The Great Martial Saint!

Whoosh!
Dressed as a scholar, Chen Ping'an flew away in a flash, leaving the Misty Valley.

"Five Thousand-Machine Bags, one Secret Treasure, three Pseudo-Heavy Treasures, and one Tier 4 Refined Ore."

As he tallied up his gains, he was in a fairly good mood.

Venerable Zhenyue and True Man Hongfeng are both long-established celestial beings with rich experience, far surpassing that of ordinary celestial beings.

Especially Venerable Zhenyue, as a highly experienced being among the second-realm Celestials, his accumulated knowledge and experience are truly terrifying.

Although the harvest may not truly represent the other party's entire fortune—for example, there might not be any truly valuable treasures among them—overall, the gains exceeded Chen Ping'an's expectations.

If there were truly a great treasure, even Venerable Zhenyue might not be so willing to hand it over.

His move was more about taking the initiative and overwhelming his opponent with force, displaying an unparalleled aura and leaving an impression of invincibility, even a shadow, in the mind of his opponent with the power of a great cultivator.

but.
His so-called major overhaul was, after all, not a truly major overhaul.

If they really started fighting, especially in a life-or-death battle, the two of them working together would give him quite a bit of trouble.

Master Hongfeng is alright; he might be a bit stronger than Lord Shimenglian, but only by a limited margin.

But Venerable Zhenyue was no joke. His physical prowess was not to be underestimated; if it came down to a life-or-death struggle, he might have a slight headache.

But in any case, it can be considered a satisfactory ending.

He had sensed all these spiritual resources with his divine soul and found no evidence of any tampering. Given that they were in front of a powerful celestial cultivator, he figured the latter wouldn't dare harbor any improper thoughts.

Being in charge of a major overhaul makes things much easier!

If I had known this would happen, I should have taught the other party a lesson before the transaction. It would have saved me from all this trouble and wasted effort.

However, on the other hand, he wouldn't have gained so much under such circumstances.

This harvest yielded at least several hundred thousand yuan in profit.

The value is mainly concentrated in the top few rare items; the others are merely supplementary.

He came here intending to complete a transaction, purchasing the Crimson Sun Golden Fruit from True Person Hongfeng to satisfy the fire element essence needed for bloodline tempering, and then leave directly.

Then, they sought an opportunity to regain their lost ground.

But to his surprise, the other party had prepared such a big surprise for him!
Even disregarding the Dream Pearl, the Ice Jade Hairpin, the Evil Eye, and other precious treasures, this acquisition nearly doubled his net worth.

They really made a fortune.

It's worth mentioning that the other party's attempt backfired spectacularly.

The 30,000 gold crystals, the near-fourth-tier spirit item, and even several spirit item materials he had previously used for the transaction are now back in his hands. And that rather incomplete beast-taming rubbing—this whole ordeal has left True Person Hongfeng completely bewildered.

It's a voluntary act, and the key is that even after he takes it, the person still has to say thank you.

"strength!"

Chen Ping'an's gaze was calm, but deep within his heart surged a desire for power.

Without strength, one is vulnerable to being bullied, and even if one is in the right, few will be willing to offend a powerful enemy on one's behalf. But with strength, even if one encounters a predicament or is framed, one can break free!
Do not bully others by abusing your power, but keep the great power within yourself. In this world, that is enough to live well!

There is no justice that can be won by a pair of iron fists.

Having obtained the Crimson Sun Golden Fruit and fire-elemental essence, it is equivalent to completing the final step of the third refinement of the Azure Sun Blood Refinement, thereby activating the mutated bloodline in the Golden Crown Feather Sparrow's true blood and maximizing its power!
"Azure Sun Blood Refinement, Three Refinements of True Blood!" Beneath Chen Ping'an's calm gaze, a ripple gradually spread across his otherwise tranquil eyes.

Although this battle was brief, he gained a clearer understanding of his own strength.

Although his attack was simple, he didn't hold back much, revealing his spiritual foundation, physical strength, and vitality.

