nownovels Chapter 1026 Huanglong Meeting: A Head-to-Head Standoff
Chapter 1026 Huanglong Meeting: A Head-to-Head Standoff
"Welcome, fellow Daoist."
Inside the Huanglong Tower's Cloud Pavilion, an elderly man with white hair stood respectfully in front to greet them.
The old man was dressed in a yellow robe, his face showing deep wrinkles. He looked old, but upon closer inspection, one could see the vitality emanating from within him.
"I, Huang Shoudao, will preside over this small meeting."
The old man smiled, his face like a vigorous old tree, exuding an air of elegance.
"Greetings, fellow Daoist."
Chen Ping'an nodded slightly and cupped his hands in acknowledgment.
"A long-established major overhaul, huh?"
With just a glance, he was able to roughly determine the other party's cultivation level. Although not exactly accurate, it was obviously close enough to be correct.
As expected of Wentian's top-tier gathering, the first impression was that of a veteran master cultivator.
On their first meeting, and given the special occasion of the small gathering, the two exchanged pleasantries but didn't say much. After a brief exchange, Chen Ping'an went inside.
The Yellow Dragon Tower, though not quite as grand as the Heavenly Pavilion, is still extraordinary in its magnificence. This Cloud Pavilion, located on the top floor of the Yellow Dragon Tower, is surrounded by specially crafted crystal walls, making it feel as if one is in a palace in the clouds.
The interior of the Cloud Pavilion is exceptionally decorated, with wispy white mist swirling around, creating an atmosphere as if one were in the heavens.
"The environment is quite unique."
Chen Ping'an secretly agreed.
As expected of a top-tier small conference, its sheer scale far surpasses any of the smaller conferences I've attended before.
They sat down behind a long jade table, where precious fruits and wines were laid out, like fine nectar.
Looking around, there were already quite a few cultivators who had arrived at the gathering.
Among them were many highly skilled cultivators, each with their own distinct aura, who mostly looked at him, the newcomer, with curiosity.
Among them, a middle-aged man in a wide robe glanced around before his eyes fell upon them.
"Newly upgraded major repair."
The middle-aged man shook his head and then looked away.
"Brother Zhou, if we are both interested in the treasures in this transaction, I wonder if we could part with a few?"
A deep, resonant voice transmitted to his ear. The middle-aged man in the long robe remained calm, raised his wine cup, took a sip, and responded with the transmitted voice.
Chen Ping'an sat behind his desk, quietly waiting for the meeting to begin, without exchanging pleasantries with anyone.
As a newcomer, he should keep a low profile. As for when he should be more high-profile, that depends on whether there are any items in the small-scale transactions that interest him.
From time to time, there were fluctuations of divine souls coming from the arena. Chen Ping'an closed his eyes slightly and sensed them for a few moments.
Judging from the fluctuations in their spiritual energy, most of the cultivators in the arena were not as strong as him.
Sensing a little bit is not a problem.
Outside the Cloud Pavilion, greetings could be heard from time to time, indicating that cultivators were arriving continuously.
Although this meeting was of the highest caliber, the proportion of major overhauls was still only a minority.
Among those present were juniors who had come with the Grand Cultivator, senior Celestials with impressive backgrounds and identities, and even some half-step Grand Cultivators.
The arrival of an elderly woman with silver hair attracted a lot of attention, and many of the staff members stood up to greet her.
Such a scene had never been seen before in the previous process.
Clearly, the other party's identity is extraordinary, unlike that of an ordinary cultivator.
Amidst the pleasantries of the group, Chen Ping'an learned the other party's identity: Qing Linghua, one of the great ancestors of the Qing family, known as Qing Fu Zhe Mei Shou.
"The Green-Haired Plum Blossom Hand?"
Chen Ping'an's heart stirred, and he vaguely recalled the other party's deeds and titles.
In the past, while browsing through ancient books, I came across a biography of the person in one of the records. He was one of the most renowned cultivators in Wentian City.
He has a history of defeats against veteran cultivators, and in terms of combat strength, he should be a powerful cultivator, second only to the top cultivators.
What truly made the opponent famous was not their battle record, but their renowned talisman-making skills.
It is said that Qing Linghua can create fourth-grade high-quality talismans, and even great cultivators of the same realm often rely on her.
Chen Ping'an glanced at it briefly, then looked away.
Qing Linghua was a woman of exceptional talent and beauty, renowned throughout Wentian City. However, the world is merciless, and with the passage of time, she has become an old woman with a full head of silver hair.
Only faint traces of her former glory remain in the outline of her eyebrows and eyes.
The old woman from the Qing family entered the Inner Cloud Pavilion, looked around, and took in the entire scene inside.
She had been in Wentian for many years, and knew most of her fellow practitioners.
There was a major overhaul in the venue, and only a few people were present, whom she had never seen before.
