Daqian Martial Saint

After Chen Ping’an’s promotion ceremony, the memorial service for the late Feng Shixian was promptly held.

Feng Shixian had presided over White Stone City for many years, and many in the Garrison Commandant’s Office were still fond of him. The entire Office attended the memorial service. Many of the other factions within White Stone City sent people as well.

However, major factions like the Three Great Families, the Blood Oath Alliance, and the Commerce Alliance merely sent two or three representatives each. They arrived in a hurry, stayed for only a moment, and then promptly departed. Their attendance was cursory, a blatant show of superficiality.

Although Chen Ping’an didn’t witness this firsthand, word of it reached him through others.

The disrespect these factions showed the Garrison Commandant’s Office was now out in the open.

This led to considerable grumbling among the constables.

As the saying goes, a new broom sweeps clean. Many constables hoped Chen Ping’an would unleash his previous ferocity and put the major factions in their place, taking them down a peg.

At the very least, he should send men to their doors to demand an explanation. Why treat the Garrison Commandant’s Office with such contempt? Who gave them the nerve!

Many of the constables were waiting in anticipation.

It was a shame, but the new Lord Commander made no significant moves. On the contrary, he became rather reclusive. Let alone the constables, even many of the head Constables hadn’t been able to see him more than a few times.

Many constables still had faith in Chen Ping’an’s eventual response. However, the fact that the Garrison Commandant’s Office had not effectively countered the factions’ blatant disrespect left quite a few people disappointed.

But despite their disappointment, they tried to rationalize the situation. After all, Chen Ping’an had a proven track record of decisive action, having annihilated two major gangs in succession. They still believed their lord would eventually retaliate.

”This isn’t right. What’s gotten into Lord Chen?”

”Is he planning a counterstrategy!? That must be it. You have to consider the consequences of every action. As the Commander-in-Chief of the Garrison Commandant’s Office, he has to be careful with his decisions, otherwise the repercussions would be too great!”

”Yeah, that has to be it. Given Lord Chen’s character, he’d never be this soft!”

”Let’s just wait. Give Lord Chen some time. The situation is a mess. He needs to think it through properly, weigh the pros and cons, before he can make his next move.”

”You’re right!”

”...”

Unlike what the constables thought, Chen Ping’an’s recent seclusion had nothing to do with him devising a strategy. In truth, his mind wasn’t on such matters at all.

The factions’ dismissive attitudes had indeed given Chen Ping’an a few thoughts. However, it wasn’t nearly enough to make him waste his time by making a big fuss. He’d rather focus on improving himself than get entangled with them.

He had never forgotten that the true source of his confidence wasn’t status or authority, but his own Martial Arts Cultivation.

These past few days, his entire focus had been on the Vajra Unbreakable.

The Divine Skill was vast and profound, its wonders extraordinary—far beyond what any superior cultivation method could offer. Chen Ping’an was lost in an ocean of Martial Arts, completely engrossed!

Cultivating a Divine Skill is arduous. It’s common to train bitterly for days on end with nothing to show for it—a demoralizing experience that is hard to bear.

But unlike others, every single practice session earned Chen Ping’an 1 point of Cultivation Experience. This steady, reliable progress was exhilarating and filled him with hope.

+1!

+1!

+1!

...

Notifications for Cultivation Experience flashed before his eyes, one after another. He had temporarily set aside his other cultivation techniques to focus solely on the Vajra Unbreakable Divine Skill, and the results were impressive.

’I’ve accumulated 90 points of Cultivation Experience!’

’At this rate, in another half a month, my Vajra Unbreakable Divine Skill will reach the Minor Success Realm! When I reach the Unbreakable Copper Body stage, I wonder how much my combat power will change once I activate it?’

Cultivating the Vajra Unbreakable had made his physique and defenses even more formidable. And that was just in his normal state. If he were to fully activate it, like he did in the stone chamber, his combat power would surge dramatically, even if only for a limited time.

’The Vajra Unbreakable at the Entry Realm can double my combat power when fully activated! So what about the Minor Success Realm...?’

To be honest, Chen Ping’an was truly looking forward to it.

...

He had thought that after the memorial service, White Stone City would return to its previous state of tranquility. But unexpectedly, the city grew restless.

With the Crocodile Gang and Quicksand Gang wiped out, factions like the Blood Oath Alliance and the Iron Fist Gang began making moves, gradually encroaching on the businesses they had left behind in White Stone City.

Sometimes, when men from the Garrison Commandant’s Office went to take stock of the earnings, they would be ambushed and beaten for no reason. They’d be dragged into an alley with a sack over their head, and by the time it was over, they had no idea who had attacked them!

These were constables of the Garrison Commandant’s Office...

To be beaten while on official business—what a grave incident!

The matter was reported up the chain of command, from the head Constables to the Inspectorate, then to the various department heads, and finally, it reached Chen Ping’an’s ears.

”The Blood Oath Alliance and the Iron Fist Gang have gone too far.” Listening to Cheng Renjing’s report, Chen Ping’an remained expressionless, his thoughts unreadable. ”Find a pretext and rap their knuckles.”

”Yes, sir,” Cheng Renjing replied, a flicker of secret delight in his heart.

’Lord Chen has been deliberating for so many days... could it be... he’s finally preparing to move against them?’

After Cheng Renjing left, Chen Ping’an immediately put the matter out of his mind.

He had already accumulated 150 points of Cultivation Experience for his Vajra Unbreakable Divine Skill, and he was getting closer and closer to a breakthrough. He couldn’t afford to slack off and halt his cultivation to deal with other matters.

The Garrison Commandant’s Office’s retaliation was swift. Using a pretext, they quickly raided and shut down two properties belonging to the Blood Oath Alliance and the Iron Fist Gang.

The constables and head Constables who carried out the raid felt an immense sense of satisfaction!

Their colleagues had been brutally beaten for no reason. And while they lacked concrete proof, there was no doubt in their minds that the Blood Oath Alliance and the Iron Fist Gang were responsible. Seizing the two factions’ properties was, without question, a powerful rebuttal.

”So satisfying! So satisfying!”

”Looks like Lord Chen is starting to fight back!”

The constables began to eagerly await Commander Chen’s next orders.

This single act of retaliation did not curb the actions of the Blood Oath Alliance and the Iron Fist Gang. On the contrary, it only made them more aggressive. Their previously slow encroachment on the industries now began to accelerate.

Furthermore, with the combined efforts of the Commerce Alliance and the Three Great Families, the industries managed by the Garrison Commandant’s Office started to feel the squeeze. Unusually vicious competition began to emerge.

Similar incidents began occurring in all the major districts of White Stone City. Beyond the pressure on their businesses, the number of vicious brawls erupting across the districts also began to rise.

And perhaps it was no coincidence that many of these brawls seemed to break out around the relatives and families of the constables.

This string of events was tantamount to an open declaration of war against the Garrison Commandant’s Office.