If One Ascends to Celestial, Why Borrow External Things? (Read the Author's Notes When You Have Time, Haha)

"Ping'an, are you all right?"

A warm male voice sounded beside Chen Ping'an's ear.

Chen Ping'an glanced over slightly and saw the source of the voice transmission. It was Gu Zhengnan, a sequence elder of the Gu Family.

"I'm fine." Chen Ping'an gently shook his head. "Thank you for your concern, Elder."

With the methods he had displayed openly, if anyone were inclined to do so, they could probably intercept his transmission.

Fortunately, Gu Zhengnan was watching over and concealing him, so there was no need to worry about others learning of it.

Although Gu Zhengnan was not among the top-tier Pseudo Celestials, the foundation of his combat strength was not much inferior to theirs.

Among the many Pseudo Celestials in the field, his combat strength was considerable, second only to a scant few such as the Fu Quan Twin Elders, Qiu Siping, Black Rock Old Freak, and Madam Biluo.

If he truly cut loose in battle, Dong Jinluo of the Universe Control Division and Zhang Tianyuan of the Town Pacification Office would likely be no match for him.

Under normal circumstances, no one would intercept and discover a brief exchange.

However, others not intercepting it did not mean Chen Ping'an would not.

Though his Spirituality Foundation was not a divine soul, in terms of quality, it far surpassed the flawed divine souls of Pseudo Celestials.

With his abilities, apart from a handful of people in the field, whom he could not learn about without alerting them, he could more or less understand everyone else at will.

From the exchanges among guests from every side, Chen Ping'an had also grasped quite a bit of information. Some concerned recent important events, while some were secret intelligence.

"Hua Ruyue?"

Chen Ping'an remained calm, his expression unchanged.

From the conversation between Black Rock Old Freak and several others, he heard information about Hua Ruyue, the Female Great Grandmaster ranked first on the Wind and Cloud Rankings.

As a top-tier Pseudo Celestial, Black Rock Old Freak still posed a certain risk for Chen Ping'an to eavesdrop upon.

However, Black Rock Old Freak specialized in body-tempering. Though his divine soul was not weak, it had no particular strengths and was utterly ordinary.

Together with the exchanges of several other people, Chen Ping'an pieced things together and roughly understood the full picture.

The Number One on the Wind and Cloud Rankings, the Moon Shadow Divine Arrow, had appeared within Northern Mountain Province. The reason and opportunity for her appearance was precisely the Shapeshifted Demon King rumored to have emerged not long ago.

According to reports circulating outside, a Shapeshifted Demon King exceptionally skilled in speed had appeared within the Northern Mountain Province section of the Black Nether Mountain Range. Its speed was so great that even Celestials of the same realm found it difficult to catch up.

And Hua Ruyue had appeared in Northern Mountain Province for the sake of that Shapeshifted Demon King.

Hua Ruyue intended to slay a demon!

She intended to slay a Shapeshifted Demon King in defiance of her realm as a Great Grandmaster!

Such boldness—

Even Chen Ping'an felt a chill in his heart upon hearing it.

At the Great Grandmaster realm, anyone capable of contending with a Martial Dao Celestial could already be called astonishingly talented, with combat strength that defied the heavens.

Looking across the Wind and Cloud Grandmaster Rankings, there were at most fewer than five people capable of such a feat.

Those who could contend with and rival Martial Dao Celestials were as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns. On the Wind and Cloud Grandmaster Rankings, aside from Hua Ruyue, perhaps only Fu Baisheng, Thousand Crafts Ingenuity, who ranked Second Among the Winds and Clouds, had such a possibility.

And that was only a possibility.

Whether he could truly accomplish it remained unknown.

Moreover, that was merely contending and matching them, merely clashing and competing to a certain extent.

Clashing was different from suppressing and killing. How could the gap between these two be measured by reason?

Yet what Hua Ruyue sought was suppression and killing. Nor was she seeking to kill an ordinary shapeshifted great demon, but a troublesome existence that even Celestials of the same realm found exceedingly difficult to handle.

