The Great Martial Saint!

"So.
What price are you prepared to pay for his life?

Chen Ping'an's voice was indifferent and calm, his gaze devoid of any emotion.

"He's begging me to show mercy and spare his dog's life!?"

He held the Tibetan sword in one hand, his indifferent and cold gaze fixed on the ancient master before him.

Master Gu looked stunned, clearly not expecting this to happen.

Previously, he was barely able to protect himself, so how could he have thought of saving Cangjian!?

He and Cangjian had known each other for many years and their relationship was indeed good, but it wasn't the kind of friendship that would lead them to risk everything for each other and spare no effort to rescue each other.

Over the years, they have had less contact and their feelings for each other have faded. However, because they met when they were both nobody, they are closer than ordinary friends.

Furthermore, given their shared interests, the formidable fighting strength of the Hidden Sword Sect, and its backing by the Heart-Questioning Sword Pavilion, he took a second look. For most routine matters, he would usually give them face.

But this does not mean that his feelings for the other person were truly that deep.

The previous shift in support was also a result of weighing various factors and considering interests.

But now.
The great repair he underwent was actually a price he had to pay, a settlement on behalf of Cangjian!?

this.
Master Gu's face immediately turned extremely ugly.

The gift he offered to reach a reconciliation with the other party was incredibly valuable. It was comparable to the entire fortune of an ordinary, seasoned Celestial Being at the Second Realm!

Furthermore, due to the scarcity of high-grade elixirs, they can serve as strategic resource reserves. These resources are even more valuable than those of ordinary senior Celestial Beings.

Such a move would cause even him great distress for a long time.

How many batches of pills must have been refined to accumulate such wealth?

But for the sake of a satisfactory resolution, and to eliminate any lingering concerns, he gritted his teeth and endured it.

But now.
Does this mean he should also take on the share of the Hidden Sword Sect's share?
How is that possible?!
Master Gu's first reaction was naturally one of extreme displeasure.

His relationship with Cangjian wasn't that good.

He has already spent a lot this time, how could he bear to spend another penny?
"Fellow Daoist is joking. There is no business relationship between me and Fellow Daoist Tong. If you want a ransom, you should go to the Sword Inquiry Pavilion." Master Gu forced a smile and politely declined.

"Oh?" Chen Ping'an's expression was indifferent, his gaze filled with intense scrutiny. "Is that so?"

Under such scrutiny, Master Gu naturally felt a slight discomfort, but at this moment, he dared not show it in the slightest. His hooked nose was slightly hunched, and he forced a smile onto his face.

But the next moment, the smile on his face froze completely, turning into an unyielding embarrassment.

"I just heard that you and he are very close friends, and that I should give you some face?"

"Fellow Daoist, this is a misunderstanding, I am Gu."

Master Gu instinctively wanted to explain, but before he could finish speaking, he felt a chilling gaze sweep over him, sending a shiver down his spine.

The precarious red flame shield offered him no sense of security whatsoever.

"What? You're not happy? Or," Chen Ping'an's expression was undisguisedly mocking, "are you trying to say that what you said was just bullshit!?"

Master Gu froze on the spot, unable to move forward or backward.

His words just now were indeed those of a great cultivator. However, due to the circumstances at the time, he spoke evasively and never imagined that the other party was actually a Celestial Being.

He made similar remarks many times before. He even spoke up to calm things down at a previous meeting in Yunshan.

Since he became famous, this has happened quite often.

But nothing has ever made him as embarrassed as he is now.

His casual remark, made just now to smooth things over, has hit him like a boomerang, leaving him in a dilemma and in a stalemate.

Chen Ping'an's gaze fell indifferently, his eyes filled with a dangerous signal, and his intense, fiery aura, like a millstone of blood and qi, rolled down.

In that instant, Master Gu broke out in a cold sweat.

He glared resentfully at the hidden sword in the other person's hand, which was now unconscious and unaware of its surroundings. He gritted his teeth and agreed to the task.

"I, Gu, am willing to offer 100,000 crystals. Please, fellow Daoist, be lenient."

The situation is beyond his control; if he doesn't budge, he won't be able to get past this hurdle no matter what.

Furthermore, if he insists on going his own way and is reluctant to pay the price, it will be detrimental to his network of contacts and reputation if word gets out.

As for the price he offered, it certainly wasn't for nothing. Since it was for Cangjian, he would naturally demand a much higher return.

At this moment, he also became angry with Cangjian.

