Daqian Martial Saint

Ever since returning from the Council Hall, Fang Qixian’s expression had been grim. The few servants attending him were as quiet as cicadas in winter, terrified of provoking his anger.

Fang Qixian stood in the courtyard, a volcano of fury simmering in his chest, threatening to erupt at any moment.

For days, he had poured nearly all his energy into finding Rui’er’s killer.

News of Tower Holder Ding Tong’s death had been confirmed several days after the incident. As a Martial Arts Master at the Perfect Second Level of Inner Qi, anyone capable of killing him had to be a Martial Arts Master of the Third Stage of Inner Qi at the very least.

Martial Arts Masters of that caliber weren’t a dime a dozen!

All signs pointed to this being a plot against the Fang Family, and he had directed his investigation accordingly.

The Fang Family had a thousand-year legacy. A tall tree attracts the wind, and their web of relationships was vast and tangled. Untangling it all was no simple feat.

Thus, despite his prolonged investigation, Fang Qixian had made little headway.

And now he’d learned... ’I was heading in the wrong direction from the start!’

’Rui’er’s killer wasn’t targeting the Fang Family at all, like I’d thought!’

’He simply wanted to kill Rui’er! Nothing more!’

He had always planned to first find the killer and avenge Rui’er, and only then fulfill Rui’er’s dying wish to kill Chen Ping’an.

He never imagined that after all this time, after running in circles, he would end up right back where he started.

’Slain multiple experts at the Perfect Second Level of Inner Qi!’

’Master of several Superior Martial Arts!’

’The Celestial Rain Falling Realm of the Third Stage of Inner Qi!’

’Thinking back on the timing...’

’He must have already had the power to kill Tower Holder Ding Tong back then!’

Rui’er!

My Rui’er!

His emotions churned until he could no longer contain them. Fang Qixian roared in fury.

"Chen Ping’an!"

SMASH!

The ornamental scholar’s rock before him exploded, scattering across the ground in a shower of debris.

"I will kill you!"

Fang Qixian’s eyes were blood-red, brimming with killing intent.

...

Chen Ping’an was, of course, unaware of the shockwaves his actions had sent through Weishui County City. But even if he had known, he wouldn’t have cared much.

To him, fame was ultimately an external thing—nothing more than a tool to achieve his goals.

How many brilliant martial arts prodigies, shining like new stars, had been burdened by fame, lost their way, and ultimately faded into obscurity?

With the Chu Family’s full support and the Garrison Commandant’s Office now compliant, powers like the Commerce Alliance, the Song Family, and the He Family were no longer a concern. The situation in White Stone City was rapidly stabilizing.

At this moment, Chen Ping’an was oblivious to the world outside, taking advantage of this period of peace to diligently practice his swordsmanship and palm techniques with all his heart.

After his Vajra Unbreakable Divine Skill broke through to the Minor Success Realm and he achieved the level of an Unbreakable Copper Body, Chen Ping’an stopped investing too much time and energy into it.

While the Vajra Unbreakable Divine Skill was exceptionally powerful, it was far more difficult to cultivate than his other two superior cultivation methods. Since he had already reached a certain level of proficiency, he shifted his focus back to the Flying Star Swordsmanship and the Great Vajra Palm.

’If I can master these two Martial Arts to the point of Perfection,’ he thought, ’it will undoubtedly enrich my combat repertoire immensely!’

Leg Technique! Sword Skill! Swordsmanship! Palm Technique!

’Four different types of Attacking Techniques, ready to be switched at any moment depending on the battle! The average person could never handle such fluid transitions!’

SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!

In his courtyard, Chen Ping’an practiced the Flying Star Swordsmanship relentlessly.

As the Sword Aura flashed, streams of Cultivation Experience flowed into him.

+1!

+1!

...

There were gains to be had as long as he kept cultivating. Chen Ping’an felt a deep sense of satisfaction with every swing of his sword.

In Chen Erya’s eyes, her brother was completely engrossed in the Martial Dao, finding joy and contentment in his practice.

Ever since arriving in White Stone City, Chen Ping’an had arranged for the city’s finest tutors to instruct Chen Erya.

Her lessons covered everything from poetry and classical exegesis to strategy and rhetoric.

With expert guidance and her own natural brilliance, Chen Erya’s academic progress far exceeded Chen Ping’an’s expectations. On one occasion, he asked her tutor about her studies.

The tutor praised her effusively, stating that Chen Erya was the most gifted student she had ever taught.

At first, Chen Ping’an suspected it was mere flattery, spoken because of his position of power. But after he personally quizzed Erya, he witnessed the true extent of her academic progress.

Chen Ping’an couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration, "My sister, Erya, has the makings of a Great Scholar!"

The Daqian Dynasty was founded on martial power, but those with world-spanning knowledge could also be appointed to high positions.

The incident with the Blood Oath Alliance had left Chen Ping’an with lingering fears. In private, he asked Chen Erya if she wanted to learn the Martial Dao from him for self-defense.

To his surprise, the little girl flatly refused.

Chen Ping’an asked her why.

And this is what the little girl said to him.

"Success in the Martial Dao only lets you fight ten men, or a hundred. It’s not worth learning."

Chen Ping’an found her words fascinating. He smiled and asked, "If you don’t want to learn the Martial Dao, then do you want to learn the Military School’s art of being an enemy to ten thousand men?"

’So you look down on being an enemy to ten or a hundred men! Surely you must think being an enemy to ten thousand is worthwhile!’

Chen Ping’an was just teasing, curious to see how the little girl would respond.

But the little girl looked up into his eyes and said with utmost seriousness, "An enemy of ten thousand is still subservient to others, so it is not worth learning. I want to learn the art of the King’s Dao and Tyrant Dao!"

’The King’s Dao and Tyrant Dao!? The Kingdom and Tyranny Technique!’

Hearing this, Chen Ping’an was stunned into a long silence.

...

With the various powers of the city lacking core leadership, the Garrison Commandant’s Office and the Chu Family joined forces. In less than ten days, they had managed to pacify the situation in White Stone City.

At the same time, a new appointment order from the Weishui Garrison arrived in Chen Ping’an’s hands.

"Let it be known that Chen Ping’an, Commander-in-Chief of the White Stone Town Garrison Commandant’s Office, has been loyal, resolute, and brave... For his great and meritorious service, he is hereby promoted to Outer Trade Road Patrol Deputy Envoy for the Long’an Trade Route. He will concurrently hold his post as Commander-in-Chief of White Stone City and enjoy Vice Commander Level privileges..."!

At the bottom of the document was the great seal of the Weishui Garrison.

Outer Trade Road Patrol Deputy Envoy!

Vice Commander Level!

A flicker of excitement crossed Chen Ping’an’s face.

Revealing a portion of his strength this time hadn’t been in vain after all; he had reaped some benefits.

He had finally made the leap from Chief Duty Officer Level to Vice Commander Level!

Without even realizing it, he had already surpassed Mu Wanjun in the Garrison Commandant’s Office hierarchy. His former superior was now below him in rank.

He was now on the same level as Yan Wu, the Vice Commander of the Outer City Garrison.

A Vice Commander of the Outer City Garrison! In Weishui Outer City, that was a top-tier figure! The people of the Outer City would tremble in awe at the mere mention of such a title.

And now... Chen Ping’an was his equal.