This made me pay more attention to it.
This naturally included Chen Ping'an, who was sitting behind the jade table. However, seeing that the other party's aura was ordinary and not at its peak, she quickly withdrew her gaze.
Although both are major overhauls, there are differences in their quality.
Someone like her is no match for seasoned, established cultivators. Let alone a newly promoted cultivator with ordinary aura?
Nowadays, much of the attention people receive is simply because the person looks unfamiliar.
Chen Ping'an was satisfied that his calm and low-key demeanor did not attract much attention.
With the arrival of the last major repairman, the trading session officially began.
"It is a great honor to invite all of you to participate in this trade fair. This trade fair is organized by..."
The Huang family is undergoing major repairs. Huang Shoudao, the old man who had previously exchanged pleasantries with Chen Ping'an, is the host of this trade fair. He is in the center of the Cloud Pavilion, amidst the misty clouds, responsible for warming up the atmosphere and enlivening the ambiance.
"Fellow practitioners, you've come here not to listen to my ramblings. Enough with the small talk, let's get straight to the point. Brother Zhou, your Zhou family has a vast treasury with countless treasures; I'm sure you've brought quite a few good things to this gathering. How about you start?"
As they were talking, Huang Shoudao, who was in charge of the Huang family's major repairs, politely cupped his hands and gestured to the middle-aged man in a long robe behind a jade table not far away.
"Fellow Daoist Huang, you are too kind." The middle-aged man in the long robe rose slightly and replied with a smile, "No matter how rich my Zhou family is, it is a family property and has nothing to do with me."
However, since Fellow Daoist Huang has spoken, I will offer my initial thoughts to set the stage for this transaction.
The middle-aged man in the long robe spoke modestly, but the items he brought out for the transaction were truly extraordinary, causing many half-step Grand Cultivators and seasoned Celestials to tremble with fear.
"Ice Soul Cold Water!"
Chen Ping'an's gaze sharpened; he hadn't expected to find what he wanted in the very first transaction.
It's truly a very auspicious sign that everything will go smoothly and as you wish.
From the conversations of the people present, he also learned the identities of the other party: Zhou Dingyuan, the chief cultivator of the Zhou family, one of the three great families of Wentian.
A highly experienced veteran repairman, comparable to a powerful repairman.
"In addition to the items that are given priority in the transaction, some rare resources can also be used as a discount. Fellow practitioners present who are interested can contact us privately."
As the Zhou family underwent major renovations, Zhou Dingyuan smiled and sat back down behind the jade desk.
The venue underwent major repairs, with participants taking turns showcasing their wares and trading with each other. All inquiries were communicated via telepathic communication, and this process continued without delaying the overall progress.
As soon as Zhou Dingyuan sat down, he heard a series of telepathic messages in his ears.
He was not surprised by this situation. The items he brought were rare and precious, so it was not surprising that they were sought after by many people.
"A bunch of rogue cultivators, how could they know the treasures hidden in my Zhou family's treasury?"
Zhou Dingyuan raised his wine glass, smiled smugly, and his expression carried a hint of detachment and superiority, as if he were looking down on all living beings.
"Fellow Daoist Zhou, if this Ice Soul Cold Water were valued in Yuan Crystals, what would its price be?"
A strange divine soul transmission sounded in Zhou Dingyuan's ear. He couldn't help but pay attention and looked closely, only to find that it was from the great cultivator he had previously been following.
The other party looked unfamiliar, obviously someone I had never met before, but judging from their aura, they were probably a newly promoted master cultivator who had recently broken through.
"Trade in Yuan Crystals?"
A hint of mockery flickered in Zhou Dingyuan's heart, but it quickly vanished.
“No.” He resolutely refused through his soul: “I advocate barter and do not accept transactions involving Yuan Crystals. If you are interested, you may use fourth-tier spiritual items or other rare items for the transaction.”
Chen Ping'an wasn't surprised by Zhou Dingyuan's rejection.
At the level of major repairs, while elemental crystals are still traded, they are not essential. The trade of some rare resources may not be measured in elemental crystals.
It is usually done in the form of supplementary payment.
However, since Yuan Crystals contain the primordial energy of heaven and earth, they still have many wonderful uses if the quantity is sufficient. This is especially true for puppeteers and formation masters.
The great cultivation of heaven and man involves people of different personalities. Not everyone is willing to be a good old man; there are many who are upright and outspoken.
However, in the previous transaction presentation, Zhou Dingyuan spoke politely and communicated with relative humility. Why is he so direct in this private conversation?
Chen Ping'an was somewhat surprised by this, but he didn't pay too much attention to it.
A little emotional fluctuation is nothing; the important thing is to get things done.
Without backing down, he began to communicate with the other party. After several rounds of deliberation and negotiation, he finally traded a few fourth-tier spiritual plants and a bottle of unused pills for a substantial amount of Ice Soul Cold Water.
