The Great Martial Saint!

Chapter 972 The Princess's Invitation, A Journey to Bicang

The impact of the updated Hidden Dragon Ranking has not yet completely settled.

A letter appeared on Chen Ping'an's desk.

"The Prince of Bicang's Mansion?"

Chen Ping'an focused his gaze and noticed the unique markings on the envelope.

As the letter unfolded, a smile appeared on Chen Ping'an's face.

"You still remember me."

Chen Ping'an reached out and gently squeezed the letter in front of him, which then completely shattered and vanished into nothingness.

This letter was sent by none other than the young princess of the Bicang County Prince's Mansion.

The letter was simple, written in the voice of a young girl, inviting him to visit Bicang Prefecture. It also listed many of Bicang Prefecture's famous attractions and some nearby places suitable for sightseeing.

She also sincerely expressed that she had been taken care of in Xuanling City, and now that she had the time, it was time for her to repay the kindness.

I believe this trip to Bi Cang will not disappoint him, and so on.

Chen Ping'an's smile gradually faded until it disappeared completely.

The letter makes it sound simple, but the reality is never that simple.

In the past, in Xuanling City, he had made a deal with Ji Qingyu.

He expressed his stance in exchange for a substantial amount of resources.

The other party has now sent him a letter, inviting him to meet in Bicang Prefecture, which is clearly...

It's time to honor the original deal.

Chen Ping'an narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze becoming calm and still.

Ji Qingyu's sudden letter could not possibly be related to the Hidden Dragon Ranking.

Judging from the timeline, the letter must have been sent much earlier than that.

If that's not the reason, then I'm afraid...

The struggle for the throne in the Bi Cang County Prince's Mansion has reached a critical stage!

Chen Pingan slowly raised his eyes, and information about the Bi Cang County Prince's Mansion and the struggle for the throne appeared in his mind.

Now that he sits in the North Mountain, in charge of the world, the information he possesses is far more sophisticated than before.

The corresponding intelligence network is also extremely clear.

The old Prince of Bi Cang has been seriously ill for a long time, and even with his celestial cultivation, there is nothing that can be done to save him.

This situation is also because he was already old and nearing the end of his life, and was also seriously ill and bedridden. Under all these influences, he was no longer at his peak.

Now, many years have passed, and he is old and frail, bedridden with illness. Even with miraculous medicine, he can only barely stay alive.

The factional infighting that has occurred before is enough to prove the truth of this matter.

If the old king had even a shred of strength left, the various factions wouldn't have fought so fiercely.

Amidst the current power struggles, the three most prominent and promising descendants of the Prince of the County are the most likely to succeed to the throne.

Ji Xuanmo, Ji Dongqing, and Ji Shulan.

As for the other candidates, there is a huge gap between them and these three.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the final choice for the title of Prince will be one of these three.

Among them, Ji Xuanmo, as the eldest son of the same generation, meets the requirements of both the legitimate and seniority-based selection factions and has the support of many factions. He is the most likely candidate to succeed the throne among the three.

Just like before, when Aoki Fugong personally went to Beishan, it was also to recruit Ji Xuanmo.

Secondly, there is Ji Dongqing, who has the support of some factions of the Xianxuan and Changxuan. Compared with the elders of the Bicang County Prince's Mansion, he has more support among the outer guest ministers and the inner court.

Finally, there is Ji Shulan, the princess of Bi Cang, who is also the candidate with the highest cultivation level among the three. It is said that she is only one step away from the perfection of the second realm.

As a successor candidate who is chosen by the eldest son, the wise and virtuous, and the eldest son, taking into account all factors.

If she were a man, there would be no dispute that she should succeed to the throne.

Unfortunately, being a woman caused her to lose a considerable number of supporters, and also made many supporters from different factions quite hesitant.

Unless Ji Shulan can achieve a major breakthrough in cultivation, setting a precedent and establishing an undisputed and overwhelming dominance to secure the world's stability, this will be her Achilles' heel.

After all, the struggle for the throne is no joke; once you join, you are essentially betting your life and fortune.

According to recent news, Ji Xuanmo and Ji Dongqing have both entered the second realm and achieved the status of Guanhong Tianren.

The letter from Ji Qingyu further confirmed Chen Ping'an's suspicions.

It seems the position of Prince of Bicang is truly about to be decided.

It's just unknown which one Ji Qingyu supports.

Is it one of the three, or a candidate nominated by another faction?

As the most favored young princess of the Bicang Prince's mansion, Ji Qingyu has always maintained a neutral stance, maintaining good relations with various factions. It's truly hard to say who she actually favors.

However, this matter has little to do with Chen Ping'an.

His agreement to the deal was only verbal.

Once he has made his stance clear, what happens afterward is no longer his concern.

Previously, one would have to worry about retaliation from others.

But now, there is no such worry.

Taking a stance and being retaliated against is something that happens to ordinary people.

As for him...

The Northern Border Garrison Command provides support, and there's also the recent incident involving the ancient Yue clan.

