Inside the dilapidated temple, corpses lay scattered, and blood stained the ground.
Chen Ping'an looked around and very skillfully searched the bodies.
Among the group, the guards had nothing valuable on them except for their personal weapons and some loose silver.
However, each of these personal weapons had reached the threshold of a Sharp Blade, making them quite valuable.
Without the slightest hesitation, Chen Ping'an used his clothes as a bundle and wrapped up all these weapons.
Fang Shicheng had a good amount of silver on him, but no other valuable items. Oh, right, there was a Sharp Blade-level dagger.
The wealthiest, however, had to be Fang Rui, the Fang Family's direct descendant. He had over a thousand taels of silver notes, a personal Profound Mark Jade Pendant, a gold-inlaid, jade-decorated fan, and several other valuable small items. Additionally, there was a saber that was more for decoration than practical combat.
In terms of quality, it was considered a Sharp Blade!
It wasn't that Fang Rui couldn't afford a Fine Sharp Blade, but with his cultivation, it was completely unnecessary. A Sharp Blade was sufficient!
Including the Sharp Blades and various items captured this time, the total value amounted to over five thousand taels.
After purchasing the Flying Star Swordplay and the Great Vajra Palm, Chen Ping'an's wallet once again swelled.
However, this was on the premise that he could successfully sell these items.
Given the Fang Family's influence, it would be impossible to sell these things in Weishui County City! Later, he could try to find other ways to deal with them.
According to his understanding, as the Long'an Trade Route on the Azure Dragon Mountain Range neared completion, some merchant associations and forces had already begun to attempt through trade. In the process of these attempts, it also indirectly stimulated the prosperity of commerce in some areas.
With the trade volume of an entire province, even just an attempt could make the commercial transactions in certain areas no less impressive than those within the city. The existence of these places also allowed items that were difficult to trade in conventional markets to circulate. For instance, some Evil Path and Demonic Path practitioners often mingled there. Even some aristocratic families and merchant associations were known to frequent these places.
According to Chen Ping'an's understanding, in a sense, it was another concept of a black market. It was just that, compared to ordinary black markets, the trade volume and specifications in those places were larger.
“If I get a chance, I should go and take a look! I wonder if there will be Treasure Artifacts for sale in these places?”
Chen Ping'an thought to himself.
His current Martial Dao Realm had reached the Inner Qi Third Level, Tianlin Descends Peak Perfection. According to his current cultivation progress, in another five or six days, he would be able to attempt a Breakthrough into the Profound Light Realm!
With the standing of the Profound Light Realm, while Fine Sharp Blades could still be used, they would be somewhat insufficient as a primary weapon!
Looking across the entire Weishui County City, any force that could produce a Profound Light Realm expert could be called a quasi-first-rate force.
Such individuals, while not everyone could possess a Treasure Artifact, as long as they had immersed themselves in the Profound Light Realm for a period of time, acquiring a Treasure Artifact was not a difficult task.
Aside from a few unlucky ones who were particularly struggling, the vast majority of Profound Light Realm experts could possess a Treasure Artifact.
However...
Thinking of this, Chen Ping'an couldn't help but laugh.
While most Profound Light Realm experts could possess Treasure Artifacts, more than half of them were Inferior Treasure Artifacts. If one were to delve deeper, they were only slightly stronger than Fine Sharp Blades. In terms of quality, they weren't much stronger than Fine Sharp Blades; they were only called Treasure Artifacts because they could fully bear the Profound Light's divine properties.
Inferior Treasure Artifacts were also known as Quasi-Treasure Artifacts!
Above Quasi-Treasure Artifacts were true Treasure Artifacts, also known as Genuine Treasure Artifacts.
What Chen Ping'an had in mind, naturally, was not the so-called Inferior Treasure Artifacts or Quasi-Treasure Artifacts, but genuine Genuine Treasure Artifacts.
If it were an Inferior Treasure Artifact, with his current Martial Dao progress, he would likely outgrow it in not too long.
After tidying up the loose ends in the dilapidated temple, Chen Ping'an rode his horse and galloped towards the inn.
Tonight, the harvest was quite bountiful!
......
“Brother, good morning.”
Chen Er'ya woke up early and saw a refreshed Chen Ping'an.
“Morning, Nannan.”
“Brother!”
The Xiao Yatou put her hands on her hips, looking at Chen Ping'an with an unhappy expression.
“Hahaha... Er'ya, good morning.”
The Xiao Yatou's face showed a satisfied expression.
“Young Master, good morning.”
“Morning, Shaoyao.”
After breakfast at the inn, Chen Ping'an drove the carriage and set off again.
......
After five days, Chen Ping'an and his party finally arrived at Baishi City.
Although Baishi City was a small city, that was only in comparison to Weishui County City. In fact, for the surrounding towns and villages, Baishi City could be considered a behemoth.
The city walls were five or six zhang high, and there were Yamen Runners guarding the city gate, with strict defenses.
Similar to Weishui County City, Baishi City could generally be divided into four urban districts: east, south, west, and north. In addition, there was also a central urban district at the central intersection of the four major urban districts.
At the entrance of Baishi City, although the flow of people entering and exiting was not as exaggerated as in Weishui County City, there was still a long queue outside. Chen Ping'an did not display any special privileges and waited in line to enter the city.
Before Chen Ping'an departed, his letter of appointment had also been sent to the Baishi City Garrison Command. Therefore, the Baishi City Garrison Command had already learned the news that the new Deputy Commander was about to arrive.
Counting the days, it would be within the next few days.
......
Just as Chen Ping'an was about to enter Baishi City, on the other side, the news of Fang Rui, the direct descendant of the Fang Family, dying, also began to spread in Weishui County City.
“Fang Rui is dead?”
In the Nancheng Suppression Office, Mu Wanjun listened to her subordinate's report with a surprised expression.
“Yes, Adult. I heard that not only Fang Rui died, but also a steward and guards from the Fang Family.”
Mu Wanjun found it somewhat astonishing.
Fang Rui, as a direct descendant of the Fang Family, was not an insignificant figure. Although his status was not comparable to those few successors the Fang Family was Focus on training , due to his father Fang Qixian, his position in the Fang Family was not low!
Fang Qixian, a powerful elder of the Fang Family, a Profound Light Realm Martial Dao master!
Fang Rui, as Fang Qixian's youngest son and born late in life, had always been doted upon.
It was hard to imagine what Fang Qixian's reaction would be to Fang Rui's death.
“Who did it? Has it been found out!?”
“Adult, that is currently unclear. No specific news has been circulated from the Fang Family's side either. However, the bodies of Fang Rui and the others have been completely burned to skeletons by a large fire, making investigation extremely difficult!”
“Mm.”
Mu Wanjun nodded, her fingers lightly tapping on the table. After a while, she asked seemingly casually, “Oh, by the way, when did Fang Rui die?”
“The time is unclear. However, he went missing five days ago! He left Weishui County City that day and then completely disappeared until his remains were found.”
“Five days ago, huh...”
Mu Wanjun slightly closed her eyes and murmured to herself.
“Is it a coincidence?”