Since Stepping onto the Martial Path, Naturally Strive for Perfection (The Wonders of the World, Like Shadows, Are Difficult to Predict)

"Elder Mu!" Chen Ping'an said with a smile in his eyes.

His brow radiated intelligence, his spiritual platform shone brightly, and Wood Mulberry Daoist's cultivation realm was as clear as a lit lamp before him.

With just one glance, he saw Wood Mulberry Daoist's cultivation realm.

Jade Balance Middle Stage, complete, a top grandmaster!

This Wood Mulberry Daoist is quite resilient and inexhaustible.

After not seeing him for many days, the old man had actually gone a step further, leaping into the ranks of top grandmasters.

Chen Ping'an raised his cup with a smile, a hint of scrutiny flickering in his eyes.

Wood Mulberry Daoist was energetic, his face rosy, his true essence was upright and peaceful, and his old body was faintly filled with vitality.

If Chen Ping'an's martial arts foundation wasn't incomparably strong, and his realm hadn't entered the breakthrough bottleneck early on, he might not have been able to detect Wood Mulberry Daoist's strangeness upon inspection.

It was said that Wood Mulberry Daoist was proficient in health cultivation techniques. Seeing him today, his health cultivation methods were probably even better than rumored.

It seems that this Wood Mulberry Daoist also possesses an opportunity, something not to be spoken of to outsiders.

Chen Ping'an's expression remained unchanged as he exchanged greetings with Wood Mulberry Daoist.

Wood Mulberry Daoist's attitude was respectful, and his words were polite, completely different from their previous interactions.

He remembered that when they met before, Wood Mulberry Daoist's attitude wasn't bad, but his words and temperament faintly carried a hint of condescension. He looked at Chen Ping'an as if he were looking at a junior with unlimited talent and the potential to be on equal footing in the future.

Even if they could be on equal footing in the future, it still seemed like he was adopting the posture of an older generation expert.

The phrase "Little Friend Ping'an" said it all.

But now, after more than a year, when Wood Mulberry Daoist met him again, his words were much more respectful. He no longer clung to his identity as an older generation expert as he had before. Even though he had gone a step further and leaped into the ranks of top grandmasters, he didn't dare to show the slightest hint of such an attitude.

The matter of Reckless Saber Chen Ping'an killing the Evil Extremity Twin Fiends on the way to Azure Dragon Province City wasn't widely spread, but it had a great reputation in the upper circles of Azure Dragon Province City.

The Evil Extremity Twin Fiends both possessed the power of top grandmasters, and when they erupted, they touched the threshold of great grandmaster combat power. Even if they were seriously injured, their combined forces were definitely not something an ordinary top grandmaster could handle.

Chen Ping'an's ability to achieve such a record meant that his combat power had probably touched the threshold of great grandmaster combat power. Even if there was a slight deviation, he wasn't far off.

Faced with this situation, Wood Mulberry Daoist's words naturally contained more respect and less self-importance.

The phrase "Lord Chen" already encompassed everything.

Reckless Saber Chen Ping'an had already achieved great momentum and was no longer someone that older generation experts like them could look down upon. Even great grandmasters would have to be more humble and treat him as an equal when they met him.

Not to mention ordinary top grandmasters.

Wood Mulberry Daoist was extremely polite and respectful to Chen Ping'an. Chen Ping'an responded appropriately, his eyes falling on the juniors behind Wood Mulberry Daoist.

There were many juniors behind Wood Mulberry Daoist, but Chen Ping'an was looking at two of them.

Mu Chenjie and Mu Qingyao.

When he first went to Azure Dragon Province City, he had traveled with the Mu Family caravan thanks to the convenience of these two.

"Long time no see!" Chen Ping'an said with a kind smile.

Wood Mulberry Daoist was stunned for a moment, not quite reacting. When he came back to his senses, he saw two surprised and shocked faces behind him.

Mu Chenjie trembled slightly, his eyes still filled with disbelief.

Mu Qingyao, dressed in a green dress, tightly gripped a corner of her dress with her white, scallion-like fingers. She looked at the man in the blue shirt in front of her, as if in a dream.

So, he is Reckless Saber

Five Peaks Mountain City, slaying a Profound Light Realm expert with a saber, beheading a disciple of Seven Absolute Old Man, his head hung above the city.