Whether Hua Ruyue succeeded on this trip or not, such boldness alone was enough to inspire awe and leave people deeply shaken.

If she succeeded, then—

Hua Ruyue would become an existence in a league of her own on the Wind and Cloud Grandmaster Rankings.

After her, there would need to be an empty tier, perhaps even two, before one could speak of the Second Among the Winds and Clouds.

With such boldness, even as a man, one could not help but be utterly convinced.

It was said that Hua Ruyue, the Moon Shadow Divine Arrow, lived up to her name: Beautiful as a Flower, Radiant as the Moon, shaming flowers and enclosing the moon, her bearing enough to captivate the heart.

A Veteran Celestial had once publicly declared his love for her, willing to offer a precious treasure as a gift and treat her as his Dao companion.

For a time, this matter had spread far and wide.

However, it concerned a Celestial, and especially since this Celestial was still alive, the common folk did not dare spread it too wildly.

The matter ultimately came to nothing and faded away.

As for the outcome, outsiders had no way of knowing. But presumably, it was ultimately the Prince of Xiang dreaming while the goddess remained without affection.

"Hua Ruyue." Chen Ping'an's eyes were deep as he mused, "What kind of cultivation technique does she practice, and what foundation does she conceal, to possess such killing power?"

Chen Ping'an did not know much about Hua Ruyue. The information he had learned was merely scattered snippets from the common folk, along with the records on the Wind and Cloud Grandmaster Rankings.

Hua Ruyue excelled at archery, especially long-range attacks. Once she unleashed her attacks, her arrows were like meteors chasing the moon, unceasing and endless. In battle, opponents often lost before they could even see her figure clearly.

A Martial Dao Celestial had once been willing to test the sharp edge of the Moon Shadow Divine Arrow, yet under her barrage of killing attacks, he revealed a thoroughly declining momentum.

If not for a Celestial's long and steady qi channels and flawless divine soul, he would likely have long since been defeated beneath her attacks.

But even so, the battle had been overwhelmingly one-sided.

According to the Wind and Cloud Rankings, if one could not close in, then even a Celestial in person would be unable to suppress her.

But how difficult was it to close in on the Moon Shadow Divine Arrow!?

It was said that Hua Ruyue, the Moon Shadow Divine Arrow, possessed a Mysterious Gate Treasure that could shrink a foot into an inch and swiftly create distance.

Of course, such claims were mostly rumors from the common folk. No one had personally seen Hua Ruyue use such a precious treasure.

More often than not, once the Moon Shadow Divine Arrow was unleashed, victory had already been decided.

At the Great Grandmaster realm, she possessed such combat strength, and she was a woman besides.

It could be said that Hua Ruyue's reputation within the Dynasty Territory even overshadowed that of most Martial Dao Celestials!

She was the Dao companion candidate most people dreamed of. Even Martial Dao Celestials were no exception to such desires.

Someone had once declared that one day, if Hua Ruyue could achieve Unity of Heaven and Man, break through the Heart Demon Pass, and ascend into the Celestial Realm, then her combat strength would surely—

Facing such a woman, even Chen Ping'an could not help feeling somewhat curious.

However, his sources of information were limited, so he had no way of knowing anything more specific.

To understand more deeply, he could only consult some highly classified secret archives. As for things like Mysterious Gate Treasures, truth and falsehood were intermingled, making them difficult to verify.

Surely, surely it could not be—

That Hua Ruyue would tell him herself?

Chen Ping'an smiled and drained the wine in his cup in a single gulp.

Besides information about Hua Ruyue, Chen Ping'an also heard some secrets.

"Heaven Mending Dao Traitor."

More than half a year ago, an elder of the Heaven Mending Dao had betrayed the Heaven Mending Dao, intending to establish his own sect.

This matter was brought up frequently during the conversations, and its popularity seemed quite high.

