Daqian Martial Saint

Five Peaks Mountain was a small mountain range extending from the periphery of the Canglong Mountain Range. It was named Five Peaks Mountain because it had five distinct peaks.

The patrol garrison for the Trade Route’s outer perimeter was stationed here.

A group of people was currently gathered before the gate of the Five Peaks Mountain Residence, gazing into the distance.

"Why isn’t he here yet? He should be here soon, right?"

"What’s the rush!? Just wait a little longer."

"Exactly. The way you’re fidgeting and scratching, it’d be a miracle if the new Deputy Inspection Envoy gets a good impression of you."

"What do you guys think? What kind of person will the new Deputy Inspection Envoy be?"

"Hard to say. As long as he’s not like... COUGH COUGH..."

"What are you coughing for!? Like who?"

"He’s here! He’s here! The new Deputy Inspection Envoy is here!"

"Quick, quick! Everyone, stand straight!"

"..."

Chen Ping’an rode his horse, slowly approaching the Five Peaks Mountain Residence. From a great distance, he could see the large crowd of people standing at the entrance.

’They’re all quite sensible!’

Before Chen Ping’an even got close to the gate, a dozen or so people from the front of the residence came forward to greet him.

"This subordinate respectfully welcomes Lord Chen~!"

Everyone present bowed and offered their greetings.

"At ease!" Chen Ping’an dismounted and gestured forward slightly. "All of you, rise."

"Thank you, My Lord!"

The crowd rose to their feet and finally got a clear look at Chen Ping’an.

So young!

Their first impression was that this new Deputy Officer was even younger than they had imagined.

Although they had known that the new Deputy Inspection Envoy was a young prodigy from the Rising Star Chart, they were still slightly taken aback when they saw Chen Ping’an in person.

To have achieved such a high position at such a young age was truly enviable.

Chen Ping’an scanned the group. He found that they were all masters of the Inner Qi Realm. The one with the highest cultivation had already reached the Perfection of the Second Stage of Inner Qi.

Aside from the dozen or so men in the lead, the many constables waiting at the sides were also brimming with Qi and Blood. Judging by their caliber, they weren’t much inferior to the elites he had brought with him.

’With the Trade Route at stake, it’s no wonder they’ve got such a strong force here,’ Chen Ping’an thought to himself.

"My Lord, you have traveled a long way. We subordinates have already prepared a welcome banquet to greet you and wash away the dust of your journey."

Chen Ping’an smiled and nodded, then stepped inside the Five Peaks Mountain Residence.

...

Chen Ping’an sat in the host’s seat, with people periodically coming over to offer him toasts. Cups were raised and wine was drunk, and the conversation flowed cheerfully.

Through the course of the conversations, Chen Ping’an came to a general understanding of the situation within the Five Peaks Mountain Residence.

Patrolling the Trade Route involved cracking down on smuggling and dealing with the elites of various factions.

Therefore, the constables stationed here were all hand-picked elites drawn from various regions. If these men were placed in an ordinary city district, they would be senior Squad Leaders at the very least, or even Preparatory Constables.

But here, they were just ordinary patrol members.

The men who had greeted Chen Ping’an at the gate all held official posts of the Chief Duty Officer Level. Of course, they weren’t called Chiefs of the Patrol Office here, but Standard-Bearers.

The entire Five Peaks Mountain Residence had a total of thirteen Standard-Bearers, all of whom were masters of the Inner Qi Realm.

As the numerous Standard-Bearers came forward to offer toasts, Chen Ping’an committed each of them to memory.

"By the way, why don’t I see Lord Guan?" Chen Ping’an asked with a smile, holding his wine cup.

Chen Ping’an’s question was met with a moment of sudden silence. It quickly returned to normal, however, as a middle-aged man with a square face and a burly build stood up to answer, "In response to Lord Chen, Lord Guan is busy with official duties. He should be handling matters in Five Peaks Mountain City right now."

The Standard-Bearer who spoke was named You Yongming, and he was one of the few who had been most respectful and deferential toward Chen Ping’an.

