Chapter 362 - 335: Gu Family’s Marriage Alliance, Broken Soul Inheritance

The calligraphy looked as if a Canglong dragon were leaping from the stone. Every stroke exuded an extraordinary power, and the bold brushwork radiated a majestic aura.

Lifting the curtain and looking through the carriage window, Chen Ping’an saw the stone stele. His eyes narrowed slightly, his expression growing solemn.

’Was this calligraphy done by a Sword Dao Master?’

The calligraphy carved into the stele was incredibly sharp, like a sword drawn from its sheath, flashing with a cold, unstoppable edge. Each stroke seemed to contain immense power. Such might could never have come from the hands of a mere artisan!

As Chen Ping’an watched with his solemn expression, the carriage slowly entered the Canglong Mountain Range and onto the Long’an Trade Route. Following this route for a time would lead them to one of its three major hubs: Beicang Town!

On the trade route, besides Chen Ping’an’s carriage, there were other merchant caravans and travelers. It seemed they were all heading for Beicang Town.

Being from Five Peaks Mountain City, Chen Ping’an had a natural advantage due to his proximity. However, those from farther away would have received news of the Beicang Auction late. Combined with the long journey, even if they set out for Beicang Town immediately, they might not have had much time to spare.

Chen Ping’an dropped the curtain and retracted his gaze. Even now, his mind was still immersed in the sharp aura of the trade route’s stone stele.

’So this is the work of a Grandmaster!?’

His Martial Arts Will was condensed to the absolute limit, not just within his own Sword Dao, but infused into the stone stele itself! Even now, to look upon the stele was like watching a sharp sword being drawn, flashing with cold light!

’To be capable of this, that Sword Dao Master must be an incredible powerhouse, even among other Grandmasters!’

Chen Ping’an guessed silently.

As his own combat power neared that level, he had naturally done more detailed research on Grandmasters.

When the flower bud of one’s spirit bloomed into a Spiritual Flower, one reached the Jade Balance Realm—what was commonly known as the Grandmaster Realm.

In the Grandmaster Realm, Liquid True Qi condensed into a solid state, generally called True Power, though it could also be called True Essence. A Grandmaster would temper their Martial Arts Will and cultivate this True Power.

The Jade Balance Realm was not like the Qi Blood Realm, with its six layers, nor like the Inner Qi Realm with its Three Gates, or the Profound Light Realm with its three stages.

The Jade Balance Realm was very simple; it consisted of only a single stage! That said, it didn’t mean there were no differences in strength between Grandmasters. Although the Jade Balance Realm had only one stage, it was divided into early, middle, and late periods.

Based on their combat power, they were classified as Ordinary Grandmasters, Veteran Grandmasters, or Top Grandmasters.

For example, the Celestial Net Sect’s Grandmaster, the master of Soul-Severing Saber Li Pingjiang, the Seven Extremes Elder, was a Veteran Grandmaster who had entered the Mid-Jade Balance Stage! His combat power was utterly terrifying, even among Grandmasters!

The Seven Extremes Elder possessed seven "Extremes": Leg, Palm, Fist, Claw, Spear, Saber, and Sword! Each "Extreme" was a Divine Skill!

With the Seven Great Divine Skills at his command, the Seven Extremes Elder’s combat power far exceeded the limits of a normal person’s imagination! Even among those at the Mid-Jade Balance Stage, he was an exceptionally tyrannical existence!

It was rumored that decades ago, a Grandmaster had fallen at the hands of the Seven Extremes Elder!

A man’s reputation precedes him.

It was precisely because of the Seven Extremes Elder’s heavy reputation that Chen Ping’an’s recent decision had caused such a stir. Of course, due to the time it took for news to travel, the matter had not yet truly escalated.

One could only imagine the fury Chen Ping’an would face when the news of Soul-Severing Saber Li Pingjiang’s head being displayed in Five Peaks Mountain City reached the ears of the Celestial Net Sect’s Seven Extremes Elder.

What kind of earth-shattering storm would the Seven Extremes Elder unleash upon Weishui County in his rage?

All of this was currently unknown. But it was entirely predictable!

The stone stele on the Long’an Trade Route, and the reputation of the Seven Extremes Elder, filled Chen Ping’an with an even more intense yearning for the Jade Balance Grandmaster Realm.

’Cultivation, cultivation! Only strength is the ultimate guarantee of my survival and security!’

A glint flashed in Chen Ping’an’s eyes. He closed them, began to circulate his True Qi, and started cultivating the Soul-Severing Saber!

First, he would master the True Qi circulation pathways and the method for channeling power. Once he found a suitable place, he would then practice the saber’s forms and movements!