The money and goods were exchanged smoothly, and he obtained the Ice Soul Cold Water from the other party without any trouble. Looking at the Ice Soul Cold Water in front of him, he was quite pleased.
"With this amount, the most basic needs for adding and modifying exotic items can be considered met."
The transaction went smoothly and successfully, making a great start. Chen Ping'an was in a good mood and couldn't help but look forward to the next transaction.
"The quality is acceptable, and it's not exactly a scoundrel."
Zhou Dingyuan examined the spiritual resources he had acquired from Chen Ping'an and was fairly satisfied with the transaction.
"He seems to be quite wealthy. I wonder what his background is?"
He glanced at the refined-looking man in the distance, secretly speculating in his mind.
Breaking through to a higher realm usually requires a great deal of planning, and even with deep reserves, such an experience would result in significant losses. The opponent appears to be a recent entrant; given their resources, they are unlikely to be a rogue cultivator.
Of course, what also led him to make this judgment was the other party's cultivation aura. There was not much murderous energy, indicating a peaceful temperament and a methodical approach to cultivation.
Unlike those combative and belligerent people.
Such temperament is unlikely to be found among independent cultivators.
Independent cultivators, especially the strong ones among them, fight against the heavens, the earth, and their fellow cultivators. Without this fighting spirit, they cannot rise to prominence.
He glanced sideways, lost in thought, but didn't dwell on it for long before focusing his attention on the upcoming transaction and the occasional telepathic messages he heard.
He's just an ordinary cultivator, even if he has some background, how strong can he be?
He smiled silently, content, and took a sip of the spirit wine.
Following the major renovation of the Zhou family and Zhou Dingyuan, a series of celestial beings attended the meeting, traded and displayed their products, explained their value, and expressed their needs.
Unfortunately, aside from the initial infrared flash sale, Chen Ping'an didn't get any more useful supplies from the subsequent transactions.
When it was his turn, he displayed several rare spiritual herbs, a cold jade bone, and two precious treasures.
These supplies were accumulated by him over the years, and their origins were not publicly known, so he did not worry that they would expose his identity.
"Fellow Daoist, I am quite interested in this tortoise shell. How about trading it for some kind of pill?"
"."
As soon as Chen Ping'an's transaction was displayed, a voice transmission from his soul rang in his ears.
With so many people attending the meeting and their needs clashing, his limited supplies were quickly sold out.
To this end, Chen Ping'an acquired some cold water and spiritual resources, as well as some supplementary elemental crystals.
"Cold water?"
Although the trading and exhibition were conducted discreetly, the trading process still attracted the attention of those who were interested.
During the major renovation of the Zhou family's residence, Zhou Dingyuan also discovered one of the items involved in the transaction.
"Is the procuring of icy spiritual water a secret technique for cultivation, or is it required for a specific cultivation method?" he wondered to himself.
The trading meeting proceeded smoothly and efficiently, with all procedures being followed quickly.
The little expectation Chen Ping'an had left had already been almost completely extinguished.
But towards the end of the transaction, an old man in a gray robe appeared at the trade fair, and he saw the item he needed again.
"Fellow Daoist, how about trading this jar of Yellow Spring Soil?"
Without hesitation, Chen Ping'an used his divine soul to communicate with the other party.
Yellow Spring Soil, Yin Bone Flame Technique, Three-Stage Bone Flame, is one of the traction materials required.
He is now at the second stage of Bone Flame and has begun cultivation. His Nether Flame is complete, and it's only a matter of time before he reaches perfection.
Under such circumstances, it is only natural to plan ahead for the objects that will attract the three stages of bone flame.
"This jar of Yellow Spring Soil has already attracted the attention of other fellow Daoists. If you have no intention of competing for it, you may take a look at other items."
A chilling voice echoed in his ears; it was the gray-robed old monster's reply.
"Other fellow Daoists?"
Chen Ping'an focused his mind and sensed the fluctuations in his divine soul, and soon detected a fluctuation within it.
Following the ripples, one could see a pale-faced old man dressed in white bone scale armor and holding a bone staff. His aura was sinister, and he did not seem to be a righteous person.
"Fellow Daoist, it's alright, just set a price."
Without the slightest hesitation, Chen Ping'an revealed his attitude and showed his competitive spirit.
"Since you have made up your mind, then there is no problem."
The gray-robed old man glanced at Chen Ping'an with a sinister smile and immediately quoted a price.
As far as he was concerned, although he was not someone to be offended by the old ghost on the other side, since it was a transaction, it should be a fair competition, with the highest bidder going first.
This also aligns with his interests.
Yellow Spring Soil is extremely rare, especially the trace of Yin and Nether Qi on it, which is the key to Chen Ping'an's cultivation of the third stage of Yin Bone Netherfire.
