Chapter 388 - 346: The Prodigy of Yesteryear, a Grandmaster Pays Respect

Blessed Land.

Xue Kunsheng stood before a special passage, having just seen off a group of distinguished guests. He turned his head slightly, and his gaze happened to fall upon the back of a figure standing before an exclusive passage below.

’He doesn’t look very old, judging by his back, yet he’s already entered the Profound Light Realm!’

"Who is that?"

Xue Kunsheng asked the subordinate at his side, his curiosity piqued.

Standing beside Xue Kunsheng was a tall, sturdy man whose aquiline nose was particularly striking. His name was Liu Gongxi, the Defense Commander of the Beicang Garrison, a post equivalent to a Deputy Commander-in-Chief. He was Xue Kunsheng’s most trusted confidant.

By now, Chen Ping’an’s back was about to disappear down the exclusive passage. Liu Gongxi’s eyes narrowed as he scrutinized the figure for a moment.

"My Lord, that should be Chen Ping’an from the Weishui Garrison!"

"Oh? You mean the young rising star who’s been making a name for himself in the Garrison Commandant’s Office lately? Mang Blade Chen Ping’an?" Xue Kunsheng’s interest was piqued as he considered this.

Since appearing on the Rising Star Chart, Chen Ping’an had gained considerable fame within the Garrison system. Although Xue Kunsheng presided over the major stronghold of Beicang Town, he had still heard of the new stars within the Garrison Commandant’s Office.

"Yes, my lord," Liu Gongxi said, respectfully cupping his hands. "Speaking of which, he’s also made quite a name for himself here in Beicang Town these past few days."

"Is that so? Do tell." Xue Kunsheng shifted his gaze back to Liu Gongxi, a hint of curiosity in his eyes.

With the auction fast approaching, the various factions had been restless. Xue Kunsheng had been busy navigating their political games and handling complex affairs, so he naturally hadn’t paid any attention to such trivialities.

"My lord, have you heard about Little Five Poison Lan Yingjun offering herself as the prize in a challenge to all the young heroes of the realm?" Liu Gongxi said with a smile.

At this, Xue Kunsheng nodded slightly. Of course he had heard of it; the matter had caused quite a stir in Beicang Town.

Little Five Poison Lan Yingjun had offered to serve as a handmaiden, along with a rich dowry as the prize, inviting all the rising prodigies of the realm to battle her. Anyone who could defeat her and win her sincere submission would receive an immense prize.

For Xue Kunsheng, however, Little Five Poison Lan Yingjun’s challenge was a secondary concern. The one he was truly focused on was the person backing her.

Lan Yingying of the Five Poison Earth Fiend Palm!

Now there was a figure he had to take seriously. Even though his Xue Family had a Grandmaster present in the town, Lan Yingying’s existence could not be underestimated.

Years ago, Lan Yingying had been ranked at the forefront of the Dragon and Tiger Chart. Now that she had reached the Pseudo-Master Realm, she was likely not far off from a true Grandmaster.

"Just a few days ago, Little Five Poison Lan Yingjun publicly challenged Mang Blade Chen Ping’an at Qingya Tower!"

"And? Did Chen Ping’an accept the challenge?" Xue Kunsheng asked, a flicker of curiosity on his face.

This was one detail Xue Kunsheng genuinely did not know.

He was keenly aware of the movements of every renowned master in the stronghold. He knew the demands and interests of every major power like the back of his hand. But he had paid little attention to the younger generation, especially lately.

"No. Mang Blade Chen Ping’an avoided the fight!" A playful look appeared on Liu Gongxi’s face. "In response to Little Five Poison Lan Yingjun’s challenge, he claimed to be injured and in need of recuperation, making him unfit to fight!"

As an Absolute Master, Liu Gongxi’s perception was astonishing. When he had glanced over just now, Chen Ping’an hadn’t looked the least bit injured. The excuse was undoubtedly clumsy. Anyone with a discerning eye could see through the lie in an instant.

Little Five Poison Lan Yingjun had defeated the Lin Family’s prodigy in a single move; her combat prowess was astonishing. It was understandable that Mang Blade Chen Ping’an would avoid fighting her.

He was ranked twenty-first on the Rising Star Chart. While stronger than the Lin Family’s prodigy, it was likely only by a small margin—certainly not enough to defeat someone in a single blow. Given the combat prowess Little Five Poison Lan Yingjun had displayed, Chen Ping’an would likely be no match for her either.

To accept the challenge would have been to court humiliation.

Given the circumstances, it was better to avoid the fight and preserve at least a shred of dignity.

Prodigies... in the end, they are all burdened by their reputations.

"How interesting. It’s for the best he didn’t fight. It saves our Garrison Commandant’s Office some face, I suppose," Xue Kunsheng commented casually.

At his level, the conflict between Little Five Poison Lan Yingjun and Mang Blade Chen Ping’an was nothing more than a squabble among juniors. Who won or lost was of little significance to him.

What he truly cared about was the overall situation in Beicang, the movements of the Dragon and Tiger Masters within the stronghold, the intentions of the Pseudo Grandmasters, and...

...the attitudes of the Grandmasters themselves!

The so-called prodigies of the Rising Star Chart might seem incredibly important to the rest of the world. But to someone like him, who had already reached the peak of the Profound Light High Realm and earned a place on the Dragon and Tiger Chart, their actual substance was limited indeed.

There are a hundred prodigies on the Rising Star Chart, and the competition among them is fierce, with some rising and falling from its ranks repeatedly. But out of an entire generation on the chart, how many can become Absolute Masters? And if by some fluke they do, how many of those can reach the very pinnacle of that level?

The very pinnacle of the Absolute Masters! You could count the number of people who reached that stage on one hand. And that was to say nothing of the Dragon and Tiger Chart above it, let alone the Grandmaster Realm!

Not even one in a hundred, perhaps!

In fact, if you looked back through several generations of the Rising Star Chart, you might not find a single master who made it to the Dragon and Tiger Chart, to say nothing of an existence on the level of a Grandmaster!

Rising stars, in the end, are just that—rising stars.

To a true Profound Light Peak Master, appearing on the Rising Star Chart was merely an extra accolade, a sign that one had a slightly better chance of one day reaching the true summit.

Many an arrogant youth, having broken into the Profound Light Realm before the age of thirty, imagines their future is limitless. They believe they have an abundance of time to continue Breaking Realms, cultivating in seclusion, and forging ever onward.