There was also news concerning Hidden Dragon Heavenly Talents, Bicang's great momentum, demon hunting in Northern Mountain, and alchemy by the Alchemy Alliance.

Among them were several secrets of the Snow God Palace: the current Holy Maiden was suspected of having gone into seclusion to break through, preparing to enter the Martial Dao Celestial realm in one stroke; an elder of the Snow God Palace was pure of heart and few in desires, cultivating the Path of Severed Emotions, intending to ascend the heavenly steps and one day knock upon the Ask Heaven Pass.

Information of every kind came in a jumbled torrent, and Chen Ping'an heard the rough outline of it all.

However, limited by their perspectives, when it came to the broader situation of the Northern Territory, even though those present were all powerful figures of the Pseudo Celestial level, they only felt the topic was far too distant.

The Northern Territory was vast beyond imagination. Let alone the entire Northern Territory, the Northern Snow Palace God alone was enough to make people tremble.

Too many secrets within it were not something Pseudo Celestials could learn.

Most of the rumors were neither here nor there, merely discussions of whatever was popular.

Still, amid the many discussions, Chen Ping'an caught some vital information. Whether useful or useless, he recorded it first.

Perhaps one day, it could serve as conversation material for exchange.

Once a pot of wine was finished, someone soon refilled it.

At a grand gathering of such caliber, every attendant served with utmost care. Whatever the guests required, every corresponding detail was fully provided.

"I've drunk quite a bit of spirit wine here. I wonder how much it can enhance my cultivation?" Chen Ping'an's eyes were calm as he secretly pondered.

He had originally wanted to contact the Five Blessings Chamber of Commerce and purchase some Snow Spirit Leaves, but from the look of things, purchasing them would not work. He just did not know whether he could—

Chen Ping'an's eyes were profound. He stopped at the right point and did not dwell on it further.

Just then, from the conversation circle around Old Man Xu of the Xuan Ling Chamber of Commerce, Chen Ping'an learned of a topic.

"The Chamber of Commerce Alliance is recruiting a son-in-law?"

The Northern Sea Chamber of Commerce Alliance was formed from numerous chambers of commerce. Compared with sects and lineages, its overall management appeared somewhat looser.

Yet driven by profit, at certain times, the Alliance's cohesion and execution were even more terrifying than those of lineages and sects.

With the seven great chambers of commerce as its core, and layers upon layers of chambers clustered around them according to trade volume, the Northern Sea Chamber of Commerce Alliance had long formed a unique power structure.

The Alliance Council. Within the Alliance, chamber members occupied different seats based on their varying trade volumes and foundational strength.

And within the Alliance Council, those with the greatest power and fame were none other than the Cloud Thunder Twin Lords.

The Cloud Thunder Twin Lords had a daughter of outstanding talent. It was said she possessed the Appearance of a Monster, but the Twin Lords had always kept her deeply hidden, so she had never entered the ranks of the Hidden Dragon.

Like those reclusive heavenly talents, she enjoyed a world unknown to others.

As the Twin Lords' only daughter, she naturally could not be married out. Now that she was growing older and had reached marriageable age—

The topic being discussed was that the Cloud Thunder Twin Lords intended to recruit a son-in-law. It was said that this recruitment would throw wide open the gates of convenience, gathering talented individuals far and wide in hopes of finding a worthy son-in-law.

According to the rumors, the scope of this recruitment was extremely broad and not limited to the Northern Sea. In all four regions of the dynasty, any young talent who met the requirements could come and try.

Given the Northern Sea Chamber of Commerce Alliance's prestige and the Cloud Thunder Twin Lords' status, if one truly succeeded, it would be like a fish leaping over the dragon gate.

It was no longer merely a matter of saving years of struggle. It meant winning an unimaginable family fortune and wealth vast enough to fill the heavens for one's descendants.

Such foundation and wealth were difficult for others to imagine.

