Chapter 434 - 365: Impeachment Deliberation, Sacrificial Refining Success

It wasn’t long ago, in Beicang Town, that he’d heard about Chen Ping’an slaying an Evil Master of the Profound Light Middle Realm. He’d been utterly shocked then, feeling completely powerless in his pursuit of Chen Ping’an! But now... Chen Ping’an had delivered an even greater shock!

To kill a master at Profound Light Middle Realm Perfection in two palm strikes... that level of power was beyond even most top-tier experts!

Besides Liu Ziming, Mu Wanjun had also heard the news due to her status as a Noble Daughter. Compared to others who focused on Chen Ping’an’s strength, she was more concerned about the situation he might face next.

"Ping’an..." Mu Wanjun’s beautiful eyes were filled with worry.

Just as everyone was focused on this matter, another piece of bombshell news came out of Weishui County City.

Mang Blade Chen Ping’an is headstrong and obstinate, lacking in virtue, has murdered a colleague, and shows no respect for the law. He is rumored to be provocative and utterly lawless! The Qiankun Bureau has filed for impeachment, challenging Chen Ping’an’s position as the Outer Trade Road Patrol Envoy, and has ordered the Weishui Garrison to reconsider the validity of his appointment!

The news caused an uproar.

...

「Five Peaks Mountain City.」

HUMMM... HUMMM... HUMMM...

Inside the room, as streams of cyan light flowed, the Profound Ice Silk Armor perfectly enveloped Chen Ping’an’s body. His entire form was covered in a deep, ice-blue Profound Ice, upon which streaks of crystalline blue light shimmered.

Activated by his True Essence, the Divine Wonders of this Quasi-Divine Profound Ice Silk Armor were fully revealed. Even Chen Ping’an’s face was faintly covered by a layer of Profound Ice. However, thanks to its miraculous properties, his vision was not affected.

After several days of continuous Sacrificial Refinement, Chen Ping’an had finally and completely assimilated the Profound Ice Silk Armor. Once refined, the armor could change size at will. Guided by Spiritual Traction and activated by True Essence, it could unleash its full power.

"As expected of a Quasi-Divine Weapon-level Treasure Armor. This defense is truly immense." Chen Ping’an couldn’t help but marvel as he felt the protection around his body.

At full activation, while the Profound Ice Silk Armor’s defense was not as formidable as when he transformed using Golden Body Unbreakable, it was comparable to other Horizontal Divine Skill Training techniques. With this Treasure Armor, Chen Ping’an’s life-preserving capabilities had reached a new level!

Furthermore, this greatly increased Protective Power allowed Chen Ping’an to attack with even more abandon, which in turn indirectly boosted his direct combat strength!

Objectively speaking, Chen Ping’an’s Protective Power could be considered top-tier among those at the Early Jade Balance Stage. Even an expert on the level of Gu Qingchan of the Ice Soul Divine Needle would not necessarily be able to truly threaten his life. His direct offensive power was at a Strong Level within the early stage. All things considered, with the boost from the Profound Ice Silk Armor, Chen Ping’an’s current combat strength was quite extraordinary.

Additionally, although the Sacrificial Refinement of the Profound Ice Silk Armor was complete, it could still be carefully nurtured over time to enhance a small portion of its Divine Wonders. This meant his Protective Power could still increase slightly.

’With my current power, if I were to face a Grandmaster on the level of Xue Shishun of the Seven Luminaries Vein-Sealing Hand, I should be able to gain the upper hand. If he didn’t run and we fought a no-holds-barred battle to the death, I should be able to kill him on the spot!’

Now, with the Treasure Armor protecting his body, if he were to fully activate the Vajra Unbreakable Divine Skill and transform into the Vajra Little Giant, Chen Ping’an’s Power of Attack and Destruction would be even more terrifying. Combined with his Protective Power, in a life-or-death struggle, he could indeed wear down and kill a Grandmaster of Xue Shishun’s level.

However... that scenario was purely theoretical. It was impossible for his opponent not to flee! Which of those who had become a Grandmaster wasn’t an old, wily fox? When the battle turned against them, who would stick around to fight you to the death!?

Therefore, in a real fight, although Chen Ping’an’s combat strength was close to the top level of Early Jade Balance Stage Grandmasters, killing one was still incredibly difficult. Not unless his opponent had a screw loose and insisted on a life-or-death battle even when defeat was imminent!

If a Grandmaster was determined to escape, he couldn’t stop them even if he used all his strength. Unless...

A thought flashed through Chen Ping’an’s mind.

For defense, he now had the Vajra Unbreakable Divine Skill and the Dragon Elephant Dominating Body Technique. These two Cultivation Techniques not only protected his physical body but also provided powerful defense against mental, control, and sealing-type abilities.

