The Four Realms of Celestials, a Message from the Northern Territory (September 14,000-Vote Extra Chapter)

"Welcome, my lord!"

"Greetings, Lord Chen!"

"."

Before the Azure Dragon Province Town Pacification Office, the constables clasped their hands in salute and welcomed him respectfully.

However, though there were many people at the entrance, compared with before, the spectacle of Chen Ping'an's return to the Town Pacification Office was undoubtedly several degrees more desolate.

Chen Ping'an had stepped down from Leiming and was currently idle at home, without any official duties or assignments.

Accordingly, his reporting ties had naturally weakened by more than a little.

Furthermore, the previous impeachment incident had made his discord with the Universe Control Division known to everyone.

They were all forces within the Azure Dragon Province Territory's system, destined to see one another whether they wished to or not. Even if they wanted to draw close to Chen Ping'an, considering the Universe Control Division's supervisory responsibilities, they ultimately harbored a few more reservations.

Moreover, Chen Ping'an's return this time had come suddenly, which was also part of the reason. With the prepared catching the unprepared, it gave some of those with misgivings an excuse.

In certain situations, without a suitable excuse, they could not easily decline. But now, they could simply go with the current and pretend they did not know. If the matter was brought up later, they would have something to say for themselves.

There were many reasons, too numerous to list.

Clad in a light blue brocade robe, Chen Ping'an carried himself with extraordinary bearing as he strode into the Azure Dragon Province Town Pacification Office.

Come to think of it, when he had passed through Leiming this time, the Gu Family residence had prepared quite a few robes for him. The light blue brocade robe he wore was one of them.

His temperament was outstanding, and his attire fitting. Chen Ping'an was rather satisfied.

He simply did not know who had prepared this robe.

"Greetings, Lord Ning." Inside the office, Chen Ping'an clasped his hands in salute, neither servile nor overbearing.

Ning Zhengyue had initially been seated in his large chair. Seeing Chen Ping'an salute him, he rose abruptly and did not accept the gesture.

After inviting Chen Ping'an to sit, he gazed deeply at him for a long while.

Without realizing it, that junior brat from years ago had already grown to such a height.

Those resolute words from back then still rang in his ears, yet when he looked again, the man before him was already qualified to stand on equal footing with him.

During the journey to Xuanling, Chen Ping'an had slain the Golden Ring Protector. His combat power had likely entered the ranks of Top Great Grandmasters without question.

Combined with his title as a Hidden Dragon Heavenly Talent, even Ning Zhengyue had to treat him with caution and did not dare underestimate him in the slightest.

"Ping'an, you truly know how to surprise people," Ning Zhengyue said in a deep voice.

The moment they met, he had seen through Chen Ping'an's current cultivation.

Jade Balance Middle Stage Perfection!

The improvement in cultivation was only one part of it. With Jade Balance Middle Stage Perfection cultivation, he had suppressed and slain a Top Great Grandmaster. Such talent and aptitude were breathtaking, simply inconceivable.

After this matter, Chen Ping'an's position in the Azure Dragon Province Town Pacification Office would likely undergo a qualitative leap.

The previous impeachment had already contained many strange elements. Though he had stepped down, taking everything together, there was likely a powerful patron standing behind Chen Ping'an. Now that he had revealed peerless talent and astonishing aptitude, he was like a dragon entering the sea of clouds, soaring freely through the heavens.

"Just a bit of luck. It is not worth mentioning," Chen Ping'an said with a humble smile.

To him, slaying a Top Great Grandmaster truly was not something worth boasting about.

Slaying a Celestial would be more like it!

"You..." Ning Zhengyue shook his head with a sigh, though there was no displeasure in his expression. He poured Chen Ping'an a cup of tea himself. This was also the first cup of tea he had ever personally poured for Chen Ping'an since coming to know him.

"What are your plans now that you have returned?"

Ning Zhengyue's expression was gentle, and there was a little more closeness in his words.

Having spent many years within the system, Ning Zhengyue was upright by nature, but he was not ignorant of worldly affairs. In such circumstances, no matter how slow-witted he might be, he was willing to befriend Chen Ping'an.

He would seize the advantage of being near the water first, grasping the opportunity while there was still an opening.

Looking at Ning Zhengyue before him, Chen Ping'an recalled that scene when they had first met.

People...

In the end, they changed.

Back then, he had stood as insignificant as a lackey. Now, he had finally become an honored guest seated before the hall.

