The Great Martial Saint!

Elder Cangjian's expression was grim, his anger boiling like raging water.

The incomparably sharp sword intent, like a sword hanging from the heavens, rolled down.

Its sword intent is overwhelming, capable of cleaving mountains and seas.

High above the clouds, many false celestial beings lay pale-faced, torrential rain poured down, and the wind and rain raged on their feet.

This is
The power to pierce a rainbow!?

Even just the sword intent of a renowned second-stage Celestial Being who had long been at the peak of his power filled them with fear, as if they were facing the terror of life and death, and they dared not make any rash moves.

"This brute knife"

A celestial being looked at Chen Ping'an at the center of the storm and was shaken to his core. He felt that the figure of the savage swordsman was majestic and imposing, as if he were standing on a mountain or a sea.

Pointing a knife at each other, the imposing presence of a second-realm Celestial being at the peak of his power is awe-inspiring!

It was under these circumstances that Chen Ping'an's response resounded throughout the room.

In an instant, all the celestial beings changed color.

"Threatening a high-ranking official?"

Chen Pingan's words were too harsh.

Beishan Pass is a complex and intertwined region, with various factions vying for power. The Zhenfu Division, as an official body, struggles to maintain overall control. However, this does not mean that these forces can be easily ignored.

at least
That's how it is on the surface.

Regardless of the behind-the-scenes maneuvering, one must never openly oppose the Zhenfu Division, especially on matters of principle, where one must not publicly ignore dissenting opinions.

It was at this moment that someone remembered the great honor bestowed upon Chen Ping'an, the valiant swordsman, who was called "Holding the Imperial Staff to Guard the Great Pass"!

If this were to truly attract the attention of the Northern Border Garrison, then
Although such a possibility is extremely small, it is not non-existent.

"Fellow Daoist Tong, please do not be angry. Today is supposed to be a grand occasion, why has it come to this?" Lei Xiaotian's temperament was calm, and his voice was like thunder, resounding above Yunshan.

"Yes, Brother Tong, please calm down. Everyone here today is a good friend. Please don't let this cause any trouble."

The speaker was Master Huang of Qingmu Workshop. He had a kind face and a consoling expression: "None of us wanted to see Fellow Daoist Qiu die, but the matter is settled. Please accept our condolences, Brother Tong."

Both of them were Celestials who had entered the second realm early on, and their presence was quite imposing. With these two taking the lead, many Celestials in the arena spoke up, their intention to back down was extremely obvious.

The cause and effect of this matter are extremely clear.

This battle was provoked by Qiu Siping. Although Chen Ping'an's actions were radical, he had made it clear before accepting the challenge that life and death were not the main issues, and the outcome would be decided solely on life and death.

Under these circumstances, Qiu Siping personally agreed to the matter.

Since that's the case, Qiu Siping's death at the hands of Mang Dao is no one's fault but his own inadequacy.

Furthermore, before the battle, Mang Dao had made it clear whether Qiu Siping's challenge was his own idea or the idea of ​​Wenxin Sword Pavilion.

Although almost everyone in the arena could see through Wenxin Sword Pavilion's intentions, Qiu Siping had already answered that this challenge was on his own behalf and had nothing to do with Wenxin Sword Pavilion.

Regardless of the reason, the Sword Pavilion has no right to intervene!
The actions of Zangjian were blatant bullying of the weak, and his previous actions were also intended to change the outcome of the battle. Chen Ping'an's statement was without any problem.

just
The matter is the matter, and the reasoning is the reasoning; ultimately, how to handle it depends on the strength of the situation.

As things stand, those who are trying to mediate are mostly just advising Elder Cangjian to calm down and not to damage the harmony. No one has stepped forward to accuse Elder Cangjian of breaching the contract first, or to say that the matter is wrong.

In fact, if Chen Ping'an had not been a member of the Zhenfu Division system, there might not have been so many celestial beings stepping in to mediate in such a situation.

