Thunderous Roar Great City, Gu Family residence.
An exceedingly obscure spiritual fluctuation spread out, only to vanish again in an instant.
Inside the cultivation chamber, spiritual light blazed brilliantly, shrouded in an indescribable haze.
Gu Qingchan sat upright upon a cloud couch. The hem of her light-blue dress bloomed like a lotus, as azure as the sky and as profound as the essence of frozen ice.
Amid flickering light-blue radiance, a palm-sized crystalline ring floated before Gu Qingchan.
The ring seemed to possess a spirit of its own. Light-blue streams of light swirled around it like a meteor streaking through the depths of the night sky.
"After several months of bitter cultivation, I have finally advanced another step!"
Gu Qingchan slowly opened her eyes. As her eyes opened and closed, they shone as brilliantly as stars.
Ever since meeting Senior Night Owl, her thoughts had become clear and unimpeded. Borrowing the token of affection, she had gone into seclusion for arduous cultivation and traced out the image of destiny.
Now, her work had reached perfect completion. She had inscribed six spiritual patterns and finally attained what was traditionally considered the complete Jade Balance Late Stage.
But—
Her ambitions soared into the clouds. She intended to enter the Third Stage of Breakthrough with seven spiritual patterns, or even eight, shatter the barrier, achieve Unity of Heaven and Man, and attain the realm of a Martial Dao Celestial.
Buzz—
With a tremble of spiritual light, the Wishful Exquisite Ring before her, her repeatedly refined natal Divine Weapon, was drawn into her Mind and Spirit Platform.
Beneath Gu Qingchan's peerlessly elegant bearing lay a doll-like face, porcelain-white as jade. The light-blue mark between her brows spread in a soft glow, and the stream of light formed from the Wishful Exquisite Ring disappeared completely.
By ordinary standards of rank, the Wishful Exquisite Ring naturally did not meet the requirements to be stored within the Mind and Spirit Platform. But unlike ordinary Divine Weapons, as a natal Divine Weapon, the Wishful Exquisite Ring inherently possessed extraordinary properties.
The Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden True Scroll she cultivated recorded a unique method: the refinement method for natal Divine Weapons.
A cultivator of the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden True Scroll could possess only one natal Divine Weapon in her lifetime.
And she had chosen the Wishful Exquisite Ring.
This item had been lost and then recovered, a gift from Senior Night Owl. It held memories and carried her heart demon's obsessions. It killed two birds with one stone; refining it into a natal Divine Weapon could break open the Heart Demon Pass.
Over several months, her Martial Path Realm had advanced another step, and she had also raised the Wishful Exquisite Ring's rank into the category of Powerful Divine Weapons.
She possessed the Top Divine Weapon Snow Soul Silk and had little regard for ordinary Powerful Divine Weapons. But a natal Divine Weapon was different.
As a natal Divine Weapon, the Wishful Exquisite Ring was naturally compatible with her. Driven by the intent of the Mystic Maiden, it could erupt with terrifying might.
Even if the Wishful Exquisite Ring had remained as before, merely an ordinary Divine Weapon, when wielded by her, it could still receive terrifying enhancements and display the power of a Powerful Divine Weapon.
Now that its rank had risen, when driven by the natal refinement method, the power it unleashed would likely approach that of a Top Divine Weapon.
As a Gu Family Elder and the helmswoman of the Gu Family's interests in Leiming, Gu Qingchan possessed no shortage of treasures.
However, more than half of those precious ores and materials had been spent on the Wishful Exquisite Ring.
Using the intent of the Mystic Maiden to refine a natal Divine Weapon allowed one to continuously elevate the weapon's quality through added treasure materials and the aid of spiritual items.
The Wishful Exquisite Ring's elevated rank naturally owed much to her refinement.
Through her refinement and the investment of vast resources, the Wishful Exquisite Ring was now very close to becoming a premium product among Powerful Divine Weapons.
In fact, if not for her lack of one crucial mineral material, she might have pushed through in one breath and refined her natal Divine Weapon into a premium Powerful Divine Weapon before leaving seclusion.