But—

Chen Ping'an's gaze sharpened slightly, and ambition rose within his heart.

Not enough!

Far, far from enough!

After meeting Ning Zhengyue, Chen Ping'an also went to pay Zhang Tianyuan a visit.

This visit was largely symbolic.

This meeting also gave Chen Ping'an a deeper understanding of Zhang Tianyuan.

When he had visited before, he knew very little about Pseudo Celestials and had not dared to probe too deeply. But now, he no longer had such concerns.

After fighting the Ten Thousand Demons Sect Master and Blood Nightmare Luo, he had gained a deeper understanding of Pseudo Celestials. With the result of killing them before him, the filter in his heart had long since vanished.

After probing and sensing him, Chen Ping'an discovered that Zhang Tianyuan's combat realm should be at the level of a powerful Pseudo Celestial. With the offensive advantage of his sword cultivation, he might approach the level of a top-tier Pseudo Celestial.

But overall, he was inferior to a top-tier Pseudo Celestial.

If he had to compare him with people he knew, Zhang Tianyuan should be somewhat stronger than the Golden Hair Old Freak of Mystic Spirit Major City, yet somewhat weaker than the Black Rock Old Freak of the Horizontal Mountain Sect.

"A Deputy Division Head with Real Authority in a Province Town Pacification Office." Chen Ping'an smiled as he looked at Zhang Tianyuan in the distance, ripples stirring in his heart.

As a Deputy Division Head with Real Authority, throughout the Azure Dragon Province Town Pacification Office, the only person who could truly suppress Zhang Tianyuan was that Chief Administrator whom Chen Ping'an had never met.

Within the Azure Dragon Province Territory, he was truly a figure standing at the summit!

The Universe Control Division might have one or two experts of a similar level, but at most they would be evenly matched.

Looking across the entire province, there were likely fewer than five people with authority like Zhang Tianyuan's.

By this day, Chen Ping'an had also grown to the point where he could press down an entire province.

Chen Ping'an's return made Zhang Tianyuan appear very pleased, and his words were mostly encouragement. During their conversation, he did not forget to mention that the merit Chen Ping'an had earned by slaying the Golden Ring Protector had already been reported to the Northern Border Pacification Bureau. He believed there would be a response before long.

Chen Ping'an naturally expressed his thanks.

While speaking with Zhang Tianyuan, he still wore a respectful expression, but inwardly, he was a little more relaxed and composed.

That composure came from his strength.

With Zhang Tianyuan as a benchmark, only at this moment did he truly understand the level of his current strength.

He had risen from the outer-city alleys of Wei River County City and made his way step by step until today. At last, he could look down upon an entire province.

The provincial stage that had once seemed like a colossal entity to him had now become ordinary. His perspective had gradually expanded from a single county, to several counties, then to the Azure Dragon Province Territory, until he could now move in and out freely, with his gaze settling upon several provinces.

Azure Dragon Province, Flame Blaze Province, Mystic Spirit Province.

The grand trends of Bicang that had once existed only in rumor were no longer something he could hear of but never touch. On that vast stage, he had finally gained a weight of his own.

One day, if he went one step further—

Even steering the great tide would not be impossible!

Chen Ping'an's thoughts rose and fell. Looking at the second-in-command of the Province Town Pacification Office before him, a faint sense of achievement welled up in his heart.

That sense of achievement did not come from external things, but from the heart that had always dared to climb the highest peaks.

Even after leaving the Azure Dragon Province Town Pacification Office, Chen Ping'an's heart still stirred faintly.

There was nothing more fulfilling than firmly grasping in one's hands what had once been impossibly distant.

If there was, it could only be the next one!

Wei River County, Azure Dragon Province, several neighboring provinces, the Azure Cang Realm.

Step by step, he would eventually walk onto an even greater stage.

During this return to the Azure Dragon Province Town Pacification Office, Chen Ping'an had also specifically consulted some secret archives. Though he had stepped down and was staying at home, with Zhang Tianyuan's tacit approval, he had learned quite a bit of information.

For example, the distribution of forces across Bicang's seventeen provinces, and the mighty pass within the Black Nether Mountain Range.

Chen Ping'an swept through the relevant information at a glance, gaining a deeper understanding of the surrounding situation.

After leaving the Azure Dragon Province Town Pacification Office, Chen Ping'an naturally paid a visit to the Gu Family.

As the Gu Family Son-in-law and a Hidden Dragon Heavenly Talent, he naturally received extremely high courtesy from the Gu Family.

