Gu Qingcheng's Gift, No Second Time (Monthly Pass Request)

The wheels rolled over the bluestone roads of Thunderclap City, making their way slowly toward the residence at the heart of Thunderclap amid countless reverent gazes.

The carriage was adorned with Mysterious Pattern Jade Ornaments, tall and spacious. Even in Thunderous Roar Great City, one of the top three cities in Azure Dragon Province, such a carriage was exceedingly rare.

"Mysterious Pattern Jade Ornament! This belongs to a State Territory Giant!"

"Which lord from the Town Pacification Office is this!?"

"Go! Hurry up! Don't stare! Careful not to stir up trouble!"

"A noble's carriage! Make way, quickly!"

"..."

The crowd moved aside, their awe impossible to conceal.

In truth, Thunderous Roar Great City's main avenues had designated lanes. Carriages of this sort traveled along the exclusive lane in the very center, while ordinary carriages and pedestrians used the smaller roads on either side.

There would not have been any obstruction simply from their routes. But the carriage's presence was too imposing, and the aura of the elite guards surrounding it too fierce. Some timid passersby, along with middle-aged and elderly people weathered by worldly affairs, did not dare look too closely, afraid of provoking some enormous calamity.

Instead, some vigorous young men showed no fear at all. They scrutinized the central carriage, curiosity in their eyes.

As the saying went, newborn calves did not fear tigers!

That was the truth of it!

There were older people in this world who, when confronted by a crisis, would ponder and scheme, stockpile provisions, arrange their forces, and conceal killing moves. Yet if the same situation fell upon a hot-blooded youth, it would be an entirely different scene.

My fate is mine, not Heaven's!

Ghosts and demons, I shall smash them with my own strength!

Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river!

Today's humiliation, I shall remember! One day, I will repay it tenfold!

There was no shortage of such words that rang like a bell in one's ears.

Yet the vast majority of hot-blooded youths remained in the realm of fantasy, imagining that when a crisis truly came, they would surely stand tall and fearless, with iron bones ringing like steel.

But when one truly faced danger, the reality was difficult to describe in words.

Some things, hearing them in rumors or reading about them in biographies, and truly encountering them for oneself, were entirely different matters!

The world was vast, and there were certainly those born bold, those quick-witted in dealing with others, those steadfast in heart. Yet mediocrity and inaction were the true portrait of most people.

The passion of hot-blooded youths lasted only for that brief instant. Once the heat faded and cold reality stood before them, how many could remain neither servile nor overbearing and hold fast to their original resolve?

The courage of a hot-blooded youth lay in fearlessness, while the source of that fearlessness was ignorance!

To attempt to challenge the order of the world with the courage born of ignorance led only to crushing defeat!

Of course, there were also those born truly valiant, possessed of both plans and strategy. Their courage was not founded upon ignorance, but upon their understanding, their breadth of vision, their overall perspective, and the foundations they had accumulated.

When danger came, they could remain utterly composed!

Still, such matters could not be exhausted in a few words.

Whether it was the fiercely ambitious hot-blooded youth, the worldly middle-aged man, or the elderly person seasoned in schemes, each had their own strengths and weaknesses in such circumstances.

Different settings and different roles often led to different outcomes.

At times one needed passion, at times worldly wisdom, and at times strategy. To shift between them freely and aptly was the true principle of life!

Yet there were also those cursed by poor fortune—grand in ambition, astonishing in ability, resolute in heart—who could ultimately leave behind only one sentence: "Vast blue Heaven, why are you so cruel to me?"

Moreover, among biographies and old tales, there were hot-blooded youths who lacked worldly wisdom and strategy, yet relied on a heart full of passion to cut through thorns and brambles, rising ever upward.

There was no shortage of such accounts in old stories. But to use them as proof that strategy was useless, worldly wisdom was mere internal drain, and passion stood above all else was undoubtedly to fall prey to survivor bias.

In truth, those whose names passed into history and remained in old tales might have relied upon a heart full of passion at first. But by the middle stages, they had certainly learned their lessons and gradually matured, until they completely transformed in their later years.

Even those who remained known for passion in their later years often bore that label only because their public image required it. They used passion as their name while conducting worldly affairs and accomplishing strategic deeds.

Other than those blessed with astonishing fortune, few in this world could break a deadlock against the tide through the two words "hot blood" alone! Those who carried that name through from beginning to end were rarer still! Or perhaps—

Absolutely unique!

