Daqian Martial Saint

「In the Canglong Mountain Range, within a subterranean grand hall.」

In the dim, cavernous hall, torchlight flickered, casting the surroundings in shifting light and shadow.

”Mang Blade Chen Ping’an, ranked fifth on the Rising Star Chart!”

A sinister, cold voice echoed through the hall.

The Seven Extremes Elder stood atop a high platform, his cloudy eyes radiating a bone-chilling cold.

”Master, let me go and kill Chen Ping’an to avenge my two junior brothers!”

Below the platform stood a cold-faced, middle-aged man. His full head of black hair was tied back casually, giving him a somewhat unruly air. A suit of black martial attire accentuated his powerful, muscular frame.

The Seven Extremes Elder’s eldest disciple: Bi Shengdong, the Soul-Breaking Three Extremes!

Bi Shengdong had painstakingly mastered three Divine Skills: the Soul-Breaking Leg, Soul-Breaking Palm, and Soul-Breaking Fist. His combat prowess had long since placed him at the apex of his level, earning him the 312th rank on the Dragon and Tiger Chart!

The Seven Extremes Elder glanced at Bi Shengdong below. His voice was deep and raspy. ”Gu Wu is dead! Li Pingjiang is dead! Chen Ping’an built most of his fame on the backs of my disciples. I don’t want to hear news of your death as well!”

”Master, at best, Chen Ping’an’s combat prowess is only comparable to a common top-tier expert. If I take action, success is virtually guaranteed!” Bi Shengdong said, clasping his hands and bowing as he pleaded once more. ”Please allow me to bring back his head and quell the hatred in your heart!”

Seeing the confident, victory-assured look on Bi Shengdong’s face, a familiar scene flashed through the Seven Extremes Elder’s mind.

Not long ago, in this very hall, his beloved fifth disciple had looked just like that.

Li Pingjiang, the Soul-Severing Saber. His combat prowess was nearly at the apex!

’Against a rising prodigy who hasn’t even entered the Profound Light Realm, it’s a surefire win! There’s absolutely no chance of failure!’

But the truth was...

Li Pingjiang had died, becoming a stepping stone on his opponent’s path to fame.

”Chen Ping’an!”

For a moment, clarity returned to the Seven Extremes Elder’s cloudy eyes. An incredibly sharp, cold light flashed within them, and a majestic, boundless aura instantly erupted throughout the hall.

Under the pressure of this aura, Bi Shengdong, standing at the forefront, was fine. However, the junior disciples behind him were not so lucky. Many of their faces turned pale, and they struggled to remain on their feet.

”Grandmaster’s Will!”

Feeling the field of pressure that filled the air, Bi Shengdong’s expression filled with yearning and desire.

”Li Pingjiang and Gu Wu were good boys. As their Eldest Brother, you bear some responsibility for avenging them. But as their master, my responsibility is greater! Once this business is concluded, I will personally go to Weishui County City and take Chen Ping’an’s head! I will avenge my disciples myself!”

In his two hundred-plus years, the Seven Extremes Elder had seen far too many cases of the weak defeating the strong. From the very beginning, he had overestimated Chen Ping’an as much as he could. He had sent Li Pingjiang, whose combat prowess was nearly at the apex, to deal with a junior who had yet to step into the Profound Light Realm. He’d thought he was taking the threat seriously enough, that he could use overwhelming power to crush his opponent and settle things decisively.

Yet, who could have predicted that he would still receive news of his disciple’s demise?

Logically speaking, his eldest disciple, Bi Shengdong, was a master ranked on the Dragon and Tiger Chart. For him to face a junior whose combat prowess was at best comparable to a top-tier expert, there should be absolutely no possibility of failure!

But... some things just don’t follow logic.

He had lived for more than two hundred years and had seen too much. He had seen people who, despite having a mortal enemy, acted indecisively. They could have used crushing force to annihilate their foe completely. Instead, they sent their forces in one by one, giving their enemy too much time and too many opportunities to grow stronger.

Li Pingjiang had already failed, dying at his opponent’s hands. Now, he refused to hear news of Bi Shengdong’s failure, no matter how minuscule the possibility! Even if failure was unthinkable!

But he would not gamble on it. Since a blood feud had been forged, he would use thunderous means to obliterate everything and console his beloved disciple’s spirit in the heavens!

”Yes, Master!” Seeing his master’s resolve, Bi Shengdong no longer insisted and respectfully accepted the command.

The Grandmaster’s Will receded from the hall, and color returned to the faces of many disciples. The knowledge that their master was willing to personally act to avenge his fallen students sent their hearts pounding with excitement!

People of the world all believed the members of their Holy Sect to be sinister, cruel, and merciless. They thought betrayal and deceit were as common as breathing to them. But the world did not know that the people of the Holy Sect were often far more united than anyone realized.

Otherwise, how could they have survived the authorities’ repeated attempts to encircle and annihilate them!?

Their various strongholds and chapter halls operated in secret with meticulous precision. If even a fraction of their members had harbored dissent, these strongholds would have collapsed from within!

Compared to ordinary people, they understood far better that in a world so full of danger and challenge, only mutual trust and support could ensure their survival.

Compared to the authorities, they were already rats in a gutter. Therefore, it was all the more important to band together for warmth.

Admittedly, internal disputes often arose from factional struggles and conflicts of interest. There were even isolated incidents that reinforced the public’s negative perception of them.

But was it not also true that the authorities had their own factional strife and conflicts of interest?

The true Holy Sect was far more complex than the world understood.

Gazing at his disciples’ invigorated expressions, the Seven Extremes Elder walked slowly back to the Jade Chair on the high platform and sat down. He closed his eyes, pondering the recent turn of events.

With the Beicang Chaos, the Canglong Province Garrison Command was like a lion whose tail had been stepped on, roaring with fury. Throughout the entire Canglong State, the call to crack down on the Evil and Heterodox Dao was deafening.