If it weren't for the other party, things wouldn't have come to this!
It caused him to lose face, suffer serious injuries, and incur significant losses!

Feeling the gazes around him, his anger intensified, and the swelling on his cheeks seemed to become even more noticeable.

"Hidden Sword!"

He roared silently in his heart, but in the end, all his anger and resentment were suppressed deep inside.

If the other party hadn't rashly provoked a powerful enemy, he wouldn't be in this predicament, caught in a dilemma. He should still be the aloof, transcendent master, revered by all, how could he have ended up in such a sorry state!

All these reasons stem from the Hidden Sword!
If the other party hadn't promised and invited him multiple times, why would he have bothered to come all this way!
Why bother attending this damn trade fair!
Master Gu remained silent, but in that instant, his voice truly rang out in the room.

"One hundred thousand?"

Chen Ping'an's expression was mocking, and his eyes were playful.

"A dignified Supreme Elder of the Heart-Questioning Sword Pavilion is only worth 100,000? Have you misjudged me? Or have you misjudged him?"

Master Gu was momentarily stunned, but given the current situation, with everyone watching and the oppressive atmosphere, he had no choice but to respond.

"Please speak frankly, fellow Daoist."

What he gives away today, he will demand back from Cangjian tenfold in the future.

"Your flying boat has caught my eye. Present it to me, and I will spare the life of Cangjian as you wish!"

"What!?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Master Gu stood there dumbfounded.

An airship!?
Master Gu was filled with a whirlwind of emotions, burning with anger, feeling a deep sense of pent-up frustration.

What do you mean by "as you wish, spare Zangjian's life!"?

Really
Outrageous!

The flying boat was a treasure he had painstakingly planned and schemed to exchange for the life of Cangjian.

Don't even think about it!

"I hope you will keep your promise, fellow Daoist. Although I am weak, I am not someone who can be bullied by others."

Master Gu's face was as black as charcoal, and his expression was so gloomy that it seemed as if water was about to drip from it.

hum~
A flash of light, a fiery red image, dyed the sky. Amidst the crimson glow, the flying boat beneath him shrank to the size of a palm and headed towards Chen Ping'an.

Under the oppressive heat and terrifying aura of that furnace, he finally gave in.

He handed over his most prized possession, offering this fiery red flying boat in exchange for the life of Cangjian!

This flying boat was custom-forged by him after painstakingly planning, gathering resources, and using his connections, with the help of renowned craftsmen from the Hundred Refinements Pavilion of the Forging Alliance. It was perfectly suited to his cultivation technique and could unleash a speed and light comparable to a second-stage perfected Celestial Being.

Even with ordinary speed, as long as one doesn't waste Yuan Crystals, one can easily rival a seasoned second-realm Celestial Being.

He would never trade such things, in his own mind.

Even if Cangjian were to die a thousand times, he would never compromise.

What can be done?
Circumstances dictate one's actions; when you're under someone's roof, you have no choice but to bow your head.

No matter what he said, the other party held on to his previous statement when he tried to smooth things over: "Brother Tong is a good friend of Gu. There may be some misunderstanding. Please let it go."

With that one sentence, all his words seemed pale and powerless. Regardless of the reason, with that one sentence, he was utterly unable to defend himself.

As his friend, why did you stand by and watch him die?!

Is it out of concern for one's wealth, or was everything said before just empty talk?
When strength is equal, people discuss principles. But when strength differs, perhaps...
All it takes is a trigger to make someone take advantage of the situation and cause trouble.

And now, he has undoubtedly fallen into this predicament.

Even if there is a lot of resentment in my heart, I can only swallow my anger and resentment at this moment.

Whoosh!
Chen Pingan gently raised his hand, and the flying boat, which had shrunk to the size of a palm, fell into his hand.

The flying boat is exquisite, fiery red in color, and its appearance resembles a red leaf. Now that it has landed in the palm of your hand, it looks particularly charming and delightful.

"Fourth-tier flying boat".

Chen Ping'an remained calm, but a hint of joy flashed deep in his eyes.

This type of flying boat belongs to a special category of precious treasures, and its value is higher than that of ordinary precious treasures. If valued in Yuan Crystals, it would be worth at least 300,000 or more.

A custom-made design by Master Gu, with a forging method perfectly suited to the cultivation technique, would only increase its value.

This single flying boat might be the entire fortune of an ordinary celestial being!
Alchemists are still rich.