It was said that the Twin Lords' only daughter shone like brilliant stars and gleamed like the bright moon. Thus, within the Alliance, the Cloud Thunder Twin Lords' daughter was also called the Star Moon Princess. This title was extremely popular and widely circulated throughout the Northern Sea.

However, the Twin Lords' only daughter was kept hidden within her chambers. The Twin Lords had always concealed her exceptionally well, never allowing the chaos of the outside world to disturb her. There were probably not many people who had truly seen the Star Moon Princess.

Even within the Northern Sea Chamber of Commerce Alliance, it was the same.

Given the Cloud Thunder Twin Lords' status and prestige, as their only daughter, the Star Moon Princess's identity was indeed more noble than the bloodline enfeoffments of certain imperial families.

When discussing such a topic, even old monsters like Old Man Xu relished it greatly.

Chen Ping'an did not place much focus on the matter of recruiting a son-in-law. Instead, his attention settled upon the Cloud Thunder Twin Lords.

"Cloud Thunder Twin Lords."

Chen Ping'an's eyes narrowed slightly as he recalled the biographical secrets he had read not long ago.

As foundation-level powerhouses of the Northern Sea Chamber of Commerce Alliance, it was rumored that the Cloud Thunder Twin Lords had already—

Chen Ping'an's gaze turned slightly solemn, and a trace of emotion rose in his heart.

"The Dao Path is long and endless; it has never had an end!"

The road stretched far and long; I would search high and low.

Amid exchanges of all kinds of information, the grand banquet finally drew near its end.

From time to time, guests departed, one or two at a time, alone or in groups. During the banquet, they could tour Jade Lake Island, exchange with one another, build connections, communicate in depth, and perhaps—

Discuss secrets.

At the Jade Platform Grand Banquet, voice transmission between one another was not very convenient, for fear of being discovered by others. But leaving this place and setting up restrictions elsewhere made for an excellent place to converse.

Of course, not every guest who left the banquet did so for that purpose. Some simply wished to enjoy the scenery, relax amid their long cultivation, replenish their mental strength, and draw spiritual energy from beautiful surroundings.

However, compared to the larger currents, such guests were few and far between.

The overwhelming majority of guests who departed midway each had their own purpose and calculations.

Some came for profit, some for the situation, some to form alliances, and some to scheme—

All manner of complications could not be described in a few words.

Some busier ones might even need to rush from gathering to gathering. The moment one private discussion ended, they would immediately continue to the next, truly people busy amid busyness.

"Little Friend Ping'an, would you be willing to move elsewhere for a chat?" As Chen Ping'an calmly drank on his own, a soft, charming, and melodious voice sounded beside his ear.

Chen Ping'an lowered his gaze slightly and saw Madam Biluo in a long green gauze dress not far away, conversing with others as if nothing were amiss.

Between her garments, her full and alluring figure was faintly revealed. Every frown and smile carried a soft, seductive charm.

Chen Ping'an did not refuse Madam Biluo's invitation to meet. Several breaths later, Madam Biluo rose and departed as though absentmindedly.

"Madam Biluo, this is?"

As one of the absolute centers of the field, Madam Biluo's movements naturally drew the attention of many.

"I have been talking for so long that I am a little tired. I'll take a stroll nearby to clear my mind." Madam Biluo's eyes smiled as her skirt swayed and its gauze rippled. She left the Jade Platform banquet.

Watching Madam Biluo depart, Chen Ping'an did not hurry to follow. His expression was calm as he savored the wine in his cup.

Only when the wine in his pot was drained did he slowly rise.

Compared with Madam Biluo, Chen Ping'an's movements did not attract so much attention. However, as a Hidden Dragon Heavenly Talent, although his current cultivation did not catch the eye of those present, quite a few people still paid him some attention.

"Where is he going?" The Wang Clan Elder, Old Man Wang, who had previously been teased by Black Rock Old Freak, flickered his gaze as he watched Chen Ping'an's movements.