But now, that was clearly no longer possible.
"A precious ore is missing."
Gu Qingchan's eyes glittered like stars, light-blue radiance flowing within them and setting her off like an empress who commanded ice and snow.
This peerlessly graceful ice-and-snow empress slowly rose to her feet. Her wide sleeves unfurled gently, and her face glowed like the morning clouds.
Her light-blue gown shimmered with flowing splendor, while the pale-blue mark between her brows rippled with halos of light, making Gu Qingchan's already elegant and noble temperament appear even more dignified and peerless.
The moment Gu Qingchan emerged from seclusion, the Gu Family residence was swiftly stirred into commotion.
"Greetings, Elder!"
"Congratulations on Elder's emergence from seclusion!"
"..."
Amid one congratulatory voice after another, Gu Qingchan also learned what had happened during her seclusion.
"Send word to all parties. The Clamorous Mountain Range expedition stirred public opinion. Thunderous methods. The Blood Owl Gang bowed its head, the Left Path Alliance lowered theirs, the Black Spirit Gate was willing to submit, and the Five Directions Family and Universe Control Division impeached him?"
"Ping'an resigned from Leiming!?" After learning the final piece of information, a trace of icy coldness surfaced in Gu Qingchan's star-like eyes.
"How dare they bully my Gu Family as if we have no one!"
Gu Qingchan stood atop a pavilion, overlooking the entire Thunderous Roar Great City. Her gaze lowered, still and cold as a frozen pool.
"It seems this Palace has been in seclusion too long. Some people have forgotten that Leiming does not belong to the Gu Family alone."
News of Gu Family Elder Gu Qingchan's emergence from seclusion spread throughout Thunderous Roar Great City at an extraordinarily alarming speed.
For a time, Leiming was shaken.
Some were uneasy and terrified, some remained calm, and some watched coldly from the sidelines.
The various forces of Leiming reacted differently, their myriad emotions interweaving.
But without question, one fact was certain: the Gu Family's long-dormant momentum surged fiercely once more at the moment Gu Qingchan emerged from seclusion.
Ever since the Ice Soul Divine Needles and Gu Qingchan had taken command of Leiming, the title of strongest expert in the Thunderclap Mountain Range had long since fallen upon her.
"Sorry to trouble you."
That very afternoon, when Gu Qingchan announced her emergence from seclusion, an elegant swordsman with starry brows and bright eyes arrived before the Gu Family residence.
"Please announce that Feng Wuhen seeks an audience."
The residence steward standing guard did not dare be careless. He respectfully bowed. "Lord Feng, please wait a moment."
Then he hurried inside to make the report.
Given the Gu Family's influence in Leiming, such formality would not ordinarily have been necessary. But Feng Wuhen was no ordinary man. As the chief consecrated expert of the Thunderclap Town Pacification Office, he was a true giant at the very top of the Thunderclap Town Pacification Office.
Furthermore, bolstered by the campaign against evil cultivators and demons, Feng Wuhen's prestige was at its height. Even a family like the Gu Family had to treat him with the utmost courtesy.
Though the Gu Family was somewhat better positioned, without any instruction or authorization, they naturally would not risk any breach of etiquette or offense.
"Qingchan."
Feng Wuhen stood before the Gu Family residence, anticipation written across his face.
After several months apart, the longing in his heart had grown increasingly urgent. It would have been one thing if there had been no hope, but once hope existed, that longing became impossible to suppress.
Upon hearing that Qingchan had emerged from seclusion, he had rushed over at once, observing every courtesy as he came to call.
The residence steward had gone inside for a long while, yet no reply came.
Looking at the vast Gu Family residence, Feng Wuhen hesitated, suddenly gripped by the fear of gain and loss.
Qingchan would not refuse to see me, would she?
Then again, Qingchan has just emerged from seclusion and must be occupied with countless matters. Unless there is something important, how could she easily spare the time? I have let concern cloud my judgment. What a miscalculation.