Making friends is good, but it should only be done when things go smoothly. If it offends one side, then it's not worth it.

Although Mang Dao was impressive, he was clearly not of sufficient stature to warrant such a costly effort from them, including offending a senior second-realm Celestial and a group of Supreme Elders of the Wenxin Sword Pavilion, in order to deliberately cultivate a relationship with him.

However, speaking of which...
Many of the Celestials present were quite surprised by the aura and combat power that Mang Dao displayed in this situation, and even felt a sense of admiration and appreciation.

However, such celestial beings do not represent everyone present. There are also some celestial beings who, due to various considerations, have not appeared at this moment, but are simply sitting aside, watching the situation unfold.

Gu Yue Qianfang of the Gu Yue clan, for example, appeared quite calm at this moment, seemingly lost in thought.

With a group of celestial beings stepping in to mediate, the atmosphere in the room seemed to warm up a bit.

Although Elder Cangjian's expression was still unpleasant, it had recovered somewhat. He looked coldly at Chen Ping'an, his sword flashing sharply.

"Since you fellow Daoists have spoken, I will not pursue your arrogant words. Otherwise, someone might accuse me of bullying the weak in the future! However, the death of my Sword Pavilion elder is no small matter. Today, I may give you fellow Daoists some face, but in the future, don't say I'm bullying the weak!"

As he spoke, Elder Cangjian snorted coldly, and the sharp sword intent that had been hovering in mid-air like a divine sword vanished instantly.

As the surrounding sword intent dissipated, Ying Congyun relaxed, feeling the pressure ease.

Previously, when Elder Cangjian was putting pressure on Chen Ping'an, he stepped in and used his artistic conception to help resist the pressure and alleviate the burden on Chen Ping'an.

However, Elder Cangjian was a seasoned Celestial Being of the Second Realm who had accumulated experience over many years. Although he was quite remarkable, he was clearly several levels below his opponent.

In a short time, he felt a heavy burden on his shoulders, and the sword intent cut to his very skin.

Now that the other party had stopped pressuring and harassing him, he naturally felt a great sense of relief.

He was genuinely afraid that today's incident would escalate into a major incident.

Qiu Siping's death is no small matter. However, compared to the pressure exerted by the Hidden Sword Elder, this matter is acceptable no matter how you look at it.

What's done is done, and there's nothing we can do about it now.

The corresponding aftershocks and the hostility of the Heart Sword Pavilion can be digested slowly later. As long as they don't erupt on the spot, that's good.

As for Elder Cangjian's hostility, that can only be dealt with by the sect leader, Yu Minglong.

Although Lord Chen's actions were radical, he was not at fault, and I believe the Headmaster will uphold justice fairly. Any pressure will be handled by the Headmaster.

As for today
Ying Congyun glanced at the young man standing in the arena with a knife, and a sense of admiration arose in his heart.

In a different place, he might not have the same courage as the other party, pointing a knife at him and questioning heaven and man!
Mangdao
His assistance today stemmed from two reasons: first, the professional bond between colleagues, for which he felt obligated to act accordingly; and second, the other party's sharp spirit and unwavering determination to make a name for himself regardless of the consequences.

Although he was old, he had once been young and passionate. Looking at the other person, he seemed to find a long-lost feeling.

Beneath the rough edges smoothed by time, there remains an indomitable heart.

If he didn't have this intention, he wouldn't have ventured into that Netherworld Secret Realm in search of that sliver of heavenly secret.

With that said, everyone felt the matter was settled, and the ensuing turmoil and power struggles would be dealt with later. There was no way anything could cause a stir today.

The dissipation of the sword intent that filled the air confirmed this point.

A hint of satisfaction appeared on the faces of Lei Xiaotian and the others. Having appeased Elder Cangjian, the matter was now considered closed.

at least
That's how it is today.

But clearly, they overlooked another person on the field.