Wei River County City, severely injuring a Northern Land Swordsman, beheading an expert from the Heavenly Lotus Sect, entering the Dragon and Tiger rankings in one fell swoop.

North Azure Stronghold, slaying Wind and Rain Saber with a saber, his fame spread far and wide.

Azure Dragon Province City, on Small Pan Mountain, fighting against a Jade Balance Grandmaster. Breaking through on the verge of battle, beheading Blood Bat Wei Yiqi, listed on the Great Qian Hidden Dragon Rankings, the number one genius in Azure Dragon Province Territory in two thousand years.

Dragon Peace Stronghold, defeating Kaiyang Great Compassion Hand Wu Xiutong, suppressing several Jade Balance Grandmasters.

Dragon Peace Turmoil, slaying Evil Extremity Path Grandmaster, Black Mountain. Beheading top grandmaster Rotten Bone Granny, demonic path grandmaster Blood Spirit Child...

Mu Qingyao's eyes were dazed, and memories of Reckless Saber Chen Ping'an kept flooding into her mind.

Reckless Saber!

He is Reckless Saber!

The person who traveled with her in the past, whose manner was easygoing and whose demeanor was unrestrained, was actually Reckless Saber!

Mu Qingyao gripped her skirt, the figure in her heart constantly colliding, conflicting, and...

overlapping with the person in front of her.

"Lord Chen, you know each other?" Wood Mulberry Daoist asked with surprise in his voice.

He really didn't expect that his family's juniors would have something to do with a figure like Reckless Saber Chen Ping'an.

"We know each other." Chen Ping'an smiled, "We had a few encounters in the past and traveled together for a while."

Although Wood Mulberry Daoist didn't know the specific details, in this situation, he naturally followed Chen Ping'an's words and said, "That's really a blessing for the two juniors, to be able to travel with Lord Chen. Speaking of which, Lord Chen really has a connection with my Mu Family."

Wood Mulberry Daoist's face was full of smiles, and he used this topic to constantly build a relationship with Chen Ping'an.

Mu Chenjie looked blank, staring blankly at the family elder in front of him, who was casual yet somewhat reserved, natural yet somewhat polite, and he felt exceptionally estranged.

The Ninth Elder, who held deep authority within the family, had never treated a junior with such an attitude. But now...

A complex emotion flickered in Mu Chenjie's eyes as he looked at the calm and composed figure not far away.

Was he...

Reckless Saber?

The image of their meeting in the provincial city flashed involuntarily in Mu Chenjie's mind.

Back then, he was deeply troubled by the engagement with Fairy Qingcheng, feeling utterly dejected.

Encountering the other party by chance in the provincial city only worsened his mood.

He thought that the provincial city was so large that they shouldn't meet again, but he never expected to encounter him once more.

The emotions within him were difficult to express to outsiders.

Especially when he saw the two young girls accompanying the other party, he had already constructed a complete narrative in his mind.

Not only did he not work hard at cultivation, but he also specialized in deceiving young girls for fun!

He's such a grown man, yet he's still useless!

It was simply speechless.

Seeing the other party's amiable greeting, he didn't say much. Instead, upon seeing the scene of one man and two women, he felt indignant.

He said inwardly, "Deceiving young girls every day, I bet you won't be able to find a wife in the future!"

But who would have thought...

The Fairy Qingcheng, whom he dreamed of day and night, was actually the other party's wife. And just recently, the two of them stood embracing each other on the cloud platform atop the mountain.

Qingcheng...

Countless emotions surged in Mu Chenjie's heart, like a tide, rising and falling, endlessly.

As one of the focal points of the banquet, Wood Mulberry Daoist naturally didn't have much time to chat with Chen Ping'an for long.

In fact, while the two of them were chatting and raising their glasses, people had already been waiting nearby.

These waiting people were no ordinary figures; they were the true backbone and mainstay of various forces.

Even Wood Mulberry Daoist couldn't ignore their requests. After exchanging pleasantries, completing the formalities, and achieving their goals, they took their leave.

This meeting exceeded expectations, not only solidifying the relationship with Reckless Saber Chen Ping'an but also yielding unexpected gains in the casual conversation.

Wood Mulberry Daoist glanced at the two juniors behind him, resolving to learn the detailed situation from them after the banquet ended.

Not only that, but this matter also had to be reported to the family's elder council.

