Daqian Martial Saint

"Mountain-Shattering Fist!"

The man was startled, the smile on his face freezing instantly. But his years of accumulated experience allowed him to throw a punch in that first moment. The powerful Fist Force seemed as if it would tear the very air apart.

But as fierce as his Fist Force was, Chen Ping’an’s blade strike was even more tyrannical.

BOOM!

Amidst the deafening sound, wood splinters flew everywhere. The Profound Light between the burly man’s brows dimmed, and his arm fell limply to his side. He was severely wounded in a single move.

’How is he so strong!?’

He shot backward, intending to flee.

But before he could make his move, an incredibly scorching Fire Blade slashed out, instantly engulfing him.

"No!" With a bloodcurdling scream, the burly man collapsed. In the moment before death, his eyes were filled with disbelief and shock.

’Courting death!’ Chen Ping’an’s gaze was indifferent as he walked over to the man.

Even severely injured, he wasn’t some ordinary Profound Light Middle Realm cultivator one could trifle with.

Although the man had Protective True Qi, under the Fire Blade, he was lucky to have even a complete corpse left.

Chen Ping’an bent down and searched the body. There was no Hundred Treasures Pouch; most of the man’s belongings had been consumed and incinerated by the Fire Blade. Not much remained. The only thing that caught Chen Ping’an’s eye was a pair of gauntlets on the man’s hands.

The gauntlets were pitch-black with special patterns, extending all the way up his forearms.

’A Middle-grade Treasure Artifact. The Grade is decent, close to the level of a Fine Treasure Artifact!’

After a quick assessment, Chen Ping’an stored them away.

’A Profound Light Middle Realm expert... that counts as a meritorious deed. A deed that delivers itself to your doorstep isn’t one to refuse.’ After some thought, Chen Ping’an severed the man’s head and wrapped it in a cloth.

’Time to find a new place to heal.’

If someone interrupted his recovery, he would simply kill them. The most pressing matter was to recover from his injuries as quickly as possible. Although he had healed a little and was in much better shape than before, his true condition was only slightly stronger than an ordinary Absolute Master. Some of the more powerful Absolute Masters could still pose a great threat to him.

In this situation, it was best not to wander around if he didn’t have to.

Killing was one thing, being tough was another, but when it was time to lay low, you had to lay low.

...

The chaos within Beicang Town lasted for the better part of a day. It only began to subside under the joint suppression of the Beicang Garrison and the various major powers.

Having recovered some of his strength, Chen Ping’an emerged from his hiding place. He walked along the street, carrying the head.

The surroundings were a sea of rubble and ruined walls. Every so often, he would see a collapsed building. Severed limbs were scattered everywhere, and corpses could be seen from time to time. The ground was riddled with craters large and small, a picture of devastation. There were dried, blackened bloodstains and the occasional pool of dark, thick blood.

All of Beicang Town was a scene of misery, filled with wails of grief—a living hell on earth.

"Halt! State your business!"

A small patrol from the Garrison Commandant’s Office blocked Chen Ping’an’s path. A middle-aged constable with a square-jawed face shouted the question.

To the people of Beicang Town, who were still on edge after the chaos had just been quelled, Chen Ping’an’s solitary figure walking the streets was undoubtedly suspicious.

Chen Ping’an said nothing, merely producing a token from his robes.

Weishui Garrison, Candidate for Commander-in-Chief!

"Sir!" The lead constable’s face changed the moment he saw the token in Chen Ping’an’s hand. With his saber at his hip, he bowed slightly. "The chaos has just settled, sir. This lowly one was afraid that villains might still be lurking about and was nosy with my questions. I ask for your punishment, Sir."

"It’s fine. You’re being loyal to your duty. It’s right to be vigilant." Chen Ping’an put away his token, looking unconcerned.

"Thank you for your understanding, Sir!" Hearing this, the lead constable couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.

The higher-ups in the Garrison Commandant’s Office all had different temperaments. If he had just run into one who was difficult, it would have spelled no small amount of trouble for him.

’Fortunately... the lord before me is good-natured and understands the plight of his subordinates. He isn’t trying to make things difficult for us.’

