Daqian Martial Saint

"Ah, it’s nothing." Mu Wanjun was a little flustered and smoothed down a stray lock of black hair to hide it. "Back then, Fang Rui killed someone in the street and was taken to the South City Prison..."

Mu Wanjun continued speaking, feigning a casual air, but unlike before, she was now watching Chen Ping’an’s reaction as she spoke.

Chen Ping’an listened quietly, his expression betraying no emotion even after she had finished.

’Did I guess wrong?’

Seeing Chen Ping’an’s calm and composed demeanor, Mu Wanjun couldn’t help but find her own outlandish suspicion a little ridiculous.

’I was really overthinking things!’

Putting Fang Rui aside, Elder Fang Qixian of the Fang Family was a master of an entirely different caliber! He was a Martial Dao expert who had been famous for years, having entered the Profound Light Realm long ago.

Even if Chen Ping’an had the audacity, how could he possibly have been a match for him?

’Based on the timing, Chen Ping’an would have only just reached the Third Stage of Inner Qi back then. Even for someone as astonishingly talented as him, it would have been impossible to assassinate a long-renowned Profound Light Realm master without a trace.’

As Mu Wanjun dismissed her suspicion, her entire demeanor became much more natural.

Through her explanation, Chen Ping’an managed to learn more details.

For example, although the trade routes were about to open, the position of Garrison Commander—the nominal head of the major strategic hub of Beicang Town—was still up in the air.

"The Garrison Commander of a major town is a position of great power and authority. Although the Canglong Province Garrison Command can nominally direct the overall situation, it’s rife with internal factions and the influence of powerful families. For a position like this, all the major powers are maneuvering to get a piece of the pie. If one family’s representative nominates a candidate, the others will find fault from every angle, trying to bring them down. The same thing happens when another family puts someone forward.

In short, given the current situation, finding a Beicang Garrison Commander who satisfies all parties is next to impossible! Unless... a Grandmaster from one of the families is willing to step forward personally!"

"But, for a Grandmaster to step forward personally, that..." Mu Wanjun didn’t finish, but Chen Ping’an understood exactly what she meant.

Above the Profound Light Realm is the Jade Balance Realm, and those who have reached this realm are also known as Grandmasters!

A Grandmaster’s lifespan is three hundred years!

Becoming a Grandmaster requires an indispensable combination of factors: talent, fortunate encounters, mental fortitude, a superior Cultivation Technique, and more. Yet even for those with all the right conditions, the vast majority are well over a hundred years old by the time they finally step into the Jade Balance Realm.

By that age, they have experienced and seen through too much in their youth. A considerable number of Grandmasters choose to live a reclusive, carefree life.

Even those who remain to guard their clans would never agree to serve as a local Garrison Commander! After all, as important as Beicang Town is, it’s not a key military pass or a major metropolis. Even for the sake of their clan’s interests, these Grandmasters wouldn’t debase themselves by personally taking such a public role.

As Grandmasters, they shouldn’t have to concern themselves with every little detail. That would be beneath their station.

Even when supporting their clans, they would at most operate from behind the scenes, only making a move at the most critical moment in a struggle for power and profit.

Of course, this is just the situation in Beicang Town; it doesn’t apply everywhere.

If a place held stakes high enough to tempt even a Grandmaster, then these normally aloof figures would cast aside their pride and personally enter the fray to compete.

Of course, such places were still a world away for Mu Wanjun, so she naturally didn’t mention them to Chen Ping’an.

When Mu Wanjun mentioned the vacant Garrison Commander position, Chen Ping’an took the opportunity to ask, "Who is currently managing the affairs of Beicang Town?"

Mu Wanjun gave a captivating smile and continued, "While the position of Garrison Commander of Beicang Town is vacant, the post of Vice Garrison Commander is filled. By none other than Xue Kunsheng, a Commander-in-Chief from the Canglong Province Garrison Command!"

"Xue Kunsheng? From the Xue Family of Canglong State City?" Chen Ping’an’s eyes narrowed.

"Precisely. Xue Kunsheng is a Xue Clan Elder and a true Profound Light Peak Master. He’s known by the moniker, the Vajra Demon-subduing Chain! Ranked two hundred and thirty-third on the Dragon and Tiger Chart, he once single-handedly fought three absolute masters, leaving two dead and one fleeing. He wields his Vajra Demon-subduing Chain with supernatural proficiency; it’s perfect for both offense and defense. His signature weapon, the Gold and Silver Dual Chains, was custom-forged by a Master Blacksmith to complement the Divine Skill he cultivates. The Golden Chain and Silver Chain each have unique properties. When activated by the True Qi from his Cultivation Technique, they can provide Vajra Protection and also vanquish demons and annihilate foes! Each of the Gold and Silver Dual Chains, on its own, is a Fine Treasure Artifact. But when used together, with their synergistic effects, their combined value exceeds that of three Fine Treasure Artifacts!"

Mu Wanjun shared a great deal of information about Xue Kunsheng.

"A master from the Dragon and Tiger Chart?" A solemn look appeared on Chen Ping’an’s face. "Ranked two hundred and thirty-third!"

There are three hundred and sixty masters on the Dragon and Tiger Chart.

That might sound like a large number, but it encompasses the entire Daqian Dynasty. The Dynasty’s territory is vast, and across that entire expanse, there are only three hundred and sixty masters on the Dragon and Tiger Chart.

This just goes to show how rare the masters on the Dragon and Tiger Chart are. To make the list, it’s not enough to have simply cultivated the Profound Light Realm to its limit, nor is it just about inheriting a Divine Skill. Those on the chart have cultivated their techniques to an exceedingly profound level, developed their own unique combat styles, and mastered devastating Slaughter Secret Techniques and hidden trump cards. Only by achieving all of this could one possibly ascend to the Dragon and Tiger People Chart.

In fact, the Vajra Unbreakable inheritance Chen Ping’an had received came from just such a master on the Dragon and Tiger Chart. Of course, that was a figure from over seventy years ago: the Mountain Elder, who had been ranked one hundred and seventy-third.

Chen Ping’an hadn’t expected the Vice Garrison Commander of Beicang Town to be a master from the Dragon and Tiger Chart.

"I’ve heard that masters on the Dragon and Tiger Chart can contend with a Grandmaster for a short time. I wonder if that’s true?"

Since the topic had come up, Chen Ping’an took the opportunity to express his curiosity. Although Mu Wanjun’s cultivation wasn’t high, she was from the Mu Family, so he figured she would know more than most.

"It’s true." Mu Wanjun’s expression was grave. "Masters ranked at the very bottom of the chart probably can’t manage it, but nearly anyone ranked in the top two hundred can contend with a Grandmaster for a short time. Of course, the higher the rank, the longer they can last. Someone barely in the top two hundred might only hold on for a moment. If they were ranked in the top one hundred, they could last for a considerably longer period. Naturally, ’longer’ is relative. In a protracted battle, a master from the Dragon and Tiger Chart is guaranteed to lose! But if..."

Here, Mu Wanjun paused for a moment. "If someone can rank in the top fifty or sixty of the Dragon and Tiger Chart, they might be able to exchange hundreds of blows with a Grandmaster without being defeated. In a sense, that’s enough to tie down and entangle a Grandmaster! Strategically speaking, at critical moments, they are the equivalent of a Grandmaster!"

"The top fifty or sixty..." Chen Ping’an murmured.