No matter how hot one's blood, when faced with the warmth and coldness of worldly affairs, there would come a day when it cooled!

Ten years drinking ice could not chill one's hot blood!

Yet what ultimately let one break the deadlock against the current and slash through thorns and brambles was the sword honed over those ten years!

Ten years honing a sword; its frosted edge had never been tested. Today I show it to you—who has some injustice to settle?

Without that sword, how could one act on hot blood alone!?

Those with bloody courage could flaunt their might for a time, but found it difficult to preserve their aspirations for long!

Still, the affairs of the world were wondrous and difficult to explain.

It was said that the Great Qian Founding Ancestor, that cowherd boy from among the wild hills and green mountains, had also once possessed the aspirations of a youth filled with bloody courage!

Heavenly talents fought for supremacy, hidden dragons contended for fortune, heroes carved up the land, and in troubled times they hunted the realm like prey. Yet in the end, the throne of this world was his to sit upon.

Hot blood was not a bad thing. On the contrary, it meant striving forward with sharp resolve. But if one relied on hot blood alone, one was looking down upon all the heroes under Heaven.

Human strength had its limits. What might could hot blood alone display?

Why not use hot blood as the fulcrum, martial arts as the force, and strategy as the lever, to move this vast and turbulent age!?

As the carriage traveled slowly onward, Chen Ping'an sat inside, looking at the hairpin in his hand.

It was a gift Gu Qingcheng had sent him along with her letter.

A gift carrying exceptionally special meaning.

When a woman came of age, she wore a hairpin to signify adulthood.

Thus, a lovesick man would give a woman a hairpin, signifying a wish to become husband and wife bound by their hair, in hopes that she would become his principal wife.

If a woman gave a man a hairpin, it meant she was entrusting her life to him, willing to bind their hair and hearts as one and walk through life hand in hand.

The meaning behind Gu Qingcheng's gift was self-evident.

If the hairpin in Chen Ping'an's hand was the very one Gu Qingcheng had worn when she came of age years ago, its significance would be even greater.

It carried the intent of entrustment!

When a woman gave a hairpin, it meant she was entrusting her life to another and hoping for a husband after her own heart.

Chen Ping'an stroked the hairpin in his hand. Its texture was like jade, warm to the touch, like a young girl's soft, boneless skin. A small string of pearl-and-jade bells hung from its tail, adorned with tassels.

Gu Qingcheng's gift not only made anticipation rise in Chen Ping'an's heart, but also stirred within him a trace of yearning for what might come after.

There was also the promise and hope in her letter: drinking green plum wine together beneath a peach tree, hanging wooden rafts from the treetops, tying hearts together as they awaited the future.

Whether hanging wooden rafts or tying hearts together, both carried the meaning of pledging one's love!

In biographies and old tales, there were scholars and beautiful women who hung wooden rafts together from treetops, tied hearts together, and hung them from flowering branches, secretly pledging themselves to one another for life.

Chen Ping'an and Gu Qingcheng already had a Marriage Certificate as their bond, their red thread long tied, destined to grow old in harmony. They had no need to secretly pledge themselves for life, but the very thought of it could not help but make one's heart leap with joy.

It had to be said—Gu Qingcheng truly knew how to grasp a person's state of mind.

Could this Gu Qingcheng be some kind of tea girl!? Chen Ping'an silently muttered to himself.

Coming straight out with something like this—what ordinary person could withstand it?

Giving him a hairpin and entrusting her life to him seemed like entrustment, but in truth, it also carried an alluring intent.

She rejected his invitation, suppressing his emotions.

Then she gave him a hairpin, lifting his emotions right back up again.

First suppress, then elevate; create emotional fluctuations, then leave behind a promise and hope. Wasn't that enough to hook someone beyond all measure?

So tea-like. This whole sequence of tactics deserved full marks—absolutely full marks.

Tell him, how did Gu Qingcheng, an unmarried young woman, have so many tricks up her sleeve?

Chen Ping'an recalled his earlier speculation and suddenly felt there was little point in thinking about it.

But one thing still concerned him. Why was Gu Qingcheng using such tactics on him? Did she want something, or was there some other meaning?

He had to guard against this!

Though she was his unmarried wife, she was not yet a true cultivation partner who would share life and death with him.

Even cultivation partners sometimes had their own little thoughts and calculations.

Let alone him and Gu Qingcheng.

