Daqian Martial Saint

Inside the private room, Chen Ping’an ate and drank as he listened to Yan Wu share news about the major towns.

Of the three major towns, Long’an Town and Nanqing Town were too far from Weishui for Yan Wu to know much about them. However, he was deeply familiar with the affairs of Beicang Town.

"Lord Chen, back when this major town was being established, the cost was immeasurable, and countless laborers died from exhaustion! The surrounding lands were cleared time and time again to ensure all Demon Beasts were eliminated. For instance, during the town’s development, there were records of no fewer than twenty Absolute Masters being present!

And now, with the trade route on the verge of opening, the number of Absolute Masters will only grow!

Furthermore, the major powers from within the province are also establishing a presence. The representative sent by each faction will be an Absolute Master at minimum! For the Top Level Noble Families and sects, they’ll send even more than one! Take the Shadowless Blade Sect, for example—they sent a full three Absolute Masters over!"

Yan Wu was in a talkative mood, sipping fine wine as he chatted with Chen Ping’an.

For the most part, Chen Ping’an just listened quietly, only asking a question or two when a topic piqued his interest.

Beicang Town marks the beginning and first leg of the trade route. Once caravans start traveling it, their numbers will be beyond counting, so naturally there will be corresponding shops and Treasure Pavilions set up within the town.

Behind these shops and Treasure Pavilions are the various major factions! Moreover, the commissions, taxes... and so on from the trade route represent immense profits.

Each faction dispatches Absolute Masters to ensure they have a degree of military deterrence within the town, allowing them to protect their respective interests!

"The town is teeming with Absolute Masters, like the highly renowned Demon-Subduing Spear Lu Dong, Celestial Deformed Leg Li Dongshan, Heartless Stick Leng Wu Ya, and Exquisite Water Hibiscus... These are all Top Level figures within the Profound Light High Realm! Every single one of them has their hands stained with the blood of other Absolute Masters! Their fearsome reputations were built on bloodshed!

"If an Absolute Master can already make a name for themselves in a region, then those at the very peak of the Absolute Masters are truly at the apex. Their every move is enough to draw the attention of numerous factions. Masters of this caliber... even across the entire Weishui County City, you wouldn’t find more than ten!

This top echelon of Absolute Masters, within the Four Great Noble Families, they are the very foundation of their power! The few I just mentioned, while there might be slight differences in their strength, they are all on the same level. If they were to truly fight, they could probably go hundreds of rounds without a clear winner emerging!

"Besides the experts sent by factions from outside the county, our own Weishui County City naturally has masters stationed in Beicang Town as well. In terms of combat prowess, however, they are a notch below these Top Level masters. Fortunately, we have the home-field advantage, and all of the Four Great Noble Families have sent an Absolute Master."

Some of the factions from outside the county may be stronger overall than the Four Great Noble Families of Weishui, but considering the distance, it would be difficult for them to send two or three Absolute Masters.

After all, while the profits from the trade route are substantial, they aren’t everything to a family! Other family interests also require an Absolute Master’s protection.

But Weishui’s Four Great Noble Families have a natural home-field advantage. Even if each family sends one Absolute Master, they can be recalled in time should a critical situation requiring an Absolute Master arise elsewhere.

In addition to the Absolute Masters stationed in the town, Yan Wu also mentioned experts from other circles. For example, Cao Yingxiong, the Silver Gong Qiankun Envoy from the Weishui Branch of the Canglong State Qiankun Bureau!

A trace of reverence flickered in Yan Wu’s eyes as he mentioned Cao Yingxiong.

Many years ago, Cao Yingxiong had already reached the pinnacle of the Absolute Masters. He made a name for himself far and wide with his Tiger Roar Dragon Cry Technique! Rumor has it that after all these years of cultivation, Cao Yingxiong’s combat prowess is now so great that he might be bordering on the level of the masters on the Dragon and Tiger Chart.

