Chapter 439 - 367: Arrival from Beicang, Rookie List Update

Chen Ping’an had no intention of getting involved in the review. Otherwise, with the review set for tomorrow, he wouldn’t have waited until today to depart for Weishui County City.

After all, Five Peaks Mountain City was a great distance from Weishui County City. Even with a fine steed, the journey would take more than a single day.

His previous refusal to Shui Furong had just been an excuse. But now, Shui Furong was telling him that her noble patron had already taken care of the matter with the Qiankun Bureau! This piqued Chen Ping’an’s curiosity. He had a faint suspicion, but he wanted to confirm it.

"In that case, I will accompany you, Furong Fairy!"

A smile blossomed on Shui Furong’s face. "Lord Chen, the carriage is ready! You need only depart with me."

"I thank you for your kindness, Furong Fairy! However, it is inconvenient for an unmarried man and woman to share a carriage. I will make my own arrangements." Chen Ping’an declined Shui Furong’s offer and sent someone to quickly prepare a separate carriage, ready to set off for Beicang Town.

Before long, someone came to report that the carriage was ready and they could depart at any moment.

"Good! Furong Fairy, let’s depart now!"

"Lord Chen is truly decisive!"

Amid their conversation, Chen Ping’an and Shui Furong exited the Five Peaks Mountain Town Pacification Bureau together.

As they were about to board the carriages, Shui Furong asked Chen Ping’an with a deep, penetrating gaze.

"Lord Chen, aren’t you worried that I’m plotting against you? That this ’taking care of things’ is just an empty promise? By the time you miss the review, it will be too late for regrets."

"Regrets? I never regret my actions!" Hearing this, Chen Ping’an burst out laughing. "Furong Fairy, if you truly are plotting against me, then I advise you to stop now. Otherwise, you will be the only one left with regrets!"

With that, Chen Ping’an turned, sat down inside his carriage, and closed his eyes, saying no more. Shui Furong watched him with that same deep gaze, but the carriage curtain fell, obscuring her view.

Whether Chen Ping’an’s words were true or false, his confidence and sheer dominance made Shui Furong take notice.

’This Mang Blade... his actions seem reckless, but he is in fact quite cunning and has his own plans!’

As thoughts flickered through Shui Furong’s mind, she turned and boarded a different, more ornate carriage.

"Depart!"

At a Guard’s loud cry, the carriages slowly started moving, leaving Five Peaks Mountain City and heading toward Beicang Town.

...

Although Five Peaks Mountain City was not far from the entrance to the Long’an Trade Route, it would still take several days to reach Beicang Town.

Having experienced this before, Chen Ping’an naturally wouldn’t let the time on the road go to waste without cultivating. This was also why he and Shui Furong were unwilling to ride in the same carriage. Shui Furong was, after all, a Top Level expert. Even though Chen Ping’an was a genuine Grandmaster, it would be virtually impossible for him to cultivate in front of her without being discovered.

However, if they were separated by a carriage, he was confident in his ability to do so.

Chen Ping’an’s Spirit Platform Spirituality suffused the air as he circulated his energy, cultivating the Three-Thirds Human Tribulation Finger Heart Method. At his current cultivation speed, he could accumulate nearly 200 more points of Cultivation Experience by the time he reached Beicang Town.

...

On the second day after Chen Ping’an left Five Peaks Mountain City, the review concerning his position was not held as scheduled at the Weishui Garrison. Some curious factions made inquiries and discovered that the review had been quietly canceled.

"The review was canceled? What’s going on?"

"Did the Qiankun Bureau change its mind?"

"Impossible!"

"Then what could be the reason?"

"..."

Just as the various factions were buzzing with discussion and speculation, the latest issue of the Canglong Province Rising Star Chart was officially released. In Weishui County City, the top Noble Families, represented by the Weishui Liu Family, obtained the newest Rising Star Chart at the earliest opportunity.

"Liu Ziming’s rank didn’t improve; it actually fell by two places!"

"Little Five Poison Lan Yingjun has surged unexpectedly to third place on the chart!"

"Wang Siyuan’s Martial Arts Realm has advanced, and he’s even mastered a new top-tier Attack Divine Skill, so his rank remains unchanged!"

"Gu Qingcheng is holding steady at the top of the Rising Star Chart!"

"And... Mang Blade Chen Ping’an is ranked fifth among the rising stars!"

"Fifth! Mang Blade? This..."