"Wouldn't it be better to be honest with each other? Why play these tricks with me?"

Though he said so, a faint smile still appeared at the corner of Chen Ping'an's lips.

Sometimes, tactics were tactics—but they truly worked!

Forget whether someone could see through them. Even if they did, they might still sink into them, unable to pull themselves free!

First suppressing and then elevating, emotional fluctuations—each was a commendable little technique.

Actually, being a little tea-like was fine too. Especially for an unmatched fairy maiden; a peerless beauty with a hint of tea-like charm, like an immortal from the Moon Palace, possessed a richer flavor. At certain times, it could even bring a kind of indirect contrast-driven pleasure.

Perhaps Chen Ping'an was simply overthinking Gu Qingcheng's actions. Perhaps Gu Qingcheng had no such intentions at all.

Maybe she truly was in the midst of breaking through some barrier and had not used any tactics or techniques whatsoever.

Perhaps the hairpin had truly been given from the heart.

Chen Ping'an smiled and shook his head, then tucked away the hairpin Gu Qingcheng had given him close to his body.

Sometimes, whether something was a tactic or not came down to a single thought. What did it matter if one saw through it? If one was unwilling to wake, would one not still sink into it in the end?

Whether Gu Qingcheng's actions were a tactic was not important to him.

What mattered was that Gu Qingcheng truly wanted something from him.

Otherwise, the matter of their Marriage Contract might not have gone so smoothly back then!?

As for what she wanted?

Chen Ping'an did not know.

In any case, as long as things proceeded step by step, he would learn the answer one day!

The truly urgent and important matter was that he needed to improve, improve, and keep improving!

A bell hung from the tail ornament of the hairpin Gu Qingcheng had given him. Seeing it reminded Chen Ping'an of the Silver Bell he had previously obtained from Little Five Poisons, Lan Yingjun.

That Silver Bell was remarkably useful. Judging by the perspective he had possessed while still in the Profound Light Realm, it had been an exceptionally rare item. Unfortunately, without the matching technique, he could not bring out its power.

Chen Ping'an had kept the Silver Bell all this time and had not sold it during his previous transactions.

He was quite interested in the Five Poison Earthly Fiend Palm possessed by Little Five Poisons, Lan Yingjun. He still hoped that one day they could make a trade.

It was said that the Five Poison Earthly Fiend Palm was a simplified version of the Five Poison Divine Palm and contained a few traces of the latter's essence.

However, this had never been confirmed. That it was a simplified version was true enough, but exactly how much of the Five Poison Divine Palm's essence it possessed was something no one could clearly say.

Given the rank of the Five Poison Divine Palm, even if the Five Poison Earthly Fiend Palm held only a fraction of its essence, it would still be an exceptionally top-tier Supreme Divine Skill.

Speaking of which, when Chen Ping'an had looked through the newest edition of the Hidden Dragon Rankings at Gu Qingchan's place, he had also seen Little Five Poisons Lan Yingjun's ranking.

Lan Yingjun's rate of improvement was far faster than he had imagined.

It had been one thing for her to enter the Hidden Dragon Rankings before. Now, she had even slain a newly promoted Jade Balance Middle Stage Veteran Grandmaster and ranked ninety-eighth on the Hidden Dragon Rankings.

To slay a Veteran Grandmaster, even one who had only barely crossed the threshold into Jade Balance Middle Stage, was enough to demonstrate Lan Yingjun's combat strength.

Defeating and killing were entirely different concepts. Some established Veteran Grandmasters could defeat a newly promoted Veteran Grandmaster.

But killing one was not something just anyone could accomplish. Those capable of it were, at the very least, powerhouses among Veteran Grandmasters.

At the very least, her combat strength was on the level of Blood Centipede. It was even possible that she had reached the level of Black Spirit Gate Young Sect Master Yu Xihai.

Most crucially, who knew whether Lan Yingjun had concealed her true strength!?

Chen Ping'an might not have suspected it if it were someone else, but recalling Lan Yingjun's former realm, he could not help harboring such doubts.

Even if someone told him Lan Yingjun had already entered the ranks of Top Grandmasters, he would not doubt it in the slightest.

Combat strength at the Top Grandmaster level generally placed one around the sixtieth or seventieth positions on the Hidden Dragon Rankings.

Only because of his increasingly stronger performance in battle and his breakthrough under pressure had Chen Ping'an been rated generously by the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion and placed fifty-ninth on the Hidden Dragon Rankings.

