The Great Martial Saint!

Chapter 979 The Grand Master Arrives in Person, the Power of the Throne

"By the way, Ji Shulan is incredibly talented and is the most promising candidate among the Bi Cang royal princes to achieve the Great Cultivation Realm. Why did the Bi Cang Prince's Mansion directly appoint him and specify the candidate? The factional strife is not a good thing for the Bi Cang Prince's Mansion these days!" A celestial being stroked his beard and sighed.

"Since ancient times, the struggle for the throne has always been filled with iron and blood. How can it be settled with just a few words? Furthermore, although Ji Shulan is talented, he is not talented enough to completely set him apart from the others. If he were like Mang Dao, I'm afraid the position of Prince would be a foregone conclusion."

"Yes, if there is such a prodigy, he is destined to become a Grand Master of the Celestial Realm. Even if the internal factions have their own opinions, they will probably compromise in the face of such a candidate. After all, only when the Bicang County Prince's Mansion is doing well can the interests of the various factions below be protected. A powerful ruler who is expected to become a Grand Master, and even make the Bicang County Prince's Mansion even better, is what everyone hopes to see."

"."

Chen Ping'an hadn't expected that in just a few words, the conversation would circle back to him.

"A prodigy like Mang Dao, who has already reached the Martial Arts Celestial Realm before the age of thirty, would surely amaze even those of us with our limited perspective. However, such prodigies are extremely rare in this world. For any powerful force, they are even more so, something that can be encountered but not sought after."

With such a prodigy, who would abandon the essential for the trivial and choose someone else? A celestial being sighed with admiration, his words revealing his high regard for Chen Ping'an.

His words naturally drew responses from many celestial beings, but some remained indifferent, seemingly unconcerned.

While prodigies are rare, there are still a few among their generation.

Taking the first step leads to continuous progress, but taking one step forward doesn't guarantee continued progress!

Mang Dao's talent is indeed admirable, but as a mere mortal, he may not go very far in the future.

Judging from the current situation, although there is hope of directly reaching the Great Cultivation of Heaven and Man, who can say what the future holds? It is possible that they will suffer a crushing defeat.

But such thoughts would only linger in one's heart; in such a situation, no celestial being would speak out.

Such upright and honest individuals as the bearded giant were ultimately a minority.

"That's true. However, besides her natural talent, Ji Shulan's biggest weakness is that she is a woman. If she were a man, she would probably be the most popular choice among the current crown princes."

"What a pity! When the differences are similar, these factors will ultimately be taken into consideration."

"Speaking of which, given the current situation, with the Prince's Mansion making frequent moves, that person is probably truly finished." A celestial being gazed intently, a thoughtful expression on his face, his words still showing considerable reluctance to mention the name of the Prince.

For celestial beings like them, having heard of the reputation of the Prince of Bicang and his journey through life, they held him in high esteem.

"I'm afraid it's really not going to work. He was already old, and his lifespan was running out. He even forced himself to fight back at Longque Pass. He was critically ill for more than ten years. Even with the power of heaven and earth to nourish him and the secret medicine to keep him going, I'm afraid it's difficult for him to continue now."

"Having traversed 1,500 years of turbulent history, now... it's time for the curtain to fall." A celestial being gazed wistfully into the distance: "But I wonder... who will succeed to the throne and steer this colossal ship in the future?"

Regarding the Prince of Bicang's residence, the Celestials present only touched upon it superficially, without engaging in in-depth discussions. However, judging from their expressions, each person likely held their own opinion. In fact, some of the Celestials present had already expressed their intention to take sides.

Throughout history, changes in power and reshaping of power structures have always been opportunities for seizing the initiative and distributing benefits. At the level of a celestial being, such dramatic shifts are manageable unless one delves into the core secrets, ensuring one's safety.

However, from a celestial perspective, merely protecting oneself is far from sufficient. Such an opportunity for change would be wasted. If one could choose a side and establish a firm foothold, success would bring immense benefits to oneself and one's family.

Of course, there are also some celestial beings who remain detached, observing the matter with a tranquil mind and watching how things unfold.

However, even those who have reached such a level, situated at the center of the vortex, are ultimately only a minority. While some celestial beings will not gamble their lives, fortunes, or the families behind them, they will still get involved in such a powerful situation, scheming and plotting their own schemes.

Even just standing by and offering encouragement is better than doing nothing.

Having become a celestial being, one's nature will inevitably possess the courage to take risks.

The topics discussed in the small meeting, besides things like the Prince of Bicang's mansion, also included some cultivation insights, as well as the ultimate admiration and longing for the Great Cultivation of Celestials.

There are high expectations for the upcoming Baosha Sanren event.

"The grand ceremony of the Grand Cultivator's personal visit to Bicang has not been held since the Prince fell critically ill. Its reappearance now is truly a magnificent sight!"

Previously, during the height of his power, the Prince of Bicang often had great cultivators come and go to discuss the Dao. The celestial beings in Bicang Prefecture City could also often witness the great cultivators' demeanor.

However, in recent years, such occurrences have become increasingly rare. When the Prince was critically ill, not a single one occurred.

