The carriage traveled along the Dragon Peace Trade Route, surrounded front and back by a large contingent of elite guards.
Buzz—
Spiritual light flickered at Chen Ping'an's brow, gradually dimming until it faded away.
Ever since receiving the Urgent Letter from Northern Cang, he had departed from the Dragon Peace Stronghold. This letter from Northern Cang had not only alarmed him, but also Lu Yuanzai, the Division Head Candidate of the Azure Dragon Province Town Pacification Office.
This return to Northern Cang also saw Lu Yuanzai traveling alongside him.
Chen Ping'an opened his eyes and looked at the scenery beyond the carriage.
In the distance, mountain peaks rose one behind another, appearing and vanishing amid the morning mist. Nearby, leaves intertwined in lush profusion, brimming with life. The occasional chirping and fluttering of birds reached his ears, as though everything were so pleasant and leisurely. It was also as though this trade route was no different from usual, as though nothing had happened.
But.
Chen Ping'an's eyes remained calm, yet faint ripples rose in his heart. The events mentioned in the Urgent Letter from Northern Cang surfaced in his mind.
Northern Cang turmoil!
On the same day as the Dragon Peace Turmoil, unrest had also erupted in the Northern Cang Stronghold. Its scale was even greater than the previous North Azure Rebellion.
The Treasure Pavilion Shops had been plundered clean, suffering grievous losses. Wang Lingzhi had been severely wounded, and Liu Gongxi had died.
What Chen Ping'an feared most had ultimately come to pass.
Within Azure Dragon Province Territory, at Fallen Blossom Ridge in Wei River County, a carriage traveled along a rugged mountain road.
The mountain path twisted and turned, making it exceedingly difficult to traverse, yet this carriage traveled as though walking on level ground.
Two women sat within the carriage.
One wore a simple yet elegant silk dress. She was peerlessly beautiful, with brows like distant mountains and lips red as cherries. A single glance was enough to tell that she was a stunning beauty.
Yet beside the other woman, she seemed somewhat eclipsed.
The other woman wore a long black dress. Her dark hair cascaded down, scattered across her slender waist. Her slightly pale face could not conceal her breathtaking beauty; instead, it added a touch of softness that stirred the protective instincts of countless men.
No amount of worldly praise could fully describe her beauty—enough to topple nations and captivate all living beings, ethereal and exquisitely beautiful.
At this moment, she had her eyes closed, quietly regulating her breath.
Judging by her appearance alone, no one would have imagined that this woman was the infamous demonic enchantress of Great Qian, the Holy Maiden of the demonic sect.
Without her veil to hide her, the Heavenly Luo Saintess possessed an ethereal beauty. Even if she were called a holy maiden of the righteous path, no one would doubt it.
"Your Highness."
Li Xiangjun furrowed her willow brows, looking at the Heavenly Luo Saintess with a face full of concern.
During this turmoil, she had waited at the designated location according to the plan. Her Highness's message had filled her heart with anticipation.
After not seeing Her Highness for many days, she had missed her deeply.
After so many days apart, she could finally see Her Highness once more. Naturally, she was delighted.
Moreover, for the great cause of the Holy Sect, she had remained undercover at Reckless Saber Chen Ping'an's side. After several attempts at probing him, she had obtained no valuable intelligence. Her Highness's message also meant that such days were finally about to come to an end.
More accurately, they had drawn to a close completely!
From this day onward, she would have nothing more to do with Reckless Saber Chen Ping'an.
Thinking of what had happened before, Li Xiangjun felt shame and indignation well up within her, leaving her vexed beyond measure.
Just as her thoughts ran wild, she finally saw the Her Highness she had longed for day and night.
Yet this sight sent towering waves crashing through her heart.
Her Highness...
Had actually been injured!?
Since entering Her Highness's service, she had seen Her Highness wounded before, but never in such a bedraggled state.
Her Highness's face was pale, nearly bloodless. Though wrapped in a cloak, it could not conceal the torn black dress or the exhaustion radiating from her body after employing a secret technique.
When she first saw Her Highness, Li Xiangjun's immediate thought was that Her Highness must have encountered an ambush and siege.
But she quickly realized that, in this turmoil, experts of the Holy Sect had gathered together. It was unlikely that Her Highness could have encountered an ambush.
But if it had not been an ambush...
How could Her Highness have been reduced to such a sorry state!?
Looking across the Dragon Peace Stronghold, even if Nie Yunlong had made a move, he could not possibly have forced Her Highness into such straits.
Her Highness possessed peerless talent, astounding brilliance, powerful cultivation arts, unrivaled secret techniques, numerous divine weapons, and precious treasures for protection. Even if a core elder of the sect acted, they might not necessarily have been Her Highness's match.