Having invested so many resources and possessing such a wealth of resources, his net worth is probably comparable to that of a Grandmaster cultivator!

Chen Ping'an sighed, cleansed his soul, and then put away the flying boat in front of him.

Such a precious flying vessel requires refinement to be used. It cannot be used for now; it will be studied later.

Even if it cannot be used openly, it is a good option to use it as a key resource or for trading when the opportunity arises in the future.

Furthermore, it's not bad for traveling in certain situations.

With this flying boat, if one does not care about the precious crystals, some long-distance crossings become possible.

This will not hinder his cultivation.

After accepting the flying boat, Chen Ping'an was in a good mood.

Master Gu's feelings were entirely different. Watching his beloved possession, the Red Leaf Flying Boat he had painstakingly planned, fall into the other party's hands, he felt as if a heavy burden was pressing on his chest, and his heart was bleeding.

Chen Ping'an naturally observed Master Gu's reactions.

Such things are a cycle of cause and effect; the boomerang of yesterday will eventually fall on one's own head.

Stepping in to mediate and smooth things over isn't an easy job.

Being a peacemaker is never a trivial matter; it comes with consequences and responsibilities. If you're not prepared for that, don't try to be a peacemaker.

Chen Ping'an's emotions shifted, but his expression remained calm.

"I am not an unreasonable person. Since you have paid your dues, his dog's life is yours!"

As he spoke, he reached out and tossed the Cangjian body, which lay lifeless like a dead dog, away as if it were a rag.

Master Gu's face was gloomy as he looked at the thrown sword. He was furious and angry, but he still managed to catch it.

"And these juniors from the Heart-Questioning Sword Pavilion, I'll give them to you as a bonus."

Below, amidst the collapsed mountainside, Shen Linyuan lay disheveled, his clothes tattered and stained with blood. The attack had knocked him unconscious, and he likely wouldn't wake up anytime soon.

To be fair, Shen Linyuan's combat strength is indeed remarkable. But compared to him, he seems rather immature.

In the past, when he was at the peak of the first realm, he could suppress and kill the Dream Lotus Lord, who was also at the peak of the first realm and wielding a powerful treasure. Now that he has reached the second realm and is at the height of his power, Shen Linyuan's power may not be comparable to that of the Dream Lotus Lord. Although that sword strike was an outburst, it was clearly no match for Chen Ping'an.

"There is one more thing."

Chen Ping'an's gaze fell, sweeping over the sword in Shen Linyuan's hand. Even until the moment he lost consciousness, he never let go of the sword in his hand.

Chen Ping'an's gaze swept over the sword, lingering for a moment before quickly looking away.

"That's it! So be it!"

Chen Ping'an withdrew his gaze and looked around the arena. Wherever his gaze fell, all the celestial beings present made way for him.

Until no one else in the arena looked up, he flashed, his blood and qi roared, and he shot into the sky.

Whoosh!
Before long, his figure disappeared into the thick fog above the Black Nether Mountains.

"gone."

The yellow-robed Taoist felt a sense of relief, as if a great burden had been lifted from his shoulders.

The roaring of his blood and qi, the terrifying shockwaves, and the oppressive force of his cultivation level made him feel like he was being pricked by thorns, his mind tense.

But now, with the other party gone, that terrifying sense of oppression has disappeared.

“My cultivation is still not enough.” The yellow-robed Taoist shook his head and muttered, his expression full of regret: “The world is vast, and there are countless powerful beings. It’s really hard for us rogue cultivators to survive.”

He has cultivated himself to this point, struggling and enduring countless hardships to reach his current level, but ultimately...
It's not yet ready for serious consideration.

Major overhaul!

Only those who have undergone great cultivation can become true martial arts masters, dominating the fate of a region and manipulating the winds and clouds.

He suppressed his turbulent emotions, his face revealing a wild ambition. Without greeting anyone, he transformed into a streak of yellow wind and quickly left the place.

"That old scoundrel ruined me!"

Looking at the severely injured and unconscious Cangjian, who resembled a broken-backed dog, Master Gu's face was grim, and his expression was dark and sinister.

If it weren't for the old thief Cangjian, would he have suffered such a fate today?

Not only did they suffer heavy losses, but they also lost face!

He's been ripped off for the old thief Cangjian!

But what's done is done, and the only option now is to minimize the losses.

Master Gu's gaze was dark and gloomy as he coldly swept over Cang Jian's right shoulder, which was missing an arm and was now empty.