Given such an opportunity, Chen Ping'an would naturally not give it up easily.
He is now very wealthy, so he can withstand some competition.
They weren't the only ones eyeing the Yellow Spring Soil, but as the price competition intensified, only Chen Ping'an and the pale-faced old man with the bone staff remained in the competition.
Through telepathic communication, the fluctuations in the air clearly indicated that the other party had also discovered the existence of Chen Ping'an, their rival.
That chilling gaze fell upon you, as if you were being plunged into ice water, chilling you to the bone, leaving you suffocated and filled with despair.
The old man's face was extremely pale, devoid of any color, as if he had not seen the sun for many years.
"A rogue cultivator from Qishan, the Old Ghost of Bones."
Chen Ping'an remained calm, ignoring the other party's warnings, and made his offer with ease through telepathic communication.
Since both were undergoing major repairs, why should he fear the other?
Soil from the Underworld is extremely rare. If you miss this opportunity, who knows when you'll get another chance?
Admittedly, it's possible that a deal could be struck in the next meeting. But the probability is slim, so let's just let the other party wait.
The two were competing, and their spiritual energy fluctuated abnormally. This scene naturally attracted the attention of many celestial beings in the arena.
Even the old woman from the Qing family glanced at her, though only briefly before looking away, but she still paid attention.
"Look, that old ghost is fighting against a person!"
"Who is it? How dare they!"
"He looks unfamiliar; I've never seen him before."
"It's not surprising that there are many cultivators at the same cultivation level. Since they are all at the same level, a little competition is fine, but they shouldn't be completely afraid."
However, he seemed quite ordinary, not like he had any special background.
"When you're traveling, don't judge a book by its cover! Just look at people!"
"rational."
"."
Within the arena, divine voices transmitted, causing constant fluctuations. Many celestial beings turned their heads, curiously observing the situation and changes in the event, even amidst their trading activities.
“Fellow Daoist, in my opinion, you don’t need to fight for this jar of Yellow Spring Soil.”
As they were exchanging bargaining chips and adding to the stakes, the voice of the gray-robed old monster suddenly rang in Chen Ping'an's mind.
Why?
"I believe you have also noticed that the person competing with you is none other than the Old Ghost of Qishan. The old ghost is determined to obtain this item and has indicated that he will follow suit no matter how much you offer."
In my opinion, fellow Daoist, you should just give up now; that way, you won't hurt our relationship.
It's unclear what price the old bone ghost offered that made the gray-robed old monster personally step in to mediate. Although he was advising Chen Ping'an not to follow up further to avoid damaging the harmony, his words already indicated a shift in his stance.
Furthermore, as a powerful cultivator who has been renowned for many years, Bone Old Ghost wields immense influence among cultivators of the same realm. He is ruthless, calculating, vicious, and vindictive; most cultivators, upon hearing of his reputation, do not wish to antagonize him.
His words implied that Chen Ping'an should just give up.
Under normal circumstances, someone else would naturally have given up at that point, but...
Chen Ping'an smiled calmly, showing no intention of giving up.
"I observe that you prioritize trading in Yin Soul-related elixirs, which suggests your cultivation method is related to this. Here..."
There is a skeleton; I wonder if you are interested?
Chen Ping'an transmitted his thoughts telepathically, offering the key bargaining chip.
"A skeleton!?" The gray-robed elder paused, then a look of delight appeared on his face: "What level of skeleton? Second realm, or even a half-step Grand Cultivator!"
Chen Pingan gave a brief and concise reply in a calm tone.
"The Great Cultivation of Heaven and Man".
"What!?" The gray-robed old man froze for a moment, then burst into ecstasy.
"In that case, old monster, this jar of Yellow Spring Soil is yours, fellow Daoist."
His voice was urgent and slightly impatient, as if he was afraid that if he hesitated even a moment, Chen Ping'an would change his mind.
Skeleton remains are of rare and precious value, and naturally cannot be easily replaced by a jar of Yellow Springs Soil.
After some maneuvering, the situation between the two changed, with the gray-robed old monster throwing out a price in hopes of reaching a deal.
Ultimately, the deal was struck, and the money and goods were exchanged.
Chen Ping'an successfully obtained the fourth-tier rare spiritual item, Yellow Spring Soil, from the gray-robed old monster. In addition, there were various rare spiritual items and fine minerals to make up the difference.
"Flawless!"
After checking everything and confirming that everything was in order, Chen Ping'an put away all the resources.
Although the corpse was rare, it didn't hold much practical value for him. Trading it away now was a way of putting it to good use.
Thus, the gains from the previous battle against the Dark Underworld have been maximized.
Outsiders, unaware of the inner workings, only knew that a few words exchanged through a spiritual fluctuation caused a dramatic transformation in the scene.