Black Rock Old Freak's body was like a mountain, his towering frame seated behind the table. As he spoke, his gaze lowered slightly, and he noticed Chen Ping'an's movements.

He took one look, then quickly withdrew his gaze.

Zhang Tianyuan, seated beside Chen Ping'an, paid somewhat more attention to it.

Dong Jinluo of the State Universe Control Division was chatting familiarly with others. Catching sight of Chen Ping'an's departing figure from the corner of his eye, his expression chilled before swiftly returning to normal.

"It is rare to see several fellow Daoists. Opportunities like this are not many, so this time we must not return until drunk." He smiled warmly as he exchanged pleasantries and greetings with several Pseudo Celestials.

As Chen Ping'an rose and passed Gu Zhengnan, he smiled and nodded in greeting.

Gu Zhengnan nodded back without saying much.

Jade Lake Island was located within the state city, and the island's safety could be guaranteed. Since Chen Ping'an was leaving now, Gu Zhengnan was not overly worried.

Considering everything before and after, he also vaguely formed a guess in his heart about Chen Ping'an's departure.

The island at the heart of the lake had beautiful scenery and a pleasant environment. Along its edges stood jagged strange rocks, with reefs faintly visible.

Although this island lay atop Jade Lake, standing at its edge, one could still feel the vast, boundless blue waves, carrying a certain poetic charm.

Upon a reef stood a beautiful mature woman in a green dress, looking out expectantly. Her hazy green gauze fluttered in the wind, outlining her graceful and voluptuous figure.

"Little Friend Ping'an." A charming smile appeared on the green-dressed woman's face. "I have been waiting for you."

"At this Azure Dragon Grand Banquet, you are the only one for whom I have waited like this." Madam Biluo's tone carried a plaintive softness, half coquettish and half reproachful. It contained a trace of expectation that seemed to refuse yet welcome, as well as the bashful timidity of boldly revealing her feelings.

"Senior Biluo." Chen Ping'an's expression was calm as he cupped his hands in salute.

His expression remained as placid as ever. He looked calmly at the beautiful woman before him, utterly unaffected by her seductive bearing.

Hmm?

A trace of surprise surfaced in Madam Biluo's heart.

Though she had not truly activated Soul Charm, the gap in cultivation between these two stood here. Even if it merely operated autonomously by instinct, Chen Ping'an's cultivation should not have allowed him to become completely immune.

Could it be that this boy's disposition is different from ordinary people, granting him some immunity to enchantment-type techniques?

Madam Biluo guessed inwardly. Combined with Chen Ping'an's identity as a saber wielder, among several possible reasons, this conjecture seemed the most likely.

Chen Ping'an cultivated the Tyrant Saber. Under its overbearing will, he would inevitably forge a heart that looked down upon all beneath heaven, developing resistance toward beauty.

"Madam Biluo, may I ask why you invited Chen here? What guidance do you have for me?" Chen Ping'an asked bluntly.

After a simple face-to-face encounter, he had already more or less grasped Madam Biluo's situation.

She focused on the path of the divine soul and cultivated a special soft art. Compared with Pseudo Celestials of the same rank, her frontal combat power was weaker. At close range, he had some chance of suppressing her within a few moves, leaving her unable to turn the tables.

However, Madam Biluo controlled the Azure Cang Chamber of Commerce under the Azure Cang Prince Manor and was one of its highest-ranking leaders. There was no telling what life-preserving trump cards she might be hiding.

If they truly fought without restraint, though he had considerable confidence in himself and defeating her would be easy, actually killing her would likely still take some effort.

Previously, within the Serene Pool Cave Abode, he had been able to kill the Ten Thousand Demons Sect Master, the Evil Extremity Path Master, and the others so cleanly and decisively not only because his own strength was sufficient, but also because their condition, mindset, and methods had all played no small part.

Moreover, Madam Biluo's combat strength exceeded theirs. Only the Evil Extremity Path Master and Blood Nightmare Luo at their peak state could possibly compare with her.