This all indicates that if such a struggle for the throne were merely a matter of verbal statements, none of the factions would dare to make things difficult for him.

However, such a situation is impossible based on common sense.

After all, even if the factional struggles reach their most intense stage, in order to ensure the size of the Prince's Mansion, the infighting among the various factions will not go too far. Once the throne is settled, the choice of successor will be to stabilize the overall situation, reassure the people, win over all those who can be relied upon, and appease the remaining forces.

Now that he is stationed in Beishan, his influence is no longer what it used to be. With the support of the rising stars and the influence of the Northern Border Garrison, even the newly appointed Prince of Bicang would not dare to make things too difficult for him.

Of course, even if it's difficult, he's not afraid.

The consequence, however, is that you'll have to pay more!

Chen Ping'an smiled, a hint of relief appearing on his face.

Such grand power struggles and factional conflicts have always been like a quagmire, something to be feared. In the past, he might have hesitated.

But now, it doesn't matter.

The only consideration is whether it's worth it or not.

As for safety

Chen Ping'an's gaze narrowed slightly as an information panel appeared in front of him.

Name: Chen Ping'an

Realm: Celestial Realm 2 - Piercing Rainbow Realm (Piercing Rainbow Hidden Radiance)

武学：青阳血炼法大成（0/38400）、颠鸾倒凤·阴阳枢入门（2285/8640）、三分归元真卷小成（0/15360）、无相自在法（残篇）小成（0/15360）、广寒剑法（残篇）大成（14675/19200）、狂雷刀法圆满、太虚御风步圆满、七绝禁法圆满.

Secret Techniques: Soul Suppression Technique, Soul Guiding Technique, Butterfly Dream Bewitching Technique, Illusionary Eye

"14675 point."

There is less than a month left until the Guanghan Sword Technique is perfected.

Regardless of whether perfecting his swordsmanship will allow him to achieve his goal of becoming a great cultivator, the increase in his cultivation level and combat power will ensure his safety.

If it were merely a struggle for the throne of a prince...

Chen Ping'an's gaze was calm, but his eyes were sharp, and something gradually emerged.

Unbeknownst to him, he had already grown to such a height.

The once majestic and awe-inspiring Bi Cang Prince's Mansion, which once seemed to soar to the heavens, can now be calmly involved in the grand scheme of things. Years ago, when he heard of the Bi Cang Prince's grandson, Ji Changkong, he sensed from just a few words that the Bi Cang Prince's Mansion was a behemoth beyond human reach.

But now, he has reached the heavens and can view these matters with indifference. Even the most prestigious title of Prince of Bicang in the Bicang region seems insignificant to him.

"In that case, I will go to Bicang Prefecture City to see the little niece of the Bicang Prince's Mansion."

Chen Ping'an's eyes shone brightly, his expression calm and composed.

His trip to Bicang could be attributed to chance, but it cannot be said to have been a spur-of-the-moment decision without any planning.

Even before that, when he was planning to acquire fire-elemental essence and fourth-tier spiritual fruits, he had already considered the city of Bi Cang.

However, after weighing the options and considering the current situation, Wentian City was ultimately chosen as the priority.

In the end, however, he didn't go to Wentian City. Instead, he went to Yunshan Wugu and a single transaction solved his needs.

His trip to Bicang Prefecture was partly due to a prior agreement with Princess Ji Qingyu of Bicang.

By simply taking a stand and making a verbal statement, one can gain access to the secret archives of the Bi Cang County Prince's Mansion, as well as spiritual resources including fourth-grade spiritual wine.

For Chen Ping'an, it was still worthwhile.

In addition, spiritual resources were secondary to him; what mattered was the long history of the Bi Cang County Prince's Mansion, and the secret scrolls and archives must contain information about the Purple-Eyed Demon Lord.

The intelligence he possessed was far more comprehensive than anything circulating in the market. Although he had learned some information about the Demon Lord from the Holy Maiden of Tianluo, the more information the better, and cross-referencing it would prevent any errors.

hum~

A swirling light appeared, and a delicate token, as beautiful as a cloud, materialized before Chen Ping'an.

He gently touched it, casually playing with it.

This token was a gift from Ji Qingyu; according to her, it served as a temporary certificate of the transaction agreement.

Holding this token is as if the princess herself is present, and one can command some forces within the Bicang Prince's Mansion and access some archives and secret records.

Besides fulfilling his promise to Ji Qingyu, he also wanted to take the opportunity to visit the central hub of the Bicang region and see a bigger stage.

Taking advantage of the momentum surrounding the struggle for the throne, we can truly experience the grand game of power.

With his life and personal safety guaranteed, he was quite interested in such matters.

In addition, this trip to Bicang Prefecture City will provide an opportunity to trade and purchase some resources.

Bi Cangzhou City, being the central hub of the region, boasts a thriving commercial sector.

Although it cannot compare to Wentian City, it is also incomparable to other places.

