Daqian Martial Saint

Five Peaks Mountain City.

”What? Chen Ping’an took men to Five Peaks Mountain? And killed a Standard-Bearer?”

Upon hearing the news, Guan Yu Ping shot up from his chair, his face a mixture of shock and fury.

”My lord, according to our intelligence, it seems he led them on some kind of mission,” Wan Yuanze said respectfully, his head lowered. He had also just received the news from the garrison and reported to Guan Yu Ping at the earliest opportunity.

After receiving the news, he too found it unbelievable! ’This Chen Ping’an is far more audacious than I ever imagined.’

To kill a Standard-Bearer in public!

’He actually dared!’

’And... he dared to mobilize the garrison’s men for a mission without any authorization! No matter the mission, this is a major taboo in the Garrison Commandant’s Office!’

”A mission? What mission? Why was I not informed?” Guan Yu Ping’s face was livid, his eyes filled with a cold light. ”And besides, Chen Ping’an dared to mobilize the garrison’s men without a direct order from me? Killing a colleague in public, acting so outrageously and recklessly... He’s simply courting death!”

”My lord, if Chen Ping’an had kept a low profile and avoided a direct conflict with you as he did before, it would have been difficult to make a move against him, even if we wanted to. We would have had to wait for the three-month period to end before settling things. But now... I don’t know whether to call him stupid or just reckless and heedless of the consequences, but he’s handed you such a huge weakness to exploit! If you hold him accountable, you won’t have to wait three months. You could have him thrown out of the garrison within days!” Wan Yuanze said in a low voice.

Acting so recklessly, disrespecting his superiors, and killing a colleague—for all these transgressions, even a prodigy from the Rising Star Chart like Chen Ping’an would surely suffer the consequences.

To them, this was Chen Ping’an’s own foolish mistake. He had delivered the perfect excuse right to their doorstep, and they could use it to attack him.

”Hmph!” Guan Yu Ping snorted angrily. ”Yuanze, go to Five Peaks Mountain at once and bring Chen Ping’an back to me! I want to ask him myself just what his intentions are!”

Wan Yuanze lowered his head to accept the order and was about to respond respectfully when Guan Yu Ping added another sentence.

”No, on second thought, I’ll go with you myself!”

”Yes, my lord,” Wan Yuanze replied respectfully.

...

「Five Peaks Mountain, White Cloud Temple.」

’To think there’s such an expert in this stronghold!’

Zhao Zhiteng stared at the tunnel entrance with a cautious expression, the Profound Light between his brows flickering.

To unleash so many streams of Sword Aura in a single breath, each one containing such immense power... The cultivation of the person who created this Sword Aura was likely no less than his own!

Zhao Zhiteng stood at the entrance, sensing his surroundings for a moment. He didn’t detect anyone; clearly, the person who had just unleashed the Sword Aura was already gone.

”The villains of the Celestial Net Sect have discovered us! Everyone, be careful! If things go south, survival is your top priority!”

With that, Zhao Zhiteng took a deep breath and leaped directly into the tunnel.

Seeing this, Chu Long and Sheng Tingshan followed close behind, jumping into the tunnel.

As Profound Light Realm masters, they had great confidence in themselves. Even if the situation turned sour, they were sure they could protect their own lives.

The remaining two Qiankun Guards, not to be outdone, followed them in one after another.

To be able to join the Qiankun Bureau and climb to their current positions, none of them were cowards. Even with a colleague having died before their eyes, they would charge into battle without hesitation.

Compared to the Garrison Commandant’s Office, the people of the Qiankun Bureau were undoubtedly far stronger, both in terms of cultivation and in their Heart Nature and courage!

Of course, Heart Nature and courage didn’t mean everything. Just as some people could be extremely brave and unafraid of death, it didn’t stop them from being utter scum.

Chen Ping’an glanced at the ground. The old Daoist priest who had fainted earlier was now as dead as could be.

When the Sword Aura had shot out moments ago, the situation had been critical. Obviously, no one had paid any attention to whether the old priest lived or died. Even if they had noticed, they wouldn’t have had the spare energy to protect him.

Chen Ping’an could have, but there was no need!

He glanced outside. The inside of the temple was now in chaos.

The second wave of reinforcements from the Qiankun Bureau and the Garrison Commandant’s Office had already arrived outside White Cloud Temple!

Now, the plan Chen Ping’an had been plotting for so long had become a reality. But he was still one final step away from his desired outcome. He needed to achieve an extraordinary feat of merit during the encirclement!

’Extraordinary merit?’ A glint flashed in Chen Ping’an’s eyes. ’Killing a Profound Light Realm expert from the Celestial Net Sect... that should count!’

With a flicker, Chen Ping’an’s figure vanished into the underground tunnel.

Thanks to his previous experience, Chen Ping’an moved through the tunnel with great ease. By the time he reached the latter half, the sounds of battle could already be heard from the other end.

”Celestial Net remnants, you are surrounded! Lay down your weapons and surrender now, and you might receive lenient treatment!”

”Those who stubbornly resist will be killed without mercy!”

”...”

”AH! SQUELCH!”

”BAM!”

Whether it was an encirclement or a battle, one often heard such phrases. Even though they knew it was unlikely anyone would actually surrender on the spot, someone was always happy to shout them.

In this kind of situation, these words weren’t just meant to make the enemy actually surrender. They were also a chance to suppress the enemy’s morale and boost one’s own.

BZZ~ BZZ~ BZZ~

Profound Light flickered within the underground hall. It was clear the few Profound Light Realm masters had made their move.

Just as Chen Ping’an stepped into the hall, a dark figure shot out from his side, a savage grin on its face as it swung a saber at him.

”Court lapdog, go to hell!”

SWISH!

Without a single glance, Chen Ping’an raised his hand and slashed.

CLANG!

The savage grin on the dark figure’s face froze. The large saber in its hands snapped in two, and a thin line of blood appeared, running down from between its eyebrows.

SQUIRT!

Blood gushed out, and the man collapsed to the ground.

’A mere Qi Blood Sixth Layer, and he dared to attack!’

Chen Ping’an retracted his Saber Momentum and looked into the distance.

At this moment, the auras in the underground hall were a chaotic mess; the battle had devolved into a complete melee.

Although only a few of them had come down, each one was an expert, putting immense pressure on the members of the Celestial Net Sect.

The number of Celestial Net Sect members in the underground hall was not small. However, the majority of them were merely at the Qi Blood Realm.

Forget Chen Ping’an; even the two Qiankun Guards at the Third Stage of Inner Qi could slaughter them with ease!

Of course, the Celestial Net stronghold had its own experts as well.

”Die! Die!”

The Profound Light between Sheng Tingshan’s brows flickered as True Qi surged through his body. His Blood Drop glowed with a crimson light, reaping lives back and forth across the hall.

SQUELCH! SQUELCH!

In just a few short breaths, seven or eight skilled Celestial Net Sect members had fallen at his hands.

His type of weapon was perfectly suited for group battles, overpowering weaker opponents. It was especially effective in a scene like this, allowing him to achieve tremendous results.

Sheng Tingshan’s expression was exhilarated as he continuously controlled the Blood Drop with his True Qi. In his eyes, these were all points of Merit.

”Tingshan, watch out!”

Just after killing a Steward from the Celestial Net Sect who was at the Inner Qi Realm, Zhao Zhiteng’s expression changed, and he shouted a loud warning.

A stream of Sword Aura, gleaming with a sinister light, tore through the air, heading straight for Sheng Tingshan.