Liang Xiaoxian's entire body stiffened, and her face instantly turned pale white.
Yet the warm breath brushing her ear made every hair on her body stand on end, sending a chill through her entire body.
She turned her head somewhat stiffly and saw a young man in a brocade robe patterned with clouds standing behind her, looking at her with a faint, unreadable smile.
The branch beneath his feet did not move in the slightest, as though it had not perceived his weight at all.
The aura around them remained unchanged. Had she not seen him with her own eyes, she likely would not have believed anyone was there.
Reckless Saber!
Liang Xiaoxian's pupils contracted slightly. Her fingers clenched fiercely within her sleeve, her nails nearly digging into her palm.
When!?
Though she was merely a newly promoted Top Grandmaster, the accumulation and foundation she possessed were absolutely not inferior to any Top Grandmaster. Drawing upon the Prince Manor's reserves, if she erupted with full force, her combat strength could even touch the threshold of a Great Grandmaster.
Even in perception and detection, her abilities could approach the standards of a Great Grandmaster.
Though she had not employed any secret art just now, for him to appear behind her so silently that she sensed nothing at all—such capability and methods were absolutely beyond what a Top Grandmaster could achieve.
The intelligence was wrong!
Liang Xiaoxian's expression changed drastically, and an exceedingly terrifying guess surfaced in her heart.
Martial Dao Great Grandmaster!
Liang Xiaoxian's pupils shook violently, her thoughts churning like surging tides, rising and falling one after another.
"Lord Chen."
Her face was pale as she forced out a trace of a smile. "Xiaoxian disturbed you late at night for reasons beyond her control. I had absolutely no intention of overstepping. If I have offended you because of this, Xiaoxian is willing to make amends."
A gentle breeze stirred, lifting the loose strands beside Liang Xiaoxian's temples and revealing a bright, ravishingly beautiful face.
Liang Xiaoxian had lowered her stance completely. There was not the slightest trace of arrogance from being from the Azure Cang Prince Manor, and she was nothing like the lofty figure she had been when recruiting him earlier.
Chen Ping'an's expression was calm as he looked directly at the woman before him.
Liang Xiaoxian wore an apologetic expression. With dignified poise, she lifted the hem of her dress and bent in a respectful bow.
Chen Ping'an's eyes were bright and sharp, like lamps in the night, as though they could illuminate the very depths of one's heart and lungs.
Liang Xiaoxian's heart trembled slightly. Who could have imagined that Reckless Saber Chen Ping'an had hidden himself so deeply!?
Before coming here, even if she had racked her brains to the point of breaking, she never would have imagined that Reckless Saber Chen Ping'an had already ascended to the realm of a Martial Dao Great Grandmaster!
What kind of cultivation speed was this!?
Just one year ago, Reckless Saber Chen Ping'an had clearly only just broken through to Grandmaster!
Liang Xiaoxian's thoughts were a tangled mess, all manner of ideas flashing ceaselessly through her mind.
"Make amends?"
Looking at the humble Liang Xiaoxian before him, Chen Ping'an suddenly chuckled.
"Miss Liang is from the Azure Cang Prince Manor. You should know what crime it is to trespass into a private residence late at night, shouldn't you?"
"Under Great Qian Law, those who forcibly enter a private residence receive twenty strokes and three years of punishment. Those who trespass late at night, depending on the severity, receive at minimum one hundred strokes and ten years of punishment. In serious cases, they are treated as bandits, and killing them carries no penalty!"
Chen Ping'an's eyes were calm, like an ancient well without ripples, like the stillness before a storm.
The hand Liang Xiaoxian used to hold up her skirt suddenly tightened, her fingertips turning slightly white.
"Lord Chen, Xiaoxian deeply apologizes for disturbing you tonight. Another day, I will certainly visit with gifts to show my apology. Xiaoxian already understands Lord Chen's requests and will certainly send word over ten thousand miles for the Prince Manor to decide."
Liang Xiaoxian's face was pale, her voice trembling faintly like lightly plucked strings. Standing atop the branch, she gathered her robes and bowed to Chen Ping'an.
After finishing her salute, Liang Xiaoxian did not dare linger. Her graceful figure drifted away like a butterfly, flying off.