Should I leave now? Or leave a message to express my apology? Or should I wait a little longer?
Qingchan probably has no time to see me, but what if she does?
As he watched the reply remain delayed, a faint trace of anxiety surfaced beneath Feng Wuhen's calm expression.
He had been rejected too many times and had become somewhat immune to it. But sometimes, what was hardest to endure was not rejection—it was the moment before the result was revealed.
He was filled with expectation and worry alike, his heart tormented by the fear of gain and loss.
The more anxious he became, the less the outcome revealed itself.
The entire process drained his mental strength far too much.
Even a cultivation-accomplished Top Grandmaster like the Cloud Concealing Swordsman could not help falling into such a state while awaiting the answer of the woman he loved.
Before the residence gates, the several gatekeeping stewards watched their noses, their noses watched their mouths, and their mouths watched their hearts. They did not dare look too much.
Feng Wuhen's admiration for the Elder was known to all. His previous willingness to marry into the family, only to be rejected, had even become a laughingstock throughout the province for a time.
But laughing about such things behind someone's back was one matter. Showing it to his face was quite another.
Especially when the person involved was a regional giant.
They did not dare stare, afraid that seeing Feng Wuhen's appearance would cause some change in their expressions and let him notice something strange.
If they carelessly provoked trouble, it would truly be a disaster that had fallen from the sky.
Amid that deathly, tacit silence, Feng Wuhen's inner torment was beyond words.
There should be news soon, right!?
Qingchan will see me. Qingchan will not see me. Qingchan will see me.
As Feng Wuhen wrestled with the fear of gain and loss, a residence steward hurried out.
"Lord Feng, the Elder invites you in."
Upon hearing this, Feng Wuhen felt as if he had heard celestial music. His eyes lit up brilliantly, and his delight was beyond expression.
"Qingchan is seeing me!"
With a heart full of joy and excitement, Feng Wuhen met the Gu Qingchan he had longed for day and night.
Only after experiencing so many rejections did one understand the taste of acceptance.
At this moment, without question, Feng Wuhen was happy.
Qingchan had finally understood his sincerity.
Looking at Gu Qingchan before him, Feng Wuhen forcibly suppressed the excitement in his heart and politely offered his greetings. "Greetings, Elder."
"Lord Feng, you are not a member of my Gu Family. There is no need to address me thus." Gu Qingchan's voice was like a clear spring, flowing thread by thread into Feng Wuhen's heart.
"This one has been discourteous. Great Grandmaster, please do not take offense." Looking at the peerless beauty not far away, Feng Wuhen's mind drifted, as though he were in a dream.
Today's Gu Qingchan possessed several more measures of icy majesty and dominance than the image in his memories. Every gesture carried the bearing of one in a high position.
Pearl-and-jade hair ornaments, a light-blue palace gown, peerless grace—she was like an empress holding power in her hands, looking down upon the entire world.
Looking at the beautiful woman before him, admiration arose in Feng Wuhen's eyes. During their conversation, he could not help taking a small step closer.
Gu Qingchan's starry eyes shone brightly, and her delicate brows furrowed slightly, but she said nothing.
Feng Wuhen's heart surged with excitement. He only felt that today was the most carefree day he had experienced in several months.
Closer. Closer. Another step closer.
Even after leaving, Feng Wuhen remained immersed in those feelings, filled with satisfaction and expectation.
This time, Qingchan had barely spoken to him. She had mainly asked about Reckless Saber Chen Ping'an. Yet he did not feel discouraged in the slightest. He only felt a fire rise in his heart, blazing fiercely with billowing flames.
Even though Gu Qingchan had long clearly told him that her heart already belonged to someone and that he need not harbor any further fantasies or improper thoughts, as long as he saw hope, he did not feel discouraged at all. Instead, he felt filled with fighting spirit.
Liking someone was a deeply personal matter.
Whether Qingchan liked him or not did not affect his feelings in the least.
Feng Wuhen's eyes gleamed, his face radiant as he strode out through the residence gates.