Every master capable of ranking on the Dragon and Tiger Chart truly stands at the absolute zenith of the Profound Light High Realm!

The highest-ranked masters on the Dragon and Tiger Chart, in terms of combat prowess, are not much inferior to a Grandmaster! Of course, masters of that caliber are exceedingly rare—even rarer than Grandmasters.

To fight and win against someone a Great Realm above you requires a combination of fateful opportunities, innate talent, combat techniques, a deep foundation, profound insights... not a single one can be lacking!

When Yan Wu mentioned Cao Yingxiong, Chen Ping’an recalled that this very man had once sent Zhao Zhiteng to recruit him.

’Who would’ve thought... he’s actually such a powerful master!’

’Tiger Roar Dragon Cry Technique?’ Chen Ping’an raised his wine cup, a faint smile touching his lips as he watched his reflection in the liquid. ’I wonder how it compares to my Vajra Unbreakable Divine Skill and Three-Point Human Tribulation Finger.’

Based on his own assessment of his current combat prowess, Chen Ping’an figured he was on par with this Cao Yingxiong from the Qiankun Bureau. As for who was truly stronger, they’d have to fight to find out.

It was worth noting that the biggest powers behind the establishment of the Long’an Trade Route were the Canglong Province Garrison Command and the three great Noble Families of the State City.

Although there were many factions within the major town, they were all officially under the jurisdiction of the Garrison Commandant’s Office and had to obey the commands of the Canglong Province Garrison Command on certain matters.

Within Beicang Town, the Canglong Province Garrison Command has set up a special branch of the Garrison Commandant’s Office called the Beicang Garrison. Its chief officer holds the title of Beicang Garrison Commander!

Although Beicang is just a major town on the trade route and far less significant than Weishui County City, it concerns a critical pass. In terms of status, the rank of the Beicang Garrison Commander is even higher than that of the Capital Envoy of the Weishui Garrison!

It is second only to a Candidate for Chief of the Canglong Province Garrison Command!

Yan Wu shared a great deal with Chen Ping’an, offering unique insights on many subjects. He spoke at length about the intricate politics and the tangled relationships between the various factions, giving Chen Ping’an a much clearer picture of the situation in Beicang Town.

’Looks like getting out and meeting people really is effective,’ he thought. ’This trip was definitely worthwhile.’

The meal lasted for more than two hours, and both host and guest thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

"Lord Yan, please, don’t trouble yourself. I can walk back to the Inner City on my own!" Chen Ping’an said with a smile, clasping his hands in a salute.

"In that case, I won’t insist. Take care on your way, Lord Chen," Yan Wu replied, also smiling.

With this banquet, he had now formally made Chen Ping’an’s acquaintance. For him, connecting with this rising star of the Garrison Commandant’s Office had also made the occasion well worthwhile.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, the two parted ways.

...

"Erya, you were quiet the whole time. What did you make of all that talk?" Chen Ping’an asked with a smile as they walked back to the Inner City.

Throughout the entire meal, Chen Erya had hardly said a word. But there was no doubt the little girl had been listening intently to everything they said.

The little girl looked down in thought for a moment before finally raising her head and saying one thing.

"The world of grown-ups is so complicated, but..."

Hearing this, Chen Ping’an couldn’t help but look intently at Chen Erya, curious as to what she would say next.

Yan Wu had talked about plenty of convoluted matters during the meal. ’What could the little girl have possibly thought of it all?’

The little girl shook her head and suddenly broke into a smile. "It sounds... kind of interesting!"

"Huh? Interesting?" Chen Ping’an was taken aback for a moment, but then a smile spread across his face. "Hahaha... Good! If you find it interesting, then you should try getting involved in things like this in the future!"

"Okay."

"..."

On the street walked two figures, one tall and one short, one large and one small. The setting sun cast their shadows long, making them stretch until they nearly melted into one.

They were brother and sister, a pair who had grown up relying on each other to survive.