Northern Border Appointment, Azure Dragon Shaken

"Greetings, Master of Affairs."

Inside the Province Town Pacification Office's public chambers, Chen Ping'an cupped his hands in salute, his words modest and his manner courteous.

"Ping'an, come, come, sit quickly."

Zhang Tianyuan smiled. The moment he saw Chen Ping'an, it was as though he were seeing one of his own juniors.

"I know you've been cultivating, but I still had you summoned. Do you know why?" Zhang Tianyuan asked with a smile.

The warmth in his words was far greater than it had been in the past.

Though he was a swordsman, after being mired in worldly affairs for so many years, Zhang Tianyuan was no longer a pure swordsman.

Had he been pure, he might not have been able to sit in this position.

Such things were not often seen upon the Dao Path, yet neither were they rare.

Once the path of a Pseudo Celestial had been severed, one could indeed increase one's combat strength, but without some great fortuitous opportunity, there would no longer be any possibility of advancing one's realm in this lifetime.

Under such circumstances, one could not help but consider matters before and after one's death. Naturally, one's heart toward the Dao was no longer what it had once been.

"Ping'an does not know." Chen Ping'an's expression remained calm as he answered truthfully. "However, Ping'an guesses that it should be related to an appointment."

Zhang Tianyuan was an old hand who had become shrewd with age. Having held the great authority of the Province Town Pacification Office for so many years, he had seen all manner of things come and go. There was no need to play tricks with him over something like this; answering honestly was enough.

"You." Zhang Tianyuan smiled, then told Chen Ping'an why he had called him here.

"Your