Daqian Martial Saint

As the young woman looked over, everyone present turned to look at Chen Ping’an.

’What’s going on now...?’

The more perceptive people in the crowd guessed the purpose of Lan Yingjun’s visit. They wracked their brains, trying to match the famous prodigies on the Rising Star Chart with the young man before them.

But others were slower to catch on and hadn’t yet grasped the situation. They wondered to themselves, ’Who is this young man?’

JINGLE~ JINGLE~

With sparkling eyes and light steps, the young woman walked up to Chen Ping’an.

As the young woman drew near, Yuan Zutong, who was beside him, let his hand fall to the saber at his waist, preparing to rise and defend his charge.

Chen Ping’an gently raised a hand, motioning for him to remain calm, then lifted his head to look at the beautiful young woman with bright eyes and pearly teeth before him.

At Chen Ping’an’s gesture, Yuan Zutong’s tense body instantly relaxed. But his eyes remained fixed on the young woman. If she made the slightest move, he would shield his master without a moment’s hesitation.

In such a scenario, his ability to successfully protect his master was secondary. What mattered was his attitude—his unwavering resolve!

’Such a commanding presence!’

Some in the crowd who observed this exchange were secretly awed. That brief, casual moment had revealed a bone-deep, commanding presence.

Many of them had, of course, noticed Chen Ping’an sitting by the window. They had just assumed he was some young noble. After all, with Beicang Town now a gathering place for powerful figures, there were plenty of noble sons dressed just like him!

Some had come with their family elders to broaden their horizons, while others were here just for the excitement, hoping to get their hands on some rare treasures.

They had assumed Chen Ping’an was the same. But now, it seemed things weren’t quite so simple!

"Chen Ping’an!"

A gentle smile played on the young woman’s lips as she looked at Chen Ping’an, her eyes bright and her teeth like pearls.

’It’s him!’

As Lan Yingjun spoke his name, realization dawned on many in the crowd.

The prodigy who, at only twenty-one, was ranked twenty-first on the Rising Star Chart!

Moreover, he was a rising star in the Governor System! He was the Outer Trade Road Patrol Envoy for the Long’an Trade Route and concurrently served as the Five Peaks Mountain City Commander! At such a young age, he was already the Garrison Commander of an entire region, holding a position of great power and authority!

Previously, the Trade Route had been in turmoil. This was the man who had overpowered a veteran Profound Light expert, brought the Wei Family of Five Peaks Mountain City to heel, and turned the tide against all odds, guarding the entire city by himself. And because of the incident with the Wu Family Trading Team, he had made quite a name for himself along the outer trade road!

Many among them had heard of Chen Ping’an’s reputation.

It was rumored that he possessed the combat strength of the Profound Light Middle Realm and that his ranking on the Rising Star Chart was an underestimation. His true rank could very well be in the top fifteen.

Due to the time it took for news to travel, the story of how he had hung the head of Li Pingjiang, the Seven Extremes Elder’s disciple, on the walls of Five Peaks Mountain City had not yet reached Beicang Town. And that was to say nothing of his feat of battling three Profound Light experts from the Ten Thousand Demons Sect near Red Maple Mountain!

But even without those stories, as an up-and-coming talent, Chen Ping’an’s reputation was still considerable.

At the very least, many people present had heard his name. They just never expected to see the man himself here today!

"You know me?"

Taking in the refreshing fragrance emanating from the young woman, Chen Ping’an glanced out of the corner of his eye at the old woman standing not far off, a sense of caution rising within him.

’The Five Poison Earth Fiend Palm!’

’She’s famous for her poisons; I can’t afford to underestimate her!’

’Luckily, my Vajra Unbreakable Divine Skill is versatile and offers a certain degree of resistance to poison!’

"Of course! I know all the prodigies on the Rising Star Chart," Lan Yingjun said, nodding matter-of-factly.

"But I don’t know you." As he spoke, the Profound Light between his brows flickered faintly as he tried to sense the young woman’s Martial Arts Realm.

"Oh!" the young woman exclaimed with a touch of charming innocence. "I forgot to introduce myself! My name is Lan Yingjun, and my ambition is to challenge all the great prodigies of our time! I came here tonight specifically to challenge you, Mang Blade, the Mang Vajra!"

Her eyes shone with a brilliant light as she gazed intently at Chen Ping’an.

’A Concealing Technique, I see.’ Chen Ping’an mentally shook his head. His Profound Light Sensing had just failed to perceive the young woman’s Martial Arts Realm. When he had sent out his Profound Light to probe her, her entire body seemed to be shrouded in a white mist that obscured his perception.

’Unless I fully activate my Profound Light Spirituality and force a reading, I really won’t be able to determine her Martial Arts Realm. But if I were to do that...’

Chen Ping’an shot a wary glance at Lan Yingying, the wielder of the Five Poison Earth Fiend Palm, who stood not far away.

’With a Pseudo Grandmaster like her present, how could I dare use my full power? If I’m not careful, I might reveal my True Realm. The risk isn’t worth the reward!’

"So, it is Miss Lan herself!" Chen Ping’an said, cupping his hands in a fist-and-palm salute. "Though I have only just arrived in Beicang, I have heard of your renown, Miss Lan. To defeat the prodigy of the Lin Family in a single move... such skill is beyond me. I admit I am no match for you and willingly concede."

Now, facing her in person, Chen Ping’an’s Profound Light Sensing had been unable to penetrate to Lan Yingjun’s True Realm.

Common rumor had it that Lan Yingjun possessed the combat strength of the Profound Light Middle Realm. But Chen Ping’an had a nagging suspicion that she was even stronger than the rumors suggested and was hiding quite a few tricks up her sleeve!

’Her strength is an unknown variable, which makes the situation unpredictable. There’s no need to ask for trouble!’

’With my current perspective, I’m long past the stage of squabbling over rankings on the Rising Star Chart. My sights are set higher now, on becoming a true powerhouse, on reaching the Grandmaster Realm! The only thing I want is to test myself against the experts of the older generation!’

’Fighting someone like Lan Yingjun offers no benefits, only a heap of potential trouble. Given that, it’s better not to fight at all!’

’Mmm...’