According to the information on the Hidden Dragon Rankings, Chen Ping'an's combat strength only reached the Top Grandmaster standard for short periods of time. Under normal circumstances, he was still somewhat short of a Top Grandmaster.

Of course, this did not include the possibility that Chen Ping'an might grow stronger as he fought and break through in the midst of battle.

Under a comprehensive assessment, Chen Ping'an's overall combat strength should rank among the top sixty of the Hidden Dragon Rankings.

Besides Lan Yingjun, the hairpin Gu Qingcheng had given him also reminded Chen Ping'an of his younger sister's Coming-of-Age Ceremony.

Hairpins carried extremely unique meaning for women, especially the one worn during their coming-of-age ceremony.

The Coming-of-Age Ceremony involved combing one's hair and placing the ceremonial hairpin, representing that a woman had become an adult and was eligible for marriage.

The ceremonial hairpin and hairpin required for the rite needed to be personally chosen by the woman's elders, representing the elders' deep affection.

Father Chen had passed away. As the eldest brother, Chen Ping'an was like a father, and this responsibility as an elder naturally fell upon him.

Chen Ping'an had long prepared the ceremonial hairpins and hairpin for Er Ya's Coming-of-Age Ceremony.

Beyond the hairpins, Chen Ping'an had also prepared Er Ya's coming-of-age gift. It was the Warm Sun Jade he had purchased at the Dragon Peace Auction some time ago.

When a woman came of age, the ceremonial attendant initiated the rite, the honored guest placed the ceremonial hairpin, and the elders bestowed her courtesy name.

The hairpin could be placed multiple times. Ordinary families generally did it once, wealthy families could do it twice, while great families and powerful nobles could perform it three times.

Naturally, Chen Ping'an had prepared according to the three-hairpin ceremony.

He and Er Ya were not children of a Great Family, but after cultivating all the way to this day, wherever he stood was a Great Family!

Though Er Ya was not born into a Great Family, she was more precious than the children of many Great Families.

There was no need to establish a Great Family. Where I stand, there is a Great Family!

Three hairpin placements and three changes of clothing were the customs of Great Families! Since Chen Ping'an was here, he naturally intended for his younger sister to enjoy the very best.

One only came of age once. No degree of attention was excessive.

Beyond the ceremonial hairpins and gifts required for the Coming-of-Age Ceremony, there was one other crucial point: the bestowal of a courtesy name by an elder.

Previously, in Azure Dragon Province City, Er Ya had said, "Eldest brother is like a father. I ask Brother to bestow my courtesy name."

Chen Ping'an had already promised Er Ya that he would bestow her courtesy name during her Coming-of-Age Ceremony. Because of this, he had spent his time diligently studying books such as Erya and Yue Ci, desperately making up for his deficiencies so he could name Er Ya.

After so many days of hard work, he had already formed some ideas regarding Er Ya's courtesy name. Next, he only needed to deliberate and refine it carefully.

There were not many days left until Er Ya turned fifteen. Chen Ping'an did not have much time remaining.

"My lord, we have arrived at the residence."

Xiong Sanrang's voice came from outside the carriage. Amid the formal welcome of numerous elite guards, Chen Ping'an stepped down from the carriage.

Today was his rest day, so naturally he did not need to report to the Thunderclap Town Pacification Office. He had stopped by to visit Gu Qingchan midway through the day, and now that his matters were settled, he had returned to continue cultivating.

Refining divine weapons and cultivating martial arts—there were no few things he needed to do. Every day had to be arranged properly and used to the fullest.

Once the matter of demon beast blood was settled, he would only become busier.

The Azure Sun Blood Refinement Method had no inherited artistic conception. He would need to carefully ponder and examine all the relevant details himself.

Fortunately, he had the Golden Finger Panel. As long as he succeeded once, subsequent cultivation would form a path dependence. Furthermore, the Golden Finger Panel allowed him to clearly determine whether he was walking the correct path.

He would not end up blindly pondering things, thinking he had entered the proper path when he had actually stepped onto a crooked road of cultivation, only to suffer backlash from his technique and fall into cultivation deviation.

With his current accumulation in martial arts, experience, foundation, and the assistance of the Golden Finger Panel, as long as he had suitable demon beast blood, cultivation should not be too difficult.

In addition, the two demon beast carvings required him to spend some time researching them. His previous investigations had already given him a few ideas, but he still needed to continue testing and refining them.

