Chapter 426 - 362: Leaving Beicang, Future Plans (2)

If he were the Beicang Garrison Commander, these elite guards wouldn’t have dared to stop him. They wouldn’t have dared a simple review, let alone a routine inspection. His carriage would likely still be on its way, and they would have already opened the gates to let him pass. Everyone would have stood respectfully to the side, shouting their farewells in unison.

However, the elite guards understood the situation and acted with considerable restraint. They did not treat Chen Ping’an as they did others. Although the inspection still had all its required steps, their overall attitude and tone were impeccable.

After some back and forth, Chen Ping’an’s carriage slowly drove out of Beicang Town.

Liu Ziming stood in line, watching from a distance as Chen Ping’an’s carriage departed. As the legitimate son of the Liu Family and a rising young prodigy, he received no special treatment within Beicang Town and could only wait patiently in line like everyone else.

Many people wanted to leave the town, but not all could pass the review and inspection to depart from Beicang Town. A fair number were even turned away after their screening. At a critical time like this, simply leaving town was an ordeal, to say nothing of receiving special treatment to cut the line and depart.

Legitimate son of the Liu Family, a rising young prodigy—in front of Chen Ping’an, these titles were nothing more than ornaments, devoid of any real substance.

Chen Ping’an departed the town directly in his carriage, while he himself stood in the long line with everyone else. The scene unfolding before him made Liu Ziming suddenly realize that, without him even noticing, he and Chen Ping’an had become people from two different worlds.

’If I don’t reach the Profound Light Realm, I won’t even be qualified to chase his shadow!’

Liu Ziming rested a hand on the Treasure Sword at his waist and recited silently to himself.

"Too much fretting will break a man’s heart; it is better to take the long view."

...

After leaving Beicang Town, Chen Ping’an had intended to track the movements of Lan Yingying and her companion. However, his Profound Light Sensing found nothing; not a single trace had been left behind.

’They’re certainly fast runners,’ Chen Ping’an mused.

After confirming he had no leads on the two, Chen Ping’an devoted his full attention to the Dragon Elephant Dominating Body Technique.

The Dragon Elephant Dominating Body Technique!

A technique of both Inner and Outer Cultivation, it refined the Divine Intent within and tempered the physical body without, granting the practitioner the Dragon Elephant Power. If he could reach the Minor Success Realm, he would have established the initial Foundation of Dominance.

If Chen Ping’an could reach that stage, he could activate the Overlord State on top of his Golden Body Unbreakable transformation. With the two layered together, his defense would become even more terrifying.

The carriage left Beicang Town, traveling along the Long’an Trade Route toward Five Peaks Mountain City. Inside, Chen Ping’an cycled his energy, cultivating the Heart Method of the Dragon Elephant Dominating Body Technique. He made new gains each day, his Cultivation Experience steadily accumulating.

By the time he reached the entrance to the Long’an Trade Route, he had accumulated a substantial amount of experience in the Dragon Elephant Dominating Body Technique.

The towering stone monument still stood at the entrance to the Long’an Trade Route. Seeing it again after nearly a month, Chen Ping’an was struck by a much deeper impression.

The large characters for "Long’an Trade Route" on the monument were powerful and vigorous, like a Canglong leaping from the stone face. Every stroke pulsed with an extraordinary aura. The calligraphy’s sharpness was laid bare, like a drawn sword flashing with a cold, unstoppable light, possessing what seemed to be an immense, crushing force.

During the Beicang Auction, Chen Ping’an had personally witnessed and keenly felt the clash of Martial Arts Will between Grandmasters.

Ice Soul Divine Needle Gu Qingchan! Seven Luminaries Vein-Sealing Hand Xue Shishun! Fiery Sun Palm Wang Xu! Nether Divine Fist Zuo Jia Dao... These were all renowned Veteran Grandmasters.

Even among those in the Early Jade Balance Stage, they were all considered exceptionally powerful.

But the Will of any Grandmaster who had been present paled in comparison, not even reaching half the might emanating from the stone monument. Most critically, the calligraphy was merely a vessel, not the complete manifestation of that Sword Dao Master’s Martial Arts Will.

If the Sword Dao Master who had carved these characters were to appear in person, the Martial Arts Will they exuded would be utterly terrifying. Against such an existence, even if Chen Ping’an were to step into the Grandmaster Realm, he wouldn’t stand a chance.

The more one knows, the greater one’s awe. The saying, "the ignorant are fearless," is no empty platitude.

’To imbue carved words with such might... I fear not even a Top Grandmaster could accomplish such a feat.’

As Chen Ping’an’s expression turned grave, the carriage exited the Long’an Trade Route. Leaving the trade route meant that Five Peaks Mountain City was not far off.

To Chen Ping’an, it felt as if no time at all had passed before Yuan Zutong’s voice sounded from outside the carriage.

