The Great Martial Saint!

Fourth-tier spiritual fruit, Crimson Sun Golden Fruit!
Chen Ping'an's gaze sharpened, and the light in his eyes and brows instantly intensified.

He is now in the final stages of the Qingyang Blood Refining Method, having completed three rounds of cultivation.

Once this link is completed and the Golden-Crowned Feathered Sparrow is activated, the mutated part in its bloodline will be refined three times to reach perfection and unleash its ultimate power.

And now.
Now that he had the Crimson Sun Golden Fruit in his hands, he naturally wanted to complete this final step.

hum~
A flash of spiritual light completely enveloped the Crimson Sun Golden Fruit, its golden radiance carrying blazing waves, merging with his divine soul.

These rare and precious fruits and spiritual substances are of the best use in alchemy to enhance the medicinal properties.

However, what Chen Ping'an needs to utilize is the fire element essence within it. There's no need for such trouble; he can simply consume it directly, allowing his bloodline and physique to withstand it, and his divine soul to guide and urge his bloodline to reach its full potential.

Wow~
The blazing waves crashed against our faces, like the golden rays of the scorching sun, so intense that it was hard to look directly at them.

These images, though impressive, were concealed by the Azure Flame Command Flags and did not cause much of a commotion. Even the slightest dissipation was hidden within the thick black mist.

This time, the consumption of the Crimson Sun Golden Fruit caused quite a stir. It was taken directly outside to stimulate vital energy and activate blood vessels, also to minimize the impact of any unexpected events.

Even if a mistake occurs, it won't cause a problem.

At present, there is no doubt that Chen Ping'an's choice was correct.

Although Beishan Pass is not under major repair, it is still possible that it will be unlucky and add unnecessary risks.

As is the case now, a one-time solution is the best choice.

Wow~
A scorching heatwave rose into the sky, the blazing sun blazing down. Chen Ping'an's clothes were removed, revealing his muscular physique.

Under the influence of his extraordinary bloodline, his body gradually changed, forming one fiery pattern after another, with golden flames flowing and surging within, erupting with ultimate power.

After an unknown amount of time, Chen Ping'an slowly opened his eyes at the foot of the cliff in the valley.

hum~
Name: Chen Ping'an
Realm: Celestial Realm 2 - Rainbow Penetration Realm (Six Stages)
武学：青阳血炼法小成（14755/15360）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（10535/14400）、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

"14755 point."

Chen Ping'an's eyes flashed, and the fiery red aura in his body flashed by, instantly receding and returning to a silent, dim light.

"Fire-type mutation, Feather Sparrow True Blood!"

Chen Ping'an was overjoyed, feeling the surging heat within his body, like lava, sending waves of heat through him.

After consuming the Crimson Sun Golden Fruit, the mutated bloodline within the Golden Crowned Feathered Sparrow was completely activated.

Right now, the blood waves are churning and the blood energy is surging—this is the power of the Crimson Sun Golden Fruit.

However, the Crimson Sun Golden Fruit is quite potent, and even he found it difficult to fully digest it in a short time.

The remaining part will need to be addressed gradually and digested over time.

Although the Crimson Sun Golden Fruit could not help his cultivation, it had many potential benefits, and all its effects would become his resources and foundation.

"Success is achieved. Now, let's move on."
It's time to go back!

Chen Ping'an's eyes narrowed, and the panel in front of him vanished.

With the last weakness of his fire elemental essence now complete, he can now cultivate the Three Refinements to perfection without any worries, unleashing the ultimate power to trigger the divine power of his bloodline.

At his current pace, he will be able to complete this crucial step in less than ten days.

At that time, one will have reached the pinnacle of physical strength and possess an aura that can move mountains and rivers!

"Snap! Snap! Snap!"

With a cracking sound from his bones, Chen Ping'an's figure began to change rapidly.

With his black iron mask concealing his aura, he soon transformed into a different appearance.

A burly, imposing man with a haughty and domineering expression.

"almost."

Chen Ping'an clenched his fists together, unleashing a thunderous roar, the sound like muffled thunder.

He did not immediately revert to his original appearance, but instead disguised himself in a new form as an interim measure. He would then make further changes after the position changed and he readjusted his appearance.

In this way, safety can be ensured to the greatest extent.

hum~
He raised his hand, and the four command flags positioned at the four corners fluttered up and landed in his hand.

He put away the command flag, bowed slightly, and then...
Bang!
With a loud bang, his figure shot into the sky.

When Chen Ping'an returned to Beishan Pass, it was already late at night. Beishan Pass was still bustling as ever. He did not cause any disturbance and went straight back to his residence.

Although Beishan Pass is adjacent to the Black Nether Mountains, it took him quite a while to get there. During that time, he sensed things with his divine sense and changed his appearance multiple times until he was completely safe, at which point he reverted to his original form.

"It seems that the news from Yunshan has not yet truly reached us. Or rather, it has not spread widely."

Chen Ping'an sensed for a while and found that Beishan Pass remained calm as if nothing had happened.

He suppressed his wandering thoughts and went into seclusion to cultivate in the meditation room below the mansion.

