Daqian Martial Saint

Chen Ping’an watched with a calm expression as Wu Tianqi, his face a mask of misery, was dragged away.

Wu Tianqi’s threatening words were simply laughable to him!

’The Wu Family’s wrath? Something I can’t afford to bear!?’

’Causing trouble in my Five Peaks Mountain City, showing no remorse, and then trying to use the Wu Family to pressure me, telling me I can’t bear their wrath? I’d like to ask them—can the Wu Family bear *my* wrath!?’

True, the Wu Family undoubtedly had an Absolute Master. But with Chen Ping’an’s current power, he no longer paid any mind to ordinary Absolute Masters. He could even fight and defeat a Top Level Absolute Master! In fact, with enough planning, a Top Level Absolute Master might very well die at his hands.

And yet this Wu Tianqi dared to think he could use the Wu Family, and their Absolute Master, to intimidate him?

’How ridiculous!’

Chen Ping’an sneered inwardly. He glanced around the Red Mill. Under the control of the Garrison Commandant’s Office’s constables, the situation was already being brought to an orderly conclusion.

As the Commander-in-Chief, he naturally didn’t need to involve himself in such trivial matters. Chen Ping’an withdrew his gaze and turned his attention to the Earth Crocodile Golden Flame Saber at his waist.

’This Fine Treasure Artifact is truly excellent!’ Chen Ping’an praised it quietly.

The Earth Crocodile Golden Flame Saber truly lived up to its reputation as a Fine Treasure Artifact. For that last strike, he had only used a tiny fraction of his power. The reason it could unleash such terrifying might was not only due to his own profound foundation but also because of the saber itself.

From his current perspective, the power of that strike had already stepped into the domain of the Profound Light Middle Realm.

Otherwise, it would have been impossible to instantly kill a Cultivator at the Third Stage of Inner Qi with a single blow.

His first experience with a Fine Treasure Artifact was, Chen Ping’an decided, very satisfying.

If he could generate such power by activating it with just a tiny fraction of his strength, then if he were to use his full power with the help of the Fine Treasure Artifact, he probably wouldn’t even need to use Vajra Unbreakable or the Three-Point Human Tribulation Finger. His combat strength would firmly place him at the very top among Absolute Masters!

From this perspective, his title of Mang Blade was well-deserved!

’With my Sword Skill alone, I’ve already reached this level! If...’ A glint flashed in Chen Ping’an’s eyes.

’If I use the Three-Point Human Tribulation Finger and fully activate the Vajra Unbreakable Divine Skill, I wonder if I could match the Vice Beicang Garrison Commander, Xue Kunsheng?’

Chen Ping’an’s thoughts raced as he analyzed various pieces of intelligence. As the Vice Beicang Garrison Commander, there was no shortage of publicly available information and records of Xue Kunsheng’s battles.

’Xue Kunsheng... Vajra Demon-subduing Chain... a Profound Light Peak Master...’

After considering all the information, Chen Ping’an came to a conclusion: with his current abilities, the probability of defeating Xue Kunsheng was minuscule.

Every master on the Dragon and Tiger Chart was a force to be reckoned with. They had all carved out their fearsome reputations with real blades and spears, fighting their way through mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

Even setting aside their public-facing strength, and whether he could overcome it—who knew what kind of trump cards they were hiding?

Especially Xue Kunsheng, who was ranked 233rd on the Dragon and Tiger Chart. He would be an even tougher opponent.

Even if he played all his trump cards, Chen Ping’an wasn’t very confident about defeating Xue Kunsheng. Besides, his current assessment of the masters on the Dragon and Tiger Chart was mostly based on hypothetical scenarios he imagined.

To date, he had never truly fought an Absolute Master in a real, life-or-death battle.

"Knowledge from books is shallow, after all." Chen Ping’an clasped his hands behind his back and tilted his head up slightly. "Strength and weakness, victory and defeat—you only know for sure after you’ve fought."

’I’m not very confident right now, but if the Vajra Unbreakable Divine Skill reaches Perfection, achieving the Golden Body Unbreakable Realm... I wonder if I could suppress Xue Kunsheng then, at full power?’

