+1!
As a stream of experience points flashed before his eyes, Chen Ping'an stopped his movements with a joyful expression.
He had accumulated enough cultivation experience!
Now...
Breakthrough!
The familiar feeling enveloped him once more, and Chen Ping'an slowly closed his eyes, savoring the insights and experience surging within his heart.
When he opened his eyes again, Eight Steps Catching Cicadas had completely entered the Perfection Realm!
Name: Chen Ping'an
Realm: Internal Energy - Tianlin Descends Peak
Martial Arts: Iron Cloth Perfection, Flying Locust Stone Perfection, Gongmen Thirteen Blades Perfection, Thirteen Taibao Horizontal Training Perfection, Golden Bell Cover Perfection, Swift Wind Saber Technique Perfection, Eight Steps Catching Cicadas Perfection, Flying Star Swordplay Entry (48/60), Great Vajra Palm Entry (45/60)
......
"Eight Steps Catching Cicadas, Perfection!"
A sharp glint flickered in Chen Ping'an's eyes as he carefully sensed the changes within his body.
With another high-grade Cultivation Technique reaching Perfection, he was now an experienced martial arts master of the Tianlin Descends Peak Realm!
Coupled with his other several Perfection-level high-grade Cultivation Techniques, his overall strength, while not enough to dominate the Inner Qi Realm, was certainly not far behind!
Cultivating to this point, looking across the Inner Qi Realm, it would be difficult to find anyone who could truly threaten his life.
"I wonder, with my current combat power, how do I compare to Liu Ziming?"
Chen Ping'an assessed his own combat power.
Liu Ziming, the Wei River County City's number one Prodigy. Among the younger generation under thirty in Wei River County City, he was like a lone conqueror.
According to the latest New Talent Rankings, his ranking had risen by two places, now at eighty-six!
His latest achievement was fighting two Tianlin Descends Peak martial arts masters of the Inner Qi Third Level without defeat!
It was rumored that he had mastered a top-tier high-grade Cultivation Technique, as well as several ordinary high-grade Cultivation Techniques, possessing profound Internal Energy and combat power far exceeding others in the same Realm! Furthermore, he also had the Treasure Artifact yuanhong sword by his side!
After pondering for a while, Chen Ping'an chuckled to himself, shaking his head involuntarily.
"Trying to compare strength based on a few lines on a ranking list is a bit far-fetched. How strong one is, in the end, can only be known through a fight!"
With his current martial arts Realm, whether he could defeat Liu Ziming was still uncertain, as Liu Ziming also possessed the power of a Treasure Artifact. But if his martial arts Realm could advance further, directly entering the Tianlin Descends Peak Perfection Realm!
Then...
With the Golden Finger panel's perfect experience, as long as they were in the same Realm, if Liu Ziming didn't possess any trump cards for cross-Realm break out, he likely wouldn't be his opponent!
"Regardless of who is stronger between Liu Ziming and me, one thing is clear: looking at the entire younger generation of Wei River County City, apart from him, I can crush everyone else! Even those like Mu Feiyu are far from being my opponents!"
Comparing the two, Chen Ping'an felt a surge of joy in his heart.
After long periods of secluded cultivation, it was ultimately satisfying to make a comparison and find some sense of accomplishment.
Only then could arduous cultivation be sustained!
"In another two or three days, Great Vajra Palm and Flying Star Swordplay should both reach Minor Achievement. At that time, my martial arts Realm will have another Breakthrough!"
"I wonder, if I were to appear on the New Talent Rankings in two or three days, what would my rank be?"
......
Early the next morning, as Chen Ping'an was preparing to go to Nancheng Prison, a Yamen Runner greeted him outside the door, seemingly having waited for a long time.
"Lord Chen, Chief Warrant Officer Lord Mu is looking for you."
Oh?
Mu Wanjun is looking for me?
Has she learned about the recent events, and is the Mu Family preparing to retaliate?
Chen Ping'an secretly speculated, looking at the Yamen Runner who delivered the message, and said, "Lead the way!"
"Yes."
The Yamen Runner respectfully responded, then bowed and led the way for Chen Ping'an.
Actually, there was no need for guidance, as he knew the way. However, having a Yamen Runner respectfully leading the way did add a certain prestige.
