The Great Martial Saint!

Chapter 968 Fu Gong Visits, Qing Chan Remains in Secrecy

With the promotion ceremony over, Chen Ping'an had truly secured his position in Beishan.

Beishan Pass, with its eighteen garrison cities and countless patrol systems, was entirely under his control and completely at his behest.

After the celebration ended, He Xinchen of Wentianfu Division did not linger at Beishan Pass.

For someone of his level to take the time to stand up for him for so long is already quite an achievement. To expect him to stay any longer would be even more impossible.

The great cultivation of heaven and man, the daily management of countless affairs, every action releases a strong signal.

Even if there is no official business and time is precious, it is not something that ordinary practitioners can waste.

It's worth mentioning that before parting, He Xinchen specially gave Chen Ping'an a congratulatory gift, which can be considered as forming a good relationship with him.

Of course, under the watchful eyes of many outsiders, it was Chen Ping'an who seized this opportunity to establish a complete connection with the Crimson Gold Leader of the Wentian Fusi.

He Xinchen, having lived for a thousand years, is extremely powerful even among the great cultivators of the Celestial Realm.

While he may not be renowned throughout the North, he is certainly capable of traversing various regions.

Furthermore, being based in Wentian City, his connections and networks are far beyond what ordinary states or regions can match.

With this favorable connection established, the channel is set up, which means many conveniences and shortcuts.

Having been immersed in the system for many years, Chen Ping'an naturally understood its benefits.

However, compared to He Xinchen's level of ability, he was more concerned about the network of connections and relationships behind He Xinchen.

He is now extremely wealthy, but he is struggling to fully utilize his vast resources and connections.

Fortunately, the Holy Maiden of Tianluo had intervened beforehand, and he kept his promise, which led to her helping him a great deal, refining and transforming his foundation.

However, the Heavenly Luo Saintess's intervention was only a one-time thing; she was not his Daoist partner, so there was no reason for her to help him in every situation.

If someone truly helps you in every way, then the weight of that favor is immense.

Some networks and connections ultimately need to be built by oneself.

On the other hand, even between Daoist partners, there's no reason for one person to give unconditionally.

Without interaction and mutual support, without a deep emotional bond, such one-sided giving will never last.

In a moment of inspiration, Chen Ping'an couldn't help but admire the Purple-Eyed Demon Lord of yesteryear.

Despite having no status as a Daoist partner and no advantage in cultivation, she managed to subdue the superior and win the utmost gentleness and devotion from the female ruler of the Tianluo Sect.

I wonder how the Purple-Eyed Demon Lord managed to do that?

What kind of charm is needed to achieve this?!

Chen Ping'an couldn't help but ponder deeply.

The promotion ceremony attracted powerful figures from all sides, and the celebratory gifts were extremely generous.

Especially the congratulatory gifts presented by the representatives of such powerful celestial beings are of a weight that ordinary pseudo-celestial beings could hardly match in their entire lives.

Even some powerful rogue cultivators showed considerable sincerity in this regard.

It is worth mentioning that Wenxin Sword Pavilion went to great lengths to ease tensions and express its attitude.

Not only did they present a fourth-tier spiritual plant, but they also added several near-fourth-tier precious ores and a bottle of fourth-tier cultivation pills.

Such generosity is truly unique in normal social interactions.

In addition, regional overlords such as the Green Wood Sect and the Luanming Sect also showed considerable sincerity in this promotion ceremony.

In addition to the Bi Cang Prince's Mansion, the five great families of Beishan, Hengshan Sect, and even the Gu family, Chen Ping'an's gains from this celebration can be described as extremely substantial.

All these prices, taken together, represent an extremely generous sum even for a seasoned Second Realm Celestial Being.

Not to mention from the perspective of a newly ascended celestial being.

It was enough to move even the most celestial beings, leaving them speechless with astonishment.

However, with the previous gains from the White Bone Grandmaster and all the accumulated spoils of war, Chen Ping'an's horizons have broadened and his foundation has improved, so in his opinion, things are not bad.

However, this still increased his net worth once again, giving him a significant boost.

However, at this level, these celebratory gifts are more about social interactions.