"Elder Tong, what is this?" Chen Ping'an's eyes were like deep pools, his expression indifferent: "Are you not planning to give me an explanation?"

Everyone was stunned, clearly not expecting such an outcome.

They thought that once they had appeased Cangjian, the matter would be over, but now it seems that Chen Ping'an has no intention of letting it go.

This fierce knife
Lei Xiaotian frowned slightly, clearly not expecting Chen Ping'an to react this way.

Can't he see the situation clearly?!

Killing Qiu Siping and not pursuing the matter further today is already a great concession.

What should he do?
The yellow-robed Taoist stood at a distance, clearly not expecting the situation to change like this. His expression shifted as he watched the figure wielding the knife in the arena with great interest.

"This mad sword is getting more and more interesting!"

"Explanation? What explanation?" Elder Cangjian's expression was cold, his sword gleaming coldly. "Lord Chen, are you dreaming? You killed an elder of my Wenxin Sword Pavilion. I'm already showing mercy by not pursuing this matter today. And you still want an explanation from me? Humph!"

A cold snort, chilling and awe-inspiring, contained extreme dissatisfaction. "Brother Tong, calm down, calm down. What Lord Chen said is not without reason. Why don't we sit down and have a good talk? There's no problem that can't be solved." Old Huang from Qingmu Workshop stepped forward, his face smiling, his eyes kind and benevolent, acting as a peacemaker.

Lei Xiaotian was surprised by Huang Lao'er's reaction, but since he had already stepped in to mediate the matter, there was no reason for him to do things in the usual way.

They also stepped forward to say a few words.

“Fellow Daoist Tong, what happened just now was after all due to a prior agreement. We can understand your concern for Fellow Daoist Qiu’s life, but forcibly taking action was indeed somewhat inappropriate.”

Lei Xiaotian was dignified, calm, and solid, seemingly fair and just, but when it came to pointing out the mistakes of Cangjian, he spoke very tactfully.

Although it's hard to admit, this is the truth. Whether something is wrong or not depends not on the action itself, but on one's own strength and emotions.

In the heat of the moment, who cares if you're right or wrong? All the rights and wrongs are irrelevant; I just want to speak my mind freely.

If one has the power to back it up, even distorting the truth and turning black into white is possible.

While someone like Cangjian might not be able to achieve absolute suppression, the existence of the Zhenfu Division system forces him to exercise some restraint. However, for others, when it comes to maneuvering, it's best to avoid offending them if possible.

"Fellow Daoists, there's no need for further words. I'm happy to give you both face, but this Lord Chen Ping'an seems to have no intention of stopping here and is interested in exchanging ideas and discussing the Dao with me!"

Elder Cangjian's expression was unfriendly. He was mindful of the situation and did not actually make a move. On the contrary, this junior repeatedly tested his limits of tolerance.

If it weren't for the influence of the Zhenfu Division, given his temper, he would have already taken action and taught the other party a lesson.

Without the status of a commander of the garrison, what is Chen Ping'an, a mere mortal?
Even if a prodigy is incredibly talented, if he has no interest in befriending or helping them, what does it matter to him?

Elder Cangjian made a grand display, clearly not intending to give up so easily.

Seeing this, Lei Xiaotian and the other man sighed but said nothing more.

Ying Congyun's mind, which had just relaxed slightly, suddenly tightened again.

The situation on the field was tense, as if the previous grim circumstances had returned.

Just then, a deep, unquestionable voice rang out in the room.

"I hope you two will do me a favor and let this matter rest! How about it?"

It was Master Gu.

Although there was a questioning tone in his voice, the meaning behind his words was already one of certainty.

Elder Cangjian was taken aback, not expecting Master Gu to step in and mediate.

Although he was extremely unhappy, he couldn't refuse to give face to Master Gu.

"Since Brother Gu has spoken, I have no objection. But, Lord Chen, what do you intend to do?"