With the bloodline tempered through three refinements, and the body's strength and blood as support, he unleashed external martial arts techniques modified from the Seven Forbidden Techniques, overwhelming and suppressing them with overwhelming force.

Although Zhen Yue was proficient in external martial arts, compared to him, he was like a small fry compared to a big fish.

Its force was like thunder, making it impossible for the opponent to resist.

In the third refinement of the Qingyang Blood Refining Method, he used the true blood of the Golden-Crowned Feathered Sparrow as the bloodline for body tempering. The Golden-Crowned Feathered Sparrow is a relatively rare avian demon beast, and it is also a fully grown, transformed demon beast.

The true blood within is extraordinary and wondrous. Although he has not yet perfected the third stage of refinement, he has already grasped its profound mysteries.

He used this blood to refine himself, making him exceptionally skilled in swift escape.

The speed was so fast that even a seasoned celestial being like Zhen Yue was unable to react.

Under such circumstances, if one were to cultivate the third stage of the Azure Sun Blood Refinement to perfection, what level would one reach?

Based on this, if one obtains extraordinary bloodline, what level of power would it possess?
Chen Ping'an's eyes flickered, and a hint of heroic spirit rose in his heart.

If the three refinements are truly perfected, one's qi and blood will be as blazing as a furnace, and with extraordinary bloodline, how powerful will one's physique be? How fast will one's speed be?

Even if that great cultivator were to go all out, he might not be able to match my speed!
Chen Ping'an's emotions shifted, but gradually subsided as he flew away in a flash.

Now that his spirit and body are fully awakened, Zhenyue and Hongfeng, after a brief encounter, mistook him for a celestial cultivator.

Given the other party's experience and lifespan, it's clear they've seen major repairs before.

Although he had never experienced the grandeur of a major overhaul, he could still make a simple analysis based on the other party's situation.

Even though he hasn't perfected the third stage of cultivation, with his foundation fully unleashed, he's probably not much different from a master cultivator now.

At least, even a highly experienced second-realm Celestial Being like Venerable Zhenyue would find it difficult to distinguish him in a brief direct confrontation and would only treat him as a Celestial Being cultivator.

Such situations
Chen Ping'an's eyes were thoughtful.

In this battle, he directly suppressed the opponent with his physical strength and did not reveal much of his true power.

To maintain one's pseudonym, the less information is revealed, the better.

In his case, he should be able to maintain his pseudonym and persona quite well, but if he continues like this for a long time, he may not be able to achieve his goal.

Especially when dealing with some truly powerful cultivators, once the depth of their cultivation techniques is revealed, it will inevitably allow others to discover their origins.

Such as the Seven Killing Heavenly Fist used by the Black-Robed Old Monster before, and the powerful treasures used by Huan Qianye, the Illusionary Dream Lord.

Even someone with his physical strength, if used frequently, will eventually return to the same source, leaving traces to follow. If Hua Ruyue were to see this, she would probably immediately connect it to his previous disguise.

Fortunately, he had only shown this level of physical strength to Hua Ruyue, so even if others saw it, they wouldn't make any connection.

The most notorious pseudonym these days is that old monster in black robes. Techniques like the Seven Killings Heavenly Gang Fist, the Myriad Demons Body Forging Technique, and the Azure Flame Four Directions Command Flag are things you can simply avoid.

Such techniques as the Evil Eye have been used before, but those who knew about them are basically all dead. Apart from Hua Ruyue, no one else would know.

It can still be used, but it should be used sparingly, or avoided altogether if possible.

Previously, he had generally limited his public identity and disguises to include certain cultivation techniques and treasures. But now, as his cultivation level rises and he gains more and more, he needs to re-plan and clarify these aspects.

His public identity has always been clear: he is a rising star, a prodigy, and his techniques include the Thunderous Blade Technique, the Overlord Blade, the Soul-Severing Blade, the Void Wind-Riding Step, and the Soaring Dragon Body Technique.

There are no genuine skill scrolls among them.

After he finally obtained the Free and Unfettered Journey technique, he completed this part, which became his publicly known foundational cultivation method.