"Weishui produced an unparalleled prodigy ranked fifth on the Rising Star Chart!?"

...

Compared to the rankings of the others, the news that Chen Ping’an, a native of Weishui County City, was ranked fifth was undoubtedly more shocking to everyone.

Many people had personally witnessed Chen Ping’an’s step-by-step climb up the Rising Star Chart!

The news that the Weishui Garrison’s shining star, Mang Blade Chen Ping’an, was ranked fifth on the Rising Star Chart spread like wildfire through Weishui County City.

Many even connected the cancellation of the review with the latest update to the Rising Star Chart.

"Across all of Canglong State, Mang Blade is ranked fifth among his generation! How could the Garrison Commandant’s Office easily give up someone with such talent! The impeachment petition from the Qiankun Bureau was probably canceled because of this!"

"That’s unlikely! The Qiankun Bureau’s impeachment petition is a matter of procedure! It’s not something the Garrison Commandant’s Office can cancel unilaterally. The Qiankun Bureau probably dropped it themselves!"

"Hmm! It’s hard to say! Forget it, this matter is too far removed from us. Since it’s canceled, there’s no need to pay it any mind!"

"Exactly. Let’s talk about Mang Blade instead. He’s practically the pride of Weishui!"

"Well said! Fifth on the Rising Star Chart! Mang Blade Chen Ping’an is a true prodigy!"

"..."

Within Weishui County City, Chen Ping’an’s top-five ranking on the Rising Star Chart was met with mostly positive reviews, with people considering him the pride of Weishui County. Even within the Noble Families, there was much praise for Chen Ping’an.

Of course, there was a minority who, out of sour grapes, were quite dismissive of Chen Ping’an’s rank. Even without any valid reason, they had to slander him a bit.

"What’s so great about it! He just got lucky!"

"Ooh, fifth on the chart! How impressive! Is that why he’s so brazen?"

"..."

Naturally, when others heard such remarks, they couldn’t help but mock the speakers in return.

"That’s right, fifth on the Rising Star Chart *is* a big deal! Why don’t you give it a try if you’re so capable? Oh, I forgot, you can’t even get on the chart!"

"’How impressive?’ Of course it’s impressive! If you had half—no, a quarter—of Mang Blade’s ability, you’d probably be so arrogant your tail would be pointing at the sky!"

"You!"

"What ’you’?! You’re well past your prime, and your Cultivation Realm is only just at Inner Qi. What right do you have to mock Mang Blade!? For a ’prodigy’ with nothing but a strong mouth like you, I’ll mock you every time I see you!"

"..."

With this update to the Rising Star Chart, Liu Ziming saw Chen Ping’an’s new ranking and his own decline. For some reason, he didn’t feel the usual frustration, but rather a sense of broad-minded acceptance.

Liu Ziming sat cross-legged with his longsword laid across his lap, his expression peaceful as he closed his eyes to cultivate.

’Too much complaint will break the heart; better to take the long view of the world...’

...

"Fifth on the Rising Star Chart!" Looking at Chen Ping’an’s latest ranking, Liu Yuanhua’s expression was one of stunned astonishment. After Tong Jin’s death, he already had some inkling of Chen Ping’an’s combat prowess, but seeing the description on the Rising Star Chart today still left him utterly shocked.

Mang Blade Chen Ping’an, Cultivation at Profound Light Middle Realm Perfection, combat power comparable to the Top Level!

Has forcefully slain the Evil Master "Earth-Shattering Fist" in Beicang Town, and in front of the Five Peaks Mountain Town Pacification Bureau, killed the Qiankun Bureau’s Profound Light Middle Realm expert, "Gold-Splitting Jade-Breaking Hand" Tong Jin, with two palm strikes.

Soul-breaking Saber Li Pingjiang, a disciple of the Seven Extremes Elder of the Celestial Net Sect, is suspected to have died at Chen Ping’an’s hands.

Mang Blade Chen Ping’an, also known as the Dual Mastery of Blade and Sword, is proficient in Horizontal Training Skill. He has cultivated the Golden Bell Shield, Great Vajra Palm, Gale Sword Technique, Flying Star Swordsmanship, and other various cultivation techniques. His actions are reckless, and he is known for his fierce and powerful style...

"Mang Blade Chen Ping’an... fifth on the Rising Star Chart, a Demon Fiend of talent, combat power comparable to the Top Level, and now he has gained the favor of that important person... I’m afraid he’s truly about to soar to the heavens!"