In the blink of an eye, she vanished into the moonlight.
Chen Ping'an said nothing. With his hands clasped behind his back, he stood in the clear moonlight and watched Liang Xiaoxian depart.
His eyes were deep, like an abyss, like the sea.
Clear radiance spilled down. His cloud-patterned brocade robe shimmered with rippling light, while the branch beneath his feet remained utterly motionless.
Just like that unyielding heart, steadfast in its pursuit of the Dao.
Whoosh!
Under the moonlight, Liang Xiaoxian's figure sped away. Her skirts fluttered, and as she spun, waves of silver light swayed out like fallen starlight.
"Reckless Saber!"
Even after leaving far behind, Liang Xiaoxian's face remained somewhat pale.
She bit her lower lip tightly, reflecting on what had just happened.
Who could have imagined that Reckless Saber Chen Ping'an had already stepped into the realm of a Martial Dao Great Grandmaster, taking a crucial step upon the Dao Path of martial cultivation!
Not only that, given Reckless Saber Chen Ping'an's talent and gifts, his combat strength was likely far beyond that of an ordinary Great Grandmaster!
For him to appear behind her without a sound and leave her wholly unaware—this kind of capability was not something an ordinary Great Grandmaster could accomplish.
At that moment, when she looked into Reckless Saber's deep, tranquil eyes, she had thought of many, many things.
Yet amid the chaotic swirl of countless thoughts, none weighed upon her heart as heavily as that earlier scene.
Since Reckless Saber Chen Ping'an could appear soundlessly, he could also wound her soundlessly. Given the situation then, once Reckless Saber Chen Ping'an made a move, her life would have hung in the balance.
Even though she carried a Dao-protecting trump card backed by deep reserves, it could not give her much sense of security.
Looking at that calm, rippleless young man, cold seeped into her heart. She had the feeling that he had seen through her completely.
Every reliance she possessed appeared so fragile before Reckless Saber.
But fortunately.
All of it had happened in but an instant.
Reckless Saber Chen Ping'an was rational!
In truth, no one would dare make a move against someone from the Azure Cang Prince Manor merely over a trespass. Not to mention, she had come this time to recruit Reckless Saber.
The conditions and bargaining chips she had offered were enough to move anyone's heart.
First-Class Guest Official, a Top Divine Weapon, loosened restrictions.
Benefits moved the heart!
Even heavenly talents were no exception!
Under her gentle words and deliberately lowered stance, the tense, fierce atmosphere between them had gradually eased.
Though Reckless Saber had not spoken much, he was no longer as aggressively overbearing as before.
When she presented the bargaining chips, Reckless Saber had even said that the price was insufficient and negotiations needed to begin anew.
Naturally, she could not refuse that.
Had it been before, she would have expressed herself tactfully, saying that this was the highest authority she had and asking Reckless Saber to consider the specifics carefully.
But now—
That was clearly impossible.
Reckless Saber's talent far exceeded their expectations.
With the talent Reckless Saber Chen Ping'an had displayed, he fully deserved better conditions and resources.
A Martial Dao Great Grandmaster under twenty-six years old—what kind of talent was that!?
Such talent was enough to stand shoulder to shoulder with those heavenly talents and monstrous geniuses ranked near the top of the Hidden Dragon Rankings.
So long as he did not perish halfway through, his future potential was boundless!
Not to mention Martial Dao Celestial—at the very least, he would become a Martial Dao Pseudo Celestial in the future.
In fact, even Martial Dao Celestial was highly possible for him. With the talent Reckless Saber Chen Ping'an had displayed, so long as he did not excessively pursue foundational reserves when breaking through realms, he would have a tremendous chance of entering that realm and becoming a Martial Dao Celestial.
If that truly happened, then Celestials would be set apart from mortals. A Celestial enjoyed a lifespan of a thousand years, sitting to watch the winds and clouds rise across the world, taking in all the changing seas and mulberry fields of the Human World! Such beings were beyond the reach of ordinary mortals.
The Azure Cang Prince Manor had immense wealth and deep foundations, but when faced with such a heavenly talent, it thirsted for worthy people and treated them with the utmost value.