Much less driven her to such a state.
Her Highness was gravely injured, and time was pressing. As Her Highness's maidservant, Li Xiangjun naturally had to tend to her closely. The old woman driving the carriage was a hidden operative the Holy Sect had planted along the Dragon Peace Trade Route. Her cultivation was not bad, so there was no need to worry about minor troubles on the road.
True Essence sealed off the inside from the outside. As Li Xiangjun cared for Her Highness at close range, she took out secret medicine and treated Her Highness's injuries. Yet as she did so, she froze, her thoughts drifting.
The tears and damage to Her Highness's garments were far more severe than she had imagined.
Those jade-white arms were completely exposed. A large portion of the fabric over her chest had been damaged, while her long dress had been torn apart, revealing a pair of lustrous, slender legs.
Her chest, arms, thighs, and ankles.
One bruise after another, in varying shades of blue and purple.
Especially the palm print over her chest—it covered that exquisitely beautiful place and appeared exceptionally glaring. The claw marks on her jade-like legs were even more shocking to behold.
Given Her Highness's realm, for her to have fought to such a degree, one could imagine how fierce the battle had been.
With Her Highness's capabilities, how had she fallen into such a predicament? Just what old monster had acted!?
Even now, Li Xiangjun could not figure out the answer to that question.
Watching the Heavenly Luo Saintess heal and rest beside her, Li Xiangjun could not hide the worry in her heart. She feared that Her Highness had provoked some old monster.
This place was far from Heavenly Luo's headquarters, and even quite distant from its branch helm. If that old monster caught up with them, what would they do!?
If it truly came to that, then even if it cost her life, she would protect Her Highness and ensure her safety.
Just as Li Xiangjun's mood shifted, the Heavenly Luo Saintess beside her slowly opened her eyes.
Her eyes were like stars and the bright moon, like a radiant galaxy reflected in a deep pool. With her eyes open, the Heavenly Luo Saintess had lost some of that ethereal quality, gaining instead a trace of dreamlike beauty.
"Your Highness." Li Xiangjun hurriedly spoke, her gaze falling upon the Heavenly Luo Saintess's face, beautiful enough to captivate all living beings.
Since entering Her Highness's service, she had rarely seen Her Highness's face completely uncovered.
Most of the time, Her Highness wore a black veil over her face. She was not wearing one now—was it because she was injured, or...
Li Xiangjun's mood shifted, but such thoughts lasted only an instant.
"Are you feeling any better?" Li Xiangjun asked respectfully, concern showing in her eyes.
The Heavenly Luo Saintess's face was still somewhat pale. She turned her head and looked at Li Xiangjun for a while.
"Have you lost your virginity?"
Li Xiangjun's expression stiffened. Her body went weak, and with a thud, she dropped to her knees.
Her voice trembled with terror and guilt. "Please punish me, Your Highness!"
As she spoke, she heavily knocked her forehead against the ground.
The Heavenly Luo Saintess said nothing, merely watching Li Xiangjun in silence.
Li Xiangjun knelt on the floor, her body taut as her nails dug deeply into her palms, yet she felt no pain at all.
As Her Highness's maidservant, she should have kept herself pure.
If Her Highness took a Dao companion, then as her maidservant, Li Xiangjun would have to accompany her in marriage.
She might even...
Have to share Her Highness's bedchamber.
As a servant, every movement she made and every word she spoke represented Her Highness's nobility and dignity.
If she, as a maid accompanying Her Highness in marriage, had already lost her virginity, then she would cause Her Highness to lose face before her Dao companion.
Though she had lost her virginity for the Holy Sect's great cause, the root of it all was her own carelessness and underestimation of Reckless Saber Chen Ping'an.
Not one of the preparations she had made before performing that dance had been carried out.
She had fallen unconscious and landed in Reckless Saber Chen Ping'an's hands.
By the time she awoke, the rice had already become porridge.
Though countless thoughts filled her heart, she did not dare reveal the slightest hint of them before Reckless Saber Chen Ping'an. This matter had begun because of her, and her fall into demonic hands this time was due to her overestimating herself and harboring wishful hopes.
Whenever she thought of Her Highness these days, she also recalled what had happened after losing her virginity. Such memories filled her with terror.
But the rice had already become porridge. No matter how terrified she was, she could not conceal the unease in her heart.
Now that Her Highness had called her to account and the scene from her nightmares had truly occurred, Li Xiangjun instead felt relieved.
"Xiangjun has lost her chastity and brought disgrace upon Your Highness. My crime merits ten thousand deaths. I submit to whatever punishment Your Highness sees fit."
