Daqian Martial Saint

’It’s just a matter of landing one more slash!’

Just as the thought flashed through Li Pingjiang’s mind, the palm and the blade collided violently.

BOOM!

Golden light and a spectral glow clashed fiercely, erupting in a blinding flash against the dark night. An invisible shockwave of energy radiated from the point of impact, kicking up a fierce gale that swept away everything nearby.

An indescribable, colossal force slammed into him. Li Pingjiang was thrown backward, the impact jolting his Qi Blood into chaos.

PTHOO!

A sweet taste filled his throat, and he violently spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.

"How is this possible!?"

That single palm strike terrified Li Pingjiang so much he felt his soul was about to leave his body.

Even an Absolute Master would have to treat his slash with utmost seriousness, perhaps even retreat. Yet his opponent had merely waved a hand, and he was sent flying backward, his attack shattered with casual ease.

He had only ever witnessed such Palm Power from his Eldest Senior Brother!

’Mang Blade Chen Ping’an’s true strength isn’t his Sword Skill, it’s his Palm Technique!’ Li Pingjiang was utterly horrified, his eyes nearly splitting from their sockets as a heart-pounding suspicion surfaced in his mind. ’He hid it so well!’

’Run! Run! Run!’

At this very moment, that was the only thought in Li Pingjiang’s mind.

The Chen Ping’an he had been so eager to find, whom he had worried he’d never meet—now that he had finally met him, all he wanted to do was flee!

’I have to get back as quickly as possible and report this to my Master!’

Chen Ping’an’s strength far exceeded his imagination. With power like this, even if his Eldest Senior Brother took action, victory would not be certain. To kill him, only his Master could succeed! With the might of a Grandmaster, with the overwhelming power of the Orthodox Dao, he could be completely crushed.

The Profound Light between Li Pingjiang’s brows flickered to its absolute brightest as the True Qi in his body surged, preparing to escape.

In his panic, he heard his opponent let out a soft sound of surprise.

"Hm? That slash was rather unique."

As the sound faded, a faint white light flashed past.

PFFT!

Li Pingjiang had no time to dodge. A bloody hole appeared in his chest, and his body came to an abrupt halt. He glanced down. His robes had been completely shredded by the sudden force, revealing a horrifying wound. Blood gushed out like an unrestrained torrent, carrying his life force with it and staining the ground before him crimson.

Within that faint white light, there seemed to be an invisible force that, in the instant it pierced his body, began to churn madly within him. By now, his internal organs had already been completely mangled.

Li Pingjiang’s eyes were wide with disbelief as he stared at the scene before him. He struggled to lift his head, his gaze piercing through the hazy blood mist to look at Chen Ping’an in the distance.

"What... was that technique!?"

Li Pingjiang’s voice trembled. He wanted to understand what that last attack had been.

He couldn’t accept it! He couldn’t accept dying in such a bewildering way!

"Still quite tenacious!"

As the voice sounded, the faint white light flashed again, filling Li Pingjiang’s vision.

This time, he saw it clearly.

It was a Finger Technique!

His opponent had switched from a palm to a finger, and light was flowing at his fingertip!

"So..." Li Pingjiang gave a wretched smile. "His true expertise is a Finger Technique!"

In that moment, time itself seemed to freeze. The world around him ceased to matter as Li Pingjiang’s consciousness began to fade.

Mang Blade? Mang Vajra?

Twenty-third on the Rising Star Chart?

Suspected Profound Light Middle Realm combat strength?

Hahahaha... How pathetic! How lamentable!

He! He couldn’t accept it! After waiting for months, this was the ending he received!

PFFT!

The faint white light passed through his body, and Li Pingjiang fell stiffly to the ground.

Blood sprayed out, soaking the earth.

’Who was that?’

Chen Ping’an flickered and appeared before Li Pingjiang’s corpse. Seeing the man’s eyes wide open in death, his face full of resentment, he felt a bit baffled.

’He attacked me out of nowhere, and when he failed, he looked like he couldn’t accept it! What’s this all about!?’

’I don’t even know the guy!’

’His strength wasn’t bad, and his Sword Skill was peculiar. That last slash should have been at the threshold of the Profound Light High Realm!’

’An expert like that couldn’t be a nobody. He must be famous!’

’Who could it be?’

While pondering, Chen Ping’an bent down and began to search the man’s body.

He didn’t know who the man was, but that didn’t stop him from looting the corpse. Since the man had attacked him, he should have been prepared to be killed!

After a quick search, Chen Ping’an gathered up all the man’s belongings.

’I’ll take these back first and figure it out later!’