Although the specific details of their transaction were unclear, it was evident that the man in the green robe and the old monster in the gray robe had reached a deal. Conversely, the old ghost of bones, who had previously been determined to acquire the item, was excluded.
"What happened? What crucial bargaining chip did that person throw out that made the old monster completely side with him!" "That old ghost Bone is narrow-minded and vindictive. If the value were equal, the old monster wouldn't be like this now."
"Shh, keep your voice down, don't let anyone hear you."
"In my opinion, during the transaction just now, that old monster seemed to have acquired quite a few more materials. What exactly did that person trade for?!"
"The two are completely separated by their souls, and cannot be seen clearly!"
"Where did this powerful cultivator come from? He's so rich and powerful! Hahaha, that old ghost Bone has really suffered a setback."
"."
They exchanged spiritual messages in the arena, discussing the current situation. Chen Ping'an's performance attracted the attention of many fellow cultivators.
I also gained a new impression and understanding of this unfamiliar blue-robed repairman.
After inspecting the resources and spiritual items, Chen Ping'an ignored the old ghost's cold and unfriendly gaze and savored the spiritual wine on the jade table.
The transaction process is not yet over, and although the chances are slim, there's no guarantee that there won't be an unexpected surprise, with rare items appearing that meet his expectations.
"Old monster Wu, what rare bargaining chip did that person offer that made you refuse my deal!"
The gray-robed old man was quite satisfied, repeatedly examining his haul, wishing he could treat it as a priceless treasure, when suddenly the voice of the Bone Demon rang in his ears.
The old man in the gray robe changed his expression, suppressing the joy in his heart.
"It's nothing. I just happened to come across something I liked."
The deal came with a condition: he needed to ensure the transaction information remained confidential. Now that Old Ghost Bone had asked, he naturally wouldn't answer.
Furthermore, this skeletal remains are related to cultivation techniques, and the Yin Jade Qi within them can be extremely beneficial.
Since it involves his life and fortune, he naturally wouldn't leak it for no reason.
Even if there was no agreement, he would remain tight-lipped at this moment.
Bone Ghost held a bone staff, his gaze cold and sinister. He glanced at Old Monster Wu not far away, then at the calm and composed man in blue robes who seemed unaffected.
His divine soul was strong. Although he couldn't see the transaction scene clearly, he could tell that in addition to the Yellow Spring Soil, Old Monster Wu had added a lot of extra resources in this transaction.
Clearly, the items offered in this transaction were extremely valuable.
It is far superior to ordinary fourth-tier spiritual creatures.
"His aura is ordinary, his background is unclear, he looks unfamiliar, but he's incredibly wealthy."
The old ghost's gaze was unfriendly, and a thought began to stir in his mind.
In the next transaction, whether it was due to exceptional luck or sheer coincidence, Chen Ping'an encountered another potent and venomous herb.
Without the slightest hesitation, he immediately took action.
With his family's wealth as collateral, he navigated the game with ease and successfully acquired the rare poisonous herb with a stake equivalent to tens of thousands of yuan.
The proportion of poisonous plants is not large; otherwise, their value would be several levels higher.
Chen Ping'an's successive moves drew the attention of many fellow practitioners in the arena.
Wealthy and generous, with a strong will to succeed.
This is how others perceive him.
"I don't think I've ever heard of this person in the thirty-two regions surrounding Wentian?"
Some people looked doubtful and were deep in thought.
"Could they have come from a more distant place?"
During the major repairs at the Zhou family residence, Zhou Dingyuan was drinking wine and communicating normally with his fellow cultivators via telepathy, his expression obscured.
And Huang Shoudao, the host of this small meeting and the head of the Huang family's major repairs, also occasionally cast his gaze upon the meeting.
In this atmosphere, the transaction phase of this small meeting came to a complete end.
Once the transaction is completed, as is customary, the next step is naturally information exchange and intelligence sharing.
The environment is free and unrestrained, with people forming their own circles, communicating through telepathy or face-to-face conversations.
Because of my previous actions, many like-minded people came to befriend me. Even if they didn't specifically seek me out for a chat, they would still exchange a few pleasantries.
"Fellow Daoist, may I ask your name? I am Tan, the Master of the Mei family of Mount Emei."
"Greetings, fellow Daoist. This old man..."
"."
Faced with a group of people chatting, Chen Ping'an remained calm and composed, displaying a refined and approachable demeanor.
"Greetings, fellow Daoist. My surname is Xu. I am a traveler who has come to learn about the grand event in Wentian."
Although they are all cultivators at the same level, and their experience and combat strength may differ, they belong to the same tier and can talk to each other without any barriers.
Even the old woman from the Qing family, though she didn't come over to chat, cast a kind glance at them.
Considering the other party's previous attitude, this change in attitude made Chen Ping'an's heart stir, and he guessed a possibility.
"Could it be that he has a grudge against the Bone Demon?"