Only after a long while did the Heavenly Luo Saintess finally speak.
"Get up."
Li Xiangjun was somewhat dazed, but she still followed Her Highness's command and rose to her feet.
The Heavenly Luo Saintess looked at Li Xiangjun. Her eyes were like stars, as though she could see a trace of a married woman's charm on her face.
"Who was it?"
"Reporting to Your Highness, it was Reckless Saber Chen Ping'an." Li Xiangjun stood awkwardly to one side.
After briefly recalling the matter, the Heavenly Luo Saintess remembered the information about Reckless Saber Chen Ping'an.
Reckless Saber Chen Ping'an was a Hidden Dragon Heavenly Talent who had risen to fame recently, praised as Azure Dragon Province's greatest prodigy in two thousand years.
The moment he entered the rankings, he had taken seventy-seventh place among the Hidden Dragon Rankings.
He could be considered a monstrous prodigy fit to be presented in public.
However...
The Heavenly Luo Saintess naturally would not care about someone like that.
There were only a handful of people on the Hidden Dragon Rankings worthy of her attention.
She was destined to reach the pinnacle and break through beyond the Great Grandmaster realm.
Someone like Chen Ping'an was not worthy of entering her sight.
She walked a broad road leading to the heavens, one that could not be compared to the path of someone like Chen Ping'an. Having obtained Purple Eye Demon Lord's secondary secret trove this time, her future path would become even smoother.
So long as she proceeded step by step, the realm beyond the Great Grandmaster would not be an obstacle.
But before that.
A few ripples stirred in the Heavenly Luo Saintess's heart.
Falling rocks, surging True Essence, dust covering the ground...
It was the scene of that Black Robe Old Monster pinning her beneath him, tearing her dress apart, fighting and grappling with her.
If she had not been injured, how could she have suffered such humiliation?
Old monster! I will never forget the humiliation of Dragon Peace. No matter to the ends of the earth, to the blue skies or the yellow springs, so long as I still draw breath...
I will surely kill you!
Li Xiangjun stood before the Heavenly Luo Saintess, holding her breath and concentrating, not daring to disturb Her Highness's thoughts.
"Investigate Seven Absolute Old Man's recent movements. Also..."
Li Xiangjun raised her head and saw several dark needles floating before the Heavenly Luo Saintess. They gleamed with a dim, sinister light.
"See who within the Holy Sect has used divine weapons of this design."
"Yes, Your Highness." Li Xiangjun respectfully accepted the order.
Though she was astonished, she had never questioned Her Highness's commands.
Seeing that Her Highness said nothing further and had not pursued the matter of her lost virginity, Li Xiangjun hesitated. Her lips moved slightly before she finally gathered her courage and spoke.
"Thank you for Your Highness's forgiveness. Xiangjun will never forget Your Highness's grace. Xiangjun knows she committed a grave mistake and disappointed Your Highness. From this day forth, Xiangjun will certainly keep her distance from that Reckless Saber Chen Ping'an and will not betray Your Highness's high expectations."
The Heavenly Luo Saintess did not pay attention to Li Xiangjun's words. Her eyes were dark and distant as she looked out the window.
Buzz—
Within the carriage, spiritual light flickered at Chen Ping'an's brow as True Essence circulated inside and outside his body.
+1!
A point of Cultivation Experience flashed before Chen Ping'an.
"It's done!"
Chen Ping'an's expression remained calm as he slowly opened his eyes.
Name: Chen Ping'an Realm: Jade Balance Late Stage - Spirit Pattern Spirit Fruit (Seven Patterns) Martial Arts: Seven Kill Heavenly Dipper Fist Beginner (0/1440), Tyrant Saber Minor Accomplishment (1280/1280), Seven Absolute Divine Skill Great Accomplishment (0/4800), 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
"1,280 points!"
After arduous cultivation along the way, he had finally pushed Tyrant Saber's Cultivation Experience to this point.
"Break through!"
Without the slightest hesitation, Chen Ping'an narrowed his eyes, and the Golden Finger Panel suddenly churned.
With his current Great Grandmaster cultivation, and with True Essence isolating him from the outside, he need not worry about Lu Yuanzai discovering his breakthrough here.
Crash—
Specks of starlight surged like a tide and flowed into Chen Ping'an's brow.
At almost the same time, vast insights into Tyrant Saber cultivation emerged in Chen Ping'an's heart.
It was like long-sealed memories awakening. Every detail, every fragment, seemed as though Chen Ping'an had gained it all through life-and-death trials and bitter cultivation.