Since it involves social interactions, it means that some things must be repaid; it's not a one-sided gift.

It can only be described as withdrawing future profits in advance to support his current needs.

For various forces and sects, if there are similar celebrations in the future, even if he cannot attend in person, he must still send appropriate gifts.

For Chen Ping'an, the greater significance of this celebratory gift lies primarily in the underlying essence of some readily available spiritual items.

After sorting through the items, Chen Ping'an categorized them and made proper arrangements.

The remaining portion includes the reserved portion, the traded portion, and the portion to be subsequently sold.

Chen Pingan even picked and chose, preparing one for Wan Jun.

With his current wealth and resources, even a tiny bit of it would be enough for Wan Jun to cultivate steadily to the level of a Grandmaster without having to seek out external spiritual objects.

It is worth mentioning that among the celebratory gifts were some items, including literary and Taoist tools and books, such as explanations and annotations of astrology, earthly yin and yang.

Clearly, many forces, catering to his interests, had already obtained some information about Chen Ping'an.

Chen Ping'an compiled and organized this information, making a special copy for Er Ya.

In the hope that when the opportunity arises in the future, it can be delivered to Er Ya.

"This little girl." Recalling that small figure leaning against the windowsill, a doting smile appeared on Chen Ping'an's face.

While the literary and artistic items among them are not particularly rare, with the discerning eye of the celestial beings, their quality can still be guaranteed.

The young girl has only recently entered the academy, and her literary cultivation is just beginning. Such items should be more than sufficient for her.

However, this place is very far from the Southern Territory, even for martial arts masters, it is an extremely long distance.

Even if Chen Ping'an now possesses a fourth-tier spirit boat, he might not dare to claim that he could cross this long journey in one go.

Although the overall region of the dynasty was peaceful, there were dangerous places within it, containing unpredictable risks.

Especially in some desolate mountain ranges and swampy, misty places, even celestial beings might not be able to ensure their safety.

However, these places are mostly for those in a hurry, so if you have enough time, you can take a detour.

The imperial official road system was extremely comprehensive, with local garrison offices patrolling in various regions, making it virtually all-encompassing.

The day after the celebration ended, Aoki Fugong of the Bicang County Prince's Mansion made a special trip to visit Chen Ping'an.

"Lord Chen, I apologize for disturbing you with your visit."

During this meeting, Aoki Sōkō was extremely polite.

During the visit, they also specially presented this generous gift. This gift was different from a celebratory gift; such exchanges cannot be considered as personal favors.

Aoki Sōkō's next words corroborated this viewpoint.

“Lord Chen, we have offended Xuanling in the past. This is a small gift to express our gratitude. Please accept it.”

Although Aoki Fugong did not say it explicitly, he was probably referring to the events of Xuanling City in the past, when the raging waves ripped the earth and the special envoy from Bi Cang arrived.

"You're too kind, Lord Fu. Let bygones be bygones."

Chen Ping'an smiled and accepted the gift without refusing.

Chen Ping'an accepted the gift, and Aoki Fugong's smile widened.

After some casual conversation and pleasantries, the purpose of the trip was finally revealed.

"Lord Chen, your reputation is as bright as the sun. From humble beginnings to your current state, you have achieved everything we admire. His Highness Xuanmo of our Prince's Mansion has long admired you. Although we have never met you, he feels as if you are an old friend. When I came here today, His Highness Xuanmo specifically emphasized that he hoped I could convey his wishes and invite you to his mansion for a chat. He said that if I could get to know such a hero as you, it would truly be a life well-lived."

Aoki Fusuke spoke with a smile, explaining the purpose of his trip.

Now that Chen Ping'an is stationed in Beishan as a key official of the Zhenfu Division and a powerful figure in Bi Cang, he is no longer the same as before. He is now eager to recruit talent, and the Prince's Mansion is interested in recruiting him.

Things are different now. Chen Ping'an has established his power, and even the Prince of Bicang's Mansion can hardly recruit him anymore.

With the power of the Azure King's Mansion, it might be able to recruit ordinary rogue cultivators, but to recruit someone as brilliant as Chen Ping'an, whose combat strength rivals that of a second-realm genius, is clearly unrealistic.