Looking at this ridiculously young lord before him and recalling the token he had just seen, he had a faint guess as to the man’s identity.

Chen Ping’an walked past them under their awestruck gazes.

It wasn’t until Chen Ping’an was a good distance away that a constable in the squad asked the leader, "Chief, what do you think that lord was carrying?"

"You couldn’t tell? What else could it be!?" The middle-aged constable shot him a sidelong glance.

"I thought it looked like a head!"

"Obviously! With that outline, what else could it be but a head!"

"..."

Considering the current situation, the identity of the head’s former owner was self-evident. As they watched Chen Ping’an’s retreating back, the crowd’s gaze grew even more reverent.

...

On the street, patrols from the Garrison Commandant’s Office hurried past from time to time. Though they occasionally stopped people for questioning, with his Garrison Commandant’s Office token, Chen Ping’an’s path was naturally unimpeded.

Nearing the core of Beicang Town, men from the Garrison Commandant’s Office had already begun collecting corpses and clearing the streets.

Chen Ping’an took in the surrounding scene, his eyes drawn to the highest point in Beicang Town, the Blessed Land. On previous days, looking up from here, he could see a magnificent, towering structure. But now...

Chen Ping’an’s eyes narrowed slightly, his thoughts unreadable.

The place was now a pile of rubble.

Who could have imagined that just half a day ago, a grand-scale auction had been held there? Yet, half a day later, it was a scene of utter devastation.

Qingyou Garden was not far from the Beicang Garrison. On his way back, Chen Ping’an saw people rushing in and out of the Beicang Garrison’s entrance, every one of them hurried and wearing a troubled expression.

After such an utterly heinous incident, who knew what kind of rage was simmering within the Beicang Garrison, the very core of Beicang Town’s authority!?

However, these were not matters Chen Ping’an needed to concern himself with. He didn’t slow his pace and soon returned to Qingyou Garden. Compared to other places in town, the damage within Qingyou Garden was relatively light, not particularly severe. It was hard to say if it was due to its proximity to the Beicang Garrison, or because of the guests staying there. Or perhaps, it was because of the power backing Qingyou Garden!

’To be able to adjust so quickly... it’s clear the owner behind this Qingyou Garden is no slouch!’

After showing his proof of lodging, Chen Ping’an quickly returned to his small courtyard.

The chaos in the town had just been settled, and the Beicang Garrison was completely overwhelmed, dealing with a thousand loose ends.

Chen Ping’an wasn’t in a hurry to report his meritorious deed. The most pressing matter was to recover from his injuries. ’Without my strength back, I just feel empty and unsafe!’

Chen Ping’an inspected the courtyard carefully. After confirming no one was hiding there, he sat cross-legged on the bed and began to regulate his injuries.

...

Chen Ping’an had just begun his recovery when he sensed someone approaching the courtyard outside. He paid it no mind, however. Only after completing several Circulations did he get off the bed.

As Chen Ping’an had expected, the person who had come looking for him was none other than Yuan Zutong. As the person in charge of Chen Ping’an’s Guard detail for this trip, Yuan Zutong had not attended the Beicang Auction but had instead waited for his return at Qingyou Garden.

It was a good thing he hadn’t attended the auction. Otherwise, with his level of strength, it was far from certain he would have survived such a chaotic scene.

The moment they met, Yuan Zutong dropped to one knee, his face to the ground, and repeatedly begged for forgiveness.

"My lord, this subordinate failed in his duty to protect you! Please, my lord, punish me!"

Chen Ping’an didn’t speak right away, merely watching Yuan Zutong quietly. As a superior, one could be approachable, gentle, and kind, but that couldn’t erase the distinction of rank. At certain times, a superior had to maintain an air of authority.

After a pause of four or five breaths, Chen Ping’an finally said, "Rise."

Yuan Zutong refused several times, unwilling to get up.

Not until Chen Ping’an said, "You followed orders and waited here. What crime is there in that?"

Only then did Yuan Zutong rise, bowing with his hands clasped. "Thank you for your grace, my lord."