"I summoned you here because I wished to recruit you on behalf of the Prince Manor." Madam Biluo's eyes rippled as she revealed the purpose of this trip.

"Oh? On whose behalf does Madam Biluo wish to recruit me?"

The Azure Cang Prince Manor had a tangled web of factions. The matter of selecting an heir alone had spawned countless factions.

Among the various factions, they could roughly be divided into the Direct Selection Faction, the Virtuous Selection Faction, and the Long Selection Faction.

Within each type were different factions, each supporting the person they favored.

The different factions intertwined with one another, used one another, and guarded against one another.

When targeting factions from the other two major types, factions under the same type would join hands. But when their internal differences were involved, they would turn against one another.

Liang Xiaoxian, who had previously made contact with Chen Ping'an, was part of a representative faction within the Azure Cang Prince Manor's Virtuous Selection Faction. The faction's powerful elder and representative figure was Liang Xiaoxian's foster father, Qingmu Fuzheng.

Ji Changkong, who had once personally traveled to Canglong with a performance of Phoenix Seeking its Mate, intending to seek Gu Qingcheng's hand in marriage, belonged to Qingmu Fuzheng's faction. He was likewise one of the most outstanding representatives of the Azure Cang Prince Manor's younger generation.

"Naturally, I am recruiting you for His Highness Dong Qing." Madam Biluo smiled sweetly, her seductive charm innate. "If you are willing, I can secure the best possible terms for you."

"His Highness Dong Qing?"

The His Highness Dong Qing Madam Biluo spoke of was one of the most popular figures within the Azure Cang Prince Manor's Long Selection Faction.

Compared with the other two major types of factions, the Long Selection Faction was relatively much simpler.

However, that simplicity was only relative.

The Azure Cang Old County King had countless blood descendants, and who knew how many generations had come after him. Every generation had its legitimate eldest sons, yet there was still considerable dispute over exactly who should inherit the position.

Some eldest sons were legitimate eldest sons, possessing both titles. They received support from some of the Direct Selection Faction and held the Long Selection Faction's nominal backing, making them powerful on both fronts.

Yet some eldest sons did not possess the status of direct lineage. They were born of concubines, but possessed extraordinary talent, were generous and magnanimous, and bore the air of a county king, thus winning considerable support as well.

His Highness Dong Qing was the cream of such candidates. Though he had gained the title of eldest son within his generation by being slightly older, he had been born of a concubine and lacked the backing of a legitimate eldest son.

The Direct Selection Faction did not value him at all.

Yet through his bearing and abilities, his friendliness and warmth, he had drawn many to place their bets on him. Not only had he earned high prestige within the Long Selection Faction, he had also gained support from many in the Virtuous Selection Faction.

Among the candidates for succession, his acclaim was extremely high.

"She is Dongqing's person?" Chen Ping'an glanced at Madam Biluo.

Madam Biluo had been born in the dust, trapped in mud as though mired in filth, with no chance of ever rising again in this life.

The best life she could have hoped for was entering a prosperous household and becoming a bed-warming concubine. If she encountered a kind mistress, she might still enjoy a few days of freedom.

By ordinary standards, her life should have sunk into the dust, low to her very bones.

Let alone embarking upon martial cultivation, even escaping her lowly status and becoming a normal person would have been harder than climbing to heaven.

The Qi Blood Realm was an existence forever beyond her reach.

Yet.

Against such a tragic backdrop, Madam Biluo rose from obscurity and walked out step by step. After being sold several times, she finally won the appreciation of a benefactor. Beginning from the Qi Blood Realm, she ascended step by step until she reached this day.

She had entered the Pseudo Celestial Realm!

She enjoyed a lifespan of eight hundred years, watching storm clouds shift and the world rise and fall.

Those who had once regarded her as an ant and treated her as a lowly maid no longer even possessed the qualification to gaze upon her glory.

The daughter of a lowly maid from years past had ultimately become someone they could never hope to reach.