"My lord, Reckless Saber is resting today. He went to the Gu Family's residence and has now returned to his own estate. He has shut himself indoors and should be cultivating."

Inside an office at the Thunderclap Town Pacification Office, a trusted subordinate was reporting Reckless Saber Chen Ping'an's movements to Wu Benqing.

"At least he knows how to behave himself."

Wu Benqing sat high in his large chair, a trace of satisfaction appearing on his face.

These past days, he had constantly sent people to monitor Chen Ping'an's movements, afraid that the man might cause some new disturbance.

Fortunately, after observing him for this period, Chen Ping'an's conduct had allowed him to breathe a sigh of relief.

Chen Ping'an possessed combat strength approaching, perhaps even reaching, that of a Top Grandmaster. Wu Benqing naturally did not dare casually send people to follow him. But merely learning of his public movements was no difficult task for someone whose network of connections spread throughout Thunderous Roar Great City.

"You may leave."

After hearing his trusted subordinate's full report, Wu Benqing casually waved his hand.

"Yes, my lord."

Before long, Wu Benqing was the only person left in the office.

"What do you think?" Sitting in his large chair, Wu Benqing suddenly asked for no apparent reason.

Just as Wu Benqing's voice fell, a low, dark voice emerged from the shadows nearby. "This Reckless Saber is astonishingly gifted and exceptionally talented. But talent alone is far from enough for him to have reached this point. It is naturally inseparable from his own diligent cultivation and bitter training. His previous killings of demonic villains and fierce criminals were mostly coincidences. Even if the Gu Family fanned the flames behind the scenes, it was likely not what he desired. Now that things have settled down, he has naturally begun focusing on cultivation."

Wu Benqing nodded, agreeing with him.

Over these past days, Reckless Saber had rarely involved himself in any affairs. On ordinary days, he would often sit in his office without going out for an entire day. Even when he occasionally summoned subordinates inside, he usually dismissed them again shortly after.

He had also shown no intention whatsoever of interfering in the Thunderclap Town Pacification Office's major decisions, factional alignments, or conflicts of interest.

Such conduct suited Wu Benqing perfectly.

"Since our Little Chen seems to enjoy cultivation so much, then as his superior, I should naturally take better care of him. Remember—unless there is something important, do not disturb him. The Town Pacification Office needs rising stars. It is rare for our Thunderclap to have a Hidden Dragon Heavenly Talent like this, so naturally we must protect him well," Wu Benqing said with a genial smile.

Reckless Saber staying uninvolved was the best possible outcome for him. It would safeguard stable interests without offending Reckless Saber, sparing him a great deal of trouble.

"Oh, and do not withhold even a fraction of the benefits that should go to him. What we need is stability, not this tiny bit of profit."

"Understood."

Once the words fell, the shadows became utterly still, as though the figure within had vanished.

Wu Benqing turned his head and looked out the window to one side. His thoughts drifted to the replies sent not long ago by several forces in the Thunderclap Mountain Range.

The attitudes of those forces had been unexpectedly unanimous. Their responses were brief, consisting of only a single sentence: "Reckless Saber's transgression has been noted. In consideration of our former ties, let there be no second time!"

"No second time."

Wu Benqing raised a brow, and his gaze abruptly turned cold. "What a 'no second time'!"

A cold smile surfaced on his face, seemingly mixed with a trace of anger.

These demonic heretics, after working together for so long, had truly begun to think themselves important. Had they forgotten who the officials were?

They had even learned to threaten this Office!

If not for the enormous profits from commerce and smuggling, and the backing of every family, how could he have tolerated them until now!?

If one day—

The smile on Wu Benqing's face abruptly vanished, replaced by boundless silence.

Rebellious ministers and traitorous scoundrels all deserved to die!

"This Reckless Saber sure has it easy."

Gu Loping reclined in a large chair, enjoying the attentions of his beautiful concubines.

He had been long famous, yet he had always been exceptionally fond of physical pleasures.

Human strength had its limits. Even though one of his feet had already touched the threshold of a Great Grandmaster, the same held true for him.

Over the course of long years, there would always be times when one's mental strength ran dry. Once it did, all manner of symptoms emerged. Some became utterly lost and lost their fighting spirit; some became restless and irritated, beset by countless mental obstacles; others became stubborn and aloof, heading toward extremes.

Over long years, one needed leisure and consolation to moderate prolonged mental tension and restore one's mental strength.

