Daqian Martial Saint

That day, Chen Ping’an had been worried about revealing his presence and feared the potential danger, so he hadn’t investigated the underground grand hall too deeply.

But based on the sheer scale of the hall, he had a nagging feeling that this place beneath White Cloud Temple was no ordinary outpost. It was very likely a major stronghold of the Celestial Net Sect.

A Celestial Net Sect stronghold would definitely have Profound Light Realm masters overseeing it. And based on past encounters, there would be more than just one!

Usually, there would be anywhere from two to five of them! Their Realms could be high or low, with significant variations between different strongholds.

With Chen Ping’an’s current strength, even if there were two or three masters at the Profound Light Initial Realm stationed inside, they wouldn’t pose much of a threat to him.

But not a threat was one thing, an encirclement was another. At best, he could only guarantee the suppression of a single Profound Light Realm master.

Although Chen Ping’an was powerful, he hadn’t cultivated any Binding and Imprisoning Techniques, like the Spider Web Technique or the Binding Rope Whip.

His Vajra Unbreakable Divine Skill was well-suited for group battles, but it couldn’t stop people from escaping!

Besides, this was all just his speculation. What if there were five Profound Light Realm masters stationed in that underground hall? Without the support of the Weishui Garrison and Inspection Envoy Guan Yu Ping, if he acted alone, there was a high probability the encirclement would fail, and he would only end up alerting the enemy.

As for the Weishui Garrison and Guan Yu Ping, Chen Ping’an had done so much precisely so they *wouldn’t* get involved.

If the raid succeeded, a thorough investigation afterward would reveal that Inspection Envoy Guan Yu Ping was guilty of dereliction of duty, ineffective patrols, indulging in pleasure, and complete inaction! These were accusations he would have no way of escaping.

The letters they had exchanged and the current rumors would be ironclad proof!

Furthermore, whoever at the Weishui Garrison had made the final decision on that reply letter would also be implicated.

Don’t be fooled by how smug Guan Yu Ping was acting now, with his careless attitude, looking as if he had Chen Ping’an completely under his thumb. Once something truly happened and the higher-ups started scrutinizing every detail, all of this would become evidence of his mistakes and crimes!

And the prerequisite for all of this was that Chen Ping’an had to successfully pull out this ”nail” the Celestial Net Sect had hammered in here.

Only then, through direct comparison, would Guan Yu Ping’s incompetence be thrown into sharp relief!

He lacked the strength to do it alone, yet he couldn’t let the Weishui Garrison and Guan Yu Ping get truly involved. Therefore, after assessing the situation, Chen Ping’an concluded that his best option was to bring in the Qiankun Bureau for a joint raid.

The Qiankun Bureau was a special agency that held a subtle authority over the Garrison Commandant’s Office. Though small in number, every one of its members was an elite, making them perfectly suited for this kind of raid.

There was another benefit to working with the Qiankun Bureau. When the Garrison Commandant’s Office was assigning merits and rewards after the fact, the Qiankun Bureau would act as an external supervisor. This would prevent Liu Yuanhua from using his influence within the Weishui Garrison to conceal or diminish Chen Ping’an’s contributions.

Chen Ping’an had considered the many details.

Now, he just had to wait for a reply from Zhao Zhiteng.

Combating evil demons and heretical paths had always been a core policy of the Daqian Dynasty. Even in its current weakened state, that policy remained unchanged. The Celestial Net Sect was considered the leader of the Demon Dao; he was confident Zhao Zhiteng wouldn’t refuse such a meritorious opportunity handed to him on a silver platter.

Chen Ping’an hadn’t revealed too many details about the stronghold, wary that Zhao Zhiteng might get ideas and decide to cut him out to take all the credit for himself.

For the next few days, Chen Ping’an waited for news from Zhao Zhiteng of the Qiankun Bureau while cultivating in seclusion.

One day, as Chen Ping’an was cultivating in his wooden cabin as usual, a knock came from the door.

”Come in!”

Chen Ping’an slowly opened his eyes and looked toward the door.

A sturdy man walked in; he was one of the core followers Chen Ping’an had brought from White Stone City. The moment the man saw Chen Ping’an, he dropped to one knee. ”Sir, I’ve brought back the Jade Pendant you had me purchase!”

”Oh?” Chen Ping’an’s gaze fell upon the man. ”Present it.”

”Yes, Sir!” The man rose and respectfully presented the Jade Pendant.

The jade was warm and lustrous to the touch, its color as smooth and fine as cream. A single glance revealed it had been meticulously carved from the finest quality jade.

That day in Five Peaks Mountain City, he had entered a jade shop. Ostensibly, it was to make a purchase, but in reality, it was to contact a secret agent of the Qiankun Bureau.