Qingchan, I am here. I have always been here.
One day, if you turn around, you will find that I have always been here.
Feng Wuhen silently repeated these words in his heart.
One day, I will prove that I am the one worthy of you.
Filled with fighting spirit, Feng Wuhen strode forward as though he had stepped out into a world of his own.
"Conferring a title upon the Blood Owl Gang?"
Dressed in a light-blue gown, Gu Qingchan stood quietly upon the jade steps of the main hall.
There were some matters she could learn about, but information gaps still inevitably remained.
She could have resolved them by spending some time, but Feng Wuhen had happened to come, so asking him was just as well.
As one of the parties involved in the campaign against evil cultivators and demons and the Leiming expedition, Feng Wuhen's information should have been more accurate than ordinary channels.
As it concerned Chen Ping'an, she did not wish to waste too much time. Naturally, the earlier she gained a grasp of the situation, the better.
She had known of Feng Wuhen's feelings for her long ago.
In the face of his admiration, she had repeatedly rejected him. At first, she had considered Feng Wuhen's dignity and had not spoken too bluntly.
But after Feng Wuhen had been willing to marry into her family just to become Dao companions with her, she had made her stance crystal clear.
She, Gu Qingchan, already had someone she loved. Her feelings would endure until seas ran dry and rocks crumbled, and they would never change in this lifetime. For the rest of her life, there would be only one person in Gu Qingchan's heart. Feng Wuhen was asked not to entertain any other thoughts.
After that, whenever Feng Wuhen came to see her, she mostly refused him and kept her distance.
But judging by Feng Wuhen's appearance today, he clearly had not taken her words in at all.
In the past, Gu Qingchan might have felt somewhat annoyed, but by now, her heart had become as calm as still water.
When some things were repeatedly refused yet still failed to yield the desired result, completely ignoring them was the best answer.
The more one entangled oneself in certain matters, the more one rejected them, the harder they became to shake free.
Rather than remain clingy and muddled, it was better to show a clear attitude.
In truth, if Senior Night Owl were willing, she would immediately become Dao companions with him and thoroughly draw a clear line between herself and all these rotten peach blossoms.
But—
Gu Qingchan's wide sleeves unfurled gently, her long skirt swaying as she descended the jade steps. A faint blush surfaced on her tender, fair face. Her thoughts drifted lightly, as if she had returned to that night.
"As long as Qingchan possesses it, if Senior wishes for it, Senior may pluck and take it as you please."
Under the dim lamplight, Gu Qingchan's face looked tender and flushed, soft and beautiful as rosy clouds, filled with expectation. Her light-blue palace gown was set with glittering pearls and gemstones, carrying the depth of the starry sky and a hint of indescribable dreaminess.
"Could Senior's heart truly be made of iron and stone?"
That was when she had offered herself, only to be rejected by Senior Night Owl. She had bitten her lower lip lightly, sorrow and resentment on her face. Her dark hair clung to her cheeks, lending her a trace of tragic beauty that made people unable to bear it.
But Senior's heart—
Was like iron and stone.
Without the slightest lingering attachment, he had turned and left.
"Senior."
Watching that departing back, she set aside her reserve and ran after him.
"Stay tonight, all right?"
Her cheek pressed against Senior's back. Her body trembled with expectation and longing.
But—
Gu Qingchan's thoughts returned, and all she saw was stillness and deathly silence.
Outside the main hall, the garden brimmed with life, yet it had all faded into dullness.
"Senior Night Owl." With a flash of spiritual light, a coarse linen garment appeared in Gu Qingchan's hands. It was the most common and ordinary style sold on the market, yet she treasured it like a priceless jewel. Hugging the garment, her eyes were full of affection and longing.
"Fate begins and fate ends; flowers bloom and flowers wither. If fate binds us, we shall meet again. If fate binds us, then we shall continue the fate of this day..."
Buzz—
Inside the room, four command banners and formation flags fluttered fiercely, circling in the four directions.