Elder Cangjian's words were extremely sarcastic, clearly intended to disgust Chen Ping'an.

Previously, Lei Xiaotian and others had intervened to smooth things over, but Chen Ping'an insisted on getting an explanation from him.

But now that Master Gu has spoken, what should Chen Ping'an do?
Should we give up now, or continue as before?

If we let it go now, considering what happened before, it would inadvertently offend Lei Xiaotian and the others.

But if we don't give up, then we will offend Master Gu.

In this situation, his intervention to teach a lesson could not be considered as him disrespecting Master Gu.

Whether Chen Pingan answers or not, he's bound to be disgusted for a while.

However, he did hope that Chen Ping'an would stand firm to the end.

So he took the opportunity to vent his anger.

As Elder Cangjian responded, Master Gu's gaze also fell upon Chen Ping'an. His indifferent and aloof eyes contained a fiery intent, carrying scrutiny and pressure.

All the celestial beings watched with bated breath, eagerly awaiting Chen Ping'an's reply.

Chen Ping'an raised his eyes, his expression calm and composed. After giving Cangjian a deep look, he didn't say a word, picked up Qiu Siping's head, and left.

"gone?"

Seeing this, many celestial beings were surprised, thinking that Chen Ping'an would fight to the bitter end.

"pity."

Elder Cangjian's eyes flickered, and he couldn't help but feel somewhat disappointed.

But since he had already decided to give Master Gu face, he could only suppress his displeasure and watch the other party leave with a stiff nose.

Fine, let this junior jump around one more time.

这事
But it's not over yet.

Gu Yueqianfang stood at a distance, somewhat surprised by Chen Ping'an's choice. Judging from the previous scene, he had thought Chen Ping'an would fight to the bitter end.

If Chen Ping'an really went to war, he would have to give him a second thought.

But now.
He sneered inwardly, a hint of disdain appearing on his face.

The old man didn't dare utter a single word before retreating.

"Coward!"

The Taoist priest in the yellow robe looked into the distance and sighed softly. Then, as if remembering something, his expression turned melancholy.

"after all.
I'm not a teenager anymore. Even the most passionate person has their limits.

Although he knew he shouldn't be disappointed, he couldn't help but feel disappointed when he saw a junior he admired follow the same path he had taken years before.

"fortunately."

Ying Congyun breathed a huge sigh of relief.

He was genuinely afraid that Chen Ping'an might lose his mind and actually get into a fight. If that were the case, things would get very complicated today.

With Master Gu involved, even if the sect leader were to arrive, there probably wouldn't be a good solution.

Without the presence of a leader to oversee things, the Sword Pavilion of Inquiry and Sword Storage is a genuine second-realm Celestial Being.

Chen Ping'an's combat strength today was impressive enough to amaze him. But no matter how impressive it was, it couldn't overcome reality.

Seeing Chen Ping'an leave so decisively without saying a word, even the pseudo-celestial beings were slightly stunned. The scene changed so quickly that it caught them off guard.

Some celestial beings expressed understanding, after all, it was Master Gu! Since Master Gu had stepped forward, how could they not give him face?

It's already a good ending. How can we ask for more?
The celestial beings in the arena were all lost in thought, and the turmoil finally subsided and came to an end with Chen Ping'an's departure.

"Master Laogu has gone to great lengths."

Listening to the words around him and watching the commotion in the room, which was calmed down by his words, Master Gu, with his hooked nose, looked smug.

This young man is quite sensible. What a pity.
He didn't like the silence before parting.

She's still a bit too young.

Otherwise, I would consider including him in his existing social circle.

Master Gu had long, narrow eyes and deep furrows between his brows, which conveyed a powerful sense of confidence.

"Hypocritical shamelessness."

Master Hongfeng observed the entire scene with a cold eye, gave a sneer, and then left.

This trade has come to an end, but another one awaits him.

Amidst the misty mountains and valleys, the deal is agreed! (End of Chapter)