Chen Ping'an smiled and nodded, which was his response.
The Qing family is prosperous, with many members undergoing great cultivation. As a native family of Wentian, under normal circumstances, there is no conflict of interest between them, and their relationship is mainly based on goodwill.
Unlike his previous detached observation and soul-sense probing for information, Chen Ping'an took the initiative to participate in this exchange. Under the guidance of a master, he joined a circle to exchange information and share his experiences.
Compared to those seasoned veterans, the experience he gained from Baosha, though somewhat limited, was more than sufficient for this situation.
During their conversation, they didn't reveal their timidity.
"The North has been anything but peaceful lately."
During the conversation, Da Xiu suddenly sighed and mentioned some recent developments in the North.
"Yes, with heretical sects causing trouble in the front and riots in various places in the back, it is indeed much more chaotic than in previous years."
A senior engineer, looking impressed, stepped forward to echo his sentiments.
"Just a few days ago, I heard that the Qi family of Ling Valley was brutally wiped out, and their two-thousand-year-old lineage was thus cut off!"
"The Qi family of Ling Valley!? If I remember correctly, the Qi family has produced a great cultivator in this generation! I've also heard that their influence extends to the surrounding areas, and the family's rise is unstoppable. What's going on?"
"Alas, if nothing unexpected happens, it must have been the work of those treacherous demons!"
"If the information is correct, it must have been the Blood Prison Sect that made the move!"
"Those bastards from the Blood Prison Sect!"
"If I ever have the chance to encounter these bastards, I will make them pay for their blood debts and restore peace and order to the world!"
"."
Chen Ping'an listened quietly from the side. The Blood Prison Sect, like the Heavenly Net Sect, belonged to the Six Sects of the Demonic Path and was a truly top-tier demonic force.
The profound knowledge and strategic vision behind it are beyond the comprehension of ordinary people.
Even for cultivators of the Celestial Realm, it is an unshakeable behemoth.
Compared to the Heavenly Net Sect, the Blood Prison Sect acts more radically, and the genes of demonic madness are thoroughly engraved in their bones.
Looking back, many of the most horrific and shocking tragedies were committed by the Blood Prison Gate.
These people can be described as utterly insane and depraved.
Besides the Blood Prison Sect, the Bone Demon Sect, one of the six demonic sects, is equally radical, frequently resorting to dismemberment and bone-pulling to create puppets.
Furthermore, the Yin Sha Sect members are not easy to deal with; they are all extremely cunning and malicious.
In comparison, the Tianluo Sect has a good reputation among demonic sects.
If we're talking about it, it can be considered an orderly faction among the six sects of the demonic path.
"This shouldn't be! These scoundrels from the demonic path have been peaceful for so long, why have they suddenly started causing trouble recently?"
Numerous tragedies occurred frequently, including even deliberately planned robberies.
When a major overhaul reveals doubts, it actually indicates that the person already has a suspicion or plan in mind.
"The demonic path has been low-key and patient, but now it has suddenly risen up and launched an attack. I'm afraid..." someone sighed.
Upon hearing this, the others exchanged glances, understanding each other implicitly; they all saw the answer in each other's eyes.
A grand gathering of demons, a chaotic dance of demons!
As Chen Ping'an listened, reviewing the information in the ancient texts, he began to form a vague guess in his mind.
"The Grand Gathering of Demonic Paths, could this be the important matter that the Holy Maiden of Tianluo mentioned earlier?"
The world here is far from as peaceful as previously imagined.
Beneath the seemingly calm exterior lies a constant undercurrent of tension; the deeper you look, the more apparent it becomes.
Even setting aside the rest of the world, the northern border is far from being as peaceful and secure as one might imagine.
What appears to be a beautiful and prosperous scene is actually fraught with hidden dangers.
Compared to chaos, maintaining stability is often much more difficult.
As his perspective broadened and his social circle expanded, Chen Ping'an saw more and more things.
"Looking across the land, a Grand Master cultivator can be considered a regional overlord. But if we consider the overall situation in the Northern Territory, a mere Grand Master cultivator is probably...
That's not enough.
The tragedy of the Qi family served as a wake-up call for Chen Ping'an. Although the Great Cultivation Realm alone could make one arrogant and domineering, it was still far from enough in the face of the overwhelming power of the demonic path and the top sects.
To go against the tide and force the unknown is like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.
"Not enough"
Chen Ping'an felt a chill run down his spine.
Fortunately, the dynasty's prestige remained, and the emperor's authority still stood. Although evil forces and heretics were running rampant, they only dared to do things in secret.
Those who truly rise to power and establish their own independent territory would never dare to do so.
Despite this, Chen Ping'an's eyes flashed, and a long-lost sense of urgency arose in his heart.
Sure enough, that's how people are. No matter how resilient they are, if they stay indoors and don't pay attention to their social circle, they'll eventually lose sight of themselves.