Gu Loping's method of consolation was relatively conventional—naturally, it was the kind of indulgence beloved by the masses.

"Still, easy is good! Better than causing trouble for no reason! At least it means this Office's gift of a residence and a Cultivation Quiet Room to you was not wasted!"

Gu Loping opened his mouth, and a beautiful concubine placed a pastry into it.

"A Hidden Dragon Heavenly Talent! Just cultivate properly. Why involve yourself in all these struggles for power and profit!? But—"

Gu Loping spat out the beautiful concubine's fingers, drawing a wave of bashful, half-resistant flirtation from those beside him.

"If I weren't wary of the Gu Family, I truly would not want to give you that bit of profit! You do nothing, yet you get to enjoy such a huge share for free. So many people fight themselves half to death and cannot get even half of what you receive. Reckless Saber, Reckless Saber, what exactly gives you the right?"

Gu Loping grabbed a small hand beside him and pulled its owner into his embrace, the two reclining together on the large chair.

"Forget it, forget it. If you eat it, you eat it. As long as you behave yourself, it is fine. Reckless Saber, you truly have good luck!"

Within the room, incense smoke curled upward, wisps of light smoke drifting about. What remained were only soft, winding rises and falls, pleasure meeting and parting.

Without having to serve as the first-in-command, Chen Ping'an's days were fairly stable.

In the blink of an eye, another ten days passed.

Whenever Chen Ping'an was due for rest, he rested without the slightest ambiguity.

Even when he was on duty, with his unwillingness to become too entangled in affairs, he still had ample time each day to cultivate.

If anything needed handling, his subordinates naturally helped deal with it.

As long as they did not cause any trouble, he, as their superior, was naturally happy to have it easy.

As for if they truly caused trouble—if it was unintentional, then it would be handled and accountability assigned according to normal procedures. But if they had done so deliberately, then he, as their superior, would let them learn what thunderous force and iron-blooded methods meant!

Anything that disrupted his cultivation rhythm was unforgivable!

Spiritual Light flickered as Chen Ping'an slowly opened his eyes.

Name: Chen Ping'an
Realm: Jade Balance Late Stage - Spirit Pattern Spirit Fruit (Nine Patterns)
Martial Arts: Turbulent Phoenix Dance - Yin-Yang Pivot Entry Level (0/8640), Seven Kill Heavenly Dipper Fist Entry Level (0/1440), Overlord Saber Great Accomplishment (0/3200), Seven Absolute Divine Skill Great Accomplishment (4055/4800), Ten Thousand Demons Body Forging Art Perfection, Soaring Dragon Movement Technique Perfection, Indestructible Vajra Divine Skill Perfection, Dragon Elephant Overlord Body Art Perfection, Three Points of Human Tribulation Finger Perfection

"4,055 points!"

Over these ten days, Chen Ping'an had not slacked off in the slightest. The cultivation progress of the Seven Absolute Divine Skill had advanced another step.

During those ten days, aside from cultivation, he had also achieved considerable results in refining divine weapons.

The Gale Knee Guard he had obtained from Ma San, the Black Spirit Gate Elder, had also been completely refined. Once activated, the Gale Knee Guard could unleash its gale mystique, which complemented Chen Ping'an's Soul Severing Leg technique remarkably well.

Furthermore, the Gale Knee Guard provided some defensive support for his legs.

After refining this divine weapon, Chen Ping'an's palm, fist, and claw techniques were aided by the Seven Luminaries Finger Sheath; his leg techniques were aided by the Gale Knee Guard; and his saber, sword, and spear techniques were aided by the Hundred Illusions Divine Blade. It was a perfect match for the Seven Absolute Divine Skill.

For confinement, he had the Azure Flame Four Directions Command Flags. For binding, he had the gray fine net. For restriction, he had the Mystic Light Treasure Mirror. For support, he had the green bamboo tube and its weakening mist.

Among these divine weapons, apart from the Azure Flame Four Directions Command Flags, Hundred Illusions Divine Blade, Mystic Light Treasure Mirror, and Seven Luminaries Finger Sheath, the rest could be displayed openly.

At least on the surface, Chen Ping'an could now be considered to possess three divine weapons.

His future pursuit of a Top Divine Weapon would therefore appear far more natural and justified, giving him ample reason and motive.

Besides the Gale Knee Guard, Chen Ping'an had also begun preliminary refinement of the Black Mystic Iron Mask. As expected, this Top Divine Weapon, whose value rivaled a precious treasure, was exceedingly difficult to refine.