As one of the Azure Dragon Gu Family's staunch allies, the Gu Family's attitude was crucial to the Mu Family. Reckless Saber Chen Ping'an, as the Gu Family's heavily invested target and the future husband of their contemporary top talent, his attitude was destined to represent a significant portion of the Gu Family's stance.

Reckless Saber was of utmost importance to the Mu Family.

Matters involving the family's major affairs required the utmost caution in every detail.

The fact that the family's juniors had known Reckless Saber early on and formed a good relationship was no exaggeration to call it a pleasant surprise.

Reckless Saber was a man of brilliant talent and amazing aptitude. In the future, he would surely reach the realm of a Martial Dao Grandmaster. If his Dao heart remained unhindered, he might even ascend above the Grandmaster level in his lifetime.

If he truly achieved such a feat one day, all the clans in Azure Dragon would have to look to him for guidance. His Azure Dragon Mu Family would be no exception.

Given Reckless Saber Chen Ping'an's progress in martial arts, that day might come very soon.

Was it three Jiazi, or two Jiazi!?

Wood Mulberry Daoist's eyes were filled with joy as he suppressed the excitement in his heart.

If he could take advantage of this opportunity to establish a relationship with Reckless Saber Chen Ping'an and build an unbreakable friendship, then one day, his Azure Dragon Mu Family might be able to go even further, surpassing the top forces in the province!

"Lord Chen, I have long heard of your reputation. Today, I am fortunate enough to meet you. What an honor it is."

"Lord Chen, please feel free. This cup of wine, I..."

"..."

Chen Ping'an's expression was calm as he exchanged pleasantries with representatives from various forces.

Gu Qingcheng's advancement ceremony, although extremely grand, hadn't reached the level of a true foundation-level event due to her breaking through to the Grandmaster realm. Although there were many guests attending the ceremony, most of them were at the level of seasoned Grandmasters.

Although there were also top Grandmasters, their overall number wasn't that large. As for Great Grandmasters, there was no need to mention them.

For the vast majority of the guests, Chen Ping'an was already famous, powerful, and had a promising future that was beyond the reach of ordinary people.

Now that they had this opportunity, they naturally had to seize it firmly. Otherwise, if they missed this one, they wouldn't know when the next one would be.

Perhaps, there might not even be a next time.

Given Reckless Saber Chen Ping'an's talent, it might not take long for him to reach the realm of a Great Grandmaster. Maybe it would be one Jiazi, maybe it would be half a Jiazi.

Perhaps, he could even reach the realm of a Great Grandmaster within twenty years.

Exchanging pleasantries now, even if they couldn't form a good relationship, could lay a solid foundation for future interactions.

If they could go one step further, that was definitely what most forces and representatives wanted to see.

A favor from a big shot might not always be useful, but when it is, it's bound to be incredibly valuable!

For most people, it could be a matter of life and death!

Faced with a constant stream of toasts, Chen Ping'an didn't say much, but his demeanor was appropriate and polite.

Since the time was essentially wasted anyway, getting to know some people wasn't a bad idea.

While meeting these people might not exactly be building connections, it did establish a basic acquaintance. If one day his wings were fully formed and he had gathered enough momentum, it might save him some effort.

The banquet was lively and bustling. But overall, some interactions were cold, while others were enthusiastic.

Some people tried every possible way, exhausting all their efforts, to squeeze into the circle, only to find themselves as dispensable, marginal figures.

Others wracked their brains, trying to go a step further, moving closer to the center of the circle.

And then there were those who, by their very presence, naturally occupied the central position.

Without needing to say much, a single glance or gesture was enough to make countless people speculate and ponder, fearing that even a slight slip of the tongue could offend them.

At this moment, the people surrounding Chen Ping'an were exactly like that.

Any one of them, placed outside, would be an absolute center of their own circle, but at this moment, they were racking their brains to form a good relationship and gain friendship.

Tonight's banquet focused on Gu Qingcheng, but also on

Reckless Saber Chen Ping'an!

A banquet was like a microcosm of the world, with circles clearly defined and strict order maintained.

Some were cautious, some were respectful and polite, and some were naturally easygoing.

During the exchanges, Chen Ping'an also saw Wang Siyuan, the contemporary prodigy of the Azure Dragon Wang Family.

Wang Siyuan came with an elder of the Wang Family.