As those insights emerged, strange changes were also taking place upon Chen Ping'an's Mind and Spirit Platform.
Spiritual light shone brilliantly. Upon the Spirit Fruit, the Eighth Spirit Pattern was being inscribed frantically, solidifying at astonishing speed.
Previously, the phantom of the Eighth Spirit Pattern on the Spirit Fruit had long since taken shape, with one-third of it already entering the solidification stage. Now, the remaining two-thirds of the Spirit Pattern phantom were also steadily solidifying.
The process was astonishingly fast.
In just over a dozen breaths, half of the Spirit Pattern had completely solidified.
Chen Ping'an closed his eyes and continuously comprehended the changes in Tyrant Saber cultivation. Threads of Tyrant Saber intent lingered in his heart.
Tyrant Saber Great Accomplishment. Its saber intent was dense, like rolling tides, vast and unceasing. Saber intent as tangible as substance could attach itself to True Essence, forming a layer of saber-intent protective shield.
With saber intent guarding the body, its defensive capability rivaled certain relatively formidable body tempering cultivation methods.
It could interfere with spiritual perception to a certain extent and possessed an extremely strong ability to evade certain directional Spirituality Secret Techniques.
Buzz—
The spiritual light at Chen Ping'an's brow trembled continuously, while the Spirit Pattern upon the Spirit Fruit grew ever clearer.
The Eighth Spirit Pattern, complete!
At the same time the Spirit Pattern took shape, Chen Ping'an's Mind and Spirit Platform between his brows trembled slightly, as though another ballast stone had been added, becoming ever more stable.
With the Eighth Spirit Pattern fully inscribed, the spiritual energy winding around the spirit fruit did not disperse. Instead, it began inscribing the Ninth Spirit Pattern.
Spiritual Light flashed, and the ninth intricate, profound Spirit Pattern began to emerge upon the spirit fruit.
Name: Chen Ping'an Realm: Jade Balance Late Stage—Spirit Pattern Spirit Fruit (Eight Patterns) Martial Arts: Seven Kill Heavenly Dipper Fist Beginner (0/1440), Tyrant Saber Great Accomplishment (0/3200), Seven Absolute Divine Skill Great Accomplishment (0/4800), 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
"Tyrant Saber Great Accomplishment, eight Spirit Patterns!"
Chen Ping'an's eyes erupted with a dazzling gleam, like dragon light battling the Bull constellation.
With the Tyrant Saber cultivated to Great Accomplishment, he had also mastered the Tyrant Saber's second secret skill with exceptional ease: Overlord Heaven Slash!
The Tyrant Saber had always been renowned for slaughter, and as a Tyrant Saber secret skill, Overlord Heaven Slash displayed that slaughter to the fullest extent.
When wielded with Chen Ping'an's current realm, a single Tyrant Saber slash should be able to unleash a peak strike of a Storm Cloud Great Grandmaster!
Cultivating the Tyrant Saber to Great Accomplishment had not merely allowed Chen Ping'an to inscribe the Eighth Spirit Pattern; it had also formed nearly one-third of the phantom image of the Ninth Spirit Pattern.
Perhaps it was due to his breakthrough, but Chen Ping'an's spiritual injuries seemed to have healed by a greater half.
He had previously taken numerous secret medicines, such as the Jade Dew Pill and Heavenly Pure Water. After several days of recuperation, he had already recovered considerably.
Now that he had healed by a greater half again, he was basically uninjured.
Even if his combat strength had not returned to ninety-nine percent of its peak, it was at least ninety-five percent.
"I wonder where my current strength would rank on the Wind and Cloud Rankings?"
Chen Ping'an felt exhilarated, his heroic spirit soaring to the skies.
Having inscribed eight Spirit Patterns and cultivated the Tyrant Saber to Great Accomplishment gave him far greater confidence, elevating his overall strength to another level.
Beneath the saber intent protective shield, his defensive capability became even more terrifying. With Overlord Heaven Slash, his offensive power gained several more measures of might.
When he had fought the Heavenly Luo Saintess before, his combat strength had already touched the level of a Storm Cloud Great Grandmaster. Even if he could not make the Wind and Cloud Grandmaster Rankings, he was likely not far from them.
His combat strength was absolutely no weaker than those old monsters who had once made the rankings before falling off them.
Now that he had broken through again, his combat strength had advanced another step. He would surely secure a place on the Wind and Cloud Rankings.
It was only that he had no idea of his exact rank, since he had never fought for it.
But no matter what his rank was, his current strength was merely a stage along his path of cultivation, not his destination.
He would cultivate without cease and advance without cease. No matter how many experts stood upon the Wind and Cloud Rankings, none of them would be his opponent.