However, whether or not they recruit him, maintaining good relations with him won't affect anything. As long as Chen Ping'an can provide assistance at crucial moments, it will be of great benefit to them.

Chen Ping'an is no ordinary celestial being. His natural talents and the power he wields mean that he has considerable influence in Bicang and the surrounding areas.

Aside from the matter of the ancient Yue clan, winning over Chen Ping'an can be described as a highly profitable endeavor.

The struggle for the throne is currently raging, having reached a fever pitch. Every available force is worth fighting for.

Upon realizing this, Aoki Fukun's smile became even warmer. Although he wasn't overly solicitous, his enthusiasm for making friends was evident.

During the conversation, Aoki Fuko also mentioned some interesting anecdotes to ease the atmosphere and make it seem less utilitarian.

Interspersed among these are some almost explicit bargaining chips, such as mentioning that he has many adopted sons and daughters, many of whom are quite successful. For example, Liang Xiaoxian, who had some interaction with Canglong and Chen Ping'an in the past, is one of his highly valued adopted daughters.

If you come to Bicang in the future, we can have another exchange and reminisce about our past friendship.

Although Aoki Fukun spoke cryptically, he made it very clear that he intended to give Liang Xiaoxian to him as a concubine.

It wasn't really a gift; it was more like a pretext to connect the two and facilitate further communication.

Given Chen Ping'an's abilities and influence, Liang Xiaoxian would find it difficult to refuse.

When Aoki Fukuo mentioned Liang Xiaoxian, Chen Ping'an's mind immediately conjured up that figure.

The first time they met was at Gu Qingchan's Grandmaster Ceremony. She appeared alongside Kuanglan Liedi, and her identity as a member of the Bi Cang Prince's Mansion, along with her delicate nose, almond-shaped eyes, and graceful figure, truly attracted the attention of many guests.

Those thighs were straight and shapely, and the full contours of her figure could be faintly seen under the hem of her skirt as she walked; she was indeed a fine woman.

just

Chen Ping'an paused, his thoughts remaining silent.

No matter what, they will inevitably end up as pawns in a game of power.

No matter how much they are relied upon, it cannot change their fate as pawns.

What others see as captivating elegance may, in the eyes of those in power, simply be a bargaining chip for exchanging benefits.

The reason for this is not about her, nor about him, but about the state of the world!

Seeing Chen Ping'an remain silent, Aoki Fugong felt that things had turned out just right, which made him even more confident.

Mang Dao was fond of women, and by using women to win him over, it was impossible for him not to be tempted.

His adopted daughter, Liang Xiaoxian, is exceptionally talented. With careful nurturing, she has the potential to become a pseudo-celestial being. Even if she doesn't become a pseudo-celestial being, she can still become a grandmaster.

With the status of a grandmaster, he can play with things at will, and let anyone pick them. In addition, with his noble status, wouldn't that make people very interested and eager to try?

With other bargaining chips added, how could it not tempt the madman?

Aoki Fusuke was calculating in his mind, secretly pleased with himself, and waiting for Chen Ping'an's reply when he suddenly sensed two auras under his divine sense.

"Gu Zhengnan?"

Aoki Fukuhiko's gaze sharpened, and in an instant he sensed one of the auras.

To show respect, he did not use his divine sense to cover a large area of ​​the Mangdao residence, but relied on instinct to detect a small area.

Judging from the current scene, it seems that the other party has been at Mangdao's residence all this time?

Before long, he saw Gu Zhengnan and a beautiful woman in a palace dress appear on the cliff behind the mountain where the two were chatting.

"Lord Fu, how have you been?"

Gu Zhengnan smiled broadly and raised his hand to greet him.

"We met again yesterday, how can you say we're alright?" Aoki Fuko's face darkened, his expression displeased.

Although Gu Zhengnan is a Celestial Being, he is only a newly ascended one, and with his status, he doesn't need to worry about anything.

Gu Zhengnan's arrival meant that his previous efforts to win him over had completely failed, and given the difference in their status, he did not hide his emotions.

Despite Aoki Fuko's displeasure, Gu Zhengnan's smile remained unchanged, showing no sign of being affected.

