Daqian Martial Saint

Gu Haoqing walked out of the deliberation hall with a stoic expression, betraying none of the displeasure that gnawed at him.

During this deliberation, he had put forth a recommendation for Chen Ping’an to assume the role of Commander-in-Chief of the Li Yang Town Guard Office. With timing, location, and support all seemingly aligned, it should have been a sure thing, but he ultimately failed to achieve his goal.

During the deliberation, his recommendation for Chen Ping’an was met with opposition from members of the Wang and Xue Family factions. Gu Haoqing had long expected the Xue Family to object. Without Chen Ping’an in the picture, the next Commander-in-Chief of the Li Yang Town Guard Office was, in all likelihood, going to be a member of the Xue Family.

Now that Chen Ping’an had emerged as a candidate, the Xue Family was naturally not happy to see it!

He was prepared for this! With the Gu Family’s influence, as long as Chen Ping’an met the qualifications, the Xue Family alone wouldn’t have been able to stop the appointment!

But...

What caught him off guard was that the Wang Family had also stepped forward during the deliberation to voice their disapproval. While they didn’t explicitly object, their resistance was palpable.

”Chen Ping’an is a man of stunning talent and unparalleled genius. He is, without a doubt, extraordinary. However, he is still young and lacks maturity in his conduct. His promotion to Li Yang Capital Commander is a matter that truly requires careful consideration.”

Wang Yuanyi, a Wang Family Elder who was also a Candidate for Chief within the State Garrison Command, made a statement that plunged the matter into a complete deadlock.

After a heated debate, Vice Director Ning Zhengyue, the Five-Thunder Transformation Hand, brought the hammer down, declaring the matter be shelved for now and discussed at a later date. The priority, he insisted, was the ongoing encirclement campaign!

’I let the good news go to my head and made the recommendation rashly, without being fully prepared! A misstep! A terrible misstep!’ Back in his office, Gu Haoqing rubbed his forehead, shaking his head with a wry smile.

’For a recommendation like this, if I had just done my maneuvering behind the scenes, negotiated with the Wang Family over the political capital, and secured their support, then the motion would have passed smoothly during the deliberation! Even if the Xue Family protested with all their might, they wouldn’t have been able to stop it from going through.’

’The real reason Vice Director Ning Zhengyue, the Five-Thunder Transformation Hand, had declared the matter be shelved for later discussion had nothing to do with the complexities of the encirclement campaign. It was because the opinions during the deliberation clashed so fiercely, with neither side willing to yield an inch.’

’The selection of the Commander-in-Chief for the Li Yang Town Guard Office didn’t affect Ning Zhengyue’s core interests. He didn’t want to intervene, but he also didn’t want the conflict to escalate. The best solution, therefore, was to take the path of least resistance: shelve the matter and push it off until later.’

Although Gu Haoqing was annoyed with himself for the rash recommendation, he also knew that with some things, timing is everything. If you miss the opportune moment, you might fail to get results even if you are perfectly prepared.

Previously, upon learning that Chen Ping’an had achieved a breakthrough and rendered meritorious service, he had immediately submitted the recommendation. His plan was to score a quick victory with a surprise move, settling the matter at the lowest possible cost. But unfortunately, it didn’t turn out as he had expected.

’Fortunately, the dust hasn’t settled on this. There’s still room for political maneuvering. But if I can scheme, so can the Xue Family, and I have to be on guard against that. And then there’s the Wang Family... What exactly are they playing at? Did the Xue Family convince them with some trade of favors, or was it because...’

’Mang Blade Chen Ping’an has been enjoying too much of the spotlight lately, and they simply want to take him down a notch!’

’Is it because of Wang Siyuan...?’ Gu Haoqing’s eyes narrowed in deep thought.

...

Chen Ping’an, currently taking part in the encirclement of the Ten Thousand Demons Sect in the Sanqi Mountain region, naturally had no idea what was happening back at the State Garrison Command.

As the various fronts advanced and tightened their cordon, the location of a Ten Thousand Demons Sect sub-altar was gradually pinpointed. In the process, over a dozen small-scale battles erupted between the encirclement forces and the fiends of the Ten Thousand Demons Sect. The western encirclement unit, where Chen Ping’an was stationed, also ran into these fiends several times.

The encirclement forces employed ruthless tactics and, despite some losses, won a decisive victory each time. During these engagements, Chen Ping’an personally killed two Profound Light Elders of the Ten Thousand Demons Sect.

As the front lines tightened, the base where they were stationed to rest and regroup also moved from the foot of the mountains to deep within Sanqi Mountain.

HUMMM~ HUMMM~ HUMMM~

Chen Ping’an sat cross-legged inside his tent. Spiritual Light flickered around him and True Essence circulated within as he cultivated the Wandering Dragon Body Technique.

+1!

A familiar notification for Cultivation Experience flashed before Chen Ping’an’s eyes, bringing a hint of joy to his face.

’240 Cultivation Experience! I’ve finally saved up enough!’

The Wandering Dragon Body Technique was a Top Divine Skill, but it wasn’t the type of Horizontal Divine Skill Training that Chen Ping’an excelled at. As a result, his cultivation speed for it was much slower than for his Dragon Elephant Dominating Body Technique.

Fortunately, however, after so many days of cultivation, Chen Ping’an had finally made a breakthrough, pushing the Cultivation Experience for his Wandering Dragon Body Technique to the threshold of Minor Achievement!

”Break through!”

With enough Cultivation Experience accumulated, Chen Ping’an didn’t hesitate for a second. His eyes sharpened as he whispered the command.

WHOOSH~

The Experience Points on his panel began to churn wildly, transforming into starlight that sank deep between Chen Ping’an’s brows before finally merging with the Spiritual Energy on his Spirit Platform.

A torrent of insights regarding the Wandering Dragon Body Technique flooded Chen Ping’an’s mind. This wasn’t some external empowerment; the knowledge surfaced naturally, like a long-forgotten memory being recalled piece by piece.

’Wandering Dragon Body Technique, as agile as a dragon, endlessly transforming...’

’Swift as the wind, elegant and unrestrained...’

’...’

At this moment, as insights about the Wandering Dragon Body Technique continued to surface in his mind, the Golden Finger Panel was helping the True Essence and Spiritual Energy in his body to constantly surge and converge.