This character is always depicted as someone who fights against all odds, ruthless and fierce, but lacks adequate defensive design.

The external objects that can be used openly include the Heavenly Meteor Frost Blade, the Star Sword, and the Golden Illusion Treasure Robe.

As for disguises, the most famous one nowadays is naturally the old monster in black robes, who often appears in various scenes.

The same black-robed old monster has gone through several stages, from disguising his aura to fabricating something out of thin air. Now, he uses realistic imitation, and the image of this black-robed old monster is traceable.

Tianluo Sect, Seven Absolutes Elder!

Using the residual aura left behind by the other party, it imprints itself on the black iron surface, thus existing in this world under the identity of the other party.

However, outsiders know little about his appearance in this stage; they only know that he is the old monster in black robes.

When he fought Xiao Tianluo before, he only appeared as the Black-Robed Old Monster and did not use his true identity. However, back then, he didn't have the Black Xuan Iron Mask yet.

Strictly speaking, his black iron mask actually belongs to the Heavenly Net Saintess.

It was obtained in exchange for a veil and a sachet from Xiao Tianluo!

Using someone else's things to exchange for their own things, that's really something.
Nobody else can compare.

I wonder if Xiao Tianlu cursed him under his breath back then, calling him shameless.

Based on Chen Ping'an's speculation, this Black Profound Iron Mask should be a secret treasure of the Purple-Eyed Demon Lord. The Heavenly Net Saintess had just obtained it and had not yet refined it, so she might not know its effects.

The black-robed monsters had various appearances, but since they all possessed the aura of a realistically simulated imprint, their identities were basically fixed.

No matter which aspect was previously revealed, if any flaws or loopholes appeared, they can be attributed to this one.

If he were to one day make a name for himself and reveal some of his talents, he would be a prime example of the Seven Wonders Elder, a late bloomer!

The corresponding cultivation technique could be either the Seven Forbidden Techniques or the newly refined Three-Part Return to Origin True Scroll; the specific situation can be further determined. External tools and treasures include the Evil Extreme Eye, the Bloodthirsty Demon Jar, and the Azure Flame Four Directions Command Flag, among others.

The other one is the strange young man, the Dream Lord.

This disguise has appeared twice so far: once during the battle in the grotto, when the silver-haired girl became aware of it. The opponent used an icy mirror to reflect his face, and in desperation, he used a realistic simulation.

Another instance was during the battle of Xuanling, where he revealed himself to Hua Ruyue, making a powerful appearance as a reclusive genius.

Although the result of the match was somewhat embarrassing, barely ending in a draw, the overall level of prestige was still maintained quite well.

Apart from that, this disguise has never been seen again.

This identity allows one to compete among the elite without needing to conceal their age. With unparalleled prowess, they can shine brightly in this world and even suppress the older generation of powerful figures.

The methods that can be used include the Illusionary Eyes, the Formless Freedom, the Inverted Phoenix and the Azure Sun Blood Refinement.

He possesses exceptional combat skills, astonishing talent, and has cultivated physical techniques, fitting the description of a prodigy.

The Dream Pearl and the Ice Jade Hairpin can both serve as protective treasures.

Thinking about it this way
If this is indeed the case, and these two identities are frequently used in the future, Hua Ruyue might be the only one who knows that they are both the same person.

The flaw lies in that Evil Eye.

He had shown it in front of his opponent in previous matches.

If we think about it that way, perhaps we can focus the Evil Eye on the strange young man, while we can consider other options for the black-robed old monster to avoid further exposure.

The specifics can be reviewed later and adjusted accordingly.

If this were to be exposed, it would only further confirm the authenticity of the extraordinary young man and minimize the risk to himself.

A reclusive prodigy, openly posing as a genius while secretly operating under the guise of a powerful and cunning individual—this is the kind of persona they are.
By all accounts, this seems like the setup for a biographical protagonist.

Yes, the chosen one should be the Dream Lord, Huan Qianye!
Chen Ping'an's thoughts, though numerous and varied, were actually fleeting, lasting only a moment.

Besides the two layers of armor, Black Iron Mask still has one last spot for imprinting his aura. He has considered this spot extensively, but has not yet made a final decision.