"It was Zheng Nan who did not think things through. Please forgive him, Fu Gong."

Gu Zhengnan smiled broadly, showing no sign of discomfort whatsoever.

On the contrary, Aoki Fukuhiko's gaze swept over the two of them, finally settling on Gu Qingchan, as if he had swallowed arsenic.

Given his status and position, he naturally wouldn't know Gu Qingchan. Gu Qingchan hadn't participated in the celebration either, so there was no possibility that either of them knew about it.

However, based on all the intelligence and information available, as well as this unexpected meeting, Aoki Fukun clearly realized something.

"What a family-oriented person!"

With Gu Zhengnan and the other person present, Aoki Fugong's plans naturally came to nothing. He said a few simple words, maintained basic decorum, and then hurriedly left.

"How dare he be so family-oriented, so willing to spend so much!"

After leaving the cliff, Aoki Fugong's face was as black as charcoal, and his expression was gloomy.

Chen Ping'an had received favors from the Gu family in his early years and was even bound by a marriage contract, a fact he had always known.

But he was confident in his attempt to win him over. After all, there had been previous instances of Chen Ping'an postponing and delaying their engagement.

In his judgment, Chen Ping'an's relationship with the Gu family might not be as harmonious as before.

This is also one of the sources of his confidence.

Unexpectedly, the Gu family gave him a hard time this time.

When visiting someone's home, the other party can come and go freely—this demonstrates an extraordinary level of trust. This is entirely different from what has been rumored.

另外

The Gu family had taken the first step and started making the same plans.

Knowing that Mang Dao had a fondness for beautiful women, he actually used an elder from his clan as a bridge to continue the relationship between the two sides!

She's clearly engaged, how could she do this?!

It is

Shameless!

Aoki Fukuhiko's face was as black as charcoal, and his mood was gloomy and somber. He left in a hurry.

he.

Too late!

"Elder Zheng Nan, Elder Qing Chan".

Chen Ping'an chatted with the two men for a few minutes, making no attempt to conceal Aoki Fugong's bargaining chips.

As they spoke, Chen Ping'an paid more attention to Gu Qingchan a few times.

Today, Gu Qingchan wore a light blue palace dress with silk ribbons around her neck and a hairpin in her hair, making her look even more elegant and graceful.

Well, if you ignore that delicate, baby-faced beauty and that tender, clear voice like a new bud.

It's unclear whether it's because Gu Qingchan's cultivation method is special, or because their recent discussions on cultivation have greatly improved each other. Previously, Qingmu Fugong hadn't been able to discern Gu Qingchan's cultivation level despite his perception.

He was regarded only as a martial arts grandmaster with a powerful aura.

Considering Xuanling's previous trip and the in-depth examination of Gu Qingchan's body these past few days, Chen Ping's viewpoint leans towards a compromise between the two.

Gu Qingchan's cultivation method is special, and her ability to conceal herself is extremely unique.

With all the support of his foundation, he managed to deceive Aoki Fusuke, who was not good at sensing things in the same realm.

Noticing Chen Ping'an's gaze, Gu Qingchan pretended not to see it.

But even after half a breath, the other person's gaze had not left her, and she wished she could pinch him with her hands.

Elder Zheng Nan.

It's still there!

Originally confident, Gu Qingchan felt increasingly uneasy as her emotions shifted and she recalled the events of the previous night. She felt her face slightly warm and burning.

"Elder Qingchan, are you feeling unwell?" Chen Ping'an asked with a natural expression.

Gu Qingchan only wanted to glare at Chen Ping'an, but with Gu Zhengnan beside her, it was inappropriate, so she could only quietly say, "I'm fine."

"That's good. If Qingmu Fugong's spirit was affected just now, Elder Qingchan, please don't worry about it. I, Chen, have some knowledge of healing and recuperation, and may be able to help you."

Chen Ping'an looked at him with bright eyes and a concerned expression.

Gu Qingchan maintained her elegance and composure, her face warm, and simply said, "No need."

Gu Zhengnan stood aside, watching the interaction between the two, lost in thought.

It seems that there is a connection between Chen Ping'an and Elder Qingchan.

There's a secret hidden! (End of Chapter)