The experiences within could not be fully told even if they were written into an entire biography.

In truth, every Pseudo Celestial's life experience was enough to be written into a biographical tale.

Madam Biluo simply happened to be one of the more splendid parts of those tales.

Chen Ping'an did not speak, nor did Madam Biluo disturb him. She merely gazed at him with soft, seductive eyes, bashfulness flowing endlessly and affection brimming within them.

Hope showed on her face, as if she were a girl in the flush of first love, awaiting his answer.

"Madam Biluo, I appreciate your goodwill. However, Chen's ambitions do not lie here. I hope you can forgive me." Chen Ping'an appeared to consider for a moment before ultimately refusing Madam Biluo's invitation.

Hearing this, Madam Biluo's gaze trembled faintly, as though clear tears were about to well up.

Her expression was sorrowfully beautiful, her pink lips trembling. "Why?"

"Madam Biluo, the Gu Family has shown Chen kindness. In such a situation, Chen will certainly not abandon the Gu Family and leave. You have received another's kindness before, so I believe you understand this principle." Chen Ping'an said calmly.

"Kindness."

Madam Biluo seemed touched. Her gaze trembled, and a trace of reminiscence surfaced within it. Yet her slight change soon vanished without a trace.

She clenched her sleeve and looked at Chen Ping'an pitifully, like some unfortunate soul about to be abandoned.

Madam Biluo's slight change had been fleeting, but naturally it could not escape Chen Ping'an's eyes.

Madam Biluo had suffered bitterly throughout her life. Only after winning a benefactor's appreciation had she gained the opportunity to embark on the martial path. Given her circumstances, she likely felt some understanding toward his words.

Madam Biluo appealed to his emotions and reason, intending to persuade Chen Ping'an to change his mind.

"I naturally understand what you mean, Young Master. But the Gu Family's predicament is not something you can resolve. Why trap yourself in a cage and shallow shoal, wasting your talent for nothing? With your abilities, if you enter my Azure Cang Prince Manor and gain resources, spiritual treasures, and guidance from renowned masters, I believe you will soon enter the realm of a Martial Dao Great Grandmaster. Even the Celestial Realm may be within reach in this lifetime with Azure Cang's resources supporting you!"

"The Great Grandmaster realm?" Chen Ping'an smiled. His robes surged like black waves, and an indescribable brilliance appeared in his eyes. "If Chen wishes to enter the Great Grandmaster realm, why would I need to wait until another day?

"As for the Celestial Realm—" The smile on Chen Ping'an's face deepened further. He looked up at the heavens, his body seemingly veiled in a layer of golden radiance. "Since one seeks to become Celestial, one should break through with one's own strength. Why should Chen borrow from external things and rely upon resources!?"

A breeze swept across Jade Lake, stirring ripples and lifting the hair at Chen Ping'an's temples.

Looking at the man before her, Madam Biluo was briefly dazed. In just a few words, she sincerely felt the spirit and bearing within him.

It was an indescribable grace and proud backbone, like a tender shoot breaking through the earth and soaring straight into the sky.

She still wished to persuade him, but the man before her smiled, and a voice sounded by her ear.

"Madam Biluo, if Chen can abandon the Gu Family today for a few bargaining chips and join the Azure Cang Prince Manor instead, then should a higher price be offered another day, would I not change patrons again?"

With that, Chen Ping'an intended to leave. But he had only just taken one step when he heard a soft, seductive voice sound.

"Is Young Master acting this way because you despise me?" Madam Biluo's gaze trembled. Like pear blossoms burdened with rain, she looked heartbreakingly pitiful.

"Despise?" Chen Ping'an smiled. "Madam Biluo, you have inspired yourself throughout your life. What is there to despise?"

"Being born in the dust and trapped in a mire was never a fault or a shame.

"Madam Biluo stands alongside them among the clouds. That humble beginning was not your shame. The ones who should be ashamed are them.

"Your accomplishments today reveal their incompetence. That is their greatest shame!