For direct offense, he had the Three-Point Human Tribulation Finger and the Soul-Severing Saber. The Three-Point Human Tribulation Finger, in particular, specialized in breaking Hard Skills, suppressing yin and evil techniques, and applying a continuous weakening effect.

The combination of the two created an integrated offense and defense, laying the foundation for his status as a Powerhouse!

But compared to his offense and defense, his Lightweight Body Technique was undoubtedly his greatest weakness.

As things stood, his Lightweight Body Technique was his only shortcoming.

When facing opponents a notch below his own Realm, he could overwhelm them with power, and this weakness wouldn’t be exposed at all. He also had no fear of facing those Grandmasters who fought head-on.

But against a Grandmaster like Gu Qingchan of the Ice Soul Divine Needle, whose Body Technique was light and agile and whose attacks were sharp and deadly, he would be at a disadvantage. If he wasn’t careful, it was possible he’d be toyed with and run ragged during the fight!

Compared to the incredibly profound Divine Skill Body Techniques of other Grandmasters, the one he currently possessed, Eight Steps Chasing Cicada, was undoubtedly pathetic.

True, he had cultivated Eight Steps Chasing Cicada to the Perfection Realm, but even at Perfection, it couldn’t bridge the gap created by the difference in the Cultivation Technique’s level.

Compared to those old monsters who had been immersed in the Grandmaster Realm for decades or even a century, Chen Ping’an’s foundation was undoubtedly too shallow. However, considering his current age, this situation was perfectly understandable.

"I’ve only just entered the Grandmaster Realm, yet I’m already thinking about killing a Grandmaster head-on. I’m getting greedy." After considering his actual situation, a bitter, helpless smile appeared on Chen Ping’an’s face. "In the end, it all comes down to a lack of accumulation, too shallow a foundation!"

’If I could obtain a Divine Skill-level technique and cultivate it to a respectable level, it would greatly increase my chances of killing a Grandmaster. At the same time, it would also enhance my own life-preserving abilities. I’d be able to escape in time if I encountered a powerful enemy.’

’Life-preserving ability really comes down to two things: how fast you can run, and how much of a beating you can take!’

’Besides improving my Body Technique, there was another, more difficult way to kill a Grandmaster. That would be to raise my combat strength by several levels and truly step into the Mid-Jade Balance Stage.’

’At that point, I could make countless mistakes, but my opponent could only make one. During a battle, I could strike with thunderous force, delivering a heavy blow and leaving them with no escape.’

’However, while these were two different methods for others, for me, they were strictly speaking the same thing.’

’After all, with the help of my Golden Finger Panel, advancing my Cultivation Level is equivalent to raising my Martial Arts Realm. The most cost-effective method is to obtain a Divine Skill-level Lightweight Body Technique.’

’It would both raise my Martial Arts Realm and shore up my greatest weakness.’

"Now that I’ve revealed top-tier power, I don’t have to be so secretive about certain things. It’s time to use the power of the Garrison Commandant’s Office to try and get my hands on a Divine Skill Body Technique!"

The divine light in Chen Ping’an’s eyes receded, and the cyan glow around his body dimmed. He then stood up and walked out the door.

He didn’t plan on taking off the Profound Ice Silk Armor. He would wear it as an inner layer, like a vest. Without being activated, the Treasure Armor’s divine light was contained and its Divine Wonders were not apparent, making it difficult for outsiders to notice.

"Sir, you’ve come out of seclusion!"

Not long after stepping outside, Chen Ping’an ran into Yuan Zutong. While Chen Ping’an was in seclusion and Zhong Shanyong was recovering from his injuries, Yuan Zutong had been temporarily in charge of managing the Garrison Commandant’s Office.

Upon seeing Chen Ping’an, a look of delight appeared on Yuan Zutong’s anxious face.

"What is it?"

"Sir, a letter arrived from the Weishui Garrison yesterday. Also..." Yuan Zutong hesitated. But under Chen Ping’an’s gaze, he explained everything he knew about the Qiankun Bureau’s move to impeach him.

After speaking, Yuan Zutong cautiously looked up at Chen Ping’an, only to find that his lord’s expression was still calm, as if he weren’t the person at the center of the matter.

"The Qiankun Bureau filed for impeachment? Is the Weishui Garrison deliberating on it?" Chen Ping’an asked nonchalantly.

"Sir, this subordinate does not know. However, the letter from the Weishui Garrison has arrived. It might mention something about it. The letter is in your office, Sir." Yuan Zutong lowered his head and responded cautiously.

"Good!" Chen Ping’an nodded slightly and strode toward his office.

’I’d like to see just how the Weishui Garrison reacts this time.’

...

PS: The newbie mission failed, I can’t accept it! Thankfully, I have one more chance. I took advantage of the system transfer cooldown to crank out four thousand characters. One more chance, I have to succeed this time! Brothers, the transfer is in a few minutes! Cheer me on! Let’s go!