The sword was destroyed; it was his hand that held it, instantly obliterated, with no chance of saving it.

Even if it recovers its strength, it will be difficult to regain its former glory.

Even for a martial arts master, losing an arm doesn't necessarily impair mobility. However, for a swordsman, losing the arm that wields the sword will inevitably result in a significant reduction in combat power.

Being able to maintain the combat strength of the second realm is already a stroke of good fortune.

The legendary reputation of cleaving mountains with a single sword strike, leaving peaks suspended in mid-air, is likely to be lost forever!

藏剑
He also completely lost the right to be his equal.

The affection we once shared has been completely exhausted, like our lost face, due to today's heavy losses.

but.
Cangjian cannot die!
Master Gu's face was full of hostility, as if shrouded in gloom.

What he has lost, he will seek back twice as much from Cangjian.

另外
His gaze swept down to Shen Linyuan, who was also unconscious at the foot of the mountain.

The youngest Supreme Elder of the Sword Pavilion!
"Humph!"

Master Gu snorted coldly, reached out and grabbed Shen Linyuan in his hand.

This is his key bargaining chip to recover his losses.

His gaze was sinister. He looked around, his cheeks swollen, and without saying a word, he led the two men away from there.

"That old scoundrel is lucky."

Watching Master Gu leave safely, Gu Yueqianfang looked disappointed.

If we're talking about who most wanted Master Gu to be in trouble, it would undoubtedly be Gu Yueqianfang.

He and Master Gu have always been at odds, and given the opportunity, he would never hesitate to kick someone when they're down.

Seeing Master Gu's disheveled state earlier, he felt extremely pleased and delighted.

"pity."

Gu Yueqianfang's eyes flickered slightly, and she couldn't help but sigh.

He glanced to his side and saw Lei Xiaotian. Old Huang was looking up at the sky, seemingly lost in thought.

The celestial beings in the arena had different thoughts and feelings, and could not hide their astonishment.

The Celestial Master underwent a major overhaul, the Hidden Sword was half-crippled, Shen Linyuan was seriously injured, and Master Gu suffered severe injuries.
These scenes undoubtedly left them with a profound sense of awe.

If today's events were to get out, they would likely cause a huge uproar.

Even looking at the surrounding area, it is a major event that has attracted widespread attention!

In the Black Nether Mountains, on the northern branch, a mysterious powerful cultivator has appeared, sweeping away all obstacles with overwhelming force. Master Gu, a fourth-tier alchemy master, is offering a huge sum of spiritual treasures in exchange for reconciliation.
Today, some people have slapped themselves in the face, while others have pretended to be fat. The fat guy is genuinely fat, and his face is genuinely swollen!

Today's events involve a major transformation between heaven and man, and are destined to become a significant chapter in the history of Beishan.

Ying Congyun looked bitter, and looking at the scene around him, he felt like crying but had no tears.

He had only participated in a transaction in Yunshan when this incident occurred.

The matter is now over, but for him as the deputy garrison commander of Beishan, it may have just begun.

This matter involves a master cultivator of the Celestial Realm, a great alchemist, and the Sword Pavilion of Inquiry.
The impact of today's events is likely to be far more profound than he imagined.

"What kind of nonsense is this?!"

Looking at the surrounding overturned mountains and collapsed cliffs, Ying Congyun felt an unbearable headache.

If Ping An had left sooner, they would have shared the responsibility for this matter!
"Ultimate physique, ultimate strength, ultimate vitality."

At Hengshan Sect, Venerable Zhenyue looked on with a fanatical expression, gazing at the distant horizon.

"besides."

It turns out that even those who practice external martial arts can remain low-key and lie low, acting as cunning and scheming individuals.

Extreme stability, gentle words, combined with ferocious power—that's the romance of a physical cultivator!

At that moment, Venerable Zhenyue felt as if a new world had been opened to him.

Master Hongfeng's face showed longing as he felt the extreme pressure of a Body Tempering Grandmaster. Unlike the supernatural powers, secret techniques, and precious treasures of normal Celestial Grandmasters, this pressure came from the roaring of blood and qi, and from every punch landing on the flesh—this was what they sought.

"What kind of powerful figure is this? His combat strength is terrifying!"

The two were shaken, their hearts surging with emotion.

Whoosh!
In the Black Nether Mountains, amidst the rolling hills, a streak of light flashed silently, almost unnoticed.

Concealed by the thick black fog, the streak of light quickly landed in a valley. (End of Chapter)