Daqian Martial Saint

On the third day after Chen Ping’an arrived in Five Peaks Mountain City, blockbuster news about an auction being held in Beicang Town began to circulate once more.

This auction was of an extremely high caliber. News about it had already spread long before the Long’an Trade Route was even operational.

Now, with the Long’an Trade Route up and running, the time and location of the auction had finally been finalized.

’So the auction really is being held in Beicang Town!’

Chen Ping’an’s expression remained calm as he listened to his subordinate’s report.

’A month and a half... That’s just enough time for the news to spread and build hype for the auction! But they’re keeping the details of this auction under tight wraps. All we know is that it’s supposed to be a high-profile event, but there’s been no word at all on what items will actually be up for sale!’

’It’s hosted by the Canglong Province Garrison Command, organized by the various merchant associations led by the Ruyi Treasure Pavilion, and it’s being held to celebrate the opening of the Long’an Trade Route. The auction is guaranteed to be a top-tier event! I can’t be sure about everything, but a Divine Skill inheritance will definitely be up for auction! In that case, I should go and check it out. See if I can’t add another Divine Skill to my repertoire! Also...

’Those dual blades I seized from Guan Yu Ping; the Yin Tribulation Sword, a longsword I took from the Celestial Net Sect Hall Master; and some other odds and ends... it’s the perfect time to clear out my inventory!’

"..."

After hearing the report and dismissing his subordinate, Chen Ping’an sat alone in his room, lost in thought.

This auction was on a massive scale. With enough time for hype and promotion, it would likely attract not only the powers within Canglong State, but also factions and experts from the surrounding regions!

’It won’t be easy to win the bid for a Divine Skill inheritance at this auction!’

’I’m not short on gold and silver right now, but Yuan Crystals... that’s another story! The high-end items and treasures can only be bought with Yuan Crystals; they don’t accept gold or silver.’

’Based on my previous calculations, if I liquidate all my extraneous assets, I should have a net worth of sixty to seventy Yuan Crystals! That’s a decent sum, but it pales in comparison to what some of the veteran Absolute Masters have, let alone the major factions!’

’Looks like I have to find a way to get more Yuan Crystals!’ A glint flashed in Chen Ping’an’s eyes. ’But before that, the most important thing is to advance my cultivation!’

...

When it came to professional matters, it was best to leave it to the professionals. The preparatory and promotional work for this Beicang Town auction was executed to perfection.

The relevant bombshells and content were unveiled layer by layer, ensuring that news of the auction constantly captured everyone’s attention. The first wave of promotion announced the time and location of the auction.

The second wave of promotion unveiled the first of the headline items.

A Realm-Breaking Treasure Pill: the Three Yang Nourishing Spirit Pill!

For a cultivator at the Profound Light Middle Realm, advancing to the Profound Light High Realm—the realm of Profound Light Penetrating Objects and Armor Unlost—was an incredibly difficult feat. It was a barrier that stopped the vast majority of cultivators.

But this Three Yang Nourishing Spirit Pill could increase the chances of a breakthrough by fifty percent!

A fifty percent chance might not sound like much.

But for cultivators with a solid foundation, adding this fifty-percent boost meant a near-certain breakthrough!

Once they entered the Profound Light High Realm, their combat power would multiply, and what’s more, those at the Profound Light High Realm had a lifespan of one hundred and eighty years!

The allure of an elevated realm, combined with the temptation of a longer lifespan—who could possibly resist such a combination?

This first headline item alone was enough to move countless people. In a place like Weishui County City alone, a Profound Light Middle Realm expert was enough to be considered a famous master. But when one expanded their perspective to the thirty-seven counties of Canglong Province, or even the territories surrounding it, the number of Profound Light Middle Realm cultivators was far greater than one might imagine!

A large portion of these masters were Loose Cultivators. Upon hearing the news, they began flocking to Beicang Town.

It wasn’t just Loose Cultivators; some factions with deep reserves also planned to make a move, hoping to bolster their clan’s foundations.

If they could win this Treasure Pill, it meant that once their family had a cultivator at the Profound Light Middle Realm Perfection, they could use the pill’s power to very likely create another Absolute Master, adding to the family’s underlying strength!

There were several routes to Beicang Town. One of the more convenient ones passed through Five Peaks Mountain City, where travelers could rest briefly before taking the trade route entrance to Beicang Town.

As the hype and promotion for the Beicang Auction continued to build, Five Peaks Mountain City became exceptionally lively. Jianghu figures and powerful Loose Cultivators, rarely seen on a normal day, gradually began to appear in the city. In addition to them, merchant caravans heading for the Long’an Trade Route would also stop over in Five Peaks Mountain City to rest.

In short, Five Peaks Mountain City had become a gathering place for all sorts of shady characters.

Normally, a small city like Five Peaks Mountain City could never attract so many experts. But because of the Beicang Auction, a huge number of them had gathered. However, while the experts gathered, Five Peaks Mountain City lacked the corresponding martial might to act as a deterrent. This led the Jianghu figures to become rather uninhibited and reckless.

Without any sense of fear or respect, when a crowd gathers, chaos easily follows.

This was especially true for these heroic Jianghu wanderers, each one used to a life of freedom and wildness. They would talk loudly amongst themselves, shooting the breeze and boasting. When conversations turned sour, it was common for them to come to blows over a single disagreement.

Some Loose Cultivator experts also ran into old enemies, and the moment they saw each other, their eyes turned red with fury. Disregarding the setting, they would immediately start fighting. Every fight caused a huge commotion, affecting innocent bystanders.

For a time, public order in Five Peaks Mountain City began to decline sharply.

At first, the situation was manageable. There was still a long time before the Beicang Auction officially began, and the Long’an Trade Route had only recently opened, so the number of passing caravans was still limited. Furthermore, traffic was split among other routes. Thus, despite the occasional fights, the overall situation in Five Peaks Mountain City remained under control.

The conflicts and fights that broke out were not too frequent, and even when they did, they mostly involved Qi Blood Realm Martial Artists. The Chiefs of the Patrol Office from the Garrison Commandant’s Office would step in and could quickly suppress any disturbance.

But as time went on, the number of conflicts and fights began to increase, and the Five Peaks Mountain Town Pacification Bureau found itself stretched thin. When conflicts broke out in multiple places at once, they often couldn’t handle everything. Public order in Five Peaks Mountain City began to collapse rapidly.

Amidst this chaos, inside a small house in the backyard of the Garrison Commandant’s Office, Chen Ping’an sat cross-legged. A Golden Finger Panel materialized in the empty space before him.

Name: Chen Ping’an

Realm: Profound Light - Mystic Light Penetrating Object

Martial Arts: Vajra Unbreakable Divine Skill (Great Success, 1078/1600), Three-Point Human Tribulation Finger (Minor Achievement, 640/640), Great Vajra Palm (Perfection)...

...

After days of relentless, arduous cultivation, Chen Ping’an had finally accumulated enough Cultivation Experience for his Divine Skill Three Point Human Tribulation Finger Breakthrough.

...

PS: I got the "Boutique" badge. Ever since my last book ended, I’ve been dreaming of this day, thinking about what I would say when I finally achieved it. Now that it’s really happened, I find I don’t have much to say.

The journey was winding, but the destination is beautiful.

In short, all you Lord Governors are awesome!!! It’s your support that has brought this book this far. Thank you all~