With a turn of thought, Chen Ping'an recalled the prodigies on the Hidden Dragon Rankings.
Those prodigies ranked at the very top of the Hidden Dragon Rankings were all ruthless characters.
With the Heavenly Luo Saintess's deeds as precedent, Chen Ping'an did not dare underestimate these prodigies too much.
Who knew whether the prodigies on the rankings had hidden their true strength?
People like Jiang Wuya and Dugu Yiren were enough to make him wary based on their apparent strength alone.
"Not enough, not enough, still not enough! Far from enough!"
"Even first place on the Wind and Cloud Rankings would find it difficult to rank First on the Hidden Dragon Rankings, let alone my current realm! I am still far too lacking!"
Chen Ping'an's gaze sharpened. Taking advantage of his fresh breakthrough and excellent condition, he began cultivating the Seven Absolute Divine Skill.
After this battle, he placed even greater importance on spiritual defense.
The Seven Absolutes Heart Sutra of the Seven Absolute Divine Skill could strengthen one's spiritual foundation. Now that the Tyrant Saber had been cultivated to Great Accomplishment, he planned to devote all his cultivation efforts to the Seven Absolute Divine Skill.
It had to be said that Seven Absolute Old Man truly came into his own late in life. By gathering the strengths of a hundred schools through his own efforts, he had forcibly created such a Supreme Divine Skill.
If he could cultivate the Seven Absolute Divine Skill to Perfection, then with his spiritual foundation, ordinary Spiritual Assaults would find it difficult to harm him.
When facing Storm Cloud Great Grandmasters skilled in Spirituality Secret Techniques, he would have several more measures of confidence as well.
Furthermore, when it came to the Divine Weapon he wanted custom forged, his first consideration would also be a secret treasure related to spirituality.
"Comprehend and practice the Soul Splitting Thorn, study the wondrous applications of spirituality, refine a Divine Weapon, research demon beast carvings.
There really are quite a few things to do!"
Under the protection of a group of elite guards, Chen Ping'an's carriage finally arrived at the North Azure Stronghold.
The moment Chen Ping'an stepped down from the carriage, a scene of utter devastation met his eyes. The North Azure Stronghold was no better off than the Dragon Peace Stronghold.
"My lord."
A group of constables saluted and greeted him.
Compared to usual, their expressions held several more traces of grief and indignation.
This was the second rebellion to occur in the North Azure Stronghold since its establishment.
The entire North Azure Stronghold was incomparably busy. Yet perhaps due to the lack of effective coordination, everything appeared utterly chaotic.
From time to time, howls and curses drifted over.
"Ping'an, the situation does not look optimistic."
Lu Yuanzai stood beside Chen Ping'an, his expression grave and unsightly.
The Dragon Peace Turmoil had already left everyone scrambling in a state of panic. With Northern Cang falling into rebellion again, it was snow upon frost.
"I wonder how the South Spirit Stronghold is doing." Chen Ping'an's gaze swept over several mutilated corpses at the street corner.
Several days had already passed since the North Azure Rebellion, yet there were still corpses that had not been cleared away.
"Looking at Northern Cang's state, I reckon things are looking grim there too." Lu Yuanzai sighed softly.
Chen Ping'an said nothing and gave an instruction to Xiong Sanrang at his side.
"Tell the chief and deputy officials, as well as the backbone personnel, of every department and yamen to come see me as soon as possible."
"Yes, my lord." Xiong Sanrang answered respectfully and departed to carry out the order.
"Come, Ping'an. Let us go see Lord Wang first." Lu Yuanzai looked around before speaking.
Chen Ping'an nodded.
During this turmoil, Wang Lingzhi had been seriously injured and was currently recuperating in his private residence in Northern Cang.
By order of the provincial Town Pacification Office, Chen Ping'an had gone to participate in the Two Provinces Exchange. Wang Lingzhi had taken his place in holding Northern Cang, so he could be said to have endured this calamity on his behalf.
Under normal circumstances, Wang Lingzhi served as the Dragon Peace Trade Route Patrol Deputy Envoy, while North Azure Deputy Garrison Commander was merely a concurrent post. During the Dragon Peace Grand Assembly, he should have been in the Dragon Peace Stronghold and would not have needed to guard the North Azure Stronghold.
Within the inner courtyard of Wang Lingzhi's private residence, Chen Ping'an met this once high-spirited prodigy of the Wang Family.
Wang Lingzhi lay upon the bed, his face bloodless and his eyes lifeless.
He showed not the slightest reaction to the arrival of Chen Ping'an and Lu Yuanzai.
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