It's still necessary to get out and about occasionally.
The exchanges between cultivators at the Celestial Realm level are of extremely high value. Even if they are just casual conversations, if they are compiled into a book and traded, they will be a considerable sum in the intelligence pavilion and information shop.
At the advanced cultivation level, the topics of conversation rarely mentioned romantic tales often discussed in the streets. Instead, they talked mostly about cultivation, their insights, opportunities and secrets, and things like luck and fortune.
The text involves the land of Wentian, where the Netherworld is about to open, and naturally mentions the Netherworld Secret Realm.
“In the Netherworld Secret Realm, there were once near-fifth-grade precious materials and minerals.”
Someone seized this opportunity and forged a top-tier treasure!
Listening to everyone's conversation, Chen Ping'an silently digested and absorbed the information.
Not only are there near-fifth-tier treasure materials, but the Netherworld Secret Realm has also produced near-fifth-tier quality spiritual medicines, such as Essence Dew Milk.
Moreover, this has happened more than once. Some people have taken advantage of this opportunity, consumed the product, and then cultivated diligently for a hundred years, successfully breaking through to the next level and becoming a Great Celestial in Martial Arts.
Some people also use it to befriend a Grand Celestial on the Celestial Ranking, gaining resources and support, receiving heartfelt guidance, and then, after sixty years, advancing to the ranks of Grand Celestials in martial arts.
Everyone's opportunities and circumstances are different, but without exception, all those who have these opportunities have enjoyed great benefits.
However, Chen Ping'an listened without feeling envious.
Many things are subject to survivorship bias. Looking back at the history of the Netherworld, we see too many people who seized opportunities and used them to soar to great heights.
But what they failed to see was the bloodshed and brutal violence behind that opportunity.
Even if breaking through a realm can be achieved through chance or opportunity, it is absolutely related to the mindset and Dao heart one possesses.
Logically speaking, obtaining such a spiritual item within the Netherworld Secret Realm would undoubtedly place one among the top cultivators.
It's not just about strength, but also about mindset, strategy, and luck.
With these conditions in place, even without obtaining that fortuitous encounter or spiritual object, one's future achievements may not be bad.
This opportunity, however, acted more as a catalyst, allowing that potential to be realized to its fullest extent.
Listening to the conversation, Chen Ping'an remained calm.
In his conversation, he also realized that opportunities of this caliber had become increasingly rare lately.
It's unclear whether it's because the Netherworld Secret Realm has been open for too long, too many cultivators have entered and exited, and too many rare items have been unearthed, or if there's some other reason.
Like the last time the Netherworld Secret Realm opened, the rarest resource was the top-grade fourth-tier item, corresponding to the Martial Dao Grand Celestial level.
For those seeking great spiritual cultivation, this is certainly an opportunity. But for those with the mindset of gaining much with little, such opportunities are naturally the greater the better.
Under this topic, the group talked and naturally mentioned the famous list that stood at the top of the Celestial Realm in the four realms of the dynasty: the Martial Celestial Ranking!
Stirring up the winds of the dynasty and overlooking the general trend of the world, thirty-six martial arts masters.
Even though the people present were all Grandmasters of the Celestial Realm, revered figures in the Celestial Realm, their words and gazes were filled with awe when they talked about these powerful figures on the Celestial Realm Ranking.
The four realms of Heaven and Man, the realm of returning to the source, is the summit.
The Great Celestials on the Celestial Ranking stand at the pinnacle of the Realm of Returning to the Source.
These beings have all touched upon the true meaning of martial arts.
Some of the top-ranked individuals have even grasped the true essence of martial arts. Compared to ordinary Great Celestials, they possess an overwhelming gap in combat power.
"Two phantom girls!?"
During their conversation, Chen Ping'an heard the names of many powerful figures on the Celestial Ranking.
The two people he mentioned were exactly the two beauties he had casually imagined before, two peerless beauties in the same world.
To be precise, they are two unparalleled powerhouses who stand at the pinnacle of martial arts and have been ranked on the Heavenly Ranking!
Magic Palace, twin flowers, twin girls of fantasy.
It is said that the two look exactly alike, as if they were identical. However, their temperaments are quite different. They are now top-level decision-makers and core members of the Illusion Demon Palace, jointly managing the Forbidden Palace, one of the seven palaces under the Illusion Demon Palace.
"Golden Bottle, Silver Bottle"
Chen Ping'an's emotions shifted, and he secretly memorized the two names.
Both of them are ranked quite high on the Celestial Ranking. Most importantly, when they join forces and their minds are in sync, their combined combat power will be extremely terrifying.
Either of them is already at the pinnacle of martial arts masters; if they join forces, their potential is unimaginable.