"Those born amid the clouds will never know just how abundant the life force of a tender shoot breaking through the soil truly is.

"With the bearing of one from humble origins, standing alongside those born in the clouds in this world—in my eyes, Madam Biluo, your life is the one more worthy of remembrance."

At his words, Madam Biluo's body trembled. Her fingertips nearly tore through her sleeve, and her expression and bearing collapsed in an instant as countless thoughts surfaced in her eyes.

Her lips parted slightly. She wished to say something, yet only felt her throat tighten, unable to utter a word.

It was as if a box sealed away for ages had been opened. Countless memories surged in like a tide. Those years when she had deliberately forgotten, when she had struggled in the dust, had at this moment somehow become the healing of her life.

She had risen from obscurity to reach this day. Almost no one now dared mention her past experiences before her. Yet she knew that people had always said behind her back that if not for the fortuitous coincidence of receiving a benefactor's support, she would have remained a lowly maid for her entire life. How could she have attained the dazzling bearing of controlling the Azure Cang Chamber of Commerce and becoming a Pseudo Celestial today?

When she had faced the Celestial threshold and undergone the Inner Demon Illusion Realm, she had fallen precisely at that pass. If not for her exceptional talent and profound accumulation, she might not even have achieved Pseudo Celestial, instead suffering death and Dao extinction, returning to dust.

Those people saw her luck, saw her opportunity, saw her.

Without a benefactor's support, she could not have reached this day.

And she herself had always believed so as well. Even as she deceived herself, forgot the past, and forgot her struggles, her heart kept telling her that answer.

Despite her full accumulation, she had fallen at the Heart Demon Pass and nearly been unable to break free. That was the finest proof.

But only today did she truly realize that whether or not she had received that opportunity, whether or not she had won a benefactor's appreciation, she was still herself.

So long as there was a trace of opportunity, she would give her utmost effort to break free from the mire and climb upward step by step.

Those people had only seen her luck, but not how much effort she had spent for this day. They saw the instant her benefactor appreciated her, but not her long-standing perseverance. They saw only her opportunity, but not the day-after-day accumulation and planning of so many years.

She had not been the only one to receive appreciation in those years, but she alone had made it to the end.

Step by step, she had not relied solely on opportunity and appreciation, but on her ability to grasp them firmly.

Because she had been born in obscurity, she craved it all the more!

Even if she walked the same road again, the result would remain the same!

No!

If she could walk it once more, her life would become even more dazzling.

"If only I had understood sooner, if only I had understood sooner..." Madam Biluo murmured softly, repeating herself as a clear tear slid from her eye.

She remembered that rainy night more than three hundred years ago, when she had struggled amid dust and mud. An umbrella had opened above her head, illuminating her life as well.

And today.

Tears filled Madam Biluo's clear eyes as she looked at the man beside her.

"Coming from the dust was never a fault. Forgetting is!"

Chen Ping'an's robes fluttered, his steps unhurried. He passed by her side, leaving a trail of peerless bearing behind him.

If one carefully examined Madam Biluo's life, it truly could fill several biographies and be praised by all. Through her own experience, she told the world that even ants could question heaven!

Maidservants, too, possessed their own grace!

Martial cultivation was unfair, but likewise, it was fair.

Upon the Dao Path lay boundless splendor. People of every kind stepped onto it, and I

was among them as well.

Chen Ping'an laughed heartily, feeling his state of mind open wide, filled with endless flavor.

"Your good words, Young Master, I shall remember for this lifetime."

Madam Biluo lowered her head and composed herself. Her wide sleeve stirred gently as she gave him a deep bow.

"Biluo wishes Young Master a smooth Dao Path and enduring martial prosperity!"

A dignified and clear voice sounded from behind him.

Chen Ping'an did not turn back. Laughing loudly, he flicked his sleeve and departed.

"May these words encourage us through the rest of our lives."

He strode onward, as though walking amid golden light that stretched ten thousand zhang.