Less than fifty li from Five Peaks Mountain, there was a small city called Five Peaks Mountain City.

"Handling official business in Five Peaks Mountain City?" Chen Ping’an frowned slightly. Logically, he should be handling official business here. Why would he be in Five Peaks Mountain City?

However, although Chen Ping’an was puzzled, he saw the strange expressions on everyone’s faces and decided not to press the issue.

’No need to rush. I’ll find out what I need to know in due time.’

He would just have to figure things out for himself later.

By the end of the banquet, Chen Ping’an and the men had gained a deeper understanding of one another. Some of the Standard-Bearers let out a huge sigh of relief. They had initially thought that someone like Chen Ping’an—who had achieved a high rank at such a young age and was a Martial Dao prodigy on the Rising Star Chart—would naturally be arrogant.

They had worried that Chen Ping’an would be difficult to get along with, and that the adjustment period would be extremely painful. But after this first meeting, they were pleasantly surprised.

This new Deputy Inspection Envoy had a gentle demeanor and an easygoing attitude, giving them the impression that he was very approachable.

As the Deputy Inspection Envoy, a residence had naturally been prepared for Chen Ping’an long in advance.

"Lord Chen, this way, please. We subordinates have already cleaned and prepared your quarters. Please see if there is anything missing." A group of people surrounded Chen Ping’an, leading him deeper into the residence.

At the very back of the residence were the barracks. Behind the barracks was Five Peaks Mountain itself. As a superior officer, Chen Ping’an’s quarters consisted of several wooden cabins on slightly higher ground.

Chen Ping’an looked around and was quite satisfied. It had everything he needed.

Normally, on his first day of reporting for duty, Chen Ping’an should have held a meeting to get acquainted with everyone and familiarize himself with his duties. However, since his direct superior, Inspection Envoy Guan Yu Ping, was not present, Chen Ping’an felt it was not his place to rashly interfere with official business.

After all, Guan Yu Ping still needed to decide which specific responsibilities would fall to him.

With no need to familiarize himself with his duties, Chen Ping’an found himself with free time.

In front of the wooden cabins where he lived was a sizable clearing. The terrain was open, and the distant landscape was lush and green. The sight was refreshing and uplifting.

"The environment here is quite nice!" Chen Ping’an took a few deep breaths of fresh air.

With a thought, the Golden Finger Panel materialized in the air before him.

Realm: Profound Light – Bright as Day

Martial Arts: Iron Cloth Shirt Perfection, Flying Locust Stone Perfection, Public Door Thirteen Sabers Perfection, Thirteen Grand Protectors’ Horizontal Training Perfection, Golden Bell Shield Perfection, Gale Blade Technique Perfection, Eight Steps Chasing Cicada Perfection, Flying Star Swordsmanship Perfection, Great Vajra Palm Perfection, Vajra Unbreakable Divine Skill Minor Achievement (207/640)

...

’Great Vajra Palm, Perfection!’

Long before he arrived at the residence, a messenger had been sent ahead to announce his coming. The reason he had kept everyone waiting for so long was because just a moment ago, his experience in the Great Vajra Palm had accumulated enough to reach the Perfection Level.

With the Great Vajra Palm reaching Perfection, the Seed of Profound Light condensed between Chen Ping’an’s eyebrows shone even more brilliantly, and the True Qi within his body grew even more immense.

With the Great Vajra Palm at Perfection, aided by the Golden Finger Panel, his Martial Arts Realm broke through the pass of the Middle Stage in one fell swoop, faintly approaching the Late Stage of Bright as Day.

’If my Vajra Unbreakable Divine Skill can advance further, I will step into the Profound Light High Realm and join the ranks of Absolute Masters!’

Chen Ping’an stood on high ground, looking down at the vast residence and barracks, feeling his spirits soar with ambition.

An Absolute Master under the age of twenty-one... Forget just Canglong Province; how many such people could there be in the entire Daqian Dynasty?