Whether it's the Azure Sun Blood Refining Method, the Three Refinements Body Tempering Method, or the Raging Thunder Blade Technique, he is already extremely close to perfection.

Under such circumstances, he naturally wouldn't relax in the slightest.

Even though the recent battle has given him a great deal of confidence, this confidence will only become the driving force for his progress, not a reason for him to stagnate or become complacent.

The next day, Chen Ping'an went to work as usual.

Beishan Town Garrison, as always, remained solemn and dignified.

"grown ups."

"Master Chief."

"Greetings, Lord Chen."

"."

The elite troops of the Zhenfu Division bowed respectfully to Chen Ping'an.

Although Chen Ping'an was a deputy director with real power, in this kind of situation, no one would be so ignorant as to call him deputy director.

The deputy commander is addressed as commander with the same respect, that's standard practice. Not to mention, Chen Ping'an's current duties and responsibilities are something only a proper commander can hold.

"Is the cloud absent?"

Chen Ping'an sensed with his divine sense and discovered that there was no trace of Ying Congyun within the Zhenfu Division.

In addition, he discovered that Yu Minglong also seemed to be absent from the Beishan Garrison Command. He wondered if he was simply busy with something, or...
Because of the impact of yesterday's events?
Chen Ping'an remained calm, revealing no emotion.

Yesterday's meeting did pile up some official business. However, Chen Ping'an didn't deal with the official business; instead, he chose to cultivate in his official residence.

hum~
His eyes were slightly closed, and a glint of light shone through them, reflecting on his face.

As noon approached, Chen Ping'an slowly opened his eyes from inside the official residence. He sensed an aura emanating from outside the Zhenfu Division; it was Ying Congyun's aura.

then
Not long after Chen Ping'an opened his eyes, he saw Ying Congyun rushing over to see him.

"Lord Ying, what is this...?"

In official settings, Chen Ping'an did not use the title "fellow Daoist" but chose a formal form of address.

"Lord Chen, something has happened!" Ying Congyun's face was solemn, his brows furrowed slightly, and he had lost some of his usual calm and collected demeanor.

"What is it?" Chen Ping'an looked surprised and puzzled as he looked at Ying Congyun in front of him.

He knew perfectly well why Ying Congyun was reacting, but in the current situation, he naturally had to pretend not to know.

"Lord Chen, after you left yesterday at the Yunshan meeting," Ying Congyun said solemnly, recounting the events of the previous day to Chen Ping'an. As Chen Ping'an had predicted, although yesterday's events only involved local forces within the official system of Beishan Pass, as the deputy garrison commander of Beishan, Ying Congyun, considering the overall stability and as a member of the Zhenfu Division present, had no choice but to stay and manage the situation to prevent its escalation.

"I just returned from the Wenxin Sword Pavilion's headquarters. This matter," Ying Congyun said in a low voice, "is probably troublesome."

At this moment, Chen Ping'an, as an observer, also learned the ins and outs from Ying Congyun's narration.

"Is that so?" His eyes lit up slightly, and he looked quite pleased. "Retribution really is swift!"

The Sword Pavilion of Inquiry uses its power to intimidate others, and the Cloud Mountain stands in confrontation. He has a grudge against the Hidden Sword. Upon hearing this, his reaction, though too straightforward, is logical and fits his character perfectly.

Ying Congyun glanced at him but didn't reply; he just looked troubled.

The two exchanged pleasantries, which naturally revolved around the events of the previous day. Chen Ping'an also showed his curiosity to a certain extent, asking about some details of the Celestial-Human Great Cultivation.

For example, what is the combat power of that Celestial Being, where did he come from, and what is his background?

According to Ying Congyun's account, he also saw the figure of Zhenyue Venerable of Hengshan Sect at the scene. Hengshan Sect and Wenxin Sword Pavilion are rivals and at odds with each other. Previously, Shen Linyuan's defeat of the Supreme Elder of Hengshan Sect in front of everyone at the Heavenly Ceremony had further intensified the conflict between the two.

The Sword Pavilion's visit to Beishan is also aimed at bolstering its own prestige. Under these circumstances, it's hard to guarantee that the Hengshan Sect won't take some countermeasures.

This matter
While it's unlikely, the Hengshan Sect might still be involved. And that Celestial Grandmaster cultivator is another possibility.
With a fine physique and strong blood and energy, he must have a close connection with the Yokoyama sect!
Ying Congyun's words were profound; though not explicitly stated, the meaning behind them was extremely clear.

Such speculation is reasonable and inevitably leads people to overthink.

Whether it's the motive, the coincidences at the scene, or the benefits gained, Yokoyama Sect is undoubtedly highly suspicious.

They had never heard of Venerable Zhenyue of the Hengshan Sect coming to Beishan. According to their intelligence, Venerable Zhenyue should still be within the Hengshan Sect.

They've arrived so quietly; they can't exactly say they're just here for fun, can they?
All the information deduced points to the Yokoyama sect.

However, since such matters are ultimately a power struggle and there is no conclusive evidence, the Zhenfu Division naturally will not intervene.