When meeting several Elders, it was inevitable that the gains from this trip to Xuanling would be mentioned. When they asked about Gu Qingchan and how things had gone on their journey together, Chen Ping'an remained calm on the surface, though a trace of embarrassment arose in his heart.

How had things gone on their journey together?

What could he say? Was he supposed to say that he had taken her while he was at it?

Come to think of it, this matter did seem somewhat unfair to Gu Qingcheng.

With that thought, after meeting the Elders, Chen Ping'an suggested that he wished to see Gu Qingcheng.

Unfortunately, the Elders told him that Qingcheng was currently in seclusion and had been for quite some time.

"In seclusion?" Chen Ping'an's heart jolted.

Had she been in seclusion ever since before, all the way until now?

Does it need to take this long? Chen Ping'an silently wondered.

Normally, at the Grandmaster realm, a single period of seclusion usually lasted from several days to a dozen or so days. It was exceedingly rare for one to exceed half a month, unless they were studying some secret art in depth or cultivating a particular technique.

Those lasting over a month were already few and far between.

Generally, seclusion lasting over one or two months was uncommon even for Great Grandmasters. Other than breaking through and consolidating one's realm, or recuperating from injuries, such situations basically did not occur.

What was Gu Qingcheng doing, remaining in seclusion for so long?

Chen Ping'an could not help but give the matter more thought.

Could it really be...

Chen Ping'an's eyes were deep, his expression calm.

"Brother!"

Chen Zhaoheng wore a light-colored ruqun dress, her expression excited.

"Zhaoheng." Chen Ping'an smiled, unable to conceal his delight.

After not seeing each other for many days, the Little Girl's way of addressing him had become simpler as well.

It seemed the girl had grown up too!

Looking at the Little Girl before him, Chen Ping'an felt as though his daughter had finally come of age.

An elder brother was like a father. Old Chen had died early, and in their earlier years, the two of them had depended on each other as they made their way forward.

"School just let out?" Chen Ping'an asked with a smile.

"Mhm." The Little Girl nodded.

Come to think of it, counting the days, there was not much time left before the school's recommendation and the Academy assessment.

During this journey to Xuanling, Chen Ping'an had been away from home for several months. Everything at home was well, and there had been no major matters.

The Little Girl's studies had also gone quite smoothly. When the Academy was mentioned, she seemed brimming with confidence.

"Right." Chen Ping'an suddenly remembered something. "This is something I picked up while passing through Mystic Spirit Major City. You can take a look."

As he spoke, a scroll appeared in Chen Ping'an's hand. It was the divination manual he had traded from the Grandmaster of the Heavenly Martial Pavilion at the Yun Zhu Trade Fair.

The path of divination was closely tied to Literary cultivation. Though the Little Girl had not truly come into contact with Literary cultivation yet, it would still be good for her to understand more about it now.

"Literary Scrolls!" The Little Girl's eyes lit up as she stared at the item in Chen Ping'an's hand.

She accepted the book and flipped through a few pages. She found it difficult to put down.

Seeing how happy the Little Girl was, Chen Ping'an could not help but smile a little more.

"There's no rush. Keep it and read it slowly."

Chen Ping'an's expression was gentle as he spoke with a smile.

He had always been more patient with his family than with others, especially before the Little Girl.

"Mhm." The Little Girl nodded heavily. "Thank you, Brother!"

"It's nothing."

Inside the main hall, the siblings spoke together. The candlelight cast their shadows long.

As long as time itself.

Perhaps days like these in the future...

Would still stretch far ahead!

"Yin and yang, the five elements, astrology and Heavenly Divination, the calculations of the Book of Changes, Cosmic Orbit and back-pushing, fate and heavenly secrets."

Inside his room, Chen Ping'an sat cross-legged, the classic theories of divination and deduction flashing through his mind.

If Literary cultivation involved fate, one could become proficient in the deduction of destiny, divination of fortune and misfortune, reading faces and appearances, and surveying terrain and observing qi.

If the Little Girl was interested in it and wished to walk this path of Literary cultivation, it would not be a bad choice.

However, if the Little Girl had other interests, such as cultivating astrology and Heavenly Divination, then even if he had to exhaust all his strength, he would make plans for her.

Literary cultivation was an immensely complex system, involving military formations, war games, deduction, astrology, fortune, geomancy, questioning the heavens, and countless other intricate principles.

Each aspect formed its own system. If one could reach the peak within any single system, one could be called a master of the Literary path.