Before leaving the shop, Chen Ping’an had placed a custom order for a Jade Pendant. The Qiankun Bureau agent had arranged a signal with him: if the pendant was pale yellow, it meant they agreed. If it was white, they refused.

After placing the order, Chen Ping’an had sent a trusted subordinate to periodically check on it, waiting for the pendant to be finished and delivered back to their station.

Today, the Jade Pendant was pale yellow. Clearly, Zhao Zhiteng had agreed!

’There are still five days until the appointed time!’

From the very beginning, Chen Ping’an had set a date for the raid. If the other party agreed, they would meet at the designated location at the appointed time and launch the encirclement with lightning speed.

Chen Ping’an stepped out of the wooden cabin. His gaze passed through the sparse trees to the distant mountain peaks.

The distant sky was stained a leaden gray, with overlapping layers of clouds that seemed to carry an infinite weight. It felt as if the heavens would come crashing down at any moment, creating an oppressive and somber atmosphere.

...

「Five days passed in the blink of an eye.」

Chen Ping’an sat cross-legged on the bed in his cabin. True Qi surged within him, guided by the Seed of Profound Light between his brows, forming a Circulation of Heaven and Earth throughout his body.

+1!

A notification for Cultivation Experience flashed before Chen Ping’an’s eyes.

”640 Cultivation Experience Points!” Chen Ping’an’s eyes glinted. ”After more than a month of arduous cultivation, I’ve finally accumulated enough experience.”

From the start, Chen Ping’an had already estimated the timing for Breaking Realm with his Vajra Unbreakable Divine Skill. The day of the joint operation with the Qiankun Bureau was also today.

The raid on the Celestial Net Sect stronghold held unknown risks. His Profound Light Middle Realm cultivation might be sufficient, but there was no guarantee some unexpected danger wouldn’t appear.

’But if I could advance one more step, my ability to handle those risks would increase dramatically!’

”Breakthrough!”

Without the slightest hesitation, Chen Ping’an focused his mind. As the Experience Points swirled madly, a brilliant, dazzling starlight peeled away from the panel and surged into the space between his brows.

RUSH~

A torrent of insights regarding the Vajra Unbreakable Divine Skill flooded Chen Ping’an’s mind, everything feeling completely natural. It wasn’t a forceful infusion of knowledge; rather, it felt like the Cultivation Experience he had personally accumulated and summarized over decades of arduous training.

It was the culmination of his vast experience and wisdom, a sublimation of his repeated summaries and insights.

Withered Tree Root Entanglement!

Catch Moon in the Seabed!

Arhat Lifting the Tripod!

Vajra’s Furious Gaze!

Immortal Crane’s Wings!

Heaven and Earth Convergence!

Overlord’s Bow Opening!

Great Saint Stomping the Furnace!

...

The exquisite use and combination of each move and form, the profound variations for actual combat—all were contained within these insights.

Synchronized with the epiphanies emerging in his mind, the True Qi within Chen Ping’an’s body began to swell and surge rapidly. In that moment, Chen Ping’an felt himself enveloped by limitless power.

It was as if a terrifying force was churning inside him, and at the same time, as if thousands of multicolored rays of light were converging on the Seed of Profound Light between his brows.

Chen Ping’an’s breathing gradually became long and deep.

His body felt as if it were undergoing wave after wave of tempering. A faint, heart-piercing pain made him involuntarily clench his jaw. Yet, amidst the agony, there was an indescribable sense of exhilaration, as if the shackles that had long bound him were being broken one by one.

CRACK!

It was as if a crisp cracking sound echoed from some unseen plane.

The already brilliant Seed of Profound Light erupted with an incomparably dazzling glow, illuminating his entire body. If anyone had been inside the cabin, they would have seen a Golden Bead emerge between Chen Ping’an’s brows, blazing with light, looking as if it were about to break free from his body.

VMMM~ VMMM~ VMMM~

The Golden Bead vibrated, emitting a blinding light.

Within Chen Ping’an’s body, his True Qi surged, locking the Golden Bead firmly between his brows and preventing its escape.

After an unknown amount of time, the Golden Bead between his brows gradually vanished, concealing itself within.

In this moment: Profound Light Penetrating Objects, Armor Unlost!

The Profound Light High Realm meant that a Cultivator had truly broken through the limits of the human body.

He had ascended to the ranks of Absolute Masters!

A lifespan of one hundred and eighty years, three full sixty-year cycles to roam the mortal world! In the future, he could be called an old monster!

An existence like this truly stood at the absolute pinnacle of Weishui County City.

Even looking across the vast and boundless Canglong Province, he was now a figure who stood at the very apex! His every move held immense power, enough to make countless people tremble!