A variegated treasure orb hovered in midair, radiating dazzling, rippling light in five colors.
Chen Ping'an sat cross-legged, utterly focused.
After many days of preparation and long accumulation, the spirituality he had seeped into the orb's outer layer had met the requirements. Now was the critical moment.
If he could take another step forward, what followed would fall into place as naturally as water flowing into a channel. But if he failed at the last hurdle, he would have to spend many more days before attempting another breakthrough.
Success or failure hinged on a single thought.
Spiritual light blazed at Chen Ping'an's brow as he pushed his Third Stage of Breakthrough martial path realm to its limit.
At this moment, even the slightest negligence could cause all his efforts to come to nothing.
Under his control, spirituality spread in an orderly fashion and began to cover the Dream Illusion Pearl.
An invisible restriction surrounded the orb, creating tremendous resistance and making it difficult for spirituality to approach. Yet after so many days of preparation, the spirituality he had seeped inside naturally met the requirements for coverage.
Once the spirituality completely covered it, he could begin refining it.
If any residual aura remained, he could slowly wash away its imprint through the grinding work of water wearing through stone. If there was none, it would be even simpler—he could leave behind an imprint belonging solely to himself.
Hum—hum—hum—
Spiritual light trembled continuously within the room.
But under the concealment of the Azure Flame Four Directions Command Flags, every fluctuation of spiritual light was trapped within this small stretch of heaven and earth.
Chen Ping'an controlled it with the utmost caution. His command was extraordinarily precise; he could keep every subtle change firmly in hand.
Aside from the Golden Finger Panel's innate gift, this degree of control was inseparable from his long years of cultivation.
Time slowly passed. No one knew how long it had been.
At last—
The final trace of spiritual energy fell into place, and spiritual power completely covered the entire Dream Illusion Pearl.
"Success!"
Delight appeared on Chen Ping'an's face, and his mind relaxed.
With the spiritual coverage complete, the next step was formal refinement.
With all the earlier groundwork laid, what came afterward would naturally fall into place.
Based on his past experience, whether he could refine it successfully was merely a matter of time.
And he had more than enough patience when it came to time.
He had spent several months refining the Black Mystic Iron Mask. For the Dream Illusion Pearl, he had even greater patience.
Chen Ping'an's expression sharpened, and his mind tensed once more.
Boom!
As he simultaneously activated all his spirituality, a thunderous roar seemed to sound beside his ears.
"This is..." Chen Ping'an's face was filled with shock. Through his spiritual perspective, he saw an utterly staggering sight.
Within a boundless space like a river of stars, a dreamlike treasure orb radiated rippling light, brilliant beyond compare, illuminating the entire expanse.
Countless chains coiled around the orb, preventing its rippling radiance from shining unhindered and instead casting patch after patch of mottled shadow.
The orb was astonishingly immense within this space, and the countless chains were the same.
From his spiritual perspective, Chen Ping'an could only feel his own insignificance. Before the eternal sun that had existed since antiquity, he was smaller than an ant.
Mottled colors surged around him, rippling light flowed and turned, vast yet majestic, dreamlike yet vibrant.
"These chains..."
Chen Ping'an focused his gaze and discovered that incomparably complex spirit patterns were inscribed upon the chains, densely packed together to form each entire chain.
More than one chain wound around the variegated treasure orb. Chen Ping'an wanted to count exactly how many there were, but his eyes were dazzled at first glance.
Some chains seemed to be two, yet upon closer inspection became one. Others seemed to be one, yet farther along their coils, appeared to become one again.
They intertwined and melded with one another, layer upon layer, continuously interweaving.
"Refine!"
Chen Ping'an steadied himself, extending his spirituality toward the outermost chain.
Compared to those chains, his spiritual energy was pitifully scarce.
Yet that energy crossed the vast distance in an instant and touched the chain without obstruction.
"It really works." Delight rose in Chen Ping'an's heart as he began attempting refinement according to the refining method.