Facing the conditions proposed by Reckless Saber, she did not refute a single one. She accepted them all, saying that she would report them to the Prince Manor and do her utmost to meet them.
"Reckless Saber possesses Heavenly Talent. His gifts and talent far exceed our expectations. This information must be sent as quickly as possible for Foster Father to decide!"
Excitement faintly showed through Liang Xiaoxian's somewhat pale expression.
Reckless Saber was a peerless genius. If she could recruit him successfully, it would be a great achievement for her as well.
With merit in recruitment, she would surely receive a great deal of contribution and rise another step in standing within the Prince Manor!
"Reckless Saber's talent is peerless. Before even reaching twenty-six, he has ascended to the realm of a Martial Dao Great Grandmaster. I wonder whether the Gu Family knows about this. If they do not, this matter can still be pursued slowly. If they do know, then..."
As Liang Xiaoxian sped through the air, a trace of urgency arose in her heart.
She had to send information about Reckless Saber back as soon as possible, reassess his value, revise the offered conditions and bargaining chips, and settle this matter quickly.
Otherwise, unforeseen changes might arise.
Furthermore, whether the Gu Family knew or not, this matter had to be kept strictly confidential. Once word leaked out, she would lose the initiative. If other factions learned of it, the consequences would be unthinkable.
A Hidden Dragon Heavenly Talent with hopes of becoming a Martial Dao Celestial could never be valued too highly!
Given the opportunity, no one would refuse to recruit him.
The other factions within the Prince Manor were no exception.
Though her faction was a representative faction among the Azure Cang Prince Manor's Virtuous Selection Faction, with powerful foundations and formidable strength, it was not strong enough to ignore the other factions.
This had to be done early. Delay bred change—she could not let others interfere.
Thinking back on it now, Reckless Saber truly was meticulous as a hair and held ravines within his chest. His earlier actions had likely been intended to use the opportunity to put her in her place. From the beginning of the negotiations, he had placed himself in the dominant position.
Her late-night visit and Reckless Saber's display of strength had certainly conveyed his dissatisfaction. But more than that, it was likely meant to display his value and raise the price!
"Reckless Saber..."
Liang Xiaoxian pursed her lips into a graceful, slender curve.
Whoosh!
Liang Xiaoxian's figure flashed through the air and descended into a courtyard. Though the courtyard was not large, its layout was orderly and its design exquisite. One glance was enough to tell it belonged to a wealthy household.
"Miss Liang."
In a corner of the courtyard, two people sat beside a stone table.
One was dark-skinned with a broad, grinning mouth. The other was tall and slender, with an elegant, refined face.
Raging Waves Splitting the Earth—Raging Wave Guest and Earth Splitting Old Man.
Seeing the two of them, Liang Xiaoxian let out a breath of relief.
Although Chen Ping'an had not made a move, being outside still had placed immense pressure on her. Especially those calm eyes of his—they gave people tremendous pressure.
Since Chen Ping'an could appear behind her silently, he could naturally carry out a silent assassination as well. Concealment and assassination were not matters of the same dimension, but the two still shared quite a few similarities.
Concealment merely required one to restrain one's aura and move swiftly, while assassination, on top of doing all that, required ensuring that the True Essence one circulated and the power of one's techniques caused not the slightest fluctuation before erupting. The slightest error would expose everything.
Judging from the methods Chen Ping'an had displayed earlier, aside from possessing the realm of a Martial Dao Great Grandmaster, he had certainly cultivated an exceptionally profound concealment art.
Though she had repeatedly extended her senses along the way, she still could not ensure that she was completely safe.
But now—
Liang Xiaoxian descended lightly to the ground.
"Miss Liang."
The two men came forward to greet her.
"Elder Lan, Elder Di, was anyone following me?"
Liang Xiaoxian spoke solemnly, and the two men did not dare be careless. They immediately focused their senses, spiritual light shining brilliantly between their brows.
After a short while, their spiritual light gradually dimmed, and they shook their heads slightly.
"No."
"That is good." Liang Xiaoxian's expression relaxed somewhat. Her skirt swirled as she sat on a stone stool to one side.
Raging Waves Splitting the Earth were renowned far and wide. As First-Class Guest Officials of the Azure Cang Prince Manor, she had immense confidence in their strength.