Among the dominant forces in the surrounding area, such as the Luanming Sect, the Qingmu Sect, and the Guyue Clan, the Bi Cang County Prince's Mansion holds the most prestigious and unparalleled position.

On the one hand, it comes from the unique advantage of being enfeoffed by bloodline, and on the other hand, it comes from the prestige and connections of the Prince of Bicang.

In terms of combat strength, the Prince of Bi Cang may not be as powerful as Gu Yuezhong, the chief cultivator of the Gu Yue clan.

However, in terms of prestige, Gu Yue is not as important as the Prince of Bicang.

In recent years, however, the Prince of Bicang has been traveling less and his prestige has declined.

Now that he is about to pass away, it is time for him to leave this world and let bygones be bygones.

I've heard that there's another reason that might trace back to Longque Pass.

The small meeting yielded little in terms of supplies, leaving Chen Ping'an somewhat dissatisfied. However, he was extremely pleased with the post-trade meeting and discussions.

As the meeting drew to a close and the conversations subsided, Chen Ping'an prepared to leave.

Before leaving, several celestial beings came forward to greet them, including the burly man with the bushy beard who approached with a smile.

"Fellow Daoist, you look unfamiliar. Are you new to Bi Cang?"

The other party was interested in making friends, but Chen Ping'an wasn't very interested and dismissed him with a few words.

Having been away since childhood, Chen Ping'an concealed his tracks all the way, changing his identity several times to ensure there were no slip-ups before quietly returning to Qingchi Courtyard.

After returning to Qingchi Courtyard, he began to practice the Guanghan Sword Technique.

At this small meeting, he gained a deeper understanding of the prestige and status of the Great Cultivation of Heaven and Man.

The reason why the Great Cultivation of the Celestials is called the Great Cultivation is that it has an unparalleled height and prestige among ordinary celestials.

Even a great cultivator like Baosha Sanren from the Western Wilderness has many admirers in the land of Bi Cang.

What is truly admired is not the other party's charismatic personality, but rather their absolute overwhelming combat power.

In addition, he gained a more genuine understanding of the terrain and intelligence on the forces within the Northern Territory.

Unlike the accounts in books and biographies, this experience was more in-depth and truly lived in real life.

Chixiao Alliance, Xihuang Tribe, Xihuang City

And then there's the Left Alliance Leader of the Crimson Cloud Alliance, a true martial arts master.

This was the first time in his real-life experience that he had come into contact with a Great Celestial Being of the Fourth Realm through the words of another person. He gained a comprehensive understanding of their strategic level, influence, and combat prowess.

This also briefly introduces information such as the acquired constitution.

hum~

The spiritual light gradually dimmed, and the divine soul gradually disappeared.

After finishing his training in the Guanghan Sword Technique, Chen Ping'an began to study various cultivation methods.

Now that the Three-Part Return to Origin True Scroll has been completed, he doesn't need to spend much time on it. The Soul Guiding Technique has also been improved, so he doesn't need to devote any energy to it for the time being.

He devoted all his time to studying the Soul-Suppressing Technique, the Yin Bone Flame Technique, and the Avici Thunder Sound.

In addition, there are other techniques such as the inheritance of forbidden techniques, the refinement of the Broken Green Lotus, the perfection of the Seven Absolute Forbidden Techniques, and the refining of the Illusionary Dream Pearl.

Based on this, Chen Ping'an added an extra secret recipe for the Hundred Poisons Water.

Concocting the Hundred Poisons Water is quite difficult, but he had similar experience before, and with the support of his poison-related lineage and cultivation level, this matter wouldn't be too difficult once the medicinal properties were analyzed.

Strictly speaking, all the matters combined would take up too much time, but fortunately, the Soul Guiding Technique and the Three-Part Return to Origin True Scroll don't need to be worried about for the time being.

Without suitable true blood, the Qingyang Blood Refining Method has come to a temporary halt and no longer requires cultivation.

Under these circumstances, even if we manage to allocate the necessary resources, we can still meet Chen Ping'an's expectations.

Over the next few days, he devoted all his energy to these matters. The most important of these was, of course, his cultivation of martial arts techniques, which was the foundation of his existence, the very core of everything, and the key to everything.

If there is a conflict between the relevant matters, then everything should prioritize the cultivation.

Everything else can be put aside for now. Chen Ping'an didn't expect that shortly after he finished attending the small meeting and heard about Bao Sha Sanren, he would hear that the other party had arrived in Bicang Prefecture City.

During the great repair of the Western Wilderness, Bao Sha Sanren descended upon the city of Bi Cang Prefecture in a yellow sand cart, carrying a sky full of precious light.

On the day of the arrival, all the forces in Bi Cang Prefecture came out to welcome him.

In the end, Ji Dongqing happily welcomed the other party into the city.

"Ji Dongqing?"

Chen Ping'an never expected that this Baosha Sanren could be connected with Ji Dongqing.

Sure enough, their arrival in Bicang was not so simple.

Considering the current situation in Bi Cang, this Bao Sha Sanren is probably a powerful external ally invited by Ji Dongqing.