In all exchanges, this topic will inevitably be brought up, so as to grasp the most accurate and important information in the midst of a changing situation.

"Is the Headmaster aware of this matter?"

"I returned last night and immediately reported to the Headmaster," Ying Congyun said.

This matter involves a major cultivation of celestial beings, and the ancient master was seriously injured. This is by no means a trivial matter.

All exchanges were conducted in great detail.

Before the exchange had even ended, Chen Ping'an sensed an aura emanating from outside the Zhenfu Division.

It's Yu Minglong!

"Yu Minglong is back?"

Chen Ping'an thought to himself, but his expression remained calm.

He had a normal conversation with Ying Congyun, and soon after, he was summoned by Yu Minglong.

The messenger was An Qingyang, a retainer of the Beishan Town Guard, who was also known as the number one pseudo-celestial being of Beishan.

"Lord Ying, Lord Chen, the Headmaster summons you."

During their meeting, An Qingyang remained calm, as if nothing had changed. But Chen Ping'an felt, perhaps it was just his imagination, that the way An Qingyang looked at him seemed slightly different than before.

In a daze, I seemed to feel a sense of awe.

Yu Minglong's summons was naturally related to what happened yesterday.

The emergence of a Celestial Being within the territory of Beishan Prefecture is undoubtedly a major piece of news for any power.

Even someone like Yu Minglong must be on high alert.

Not to mention that this great cultivation of the Celestials was not just a passing by, but a real act of force, suppressing the Sword Elder of the Heart-Questioning Sword Pavilion, Shen Linyuan, with overwhelming power.

Master Gu, the top alchemist of Beishan and a senior fourth-level alchemist, bowed his head, yielded, and offered gifts to sue for peace.

"Fellow Daoist Tong is basically useless."

When the crucial matter was mentioned, Yu Minglong sighed and looked wistful.

Not long ago, he had even gone out to greet the other party on behalf of the Beishan Garrison Command. But not long after, he heard the news that the other party was half-crippled.

Even if the right arm is reattached after being severed, it is extremely difficult to regain its full strength.

Not to mention, his arm was completely destroyed in that battle.

Even if a lost arm is reattached using secret techniques, the body is still difficult to adjust, and the limbs are out of sync. This might not have much impact on daily activities, but in combat, any slight difference can determine the outcome.

Especially for a swordsman who wields his sword with his right arm.

Having met the other party not long ago, it's no wonder that Yu Minglong felt sad and disappointed that such things were now circulating.

Especially before this, the reputation of the Sword Pavilion had soared. Shen Linyuan's sword strike made the Sword Pavilion shine like the sun at its zenith, and everyone witnessed the emergence of the Sword Pavilion's prodigy.

But now, the situation has taken a sharp turn for the worse, and such a dramatic change inevitably makes people sigh.

"Has the background of that great cultivator been ascertained?" Yu Minglong looked at Ying Congyun with a deep expression.

"No." Ying Congyun shook his head solemnly.

"Judging from the scene, that senior is following the path of body tempering. If we don't consider independent cultivators, there are only a few sects that are famous for body tempering. But if we consider independent cultivators, then the scope is quite broad."

"Let's see! Anyone who can cultivate to this level must be someone who is not unknown. Anyone who has passed through must have left behind some story."

"Yes," Ying Congyun replied respectfully.

"Lord Chen, this matter will be handled jointly by you and Lord Ying." As if remembering something, Yu Minglong added.

Chen Ping'an readily agreed.

Since the matter involved major repairs, Yu Minglong's words set the tone for everything.

The two of them naturally wrote it all down.

At the end, Yu Minglong also inquired about Chen Ping'an's situation.

I am already aware of what happened at Yunshan yesterday. Since Qiu Siping's death was already mentioned beforehand, there is nothing to fear.

If the Sword Pavilion insists on making trouble, I will step in to resolve the situation, so Lord Chen need not worry.

We, the people of the Zhenfu Division, do not provoke trouble, but we are not afraid of trouble either!

Yu Minglong spoke with great conviction and displayed an air of boundless pride.

Chen Ping'an was naturally grateful and thanked the headmaster.

"Don't worry about this. Alright, everyone go and get back to work."

Yu Minglong waved his hand gently, and the two of them left.

"Body Tempering Major Repair!" Yu Minglong stood with his hands behind his back, walked to the window, and looked at the distant mountain range, which was shrouded in mist, like a giant beast lurking between heaven and earth.

Although Cangjian of Wenxin Sword Pavilion is not as powerful as him, he is still a very senior figure among the second-level Celestials, and he has a record of defeating other Celestials of the same level.

Their combat strength is quite remarkable, especially considering the surrounding areas.

Even so, facing major repairs
Like a helpless child!
"This is the power of a major overhaul!"

Even someone as skilled and well-connected as Master Gu would have to lower his head before this person.

Yu Minglong's face showed anticipation, and his heart was filled with boundless ambition.

One day, he will surely reach that level!
Two days later, at the Cloud Mountain Gathering, the events concerning the Black Nether Mountains, as news spread, truly reached all the various forces in the Northern Mountain Pass and all the high-end circles. (End of this chapter)