Hum—
Spiritual light quivered faintly. Before the boundlessly enormous chain, it seemed incomparably tiny, like an erosion slowly eating away at an infinitesimal portion of the chain.
The chains seemed like dead objects and showed no reaction to his erosion.
Yet as his spirituality eroded them, a wisp of faint light appeared within the spirit patterns of those deathly still chains. It was weak, but undeniably real.
"The wondrousness of spirit patterns!"
At this moment, realization dawned in Chen Ping'an's heart.
Just what rank of treasure was this?
After withdrawing from the consciousness space, a trace of shock remained on Chen Ping'an's face.
That breathtaking scene beneath his spiritual perspective—the dreamlike, boundless space—still left lingering fear in his heart.
Such an imposing spectacle was absolutely beyond comparison with an ordinary treasure.
Chen Ping'an's heart churned before slowly settling.
When he opened his eyes again, his heart was as calm as stagnant water.
"Still, no matter what, I've taken another step forward."
After many days of preparation, his spirituality had penetrated the orb's outer layer and entered its inner space. Having witnessed that dreamlike scene, his understanding of the Dream Illusion Pearl had deepened.
Moreover, although the spiritual energy he had brought into the orb's inner space this time was not much, he had still made considerable progress.
Regarding the refinement of the orb, he had taken another step forward.
Chains wrapped around the orb like barriers sealing away its wondrous powers, locking it tightly in place. If Chen Ping'an wanted to completely refine this Dream Illusion Pearl, he would have to remove every one of those chains.
The method of removing them was simple as well: through spiritual erosion, he would trigger their wondrous properties and completely light up the chains.
Extremely complex spirit-pattern restrictions covered the chains. If he could illuminate them all, he would be able to control them as easily as moving his own arms and fingers.
Once all the chains fell away, the orb's rippling radiance would no longer face any obstruction, and it could truly unleash its greatest might.
However, judging from the current situation, a vast amount of work still awaited Chen Ping'an before that day arrived.
By his present judgment, ordinary spiritual energy could not trigger and illuminate the spirit-pattern restrictions on these chains. They were likely exclusive to Soul Power. Ordinary spirituality could not even enter, much less illuminate them.
Chen Ping'an had found a loophole, using his indescribably abundant spiritual power and the painstaking effort of dripping water piercing stone to achieve an effect similar to Soul Power.
Fortunately, this step appeared entirely feasible for now.
As long as it was feasible, that was enough for Chen Ping'an. Even if he only advanced a tiny bit each time, so long as he could persist without interruption, one day he would successfully complete the refinement.
He was filled with anticipation for it.
Chen Ping'an had already prepared himself for a protracted battle over refining the Dream Illusion Pearl.
He had spent several months refining the Black Mystic Iron Mask. For this Dream Illusion Pearl, he was prepared to spend even more time stubbornly grinding away at it.
It might be slower at first, but once his cultivation broke through and his martial path progressed, things should steadily improve.
Still, everything had to be done step by step. The first stage was to use spirituality to erode and trigger one chain.
The realization Chen Ping'an had gained when eroding the chain was that the fewer chains locked around the orb, the stronger the orb's effects would become.
Once a chain fell away, the Dream Illusion Pearl might undergo a different change.
The process of refining the orb was also the process of shedding its chains.
But at his current stage, this was the grinding work of water wearing through stone. It could not be rushed.
"A journey of a thousand miles begins beneath one's feet! Dripping water can pierce stone, and a spark can set the prairie ablaze. Forge ahead through hardship!"
Chen Ping'an's spirits rose, and he closed his eyes once more.
Hum—
Spiritual light shone within the room, just like the young man's original aspiration—enduring and unchanged.
Over the following days, Chen Ping'an devoted himself wholeheartedly to cultivating his techniques and seeping in spirituality.
Once several days of preparation were complete, he would focus his mind, control the energy, erode the chains, and illuminate the spirit patterns.
The first attempt was unfamiliar, but the second came naturally. He was considerably faster the second time.
