterns, and a faint glimmer of spiritual light could be seen.
"With Fellow Daoist Chen's talent, it's only a matter of time before he enters the Celestial Realm. When that time comes, the Zhenfu Division will bestow rewards and commend his merits, so Fellow Daoist Chen need not be too self-deprecating."

Whether Ying Congyun meant it sincerely or not, he offered this comforting remark.

Chen Ping'an nodded, his face showing anticipation and longing.

Seeing this, Ying Congyun didn't say anything more.

Spiritual objects are hard to come by, and precious pills are even harder to find. Even though he was a celestial being, after years of accumulation, he didn't have many genuine fourth-tier precious pills on him.

Most of them were ordinary pills used for cultivation, not the rare and powerful pills that could boost one's abilities. The very few remaining were merely defective products used for calming the mind, clearing obstacles, and detoxifying, and were of little use.

Although they are both fourth-tier pills, their effects, uses, and values ​​are quite different.

It aids in spiritual practice, purifies the mind and calms the spirit, avoids obstacles and detoxifies, heals injuries and nourishes the spirit, enhances bursts of power, stimulates the soul, prolongs life, and helps break through barriers and realms.
The various effects are numerous and varied.

Among them, pills like the Rejuvenating Essence Pill and the Divine Soul Secret Pill can heal injuries, nourish the spirit, and enhance burst damage; naturally, they are among the most valuable fourth-tier pills.

Looking at Ying Congyun in front of him, Chen Ping'an also recalled the classification of fourth-order pills.

Fourth-tier pills are most commonly those that aid cultivation and calm the mind. Martial arts masters who have been at the Celestial Realm for a while generally have these kinds of pills in reserve.

Healing pills, such as those for warding off obstacles and detoxifying, or for healing injuries and nourishing the spirit, are not as common as the former. Their rarity is significantly higher.

Even some newly advanced fourth-level alchemy masters have a lower success rate when refining these kinds of pills.

As for pills that provide a burst of power and stimulate the soul, their rarity has increased even further. Even for celestial beings, they are truly essential resources. In critical moments, they can save one's life.

Further longevity pills fall into the rare category. Even many fourth-tier alchemy masters find it difficult to refine fourth-tier longevity pills.

Once such elixirs are successfully refined, extending one's lifespan by two or three decades is nothing unusual.

This is a high-grade longevity elixir.

Even for martial arts masters, this is an extremely rare type of elixir. It is a elixir that can truly save lives, especially for elderly people nearing the end of their lifespan.

If this can sustain them for another hundred years, it will be of great significance and far-reaching impact, both for the family and for him personally.

As for the final breakthrough pill, it can be considered a great opportunity for a celestial being.

The magnitude of the opportunity depends on the efficacy of the elixir; how much will taking the elixir increase the chances of breaking through to a higher realm?

Chen Ping'an's emotions shifted, and many thoughts raced through his mind in an instant.

He did possess fourth-tier precious pills. However, he truly lacked any that could aid in breaking through his cultivation level like these.

but
What difference does it make to him whether it exists or not?
Is a perfect plan for breaking through to the next realm enough?

"Speaking of which, Fellow Daoist Chen, you haven't met Master Gu yet since you came to Beishan, have you?" Ying Congyun seemed to remember something.

"Never."

During the previous welcoming celebration, Master Gu was in seclusion refining a batch of pills and did not attend the banquet.

“That’s perfect. We can meet tomorrow. If we can establish a good relationship, we won’t have to worry about the supply of pills in the future,” Ying Congyun suggested.

Alchemists hold a transcendent status, and to befriend someone like Master Gu would bring immeasurable benefits.

"That's how it should be."

Chen Ping'an gave a vague reply, but his mind was preoccupied with other matters.

Uncertain about tomorrow
Could it be something he's been eyeing?

If he can get what he wants, it will save him the trouble of making another trip to Wentian City.

"By the way, Fellow Daoist Ying, I haven't seen Lord Hou for the past few days. What's going on?" During the conversation, Chen Ping'an suddenly remembered that he hadn't seen Hou Xibai for quite some time. The atmosphere was right, so he took the opportunity to ask.

"Oh, Lord Hou, you're on leave."

"Taking a break?" Chen Ping'an's eyes flashed, a slight surprise in his heart.

Images of Hou Xibai's outing from years ago flashed through his mind; the scene from that day...
Chen Ping'an's thoughts shifted, but he didn't dwell on it. After a brief moment of reflection, his attention turned to other matters.

Right now, what's most important to him is fire-elemental essence and fourth-tier precious materials.

Secondly, there is the True Skill Scroll and the Carefree Wanderer.

I had a pleasant conversation with Ying Congyun, and he left at dusk.

The two agreed to set off together the next day to attend the Cloud Gathering.

"Yunshan?"

Chen Pingan smiled and then closed his eyes.

hum~
A flash of inspiration, and true essence flowed.

Yunshan, on the edge of the Netherworld Mountain Range, is also the location of tomorrow's small meeting and transaction. (End of this chapter)