At least, that's how it appears on the surface.

As for how much assistance the other party is willing to provide, that remains to be seen.

Such secrets are probably unknown even to Ji Dongqing's closest confidants.

The existence of Baosha Sanren is an invisible deterrent to other factions.

Even a mere verbal statement will garner extreme attention from all factions. Not to mention the additional planning and considerations that arise from it, involving countless other parties.

It can be said that Baosha Sanren's use of this card was extremely ingenious.

Its appearance was perfectly timed; in the current situation in Bicang, it was like a boulder being thrown in, stirring up countless waves of noise.

Chen Ping'an walked around outside and heard news of Bao Sha Sanren everywhere.

Ji Dongqing came out to greet him, and Baosha Sanren smiled and agreed. The two shared a meal and chatted for a long time before Baosha Sanren finally left.

"Baosha Sanren's move is almost an open declaration; he's making his stance clear!"

"What exactly did Ji Dongqing use to persuade Baosha Sanren to stand up and support him? He's a Celestial Realm cultivator! Even a simple statement of stance is crucial to the selection of the throne! Not to mention, there might be other supportive influences that we can't see."

"I thought Ji Xuanmo's fate was sealed, but I never expected such a change. The situation in Bicang is becoming increasingly turbulent."

"Now, let's see how the others respond."

"."

Similar sentiments were prevalent in the city's discourse. The reaction to this matter was particularly pronounced among high-end circles.

The appearance of the Celestial Master and his subsequent attitude have caused a subtle shift in public opinion.

The situation is gradually tilting in Ji Dongqing's favor.

"How could this be!"

Ji Xuanmo's veins bulged, and his expression was grim. The image he usually maintained was now difficult to maintain.

"Baosha Sanren, a Grand Master of the Celestial Realm! How could no one have discovered such a significant event beforehand? What's the point of issuing a warning after he's already entered the city?!"

Ji Xuanmo's expression was so somber it seemed like he was about to burst into tears, and his aura was so oppressive it was suffocating.

"Your Highness, please calm down."

"Calm down? The situation was almost settled, victory was assured, and then this major turn of events occurred. If you were in my shoes, how could you possibly calm down?"

The crowd fell silent, trembling with fear, and remained speechless for a long time.

"Haha, Elder Yan deserves the most credit for this action."

Inside the Martial Pavilion, Ji Dongqing, wearing a hair crown and a black robe, was beaming with excitement and joy.

"Your Highness flatters me. I was merely fulfilling my duty." The old man's expression was humble, but his eyes betrayed an undisguised smugness.

This trip to Baosha Sanren was entirely orchestrated by him. Countless efforts were invested in paving the way for what we see today.

"Elder Yan, there's no need for modesty. I've always been fair in rewarding and punishing." Ji Dongqing's expression was bold and ambitious: "Once this matter is settled, we'll celebrate with a big toast."

Upon hearing this, the old man bowed deeply and respectfully congratulated him, saying, "Your Highness is virtuous in both civil and military affairs, and the time is right for you to rule! May Heaven bless Your Highness!"

"Your Highness Tianyou!"

The members of the Martial Pavilion all spoke up and bowed to the ground.

Among the crowd, a scholar in a Confucian robe felt that this was too ostentatious, but seeing that His Highness was completely engrossed, he did not want to spoil the fun and joined the others in offering their congratulations.

Ji Dongqing stood at the head of the table, looking at the congratulatory crowd, among whom were scholars in Confucian robes, and he felt even more satisfied.

The other party is intelligent and a capable advisor to him. Previously, the other party had strongly advocated winning over Mang Dao and had not supported his current actions.

Seeing the other party's attitude, he was naturally delighted.

There are countless talented people in the world, but to achieve success, one must know how to use them.

As the other party had previously suggested, he tried his best to win over Mang Dao. Although he did not adopt the suggestion, he did reassure the other party so that they would not be disheartened.

In retrospect, his choice was correct.

While winning over the Mangdao clan might offer some benefits, it would alienate the Guyue clan, making it a losing proposition.

It would be far better to directly offer substantial benefits and invite Baosha Sanren to endorse the company.

Even just his overt attitude is enough to change his situation in many ways.

Previously, he was slightly inferior to Ji Xuanmo and could only be subordinate to him.

But today, the situation has changed!

Under such circumstances, great things can be accomplished!

另外

A flame ignited in Ji Dongqing's eyes.

If he agrees to the other party's conditions, Baosha Sanren can help him go even further.

It's not just about expressing a stance.

To exert more influence in the struggle for the throne.

In such circumstances, the advantages are far beyond what Chen Ping'an, the ruthless swordsman, could match.

"The true lineage of Azure Azure!"

Ji Dongqing was overwhelmed with emotion and could hardly express it.

Never before had he felt the title of Prince so close to him.

An unprecedented closeness.

So close that he could easily reach out and touch it, thus gaining a high position.

Within the clear pond courtyard, a spiritual light emanated, and divine souls seemed to tremble and emerge.

hum~

Chen Ping'an's eyes narrowed, and a panel appeared.

"Experience complete!" (End of Chapter)