However, that goal was far too distant. If one could achieve something, it would count as having lived up to one's studies.

What kind of path of cultivation will the Little Girl walk in the future? Chen Ping'an wondered, looking forward to it.

If one day she could attain longevity, would there not be family by her side?

Longevity, longevity—what was longevity?

A hundred years of lifespan, enjoying this Human World—could that be called longevity?

Three hundred years of drifting, rising and falling—could that be called longevity?

Five hundred years of time, with boundless splendor—could that be called longevity?

A thousand years—

Could that be called longevity?

To him, a hundred years of lifespan were like the life of a mayfly, vanishing in an instant. Even a thousand years were nothing extraordinary, destined to be worn away in the long river of time.

For forty-eight thousand years, the stars had shifted, yet I remained evergreen.

The seas had turned to mulberry fields time and again, yet I remained immortal in this world!

"What is longevity to me?"

Changes flickered in Chen Ping'an's eyes, his thoughts countless.

Buzz—

With a flash of Spiritual Light, an object appeared before Chen Ping'an.

A supreme treasure—the Evil Extremity Pupil!

After traveling all the way, the timing had not been convenient. Now...

Time to refine it!

Hum~

Spiritual Light surged brilliantly as Chen Ping'an's spirituality spread toward the deep, shadowy vertical pupil suspended in midair.

Only Soul Power could drive an inherited supreme treasure; naturally, refining it was no different.

Back then, the Heavenly Luo Saintess had forcibly wielded the supreme treasure, the Glazed Lamp. She must have used some special secret art to forcefully operate it with the power of her spirituality.

Although Chen Ping'an currently lacked Soul Power to drive it, his spirituality was so pure that it rivaled the Soul Power of a Pseudo Celestial, perhaps even surpassing it.

After a round of refinement, the efficiency was not affected in the slightest.

Spiritual Light flowed and shimmered hazily around the vertical pupil.

The deep, sinister aura mingled beneath the Spiritual Light, creating an indescribably eerie sensation.

Hum~

As the Spiritual Light gradually dimmed, Chen Ping'an slowly opened his eyes, a nearly imperceptible delight surfacing on his face.

"The efficiency is quite good. The progress is gratifying!"

He encountered no obstacles in refining the Evil Extremity Pupil with his spirituality. The entire process felt like a fish in water, incomparably smooth.

Compared with the Dream Illusion Pearl, the difference in efficiency between the two was like heaven and earth.

This comparison gave Chen Ping'an a deeper understanding of the Dream Illusion Pearl's rank.

Clearly, the Dream Illusion Pearl was far beyond the comparison of ordinary supreme treasures. Even among supreme treasures, it possessed an Extremely High rank.

Judging from the arrangement of the secret treasure cache back then, there was no doubt that this Dream Illusion Pearl had been one of the greatest gains.

There had been three treasures in the inner hall space. Two were cultivation methods, while the remaining one was this Dream Illusion Pearl.

He had obtained the cultivation golden scroll, a Dual Cultivation Method, while the Heavenly Luo Saintess had acquired the Mystic Jade Stele. According to her, it recorded the Great Luo Heart Sutra.

Of the three treasures, he had obtained two, while the Heavenly Luo Saintess had obtained one.

In terms of quantity, he held the advantage.

However, that was based on the premise that the Heavenly Luo Saintess had not lied.

What if that Mystic Jade Stele was more than merely a record of a cultivation method!?

Chen Ping'an's thoughts ran wild.

Come to think of it, the Heavenly Luo Saintess should have acquired quite a few treasures in the outer hall space. Among them, there were likely no shortage of supreme treasures, right!?

Given the Purple Eye Demon Lord's reserves, he would not even need to leave behind the Greater half. Just half would be enough to ensure that an ordinary Celestial's path remained free of worries.

Supreme treasures, spiritual objects, secret arts for protecting one's Dao, secret weapons of slaughter, trump card methods...

After calculating it all, Chen Ping'an realized that the Heavenly Luo Saintess really was quite a little rich girl.

"This Little Tian Luo..." Chen Ping'an muttered sourly.

Setting aside the Heavenly Luo Sect's backing, the Demon Lord's Secret Treasure alone was enough to sustain her cultivation for a long time.

Unity of Heaven and Man, discerning one's heart and seeing one's nature—this was the Martial Dao Celestial.

A Celestial possessed a clear Dao Heart. Whether demon or evil, regardless of what thoughts lay within, they could face their own hearts without shame, clear as still water.