In Chen Ping'an's judgment, even ordinary Great Grandmasters, perhaps even those whose combat strength had reached the absolute pinnacle, would find it extremely difficult to refine this divine weapon.

To achieve Refining Success would require at least years as the measure of time. Even if one's combat strength touched the level of a Storm Cloud Great Grandmaster and one possessed abundant spiritual nature, refinement would not be easy.

Fortunately, Chen Ping'an had abundant spiritual nature, a solid foundation, and had undergone a purification and enhancement through a Dual Cultivation Method. Compared to others, refining it was much easier for him.

By his estimate, one and a half months should be enough to thoroughly refine this divine weapon. If he did not seek to maximize its concealment effect and merely refined it to the point where he could use it, then another ten days should be enough to meet that standard.

"Ten days." Chen Ping'an's eyes were calm, unfathomably deep.

Once the Black Mystic Iron Mask had been basically refined, he would begin handling the matter of his plans and calculations.

Over these ten days, aside from refining divine weapons and cultivating martial arts, he had also replied to Gu Qingcheng's letter.

He had not said much in the letter. He merely expressed regret that Gu Qingcheng could not fulfill their appointment, wished her success in breaking through, and conveyed his anticipation for a future invitation.

He had also briefly explained his current situation and some of what had been happening in Thunderclap.

Besides replying to Gu Qingcheng, Chen Ping'an had written a letter to Er Ya. The content was generally similar, though he added further expectations for the future. He said that once matters in Thunderclap had been mostly straightened out, he would return to Azure Dragon Province City to attend his younger sister's Coming-of-Age Ceremony.

Besides Gu Qingcheng and Er Ya, Chen Ping'an had also written to Wan Jun. The general content was that he had taken up his post in Thunderclap and all was well. He hoped Wan Jun would cultivate diligently and, when they met again, enter the Profound Light Middle Stage and reach the top ten of the Azure Dragon New Talent Rankings.

Because of Wan Jun, Chen Ping'an also paid some attention to the Azure Dragon New Talent Rankings. It was updated once every three months, and it had been updated once during this period as well. Wan Jun's ranking had improved slightly, though she remained outside the top ten.

However, given Wan Jun's foundation and the means Chen Ping'an had given her, once Wan Jun entered the Profound Light Middle Stage, reaching the top ten of the New Talent Rankings should be a matter of course.

Furthermore, Wan Jun had a Realm Breaking Treasure Pill that could help her enter the Profound Light High Realm. Her future path of cultivation should be safe and smooth.

Chen Ping'an had been officially serving in Thunderclap for a little more than half a month. During that time, he had slain demonic heretics and ferocious bandits and fierce criminals in the Thunderclap Mountain Range, and the corresponding merit had long since been reported to Azure Dragon Province City.

Given the distance between Thunderous Roar Great City and Azure Dragon Province City, Azure Dragon Province City should have processed the matter by now. Before long, an official response and the merit rewards should arrive.

Chen Ping'an held certain expectations for the amount of merit he would receive.

This harvest might make up the gap in merit needed to exchange for the Grand Void Wind Riding Step. If it did, he would gain another Supreme Divine Skill of the movement-technique and footwork type.

With it as support, his overall combat strength would rise by another small measure. Furthermore, he could openly display even greater strength, thereby raising his standing within the Town Pacification Office and advancing his efforts to gather intelligence on the Purple Eye Demon Lord and exchange for rare spiritual items.

"The rest is merely branches and leaves. Cultivation is primary; external objects are secondary! Continue!"

Chen Ping'an narrowed his eyes, cast aside distracting thoughts, and made his Spirit Platform clear.

Spiritual Light trembled, and Seven Absolutes Nether Light brightened within the room.

True essence circulated slowly, winding around Chen Ping'an's entire body.

A journey of a thousand miles began beneath one's feet! The path of martial arts never ceased!

While cultivating and refining in Thunderous Roar Great City, Chen Ping'an waited for the merit feedback from the Azure Dragon Province Town Pacification Office.

Thus, two days passed.

Over those two days, Chen Ping'an did not receive the merit feedback from the Azure Dragon Province Town Pacification Office. Instead, he received a piece of earth-shaking news.

This matter made petty villains tremble, demonic heretics quake in fear, and the situation in Thunderclap undergo a complete change.