In addition, this trip might also help resolve the issue of the overtly important treasures.

Now that he has ascended to the Celestial Realm, his combat power is comparable to that of the Second Realm. It is time to refine and upgrade the nascent treasure in his hand, the Heavenly Meteor Frost Star Blade.

Within the city of Bi Cang Prefecture, there is a renowned master blacksmith, Master Mo Sidao, whose forging skills are famous throughout the region.

Refining and upgrading the prototype of a first-level treasure is not a problem.

As long as we get him to take action!

The three reasons that prompted Chen Ping'an to make this trip were the transaction commitment, resource acquisition, and initial improvement.

With his mind made up, Chen Ping'an quickly began to make arrangements.

Now that he is stationed in Beishan and holds supreme power, he is no longer like before, able to leave at will.

It will take at least one or two months to get to Bicang.

Everything still needs to be arranged properly.

Having made this clear, Chen Ping'an summoned Ying Congyun.

Now, Ying Congyun, as a person of real power, has arranged Beishan Pass in an orderly manner.

The underlying reason is naturally inseparable from Chen Ping'an's previous promises of a grand scheme.

Naturally, I should say goodbye to him before leaving Beishan for Bicang Prefecture.

After chatting with Ying Congyun for a short while and arranging everything, the situation in Beishan and the tone for the next few months were set.

During the conversation, Chen Ping'an mentioned the matter of temporarily leaving Beishan. Although Ying Congyun's expression remained normal, Chen Ping'an could sense the subtle change.

In the subsequent conversation, Chen Ping'an explicitly mentioned that after Bi Cang returned, he would formally trade the precious jade ruyi, and instructed him to prepare well during this time.

This statement, though ostensibly a request for Ying Congyun to prepare the bargaining chips, was in reality an implicit, unspoken agreement between the two parties.

For Chen Ping'an, having several months to guard the home with Ying Congyun and not have to worry about anything was extremely rare.

For Congyun, however, the opportunity to gain priority in trading valuable treasures would only take a few months, making this deal all the more worthwhile.

Besides the priority transaction, this transaction will not involve a premium like an auction, which is something Yunji should value.

As is customary, the Netherworld should be opening around this time.

However, the opening of the Netherworld Secret Realm has been delayed this time, and there has been no unusual activity in the Netherworld Valley so far.

As is customary, there is usually at least a few months between the anomalies in the Netherworld Valley and the official opening of the Netherworld Secret Realm. In some cases, a one- or two-year buffer period is not unusual.

Since no news of any unusual activity has yet come from the Netherworld Valley, and Chen Ping'an has been away from North Mountain for several months, he can certainly wait.

After all that back and forth, perhaps his journey to the underworld was just right.

After reassuring Ying Congyun, Chen Ping'an met with several other people and arranged everything before officially leaving Beishan Pass.

Although this departure from Beishan was not exactly top secret, it was, on the surface, a clandestine trip.

Furthermore, since very few people know about this, even if the news spreads, there will be a relatively long buffer period.

Before leaving, Chen Ping'an checked for any oversights, erasing all traces of presence from the mountain peaks, caves, and secluded meditation rooms.

So as not to cause him any mishap by having a great cultivator personally visit Beishan during his absence and find out through some clues.

Chen Ping'an wasn't too worried about the other cultivators who were at the Heavenly Realm.

However, the ancient Yue clan is patient and keeps a low profile. Although they have He Xinchen's reputation, there's no guarantee that a big one won't come out anytime soon.

This is something we must be wary of.

Whoosh!

A dark-colored spirit boat sped across the sky, moving at a speed exceeding that of a pseudo-celestial being, heading into the distance.

The spirit boat was surrounded by a misty light barrier, isolating it from all other auras.

"A vast expanse of mountains and rivers, a magnificent sight to behold!"

Chen Ping'an stood with his hands behind his back in front of the spirit boat, looking down at the continuous mountains and seas and the misty clouds. He felt a sense of joy and boundless freedom.

He hadn't had such leisure and refined taste to appreciate the scenery of his journey in a long time.

If we were to recall the past, the most recent one would be Lei Ming and his group. Going back further, it might be during the Xuan Guang Realm period.

As people travel further and climb higher, they find themselves less leisurely than before.

Looking back now, a different feeling wells up in my heart.

Chen Ping'an smiled, feeling the vastness around him and experiencing a sense of unrestrained openness.

Compared to Canglong Prefecture City, starting from Beishan Pass, it is closer to Bicang Prefecture City.

If Chen Ping'an were to travel at his full speed, he would probably reach Bi Cang Prefecture City in just a few days.

However, his trip was not in such a hurry. He traveled to Bi Cang by spirit boat, and his speed was barely on par with that of an ordinary celestial being.

This time he traveled with his true face, so he did not use the Red Leaf Flying Boat. Although its specifications were somewhat basic, it was more comfortable to use.

After half a month, Chen Ping'an arrived at Bi Cang Prefecture City. (End of Chapter)