Because their Dao Hearts were clear, their souls were flawless. They borrowed Heavenly Power in place of their own strength, and every gesture carried immense might.

Yet so-called Heavenly Power was all guided by the soul. Different souls borrowed different Heavenly Power.

Among Celestials, there were distinctions of high and low.

Thus were the four realms of the Celestial determined!

"Celestial!"

Chen Ping'an's eyes gleamed with golden light, revealing faint anticipation.

A Celestial could live for a thousand years, borrow power from Heaven, and walk the path to immortality!

Hum~

Spiritual Light rose once more. The Wind Riding true intent emerged as Chen Ping'an sat with his eyes closed, his expression tranquil, like a gentle breeze rolling clouds—free and unrestrained.

+1!

For the next stretch of time, Chen Ping'an's days became exceedingly full.

He cultivated the Azure Sun Blood Refinement Method and the Grand Void Wind-Riding Step. He diligently studied the Ten Thousand Demons Blood Prohibition and the Soul-Guiding Art. He refined the Dream Illusion Pearl and the Evil Extremity Pupil, both supreme treasures.

Every day, Chen Ping'an Only felt that he never had enough time.

He cultivated day and night, using every moment efficiently and allocating his time with precision.

Everything proceeded in a tight rhythm, his schedule packed as full as it could possibly be.

As a Martial Dao Great Grandmaster, he basically had no need for sleep. Yet when his mental strength was exhausted, he still needed sleep to nourish himself a little.

It was foreseeable that such a full and tightly packed arrangement was destined not to last long.

Martial Dao cultivation was not something that could achieve refinement merely by spending time. Burying one's head in bitter cultivation did not necessarily yield ideal results. At the proper times, one also needed to pluck flowers and tend grass, compose verses and wield the brush, delight the eyes, and cultivate the spirit.

Long periods of highly tense cultivation were suitable only for special circumstances such as going into seclusion; ordinarily, they were inadvisable. The higher a Cultivator's realm, the more so this was.

If burying one's head in bitter cultivation and endlessly going into seclusion could produce results, then those high-realm Cultivators would likely have long since vanished deep into the mountains, never to emerge from seclusion.

Going into seclusion also required accumulation. Many things seemed boring, but in truth, they built accumulation through subtle, imperceptible influence.

Decisions and calculations of That kind might seem useless, but they too were a form of cultivation.

The gains made in seclusion were often because one had accumulated enough in ordinary times, and at a crucial moment, needed to devote oneself to cultivation and make a final sprint.

When those Celestials traveled the world and frolicked amid mountains and rivers, was that not also a form of cultivation!?

Chen Ping'an possessed the Golden Finger Panel, so he did not need to follow this logic—but that applied only to cultivation methods. When it came to secret arts and honing skills, he still needed to spend his own effort and mental strength.

If his energy was depleted and his heart grew lifeless, then any talk of inspiration Gushed out would naturally be sheer nonsense.

Chen Ping'an harbored great ambitions. Naturally, he would not allow himself to become a bitter cultivator with a bland disposition, one who took no joy in mountains and waters.

If there was no joy in this life, then even if one gained immortality, what delight would there be?

Still, special times called for special measures. With all manner of affairs in disarray and Chen Ping'an having only just returned from his journey outside, he naturally needed to settle himself properly and devote himself to cultivation.

Once he had digested all his accumulated gains and prepared his many methods, it would be time for him to emerge from seclusion.

And this was the meaning of seclusion.

Thus, under such circumstances, more than half a month passed.

Over that greater half month, Azure Dragon Province City became increasingly lively. Its already prosperous streets grew even more clamorous.

The once-in-ten-years Azure Dragon Grand Ceremony was about to begin. All parties Converged upon Canglong. Beyond the forces of the province territory, there were also top forces from Several Provinces nearby, such as the Great Banner Gate and the Heavenly Martial Pavilion.

In addition, forces such as the Horizontal Mountain Sect and the Heart Inquiry Sword Pavilion had all sent representatives, bringing their sects' elite disciples to broaden their knowledge and expand their horizons.

Even merchant associations from the distant North Sea had joined in, invited to exchange ideas and travel to Azure Dragon Province Territory.

For a time, the entire Azure Dragon Province City became a gathering of wind and clouds, endlessly churning.

And Just at such a moment, an order from the Northern Border Pacification Bureau was delivered through the Celestial Pivot Spiritual Instrument to the Azure Dragon Province Town Pacification Office.