The two had been famous for many years. Each stood at the pinnacle of Peak Great Grandmasters, with combat strength close to that of Storm Cloud Great Grandmasters. When they erupted with full power, they could even touch the level of Storm Cloud Great Grandmasters.
When the two joined forces, their combat strength was enough to rival a Storm Cloud Great Grandmaster!
"What happened?" the two asked.
Liang Xiaoxian had gone out this time to recruit Reckless Saber. Now that she had returned with such a solemn expression, could it be that the recruitment had gone poorly?
But even if it had gone poorly, it should not have been like this, should it?
"Something unexpected happened. The discrepancy was a little too great." Liang Xiaoxian took a sip of spiritual tea, and her expression eased slightly.
"Reckless Saber Chen Ping'an has already entered the realm of a Martial Dao Great Grandmaster!"
"What?" The two men's expressions jolted, disbelief written across their faces.
"Did he not only just break through to Grandmaster a year ago? How could this be?"
The two exchanged a glance, each seeing disbelief in the other's eyes.
One year ago, on Small Pan Mountain in Azure Dragon Province City, they had personally witnessed Reckless Saber Chen Ping'an's breakthrough. There was absolutely no falsehood in it.
And now, after only a year, he had directly crossed the Jade Balance Middle Stage and entered the Jade Balance Late Stage?
No matter how they heard it, this sounded like a fantasy spun from the heavens.
"Could there be some misunderstanding?" Raging Wave Guest was steady-minded and asked patiently.
Liang Xiaoxian shook her head and briefly recounted what had just happened.
"You are saying Reckless Saber appeared behind you without a sound?" Earth Splitting Old Man's bell-sized eyes widened sharply, a flash of shock crossing his face.
Though Liang Xiaoxian was a newly promoted Top Grandmaster, her foundation absolutely stood at the pinnacle of the same realm. With the Azure Cang Prince Manor's reserves, she could even contend with Top Grandmasters who had touched the threshold of a Great Grandmaster.
To completely conceal oneself from her senses and leave her wholly unaware—even an ordinary Martial Dao Great Grandmaster could not do that! Yet Reckless Saber Chen Ping'an had managed it?
Could it be that Reckless Saber had become a Top Great Grandmaster!?
The thought alone was enough to shake them.
"This matter is no small one. It must be reported to the Prince Manor as soon as possible," Raging Wave Guest said gravely.
It was not difficult to conceal oneself from Liang Xiaoxian. He himself could do it easily. But the issue was, how old was Reckless Saber!?
Age was one aspect, but there was also the speed of his breakthrough. In less than a single year, how had he crossed so many bottlenecks and barriers to ascend to the realm of a Martial Dao Great Grandmaster!?
Had he encountered some other fortuitous opportunity!? Or was Reckless Saber Chen Ping'an's talent truly this astonishing!
"Indeed." Liang Xiaoxian nodded.
The matter of Reckless Saber was no small thing. They needed Foster Father to decide as soon as possible.
"Since Reckless Saber intends to join our Azure Cang Prince Manor, this matter must remain confidential until everything has settled into the dust, so as not to let something go wrong and allow another faction to seize the initiative!"
"Correct."
"Also, judging from what happened just now, the Gu Family most likely does not know Reckless Saber's true realm. But we cannot fail to guard against it. Preparations must be made early! The Gu Family is no kind-hearted bunch either. How could they simply offer up a genius of their clan with both hands!?" Raging Wave Guest reasoned.
Since Reckless Saber Chen Ping'an had not rejected their recruitment, he intended to join them. The matter had not been settled in the end only because of the price.
Reckless Saber had likely intended to reveal his cultivation for precisely that reason—to display his true talent and secure better treatment.
If he had no intention of joining, there would have been no need for any of this.
"People climb upward, while water flows downward. This is an eternal principle! It is hardly strange for Reckless Saber to make such a choice." Color had returned to Liang Xiaoxian's beautiful face. "This is good as well. There is no need to make that final choice, and it saves the two of you from having to act."
Within the small courtyard, the group spoke quietly. In a place none of them noticed, a shadow stood suspended in the air. A pair of eyes as still as water watched them coldly.
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