"Sir, Five Peaks Mountain City is just ahead! I have already sent a man ahead to report your imminent arrival."

As the Outer Trade Road Patrol Envoy, Chen Ping’an was in charge of matters concerning Five Peaks Mountain City. With his return imminent, it was only natural for the city to make preparations and welcome him in advance.

This advance notice was standard procedure.

"Good," Chen Ping’an’s voice replied, carrying through the carriage curtain to Yuan Zutong’s ears. Yuan Zutong lowered his head in respectful acknowledgement.

Inside the carriage, the Profound Light between Chen Ping’an’s eyebrows dimmed. His True Qi settled, and he slowly opened his eyes.

Name: Chen Ping’an

Realm: Profound Light - Mystic Light Penetrating Object

Martial Arts: Dragon Elephant Dominating Body Technique (Entry Level: 212/240), Minor Achievement of Soul-breaking Blade (0/640), Great Success in Three-Thirds Human Tribulation Finger (507/1600), Vajra Unbreakable Divine Skill Perfect, Great Vajra...

...

’212 Cultivation Experience!’ Chen Ping’an’s eyes narrowed, a sharp glint flashing within them.

’At this rate, the Dragon Elephant Dominating Body Technique will reach the Minor Success Realm in less than two days! At that point, the Grandmaster Realm will be within my grasp!’

These past few days, Chen Ping’an had focused intensely on cultivating the Dragon Elephant Dominating Body Technique, pushing his progress with all his might. He hadn’t even begun to nurture the Quasi-Divine Profound Ice Silk Armor. His sole focus was to step into the Grandmaster Realm as quickly as possible.

Entering the Grandmaster Realm meant taking another great stride forward on the path of the Martial Dao. In the Grandmaster Realm, True Qi transforms into True Essence, and his combat power would skyrocket.

His hard work was paying off; many days of arduous cultivation were finally about to bear fruit.

’Once the Dragon Elephant Dominating Body Technique reaches Minor Achievement, I can focus my energy on cultivating the Three-Point Human Tribulation Finger. I need to master the Thunder Shocking Finger—the one with the greatest Power of Slaughter among the three Finger Technique Secret Techniques—as quickly as possible!’

If the Xunfeng Finger specialized in breaking Hard Skills with its unparalleled sharpness, and the Departing Fire Finger specialized in countering nefarious techniques by continuously weakening them, then the Thunder Shocking Finger was all about frontal assaults with the widest area of effect.

If Chen Ping’an could master the Thunder Shocking Finger and power it with the True Essence of a Grandmaster, his head-on offensive capabilities would become even more dominant and ferocious.

Furthermore, although the Thunder Shocking Finger specialized in frontal assaults, it was also extremely effective against nefarious cultivation techniques.

With these three Secret Techniques, Chen Ping’an’s combat prowess would be in a class of its own, even among Grandmasters at the Early Jade Balance Stage.

’Besides the Three-Point Human Tribulation Finger, I can’t slack on my cultivation of the Broken Soul Saber Technique either! Once I step into the Grandmaster Realm, I can afford to reveal a bit more of my true strength. Only by displaying my power openly, combined with my accumulated Merit, can my status in the Garrison Commandant’s Office rise accordingly.’

’Speaking of merit, the credit for killing those three Profound Light Elders from the Ten Thousand Demons Sect near Red Maple Mountain still hasn’t been settled, thanks to the Qiankun Bureau’s meddling. Fortunately, with Cao Yingxiong dead, most of the opposition is gone. Still, getting it officially recognized will take some effort.’

’Also, the matter with Li Pingjiang isn’t completely resolved. I was vague before, only saying the villain had been slain, but I never personally confirmed it. Later, when I reveal my combat strength, I can admit to it then. Once it’s known that Li Pingjiang died by my hand, I won’t have to hide the Divine Skill Soul-breaking Sword Technique and can use it openly as a matter of course.’

’My great increase in strength can be explained by revealing the Broken Soul Saber Technique. If anyone gets curious and investigates later, there will be a clear trail to follow. As for... the Seven Extremes Elder...’

A flicker passed through Chen Ping’an’s eyes as he recalled the records he had read about the Seven Extremes Elder.

He had obtained several booklets from the Iron Tower Demon Luo that documented Dragon and Tiger Masters and Grandmaster Experts, and he had spent the last few days reading through them. One of the booklets contained records on the Celestial Net Sect’s Seven Extremes Elder. It detailed his life story, general techniques, and battle records, giving Chen Ping’an a much deeper understanding of the man.

Unfortunately, however, the records were vague on certain key points.

Otherwise, Chen Ping’an might have been able to find a way to counter him.

’Strength! In the end, it all comes down to that one thing: strength!’

As Chen Ping’an was lost in thought, his carriage finally drove into Five Peaks Mountain City.