Chen Ping’an picked up the man’s Treasure Saber and chopped off his head. Then, looking at the ravaged body, he channeled his Palm Power, and with a BOOM, it exploded into a mist of blood.

Traces of his Three-Point Human Tribulation Finger technique remained on the body. He naturally had to eliminate any risk of exposure by destroying the corpse and erasing all traces.

’Back to Five Peaks Mountain City!’

...

The sun began to rise, its brilliant rays shining down upon Five Peaks Mountain City.

"Did you hear?"

"What? You just blurt that out with no context. Who could understand you!"

"Haha, my bad, my bad. I’m saying, the Lord Commander is back!"

"What? The Lord Commander is back!? When?"

"Just this morning, at the crack of dawn!"

"Huh? Didn’t the Lord Commander just leave? How is he back so soon!"

"Don’t interrupt, let me finish!"

"Go on, go on!"

"When the Lord Commander returned to the city, he was carrying a severed head! The head had a baleful look, its eyes were wide open—it died with a grievance. The scene, let me tell you, hisss... just thinking about it now gives me the creeps!"

"You’re such a coward. With the Lord Commander watching over the mountain city, what’s there to be afraid of! Keep talking!"

"You’re right. I’ll continue..."

"..."

Given Chen Ping’an’s current status, he naturally attracted a great deal of attention. Since he hadn’t made any effort to hide his movements, the news of his return quickly spread throughout Five Peaks Mountain City.

The Wei Family.

Wei Zhixing was lying in a Leisurely Armchair, listening to the report from the Patriarch, Wei Zhenheng.

"You’re saying that when Lord Chen returned this morning, he was carrying a severed head!?"

"Yes, Third Grand-Uncle," Wei Zhenheng replied with a bow.

"Have you found out who the head belongs to!?" Wei Zhixing raised his head slightly.

He was rather curious, and several possibilities ran through his mind. Some poor, blind fool must have provoked the Lord Commander again!

"Not yet! The Lord Commander held onto the head the whole time, so our men only got a few glances. However, we’ve already arranged for an artist to sketch the face based on verbal descriptions. We should have something in a little while!"

"Good!" Wei Zhixing sank back into the Leisurely Armchair and began to rock. "This Lord Commander of ours... he has great depth. Everything he does has a deeper meaning. From now on, you are to report anything and everything involving him to me!"

"Yes, Third Grand-Uncle!"

...

Besides the Wei Family, the various other powers and experts in Five Peaks Mountain City had also heard the news of Chen Ping’an returning with a severed head.

Eagle Claw Meng Yude was packing his things, preparing to set off for Beicang Town early the next morning. He, too, heard the news from within the Wu Family’s residence.

Over the past few days, he had sorted out the cause and effect of Wu Tianqi’s matter, writing it all down in a letter and sending it by express messenger to the Wu Family. However, the Wu Family’s main branch was far away in Earth Fire County. The letter was likely still on its way, to say nothing of a reply, which he wouldn’t be receiving any time soon.

’Returning with a severed head? What’s this all about?’

Eagle Claw Meng Yude was puzzled.

This Lord Commander was becoming more and more inscrutable.

...

Five Peaks Mountain Town Pacification Bureau.

"Lord Commander!"

"Greetings, Lord Commander!"

"May the Lord Commander be well!"

Upon returning to the Garrison Commandant’s Office, Chen Ping’an was naturally greeted by a crowd of subordinates. After hearing the news, Deputy Commander Zhong Shanyong also hurried out from inside the Garrison Commandant’s Office to welcome him.

"This subordinate greets you, my lord. I pray for your well-being!" Zhong Shanyong said, bowing with his hands clasped in a gesture of respect.

Chen Ping’an gave a slight nod in response. He strode into the Garrison Commandant’s Office and gave an order to Zhong Shanyong.

"Zhong Shanyong, I have a task for you."

"My lord, please speak," Zhong Shanyong replied, scrambling to keep up and clasping his hands.

"Pass this down. Find out who this man is!" As he spoke, Chen Ping’an tossed the head in his hand to Zhong Shanyong.

Zhong Shanyong caught the head and respectfully accepted the order.

"Yes, my lord."

Cradling the head, Zhong Shanyong followed closely behind Chen Ping’an, reporting on the events of the past two days.

"A new appointment has come from the Weishui Garrison?" Chen Ping’an’s expression flickered as he listened to Zhong Shanyong’s report.

"Yes, my lord. The letter was escorted by a Special Envoy, who specifically stated that it concerns a new appointment for you, my lord!

In addition to the appointment document, the Special Envoy from the Weishui Garrison also brought another letter. After I made some inquiries, I learned it was sent directly from the Canglong Province Garrison Command. It was routed through Weishui County for the Weishui Garrison to forward to us."