Like the lingering aura of that silver-haired girl in her silver dress, and the possibility of encountering even stronger beings later on.

These situations were all within his consideration, but if possible, it would be best not to consider the silver-haired girl.

If we were to face each other directly, meeting in person, I wonder what the other would feel.

unless
I can kill the other person!
A similar thought flashed through Chen Ping'an's mind.

Aside from a fixed, realistic disguise, he can constantly impersonate other identities. The disguises aren't very effective, but as his cultivation level increases, they eventually improve considerably.

Such an image of a middle-aged Confucian scholar has never been found in figures like Zhenyue and Hongfeng.

That's not necessarily true.

It's better to play it safe.

In important occasions, try to use realistic simulations as much as possible; otherwise, if your true nature is exposed, even if you conceal your true self, you will still encounter many difficulties in your actions.

Chen Ping'an's changing emotions validated what he had learned in this battle.

"In the eyes of the outside world, I should now be at the level of a Great Celestial Being. At least."
That's how it is in a short time!
A force like Zhenyue could be easily destroyed with a flick of the finger. However, killing it would be quite difficult.

Chen Ping'an pondered silently.

The reason why his battle went so smoothly was largely because the distance between him and Venerable Zhenyue was not far.

The other party did this for two reasons: firstly, to block his route and ensure he could not escape; and secondly, because of their confidence.

If they were truly facing a powerful celestial cultivator, or someone with experience, the other party might not be so arrogant.

Because of the close proximity, he was able to launch a sudden attack and achieve a remarkable feat.

Another point is that the opponent relied too much on his own physical training and had not used any additional methods beforehand, which created the most favorable conditions for him.

Furthermore, the opponent, confident in his physique, was not wearing any special armor or precious clothing, allowing him to achieve a significant victory by taking the enemy by surprise.

If the opponent possessed some kind of treasure-level armor, even if he went all out, he probably wouldn't achieve the same effect.

Ultimately, treasures are different.

It has a tremendous impact on battles at the Celestial Realm level. Even for great cultivators, they often rely heavily on the power of powerful treasures.

However, those who reach the advanced repair level usually possess valuable treasures of the highest quality.

These precious treasures are the true main force in the battle.

Of course, some newly promoted cultivators have not accumulated much knowledge and experience. If they do not have a sect foundation, they may only have a few ordinary treasures in their possession.

While a high-quality treasure may not necessarily be much more powerful than an ordinary treasure, it will certainly have its own unique and exquisite features.

"We still can't be careless."

Chen Ping'an felt a chill run down his spine; the Venerable Zhenyue was a cautionary tale. He had relied too much on his physique and suffered a great loss as a result.

If the opponent is cautious and engages in a direct confrontation, it will take him some effort to defeat them. As for killing them, that goes without saying.

If the opponent possesses a treasured armor of the highest rank, then killing them will be difficult. Unless the opponent is stubborn and refuses to call for help, choosing instead to fight him head-on.

But this is not possible.

Despite having a better chance, he suffered a crushing defeat. The opponent's outcome can serve as a warning to him.

He can rely on his physique, but he absolutely cannot depend on it.

As a trump card, there can never be only one method.

While having a single, effective trick can be incredibly useful, if you become the target of a countermeasure, the consequences can be dire.

The failure of Venerable Zhenyue was mainly due to two reasons: first, overconfidence; and second, arrogance due to overestimating his physical strength.

Learn from others to enhance your own wisdom.

He has never encountered a true Celestial Realm cultivator before. Regardless of his own assessment of his combat strength, he must not be complacent or overconfident!
As Chen Ping'an was deep in thought, he suddenly sensed an aura rushing toward him from afar.

"This is."

Sensing the familiarity in the aura, Chen Ping'an's eyes instantly lit up with surprise.

The next moment, a sharp sword light pierced through the air, revealing a figure.

Long, snow-white eyebrows, and a sharp, gleaming sword.

"Fellow Daoist, you look unfamiliar. Where are you headed?" (End of Chapter)