As the Wang Family's representative for the ceremony, the Wang Family elder who came was naturally also a top Grandmaster.

There wasn't much to say during the brief greetings.

Chen Ping'an's attention was mostly focused on Wang Siyuan.

Back in Wei River County City, when he first embarked on the path of martial arts, he had heard of the other man's name.

Second on the New Talent Rankings, the Wang Family prodigy, Wang Siyuan!

In the past, Wang Siyuan was completely out of Chen Ping'an's reach, a legendary figure.

At a young age, he had already reached the Profound Light Middle Stage, a prodigy among prodigies, a rising star among rising stars.

At that time, to Chen Ping'an, who was still at the Qi Blood Realm, even an Inner Energy Realm expert was a famous and unattainable figure. Even his direct superior, Mu Wanjun, who was ranked among the top ten talents in Wei River, was only an Inner Energy Realm cultivator.

Who could imagine the significance of a Profound Light Middle Stage expert?!

This was completely a legendary figure, a true prodigy who appeared in countless people's conversations. It was impossible for such a person to appear in the daily life of ordinary mortals.

But today...

Six years later, everything had changed.

The prodigy of legends was now not even qualified to look Chen Ping'an in the eye.

He was just a junior accompanying his elders, standing behind them, watching them interact with Reckless Saber Chen Ping'an.

Strictly speaking, today was Chen Ping'an's first time seeing the Wang Family prodigy, Wang Siyuan, and it was also their first meeting.

As the Wang Family's direct descendant and the leading prodigy of the current generation, Wang Siyuan perfectly matched Chen Ping'an's image of a scion of a prominent family.

With handsome features and a jade-like demeanor, dressed in white, he was a natural protagonist.

Like jade among men, an unparalleled gentleman!

It had to be said that Wang Siyuan's demeanor and appearance were what Chen Ping'an had imagined. It was also what he had always hoped for.

Like Feng Wuhen of the Cloud Concealing Sword, Wang Siyuan possessed qualities that Chen Ping'an desired.

If Feng Wuhen represented the swordsman Chen Ping'an aspired to be, with the unrestrained elegance of a swordsman, then Wang Siyuan embodied the unique warmth of a noble young master, gentle as jade, subtle and silent.

The sky was azure, the drizzle was misty, he held a paper umbrella, and stood with his sword at the bow of the boat.

This was the scene that Chen Ping'an had always imagined and longed for.

Wang Siyuan and Feng Wuhen each possessed one of the qualities he desired: warmth and elegance.

If a beautiful woman stood by the riverbank, and in a fleeting glance, his figure flashed, graceful as a startled swan, elegant as a swimming dragon, and reappeared beside the beauty.

Holding a paper umbrella, saying, "Miss, it's raining," would be the perfect ending to his youthful dream.

He didn't know if he would ever have the chance to realize his youthful dream in this life.

Between mastering the sword and becoming a swordsman, he chose to marry a female swordsman.

A gentle breeze brushes the mountain ridge, a bright moon illuminates the great river.

Seeing Wang Siyuan, Chen Ping'an was reminded of Wang Lingzhi, the previous generation's prodigy of the Wang Family.

Once full of vigor, he had now become a cripple due to a single misstep.

Until reaching the summit, until stepping onto the absolute peak, it was not the time to relax.

Since I cultivate the martial path, I should naturally strive for its perfection.

Chen Ping'an smiled peacefully, looking at Wang Siyuan not far away, his mind filled with thoughts and a sense of melancholy.

Time truly is a wonderful thing, smoothing out all the wrinkles and balancing all the information.

The world is a curious place, hard to describe in a few words.

The once unattainable prodigy had become a plain and unremarkable backdrop in their conversation. The once top-ranked genius, suppressing his peers, was now his betrothed.

And then...

Chen Ping'an slightly turned his head, glancing at Xue Zirou not far away.

As he turned his gaze, Xue Zirou happened to be looking at him as well.

Their eyes met across the distance, their gazes colliding in mid-air.

Xue Zirou's clear eyes were like water, seeming to hold a thousand words.

Just then, a clear and cold voice, like a spring, echoed in Chen Ping'an's ears.

Like carved from cold jade, with a melodious and ethereal quality, it was indescribably pleasant to hear.

It was a secret voice transmission from Gu Qingcheng!