Chen Ping’an’s eyes narrowed slightly. Within his upturned line of sight, a Golden Finger Panel materialized.

Name: Chen Ping’an

Realm: Profound Light - Profound Light Penetrating Objects

Martial Arts: Vajra Unbreakable Divine Skill Great Success (1327/1600), Great Success in Three-Point Human Tribulation Finger (185/1600), Great Vajra Palm Perfection...

...

’1,327 points! Soon, very soon...’

Chen Ping’an stood tall, watching the Garrison Commandant’s Office constables bustling about. At one point, a constable brought over a large chair, wanting him to sit, but Chen Ping’an waved it away.

"My brothers are all still hard at work. How could I alone enjoy the comfort?"

After Chen Ping’an spoke, the gazes of the surrounding constables grew even more fervent.

After a flurry of activity, the affair at the Red Mill was drawing to a close. The ones to be arrested were arrested, the ones to be interrogated were interrogated, and the ones to be released were released.

"Sir, this time..."

Zhong Shanyong cupped his fists and approached Chen Ping’an, reporting every detail of the various matters.

Chen Ping’an nodded slightly, occasionally asking a few questions when he heard something that interested him.

Zhong Shanyong naturally didn’t dare to hold anything back, answering each question in full.

After finishing his report, Zhong Shanyong stood before Chen Ping’an with a reverent and humble expression.

Chen Ping’an had his eyes closed, his thoughts unknown.

Chen Ping’an didn’t speak, and Zhong Shanyong didn’t dare to interrupt, simply standing there in silence.

"Sir..." An Inner Qi Tributor, having finished his wrap-up duties, ran over excitedly to report. But he saw Zhong Shanyong raise a hand, signaling him to be quiet. Only then did the Inner Qi Tributor notice that Chen Ping’an’s eyes were closed, and his voice died in his throat. He fell silent and approached, standing respectfully beside Zhong Shanyong.

Seeing their two superiors act this way, the surrounding constables also gradually fell silent. Among the arrested crowd, some fool who didn’t know any better tried to wail loudly, only to be silenced by a constable’s palm clapping over their mouth.

The constable’s eyes went wide as he made a hushing gesture.

For a moment, the Red Mill, a place known for its liveliness, became utterly silent. And the source of it all was the figure standing in the center.

An unknown amount of time passed before Chen Ping’an slowly opened his eyes.

"Every man has a duty to his country. Maintaining a peaceful life in Five Peaks Mountain City is not just the responsibility of my Garrison Commandant’s Office; every power, big or small, within the city shares that duty! Zhong Shanyong!"

"Here!" Zhong Shanyong responded, stepping forward.

"Draft a new regulation. List clearly how many people each family in this city must contribute, and how they are to be contributed! The people they provide will be organized by our Garrison Commandant’s Office into new patrol teams to help maintain the city’s security!"

"Yes, Sir!" Zhong Shanyong replied loudly.

A moment later, however, he cupped his fists, bowed, and said to Chen Ping’an in a low voice, "Sir, when the situation in the city was tense before, these powers did indeed send people. But without the Wei Family’s approval, most of them were just going through the motions. They only sent a few token members, who were of little use to the overall situation. If it’s convenient for you, Sir, perhaps you could pay a visit to the Wei Family and demand they send their elites to participate in maintaining order. I imagine they would give you that face."

"There’s no need for me to go to the Wei Family personally. Just relay my words. Tell them I’m the one who said it, and they will contribute. If they still refuse to contribute..."

Chen Ping’an looked up at Zhong Shanyong. "Then the Wei Family no longer needs to exist. My Five Peaks Mountain City has no need for such a family!"

Chen Ping’an’s voice was flat, without much inflection. But his words sent a chill through the hearts of everyone present.

Zhong Shanyong lowered his head, not daring to say more, and respectfully accepted the order.

"Let’s go. It’s time to head back."

Chen Ping’an smiled, then started walking out of the Red Mill.

Zhong Shanyong and the others quickly followed, trailed by a large contingent of constables escorting the offenders out.

Outside the Red Mill, a large crowd had already gathered. When they saw Chen Ping’an emerge, they all scrambled to part a path for him.