Still, the chains were enormous. From his spiritual perspective alone, they stretched more than a thousand zhang.
Each time, he could only illuminate a small segment of a chain. There was still a long road ahead before he could light up one completely.
And more than one chain wound around the Dream Illusion Pearl.
Yet the more difficult the refinement, the more Chen Ping'an anticipated the Dream Illusion Pearl. Whether it was the shared-injury mechanism between him and the Heavenly Luo Saintess, the Pact of Illusory Dreams, or his need for a true Dao Protecting Treasure and trump-card methods, all of it made him tireless in this pursuit.
Whenever he had free time, he would seep in spiritual energy, preparing bit by bit like water dripping through stone.
Once the spiritual energy he had seeped in accumulated to a certain point, he would focus his mind, take control, and begin refining.
During these days, aside from refining the Dream Illusion Pearl, cultivation techniques were naturally of the utmost importance as well.
After cultivating the Seven Kill Heavenly Dipper Fist to Great Accomplishment, he adjusted his direction and began cultivating the incomplete Guanghan Sword Skill. It was not that he did not want to press on in one burst and cultivate the Seven Kill Heavenly Dipper Fist to Perfection. Rather, judging from cultivation experience and returns, cultivating the Guanghan Sword Skill at his current stage was the most cost-effective choice.
Besides, there was no lack of a tiny bit of personal interest mixed into it.
But compared to the grand undertaking of cultivation, those things were insignificant. The core reason was still cost-effectiveness.
Mm, that had to be it.
Perhaps because his realm had risen, Chen Ping'an's cultivation of the Guanghan Sword Skill was not slow.
With the Snow Spirit Leaf's enhancement, the cultivation speed of the Guanghan Sword Skill was not the slightest bit slower than the Seven Kill Heavenly Dipper Fist.
Hum—
Spiritual light flickered within the room until it gradually dimmed.
Chen Ping'an slowly opened his eyes.
Name: Chen Ping'an Realm: Jade Balance Late Stage - Third Stage of Breakthrough (Break the Shell Stage) Martial Arts: Azure Sun Blood Refinement Method Entry Level (0/5760) Turbulent Phoenix Dance - Yin-Yang Pivot Entry Level (0/8640), Guanghan Sword Skill (Incomplete) Entry Level (521/2880) Grand Void Wind Riding Step Small Accomplishment (0/5760) Seven Kill Heavenly Dipper Fist Great Accomplishment (0/9600), Tyrant Saber Perfection, Seven Absolute Divine Skill Perfection, Ten Thousand Demons Body Forging Art Perfection
"521 points."
Chen Ping'an's expression remained calm, as still as an ancient well without a ripple.
"I've been in the provincial city for some time. It's time to set out for Xuanling."
Mystic Spirit Major City lay within the Mystic Spirit Province Border and was not close to Azure Dragon Province City.
Things had been fine when he was in Thunderous Roar Great City, but now that he had arrived in Azure Dragon Province City, he had added nearly ten more days to the journey for no reason.
If he traveled by an ordinary carriage, it would likely take even longer.
However, Chen Ping'an's goal was clear. This time, he planned to travel alone.
Both his speed and flexibility would improve greatly. The only drawback was that it might delay his cultivation progress.
But the Mystic Spirit Auction was about to begin. He did not have that much time to waste, so efficiency had to come first.
Having resigned from Leiming and idled away his days in the provincial city, taking a long journey would not hinder anything else.
Still, he needed to make the proper report.
Mm, tomorrow he would visit Ning Zhengyue at the Province Town Pacification Office, then make a trip to the Gu Family while he was at it.
With the groundwork already laid, this journey would proceed naturally and without any issue.
Once Chen Ping'an made up his mind, he slowly closed his eyes.
That same afternoon, just as Chen Ping'an was making his plans, a letter arrived in his hands from the Thunderclap Mountain Range.
"Hmm?"
Chen Ping'an's gaze paused, and his expression became somewhat complicated.
"Gu Qingchan invited me to travel to Xuanling with her?"
Before you continue