Under the varied gazes of the Yamen Runners, Chen Ping'an stepped through the main gate of the Nancheng Suppression Office.
"I heard Lord Chen hasn't been having an easy time recently!"
"What happened? Did something occur?"
"It seems to be about the Outer Town Envoyship's patrol team. They uncovered many things at Nancheng Prison. It seems to involve Lord Chen as well."
"Ah... Lord Chen was temporarily assigned to his post before, to observe the future effect. Now with this, is Lord Chen going to..."
"Shh! Keep quiet, just know it!"
"......"
Chen Ping'an's hearing was extraordinary; the words from the Yamen Runners at the entrance entered his ears, not a single word missed.
He didn't listen to the rest of the conversation. He figured it was just a few more sentences.
......
"Ping'an, you're here!"
Looking up and seeing Chen Ping'an enter, Mu Wanjun stood up from her chair and smiled, inviting him.
"Come, sit first, let's talk after you sit down!"
Chen Ping'an didn't stand on ceremony and immediately sat down in a relaxed manner.
Beside them, the maid Xiaodie poured them tea.
Chen Ping'an glanced at Mu Wanjun, noticing that her complexion was rosy and her Divine Qi was excellent.
He sensed it slightly and discovered some unusual aspects. However, he didn't expose it.
"Ping'an, I've already heard about the Nancheng Prison matter. The Fang Family has truly gone too far!"
Mu Wanjun's opening statement immediately expressed her stance, speaking indignantly.
"I apologize, Ping'an. A few days ago, I had a sudden insight and entered secluded cultivation. I only emerged yesterday and couldn't provide timely assistance, making you suffer!"
Mu Wanjun explained the situation.
Seeing Mu Wanjun mention secluded cultivation, Chen Ping'an seized the opportunity and said, "Is Lord...?
Mu Wanjun smiled slightly: "That's right, Ping'an. A while ago, I suffered severe injuries and faced a life-and-death crisis. But there's always a gain from a loss; after my injuries recovered, I had a sudden insight, and as of yesterday, I successfully broke into Inner Qi Second Level, the Clear Turbidity Returning to Origin Realm!"
Chen Ping'an feigned surprise, exclaiming, "Congratulations, Lord, congratulations!"
Mu Wanjun also felt joy in her heart.
"Ping'an, it's just the two of us now. You don't need to call me 'Lord'; just call me Wanjun!"
Chen Ping'an took her advice.
"Mhm, Wanjun, why has the Mu Family... been so slow to react to the Fang Family's repeated retaliatory attacks this time?"
Chen Ping'an appropriately expressed his confusion.
Seeing Chen Ping'an ask, Mu Wanjun began to explain to him.
It turned out that the previous confrontation between the Mu Family and the Fang Family had ended in failure.
Well, to say the Mu Family completely failed wasn't entirely accurate. Overall, the Mu Family still gained a small portion of benefits, but their losses were also significant.
Ultimately, under the tacit restraint of the two great aristocratic families, this game of chess and confrontation came to a halt.
One of the outcomes, Chen Ping'an had already seen: Fang Rui was released from Nancheng Prison.
Although the conflict between the two great aristocratic families had ceased, the Fang Family's minor actions had not.
In some aspects, the Fang Family used the excuse of being previously aggrieved to begin retaliatory attacks.
The extent of their retaliation was somewhat excessive!
However, the Mu Family, due to their previous setback, did not want to engage in a direct conflict with the Fang Family again in the short term. As long as the Fang Family didn't go too far, the Mu Family would temporarily exercise restraint.
In the Mu Family's eyes, the repeated incidents at Nancheng Prison were not considered too excessive; they were within the tolerable range.
After listening to Mu Wanjun's explanation, Chen Ping'an said expressionlessly.
"I see. Thank you, Wanjun, for clarifying."
In the Mu Family's eyes, these matters were tolerable. But for him personally, the continuous string of troublesome incidents had already affected his life.
Chen Ping'an looked at Mu Wanjun, waiting for her answer.
"Ping'an, don't worry. Now that I know about this, I can't guarantee other areas. But regarding these matters at Nancheng Prison, I will definitely give you an explanation!"
Mu Wanjun gave Chen Ping'an a guarantee.