No wonder, as one of the six sects of the demonic path, the Illusionary Demon Palace would have the two of them jointly in charge of the Forbidden Palace, which is one of the more important palaces in the Seven Palaces of the Illusionary Demon.
Compared to the great cultivators present, these powerhouses on the Celestial Ranking were all true pinnacle figures in the Celestial Realm. Even from their perspective, they were almost legendary.
"The Holy Son of Light and Darkness, with two radiant stars of destiny, light and darkness intertwined, his left eye as golden as the sun, his right eye as black as an abyss."
During the conversations, Chen Ping'an learned a lot of useful information.
During their brief conversation, he didn't just passively absorb what he heard as before. Instead, he occasionally shared some interesting stories about the Western Wilderness, its topography, and its customs.
With Bao Sha Sanren, born in the Western Wilderness, as his source of knowledge and experience, his remarks were naturally without any problems.
Although he had never been to the Western Wilderness, his entire discussion was as if he had personally experienced it.
In such an atmosphere, the people present naturally enjoyed themselves immensely.
During the discussion, Da Xiu also mentioned the recently updated "Hidden Dragon Prodigy," seemingly offering his opinions on the subject.
Indeed, this is the case. To those at their level, a group of promising young talents under fifty are no different from juniors.
Looking at the Hidden Dragon Ranking, only Feng Lingyin is in the same realm as them, and he can look at him with respect.
As for the others, while they weren't treated like ordinary juniors, it was impossible to say that their attitude was much better.
After all, the attitudes and manners are different when talking behind someone's back versus when interacting with them face-to-face.
When meeting face-to-face, considering the other person's talent and potential, one must ultimately take some precautions.
But behind the scenes, it's a different story.
It's worth mentioning that during their conversation, they also mentioned Chen Ping'an, the valiant swordsman who guarded the North Mountain Pass, who was closest to them.
This is the peerless genius who recently made headlines for powerfully defeating the Black Crow Old Monster, a senior Celestial Being of the Second Realm, in the Canglong Prefecture of the Bicang region.
"To have achieved so much before the age of thirty is truly terrifying. With such progress, I'm afraid he'll be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with us in less than sixty years!"
One day, a great cultivator showed a hint of amazement and made a fair assessment.
"The other party should also be attending this grand event, so we can have some contact then," a great cultivator said with a smile.
"A swordsmanship prodigy, a martial arts genius under thirty, what do you think of such talent, Fellow Daoist Xu!?"
During their conversation, Da Xiu suggested asking Chen Ping'an for his opinion and comments.
Chen Ping'an had a refined and scholarly demeanor, but his heart was blank. He said a few words as a formality.
"His natural talent is commendable, as for the rest..."
"That's all."
His conversation made the others take a second look at him, wondering about his background and why he had such high standards.
During their conversation, the group also mentioned other promising talents, such as Jiang Wuyai, Dugu Yiren, and Xuan Luoli, and even the young master of the Blood Prison Sect was mentioned briefly.
In addition, there is the Tianluo Saintess, who was previously strong but has recently been facing a decline. Her ranking has long since fallen outside the top ten and she is gradually falling behind the first tier of the contemporary Hidden Dragons.
"The Heavenly Net Demoness, the most talented woman in the Heavenly Net Sect for three thousand years."
"What a pity," sighed one of the repairmen.
"What's a pity?" another expert teased. "Could it be that you're still thinking about her Yin-type body?"
The overhaul chuckled, saying nothing more. But his demeanor subtly revealed his true thoughts.
"The demonic witch's progress is gradually weakening, which is actually a blessing from heaven. If the demonic path prospers, how can we cultivators eliminate her?!" a great cultivator said righteously.
This statement was echoed by many.
Chen Pingan neither confirmed nor denied this, and did not express any opinion.
Besides the Heavenly Luo Saintess, Lu Mengyao, the secret disciple of Medicine King Valley, was also mentioned in their conversation.
Like the Heavenly Luo Saintess, the other party also had an extremely fast start and brilliant talent, but recently she has fallen out of the category of the dynasty's top prodigies and has become an ordinary person in the first tier of the Hidden Dragon List.
"This Lu Mengyao."
Chen Ping'an couldn't help but think deeply.
Upon seeing the true state of Tianluo Saintess, he couldn't help but wonder if her situation was similar.
Seemingly blending into the crowd, they are actually secretly gathering strength.
But then he smiled slightly and stopped thinking about it.
The meeting was a short but enjoyable one.
Chen Ping'an gained a lot. After saying goodbye to everyone and exchanging information, he left the small meeting.
His departure was naturally witnessed by many people.
"gone?"
Bone Demon stood at a distance, chatting with his fellow cultivators, a hint of coldness surfacing deep in his eyes.
You took Old Ghost's stuff, and you think you can just leave so easily?!
The old ghost snorted coldly, his bone staff emitting a faint, pale glow. (End of Chapter)